MIF and ischemia: Nonetheless, further studies are needed to elucidate the specific mechanisms by which hypoxia-induced astrocytic autophagy influences the pathology of cerebral ischemia; additionally, future research should focus on how MIF overexpression affects the balance between the autophagy and apoptosis of astrocytes under hypoxic conditions in order to elucidate the signaling pathway of MIF, a multi-faceted cytokine considered one of the potential therapeutic targets for ischemia.