Brain Stroke Chemistry May Force Adhesion Molecules to Change Shape

When a stroke occurs, dropping brain pH triggers a hidden crisis. In our new paper we reveal how acidosis may alter Junctional Adhesion Molecules.

When we think about a stroke, we usually focus on the immediate problem of a blocked blood vessel and a sudden lack of oxygen to the brain. But there is a hidden second act to this medical emergency, and it all comes down to a rapid change in chemistry. 

When brain cells are starved of oxygen, they switch to an anaerobic energy system. This emergency response generates an accumulation of metabolic byproducts, causing the brain's local pH levels to drop quickly. For a long time, this state of acidosis was just seen as a severe side effect. However, in our recent paper published, we discovered that this acid may actually act as a chemical trigger that physically alters the brain's most important gatekeepers.

Read the full behind the paper post in Springer Nature: https://communities.springernature.com/posts/brain-stroke-chemistry-may-force-adhesion-molecules-to-change-shape