Abstract: Permeability of the blood-brain barrier and other physiological barriers can be modulated by the degree of tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins. Agents which promote tyrosine protein dephosphorylation reduce the permeability of the blood-brain barrier and those which promote phosphorylation increase permeability. Increasing blood-brain barrier permeability is useful in delivering drugs having a desired effect upon the central nervous system; decreasing blood-brain barrier permeability and other physiological barrier permeability is useful in preventing undesired compounds reaching the CNS and in certain clinical conditions.

Abstract: Apoptotic cell death in a fully differentiated, non-dividing cell such as a neuron is caused by an abortive attempt of the cell to re-enter or pass through the mitotic cycle. Therefore, agents which prevent such entry or passage are effective in preventing, or at least delaying, apoptotic cell death and are therefore useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in general, including stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and motor-neuron disease in particular.

Abstract: Apoptotic cell death in a fully differentiated, non-dividing cell such as a neuron is caused by an abortive attempt of the cell to re-enter or pass through the mitotic cycle. Therefore, agents which prevent such entry or passage are effective in preventing, or at least delaying, apoptotic cell death and are therefore useful in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases in general, including stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and motor-neuron disease in particular.