Remarkably, blockage of either NF-κB p65, MAPK 38 or both with their specific inhibitors significantly attenuated B7-H3-exaggerated extravasation of serum albumin and IgG into the brain and substantially ameliorated B7-H3-exacerbated disease severity in S. pneumoniae-infected mice, indicating that B7-H3 augmented activation of both NF-κB p65 and MAPK p38 pathways and subsequently amplified inflammatory response is predominantly responsible for B7-H3 exacerbated disruption of BBB integrity and severity of disease status during pneumococcal meningitis. The gene discussed is ALB; the disease is pneumococcal meningitis.