A short-term, low dose glucocorticoid therapy which was given to glioblastoma patients with brain edema before surgery drastically decreases the proportion of CD3-/CD56+ NK cells (13.84 ± 9.79%, n = 33 to 8.87 ± 6.53%, n = 12, data not shown), CD3-/CD94+ NK cells (8.25 ± 6.25%, n = 33 to 5.47 ± 4.41%, n = 12) and CD3-/CD69+ NK cells (4.56 ± 5.37%, n = 33 to 2.86 ± 2.22%, n = 12) (Supplementary Figure S3C). The gene discussed is CD69; the disease is brain edema.