In an ischemic stroke a clot blocks a blood vessel to the brain, depriving oxygen and nutrients to part of the crucial organ. Without immediate treatment this can cause irreversible tissue damage.
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Even after successful clot removal, however, the rush of blood back into the brain and the dying tissue left behind can lead to additional complications such as inflammation.
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But now, armed with guidelines for more rigorous animal studies and a better understanding of the processes that occur after stroke, researchers believe they are closer to finding compounds that can effectively reduce brain damage and lessen long-term effects on neurological function. Recent investigations in mice reveal that addressing the immune response—by inhibiting its harmful effects immediately after stroke or promoting its ability to aid recovery—may indeed lead to better outcomes.
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By combining Crry, a molecule that inhibits the complement system, and B4scFv, an antibody fragment engineered to identify stressed and injured cells, they were able to create a drug that could locate the stroke site and stop immune cells from attacking brain issue only there.
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Animals treated up to 24 hours after stroke had significantly less brain damage and fewer neurological problems, such as impaired movement and memory, than the untreated animals.
Read full, original post: Targeting Inflammation May Protect and Restore the Brain after Stroke
