Brain injections of glial cytoplasmic inclusions induce a multiple system atrophy-like pathology.

Synucleinopathies encompass several neurodegenerative diseases, which include Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy. These diseases are characterized by the deposit of α-synuclein aggregates in intracellular inclusions in neurons and glial cells. Unlike Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies, where aggregates are predominantly neuronal, multiple system atrophy is associated with α-synuclein cytoplasmic inclusions in oligodendrocytes. Glial cytoplasmic inclusions are the pathological hallmark of multiple system atrophy and are associated with neuroinflammation, modest demyelination and, ultimately, neurodegeneration. To evaluate the possible pathogenic role of glial cytoplasmic inclusions, we inoculated glial cytoplasmic inclusion-containing brain fractions obtained from multiple system atrophy patients into the striatum of non-human primates. After a 2-year in vivo phase, extensive histochemical and biochemical analyses were performed on the whole brain. We found loss of both nigral dopamine neurons and striatal medium spiny neurons, as well as loss of oligodendrocytes in the same regions, which are characteristics of multiple system atrophy. Furthermore, demyelination, neuroinflammation and α-synuclein pathology were also observed. These results show that the α-synuclein species in multiple system atrophy-derived glial cytoplasmic inclusions can induce a pathological process in non-human primates, including nigrostriatal and striatofugal neurodegeneration, oligodendroglial cell loss, synucleinopathy and gliosis. The present data pave the way for using this experimental model for MSA research and therapeutic development.

Bidirectional gut-to-brain and brain-to-gut propagation of synucleinopathy in non-human primates.

In Parkinson's disease, synucleinopathy is hypothesized to spread from the enteric nervous system, via the vagus nerve, to the CNS. Here, we compare, in baboon monkeys, the pathological consequences of either intrastriatal or enteric injection of α-synuclein-containing Lewy body extracts from patients with Parkinson's disease. This study shows that patient-derived α-synuclein aggregates are able to induce nigrostriatal lesions and enteric nervous system pathology after either enteric or striatal injection in a non-human primate model. This finding suggests that the progression of α-synuclein pathology might be either caudo-rostral or rostro-caudal, varying between patients and disease subtypes. In addition, we report that α-synuclein pathological lesions were not found in the vagal nerve in our experimental setting. This study does not support the hypothesis of a transmission of α-synuclein pathology through the vagus nerve and the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus. Instead, our results suggest a possible systemic mechanism in which the general circulation would act as a route for long-distance bidirectional transmission of endogenous α-synuclein between the enteric and the central nervous systems. Taken together, our study provides invaluable primate data exploring the role of the gut-brain axis in the initiation and propagation of Parkinson's disease pathology and should open the door to the development and testing of new therapeutic approaches aimed at interfering with the development of sporadic Parkinson's disease.

Why bother using non-human primate models of cognitive disorders in translational research?

Although everyone would agree that successful translation of therapeutic candidates for central nervous disorders should involve non-human primate (nhp) models of cognitive disorders, we are left with the paucity of publications reporting either the target validation or the actual preclinical testing in heuristic nhp models. In this review, we discuss the importance of nhps in translational research, highlighting the advances in technological/methodological approaches for 'bridging the gap' between preclinical and clinical experiments. In this process, we acknowledge that nhps remain a vital tool for the investigation of complex cognitive functions, given their resemblance to humans in aspects of behaviour, anatomy and physiology. The recent improvements made for a suitable nhp model in cognitive research, including new surrogates of disease and application of innovative methodological approaches, are continuous strides for reaching efficient translation for human benefit. This will ultimately aid the development of innovative treatments against the current and future threat of neurological and psychiatric disorders to the global population.

Phase 1 and phase 2 drug metabolism and bile acid production of HepaRG cells in a bioartificial liver in absence of dimethyl sulfoxide.

The human liver cell line HepaRG has been recognized as a promising source for in vitro testing of metabolism and toxicity of compounds. However, currently the hepatic differentiation of these cells relies on exposure to dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), which, as a side effect, has a cytotoxic effect and represses an all-round hepatic functionality. The AMC-bioartificial liver (AMC-BAL) is a three-dimensional bioreactor that has previously been shown to upregulate various liver functions of cultured cells. We therefore cultured HepaRG cells in the AMC-BAL without DMSO and characterized the drug metabolism. Within 14 days of culture, the HepaRG-AMC-BALs contained highly polarized viable liver-like tissue with heterogeneous expression of CYP3A4. We found a substantial metabolism of the tested substrates, ranging from 26% (UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 1A1), 47% (CYP3A4), to 240% (CYP2C9) of primary human hepatocytes. The CYP3A4 activity could be induced 2-fold by rifampicin, whereas CYP2C9 activity remained equally high. The HepaRG-AMC-BAL secreted bile acids at 43% the rate of primary human hepatocytes and demonstrated hydroxylation, conjugation, and transport of bile salts. Concluding, culturing HepaRG cells in the AMC-BAL yields substantial phase 1 and phase 2 drug metabolism, while maintaining high viability, rendering DMSO addition superfluous for the promotion of drug metabolism. Therefore, AMC-BAL culturing makes the HepaRG cells more suitable for testing metabolism and toxicity of drugs.

