The importance of increased NCKX2 expression in the ischemic state may be due to the NCKX2 transport stoichiometry (4Na+/1Ca2++1K+), which allows neuroprotective Ca2+ extrusion to be maintained under the reduced ion gradients present in the early ischemic state, although possibly not during severe ischemia and in the extreme case of excitotoxic stress [45,63]. This evidence concerns the gene SLC24A2 and ischemia.