With the improvement of China’s socioeconomic status, the issue of aging has become increasingly prominent, making cerebral infarction a common disease among the elderly. In recent years, research on cerebral infarction has gradually deepened, shifting focus from merely protecting and repairing neurons to emphasizing the complex interplay between inflammatory response and autophagy in the brain vascular unit, covering various aspects such as the blood-brain barrier, astrocytes, microglia, and autophagy. This shift in research direction has provided us with a profound understanding of the mechanisms underlying cerebral infarction, offering strong support for innovative future treatment strategies. In this review, we delved into the importance of the interplay between inflammatory response and autophagy in the pathogenesis of cerebral infarction, emphasized the intricate interactions among these biological components, which might lay the groundwork for more effective managements and treatments of cerebral infarction. By comprehensively reviewing existing literatures, we proposed future research directions, aiming to provide more scientific and systematic guidance for the clinical management and treatment of cerebral infarction. 

Cerebral infarction, Neurovascular unit, Inflammatory response, Autophagy