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Posted on Feb 16, 2003, 6 a.m.
By Bill Freeman
Research on mice suggests that a protein found naturally in the brain helps to protect brain cells from death after a stroke. Professor Berislav V Zlokovic and colleagues at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that activated protein C (APC) stopped damaged brain cells from being killed off by apoptosis.
Research on mice suggests that a protein found naturally in the brain helps to protect brain cells from death after a stroke. Professor Berislav V Zlokovic and colleagues at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that activated protein C (APC) stopped damaged brain cells from being killed off by apoptosis. Further tests on human brain cells subjected to stroke-like conditions in a test tube, revealed that APC also has a neuroprotective effect on human cells, and therefore could be useful in preventing brain damage caused by stroke itself and by clot-dissolving drugs. Zlokovic said of the findings: "What we are showing is that we can prevent the activation of the apoptotic pathway. This has not been shown before in humans." A genetically engineered version of APC called Xigris (drotrecogin alfa) was approved by the US FDA in 2001 for the treatment of sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to infection that can lead to multiple organ failure.
SOURCE/REFERENCE: Nature Medicine 2003:DOI:10.1038/nm823.
