The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is like a protective wall for your brain. It’s made up of special cells that help keep harmful substances out while letting good things in. But during a stroke, this barrier can get damaged.
Weakening of Cells: When a stroke happens, the brain might not get enough blood or oxygen. This can kill the cells that make up the BBB. When these cells are damaged, they can’t hold tight together anymore. This allows bad stuff to enter the brain.
Inflammation: A stroke also triggers inflammation in the brain. This is the body’s way of responding to injury but can cause more problems. When certain signals (called cytokines) are released, they can make the BBB even weaker.
Special Enzymes: Certain enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) become active after a stroke. They can break down the parts of the BBB, making it easier for harmful things to get inside the brain.
Swelling: When the BBB is damaged, fluid can build up in the brain. This swelling is called vasogenic edema. It can cause extra pressure in the skull and hurt brain cells even more.
Increased Inflammation: With the BBB compromised, immune cells can enter the brain. This worsens the inflammation and can lead to more brain cell death.
Chemical Imbalance: When the BBB is not working well, important brain chemicals can also spill out. One of these chemicals is glutamate. If there’s too much glutamate, it can overstimulate brain cells, leading to even more damage.
When the BBB breaks down during a stroke, it sets off a chain reaction that causes further harm to the brain. By learning more about how this happens, scientists and doctors can find better ways to protect the BBB. This may help reduce the damage caused by strokes in the future.
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is like a protective wall for your brain. It’s made up of special cells that help keep harmful substances out while letting good things in. But during a stroke, this barrier can get damaged.
Weakening of Cells: When a stroke happens, the brain might not get enough blood or oxygen. This can kill the cells that make up the BBB. When these cells are damaged, they can’t hold tight together anymore. This allows bad stuff to enter the brain.
Inflammation: A stroke also triggers inflammation in the brain. This is the body’s way of responding to injury but can cause more problems. When certain signals (called cytokines) are released, they can make the BBB even weaker.
Special Enzymes: Certain enzymes called matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) become active after a stroke. They can break down the parts of the BBB, making it easier for harmful things to get inside the brain.
Swelling: When the BBB is damaged, fluid can build up in the brain. This swelling is called vasogenic edema. It can cause extra pressure in the skull and hurt brain cells even more.
Increased Inflammation: With the BBB compromised, immune cells can enter the brain. This worsens the inflammation and can lead to more brain cell death.
Chemical Imbalance: When the BBB is not working well, important brain chemicals can also spill out. One of these chemicals is glutamate. If there’s too much glutamate, it can overstimulate brain cells, leading to even more damage.
When the BBB breaks down during a stroke, it sets off a chain reaction that causes further harm to the brain. By learning more about how this happens, scientists and doctors can find better ways to protect the BBB. This may help reduce the damage caused by strokes in the future.