Apoptosis in perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury: How important is it and should it be inhibited?

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

96 Scopus citations

Abstract

The discovery of safe and effective therapies for perinatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) and stroke remains an unmet goal of perinatal medicine. Hypothermia and antioxidants such as allopurinol are currently under investigation as treatments for neonatal HI. Drugs targeting apoptotic mechanisms are currently being studied in adult diseases such as cancer, stroke, and trauma and have been proposed as potential therapies for perinatal HI and stroke. Before developing antiapoptosis therapies for perinatal brain injury, we must determine whether this form of cell death plays an important role in these injuries and if the inhibition of these pathways promotes more benefit than harm. This review summarizes current evidence for apoptotic mechanisms in perinatal brain injury and addresses issues pertinent to the development of antiapoptosis therapies for perinatal HI and stroke.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)244-257
Number of pages14
JournalBrain Research Reviews
Volume50
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 15 2005

Keywords

  • Cell death continuum
  • Excitotoxicity
  • Hypoxia-ischemia
  • Perinatal brain injury
  • Programmed cell death
  • Stroke

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurology

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