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Chang Z, Wang QY, Li LH, Jiang B, Zhou XM, Zhu H, Sun YP, Pan X, Tu XX, Wang W, Liu CY, Kuang HX. Potential Plausible Role of Stem Cell for Treating Depressive Disorder: a Retrospective Review. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:4454-4472. [PMID: 38097915 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03843-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Depression poses a significant threat to global physical and mental health, impacting around 3.8% of the population with a rising incidence. Current treatment options primarily involve medication and psychological support, yet their effectiveness remains limited, contributing to high relapse rates. There is an urgent need for innovative and more efficacious treatment modalities. Stem cell therapy, a promising avenue in regenerative medicine for a spectrum of neurodegenerative conditions, has recently garnered attention for its potential application in depression. While much of this work remains preclinical, it has demonstrated considerable promise. Identified mechanisms underlying the antidepressant effects of stem cell therapy encompass the stimulation of neurotrophic factors, immune function modulation, and augmented monoamine levels. Nonetheless, these pathways and other undiscovered mechanisms necessitate further investigation. Depression fundamentally manifests as a neurodegenerative disorder. Given stem cell therapy's success in addressing a range of neurodegenerative pathologies, it opens the door to explore its application in depression treatment. This exploration may include repairing damaged nerves directly or indirectly and inhibiting neurotoxicity. Nevertheless, significant challenges must be overcome before stem cell therapies can be applied clinically. Successful resolution of these issues will ultimately determine the feasibility of incorporating stem cell therapies into the clinical landscape. This narrative review provides insights into the progress of research, potential avenues for exploration, and the prevailing challenges in the implementation of stem cell therapy for treatment of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Chang
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 26, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Qing-Yi Wang
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 26, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Lu-Hao Li
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 26, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Bei Jiang
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 26, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Xue-Ming Zhou
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 26, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Hui Zhu
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 26, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Yan-Ping Sun
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 26, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Xue Pan
- Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xu-Xu Tu
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 26, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China
| | - Wei Wang
- First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Chen-Yue Liu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hai-Xue Kuang
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Heping Road 26, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150040, China.
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2
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Jensen BK. Astrocyte-Neuron Interactions Contributing to Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Progression. ADVANCES IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 39:285-318. [PMID: 39190080 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-64839-7_12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex disease impacting motor neurons of the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord. Disease etiology is quite heterogeneous with over 40 genes causing the disease and a vast ~90% of patients having no prior family history. Astrocytes are major contributors to ALS, particularly through involvement in accelerating disease progression. Through study of genetic forms of disease including SOD1, TDP43, FUS, C9orf72, VCP, TBK1, and more recently patient-derived cells from sporadic individuals, many biological mechanisms have been identified to cause intrinsic or glial-mediated neurotoxicity to motor neurons. Overall, many of the normally supportive and beneficial roles that astrocytes contribute to neuronal health and survival instead switch to become deleterious and neurotoxic. While the exact pathways may differ based on disease-origin, altered astrocyte-neuron communication is a common feature of ALS. Within this chapter, distinct genetic forms are examined in detail, along with what is known from sporadic patient-derived cells. Overall, this chapter highlights the interplay between astrocytes and neurons in this complex disease and describes the key features underlying: astrocyte-mediated motor neuron toxicity, excitotoxicity, oxidative/nitrosative stress, protein dyshomeostasis, metabolic imbalance, inflammation, trophic factor withdrawal, blood-brain/blood-spinal cord barrier involvement, disease spreading, and the extracellular matrix/cell adhesion/TGF-β signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brigid K Jensen
- Neuroscience, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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3
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Maragakis NJ, de Carvalho M, Weiss MD. Therapeutic targeting of ALS pathways: Refocusing an incomplete picture. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2023; 10:1948-1971. [PMID: 37641443 PMCID: PMC10647018 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Numerous potential amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)-relevant pathways have been hypothesized and studied preclinically, with subsequent translation to clinical trial. However, few successes have been observed with only modest effects. Along with an improved but incomplete understanding of ALS as a neurodegenerative disease is the evolution of more sophisticated and diverse in vitro and in vivo preclinical modeling platforms, as well as clinical trial designs. We highlight proposed pathological pathways that have been major therapeutic targets for investigational compounds. It is likely that the failures of so many of these therapeutic compounds may not have occurred because of lack of efficacy but rather because of a lack of preclinical modeling that would help define an appropriate disease pathway, as well as a failure to establish target engagement. These challenges are compounded by shortcomings in clinical trial design, including lack of biomarkers that could predict clinical success and studies that are underpowered. Although research investments have provided abundant insights into new ALS-relevant pathways, most have not yet been developed more fully to result in clinical study. In this review, we detail some of the important, well-established pathways, the therapeutics targeting them, and the subsequent clinical design. With an understanding of some of the shortcomings in translational efforts over the last three decades of ALS investigation, we propose that scientists and clinicians may choose to revisit some of these therapeutic pathways reviewed here with an eye toward improving preclinical modeling, biomarker development, and the investment in more sophisticated clinical trial designs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Faculdade de MedicinaInsqatituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa, Universidade de LisboaLisbonPortugal
| | - Michael D. Weiss
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
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4
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You J, Youssef MMM, Santos JR, Lee J, Park J. Microglia and Astrocytes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Disease-Associated States, Pathological Roles, and Therapeutic Potential. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:1307. [PMID: 37887017 PMCID: PMC10603852 DOI: 10.3390/biology12101307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Revised: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Microglial and astrocytic reactivity is a prominent feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Microglia and astrocytes have been increasingly appreciated to play pivotal roles in disease pathogenesis. These cells can adopt distinct states characterized by a specific molecular profile or function depending on the different contexts of development, health, aging, and disease. Accumulating evidence from ALS rodent and cell models has demonstrated neuroprotective and neurotoxic functions from microglia and astrocytes. In this review, we focused on the recent advancements of knowledge in microglial and astrocytic states and nomenclature, the landmark discoveries demonstrating a clear contribution of microglia and astrocytes to ALS pathogenesis, and novel therapeutic candidates leveraging these cells that are currently undergoing clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin You
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; (J.Y.); (M.M.M.Y.); (J.R.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Mohieldin M. M. Youssef
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; (J.Y.); (M.M.M.Y.); (J.R.S.); (J.L.)
| | - Jhune Rizsan Santos
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; (J.Y.); (M.M.M.Y.); (J.R.S.); (J.L.)
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Jooyun Lee
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; (J.Y.); (M.M.M.Y.); (J.R.S.); (J.L.)
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
| | - Jeehye Park
- Genetics and Genome Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; (J.Y.); (M.M.M.Y.); (J.R.S.); (J.L.)
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A1, Canada
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5
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Stansberry WM, Pierchala BA. Neurotrophic factors in the physiology of motor neurons and their role in the pathobiology and therapeutic approach to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1238453. [PMID: 37692101 PMCID: PMC10483118 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1238453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The discovery of the neurotrophins and their potent survival and trophic effects led to great enthusiasm about their therapeutic potential to rescue dying neurons in neurodegenerative diseases. The further discovery that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) had potent survival-promoting activity on motor neurons led to the proposal for their use in motor neuron diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this review we synthesize the literature pertaining to the role of NGF, BDNF, CNTF and GDNF on the development and physiology of spinal motor neurons, as well as the preclinical studies that evaluated their potential for the treatment of ALS. Results from the clinical trials of these molecules will also be described and, with the aid of decades of hindsight, we will discuss what can reasonably be concluded and how this information can inform future clinical development of neurotrophic factors for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesley M. Stansberry
- The Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Brian A. Pierchala
- The Department of Anatomy, Cell Biology and Physiology, Stark Neurosciences Research Institute, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
- Medical Neuroscience Graduate Program, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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6
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Laperle AH, Moser VA, Avalos P, Lu B, Wu A, Fulton A, Ramirez S, Garcia VJ, Bell S, Ho R, Lawless G, Roxas K, Shahin S, Shelest O, Svendsen S, Wang S, Svendsen CN. Human iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells secreting GDNF provide protection in rodent models of ALS and retinal degeneration. Stem Cell Reports 2023; 18:1629-1642. [PMID: 37084724 PMCID: PMC10444557 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2023.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are a renewable cell source that can be differentiated into neural progenitor cells (iNPCs) and transduced with glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (iNPC-GDNFs). The goal of the current study is to characterize iNPC-GDNFs and test their therapeutic potential and safety. Single-nuclei RNA-seq show iNPC-GDNFs express NPC markers. iNPC-GDNFs delivered into the subretinal space of the Royal College of Surgeons rodent model of retinal degeneration preserve photoreceptors and visual function. Additionally, iNPC-GDNF transplants in the spinal cord of SOD1G93A amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) rats preserve motor neurons. Finally, iNPC-GDNF transplants in the spinal cord of athymic nude rats survive and produce GDNF for 9 months, with no signs of tumor formation or continual cell proliferation. iNPC-GDNFs survive long-term, are safe, and provide neuroprotection in models of both retinal degeneration and ALS, indicating their potential as a combined cell and gene therapy for various neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander H Laperle
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - V Alexandra Moser
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Pablo Avalos
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Bin Lu
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amanda Wu
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Aaron Fulton
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stephany Ramirez
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Veronica J Garcia
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shaughn Bell
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ritchie Ho
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - George Lawless
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Kristina Roxas
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Saba Shahin
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Oksana Shelest
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Soshana Svendsen
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Shaomei Wang
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Cedars-Sinai Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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7
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Temple S. Advancing cell therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Cell Stem Cell 2023; 30:512-529. [PMID: 37084729 PMCID: PMC10201979 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Cell-based therapies are being developed for various neurodegenerative diseases that affect the central nervous system (CNS). Concomitantly, the roles of individual cell types in neurodegenerative pathology are being uncovered by genetic and single-cell studies. With a greater understanding of cellular contributions to health and disease and with the arrival of promising approaches to modulate them, effective therapeutic cell products are now emerging. This review examines how the ability to generate diverse CNS cell types from stem cells, along with a deeper understanding of cell-type-specific functions and pathology, is advancing preclinical development of cell products for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally Temple
- Neural Stem Cell Institute, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA.
