Blocking Ephrin-A5 Spurs Recovery from Stroke in Mouse Model

Results published in the July 25, 2012, online edition of the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA (PNAS) revealed that damage to the brain induced ephrin-A5 production in reactive astrocytes where it acted as an inhibitor of axonal sprouting and motor recovery. Blocking ephrin-A5 signaling using a unique tissue delivery system induced the formation of a new pattern of axonal projections in motor, premotor, and prefrontal circuits and mediated recovery after stroke in the mice through these new projections. Combined blockade of ephrin-A5 and forced use of the affected limb promoted new and surprisingly widespread axonal projections within the entire cortical hemisphere on the same side of the body as the stroke.

If duplicated in humans, drugs to block ephrin-A5 activity could pave the way for a more rapid recovery from stroke and may allow a synergy with existing treatments, such as physical therapy.

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University of California, Los Angeles