Pericyte hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) drives blood-brain barrier disruption and impacts acute ischemic stroke outcome.

ABSTRACT: Pericytes play essential roles in blood-brain barrier integrity and their dysfunction is implicated in neurological disorders such as stroke although the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), a master regulator of injury responses, has divergent roles in different cells especially during stress scenarios. On one hand HIF-1 is neuroprotective but on the other it induces vascular permeability. Since pericytes are critical for barrier stability, we asked if pericyte HIF-1 signaling impacts barrier integrity and injury severity in a mouse model of ischemic stroke. We show that pericyte HIF-1 loss of function (LoF) diminishes ischemic damage and barrier permeability at 3 days reperfusion. HIF-1 deficiency preserved barrier integrity by reducing pericyte death

SUBMITTER: Tsao CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8487886 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature