1
|
Izrael M, Slutsky SG, Admoni T, Cohen L, Granit A, Hasson A, Itskovitz-Eldor J, Krush Paker L, Kuperstein G, Lavon N, Yehezkel Ionescu S, Solmesky LJ, Zaguri R, Zhuravlev A, Volman E, Chebath J, Revel M. Safety and efficacy of human embryonic stem cell-derived astrocytes following intrathecal transplantation in SOD1 G93A and NSG animal models. Stem Cell Res Ther 2018; 9:152. [PMID: 29871694 PMCID: PMC5989413 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-018-0890-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2018] [Revised: 04/30/2018] [Accepted: 05/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron (MN) disease characterized by the loss of MNs in the central nervous system. As MNs die, patients progressively lose their ability to control voluntary movements, become paralyzed and eventually die from respiratory/deglutition failure. Despite the selective MN death in ALS, there is growing evidence that malfunctional astrocytes play a crucial role in disease progression. Thus, transplantation of healthy astrocytes may compensate for the diseased astrocytes. METHODS We developed a good manufacturing practice-grade protocol for generation of astrocytes from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs). The first stage of our protocol is derivation of astrocyte progenitor cells (APCs) from hESCs. These APCs can be expanded in large quantities and stored frozen as cell banks. Further differentiation of the APCs yields an enriched population of astrocytes with more than 90% GFAP expression (hES-AS). hES-AS were injected intrathecally into hSOD1G93A transgenic mice and rats to evaluate their therapeutic potential. The safety and biodistribution of hES-AS were evaluated in a 9-month study conducted in immunodeficient NSG mice under good laboratory practice conditions. RESULTS In vitro, hES-AS possess the activities of functional healthy astrocytes, including glutamate uptake, promotion of axon outgrowth and protection of MNs from oxidative stress. A secretome analysis shows that these hES-AS also secrete several inhibitors of metalloproteases as well as a variety of neuroprotective factors (e.g. TIMP-1, TIMP-2, OPN, MIF and Midkine). Intrathecal injections of the hES-AS into transgenic hSOD1G93A mice and rats significantly delayed disease onset and improved motor performance compared to sham-injected animals. A safety study in immunodeficient mice showed that intrathecal transplantation of hES-AS is safe. Transplanted hES-AS attached to the meninges along the neuroaxis and survived for the entire duration of the study without formation of tumors or teratomas. Cell-injected mice gained similar body weight to the sham-injected group and did not exhibit clinical signs that could be related to the treatment. No differences from the vehicle control were observed in hematological parameters or blood chemistry. CONCLUSION Our findings demonstrate the safety and potential therapeutic benefits of intrathecal injection of hES-AS for the treatment of ALS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michal Izrael
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Shalom Guy Slutsky
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Tamar Admoni
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Louisa Cohen
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Avital Granit
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Arik Hasson
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Joseph Itskovitz-Eldor
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Lena Krush Paker
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Graciela Kuperstein
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Neta Lavon
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Shiran Yehezkel Ionescu
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Leonardo Javier Solmesky
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Rachel Zaguri
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Alina Zhuravlev
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Ella Volman
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
| | - Judith Chebath
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Michel Revel
- Neurodegenerative Diseases Department at Kadimastem Ltd, Pinchas Sapir 7, Weizmann Science Park, Nes-Ziona, Israel
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
| |
Collapse
|