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ISSN:2171-6625
September 18-19, 2017 | Dallas, USA
4th International Conference on
NEUROLOGY AND NEUROIMMUNOLOGY
Modulation of endogenous cholinergic cytoprotection in Ischemic stroke
Victor V Uteshev
University of North Texas Health Science Center, USA
The cholinergic system is essential for maintenance
of cognitive, autonomic and immune homeostasis in
mammals. Pre-clinical studies utilizing rodent models of
ischemic stroke suggest that endogenous cholinergic tone
elevated by injury, infection and/or inflammation serves as a
combinationtherapyaimingatmultiplecellularandmolecular
pathways with converging anti-inflammatory cytoprotective
efficacies. These hardwired endogenous protective
mechanisms can be augmented by cholinergic treatments
including nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists,
positive allosteric modulation and vagus nerve stimulation.
Strategies that augment endogenous cholinergic protective
mechanisms are expected to selectively target ischemic
brain injury with high spatiotemporal precision. The α7
subtype of nAChRs is uniquely positioned as a promising
therapeutic target in ischemic stroke because of the high
anti-inflammatory cytoprotective efficacy of α7 nAChR
activation and the ubiquitous expression of α7 nAChRs in
mammalian neuronal, glial and immune tissues. The injury-
induced endogenous α7-dependent auto-therapy may act
as an important physiological function of these receptors.
Selective cholinergic agents that enhance endogenous
protective mechanisms may hold significant translational
potential.
Speaker Biography
Victor V Uteshev has made the long-term goal of his laboratory to help develop
clinically useful drug therapies that will ameliorate or even restore cognitive and
autonomic functions in patients with age-, disease- and trauma-related impairments.
His research concentrates on the positive effects chemicals such as nicotine may have
on the brain – as in enhancing cognitive performance and resistance to brain injury,
particularly in aging patients and people who have high risk for stroke and traumatic
brain injury. He is focusing on compounds that are similar to nicotine but can bring
mostly positive effects. In many diseases and pathological conditions, the brain
doesn’t create enough nicotine receptors and natural compounds that activate these
receptors. In diseases and conditions such as schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s and traumatic
brain injury, the level of activation of nicotine receptors is deficient and cannot support
normal brain function. His team’s goal is to develop clinically tested drug therapies that
can compensate for these deficits and improve or restore cognitive and autonomic
functions in patients with age-, disease- and trauma-related impairments. He also
serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Pharmacology of
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine at Springfield, Ill., where he previously
served as an Assistant Professor.
e:
Victor V Uteshev, J Neurol Neurosci, 8:5
DOI: 10.21767/2171-6625-C1-002