B cells do not have a major pathophysiologic role in acute ischemic stroke in mice

Background: lymphocytes have been shown to play an important role in the pathophysiology of acute ischemic stroke,but the properties of b cells remain controversial. the aim of this study was to unravel the role of b cells during acute cerebral ischemia using pharmacologic b cell depletion,b cell transgenic mice,and adoptive b cell transfer experiments. methods: transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (60 min) was induced in wild-type mice treated with an anti-cd20 antibody 24 h before stroke onset,jhd -/- mice and rag1 -/- mice 24 h after adoptive b cell transfer. stroke outcome was assessed at days 1 and 3. infarct volumes were calculated from 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (ttc)-stained brain sections,and neurological scores were evaluated. the local inflammatory response was determined by real-time pcr and immunohistochemistry. apoptosis was analyzed by tunel staining,and astrocyte activation was revealed using immunohistochemistry and western blot. results: pharmacologic depletion of b cells did not influence infarct volumes and functional outcome at day 1 after stroke. additionally,lack of circulating b cells in jhd -/- mice also failed to influence stroke outcome at days 1 and 3. furthermore,reconstitution of rag1 -/- mice with b cells had no influence on infarct volumes. conclusion: targeting b cells in experimental stroke did not influence lesion volume and functional outcome during the acute phase. our findings argue against a major pathophysiologic role of b cells during acute ischemic stroke. © 2017 the author(s).