Characterization of hiPSCs, NSCs, GPCs and NPCs
The obtained hiPSCs were morphologically similar to human embryonic stem cells with high nuclear-cytoplasmic ratio (Fig. 1А). The cells expressed pluripotency markers OCT4, NANOG and SOX2, and were immunopositive for OCT4 and NANOG transcription factors and SSEA4 and TRA-1-81 proteoglycans. The cells also showed the capacity of spontaneous differentiation into derivatives of any of the three germ layers (ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm), which confirmed their pluripotency at the functional level (Fig. 1A, B). Culturing with appropriate inducers (see Sect. 2.1) afforded neural stem cells (NSCs) — small, densely growing cells prone to the formation of 3D rosette-like structures. The NSC phenotype was confirmed immunocytochemically and by PCR assay. NSCs expressed molecular markers of neural differentiation (PAX6, SOX2 and NES) and were immunopositive for the corresponding proteins. Differentiation efficiency (as the proportion of PAX6-positive cells evaluated by flow cytometry) constituted 98 ± 1.8% (Fig. 1C). Upon stimulation with glial inducers the cells acquired spindle-shaped morphology with uneven outlines and large oval nuclei. Stimulation of NSCs with neuronal inducers promoted the outgrowth of neurites up to three cell diameters long. Glial progenitor cells (GPCs) expressed S100B and GFAP, and 97 ± 2.8% of them were S100B-positive. Neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs) had smaller nuclei, expressed neuronal markers TUBB3, MAP2 and ENO2, and 96 ± 3.4% of them were βIII tubulin positive (Fig. 1D).
Comparative study of GPC and NPC secretomes
The NPC-conditioned media (NPC-CM) contained more protein species than GPC-conditioned media (GPC-CM). Of 304 protein species identified in NPC-CM, 136 (45%) were specific (i.e. not found in GPC-CM, Fig. 2A). A considerable number of NPC-CM-specific peptides reportedly exert neuroprotective properties (e.g. tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2), Wnt family member 5A, neuropilin-1, secretogranin-2, platelet-derived growth factor D [21–23]) and neurotrophic properties (e.g. ataxin 10, ephrin B1, fibroblast growth factor 8, glypicans 2, 4 and 6, netrin 1, neuroserpin 1, semaphorin 3C, neuronal pentraxin 2, basigin [24–28]). NPC secretomes also comprised apolipoproteins (which attenuate the activity of neutrophils [29, 30]) and osteopontin (chemotactic protein involved in the activation of immune cells and cytokine production [31, 32], Table 1).
Of 243 protein species identified in GPC-CM, 75 (31%) were specific (i.e. not found in NPC-CM, Fig. 2A), including important regulators of cell survival (growth arrest-specific protein 6, heat shock 70 kDa protein 4, heat shock 105 kDa protein, leukemia inhibitory factor, gremlin 1, Hsp70 interacting protein [21, 33–35]) and axonal/dendritic growth (dynactin, thrombospondin 2, twinfilin 2, sorting nexin 3, prosaposin [36–40]). GPC secretomes also comprised growth and differentiation factor 15 and SH3 domain-binding glutamic acid-rich-like protein 3 known to exert pronounced anti-inflammatory effects [41, 42] (Table 1).
Comparative analysis of GPC and NPC secretomes also revealed differences in representation for certain functional classes of proteins, e.g. the levels of transfer/carrier proteins (PC00219) and membrane traffic proteins (PC00150) in GPC secretomes were increased, respectively, 2.8-fold and 5-fold compared with NPCs (Fig. 2B).
Table 1
Secreted proteins of the hiPSC-derived neuronal and glial progenitor cells identified by proteomic approach.
