TSPO Ligand Etifoxine Attenuates LPS-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction in Mice

The study conducted by Hui Zhang et al. found that etifoxine, an anxiolytic drug, can reduce neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction in male C57/BL6 mice. The drug increased the brain levels of progesterone and allopregnanolone, neuroactive steroids associated with neuroprotection and anti-inflammatory properties. Etifoxine also decreased the expression of caspase-3, a protein involved in cell death, and returned p-Akt/Akt to control levels, suggesting it regulates apoptosis. However, the neuroprotective effect of etifoxine was partially reversed by finasteride, an inhibitor of 5α-Reductase, indicating that the beneficial effect of etifoxine was partly due to enhanced synthesis of allopregnanolone. The study suggests etifoxine could be beneficial for patients with anxiety accompanied by mild cognitive impairment or depression.