Research progress on the correlation between biological rhythms and the blood-brain barrier after ischemic stroke

Yuanchen Liao; Lei Luo; Qiang Ma; Xiaofeng Gao; Yao Chen; Siyang Yan; Menghao He; Lijuan Liu; Desheng Zhou

doi:10.3389/fneur.2025.1627172

Research progress on the correlation between biological rhythms and the blood-brain barrier after ischemic stroke

Front Neurol. 2025 Sep 26:16:1627172. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1627172. eCollection 2025.

Authors

Yuanchen Liao^#¹, Lei Luo^#¹, Qiang Ma², Xiaofeng Gao³, Yao Chen³, Siyang Yan³, Menghao He¹, Lijuan Liu³, Desheng Zhou³

Affiliations

¹ Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.
² The Key Laboratory of Hunan Province for Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine on Prevention and Treatment of Cardio-Cerebral Diseases, College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.
³ The First Affiliated Hospital of Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan, China.

^# Contributed equally.

Abstract

Biological rhythms play a critical role in regulating human physiology and have been implicated in the onset, progression, and recovery of ischemic stroke (IS). This review summarizes recent experimental and clinical studies that associate circadian regulation with post-stroke blood-brain barrier (BBB) repair, focusing on the role of molecular clock components. Core clock components, including BMAL1 and CLOCK, influence BBB integrity by regulating tight junction protein expression, angiogenesis, neuroimmune responses, and neuroendocrine signaling. Finally, we discuss emerging chronotherapeutic strategies that integrate circadian biology into stroke rehabilitation.

Keywords: angiogenesis; biological rhythms; blood-brain barrier; immune system; ischemic stroke; neuroendocrine system.

Publication types

Review