Inhibition of PHLDA3 expression in human superoxide dismutase 1-mutant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis astrocytes protects against neurotoxicity

Acknowledgements: The authors thank Mr Damion Box for his technical support.Funder: International Brain Research Organisation; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001675Funder: National Research, Development and Innovation Fund; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100012550Funder: NeuroRecon ProjectPleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 (PHLDA3) has recently been identified as a player in adaptive and maladaptive cellular stress pathways. The outcome of pleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 signalling was shown to vary across different cell types and states. It emerges that its expression and protein level are highly increased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient-derived astrocytes. Whether it orchestrates a supportive or detrimental function remains unexplored in the context of neurodegenerative pathologies. To directly address the role of pleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 in healthy and ALS astrocytes, we used overexpression and knockdown strategies. We generated cultures of primary mouse astrocytes and also human astrocytes from control and ALS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells harbouring the superoxide dismutase 1 mutation. Then, we assessed astrocyte viability and the impact of their secretome on oxidative stress responses in human stem cell-derived cortical and spinal neuronal cultures. Here, we show that PHLDA3 overexpression or knockdown in control astrocytes does not significantly affect astrocyte viability or reactive oxygen species production. However, PHLDA3 knockdown in ALS astrocytes diminishes reactive oxygen species concentrations in their supernatants, indicating that pleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 can facilitate stress responses in cells with altered homeostasis. In support, supernatants of PHLDA3-silenced ALS and even control spinal astrocytes with a lower pleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 protein content could prevent sodium arsenite-induced stress granule formation in spinal neurons. Our findings provide evidence that reducing pleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 levels may transform astrocytes into a more neurosupportive state relevant to targeting non-cell autonomous ALS pathology

Inhibition of PHLDA3 expression in human superoxide dismutase 1-mutant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis astrocytes protects against neurotoxicity.

Acknowledgements: The authors thank Mr Damion Box for his technical support.Funder: International Brain Research Organisation; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001675Funder: National Research, Development and Innovation Fund; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100012550Funder: NeuroRecon ProjectPleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 (PHLDA3) has recently been identified as a player in adaptive and maladaptive cellular stress pathways. The outcome of pleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 signalling was shown to vary across different cell types and states. It emerges that its expression and protein level are highly increased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient-derived astrocytes. Whether it orchestrates a supportive or detrimental function remains unexplored in the context of neurodegenerative pathologies. To directly address the role of pleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 in healthy and ALS astrocytes, we used overexpression and knockdown strategies. We generated cultures of primary mouse astrocytes and also human astrocytes from control and ALS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells harbouring the superoxide dismutase 1 mutation. Then, we assessed astrocyte viability and the impact of their secretome on oxidative stress responses in human stem cell-derived cortical and spinal neuronal cultures. Here, we show that PHLDA3 overexpression or knockdown in control astrocytes does not significantly affect astrocyte viability or reactive oxygen species production. However, PHLDA3 knockdown in ALS astrocytes diminishes reactive oxygen species concentrations in their supernatants, indicating that pleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 can facilitate stress responses in cells with altered homeostasis. In support, supernatants of PHLDA3-silenced ALS and even control spinal astrocytes with a lower pleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 protein content could prevent sodium arsenite-induced stress granule formation in spinal neurons. Our findings provide evidence that reducing pleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 levels may transform astrocytes into a more neurosupportive state relevant to targeting non-cell autonomous ALS pathology.This project and the A.L. laboratory were funded by the Medical Research Council UK (United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Medical Research Council, MR/P008658/1 and MR/X006867/1 to A.L.), which supported the work of K.SZ., G.M.G. and V.P. Additional support was received from the International Brain Research Organisation Return Home Fellowship 2022, the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund/Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (NKFIH/OTKA FK 142223 for K.SZ., A.S.), and the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (GAC¬R 17-21146 S) and the NeuroRecon Project (Operational Programme Research, Development and Education in the framework of the project “Center of Reconstructive Neuroscience,” registration number CZ.02.1.01/0.0./0.0/15_003/0000419 to P.J., J.C.F.K. and J.W.F.) for the work of I.V., J.T., and M.S

Inhibition of PHLDA3 expression in human superoxide dismutase 1-mutant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis astrocytes protects against neurotoxicity