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Zayed MA, Sultan S, Alsaab HO, Yousof SM, Alrefaei GI, Alsubhi NH, Alkarim S, Al Ghamdi KS, Bagabir SA, Jana A, Alghamdi BS, Atta HM, Ashraf GM. Stem-Cell-Based Therapy: The Celestial Weapon against Neurological Disorders. Cells 2022; 11:3476. [PMID: 36359871 PMCID: PMC9655836 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Revised: 10/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 09/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells are a versatile source for cell therapy. Their use is particularly significant for the treatment of neurological disorders for which no definitive conventional medical treatment is available. Neurological disorders are of diverse etiology and pathogenesis. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is caused by abnormal protein deposits, leading to progressive dementia. Parkinson's disease (PD) is due to the specific degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons causing motor and sensory impairment. Huntington's disease (HD) includes a transmittable gene mutation, and any treatment should involve gene modulation of the transplanted cells. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder affecting multiple neurons sporadically but induces progressive neuronal dysfunction. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) impacts upper and lower motor neurons, leading to progressive muscle degeneration. This shows the need to try to tailor different types of cells to repair the specific defect characteristic of each disease. In recent years, several types of stem cells were used in different animal models, including transgenic animals of various neurologic disorders. Based on some of the successful animal studies, some clinical trials were designed and approved. Some studies were successful, others were terminated and, still, a few are ongoing. In this manuscript, we aim to review the current information on both the experimental and clinical trials of stem cell therapy in neurological disorders of various disease mechanisms. The different types of cells used, their mode of transplantation and the molecular and physiologic effects are discussed. Recommendations for future use and hopes are highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed A. Zayed
- Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Menoufia 32511, Egypt
| | - Samar Sultan
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Regenerative Medicine Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hashem O. Alsaab
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, College of Pharmacy, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shimaa Mohammad Yousof
- Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Medical Physiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia 41522, Egypt
| | - Ghadeer I. Alrefaei
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nouf H. Alsubhi
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science & Arts, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh 21911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Saleh Alkarim
- Embryonic and Cancer Stem Cell Research Group, King Fahad Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Embryonic Stem Cells Research Unit, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Kholoud S. Al Ghamdi
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sali Abubaker Bagabir
- Genetic Unit, Department of Medical Laboratory Technology, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan 45142, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ankit Jana
- School of Biotechnology, Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT) Deemed to be University, Campus-11, Patia, Bhubaneswar 751024, Odisha, India
| | - Badrah S. Alghamdi
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Pre-Clinical Research Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hazem M. Atta
- Clinical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine in Rabigh, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Ghulam Md Ashraf
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, University City, Sharjah 27272, United Arab Emirates
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10
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Transplantation of human neural progenitor cells secreting GDNF into the spinal cord of patients with ALS: a phase 1/2a trial. Nat Med 2022; 28:1813-1822. [PMID: 36064599 PMCID: PMC9499868 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-01956-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) involves progressive motor neuron loss, leading to paralysis and death typically within 3–5 years of diagnosis. Dysfunctional astrocytes may contribute to disease and glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) can be protective. Here we show that human neural progenitor cells transduced with GDNF (CNS10-NPC-GDNF) differentiated to astrocytes protected spinal motor neurons and were safe in animal models. CNS10-NPC-GDNF were transplanted unilaterally into the lumbar spinal cord of 18 ALS participants in a phase 1/2a study (NCT02943850). The primary endpoint of safety at 1 year was met, with no negative effect of the transplant on motor function in the treated leg compared with the untreated leg. Tissue analysis of 13 participants who died of disease progression showed graft survival and GDNF production. Benign neuromas near delivery sites were common incidental findings at post-mortem. This study shows that one administration of engineered neural progenitors can provide new support cells and GDNF delivery to the ALS patient spinal cord for up to 42 months post-transplantation. A phase 1/2a study shows that human neural progenitor cells modified to release the growth factor GDNF are safely transplanted into the spinal cord of patients with ALS, with cell survival and GDNF production for over 3 years.
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11
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Yari H, Mikhailova MV, Mardasi M, Jafarzadehgharehziaaddin M, Shahrokh S, Thangavelu L, Ahmadi H, Shomali N, Yaghoubi Y, Zamani M, Akbari M, Alesaeidi S. Emerging role of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs)-derived exosome in neurodegeneration-associated conditions: a groundbreaking cell-free approach. Stem Cell Res Ther 2022; 13:423. [PMID: 35986375 PMCID: PMC9389725 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-022-03122-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAccumulating proofs signify that pleiotropic effects of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are not allied to their differentiation competencies but rather are mediated mainly by the releases of soluble paracrine mediators, making them a reasonable therapeutic option to enable damaged tissue repair. Due to their unique immunomodulatory and regenerative attributes, the MSC-derived exosomes hold great potential to treat neurodegeneration-associated neurological diseases. Exosome treatment circumvents drawbacks regarding the direct administration of MSCs, such as tumor formation or reduced infiltration and migration to brain tissue. Noteworthy, MSCs-derived exosomes can cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and then efficiently deliver their cargo (e.g., protein, miRNAs, lipid, and mRNA) to damaged brain tissue. These biomolecules influence various biological processes (e.g., survival, proliferation, migration, etc.) in neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes. Various studies have shown that the systemic or local administration of MSCs-derived exosome could lead to the favored outcome in animals with neurodegeneration-associated disease mainly by supporting BBB integrity, eliciting pro-angiogenic effects, attenuating neuroinflammation, and promoting neurogenesis in vivo. In the present review, we will deliver an overview of the therapeutic benefits of MSCs-derived exosome therapy to ameliorate the pathological symptoms of acute and chronic neurodegenerative disease. Also, the underlying mechanism behind these favored effects has been elucidated.
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Alarcan H, Al Ojaimi Y, Lanznaster D, Escoffre JM, Corcia P, Vourc'h P, Andres CR, Veyrat-Durebex C, Blasco H. Taking Advantages of Blood–Brain or Spinal Cord Barrier Alterations or Restoring Them to Optimize Therapy in ALS? J Pers Med 2022; 12:jpm12071071. [PMID: 35887567 PMCID: PMC9319288 DOI: 10.3390/jpm12071071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that still lacks an efficient therapy. The barriers between the central nervous system (CNS) and the blood represent a major limiting factor to the development of drugs for CNS diseases, including ALS. Alterations of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) or blood–spinal cord barrier (BSCB) have been reported in this disease but still require further investigations. Interestingly, these alterations might be involved in the complex etiology and pathogenesis of ALS. Moreover, they can have potential consequences on the diffusion of candidate drugs across the brain. The development of techniques to bypass these barriers is continuously evolving and might open the door for personalized medical approaches. Therefore, identifying robust and non-invasive markers of BBB and BSCB alterations can help distinguish different subgroups of patients, such as those in whom barrier disruption can negatively affect the delivery of drugs to their CNS targets. The restoration of CNS barriers using innovative therapies could consequently present the advantage of both alleviating the disease progression and optimizing the safety and efficiency of ALS-specific therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hugo Alarcan
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moleculaire, CHRU Bretonneau, 2 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Yara Al Ojaimi
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Debora Lanznaster
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Jean-Michel Escoffre
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Philippe Corcia
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
- Service de Neurologie, CHRU Bretonneau, 2 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Patrick Vourc'h
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moleculaire, CHRU Bretonneau, 2 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Christian R Andres
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moleculaire, CHRU Bretonneau, 2 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Charlotte Veyrat-Durebex
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moleculaire, CHRU Bretonneau, 2 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Hélène Blasco
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Biologie Moleculaire, CHRU Bretonneau, 2 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
- UMR 1253 iBrain, Université de Tours, Inserm, 10 Boulevard Tonnellé, 37000 Tours, France
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13
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Lin TJ, Cheng KC, Wu LY, Lai WY, Ling TY, Kuo YC, Huang YH. Potential of Cellular Therapy for ALS: Current Strategies and Future Prospects. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:851613. [PMID: 35372346 PMCID: PMC8966507 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.851613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive upper and lower motor neuron (MN) degeneration with unclear pathology. The worldwide prevalence of ALS is approximately 4.42 per 100,000 populations, and death occurs within 3-5 years after diagnosis. However, no effective therapeutic modality for ALS is currently available. In recent years, cellular therapy has shown considerable therapeutic potential because it exerts immunomodulatory effects and protects the MN circuit. However, the safety and efficacy of cellular therapy in ALS are still under debate. In this review, we summarize the current progress in cellular therapy for ALS. The underlying mechanism, current clinical trials, and the pros and cons of cellular therapy using different types of cell are discussed. In addition, clinical studies of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in ALS are highlighted. The summarized findings of this review can facilitate the future clinical application of precision medicine using cellular therapy in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Jung Lin
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuang-Chao Cheng
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Luo-Yun Wu
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yu Lai
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Thai-Yen Ling
- Department and Graduate Institute of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Research Center for Developmental Biology and Regenerative Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Che Kuo
- TMU Research Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Hua Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- International Ph.D. Program for Cell Therapy and Regeneration Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- TMU Research Center of Cancer Translational Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- Comprehensive Cancer Center of Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
- PhD Program for Translational Medicine, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
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14
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Cortical Hyperexcitability in the Driver’s Seat in ALS. CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL NEUROSCIENCE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/ctn6010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal disease characterized by the degeneration of cortical and spinal motor neurons. With no effective treatment available to date, patients face progressive paralysis and eventually succumb to the disease due to respiratory failure within only a few years. Recent research has revealed the multifaceted nature of the mechanisms and cell types involved in motor neuron degeneration, thereby opening up new therapeutic avenues. Intriguingly, two key features present in both ALS patients and rodent models of the disease are cortical hyperexcitability and hyperconnectivity, the mechanisms of which are still not fully understood. We here recapitulate current findings arguing for cell autonomous and non-cell autonomous mechanisms causing cortical excitation and inhibition imbalance, which is involved in the degeneration of motor neurons in ALS. Moreover, we will highlight recent evidence that strongly indicates a cardinal role for the motor cortex as a main driver and source of the disease, thus arguing for a corticofugal trajectory of the pathology.
