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Hruska-Plochan M, Wiersma VI, Betz KM, Mallona I, Ronchi S, Maniecka Z, Hock EM, Tantardini E, Laferriere F, Sahadevan S, Hoop V, Delvendahl I, Pérez-Berlanga M, Gatta B, Panatta M, van der Bourg A, Bohaciakova D, Sharma P, De Vos L, Frontzek K, Aguzzi A, Lashley T, Robinson MD, Karayannis T, Mueller M, Hierlemann A, Polymenidou M. A model of human neural networks reveals NPTX2 pathology in ALS and FTLD. Nature 2024; 626:1073-1083. [PMID: 38355792 PMCID: PMC10901740 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07042-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Human cellular models of neurodegeneration require reproducibility and longevity, which is necessary for simulating age-dependent diseases. Such systems are particularly needed for TDP-43 proteinopathies1, which involve human-specific mechanisms2-5 that cannot be directly studied in animal models. Here, to explore the emergence and consequences of TDP-43 pathologies, we generated induced pluripotent stem cell-derived, colony morphology neural stem cells (iCoMoNSCs) via manual selection of neural precursors6. Single-cell transcriptomics and comparison to independent neural stem cells7 showed that iCoMoNSCs are uniquely homogenous and self-renewing. Differentiated iCoMoNSCs formed a self-organized multicellular system consisting of synaptically connected and electrophysiologically active neurons, which matured into long-lived functional networks (which we designate iNets). Neuronal and glial maturation in iNets was similar to that of cortical organoids8. Overexpression of wild-type TDP-43 in a minority of neurons within iNets led to progressive fragmentation and aggregation of the protein, resulting in a partial loss of function and neurotoxicity. Single-cell transcriptomics revealed a novel set of misregulated RNA targets in TDP-43-overexpressing neurons and in patients with TDP-43 proteinopathies exhibiting a loss of nuclear TDP-43. The strongest misregulated target encoded the synaptic protein NPTX2, the levels of which are controlled by TDP-43 binding on its 3' untranslated region. When NPTX2 was overexpressed in iNets, it exhibited neurotoxicity, whereas correcting NPTX2 misregulation partially rescued neurons from TDP-43-induced neurodegeneration. Notably, NPTX2 was consistently misaccumulated in neurons from patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43 pathology. Our work directly links TDP-43 misregulation and NPTX2 accumulation, thereby revealing a TDP-43-dependent pathway of neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vera I Wiersma
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katharina M Betz
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Izaskun Mallona
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvia Ronchi
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
- MaxWell Biosystems AG, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zuzanna Maniecka
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eva-Maria Hock
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Elena Tantardini
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Florent Laferriere
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sonu Sahadevan
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Hoop
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Igor Delvendahl
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Beatrice Gatta
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Martina Panatta
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Dasa Bohaciakova
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University Brno, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Puneet Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- NCCR RNA and Disease Technology Platform, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Laura De Vos
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karl Frontzek
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute of Neuropathology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological diseases, Department of Movement Disorders, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Mark D Robinson
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Martin Mueller
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas Hierlemann
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zürich, Basel, Switzerland
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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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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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Sahadevan S, Hembach KM, Tantardini E, Pérez-Berlanga M, Hruska-Plochan M, Megat S, Weber J, Schwarz P, Dupuis L, Robinson MD, De Rossi P, Polymenidou M. Synaptic FUS accumulation triggers early misregulation of synaptic RNAs in a mouse model of ALS. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3027. [PMID: 34021139 PMCID: PMC8140117 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23188-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations disrupting the nuclear localization of the RNA-binding protein FUS characterize a subset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients (ALS-FUS). FUS regulates nuclear RNAs, but its role at the synapse is poorly understood. Using super-resolution imaging we determined that the localization of FUS within synapses occurs predominantly near the vesicle reserve pool of presynaptic sites. Using CLIP-seq on synaptoneurosomes, we identified synaptic FUS RNA targets, encoding proteins associated with synapse organization and plasticity. Significant increase of synaptic FUS during early disease in a mouse model of ALS was accompanied by alterations in density and size of GABAergic synapses. mRNAs abnormally accumulated at the synapses of 6-month-old ALS-FUS mice were enriched for FUS targets and correlated with those depicting increased short-term mRNA stability via binding primarily on multiple exonic sites. Our study indicates that synaptic FUS accumulation in early disease leads to synaptic impairment, potentially representing an initial trigger of neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonu Sahadevan
