技术资料

We examined the interaction between OSU-03012 (also called AR-12) with phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE5) inhibitors to determine the role of the chaperone glucose-regulated protein (GRP78)/BiP/HSPA5 in the cellular response. Sildenafil (Viagra) interacted in a greater than additive fashion with OSU-03012 to kill stem-like GBM cells. Treatment of cells with OSU-03012/sildenafil: abolished the expression of multiple oncogenic growth factor receptors and plasma membrane drug efflux pumps and caused a rapid degradation of GRP78 and other HSP70 and HSP90 family chaperone proteins. Decreased expression of plasma membrane receptors and drug efflux pumps was dependent upon enhanced PERK-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP signaling and was blocked by GRP78 over-expression. In vivo OSU-03012/sildenafil was more efficacious than treatment with celecoxib and sildenafil at killing tumor cells without damaging normal tissues and in parallel reduced expression of ABCB1 and ABCG2 in the normal brain. The combination of OSU-03012/sildenafil synergized with low concentrations of sorafenib to kill tumor cells,and with lapatinib to kill ERBB1 over-expressing tumor cells. In multiplex assays on plasma and human tumor tissue from an OSU-03012/sildenafil treated mouse,we noted a profound reduction in uPA signaling and identified FGF and JAK1/2 as response biomarkers for potentially suppressing the killing response. Inhibition of FGFR signaling and to a lesser extent JAK1/2 signaling profoundly enhanced OSU-03012/sildenafil lethality. View Publication

BACKGROUND Transplantation of enteric neural stem cells (ENSC) holds promise as a potential therapy for enteric neuropathies,including Hirschsprung disease. Delivery of transplantable cells via laparotomy has been described,but we propose a novel,minimally invasive endoscopic method of cell delivery. METHODS Enteric neural stem cells for transplantation were cultured from dissociated gut of postnatal donor mice. Twelve recipient mice,including Ednrb(-/-) mice with distal colonic aganglionosis,underwent colonoscopic injection of ENSC under direct vision using a 30-gauge Hamilton needle passed through a rigid cystoureteroscope. Cell engraftment,survival,and neuroglial differentiation were studied 1-4 weeks after the procedure. KEY RESULTS All recipient mice tolerated the procedure without complications and survived to sacrifice. Transplanted cells were found within the colonic wall in 9 of 12 recipient mice with differentiation into enteric neurons and glia. CONCLUSIONS & INFERENCES Endoscopic injection of ENSC is a safe and reliable method for cell delivery,and can be used to deliver a large number of cells to a specific area of disease. This minimally invasive endoscopic approach may prove beneficial to future human applications of cell therapy for neurointestinal disease. View Publication

BACKGROUND In glioblastoma (GBM),Id1 serves as a functional marker for self-renewing cancer stem-like cells. We investigated the mechanism by which cyclooxygenase-2 (Cox-2)-derived prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) induces Id1 and increases GBM self-renewal and radiation resistance. METHODS Mouse and human GBM cells were stimulated with dimethyl-PGE2 (dmPGE2),a stabilized form of PGE2,to test for Id1 induction. To elucidate the signal transduction pathway governing the increase in Id1,a combination of short interfering RNA knockdown and small molecule inhibitors and activators of PGE2 signaling were used. Western blotting,quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR,and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were employed. Sphere formation and radiation resistance were measured in cultured primary cells. Immunohistochemical analyses were carried out to evaluate the Cox-2-Id1 axis in experimental GBM. RESULTS In GBM cells,dmPGE2 stimulates the EP4 receptor leading to activation of ERK1/2 MAPK. This leads,in turn,to upregulation of the early growth response1 (Egr1) transcription factor and enhanced Id1 expression. Activation of this pathway increases self-renewal capacity and resistance to radiation-induced DNA damage,which are dependent on Id1. CONCLUSIONS In GBM,Cox-2-derived PGE2 induces Id1 via EP4-dependent activation of MAPK signaling and the Egr1 transcription factor. PGE2-mediated induction of Id1 is required for optimal tumor cell self-renewal and radiation resistance. Collectively,these findings identify Id1 as a key mediator of PGE2-dependent modulation of radiation response and lend insight into the mechanisms underlying radiation resistance in GBM patients. View Publication

