We found that knockdown of 11β-HSD1 reduced neuronal injury in hippocampal CA1 and DG areas induced by PTZ kindling, preventing the increased expression of pro-apoptosis proteins Bax and cleaved caspase-3 and the reduced expression of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 in PTZ kindled epilepsy mice. The gene discussed is BAX; the disease is epilepsy.