In a mouse model of brain ischemia, Jiang et al. found that VNS might upregulate the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma [PPARγ, a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays a positive anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective role during CNS inflammation (169)] by activating α7nAChR, thereby suppressing inflammatory factors in the CNS and exerting an anti-inflammatory effect (170). The gene discussed is CHRNA7; the disease is brain ischemia.