MMP2 and brain ischemia: Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) expression upregulation was observed in noninfarcted ventromedial striatum and preoptical area (POA) where BBB damage was observed after 2 h MCAO [12], and our recent study reported that YC-1, a HIF-1α inhibitor, decreased BBB damage by regulating matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) during acute cerebral ischemia [13].