Inflammation and immunotherapeutic approach in stroke

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death in the world, resulting in the death of approximately five million people per year. Ischemic stroke results from transient or permanent reduction in cerebral blood flow leading to ongoing neurotoxicity, post ischemic inflammation and apoptosis. Since neuronal cell death following stroke might take several days, the prime goal of neuroprotection is to salvage the ischemic inflammation that facilitate further apoptotic death. This chapter summarizes recent immunotherputic approaches in stroke that may be effective both as a prophylactic therapy or acute treatment to reduce the severity of ischemic stroke.