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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2023 Jun 1.
Published in final edited form as: Semin Immunol. 2022 Feb 25;59:101600. doi: 10.1016/j.smim.2022.101600

Figure 1. Proposed inflammatory links between MI and VaD.

Figure 1.

Following MI, levels of inflammatory cytokines are increased in the peripheral blood. In the spleen and bone marrow, myeloid cells, such as neutrophils and monocytes, undergo epigenetic reprogramming and are released into the circulation. Within the CNS, MI leads to activation and proinflammatory cytokine production by microglia and perivascular macrophages. Combined increase of both local and systemic inflammation leads to disruption in the blood brain barrier and CNS infiltration of neutrophils and monocytes from the periphery. Sustained inflammation and disruption of the CNS vasculature leads to progressive loss of oligodendrocytes and neurons. This results in clinical VaD, characterized by white matter lesions and cognitive deterioration.