LEX032, a novel recombinant serpin, protects the brain after transient focal ischemia.

Abstract

This investigation examined the effectiveness of a serine protease inhibitor (LEX032) when used as a cerebral protective agent after ischemia. Focal cerebral ischemia in the rat was produced by intravascular occlusion of the middle cerebral artery for a period of 30 min. Just prior to thread withdrawal (i.e., reperfusion), rats received an iv bolus administration of either vehicle or LEX032 (50 mg/kg), an optimal dose chosen based on previous studies. Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP's) were monitored prior to, during, and for a period of 60 min after removal of occlusion. The animals were allowed to recover for 24 h after the ischemic insult. Cortical activity in the occluded region, as assessed by SSEPs, returned much sooner in the LEX032-treated animals (10 +/- 6 min) than in the untreated animals (40 +/- 25 min). On a scale ranging from 0 to 3, with three indicating the most severely injured, the LEX032 animals had a significantly better neurologic score (1.0 +/- 0.9) than the untreated animals (2.3 +/- 0.5) 24 h after ischemia. The improved neurobehavior was related to a 55% reduction in brain injury as assessed by TTC staining. LEX032-treated animals had significantly (P < 0.01) smaller infarcts (115 +/- 40 mm3) compared to vehicle-treated animals (263 +/- 13 mm3). In a separate group of animals (n = 6/group), leukocyte infiltration, as evaluated by tissue myeloperoxidase activity (MPO U/g tissue wt), was also significantly (P < 0.05) lower in the LEX032-treated animals (1.4 +/- 0.3) compared to vehicle-treated animals (3.6 +/- 0.7). This data demonstrates that LEX032 reduces brain injury and suggests that serine protease inhibitors may reduce ischemia/reperfusion injury by decreasing leukocyte activation and migration.

• Authors: Michael Weaver, Karin Leshley, Howard Sands, Kurt R Gritman, Jeffrey J Legos, Ronald F Tuma
• Journal: Microvascular research (Microvasc Res) Vol. 63 Issue 3 Pg. 327-34 (May 2002) ISSN: 0026-2862 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11969309 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: (c) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

Chemical References

• LEX 032
• Protease Inhibitors
• Recombinant Proteins
• Serpins
• Peroxidase

Topics

• Animals
• Brain (pathology)
• Brain Ischemia
• Cell Adhesion
• Cell Movement
• Evoked Potentials
• Humans
• Neutrophils (enzymology)
• Peroxidase (biosynthesis, metabolism)
• Protease Inhibitors (metabolism)
• Rats
• Rats, Sprague-Dawley
• Recombinant Proteins (pharmacology)
• Reperfusion Injury (prevention & control)
• Serpins (metabolism, pharmacology)
• Temperature
• Time Factors