[HT-02] Stroke and Microbiota

[HT-02-1] Intestinal immune cells in stroke immunity

Josef Anrather (Weill Cornell Medicine)

Microbiota and its contribution to stroke has become a hot topic in the neuroscience field. In this sesseion, we would like to discuss the emerging role of commensal micorobiota of both oral and interstinal in the course of stroke.

I am a preclinical-scientist who has been involved in studying cerebrovascular regulation and ischemic brain injury for the past 15 years. I spent my post-doctoral training in the laboratories of Fritz. H. Bach at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where I investigated the immunological bases of heart transplant rejection. This training as an immunologist allowed me to acquire insight into the molecular and biochemical processes associated with pro-inflammatory signaling in blood vessel and organs. After moving to Weill Cornell Medical College in 1999, I focused my research on the role of neuroinflammation in the mechanisms of cerebral ischemia. Stimulated by interactions with other scientists within the Division, I became interested in the effects of iNOS, COX2, CD36, and Toll-like receptors in ischemic brain damage. In addition, I have a longstanding interest in genomic and epigenomic regulation of the inflammatory and ischemic response, a topic directly related to the current proposal. My laboratory is currently investigating the roles of the peripheral immune system including the intestinal immune compartment in modulating stroke outcome.