MCAO led to no significant changes in the percentage of CD3-CD43+ monocytes (Fig. 7A and 7C, p>0.05 by two-way ANOVA) and CD3-CD161a+ NK cells (Fig. 7B and 7D, p>0.05 by two-way ANOVA) in the blood for at least 28 days after ischemic stroke with or without splenectomy. This evidence concerns the gene SPN and ischemic stroke.