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15
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Ricca A, Cascino F, Gritti A. Isolation and Culture of Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells from the Postnatal Periventricular Region. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2389:11-31. [PMID: 34557998 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1783-0_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Due to the complexity of the neural stem cell (NSC) niche organization, the lack of specific NSC markers, and the difficulty of long-term tracking these cells and their progeny in vivo, the functional properties of the endogenous NSCs remain largely unexplored. These limitations have led to the development of methodologies to efficiently isolate, expand, and differentiate NSCs ex vivo. We describe here the peculiarities of the neurosphere assay (NSA) as a methodology that allows to efficiently isolate, expand, and differentiate somatic NSCs derived from the postnatal and adult forebrain periventricular region while preserving proliferation, self-renewal, and multipotency, the main attributes that provide their functional identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Ricca
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Federica Cascino
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Gritti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
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16
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Dhasmana S, Dhasmana A, Narula AS, Jaggi M, Yallapu MM, Chauhan SC. The panoramic view of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A fatal intricate neurological disorder. Life Sci 2022; 288:120156. [PMID: 34801512 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and fatal neurological disease affecting both upper and lower motor neurons. In the United States alone, there are 16,000-20,000 established cases of ALS. The early disease diagnosis is challenging due to many overlapping pathophysiologies with other neurological diseases. The etiology of ALS is unknown; however, it is divided into two categories: familial ALS (fALS) which occurs due to gene mutations & contributes to 5-10% of ALS, and sporadic ALS (sALS) which is due to environmental factors & contributes to 90-95% of ALS. There is still no curative treatment for ALS: palliative care and symptomatic treatment are therefore essential components in the management of these patients. In this review, we provide a panoramic view of ALS, which includes epidemiology, risk factors, pathophysiologies, biomarkers, diagnosis, therapeutics (natural, synthetic, gene-based, pharmacological, stem cell, extracellular vesicles, and physical therapy), controversies (in the clinical trials of ALS), the scope of nanomedicine in ALS, and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Dhasmana
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Anupam Dhasmana
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Acharan S Narula
- Narula Research LLC, 107 Boulder Bluff, Chapel Hill, NC 27516, USA
| | - Meena Jaggi
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Murali M Yallapu
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA
| | - Subhash C Chauhan
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA; South Texas Center of Excellence in Cancer Research, School of Medicine, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen, TX 78504, USA.
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17
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Parambi DGT, Alharbi KS, Kumar R, Harilal S, Batiha GES, Cruz-Martins N, Magdy O, Musa A, Panda DS, Mathew B. Gene Therapy Approach with an Emphasis on Growth Factors: Theoretical and Clinical Outcomes in Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2022; 59:191-233. [PMID: 34655056 PMCID: PMC8518903 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02555-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The etiology of many neurological diseases affecting the central nervous system (CNS) is unknown and still needs more effective and specific therapeutic approaches. Gene therapy has a promising future in treating neurodegenerative disorders by correcting the genetic defects or by therapeutic protein delivery and is now an attraction for neurologists to treat brain disorders, like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, spinal muscular atrophy, spinocerebellar ataxia, epilepsy, Huntington's disease, stroke, and spinal cord injury. Gene therapy allows the transgene induction, with a unique expression in cells' substrate. This article mainly focuses on the delivering modes of genetic materials in the CNS, which includes viral and non-viral vectors and their application in gene therapy. Despite the many clinical trials conducted so far, data have shown disappointing outcomes. The efforts done to improve outcomes, efficacy, and safety in the identification of targets in various neurological disorders are also discussed here. Adapting gene therapy as a new therapeutic approach for treating neurological disorders seems to be promising, with early detection and delivery of therapy before the neuron is lost, helping a lot the development of new therapeutic options to translate to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Della Grace Thomas Parambi
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Jouf University, Al Jouf-2014, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Saad Alharbi
- College of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Jouf University, Al Jouf-2014, Sakaka, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Kerala University of Health Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala 680596 India
| | - Seetha Harilal
- Kerala University of Health Sciences, Thrissur, Kerala 680596 India
| | - Gaber El-Saber Batiha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Damanhour University, Damanhour, 22511 Al Beheira Egypt
| | - Natália Cruz-Martins
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (i3S), University of Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Research and Advanced Training in Health Sciences and Technologies (CESPU), Rua Central de Gandra, 1317, 4585-116 Gandra PRD, Portugal
| | - Omnia Magdy
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Al Jouf-2014 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Aljouf 72341 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Arafa Musa
- Pharmacognosy Department, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Sakaka, Aljouf 72341 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
- Pharmacognosy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, 11371 Egypt
| | - Dibya Sundar Panda
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Jouf University, Al Jouf, Sakaka, 72341 Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Bijo Mathew
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Sciences Campus, Kochi, 682 041 India
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18
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Luo DS, Li YQ, Deng ZQ, Liu GH. Progress and prospect of stem cell therapy for diabetic erectile dysfunction. World J Diabetes 2021; 12:2000-2010. [PMID: 35047115 PMCID: PMC8696650 DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v12.i12.2000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Diabetic erectile dysfunction (DED) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus, significantly impairing the quality of life of patients. The conventional clinical treatment still has limitations. Stem cells (SCs), as a type of cells with multidirectional or directional differentiation capability and sustainable self-renewal potential, are widely used in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering. With the continuous update of regenerative medicine theory and the success of animal experiments, SCs as a treatment for male erectile dysfunction, especially DED, have attracted widespread attention because of curable possibility. This review focus on the current progress in the clinical application of SC treatment for DED. Moreover, we summarize the development prospects of SCs in the field of DMED therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dao-Sheng Luo
- Department of Urology, Dongguan People’s Hospital, Dongguan 523000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Yan-Qing Li
- Reproductive Centre, Sun Yat-Sen University, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Zhi-Quan Deng
- Department of Urology, Dongguan People’s Hospital, Dongguan 523000, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Gui-Hua Liu
- Reproductive Centre, Sun Yat-Sen University, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou 510000, Guangdong Province, China
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19
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Valori CF, Possenti A, Brambilla L, Rossi D. Challenges and Opportunities of Targeting Astrocytes to Halt Neurodegenerative Disorders. Cells 2021; 10:cells10082019. [PMID: 34440788 PMCID: PMC8395029 DOI: 10.3390/cells10082019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a heterogeneous group of disorders whose incidence is likely to duplicate in the next 30 years along with the progressive aging of the western population. Non-cell-specific therapeutics or therapeutics designed to tackle aberrant pathways within neurons failed to slow down or halt neurodegeneration. Yet, in the last few years, our knowledge of the importance of glial cells to maintain the central nervous system homeostasis in health conditions has increased exponentially, along with our awareness of their fundamental and multifaced role in pathological conditions. Among glial cells, astrocytes emerge as promising therapeutic targets in various neurodegenerative disorders. In this review, we present the latest evidence showing the astonishing level of specialization that astrocytes display to fulfill the demands of their neuronal partners as well as their plasticity upon injury. Then, we discuss the controversies that fuel the current debate on these cells. We tackle evidence of a potential beneficial effect of cell therapy, achieved by transplanting astrocytes or their precursors. Afterwards, we introduce the different strategies proposed to modulate astrocyte functions in neurodegeneration, ranging from lifestyle changes to environmental cues. Finally, we discuss the challenges and the recent advancements to develop astrocyte-specific delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara F. Valori
- Molecular Neuropathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72076 Tübingen, Germany
- Correspondence: (C.F.V.); (D.R.); Tel.: +49-7071-9254-122 (C.F.V.); +39-0382-592064 (D.R.)
| | - Agostino Possenti
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Liliana Brambilla
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.P.); (L.B.)
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (A.P.); (L.B.)
- Correspondence: (C.F.V.); (D.R.); Tel.: +49-7071-9254-122 (C.F.V.); +39-0382-592064 (D.R.)
