Park Gi Wan, Kim Hayoung, Won Seong Hyun, Kim Nam Hyun, Choi Sheu-Ran
Department of Medicine, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Gangneung 25601, Korea.
Department of Pharmacology, Catholic Kwandong University College of Medicine, Gangneung 25601, Korea.
Korean J Physiol Pharmacol. 2025 Mar 1;29(2):157-164. doi: 10.4196/kjpp.24.353. Epub 2025 Jan 14.
Neurosteroids play an important role as endogenous neuromodulators that are locally produced in the central nervous system and rapidly change the excitability of neurons and the activation of microglial cells and astrocytes. Here we review the mechanisms of synthesis, metabolism, and actions of neurosteroids in the central nervous system. Neurosteroids are able to play a variety of roles in the central nervous system under physiological conditions by binding to membrane ion channels and receptors such as gamma-aminobutyric acid type A receptors, Nmethyl- D-aspartate receptors, L- and T-type calcium channels, and sigma-1 receptors. In addition, numerous neurological disorders, including persistent neuropathic pain, multiple sclerosis, and seizures, have altered the levels of neurosteroids in the central nervous system. Thus, we review how local synthesis and metabolism of neurosteroids are modulated in the central nervous system and describe the role of neurosteroids under pathological conditions. Furthermore, we discuss whether neurosteroids may play a role as a new therapeutic for the treatment of neurological disorders.
神经甾体作为内源性神经调节剂发挥着重要作用，它们在中枢神经系统中局部产生，并能迅速改变神经元的兴奋性以及小胶质细胞和星形胶质细胞的活性。在此，我们综述神经甾体在中枢神经系统中的合成、代谢及作用机制。在生理条件下，神经甾体通过与膜离子通道和受体（如γ-氨基丁酸A型受体、N-甲基-D-天冬氨酸受体、L型和T型钙通道以及σ-1受体）结合，能够在中枢神经系统中发挥多种作用。此外，包括持续性神经性疼痛、多发性硬化症和癫痫在内的多种神经系统疾病，都改变了中枢神经系统中神经甾体的水平。因此，我们综述了中枢神经系统中神经甾体的局部合成和代谢是如何被调节的，并描述了神经甾体在病理条件下的作用。此外，我们还讨论了神经甾体是否可能作为治疗神经系统疾病的一种新疗法发挥作用。
