A New Study Reveals Amniotic Fluid That May Produce Better Therapeutic Option for Ischemic Stroke

A new study of Stem Cells Translational Medicine published today points the way to a plausible new way of treating ischemic stroke.

The research, led by the University of L'Aquila's Annamaria Cimini, Ph.D., and Italy-based D'Annunzio University's Liborio Stuppia, MD, showed how the "secretome of amniotic fluid stem cells could restore neuronal plasticity, enhance cognition and replace neurons impaired or lost because of an occurrence of ischemic stroke.

The researchers' findings may result in a more extensively appropriate stroke treatment that is not pre-empted by a slim therapy window or pre-existing conditions.

Every year, more than five million people worldwide die from stroke, and, according to the World Stroke Organization, "Over 116 million years of healthy life are lost" because of stroke-related mortality and disabilities.

In most stroke incidents, an approximated 87 percent suffer from ischemic stroke, taking place when a vessel that supplies the blood to the brain turns out to be obstructed.

The 'Tissue Plasminogen Activator'

According to the study, the most effective treatment presently being used is a tissue plasminogen activator or t-PA. Nevertheless, to be effective, this particular treatment needs to be given within three hours from the commencement of stroke symptoms, and even then, the rate for the cure is only one in every 10 patients.

Furthermore, t-Pas have their own risks, as well, specifically for people who have bleeding problems history, unmanaged high blood pressure, or recent operation or trauma.

Dr. Cimini explained, "Thrombolytic therapy itself" can result in brain injuries, "namely cerebral ischemia/reperfusion or I/R injury."

I/R injury is among the main reasons for high morbidity, disability, and mortality in the whole world. Meanwhile, reperfusion refers to the process of restoring the blood flow to a tissue or organ, usually following a stroke or heart attack.

In looking for better therapeutic options, stem cells have developed as probable candidates because of their regenerative capabilities.

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Human Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells

This particular research found, human amniotic fluid stem cells or hAFSCs specifically, are interesting since adult stem cells, even following their reprogramming, "Might pass along any pre-existing genetic occurrences," and therefore, signifying a constraint in their application.

hAFCs, on the other hand, provide a clean healing slate. Study authors said, an innovative class of pluripotent stem cells with intermediary features between embryonic and adult stem cells, the hAFSCs could safely differentiate into all tissue types.

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Moreover, the study also specified ethical issues associated with their use are minor as they are "collected during routine amniocentesis, Cesarean section or third-trimester amnio-reduction."

This growing interest in this development over the last 10 years has led scientists to investigate the cells' secretome, encompassing the full set of proteins that cells expressed and secreted into the extracellular space and its probable neuroprotective mechanisms.

In their current research, the research team wanted to identify which signal transduction pathway might be stimulated by hAFSC-derived secretome during the occurrence of stroke.

In addition, they wanted to investigate miRNA expression in the conditioned mechanism. miRNAs existing in exosomes are the immune response's key regulators affecting maturation, proliferation, variation, and activation of immune cells and antibody secretion and emission of inflammatory mediators.

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