C9orf72-ALS human iPSC microglia are pro-inflammatory and toxic to co-cultured motor neurons via MMP9.

Vahsen BF., Nalluru S., Morgan GR., Farrimond L., Carroll E., Xu Y., Cramb KML., Amein B., Scaber J., Katsikoudi A., Candalija A., Carcolé M., Dafinca R., Isaacs AM., Wade-Martins R., Gray E., Turner MR., Cowley SA., Talbot K.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron loss, with additional pathophysiological involvement of non-neuronal cells such as microglia. The commonest ALS-associated genetic variant is a hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) mutation in C9orf72. Here, we study its consequences for microglial function using human iPSC-derived microglia. By RNA-sequencing, we identify enrichment of pathways associated with immune cell activation and cyto-/chemokines in C9orf72 HRE mutant microglia versus healthy controls, most prominently after LPS priming. Specifically, LPS-primed C9orf72 HRE mutant microglia show consistently increased expression and release of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP9). LPS-primed C9orf72 HRE mutant microglia are toxic to co-cultured healthy motor neurons, which is ameliorated by concomitant application of an MMP9 inhibitor. Finally, we identify release of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) as a marker for MMP9-dependent microglial dysregulation in co-culture. These results demonstrate cellular dysfunction of C9orf72 HRE mutant microglia, and a non-cell-autonomous role in driving C9orf72-ALS pathophysiology in motor neurons through MMP9 signaling.

DOI

10.1038/s41467-023-41603-0

Type

Journal article

Journal

Nat Commun

Publication Date

22/09/2023

Volume

14

Keywords

Humans, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Matrix Metalloproteinase 9, C9orf72 Protein, Microglia, Coculture Techniques, Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Lipopolysaccharides, Neurodegenerative Diseases, Motor Neurons

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