Are GLP-1 receptor agonists useful against traumatic brain injury?

This Editorial highlights a study by Li et al. (2015) in the current issue of J. Neurochem. The image depicts the hypothesized neuroprotective pathway that is proposed by the authors. Using a combination of SH-SY5Y and primary rat neuron cultures the GLP-1R agonist, Liraglutide, was shown to increase SH-SY5Y proliferation and CREB phosphorylation correlating with reduced toxicity, preservation of Bcl2 protein levels, and decreased caspase 3 activity following glutamate or H2 O2 stimulations. These in vitro observations correlated with a Liraglutide-dependent improvement in memory performance in mice subjected to a mild TBI. Bcl2, B-cell lymphoma 2; CREB, cAMP-response element binding protein; GLP-1R, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor; TBI, traumatic brain injury; PKA, protein kinase A.