Regulatory T cells in ischemic stroke

Abstract

The pathophysiological mechanisms of neuroinflammation, angiogenesis, and neuroplasticity are currently the hotspots of researches in ischemic stroke. Regulatory T cells (Tregs), a subset of T cells that control inflammatory and immune responses in the body, are closely related to the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke. They participate in the inflammatory response and neuroplasticity process of ischemic stroke by various mechanisms, such as secretion of anti-inflammatory factors, inhibition of pro-inflammatory factors, induction of cell lysis, production of the factors that promote neural regeneration, and modulation of microglial and macrophage polarization. However, it remains unclear whether Tregs play a beneficial or deleterious role in ischemic stroke and the effect of Tregs in different stages of ischemic stroke. Here, we discuss the dynamic changes of Tregs at various stages of experimental and clinical stroke, the potential mechanisms under Tregs in regulating stroke and the preclinical studies of Tregs-related treatments, in order to provide a reference for clinical treatment.

Keywords: immunomodulation; ischemic stroke; neuroinflammation; neuroplasticity; regulatory T cells.