However, interestingly analysis of individual patients with Alpers’ syndrome revealed a significant increase in Kir4.1 intensity in astrocytes from four of five patients with Alpers’ syndrome relative to control astrocytes (P < 0.01) (Fig. 4a), albeit the intensity of Kir4.1 was significantly increased selectively in lesioned occipital cortex of Patient 13 (P < 0.0001) (Supplementary Fig. 3). The gene discussed is KCNJ10; the disease is Alpers syndrome.