Sustained Increases in Immune Transcripts and Immune Cell Trafficking During the Recovery of Experimental Brain Ischemia

By comprehensively profiled ~25,000 mouse genes across multiple phases after stroke, the study showed a key role for immune-related genes and contribution of peripheral immune cells trafficked into regions of the injured brain, even months after stroke. The significance of these studies is the demonstration of a previously unrecognized expansive and longer-lasting involvement of peripheral immunity on stroke pathology and recovery processes during the chronic phases of stroke. The study suggests a potential immune-based strategy to modify injury progression and tissue remodeling in ischemic stroke.