Therapeutics: Activated protein C (APC)

Mouse studies suggest human neuronal stem cell (NSC) grafts combined with the human APC variant 3K3A-APC could help treat stroke. In a mouse model of middle cerebral artery occlusion, transplants of human fetal NSCs plus 3K3A-APC increased graft survival and proliferation, neurogenesis, motor and sensorimotor function and axonal projection to the stroke-damaged region compared with NSC transplant plus vehicle. Also in the model, five weeks post-treatment, the NSC transplants plus 3K3A-APC increased neuronal activity in response to forelimb mechanical stimulation, a measure of recovery. Next steps could include testing the combination of NSC grafts and 3K3A-APC in other models of stroke and neuronal loss...