Endothelial cell-secreted SPARC suppresses astrocytic CD59 expression and promotes astrocytopathy in a mouse model of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders

CD59 is an endogenous complement inhibitor that restricts membrane attack complex formation, protecting cells from complement-dependent cytotoxicity. Dysfunctional CD59 leads to uncontrolled complement activation and contributes to the pathogenesis of various diseases, including neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), a rare inflammatory autoimmune disorder specifically targeting astrocytes. However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of CD59 expression are complex and need to be elucidated. Here, we show that in a clinically relevant NMOSD model using female mice, astrocytic CD59 protects astrocytes from AQP4-IgG and complement-mediated attacks. Through secretome and transcriptome analysis, we identified brain endothelial cell-derived SPARC as an inhibitor of VEGFA/VEGFR2 signaling, which suppresses astrocyte proliferation and CD59 production. Endothelial SPARC loss increases astrocytic CD59 and mitigates autoimmune astrocytopathy, whereas VEGFR2 activation induces CD59 and alleviates disease. Collectively, this study reveals how endothelial SPARC regulates astrocytic CD59 expression, promoting autoimmune astrocytopathy and providing a potential avenue for astrocyte-targeted therapies in NMOSD.