Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 21, Issue 18, 2014

Thrombomodulin (TM) is a membrane protein mainly expressed by endothelial cells. It is part of the anticoagulant protein C system but recently several effects were discovered which occur independently of protein C activation. TM binds thrombin and promotes the cleavage of protein C and the thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), thereby inhibiting coagulation and fibrinolysis. Additionally, it interferes with inflamm Read More

The neurovascular unit is now well accepted as a conceptual framework for investigating the mechanisms of ischemic stroke. From a molecular and cellular perspective, three broad mechanisms may underlie stroke pathophysiology – excitotoxicity, oxidative stress and inflammation. To date, however, most investigations of these basic mechanisms have focused on neuronal responses. In this mini-review, we ask whether thes Read More

Stroke is a leading cause of human mortality and disability where most cases of stroke are ischemic. The central nervous system (CNS) is extremely vulnerable to ischemic stroke particularly due to its unique ability: synaptic transmission. Not only does elaborate synaptic transmission consume extravagant energy that constrains neuronal viability under ischemic conditions, but glutamate, the most predominant neurotransmitter Read More

Role of calcium ion (Ca2+) in the functioning of neurons from their naive state to mature state is of vital importance. It controls functions such as neuronal functioning, neuronal ATP production, central nervous system migration and many others. Failure in Ca2+ homeostasis mechanisms and the resulting cellular Ca2+ ion load initiates a cascade of reactions involving various cytosolic enzymes and proteins. This total mechanis Read More

Stroke is a frequent cause of long-term disability and death worldwide. Ischemic stroke is more commonly encountered compared to hemorrhagic stroke, and leads to tissue death by ischemia due to occlusion of a cerebral artery. Inflammation is known to result as a result of ischemic injury, long thought to be involved in initiating the recovery and repair process. However, work over the past few decades indicates that aspect Read More

The evolution of ischemic brain damage is strongly affected by an inflammatory reaction that involves soluble mediators, such as cytokines and chemokines, and specialized cells activated locally or recruited from the periphery. The immune system affects all phases of the ischemic cascade, from the acute intravascular reaction due to blood flow disruption, to the development of brain tissue damage, repair and regeneration. Read More