Interest of Measuring P2X4 Receptors on Blood Monocytes as a Diagnostic Marker in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: P2X4 as a Diagnostic Biomarker for ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the most common form of motor neuron disease and is characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons leading to progressive paralysis and death within 3 to 5 years after diagnosis. To date, no key mechanism had been identified. Our associated laboratory has identified the P2X4 purinergic pathway that appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of ALS. Our goal is to verify these results at the human level in order to have a proof of concept of P2X4's role as a biomarker of the disease.