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(Hypertension. 2006;47:642.)
© 2006 American Heart Association, Inc.

Editorial Commentaries

New Paradigm for Brain Protection After Stroke

Masaki Mogi; Masaru Iwai; Masatsugu Horiuchi

From the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Division of Medical Biochemistry and Cardiovascular Biology, Ehime University School of Medicine, Tohon, Ehime, Japan.

Correspondence to Masatsugu Horiuchi, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Division of Medical Biochemistry and Cardiovascular Biology, Ehime University School of Medicine, Shitsukawa, Tohon, Ehime 791-0295, Japan. E-mail horiuchi@m.ehime-u.ac.jp

An extract of the first 250 words of the full text is provided, because this article has no abstract.

Poor cognitive performance significantly impairs social interaction and the quality of life of patients after a stroke. However, once there is a cognitive decline, little can be done therapeutically to reverse the symptoms. In this issue of Hypertension, Shimamura et al¹ reported that gene therapy with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) into the brain using hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-envelope vector based on their previous report² prevented the impairment of learning and memory in the chronic stage of cerebral infarction. Shimamura et al reported that the mechanisms of HGF-mediated inhibition of cognitive loss are as follows: (1) HGF enhances neuron extension and synaptogenesis through one of the Rho family GTPases, Cdc42; (2) it prevents glial scar formation with an influence on astrocytes demonstrated by GFAP immunoreactivity; and (3) it increases microvessels in the penumbra. HGF is a polypeptide growth factor that acts by binding to the Met tyrosine kinase receptor. The HGF/Met system plays significant roles in central nervous system development as a chemoattractant and survival factor for embryonic motor neurons.³ HGF is reported to have greater efficacy as a short-term survival factor compared with other neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor and ciliary neurotrophic factor.^4–6 Therefore, this new finding provides a potential powerful tool for a therapeutic option to prevent cognitive decline after stroke.

Recently, a phase I trial of ex vivo nerve growth factor gene delivery, implanting autologous fibroblasts genetically modified to express human nerve growth factor into the forebrain, in patients with mild Alzheimer disease has . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Related Article:

Gene Transfer of Hepatocyte Growth Factor Gene Improves Learning and Memory in the Chronic Stage of Cerebral Infarction

Munehisa Shimamura, Naoyuki Sato, Satoshi Waguri, Yasuo Uchiyama, Takuya Hayashi, Hidehiro Iida, Toshikazu Nakamura, Toshio Ogihara, Yasufumi Kaneda, and Ryuichi Morishita
Hypertension 2006 47: 742-751. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]