Site‐specific m6A‐miR‐494‐3p, not unmethylated miR‐494‐3p, compromises blood brain barrier by targeting tight junction protein 1 in intracranial atherosclerosis

Intracranial atherosclerosis is one of the most common causes of ischaemic stroke. However, there is a substantial knowledge gap on the development of intracranial atherosclerosis. Intracranial arteries are characterized by an upregulation of tight junctions between endothelial cells, which control endothelial permeability. We investigated the role of N6-methyladenosine (m6A), a common RNA modification, on endothelial integrity, focusing on the pro-atherogenic microRNA miR-494-3p and tight junction proteins TJP1 and PECAM1.