Overall, our data suggest that STAT3 in pericytes plays a key role in the hypoxic responses in the hyperacute phase after stroke, and the upstream cytokines IL6 and IL11 may be produced by pericytes to further activate the STAT3 pathway both in an autocrine and a paracrine way, which in turn could have an important role in the early responses to hypoxia. Here, IL11 is linked to stroke disorder.