Despite its critical role in immune and inflammatory responses, studies on STAT1 in ischemic stroke have primarily focused on its pro-apoptotic action on neurons at the acute injury stage (the first 24 h), whereby STAT1 knockout mice were reported to develop smaller brain infarct and have less neuronal apoptosis at 24 h after brain ischemia [9]. The gene discussed is STAT1; the disease is brain ischemia.