Myeloid and lymphoid expression of <i>C9orf72</i> regulates IL-17A signaling in mice

Abstract

A mutation in <i>C9ORF72</i> is the most common cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Patients with ALS or FTD often develop autoimmunity and inflammation that precedes or coincides with the onset of neurological symptoms, but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here, we knocked out murine <i>C9orf72</i> in seven hematopoietic progenitor compartments by conditional mutagenesis and found that myeloid lineage <i>C9orf72</i> prevents splenomegaly, loss of tolerance, and premature mortality. Furthermore, we demonstrated that <i>C9orf72</i> plays a role in lymphoid cells to prevent interleukin-17A (IL-17A) production and neutrophilia. Mass cytometry identified early and sustained elevation of the costimulatory molecule CD80 expressed on <i>C9orf72</i>-deficient mouse macrophages, monocytes, and microglia. Enrichment of CD80 was similarly observed in human spinal cord microglia from patients with <i>C9ORF72</i>-mediated ALS compared with non-ALS controls. Single-cell RNA sequencing of murine spinal cord, brain cortex, and spleen demonstrated coordinated induction of gene modules related to antigen processing and presentation and antiviral immunity in <i>C9orf72</i>-deficient endothelial cells, microglia, and macrophages. Mechanistically, C9ORF72 repressed the trafficking of CD80 to the cell surface in response to Toll-like receptor agonists, interferon-γ, and IL-17A. Deletion of <i>Il17a</i> in <i>C9orf72</i>-deficient mice prevented CD80 enrichment in the spinal cord, reduced neutrophilia, and reduced gut T helper type 17 cells. Last, systemic delivery of an IL-17A neutralizing antibody augmented motor performance and suppressed neuroinflammation in <i>C9orf72</i>-deficient mice. Altogether, we show that <i>C9orf72</i> orchestrates myeloid costimulatory potency and provide support for IL-17A as a therapeutic target for neuroinflammation associated with ALS or FTD.