In a study using murine global brain ischemia or neuroinflammatory models with an intranigral injection of lipopolysaccharide, galectin-3 released by microglia acted as an endogenous paracrine TLR4 ligand through its CRD, and depletion of galectin-3 exerted neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects [48]. The gene discussed is LGALS3; the disease is brain ischemia.