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Experimental treatment with mice after traumatic brain injury (TBI) has reduced damage almost in mice that have never had TBI, reported UT Health San Antonio researchers. The study was published on July 4 in the Journal of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism.
Scientists hope to turn this discovery into a simple and effective treatment that can be used in emergency rooms or by first responders soon after a BIT has occurred in both military and civilian contexts. Currently, no treatment option exists for TBI patients.
"After traumatic brain injury, about 40% of mice have a seizure in the space of a week and many continue to have seizures for years, leading to epilepsy," said the Lead author of the study, Mark S. Shapiro, Professor in Cell Physiology and Integrative at UT Health San Antonio. "This closely matches what happens in human patients, followed by cognitive dysfunction and changes in the emotional state."
Harmful effects
After a TBI, a dangerous inflammation occurs throughout the brain, resulting in death of nerve cells and destruction of the blood-brain barrier, essential to maintaining normal brain function, said lead author Fabio A. Vigil, Ph.D., postdoctoral member of Dr. Shapiro's laboratory.
Prevent abnormal electrical activity
The new therapy increases the activity of potbadium ion channels KCNQ type "M", which are proteins capable of stopping uncontrolled electrical currents in nerve cells. Abnormal currents begin immediately after a brain injury, even before a crisis occurs, and the treatment aims to cure it, thus cutting off this chain of destructive events at the egg.
"No seizures were observed in treated mice, either," said Dr. Vigil.
Neurologist's point of view
"We need treatments that alter some of the disabling consequences of TBI," said co-author of the study, Jose E. Cavazos, MD, Ph.D., neurologist and epilepsy specialist at UT Health in San Antonio. "The current antiseizure drugs do not prevent the development of post-traumatic epilepsy.Our study has examined this extremely important therapeutic gap and proposes a new pharmacological intervention shortly after the TBI, which could prevent the development of post-traumatic epilepsy. Post-traumatic epilepsy. "
If such therapy could be developed, it would change the game for patients, said Dr. Cavazos. About 6% of all cases of epilepsy are caused by trauma to the head.
"Think about the possibility of taking a drug shortly after the injury and to prevent crippling epileptic seizures months or years later," Dr. Cavazos said.
Post-traumatic impact
The co-author of the study, Robert Brenner, Ph.D., of UT San Antonio Health, provided expertise in the field of convulsions. He added that the most important conclusion of the study is that the reduction of excess electrical activity in the central nervous system through such therapy has post-traumatic benefits that go far beyond anticonvulsant action. These effects include the reduction of dangerous inflammation and generalized cell death.
Current and future research
This therapeutic approach is being evaluated to determine if it is suitable for humans, Dr. Shapiro said. This includes an badessment of its chemical properties, its stability and its effects on other organs such as the heart.
Future directions are to test newly developed compounds that act similar to the compound used in this study, but with greatly increased potency and selectivity for KCNQ potbadium ion channels in the brain.
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