M2- but not M1-type macrophages have been considered as promising target to enhance angiogenesis and neurovascular unit remodelling after stroke by producing factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), IL-8, Insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), and TGF-β (Willenborg et al., 2012; Nakamura et al., 2016). Here, IGF1 is linked to stroke disorder.