Mapping Sound Properties and Oenological Characters by a Collaborative Sound Design Approach -Towards an Augmented Experience

International audienceThe paper presents a specific sound design process implemented upon a collaboration with an important stakeholder of the wine (Champagne) industry. The goal of the project was to link sound properties with oenological dimensions in order to compose a sonic environment able to realise a multisensory experience during the wine tasting protocol. This creation has resulted from a large scale methodological approach based on the semantic transformation concept (from wine words to sound words) and deployed by means of a codesign method-after having shared respective skills of each field (sound and oenology). A precise description of the workflow is detailed in the paper, The outcomes of the work are presented, either in terms of realisation or conceptual knowledge acquisition. Then, future perspectives for the following of the work are sketched, especially regarding the notion of evaluation. The whole approach is finally put in the broad conceptual framework of 'sciences of sound design' that is developed and argued in the light of this study

The Nrf2-Antioxidant Response Element Signaling Pathway Controls Fibrosis and Autoimmunity in Scleroderma

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease with fibrosis of the skin and internal organs and vascular alterations. Dysregulations in the oxidant/antioxidant balance are known to be a major factor in the pathogenesis of the disease. Indeed, reactive oxygen species (ROS) trigger neoepitopes leading to a breach of immune tolerance and autoimmune responses, activate fibroblasts to proliferate and to produce excess of type I collagen. ROS also alter endothelial cells leading to vascular dysfunction. Glutathione (GSH) is the most potent antioxidant system in eukaryotic cells. Numerous studies have reported a defect in GSH in SSc animal models and humans, but the origin of this defect remains unknown. The transcription factor NRF2 is a key player in the antioxidant defense, as it can induce the transcription of antioxidant and cytoprotective genes, including GSH, through its interaction with the antioxidant response elements. In this work, we investigated whether NRF2 could be implicated in the pathogenesis of SSc, and if this pathway could represent a new therapeutic target in this orphan disease with no curative medicine. Skin biopsies from 11 patients and 10 controls were harvested, and skin fibroblasts were extracted. Experimental SSc was induced both in BALB/c and in nrf2−/− mice by daily intradermal injections of hypochloric acid. In addition, diseased BALB/c mice were treated with an nrf2 agonist, dimethyl fumarate, or placebo. A drop in nrf2 and target genes mRNA levels was observed in skin fibroblasts of SSc patients compared to controls. Moreover, the nrf2 pathway is also downregulated in skins and lungs of SSc mice. In addition, we observed that nrf2−/− mice have a more severe form of SSc with increased fibrosis and inflammation compared to wild-type SSc mice. Diseased mice treated with the nrf2 agonist dimethyl fumarate (DMF) exhibited reduced fibrosis and immune activation compared to untreated mice. The ex vivo treatment of skin fibroblasts from SSc mice with DMF restores GSH intracellular content, decreases ROS production and cell proliferation. These results suggest that the nrf2 pathway is highly dysregulated in human and SSc mice with deleterious consequences on fibrosis and inflammation and that Nrf2 modulation represents a therapeutic target in SSc

Prevention of peripheral neuropathies induced by chemotherapies trough a pharmalogical modulation of reactive oxygen species and muscarinic receptors

