β2-Microglobulin exacerbates neuroinflammation, brain damage, and cognitive impairment after stroke in rats.

β2-Microglobulin (β2M), a component of the major histocompatibility complex class I molecule, is associated with aging-related cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Although upregulation of β2M is considered to be highly related to ischemic stroke, the specific role and underlying mechanistic action of β2M are poorly understood. In this study, we established a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery.