Spider protein could protect against stroke damage

Researchers have discovered a small protein in spider venom that could protect the brain from stroke-induced injury. The study was conducted by The University of Queensland (UQ) and Monash University and published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

The study authors noted that stroke is the second-leading cause of death worldwide, with six million deaths and five million left with a permanent disability.

“Moreover, the neuronal damage caused by stroke often triggers a progressive decline in cognitive function that doubles the risk of dementia for stroke survivors,” the researchers wrote.

“Despite this massive global disease burden, there are no approved drugs for treating the neuronal injury caused to the brain by the oxygen deprivation occurring during an ischemic stroke.”

Now, a research team led by UQ’s Professor Glenn King has found that the funnel web spider venom peptide Hi1a can be used to block acid-sensing ion channels in the brain, which are key drivers of brain damage after stroke.

“During preclinical studies,” said Professor King, “we found that a single dose of Hi1a administered up to eight hours after stroke protected brain tissue and drastically improved neurological performance.

“Hi1a even provides some protection to the core brain region most affected by oxygen deprivation, which is generally considered unrecoverable due to the rapid cell death caused by stroke.”

Professor King said the discovery will help provide better outcomes for stroke survivors by limiting brain damage and disability, with the eight hours of protection offering “a remarkably long window of opportunity for treatment”. His comments were reiterated by Professor Stephen Davis AM, director of The Royal Melbourne Hospital’s Melbourne Brain Centre.

“A safe and effective neuroprotectant could be given in the ambulance to most stroke patients before hospital arrival and enable many more stroke victims to be treated,” Professor Davis said.

The researchers are currently seeking financial support to fast-track their stroke therapy towards clinical trials, said Professor King, in the hope that their results can be successfully translated.

Image courtesy of Alan Couch under CC BY 2.0