preimplantation-factor--synthetic and Disease-Models--Animal

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive motor neuronal disorder characterized by neuronal degeneration and currently no effective cure is available to stop or delay the disease from progression. Transplantation of murine glial-restricted precursors (mGRPs) is an attractive strategy to modulate ALS development and advancements such as the use of immune modulators could potentially extend graft survival and function. Using a well-established ALS transgenic mouse model (SOD1

Topics: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis; Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Inflammation; Mice; Mice, Transgenic; Motor Disorders; Neuroglia; Peptides; Stem Cell Transplantation; Stem Cells

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality and spontaneous PTB is a major contributor. The preceding inflammation/infection contributes not only to spontaneous PTB but is associated with neonatal morbidities including impaired brain development. Therefore, control of exaggerated immune response during pregnancy is an attractive strategy. A potential candidate is synthetic PreImplantation Factor (sPIF) as sPIF prevents inflammatory induced fetal loss and has neuroprotective properties. Here, we tested maternal sPIF prophylaxis in pregnant mice subjected to a lipopolysaccharides (LPS) insult, which results in PTB. Additionally, we evaluated sPIF effects in placental and microglial cell lines. Maternal sPIF application reduced the LPS induced PTB rate significantly. Consequently, sPIF reduced microglial activation (Iba-1 positive cells) and preserved neuronal migration (Cux-2 positive cells) in fetal brains. In fetal brain lysates sPIF decreased IL-6 and INFγ concentrations. In-vitro, sPIF reduced Iba1 and TNFα expression in microglial cells and reduced the expression of pro-apoptotic (Bad and Bax) and inflammatory (IL-6 and NLRP4) genes in placental cell lines. Together, maternal sPIF prophylaxis prevents PTB in part by controlling exaggerated immune response. Given the sPIF`FDA Fast Track approval in non-pregnant subjects, we envision sPIF therapy in pregnancy.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Brain; Cell Line; Disease Models, Animal; Female; Inflammation; Lipopolysaccharides; Mice; Microglia; Neurons; Peptides; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications; Premature Birth

A synthetic peptide (sPIF) analogous to the mammalian embryo-derived PreImplantation Factor (PIF) enables neuroprotection in rodent models of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and perinatal brain injury. The protective effects have been attributed, in part, to sPIF's ability to inhibit the biogenesis of microRNA let-7, which is released from injured cells during central nervous system (CNS) damage and induces neuronal death. Here, we uncover another novel mechanism of sPIF-mediated neuroprotection. Using a clinically relevant rat newborn brain injury model, we demonstrate that sPIF, when subcutaneously administrated, is able to reduce cell death, reverse neuronal loss and restore proper cortical architecture. We show, both in vivo and in vitro, that sPIF activates cyclic AMP dependent protein kinase (PKA) and calcium-dependent protein kinase (PKC) signaling, leading to increased phosphorylation of major neuroprotective substrates GAP-43, BAD and CREB. Phosphorylated CREB in turn facilitates expression of Gap43, Bdnf and Bcl2 known to have important roles in regulating neuronal growth, survival and remodeling. As is the case in sPIF-mediated let-7 repression, we provide evidence that sPIF-mediated PKA/PKC activation is dependent on TLR4 expression. Thus, we propose that sPIF imparts neuroprotection via multiple mechanisms at multiple levels downstream of TLR4. Given the recent FDA fast-track approval of sPIF for clinical trials, its potential clinical application for treating other CNS diseases can be envisioned.

Topics: Animals; bcl-Associated Death Protein; Brain Injuries; Cell Line, Tumor; Cell Survival; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; Disease Models, Animal; GAP-43 Protein; Mice; MicroRNAs; Neuroprotective Agents; Peptides; Protein Kinase C; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Rats; RNA Interference; Signal Transduction; Toll-Like Receptor 4

Embryo-derived PIF modulates systemic maternal immunity without suppression. Synthetic analog (sPIF) prevents juvenile diabetes, preserves islet function, reducing oxidative stress/protein misfolding. We investigate sPIF effectiveness in controlling neuroinflammation/MS.. Examine sPIF-induced protection against harsh, clinical-relevant murine EAE-PLP acute and chronic models. Evaluate clinical indices: circulating cytokines, spinal cord histology, genome, canonical global proteome, cultured PLP-activated splenocytes cytokines, and immunophenotype.. Short-term, low-dose sPIF prevented paralysis development and lowered mortality (P<0.05). Episodic sPIF reversed chronic paralysis (P<0.0001) completely in >50%, by day 82. Prevention model: 12days post-therapy, sPIF reduced circulating IL12 ten-fold and inflammatory cells access to spinal cord. Regression model: sPIF blocked PLP-induced IL17 and IL6 secretions. Long-term chronic model: sPIF reduced spinal cord pro-inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, (ALCAM, CF1, CCL8), apoptosis-promoters, inflammatory cells access (JAM3, OPA1), solute channels (ATPases), aberrant coagulation factors (Serpins), and pro-antigenic MOG. Canonical proteomic analysis demonstrated reduced oxidative phosphorylation, vesicle traffic, cytoskeleton remodeling involved in neuro-cytoskeleton breakdown (tubulins), associated with axon re-assembly by (MTAPs)/improved synaptic transmission.. sPIF--through coordinated central and systemic multi-targeted action--reverses neuroinflammation/MS and imparts significant neuroprotective effects up to total paralysis resolution. Clinical testing is warranted and planned.

Topics: Animals; Disease Models, Animal; Encephalomyelitis, Autoimmune, Experimental; Female; Inflammation Mediators; Mice; Mice, Inbred Strains; Multiple Sclerosis; Nerve Regeneration; Peptides; Random Allocation