Neuroinflammation, Stroke, Blood-Brain Barrier Dysfunction, and Imaging Modalities

🤖 Plain-English Summary

Maintaining blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity is crucial for the homeostasis of the central nervous system. Due to the dual role of inflammation in the progression of ischemic damage, more research is needed to mechanistically understand when the neuroinflammatory response begins the transition from injury to repair.

🔑 Key Findings

• Structurally comprising the BBB, brain endothelial cells interact with pericytes, astrocytes, neurons, microglia, and perivascular macrophages in the neurovascular unit.
• Brain ischemia unleashes a profound neuroinflammatory response to remove the damaged tissue and prepare the brain for repair.
• However, the intense neuroinflammation occurring during the acute phase of stroke is associated with BBB breakdown, neuronal injury, and worse neurological outcomes.

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