Siamak Abdi - MD,

Damage and repair in any part of body is acompanied by immune system activation. Neuronal damage in acute stroke can result in activation of different parts of immune system. Innate immune system is the first part to resopnd followed by adaptive immune system. Immune system activation can cause more tissue damage by releasing proinflammatory cytokines and activating apoptosis and necrosis pathways. However, immune cells can also release cytokines mediating immune system deactivation and tissue repair. There is an interaction between this dual role of immune system and the final result depends on how proinflammatory and reparatory systems deal with each other. It is intriguing for researchers to manipulate this intertaction and change it in a way to mitigate damage and improve clinical state of acute stroke patients.