MAPK8 and brain ischemia: We found that MKK7, and not MKK4, mediates the activation of JNK signaling in excitotoxic neuronal death3 and cerebral ischemia.4 Here we show, for the first time, that MKK7-specific inhibition represents a good strategy to prevent excitotoxic neuronal death and overcome possible side effects occurring in response to JNK inhibition.13