Cortistatin exerts an immunomodulatory and neuroprotective role in a preclinical model of ischemic stroke
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Ischemic stroke is the result of a permanent or transient occlusion of a brain artery, leading to irreversible tissue injury and long-term sequelae. Despite ongoing advancements in revascularization techniques, stroke remains the second leading cause of death worldwide. A comprehensive understanding of the complex and interconnected mechanisms, along with the endogenous mediators that modulate stroke responses is essential for the development of effective interventions. Our study investigates cortistatin, a neuropeptide extensively distributed in the immune and central nervous systems, known for its immunomodulatory properties. With neuroinflammation and peripheral immune deregulation as key pathological features of brain ischemia, cortistatin emerges as a promising therapeutic candidate. To this aim, we evaluated its potential effect in a well-established middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) preclinical stroke model. Our findings indicated that the peripheral administration of cortistatin at 24 h post-stroke significantly reduced neurological damage and enhanced recovery. Importantly, cortistatin-induced neuroprotection was multitargeted, as it modulated the glial reactivity and astrocytic scar formation, facilitated blood-brain barrier recovery, and regulated local and systemic immune dysfunction. Surprisingly, administration of cortistatin at immediate and early post-stroke time points proved to be not beneficial and even detrimental. These results emphasize the importance of understanding the spatio-temporal dynamics of stroke pathology to develop innovative therapeutic strategies with appropriate time windows. Premature interruption of certain neuroinflammatory processes might inadvertently compromise neuroprotective mechanisms. In summary, our study highlights cortistatin as a novel pleiotropic therapeutic approach against ischemic stroke, offering new treatment options for patients who undergo early revascularization intervention but unsuccessful recovery.
Source: Pharmacological Research
Language: English
Subfield: Neurology
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,740
Awards: G1027232119, G1175115578, G1855990336, Tracking exogenous lactate at the ultrastructural level in the ischemic mouse brain, G2262748287, G2309174360, G279363373, G300979063, G3022609761, G3480869486, G410571670, G425668148, G430777504, G451917667, G495955088, G5076010763, G5080475149, G5096240177, G5421974903, Magnetic and electronic properties of superconducting and related materials, G5805502524, G5967599077, G6661656023, G708008820, G7634529493, G7731572629, G8888350711, G8900230752, G99296377
OpenAlex ID: W4404136298