Peripheral Neuroprotective and Immunomodulatory Effects of 5α-Reductase Inhibitors in Parkinson's Disease Models

The study investigates the neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects of 5α-reductase inhibitors, finasteride and dutasteride, in Parkinson’s disease (PD) models using 60 male mice. Dutasteride was found to be more effective than finasteride in preventing MPTP-induced damage to dopamine neurons and reducing inflammation in the myenteric plexus. Dutasteride also significantly inhibited proinflammatory responses and mitochondrial dysfunction in human monocytic cells. The findings suggest that dutasteride could be a promising therapeutic agent for PD due to its ability to enhance endogenous estrogen biosynthesis and mitigate mitochondrial dysfunctions.