An immune cell molecule promotes stroke recovery in mice
In mice with induced stroke, guanosine secreted by regulatory T cells promoted meningeal lymphatic growth and fluid drainage to improve recovery.
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
In an experiment in mice, researchers blocked a cerebral artery to model ischemic stroke. They found that regulatory T cells, a type of immune cell, secrete guanosine, a small molecule that promotes meningeal lymphatic vessel growth and drainage and improves stroke outcomes. In mice infused with angiotensin II to model high blood pressure, the condition impaired lymphatic vessel function and induced senescence, a state where cells stop dividing, in regulatory T cells. In these senescent cells, high levels of the protein P53 bound to the enzyme GMPS and reduced guanosine production. Administering guanosine improved lymphatic vessel function and stroke outcomes in mice lacking GMPS. In ischemic stroke patients, guanosine levels and meningeal lymphatic vessel density correlated positively with prognosis.
Why it matters
By examining regulatory T cell senescence, the study addresses how cellular aging processes may influence fluid drainage from the brain after stroke. The authors suggest that administering guanosine may be a potential therapeutic strategy for improving outcomes in hypertension-related stroke.
Caveats
The link between guanosine and stroke prognosis in patients was observational, while the mechanistic treatments were tested in mice. The findings come from a conference abstract that has not yet undergone full peer review.
The paper
Shanghai Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases
ESC Congress 2026 Abstract, Oct 26, 2026
Presented at ESC Congress 2026
