TNF and brain ischemia: In a recent study from our group, I.C.V infusion of Ang-(1-7) was found to cause a significant reduction in NF-κB activity, which was associated with decreased expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and COX-2 in peri-infarct tissues of rat brain, indicating that suppressing inflammation at initial phase of cerebral ischemia by inhibiting NF-κB activity has contributed to the neuroprotection of Ang-(1-7) [10].