Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40702766›Full record

ArticleCNS neuroscience & therapeutics2025

Targeting PD-L1 for Ischemic Stroke Recovery: Age-Dependent Modulation of Immune and BBB Pathways.

Hang Hang, Can Xu, Likun Wang, Cuiying Liu, Rongping Zhang, Guofeng Wu, Heng Zhao

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in CNS neuroscience & therapeutics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Monocyte-derived macrophages and their roles in ischemic stroke.Journal of cerebral blood flow and metabolism : official journal of the International Society of Cerebral Blood Flow and Metabolism · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Hang HangEmergency Department, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
Can XuBeijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Joint Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Likun WangEmergency Department, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.ORCID 0000-0003-0517-4723
Cuiying LiuSchool of Nursing, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.ORCID 0000-0003-4162-543X
Rongping ZhangCollege of Chinese Materia Medica and Yunnan Key Laboratory of Southern Medicine Utilization, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming, China.
Guofeng WuEmergency Department, the Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
Heng ZhaoBeijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Laboratory of Brain Disorders, Ministry of Science and Technology, Joint Innovation Center for Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.ORCID 0009-0004-4722-5634

Funding

Key lab of acute brain injury and function repair in Guizhou Medical University [2024]fy0071National Natural Science Foundation of China 82471330Supported the Key Advantageous Discipline Construction Project of Guizhou Provincial Health Commission in 2023 in Emergency Departmentthe Science and Technology Fund Project of Guizhou Health Commission gzwkj2025-001
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveAging has a profound impact on the pathophysiology of ischemic stroke and the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions. This study aims to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) monoclonal antibody (mAb) in modulating immune responses and neurovascular repair following ischemic stroke, with a focus on age-dependent differences.

methodsYoung and aged mice were subjected to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by PD-L1 mAb treatment. RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence, and molecular analyses were employed to assess immune modulation, blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, and functional recovery.

resultsRNA sequencing revealed significant differential gene expression in ischemic brain tissues, with CD274 (PD-L1) prominently upregulated among immune checkpoint-related genes in young mice. Immunofluorescence confirmed PD-L1 expression in microglia/macrophages, with significantly higher upregulation in young mice. PD-L1 mAb treatment showed superior efficacy in young mice, significantly reducing infarct volume, enhancing neurological recovery, and preserving BBB integrity through greater upregulation of tight junction proteins such as ZO-1, Claudin-5, and Occludin compared to aged mice. It also more effectively reduced neuroinflammation, apoptosis, and pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β), eliciting stronger spleen responses in young mice. These findings underscore the age-dependent advantages of PD-L1-targeted therapies for ischemic stroke recovery.

conclusionsPD-L1 plays a critical role in ischemic stroke recovery, with PD-L1 mAb treatment demonstrating age-dependent therapeutic efficacy by enhancing BBB integrity, reducing neuroinflammation and apoptosis, and modulating peripheral immune responses.

Indexed as

AgingAntibodies, MonoclonalB7-H1 AntigenBlood-Brain BarrierIschemic StrokeRecovery of FunctionAge FactorsAnimalsInfarction, Middle Cerebral ArteryMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLAntibodies, MonoclonalB7-H1 AntigenCd274 protein, mouseage‐dependent immune responseblood–brain barrier integrityischemic strokeneuroinflammationPD‐L1 monoclonal antibody

Identifiers

PMID40702766
PMCPMC12287378

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.