Title:Permeating the Blood Brain Barrier and Abrogating the Inflammation in Stroke: Implications for Stroke Therapy
Volume: 18
Issue: 25
Author(s): Cesar V. Borlongan, Loren E. Glover, P. R. Sanberg and David C. Hess
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Stem cells, transplantation, cerebral palsy, neurotrophic factor, blood brain barrier, mannitol, NF-kB, cell therapy, injured brain, stroke.
Abstract: Cell therapy has been shown as a potential treatment for stroke and other neurological disorders. Human umbilical cord blood
(HUCB) may be a promising source of stem cells for cell therapy. The most desired outcomes occur when stem cells cross the blood
brain barrier (BBB) and eventually reach the injured brain site. We propose, from our previous studies, that mannitol is capable of disrupting
the BBB, allowing the transplanted cells to enter the brain from the periphery. However, when the BBB is compromised, the inflammatory
response from circulation may also be able to penetrate the brain and thus may actually exacerbate the stroke rather than afford
therapeutic effects. We discuss how an NF-kB decoy can inhibit the inflammatory responses in the stroke brain thereby reducing the
negative effects associated with BBB disruption. In this review, we propose the combination of mannitol-induced BBB permeation and
NF-kB decoy for enhancing the therapeutic benefits of cell therapy in stroke.
