These reactive astrocytes and activated microglia may produce nitric oxide and inflammatory cytokines (such as interleukins, TNF-α, and TGF-β) that could contribute to a reinforced neuroinflammation cascade, which may amplify the initial neurotoxic insults triggered by tau overexpression to drive neurodegeneration and further brain pathologies of AD. The gene discussed is MAPT; the disease is Alzheimer disease.