CCL2, TNFα,65 and vascular endothelial growth factors are representative examples of these extracellular signals, which result in neurotoxicity, neuroprotection, blood‐brain barrier (BBB) leakage or angiogenesis.66 It is reasonable to speculate that there is a certain balance between DAMPs and these salutary signals, which may be regulated mainly by microglia, after stroke.67, 68 Translational research focused on microglia‐neuron crosstalk to bind related receptors or ligands for stroke therapy is warranted. The gene discussed is CCL2; the disease is stroke disorder.