Neuronal progenitor cells (NPCs)
|
Glial progenitor cells (GPCs)
|
Proteins involved in the regulation of apoptosis and cell survival
|
apolipoprotein E (APOE)
|
clusterin (CLU)
|
cofilin 1 (CFL1)
|
galectins 1 and 3 (LGALS1, LGALS3)
|
midkine (MDK)
|
14-3-3 proteins β/ɑ (YWHAB), ɛ (YWHAE), γ (YWHAG), ƞ (YWHAH), Ө (YWHAQ), ζ/δ (YWHAZ)
|
insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 3 (IGFBP3)
|
thrombospondin 1 (THBS1)
|
high-mobility group protein B1 (amphoterin, HMGB1)
|
heat shock protein beta 1 (heat shock protein 27, HSPB1)
|
heat shock 70 kDa protein 8 (HSPA8)
|
phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein 1 (PEBP1)
|
cathepsin D (CTSD)
|
cysteine-rich angiogenic inducer 61 (CYR61)
|
platelet-derived growth factor C (PDGFC)
|
tumor protein, translationally-controlled 1 (TPT1)
|
tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1)
|
pigment epithelium-derived factor (SERPINF1)
|
tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 2 (TIMP2)
|
heat shock 70 kDa protein 4 (HSPA4)
|
secretogranin-2 (chromogranin C, SCG2)
|
heat shock protein 105 kDa (HSPH1)
|
Wnt family member 5a (WNT5A)
|
Hsc70-interacting protein (ST13)
|
neuropilin-1 (NRP1)
|
leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)
|
Ras homolog family member A (RHOA)
|
growth arrest-specific protein 6 (GAS6)
|
platelet-derived growth factor D (PDGFD)
|
gremlin 1 (GREM1)
|
|
tetranectin (TETN)
|
Proteins involved in the regulation of axonal and dendrite outgrowth
|
stathmin (STMN1)
|
neuropilin 2 (NRP2)
|
periostin (POSTN)
|
vinculin (VCL)
|
heat shock 90 kDa proteins ɑ and β (HSP90AA1, HSP90B1)
|
agrin (AGRN)
|
connective tissue growth factor (CTGF)
|
fibulin 1 (FBLN1)
|
protease nexin 1 (SERPINE2)
|
profilin 1 (PFN1)
|
secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC)
|
growth factor receptor-bound protein 2 (GRB2)
|
ataxin-10 (ATXN10)
|
dynactin (DCTN)
|
ephrin-B1 (EFN1B)
|
thrombospondin 2 (THBS2)
|
ezrin (EZR)
|
disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain-containing protein 19 (ADAM19)
|
fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF8)
|
phosphatidylinositol transfer proteins alpha and beta (PITPNA, PITPNB)
|
glycopicans 2, 4 and 6 (GPC2, GPC4, GPC6)
|
twinfilin 2 (TWF2)
|
netrin 1 (NTN1)
|
sorting nexin 3 (SNX3)
|
neuroserpin 1 (SERPINI1)
|
prosaposin (PSAP)
|
semaphorin 3C (SEMA3C)
|
|
neuronal pentraxin 2 (NPTX2)
|
|
basigin (BSG)
|
|
C1q-related factor (CRF)
|
|
Proteins with immunomodulatory properties
|
cathepsin B (CTSB)
|
macrophage-capping protein (CAPG)
|
macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF)
|
CYFIP-related Rac1 interactor B (FAM49B, CYRIB)
|
syndecan binding protein (SDCBP)
|
Rab GDP dissociation inhibitor beta (GDI2)
|
pentraxin-related protein (PTX3)
|
coactosin-like protein 1 (COTL1)
|
cystatins B and C (CSTB, CSTС)
|
serpin B6 (SERPINB6)
|
annexin A1 (ANXA1)
|
collectin subfamily member 12 (COLEC12)
|
nectin 2 (NECTIN2)
|
vitamin D binding protein (VTDB)
|
meteorin-like protein (METRNL)
|
importin subunit beta 1 (KPNB1)
|
moesin (MSN)
|
Toll-interacting protein (TOLLIP)
|
apolipoprotein A1 (APOA1)
|
S100-A11 protein (S100A11)
|
28 kDa heat- and acid-stable phosphoprotein (PDAP1)
|
growth and differentiation factor 15 (GDF15)
|
osteopontin (SPP1)
|
SH3 domain-binding glutamic acid-rich-like protein 3 (SH3BGRL3)
|
Ras-related protein Rap-1b (RAP1B)
|
|
Proteins involved in tissue repair
|
GM2 ganglioside activator protein (GM2A)
|
gelsolin (GSN)
|
glia maturation factor beta (GMFB)
|
pleiotrophin (PTN)
|
Proteins involved in redox reactions
|
thioredoxin (TXN)
|
thioredoxin domain-containing protein 17 (TXD17)
|
sulfhydryl oxidase 1 (QSOX1)
|
peroxiredoxins 1, 2, 5 and 6 (PRDX1, PRDX2, PRDX5, PRDX6)
|
peroxidasin homolog (PXDN)
|
peptidyl-glycine alpha-amidating monooxygenase (PAM)
|
glyoxylate and hydroxypyruvate reductase (GRHPR)
|
lysyl oxidase homolog 1 (LOXL1)
|
catalase (CAT)
|
peroxiredoxin 4 (PRDX4)
|
|
superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1)
|
|
protein disulfide-isomerase (P4HB)
|
|
thioredoxin domain-containing protein 5 (TXNDC5)
|
|
glutathione S-transferase omega 1 (GSTO1)
|
Neurotrophins are secretory proteins which maintain the viability of neurons and stimulate their development and activity. Neurotrophins were not identified by proteomic approach apparently due to their low concentrations in CM; however, their concentrations were within the sensitivity limit of ELISA. Neurotrophin concentrations in the undiluted GPC-CM and NPC-CM were of the pg/mL order, which is lower than required for therapeutic activity. At the same time, concentrations of BDNF, NGF, CNTF and GDNF in GPC-CM were, respectively, 19-, 12-, 18- and 3-fold higher than in NPC-CM (Fig. 2C).
