The influence of the immune system was originally thought to be harmful regarding injuries and infarctions of the brain. Recently, there has been increasing evidence for the protective, positive effects of cells of the immune system on brain tissue. From an evolutionary biology standpoint, this hypothesis is more compelling than viewing the immune system only as a harmful influence. Herein we emphasize how physiological activation of immune cells following tissue damage and/or by infarcts of brain tissue can lead to an activation of T-lymphocytes. These activated T-lymphocytes are then regarded to perform several protective effects.
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