In acute ischemic stroke, the blood of the brain is limited. First, brain cells die from lack of oxygen. In addition, ischemia damaging inflammatory process activated in the brain. For the first time, scientists at the clinic of neurology at the hospital of Heidelberg showed that certain immune system cells in the blood prevents the ignition of a stroke. These cells are regulatory T cells (Treg). The regulator cytokine interleukin-10 plays an important role in this protection, perhaps with a new approach to stroke therapy. The study was published in Nature Medicine. Each year, approximately 200,000 people in France suffer an attack.
It is often fatal or severe disability. Neurology Clinic at Heidelberg, under the direction of Medical Director Professor Dr. Werner Hacke is one of the largest in the world for the development and testing of innovative approaches for treating stroke.
The team of scientists led by Roland Veltkamp, head of the neurology clinic of University Hospital in Heidelberg has now shown, stroke in the mice in an attack without Treger functioning of cells in the blood causes more damage to the brain and more disabled than in animals with a functioning Treger cells. An analysis of the immune system showed that mice without the phone “SOS” to produce more inflammatory transmitter in the brain and blood. In addition, immune cells, whose role is to identify and digest the foreign material or dead cells of equipment – for example, cells or neutrophils microglial – are more active in the absence of Treger.
Treger cells by cells in the suppression of the effects of activation of the immune system and can therefore prevent the development of autoimmune diseases. It is still unclear exactly like Treger cells communicate in the injured brain tissue. Interleukin 10 (IL 10), a substance, the station is transmitted by cell Treger, seems to play an important role during a stroke. Connectionless Treger mouse cells injected, the IL 10 on the first days after stroke had significantly less damage than mice that did not receive IL 10th On the other hand, the transfer of genetically modified cells Treger not measurement of IL-10 does not provide protection.
Researchers are currently working in Heidelberg on different approaches to translation mechanisms Treger protection in the future treatment of stroke. “We always need to know much more about how immune system cells to communicate among themselves and with the cells of the brain after a stroke in order to develop a treatment for patients,” says Dr. Roland Veltkamp.
