In addition, immunohistochemical studies performed in human lumbar spinal cord have demonstrated the presence of RAGE in motor neurons, but not in resting glial cells in control samples, while in ALS tissues, when motor neurons are lost, RAGE appears to be increased in cells with typical morphologies of astrocytes and microglia; this situation is reflected by an overall stability of total RAGE mRNA levels [27]. This evidence concerns the gene AGER and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.