This interaction might not only contribute to the development of various cancers such as glioma, but also play a key role in physiological processes under the control of ACKR3 or depending on proper function of gap junction channels in astrocytes, such as interneuron migration4,5, blood brain barrier permeability6, and synaptic transmission and plasticity56. The gene discussed is ACKR3; the disease is central nervous system cancer.