DAPK1 inhibition protects against ischemic injury both in cultured neurons and in vivo, suggesting that potential treatments for ischemic stroke could be based on inhibiting DAPK1.81 It is interesting to note that the pro-survival signaling factor ERK serves as a downstream effector of DAPK1, and the DAPK1-ERK interaction could block the neuroprotective effect of ERK on experimental ischemic stroke, possibly by retaining ERK in neuronal cytoplasm.82 This evidence concerns the gene DAPK1 and ischemic stroke.