title: Cytokines: their role in stroke and potential use as biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
abstract: Inflammatory mechanisms both in the periphery and in the CNS are important in the pathophysiologic processes occurring after the onset of ischemic stroke (IS). Cytokines are key players in the inflammatory mechanism and contribute to the progression of ischemic damage. This literature review focuses on the effects of inflammation on ischemic stroke, and the role pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines play on deleterious or beneficial stroke outcome. The discovery of biomarkers and novel therapeutics for stroke has been the focus of extensive research recently; thus, understanding the roles of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines that are up-regulated during stroke will help us further understand how inflammation contributes to the progression of ischemic damage and provide potential targets for novel therapeutics and biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of stroke.
authors.affiliation: Center for Neuroscience, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
authors.forename: Danielle N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Doll
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA ; Center for Basic and Translational Stroke Research, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
authors.forename: Taura L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA ; Center for Basic and Translational Stroke Research, West Virginia University Health Sciences Center, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA.
authors.forename: James W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Simpkins
keywords: Biomarkers; Cytokines; Stroke