Advances in preclinical research of the C-Terminal domain of the heavy chain of the tetanic toxin in neurodegenerative diseases

Abstract

Tetanus toxin is a polypeptide of 1315 aminoacids of 150 kDa, from which a non-toxic fraction of 50 kDa is extracted that has the ability to cross the blood brain barrier through mechanisms that full-length toxin, have developed to throughout its evolution. We refer to axonal retrograde trip and synaptic jumps. Studies indicate that the C-terminal domain of the tetanus toxin heavy chain, in vivo and in vitro, has neuromodulatory, neuroprotective and antiapoptotic properties when confronted with neurotoxic agents such as MPTP, 6-hydroxypamine or methamphetamine. Therefore, there are high expectations about the therapy with HC-TeTx, and its multiple variants, regarding the neuroprotection they provide. With all before said, we propose that HC has the potential to be a drug with multiple applications. Even with this, questions remain to be resolved and more studies are required to show in detail the aforementioned effects.