Nattokinase Promotes Post-stroke Neurogenesis and Cognition Recovery via Increasing Circulating Irisin

The therapeutic potential of treatmentsfor post-strokecognitiveimpairment (PSCI) is severely limited by the autonomic regenerationcapacity of the adult brain. Nattokinase (NK), a serine protease fromthe traditional food natto, has many beneficial effects on the cardiovascularsystem by modulating the blood system. While the role of blood factorsin neurogenesis and cognition is well-established, it remains unclearwhether NK can serve as an anti-PSCI agent through these factors.Our study demonstrates that NK protects against acute ischemic strokeand impressively promotes neurogenesis in rat models by increasingperipheral blood irisin, leading to improved cognitive functions.Our findings demonstrate NK to be a promising candidate for treatingPSCI, and we also highlight irisin as a novel target of NK, suggestingits potential role in the peripheral blood-to-brain axis.