Genetic and functional studies suggest that variants in the optineurin (OPTN) and TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) genes, that are associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, may promote axonal degeneration, in part by facilitating the triggering of oligodendrocyte necroptosis, although the relative importance of this compared to other functions of OPTN and TBK1 remains to be fully elucidated15,50,51. This evidence concerns the gene OPTN and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.