In the U.S., both traumatic brain injuries and strokes represent major health challenges, with over 69,000 TBI-related deaths and more than 795,000 people experiencing strokes annually. A new study by the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences reveals that the Snail protein plays a key role in healing brain injuries. Researchers found that this protein coordinates the response of brain cells after a head injury.
Types of Strokes
This discovery was the subject of a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Nexus on 12 October 2023.
Snail promotes healing after Brain injury
Studying mice with head injuries, the research team found that after a central nervous system injury, a group of microglial cells start producing the Snail protein. Scientists observed that when this molecule is produced in small amounts, inflammation and increased cell death occur in the affected area. “During this process, the lesion worsens instead of improving and there are fewer connections or synapses between brain cells,” the authors say in a press release published on 11 December.
On the other hand, when Snail levels were elevated, brain damage improved. This suggests that this protein may help limit the spread of injury-induced lesions.
“Our results reveal the complex ways in which the brain responds to injury,” explains lead author Dr. Robert Miller of the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. “Snail appears to be a key player in coordinating these responses, opening up promising possibilities for treatments that can minimize injury and improve recovery from neurological injury.”
Snail for the treatment of stroke and other Brain Injuries
The researchers suggest in the study that their discovery could lead to the development of treatments to limit the damage caused by stroke or other brain injuries. However, they caution that it could be years before these drugs are available to patients.
The team also plans to study the effect of Snail protein regulation on diseases such as multiple sclerosis. This neurological condition damages myelin, the protective layer that insulates nerve fibers in the brain. If drugs targeting the Snail protein can be used to stop this damage, many of the disease’s future symptoms could be improved, according to the researchers.
Final Thoughts
The Snail protein’s potential in treating brain conditions is a significant breakthrough, offering hope for numerous neurological disorders. Although it’s not yet ready for clinical use, this discovery is a crucial step forward. Continued research is essential to harness its full potential and bring new, effective treatments to fruition.
References
Fackelmann, K. (2023, December 11). Study Reveals a Protein Called Snail May Play a Role in Healing Brain Injury. School of Medicine and Health Sciences. Retrieved from https://smhs.gwu.edu/news/study-reveals-protein-called-snail-may-play-role-healing-brain-injury
Clarkson-Paredes, C., Karl, M. T., Popratiloff, A., & Miller, R. H. (2023). A unique cell population expressing the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-transcription factor Snail moderates microglial and astrocyte injury responses. PNAS Nexus, 2(10), pgad334. https://doi.org/10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad334
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