VEGFA and brain ischemia: It has been established that brain ischemia induces neurogenesis by activating neuronal migration through the injured area via secretion of neurotrophic factors such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cytokines like monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1), and macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP-1).