An increasing body of evidence suggests that IL-12p40, IL-17 and IL-23 are important pro-inflammatory cytokines which contributes to neuronal damage in a variety of diseases in CNS, including cerebral ischemia.24 TLR2, IL-23 and IL-17 form an axis that leads to increased inflammatory immune responses and neuronal apoptosis. The gene discussed is IL17A; the disease is brain ischemia.