Delayed Cerebral Ischemia After Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: The Role of the Complement and Innate Immune System

Abstract

Specific inflammatory pathways are important in the development of delayed cerebral ischemia after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage. Understanding the specific pathways of inflammation may be critical for finding new treatments. Evidence is accumulating that innate inflammatory cells and proteins play a more important role than cells of the adaptive inflammatory system. In this work, we review the evidence from clinical and preclinical data regarding which cells of the immune system play a role in DCI with particular emphasis on the bone-marrow-derived cells monocytes and neutrophils and the brain parenchymal microglia. In addition, we will review the evidence that complement proteins, a non-cellular part of the innate immune system, play a role in the development of DCI.