Fingolimod (FTY720) reduces cortical infarction and neurological deficits during ischemic stroke through potential maintenance of microvascular patency.

Fingolimod (FTY720) reduces cortical infarction and neurological deficits during ischemic stroke through potential maintenance of microvascular patency. Curr Neurovasc Res. 2016 Aug 23; Authors: Fluri F, Schuhmann MK, Krstić M, Kleinschnitz C Abstract Fingolimod (FTY720) a functional sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1P1) antagonist reduces infarct volume and improves neurological deficits in different rodent stroke models by modulating inflammatory and immune processes. However, studies on FTY720 regarding its non-immunological efficacy on ischemic cerebral tissue are sparse. Here we investigated whether FTY720 has cytoprotective and restorative properties following ischemic stroke in mice. Male C57Bl/6 mice received FTY720 (1mg/kg) or a vehicle solution intraperitoneally immediately prior to transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO; 30 min.) and 48 hours thereafter. Infarct volume was determined on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images on day 1 and 7 after tMCAO. Motor function was assessed by the ladder rung walking test using a foot fault score. Specific immunostainings were performed to quantify neuronal density, astrocytic reactivity, microvascular density and expression of synaptophysin in the cortical perilesional area on consecutive brain slices. The amount of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was examined using ELISA analyses. Mice given FTY720 revealed a significant reduction in infarct size and less mo...
Source: Current Neurovascular Research - Category: Neurology Authors: Tags: Curr Neurovasc Res Source Type: research