A study has found that microglial pro-inflammatory mediators in ischemic stroke, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), induce NADPH oxidase-mediated superoxide production, compromising BBB integrity and perpetuating nerve damage (Yang et al., 2022). The gene discussed is IL6; the disease is ischemic stroke.