Stroke is the second leading cause of death worldwide after heart disease.
In an effort to reduce brain damage caused by strokes, a research group led by Associate Professor Hidemitsu Nakajima from Osaka Metropolitan University’s Graduate School of Veterinary Science has developed a promising new drug that targets a key protein involved in cell death.
The target protein, GAPDH (glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), is known for its involvement in the progression of various neurodegenerative diseases. The research team developed GAI-17, a GAPDH aggregation inhibitor, to block its harmful effects.
In experiments using a mouse model of acute stroke, administration of GAI-17 significantly reduced brain cell death and paralysis when compared to untreated mice. Notably, GAI-17 was effective even when administered up to six hours after a stroke occurred.
Furthermore, safety evaluations indicated that GAI-17 did not cause adverse side effects in the heart or cerebrovascular system, suggesting a favorable safety profile.
“This GAPDH aggregation inhibitor could serve as a single therapeutic agent for various difficult-to-treat neurological conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease,” said Professor Nakajima.
“Our next steps involve testing GAI-17 in other disease models and conducting further practical research to support a healthier and longer-living society.”
These findings were published in the journal iScience.
If you care about stroke, please read research about Thanks to his wife’s quick reaction, postal worker fully recovered from a stroke and findings of new hope for people with irregular heartbeat to prevent stroke.
For more about stroke, please read research about Stronger high blood pressure treatment may help prevent stroke in older people and findings of Stroke death risk increases again after falling for 40 years.
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