ATF7 and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: However, the activation of ATF-7 by the TIR-dependent PMK-1/p38 MAPK immune pathway in response to the expression of mutant proteins associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in C. elegans motor neurons caused motor neuron degeneration [103], highlighting the context-dependent nature of ATF-7 in neuroprotection and neurodegeneration [102,103].