Growth Factors for the Treatment of Ischemic Brain Injury (Growth Factor Treatment)

Brain Sciences

Amara Larpthaveesarp²  Donna M. Ferriero¹  Fernando F. Gonzalez² 

[1] Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; E-Mail:;Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; E-Mail:

关键词: stroke;    ischemia;    growth factors;    erythropoietin;    VEGF;    IGF-1;    BDNF;   

DOI  :  10.3390/brainsci5020165

来源: mdpi

【 摘 要 】

In recent years, growth factor therapy has emerged as a potential treatment for ischemic brain injury. The efficacy of therapies that either directly introduce or stimulate local production of growth factors and their receptors in damaged brain tissue has been tested in a multitude of models for different Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases. These growth factors include erythropoietin (EPO), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1), among others. Despite the promise shown in animal models, the particular growth factors that should be used to maximize both brain protection and repair, and the therapeutic critical period, are not well defined. We will review current pre-clinical and clinical evidence for growth factor therapies in treating different causes of brain injury, as well as issues to be addressed prior to application in humans.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.