Acknowledgements: The authors thank Mr Damion Box for his technical support.Funder: International Brain Research Organisation; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001675Funder: National Research, Development and Innovation Fund; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100012550Funder: NeuroRecon ProjectPleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 (PHLDA3) has recently been identified as a player in adaptive and maladaptive cellular stress pathways. The outcome of pleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 signalling was shown to vary across different cell types and states. It emerges that its expression and protein level are highly increased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient-derived astrocytes. Whether it orchestrates a supportive or detrimental function remains unexplored in the context of neurodegenerative pathologies. To directly address the role of pleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 in healthy and ALS astrocytes, we used overexpression and knockdown strategies. We generated cultures of primary mouse astrocytes and also human astrocytes from control and ALS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells harbouring the superoxide dismutase 1 mutation. Then, we assessed astrocyte viability and the impact of their secretome on oxidative stress responses in human stem cell-derived cortical and spinal neuronal cultures. Here, we show that PHLDA3 overexpression or knockdown in control astrocytes does not significantly affect astrocyte viability or reactive oxygen species production. However, PHLDA3 knockdown in ALS astrocytes diminishes reactive oxygen species concentrations in their supernatants, indicating that pleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 can facilitate stress responses in cells with altered homeostasis. In support, supernatants of PHLDA3-silenced ALS and even control spinal astrocytes with a lower pleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 protein content could prevent sodium arsenite-induced stress granule formation in spinal neurons. Our findings provide evidence that reducing pleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 levels may transform astrocytes into a more neurosupportive state relevant to targeting non-cell autonomous ALS pathology

Inhibition of PHLDA3 expression in human superoxide dismutase 1-mutant amyotrophic lateral sclerosis astrocytes protects against neurotoxicity.

Acknowledgements: The authors thank Mr Damion Box for his technical support.Funder: International Brain Research Organisation; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100001675Funder: National Research, Development and Innovation Fund; doi: https://doi.org/10.13039/501100012550Funder: NeuroRecon ProjectPleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 (PHLDA3) has recently been identified as a player in adaptive and maladaptive cellular stress pathways. The outcome of pleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 signalling was shown to vary across different cell types and states. It emerges that its expression and protein level are highly increased in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient-derived astrocytes. Whether it orchestrates a supportive or detrimental function remains unexplored in the context of neurodegenerative pathologies. To directly address the role of pleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 in healthy and ALS astrocytes, we used overexpression and knockdown strategies. We generated cultures of primary mouse astrocytes and also human astrocytes from control and ALS patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells harbouring the superoxide dismutase 1 mutation. Then, we assessed astrocyte viability and the impact of their secretome on oxidative stress responses in human stem cell-derived cortical and spinal neuronal cultures. Here, we show that PHLDA3 overexpression or knockdown in control astrocytes does not significantly affect astrocyte viability or reactive oxygen species production. However, PHLDA3 knockdown in ALS astrocytes diminishes reactive oxygen species concentrations in their supernatants, indicating that pleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 can facilitate stress responses in cells with altered homeostasis. In support, supernatants of PHLDA3-silenced ALS and even control spinal astrocytes with a lower pleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 protein content could prevent sodium arsenite-induced stress granule formation in spinal neurons. Our findings provide evidence that reducing pleckstrin homology-like domain family A-member 3 levels may transform astrocytes into a more neurosupportive state relevant to targeting non-cell autonomous ALS pathology.This project and the A.L. laboratory were funded by the Medical Research Council UK (United Kingdom Research and Innovation, Medical Research Council, MR/P008658/1 and MR/X006867/1 to A.L.), which supported the work of K.SZ., G.M.G. and V.P. Additional support was received from the International Brain Research Organisation Return Home Fellowship 2022, the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund/Hungarian Scientific Research Fund (NKFIH/OTKA FK 142223 for K.SZ., A.S.), and the Grant Agency of the Czech Republic (GAC¬R 17-21146 S) and the NeuroRecon Project (Operational Programme Research, Development and Education in the framework of the project “Center of Reconstructive Neuroscience,” registration number CZ.02.1.01/0.0./0.0/15_003/0000419 to P.J., J.C.F.K. and J.W.F.) for the work of I.V., J.T., and M.S