Although the cause of motor neuron degeneration and death in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
(ALS) is unknown, recent evidence suggests a prominent role for increased intracellular
calcium, possibly triggered by auto immune mechanisms. The presence in ALS patients
ofparapro teinemias, lymphomas, lymphoid cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and
the availability of animal models of immunemediated motor neuron disease provide
circumstantial evidence for autoimmunity. Direct evidence derives from the demonstration …