The CCL2-CCR2 axis drives neuromuscular denervation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Bernát Nógrádi, Kinga Molnár, Rebeka Kristóf, Orsolya Horváth, Yuting Huang, Zara Ridgway, Amaia Elicegui, Sandra Fuertes-Álvarez, Sonia Alonso‐Martín, Gábor J. Szebeni, Nikolett Gémes, Abdullah H. Al Ramadan, Hannah Smith, István A. Krizbai, Roland Patai, László Siklós, Péter Klivènyi, Helena Chaytow, Thomas H. Gillingwater
Abstract
Systemic immune changes have been implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but precise mechanisms and cellular targets remain unknown. Neuromuscular junction (NMJ) denervation is another major pathophysiological event in ALS, but it remains unclear whether immune system dysregulation contributes to this process. Here, we report leukocyte and macrophage infiltration in ALS patient-derived skeletal muscle biopsies. Immune cell infiltration was replicated across the hTDP-43, TDP-43A315T (male only) and TDP-43M337V mouse models, occurring from pre-symptomatic stages and targeted to NMJ-enriched muscle regions. Proteomic analysis implicated the CCL2-CCR2 axis as a driving factor. CCL2+ cells were enriched around NMJs in hTDP-43 mice, and in ALS patient skeletal muscle. Local treatment with CCL2-neutralising antibodies or normal IgG antibodies in hTDP-43 mice reduced leukocyte infiltration and ameliorated NMJ denervation. These results demonstrate that the CCL2-CCR2 axis drives immune cell infiltration targeting NMJs in ALS, identifying a potential avenue for therapeutic intervention to prevent NMJ denervation. Neuromuscular junctions (NMJs) are denervated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) through unknown mechanisms. Here, the authors show immune cells infiltrating muscle of ALS patients and mouse models, driven by CCL2-CCR2, which can be blocked to protect NMJs.