A Conserved NLRC5 Signaling Pathway in Developing Human Cortical Neurons is Required for Interferon Gamma Driven Changes in HLA Class I Expression and Neural Activity

Here we show that MHC Class I molecules (human: HLA I), which play key roles in brain development, are expressed in neurons in human cortical organoids (hCOs) and human cerebral cortex. These HLA I molecules are significantly upregulated by interferon gamma (IFNg) exposure.

Inflammatory mediators downstream of IFNg, including the HLA I enhancer NLRC5, are mechanistically implicated in this upregulation by RNA sequencing IsHhHHLA. NLRC5 KO hCOs fail to undergo developmental increases in neuronal HLA I expression, as well as IFNg-driven HLA I upregulation. Functionally, IFNg exposure lowers spontaneous neural activity in hCOs, which is prevented in NLRC5 KO.