There is evidence that autophagy contributes to the protective effect in cerebral ischemia [7] and is regulated by many different molecules, such as p53, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), through multiple signaling pathways [7–9]. The gene discussed is TP53; the disease is brain ischemia.