We have further shown that blockage of NF-κB p65 and/or MAPK p38 attenuates B7-H3-amplified inflammatory response and ameliorates B7-H3-exacerbated BBB disruption and brain damage in S. pneumoniae-infected mice, suggesting that targeting NF-κB p65 and/or MAPK p38 may represent a potential therapeutic option for amelioration of overwhelming inflammatory response-associated brain injury during pneumococcal meningitis. The gene discussed is CD276; the disease is pneumococcal meningitis.