Traumatic Brain Injury: Discovery of Two Molecules could lead to new Drug Treatments

Rutgers University

A Rutgers-led team of scientists have been able to identify two molecules that promote a full recovery after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) in mice. There are currently no drugs that work on patients to restore memory. All approaches so far for treating TBI have been trying to prevent degeneration or promote survival. But in this study, researchers have studied the protein cypin, and enzyme that breaks down guanine and found that cypin is involved in promoting the proper shape in neurons. They found that by speeding the breakdown of guanine up, it ends up protecting neurons and encourages brain functioning. 

This could lead to new drugs being developed that could potentially be used as treatment for TBI. The team wants to do more studies to become conclusive in this being a possibility in the future. 

 

source: Traumatic brain injury: Discovery of two molecules could lead to new drug treatments: Ten-year study shows promising results." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 26 July 2018. <www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/07/180726161051.htm

related article: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0969996118302882