The innovative dimension of the research training programmes under H2020-MSCA-ITN: a methodological approach to track, measure and analyse innovative aspects and provide policy-feedback conclusions.

Innovative research training programmes funded by the European Union are essential for the forging of highly skilled researchers to tackle, via breakthrough ideas and solutions, the challenges of our society. Being able to track, measure and analyse innovative aspects of the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions, Innovative Training Networks under the Horizon2020 funding scheme enables the impact assessment of such programmes, while filtering best practices and the generated knowledge that could ultimately breed and create further innovation. In parallel, it helps the identification of areas for improvement, the understanding of new needs to be accommodated and the co-design and implementation of EU funding policy activities to further promote innovation and excellence for researchers across Europe and beyond. In this study, a novel methodological approach is proposed for tracking and analysing innovation, using a representative sample of projects. Basic innovation indicators are examined and considered from the existing literature and from the applicable Multi-Annual Framework Programme Horizon2020. Additional ones are defined, complemented by questionnaires/surveys findings, to capture innovative aspects for which the standard indicators do not apply. Data mining and data visualization tools are used for the collection and processing of data. Innovation Radar (IR) reports and HorizonResultsBooster services are also engaged for the cross-validation of the identified innovative aspects. The study provides first-level input for policy-feedback activities, by identifying scientific domains and EU countries that may potentially require more attention for innovation generation. It highlights domains that are front-runners and can be used as examples or best practices for under-represented domains in terms of innovative outputs. Collaboration with organisations, defined as medium/high innovators, can increase innovation generation and success in future projects. Best practices are collected to serve as references for designing impactful future training programmes. The excellence of the H2020-MSCA-ITN actions is confirmed via the generated innovations.

Neuroinflammatory and oxidative stress phenomena in MPS IIIA mouse model: the positive effect of long-term aspirin treatment.

Sanfilippo disease (MPS IIIA) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorder resulting from sulfamidase deficiency, which is characterized by severe neurological impairment. Various tissues of MPS IIIA mice accumulate undegraded glycosaminoglycans and mimic the human neurodegenerative disorder, and are an excellent tool to both delineate disease pathogenesis and test potential therapies. The relationship between abnormal glycosaminoglycan storage and neurodysfunction remains ill defined. Pathways such as inflammation or oxidative stress have been highlighted in many neurodegenerative disorders, including lysosomal storage diseases, as major components of the neuropathology. By using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we have compared the expression of selected genes in normal and MPS IIIA mouse cerebral tissues, focusing on inflammation, apoptosis and oxidative stress-related genes. We have identified several genes strongly over-expressed in the central nervous system of a MPS IIIA mouse, reflecting a neurological deterioration state. We have used these genes as markers to follow-up a long-term aspirin treatment. Aspirin treatment led to the normalization of inflammation- and oxidative stress-related mRNA levels in treated MPS IIIA mouse brains. A biochemical correction of an oxidative stress phenomenon both in the brain and peripheral organs of treated MPS IIIA mice was also obtained. These results suggest that anti-inflammatory intervention may be of potential benefit in MPS IIIA disease.

Storage correction in cells of patients suffering from mucopolysaccharidoses types IIIA and VII after treatment with genistein and other isoflavones.

Mucopolysaccharidoses are autosomal and recessive lysosomal storage disorders caused by the deficiency of a lysosomal enzyme involved in glycosaminoglycan catabolism. The Sanfilippo type A disease (MPS III A) results from sulfamidase deficiency, which leads to accumulation of heparan sulfate, whereas Sly disease (MPS VII) results from beta-glucuronidase deficiency, leading to accumulation of heparan, dermatan, and chondroitin sulfates. These syndromes are characterized by severe central nervous system degeneration, resulting in progressive mental retardation, and fatality occurs in severely affected children. To date, no effective treatment is available except for bone marrow transplantation in specific cases. Recently, the use of genistein, an isoflavone that inhibits glycosaminoglycans synthesis, has been tested as substrate reduction therapy for neuronopathic forms of these diseases.We tested five natural analogs to genistein in human fibroblasts from both Sanfilippo A and Sly patients. Four molecules were as efficient as genistein in decreasing glycosaminoglycan accumulation. Moreover, a combination of several isoflavones was more efficient than one single isoflavone, suggesting a synergistic effect. These preliminary data may offer new perspectives for treating Sly and Sanfilippo A diseases and could be relevant to other neurological forms of mucopolysaccharidoses.

Induced secretion of beta-hexosaminidase by human brain endothelial cells: a novel approach in Sandhoff disease?

