SQSTM1 and ischemic stroke: Through GOF and LOF experiments in two neuron-like cell lines (SY5Y, HEK293T), primary neurons, hCMEC/D3 brain endothelial cells and U-87 MG astroglial-like cells, which we exposed to OGD and Reox in vitro, as well as in vivo analysis of mice subjected to transient MCAO, a clinically relevant ischemic stroke model, we demonstrate that the autophagic hub protein p62 is upregulated upon I/R and plays a critical role in regulating cell survival and death.