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Penny TR, Jenkin G, Miller SL, McDonald CA. Umbilical cord blood derived cell expansion: a potential neuroprotective therapy. Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 15:234. [PMID: 39075614 PMCID: PMC11287950 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-024-03830-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is a rich source of beneficial stem and progenitor cells with known angiogenic, neuroregenerative and immune-modulatory properties. Preclinical studies have highlighted the benefit of UCB for a broad range of conditions including haematological conditions, metabolic disorders and neurological conditions, however clinical translation of UCB therapies is lacking. One barrier for clinical translation is inadequate cell numbers in some samples meaning that often a therapeutic dose cannot be achieved. This is particularly important when treating adults or when administering repeat doses of cells. To overcome this, UCB cell expansion is being explored to increase cell numbers. The current focus of UCB cell expansion is CD34+ haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for which the main application is treatment of haematological conditions. Currently there are 36 registered clinical trials that are examining the efficacy of expanded UCB cells with 31 of these being for haematological malignancies. Early data from these trials suggest that expanded UCB cells are a safe and feasible treatment option and show greater engraftment potential than unexpanded UCB. Outside of the haematology research space, expanded UCB has been trialled as a therapy in only two preclinical studies, one for spinal cord injury and one for hind limb ischemia. Proteomic analysis of expanded UCB cells in these studies showed that the cells were neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and angiogenic. These findings are also supported by in vitro studies where expanded UCB CD34+ cells showed increased gene expression of neurotrophic and angiogenic factors compared to unexpanded CD34+ cells. Preclinical evidence demonstrates that unexpanded CD34+ cells are a promising therapy for neurological conditions where they have been shown to improve multiple indices of injury in rodent models of stroke, Parkinson's disease and neonatal hypoxic ischemic brain injury. This review will highlight the current application of expanded UCB derived HSCs in transplant medicine, and also explore the potential use of expanded HSCs as a therapy for neurological conditions. It is proposed that expanded UCB derived CD34+ cells are an appropriate cellular therapy for a range of neurological conditions in children and adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayla R Penny
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
| | - Graham Jenkin
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Suzanne L Miller
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Courtney A McDonald
- The Ritchie Centre, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
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2
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A A, W C, N N, L M, M D, Zhang DD. α-Syn overexpression, NRF2 suppression, and enhanced ferroptosis create a vicious cycle of neuronal loss in Parkinson's disease. Free Radic Biol Med 2022; 192:130-140. [PMID: 36150560 PMCID: PMC9841923 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2022.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, affecting millions each year. Most PD cases (∼90%) are sporadic, resulting from the age-dependent accumulation of pathogenic effects. One key pathological hallmark of PD progression is the accumulation of alpha-synuclein (α-syn), which has been shown to negatively affect neuronal function and viability. Here, using 3- and 6-month-old Nrf2+/+ and Nrf2-/- mice overexpressing human α-syn (PD model), we show that loss of NRF2 increases markers of ferroptosis across PD-relevant brain regions. Increased ferroptosis was associated with an age- and genotype-dependent increase in α-syn pathology and behavioral deficits. Finally, we demonstrate that α-syn overexpression sensitizes neuronal cells and ex vivo brain slices to ferroptosis induction, which may be due to α-syn decreasing NRF2 protein levels. Altogether, these results indicate that NRF2 is a critical anti-ferroptotic mediator of neuronal survival, and that the vicious cycle of α-syn overexpression and NRF2 suppression, leading to enhanced neuronal ferroptotic cell death, could represent a targetable and currently untapped means of preventing PD onset and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anandhan A
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Chen W
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Nguyen N
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Madhavan L
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Evelyn F McKnight Brain Institute and Bio5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Dodson M
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - D D Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Cancer Center, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85724, USA.
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3
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Apostol CR, Bernard K, Tanguturi P, Molnar G, Bartlett MJ, Szabò L, Liu C, Ortiz JB, Saber M, Giordano KR, Green TRF, Melvin J, Morrison HW, Madhavan L, Rowe RK, Streicher JM, Heien ML, Falk T, Polt R. Design and Synthesis of Brain Penetrant Glycopeptide Analogues of PACAP With Neuroprotective Potential for Traumatic Brain Injury and Parkinsonism. FRONTIERS IN DRUG DISCOVERY 2022; 1. [PMID: 35237767 PMCID: PMC8887546 DOI: 10.3389/fddsv.2021.818003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
There is an unmet clinical need for curative therapies to treat neurodegenerative disorders. Most mainstay treatments currently on the market only alleviate specific symptoms and do not reverse disease progression. The Pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), an endogenous neuropeptide hormone, has been extensively studied as a potential regenerative therapeutic. PACAP is widely distributed in the central nervous system (CNS) and exerts its neuroprotective and neurotrophic effects via the related Class B GPCRs PAC1, VPAC1, and VPAC2, at which the hormone shows roughly equal activity. Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) also activates these receptors, and this close analogue of PACAP has also shown to promote neuronal survival in various animal models of acute and progressive neurodegenerative diseases. However, PACAP's poor pharmacokinetic profile (non-linear PK/PD), and more importantly its limited blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability has hampered development of this peptide as a therapeutic. We have demonstrated that glycosylation of PACAP and related peptides promotes penetration of the BBB and improves PK properties while retaining efficacy and potency in the low nanomolar range at its target receptors. Furthermore, judicious structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies revealed key motifs that can be modulated to afford compounds with diverse selectivity profiles. Most importantly, we have demonstrated that select PACAP glycopeptide analogues (2LS80Mel and 2LS98Lac) exert potent neuroprotective effects and anti-inflammatory activity in animal models of traumatic brain injury and in a mild-toxin lesion model of Parkinson's disease, highlighting glycosylation as a viable strategy for converting endogenous peptides into robust and efficacious drug candidates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher R Apostol
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, BIO5, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Kelsey Bernard
- Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Physiological Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | | | - Gabriella Molnar
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Mitchell J Bartlett
- Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lajos Szabò
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, BIO5, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Chenxi Liu
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, BIO5, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - J Bryce Ortiz
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Department of Child Health, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Phoenix Veteran Affairs Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Maha Saber
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Department of Child Health, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Katherine R Giordano
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Department of Child Health, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Phoenix Veteran Affairs Health Care System, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Tabitha R F Green
- Department of Child Health, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - James Melvin
- Department of Child Health, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Helena W Morrison
- College of Nursing, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Lalitha Madhavan
- Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Physiological Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Rachel K Rowe
- Barrow Neurological Institute at Phoenix Children's Hospital, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Department of Child Health, The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix, Phoenix, AZ, United States.,Department of Integrative Physiology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, United States
| | - John M Streicher
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Michael L Heien
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, BIO5, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Torsten Falk
- Graduate Interdisciplinary Program in Physiological Sciences, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States.,Department of Neurology, College of Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
| | - Robin Polt
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, BIO5, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, United States
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Anandhan A, Nguyen N, Syal A, Dreher LA, Dodson M, Zhang DD, Madhavan L. NRF2 Loss Accentuates Parkinsonian Pathology and Behavioral Dysfunction in Human α-Synuclein Overexpressing Mice. Aging Dis 2021; 12:964-982. [PMID: 34221542 PMCID: PMC8219498 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2021.0511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NRF2) is a central regulator of cellular stress responses and its transcriptional activation promotes multiple cellular defense and survival mechanisms. The loss of NRF2 has been shown to increase oxidative and proteotoxic stress, two key pathological features of neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Moreover, compromised redox homeostasis and protein quality control can cause the accumulation of pathogenic proteins, including alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) which plays a key role in PD. However, despite this link, the precise mechanisms by which NRF2 may regulate PD pathology is not clear. In this study, we generated a humanized mouse model to study the importance of NRF2 in the context of α-Syn-driven neuropathology in PD. Specifically, we developed NRF2 knockout and wild-type mice that overexpress human α-Syn (hα-Syn+/Nrf2-/- and hα-Syn+/Nrf2+/+ respectively) and tested changes in their behavior through nest building, challenging beam, and open field tests at three months of age. Cellular and molecular alterations in α-Syn, including phosphorylation and subsequent oligomerization, as well as changes in oxidative stress, inflammation, and autophagy were also assessed across multiple brain regions. It was observed that although monomeric α-Syn levels did not change, compared to their wild-type counterparts, hα-Syn+/Nrf2-/- mice exhibited increased phosphorylation and oligomerization of α-Syn. This was associated with a loss of tyrosine hydroxylase expressing dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra, and more pronounced behavioral deficits reminiscent of early-stage PD, in the hα-Syn+/Nrf2-/- mice. Furthermore, hα-Syn+/Nrf2-/- mice showed significantly amplified oxidative stress, greater expression of inflammatory markers, and signs of increased autophagic burden, especially in the midbrain, striatum and cortical brain regions. These results support an important role for NRF2, early in PD progression. More broadly, it indicates NRF2 biology as fundamental to PD pathogenesis and suggests that targeting NRF2 activation may delay the onset and progression of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annadurai Anandhan
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Nhat Nguyen
- Physiology Undergraduate Program, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Arjun Syal
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Undergraduate Program, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Luke A Dreher
- Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Undergraduate Program, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Matthew Dodson
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Donna D Zhang
- Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Lalitha Madhavan
- Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
- Evelyn F McKnight Brain Institute and Bio5 Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
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5
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Anandhan A, Kirwan KR, Corenblum MJ, Madhavan L. Enhanced NRF2 expression mitigates the decline in neural stem cell function during aging. Aging Cell 2021; 20:e13385. [PMID: 34128307 PMCID: PMC8208782 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Although it is known that aging affects neural stem progenitor cell (NSPC) biology in fundamental ways, the underlying dynamics of this process are not fully understood. Our previous work identified a specific critical period (CP) of decline in NSPC activity and function during middle age (13–15 months), and revealed the reduced expression of the redox‐sensitive transcription factor, NRF2, as a key mediator of this process. Here, we investigated whether augmenting NRF2 expression could potentially mitigate the NSPC decline across the identified CP. NRF2 expression in subventricular zone (SVZ) NSPCs was upregulated via GFP tagged recombinant adeno‐associated viral vectors (AAV‐NRF2‐eGFP), and its cellular and behavioral effects compared to animals that received control vectors (AAV‐eGFP). The vectors were administered into the SVZs of aging rats, at time points either before or after the CP. Results indicate that animals that had received AAV‐NRF2‐eGFP, prior to the CP (11 months of age), exhibited substantially improved behavioral function (fine olfactory discrimination and motor tasks) in comparison to those receiving control viruses. Further analysis revealed that NSPC proliferation, self‐renewal, neurogenesis, and migration to the olfactory bulb had significantly increased upon NRF2 upregulation. On the other hand, increasing NRF2 after the CP (at 20 months of age) produced no notable changes in NSPC activity at either cellular or behavioral levels. These results, for the first time, indicate NRF2 pathway modulation as a means to support NSPC function with age and highlight a critical time‐dependency for activating NRF2 to enhance NSPC function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annadurai Anandhan
- Department of Neurology University of Arizona Tucson AZ USA
- Pharmacology and Toxicology University of Arizona Tucson AZ USA
| | - Konner R. Kirwan
- Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Undergraduate Program Tucson AZ USA
| | | | - Lalitha Madhavan
- Department of Neurology University of Arizona Tucson AZ USA
- Bio5 Institute University of ArizonaTucsonAZUSA
- Evelyn F McKnight Brain Institute University of Arizona Tucson AZ USA
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6
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Ray S, Corenblum MJ, Anandhan A, Reed A, Ortiz FO, Zhang DD, Barnes CA, Madhavan L. A Role for Nrf2 Expression in Defining the Aging of Hippocampal Neural Stem Cells. Cell Transplant 2018; 27:589-606. [PMID: 29871525 PMCID: PMC6041888 DOI: 10.1177/0963689718774030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Redox mechanisms are emerging as essential to stem cell function given their capacity to
influence a number of important signaling pathways governing stem cell survival and
regenerative activity. In this context, our recent work identified the reduced expression
of nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2, or Nrf2, in mediating the decline in
subventricular zone neural stem progenitor cell (NSPC) regeneration during aging. Since
Nrf2 is a major transcription factor at the heart of cellular redox regulation and
homeostasis, the current study investigates the role that it may play in the aging of
NSPCs that reside within the other major mammalian germinal niche located in the
subgranular zone (SGZ) of the dentate gyrus (DG) of the hippocampus. Using rats from
multiple aging stages ranging from newborn to old age, and aging Nrf2 knockout mice, we
first determined that, in contrast with subventricular zone (SVZ) NSPCs, Nrf2 expression
does not significantly affect overall DG NSPC viability with age. However, DG NSPCs
resembled SVZ stem cells, in that Nrf2 expression controlled their proliferation and the
balance of neuronal versus glial differentiation particularly in relation to a specific
critical period during middle age. Also, importantly, this Nrf2-based control of NSPC
regeneration was found to impact functional neurogenesis-related hippocampal behaviors,
particularly in the Morris water maze and in pattern separation tasks. Furthermore, the
enrichment of the hippocampal environment via the transplantation of Nrf2-overexpressing
NSPCs was able to mitigate the age-related decline in DG stem cell regeneration during the
critical middle-age period, and significantly improved pattern separation abilities. In
summary, these results emphasize the importance of Nrf2 in DG NSPC regeneration, and
support Nrf2 upregulation as a potential approach to advantageously modulate DG NSPC
activity with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ray
- 1 Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,2 Undergraduate Biology Research Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,3 Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Undergraduate Program, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - M J Corenblum
- 1 Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - A Anandhan
- 1 Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - A Reed
- 1 Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,3 Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Undergraduate Program, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - F O Ortiz
- 1 Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,3 Neuroscience and Cognitive Science Undergraduate Program, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - D D Zhang
- 4 Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - C A Barnes
- 5 Departments of Psychology & Neuroscience, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,6 Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - L Madhavan
- 1 Department of Neurology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.,6 Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Institute, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
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