Astrocytes have a high capacity for the Nrf2-driven production and storage of GSH, and release it into the extracellular space via the transporter multidrug resistance protein 1 in a manner that is increased in response to oxidative stress and chronically elevated levels of ambient glutamate, both hallmarks of excitotoxic disorders such as cerebral ischemia 60, 61. This evidence concerns the gene NFE2L2 and brain ischemia.