Commentary to “Ischemic conditioning promotes transneuronal survival and stroke recovery via CD36-mediated efferocytosis”

Remote ischemic postconditioning (RIC) has emerged as a novel promising intervention to reduce damage after stroke. However, the mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of RIC are unclear. The recent study using ischemic stroke in mice model found that RIC enhances the infiltration of pro-inflammatory monocytes to the damaged brain and that these monocyte-derived macrophages have improved phagocytic capacity, allowing for the efficient brain cleanup. They subsequently discovered that scavenger receptor CD36 act as central molecule involved in monocyte infiltration and in macrophages phagocytic activities. Ultimately, they found that the cleanup is essential to prevent axonal degeneration and substantial nigra degeneration.