Neutrophil-microglia interaction drives reversible motor dysfunction in neuromyelitis optica model induced by subarachnoid AQP4-IgG

Abstract Neutrophils and neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) contribute to early neuromyelitis optica (NMO) histopathology initiated by IgG targeting astrocytic aquaporin-4 water (AQP4) channels. Yet, the mechanisms recruiting neutrophils and their pathogenic roles in disease progression remain unclear. To investigate molecular-cellular events preceding classical complement cascade activation in a mouse NMO model, we continuously infused, via spinal subarachnoid route, a non-complement-activating monoclonal AQP4-IgG. Parenchymal infiltration of netting neutrophils containing C5a ensued with microglial activation and motor impairment, but no blood–brain barrier leakage. Motor impairment and neuronal dysfunction both reversed when AQP4-IgG infusion stopped. Two-photon microscopy and electron-microscopy-based reconstructions revealed physical interaction of infiltrating neutrophils with microglia. Ablation of either peripheral neutrophils or microglia attenuated the motor deficit, highlighting their synergistic pathogenic roles. Of note, mice lacking complement receptor C5aR1 exhibited reduction in neutrophil infiltration, microglial lysosomal activation, neuronal lipid-droplet burden and motor impairment. Pharmacological inhibition of C5aR1 recapitulated this protection. Immunohistochemical analysis of an NMO patient’s early spinal cord lesions revealed analogous pathological findings. Our study identifies neutrophil-derived C5a signaling through microglial C5aR1 as a key early driver of reversible motor neuron dysfunction in the precytolytic phase of NMO. One Sentence Summary Neutrophil-derived C5a coactivates microglia to drive reversible motor paresis initiated by a non-complement-activating aquaporin-4-IgG binding to astrocytes in a mouse model of neuromyelitis optica.