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Katharina M Hembach
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences and SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Elena Tantardini
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | | | | | - Salim Megat
- Inserm, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Julien Weber
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Petra Schwarz
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Luc Dupuis
- Inserm, University of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Mark D Robinson
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences and SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Pierre De Rossi
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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4
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Hutten S, Usluer S, Bourgeois B, Simonetti F, Odeh HM, Fare CM, Czuppa M, Hruska-Plochan M, Hofweber M, Polymenidou M, Shorter J, Edbauer D, Madl T, Dormann D. Nuclear Import Receptors Directly Bind to Arginine-Rich Dipeptide Repeat Proteins and Suppress Their Pathological Interactions. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108538. [PMID: 33357437 PMCID: PMC7814465 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nuclear import receptors, also called importins, mediate nuclear import of proteins and chaperone aggregation-prone cargoes (e.g., neurodegeneration-linked RNA-binding proteins [RBPs]) in the cytoplasm. Importins were identified as modulators of cellular toxicity elicited by arginine-rich dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs), an aberrant protein species found in C9orf72-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Mechanistically, the link between importins and arginine-rich DPRs remains unclear. Here, we show that arginine-rich DPRs (poly-GR and poly-PR) bind directly to multiple importins and, in excess, promote their insolubility and condensation. In cells, poly-GR impairs Impα/β-mediated nuclear import, including import of TDP-43, an RBP that aggregates in C9orf72-ALS/FTD patients. Arginine-rich DPRs promote phase separation and insolubility of TDP-43 in vitro and in cells, and this pathological interaction is suppressed by elevating importin concentrations. Our findings suggest that importins can decrease toxicity of arginine-rich DPRs by suppressing their pathological interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Hutten
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Sinem Usluer
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Benjamin Bourgeois
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Francesca Simonetti
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Hana M Odeh
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Charlotte M Fare
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mareike Czuppa
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Marian Hruska-Plochan
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mario Hofweber
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; LMU Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany
| | - Magdalini Polymenidou
- Department of Quantitative Biomedicine, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Dieter Edbauer
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Feodor-Lynen-Str. 17, 81377 Munich, Germany; LMU Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Tobias Madl
- Gottfried Schatz Research Center for Cell Signaling, Metabolism and Aging, Molecular Biology & Biochemistry, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria; BioTechMed-Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Dorothee Dormann
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; LMU Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany.
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5
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Hock EM, Maniecka Z, Hruska-Plochan M, Reber S, Laferrière F, Sahadevan M K S, Ederle H, Gittings L, Pelkmans L, Dupuis L, Lashley T, Ruepp MD, Dormann D, Polymenidou M. Hypertonic Stress Causes Cytoplasmic Translocation of Neuronal, but Not Astrocytic, FUS due to Impaired Transportin Function. Cell Rep 2020; 24:987-1000.e7. [PMID: 30044993 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.06.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Revised: 05/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The primarily nuclear RNA-binding protein FUS (fused in sarcoma) forms pathological cytoplasmic inclusions in a subset of early-onset amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) patients. In response to cellular stress, FUS is recruited to cytoplasmic stress granules, which are hypothesized to act as precursors of pathological inclusions. We monitored the stress-induced nucleocytoplasmic shuttling of endogenous FUS in an ex vivo mouse CNS model and human neural networks. We found that hyperosmolar, but not oxidative, stress induced robust cytoplasmic translocation of neuronal FUS, with transient nuclear clearance and loss of function. Surprisingly, this reaction is independent of stress granule formation and the molecular pathways activated by hyperosmolarity. Instead, it represents a mechanism mediated by cytoplasmic redistribution of Transportin 1/2 and is potentiated by transcriptional inhibition. Importantly, astrocytes, which remain unaffected in ALS/FTD-FUS, are spared from this stress reaction that may signify the initial event in the development of FUS pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Hock
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Zuzanna Maniecka
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marian Hruska-Plochan
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Stefan Reber
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland; Graduate School for Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Florent Laferrière
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sonu Sahadevan M K
