Work

The mitochondrial permeability transition pore provides a key to the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic brain injury

Year: 2012

Type: article

Abstract: The pathological consequences of traumatic head injury result largely from the opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP). The mPTP opens due to a decrease in brain phosphorylation energy resulting in a further decrease in brain ATP production and a measurable increase in brain heat generation and temperature. The increase in brain temperature can be measured transcranially by near infrared spectroscopy which can be used to diagnose traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to monitor treatment. Effective therapy of TBI can be achieved by closure of the mPTP by administration of cyclosporine A or by oral administration of ketone body esters. While ketosis has previously been known to prevent damage from TBI, the availability of oral ketone esters presents the first practical modality of achieving therapeutic levels of ketone bodies.

Source: IUBMB Life

DOI: 10.1002/iub.590

Authors: Richard L. Veech, C. Robert Valeri, Theodore B. VanItallie

Institutions: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University

Language: English

Topic: Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances

Subfield: Neurology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funders: National Institutes of Health, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism