In a rat model of ischemic stroke, hypoxic preconditioning of bone marrow MSCs (BMSCs) improved their ability to promote cell homing, neuronal differentiation and regeneration, and the recovery of neuronal function via CXCL12/CXC chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) signaling [39–41]. Here, CXCR4 is linked to ischemic stroke.