Selective differential profiling of gene expression in progenitor cell cultures was performed on the basis of the identified cell type-specific secreted proteins in combination with the literary data on their functions. A number of genes differentially expressed by NPCs and GPCs were identified, including YWHAB (14-3-3 protein beta/alpha), CLU (clusterin), HSPB1 (heat shock protein beta 1), HSPA8 (heat shock 70 kDa protein 8), SERPINF1 (pigment epithelium-derived factor), HSP90AA1 (heat shock 90 kDa protein 1, alpha), MIF (macrophage migration inhibitory factor), HDGF (hepatoma-derived growth factor) and PTN (pleiotrophin). Transcription levels of HDGF, HSPA8 and PTN were higher in NPCs compared with GPCs, whereas transcription levels of SERPINF1 and HSPB1 were higher in GPCs. It should be noted that BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), CNTF (ciliary neurotrophic factor), NGF (nerve growth factor), GDNF (glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor), APOE (apolipoprotein E) and MDK (midkine) were expressed by both NPCs and GPCs, but at lower levels compared with other studied genes. At the same time, expression levels of BDNF, CNTF, NGF, GDNF and MDK in GPCs were higher compared with NPCs (Fig. 2C). GPCs showed high expression levels of GREM1 (gremlin 1), GAS6 (growth arrest-specific protein 6), LIF (leukemia inhibitory factor), TWF2 (twinfilin 2), SNX3 (sorting nexin 3), MYDGF (myeloid-derived growth factor), TGFB2 (transforming growth factor beta 2) and GDF15 (growth and differentiation factor 15) (Fig. 2D). In NPCs, expression of these genes was low or undetectably low. At the same time, a number of genes including FGF8 (fibroblast growth factor 8), NTN1 (netrin 1), NPTX2 (neuronal pentraxin 2), EFBN1 (ephrin B1), SERPINI1 (neuroserpin 1) and VGF (neuro-endocrine specific protein VGF) were expressed specifically by NPC cultures (Fig. 2D).
Evaluation of neuroprotective effects of NPC-CM and GPC-CM in the in vitro model
Modeling of hypoxia in SH-SY5Y cells by the 4 h exposure to 250 µM CoCl2 dramatically affected their survival as indicated by МТТ tests carried out at 24 h after the treatment. In the absence of NPC-CM or GPC-CM, hypoxia caused a reduction in the numbers of viable cells by 73 ± 4.1% and an increase in the amounts of LDH released from necrotic cells by 11.7 ± 2.4% as compared with the no-hypoxia controls. The exposure to NPC-CM increased the survival of SH-SY5Y cells by 9.26 ± 2.8%; however, the amounts of cell-free LDH measured after the exposure to NPC-CM and after hypoxia were similar. By contrast, the exposure to GPC-CM not only increased the SH-SY5Y cell survival by 25.4 ± 6.1% but also promoted a reduction in the levels of cell-free LDH in the culture medium by 8.7 ± 2.7% compared with the CoCl2 treated cultures (Fig. 3A).
In the aftermath of CoCl2 – induced hypoxia, the cells died predominantly by apoptosis (55.4 ± 3.9%) and to a lesser extent by necrosis (16.6 ± 2.5%, Fig. 3A). Treatment of the cells with GPC-CM reduced the apoptotic cell numbers to 35.1 ± 2.8% and necrotic cell numbers to 10.2 ± 3.9%. Treatment of the cells with NPC-CM reduced the apoptotic cell numbers to 42.2 ± 3.0% only and caused no significant reduction in the necrotic cell numbers.
Cell viability was additionally assessed by expression of apoptosis-related genes — pro-apoptotic BAX and anti-apoptotic BCL2, which encode regulatory proteins of the same family. At 24 h after the CoCl2 – induced hypoxia, the level of BCL2 expression was reduced 6.2-fold whereas the level of BAX expression was increased 2.3-fold as compared with the no-hypoxia control. The treatment with GPC-CM promoted a 2-fold reduction in BAX expression and a 3.7-fold increase in BCL2 expression as compared with the CoCl2 treated cultures. Interestingly, in terms of BAX/BCL2 expression, the effect of treatment with NPC-CM was similar: it promoted a 2-fold reduction in BAX expression and a 3.2-fold increase in BCL2 expression as compared with the CoCl2 treated cultures (Fig. 3A).
