Neuronal Stem Cell and Drug Interactions: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Concise Review

Effect of Metformin on Epidermal Neural Crest Stem Cells and Their Potential Application in Ameliorating Paclitaxel-induced Neurotoxicity Phenotype

AIMS

Epidermal Neural Crest Stem Cells (EPI-NCSCs) have emerged as prospective ideal candidates to meet the fundamental requirements of cell-based therapies in neurodegenerative disorders. The present study aimed to identify the potential of metformin in driving EPI-NCSCs to neuronal/glial differentiation and express neurotrophic factors as well as assess their therapeutic potential for mitigating the main behavioral manifestations of chemotherapy-induced neurotoxicity (CIN).

MAIN METHODS

EPI-NCSCs were extracted from the bulge region of hair follicle. Following expansion, transcript and protein expression profiles of key markers for stemness (Nestin, EGR-1, SOX-2 and 10), neurotrophic activity (BDNF, GDNF, NGF, FGF-2, and IL-6), and neuronal (TUB3, DCX, NRF and NeuN) and glial (PDGFRα, NG2, GFAP, and MBP) differentiation were determined on days 1 and 7 post-treatment with 10 and 100 μM metformin using real time-PCR and immunocytochemistry methods. Then, the in vivo function of metformin-treated stem cells was evaluated in the context of paclitaxel CIN. To do so, thermal hyperalgesia, mechanical allodynia, and spatial learning and memory tests were evaluated by Hotplate, Von Frey, and Morris water maze tests.

KEY FINDINGS

Our result indicated that exposure of EPI-NCSCs to metformin was associated with progressive decline in stemness markers and enhanced expression levels of several neurotrophic, neuron and oligodendrocyte-specific markers. Further, it was observed that intranasal metformin-treated EPI-NCSCs improved the cognitive impairment, and mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity induced by paclitaxel in rats.

SIGNIFICANCE

Collectively, we reasoned that metformin pretreatment of EPI-NCSCs might further enhance their therapeutic benefits against CIN.

Potential effects of commonly applied drugs on neural stem cell proliferation and viability: A hypothesis-generating systematic review and meta-analysis

Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation is an emerging and promising approach to combat neurodegenerative diseases. While NSCs can differentiate into neural cell types, many therapeutic effects are mediated by paracrine, “drug-like” mechanisms. Neurodegenerative diseases are predominantly a burden of the elderly who commonly suffer from comorbidities and thus are subject to pharmacotherapies. There is substantial knowledge about drug-drug interactions but almost nothing is known about a potential impact of pharmacotherapy on NSCs. Such knowledge is decisive for designing tailored treatment programs for individual patients. Previous studies revealed preliminary evidence that the anti-depressants fluoxetine and imipramine may affect NSC viability and proliferation. Here, we derive a hypothesis on how commonly applied drugs, statins and antihypertensives, may affect NSC viability, proliferation, and differentiation. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis looking at potential effects of commonly prescribed antihypertensive and antihyperlipidemic medication on NSC function. PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched on according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Publications were assessed against a priori established selection criteria for relevancy. A meta-analysis was then performed on data extracted from publications eligible for full text review to estimate drug effects on NSC functions. Our systematic review identified 1,017 potential studies, 55 of which were eligible for full text review. Out of those, 21 were included in the qualitative synthesis. The meta-analysis was performed on 13 publications; the remainder were excluded as they met exclusion criteria or lacked sufficient data to perform a meta-analysis. The meta-analysis revealed that alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists, an anti-hypertensive drug class [p < 0.05, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = –1.54; –0.35], and various statins [p < 0.05, 95% CI = –3.17; –0.0694] had an inhibiting effect on NSC proliferation. Moreover, we present preliminary evidence that L-type calcium channel blockers and statins, particularly lovastatin, may reduce NSC viability. Although the data available in the literature is limited, there are clear indications for an impact of commonly applied drugs, in particular statins, on NSC function. Considering the modes of action of the respective drugs, we reveal plausible mechanisms by which this impact may be mediated, creating a testable hypothesis, and providing insights into how future confirmative research on this topic may be conducted.

