An anti-inflammatory drug will help with a stroke

Prevention of inflammation partially restored the brain after a stroke

Oleg Lischuk, N+1

British, Spanish and American scientists have found that the appointment of a receptor antagonist to the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1 after an ischemic stroke promotes partial restoration of brain tissue in rats. The results of the work are published in the journal Brain, Behavior and Immunity (Pradillo et al., Reparative effects of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in young and aged/co-morbid rodents after cerebral ischemia).

Ischemic stroke (thrombosis of any artery of the brain with the death of a section of its tissue due to lack of blood supply) is the second most common cause of death and disability of the world's population after myocardial infarction. Treatment in the acute period is carried out either by dissolving the thrombus (fibrinolysis) or by intravascular removal, but these methods are suitable only for a small number of patients.

At the same time, ischemic damage stimulates the formation of neuron progenitor cells (neurogenesis) in the so-called neurogenic areas (subventricular and subgranular areas of the brain), followed by their migration to the affected area and differentiation into new neurons. This process is largely suppressed by inflammation, which inevitably accompanies tissue damage. The main mediator of post-stroke inflammation is interleukin-1 (IL-1). Its effects in the body are reduced by the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA). As shown by a number of animal studies and small pilot trials in humans, the administration of recombinant human IL-1RA (anakinra, used for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis) reduces the area of brain damage in ischemic stroke and its accompanying symptoms, and also helps to restore lost motor functions.

The staff of the University of Manchester, the Complutense University of Madrid and the Yale Medical School have shown that the effect of IL-1RA in stroke is not limited to this. To do this, they administered anakinra or placebo to young rats, elderly rats with normal weight and elderly rats with obesity, atherosclerosis and insulin resistance (decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin). Subcutaneous injections were performed three and six hours after an ischemic stroke caused by artificially temporary compression of the left middle cerebral artery. The effects of therapy were recorded a day and a week after its implementation, and in young animals – additionally on the 14th and 28th day.

It turned out that the administration of IL-1RA reduced the volume of the damaged area a day and a week after stroke by 37, 42, 40 percent and 24, 46, 37 percent compared with placebo, respectively, in elderly healthy, elderly patients and young rats. The latter also had a 56 percent decrease in cortical volume loss on day 28. In addition, a week after the stroke, damage to the blood-brain barrier decreased by 40, 48 and 46 percent, respectively, in these experimental groups of animals. This was accompanied by an improvement in behavioral and motor functions in all animals that received anakinra.

In addition to the listed effects confirming the results of previous studies, in all groups of animals, the administration of the drug increased neurogenesis in the subventricular zone several times, the migration of neuroblasts to the site of injury and their differentiation into neurons – processes that ensure the restoration of brain tissue.

Thus, the use of IL-1RA reduced stroke-induced tissue damage and functional disorders, and also contributed to the restoration of brain tissue after ischemic stroke both in healthy animals of different ages and in the presence of concomitant diseases.

Given that the drug has already been approved for use in humans, with the success of its clinical trials for a new indication, it can be quickly introduced into the practice of helping stroke patients, the researchers note.

Previously, scientists have achieved significant success in restoring functions lost after a stroke by injecting modified mesenchymal stem cells into damaged areas of the motor cortex. Another research team showed that for post-stroke rehabilitation, ordinary entertainment, such as playing cards, is not inferior to special programs for video game consoles.

Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru  29.11.2016