Les chimiothérapies à base de sels de platine exercent leurs effets anti-tumoraux en compromettant l'intégrité de l'ADN. Cette cytotoxicité conduit à une augmentation du stress oxydant qui, à son tour, favorise les processus de mort cellulaire. L'oxaliplatine indiquée dans les cancers métastatiques secondaires du colon et dans les cancers colorectaux, induit une augmentation des espèces réactives de l’oxygène en diminuant le glutathion réduit dans les cellules cancéreuses. Similairement aux autres chimiothérapies à base de sels de platine, elle doit être utilisée avec précaution. En effet, la majorité des patients recevant de l'oxaliplatine développent des neuropathies périphériques. Cette neurodégénérescence est un facteur limitant de cette chimiothérapie puisqu'elle peut nécessiter une réduction du dosage ou même une interruption du traitement si cet effet secondaire atteint une sévérité de grade 3. Les toxicités neurologiques peuvent se manifester dans les heures suivant l'injection sous forme aiguë. La forme chronique résulte d'injections cumulées de doses élevées. La forme aiguë, caractérisée par une paresthésie transitoire et une myotonie, est réversible et se résout généralement en quelques jours tandis que la forme chronique présente une paresthésie et une thermoalgie persistantes résultant de la dégradation axonale distale et de la démyélinisation des fibres nerveuses de gros diamètre. Les voies inflammatoires ont été incriminées dans l'étiologie de cette neurodégénérescence. Le niclosamide, un ténicide modulant les voies Stat3, Wnt, Notch et Beta-caténine, a été étudié in vitro et in vivo. Ayant déjà démontré les propriétés anti-inflammatoires de ce composé dans la sclérodermie systémique, nous avons cherché à déterminer si le niclosamide pourrait également prévenir la neurotoxicité de l'oxaliplatine. Le niclosamide a démontré une neuroprotection à la fois in vitro sur les neurones traités par l'oxaliplatine et in vivo dans les modèles de neuropathies périphériques induites par l'oxaliplatine. Le niclosamide est déjà utilisé en clinique avec des effets secondaires limités. L'association de cette molécule avec l'oxaliplatine pourrait augmenter l'indice thérapeutique de cette chimiothérapie. La benztropine est un inhibiteur des récepteurs muscariniques M1 et M3 possédant un potentiel de remyélinisation démontré dans le système nerveux central en favorisant la différenciation et la prolifération des cellules précurseurs des oligodendrocytes. La répartition différentielle entre les sous-types de récepteurs peut permettre le ciblage spécifique des cellules tumorales, notamment par l'inhibition de la signalisation autocrine de l'acétylcholine. La benztropine est un composé bien toléré qui ne provoque aucune réaction immunologique lors de son administration. Cette molécule présente un effet neuroprotecteur in vitro sur les neurones traités par l'oxaliplatine au cours d’études de viabilité cellulaire ainsi qu’in vivo dans les modèles murins de neuropathies périphériques induites par l'oxaliplatine et le diabète. L'association de cette molécule avec l'oxaliplatine pourrait augmenter l'indice thérapeutique de cette chimiothérapie, en potentialisant ses effets antitumoraux tout en diminuant la neurotoxicité. L’ubiquité des propriétés neuroprotectrices de la benztropine a été démontrée sur des neuropathies périphériques résultants d’autres étiologies. Nous avons ici décrit deux molécules permettant de conserver l’efficacité antitumorale du traitement par oxaliplatine tout en limitant ses effets neurotoxiques. Nous avons décrit les mécanismes par lesquels ces molécules exercent leur neuroprotection. Les résultats prometteurs obtenus au cours de ces travaux permettent d’envisager l’utilisation en clinique de ces molécules afin de prévenir non seulement les neuropathies périphériques induites par l'oxaliplatine, mais aussi les neuropathies périphériques résultant d'autres étiologies.Platinum-based chemotherapies have been shown to elicit their anti-tumoral effects by compromising DNA integrity. These impairments ultimately lead to a burst in oxidative stress which in turn promotes cell death processes. Oxaliplatin, a platinum-based antineoplastic drug is usually indicated in secondary metastatic colon cancers and colorectal cancers and mediates a rise in reactive oxygen species through the depletion of reduced glutathione in cancerous cells. This chemotherapy is indicated as a frontline and an adjuvant treatment and similarly to other platinum-based chemotherapies, it warrants for particular caution. Most patients receiving oxaliplatin develop peripheral neuropathies. This neurodegeneration is a limiting factor of this chemotherapy since it may require the lowering of dosage or even the interruption of the treatment if this side-effect is assessed as a grade 3 peripheral neuropathy. Neurological toxicities may manifest within hours of injection as an acute form or as a chronic form resulting from cumulated high-dosage injections. The acute form, characterized by transient paresthesia and myotonia, is reversible and usually resolves within days while the chronic form presents persistent paresthesia and thermoalgia resulting from distal axonal degradation and demyelination of large fibers. Inflammatory pathways have also been incriminated in the etiology of this neurodegeneration. Niclosamide, a teniacide known to downregulate Stat3, Wnt, Notch and Beta-catenin pathways was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Having previously demonstrated this compound’s anti-inflammatory properties in systemic sclerosis, we sought to investigate whether niclosamide could also prevent oxaliplatin’s neurotoxicity. Niclosamide demonstrated neuroprotection both in vitro on oxaliplatin-treated neurons and in vivo in models of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathies. Niclosamide is used in humans with limited side-effects. The association of this molecule with oxaliplatin could increase the therapeutic index of this chemotherapy. Benztropine is an inhibitor of muscarinic M1 and M3 receptors with known remyelinating potential in the central nervous system by promoting oligodendrocytes precursor cells differentiation and proliferation. The differential distribution between subtypes of receptors can allow the specific targeting of tumor cells, namely through the inhibition of autocrine acetylcholine signaling. This compound is well tolerated and does not elicit any immunological reaction upon its administration. These observations of potential for both, preventing neurotoxicity as well as increasing the efficacy profile of neurotoxic chemotherapies, prompted us to investigate this M1 and M3 receptors inhibitor. Benztropine demonstrated neuroprotection in vitro on oxaliplatin-treated neurons as demonstrated by viability assays studies as well as in vivo in models of oxaliplatin-induced as well as diabetic peripheral neuropathies. The association of this molecule with oxaliplatin could increase the therapeutic index of this chemotherapy, potentiate this chemotherapy’s antitumoral effects against certain cancers as well as decrease the occurrence of diabetic neuropathies, a prevalent complication of diabetes. We have herein described two molecules which allow oxaliplatin treatment to exert its cytotoxic effects without eliciting its neurotoxicity. Furthermore, we have described the mechanisms by which these molecules exert their neuroprotection. The neuroprotective abilities of one of these molecules have also been broadened by the study of other types of peripheral neuropathies, namely diabetic neuropathies. The promising results obtained over the course of these works allow for optimism in the prospect of finding therapies to counteract not only oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathies but peripheral neuropathies resulting from other etiologies

Oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy: the preventive effect of a new super-oxide dismutase modulator

International audienceBy using the differential in level of oxidative status between normal and cancer cells, SuperOxide Dismutase (SOD) mimetics can have anti-tumor efficacy and prevent oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy. Our objective was to evaluate the neuroprotective efficacy of MAG, a new SOD mimic. In vitro, the effects of MAG alone or with oxaliplatin were studied on colon cancer cells (HT29 and CT26) and on normal fibroblast cells (NIH3T3). The cell viability (by crystal violet) as well as the production of reactive forms of oxygen and glutathione (by spectrofluorimetric assay) was measured. In vivo, efficacy on tumor growth was assessed in mice grafted with CT26 colon cancer cells. The effects on induced neurotoxicity were measured by specific behavioral Von Frey nociception, cold-plate tests, specific functional neuromuscular assay and electron microscopy. In vitro, MAG induced a production of hydrogen peroxide in all cells. At 24 h-incubation, MAG exhibits a cytotoxic activity in all cell lines. A cytotoxic additive effect of MAG and oxaliplatin was observed through oxidative burst. In vivo, oxaliplatin-treated mice associated with MAG did not counteract oxaliplatin's antitumoral efficacy. After 4 weeks of treatment with oxaliplatin combined with MAG, behavioral and functional tests showed a decrease in peripheral neuropathy induced by oxaliplatin in vivo. Electron microscopy analyses on sciatic nerves revealed an oxaliplatin-induced demyelination which is prevented by the association of MAG to this chemotherapy. In conclusion, MAG prevents the appearance of sensitive axonal neuropathy and neuromuscular disorders induced by oxaliplatin without affecting its antitumor activity

Preventive action of benztropine on platinum-induced peripheral neuropathies and tumor growth

Abstract The endogenous cholinergic system plays a key role in neuronal cells, by suppressing neurite outgrowth and myelination and, in some cancer cells, favoring tumor growth. Platinum compounds are widely used as part of first line conventional cancer chemotherapy; their efficacy is however limited by peripheral neuropathy as a major side-effect. In a multiple sclerosis mouse model, benztropine, that also acts as an anti-histamine and a dopamine re-uptake inhibitor, induced the differentiation of oligodendrocytes through M1 and M3 muscarinic receptors and enhanced re-myelination. We have evaluated whether benztropine can increase anti-tumoral efficacy of oxaliplatin, while preventing its neurotoxicity. We showed that benztropine improves acute and chronic clinical symptoms of oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathies in mice. Sensory alterations detected by electrophysiology in oxaliplatin-treated mice were consistent with a decreased nerve conduction velocity and membrane hyperexcitability due to alterations in the density and/or functioning of both sodium and potassium channels, confirmed by action potential analysis from ex-vivo cultures of mouse dorsal root ganglion sensory neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp. These alterations were all prevented by benztropine. In oxaliplatin-treated mice, MBP expression, confocal and electronic microscopy of the sciatic nerves revealed a demyelination and confirmed the alteration of the myelinated axons morphology when compared to animals injected with oxaliplatin plus benztropine. Benztropine also prevented the decrease in neuronal density in the paws of mice injected with oxaliplatin. The neuroprotection conferred by benztropine against chemotherapeutic drugs was associated with a lower expression of inflammatory cytokines and extended to diabetic-induced peripheral neuropathy in mice. Mice receiving benztropine alone presented a lower tumor growth when compared to untreated animals and synergized the anti-tumoral effect of oxaliplatin, a phenomenon explained at least in part by benztropine-induced ROS imbalance in tumor cells. This report shows that blocking muscarinic receptors with benztropine prevents peripheral neuropathies and increases the therapeutic index of oxaliplatin. These results can be rapidly transposable to patients as benztropine is currently indicated in Parkinson’s disease in the United States