Expression and transport function of drug uptake transporters in differentiated HepaRG cells.

HepaRG cells have the ability to differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells. Many papers have shown that these hepatocyte-like cells share several functional properties with intact human hepatocytes. However, although previous studies have indicated the partial maintenance of mRNA expression of drug transporters, their expression and function have not been quantitatively characterized. In the present study, the mRNA and protein expression levels and transport activities of hepatic uptake transporters, organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) and Na(+)-taurocholate cotransporting polypeptide (NTCP) in HepaRG cells were compared with those in cryopreserved human hepatocytes. The mRNA expression levels of OATP1B1, OATP1B3, OATP2B1, and NTCP in HepaRG cells were 22-38%, 2-15%, 82-113%, and 191-247% of those in human hepatocytes, respectively. The relative protein expression of these transporters was comparable with their mRNA expression. We observed saturable uptake of typical substrates of NTCP and OATPs except for cholecystokinin octapeptide (OATP1B3-selective substrate), and Na(+)-dependent uptake of taurocholate was confirmed. Their relative uptake clearances were well explained by their mRNA and protein expression levels. Additionally, inhibition potencies of 12 OATP1B1 inhibitors were investigated both in HepaRG cells and in OATP1B1-expressing HEK293 cells to demonstrate the usefulness of HepaRG cells for the characterization of OATP1B1-mediated drug-drug interactions. The Ki values in both cell lines were comparable and showed significant correlation. These results suggest that the hepatic uptake transport function of OATP and NTCP transporters was relatively well maintained in HepaRG, although OATP1B3 function was too low to be detected.

Stable expression, activity, and inducibility of cytochromes P450 in differentiated HepaRG cells.

HepaRG cells possess the unique property to differentiate in vitro and to express various functions of mature hepatocytes, including the major cytochromes P450 (P450s). In the present study, we carefully analyzed mRNA expression and activity of the major P450s and their responsiveness to three prototypical inducers, phenobarbital, rifampicin, and omeprazole, in differentiated HepaRG cell cultures over a 4-week period after low and high seeding. Only minor differences were observed in P450 activities when measured by two cocktails of probe substrates, probably related to the choice and/or concentration of substrates. Similar results were obtained from the two cell seeding conditions. Expression and activities of several P450s were dimethyl sulfoxide-dependent. However, basal P450 expression and activities as well as their responsiveness to the prototypical inducers were well maintained over the 4-week period, and a good correlation was observed between transcript levels and corresponding activities. Thus, CYP1A2, CYP2B6, and CYP3A4 were found to accurately respond to their respective prototypical inducers, i.e., omeprazole, phenobarbital, and rifampicin. Likewise, basal expression of several phase II enzymes, transporters, and nuclear receptors, and response to inducers were also well preserved. More genes were found to be induced in HepaRG cells than in primary human hepatocytes, and no marked variation was noticed between the different passages. Taken together, these data support the conclusion that HepaRG cells represent a promising surrogate to primary human hepatocytes for xenobiotic metabolism and toxicity studies.

Interaction of eight HIV protease inhibitors with the canalicular efflux transporter ABCC2 (MRP2) in sandwich-cultured rat and human hepatocytes.

