With regard to therapeutic intervention, G-CSF, IL-1β, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, TNF-α, MMP-2, and MMP-8 were substantially reduced in OPN-/- mice seven weeks following stroke, and these mice exhibited less secondary neurodegeneration in the peri-infarct location. The gene discussed is MMP8; the disease is Stroke.