Lack of cortistatin drives neuroimmune and vascular dysfunction in brain ischemia
Listed in
This article is not in any list yet, why not save it to one of your lists.Abstract
Background
Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability, with limited therapies addressing its pathophysiology. Neuroinflammation, blood–brain barrier disruption, and immune dysregulation critically contribute to both acute neuronal injury and chronic functional decline. Elucidating the endogenous factors that govern these processes and understanding the intricate interplay among them is essential for developing effective therapeutic strategies. Cortistatin, a neuropeptide expressed in the nervous and immune systems, exhibits potent immunomodulatory actions, but its role in neuroinflammatory diseases remains unclear.
Methods
In this study, we combined human and murine transcriptomic analyses with a preclinical stroke model in cortistatin-deficient mice to investigate the endogenous and therapeutic roles of cortistatin during the acute (48 h) and subacute (7 days) phases of ischemic stroke.
Results
We demonstrate for the first time that cortistatin deficiency amplified ischemia-induced transcriptional programs, heightening neuroinflammation and glial/neurovascular dysfunction, and worsening neurological outcomes. Interestingly, cortistatin deficiency accelerated aging-associated pathological features, underscoring its essential role in neuroimmune and cerebrovascular homeostasis. Conversely, cortistatin administration improved neuronal survival, mitigated immune dysfunction, and preserved myelin and vascular integrity during both the acute and subacute stages.
Conclusions
These findings provide the first evidence identifying cortistatin as an endogenous neuroimmune regulator in ischemic stroke and a promising multimodal therapeutic agent for improving acute and long-term outcomes.
Trial registration
Not applicable
