β-blocker drugs: Propranolol may repair vascular malformations in the brain!

β-blocker drugs: Propranolol may repair vascular malformations in the brain!   A research report titled “Propranolol Reduces the Development of Lesions and Rescues Barrier Function in Cerebral Cavernous Malformations” was published in the international magazine Stroke, from Upp Scientists at Sara University and other institutions have discovered through research that beta blockers may help repair abnormal blood vessels in the brain.

The drug Propranolol (Propranolol) is an effective drug for the treatment of infantile hemangioma (strawberry nevus resembling a birthmark), and it can also be used to treat cerebral cavernous hemangioma, the main feature of this disease is the brain And other parts will appear vascular malformations.

Researcher Peetra Magnusson pointed out that so far, there is no effective drug treatment for this kind of patients, so the results of this article are particularly important, because they may be expected to help develop new therapies for the treatment of cerebral cavernous hemangioma. Cerebral cavernous malformations (CCMs, Cerebral cavernous malformations) are also called cavernous hemangioma or cavernous tumors, which are vascular lesions that occur in the brain and other parts of the body and are caused by genetic changes, which may be Inheritance may also arise spontaneously.

At present, surgical removal of these lesions is the only possible treatment method. However, surgical intervention on the brain is very dangerous. In addition, due to the recurrence of vascular malformations in genetic diseases, there is an urgent need for researchers to develop targeted treatments. Medications for CCMs.

Image source: Joppe Oldenburg

The drug propranolol is a beta blocker. Its main uses include the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. However, it can also be used to treat hemangioma, which is the most common vascular malformation in children. And there are some signs that this drug seems to be very effective for treating cerebral cavernous hemangioma (CCMs). In this latest study, researchers through a joint study revealed the molecular mechanism of the drug propranolol affecting the appearance of vascular disease in CCMs.

Researcher Magnusson pointed out that we analyzed the vascular malformations in the mouse brain, which corresponded to the human genetic form of the disease, that is, showing cerebral cavernous hemangioma; the researchers added the drug propranyl to the water that the mice drank Lohr, at the same time, observed that cerebral cavernous hemangioma will become less and smaller;

at the same time, the vascular function of the mouse body will be significantly improved, and the frequency of vascular leakage events will be reduced, and the blood vessel cells Communication has also been significantly improved.

The dose of propranolol given to mice is equivalent to the dose used to treat human diseases. In the article, the researchers used electron microscopy to analyze in detail the molecular mechanism of the drug’s effect on CCMs.

Finally, the researcher Elisabetta Dejana said that the most interesting point of this study is that the researchers are currently conducting a clinical study in Italy, that is, to allow CCMs patients to receive the two-year drug propranolol treatment; during this period, through the treatment of blood vessels Using magnetic resonance imaging technology for monitoring, researchers can understand the development of vascular malformations in the brains of mice.

(source:internet, reference only)

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