Hepatotoxicity has been reported as a side-effect in some patients on HIV protease inhibitors (PI). Since transporter interaction has been implicated as a mechanism underlying drug-mediated hepatotoxicity and drug-drug interactions, the interaction of PI with the hepatic canalicular efflux transporter ABCC2 (MRP2; multidrug resistance associated protein-2) was studied. Interaction with ABCC2/Abcc2 was evaluated in human and rat sandwich-cultured hepatocytes using 5(6)-carboxy-2',7'-dichlorofluorescein (CDF) as substrate. In rat hepatocytes, interaction with estradiol-17-beta-D-glucuronide (E17G) efflux was also studied. In human hepatocytes, saquinavir, ritonavir and atazanavir were the most efficient inhibitors of ABCC2-mediated biliary excretion of CDF, whereas in rat hepatocytes indinavir, lopinavir and nelfinavir were the most efficient. No species-similarity was found for ABCC2/Abcc2 inhibition. In rat hepatocytes, the effects on Abcc2 were substrate-dependent as inhibition of biliary excretion of E17G was most pronounced for saquinavir (completely blocked), amprenavir (82% inhibition) and indinavir (68% inhibition). In conclusion, several HIV PI showed substantial ABCC2 inhibition, which, combined with the effects of PI on other hepatobiliary disposition mechanisms, will determine the clinical relevance of these in vitro interaction data.

In-Depth Proteome Analysis Highlights HepaRG Cells as a Versatile Cell System Surrogate for Primary Human Hepatocytes.

Of the hepatic cell lines developed for in vitro studies of hepatic functions as alternatives to primary human hepatocytes, many have lost major liver-like functions, but not HepaRG cells. The increasing use of the latter worldwide raises the need for establishing the reference functional status of early biobanked HepaRG cells. Using deep proteome and secretome analyses, the levels of master regulators of the hepatic phenotype and of the structural elements ensuring biliary polarity were found to be close to those in primary hepatocytes. HepaRG cells proved to be highly differentiated, with functional mitochondria, hepatokine secretion abilities, and an adequate response to insulin. Among differences between primary human hepatocytes and HepaRG cells, the factors that possibly support HepaRG transdifferentiation properties are discussed. The HepaRG cell system thus appears as a robust surrogate for primary hepatocytes, which is versatile enough to study not only xenobiotic detoxification, but also the control of hepatic energy metabolism, secretory function and disease-related mechanisms.

Scaling-up of a HepaRG progenitor cell based bioartificial liver: optimization for clinical application and transport.

A new generation of bioartificial livers, based on differentiated proliferative hepatocyte sources, has been developed. Several practicable and regulatory demands have to be addressed before these can be clinically evaluated. We identified three main hurdles: (1) expansion and preservation of the biocomponent, (2) development of scaled-up culture conditions and (3) transport of the device to the bedside. In this study we address these three issues for the HepaRG-progenitor cell line-loaded AMC-Bioartificial Liver. (1) HepaRG cells were expanded in large quantities and then cryopreserved or loaded directly into bioreactors. After 3 weeks of culture, key hepatic functions (ammonia/lactate elimination, apolipoprotein A1 synthesis and cytochrome P450 3A4 activity) did not differ significantly between the two groups. (2) Bioartificial livers were scaled up from 9 ml to 540 ml priming volume, with preservation of normalized hepatic functionality. Quantification of amino acid consumption revealed rapid depletion of several amino acids. (3) Whole-device cryopreservation and cooled preservation induced significant loss of hepatic functionality, whereas simulated transport from culture-facility to the bedside in a clinical-grade transport unit with controlled temperature maintenance, medium perfusion and gas supply did not affect functionality. In addition, we assessed tumorigenicity of HepaRG cells in immune-incompetent mice and found no tumor formation of HepaRG cells (n = 12), while HeLa cells induced formation of carcinomas in eight out of 12 mice in 140 days.

LC-MS/MS-based quantification of kynurenine metabolites, tryptophan, monoamines and neopterin in plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and brain.

AIM: The kynurenine (KYN) pathway is implicated in diseases such as cancer, psychiatric, neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders. Measurement of KYN metabolite levels will help elucidating the involvement of the KYN pathway in the disease pathology and inform drug development. METHODOLOGY: Samples of plasma, cerebrospinal fluid or brain tissue were spiked with deuterated internal standards, processed and analyzed by LC-MS/MS; analytes were chromatographically separated by gradient elution on a C18 reversed phase analytical column without derivatization. CONCLUSION: We established an LC-MS/MS method to measure 11 molecules, namely tryptophan, KYN, 3-OH-KYN, 3-OH-anthranilic acid, quinolinic acid, picolinic acid, kynurenic acid, xanthurenic acid, serotonin, dopamine and neopterin within 5.5 min, with sufficient sensitivity to quantify these molecules in small sample volumes of plasma, cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue.

An evaluation of istradefylline treatment on Parkinsonian motor and cognitive deficits in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated macaque models.

