Assistant Professor Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University Kyoto, Kyoto, Japan
Abstract: Stroke often results in sequelae such as paralysis, aphasia, and higher brain dysfunction, imposing a significant societal burden. While thrombolytic therapy has shown success in acute-phase treatment, current pharmacological therapies and rehabilitation remain insufficient for post-acute treatment, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Despite promising results in preclinical rodent models, translating these findings to human clinical trials has often proved unsuccessful. To bridge this gap, studies in non-human primates, which have closer anatomical and functional parallels to humans, are essential. In this study, we successfully established a model of perforator infarction in Macaca fascicularis by surgically ablating the perforating branches of the middle cerebral artery, closely replicating human perforator infarction. In human cases, perforator infarction often leads to severe paralysis while preserving higher cognitive functions, making it a potential target for future cell transplantation therapies. Our model exhibits strong paralysis similar to human cases, demonstrating its utility as a valuable platform for drug development.
Funding Source: This work was supported by Grants in research center network for realization of regenerative medicine and gene therapy, Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) and JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 22K09230.
