TNF and Stroke: Reintroduction of blood into ischemic tissue will also cause a strong release of inflammatory mediators like tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and leukocyte-endothelial cell adhesion molecules; all these cellular events can initiate an inflammatory condition which may contribute to further vascular dysfunction and stroke damage (Carden and Granger, 2000; Jin et al., 2010a; Prestigiacomo et al., 1999; Ritter et al., 2000).