Furthermore, HIWI/PIWIL1 proteins were co-localized with TDP-43 in the motor neurons of sporadic ALS lumbar cords, suggesting that HIWI/PIWIL1 may contribute to the formation of TDP-43 inclusions (Abdelhamid et al., 2022). Here, PIWIL1 is linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.