Some genetic causes of ALS may need an epigenetic trigger to activate the disease

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2016-07/foas-sgc070516.php

Public Release: 5-Jul-2016
Some genetic causes of ALS may need an epigenetic trigger to activate the disease
New research in The FASEB Journal, suggests that for some people with ALS, unusually high IL-6 production caused by epigenetic factors may be at the root of the disease
Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology

A new research report appearing online in The FASEB Journal shows why, for some people, having a genetic predisposition to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) may not be enough to actually guarantee having the disease. In short, researchers examined identical twins--one afflicted with familial ALS and one not--and found that environmental factors were likely necessary to alter the expression of some immune genes (epigenetic changes) before the disease could take hold. This discovery may pave the way toward developing preventive strategies for those who are at risk for ALS.

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