Targeting Complement C3a Receptor to Improve Outcome After Ischemic Brain Injury

• Ischemic stroke is a major cause of disability. No efficient therapy is currently available, except for the removal of the occluding blood clot during the first hours after symptom onset. Loss of function after stroke is due to cell death in the infarcted tissue, cell dysfunction in the peri-infarct region, as well as dysfunction and neurodegeneration in remote brain areas. Plasticity responses in spared brain regions are a major contributor to functional recovery, while secondary neurodegeneration in remote regions is associated with depression and impedes the long-term outcome after stroke. Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy due to birth asphyxia is the leading cause of neurological disability resulting from birth complications. Despite major progress in neonatal care, approximately 50% of survivors develop complications such as mental retardation, cerebral palsy or epilepsy. The C3a receptor (C3aR) is expressed by many cell types including neurons and glia. While there is a body of evidence for its deleterious effects in the acute phase after ischemic injury to the adult brain, C3aR signaling contributes to better outcome in the post-acute and chronic phase after ischemic stroke in adults and in the ischemic immature brain. Here we discuss recent insights into the novel roles of C3aR signaling in the ischemic brain with focus on the therapeutic opportunities of modulating C3aR activity to improve the outcome after ischemic stroke and birth asphyxia.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

C3a

C3a receptor

The complement system

Brain ischemia

Ischemic

stroke

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy

Birth asphyxia

Neural

plasticity

Neuroprotection

Recovery

fibrillary acidic protein

focal cerebral-ischemia

c5a anaphylatoxins

peptide c3a

mouse model

secondary neurodegeneration

therapeutic

target

neural plasticity

hypoxia-ischemia

rat model

Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

Neurosciences & Neurology

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)