Only from 21 August 2007 so I wonder if there is any followup?
http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem.aspx?ItemId=12754&CultureCode=en
Two substances that occur naturally in the brain act to protect the
brain during a stroke. This is the conclusion of a dissertation
published at the Sahlgrenska Academy, and the discovery may lead to new
treatments for stroke patients.
Stroke is the result of an infarction, or bleeding, within the
brain, and it may lead to impaired movement, impaired sensation, and
difficulties in cognitive function and speech. Approximately 30,000
people are affected by stroke each year in Sweden, and it is the most
common cause of long-term dependence on care.
"Researchers all over the world are intensively searching for new
treatments. One interesting possibility is that of activating stem cells
in the damaged brain such that the brain can be repaired and regain its
function", says stem cell researcher Jonas Faijerson.
Stem cells are immature cells that reside in selected regions of the
adult brain. These cells can develop either into nerve cells or into
other cells that are important in the brain, such as astrocytes.
Astrocytes are the most abundant cell type in the brain, and they play
an important role when the brain is damaged.
The dissertation shows that activated astrocytes release substances that activate stem cells within the brain.
"We have shown that a very interesting hormone known as 'TRH' is
released in large amounts after a stroke, and that this hormone can not
only protect from damage but also lead to the activation of stem cells",
says Jonas Faijerson.
The stem cells also release survival factors to the surrounding
brain tissue when the brain is injured or diseased. The dissertation
describes the identification of a completely unknown survival factor,
which the researchers have named "pentinin".
"Pentinin protects brain cells from several of the effects that a
stroke causes. Both TRH and pentinin are interesting candidates for the
development of new treatment strategies for patients with stroke. It is
possible that these substances could be given in tablet form, as a drop,
or as a nasal spray, when a stroke is suspected", says Jonas Faijerson.
The research has been carried out at the Centre for Brain Repair and Rehabilitation at the Sahlgrenska Academy.
"This work was supervised by a revered friend and colleague, the late Peter Eriksson", says Jonas Faijerson.
Dissertation submitted for the degree of Ph. D. in Medicine at the
Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, Section
for Clinical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation
Title of the dissertation: Neural Stem/Progenitor cells in the
Post-ischemic Environment: Proliferation, Differentiation and
Neuroprotection
The dissertation has been successfully defended.
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