hexapeptide/stroke

Prothymosin alpha (ProTα)-mimetic hexapeptide (amino acid: NEVDQE, P6Q) inhibits cerebral or retinal ischemia-induced behavioral, electrophysiological and histological damage. P6Q also abolishes cerebral hemorrhage induced by ischemia with tissue plasminogen activator (tPA). In the present study we

Tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) administration beyond 4.5 h of stroke symptoms is beneficial for patients but has an increased risk of cerebral hemorrhage. Thus, increasing the therapeutic window of tPA is important for stroke recovery. We previously showed that prothymosin alpha (ProTα) or its

Osteopontin (OPN) is a secreted extracellular phosphoprotein involved in diverse biologic functions, including inflammation, cell migration, and antiapoptotic processes. Here we investigate the neuroprotective potential of OPN to reduce cell death using both in vitro and in vivo models of ischemia.

The hexapeptide angiotensin IV (Ang IV) induces diverse biological effects such as memory enhancement and protection against ischemic stroke. Studies on the mechanism of Ang IV however are hampered by its instability and its lack of selectivity. The high-affinity binding site for Ang IV is the

The sole FDA approved treatment for acute stroke is tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA). However, tPA potentiates impairment of pial artery dilation in response to hypotension after hypoxia/ischemia (H/I) in pigs. ATP and Ca sensitive K channels (Katp and Kca) are important regulators of

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for post-menopausal symptoms in diabetes is associated with increased risk of coronary heart disease and stroke. Therefore, there is a need for new HRT with no adverse effects on diabetic post-menopausal women. We developed peptides as potential estrogen mimetic

The clinical use of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) in the treatment of stroke is profoundly constrained by its serious side effects. We report that the deleterious effects of tPA on cerebral edema and intracranial bleeding are separable from its fibrinolytic activity and can be neutralized.

Excitotoxic neuronal death, associated with neurodegeneration and stroke, is triggered primarily by massive Ca2+ influx arising from overactivation of glutamate receptor channels of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) subtype. To search for channel blockers, synthetic combinatorial libraries were

Cholesterol biosynthesis is among the most intensely regulated processes in biology. Synthetic rates vary over hundreds of fold depending on the availability of an external source of cholesterol. Studies of this feedback regulatory process have a rich history. The field began 75 years ago when

During aging and ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, elastin molecules are degraded and elastin-derived peptides are released into the brain microenvironment. Val-Gly-Val-Ala-Pro-Gly (VGVAPG) is a repeating hexapeptide in the elastin molecule. It is well documented that the peptide sequence binds with

Under physiological and pathological conditions, elastin is degraded to produce elastin-derived peptides (EDPs). EDPs are detected in the healthy human brain, and its concentration significantly increases after ischemic stroke. Both elastin and EDPs contains replications of the soluble VGVAPG