Tacrolimus, a potential neuroprotective agent, ameliorates ischemic brain damage and neurologic deficits after focal cerebral ischemia in nonhuman primates.

Abstract

Tacrolimus (FK506), an immunosuppressive drug, is known to have potent neuroprotective activity and attenuate cerebral infarction in experimental models of stroke. Here we assess the neuroprotective efficacy of tacrolimus in a nonhuman primate model of stroke, photochemically induced thrombotic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in cynomolgus monkeys. In the first experiment, tacrolimus (0.01, 0.032, or 0.1 mg/kg) was intravenously administered immediately after MCA occlusion, and neurologic deficits and cerebral infarction volumes were assessed 24 hours after the ischemic insult. Tacrolimus dose-dependently reduced neurologic deficits and infarction volume in the cerebral cortex, with statistically significant amelioration of neurologic deficits at 0.032 and 0.1 mg/kg and significant reduction of infarction at 0.1 mg/kg. In the second experiment, the long-term efficacy of tacrolimus on neurologic deficits and cerebral infarction was assessed. Vehicle-treated monkeys exhibited persistent and severe deficits in motor and sensory function for up to 28 days. A single intravenous bolus injection of tacrolimus (0.1 or 0.2 mg/kg) produced long-lasting amelioration of neurologic deficits and significant reduction of infarction volume. In conclusion, we have provided compelling evidence that a single dose of tacrolimus not only reduces brain infarction but also ameliorates long-term neurologic deficits in a nonhuman primate model of stroke, strengthening the view that tacrolimus might be beneficial in treating stroke patients.

• Authors: Yasuhisa Furuichi, Masashi Maeda, Akira Moriguchi, Taiji Sawamoto, Akio Kawamura, Nobuya Matsuoka, Seitaro Mutoh, Takehiko Yanagihara
• Journal: Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism (J Cereb Blood Flow Metab) Vol. 23 Issue 10 Pg. 1183-94 (Oct 2003) ISSN: 0271-678X [Print] United States
• PMID: 14526229 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Neuroprotective Agents
• Tacrolimus

Topics

• Animals
• Blood Pressure (drug effects)
• Brain Ischemia (drug therapy, pathology, physiopathology)
• Cerebrovascular Circulation (drug effects)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Heart Rate (drug effects)
• Immunosuppressive Agents (blood, pharmacokinetics)
• Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery (drug therapy, pathology, physiopathology)
• Macaca fascicularis
• Male
• Neurologic Examination
• Neuroprotective Agents (blood, pharmacokinetics)
• Recovery of Function (drug effects)
• Tacrolimus (blood, pharmacokinetics)