Description
Cysteamine is an aminothiol that exhibits antioxidative, anti-metastatic, antidepressant, neuromodulatory, and antipsychotic activities. Cysteamine is used in research models to induce ulcer formation; clinically, it treats cystinosis and other disorders of cysteine excretion. Cysteamine is also a component used to form coenzyme A (CoA). In animal models of pancreatic cancer, cysteamine decreases activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and suppresses metastasis. Cysteamine decreases immobility time in animals undergoing the forced swim test and tail suspension test and increases levels of BDNF. This compound also displays potential benefit in pre-clinical models of schizophrenia. Additionally, cysteamine improves motor deficits and increases survival in animal models of Huntington’s disease.