In patients, somepro-angiogenic genes, including Tie-2, matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1), hepatocyte growth factor-α (HGF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), were upregulated in ENG expressing micro-vessels in stroke affected tissue. This evidence concerns the gene MMP2 and Stroke.