title: Cofilin as a Promising Therapeutic Target for Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke.
abstract: Neurovascular unit (NVU) is considered as a conceptual framework for investigating the mechanisms as well as developing therapeutic targets for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke. From a molecular perspective, oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and disruption of the blood brain barrier are broad pathophysiological frameworks on the basis on which potential therapeutic candidates for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke could be discussed. Cofilin is a potent actin-binding protein that severs and depolymerizes actin filaments in order to generate the dynamics of the actin cytoskeleton. Although studies of the molecular mechanisms of cofilin-induced reorganization of the actin cytoskeleton have been ongoing for decades, the multicellular functions of cofilin and its regulation in different molecular pathways are expanding beyond its primary role in actin cytoskeleton. This review focuses on the role of cofilin in oxidative stress, excitotoxicity, inflammation, and disruption of the blood brain barrier in the context of NVU as well as how and why cofilin could be studied further as a potential target for ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.
authors.forename: Qasim
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Alhadidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA.
authors.forename: Muhammad Shahdaat
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Bin Sayeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA. zahoor.shah@utoledo.edu.|Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA. zahoor.shah@utoledo.edu.|Department of Medicinal and Biological Chemistry, Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, University of Toledo, 3000 Arlington Avenue, Toledo, OH, 43614, USA. zahoor.shah@utoledo.edu.
authors.forename: Zahoor A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Shah
mesh_terms: D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D020300:Intracranial Hemorrhages / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D051339:Actin Depolymerizing Factors
keywords: Cofilin; Intracranial hemorrhage; Ischemic stroke; Neurovascular unit