Understanding Molecular Pathology along Injured Spinal Cord Axis: Moving Frontiers toward Effective Neuroprotection and Regeneration

Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a severe, often life threatening, traumatic condition leading to serious neurological dysfunctions. The pathological hallmarks of SCI include inflammation, reactive gliosis, axonal demyelination, neuronal death, and cyst formation. Although much has been learned about the progression of SCI pathology affecting a large number of biochemical cascades and reactions, the roles of proteins involved in these processes are not well understood. Advances in proteomic technologies have made it possible to examine the spinal cord proteome from healthy and experimental animals and disclose a detailed overview on the spatial and temporal regionalization of these secondary processes. Data clearly demonstrated that neurotrophic molecules dominated in the segment above the central lesion, while the proteins associated with necrotic/apoptotic pathways abound the segment below the lesion. This knowledge is extremely important in finding optimal targets and pathways on which complementary neuroprotective and neuroregenerative approaches should be focused on. In terms of neuroprotection, several active substances and cell-based therapy together with biomaterials releasing bioactive substances showed partial improvement of spinal cord injury. However, one of the major challenges is to select specific therapies that can be combined safely and in the appropriate order to provide the maximum value of each individual treatment

Le rôle des vésicules extracellulaires dérivées des microglies dans les processus inflammatoires et tumoraux du SNC : étude in vitro

Dans cette étude on décrit une méthode reproductible et efficace pour isoler des cellules microgliales et leurs exosomes. Les résultats montrent qu'il n'y a pas de différences morphologiques entre les cellules microgliales issues d'origines tissulaires différentes e.g. cortex et moelle épinière. D'autre part, en utilisant une plateforme de protéomique à grande échelle, nous démontrons que les microglies dérivées du cortex et de la moelle épinière des rats expriment des phénotypes différents tant dans les conditions physiologiques normales ou inflammatoires. Cette différence a été confirmée également au niveau des exosomes qu’elles sécrètent.Des essais biologiques in vitro démontrent que les exosomes dérivées de microglies testées sur des sphéroïdes 3D de gliomes de rat étaient capables d'inhiber l'invasion tumorale. Ces résultats ont permis de mettre en évidence que des exosomes dérivées de la microglie pouvaient être utilisés comme agents nano thérapeutiques vis-à-vis des gliomes. Sur la base des études précédentes conduites au laboratoire, nous avons montré que les EVs isolées à partir de macrophage KD PC1/3 traitées avec Paclitaxel inhibaient la croissance de la lignée C6 de gliome de rat. Nous avons isolé les exosomes et nos résultats mettent en valeur le potentiel d'une stratégie thérapeutique combinant Paclitaxel et inhibition de PC1/3 et utilisation des exosomes produits par ces cellules comme agents thérapeutiques.In present study, we present a reproducible and an efficient method for isolating microglial cells and their exosomes. The results show that there are no morphological differences between microglial cells from different tissue origins e.g. cortex and spinal cord. On the other hand, using a large-scale proteomic platform, we demonstrate that microglia derived from the cortex and spinal cord of rats express different phenotypes under both normal and inflammatory physiological conditions. This difference has also been confirmed at the level of the exosomes they secrete.In vitro bioassays demonstrate that microglia-derived exosomes tested on 3D spheroids of rat gliomas were able to inhibit tumor invasion. These results made it possible to demonstrate that exosomes derived from microglia could be used as nano-therapeutic agents vis-à-vis gliomas.Based on previous studies conducted in the laboratory, we have shown that EVs isolated from KD PC1/3 macrophage treated with Paclitaxel inhibited the growth of the rat glioma C6 line. We isolated the exosomes and our results highlight the potential of a therapeutic strategy combining Paclitaxel and PC1/3 inhibition and use of the exosomes produced by these cells as therapeutic agents

Reference and Ghost Proteins Identification in Rat C6 Glioma Extracellular Vesicles

International audienceExtracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication and regulate a broad range of biological processes. Novel therapeutic strategies have emerged based on the use of EVs as biological nanoparticles. To separate isolated EVs from protein aggregates and the external part of EVs membrane proteins, we performed a Trypsin/Lys C digestion treatment of EVs pellets, followed by Amicon filtration. After these steps, all the fractions have been subjected to proteomic analyses. Comparison between 6 h Trypsin/Lys C treatment or non-treated EVs revealed a quantitative variation of the surface proteins. Some surface proteins have been demasked after 6 h enzymatic digestion like CD81, CD82, Ust, Vcan, Lamp 1, Rab43, Annexin A2, Synthenin, and VSP37b. Moreover, six ghost proteins have also been identified and one corresponds to a long noncoding RNA. We thus demonstrate the presence of ghost proteins in EVs produced by glioma cells that can contribute to tumorigenesis

Brain-Cortex Microglia-Derived Exosomes: Nanoparticles for Glioma Therapy

International audienceThe function and integrity of the nervous system require interactive exchanges among neurons and glial cells. Exosomes and other extracellular vesicles (EVs) are emerging as a key mediator of intercellular communication, capable of transferring nucleic acids, proteins and lipids influencing numerous functional and pathological aspects of both donor and recipient cells. The immune response mediated by microglia-derived exosomes is most prominently involved in the spread of neuroinflammation, neurodegenerative disorders, and brain cancer. Therefore, in the present study we describe a reproducible and highly efficient method for yielding purified primary microglia cells, followed by exosome isolation and their characterization. An in vitro biological assay demonstrates that microglia-derived exosomes tested on a 3D spheroid glioma culture were able to inhibit tumor invasion in time course. These results evidence that brain microglia-derived exosomes could be used as nanotherapeutic agents against glioma cells