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20
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Sucha R, Kubickova M, Cervenka J, Hruska-Plochan M, Bohaciakova D, Vodickova Kepkova K, Novakova T, Budkova K, Susor A, Marsala M, Motlik J, Kovarova H, Vodicka P. Targeted mass spectrometry for monitoring of neural differentiation. Biol Open 2021; 10:271174. [PMID: 34357391 PMCID: PMC8353267 DOI: 10.1242/bio.058727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Human multipotent neural stem cells could effectively be used for the treatment of a variety of neurological disorders. However, a defining signature of neural stem cell lines that would be expandable, non-tumorigenic, and differentiate into desirable neuronal/glial phenotype after in vivo grafting is not yet defined. Employing a mass spectrometry approach, based on selected reaction monitoring, we tested a panel of well-described culture conditions, and measured levels of protein markers routinely used to probe neural differentiation, i.e. POU5F1 (OCT4), SOX2, NES, DCX, TUBB3, MAP2, S100B, GFAP, GALC, and OLIG1. Our multiplexed assay enabled us to simultaneously identify the presence of pluripotent, multipotent, and lineage-committed neural cells, thus representing a powerful tool to optimize novel and highly specific propagation and differentiation protocols. The multiplexing capacity of this method permits the addition of other newly identified cell type-specific markers to further increase the specificity and quantitative accuracy in detecting targeted cell populations. Such an expandable assay may gain the advantage over traditional antibody-based assays, and represents a method of choice for quality control of neural stem cell lines intended for clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Sucha
- Laboratory of Applied Proteome Analyses and Research Center PIGMOD, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburska 89, Libechov CZ-27721, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Kubickova
- Laboratory of Applied Proteome Analyses and Research Center PIGMOD, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburska 89, Libechov CZ-27721, Czech Republic.,Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague CZ-12843, Czech Republic
| | - Jakub Cervenka
- Laboratory of Applied Proteome Analyses and Research Center PIGMOD, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburska 89, Libechov CZ-27721, Czech Republic.,Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague CZ-12843, Czech Republic
| | - Marian Hruska-Plochan
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, Zürich CH-8057, Switzerland
| | - Dasa Bohaciakova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Brno CZ-62500, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Vodickova Kepkova
- Laboratory of Applied Proteome Analyses and Research Center PIGMOD, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburska 89, Libechov CZ-27721, Czech Republic
| | - Tereza Novakova
- Laboratory of Applied Proteome Analyses and Research Center PIGMOD, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburska 89, Libechov CZ-27721, Czech Republic.,Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague CZ-12843, Czech Republic
| | - Katerina Budkova
- Laboratory of Applied Proteome Analyses and Research Center PIGMOD, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburska 89, Libechov CZ-27721, Czech Republic.,Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, Prague CZ-12843, Czech Republic
| | - Andrej Susor
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of Germ Cells, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburska 89, Libechov CZ-27721, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Marsala
- Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, 2880 Torrey Pines Scenic Dr., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Jan Motlik
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity and Research Center PIGMOD, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburska 89, Libechov CZ-27721, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Kovarova
- Laboratory of Applied Proteome Analyses and Research Center PIGMOD, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburska 89, Libechov CZ-27721, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Vodicka
- Laboratory of Applied Proteome Analyses and Research Center PIGMOD, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics of The Czech Academy of Sciences, Rumburska 89, Libechov CZ-27721, Czech Republic
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21
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De Marchi F, Munitic I, Amedei A, Berry JD, Feldman EL, Aronica E, Nardo G, Van Weehaeghe D, Niccolai E, Prtenjaca N, Sakowski SA, Bendotti C, Mazzini L. Interplay between immunity and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: Clinical impact. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2021; 127:958-978. [PMID: 34153344 PMCID: PMC8428677 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.06.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating and rapidly fatal neurodegenerative disease. Despite decades of research and many new insights into disease biology over the 150 years since the disease was first described, causative pathogenic mechanisms in ALS remain poorly understood, especially in sporadic cases. Our understanding of the role of the immune system in ALS pathophysiology, however, is rapidly expanding. The aim of this manuscript is to summarize the recent advances regarding the immune system involvement in ALS, with particular attention to clinical translation. We focus on the potential pathophysiologic mechanism of the immune system in ALS, discussing local and systemic factors (blood, cerebrospinal fluid, and microbiota) that influence ALS onset and progression in animal models and people. We also explore the potential of Positron Emission Tomography to detect neuroinflammation in vivo, and discuss ongoing clinical trials of therapies targeting the immune system. With validation in human patients, new evidence in this emerging field will serve to identify novel therapeutic targets and provide realistic hope for personalized treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola De Marchi
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, Novara, 28100, Italy
| | - Ivana Munitic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - James D Berry
- Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 165 Cambridge Street, Suite 600, Boston, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Eva L Feldman
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Giovanni Nardo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, Milanm, 20156, Italy
| | - Donatienne Van Weehaeghe
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, Department of Imaging and Pathology, University Hospitals Leuven, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elena Niccolai
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Florence, Florence, Italy
| | - Nikolina Prtenjaca
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000, Rijeka, Croatia
| | - Stacey A Sakowski
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Caterina Bendotti
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, Milanm, 20156, Italy
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, Novara, 28100, Italy.
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22
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Lynch EM, Robertson S, FitzGibbons C, Reilly M, Switalski C, Eckardt A, Tey SR, Hayakawa K, Suzuki M. Transcriptome analysis using patient iPSC-derived skeletal myocytes: Bet1L as a new molecule possibly linked to neuromuscular junction degeneration in ALS. Exp Neurol 2021; 345:113815. [PMID: 34310943 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2021.113815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neuromuscular disease in which patients gradually become paralyzed due to loss of motor function. Many genetically inheritable mutations have been linked to ALS; however, the majority of ALS patients are considered sporadic. Therefore, there is a need for a common therapy that is effective for all ALS patients. Although there is evidence of the disease beginning in the periphery at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), the specific processes involved in skeletal muscle and at the NMJ are still largely unknown. To study common disease mechanisms in ALS skeletal muscle, we performed RNA sequencing of skeletal myocytes differentiated from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from familial ALS (with C9ORF72, SOD1, or TARDBP mutations) and sporadic ALS patients. Compared to healthy control lines, the myocytes from all ALS lines showed downregulation of four genes: BET1L, DCX, GPC3, and HNRNPK. We next measured the expression levels of these four genes in hind limb muscle samples from a rat model of familial ALS (SOD1G93A transgenic) and found that only the Bet1L gene, which encodes Bet1 Golgi Vesicular Membrane Trafficking Protein Like, was commonly downregulated. Bet1L protein appeared to be localized to the basal lamina of the NMJ, with decreased expression over time in SOD1G93A transgenic rats. Importantly, the expression levels began to decrease early in the disease process. Our results indicate that loss of Bet1L at the NMJ could be of interest for better understanding ALS disease progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen M Lynch
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Samantha Robertson
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Claire FitzGibbons
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Megan Reilly
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Colton Switalski
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Adam Eckardt
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Sin-Ruow Tey
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA
| | - Koji Hayakawa
- Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Okayama University of Science, Ehime, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Suzuki
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA; Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA.
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23
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Hassanzadeh A, Shamlou S, Yousefi N, Nikoo M, Verdi J. Genetically-Modified Stem Cell in Regenerative Medicine and Cancer Therapy; A New Era. Curr Gene Ther 2021; 22:23-39. [PMID: 34238158 DOI: 10.2174/1566523221666210707125342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recently, genetic engineering by various strategies to stimulate gene expression in a specific and controllable mode is a speedily growing therapeutic approach. Genetic modification of human stem or progenitor cells, such as embryonic stem cells (ESCs), neural progenitor cells (NPCs), mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs), and hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for direct delivery of specific therapeutic molecules or genes has been evidenced as an opportune plan in the context of regenerative medicine due to their supported viability, proliferative features, and metabolic qualities. On the other hand, a large number of studies have investigated the efficacy of modified stem cells in cancer therapy using cells from various sources, disparate transfection means for gene delivery, different transfected yields, and wide variability of tumor models. Accordingly, cell-based gene therapy holds substantial aptitude for the treatment of human malignancy as it could relieve signs or even cure cancer succeeding expression of therapeutic or suicide transgene products; however, there exist inconsistent results in this regard. Herein, we deliver a brief overview of stem cell potential to use in cancer therapy and regenerative medicine and importantly discuss stem cells based gene delivery competencies to stimulate tissue repair and replacement in concomitant with their potential to use as an anti-cancer therapeutic strategy, focusing on the last two decades in vivo studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Hassanzadeh
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Somayeh Shamlou
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Niloufar Yousefi
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marzieh Nikoo
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
| | - Javad Verdi
- Department of Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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24
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Burns TC, Quinones-Hinojosa A. Regenerative medicine for neurological diseases-will regenerative neurosurgery deliver? BMJ 2021; 373:n955. [PMID: 34162530 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.n955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Regenerative medicine aspires to transform the future practice of medicine by providing curative, rather than palliative, treatments. Healing the central nervous system (CNS) remains among regenerative medicine's most highly prized but formidable challenges. "Regenerative neurosurgery" provides access to the CNS or its surrounding structures to preserve or restore neurological function. Pioneering efforts over the past three decades have introduced cells, neurotrophins, and genes with putative regenerative capacity into the CNS to combat neurodegenerative, ischemic, and traumatic diseases. In this review we critically evaluate the rationale, paradigms, and translational progress of regenerative neurosurgery, harnessing access to the CNS to protect, rejuvenate, or replace cell types otherwise irreversibly compromised by neurological disease. We discuss the evidence surrounding fetal, somatic, and pluripotent stem cell derived implants to replace endogenous neuronal and glial cell types and provide trophic support. Neurotrophin based strategies via infusions and gene therapy highlight the motivation to preserve neuronal circuits, the complex fidelity of which cannot be readily recreated. We specifically highlight ongoing translational efforts in Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, stroke, and spinal cord injury, using these to illustrate the principles, challenges, and opportunities of regenerative neurosurgery. Risks of associated procedures and novel neurosurgical trials are discussed, together with the ethical challenges they pose. After decades of efforts to develop and refine necessary tools and methodologies, regenerative neurosurgery is well positioned to advance treatments for refractory neurological diseases. Strategic multidisciplinary efforts will be critical to harness complementary technologies and maximize mechanistic feedback, accelerating iterative progress toward cures for neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Terry C Burns
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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25
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Khazaei M, Ahuja CS, Nakashima H, Nagoshi N, Li L, Wang J, Chio J, Badner A, Seligman D, Ichise A, Shibata S, Fehlings MG. GDNF rescues the fate of neural progenitor grafts by attenuating Notch signals in the injured spinal cord in rodents. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/525/eaau3538. [PMID: 31915299 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aau3538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Neural progenitor cell (NPC) transplantation is a promising strategy for the treatment of spinal cord injury (SCI). In this study, we show that injury-induced Notch activation in the spinal cord microenvironment biases the fate of transplanted NPCs toward astrocytes in rodents. In a screen for potential clinically relevant factors to modulate Notch signaling, we identified glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). GDNF attenuates Notch signaling by mediating delta-like 1 homolog (DLK1) expression, which is independent of GDNF's effect on cell survival. When transplanted into a rodent model of cervical SCI, GDNF-expressing human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived NPCs (hiPSC-NPCs) demonstrated higher differentiation toward a neuronal fate compared to control cells. In addition, expression of GDNF promoted endogenous tissue sparing and enhanced electrical integration of transplanted cells, which collectively resulted in improved neurobehavioral recovery. CRISPR-induced knockouts of the DLK1 gene in GDNF-expressing hiPSC-NPCs attenuated the effect on functional recovery, demonstrating that this effect is partially mediated through DLK1 expression. These results represent a mechanistically driven optimization of hiPSC-NPC therapy to redirect transplanted cells toward a neuronal fate and enhance their integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamad Khazaei
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Christopher S Ahuja
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Hiroaki Nakashima
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Narihito Nagoshi
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Lijun Li
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Jian Wang
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Jonathon Chio
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Anna Badner
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada.,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - David Seligman
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Ayaka Ichise
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Shibata
- Electron Microscope Laboratory, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo 160-8582, Japan
| | - Michael G Fehlings
- Division of Genetics and Development, Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada. .,Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.,Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1P5, Canada.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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26
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Linnerbauer M, Rothhammer V. Protective Functions of Reactive Astrocytes Following Central Nervous System Insult. Front Immunol 2020; 11:573256. [PMID: 33117368 PMCID: PMC7561408 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.573256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 09/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes play important roles in numerous central nervous system disorders including autoimmune inflammatory, hypoxic, and degenerative diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, ischemic stroke, and Alzheimer’s disease. Depending on the spatial and temporal context, activated astrocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis, progression, and recovery of disease. Recent progress in the dissection of transcriptional responses to varying forms of central nervous system insult has shed light on the mechanisms that govern the complexity of reactive astrocyte functions. While a large body of research focuses on the pathogenic effects of reactive astrocytes, little is known about how they limit inflammation and contribute to tissue regeneration. However, these protective astrocyte pathways might be of relevance for the understanding of the underlying pathology in disease and may lead to novel targeted approaches to treat autoimmune inflammatory and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system. In this review article, we have revisited the emerging concept of protective astrocyte functions and discuss their role in the recovery from inflammatory and ischemic disease as well as their role in degenerative disorders. Focusing on soluble astrocyte derived mediators, we aggregate the existing knowledge on astrocyte functions in the maintenance of homeostasis as well as their reparative and tissue-protective function after acute lesions and in neurodegenerative disorders. Finally, we give an outlook of how these mediators may guide future therapeutic strategies to tackle yet untreatable disorders of the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Linnerbauer
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Veit Rothhammer
- Department of Neurology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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27
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Izrael M, Slutsky SG, Revel M. Rising Stars: Astrocytes as a Therapeutic Target for ALS Disease. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:824. [PMID: 32848579 PMCID: PMC7399224 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multifactorial disease, characterized by a progressive loss of motor neurons that eventually leads to paralysis and death. The current ALS-approved drugs modestly change the clinical course of the disease. The mechanism by which motor neurons progressively degenerate remains unclear but entails a non-cell autonomous process. Astrocytes impaired biological functionality were implicated in multiple neurodegenerative diseases, including ALS, frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and Alzheimer disease (AD). In ALS disease patients, A1 reactive astrocytes were found to play a key role in the pathology of ALS disease and death of motor neurons, via loss or gain of function or acquired toxicity. The contribution of astrocytes to the maintenance of motor neurons by diverse mechanisms makes them a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of ALS. Therapeutic approaches targeting at modulating the function of endogenous astrocytes or replacing lost functionality by transplantation of healthy astrocytes, may contribute to the development of therapies which might slow down or even halt the progression ALS diseases. The proposed mechanisms by which astrocytes can potentially ameliorate ALS progression and the status of ALS clinical studies involving astrocytes are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Izrael
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd., Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Shalom Guy Slutsky
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd., Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Michel Revel
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd., Nes-Ziona, Israel.,Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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28
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Wang J, Hu WW, Jiang Z, Feng MJ. Advances in treatment of neurodegenerative diseases: Perspectives for combination of stem cells with neurotrophic factors. World J Stem Cells 2020; 12:323-338. [PMID: 32547681 PMCID: PMC7280867 DOI: 10.4252/wjsc.v12.i5.323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, are a group of incurable neurological disorders, characterized by the chronic progressive loss of different neuronal subtypes. However, despite its increasing prevalence among the ever-increasing aging population, little progress has been made in the coincident immense efforts towards development of therapeutic agents. Research interest has recently turned towards stem cells including stem cells-derived exosomes, neurotrophic factors, and their combination as potential therapeutic agents in neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we summarize the progress in therapeutic strategies based on stem cells combined with neurotrophic factors and mesenchymal stem cells-derived exosomes for neurodegenerative diseases, with an emphasis on the combination therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu Province, China
- Department of Neurology, the Affiliated Jiangning Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211100, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Wei-Wei Hu
- Department of Geriatrics, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210002, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Zhi Jiang
- Department of Geriatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Mei-Jiang Feng
- Department of Geriatrics, the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu Province, China
- Key Laboratory for Aging & Disease, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210011, Jiangsu Province, China.
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29
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Next-generation stem cells - ushering in a new era of cell-based therapies. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2020; 19:463-479. [PMID: 32612263 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-020-0064-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Naturally occurring stem cells isolated from humans have been used therapeutically for decades. This has primarily involved the transplantation of primary cells such as haematopoietic and mesenchymal stem cells and, more recently, derivatives of pluripotent stem cells. However, the advent of cell-engineering approaches is ushering in a new generation of stem cell-based therapies, greatly expanding their therapeutic utility. These next-generation stem cells are being used as 'Trojan horses' to improve the delivery of drugs and oncolytic viruses to intractable tumours and are also being engineered with angiogenic, neurotrophic and anti-inflammatory molecules to accelerate the repair of injured or diseased tissues. Moreover, gene therapy and gene editing technologies are being used to create stem cell derivatives with improved functionality, specificity and responsiveness compared with their natural counterparts. Here, we review these engineering approaches and areas in which they will help broaden the utility and clinical applicability of stem cells.
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30
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Zhu Q, Lu P. Stem Cell Transplantation for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1266:71-97. [PMID: 33105496 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-4370-8_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuronal degeneration disease, in which the death of motor neurons causes lost control of voluntary muscles. The consequence is weakness of muscles with a wide range of disabilities and eventually death. Most patients died within 5 years after diagnosis, and there is no cure for this devastating neurodegenerative disease up to date. Stem cells, including non-neural stem cells and neural stem cells (NSCs) or neural progenitor cells (NPCs), are very attractive cell sources for potential neuroprotection and motor neuron replacement therapy which bases on the idea that transplant-derived and newly differentiated motor neurons can replace lost motor neurons to re-establish voluntary motor control of muscles in ALS. Our recent studies show that transplanted NSCs or NPCs not only survive well in injured spinal cord, but also function as neuronal relays to receive regenerated host axonal connection and extend their own axons to host for connectivity, including motor axons in ventral root. This reciprocal connection between host neurons and transplanted neurons provides a strong rationale for neuronal replacement therapy for ALS to re-establish voluntary motor control of muscles. In addition, a variety of new stem cell resources and the new methodologies to generate NSCs or motor neuron-specific progenitor cells have been discovered and developed. Together, it provides the basis for motor neuron replacement therapy with NSCs or NPCs in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Zhu
- Ludwig Institute, University of California - San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Paul Lu
- Veterans Administration San Diego Healthcare System, San Diego, CA, USA. .,Department of Neurosciences, University of California - San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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31
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Hwang K, Jung K, Kim IS, Kim M, Han J, Lim J, Shin JE, Jang JH, Park KI. Glial Cell Line-derived Neurotrophic Factor-overexpressing Human Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells Enhance Therapeutic Efficiency in Rat with Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury. Exp Neurobiol 2019; 28:679-696. [PMID: 31902156 PMCID: PMC6946112 DOI: 10.5607/en.2019.28.6.679] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) causes axonal damage and demyelination, neural cell death, and comprehensive tissue loss, resulting in devastating neurological dysfunction. Neural stem/progenitor cell (NSPCs) transplantation provides therapeutic benefits for neural repair in SCI, and glial cell linederived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been uncovered to have capability of stimulating axonal regeneration and remyelination after SCI. In this study, to evaluate whether GDNF would augment therapeutic effects of NSPCs for SCI, GDNF-encoding or mock adenoviral vector-transduced human NSPCs (GDNF-or Mock-hNSPCs) were transplanted into the injured thoracic spinal cords of rats at 7 days after SCI. Grafted GDNFhNSPCs showed robust engraftment, long-term survival, an extensive distribution, and increased differentiation into neurons and oligodendroglial cells. Compared with Mock-hNSPC- and vehicle-injected groups, transplantation of GDNF-hNSPCs significantly reduced lesion volume and glial scar formation, promoted neurite outgrowth, axonal regeneration and myelination, increased Schwann cell migration that contributed to the myelin repair, and improved locomotor recovery. In addition, tract tracing demonstrated that transplantation of GDNF-hNSPCs reduced significantly axonal dieback of the dorsal corticospinal tract (dCST), and increased the levels of dCST collaterals, propriospinal neurons (PSNs), and contacts between dCST collaterals and PSNs in the cervical enlargement over that of the controls. Finally grafted GDNF-hNSPCs substantially reversed the increased expression of voltage-gated sodium channels and neuropeptide Y, and elevated expression of GABA in the injured spinal cord, which are involved in the attenuation of neuropathic pain after SCI. These findings suggest that implantation of GDNF-hNSPCs enhances therapeutic efficiency of hNSPCs-based cell therapy for SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyujin Hwang
- Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.,Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Kwangsoo Jung
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Il-Sun Kim
- Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Miri Kim
- Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Jungho Han
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Joohee Lim
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Jeong Eun Shin
- Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Jae-Hyung Jang
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Yonsei University, Seoul 03722, Korea
| | - Kook In Park
- Brain Korea 21 Plus Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.,Yonsei Biomedical Research Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea.,Department of Pediatrics, Severance Children's Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul 03722, Korea
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32
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Atkinson SP. A Preview of Selected Articles. Stem Cells Transl Med 2019. [PMCID: PMC6708068 DOI: 10.1002/sctm.19-0225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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33
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Astrocytes: Emerging Therapeutic Targets in Neurological Disorders. Trends Mol Med 2019; 25:750-759. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2018] [Revised: 04/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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34
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Gouel F, Rolland AS, Devedjian JC, Burnouf T, Devos D. Past and Future of Neurotrophic Growth Factors Therapies in ALS: From Single Neurotrophic Growth Factor to Stem Cells and Human Platelet Lysates. Front Neurol 2019; 10:835. [PMID: 31428042 PMCID: PMC6688198 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 07/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that typically results in death within 3–5 years after diagnosis. To date, there is no curative treatment and therefore an urgent unmet need of neuroprotective and/or neurorestorative treatments. Due to their spectrum of capacities in the central nervous system—e.g., development, plasticity, maintenance, neurogenesis—neurotrophic growth factors (NTF) have been exploited for therapeutic strategies in ALS for decades. In this review we present the initial strategy of using single NTF by different routes of administration to the use of stem cells transplantation to express a multiple NTFs-rich secretome to finally focus on a new biotherapy based on the human platelet lysates, the natural healing system containing a mix of pleitropic NTF and having immunomodulatory function. This review highlights that this latter treatment may be crucial to power the neuroprotection and/or neurorestoration therapy requested in this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flore Gouel
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Lille University, INSERM UMRS_1171, University Hospital Center, LICEND COEN Center, Lille, France
| | - Anne-Sophie Rolland
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Lille University, INSERM UMRS_1171, University Hospital Center, LICEND COEN Center, Lille, France
| | - Jean-Christophe Devedjian
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Lille University, INSERM UMRS_1171, University Hospital Center, LICEND COEN Center, Lille, France
| | - Thierry Burnouf
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Materials and Tissue Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,International PhD Program in Biomedical Engineering, College of Biomedical Engineering, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan.,International PhD Program in Cell Therapy and Regeneration Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - David Devos
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Lille University, INSERM UMRS_1171, University Hospital Center, LICEND COEN Center, Lille, France.,Department of Neurology, Lille University, INSERM UMRS_1171, University Hospital Center, LICEND COEN Center, Lille, France
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35
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Nanoformulation properties, characterization, and behavior in complex biological matrices: Challenges and opportunities for brain-targeted drug delivery applications and enhanced translational potential. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 148:146-180. [PMID: 30797956 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Nanocarriers (synthetic/cell-based have attracted enormous interest for various therapeutic indications, including neurodegenerative disorders. A broader understanding of the impact of nanomedicines design is now required to enhance their translational potential. Nanoformulations in vivo journey is significantly affected by their physicochemical properties including the size, shape, hydrophobicity, elasticity, and surface charge/chemistry/morphology, which play a role as an interface with the biological environment. Understanding protein corona formation is crucial in characterizing nanocarriers and evaluating their interactions with biological systems. In this review, the types and properties of the brain-targeted nanocarriers are discussed. The biological factors and nanocarriers properties affecting their in vivo behavior are elaborated. The compositional description of cell culture and biological matrices, including proteins potentially relevant to protein corona built-up on nanoformulation especially for brain administration, is provided. Analytical techniques of characterizing nanocarriers in complex matrices, their advantages, limitations, and implementation challenges in industrial GMP environment are discussed. The uses of orthogonal complementary characterization approaches of nanocarriers are also covered.
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36
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Goutman SA, Savelieff MG, Sakowski SA, Feldman EL. Stem cell treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a critical overview of early phase trials. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2019; 28:525-543. [PMID: 31189354 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2019.1627324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of cortical, brainstem, and spinal motor neurons; it causes progressive muscle weakness and atrophy, respiratory failure, and death. No currently available treatment either stops or reverses this disease. Therapeutics to slow, stop, and reverse ALS are needed. Stem cells may be a viable solution to sustain and nurture diseased motor neurons. Several early-stage clinical trials have been launched to assess the potential of stem cells for ALS treatment. Areas covered: Expert opinion: AREAS COVERED This review covers the key advances from early phase clinical trials of stem cell therapy for ALS and identifies promising avenues and key challenges. EXPERT OPINION Clinical trials in humans are still in the nascent stages of development. It will be critical to ensure that powered, well-controlled trials are conducted, that optimal treatment windows are identified, and that the ideal cell type, cell dose, and delivery site and method are determined. Several trials have used more invasive procedures, and ethical concerns of sham procedures on patients in the control arm and on their safety should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen A Goutman
- a Department of Neurology , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.,b Program for Neurology Research & Discovery , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
| | - Masha G Savelieff
- a Department of Neurology , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.,b Program for Neurology Research & Discovery , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
| | - Stacey A Sakowski
- a Department of Neurology , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.,b Program for Neurology Research & Discovery , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
| | - Eva L Feldman
- a Department of Neurology , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA.,b Program for Neurology Research & Discovery , University of Michigan , Ann Arbor , MI , USA
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37
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Crane AT, Voth JP, Shen FX, Low WC. Concise Review: Human-Animal Neurological Chimeras: Humanized Animals or Human Cells in an Animal? Stem Cells 2019; 37:444-452. [PMID: 30629789 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 12/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Blastocyst complementation is an emerging methodology in which human stem cells are transferred into genetically engineered preimplantation animal embryos eventually giving rise to fully developed human tissues and organs within the animal host for use in regenerative medicine. The ethical issues surrounding this method have caused the National Institutes of Health to issue a moratorium on funding for blastocyst complementation citing the potential for human cells to substantially contribute to the brain of the chimeric animal. To address this concern, we performed an in-depth review of the neural transplantation literature to determine how the integration of human cells into the nonhuman neural circuitry has altered the behavior of the host. Despite reports of widespread integration of human cell transplants, our review of 150 transplantation studies found no evidence suggestive of humanization of the animal host, and we thus conclude that, at present, concerns over humanization should not prevent research on blastocyst complementation to continue. We suggest proceeding in a controlled and transparent manner, however, and include recommendations for future research with careful consideration for how human cells may contribute to the animal host nervous system. Stem Cells 2019;37:444-452.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew T Crane
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Minnesota Craniofacial Research Training Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joseph P Voth
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Francis X Shen
- University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Walter C Low
- Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Graduate Program in Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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38
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Liang Y, Zhang J, Walczak P, Bulte JWM. Quantification of motor neuron loss and muscular atrophy in ricin-induced focal nerve injury. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 308:142-150. [PMID: 30056087 PMCID: PMC6251705 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.07.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 07/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Intrasciatic nerve injection of the Ricinus communis agglutinin (RCA or ricin) causes degeneration of motor neurons (MNs) with functional deficits, such as those that occur in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The objective of this study was to develop a new comprehensive platform for quantitative evaluation of MN loss, muscular atrophy and behavioral deficits using different ricin injection regimens. NEW METHOD Fluorogold (FG)-guided stereological quantification of MNs, in vivo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of muscular atrophy, and CatWalk behavioral testing were used to evaluate the outcome of rats treated with different ricin regimens (RCA60 0.5 μg, RCA60 3 μg, and RCA120 6 μg) as animal models of MN degeneration. RESULTS FG-guided stereological counting of MNs enabled identification, dissection and robust quantification of ricin-induced MN loss. The RCA60 0.5 μg and RCA120 6 μg regimens were found to be best suited as preclinical MN depletion models, with a low mortality and a reproducible MN loss, accompanied by muscle atrophy and functional deficits evaluated by MRI and the CatWalk method, respectively. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS 1) Fluorogold neuronal tracing provides a robust and straightforward means for quantifying MN loss in the spinal cord; 2) MRI is well-suited to non-invasively assess muscle atrophy; and 3) The CatWalk method is more flexible than rotarod test for studying motor deficits. CONCLUSION Intrasciatic injection of RCA60 or RCA120 induces nerve injury and muscle atrophy, which can be properly evaluated by a comprehensive platform using FG-guided quantitative 3D topographic histological analysis, MRI and the CatWalk behavioral test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yajie Liang
- Russell H. Morgan Dept. of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Jiangyang Zhang
- Russell H. Morgan Dept. of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Piotr Walczak
- Russell H. Morgan Dept. of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Warmia and Mazury, Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Jeff W M Bulte
- Russell H. Morgan Dept. of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Cellular Imaging Section and Vascular Biology Program, Institute for Cell Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Dept. of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University Whiting School of Engineering, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Dept. of Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA; Dept of Biomedical Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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39
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Safety and Feasibility of Lin- Cells Administration to ALS Patients: A Novel View on Humoral Factors and miRNA Profiles. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051312. [PMID: 29702606 PMCID: PMC5983708 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic options for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are still limited. Great hopes, however, are placed in growth factors that show neuroprotective abilities (e.g., nerve growth factor (NGF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)) and in the immune modulating features, in particular, the anti-inflammatory effects. In our study we aimed to investigate whether a bone marrow-derived lineage-negative (Lin-) cells population, after autologous application into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), is able to produce noticeable concentrations of trophic factors and inflammatory-related proteins and thus influence the clinical course of ALS. To our knowledge, the evaluation of Lin- cells transplantation for ALS treatment has not been previously reported. Early hematopoietic Lin- cells were isolated from twelve ALS patients’ bone marrow, and later, the suspension of cells was administered into the subarachnoid space by lumbar puncture. Concentrations of selected proteins in the CSF and plasma were quantified by multiplex fluorescent bead-based immunoassays at different timepoints post-transplantation. We also chose microRNAs (miRNAs) related to muscle biology (miRNA-1, miRNA-133a, and miRNA-206) and angiogenesis and inflammation (miRNA-155 and miRNA-378) and tested, for the first time, their expression profiles in the CSF and plasma of ALS patients after Lin- cells transplantation. The injection of bone marrow cells resulted in decreased concentration of selected inflammatory proteins (C3) after Lin- cells injection, particularly in patients who had a better clinical outcome. Moreover, several analyzed miRNAs have changed expression levels in the CSF and plasma of ALS patients subsequent to Lin- cells administration. Interestingly, the expression of miR-206 increased in ALS patients, while miR-378 decreased both in the CSF and plasma one month after the cells’ injection. We propose that autologous lineage-negative early hematopoietic cells injected intrathecally may be a safe and feasible source of material for transplantations to the central nervous system (CNS) environment aimed at anti-inflammatory support provision for ALS adjuvant treatment strategies. Further research is needed to evaluate whether the observed effects could significantly influence the ALS progression.
