Endothelial tPA-dependent recruitment of microglia to vessels protects the blood-brain barrier after stroke.

Ischemic stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide and thrombolysis, with tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) or its mutants, remains the only pharmacological treatment available for the acute phase. In this study, we hypothesised that endothelial tPA plays a key role in modulating the microglial response and maintaining blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity after stroke.