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Tambaro S, Mitra S, Gera R, Linderoth B, Wahlberg LU, Darreh-Shori T, Behbahani H, Nilsson P, Eriksdotter M. Feasibility and therapeutical potential of local intracerebral encapsulated cell biodelivery of BDNF to App NL-G-F knock-in Alzheimer mice. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:137. [PMID: 37596686 PMCID: PMC10436657 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01282-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an age-related disease characterized by altered cognition, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration against which there is presently no effective cure. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key neurotrophin involved in the learning and memory process, with a crucial role in synaptic plasticity and neuronal survival. Several findings support that a reduced BDNF expression in the human brain is associated with AD pathogenesis. BDNF has been proposed as a potential therapy for AD, but BDNF has low brain penetration. In this study, we used an innovative encapsulated cell biodelivery (ECB) device, containing genetically modified cells capable of releasing BDNF and characterized its feasibility and therapeutic effects in the novel App knock-in AD mouse model (AppNL-G-F). METHODS ECB's containing human ARPE-19 cells genetically modified to release BDNF (ECB-BDNF devices) were stereotactically implanted bilaterally into hippocampus of 3-month-old AppNL-G-F mice. The stability of BDNF release and its effect on AD pathology were evaluated after 1, 2-, and 4-months post-implantation by immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses. Exploratory and memory performance using elevated plus maze (EPM) and Y-maze test were performed in the 4-months treatment group. Immunological reaction towards ECB-BDNF devices were studied under ex vivo and in vivo settings. RESULTS The surgery and the ECB-BDNF implants were well tolerated without any signs of unwanted side effects or weight loss. ECB-BDNF devices did not induce host-mediated immune response under ex vivo set-up but showed reduced immune cell attachment when explanted 4-months post-implantation. Elevated BDNF staining around ECB-BDNF device proximity was detected after 1, 2, and 4 months treatment, but the retrieved devices showed variable BDNF release. A reduction of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaque deposition was observed around ECB-BDNF device proximity after 2-months of BDNF delivery. CONCLUSIONS The result of this study supports the use of ECB device as a promising drug-delivery approach to locally administer BBB-impermeable factors for treating neurodegenerative conditions like AD. Optimization of the mouse-sized devices to reduce variability of BDNF release is needed to employ the ECB platform in future pre-clinical research and therapy development studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Tambaro
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society; Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sumonto Mitra
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society; Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Ruchi Gera
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society; Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Bengt Linderoth
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Section of Neurosurgery, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lars U. Wahlberg
- Gloriana Therapeutics, Inc., Warren, RI USA
- Sinfonia Biotherapeutics AB, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Taher Darreh-Shori
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society; Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Homira Behbahani
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society; Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Per Nilsson
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society; Division of Neurogeriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Eriksdotter
- Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society; Division of Clinical Geriatrics, Center for Alzheimer Research, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge, Sweden
- Theme Inflammation and Aging, Karolinska University Hospital, Huddinge, Sweden
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Lathuiliere A, Vernet R, Charrier E, Urwyler M, Von Rohr O, Belkouch MC, Saingier V, Bouvarel T, Guillarme D, Engel A, Salmon P, Laumonier T, Grogg J, Mach N. Immortalized human myoblast cell lines for the delivery of therapeutic proteins using encapsulated cell technology. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 26:441-458. [PMID: 36092361 PMCID: PMC9418741 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Despite many promising results obtained in previous preclinical studies, the clinical development of encapsulated cell technology (ECT) for the delivery of therapeutic proteins from macrocapsules is still limited, mainly due to the lack of an allogeneic cell line compatible with therapeutic application in humans. In our work, we generated an immortalized human myoblast cell line specifically tailored for macroencapsulation. In the present report, we characterized the immortalized myoblasts and described the engineering process required for the delivery of functional therapeutic proteins including a cytokine, monoclonal antibodies and a viral antigen. We observed that, when encapsulated, the novel myoblast cell line can be efficiently frozen, stored, and thawed, which limits the challenge imposed by the manufacture and supply of encapsulated cell-based therapeutic products. Our results suggest that this versatile allogeneic cell line represents the next step toward a broader development and therapeutic use of ECT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelien Lathuiliere
- Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and Medical School, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Remi Vernet
- Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and Medical School, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Emily Charrier
- Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and Medical School, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- MaxiVAX SA, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Muriel Urwyler
- Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and Medical School, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Olivier Von Rohr
- Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and Medical School, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Claude Belkouch
- Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and Medical School, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Valentin Saingier
- Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and Medical School, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Bouvarel
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Davy Guillarme
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland (ISPSO), University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Patrick Salmon
- Department of Basic Neurosciences, University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Laumonier
- Cell Therapy and Musculoskeletal Disorders Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Geneva University Hospital and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicolas Mach
- Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and Medical School, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
- Centre for Translational Research in Onco-Hematology, Oncology Division, Geneva University Hospital and University of Geneva, 1211 Geneva, Switzerland
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Mesa-Infante V, Afonso-Oramas D, Salas-Hernández J, Rodríguez-Núñez J, Barroso-Chinea P. Long-term exposure to GDNF induces dephosphorylation of Ret, AKT, and ERK1/2, and is ineffective at protecting midbrain dopaminergic neurons in cellular models of Parkinson's disease. Mol Cell Neurosci 2021; 118:103684. [PMID: 34826608 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2021.103684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) promotes differentiation, proliferation, and survival in different cell types, including dopaminergic neurons. Thus, GDNF has been proposed as a promising neuroprotective therapy in Parkinson's disease. Although findings from cellular and animal models of Parkinson's disease were encouraging, results emerging from clinical trials were not as good as expected, probably due to the inappropriate administration protocols. Despite the growing information on GDNF action mechanisms, many aspects of its pharmacological effects are still unclear and data from different studies are still contradictory. Considering that GDNF action mechanisms are mediated by its receptor tyrosine kinase Ret, which activates PI3K/AKT and MAPK/ERK signaling pathways, we aimed to investigate Ret activation and its effect over both signaling pathways in midbrain cell cultures treated with GDNF at different doses (0.3, 1, and 10 ng/ml) and times (15 min, 24 h, 24 h (7 days), and 7 continuous days). The results showed that short-term or acute (15 min, 24 h, and 24 h (7 days)) GDNF treatment in rat midbrain neurons increases Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression and the phosphorylation levels of Ret (Tyr 1062), AKT (Ser 473), ERK1/2 (Thr202/Tyr204), S6 (Ser 235/236), and GSK3-β (Ser 9). However, the phosphorylation level of these kinases, TH expression, and dopamine uptake, decreased below basal levels after long-term or prolonged treatment with 1 and 10 ng/ml GDNF (7 continuous days). Our data suggest that long-term GDNF treatment inactivates the receptor by an unknown mechanism, affecting its neuroprotective capacity against degeneration caused by 6-OHDA or rotenone, while short-term exposure to GDNF promoted dopaminergic cell survival. These findings highlight the need to find new and more effective long-acting therapeutic approaches for disorders in which GDNF plays a beneficial role, including Parkinson's disease. In this regard, it is necessary to propose new GDNF treatment guidelines to regulate and control its long-term expression levels and optimize the clinical use of this trophic factor in patients with Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Mesa-Infante
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - D Afonso-Oramas
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas de Canarias (ITB), Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
| | - J Salas-Hernández
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - J Rodríguez-Núñez
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain
| | - P Barroso-Chinea
- Departamento de Ciencias Médicas Básicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain; Instituto de Tecnologías Biomédicas de Canarias (ITB), Universidad de La Laguna, Tenerife, Spain.
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Amalric M, Pattij T, Sotiropoulos I, Silva JM, Sousa N, Ztaou S, Chiamulera C, Wahlberg LU, Emerich DF, Paolone G. Where Dopaminergic and Cholinergic Systems Interact: A Gateway for Tuning Neurodegenerative Disorders. Front Behav Neurosci 2021; 15:661973. [PMID: 34366802 PMCID: PMC8340002 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2021.661973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Historically, many investigations into neurodegenerative diseases have focused on alterations in specific neuronal populations such as, for example, the loss of midbrain dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD) and loss of cholinergic transmission in Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, it has become increasingly clear that mammalian brain activities, from executive and motor functioning to memory and emotional responses, are strictly regulated by the integrity of multiple interdependent neuronal circuits. Among subcortical structures, the dopaminergic nigrostriatal and mesolimbic pathways as well as cholinergic innervation from basal forebrain and brainstem, play pivotal roles in orchestrating cognitive and non-cognitive symptoms in PD and AD. Understanding the functional interactions of these circuits and the consequent neurological changes that occur during degeneration provides new opportunities to understand the fundamental inter-workings of the human brain as well as develop new potential treatments for patients with dysfunctional neuronal circuits. Here, excerpted from a session of the European Behavioral Pharmacology Society meeting (Braga, Portugal, August 2019), we provide an update on our recent work in behavioral and cellular neuroscience that primarily focuses on interactions between cholinergic and dopaminergic systems in PD models, as well as stress in AD. These brief discussions include descriptions of (1) striatal cholinergic interneurons (CINs) and PD, (2) dopaminergic and cholinergic modulation of impulse control, and (3) the use of an implantable cell-based system for drug delivery directly the into brain and (4) the mechanisms through which day life stress, a risk factor for AD, damage protein and RNA homeostasis leading to AD neuronal malfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianne Amalric
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 7291, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, Aix-Marseille University (AMU), Marseille, France
| | - Tommy Pattij
- Amsterdam Neuroscience, Department of Anatomy and Neurosciences, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ioannis Sotiropoulos
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Joana M. Silva
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Nuno Sousa
- ICVS/3B’s – PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga, Portugal
| | - Samira Ztaou
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), UMR 7291, Laboratoire de Neurosciences Cognitives, Aix-Marseille University (AMU), Marseille, France
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics, New York State Psychiatric Institute, Department of Psychiatry, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States
| | - Cristiano Chiamulera
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Section of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | | | - Giovanna Paolone
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, Section of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Policastro G, Brunelli M, Tinazzi M, Chiamulera C, Emerich DF, Paolone G. Cytokine-, Neurotrophin-, and Motor Rehabilitation-Induced Plasticity in Parkinson's Disease. Neural Plast 2020; 2020:8814028. [PMID: 33293946 PMCID: PMC7714573 DOI: 10.1155/2020/8814028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation and cytokine-dependent neurotoxicity appear to be major contributors to the neuropathology in Parkinson's disease (PD). While pharmacological advancements have been a mainstay in the treatment of PD for decades, it is becoming increasingly clear that nonpharmacological approaches including traditional and nontraditional forms of exercise and physical rehabilitation can be critical adjunctive or even primary treatment avenues. Here, we provide an overview of preclinical and clinical research detailing the biological role of proinflammatory molecules in PD and how motor rehabilitation can be used to therapeutically modulate neuroinflammation, restore neural plasticity, and improve motor function in PD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Matteo Brunelli
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | - Michele Tinazzi
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
| | | | | | - Giovanna Paolone
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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Paolone G. From the Gut to the Brain and Back: Therapeutic Approaches for the Treatment of Network Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease. Front Neurol 2020; 11:557928. [PMID: 33117258 PMCID: PMC7575743 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.557928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex, multisystem, progressive, degenerative disorder characterized by severe, debilitating motor dysfunction, cognitive impairments, and mood disorders. Although preclinical research has traditionally focused on the motor deficits resulting from the loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons, up to two thirds of PD patients present separate and distinct behavioral changes. Loss of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons occurs as early as the loss of dopaminergic cells and contributes to the cognitive decline in PD. In addition, attentional deficits can limit posture control and movement efficacy caused by dopaminergic cell loss. Complicating the picture further is intracellular α-synuclein accumulation beginning in the enteric nervous system and diffusing to the substantia nigra through the dorsal motor neurons of the vagus nerve. It seems that α-synuclein's role is that of mediating dopamine synthesis, storage, and release, and its function has not been completely understood. Treating a complex, multistage network disorder, such as PD, likely requires a multipronged approach. Here, we describe a few approaches that could be used alone or perhaps in combination to achieve a greater mosaic of behavioral benefit. These include (1) using encapsulated, genetically modified cells as delivery vehicles for administering neuroprotective trophic factors, such as GDNF, in a direct and sustained means to the brain; (2) immunotherapeutic interventions, such as vaccination or the use of monoclonal antibodies against aggregated, pathological α-synuclein; (3) the continuous infusion of levodopa-carbidopa through an intestinal gel pad to attenuate the loss of dopaminergic function and manage the motor and non-motor complications in PD patients; and (4) specific rehabilitation treatment programs for drug-refractory motor complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanna Paolone
- Department of Diagnostic and Public Health - Section of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy
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