Fingolimod protects against neurovascular unit injury in a rat model of focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury

Recent research on the underlying mechanisms of cerebral ischemia indicates that the neurovascular unit can be used as a novel subject for general surveys of neuronal damage and protein mechanisms.Fingolimod(FTY-720)is a newly developed immunosuppressant isolated from Cordyceps sinensis that exhibits a wide range of biological activities,and has recently attracted much attention for the treatment of ischemic cerebrovascular diseases.In the current research,the role of FTY-720 and its possible mechanisms were assessed from an neurovascular unit perspective using a rat cerebral ischemia model.Our results revealed that FTY-720 markedly decreased infarct volume,promoted neurological function recovery,and weakened the blood-brain barrier permeability of ischemic rats.The protective roles of FTY-720 in ischemic stroke are ascribed to a combination of sphingosin-1-phosphate receptor-1 and reduced expression of sphingosin-1-phosphate receptor-1 in microvessels and reduction of interleukin-17A protein levels.These findings indicate that FTY-720 has promise as a new therapy for neurovascular protection and functional recovery after ischemic stroke.