The observation that Sema7A acts as a survival factor for embryonic chick DRG neurons in vitro (R.J. Pasterkamp and A.L. Kolodkin, unpublished observations), together with its prominent expression in CA2 pyramidal neurons and epilepsy-induced (re-)expression of α1β1 integrins in hippocampal neurons and astrocytes [49,52], suggests that Sema7A might protect CA2 neurons against epileptic damage. This evidence concerns the gene SEMA7A and epilepsy.