The Loss of TBK1 Kinase Activity in Motor Neurons or in All Cell Types Differentially Impacts ALS Disease Progression in SOD1 Mice

Neuron. 2020 Jun 3;106(5):789-805.e5. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.03.005. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

Abstract

DNA sequence variants in the TBK1 gene associate with or cause sporadic or familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here we show that mice bearing human ALS-associated TBK1 missense loss-of-function mutations, or mice in which the Tbk1 gene is selectively deleted in motor neurons, do not display a neurodegenerative disease phenotype. However, loss of TBK1 function in motor neurons of the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS impairs autophagy, increases SOD1 aggregation, and accelerates early disease onset without affecting lifespan. By contrast, point mutations that decrease TBK1 kinase activity in all cells also accelerate disease onset but extend the lifespan of SOD1 mice. This difference correlates with the failure to activate high levels of expression of interferon-inducible genes in glia. We conclude that loss of TBK1 kinase activity impacts ALS disease progression through distinct pathways in different spinal cord cell types and further implicate the importance of glia in neurodegeneration.

Keywords: ALS; Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; SOD1 mouse model; TBK1; glia; interferon response; motor neuron autophagy; neuroinflammation; selective autophagy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / immunology
  • Animals
  • Autophagy / genetics*
  • Autophagy / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Disease Progression
  • Gene Knock-In Techniques
  • Inflammation
  • Loss of Function Mutation
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Microglia / immunology*
  • Motor Neurons / metabolism*
  • Mutation, Missense
  • Neuromuscular Junction / genetics
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / genetics*
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / immunology
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1 / genetics*
  • Survival Rate

Substances

  • Sod1 protein, mouse
  • Superoxide Dismutase-1
  • Tbk1 protein, mouse
  • Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases