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Mechanisms of Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption and Subsequent Cellular Injury in Animal Models of Neurological Disorders

Rafael Henrique dos Santos MD, PhD1, Mariana Oliveira Costa PhD  ORCID2*

1 Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil.
2 Laboratory of Experimental Neurology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

DOI: 10.18081/2378-5225/14.58  
Cited by 0

 Article history: Received 30 October 2024 · Revised 13 December 2024 · Accepted 22 December 2024 · Published 11 February 2025

© 2025 Costa, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). 

CC BY 4.0                                                                                                   

Abstract

Background: Disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is a critical event in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders, contributing to the progression of cellular injury and neurological dysfunction. Experimental animal models provide valuable insights into the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying BBB breakdown and its downstream effects.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms of BBB disruption and subsequent cellular injury in animal models of neurological disorders, with a focus on the roles of tight junction degradation, inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis.

Methods: Experimental models of ischemic stroke (middle cerebral artery occlusion), traumatic brain injury (controlled cortical impact), and neuroinflammation (lipopolysaccharide administration) were established in rodents. BBB integrity was assessed using Evans Blue extravasation and fluorescent tracer permeability assays. Tight junction protein expression (occluding, claudin-5, ZO-1) was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress markers, and apoptotic pathways were analyzed using ELISA, biochemical assays, qRT-PCR, and protein expression profiling. Histopathological evaluation and behavioral assessments were conducted to determine the extent of neuronal injury and functional impairment.

Results: All injury models demonstrated significant BBB disruption, characterized by increased vascular permeability and loss of tight junction integrity. Upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β), and oxidative stress markers (ROS, MDA) was observed, accompanied by reduced antioxidant دفاع mechanisms. These changes were strongly associated with increased neuronal apoptosis, as evidenced by elevated caspase-3 expression and TUNEL positivity. Behavioral analyses revealed significant neurological deficits in injured animals. Therapeutic interventions targeting BBB integrity resulted in partial restoration of barrier function, reduced inflammation and oxidative stress, and improved neuronal survival and functional outcomes.

Conclusions: BBB disruption plays a central and multifactorial role in mediating cellular injury in neurological disorders. The interplay between proteolytic activity, inflammation, and oxidative stress drives barrier breakdown and neuronal damage. Targeting BBB integrity represents a promising therapeutic strategy to mitigate brain injury and improve neurological outcomes. Further translational studies are warranted to bridge experimental findings to clinical applications.

Keywords: Blood–brain barrier; neuronal injury; neuroinflammation; oxidative stress; matrix metalloproteinases; animal models; ischemic stroke; traumatic brain injury.

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BM-Publisher · Pathophysiology of Cell Injury Journal (PCIJ) · E-ISSN 2378-5225 · DOI Prefix 10.18081/pcij/2378-5225

Pathophysiology of Cell Injury Journal (PCIJ)
E-ISSN 2378-5225 · Biannual
BM-Publisher (London, UK)
Open Access

Vol 14, Issue 1 (June 2025), pp. 38–58

How to cite (AMA)

Santos Rh, Costa Mo. Mechanisms of Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption and Subsequent Cellular Injury in Animal Models of Neurological Disorders. Pathophysiology of Cell Injury Journal (PCIJ). 2025;14(1):38–58. doi: 10.18081/2378-5225/14.58.

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