The CCL2-CCR2 axis drives neuromuscular denervation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Bernát Nógrádi, Kinga Molnár, Rebeka Kristóf, Orsolya Horváth, Yu-Ting Huang, Zara Ridgway, Amaia Elicegui, Sandra Fuertes-Alvarez, Sonia Alonso-Martin, Gábor J. Szebeni, Nikolett Gémes, Abdullah Ramadan, Hannah L. Smith, István A. Krizbai, Roland Patai, László Siklós, Péter Klivényi, Helena Chaytow and Thomas H. Gillingwater ()
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Bernát Nógrádi: University of Edinburgh
Kinga Molnár: HUN-REN Biological Research Centre
Rebeka Kristóf: HUN-REN Biological Research Centre
Orsolya Horváth: University of Szeged
Yu-Ting Huang: University of Edinburgh
Zara Ridgway: University of Edinburgh
Amaia Elicegui: Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute
Sandra Fuertes-Alvarez: Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute
Sonia Alonso-Martin: Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute
Gábor J. Szebeni: HUN-REN Biological Research Centre
Nikolett Gémes: HUN-REN Biological Research Centre
Abdullah Ramadan: University of Edinburgh
Hannah L. Smith: University of Edinburgh
István A. Krizbai: HUN-REN Biological Research Centre
Roland Patai: HUN-REN Biological Research Centre
László Siklós: HUN-REN Biological Research Centre
Péter Klivényi: University of Szeged
Helena Chaytow: University of Edinburgh
Thomas H. Gillingwater: University of Edinburgh

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-16

Abstract: 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.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62351-3

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