Major histocompatibility complex class I molecules protect motor neurons from astrocyte-induced toxicity in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

• Published in: Nature medicine Vol. 22; no. 4; pp. 397 - 403
• Main Authors: Song, SungWon, Miranda, Carlos J, Braun, Lyndsey, Meyer, Kathrin, Frakes, Ashley E, Ferraiuolo, Laura, Likhite, Shibi, Bevan, Adam K, Foust, Kevin D, McConnell, Michael J, Walker, Christopher M, Kaspar, Brian K
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Nature Publishing Group US 01.04.2016; Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: 13; 13/1; 13/100; 42; 42/44; 42/89; 631/378/371; 631/378/87; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - genetics; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis - pathology; Analysis; Animals; Astrocytes - metabolism; Astrocytes - pathology; Biomedicine; Cadaver; Cancer Research; Cell Death - genetics; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Gene Expression Regulation; Genetic aspects; Histocompatibility antigens; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - biosynthesis; Histocompatibility Antigens Class I - genetics; HLA histocompatibility antigens; Humans; Immune system; Infectious Diseases; Major histocompatibility complex; Male; Metabolic Diseases; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Middle Aged; Molecular Medicine; Mortality; Motor Neurons - pathology; Mutation; Neurons; Neurosciences; Pathogenesis; Receptors, KIR3DL2 - genetics; Superoxide Dismutase - genetics; Toxicity; Ohio
• ISSN: 1078-8956; 1546-170X
• DOI: 10.1038/nm.4052

Expression of MHC class I molecules on motor neurons protects them from astrocyte-induced toxicity in ALS. Astrocytes isolated from individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are toxic to motor neurons (MNs) and play a non–cell autonomous role in disease pathogenesis. The mechanisms underlying the susceptibility of MNs to cell death remain unclear. Here we report that astrocytes derived from either mice bearing mutations in genes associated with ALS or human subjects with ALS reduce the expression of major histocompatibility complex class I (MHCI) molecules on MNs; reduced MHCI expression makes these MNs susceptible to astrocyte-induced cell death. Increasing MHCI expression on MNs increases survival and motor performance in a mouse model of ALS and protects MNs against astrocyte toxicity. Overexpression of a single MHCI molecule, HLA-F, protects human MNs from ALS astrocyte–mediated toxicity, whereas knockdown of its receptor, the killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor KIR3DL2, on human astrocytes results in enhanced MN death. Thus, our data indicate that, in ALS, loss of MHCI expression on MNs renders them more vulnerable to astrocyte-mediated toxicity.