A recent study revealed that the timing of astrocytic NF-kB activation drives a stage-specific neuroimmunological response in the SOD1 (G93A) ALS model: NF-kB activation promotes the expression of molecules that once released amplify microglial proliferation and protective functions in the presymptomatic phase of ALS, but also promotes detrimental microglial functions in the symptomatic phase62. Here, SOD1 is linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.