Development of primate model of sporadic ALS with overexpression of TDP-43

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TDP-43 was found to be a major component of abnormal aggregation in the motoneuron in sporadic ALS. We injected an AAV vector expressing human wild-type TDP-43 to the spinal cord in non-human primate, cynomolgus. These monkeys developed progressive motor weakness and muscle atrophy. They also showed regional cytoplasmic TDP-43 mislocalization with loss of nuclear TDP-43 staining, reminiscent of the spinal cord pathology of patients with ALS. TDP-43 mislocalization was an early or presymptomatic event and was later associated with neuron loss. These findings suggest that TDP-43 mislocalization leads to alpha-motoneuron degeneration. This model can privide a valuable tool for studying the pathogenesis of sporadic ALS.