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Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Immune Cells from the Ischemic Mouse Brain
Published on: February 12, 2016
CD4+FoxP3+ regulatory T-cells in cerebral ischemic stroke
Xuefang Ren1, Kozaburo Akiyoshi, Arthur A Vandenbark
1Neuroimmunology Research, R&D-31, Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 3710 SW US Veterans Hospital Rd., Portland, OR 97239, USA.
Metabolic Brain Disease
|November 18, 2010
Summary
Regulatory T-cells (Treg) do not limit brain damage after experimental ischemic stroke. Depleting these immune cells in mice did not alter stroke infarct volume, challenging previous findings.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Immunology
- Pathophysiology
Background:
- Inflammatory T-cells can worsen experimental cerebral ischemic stroke.
- Systemic increases in CD4+CD25+Foxp3+ regulatory T-cells (Treg) are observed during ischemic stroke.
- The role of Treg in limiting ischemic brain injury remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the specific effect of regulatory T-cells (Treg) on ischemic brain injury.
- To determine if Treg depletion influences stroke infarct volume in a mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Utilized Foxp3(DTR) mice for targeted depletion of Treg.
- Induced experimental cerebral ischemic stroke in depleted and control mice.
- Quantified stroke infarct volume to assess brain injury.
Main Results:
- Treg depletion did not significantly alter stroke infarct volume.
- The results unequivocally demonstrate that Treg depletion had no effect on the extent of brain damage.
- This finding contrasts with a previous report in Nature Medicine.
Conclusions:
- Regulatory T-cells (Treg) are not implicated in limiting damage from ischemic stroke in this model.
- The studied regulatory pathway does not play a protective role against ischemic brain injury.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the complex role of immune cells in stroke pathophysiology.
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