When BMSCs overexpressing HIF-1α are transplanted into MCAO rats, a reduction in the volume of cerebral infarction, improved neurobehavioral outcomes, inhibited production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and enhanced secretion of neurotrophic factors occurs, suggesting that HIF-1α may promote BMSCs survival by regulating the activation of AMPK and mTOR to promote autophagy (Lv et al., 2017). Here, HIF1A is linked to brain infarction.