# Light Alcohol Consumption and Ischemic Stroke

> **NIH NIH R01** · LOUISIANA STATE UNIV HSC SHREVEPORT · 2024 · $365,296

## Abstract

Hong Sun, MD, PhD
PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT
Efforts to screen for agents that prevent and treat ischemic stroke, one of the leading causes of
death and permanent disability, have not produced promising results. Interestingly, light alcohol
consumption (LAC) lowers the incidence and improves the prognosis of ischemic stroke. Most
recently, we found that LAC promotes cerebral angiogenesis and neurogenesis under basal
conditions and following ischemic stroke. This renewal application will continue identifying the
cellular mechanism underlying the neuroprotective effect of LAC. We aim to translate these
findings to humans having risk factors and suffering from the consequences of ischemic stroke.
In the previous grant period, we further found that LAC upregulates lipocalin-type prostaglandin
D2 synthase (L-PGDS), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARg), vascular
endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2
(VEGFR2) in the brain. In preliminary studies, LAC-induced cerebral angiogenesis appeared to
be related to an increase in L-PGDS. Based on these findings, our central hypothesis is that
LAC promotes cerebral angiogenesis and neurogenesis by upregulating VEGF-A/VEGFR2 via
L-PGDS-mediated PPARg activation. In specific aim #1, we propose to test the hypothesis that
LAC promotes cerebral angiogenesis and neurogenesis via upregulated VEGF-A and VEGFR2.
In specific aim #2, we propose to test the hypothesis that LAC promotes cerebral angiogenesis
and neurogenesis via PPARg-mediated upregulation of VEGF-A and VEGFR2. In specific aim
#3, we propose to test the hypothesis that LAC upregulates VEGF-A and VEGFR2 and
promotes cerebral angiogenesis and neurogenesis via L-PGDS-mediated PPARg activation.
The findings from these studies will have far-reaching implications, beyond that for LAC. We
believe that by identifying the protective targets of LAC we will be able to apply therapy to
manipulate these targets in individuals at risk for ischemic stroke.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10893505
- **Project number:** 5R01AA023610-07
- **Recipient organization:** LOUISIANA STATE UNIV HSC SHREVEPORT
- **Principal Investigator:** Hong Sun
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $365,296
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-03-01 → 2028-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10893505

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10893505, Light Alcohol Consumption and Ischemic Stroke (5R01AA023610-07). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10893505. Licensed CC0.

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