Oxidized streptolysin O (OSLO) is initially targeted as a treatment for chronic traumatic brain injury (cTBI), potentially reversing many of the cognition, motor, memory, mood, and personality deficits that define this condition. OSLO functions as a biological signal molecule that helps restore normal cellular communication and downregulate inflammation. Research conducted by Beech Tree Labs has shown that OSLO regulates genes associated with inflammation, scarring, and healing.
OSLO addresses many of the obstacles that have blocked the successful development of other cTBI drug candidates. For example, small molecule drugs typically act on a specific cell receptor as an agonist or antagonist. A biological drug candidate like OSLO is robust, however, as it simultaneously down-regulates genes that cause inflammation as well as up-regulates other genes that are anti-inflammatory in function.
In a mouse study of acute traumatic brain injury conducted at Harvard Medical School, OSLO reduced gliosis (a proliferation of cells leading to scarring) in the treatment group. It was also demonstrated that OSLO helped restore memories in concussed mice to approximately the same level as non-concussed mice at the end of a multi-day treatment and testing period.
In contrast, placebo-treated concussed mice had memories that remained impaired throughout the study. When the mice were sacrificed at the end of the experiment, OSLO-treated concussed mice had reduced levels of microglia cells in brain tissue compared to vehicle-treated concussed controls.1
Reference
- Unpublished data.