Fig. 1.

Stroke causes brain cell death and the release of brain antigens that can reach the lymph nodes either as solutes in the interstitial fluid or can be captured by dendritic cells (DCs) or antigen presenting cells trafficking to the lymph nodes. Antigen presentation to T cells under inflammatory conditions can trigger autoreactivity that can exacerbate brain damage, or can promote tolerance by regulatory T cells (Treg) that will dampen inflammation and exert beneficial effects