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Helena Ederle
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximiians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Lauren Gittings
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Diseases, Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Lucas Pelkmans
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Luc Dupuis
- Faculty of Medicine, INSERM UMR-S1118 and Fédération de Médecine Translationnelle, Université de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Diseases, Department of Molecular Neuroscience, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 1PJ, UK
| | - Marc-David Ruepp
- UK Dementia Research Institute Centre at King's College London, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Dorothee Dormann
- BioMedical Center (BMC), Ludwig-Maximiians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; Graduate School of Systemic Neurosciences (GSN), 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Magdalini Polymenidou
- Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Life Science Zurich Graduate School, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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Bohaciakova D, Hruska-Plochan M, Tsunemoto R, Gifford WD, Driscoll SP, Glenn TD, Wu S, Marsala S, Navarro M, Tadokoro T, Juhas S, Juhasova J, Platoshyn O, Piper D, Sheckler V, Ditsworth D, Pfaff SL, Marsala M. A scalable solution for isolating human multipotent clinical-grade neural stem cells from ES precursors. Stem Cell Res Ther 2019; 10:83. [PMID: 30867054 PMCID: PMC6417180 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-019-1163-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 01/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background A well-characterized method has not yet been established to reproducibly, efficiently, and safely isolate large numbers of clinical-grade multipotent human neural stem cells (hNSCs) from embryonic stem cells (hESCs). Consequently, the transplantation of neurogenic/gliogenic precursors into the CNS for the purpose of cell replacement or neuroprotection in humans with injury or disease has not achieved widespread testing and implementation. Methods Here, we establish an approach for the in vitro isolation of a highly expandable population of hNSCs using the manual selection of neural precursors based on their colony morphology (CoMo-NSC). The purity and NSC properties of established and extensively expanded CoMo-NSC were validated by expression of NSC markers (flow cytometry, mRNA sequencing), lack of pluripotent markers and by their tumorigenic/differentiation profile after in vivo spinal grafting in three different animal models, including (i) immunodeficient rats, (ii) immunosuppressed ALS rats (SOD1G93A), or (iii) spinally injured immunosuppressed minipigs. Results In vitro analysis of established CoMo-NSCs showed a consistent expression of NSC markers (Sox1, Sox2, Nestin, CD24) with lack of pluripotent markers (Nanog) and stable karyotype for more than 15 passages. Gene profiling and histology revealed that spinally grafted CoMo-NSCs differentiate into neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes over a 2–6-month period in vivo without forming neoplastic derivatives or abnormal structures. Moreover, transplanted CoMo-NSCs formed neurons with synaptic contacts and glia in a variety of host environments including immunodeficient rats, immunosuppressed ALS rats (SOD1G93A), or spinally injured minipigs, indicating these cells have favorable safety and differentiation characteristics. Conclusions These data demonstrate that manually selected CoMo-NSCs represent a safe and expandable NSC population which can effectively be used in prospective human clinical cell replacement trials for the treatment of a variety of neurodegenerative disorders, including ALS, stroke, spinal traumatic, or spinal ischemic injury. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13287-019-1163-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dasa Bohaciakova
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.,Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University Brno, Kamenice 3, 62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Marian Hruska-Plochan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Rachel Tsunemoto
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Wesley D Gifford
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Shawn P Driscoll
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Thomas D Glenn
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Stephanie Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Silvia Marsala
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Michael Navarro
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Takahiro Tadokoro
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Stefan Juhas
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., AS CR, Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Juhasova
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., AS CR, Liběchov, Czech Republic
| | - Oleksandr Platoshyn
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - David Piper
- Primary and Stem Cell Systems, Life Technologies (Thermo Fisher Scientific), 501 Charmany Drive, Madison, WI, 53719, USA
| | - Vickie Sheckler
- Sanford Stem Cell Clinical Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Dara Ditsworth
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Samuel L Pfaff
- Gene Expression Laboratory, Howard Hughes Medical Institute and Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
| | - Martin Marsala
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of California San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA. .,Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, University of California San Diego, 2880 Torrey Pines Scenic Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
