FyasAP is a novel protein therapy for stroke damage reduction that may hold hope for humans. Photo: File
OSLO: We know that stroke can be devastating because when a blood clot gets stuck in a cerebral vein, vital parts of the brain begin to rapidly become irreparably damaged by lack of oxygen and blood. In this context, a brand new protein therapy has now been developed that can significantly reduce the damage caused by stroke.
According to scientists from the University of Oslo, the damage caused by a stroke can be reduced by inserting specific proteins after a stroke. A preliminary trial after paralyzing mice a few hours after the stroke has shown promising results that could prevent further deterioration. However, a human trial is still far away.
Adverse brain changes caused by stroke become a lifelong disease, every minute of stroke is devastating to the brain, and the need for brain protective measures after an attack has always been felt. In this therapy we have targeted a blood protein, ‘Factor Seven Activating Protease’ (FSAP),” said Dr Sandeep Kanse, lead researcher.
The amount of FASP in the blood increases after a stroke and its excess has been observed in stroke patients. The scientists wanted to know how the effects of stroke would be if the production of FASP in mice were completely blocked, either genetically or by some other means. But in this case, the experts’ guess turned out to be wrong and the mice’s brains were damaged more.
In the next step, FSAP was injected into the rats by making them paralytic and its positive effects were observed. This is why protein therapy is designed.
Currently, tissue plasminogen activator or TPA, a treatment after acute stroke, is available worldwide, which immediately dissolves clots trapped in the brain tissue and dilates the blood vessels. But it is important to get vaccinated as early as possible, but still only one-third of people benefit from it.
Mice given FSAP with tPA showed significant improvement compared to mice treated with tPA alone. A new protein therapy combined with tPA is expected to prevent further brain damage after stroke. However, more research and trials are needed before human trials.
