A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal

Early-onset neuroinflammation drives neurodegeneration caused by lysosomal PI(3,5)P2 insufficiency;




AuthorsWong, Bridget; Payne, Morgan; Silva, Alexander; Kurniawan, Emma; Eidman, Alison S.; Pizzo, Donald; Rajupalem, Rachana; Lenk, Guy M.; Paulo, Joao A.; Khan, Taimur; Eskelinen, Eeva-Liisa; Gygi, Steve P.; Brown, Nicholas G.; Meisler, Miriam H.; Mendiola, Andrew S.; Gassaway, Brandon M.; Ferguson, Cole J.

PublisherElsevier BV

Publication year2026

Journal: Neurobiology of Disease

Article number107467

Volume226

ISSN0969-9961

DOIhttps://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2026.107467

Publication's open availability at the time of reportingOpen Access

Publication channel's open availability Open Access publication channel

Web address https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2026.107467

Self-archived copy’s web addresshttps://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/526565880

Self-archived copy's licenceCC BY

Self-archived copy's versionPublisher`s PDF


Abstract

Phosphatidylinositol 3,5-bisphosphate [PI(3,5)P2] is a lysosomal signaling lipid whose deficiency, caused by mutations in the PIKfyve complex subunits FIG4 or VAC14, underlies a spectrum of fatal neurologic diseases including Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 4J (CMT4J) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). To map the molecular consequences of PI(3,5)P2 insufficiency in the brain, we performed quantitative proteomic and transcriptomic analyses of three mouse lines bearing distinct loss-of-function mutations in Fig4 or Vac14, examining the brain at the presymptomatic and end stages. Strikingly, profound neuroinflammation was already present at postnatal day 5 (before significant neurodegeneration), characterized by complement activation, interferon signaling, and parenchymal infiltration of peripheral myeloid cells and T-cells. Isolated mutant microglia exhibited a markedly pro-oxidative transcriptional state with elevated reactive oxygen species, a partly non-cell-autonomous phenotype, being present in microglia from mice with conditional Fig4 inactivation in just neurons and astrocytes. Comparison of early (P5) and late (P25) proteomics data revealed that PI(3,5)P2 insufficiency impairs developmental remodeling of the brain proteome: proteins typically upregulated during postnatal maturation failed to accumulate, implicating lysosomal function in neurodevelopment. We identify coordinated elevation of p53, Fas receptor, inflammatory caspases, Gasdermin D, RIPK1, and ZBP1, consistent with multifactorial inflammatory cell death with features of apoptosis, pyroptosis, and necroptosis. Many of the dysregulated proteins are encoded by genes mutated in lysosomal storage disorders, ALS, CMT, Alzheimer's and Parkinson diseases, extending the pathogenic relevance of PI(3,5)P2 insufficiency. Together, these findings establish that early neuroinflammation is a defining - and likely initiating - feature of neurodegeneration caused by disruption of lysosomal PI(3,5)P2.


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Funding information in the publication
This work was supported by NIH R01NS138924 (CJF), NIH R35GM128855 (NGB) and NIH R21NS139210 (CJF and NGB). MP is supported by funding from the BYU Simmons Center for Cancer Research.


Last updated on 16/06/2026 03:01:39 PM