Abstract

This review compiles the scientific basis to propose the pleiotrophin/receptor protein tyrosine phosphatase β/ζ signaling pathway as a new therapeutic target to prevent drug of abuse-induced toxicity. In addition, potential guidelines are provided for the development of new therapeutic compounds derived from that knowledge. This approach may be relevant since efficient therapeutic strategies are currently lacking in this field, even when drug-induced neurotoxicity seems to underlie the neurodegenerative disorders diagnosed in drug addicts.

Keywords: Neurodegeneration, cocaine, Parkinson's disease, drug discovery, pleiotrophin, midkine, RPTPβ/ζ, drug development