Researchers develop nasal drops to treat the effects of stroke
Preclinical animal trials have confirmed the effectiveness of nasal drops with C3a peptide for rapid recovery after stroke.An international team of researchers led by the University of Gothenburg is developing a new method for treating the effects of stroke. They use peptide molecules of the component C3a dissolved in nasal drops. A study on mice showed that treatment with this method speeds up the recovery process, even in cases where the therapy is only initiated after a few days.
The researchers conducted two independent trials of the therapy's effectiveness in Germany and Sweden. In both experiments, the researchers gave half of the stroke mice nasal drops with C3a peptide (one of the components of the protective protein C3) and the other half with placebo drops. The researchers monitored the recovery of motor activity and cellular and molecular processes in the brains of the mice.
The analysis showed that mice that received the peptide drops recovered motor function faster and better after stroke compared to the control group. In addition, brain MRI scans showed that exposure to C3a increased the formation of new connections between nerve cells.
One of the important conditions of the experiment was that the treatment was started no sooner than seven days after the stroke. At the same time, the therapy showed its effectiveness under such "delayed" conditions. This means, the authors of the work explain, that in the foreseeable future it will be possible to treat patients who have had a stroke but did not go to a doctor in time, as well as those who are not helped by traditional drugs that dissolve blood clots.
Despite advances in emergency care, the most common form of stroke, ischemic stroke, is still the leading cause of long-term disability, including impaired speech and mobility. Patients who don't receive care for a short time are at risk for complications. Researchers believe that using a new method of treatment will solve this problem. They are looking for a partner from a pharmaceutical company to conduct clinical trials.
Source: JCI - Complement C3a treatment accelerates recovery after stroke via modulation of astrocyte reactivity and cortical connectivity