After transient occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (MCAO), Cx3cr1GFP/GFP mice exhibited reduced areas of brain infarcts, reduced number of apoptotic cells and infiltrating leucocytes, and reduced blood–brain barrier (BBB) damage compared with Cx3cr1+/GFP and Cx3cr1+/+ mice. The gene discussed is CX3CR1; the disease is brain infarction.