Phenotypically aberrant astrocytes that promote motoneuron damage in a model of inherited amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Motoneuron loss and reactive astrocytosis are pathological hallmarks of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a paralytic neurodegenerative disease that can be triggered by mutations in Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase (SOD1). Dysfunctional astrocytes contribute to ALS pathogenesis, inducing motoneuron damage and accelerating disease progression. However, it is unknown whether ALS progression is associated with the appearance of a specific astrocytic phenotype with neurotoxic potential. Here, we report the isolation of astrocytes with aberrant phenotype (referred as “AbA cells”) from primary spinal cord cultures of symptomatic rats expressing the SOD1G93A mutation. Isolation was based on AbA cells’ marked proliferative capacity and lack of replicative senescence, which allowed oligoclonal cell expansion for 1 y. AbA cells displayed astrocytic markers including glial fibrillary acidic protein, S100β protein, glutamine synthase, and connexin 43 but lacked glutamate transporter 1 and the glial progenitor marker NG2 glycoprotein. Notably, AbA cells secreted soluble factors that induced motoneuron death with a 10-fold higher potency than neonatal SOD1G93A astrocytes. AbA-like aberrant astrocytes expressing S100β and connexin 43 but lacking NG2 were identified in nearby motoneurons, and their number increased sharply after disease onset. Thus, AbA cells appear to be an as-yet unknown astrocyte population arising during ALS progression with unprecedented proliferative and neurotoxic capacity and may be potential cellular targets for slowing ALS progression. Fil: Diaz Amarilla, Pablo. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; Uruguay Fil: Olivera Bravo, Silvia. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; Uruguay Fil: Trias, Emiliano. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; Uruguay Fil: Cragnolini, Andrea Beatriz. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo. Laboratorio de Neurodegeneracion; Uruguay. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; Argentina Fil: Martinez Palma, Laura. Universidad de la República; Uruguay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; Uruguay Fil: Cassina, Patricia. Universidad de la República; Uruguay Fil: Beckman, Joseph. State University of Oregon; Estados Unidos. Environmental Health Sciences Center; Estados Unidos Fil: Barbeito, Luis. Instituto Pasteur de Montevideo. Laboratorio de Neurodegeneracion; Uruguay. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas "Clemente Estable"; Uruguay