P7C3-A20 treatment one year after TBI in mice repairs the blood-brain barrier, arrests chronic neurodegeneration, and restores cognition.

ABSTRACT: Chronic neurodegeneration in survivors of traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major cause of morbidity, with no effective therapies to mitigate this progressive and debilitating form of nerve cell death. Here, we report that pharmacologic restoration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), 12 mo after murine TBI, is associated with arrested axonal neurodegeneration and cognitive recovery, benefits that persisted for months after treatment cessation. Recovery was achieved by 30 d of once-daily administration of P7C3-A20, a compound that stabilizes cellular energy levels. Four months after P7C3-A20, electron microscopy revealed full repair of TBI-induced breaks in cortical and hippocampal BBB endothelium. Immunohistochemical staining identified additional benefits of P7C3-A20, including restoration

SUBMITTER: Vazquez-Rosa E 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7959512 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature