A Novel Genetic TDP-43 Pig Model Mimics Multiple Key ALS-Like Features.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease that lacks ideal models to comprehensively recapitulate its pathological features. TDP-43 pathology, a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases, plays a critical role in disease progression. Given the anatomical and physiological similarities between pig and human brains, large animal models offer a unique advantage in more accurately simulating patient-specific disease characteristics. In this study, we rapidly established a TDP-43-induced neurodegenerative disease model in pigs through ear vein injection of the TDP-43 virus. Disease progression was systematically evaluated using behavioral assessments and pathological analyses. This porcine model produced extremely severe motor dysfunction accompanied by significant muscle atrophy and fibrosis. Additionally, characteristic TDP-43 pathological phenotypes were observed, including degeneration of spinal motor neurons and proliferation of glial cells in both the brain and spinal cord. Notably, TDP-43 induction led to a significant upregulation of TMEM106B, SOD1, and APOE4 levels. This TDP-43 porcine model recapitulates multiple key features of ALS and serves as a valuable complement to existing animal models, providing a robust platform for investigating TDP-43-related pathogenic mechanisms of TDP-43 and developing effective therapeutics.