Istradefylline (KW-6002), an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist, is used adjunct with optimal doses of L-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) to extend on-time in Parkinson's disease (PD) patients experiencing motor fluctuations. Clinical application of istradefylline for the management of other l-DOPA-induced complications, both motor and non-motor related (i.e. dyskinesia and cognitive impairments), remains to be determined. In this study, acute effects of istradefylline (60-100 mg/kg) alone, or with optimal and sub-optimal doses of l-DOPA, were evaluated in two monkey models of PD (i) the gold-standard 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-treated macaque model of parkinsonian and dyskinetic motor symptoms and (ii) the chronic low dose (CLD) MPTP-treated macaque model of cognitive (working memory and attentional) deficits. Behavioural analyses in l-DOPA-primed MPTP-treated macaques showed that istradefylline alone specifically alleviated postural deficits. When combined with an optimal l-DOPA treatment dose, istradefylline increased on-time, enhanced therapeutic effects on bradykinesia and locomotion, but exacerbated dyskinesia. Istradefylline treatment at specific doses with sub-optimal l-DOPA specifically alleviated bradykinesia. Cognitive assessments in CLD MPTP-treated macaques showed that the attentional and working memory deficits caused by l-DOPA were lowered after istradefylline administration. Taken together, these data support a broader clinical use of istradefylline as an adjunct treatment in PD, where specific treatment combinations can be utilised to manage various l-DOPA-induced complications, which importantly, maintain a desired anti-parkinsonian response.

Depressive-like behavioral profiles in captive-bred single- and socially-housed rhesus and cynomolgus macaques: a species comparison.

BACKGROUND: To unravel the causes of major depressive disorder (MDD), the third leading cause of disease burden around the world, ethological animal models have recently been proposed. Our previous studies highlighted a depressive-like profile among single- and socially-housed farm-bred cynomolgus macaques. Although phylogenetically close, cynomolgus and rhesus macaques, the two most commonly used macaque species in biomedical research, differ on several levels such as patterns of aggression, reconciliation, temperament, or dominance styles. The question of whether one captive macaque species was more vulnerable than another in the development of a pathological profile reminiscent of MDD symptoms was explored. METHODS: Behavioral data (including body postures, orientations, gaze directions, inter-individual distances, and locations in the cage) were collected in farming conditions. Using an unbiased validated ethological scan-sampling method, followed by multiple correspondence and hierarchical clustering analyses, 40 single- and 35 socially-housed rhesus macaques were assessed. Independently, for each housing condition, inter-species comparisons were made with previously acquired data on farm-bred cynomolgus monkeys. RESULTS: Consistent with our previous studies, we found depressive-like characteristics (e.g., inactivity, low level of investigation and maintenance, long time spent inactive while facing the wall) among single- and socially-housed rhesus macaques. Species-specificities were reported in non-depressive time budgets and in the prevalence of the pathological profiles. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that rhesus may be more vulnerable to developing a despair-like state than cynomolgus macaques, both in single- and in social-housing conditions. Therefore, rhesus macaques are more suitable for use as a "spontaneous" model of depressive disorders.

Performance of comet and micronucleus assays in metabolic competent HepaRG cells to predict in vivo genotoxicity.

Genetic toxicity information is critical for the safety assessment of all xenobiotics. In the absence of carcinogenicity data, genetic toxicity studies may be used to draw conclusions about the carcinogenicity potential of chemicals. However, current in vitro assays have many limitations as they produce a high rate of irrelevant positive data and possible false negative data due to the weakness of the in vitro models used. Based on the knowledge that the majority of human genotoxic carcinogens require metabolic activation to become genotoxic, it is necessary to develop in vitro cell models that mimic human liver metabolism to replace the use of liver S9 fraction, which, though helpful for predicting the potential carcinogenicity of chemicals in rodents, is questionable in humans. We therefore investigate whether the recently described human hepatoma HepaRG cells, which express the major characteristics of liver functions similarly to primary human hepatocytes, could be a suitable model for human genotoxicity assessment. We determine the performance of comet and micronucleus assays in HepaRG cells to predict in vivo genotoxins based on the list of compounds published by European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods (ECVAM). Twenty compounds were tested in HepaRG cells with comet and micronucleus assays over a 24-h period. The specificity, the sensitivity, and the accuracy of the two tests were determined. We found that the comet assay had higher specificity (100%) than the micronucleus (MN) test (80%), whereas the latter was far more sensitive (73%) than the former (44%), resulting nonetheless in an accuracy of 72% for the comet assay and 75% for the MN test. Taken together, our data suggest that the HepaRG cell line can be of use in genetic toxicology and that efforts to develop competent human liver cell models should be increased.