Although neural stem cells (NSCs) sustain continuous neurogenesis throughout the adult lifespan of mammals,they progressively exhibit proliferation defects that contribute to a sharp reduction in subventricular neurogenesis during aging. However,little is known regarding the early age-related events in neurogenic niches. Using a fluorescence-activated cell sorting technique that allows for the prospective purification of the main neurogenic populations from the subventricular zone (SVZ),we demonstrated an early decline in adult neurogenesis with a dramatic loss of progenitor cells in 4 month-old young adult mice. Whereas the activated and quiescent NSC pools remained stable up to 12 months,the proliferative status of activated NSCs was already altered by 6 months,with an overall extension of the cell cycle resulting from a specific lengthening of G1. Whole genome analysis of activated NSCs from 2- and 6-month-old mice further revealed distinct transcriptomic and molecular signatures,as well as a modulation of the TGFβ signalling pathway. Our microarray study constitutes a cogent identification of new molecular players and signalling pathways regulating adult neurogenesis and its early modifications. View Publication

Amyloid-ß (Aß) precursor protein (APP) metabolism engages neuronal endolysosomal pathways for Aß processing and secretion. In Alzheimer's disease (AD),dysregulation of APP leads to excess Aß and neuronal dysfunction; suggesting that neuronal APP/Aß trafficking can be targeted for therapeutic gain. Cathepsin B (CatB) is a lysosomal cysteine protease that can lower Aß levels. However,whether CatB-modulation of Aß improves learning and memory function deficits in AD is not known. To this end,progenitor neurons were infected with recombinant adenovirus expressing CatB and recovered cell lysates subjected to proteomic analyses. The results demonstrated Lamp1 deregulation and linkages between CatB and the neuronal phagosome network. Hippocampal injections of adeno-associated virus expressing CatB reduced Aß levels,increased Lamp1 and improved learning and memory. The findings were associated with the emergence of c-fos + cells. The results support the idea that CatB can speed Aß metabolism through lysosomal pathways and as such reduce AD-associated memory deficits. View Publication

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and lethal adult brain tumor. Resistance to standard radiation and chemotherapy is thought to involve survival of GBM cancer stem cells (CSCs). To date,no single marker for identifying GBM CSCs has been able to capture the diversity of CSC populations,justifying the needs for additional CSC markers for better characterization. Employing targeted mass spectrometry,here we present five cell-surface markers HMOX1,SLC16A1,CADM1,SCAMP3,and CLCC1 which were found to be elevated in CSCs relative to healthy neural stem cells (NSCs). Transcriptomic analyses of REMBRANDT and TCGA compendiums also indicated elevated expression of these markers in GBM relative to controls and non-GBM diseases. Two markers SLC16A1 and HMOX1 were found to be expressed among pseudopalisading cells that reside in the hypoxic region of GBM,substantiating the histopathological hallmarks of GBM. In a prospective study (N%=%8) we confirmed the surface expression of HMOX1 on freshly isolated primary GBM cells (P0). Employing functional assays that are known to evaluate stemness,we demonstrate that elevated HMOX1 expression is associated with stemness in GBM and can be modulated through TGFβ. siRNA-mediated silencing of HMOX1 impaired GBM invasion-a phenomenon related to poor prognosis. In addition,surgical resection of GBM tumors caused declines (18%%±%5.1SEM) in the level of plasma HMOX1 as measured by ELISA,in 8/10 GBM patients. These findings indicate that HMOX1 is a robust predictor of GBM CSC stemness and pathogenesis. Further understanding of the role of HMOX1 in GBM may uncover novel therapeutic approaches. Stem Cells 2016;34:2276-2289. View Publication

Neuroinflammation is a common feature of acute neurological conditions such as stroke and spinal cord injury,as well as neurodegenerative conditions such as Parkinson's disease,Alzheimer's disease,and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Previous studies have demonstrated that acute neuroinflammation can adversely affect the survival of neural precursor cells (NPCs) and thereby limit the capacity for regeneration and repair. However,the mechanisms by which neuroinflammatory processes induce NPC death remain unclear. Microglia are key mediators of neuroinflammation and when activated to induce a pro-inflammatory state produce a number of factors that could affect NPC survival. Importantly,in the present study we demonstrate that tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) produced by lipopolysaccharide-activated microglia is necessary and sufficient to trigger apoptosis in mouse NPCs in vitro. Furthermore,we demonstrate that microglia-derived TNFα induces NPC apoptosis via a mitochondrial pathway regulated by the Bcl-2 family protein Bax. BH3-only proteins are known to play a key role in regulating Bax activation and we demonstrate that microglia-derived TNFα induces the expression of the BH3-only family member Puma in NPCs via an NF-κB-dependent mechanism. Specifically,we show that NF-κB is activated in NPCs treated with conditioned media from activated microglia and that Puma induction and NPC apoptosis is blocked by the NF-κB inhibitor BAY-117082. Importantly,we have determined that NPC apoptosis induced by activated microglia-derived TNFα is attenuated in Puma-deficient NPCs,indicating that Puma induction is required for NPC death. Consistent with this,we demonstrate that Puma-deficient NPCs exhibit an 13-fold increase in survival as compared with wild-type NPCs following transplantation into the inflammatory environment of the injured spinal cord in vivo. In summary,we have identified a key signaling pathway that regulates neuroinflammation induced apoptosis in NPCs in vitro and in vivo that could be targeted to promote regeneration and repair in diverse neurological conditions. View Publication

Many neuropsychiatric disorders are thought to result from subtle changes in neural circuit formation. We used human embryonic stem cells and induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to model mature,post-mitotic excitatory neurons and examine effects of fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2). FGF2 gene expression is known to be altered in brain regions of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients and FGF2 has anti-depressive effects in animal models of depression. We generated stable inducible neurons (siNeurons) conditionally expressing human neurogenin-2 (NEUROG2) to generate a homogenous population of post-mitotic excitatory neurons and study the functional as well as the transcriptional effects of FGF2. Upon induction of NEUROG2 with doxycycline,the vast majority of cells are post-mitotic,and the gene expression profile recapitulates that of excitatory neurons within 6 days. Using hES cell lines that inducibly express NEUROG2 as well as GCaMP6f,we were able to characterize spontaneous calcium activity in these neurons and show that calcium transients increase in the presence of FGF2. The FGF2-responsive genes were determined by RNA-Seq. FGF2-regulated genes previously identified in non-neuronal cell types were up-regulated (EGR1,ETV4,SPRY4,and DUSP6) as a result of chronic FGF2 treatment of siNeurons. Novel neuron-specific genes were also identified that may mediate FGF2-dependent increases in synaptic efficacy including NRXN3,SYT2,and GALR1. Since several of these genes have been implicated in MDD previously,these results will provide the basis for more mechanistic studies of the role of FGF2 in MDD. View Publication

Stress bears a negative impact on adult neurogenesis. High levels of corticoids have been shown to inhibit neural stem cell proliferation,and are considered responsible for the loss of neural precursors. Their effects on the differentiation of the glial and neuronal lineages have been less studied. We examined the effect of dexamethasone (Dex),a synthetic glucocorticoid,on the differentiation of rat neural stem cells in vitro. Dex had no effect on the differentiation of cells cultured under standard conditions. Since we previously determined that NSC,when cultured under classical conditions,were deprived of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA),and displayed phospholipid compositions very different from the in vivo figures [1],we examined the effect of Dex under PUFA supplementation. Dex impaired neuron and oligodendrocyte maturation in PUFA-supplemented cells,demonstrated by the reduction of neurite lengths and oligodendrocyte sizes. This effect was mediated by the glucocorticoid receptor (GR),since it was eliminated by mifepristone,a GR antagonist,and could be relayed by a reduction of ERK phosphorylation. We determined that GR was associated with PPAR β and α under basal conditions,and that this association was disrupted when PUFA were added in combination with Dex. We assumed that this effect on the receptor status enabled the effect of Dex on PUFA supplemented cells,since we determined that the binding to the glucocorticoid response element was higher in cells incubated with PUFA and Dex. In conclusion,corticoids can impair NSC differentiation,and consequently impact the entire process of neurogenesis. View Publication

