Astrocyte-Derived TGF-β1 Accelerates Disease Progression in ALS Mice by Interfering with the Neuroprotective Functions of Microglia and T Cells

•Astrocyte-derived TGF-β1 accelerates disease progression in ALS mice•TGF-β1 inhibits neuroprotective inflammatory response by microglia and T cells•TGF-β signaling inhibitor slows disease progression and extends survival of ALS mice•Cell-type-specific dysregulation of TGF-β signaling is a therapeutic target for ALS

SummaryNeuroinflammation, which includes both neuroprotective and neurotoxic reactions by activated glial cells and infiltrated immune cells, is involved in the pathomechanism of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, the cytokines that regulate the neuroprotective inflammatory response in ALS are not clear. Here, we identify transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), which is upregulated in astrocytes of murine and human ALS, as a negative regulator of neuroprotective inflammatory response. We demonstrate that astrocyte-specific overproduction of TGF-β1 in SOD1G93A mice accelerates disease progression in a non-cell-autonomous manner, with reduced IGF-I production in deactivated microglia and fewer T cells with an IFN-γ-dominant milieu. Moreover, expression levels of endogenous TGF-β1 in SOD1G93A mice negatively correlate with lifespan. Furthermore, pharmacological administration of a TGF-β signaling inhibitor after disease onset extends survival time of SOD1G93A mice. These findings indicate that astrocytic TGF-β1 determines disease progression and is critical to the pathomechanism of ALS.

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