It has been shown that different cell types respond differently to cytokine stimulation51,52 with evidence suggesting that Jak/STAT signaling through type I IFN not only has an antiviral role in neurons53, but that it is also involved in deleterious neuro-inflammatory events54 and neurodegeneration55 in various non-viral diseases and is not always activated in the same way as in non-neuronal cells52,56. The gene discussed is SOAT1; the disease is viral load.