The few available studies show that CNTF is barely detectable in the blood of healthy subjects, whereas its concentration increases in patients with conditions as diverse as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Laaksovirta et al., 2008), septic shock (Guillet et al., 1995) and autism (Brondino et al., 2018). The gene discussed is CNTF; the disease is amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.