While the underlying mechanism by which PLX treatment results in increased ataxin-1 expression is unclear, it is possible that PLX may directly regulate ataxin-1 through c-kit and Flt3 signaling (also inhibited by PLX), or that microglia and neuroinflammation may modulate protein clearance in neurons in neurodegenerative disease. The gene discussed is ATXN1; the disease is neurodegenerative disease.