Abstract: The neurovascular unit and stem cell therapy in ischemic stroke: Ischemic stroke, accounts for approximately 85% of all stroke incidents and is a major global health burden. It is the leading cause of disability and death worldwide, posing immense societal and economic challenges due to the long-term care required for stroke survivors and the significant healthcare costs associated with its treatment and management (Amarenco et al., 2009). Ischemic stroke inflicts damage that spans multiple aspects, disrupts cerebral blood flow, and leads to a cascade of deleterious events including cellular excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and subsequent neuronal degeneration (Macrez et al., 2011). The neurovascular unit (NVU), a minimal functional unit within the brain, encompasses neurons, astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, pericytes, and endothelial cells. This complex ensemble is pivotal in maintaining the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and stabilizing the cerebral microenvironment. In the context of ischemic stroke, the NVU not only embodies the disease’s pathological spectrum but also significantly contributes to post-stroke restoration. Damage to the NVU during ischemic stroke disrupts its structural and functional integrity, increases BBB permeability, and induces neuroinflammatory responses. The intricate interactions among the NVU’s cellular and extracellular components are instrumental in tissue repair, angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and functional recovery following a stroke (Wang et al., 2021).