Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal motor neuron (MN) disease with astrocytes implicated as a significant contributor to MN death in familial ALS (fALS)1–5. However, these conclusions, in part, derive from rodent models of fALS based upon dominant mutations within the superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) gene which account for less than 2% of all ALS cases2, 4, 5. Here, we generated astrocytes from post-mortem tissue from both fALS and sporadic ALS (sALS) patients, and show that astrocytes derived from both patient groups are similarly toxic to MNs. In addition, we show that SOD1 is a viable target for sALS, as its knockdown significantly attenuates astrocyte-mediated toxicity towards MNs. Our data highlight astrocytes as a non-cell autonomous component in sALS and provide the first in vitro model system to investigate common disease mechanisms and evaluate potential therapies for sALS and fALS.

SUMMARY Neuroinflammation is one of the most striking hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB), a master regulator of inflammation, is upregulated in spinal cords of ALS patients and SOD1-G93A mice. In this study, we show that selective NF-κB inhibition in ALS astrocytes is not sufficient to rescue motor neuron (MN) death. However, the localization of NF-κB activity and subsequent deletion of NF-κB signaling in microglia rescued MNs from microglial-mediated death in vitro and extended survival in ALS mice by impairing pro-inflammatory microglial activation. Conversely, constitutive activation of NF-κB selectively in wild-type microglia induced gliosis and MN death in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, these data provide a mechanism by which microglia induce MN death in ALS, and suggest a novel therapeutic target that can be modulated to slow the progression of ALS and possibly other neurodegenerative diseases by which microglial activation plays a role.

Life is stressful. Organisms are repeatedly exposed to stressors that disrupt protein homeostasis (proteostasis), resulting in protein misfolding and aggregation. To sense and respond to proteotoxic perturbations, cells have evolved compartment-specific stress responses, such as the unfolded protein response of the endoplasmic reticulum (UPR). However, UPR function is impaired with age, which, we propose, creates a permissive environment for protein aggregation, unresolved ER stress, and chronic inflammation. Understanding age-related changes to the UPR will provide new avenues for therapeutic intervention in metabolic disease, neurodegeneration, and aging.