Contact with stroke

Abstract

In this issue of Blood, Langhauser and colleagues report that kininogen knockout mice (KNG-/-) are protected from stroke induced by transient mechanical occlusion of the middle artery (MCAO).1 KNG-/- mice develop smaller infarcts, less neurologic impairment, and exhibit lower mortality than wild-type (WT) mice studied at 24 hours and beyond. Benefit was retained in elderly mice and was conferred through reduction in microvascular thrombosis, preservation of blood-brain-barrier function, and attenuation of inflammation. These are important findings because they provide insight into the pathophysiology of stroke and identify potential novel targets for intervention.