Multiple research groups have observed neuropathological phenotypes and molecular symptoms in vitro using induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neural cell cultures (i.e. patient-specific neurons and glia). However,the global differences/similarities that may exist between in vitro neural cells and their tissue-derived counterparts remain largely unknown. In this study,we compared temporal series of iPSC-derived in vitro neural cell cultures to endogenous brain tissue from the same autopsy donor. Specifically,we utilized RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) to evaluate the transcriptional progression of in vitro-differentiated neural cells (over a timecourse of 0,35,70,105 and 140 days),and compared this with donor-identical temporal lobe tissue. We observed in vitro progression towards the reference brain tissue,and the following three results support this conclusion: (i) there was a significant increasing monotonic correlation between the days of our timecourse and the number of actively transcribed protein-coding genes and long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) (P < 0.05),consistent with the transcriptional complexity of the brain; (ii) there was an increase in CpG methylation after neural differentiation that resembled the epigenomic signature of the endogenous tissue; and (iii) there was a significant decreasing monotonic correlation between the days of our timecourse and the percent of in vitro to brain-tissue differences (P < 0.05) for tissue-specific protein-coding genes and all putative lincRNAs. Taken together,these results are consistent with in vitro neural development and physiological progression occurring predominantly by transcriptional activation of downregulated genes rather than deactivation of upregulated genes. View Publication

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) are important tools for drug discovery assays and toxicology screens. In this manuscript,we design high efficiency TALEN and ZFN to target two safe harbor sites on chromosome 13 and 19 in a widely available and well-characterized integration-free iPSC line. We show that these sites can be targeted in multiple iPSC lines to generate reporter systems while retaining pluripotent characteristics. We extend this concept to making lineage reporters using a C-terminal targeting strategy to endogenous genes that express in a lineage-specific fashion. Furthermore,we demonstrate that we can develop a master cell line strategy and then use a Cre-recombinase induced cassette exchange strategy to rapidly exchange reporter cassettes to develop new reporter lines in the same isogenic background at high efficiency. Equally important we show that this recombination strategy allows targeting at progenitor cell stages,further increasing the utility of the platform system. The results in concert provide a novel platform for rapidly developing custom single or dual reporter systems for screening assays. View Publication

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cortical neurons potentially present a powerful new model to understand corticogenesis and neurological disease. Previous work has established that differentiation protocols can produce cortical neurons,but little has been done to characterize these at cellular resolution. In particular,it is unclear to what extent in vitro two-dimensional,relatively disordered culture conditions recapitulate the development of in vivo cortical layer identity. Single-cell multiplex reverse transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was used to interrogate the expression of genes previously implicated in cortical layer or phenotypic identity in individual cells. Totally,93.6% of single cells derived from iPSCs expressed genes indicative of neuronal identity. High proportions of single neurons derived from iPSCs expressed glutamatergic receptors and synaptic genes. And,68.4% of iPSC-derived neurons expressing at least one layer marker could be assigned to a laminar identity using canonical cortical layer marker genes. We compared single-cell RNA-seq of our iPSC-derived neurons to available single-cell RNA-seq data from human fetal and adult brain and found that iPSC-derived cortical neurons closely resembled primary fetal brain cells. Unexpectedly,a subpopulation of iPSC-derived neurons co-expressed canonical fetal deep and upper cortical layer markers. However,this appeared to be concordant with data from primary cells. Our results therefore provide reassurance that iPSC-derived cortical neurons are highly similar to primary cortical neurons at the level of single cells but suggest that current layer markers,although effective,may not be able to disambiguate cortical layer identity in all cells. View Publication