Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-24-2025
Abstract
Pathogenic mutation of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNPA1) is causative to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Neuron death resulting from pathogenic hnRNPA1 may not require its presence across all pertinent cells types, including neurons, glia, and muscles. Rather, the exclusive presence of pathogenic hnRNPA1 in a specific cell type, such as astrocytes, may suffice to substantially alter cellular functions. Consequently, this alteration initiates abnormal interaction within intricate neuron-glia networks, culminating in non-cell-autonomous motor neuron death. To investigate the pivotal role of non-cell-autonomous neuron death in hnRNPA1-associated ALS, we developed transgenic rats overexpressing mutant hnRNPA1 in specifically astrocytes. The confined overexpression of pathogenic hnRNPA1 in astrocytes instigated a sequence of events resulting in motor neuron death and subsequent muscle atrophy. These findings underscore the critical, non-cell-autonomous contribution of astrocytes to hnRNPA1-induced neurodegeneration in ALS, and point toward astrocytic pathways as potential therapeutic targets.
Recommended Citation
Wu, Qinxue; Liu, Xionghao; Zhang, Tingting; Cui, Shiquan; Huang, Bo; Huang, Cao; Cao, Qilin; Xia, Xu-Gang; and Zhou, Hongxia, "Astrocytes Expressing Mutant hnRNPA1 Induce Non-Cell-Autonomous Motor Neuron Death" (2025). Department of Pathology, Anatomy, and Cell Biology Faculty Papers. Paper 453.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/pacbfp/453
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
PubMed ID
40858193
Language
English


Comments
This article is the author’s final published version in Brain Research Bulletin, Volume 230, 2025, Article number 111522.
The published version is available at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brainresbull.2025.111522. Copyright © 2025 Author(s).