An increase in miR-7 preceded the reduction of VDAC mRNAs and proteins after brain ischemia and the level of miR-7 was negatively correlated with the expression of VDAC1 and VDAC3, indicating that posttranscriptional regulation and translational repression by miR-7 are responsible for the postischemic decrease of VDAC1 and VDAC3. The gene discussed is VDAC1; the disease is brain ischemia.