Novel system of pharmacological evaluation for the development of neuroprotective drugs based on the regulation of neutrophil phenotypes

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16K15204
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: General pharmacology
• Research Institution: Kumamoto University
• Principal Investigator: KATSUKI Hiroshi 熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部(薬), 教授 (40240733)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): SEKI Takahiro 熊本大学, 大学院生命科学研究部, 准教授 (50335650)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 好中球 / 脳卒中 / 神経保護 / 炎症性サイトカイン

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The present study established an experimental system to analyze interactions between neutrophils and brain tissues by utilizing HL-60 cells and organotypic rat brain tissue cultures. In this experimental system, neutrophils were found to exhibit pro-inflammatory phenotypes in response to hemorrhagic brain tissue injury. The present study also revealed that inhibition of the production or the actions of leukotriene B4 mitigated pathogenic events associated with intracerebral hemorrhage. Moreover, nicotine, which inhibited neutrophil infiltration in response to putaminal hemorrhage, was found to exert neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects on a mouse model of subcortical hemorrhage, suggesting that neutrophil regulation could be a versatile therapeutic strategy for hemorrhagic brain injury.

Free Research Field

神経薬理学