Extra Neurofilament NF-L Subunits Rescue Motor Neuron Disease Caused by Overexpression of the Human NF-H Gene in Mice

Previous studies demonstrated that transgenic mice overexpressing human neurofilament heavy (hNF-H) protein develop a progressive motor neuron disease characterized by the perikaryal accumulations of neurofilaments resembling those found in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To further investigate this neurofilament-induced pathology, we generated transgenic mice expressing, solely or concomitantly, the hNF-H and the human neurofilament light (hNF-L) proteins. We report here that the motor neuron disease caused by excess hNF-H proteins can be rescued by overexpression of hNF-L in a dosage-dependent fashion. In hNF-H transgenic mice, the additional hNF-L led to reduction of perikaryal swellings, relief of axonal transport defect and restoration of axonal radial growth. A gene delivery approach based on recombinant adenoviruses bearing the hNF-L gene also demonstrated the possibility to reduce perikaryal swellings after their formation in adult mice. The finding that extra NF-L can protect against NF-H-mediated pathogenesis is of potential importance for ALS, particularly for cases with NF-H abnormalities.