Microbiome in Stroke and Aging

Katarzyna Winek, MD/PhD
Group Leader

Our group investigates the role of the microbiome and non-coding RNA regulators of the immune system in the pathogenesis and outcome of stroke.

Immune Response and Microbiome Dynamics After Stroke

Neurological disorders, common in the elderly, are a major cause of disability as well as a leading cause of death, and ischemic stroke is one of the main contributors to this disease burden. Not surprisingly, injury to the brain has consequences for other organs in the body, ultimately impacting the outcome after a stroke.

Orchestrated immune reaction follows stroke

One of the important players in the response to an ischemic lesion in the central nervous system (CNS) is the immune system. A stroke induces an orchestrated immune reaction, including the infiltration of immune cells into the brain, followed by systemic immunosuppression. These peripheral immune cells contribute to tissue damage in the CNS, but also aid in repair processes, depending on the cell type and time point after the stroke.

Microbiome as a regulator of the immune system

Simultaneously, the systemic suppression of immune functions, potentially protective for the brain, increases susceptibility to infectious complications, leading to a worsening of the outcome. Intriguingly, the commensal microbial community, specifically gut microbiota, is also affected by the events after a stroke and may be a relevant modifier of the course and prognosis of illness, for example through its immunomodulatory actions.