Researchers discover new approach to treating brain hemorrhage with protein therapy

Researchers discover new approach to treating brain hemorrhage with protein therapy

(IN BRIEF) Researchers from the Brain Repair laboratory at the University of Helsinki have investigated whether a protein called cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) has potential as a treatment for intracerebral haemorrhage, a condition where bleeding into brain tissue causes long-term neurological deficits. They found that CDNF, a protein being currently tested for Parkinson’s disease treatment, accelerates hemorrhagic lesion resolution, reduces brain swelling, and improves functional outcomes in an animal model of brain haemorrhage by acting on immune cells in the bleeding brain. CDNF encourages immune cells in the brain to consume and remove waste and debris, which is essential for the brain’s recovery. The researchers suggested that this is a significant step towards the treatment of injuries caused by brain haemorrhage, for which there is currently no cure.

(PRESS RELEASE) HELSINKI, 17-Mar-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — Intracerebral haemorrhage, and bleeding into the brain tissue, is a devastating neurological condition affecting millions of people annually. It has a high mortality rate, while survivors are affected by long-term neurological deficits. No medication has been found to support brain recovery following hemorrhage.

In an international collaboration, researchers from the Brain Repair laboratory, University of Helsinki, together with their Taiwanese colleagues investigated whether a protein called cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) has potential as a treatment for brain hemorrhage.

Researchers suggest that cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor, a protein being currently tested for Parkinson’s disease treatment, also has therapeutic effects and enhances immune cell’s response after brain haemorrhage.

The authors found that the administration of cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor accelerates hemorrhagic lesion resolution, reduces brain swelling, and improves functional outcomes in an animal model of brain hemorrhage.

“Surprisingly, we found that cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor acts on immune cells in the bleeding brain, by increasing anti-inflammatory mediators and suppressing the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines that are responsible for cell signalling. This is a significant step towards the treatment of injuries caused by brain haemorrhage, for which we currently have no cure,” says Professor Mikko Airavaara, from University of Helsinki.

Dr. Vassileios Stratoulias from the Brain Repair laboratory comments, “It’s interesting to note that after a bleeding episode, the brain contains a lot of waste and debris. Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor encourages immune cells in the brain to consume and remove the waste and debris, which is essential for the brain’s recovery!”.

The administration of cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor also resulted in the alleviation of cell stress in the area that surrounds the hematoma.

Finally, the researchers demonstrated that systemic administration of cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor promotes scavenging by the brain’s immune cells after brain haemorrhage and has beneficial effects in an animal model of brain haemorrhage.

Original article:

Tseng, KY., Stratoulias, V., Hu, WF. et al. Augmenting hematoma-scavenging capacity of innate immune cells by CDNF reduces brain injury and promotes functional recovery after intracerebral hemorrhage. Cell Death Dis 14, 128 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41419-022-05520-2

Mikko Airavaara
Professor
DIVISION OF PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACOTHERAPY
mikko.airavaara@helsinki.fi
0294159990

Vassileios Stratoulias
University Researcher
DIVISION OF PHARMACOLOGY AND PHARMACOTHERAPY
vassileios.stratoulias@helsinki.fi

Media Contact:

+358 (0) 2941 911

SOURCE: University of Helsinki

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