GP6 and ischemic stroke: It may be that this metalloproteinase has multiple roles in the pathology of ischemic stroke; firstly by undermining the stability of the fibrous cap of atheroma and so promoting its rupture, then modulating the BBB to increase bleeding risk, and finally acting on platelets to impair the aggregatory interactions, by antagonising GPVI and αIIbβ3 which would normally protect against bleeding.