NLRP3 inflammasomes can regulate glial and neuronal cell death in ischemic stroke via enhancing generation and secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokines including IL-1β and IL-18 and through pleiotropic impacts of cleaved-caspase-1 in regulating neuronal cell apoptosis (Fann et al., 2013a). The gene discussed is IL18; the disease is ischemic stroke.