Harnessing Immune Pathways for Stroke Recovery: Overcoming Challenges to Clinical Translation

Abstract

Despite advances in acute care, stroke remains a leading cause of death and long-term disability worldwide, with limited treatment options to improve recovery after stroke. Traditionally, the management of ischemic stroke has mostly focused on early reperfusion, yet growing evidence highlights a central role for inflammation in both acute and long-term pathophysiology of stroke. The inflammatory response post-stroke is complex and dynamic, beginning with early intravascular activation of platelets and neutrophils (thrombo-inflammation), followed by microglial activation and the subsequent infiltration of peripheral immune cells, which together paradoxically contribute to tissue repair but ca..