SETD2 mutation in renal clear cell carcinoma suppress autophagy via regulation of ATG12

Inactivating mutations in the SETD2 gene, encoding for a nonredundant histone H3 methyltransferase and regulator of transcription, is a frequent molecular feature in clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCC). SETD2 deficiency is associated with recurrence of ccRCC and bears low prognostic values. Targeting autophagy, a conserved catabolic process with critical functions in maintenance of cellular homeostasis and cell conservation under stress condition, is emerging as a potential therapeutic strategy to combat ccRCC. Epigenetics-based pathways are now appreciated as key components in the regulation of autophagy. However, whether loss of function in the SETD2 histone modifying enzyme occurring in ccRCC cells may impact on their ability to undergo autophagy remained to be explored. Here, we report that SETD2 deficiency in RCC cells is associated with the aberrant accumulation of both free ATG12 and of an additional ATG12-containing complex, distinct from the ATG5-ATG12 complex. Rescue of SETD2 functions in the SETD2 deficiency in RCC cells, or reduction of SETD2 expression level in RCC cells wild type for this enzyme, demonstrates that SETD2 deficiency in RCC is directly involved in the acquisition of these alterations in the autophagic process. Furthermore, we revealed that deficiency in SETD2, known regulator of alternative splicing, is associated with increased expression of a short ATG12 spliced isoform at the depend of the canonical long ATG12 isoform in RCC cells. The defect in the ATG12-dependent conjugation system was found to be associated with a decrease autophagic flux, in accord with the role for this ubiquitin-like protein conjugation system in autophagosome formation and expansion. Finally, we report that SETD2 and ATG12 gene expression levels are associated with favorable respective unfavorable prognosis in ccRCC patients. Collectively, our findings bring further argument for considering the SETD2 gene status of ccRCC tumors, when therapeutic interventions, such as targeting the autophagic process, are considered to combat these kidney cancers

Spinal Cord Injury: Animal Models, Imaging Tools and the Treatment Strategies

International audienceSpinal cord injury (SCI) often leads to irreversible neuro-degenerative changes with life-long consequences. While there is still no effective therapy available, the results of past research have led to improved quality of life for patients suffering from partial or permanent paralysis. In this review we focus on the need, importance and the scientific value of experimental animal models simulating SCI in humans. Furthermore, we highlight modern imaging tools determining the location and extent of spinal cord damage and their contribution to early diagnosis and selection of appropriate treatment. Finally, we focus on available cellular and acellular therapies and novel combinatory approaches with exosomes and active biomaterials. Here we discuss the efficacy and limitations of adult mesenchymal stem cells which can be derived from bone marrow, adipose tissue or umbilical cord blood and its Wharton's jelly. Special attention is paid to stem cell-derived exosomes and smart biomaterials due to their special properties as a delivery system for proteins, bioactive molecules or even genetic material

Shedding new light on spinal cord injury

International audienc

Localized Intrathecal Delivery of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Conditioned Medium Improves Functional Recovery in a Rat Model of Spinal Cord Injury

It was recently shown that the conditioned medium (CM) of mesenchymal stem cells can enhance viability of neural and glial cell populations. In the present study, we have investigated a cell-free approach via CM from rat bone marrow stromal cells (MScCM) applied intrathecally (IT) for spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery in adult rats. Functional in vitro test on dorsal root ganglion (DRG) primary cultures confirmed biological properties of collected MScCM for production of neurosphere-like structures and axon outgrowth. Afterwards, rats underwent SCI and were treated with IT delivery of MScCM or vehicle at postsurgical Days 1, 5, 9, and 13, and left to survive 10 weeks. Rats that received MScCM showed significantly higher motor function recovery, increase in spared spinal cord tissue, enhanced GAP-43 expression and attenuated inflammation in comparison with vehicle-treated rats. Spared tissue around the lesion site was infiltrated with GAP-43-labeled axons at four weeks that gradually decreased at 10 weeks. Finally, a cytokine array performed on spinal cord extracts after MScCM treatment revealed decreased levels of IL-2, IL-6 and TNFα when compared to vehicle group. In conclusion, our results suggest that molecular cocktail found in MScCM is favorable for final neuroregeneration after SCI

Correction: Cizkova, D., et al. Localized Intrathecal Delivery of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells Conditioned Media Improves Functional Recovery in A Rat Model of Contusive Spinal Cord Injury. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2018, 19, 870

n/

Location of neonatal microglia drives small extracellular vesicles content and biological functions in vitro

International audienceCombining proteomics and systems biology approaches, we demonstrate that neonatal microglial cells derived from two different CNS locations, cortex and spinal cord, and cultured in vitro displayed different phenotypes upon different physiological or pathological conditions. These cells also exhibited greater variability in terms of cellular and small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) protein content and levels. Bioinformatic data analysis showed that cortical microglia exerted anti-inflammatory and neurogenesis/tumorigenesis properties, while the spinal cord microglia were more inflammatory. Interestingly, while both sEVs microglia sources enhanced growth of DRGs processes, only the spinal cord-derived sEVs microglia under LPS stimulation significantly attenuated glioma proliferation. These results were confirmed using the neurite outgrowth assay on DRGs cells and glioma proliferation analysis in 3D spheroid cultures. Results from these in vitro assays suggest that the microglia localized at different CNS regions can ensure different biological functions. Together, this study indicates that neonatal microglia locations regulate their physiological and pathological functional fates and could affect the high prevalence of brain vs spinal cord gliomas in adults