Oxidative Stress-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) Disruption in Neurological Diseases

Figure 3

Schematic illustration of how ROS can affect the BBB via mechanisms interconnecting multiple organ systems. (A) Microflora gut-brain axis. Probiotics and pathogens can affect the composition of the intestinal flora and, thus, affect the integrity of BBB. (B) Myocardial I/R injury. It causes oxidative stress in the brain through mitochondrial dysfunction and inflammation, leading to BBB dysfunction. (C) Hypertension. Endothelial dysfunction, microglial activation, Ang II-mediated pathways, and the subfornical organ-paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus-rostral ventrolateral medulla pathway (SFO-PVN-RVLM pathway) may contribute to ROS production leading to the destruction of the BBB during hypertension. (D) Diabetes. Increased mitochondrial oxidative stress can be caused by hyperglycemia. This induces peripheral blood cell loss and is a prerequisite for BBB destruction.