Astrocytes regulate axonal mitochondrial transport deficits in C9ORF72 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis motor neurons

Abstract Disrupted axonal transport and astrocyte dysfunction are implicated in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here we show these processes are linked—human-induced pluripotent stem-cell-derived astrocytes carrying the C9ORF72 mutation disrupt mitochondrial axonal transport and mitochondrial function in cocultured motor neurons (MNs). Conversely, isogenic gene-corrected astrocytes or boosting astrocytic mitochondrial bioenergetics rescue axonal mitochondrial transport deficits in C9ORF72 MNs. Our results delineate a non-cell-autonomous role for astrocytes in regulating mitochondrial transport along axons in ALS models.