Phagocytosis is crucial for brain repair

Phagocytic engulfment and digestion of extracellular material are essential for debris removal, metabolic recycling, tissue remodeling, and inflammation control after brain injury. However, the coordination of phagocytosis across cell types and disease contexts remains incompletely understood. Ju et al. demonstrate that remote ischemic conditioning enhances CD36-dependent phagocytic activity in recruited monocytes/macrophages, which contributes to improved stroke recovery. Building on these important findings, we suggest that effective brain repair requires coordinated phagocytosis across multiple cell types, extending beyond apoptotic neurons to diverse injury-associated substrates. We further argue that intracellular signaling, aging, sex, and circadian biology shape phagocytic efficiency and therapeutic potential.