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40
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Akhtar AA, Gowing G, Kobritz N, Savinoff SE, Garcia L, Saxon D, Cho N, Kim G, Tom CM, Park H, Lawless G, Shelley BC, Mattis VB, Breunig JJ, Svendsen CN. Inducible Expression of GDNF in Transplanted iPSC-Derived Neural Progenitor Cells. Stem Cell Reports 2018; 10:1696-1704. [PMID: 29706501 PMCID: PMC5989694 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2018.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Trophic factor delivery to the brain using stem cell-derived neural progenitors is a powerful way to bypass the blood-brain barrier. Protection of diseased neurons using this technology is a promising therapy for neurodegenerative diseases. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has provided benefits to Parkinsonian patients and is being used in a clinical trial for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. However, chronic trophic factor delivery prohibits dose adjustment or cessation if side effects develop. To address this, we engineered a doxycycline-regulated vector, allowing inducible and reversible expression of a therapeutic molecule. Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural progenitors were stably transfected with the vector and transplanted into the adult mouse brain. Doxycycline can penetrate the graft, with addition and withdrawal providing inducible and reversible GDNF expression in vivo, over multiple cycles. Our findings provide proof of concept for combining gene and stem cell therapy for effective modulation of ectopic protein expression in transplanted cells. Created plasmid with tetracycline transactivator along with dual reporters and GDNF Efficient, stable transduction of human iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells Inducible and reversible in vivo expression of GDNF, reporter protein, and luciferase Promising stem cell and gene therapy strategy for neurodegenerative diseases
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Affiliation(s)
- Aslam Abbasi Akhtar
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Genevieve Gowing
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Naomi Kobritz
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Steve E Savinoff
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Leslie Garcia
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - David Saxon
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Noell Cho
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Gibum Kim
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Colton M Tom
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Hannah Park
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - George Lawless
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Brandon C Shelley
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Virginia B Mattis
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Joshua J Breunig
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Center for Neural Sciences and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA.
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41
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Thomsen GM, Avalos P, Ma AA, Alkaslasi M, Cho N, Wyss L, Vit JP, Godoy M, Suezaki P, Shelest O, Bankiewicz KS, Svendsen CN. Transplantation of Neural Progenitor Cells Expressing Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor into the Motor Cortex as a Strategy to Treat Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Stem Cells 2018; 36:1122-1131. [PMID: 29656478 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Revised: 02/09/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Early dysfunction of cortical motor neurons may underlie the initiation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). As such, the cortex represents a critical area of ALS research and a promising therapeutic target. In the current study, human cortical-derived neural progenitor cells engineered to secrete glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) were transplanted into the SOD1G93A ALS rat cortex, where they migrated, matured into astrocytes, and released GDNF. This protected motor neurons, delayed disease pathology and extended survival of the animals. These same cells injected into the cortex of cynomolgus macaques survived and showed robust GDNF expression without adverse effects. Together this data suggests that introducing cortical astrocytes releasing GDNF represents a novel promising approach to treating ALS. Stem Cells 2018;36:1122-1131.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gretchen M Thomsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Pablo Avalos
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Annie A Ma
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mor Alkaslasi
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Noell Cho
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Livia Wyss
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jean-Philippe Vit
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Biobehavioral Research Core, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Marlesa Godoy
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Patrick Suezaki
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Oksana Shelest
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Krystof S Bankiewicz
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
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42
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Tosolini AP, Sleigh JN. Motor Neuron Gene Therapy: Lessons from Spinal Muscular Atrophy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2017; 10:405. [PMID: 29270111 PMCID: PMC5725447 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2017.00405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are severe nervous system diseases characterized by the degeneration of lower motor neurons. They share a number of additional pathological, cellular, and genetic parallels suggesting that mechanistic and clinical insights into one disorder may have value for the other. While there are currently no clinical ALS gene therapies, the splice-switching antisense oligonucleotide, nusinersen, was recently approved for SMA. This milestone was achieved through extensive pre-clinical research and patient trials, which together have spawned fundamental insights into motor neuron gene therapy. We have thus tried to distil key information garnered from SMA research, in the hope that it may stimulate a more directed approach to ALS gene therapy. Not only must the type of therapeutic (e.g., antisense oligonucleotide vs. viral vector) be sensibly selected, but considerable thought must be applied to the where, which, what, and when in order to enhance treatment benefit: to where (cell types and tissues) must the drug be delivered and how can this be best achieved? Which perturbed pathways must be corrected and can they be concurrently targeted? What dosing regime and concentration should be used? When should medication be administered? These questions are intuitive, but central to identifying and optimizing a successful gene therapy. Providing definitive solutions to these quandaries will be difficult, but clear thinking about therapeutic testing is necessary if we are to have the best chance of developing viable ALS gene therapies and improving upon early generation SMA treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Tosolini
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - James N Sleigh
- Sobell Department of Motor Neuroscience and Movement Disorders, Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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43
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Lamanna JJ, Gutierrez J, Espinosa JR, Wagner J, Urquia LN, Moreton C, Victor Hurtig C, Tora M, Kirk AD, Federici T, Boulis NM. Peripheral blood detection of systemic graft-specific xeno-antibodies following transplantation of human neural progenitor cells into the porcine spinal cord. J Clin Neurosci 2017; 48:173-180. [PMID: 29089163 DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2017.10.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Extensive pre-clinical and clinical studies have searched for therapeutic efficacy of cell-based therapeutics in diseases of the Central Nervous System (CNS) with no other viable options. Allogeneic cells represent the primary source of these therapies and immunosuppressive regimens have been empirically employed based on experience with solid organ transplantation, attempting to avoid immune mediated graft rejection. In this study, we aimed to 1) characterize the host immune response to stem cells transplanted into the CNS and 2) develop a non-invasive method for detecting immune response to transplanted cell grafts. Human neural progenitor cells were transplanted into the spinal cord of 10 Göttingen minipigs, of which 5 received no immunosuppression and 5 received Tacrolimus. Peripheral blood samples were collected longitudinally for flow cytometry cross match studies. Necropsy was performed at day 21 and spinal cord tissue analysis. We observed a transient increase in xeno-reactive antibodies was detected on post-operative day 7 and 14 in pigs that did not receive immunosuppression. This response was not detected in pigs that received Tacrolimus immunosuppression. No difference in graft survival was observed between the groups. Infiltration of numerous immune mediators including granulocytes, T lymphocytes, and activated microglia, and complement deposition were detected. In summary, a systemic immunologic response to stem cell grafts was detected for two weeks after transplantation using peripheral blood. This could be used as a non-invasive biomarker by investigators for detection of immunologic rejection. However, the absence of a detectable response in peripheral blood does not rule out a parenchymal immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J Lamanna
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, 101 Woodruff Circle, Room 6339, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Juanmarco Gutierrez
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, 101 Woodruff Circle, Room 6339, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Jaclyn R Espinosa
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - Jacob Wagner
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, 101 Woodruff Circle, Room 6339, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Lindsey N Urquia
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, 101 Woodruff Circle, Room 6339, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Cheryl Moreton
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, 101 Woodruff Circle, Room 6339, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - C Victor Hurtig
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, 101 Woodruff Circle, Room 6339, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Muhibullah Tora
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, 101 Woodruff Circle, Room 6339, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Allan D Kirk
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - Thais Federici
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, 101 Woodruff Circle, Room 6339, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
| | - Nicholas M Boulis
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, 101 Woodruff Circle, Room 6339, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.
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Rushton DJ, Andres PL, Allred P, Baloh RH, Svendsen CN. Patients with ALS show highly correlated progression rates in left and right limb muscles. Neurology 2017; 89:196-206. [PMID: 28600459 PMCID: PMC5501935 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000004105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) progresses at different rates between patients, making clinical trial design difficult and dependent on large cohorts of patients. Currently, there are few data showing whether the left and right limbs progress at the same or different rates. This study addresses rates of decline in specific muscle groups of patients with ALS and assesses whether there is a relationship between left and right muscles in the same patient, regardless of overall progression. Methods: A large cohort of patients was used to assess decline in muscle strength in right and left limbs over time using 2 different methods: The Tufts Quantitative Neuromuscular Exam and Accurate Test of Limb Isometric Strength protocol. Then advanced linear regression statistical methods were applied to assess progression rates in each limb. Results: This report shows that linearized progression models can predict general slopes of decline with good accuracy. Critically, the data demonstrate that while overall decline is variable, there is a high degree of correlation between left and right muscle decline in ALS. This implies that irrespective of which muscle starts declining soonest or latest, their rates of decline following onset are more consistent. Conclusions: First, this study demonstrates a high degree of power when using unilateral treatment approaches to detect a slowing in disease progression in smaller groups of patients, thus allowing for paired statistical tests. These findings will be useful in transplantation trials that use muscle decline to track disease progression in ALS. Second, these findings discuss methods, such as tactical selection of muscle groups, which can improve the power efficiency of all ALS clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Rushton
- From the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute (D.J.R., P.A., R.H.B., C.N.S.), Department of Biomedical Sciences (D.J.R., C.N.S.), and Neurology (P.A., R.H.B.), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; and Neurological Clinical Research Institute (P.L.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Patricia L Andres
- From the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute (D.J.R., P.A., R.H.B., C.N.S.), Department of Biomedical Sciences (D.J.R., C.N.S.), and Neurology (P.A., R.H.B.), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; and Neurological Clinical Research Institute (P.L.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Peggy Allred
- From the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute (D.J.R., P.A., R.H.B., C.N.S.), Department of Biomedical Sciences (D.J.R., C.N.S.), and Neurology (P.A., R.H.B.), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; and Neurological Clinical Research Institute (P.L.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Robert H Baloh
- From the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute (D.J.R., P.A., R.H.B., C.N.S.), Department of Biomedical Sciences (D.J.R., C.N.S.), and Neurology (P.A., R.H.B.), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; and Neurological Clinical Research Institute (P.L.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- From the Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute (D.J.R., P.A., R.H.B., C.N.S.), Department of Biomedical Sciences (D.J.R., C.N.S.), and Neurology (P.A., R.H.B.), Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA; and Neurological Clinical Research Institute (P.L.A.), Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston.
