B cells do not have a major pathophysiologic role in acute ischemic stroke in mice

BACKGROUND: Lymphocytes have been shown to play an important role in the pathophysiology of acute ischemic stroke, but the properties of B cells remain controversial. The aim of this study was to unravel the role of B cells during acute cerebral ischemia using pharmacologic B cell depletion, B cell transgenic mice, and adoptive B cell transfer experiments. METHODS: Transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (60 min) was induced in wild-type mice treated with an anti-CD20 antibody 24 h before stroke onset, JHD (−/−) mice and Rag1 (−/−) mice 24 h after adoptive B cell transfer. Stroke outcome was assessed at days 1 and 3. Infarct volumes were calculated from 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC)-stained brain sections, and neurological scores were evaluated. The local inflammatory response was determined by real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Apoptosis was analyzed by TUNEL staining, and astrocyte activation was revealed using immunohistochemistry and Western blot. RESULTS: Pharmacologic depletion of B cells did not influence infarct volumes and functional outcome at day 1 after stroke. Additionally, lack of circulating B cells in JHD (−/−) mice also failed to influence stroke outcome at days 1 and 3. Furthermore, reconstitution of Rag1 (−/−) mice with B cells had no influence on infarct volumes. CONCLUSION: Targeting B cells in experimental stroke did not influence lesion volume and functional outcome during the acute phase. Our findings argue against a major pathophysiologic role of B cells during acute ischemic stroke. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12974-017-0890-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.