Molecular bases of the neuroprotection mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in a brain slice model of oxygen and glucose deprivation

Abstract

Stroke, or cerebrovascular accident, represents one of the leading causes of death worldwide, with high associated economic and social costs. The global burden of stroke and the lack of an effective treatment leads to an urgent identification of new strategies to develop antistroke clinical molecules. In this study, we evaluated the neuroprotective effects of brainderived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) against ischemia. Oxidative stress and cellular communication mediated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) are altered by ischemia/reperfusion and are reported to be highly relevant in the progression of ischemic damage. However, the role of BDNF on these two processes is still uncertain and this study aimed to gain insight into the neuroprotective mechanisms of BDNF against stroke as a potential therapeutic molecule.