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Isolation and Flow Cytometric Analysis of Immune Cells from the Ischemic Mouse Brain
Published on: February 12, 2016
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Circulating Mucosal-Associated Invariant T Cells Are Associated With Acute Human Ischemic Stroke and Predict Poor
Tadashi Ozawa1, Asako Chiba2, Hiroko Hayakawa3
1Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine Jichi Medical University School of Medicine Tochigi Japan.
Journal of the American Heart Association
|August 23, 2025
Summary
Acute ischemic stroke is linked to a significant early decrease in mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. Lower MAIT cell counts correlate with stroke severity and predict poor patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Neurology
- Cellular Biology
Background:
- Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are implicated in murine models of acute ischemic stroke.
- This study investigates the behavior and function of circulating MAIT cells in human patients experiencing acute ischemic stroke.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the dynamics of MAIT cells in patients with acute ischemic stroke.
- To determine the correlation between MAIT cell populations, their activation status, cytokine production, and clinical outcomes in acute ischemic stroke patients.
Main Methods:
- Patients with acute ischemic stroke were stratified into severe (NIHSS ≥ 10) and mild (NIHSS < 10) groups, with age- and sex-matched outpatients as controls.
- Flow cytometry was employed to analyze circulating MAIT cells, their activation markers (CD69+), and cytokine profiles (IFN-γ+, IL-17+), alongside other T-cell subsets, on days 3, 10, and 17 post-stroke.
- The relationship between MAIT cell dynamics and 3-month clinical outcomes was assessed using multivariate analysis.
Main Results:
- A significantly lower proportion of MAIT cells was observed in severe stroke patients on day 3 compared to mild stroke and control groups (0.09% vs. 0.33% vs. 0.38%, P < 0.001), with gradual recovery by day 17.
- MAIT cells in severe stroke patients exhibited increased CD69 expression and higher IL-17 production.
- The lowest quartile of MAIT cell population on day 3 was associated with a significantly higher likelihood of poor 3-month outcomes (OR, 21.64; P = 0.027).
Conclusions:
- An early reduction in MAIT cell numbers, coupled with heightened activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-17) production, is associated with acute ischemic stroke severity.
- These findings suggest a critical role for MAIT cells in the pathophysiology of acute cerebral infarction and the development of unfavorable clinical outcomes.
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