The latter is likely involved in the initial stages of ischemic stroke, whereby hypoxic preconditioning exacerbates BBB injury and brain edema.306 Furthermore, it has been shown that recovery from BBB damage is associated with both the MMP2 and VEGF pathways in acute cerebral ischemia, suggesting a close link between MMP2 and VEGF.307. Here, VEGFA is linked to ischemic stroke.