Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Augments the Tolerance Towards Cerebral Stroke by Enhancing Neurovascular Repair Mechanism

We report that the transgenic overexpression of VEGF (GOF) prior to the stroke stabilizes the vasculature and prevents blood–brain barrier disruption in young and aged animals after stroke. Whereas inhibition of signals for endogenous VEGF (LOF) prior to stroke results in bigger infarction with massive brain swelling and enhanced BBB permeability, furthermore, activating or blocking VEGF signaling after ischemic stroke onset had comparable effects on BBB repair an d cerebral edema. VEGF can function as an anti-permeability factor, and a VEGF-based therapy in the context of stroke prevention and recovery has an enormous potential.
Source: Translational Stroke Research - Category: Neurology Source Type: research