Immune Cells After Ischemic Stroke Onset: Roles, Migration, and Target Intervention

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Immunology
• Pathology

Background:

• Ischemic stroke is a primary cause of adult disability worldwide.
• Cell death and hypoxia post-stroke activate glia and promote peripheral immune cell infiltration into the brain.
• The central nervous system (CNS) is immune-privileged, separated by the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the multistep process of peripheral immune cell extravasation into the brain after ischemic stroke.
• To highlight the dual role of immune cells in stroke-induced damage and repair.
• To identify potential therapeutic targets for ischemic stroke.

Main Methods:

• This review summarizes existing literature on immune cell behavior in the CNS post-stroke.
• It focuses on the mechanisms of immune cell extravasation across the blood-brain barrier.
• The review analyzes the role of glia and peripheral immune cells in inflammatory responses.

Main Results:

• Peripheral immune cell infiltration into the brain after ischemic stroke is a complex process.
• These cells can exacerbate neuronal apoptosis and ischemic damage.
• Conversely, infiltrating immune cells also promote neuron repair and neuroregeneration.

Conclusions:

• Immune responses critically modulate ischemic injury progression.
• Understanding immune cell extravasation and function is key to developing novel stroke therapies.
• Targeting these immune pathways may offer promising therapeutic interventions for ischemic stroke recovery.