Behavioural profiles in captive-bred cynomolgus macaques: towards monkey models of mental disorders?

BACKGROUND: To date, experimental and preclinical studies on neuropsychiatric conditions have almost exclusively been performed in experimentally-induced animal models and have only rarely relied upon an ethological approach where animals have been observed in more naturalistic settings. The laboratory species of choice has been the rodent while the potential of more closely-related non-human primates have remained largely underexplored. METHODS: The present study, therefore, aimed at investigating the possible existence of spontaneous atypical/abnormal behaviours displayed by 40 cynomolgus macaques in captive conditions using an unbiased ethological scan-sampling analysis followed by multifactorial correspondence analysis and a hierarchical clustering. RESULTS: The study identified five distinct profiles (groups A to E) that significantly differed on several behaviours, body postures, body orientations, gaze directions and locations in the cage environment. We suggest that animals from the low n groups (D and E) present depressive-like and anxious-like symptoms, reminiscent of depressive and generalized anxiety disorders. Inter-individual differences were highlighted through unbiased ethological observations of spontaneous behaviours and associated parameters, although these were not associated with differences in plasma or cerebrospinal fluid levels of either stress-related hormones or monoamines, i.e. in accordance with the human situation. CONCLUSIONS: No interventional behavioural testing was required to discriminate between 3 typical and 2 atypical ethologically-defined behavioural profiles, reminiscent of certain depressive-like and anxiety-like symptoms. The use of unbiased behavioural observations might, thus, allow the identification of animal models of human mental/behavioural disorders and their most appropriate control groups.

Birth origin differentially affects depressive-like behaviours: are captive-born cynomolgus monkeys more vulnerable to depression than their wild-born counterparts?

BACKGROUND: Adverse early-life experience might lead to the expression of abnormal behaviours in animals and the predisposition to psychiatric disorder (e.g. major depressive disorder) in Humans. Common breeding processes employ weaning and housing conditions different from what happens in the wild. METHODS: The present study, therefore, investigated whether birth origin impacts the possible existence of spontaneous atypical/abnormal behaviours displayed by 40 captive-born and 40 wild-born socially-housed cynomolgus macaques in farming conditions using an unbiased ethological scan-sampling analysis followed by multifactorial correspondence and hierarchical clustering analyses. RESULTS: We identified 10 distinct profiles (groups A to J) that significantly differed on several behaviours, body postures, body orientations, distances between individuals and locations in the cage. Data suggest that 4 captive-born and 1 wild-born animals (groups G and J) present depressive-like symptoms, unnatural early life events thereby increasing the risk of developing pathological symptoms. General differences were also highlighted between the captive- and wild-born populations, implying the expression of differential coping mechanisms in response to the same captive environment. CONCLUSIONS: Birth origin thus impacts the development of atypical ethologically-defined behavioural profiles, reminiscent of certain depressive-like symptoms. The use of unbiased behavioural observations might allow the identification of animal models of human mental/behavioural disorders and their most appropriate control groups.

Species-specific interaction of HIV protease inhibitors with accumulation of cholyl-glycylamido-fluorescein (CGamF) in sandwich-cultured hepatocytes.

Using sandwich-cultured hepatocytes from rat, dog, pig, and human, we investigated the species-specificity of interaction of HIV protease inhibitors (PI) with in vitro hepatic accumulation of the bile salt analogue cholyl-glycylamido-fluorescein (CGamF). Extracellular sodium depletion or coincubation with the OATP/Oatp inhibitors rifampicin and digoxin revealed that about 35% of active CGamF accumulation was mediated by Ntcp/NTCP in rat and human hepatocytes, while the contribution of this sodium-dependent transporter reached 50-60% in dog and pig hepatocytes. One or more sodium-independent transporters, likely belonging to the Oatp/OATP family, constitute a major transport mechanism for CGamF accumulation. Various HIV PI (0.5, 5, 25 microM) exhibited pronounced species differences in their interaction with active CGamF accumulation (1 microM), although some similarity was observed between the dog and human interaction profiles when HIV PI were tested at 0.5 microM. Atazanavir, indinavir, and darunavir were the most potent inhibitors of CGamF accumulation in human hepatocytes. Potent inhibition of CGamF accumulation by ritonavir in rat hepatocytes contrasted with a weak effect in human hepatocytes. Thorough characterization of in vitro disposition of probe substrates in preclinical species compared to human hepatocytes will ultimately support a better insight in species-specific mechanisms underlying drug interactions and drug-mediated toxicity.