Spider Venom Molecule Hi1a Could Transform Heart Attack and Stroke Treatment
Dato Capt. Mahesan Subramaniam, Co-Founder of United Health Tourism, posted on LinkedIn:
”Researchers in Australia have uncovered something powerful in the venom of the funnel-web spider that might help reduce tissue damage during heart attacks and strokes. They isolated a molecule called Hi1a, which blocks a special type of ion channel known as ASIC1a. These channels open when tissues lose oxygen, letting in molecules that make cells acidic and trigger cell death. By blocking these channels, Hi1a helps prevent that harmful “death signal” in heart and brain cells.
In lab tests with mice, injecting Hi1a after a stroke significantly reduced brain damage even when given hours after the event. Similar benefits were seen in tests of heart tissue under stress from low oxygen, and in donor hearts used for transplant studies. Importantly, Hi1a seems to act only in injured tissue, reducing risk of harm to healthy cells. Safety and dosing have met early benchmarks in preclinical models.
A synthetic version of Hi1a is being developed so it could be tested in humans as early as a few years from now. If all goes well, the drug might become a treatment given during or after heart attacks, helping preserve heart muscle and limit long-term damage.
Research by Infensa Bioscience in Brisbane․”

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