Chinese scientists have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding why many stroke patients experience secondary brain damage after blood flow restoration, according to a recently published study. The research team identified a specific protein complex as the primary instigator of neurovascular injury following ischaemic stroke treatment.
This year's findings reveal how the newly discovered molecular pathway triggers blood-brain barrier disruption and intracranial hemorrhage in nearly 40% of patients who undergo revascularization therapies. The discovery, published in a leading neurology journal, addresses a critical gap in stroke recovery science that has persisted for decades.
"Our findings provide the first clear roadmap for developing targeted therapies to prevent post-reperfusion complications," said lead researcher Dr. Wei Lin from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. The team used advanced CRISPR screening and live-cell imaging techniques to track cellular responses in real time during stroke recovery simulations.
Medical experts worldwide are hailing this development as particularly timely, given the World Health Organization's 2025 Global Stroke Prevention Initiative. Pharmaceutical companies in Asia and Europe have already initiated collaborative projects to develop inhibitor drugs based on the Chinese team's findings.
