IL6 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: The role of spinal-cord inflammation in the progression of ALS is well recognized, and is reflected by the presence of elevated levels of proteins associated with inflammatory states such as phospholipase A2 (PLA2), cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 [6], and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 [7], IL-8 [8], IL-18 [9], and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, in the spinal cord [10].