RAB7A and ischemic stroke: To determine if Rab7a may similarly mediate degradation of BBB TJ proteins in BECs after ischemic stroke, we generated a Rab7a-inducible EC knockout mouse strain [Rab7aiECKO(Rab7afl/fl; VEC-CreERT2+/−; eGFP::Claudin5+/−] to ablate Rab7a in ECs upon administration of 4-OH-tamoxifen (Fig. 1A).