Secreted neurofilament light chain after neuronal damage induces myeloid cell activation and neuroinflammation

Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is a neuron-specific cytoskeletal protein that provides structural support for axons and is released into the extracellular space following neuronal injury. While NfL has been extensively studied as a disease biomarker, the underlying release mechanisms and role in neurodegeneration remain poorly understood. Here, we find that neurons secrete low baseline levels of NfL, while neuronal damage triggers calpain-driven proteolysis and release of fragmented NfL. Secreted NfL activates microglial cells, which can be blocked with anti-NfL antibodies. We utilize in vivo single-cell RNA sequencing to profile brain cells after injection of recombinant NfL into the mouse hippocampus and find robust macrophage and microglial responses. Consistently, NfL knockout mice ameliorate microgliosis and delay symptom onset in the SOD1 mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Our results show that released NfL can activate myeloid cells in the brain and is, thus, a potential therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases.