An "MS Awareness Week Fact"
The immune reaction in MS in not unique to MS.
1. There is an autoimmune response after ischemic injury to the brain. 2. Lymphocytes from stroke survivors show more activity against myelin basic protein than the lymphocytes from patients with multiple sclerosis 3. Myelin-reactive T cells are found in higher numbers among patients with cerebrovascular disease 4. Stroke is a potent risk factor for dementia, and it could be that autoimmune responses to brain injury contribute to cognitive decline and even the progression of white matter disease.


Modulation of the Postischemic Immune Response to Improve Stroke Outcome
stroke.ahajournals.org
Recent advances in understanding how the poststroke immune response may contribute to ischemic brain injury are discussed in this article. In particular, the potential of modulating the postischemic immune response to improve stroke outcome is explored...