R. Hartl et al., EXPERIMENTAL ANTILEUKOCYTE INTERVENTIONS IN CEREBRAL-ISCHEMIA, Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism, 16(6), 1996, pp. 1108-1119
White blood cells (WBCs) play vital roles in host defense. Recently, i
ncreasing interest has been directed toward the question of whether WB
Cs, particularly polymorphonuclear leukocytes, could also act as media
tors of secondary brain damage in the setting of focal and global cere
bral ischemia with and without reperfusion. Considerable insight into
the importance of WBC-mediated tissue injury has been gained from stud
ies employing antileukocyte interventions in experimental cerebral isc
hemia. The purpose of this article is to survey the different approach
es taken to interfere with WBC inflammatory function. Emphasis is laid
on a discussion of the efficacy of these interventions, their effects
and side effects on cerebral and systemic parameters, and the power o
f evidence they provide for identification of WBCs as important factor
s in cerebral ischemia. The role of WBCs has been investigated in a gr
eat variety of global and focal cerebral ischemia models with and with
out reperfusion, leading to sometimes contradictory results. In the li
ght of currently available data, it seems likely that WBCs con tribute
to secondary brain damage in the scenario of experimental transient f
ocal cerebral ischemia, if the insult is not too severe.