This is consistent with the predominant expression of P2X7 on ALS spinal cord microglia (Apolloni et al., 2013b) and with results reported in experimental animal models of neuropathic pain where P2X7 mediates microglia activation in spinal cord (He et al., 2012; Kobayashi et al., 2011). Here, P2RX7 is linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.