Neurosteroids: A novel promise for the treatment of stroke and post‐stroke complications. Issue 1 (21st September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Xu, Jiawei; Zhou, Yunxiang; Yan, Caochong; Wang, Xiaoyu; Lou, Jianyao; Luo, Yi; Gao, Shiqi; Wang, Junjie; Wu, Liang; Gao, Xiangfu; Shao, Anwen
• Other Names: Chen Yujie guestEditor.
• Is Part Of: Journal of neurochemistry. Volume 160:Issue 1(2022)
• Page Start: 113
• Page End: 127
• Publication Date: 2021-09-21
• Subjects: neurosteroids -- post‐stroke complications -- stroke -- stroke therapy; Neurochemistry -- Periodicals; 616.8042
• DOI: 10.1111/jnc.15503
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3042

Abstract

Abstract: Stroke is the primary reason for death and disability worldwide, with few treatment strategies to date. Neurosteroids, which are natural molecules in the brain, have aroused great interest in the field of stroke. Neurosteroids are a kind of steroid that acts on the nervous system, and are synthesized in the mitochondria of neurons or glial cells using cholesterol or other steroidal precursors. Neurosteroids mainly include estrogen, progesterone (PROG), allopregnanolone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and vitamin D (VD). Most of the preclinical studies have confirmed that neurosteroids can decrease the risk of stroke, and improve stroke outcomes. In the meantime, neurosteroids have been shown to have a positive therapeutic significance in some post‐stroke complications, such as epilepsy, depression, anxiety, cardiac complications, movement disorders, and post‐stroke pain. In this review, we report the historical background, modulatory mechanisms of neurosteroids in stroke and post‐stroke complications, and emphasize on the application prospect of neurosteroids in stroke therapy. Abstract : Stroke is the primary reason for death and disability worldwide, with few treatment strategies to date. A number of preclinical studies have confirmed that neurosteroids can decrease the risk of stroke, and improve stroke outcomes. Neurosteroids bind to nuclear receptors and membrane receptors to exert classical gene transcriptional regulation and nongenomic signaling cascade processes, respectively. In this Review article, we report the historical background, modulatory mechanisms of neurosteroids in stroke and post‐stroke complications, and emphasize on the application prospect of neurosteroids in stroke therapy. The graphic represents the release of neurosteroids by a solid line, whereas its effects are indicated by a dashed line.