Fig. 4From: Brain–heart interaction after acute ischemic strokeLocal inflammatory response after stroke. The local inflammatory process starts with the activation of pro-inflammatory and pro-coagulative cascades into the intravascular space. The blood–brain barrier disruption allows the infiltration of peripheral macrophages and neutrophils into the ischemic lesion. This leads to an enhanced local inflammatory response in the brain parenchyma. Other peripheral immune cells are thus recalled into the ischemic brain and cerebral microcirculation, subsequently crossing the damaged blood–brain barrier and passing into the systemic circulation. ROS, reactive oxygen species; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor alpha; MMPs, matrix metalloproteinases; DAMPs, danger-associated molecular patternsBack to article page