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45
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Thomsen GM, Alkaslasi M, Vit JP, Lawless G, Godoy M, Gowing G, Shelest O, Svendsen CN. Systemic injection of AAV9-GDNF provides modest functional improvements in the SOD1 G93A ALS rat but has adverse side effects. Gene Ther 2017; 24:245-252. [PMID: 28276446 PMCID: PMC5404206 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2017.9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2016] [Revised: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Injecting proteins into the central nervous system that stimulate neuronal growth can lead to beneficial effects in animal models of disease. In particular, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has shown promise in animal and cell models of Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, systemic AAV9-GDNF was delivered via tail vein injections to young rats to determine whether this could be a safe and functional strategy to treat the SOD1G93A rat model of ALS and, therefore, translated to a therapy for ALS patients. We found that GDNF administration in this manner resulted in modest functional improvement, whereby grip strength was maintained for longer and the onset of forelimb paralysis was delayed compared to non-treated rats. This did not, however, translate into an extension in survival. In addition, ALS rats receiving GDNF exhibited slower weight gain, reduced activity levels and decreased working memory. Collectively, these results confirm that caution should be applied when applying growth factors such as GDNF systemically to multiple tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- G M Thomsen
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - M Alkaslasi
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - J-P Vit
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Biobehavioral Research Core, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - G Lawless
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - M Godoy
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - G Gowing
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - O Shelest
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - C N Svendsen
- The Board of Governor's Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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46
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Lamanna JJ, Urquia LN, Hurtig CV, Gutierrez J, Anderson C, Piferi P, Federici T, Oshinski JN, Boulis NM. Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided Transplantation of Neural Stem Cells into the Porcine Spinal Cord. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg 2017; 95:60-68. [PMID: 28132063 DOI: 10.1159/000448765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Accepted: 07/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cell-based therapies are a promising treatment option for traumatic, tumorigenic and degenerative diseases of the spinal cord. Transplantation into the spinal cord is achieved with intravascular, intrathecal, or direct intraparenchymal injection. The current standard for direct injection is limited by surgical invasiveness, difficulty in reinjection, and the inability to directly target anatomical or pathological landmarks. The objective of this study was to present the proof of principle for minimally invasive, percutaneous transplantation of stem cells into the spinal cord parenchyma of live minipigs under MR guidance. METHODS An MR-compatible spine injection platform was developed to work with the ClearPoint SmartFrame system (MRI Interventions Inc.). The system was attached to the spine of 2 live minipigs, a percutaneous injection cannula was advanced into the spinal cord under MR guidance, and cells were delivered to the cord. RESULTS A graft of 2.5 × 106 human (n = 1) or porcine (n = 1) neural stem cells labeled with ferumoxytol nanoparticles was transplanted into the ventral horn of the spinal cord with MR guidance in 2 animals. Graft delivery was visualized with postprocedure MRI, and characteristic iron precipitates were identified in the spinal cord by Prussian blue histochemistry. Grafted stem cells were observed in the spinal cord of the pig injected with porcine neural stem cells. No postoperative morbidity was observed in either animal. CONCLUSION This report supports the proof of principle for transplantation and visualization of pharmacological or biological agents into the spinal cord of a large animal under the guidance of MRI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J Lamanna
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Georgia Institute of Technology & Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Gowing G, Svendsen S, Svendsen CN. Ex vivo gene therapy for the treatment of neurological disorders. PROGRESS IN BRAIN RESEARCH 2017; 230:99-132. [PMID: 28552237 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pbr.2016.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ex vivo gene therapy involves the genetic modification of cells outside of the body to produce therapeutic factors and their subsequent transplantation back into patients. Various cell types can be genetically engineered. However, with the explosion in stem cell technologies, neural stem/progenitor cells and mesenchymal stem cells are most often used. The synergy between the effect of the new cell and the additional engineered properties can often provide significant benefits to neurodegenerative changes in the brain. In this review, we cover both preclinical animal studies and clinical human trials that have used ex vivo gene therapy to treat neurological disorders with a focus on Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, Alzheimer's disease, ALS, and stroke. We highlight some of the major advances in this field including new autologous sources of pluripotent stem cells, safer ways to introduce therapeutic transgenes, and various methods of gene regulation. We also address some of the remaining hurdles including tunable gene regulation, in vivo cell tracking, and rigorous experimental design. Overall, given the current outcomes from researchers and clinical trials, along with exciting new developments in ex vivo gene and cell therapy, we anticipate that successful treatments for neurological diseases will arise in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Gowing
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Soshana Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Clive N Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States; Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States.
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Sugai K, Fukuzawa R, Shofuda T, Fukusumi H, Kawabata S, Nishiyama Y, Higuchi Y, Kawai K, Isoda M, Kanematsu D, Hashimoto-Tamaoki T, Kohyama J, Iwanami A, Suemizu H, Ikeda E, Matsumoto M, Kanemura Y, Nakamura M, Okano H. Pathological classification of human iPSC-derived neural stem/progenitor cells towards safety assessment of transplantation therapy for CNS diseases. Mol Brain 2016; 9:85. [PMID: 27642008 PMCID: PMC5027634 DOI: 10.1186/s13041-016-0265-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The risk of tumorigenicity is a hurdle for regenerative medicine using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Although teratoma formation is readily distinguishable, the malignant transformation of iPSC derivatives has not been clearly defined due to insufficient analysis of histology and phenotype. In the present study, we evaluated the histology of neural stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) generated from integration-free human peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC)-derived iPSCs (iPSC-NSPCs) following transplantation into central nervous system (CNS) of immunodeficient mice. We found that transplanted iPSC-NSPCs produced differentiation patterns resembling those in embryonic CNS development, and that the microenvironment of the final site of migration affected their maturational stage. Genomic instability of iPSCs correlated with increased proliferation of transplants, although no carcinogenesis was evident. The histological classifications presented here may provide cues for addressing potential safety issues confronting regenerative medicine involving iPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiko Sugai
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Ryuji Fukuzawa
- Department of Pathology, Tokyo Metropolitan Children's Medical Center, Fuchu, Tokyo, 183-8561, Japan
| | - Tomoko Shofuda
- Division of Stem Cell Research, Institute for Clinical Research, Osaka National Hospital, National Hospital Organization, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-0006, Japan
| | - Hayato Fukusumi
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Clinical Research, Osaka National Hospital, National Hospital Organization, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-0006, Japan
| | - Soya Kawabata
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Nishiyama
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.,Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Higuchi
- Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-0821, Japan
| | - Kenji Kawai
- Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-0821, Japan
| | - Miho Isoda
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.,Regenerative & Cellular Medicine Office, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0047, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kanematsu
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Clinical Research, Osaka National Hospital, National Hospital Organization, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-0006, Japan
| | | | - Jun Kohyama
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Akio Iwanami
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Suemizu
- Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, 210-0821, Japan
| | - Eiji Ikeda
- Department of Pathology, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Ube, Yamaguchi, 755-8505, Japan
| | - Morio Matsumoto
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Yonehiro Kanemura
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Clinical Research, Osaka National Hospital, National Hospital Organization, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-0006, Japan.,Department of Neurosurgery, Osaka National Hospital, National Hospital Organization, Chuo-ku, Osaka, 540-0006, Japan
| | - Masaya Nakamura
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keio University School of Medicine, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Okano
- Department of Physiology, Keio University School of Medicine, 35 Shinanomachi, Shinjuku, Tokyo, 160-8582, Japan.
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Lamanna JJ, Gutierrez J, Urquia LN, Hurtig CV, Amador E, Grin N, Svendsen CN, Federici T, Oshinski JN, Boulis NM. Ferumoxytol Labeling of Human Neural Progenitor Cells for Diagnostic Cellular Tracking in the Porcine Spinal Cord with Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Stem Cells Transl Med 2016; 6:139-150. [PMID: 28170192 PMCID: PMC5442757 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2015-0422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 07/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We report on the diagnostic capability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)‐based tracking of ferumoxytol‐labeled human neural progenitor cells (hNPCs) transplanted into the porcine spinal cord. hNPCs prelabeled with two doses of ferumoxytol nanoparticles (hNPC‐FLow and hNPC‐FHigh) were injected into the ventral horn of the spinal cord in healthy minipigs. Ferumoxytol‐labeled grafts were tracked in vivo up to 105 days after transplantation with MRI. Injection accuracy was assessed in vivo at day 14 and was predictive of “on” or “off” target cell graft location assessed by histology. No difference in long‐term cell survival, assessed by quantitative stereology, was observed among hNPC‐FLow, hNPC‐FHigh, or control grafts. Histological iron colocalized with MRI signal and engrafted human nuclei. Furthermore, the ferumoxytol‐labeled cells retained nanoparticles and function in vivo. This approach represents an important leap forward toward facilitating translation of cell‐tracking technologies to clinical trials by providing a method of assessing transplantation accuracy, delivered dose, and potentially cell survival. Stem Cells Translational Medicine2017;6:139–150
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason J. Lamanna
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Juanmarco Gutierrez
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Lindsey N. Urquia
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - C. Victor Hurtig
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Elman Amador
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Natalia Grin
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Clive N. Svendsen
- Board of Governors Regenerative Medicine Institute, Cedars‐Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Thais Federici
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - John N. Oshinski
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Radiology and Imaging Sciences, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nicholas M. Boulis
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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50
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Wang Y, Duan W, Wang W, Di Wen, Liu Y, Liu Y, Li Z, Hu H, Lin H, Cui C, Li D, Dong H, Li C. scAAV9-VEGF prolongs the survival of transgenic ALS mice by promoting activation of M2 microglia and the PI3K/Akt pathway. Brain Res 2016; 1648:1-10. [PMID: 27392886 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2016.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Revised: 06/27/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an adult-onset neurodegenerative disease that leads to paralysis and death three to five years after diagnosis in most patients. The disease is incurable, and the mechanism of motoneuron degeneration remains unknown, although research has demonstrated that activated microglia are involved in motor neuron death. Here, we used a simple method to deliver AAV9 virus by direct intrathecal injection and found that scAAV9-VEGF-165 improved the motor performance and prolonged the life span of SOD1-G93A mice. Furthermore, scAAV9-VEGF-165 activated the PI3K/Akt survival pathway and increased the level of Bcl-2, which contributed to the protection of motor neurons. Additionally, scAAV9-VEGF-165 attenuated the expression of classically activated (M1) microglial markers and enhanced the expression of alternatively activated (M2) microglial markers. Taken together, the results of our study suggest that simple, direct intrathecal injection of scAAV9-VEGF-165 may have a curative effect for ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Weisong Duan
- Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Wan Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Di Wen
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaling Liu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China; Institute of Cardiocerebrovascular Disease, West Heping Road 215, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China; Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Yakun Liu
- Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongyao Li
- Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Haojie Hu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Huiqian Lin
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Can Cui
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongxiao Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Dong
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China; Institute of Cardiocerebrovascular Disease, West Heping Road 215, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China; Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China
| | - Chunyan Li
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China; Institute of Cardiocerebrovascular Disease, West Heping Road 215, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China; Neurological Laboratory of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang 050000, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
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