Author: Aston University (i): Contact: aston.ac.uk.
Published: 2020-05-17
Table of contents and important points:
Scientists are discovering a new treatment to drastically reduce swelling after brain and spinal cord injuries and to give hope to 75 million victims worldwide each year.
The researchers used an already approved antipsychotic – trifluoperazine (TFP) – to change the behavior of tiny water channel pores in cells known as aquaporins.
… the exciting thing is that doctors may soon have an effective, non-invasive way to help patients with brain and spinal cord injuries.
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Scientists have discovered a new treatment to drastically reduce swelling after brain and spinal cord injuries, giving hope to 75 million victims worldwide each year.
The breakthrough in the treatment of such injuries – known as central nervous system (CNS) edema – is viewed as extremely significant as current options are limited to placing patients in an induced coma or performing risky surgery.
Injuries to the brain and spinal cord affect all age groups.
Older people are at greater risk of protecting themselves from strokes or falls. For younger age groups, road accidents and injuries from sports such as rugby, US-style soccer, and other contact games are the leading causes.
The high-profile example of Formula 1 racing driver Michael Schumacher shows the difficulties doctors currently face when treating such injuries. After Schumacher fell on a rock while skiing in Switzerland in 2013 and hit his head on a rock, he developed swelling in his brain because water rushed into the affected cells. He spent six months in a medically induced coma and underwent complex surgery, but his rehabilitation continues to this day.
The new treatment was developed by an international team of scientists working at Aston University (UK), Harvard Medical School (USA), University of Birmingham (UK), University of Calgary (Canada), Lund University (Sweden ) and Copenhagen University (Denmark) and University of Wolverhampton (UK), appears in the latest issue of the scientific journal Cell.
The researchers used an already approved antipsychotic – trifluoperazine (TFP) – to change the behavior of tiny water channel pores in cells known as aquaporins.
When testing the treatment on injured rats, they found that these animals, given a single dose of the drug at the trauma site, regained full movement and sensitivity in just two weeks, compared to an untreated group who continued to motor beyond six weeks and sensory impairment after injury.
The treatment counteracts the normal response of cells to loss of oxygen in the CNS – the brain and spinal cord – caused by trauma. Under such conditions, the cells quickly become “saltier” due to the accumulation of ions, which causes a surge of water through the aquaporins, which causes the cells to swell and exert pressure on the skull and spine. This build-up of pressure damages fragile brain and spinal cord tissue and disrupts the flow of electrical signals from the brain to the body and vice versa.
However, the scientists discovered that TFP can prevent this. Focusing their efforts on key star-shaped brain and spinal cord cells called astrocytes, they found that TFP prevents a protein called calmodulin from binding to the aquaporins. Normally this binding effect shoots the aquaporins to the surface of the cell and lets in more water. Stopping this action will decrease the permeability of the cells.
Traditionally, TFP has been used to treat patients with schizophrenia and other mental illnesses. Long-term use is associated with adverse side effects, but the researchers said their experiments suggested that just a single dose could have a significant long-term impact on CNS edema patients.
Because TFP is already approved for use in humans by the U.S. FDA (FDA) and the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), it could quickly be used to treat brain injuries. However, the researchers stressed that further work would allow them to develop new, even better drugs based on their understanding of the properties of TFP.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), around 60 million people suffer a traumatic brain or spinal cord injury each year and another 15 million people suffer a stroke. These injuries can be fatal or result in long-term disability, psychiatric disorders, substance abuse, or self harm.
Professor Roslyn Bill of the Biosciences Research Group at Aston University said:
“Every year millions of people of all ages suffer brain and spinal injuries, whether from falls, accidents, street collisions, sports injuries or strokes. Until now, their treatment options have been very limited and in many cases very risky.”
“This discovery, based on a new understanding of how our cells work at the molecular level, gives hope to injury victims and their doctors. Using a drug that is already approved for human use, we have shown how it can be done is to stop swelling and pressure building up in the CNS, which is responsible for long-term damage. “
“While more research will help us refine our understanding, the exciting thing is that doctors may soon have an effective, non-invasive way to help patients with brain and spinal cord injuries.”
Dr. Zubair Ahmed of the Institute for Inflammation and Aging at the University of Birmingham said:
“This is a significant step forward from current therapies that only treat the symptoms of brain and spinal injuries and do nothing to address the neurological deficits that normally occur as a result of swelling. The newly developed drug offers a real solution for these patients and patients. ” can be brought to the clinic quickly. “
Dr. Alex Conner of the Department of Clinical Sciences at the University of Birmingham said:
“It’s amazing that our work on tiny water channels in the brain can reveal something about the traumatic brain swelling that affects millions of people each year.”
Dr. Mootaz Salman, a research fellow in cell biology at Harvard Medical School, said:
“This novel treatment offers new hope for patients with CNS injuries and has great therapeutic potential. Our results suggest that it may be ready for clinical use in the near future at low cost.”
Dr. Matthew Conner, course director of biochemistry and genetics and molecular biology at the University of Wolverhampton, said:
“Our groundbreaking research offers new hope for the treatment and prevention of brain damage in people with head injuries. This cutting edge work is the culmination of a number of years of collaborative research into the behavior of the tiny pores of the water channel in cells known as aquaporins.”
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Journal: Disabled World. Language: English. Author: Aston University. Electronic publication date: 2020-05-17. Last revised date: 2020-05-17. Reference Title: “Cell Pore Discovery: Hope For Millions Of Patients With Brain And Spinal Cord Injury” Source: Cell Pore Discovery: Hope For Millions Of Patients With Brain And Spinal Cord Injury. Summary: Scientists discover a new treatment to drastically reduce swelling after brain and spinal cord injuries, giving hope to 75 million victims worldwide each year. Retrieved on December 26, 2020 from https://www.disabled-world.com/disability/types/spinal/cell-pores.php – reference category number: DW # 248-13840.
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