VCAM1 and Stroke: Consistent with the previous report that inflammatory biomarkers (VCAM-1, ICAM-1 and P-selectin) were up-regulated within the entire brain after stroke [56], our current study indicated that there was increased expression of VEGF in the both contralateral and ipsilateral side of stroke mice compared with sham group, though there was only a small increase of VEGF expression in the contralateral side as noted.