Dynamic inflammatory changes of the neurovascular units after ischemic stroke

Abstract

Ischemic stroke (IS) is an acute brain injury and a major cause of disability and mortality worldwide, resulting from permanent or temporary cerebral artery occlusion. Thrombolysis and antithrombotic therapy or thrombectomy over a wider therapeutic window led to reduced stroke mortality. However, the post-stroke pathological mechanism is still elusive, involving sustaining inflammation and cellular dysfunction, which hinders the recovery after IS. Thus, more attention is shifting towards the complex interactions of the neurovascular unit (NVU) and its important role in the progress of inflammation recently. This review summarized the physiological function of each component of the NVU and their functions on blood brain barrier permeability, cerebral blood flow regulation and the inflammation progress after IS. In addition, we described the inflammation-related pathological changes affected by the NVU and concluded that the dysfunction of the NVU contributed to the inflammation progress after IS. This review may provide ideas for the potential therapies targeting the NVU for improving the prognosis of IS.

Keywords: Blood brain barrier; Inflammation; Ischemic stroke; Neurovascular unit.