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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

Stereological and Flow Cytometry Characterization of Leukocyte Subpopulations in Models of Transient or Permanent Cerebral Ischemia
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Stereological and Flow Cytometry Characterization of Leukocyte Subpopulations in Models of Transient or Permanent Cerebral Ischemia

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Stroke induces disease-specific myeloid cells in the brain parenchyma and pia

Carolin Beuker1, David Schafflick1, Jan-Kolja Strecker1

  • 1Department of Neurology with Institute of Translational Neurology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital, Münster, Germany.

Nature Communications
|February 18, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Immune cells in the brain and meninges respond differently after stroke. A unique myeloid cell type in the brain after stroke presents a potential therapeutic target for stroke recovery.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Immunology
  • Stroke Research

Background:

  • Inflammation exacerbates secondary brain damage post-stroke.
  • Leukocyte infiltration into the brain occurs via meningeal and CNS border compartments.
  • The immune response in CNS border compartments after stroke is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize resident leukocytes in meninges and brain parenchyma post-stroke.
  • To identify distinct immune cell responses based on location within the central nervous system (CNS).
  • To discover and validate novel therapeutic targets for stroke treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Deep characterization of tissue-resident leukocytes in meninges and brain parenchyma.
  • Comparative analysis of myeloid cell phenotypes in different CNS compartments.
  • Investigation of stroke-associated myeloid cell markers and their therapeutic potential.

Main Results:

  • Leukocytes exhibit differential responses to stroke depending on their resident compartment.
  • A unique population of stroke-associated myeloid cells, resembling microglia, was identified exclusively in the brain.
  • These myeloid cells, of resident microglial origin, display a lipid-phagocytosing phenotype and are conserved in humans.
  • Blocking specific markers on these cells partially improved stroke outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Post-stroke myeloid cell response is compartmentalized within the CNS.
  • Stroke-associated myeloid cells represent a novel, targetable mechanism in stroke pathology.
  • Targeting these specific myeloid cells offers a potential therapeutic strategy for ameliorating stroke outcomes.

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