Treatment to limit brain damage created

A method to aid patient’s recovery from brain damage, minimising life threatening infections has been found by scientists in Wales.

It is claimed more than one million people in the UK are admitted every year to hospital because of a brain injury. Brain inflammation is exacerbated by the complement system, part of the innate immune system.

Professor Claire Harris, from Cardiff University, said: "When tissue is injured in an accident, this part of our immune system sees the tissue as 'foreign' and responds in an inappropriate way to make the damage even worse.”

Scientists created a ‘homing agent’ injected into mice after traumatic brain injury. The agent attaches to the area where tissue has been damaged and also inhibits the complement system, reducing inflammation and aiding recovery.

Professor Harris continued: “Widespread blocking of this part of the immune system after traumatic brain injury helps damaged brain tissue to survive and improves neurological recovery in mice. Unfortunately, this treatment approach could be harmful to humans because complement is essential for fighting infections - that's why this homing agent is so significant.

“We have engineered a drug which combines two different activities in one molecule. One arm 'targets' the drug to the site of tissue damage, thus concentrating the therapy exactly where it is most needed, and the second arm (CD59) inhibits a specific part of the complement system which would drive further damage if left unchecked.”

The findings could be “life-changing” for patients with head injuries if the findings could be translated into humans, said Professor Harris.

The findings were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.