According to our results, the therapeutic effect of 20 nm cit-AuNP reducing leukocyte and platelet adhesion to pial vessels and edema in brain of mice 6 h after induction of sepsis may come at least in part from its action reducing TNFα concentration in brain and, in a larger extension, by diminishing the ICAM-1 expression both in leukocytes and cerebral blood vessels. The gene discussed is ICAM1; the disease is Sepsis.