TNF and brain ischemia: The present study demonstrates the following: (1) CD147 expression rapidly increased in the spleen after cerebral ischemia and (2) inhibition of CD147 with αCD147 treatment 1 h prior to ischemia onset profoundly reduced cerebral ischemia-induced proinflammatory gene expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1 in the spleen at 4 and 24 h after cerebral ischemia.