DDIT3 and brain ischemia: The induction of CHOP mRNA by brain ischemia or hypoxia has been demonstrated in previous studies to be one of the most significant pathways leading to neuronal apoptosis (Carmeliet et al., 1998[13]; Doutheil et al., 1997[20]; Jin et al., 2001[35]; Paschen et al., 1998[65]), CHOP can also reduce the expression of B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) leading to ER stress and an increase in oxidative damage (Ferri and Kroemer, 2001[23]; Mori, 2000[52]).