Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the IDF's Medical Corps have discovered a new and promising therapeutic approach to combat hemorrhagic shock—a life-threatening condition caused by severe blood loss, which is the leading preventable cause of death in trauma cases worldwide.
The study, led by Dr. Ariel Furer and Dr. Maya Simhoni from the Hebrew University and the Military Medicine Institute—a collaborative project involving the university's medical faculty, Hadassah Medical Center and the IDF Medical Corps—was published in the journal Scientific Reports. It demonstrates that activating Protein Kinase C-epsilon (PKC-ε) significantly improves initial survival rates and hemodynamic stability following severe hemorrhage.
In a controlled experiment conducted using a pig model, researchers induced hemorrhagic shock by removing 35% of the animals’ total blood volume. Animals treated with a PKC-ε activating peptide just five minutes after the onset of bleeding showed a dramatic improvement in survival rates: 73% of treated subjects survived, compared to only 25% in the control group. Additionally, treated animals maintained far better cardiac stability, including blood pressure, heart rate and cardiac output—all critical indicators for successfully managing severe trauma.
Moreover, detailed mitochondrial activity analysis revealed enhanced function in the heart tissues of treated animals. Since mitochondria are a primary energy source in cells, these findings suggest that PKC-ε activation helps maintain energy levels in organs under stress, thereby protecting tissues from further damage caused by severe blood loss.
“The results we obtained are significant and consistent. It’s not just about improving survival rates—we also observed clear improvements in critical physiological markers like heart rate, blood pressure and cardiac output,” said Lt. Col. Dr. Ariel Furer, a division medical officer in the IDF and one of the study’s leaders. “We collaborated with leading biology experts in Israel, thoroughly examining cell function down to the organelle level. This is comprehensive work that performs multi-layered analysis: from overall survival to organ system function and molecular mechanisms within the cell.”
Dr. Maya Simhoni added, “Our aim is to provide treatment very shortly after an injury, enhancing the stability of patients experiencing significant bleeding, whether in civilian or military trauma scenarios. We believe this study opens the door to increasing the survival rates of severely injured individuals.”
Dr. Furer emphasized the potential implications of the research: “Massive blood loss remains a particularly critical challenge in emergency medicine, both on the battlefield and in civilian trauma cases. Our findings indicate that activating PKC-ε could be an extremely effective therapeutic approach, potentially revolutionizing trauma care by providing frontline caregivers with a powerful tool to improve patient recovery odds.”
Currently, common strategies for treating hypovolemic shock involve fluid replacement, which can worsen tissue damage due to ischemia-reperfusion injury. The new approach—administering a PKC-ε activating peptide—could significantly reduce these harmful effects, improve survival chances and lower complications associated with severe trauma.
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Dr. Furer elaborated on the unique aspects of the study: “This experimental model closely mimics human reality, both in terms of the significant blood loss and the duration of survival. We managed to keep the animals alive for seven hours after injury—critical time in the field that allows for prolonged treatment of the wounded. Essentially, we simulated a scenario of an injured person requiring extended care on the battlefield and successfully addressed it.”
Regarding future clinical applications, Dr. Furer explained, “In the experiment, we used intramuscular administration to simulate a simple operational use in the field. The idea is that any medic could inject the drug within seconds, in the first few minutes after an injury. Five minutes after identifying the bleeding, the drug is administered. The patient continues to bleed, but the drug’s effect begins immediately, helping to stabilize them until the bleeding is stopped. So far, this has been proven in pigs, but the goal is to proceed with clinical trials in humans.”
Dr. Maya SimhoniPhoto: PrivateDr. Simhoni added, “While we are achieving extraordinary results in saving lives from the most severe injuries, researchers from the Medical Corps and the Hebrew University are exploring and developing future treatment pathways, including new tools and drugs that can be added to the toolkit of every medic and senior caregiver. Significant research is still needed to bring this capability to practical implementation in the field.”
This innovative study highlights a potentially groundbreaking approach to trauma care, offering a glimpse into future advancements that may save countless lives both on and off the battlefield.