The fact that we observe a restrained cytotoxic activity in the brain of old cirrhotic mice together with the expansion of CD8+ T cells may suggest either a neuroprotective reprogrammed immunophenotype, as shown in acute brain injury during early stages of ischemic stroke [66], or rather an exhausted behavior more related to chronic damage, as that shown in chronic viral infection [67], for this population in cirrhosis during aging. The gene discussed is CD8A; the disease is ischemic stroke.