A number of studies have indicated that the mechanism involved in cerebral ischemia-induced neuronal death and neurovascular unit damage is NRP1 (not neuropilin-2, NRP2)/Fer/CRMPs (Collapsin response mediator protein) pathway (Figure 1B; Aylsworth et al., 2009; Hou et al., 2009, 2010; Jiang et al., 2010; Whitehead et al., 2010). Here, NRP1 is linked to brain ischemia.