The complement system has an important role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory injury and subsequent recovery following ischemic stroke. In the previous award, we identified complement-dependent mechanisms of post-stroke injury and recovery, and we characterized a set of complement inhibitors that are targeted to neoepitopes expressed in the injured brain following stroke. We also determined that complement inhibition significantly improved the outcomes of rehabilitative therapy and thrombolytic therapy, two standards of care. The work proposed here is a continuation of these mechanistic and therapeutic studies, but with a deeper investigation into how complement and complement inhibition interacts with t-PA and rehabilitation therapy (translationally important), while layered on two major stroke comorbidities; ageing and smoking. Cigarette smoke (a patient modifiable risk factor) and age are associated with a higher risk of mortality, more severe disability, longer hospital stays and worse overall functional recovery in stroke patients, and age is also associated with a poorer response to thrombolytic therapy. Military personnel have a significantly higher rate of smoking than the general U.S. population, and it remains significantly higher among older age Veterans and Veterans with diseases such as PTSD, addiction, and HIV. However, despite continuous recommendations from the Stroke Treatment Academic Industry Roundtable (STAIR) committee and funding bodies, few studies have addressed the mechanisms underlying how these comorbidities contribute to worse outcomes. In four specific aims, we propose to: 1. Determine the effects of age and smoking on acute and chronic complement-dependent neuroinflammation after stroke, and investigate the effect of complement modulation in the setting of age and smoking co-morbidities; 2. Determine how complement and a modified neuroinflammatory response induced by age and cigarette smoke exposure interact with the current standards of care t-PA and rehabilitation therapy; 3. Investigate complement inhibition as a chronic treatment strategy for stroke, and the role of complement in both injury and repair chronically; 4. For translational relevance, investigate the correlation between systemic complement activity and serum levels of IgM antibodies and stroke outcomes in acute stroke patients with co-morbidities.
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and the main cause of long-term disability. The risk of stroke increases significantly with age, and the proportion of Veterans who are older than 65 will continue to increase as veterans from the Vietnam era continue to age. Studies proposed investigate injury and repair mechanisms after stroke, and how these mechanisms are affected by age and cigarette smoke exposure, two major comorbidities relevant to the Veteran population. Studies will also investigate a novel therapeutic approach in aged and cigarette smoke exposed rodents in the context of current standard of care therapies. A clinical study will also be performed to add relevance to the human population.
Showing the most recent 10 out of 19 publications