In the no-hypoxia controls, the cells retained typical SH-SY5Y morphology with long βIII tubulin-immunopositive outgrowths. The CoCl2-induced hypoxia caused degeneration of axons and dendrites: neuronal bodies were prominent, but the neurites were missing or shortened (Fig. 3B).
In the aftermath of CoCl2-induced hypoxia without CM treatment, expression levels of MAP2 and GAP43 were significantly reduced during the entire period of observation (days 1, 3 and 7) as compared with the no-hypoxia control (Fig. 4C). On days 1 and 3, the NPC-CM treated cell cultures showed no signs of neurite outgrowth. By day 7, however, the NPC-CM treated cells developed short processes while having significantly elevated MAP2 and GAP43 expression levels as compared with the CoCl2 treated cultures. Neurotrophic effects of GPC-CM were more pronounced: regeneration of axons and dendrites in the GPC-CM treated cultures was evident during the entire period of observation (days 1, 3 and 7). On day 7, MAP2 and GAP43 expression levels in the GPC-CM treated cells were significantly elevated as compared with both the NPC-CM and CoCl2 treated cultures (Fig. 4C).
Therapeutic effects of the intra-arterial infusion of NPC-CM and GPC-CM in the experimental ischemic stroke
Kaplan-Meier survival curves for three groups (NPC-CM treated, GPC-CM treated and the non-conditioned media-treated control) are shown in Fig. 4A. All deaths occurred within 3 days after the stroke and were associated with vasogenic cerebral edema. CM infusions had no effect on survival.
Neurological severity scores (mNSS) were recorded at the following time points: immediately before the infusion (day 1), and on days 7, 14 and 30 p/i. Neurological deficit reached its maximum by 24 h after the acute focal ischemia modeling in all groups; its progression was associated with the cerebral infarct development. After that, the neurological deficit underwent regression in all groups; the highest rates of functional recovery were observed during the initial 2 weeks of the experiment. The scores for the GPC-CM group on days 14 and 30 p/i were, respectively, 1.5-times and 1.6-times lower as compared with the control group; these differences were significant (Fig. 4B). By contrast, no significant differences in mNSS between the NPC-CM group and the control group were observed during the experiment. The data indicate enhanced functional recovery of brain function in response to the infusion of GPC-CM during the acute period of ischemic stroke.
The stroke volume was evaluated by MRI, with Т2-weighted brain magnetic resonance images acquired at different time points used for the evaluation. Reduction in the infarct volume was pronounced in all groups; no significant differences between the groups were revealed in the course of observation (Fig. 4C, D).
To understand the CM-mediated therapeutic effects at molecular level, expression of apoptosis- and inflammation-related molecular markers in brain tissues was studied by PCR-based assay (Fig. 5). The GPC-CM group showed significantly reduced expression of the pro-apoptotic gene Bax compared with the control group. By contrast, expression levels of Bax in the ischemized tissue of the NPC-CM group were 2.4-times higher as compared with the intact brain tissue in contralateral cerebral hemisphere (IH) and the GPC-CM group; these differences were also significant. At the same time, no significant differences in Bcl2 expression were observed between the groups (Fig. 5A).
Vascular necrosis causes secondary damage to brain parenchyma due to the continuous inflammatory reaction accompanied by the elevated expression of Tnf gene. Infusion of GPC-CM specifically reduced Tnf expression in the affected brain parenchyma; the difference with the control was statistically significant. In addition, expression levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine genes Il4, Il10 and Il13 were significantly elevated in the ischemized brain tissues of GPC-CM treated animals compared with the control group. By contrast, expression levels of Tnf, Il4, Il10 and Il13 in the ischemized brain tissues of NPC-CM treated animals were comparable with the control group (Fig. 5A). Expression levels of Il1b and Il6 in all groups were similar.
As demonstrated by histological study, the infusion of GPC-CM supported neoangiogenesis. The counts of newly formed perfused blood vessels in the ischemized brain tissues of GPC-CM treated animals were the highest; the difference with the control group was significant (p < 0.05, Fig. 5B, C).
CD68 is a cell surface glycoprotein highly expressed on phagocytic cells of the resident microglia and infiltrating monocytic macrophages. Accumulation of CD68 positive cells in the ischemized brain area was detected at the autopsy on day 30 p/i in all groups. However, this effect was significantly alleviated in GPC-CM treated animals, as the numbers of accumulated phagocytic cells were lower compared with other groups. No such alleviation was observed in the NPC-CM group where the counts of СD68 + cells in the damaged area were significantly higher (Fig. 5B, C).