TY - JOUR
T1 - The spleen contributes to stroke-induced neurodegeneration
AU - Ajmo, Craig T.
AU - Vernon, Dionne O.L.
AU - Collier, Lisa
AU - Hall, Aaron A.
AU - Garbuzova-Davis, Svitlana
AU - Willing, Alison
AU - Pennypacker, Keith R.
PY - 2008/8/1
Y1 - 2008/8/1
N2 - Stroke, a cerebrovascular injury, is the leading cause of disability and third leading cause of death in the world. Recent reports indicate that inhibiting the inflammatory response to stroke enhances neurosurvival and limits expansion of the infarction. The immune response that is initiated in the spleen has been linked to the systemic inflammatory response to stroke, contributing to neurodegeneration. Here we show that removal of the spleen significantly reduces neurodegeneration after ischemic insult. Rats splenectomized 2 weeks before permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion had a >80% decrease in infarction volume in the brain compared with those rats that were subjected to the stroke surgery alone. Splenectomy also resulted in decreased numbers of activated microglia, macrophages, and neutrophils present in the brain tissue. Our results demonstrate that the peripheral immune response as mediated by the spleen is a major contributor to the inflammation that enhances neurodegeneration after stroke.
AB - Stroke, a cerebrovascular injury, is the leading cause of disability and third leading cause of death in the world. Recent reports indicate that inhibiting the inflammatory response to stroke enhances neurosurvival and limits expansion of the infarction. The immune response that is initiated in the spleen has been linked to the systemic inflammatory response to stroke, contributing to neurodegeneration. Here we show that removal of the spleen significantly reduces neurodegeneration after ischemic insult. Rats splenectomized 2 weeks before permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion had a >80% decrease in infarction volume in the brain compared with those rats that were subjected to the stroke surgery alone. Splenectomy also resulted in decreased numbers of activated microglia, macrophages, and neutrophils present in the brain tissue. Our results demonstrate that the peripheral immune response as mediated by the spleen is a major contributor to the inflammation that enhances neurodegeneration after stroke.
KW - Inflammation
KW - Ischemia
KW - Neurodegeneration
KW - Spleen
KW - Stroke
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=48249100117&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/jnr.21661
DO - 10.1002/jnr.21661
M3 - Article
C2 - 18381759
AN - SCOPUS:48249100117
SN - 0360-4012
VL - 86
SP - 2227
EP - 2234
JO - Journal of Neuroscience Research
JF - Journal of Neuroscience Research
IS - 10
ER -