1
|
Schepers M, Hendrix S, Mussen F, van Breedam E, Ponsaerts P, Lemmens S, Hellings N, Ricciarelli R, Fedele E, Bruno O, Brullo C, Prickaerts J, Van Broeckhoven J, Vanmierlo T. Amelioration of functional and histopathological consequences after spinal cord injury through phosphodiesterase 4D (PDE4D) inhibition. Neurotherapeutics 2024:e00372. [PMID: 38760316 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a life-changing event that severely impacts the patient's quality of life. Modulating neuroinflammation, which exacerbates the primary injury, and stimulating neuro-regenerative repair mechanisms are key strategies to improve functional recovery. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) is a second messenger crucially involved in both processes. Following SCI, intracellular levels of cAMP are known to decrease over time. Therefore, preventing cAMP degradation represents a promising strategy to suppress inflammation while stimulating regeneration. Intracellular cAMP levels are controlled by its hydrolyzing enzymes phosphodiesterases (PDEs). The PDE4 family is most abundantly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS) and its inhibition has been shown to be therapeutically relevant for managing SCI pathology. Unfortunately, the use of full PDE4 inhibitors at therapeutic doses is associated with severe emetic side effects, hampering their translation toward clinical applications. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the effect of inhibiting specific PDE4 subtypes (PDE4B and PDE4D) on inflammatory and regenerative processes following SCI, as inhibitors selective for these subtypes have been demonstrated to be well-tolerated. We reveal that administration of the PDE4D inhibitor Gebr32a, even when starting 2 dpi, but not the PDE4B inhibitor A33, improved functional as well as histopathological outcomes after SCI, comparable to results obtained with the full PDE4 inhibitor roflumilast. Furthermore, using a luminescent human iPSC-derived neurospheroid model, we show that PDE4D inhibition stabilizes neural viability by preventing apoptosis and stimulating neuronal differentiation. These findings strongly suggest that specific PDE4D inhibition offers a novel therapeutic approach for SCI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Schepers
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229ER Maastricht, the Netherlands; University MS Centre (UMSC) Hasselt - Pelt, Belgium
| | - Sven Hendrix
- Institute for Translational Medicine, Medical School Hamburg, 20457 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Femke Mussen
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229ER Maastricht, the Netherlands; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Elise van Breedam
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (Vaxinfectio), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Peter Ponsaerts
- Laboratory of Experimental Hematology, Vaccine and Infectious Disease Institute (Vaxinfectio), University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Stefanie Lemmens
- Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Niels Hellings
- University MS Centre (UMSC) Hasselt - Pelt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Roberta Ricciarelli
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16100 Genoa, Italy; Department of Experimental Medicine, Section of General Pathology, University of Genova, 16100 Genoa, Italy
| | - Ernesto Fedele
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, 16100 Genoa, Italy; Department of Pharmacy, Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, 16100 Genoa, Italy
| | - Olga Bruno
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Genoa, 16100 Genoa, Italy
| | - Chiara Brullo
- Department of Pharmacy, Section of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Genoa, 16100 Genoa, Italy
| | - Jos Prickaerts
- Peitho Translational, 6229ER Maastricht, the Netherlands
| | - Jana Van Broeckhoven
- University MS Centre (UMSC) Hasselt - Pelt, Belgium; Department of Immunology and Infection, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium
| | - Tim Vanmierlo
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Life Sciences, Hasselt University, 3500 Hasselt, Belgium; Department of Psychiatry and Neuropsychology, School for Mental Health and Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6229ER Maastricht, the Netherlands; University MS Centre (UMSC) Hasselt - Pelt, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Usatova VS, Mishina NM, Berestovoy MA, Ivanenko AV, Jappy D, Krut' VG, Sokolov RA, Moshchenko AA, Rozov A, Shevchenko EK, Belousov VV. Hydrogen peroxide is not generated intracellularly in human neural spheroids during ischemia-reperfusion. Free Radic Biol Med 2024; 212:234-240. [PMID: 38158053 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.12.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are considered a primary source of damage during ischemic stroke. However, the precise timing of ROS production (during hypoxia or reperfusion) remains unclear. Cellular 3D spheroids are often proposed as an optimal alternative to both 2D cell cultures and animal models in modeling disease conditions. Here we report live imaging of hydrogen peroxide dynamics during the acute phase of hypoxia and reperfusion in human iPSC-derived neural spheroids, stably expressing fluorescent biosensor HyPer7. Contrary to previous reports, we did not observe a hydrogen peroxide production burst neither during hypoxia nor in course of reperfusion. Our data suggest either lack of oxidative stress during ischemia-reperfusion in spheroids or existence of different mechanisms of oxidative damage.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronika S Usatova
- Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical Biological Agency, 117997, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalie M Mishina
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997, Moscow, Russia; Laboratory of Synthetic Neurotechnologies, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail A Berestovoy
- Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical Biological Agency, 117997, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander V Ivanenko
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997, Moscow, Russia; Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997, Moscow, Russia
| | - David Jappy
- Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical Biological Agency, 117997, Moscow, Russia; Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Viktoriya G Krut'
- Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical Biological Agency, 117997, Moscow, Russia; Laboratory of Synthetic Neurotechnologies, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997, Moscow, Russia
| | - Rostislav A Sokolov
- Laboratory of Synthetic Neurotechnologies, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997, Moscow, Russia; Institute of Biology and Biomedicine, Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Aleksandr A Moshchenko
- Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical Biological Agency, 117997, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrei Rozov
- Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical Biological Agency, 117997, Moscow, Russia; Laboratory of Neurobiology, Kazan Federal University, 420008, Kazan, Russia
| | - Evgeny K Shevchenko
- Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical Biological Agency, 117997, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vsevolod V Belousov
- Federal Center of Brain Research and Neurotechnologies, Federal Medical Biological Agency, 117997, Moscow, Russia; Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117997, Moscow, Russia; Laboratory of Synthetic Neurotechnologies, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, 117997, Moscow, Russia; Life Improvement by Future Technologies (LIFT) Center, 121205, Moscow, Russia.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
De Paola M, Pischiutta F, Comolli D, Mariani A, Kelk J, Lisi I, Cerovic M, Fumagalli S, Forloni G, Zanier ER. Neural cortical organoids from self-assembling human iPSC as a model to investigate neurotoxicity in brain ischemia. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2023; 43:680-693. [PMID: 36655331 PMCID: PMC10108182 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x231152023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Brain ischemia is a common acute injury resulting from impaired blood flow to the brain. Translation of effective drug candidates from experimental models to patients has systematically failed. The use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) offers new opportunities to gain translational insights into diseases including brain ischemia. We used a human 3D self-assembling iPSC-derived model (human cortical organoids, hCO) to characterize the effects of ischemia caused by oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). hCO exposed to 2 h or 8 h of OGD had neuronal death and impaired neuronal network complexity, measured in whole-mounting microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2) immunostaining. Neuronal vulnerability was reflected by a reduction in MAP-2 mRNA levels, and increased release of neurofilament light chain (NfL) in culture media, proportional to OGD severity. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene or protein levels did not change in hCO, but their release in medium increased after prolonged OGD. In conclusion, this human 3D iPSC-based in vitro model of brain ischemic injury is characterized by marked neuronal injury reflected by the release of the translational biomarker NfL which is relevant for testing neuroprotective strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Massimiliano De Paola
- Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Francesca Pischiutta
- Acute Brain Injury and Therapeutic Strategies Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Davide Comolli
- Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Alessandro Mariani
- Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Joe Kelk
- Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Ilaria Lisi
- Acute Brain Injury and Therapeutic Strategies Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Milica Cerovic
- Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Stefano Fumagalli
- Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Forloni
- Biology of Neurodegenerative Diseases Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| | - Elisa R Zanier
- Acute Brain Injury and Therapeutic Strategies Lab, Department of Neuroscience, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milano, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Activation of Interferon-Stimulated Genes following Varicella-Zoster Virus Infection in a Human iPSC-Derived Neuronal In Vitro Model Depends on Exogenous Interferon-α. Viruses 2022; 14:v14112517. [PMID: 36423126 PMCID: PMC9693540 DOI: 10.3390/v14112517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection of neuronal cells and the activation of cell-intrinsic antiviral responses upon infection are still poorly understood mainly due to the scarcity of suitable human in vitro models that are available to study VZV. We developed a compartmentalized human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neuronal culture model that allows axonal VZV infection of the neurons, thereby mimicking the natural route of infection. Using this model, we showed that hiPSC-neurons do not mount an effective interferon-mediated antiviral response following VZV infection. Indeed, in contrast to infection with Sendai virus, VZV infection of the hiPSC-neurons does not result in the upregulation of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) that have direct antiviral functions. Furthermore, the hiPSC-neurons do not produce interferon-α (IFNα), a major cytokine that is involved in the innate antiviral response, even upon its stimulation with strong synthetic inducers. In contrast, we showed that exogenous IFNα effectively limits VZV spread in the neuronal cell body compartment and demonstrated that ISGs are efficiently upregulated in these VZV-infected neuronal cultures that are treated with IFNα. Thus, whereas the cultured hiPSC neurons seem to be poor IFNα producers, they are good IFNα responders. This could suggest an important role for other cells such as satellite glial cells or macrophages to produce IFNα for VZV infection control.
Collapse
|
5
|
Van Breedam E, Ponsaerts P. Promising Strategies for the Development of Advanced In Vitro Models with High Predictive Power in Ischaemic Stroke Research. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23137140. [PMID: 35806146 PMCID: PMC9266337 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23137140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Although stroke is one of the world’s leading causes of death and disability, and more than a thousand candidate neuroprotective drugs have been proposed based on extensive in vitro and animal-based research, an effective neuroprotective/restorative therapy for ischaemic stroke patients is still missing. In particular, the high attrition rate of neuroprotective compounds in clinical studies should make us question the ability of in vitro models currently used for ischaemic stroke research to recapitulate human ischaemic responses with sufficient fidelity. The ischaemic stroke field would greatly benefit from the implementation of more complex in vitro models with improved physiological relevance, next to traditional in vitro and in vivo models in preclinical studies, to more accurately predict clinical outcomes. In this review, we discuss current in vitro models used in ischaemic stroke research and describe the main factors determining the predictive value of in vitro models for modelling human ischaemic stroke. In light of this, human-based 3D models consisting of multiple cell types, either with or without the use of microfluidics technology, may better recapitulate human ischaemic responses and possess the potential to bridge the translational gap between animal-based in vitro and in vivo models, and human patients in clinical trials.
Collapse
|