Previous studies demonstrated that 1) SLC19A3 is expressed within cerebral blood vessels at the basement membrane and in perivascular pericytes [20]; 2) blood–brain barrier abnormalities is a characteristic feature of TD mice and rats [49, 50]; and 3) intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) induction in endothelial cells of microvessels of the thalamus is the early trigger of TD-induced neurodegeneration in TD mice [51]. The gene discussed is SLC19A3; the disease is thanatophoric dysplasia.