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Updated: Mar 20, 2026
Isolation and Flow Cytometric Assessment of Neuroimmune Interactions in a Mini-Stroke Murine Model
Published on: June 20, 2025
Crosstalk between microglia and T cells contributes to brain damage and recovery after ischemic stroke
Sunwei Wang1,2,3, He Zhang1,2,3, Yun Xu1,2,3
1a Department of Neurology , Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School , Nanjing , P.R. China.
Objectives:
To summarize available knowledge regarding the crosstalk, thereby providing a more detailed explanation for the mechanism of brain damage and recovery after ischemic stroke.
Methods:
An extensive review of the literature on the crosstalk between microglia and T cells in ischemic stroke was performed. We review the relevant publications in PubMed database.
Results:
After cerebral ischemia, microglia are activated and peripheral T cells infiltrated into the brain. The crosstalk between microglia and T cells has both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory effects in the inflammation after stroke. The crosstalk between M1 and Th1/Th17 cells promotes immune response after stroke and contributes to brain damage, while the crosstalk between M2 and Th2/Treg cells plays an anti-inflammatory role and contributes to brain recovery. Meanwhile, the crosstalk can be regulated by many factors, in both contact dependent and non-contact dependent way.
Conclusion:
Inflammation mediated by microglia crosstalking to T cells contributes to brain damage and recovery after ischemic stroke. Extensive evidence supports a critical role for the crosstalk of microglia and T cells in the prognosis of brain injury after ischemic stroke. The regulation of the crosstalk may provide a potential therapeutic target for improving the ischemic brain damage.
Insights
Microglia and T cell crosstalk significantly impacts brain damage and recovery after ischemic stroke. Modulating this immune cell interaction offers a promising therapeutic target for stroke treatment.
Area of Science:
- Neuroimmunology
- Cerebrovascular Diseases
- Cellular Crosstalk Mechanisms
Background:
- Ischemic stroke triggers brain inflammation involving microglia and T cells.
- The interaction between these immune cells is crucial in stroke pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and synthesize current knowledge on microglia-T cell crosstalk in ischemic stroke.
- To elucidate the mechanisms of brain damage and recovery influenced by this interaction.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of publications on microglia-T cell crosstalk in ischemic stroke.
- Analysis of studies indexed in the PubMed database.
Main Results:
- Activated microglia and infiltrating T cells engage in crosstalk with dual roles: pro-inflammatory (M1-Th1/Th17) and anti-inflammatory (M2-Th2/Treg).
- Pro-inflammatory crosstalk exacerbates brain damage, while anti-inflammatory crosstalk promotes recovery.
- This interaction is regulated by various contact-dependent and independent mechanisms.
Conclusions:
- Microglia-T cell crosstalk is a key mediator of inflammation, influencing both brain damage and recovery post-ischemic stroke.
- Targeting this crosstalk presents a potential therapeutic strategy for mitigating ischemic brain injury.