Niclosamide Inhibits Oxaliplatin Neurotoxicity while Improving Colorectal Cancer Therapeutic Response

International audienceNeuropathic pain is a limiting factor of platinum-based che-motherapies. We sought to investigate the neuroprotective potential of niclosamide in peripheral neuropathies induced by oxali-platin. Normal neuron-like and cancer cells were treated $in\ vitro$ with oxaliplatin associated or not with an inhibitor of STAT3 and NF-$k$B, niclosamide. Cell production of reactive oxygen species and viability were measured by 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate and crystal violet. Peripheral neuropathies were induced in mice by oxaliplatin with or without niclosamide. Neurologic functions were assessed by behavioral and electrophysiologic tests, intraepidermal innervation, and myelination by immuno-histochemical, histologic, and morphologic studies using confo-cal microscopy. Efficacy on tumor growth was assessed in mice grafted with CT26 colon cancer cells. In neuron-like cells, niclo-samide downregulated the production of oxaliplatin-mediated H$_2$ O$_2$ , thereby preventing cell death. In colon cancer cells, niclo-samide enhanced oxaliplatin-mediated cell death through increased H$_2$ O$_2$ production. These observations were explained by inherent lower basal levels of GSH in cancer cells compared with normal and neuron-like cells. In neuropathic mice, niclo-samide prevented tactile hypoesthesia and thermal hyperalgesia and abrogated membrane hyperexcitability. The teniacide also prevented intraepidermal nerve fiber density reduction and demy-elination in oxaliplatin mice in this mixed form of peripheral neuropathy. Niclosamide prevents oxaliplatin-induced increased levels of IL6, TNF$\alpha$, and advanced oxidized protein products. Niclosamide displayed antitumor effects while not abrogating oxaliplatin efficacy. These results indicate that niclosamide exerts its neuroprotection both $in\ vitro$ and $in\ vivo$ by limiting oxaliplatin-induced oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. These findings identify niclosamide as a promising therapeutic adjunct to oxa-liplatin chemotherapy

Corrigendum: The Nrf2-Antioxidant Response Element Signaling Pathway Controls Fibrosis and Autoimmunity in Scleroderma

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01896.]

Imbalance of the Vanin-1 Pathway in Systemic Sclerosis

International audienceSystemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs and vascular alterations. SSc pathophysiology involves systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. Because the vanin-1 gene (vnn1) encodes an enzyme with pantetheinase activity that converts vasculoprotective pantethine into profibrotic pantothenic acid and pro-oxidant cystamine, we tested this pathway in the pathophysiology of SSc. Activation of the vanin-1/pantetheinase pathway was investigated in wild-type BALB/c mice with hypochlorous acid (HOCl)-induced SSc by ELISA and Western blotting. We then evaluated the effects of the inactivation of vnn1 on the development of fibrosis, endothelial alterations, and immunological activation in mice with HOCl- and bleomycin-induced SSc. We then explored the vanin-1/pantetheinase pathway in a cohort of patients with SSc and in controls. In wild-type mice with HOCl-induced SSc, the vanin-1/pantetheinase pathway was dysregulated, with elevation of vanin-1 activity in skin and high levels of serum pantothenic acid. Inactivation of the vnn1 gene in vnn1(-/-) mice with HOCl-induced SSc prevented the development of characteristic features of the disease, including fibrosis, immunologic abnormalities, and endothelial dysfunction. Remarkably, patients with diffuse SSc also had increased expression of vanin-1 in skin and blood and elevated levels of serum pantothenic acid that correlated with the severity of the disease. Our data demonstrate that vanin-1/pantetheinase controls fibrosis, vasculopathy, autoimmunity, and oxidative stress in SSc. The levels of vanin-1 expression and pantothenic acid determine SSc severity and can be used as markers of disease severity. More importantly, inhibition of vanin-1 can open new therapeutic approaches in SSc