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Rab7a activation promotes degradation of select tight junction proteins at the blood-brain barrier after ischemic stroke

Cottarelli, A.; Shahriar, S.; Arac, A.; Glendinning, M.; Tuohy, M. C.; Prochilo, G.; Neal, J. B.; Edinger, A.; Agalliu, D.

2023-08-30 cell biology
10.1101/2023.08.29.555373 bioRxiv
Show abstract

Adherens (AJ) and tight junction (TJ) integrity is critical for blood-brain barrier (BBB) function in the healthy brain. Junction disassembly due to degradation of AJ and TJ proteins leads to acute BBB dysfunction after ischemic stroke, but the mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, we show that endothelial cell deletion of Rab7a, a small GTPase crucial for protein degradation through the endolysosomal system, reduces acute BBB dysfunction and improves neuronal health in mice after ischemic stroke by preventing degradation of select junctional proteins and preserving TJ structural morphology. Two pro-inflammatory cytokines, TNF and IL1{beta}, that trigger barrier disruption in brain endothelial cells (BECs) in vitro and are upregulated in stroke, contribute to Rab7a activation. Silencing Rab7a in vitro partially rescues cytokine-driven barrier disruption in BECs by reducing internalization of some junctional proteins and the formation of F-actin bundles at cell junctions. Rab7a is, therefore, critical for degradation of select junctional proteins during the acute BBB damage after ischemic stroke.

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