MAPK8 and Cerebral ischemia: Based on recent findings that the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the mouse ortholog of IL-8, keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC/CXCL1), displayed the most significant changes in release following cerebral ischemia [15] and knowing that JNK regulates their transcription [16], we investigated whether part of the neuroprotective effect of D-JNKI1 results from the modulation of systemic and brain secretion of IL-6 and KC following cerebral ischemia in mice.