The Critical Roles of Immune Cells in Acute Brain Injuries

J. Chen et al. (eds.), Immunological Mechanisms and Therapies in Brain Injuries and Stroke, Springer Series in Translational Stroke Research, DOI 10.1007/978-1-4614-8915-3_2, © Springer Science+Business Media New York 2014 Abstract Acute brain injuries elicit prompt and robust immune responses characterized by the activation of local glial cells and mobilization of peripheral leukocytes. The activation of immune cells originally aims to clear the brain of cellular debris and promote brain repair; however, the immune system can also propel and propagate neuronal cell death when overactivated. Understanding the function of each type of immune cells in the acute brain injuries and their mechanisms of action promises to unveil effective immunomodulatory therapies that beneficially regulate post-injury immune responses. In this chapter, we discuss in detail how immune cells are recruited and/or activated in the injured brain and how they contribute to the evolvement of brain damage.