Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurological disorder with an early onset, primarily affecting females, and is characterized by severe cognitive and physical impairments. RTT is no longer regarded as an exclusively neurological disease; rather, it is now considered a multisystem syndrome that affects the brain and several other tissues/organs. Recent research suggests that disruptions in redox homeostasis and heightened inflammatory responses are of pivotal importance with regard to the disease’s clinical manifestations. Notably, emerging evidence points to the p75 neurotrophin receptor (p75NTR) as a regulator of oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation.

The objective of this study is to explore the impact of modulating p75NTR through the use of the small molecule LM11A-31 on fibroblasts derived from RTT patients. Fibroblasts were treated with 0.1 μM of LM11A-31 for 24 hours, and analyses were conducted through qPCR, immunofluorescence, ELISA, and Western blotting.

The results reveal that LM11A-31 significantly mitigates OS markers in RTT fibroblasts. Specifically, p75NTR modulation restored protein glutathionylation and reduced the expression of the pro-oxidant enzyme NADPH-oxidase 4 (NOX4). Moreover, LM11A-31 blunted the expression of pro-inflammatory mediators while simultaneously normalizing transcription factors involved in antioxidant response and inflammatory response.

These results suggest that targeting p75NTR with LM11A-31 may offer a potential therapeutic avenue for restoring redox balance and alleviating inflammation in RTT patients. The use of a p75NTR modulator, such as LM11A-31, could be more effective for treating RTT by targeting key processes, addressing multiple aspects of the disease simultaneously. Further research should be directed towards a more detailed investigation of the molecular mechanisms and the corroboration of these findings in in vivo models.