Description
Deferiprone is an iron chelator that exhibits neuroprotective and immunosuppressive activities. In animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, deferiprone decreases plasma iron and cholesterol levels, phosphorylation of tau protein, and levels of amyloid-β40, amyloid-β42, and β-amyloid precursor cleaving enzyme, BACE 1. In vitro, deferiprone decreases the number of proliferating CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and CD25+ cells; in vivo, deferiprone decreases disease severity of multiple sclerosis. Deferiprone is also cardioprotective, as it reverses iron-overload cardiomyopathy in clinical heart failure.