Consideration of Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Hydrocephalus

Abstract

Hydrocephalus is a devastating condition characterized by excess cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain. Currently, the only effective treatment is surgical intervention, usually involving shunt placement, a procedure prone to malfunction, blockage, and infection that requires additional, often repetitive, surgeries. There are no long-term pharmaceutical treatments for hydrocephalus. To initiate an intelligent drug design, it is necessary to understand the biochemical changes underlying the pathology of this chronic condition. One potential commonality in the various forms of hydrocephalus is an imbalance in fluid–electrolyte homeostasis. The choroid plexus, a complex tissue found in the brain ventricles, is one of the most secretory tissues in the body, producing approximately 500 mL of CSF per day in an adult human. In this manuscript, two key transport proteins of the choroid plexus epithelial cells, transient receptor potential vanilloid 4 and sodium, potassium, 2 chloride co-transporter 1, will be considered. Both appear to play key roles in CSF production, and their inhibition or genetic manipulation has been shown to affect CSF volume. As with most transporters, these proteins are regulated by kinases. Therefore, specific kinase inhibitors are also potential targets for the development of pharmaceuticals to treat hydrocephalus.

Document Details

Document Type
Pub Defense Publication
Publication Date
Apr 03, 2023
Source ID
10.3390/ijms24076673

Entities

People

  • Bonnie Blazer-Yost

Organizations

  • Hydrocephalus Association
  • United States Department of Defense

Tags

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Cellular and Molecular Pathways of Apoptosis.
  • Neurotrauma and Rehabilitation Medicine.

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology