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Lettieri A, Oleari R, van den Munkhof MH, van Battum EY, Verhagen MG, Tacconi C, Spreafico M, Paganoni AJJ, Azzarelli R, Andre' V, Amoruso F, Palazzolo L, Eberini I, Dunkel L, Howard SR, Fantin A, Pasterkamp RJ, Cariboni A. SEMA6A drives GnRH neuron-dependent puberty onset by tuning median eminence vascular permeability. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8097. [PMID: 38062045 PMCID: PMC10703890 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-43820-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Innervation of the hypothalamic median eminence by Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) neurons is vital to ensure puberty onset and successful reproduction. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying median eminence development and pubertal timing are incompletely understood. Here we show that Semaphorin-6A is strongly expressed by median eminence-resident oligodendrocytes positioned adjacent to GnRH neuron projections and fenestrated capillaries, and that Semaphorin-6A is required for GnRH neuron innervation and puberty onset. In vitro and in vivo experiments reveal an unexpected function for Semaphorin-6A, via its receptor Plexin-A2, in the control of median eminence vascular permeability to maintain neuroendocrine homeostasis. To support the significance of these findings in humans, we identify patients with delayed puberty carrying a novel pathogenic variant of SEMA6A. In all, our data reveal a role for Semaphorin-6A in regulating GnRH neuron patterning by tuning the median eminence vascular barrier and thereby controlling puberty onset.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Lettieri
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Milan, Via di Rudinì 8, 20142, Milano, Italy
| | - Roberto Oleari
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Marleen Hester van den Munkhof
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Eljo Yvette van Battum
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marieke Geerte Verhagen
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- VIB-KU Leuven, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Carlotta Tacconi
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
- Division of Immunology, Transplantation, and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Spreafico
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Roberta Azzarelli
- Wellcome - Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, Jeffrey Cheah Biomedical Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AW, UK
| | - Valentina Andre'
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Amoruso
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Palazzolo
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Ivano Eberini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy
| | - Leo Dunkel
- Centre for Endocrinology William Harvey Research Institute Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Sasha Rose Howard
- Centre for Endocrinology William Harvey Research Institute Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
- Department of Paediatric Endocrinology, Barts Health NHS Trust, London, E1 1FR, UK
| | - Alessandro Fantin
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Via Celoria 26, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Ronald Jeroen Pasterkamp
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht Brain Center, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 100, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Anna Cariboni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Via Balzaretti 9, 20133, Milan, Italy.
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Yang X, Li Y, Zhu Z, Huang X, Wang T, Yuan J, Li J. Identification of a peptide that crosses the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier by phage display technology. Amino Acids 2021; 53:1181-1186. [PMID: 34185171 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-03016-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Treatments of brain diseases are heavily limited by the existence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which precludes efficient drug delivery to the brain. Compared with the BBB, drugs may have a better likelihood of reaching the brain via the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) because of the lack of a barrier between the CSF and the brain. In this study, phage display technology was effectively applied to screen novel peptides as targeting motifs to transport drugs across the blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier (BCSFB). We applied a phage seven-mer cyclic peptide library (Ph.D.-C7C™) intravenously to rats and later recovered phages from the CSF. After several rounds of screening, the candidate phages that could cross the BCSFB were enriched. Several bacteriophage clones from the final round were randomly selected and sequenced. A peptide sequence denoted as PMK, which was demonstrated to be able to cross the BCSFB via in vivo optical imaging analysis, could be used in the future for the construction of targeted drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Yang
- College of Pharmacy (School of Pharmacy), Dali University, Xueren Rd, Dali, 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongjie Li
- College of Pharmacy (School of Pharmacy), Dali University, Xueren Rd, Dali, 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhanzhan Zhu
- College of Pharmacy (School of Pharmacy), Dali University, Xueren Rd, Dali, 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xufang Huang
- College of Pharmacy (School of Pharmacy), Dali University, Xueren Rd, Dali, 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Tianlong Wang
- College of Pharmacy (School of Pharmacy), Dali University, Xueren Rd, Dali, 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjin Yuan
- College of Pharmacy (School of Pharmacy), Dali University, Xueren Rd, Dali, 671000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingwei Li
- College of Pharmacy (School of Pharmacy), Dali University, Xueren Rd, Dali, 671000, People's Republic of China. .,Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory of Entomological Biopharmaceutical R&D, Dali University, Dali, 671000, People's Republic of China. .,National-Local Joint Engineering Research Center of Entomoceutics, Dali, 671000, People's Republic of China.
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Islam Y, Leach AG, Smith J, Pluchino S, Coxon CR, Sivakumaran M, Downing J, Fatokun AA, Teixidò M, Ehtezazi T. Physiological and Pathological Factors Affecting Drug Delivery to the Brain by Nanoparticles. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2002085. [PMID: 34105297 PMCID: PMC8188209 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202002085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of neurological/neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease is known to be increasing due to an aging population and is anticipated to further grow in the decades ahead. The treatment of brain diseases is challenging partly due to the inaccessibility of therapeutic agents to the brain. An increasingly important observation is that the physiology of the brain alters during many brain diseases, and aging adds even more to the complexity of the disease. There is a notion that the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) increases with aging or disease, however, the body has a defense mechanism that still retains the separation of the brain from harmful chemicals in the blood. This makes drug delivery to the diseased brain, even more challenging and complex task. Here, the physiological changes to the diseased brain and aged brain are covered in the context of drug delivery to the brain using nanoparticles. Also, recent and novel approaches are discussed for the delivery of therapeutic agents to the diseased brain using nanoparticle based or magnetic resonance imaging guided systems. Furthermore, the complement activation, toxicity, and immunogenicity of brain targeting nanoparticles as well as novel in vitro BBB models are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yamir Islam
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesLiverpool John Moores UniversityByrom StreetLiverpoolL3 3AFUK
| | - Andrew G. Leach
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesLiverpool John Moores UniversityByrom StreetLiverpoolL3 3AFUK
- Division of Pharmacy and OptometryThe University of ManchesterStopford Building, Oxford RoadManchesterM13 9PTUK
| | - Jayden Smith
- Cambridge Innovation Technologies Consulting (CITC) LimitedSt. John's Innovation CentreCowley RoadCambridgeCB4 0WSUK
| | - Stefano Pluchino
- Department of Clinical NeurosciencesClifford Allbutt Building – Cambridge Biosciences Campus and NIHR Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of CambridgeHills RoadCambridgeCB2 0HAUK
| | - Christopher R. Coxon
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesLiverpool John Moores UniversityByrom StreetLiverpoolL3 3AFUK
- School of Engineering and Physical SciencesHeriot‐Watt UniversityWilliam Perkin BuildingEdinburghEH14 4ASUK
| | - Muttuswamy Sivakumaran
- Department of HaematologyPeterborough City HospitalEdith Cavell CampusBretton Gate PeterboroughPeterboroughPE3 9GZUK
| | - James Downing
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesLiverpool John Moores UniversityByrom StreetLiverpoolL3 3AFUK
| | - Amos A. Fatokun
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesLiverpool John Moores UniversityByrom StreetLiverpoolL3 3AFUK
| | - Meritxell Teixidò
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona)Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST)Baldiri Reixac 10Barcelona08028Spain
| | - Touraj Ehtezazi
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular SciencesLiverpool John Moores UniversityByrom StreetLiverpoolL3 3AFUK
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Terashima T, Ogawa N, Sato T, Katagi M, Nakae Y, Okano J, Maegawa H, Kojima H. Advanced Technology for Gene Delivery with Homing Peptides to Spinal Cord through Systemic Circulation in Mice. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2019; 13:474-483. [PMID: 31193742 PMCID: PMC6538929 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2019.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Homing peptides to the spinal cord were identified and isolated using phage display technology. In vivo biopanning was performed by intravenous systemic injection of a phage library to screen specific peptides targeting the spinal cord of mice. Analyses of the sequences of targeted phages yielded two candidate peptides targeting the spinal cord: SP1 (C-LHQSPHI-C) and SP2 (C-PTNNPRS-C). These peptides were synthesized and intravenously injected into mice to evaluate their tissue specificity and potential as gene delivery carriers. The complexes between SP1 or SP2 peptides and the plasmid vector expressing the reporter gene could induce gene transduction in the spinal cord through systemic injection without gene expression in the brain, liver, and kidney. In addition, intravenous injection of the complex between SP1 and the vectors induced interleukin-4 expression in the spinal cord, resulting in effective suppression of lipopolysaccharide-induced hyperalgesia. Therefore, intravenously administered spinal cord homing peptides complexed with a plasmid vector provided tissue-specific treatment featuring gene delivery to the CNS through systemic circulation. This novel method of gene delivery is feasible and has great potential for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoya Terashima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan
- Corresponding author: Tomoya Terashima, Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Seta Tsukinowa-cho, Otsu, Shiga 520-2192, Japan.
