Mitochondria as a target for neuroprotection

Abstract

Despite all the efforts of modern medical and biomedical sciences, the effective therapeutic treatments that would restore the brain functions lost after stroke have not been found yet. At the same time, experimental preclinical studies revealed an arsenal of effectors having potential for clinical applications. Identification of the key signaling pathways, both damaging and protective, can accelerate the development and implementation of new effective neuroprotectors. One of the key elements of these pathways is mitochondrion. In this context, we studied various therapeutic approaches to the treatment and prevention of cerebral ischemia, which are aimed at modulation of mitochondrial functions. The spectrum of tested neuroprotectors included antioxidants, uncouplers of respiration and phosphorylation, as well as ischemic, remote, and pharmacological preconditioning. Their efficacy and therapeutic windows were compared and the possibility of combining different methods in order to maximize their efficiency was considered.