BDNF and ischemic stroke: These include brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF), nerve growth factor (NGF), [13] , IGF-1 [15], stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) [16], basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [17], and all are responsible for the beneficial effects of BM-MSC against ischemic stroke on brain protection and tissue regeneration.