In response to proinflammatory cytokines, STAT3, a transcription factor, becomes activated, translocates to the nucleus, and induces expression of additional immune response genes, and activation of STAT3 has been observed in motor neurons and glia cells in the spinal cord of ALS patients and SOD1G93A mice (Shibata et al., 2009, 2010). Here, STAT3 is linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.