Chances of disability among survivors of hemorrhage are high, especially when it comes to long-term neurological deficits. Now, doctors have weighed the potential of a protein to treat this condition.

The protein in focus is called cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF), which has a demonstrated history of reducing Endoplasmic Reticulum stress, and is being tested for restorative treatment to neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. Researchers from the Brain Repair Laboratory, University of Helsinki, forged an international collaboration with their Taiwanese colleagues to find out whether the protein shows favorable outcomes in treating brain bleed.

The authors found a streak of hope in the research after administering CDNF in an animal model of a brain hemorrhage. The research showed the component speeds up hemorrhagic lesion resolution, reduces brain swelling, and improves brain functioning, according to the scientific study published in Cell Death and Disease.

“Surprisingly, we found that cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor acts on immune cells in the bleeding brain, by increasing anti-inflammatory mediators and suppressing the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokines that are responsible for cell signaling. This is a significant step towards the treatment of injuries caused by a brain hemorrhage, for which we currently have no cure,” Professor Mikko Airavaara, from the University of Helsinki, said in a news release on the findings.

Dr. Vassileios Stratoulias from the Brain Repair laboratory said in simple terms, all CDNF does is encourage immune cells in the brain to consume and remove the waste and debris produced by the brain after an intracerebral hemorrhage, which facilitates brain recovery.

Brain bleeding occurs within the meninges, which is located inside the skull, but outside the actual brain tissue. Intracerebral hemorrhage, alternatively called hemorrhage, is a type of brain bleeding, which occurs anywhere between lobes, pons and cerebellum of the brain.

"It's interesting to note that after a bleeding episode, the brain contains a lot of waste and debris. Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor encourages immune cells in the brain to consume and remove the waste and debris, which is essential for the brain’s recovery!” he said.

The administration of cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor also helped mitigate cell stress in the area that surrounds the hematoma, a swelling resulting from blood clotting at the site of blood vessel damage.

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