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

Abstract Pleckstrin 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. Szebényi et al. report that the knockdown of pleckstrin homology-like domain family A—member 3 diminishes reactive oxygen species release by human spinal astrocytes harbouring the superoxide dismutase 1 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mutation and, subsequently, stress response in human spinal neurons. These findings suggest a previously unidentified non-cell autonomous pathogenic process. Graphical Abstract Graphical Abstract