Knockout of reactive astrocyte activating factors slows disease progression in an ALS mouse model.

Reactive astrocytes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases, including a non-cell autonomous effect on motor neuron survival in ALS. We previously defined a mechanism by which microglia release three factors, IL-1α, TNFα, and C1q, to induce neurotoxic astrocytes. Here we report that knocking out these three factors markedly extends survival in the SOD1G93A ALS mouse model, providing evidence for gliosis as a potential ALS therapeutic target.