| | - Nobuhiro Ogawa
- Department of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Sato
- Pain & Neuroscience Laboratories, Daiichi Sankyo Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miwako Katagi
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan
| | - Yuki Nakae
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan
| | - Junko Okano
- Division of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Maegawa
- Department of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan
| | - Hideto Kojima
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan
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Strazielle N, Ghersi-Egea JF. Potential Pathways for CNS Drug Delivery Across the Blood-Cerebrospinal Fluid Barrier. Curr Pharm Des 2017; 22:5463-5476. [PMID: 27464721 PMCID: PMC5421134 DOI: 10.2174/1381612822666160726112115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The blood-brain interfaces restrict the cerebral bioavailability of pharmacological compounds. Various drug delivery strategies have been developed to improve drug penetration into the brain. Most strategies target the microvascular endothelium forming the blood-brain barrier proper. Targeting the blood-cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) barrier formed by the epithelium of the choroid plexuses in addition to the blood-brain barrier may offer added-value for the treatment of central nervous system diseases. For instance, targeting the CSF spaces, adjacent tissue, or the choroid plexuses themselves is of interest for the treatment of neuroinflammatory and infectious diseases, cerebral amyloid angiopathy, selected brain tumors, hydrocephalus or neurohumoral dysregulation. Selected CSF-borne materials seem to reach deep cerebral structures by mechanisms that need to be understood in the context of chronic CSF delivery. Drug delivery through both barriers can reduce CSF sink action towards parenchymal drugs. Finally, targeting the choroid plexus-CSF system can be especially relevant in the context of neonatal and pediatric diseases of the central nervous system. Transcytosis appears the most promising mechanism to target in order to improve drug delivery through brain barriers. The choroid plexus epithelium displays strong vesicular trafficking and secretory activities that deserve to be explored in the context of cerebral drug delivery. Folate transport and exosome release into the CSF, plasma protein transport, and various receptor-mediated endocytosis pathways may prove useful mechanisms to exploit for efficient drug delivery into the CSF. This calls for a clear evaluation of transcytosis mechanisms at the blood-CSF barrier, and a thorough evaluation of CSF drug delivery rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Strazielle
- Blood-Brain Interfaces Exploratory Platform BIP, Lyon Neurosciences Research Center, Faculty of medicine Laennec, Rue G Paradin, 69008, Lyon, France.
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Burkhart A, Andresen TL, Aigner A, Thomsen LB, Moos T. Transfection of primary brain capillary endothelial cells for protein synthesis and secretion of recombinant erythropoietin: a strategy to enable protein delivery to the brain. Cell Mol Life Sci 2017; 74:2467-2485. [PMID: 28293718 PMCID: PMC11107693 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-017-2501-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 03/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Treatment of chronic disorders affecting the central nervous system (CNS) is complicated by the inability of drugs to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Non-viral gene therapy applied to brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) denotes a novel approach to overcome the restraints in this passage, as turning BCECs into recombinant protein factories by transfection could result in protein secretion further into the brain. The present study aims to investigate the possibility of transfecting primary rat brain endothelial cells (RBECs) for recombinant protein synthesis and secretion of the neuroprotective protein erythropoietin (EPO). We previously showed that 4% of RBECs with BBB properties can be transfected without disrupting the BBB integrity in vitro, but it can be questioned whether this is sufficient to enable protein secretion at therapeutic levels. The present study examined various transfection vectors, with regard to increasing the transfection efficiency without disrupting the BBB integrity. Lipofectamine 3000™ was the most potent vector compared to polyethylenimine (PEI) and Turbofect. When co-cultured with astrocytes, the genetically modified RBECs secreted recombinant EPO into the cell culture medium both luminally and abluminally, and despite lower levels of EPO reaching the abluminal chamber, the amount of recombinant EPO was sufficient to evolve a biological effect on astrocytes cultured at the abluminal side in terms of upregulated gene expression of brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF). In conclusion, non-viral gene therapy to RBECs leads to protein secretion and signifies a method for therapeutic proteins to target cells inside the CNS otherwise omitted due to the BBB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Burkhart
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Biomedicine Group, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 3B, 2.104, 9220, Aalborg East, Denmark.
| | - Thomas Lars Andresen
- DTU Nanotech, Technical University of Denmark, Produktionstorvet Building 423, 2800, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Achim Aigner
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, University of Leipzig, Härtelstraße 16-18, 04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Louiza Bohn Thomsen
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Biomedicine Group, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 3B, 2.104, 9220, Aalborg East, Denmark
| | - Torben Moos
- Laboratory of Neurobiology, Biomedicine Group, Department of Health Science and Technology, Aalborg University, Frederik Bajers Vej 3B, 2.104, 9220, Aalborg East, Denmark
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