pharmaceuticals Review Prospects of Therapeutic Target and Directions for Ischemic Stroke Jung Hak Kim 1,†, So Young Kim 2,† , Bokyung Kim 3 , Sang Rae Lee 4, Sang Hoon Cha 5,6 and Dong Seok Lee 3 and Hong Jun Lee 1,5,* 1 Research Institute, e-biogen Inc., Seoul 07282, Korea;
[email protected] 2 College of Medicine, Chung-Ang University, Seoul 06974, Korea;
[email protected] 3 BK21 FOUR KNU Creative BioResearch Group, School of Life Sciences, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 41566, Korea;
[email protected] (B.K.);
[email protected] (D.S.L.) 4 Laboratory Animal Research Center, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Ajou University, Suwon 16499, Korea;
[email protected] 5 College of Medicine and Medical Research Institute, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Korea;
[email protected] 6 Department of Radiology, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju 28644, Korea * Correspondence:
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[email protected] † These authors contributed equally to this work. Abstract: Stroke is a serious, adverse neurological event and the third leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Most strokes are caused by a block in cerebral blood flow, resulting in neuro- logical deficits through the death of brain tissue. Recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) is currently the only immediate treatment medication for stroke. The goal of rt-PA administration is to reduce the thrombus and/or embolism via thrombolysis; however, the administration of rt-PA must occur within a very short therapeutic timeframe (3 h to 6 h) after symptom onset. Components Citation: Kim, J.H.; Kim, S.Y.; of the pathological mechanisms involved in ischemic stroke can be used as potential biomarkers Kim, B.; Lee, S.R.; Cha, S.H.; Lee, D.S.; in current treatment.