Given the involvement of macrophages in modulating infarction after stroke (Jian et al., 2019) and the role of Slc7a2 in L-arginine transport to maintain macrophage activation (Yeramian et al., 2006), Slc7a2 may indeed have a neuroprotective function following an ischemic event in the brain, warranting further investigation. The gene discussed is SLC7A2; the disease is stroke disorder.