Figure 1.

Leukocyte interactions with intravascular elements relevant for stroke in humans. Leukocytes (neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes), platelets, red blood cells, and other cells interact with each other and with endothelial cells in normal vessels. Leukocyte interactions with endothelial cells, platelets, atherosclerotic plaque, blood clots, and intravascular molecules (cytokines, chemokines, hormones, others) likely account for some changes of gene expression following stroke. Leukocytes also signal to these other cell types, which also account for changes of gene expression.