RESUMO
BACKGROUND: A large number of preclinical experimental data have shown that stem cells can regulate the immune function, and serve the function of cell replacement. OBJECTIVE: To summarize the anti-inflammatory effects of stem cells in the treatment of ischemic stroke, based on which, we further discuss the specific mechanisms. METHODS: We conducted a systematic and comprehensive search in PubMed, Elsevier, Springer, Wiley, Ovid, EBSCO databases. The range of retrieval time was from 2012 to 2017. The keywords were stem cells, stroke, inflammation, immune. Totally 110 articles were retrieved initially, and 47 articles were included in result analysis. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: By reading extensive literature, we analyzed and summarized the research status quo of the anti-inflammatory effects of neural stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells in the treatment of ischemic stroke. The mechanisms mainly include reducing focal inflammation, immune regulation, promoting the secretion of various neurotrophic factors, reducing secondary cell death, protecting neurons and promoting cell function recovery and further promoting the recovery of nerve function. The mechanisms underlying local immune regulation and anti-inflammatory effects of stem cells are mainly described as the shift from M1 to M2 macrophages under the intervention of stem cell factors, to intervene secreted immune cytokine profiles and exert effects on inhibition and polarization of glial cells. Further investigation is required on the anti-inflammatory effects and immune regulation of stem cell therapy for stroke.