Antibiotics acting as neuroprotectants via mechanisms independent of their anti-infective activities

This review considers available evidence that some antibiotics have ancillary neuroprotective effects. Notably, β-lactam antibiotics are believed to increase the expression of glutamate transporter GLT1, potentially relieving the neurological excitotoxicity that characterizes disorders like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Minocycline has shown promise in reducing the severity of a number of neurological diseases, including multiple sclerosis, most likely by reducing apoptosis and the expression of inflammatory mediators in the brain. Rapamycin inhibits the activity of a serine/threonine protein kinase that has a role in the pathogenesis of numerous neurologic diseases. Herein we examine the unique neuroprotective aspects of these drugs originally developed as anti-infective agents. •Some antibiotics have ancillary effects apart from their anti-infective effects.•We reviewed the neuroprotective effects of beta-lactams, minocycline, and rapamycin.•More human data is available for the efficacies of beta-lactams and minocycline.•Rapamycin has yet to be established as a bona fide neuroprotectant in humans.•Brain ischemia was the only disease responding favorably to all three drugs.