Protein transduction technology offers novel therapeutic approach for brain ischemia

Transient or permanent reduction in cerebral blood flow following ischemia can lead to severe and irreversible tissue damage to the brain. Emerging biochemical evidence suggests a role for apoptosis in neuronal death following cerebral ischemia. Despite the abundance of studies on the subject, therapeutic interventions for ischemia-related cell injury have so far proved disappointing in clinical trials. Recently, four new, exciting studies reported the use of protein transduction technology to deliver anti-apoptotic molecules to protect neuronal cells following ischemic stroke in vivo. These studies offer new avenues for the treatment and prevention of cell death following brain injuries.