Pericyte response to ischemic stroke precedes endothelial cell death and blood-brain barrier breakdown.

ABSTRACT: Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability, yet the cellular response to the ischemic insult is poorly understood limiting therapeutic options. Brain pericytes are crucial for maintaining blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and are known to be one of the first responders to ischemic stroke. The exact timeline of cellular events after stroke, however, remains elusive. Using the permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion stroke model, we established a detailed timeline of microvascular events after experimental stroke. Our results show that pericytes respond already within 1 hour after the ischemic insult. We find that approximately 30% of the pericyte population dies as early as 1 hour after stroke, while ca 50% express markers that indicate activation. A decrease of endoth

SUBMITTER: Roth M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11571979 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature