2025/10/01 by Aman P. Mann, Sazid Hussain, Pablo Scodeller +4 · 2 voices
Medicine · Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology · #Traumatic Brain Injury and Neurovascular Disturbances #S100 Proteins and Annexins #Neonatal Respiratory Health Research
paper · doi:10.1038/s44321-025-00312-5
openalex publication_date 2025/10/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/29
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a major clinical problem because of the high incidence and the severity of the subsequent sequelae. Despite extensive efforts, there are no therapeutic drugs clinically approved for treating acute TBI patients. To address this unmet need, we assessed the activity of the tetrapeptide, CAQK, in mice. When administered intravenously shortly after moderate or severe TBI, CAQK accumulates in the injured brain in mice and pigs. CAQK binds to an extracellular matrix glycoprotein complex that is upregulated in injured brain. Treatment of TBI mice with CAQK resulted in reduction in the size of the injury compared to control mice. There was reduced upregulation of the glycoprotein complex, less apoptosis, and lower expression of inflammatory markers in the injured area, indicating that CAQK alleviates neuroinflammation and the ensuing secondary injury. CAQK treatment also improved functional deficit in TBI mice, with no overt toxicity. Our findings suggest that CAQK may have therapeutic applications in TBI.