Effects of peripheral blood cells on ischemic stroke: Greater immune response or systemic inflammation?

Abstract

Ischemic stroke is still one of the most serious medical conditions endangering human health worldwide. Current research on the mechanism of ischemic stroke focuses on the primary etiology as well as the subsequent inflammatory response and immune modulation. Recent research has revealed that peripheral blood cells and their components are crucial to the ensuing progression of ischemic stroke. However, it remains unclear whether blood cell elements are principally in charge of systemic inflammation or immunological regulation, or if their participation is beneficial or harmful to the development of ischemic stroke. In this review, we aim to describe the changes in peripheral blood cells and their corresponding parameters in ischemic stroke. Specifically, we elaborate on the role of each peripheral component in the inflammatory response or immunological modulation as well as their interactions. It has been suggested that more specific therapies aimed at targeting peripheral blood cell components and their role in inflammation or immunity are more favorable to the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Keywords: Immune response; Inflammation; Ischemic stroke; Peripheral blood cell.

Fig. 1

Alterations and interactions of cytokines secreted by peripheral blood cells after ischemic stroke After an ischemic stroke, peripheral blood cells and platelets interact by secreting several types of cytokines and chemokines, which jointly govern the inflammatory and immunological states. TNF-α: Tumor necrosis factor alpha, IFN-γ: Interferon-gamma, IP-10: Interferon-gamma-inducible protein 10, IL: Interleukin.

Fig. 2

Involvement of peripheral blood cells in the pathogenesis of ischemic injury This diagram summarizes the changes and roles of peripheral blood cells following ischemic stroke, concluding that these changes are directly related to inflammatory and immunomodulatory processes in the development of cerebral ischemia disorders. RBC: Red blood cell, RDW: RBC distribution width, Treg: Regulatory T, Th: Helper T, Plt: platelet, IL-10: Interleukin-10, TGF-β: Transforming growth factor-beta. (For interpretation of the references to colour in this figure legend, the reader is referred to the Web version of this article.)