The mitochondrial unfolded protein response in human microglia disrupts neuronal-glial communication and promotes senescence

Abstract Mitochondria have evolved a specialized mitochondrial unfolded protein response (UPR mt ) to maintain proteostasis and promote recovery under stress. Studies in simple organisms have shown that UPR mt activation in glial cells supports proteostasis through beneficial noncell-autonomous communication with neurons. However, the role of mitochondrial stress responses in the human brain remains unclear. To address this gap, we investigated the cell type-specific effects of mitochondrial proteotoxic stress using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neuronal and glial cultures, as well as brain organoids. We show that mitochondrial proteotoxic stress induces metabolic rewiring in human microglia, marked by depletion of S-adenosylmethionine and lipid remodeling, ultimately leading to a senescent phenotype. Using human neuronal-glial tricultures and microglia-containing brain organoids, we identified the specific contributions of microglia to brain senescence and mitochondrial stress-driven neurodegenerative processes. UPR mt activation disrupts microglial communication with neighboring cells, triggering inflammatory signaling and impairing proteostasis. Together, these findings reveal how impaired mitochondrial proteostasis alters intercellular networks and identify a critical role for the UPR mt in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.