IRAP contributes to the neuroinflammatory response in ischemic damage

Stroke is Australia’s second greatest cause of death after coronary heart disease and is aleading cause of disability. We have four independent observations that provide clear evidence for the involvement of IRAP in ischemic damage (1) markedly reduced damage in the brains of the IRAP knockout mice following middle cerebral artery occlusion, (2) the detection of IRAP immunostaining in activated astrocytes and microglia after damage, (3) IRAP inhibitor treatment attenuated volume of ischemic damage and (4) IRAP inhibitor treatment reduced expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines. This project will elucidate a role for IRAP in the brain following focal or global ischemia and develop the concept of IRAP inhibitors as a potential treatment.