Study identifies potential therapy for disease affecting preemies

Study identifies potential therapy for disease affecting preemies
Credit: stock.adobe.com

One in five very low-birth-weight, premature infants suffers a life-threatening brain hemorrhage, often originating in a vital region known as the germinal matrix. In a recently published study in the journal Developmental Cell, Yale researchers identified a protein that lessens the hemorrhaging in embryonic mice, and they say could potentially serve as a therapy in affected humans.

To better understand the hemorrhage disorder, the Yale team studied embryonic mice models lacking a key gene (Alk5) in pericytes—cells that contribute to the walls of small blood vessels in the brain. They first observed that mutant embryonic mice lacking this gene in pericytes develop the condition known as germinal matrix hemorrhage. Interestingly, said the researchers, the deleterious effects of gene deletion were primarily on endothelial cells, which form the inner lining of . In the mutant mice, communication between pericytes and failed, leading to abnormal vessel dilation and hemorrhage.

Through their experiments, the researchers also identified a protein (TIMP3) that is regulated by Alk5. By injecting this protein into the , they were able to compensate for the missing gene and dramatically lessen bleeding.

More research is needed to confirm the benefits of the protein as therapy. If it bears out, the discovery could also have implications for other conditions involving damage to brain vessels, such as hemorrhagic stroke in adults, the researchers said.

More information: Jui M. Dave et al. Pericyte ALK5/TIMP3 Axis Contributes to Endothelial Morphogenesis in the Developing Brain, Developmental Cell (2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.01.018

Journal information: Developmental Cell
Provided by Yale University
Citation: Study identifies potential therapy for disease affecting preemies (2018, March 13) retrieved 28 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2018-03-potential-therapy-disease-affecting-preemies.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Faults in the blood-brain barrier implicated in dementia

12 shares

Feedback to editors