Sandhoff disease is an autosomal recessive lysosomal disorder due to mutations in the beta-hexosaminidase beta-chain gene, resulting in beta-hexosaminidases A (alphabeta) and B (betabeta) deficiency and GM2 ganglioside accumulation in the brain. In this study, our aim was to demonstrate that transduction of cerebral endothelial cells cultured in two-chamber culture inserts with a lentiviral vector encoding the hexosaminidases alpha and beta chains could induce a vectorial secretion of hexosaminidases. Therefore, the human cerebral endothelial cell line hCMEC/D3 was infected with the bicistronic vector from the apical compartment, and beta-hexosaminidase activity was measured in transduced cells and in deficient fibroblasts co-cultured in the basal (i.e. brain) compartment. Induced beta-hexosaminidase secretion by transduced hCMEC/D3 cells was sufficient to allow for a 70-90% restoration of beta-hexosaminidase activity in deficient fibroblasts. On the basis of these in vitro data, we propose that brain endothelium be considered as a novel therapeutic target in Sandhoff disease.

Identification of new markers for neurodegeneration process in the mouse model of Sly disease as revealed by expression profiling of selected genes.

Sly disease (MPS VII) is an autosomal-recessive lysosomal storage disorder resulting from beta-glucuronidase deficiency, which is characterized by a severe neurological impairment. MPS VII mice accumulate undegraded glycosaminoglycans and mimic the human neurodegenerative disorder, thus appearing to be an excellent tool to delineate disease pathogenesis. The relationship between abnormal glycosaminoglycan storage and neurodysfunction is not yet well understood, but inflammatory components can be involved, as in several neurological lysosomal disorders. Inflammatory biomarkers are thus good candidates to evaluate the neurodegeneration state of the disease. By using quantitative polymerase chain reaction, we have compared the expression of selected genes of normal and MPS VII cerebral tissues, focusing on inflammation and apoptosis-related genes. The gene expression was evaluated in various brain regions throughout the lifetime of the animals. We have identified a specific expression profile for 27 genes, which was strongly marked in the central nervous system posterior region. Finally, new Sly disease markers were characterized that reflect neurological deterioration state, and that can be used in preclinical follow-up studies.

Reversion of the biochemical defects in murine embryonic Sandhoff neurons using a bicistronic lentiviral vector encoding hexosaminidase alpha and beta.

Sandhoff disease, a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the intracellular accumulation of GM2 ganglioside, is caused by mutations in the hexosaminidase beta-chain gene resulting in a hexosaminidase A (alphabeta) and B (betabeta) deficiency. A bicistronic lentiviral vector encoding both the hexosaminidase alpha and beta chains (SIV.ASB) has previously been shown to correct the beta-hexosaminidase deficiency and to reduce GM2 levels both in transduced and cross-corrected human Sandhoff fibroblasts. Recent advances in determining the neuropathophysiological mechanisms in Sandhoff disease have shown a mechanistic link between GM2 accumulation, neuronal cell death, reduction of sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase (SERCA) activity, and axonal outgrowth. To examine the ability of the SIV.ASB vector to reverse these pathophysiological events, hippocampal neurons from embryonic Sandhoff mice were transduced with the lentivector. Normal axonal growth rates were restored, as was the rate of Ca(2+) uptake via the SERCA and the sensitivity of the neurons to thapsigargin-induced cell death, concomitant with a decrease in GM2 and GA2 levels. Thus, we have demonstrated that the bicistronic vector can reverse the biochemical defects and down-stream consequences in Sandhoff neurons, reinforcing its potential for Sandhoff disease in vivo gene therapy.

Bicistronic lentiviral vector corrects beta-hexosaminidase deficiency in transduced and cross-corrected human Sandhoff fibroblasts.

Sandhoff disease is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease characterized by a GM2 ganglioside intralysosomal accumulation. It is due to mutations in the beta-hexosaminidases beta-chain gene, resulting in a beta-hexosaminidases A (alphabeta) and B (betabeta) deficiency. Mono and bicistronic lentiviral vectors containing the HEXA or/and HEXB cDNAs were constructed and tested on human Sandhoff fibroblasts. The bicistronic SIV.ASB vector enabled a massive restoration of beta-hexosaminidases activity on synthetic substrates and a 20% correction on the GM2 natural substrate. Metabolic labeling experiments showed a large reduction of ganglioside accumulation in SIV.ASB transduced cells, demonstrating a correct recombinant enzyme targeting to the lysosomes. Moreover, enzymes secreted by transduced Sandhoff fibroblasts were endocytosed in deficient cells via the mannose 6-phosphate pathway, allowing GM2 metabolism restoration in cross-corrected cells. Therefore, our bicistronic lentivector supplying both alpha- and beta-subunits of beta-hexosaminidases may provide a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of Sandhoff disease.