Neuroprotection in Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury Targeting Glial Cells

Abstract

Brain injury constitutes a disabling health condition of several etiologies. One of the major causes of brain injury is hypoxia-ischemia. Until recently, pharmacological treatments were solely focused on neurons. In the last decades, glial cells started to be considered as alternative targets for neuroprotection. Novel treatments for hypoxia-ischemia intend to modulate reactive forms of glial cells, and/or potentiate their recovery response. In this review, we summarize these neuroprotective strategies in hypoxia-ischemia and discuss their mechanisms of action.

Keywords: brain injury; glial cells; hypoxia-ischemia; neuroprotection; pharmacological treatments.