In vitro dose-dependent effects of matrix metalloproteinases on ECM hydrogel biodegradation.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) cause proteolysis of extracellular matrix (ECM) in tissues affected by stroke. However, little is known about how MMPs degrade ECM hydrogels implanted into stroke cavities to regenerate lost tissue. To establish a structure-function relationship between different doses of individual MMPs and isolate their effects in a controlled setting, an in vitro degradation assay quantified retained urinary bladder matrix (UBM) hydrogel mass as a measure of degradation across time.

Potential effects of commonly applied drugs on neural stem cell proliferation and viability: A hypothesis-generating systematic review and meta-analysis.

Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation is an emerging and promising approach to combat neurodegenerative diseases. While NSCs can differentiate into neural cell types, many therapeutic effects are mediated by paracrine, "drug-like" mechanisms. Neurodegenerative diseases are predominantly a burden of the elderly who commonly suffer from comorbidities and thus are subject to pharmacotherapies.

Perioperative stroke: A perspective on challenges and opportunities for experimental treatment and diagnostic strategies.

Perioperative stroke is an ischemic or hemorrhagic cerebral event during or up to 30 days after surgery. It is a feared condition due to a relatively high incidence, difficulties in timely detection, and unfavorable outcome compared to spontaneously occurring stroke. Recent preclinical data suggest that specific pathophysiological mechanisms such as aggravated neuroinflammation contribute to the detrimental impact of perioperative stroke.

Subacute AMD3100 Treatment Is Not Efficient in Neonatal Hypoxic-Ischemic Rats.

Background And Purpose: Despite the advances in treating neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) with induced hypothermia, the rates of severe disability are still high among survivors. Preclinical studies have indicated that cell therapies with hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells could improve neurological outcomes in HIE. In this study, we investigated whether the administration of AMD3100, a CXCR4 antagonist that mobilizes hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells into the circulation, has therapeutic effects in HIE.

New Mechanistic Insights, Novel Treatment Paradigms, and Clinical Progress in Cerebrovascular Diseases.

The past decade has brought tremendous progress in diagnostic and therapeutic options for cerebrovascular diseases as exemplified by the advent of thrombectomy in ischemic stroke, benefitting a steeply increasing number of stroke patients and potentially paving the way for a renaissance of neuroprotectants. Progress in basic science has been equally impressive. Based on a deeper understanding of pathomechanisms underlying cerebrovascular diseases, new therapeutic targets have been identified and novel treatment strategies such as pre- and post-conditioning methods were developed.

Circadian effects on stroke outcome - Did we not wake up in time for neuroprotection?

The occurrence of stroke in humans peaks in the morning. A recent study revealed that time of day mitigates the therapeutic impact of neuroprotective paradigms. These findings might not only explain the previous failure of translation of neuroprotective therapies but inspire new paradigms in stroke chronopathophysiology research.

High-dosage granulocyte colony stimulating factor treatment alters monocyte trafficking to the brain after experimental stroke.

Ischemic stroke elicits a prompt inflammatory response that is characterized by a well-timed recruitment of peripheral immune cells to the brain. Among these, monocytes play a particularly important, but multifaceted role and have been increasingly recognized to affect stroke outcome. Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF) is known for its immunosuppressive actions on mononuclear cells, but previous studies in the stroke field were mainly confined to its neuroprotective actions.

Arterial Hypertension Aggravates Innate Immune Responses after Experimental Stroke.

Arterial hypertension is not only the leading risk factor for stroke, but also attributes to impaired recovery and poor outcome. The latter could be explained by hypertensive vascular remodeling that aggravates perfusion deficits and blood-brain barrier disruption. However, besides vascular changes, one could hypothesize that activation of the immune system due to pre-existing hypertension may negatively influence post-stroke inflammation and thus stroke outcome.

Regeneration of olfactory afferent axons in the locust brain.

The insect olfactory system consists of thousands of sensory neurons on each antenna, which project into the primary olfactory center, the glomerular antennnal lobe. There, they form synapses with local interneurons and projection neurons, which relay olfactory information to the second-order olfactory center, the mushroom body. Olfactory afferents of adult locusts (Locusta migratoria) were axotomized by crushing the base of the antenna.