NEW YORK (Jan. 17, 2008) -- The human brain contains its own store of a powerful enzyme (and stroke drug) called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), which appears to be a key regulator of blood flow to brain cells, a team at the Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City reports.
"We found that this natural tPA boosts blood flow to brain cells via its influence on nitric oxide synthase, which is essential to the production of nitric oxide (NO). NO is a well-known vasodilator -- a drug or chemical that widens blood vessels -- so, more NO means better blood flow to neurons as they become more active," explains study senior author Dr. Costantino Iadecola, the George C. Cotzias Distinguished Professor of Neurology and Neuroscience at Weill Cornell Medical College, and chief of the Division of Neurobiology at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
The findings have just been published in this week's online issue of Proceedings of the National Academies of Science.
Besides elucidating the role of naturally produced tPA in neuronal blood flow, the new findings could have implications for the study of stroke and Alzheimer's disease. Both conditions are associated with marked declines in natural brain levels of tPA.
TPA has become a star of sorts in cardiovascular research over the past two decades, ever since scientists discovered its remarkable ability to break up clots.
"Essentially, tPA, a powerful protease enzyme, cleaves a protein called plasminogen into plasmin, an enzyme that quickly 'eats up' clots," notes study lead author Dr. Laibaik Park, instructor in neuroscience at Weill Cornell. For that reason, doctors often administer a shot of tPA to stroke patients within minutes or hours of an attack.
But other research had also detected tPA occurring naturally in the human brain, with levels of the enzyme rising as brain cell activity increased.
"What really piqued our interest
'/>"/>
| Contact: Andrew Klein ank2017@med.cornell.edu 212-821-0560 New York- Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center/Weill Cornell Medical College Source:Eurekalert |
Related biology news :
1. $13 million federal grant for research into vascular disease awarded to Weill Cornell
2. 2 federal public health grants awarded to Weill Cornell Medical College
3. Drug aimed at 2 bioterror agents blocks live viral infection, Weill Cornell team reports
4. Cornell patents a pink lily look-alike that blooms all summer long
5. Cornell researchers prove how plants transport sugars
6. Cornell researcher seeks clues to how tuberculosis infects cells
7. Wiggle room: Cornell researcher borrows idea from sperm to provide energy for nanoscale robots
8. First symposium of UN University-Cornell Africa Series to be held at UN
9. Cornell will host the Northeast Biofuel Summit, Nov. 11-13
10. CU-Boulder team discovers first ancient manioc fields in Americas
11. deCODE discovers cause of major subtype of glaucoma
| Copyright © 2003-2012 Bio-Medicine. All rights reserved. ABOUT | CONTACT US | DISCLAIMER | PRIVACY POLICY | TERMS AND CONDITIONS |  |