Fig. 1

The splenic immune response to stroke. The spleen responds to stroke in mice, rats, and humans after cerebral ischemia. In experimental models with mice and rats using MCAO as a model for ischemic stroke, the spleen decreases in size. In mice, this is due to splenic apoptosis and loss of cells. In rats, the spleen contracts and releases immune cells into circulation. In stroke subjects, the spleen contracts in some individuals. The spleen’s involvement in post-stroke events contributes to secondary neural injury and worse outcomes. When the spleen is targeted in animal models of stroke, using splenectomy, this decreases neural injury in mice and rats. Can targeting the spleen in humans improve clinical outcomes by decreasing neural injury? * indicates splenectomy 2 weeks prior to MCAO. # splenectomy only works in male mice