title: Immune interventions in stroke.
abstract: Approaches for the effective management of acute stroke are sparse, and many measures for brain protection fail. However, our ability to modulate the immune system and modify the progression of multiple sclerosis is increasing. As a result, immune interventions are currently being explored as therapeutic interventions in acute stroke. In this Review, we compare the immunological features of acute stroke with those of multiple sclerosis, identify unique immunological features of stroke, and consider the evidence for immune interventions. In patients with acute stroke, microglial activation and cell death products trigger an inflammatory cascade that damages vessels and the parenchyma within minutes to hours of the ischaemia or haemorrhage. Immune interventions that restrict brain inflammation, vascular permeability and tissue oedema must be administered rapidly to reduce acute immune-mediated destruction and to avoid subsequent immunosuppression. Preliminary results suggest that the use of drugs that modify disease in multiple sclerosis might accomplish these goals in ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke. Further elucidation of the immune mechanisms involved in stroke is likely to lead to successful immune interventions.
authors: Departments of Neurology and Immunology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors: Ying
authors: Y
authors: Fu
authors: Departments of Neurology and Immunology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors: Qiang
authors: Q
authors: Liu
authors: Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute, Weill Cornell Medical College, 525 East 68th Street, PO Box 117, New York, NY 10065, USA.
authors: Josef
authors: J
authors: Anrather
authors: Departments of Neurology and Immunology, Tianjin Neurological Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin 300052, China.
authors: Fu-Dong
authors: FD
authors: Shi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy; D020521:Stroke / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*