Human stem cell models of polyglutamine diseases: Sources for disease models and cell therapy

Polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases are a group of neurodegenerative disorders involving expanded CAG repeats in pathogenic genes that are translated into extended polyQ tracts and lead to progressive neuronal degeneration in the affected brain. To date, there is no effective therapy for these diseases. Due to the complex pathologic mechanisms of these diseases, intensive research on the pathogenesis of their progression and potential treatment strategies is being conducted. However, animal models cannot recapitulate all aspects of neuronal degeneration. Pluripotent stem cells (PSCs), such as induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and embryonic stem cells (ESCs), can be used to study the pathological mechanisms of polyQ diseases, and the ability of autologous stem cell transplantation to treat these diseases. Differentiated PSCs, neuronal precursor cells/neural progenitor cells (NPCs) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are valuable resources for preclinical and clinical cell transplantation therapies. Here, we discuss diverse stem cell models and their ability to generate neurons involved in polyQ diseases, such as medium spiny neurons (MSNs), cortical neurons, cerebellar Purkinje cells (PCs) and motor neurons. In addition, we discuss potential therapeutic approaches, including stem cell replacement therapy and gene therapy.

Hemorrhagic Transformation After Tissue Plasminogen Activator Treatment in Acute Ischemic Stroke

Hemorrhagic transformation (HT) is a common complication after thrombolysis with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) in ischemic stroke. In this article, recent research progress of HT in vivo and in vitro studies was reviewed. We have discussed new potential mechanisms and possible experimental models of HT development, as well as possible biomarkers and treatment methods. Meanwhile, we compared and analyzed rodent models, large animal models and in vitro BBB models of HT, and the limitations of these models were discussed. The molecular mechanism of HT was investigated in terms of BBB disruption, rt-PA neurotoxicity and the effect of neuroinflammation, matrix metalloproteinases, reactive oxygen species. The clinical features to predict HT were represented including blood biomarkers and clinical factors. Recent progress in neuroprotective strategies to improve HT after stroke treated with rt-PA is outlined. Further efforts need to be made to reduce the risk of HT after rt-PA therapy and improve the clinical prognosis of patients with ischemic stroke.

Caffeine Compromises Proliferation of Human Hippocampal Progenitor Cells

The age-associated reduction in the proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) has been associated with cognitive decline. Numerous factors have been shown to modulate this process, including dietary components. Frequent consumption of caffeine has been correlated with an increased risk of cognitive decline, but further evidence of a negative effect on hippocampal progenitor proliferation is limited to animal models. Here, we used a human hippocampal progenitor cell line to investigate the effects of caffeine on hippocampal progenitor integrity and proliferation specifically. The effects of five caffeine concentrations (0 mM = control, 0.1 mM ∼ 150 mg, 0.25 mM ∼ 400 mg, 0.5 mM ∼ 750 mg, and 1.0 mM ∼ 1500 mg) were measured following acute (1 day) and repeated (3 days) exposure. Immunocytochemistry was used to quantify hippocampal progenitor integrity (i.e., SOX2- and Nestin-positive cells), proliferation (i.e., Ki67-positive cells), cell count (i.e., DAPI-positive cells), and apoptosis (i.e., CC3-positive cells). We found that progenitor integrity was significantly reduced in supraphysiological caffeine conditions (i.e., 1.0 mM ∼ 1500 mg), but relative to the lowest caffeine condition (i.e., 0.1 mM ∼ 150 mg) only. Moreover, repeated exposure to supraphysiological caffeine concentrations (i.e., 1.0 mM ∼ 1500 mg) was found to affect proliferation, significantly reducing % Ki67-positive cells relative to control and lower caffeine dose conditions (i.e., 0.1 mM ∼ 150 mg and 0.25 mM ∼ 400 mg). Caffeine treatment did not influence apoptosis and there were no significant differences in any measure between lower doses of caffeine (i.e., 0.1 mM, 0.25 mM, 0.5 mM) – representative of daily human caffeine intake – and control conditions. Our study demonstrates that dietary components such as caffeine can influence NSC integrity and proliferation and may be indicative of a mechanism by which diet affects cognitive outcomes.