The research findings are published in the May 26 issue of the Journal of Biological Chemistry. The findings say the immunosuppressive drug FK506 (also known as Tacrolimus or Prograf) that is often given to patients receiving transplants to prevent organ rejection has far reaching medical applications.
Researchers believe FK506, and several molecules with similar structures; also demonstrate neuroprotective and neuroregenerative effects in a wide range of animal models mimicking Parkinson's disease, dementia, stroke, and nerve damage.
Currently stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States and the most common cause of adult disability. To date, there is only one approved stroke therapy, tissue plasminogen activator, which targets the thrombus within the blood vessel. Because of the lack of available stroke treatments, neuroprotective agents have also generated as much interest as thrombolytic therapies.
