SLC1A2 and periventricular leukomalacia: Reactive astrocytes and microglia/macrophages also help protect pre-OLs from excitotoxic injury by the upregulation of the glutamate transporter EAAT and uptake of excessive tissue glutamate, as suggested by the finding that the percentage of EAAT2-immunopositive astrocytes is increased in PVL compared to control white matter, and macrophages in the necrotic foci express EAAT2 [78].