PTGS2 and ischemic stroke: To explore the underlying structural components responsible for the COX-2-mediated BBB disruption in ischemic stroke, ZO-1 and occludin (two critical TJPs) as well as the basal lamina protein, collagen IV, were measured in ischemic brain of COX-2+/+ and COX-2−/− mice since they are important in the maintenance of BBB integrity (40, 41).