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Strnadel J, Carromeu C, Bardy C, Navarro M, Platoshyn O, Glud AN, Marsala S, Kafka J, Miyanohara A, Kato T, Tadokoro T, Hefferan MP, Kamizato K, Yoshizumi T, Juhas S, Juhasova J, Ho CS, Kheradmand T, Chen P, Bohaciakova D, Hruska-Plochan M, Todd AJ, Driscoll SP, Glenn TD, Pfaff SL, Klima J, Ciacci J, Curtis E, Gage FH, Bui J, Yamada K, Muotri AR, Marsala M. Survival of syngeneic and allogeneic iPSC–derived neural precursors after spinal grafting in minipigs. Sci Transl Med 2018; 10:10/440/eaam6651. [DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aam6651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2016] [Revised: 11/17/2017] [Accepted: 04/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Miyanohara A, Kamizato K, Juhas S, Juhasova J, Navarro M, Marsala S, Lukacova N, Hruska-Plochan M, Curtis E, Gabel B, Ciacci J, Ahrens ET, Kaspar BK, Cleveland D, Marsala M. Potent spinal parenchymal AAV9-mediated gene delivery by subpial injection in adult rats and pigs. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2016; 3:16046. [PMID: 27462649 PMCID: PMC4943453 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2016.46] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Effective in vivo use of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors to achieve gene-specific silencing or upregulation in the central nervous system has been limited by the inability to provide more than limited deep parenchymal expression in adult animals using delivery routes with the most clinical relevance (intravenous or intrathecal). Here, we demonstrate that the spinal pia membrane represents the primary barrier limiting effective AAV9 penetration into the spinal parenchyma after intrathecal AAV9 delivery. We develop a novel subpial AAV9 delivery technique and AAV9-dextran formulation. We use these in adult rats and pigs to show (i) potent spinal parenchymal transgene expression in white and gray matter including neurons, glial and endothelial cells after single bolus subpial AAV9 delivery; (ii) delivery to almost all apparent descending motor axons throughout the length of the spinal cord after cervical or thoracic subpial AAV9 injection; (iii) potent retrograde transgene expression in brain motor centers (motor cortex and brain stem); and (iv) the relative safety of this approach by defining normal neurological function for up to 6 months after AAV9 delivery. Thus, subpial delivery of AAV9 enables gene-based therapies with a wide range of potential experimental and clinical utilizations in adult animals and human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Miyanohara
- Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California , San Diego, California, USA
| | - Kota Kamizato
- Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California , San Diego, California, USA
| | - Stefan Juhas
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences , Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Juhasova
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences , Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Michael Navarro
- Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California , San Diego, California, USA
| | - Silvia Marsala
- Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California , San Diego, California, USA
| | - Nada Lukacova
- Institute of Neurobiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences , Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | | | - Erik Curtis
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California , San Diego, California, USA
| | - Brandon Gabel
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California , San Diego, California, USA
| | - Joseph Ciacci
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California , San Diego, California, USA
| | - Eric T Ahrens
- Department of Radiology, University of California , San Diego, California, USA
| | - Brian K Kaspar
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital , Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Don Cleveland
- Ludwig Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, California, USA; Ludwig Institute and Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Martin Marsala
- Neuroregeneration Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, California, USA; Institute of Neurobiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovak Republic
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Hruska-Plochan M, Li B, Kyburz D, Krützfeld J, Landmesser U, Aguzzi A, Polymenidou M. New and emerging roles of small RNAs in neurodegeneration, muscle, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases. Swiss Med Wkly 2015; 145:w14192. [PMID: 26376442 DOI: 10.4414/smw.2015.14192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Small noncoding RNAs (snRNAs) were discovered more than two decades ago, yet it was not until relatively recently that their important role in genome regulation was recognised. With such a substantial role in genome regulation, it is not surprising that snRNAs are crucial contributors to an ever-increasing number of diseases, as evidenced by the long list of published studies. Currently, microRNAs (miRNAs) represent the most intensively studied snRNAs. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been confirmed in numerous diseases, and changes in their levels could play an essential role in disease onset and progression and could be used for prognosis and potential therapy. Indeed, disease-altered miRNAs may either signify a direct trigger or a consequence of the disease. Therefore, miRNAs represent unique targets for disease intervention through their down- or up-regulation. Importantly, miRNAs may facilitate disease monitoring by detection of disease-altered miRNAs in easily accessible bodily fluids, such as blood or cerebrospinal fluid. Therefore, study of these events is of utmost importance for understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive disease, as well as for diagnosis and therapy. Here we attempted to synthesise a large number of studies to highlight the crucial role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative, muscle, cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bei Li
- Institute for Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Diego Kyburz
- Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, Switzerland
| | - Jan Krützfeld
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Clinical Nutrition, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ulf Landmesser
- Department of Cardiology, Cardiovascular Centre, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Adriano Aguzzi
- Institute for Neuropathology, University Hospital of Zurich, Switzerland
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Baxa M, Hruska-Plochan M, Juhas S, Vodicka P, Pavlok A, Juhasova J, Miyanohara A, Nejime T, Klima J, Macakova M, Marsala S, Weiss A, Kubickova S, Musilova P, Vrtel R, Sontag EM, Thompson LM, Schier J, Hansikova H, Howland DS, Cattaneo E, DiFiglia M, Marsala M, Motlik J. A transgenic minipig model of Huntington's Disease. J Huntingtons Dis 2014; 2:47-68. [PMID: 25063429 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-130001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Some promising treatments for Huntington's disease (HD) may require pre-clinical testing in large animals. Minipig is a suitable species because of its large gyrencephalic brain and long lifespan. OBJECTIVE To generate HD transgenic (TgHD) minipigs encoding huntingtin (HTT)1-548 under the control of human HTT promoter. METHODS Transgenesis was achieved by lentiviral infection of porcine embryos. PCR assessment of gene transfer, observations of behavior, and postmortem biochemical and immunohistochemical studies were conducted. RESULTS One copy of the human HTT transgene encoding 124 glutamines integrated into chromosome 1 q24-q25 and successful germ line transmission occurred through successive generations (F0, F1, F2 and F3 generations). No developmental or gross motor deficits were noted up to 40 months of age. Mutant HTT mRNA and protein fragment were detected in brain and peripheral tissues. No aggregate formation in brain up to 16 months was seen by AGERA and filter retardation or by immunostaining. DARPP32 labeling in WT and TgHD minipig neostriatum was patchy. Analysis of 16 month old sibling pairs showed reduced intensity of DARPP32 immunoreactivity in neostriatal TgHD neurons compared to those of WT. Compared to WT, TgHD boars by one year had reduced fertility and fewer spermatozoa per ejaculate. In vitro analysis revealed a significant decline in the number of WT minipig oocytes penetrated by TgHD spermatozoa. CONCLUSIONS The findings demonstrate successful establishment of a transgenic model of HD in minipig that should be valuable for testing long term safety of HD therapeutics. The emergence of HD-like phenotypes in the TgHD minipigs will require more study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Baxa
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., AS CR, Libechov, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, Department of Cell Biology, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Marian Hruska-Plochan
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., AS CR, Libechov, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, Department of Cell Biology, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Stefan Juhas
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., AS CR, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Vodicka
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., AS CR, Libechov, Czech Republic Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Antonin Pavlok
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., AS CR, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Jana Juhasova
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., AS CR, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Atsushi Miyanohara
- Vector Development Laboratory, Human Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tetsuya Nejime
- Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jiri Klima
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., AS CR, Libechov, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Macakova
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., AS CR, Libechov, Czech Republic Faculty of Science, Department of Cell Biology, Charles University in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Silvia Marsala
- Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andreas Weiss
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Neuroscience Discovery, Basel, Switzerland IRBM Promidis, Pomezia, Italy
| | - Svatava Kubickova
- Department of Genetics and Reproduction, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Musilova
- Department of Genetics and Reproduction, Veterinary Research Institute, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Radek Vrtel
- Department of Clinical Genetics and Fetal Medicine, Palacky University, University Hospital Olomouc, Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Emily M Sontag
- Department of Biological Chemistry University of California, Irvine, CA, USA Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Leslie M Thompson
- Department of Biological Chemistry University of California, Irvine, CA, USA Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of California, Irvine, CA, USA Department of Neurobiology and Behavior University of California, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Jan Schier
- Institute of Information Theory and Automation v.v.i., AS CR, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Hansikova
- Laboratory for Study of Mitochondrial Disorders, First Faculty of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Charles University and General University Hospital in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic
| | | | - Elena Cattaneo
- Department of Pharmacological Sciences and Centre for Stem Cell Research, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marian DiFiglia
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Martin Marsala
- Neurodegeneration Laboratory, Department of Anesthesiology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA Institute of Neurobiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Jan Motlik
- Laboratory of Cell Regeneration and Plasticity, Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, v.v.i., AS CR, Libechov, Czech Republic
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Dolezalova D, Hruska-Plochan M, Bjarkam CR, Sørensen JCH, Cunningham M, Weingarten D, Ciacci JD, Juhas S, Juhasova J, Motlik J, Hefferan MP, Hazel T, Johe K, Carromeu C, Muotri A, Bui J, Strnadel J, Marsala M. Pig models of neurodegenerative disorders: Utilization in cell replacement-based preclinical safety and efficacy studies. J Comp Neurol 2014; 522:2784-801. [DOI: 10.1002/cne.23575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2013] [Revised: 02/13/2014] [Accepted: 02/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Dasa Dolezalova
- Department of Anesthesiology; University of California; San Diego La Jolla CA USA
| | | | - Carsten R. Bjarkam
- Department of Neurosurgery; Aalborg University Hospital; Aalborg Denmark
- Department of Biomedicine; Institute of Anatomy, University of Aarhus; Aarhus Denmark
| | | | - Miles Cunningham
- MRC 312, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School; Belmont MA 02478 USA
| | - David Weingarten
- UCSD Division of Neurosurgery; University of California; San Diego CA USA
| | - Joseph D. Ciacci
- UCSD Division of Neurosurgery; University of California; San Diego CA USA
| | - Stefan Juhas
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences; 277 21 Libechov Czech Republic
| | - Jana Juhasova
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences; 277 21 Libechov Czech Republic
| | - Jan Motlik
- Institute of Animal Physiology and Genetics, Czech Academy of Sciences; 277 21 Libechov Czech Republic
| | | | | | | | - Cassiano Carromeu
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine; University of California; San Diego CA USA
| | - Alysson Muotri
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine; University of California; San Diego CA USA
| | - Jack Bui
- Department of Pathology; University of California; San Diego CA USA
| | - Jan Strnadel
- Department of Pathology; University of California; San Diego CA USA
| | - Martin Marsala
- Department of Anesthesiology; University of California; San Diego La Jolla CA USA
- Institute of Neurobiology, Slovak Academy of Sciences; Kosice Slovakia
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12
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Sevc J, Goldberg D, van Gorp S, Leerink M, Juhas S, Juhasova J, Marsala S, Hruska-Plochan M, Hefferan MP, Motlik J, Rypacek F, Machova L, Kakinohana O, Santucci C, Johe K, Lukacova N, Yamada K, Bui JD, Marsala M. Effective long-term immunosuppression in rats by subcutaneously implanted sustained-release tacrolimus pellet: Effect on spinally grafted human neural precursor survival. Exp Neurol 2013; 248:85-99. [DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2013.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Revised: 05/21/2013] [Accepted: 05/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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van Gorp S, Leerink M, Kakinohana O, Platoshyn O, Santucci C, Galik J, Joosten EA, Hruska-Plochan M, Goldberg D, Marsala S, Johe K, Ciacci JD, Marsala M. Amelioration of motor/sensory dysfunction and spasticity in a rat model of acute lumbar spinal cord injury by human neural stem cell transplantation. Stem Cell Res Ther 2013; 4:57. [PMID: 23710605 PMCID: PMC3706882 DOI: 10.1186/scrt209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2013] [Accepted: 04/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Intraspinal grafting of human neural stem cells represents a promising approach to promote recovery of function after spinal trauma. Such a treatment may serve to: I) provide trophic support to improve survival of host neurons; II) improve the structural integrity of the spinal parenchyma by reducing syringomyelia and scarring in trauma-injured regions; and III) provide neuronal populations to potentially form relays with host axons, segmental interneurons, and/or α-motoneurons. Here we characterized the effect of intraspinal grafting of clinical grade human fetal spinal cord-derived neural stem cells (HSSC) on the recovery of neurological function in a rat model of acute lumbar (L3) compression injury. Methods Three-month-old female Sprague–Dawley rats received L3 spinal compression injury. Three days post-injury, animals were randomized and received intraspinal injections of either HSSC, media-only, or no injections. All animals were immunosuppressed with tacrolimus, mycophenolate mofetil, and methylprednisolone acetate from the day of cell grafting and survived for eight weeks. Motor and sensory dysfunction were periodically assessed using open field locomotion scoring, thermal/tactile pain/escape thresholds and myogenic motor evoked potentials. The presence of spasticity was measured by gastrocnemius muscle resistance and electromyography response during computer-controlled ankle rotation. At the end-point, gait (CatWalk), ladder climbing, and single frame analyses were also assessed. Syrinx size, spinal cord dimensions, and extent of scarring were measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Differentiation and integration of grafted cells in the host tissue were validated with immunofluorescence staining using human-specific antibodies. Results Intraspinal grafting of HSSC led to a progressive and significant improvement in lower extremity paw placement, amelioration of spasticity, and normalization in thermal and tactile pain/escape thresholds at eight weeks post-grafting. No significant differences were detected in other CatWalk parameters, motor evoked potentials, open field locomotor (Basso, Beattie, and Bresnahan locomotion score (BBB)) score or ladder climbing test. Magnetic resonance imaging volume reconstruction and immunofluorescence analysis of grafted cell survival showed near complete injury-cavity-filling by grafted cells and development of putative GABA-ergic synapses between grafted and host neurons. Conclusions Peri-acute intraspinal grafting of HSSC can represent an effective therapy which ameliorates motor and sensory deficits after traumatic spinal cord injury.
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