Importantly, and as revealed by combined in vivo imaging and double-immunofluorescence data, the early peak of the nestin signal observed by in vivo imaging (biophotonic/bioluminescence imaging protocol) (24–72 h after stroke) is caused, in part, by a marked increase in the nestin signal arising from the activated astrocytes located at the peri-infarct region. The gene discussed is NES; the disease is stroke disorder.