Study summary · research use only
Semax and Pro-Gly-Pro activate the transcription of neurotrophins and their receptor genes after cerebral ischemia
Plain-language summary
Paraphrased from the published abstract below — not a verdict on whether anything works.
In this rat study, the authors examined whether Semax (an ACTH(4-7) fragment with a C-terminal Pro-Gly-Pro tripeptide) and Pro-Gly-Pro (PGP) activate transcription of neurotrophins and their receptor genes after cerebral ischemia. Rat brains were analyzed at three time points following permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). The abstract reports that both Semax and PGP activated transcription of neurotrophins and their receptors in the cortex of pMCAO rats, with partially overlapping profiles. Semax enhanced transcription of Bdnf, TrkC, and TrkA 3 h after occlusion, Nt-3 and Ngf 24 h after, and Ngf 72 h after; PGP enhanced Bdnf and TrkC 3 h after and Ngf, TrkB, TrkC, and TrkA 24 h after. The authors state Semax selectively affected transcription in ischemic cortex, whereas PGP's influence was mainly unspecific.
Abstract
Consisting of a fragment of ACTH(4-7) and C-terminal PGP tripeptide, the polypeptide Semax is successfully used for acute stroke therapy. Previous experiments showed rapid induction of Bdnf, Ngf, and TrkB expression in intact rat hippocampus following Semax treatment. To investigate the mRNA expression of neurotrophins and their receptors after treatment with either Semax or PGP, the rat brains were analyzed at three time points following a permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO). We have shown for the first time that both Semax and PGP activate the transcription of neurotrophins and their receptors in the cortex of rats subjected to pMCAO. The profiles of transcription alteration under PGP and Semax treatment were partially overlapped. Semax enhanced the transcription of Bdnf, TrkC, and TrkA 3 h after occlusion, Nt-3 and Ngf 24 h after occlusion, and Ngf 72 h after occlusion. PGP enhanced the transcription of Bdnf and TrkC 3 h after pMCAO and Ngf, TrkB, TrkC, and TrkA 24 h after pMCAO. The analysis of the transcription alterations under PGP and Semax treatment in the cortex of rats without surgery, sham-operated rats and rats subjected to pMCAO revealed that Semax selectively affected the transcription of neurotrophins and their receptors in the ischemic rat cortex, whereas the influence of PGP was mainly unspecific.
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