AAV9-mediated gene delivery of MCT1 to oligodendrocytes does not provide a therapeutic benefit in a mouse model of ALS

Oligodendrocyte dysfunction has been implicated in the pathophysiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive motor neuron loss. The failure of trophic support provided by oligodendrocytes is associated with a concomitant reduction in oligodendroglial monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) expression and is detrimental for the long-term survival of motor neuron axons. Therefore, we established an adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9)-based platform by which MCT1 was targeted mostly to white matter oligodendrocytes to investigate whether this approach could provide a therapeutic benefit in the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS. Despite good oligodendrocyte transduction and AAV-mediated MCT1 transgene expression, the disease outcome of SOD1G93A mice was not altered. Our study further increases our current understanding about the complex nature of oligodendrocyte pathology in ALS and provides valuable insights into the future development of therapeutic strategies to efficiently modulate these cells.