Description
NAP is an octapeptide derived from activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP); it exhibits neuroprotective, antioxidative, cognition enhancing, anti-aging, and antipsychotic activities. NAP increases levels of Bcl-2 and activates MAPK/ERK signaling in retinal cells of diabetic mice, preventing retinal apoptosis. NAP also increases expression of Nrf2, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), glutathione transferase, and superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) in vivo, protecting against oxidative stress and improving memory performance in the radial arm maze. NAP decreases phosphorylation of tau protein in animal models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), protecting spinal cord motor neurons and increasing life span. NAP shows some clinical benefit in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). Additionally, this peptide also inhibits cognitive dysfunction in animal models of schizophrenia.
References
Scuderi S, D'Amico AG, Castorina A, et al. Davunetide (NAP) Protects the Retina Against Early Diabetic Injury by Reducing Apoptotic Death. J Mol Neurosci. 2014 Feb 2. [Epub ahead of print]. PMID: 24488575.
Jouroukhin Y, Ostritsky R, Assaf Y, et al. NAP (davunetide) modifies disease progression in a mouse model of severe neurodegeneration: protection against impairments in axonal transport. Neurobiol Dis. 2013 Aug;56:79-94. PMID: 23631872.
Gold M, Lorenzl S, Stewart AJ, et al. Critical appraisal of the role of davunetide in the treatment of progressive supranuclear palsy. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat. 2012;8:85-93. PMID: 22347799.
Sharma NK, Sethy NK, Meena RN, et al. Activity-dependent neuroprotective protein (ADNP)-derived peptide (NAP) ameliorates hypobaric hypoxia induced oxidative stress in rat brain. Peptides. 2011 Jun;32(6):1217-24. PMID: 21453737.
Merenlender-Wagner A, Pikman R, Giladi E, et al. NAP (davunetide) enhances cognitive behavior in the STOP heterozygous mouse--a microtubule-deficient model of schizophrenia. Peptides. 2010 Jul;31(7):1368-73. PMID: 20417241.
