BDNF and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Interestingly, mSOD1 microglia isolated from ALS mice at disease onset showed higher levels of Ym1, CD163, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) (M2 markers) and lower levels of Nox2 mRNA (M1 marker) as compared to the end-stage disease (Liao et al., 2012).