Consistent with previous studies showing impaired NK cell response after stroke (4, 22), these findings suggest that miR-451a and miR-122-5p are possibly involved in the alteration in expression of NK cell surface markers CD69 and NKG2D, but whether miR-451a and miR-122-5p contribute to stroke-induced NK cell deficit needs to be further confirmed by NK cell functional assays. The gene discussed is KLRK1; the disease is stroke disorder.