title: Neuroprotective Effect of VEGF-Mimetic Peptide QK in Experimental Brain Ischemia Induced in Rat by Middle Cerebral Artery Occlusion.
abstract: We investigated the effect of the VEGF-mimetic peptide, QK, on ischemic brain damage and on blood-brain barrier permeability in the rat. QK administered by the intracerebroventricular, intravenous, or intranasal route caused a 40% decrease in ischemic brain damage induced by permanent occlusion of the middle cerebral artery relative to that in controls. No increase in the volume of the ischemic hemisphere compared to that of the contralateral nonischemic hemisphere was observed in rats treated with QK, suggesting that this peptide did not cause brain edema. The effect of QK on vessel permeability was evaluated by intravital pial microvessel videoimaging, a technique that allows the pial vessels to be visualized through a surgically prepared open cranial window. The results showed that QK did not cause any leakage of intravenously injected fluorescein-dextran conjugates after intracarotid administration or topical application to the brain cortex. Collectively, these data suggest that QK may exert neuroprotective activity in the context of stroke without promoting any increase in vascular permeability. Because VEGF's neuroprotective activity may be overshadowed by the appearance of brain edema and microbleeds, QK could represent a significant step forward in stroke treatment.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pignataro
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, Italian National Research Council (CNR) , 80145 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ziaco
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tortiglione
authors.forename: Rosaria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gala
authors.forename: Ornella
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cuomo
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vinciguerra
authors.forename: Dominga
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lapi
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mastantuono
authors.affiliation: IRCCS SDN , Via Gianturco, 80143 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Serenella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anzilotti
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, Italian National Research Council (CNR) , 80145 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca Domenico
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: D'Andrea
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biostructure and Bioimaging, Italian National Research Council (CNR) , 80145 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedone
authors.forename: Gianfranco
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: di Renzo
authors.affiliation: IRCCS SDN , Via Gianturco, 80143 Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Annunziato
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cataldi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D001929:Brain Edema / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002199:Capillary Permeability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010455:Peptides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011897:Random Allocation; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D010455:Peptides; C531544:QK VEGF mimetic peptide; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
keywords: Cerebral ischemia; brain edema; neuroprotection; vascular endothelial growth factor; vascular permeability