CX3CR1 and Stroke: In the murine model of stroke by occlusion of the middle cerebral artery, it was observed that 24 hours after the stroke, there was a positive regulation of CX3CR1 expression in hippocampal neurons and an increase in neuronal apoptosis, but in CX3CR1-/- mice, apoptosis was diminished 59 so the disruption of the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis could protect against ischemic brain damage.