Affiliations: [a]
Neurology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| [b]
Neurology, The People’s Hospital of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, China
| [c] Geriatrics, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| [d]
Dermatology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| [e]
Key Laboratory of Immunodermatology, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Shenyang, China
| [f]
Cardiology, The Shengjing Affiliated Hospital, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
Abstract: Stroke often leads to neuronal injury and neurological functional deficits. Whilst spontaneous neurogenesis and axon regeneration are induced by ischemic stroke, effective pharmacological treatments are also essential for the improvement of neuroplasticity and functional recovery after stroke. However, no pharmacological therapy has been demonstrated to be able to effectively improve the functional recovery after stroke. Bumetanide is a specific Na+-K+-Cl– co-transporter inhibitor which can maintain chloride homeostasis in neurons. Therefore, many studies have focused on this drug’s effect in stroke recovery in recent years. Here, we first review the function of Na+-K+-Cl– co-transporter in neurons, then how bumetanide’s role in reducing brain damage, promoting neuroplasticity, leading to functional recovery after stroke, is elucidated. Finally, we discuss current limitations of bumetanide’s efficiency and their potential solutions. These results may provide new avenues for further exploring mechanisms of post-stroke functional recovery as well as promising therapeutic targets for functional disability rehabilitation after ischemic stroke.
