Harnessing the Power of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound Stimulation in Stroke: Modulating Immune Response.

Abstract

Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, with both ischemic and hemorrhagic subtypes triggering complex inflammatory cascades that exacerbate neuronal damage and impede recovery. Despite significant advances in understanding stroke pathophysiology, therapeutic interventions targeting neuroinflammation have shown limited clinical efficacy. Low-intensity focused ultrasound stimulation has emerged as a noninvasive neuromodulatory approach with promising potential for modulating poststroke immune responses and promoting neuroprotection. Low-intensity focused ultrasound stimulation can enhance stroke recovery by modulating immune cell activity and alleviating neuroinflammation. This review explores the multifaceted interplay between low-intensity focused ultrasound stimulation and the immune response in stroke, examining how ultrasound parameters can be optimized to achieve anti-inflammatory effects. We discuss preclinical evidence that highlights the therapeutic benefits of low-intensity focused ultrasound stimulation in stroke models, elucidate underlying mechanisms of action, and consider translational prospects and challenges for clinical application in patients with stroke.