The notion that Ca2+-permeable AMPARs can be protective in ischemia was surprising given that increased permeability to Ca2+ by downregulation of GluA2 is believed to lead to excitoxic cell death immediately following ischemia (Pellegrini-Giampietro et al., 1992, 1997; Oguro et al., 1999). The gene discussed is GRIA2; the disease is ischemia.