BackgroundAlthough quite challenging, neuroprotective therapies in ischemic stroke remain an interesting strategy to counter mechanisms of ischemic injury and reduce brain tissue damage. Among potential neuroprotective drug, cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) inhibitors represent interesting therapeutic candidates. Increasing evidence indisputably links cell cycle CDKs and CDK5 to the pathogenesis of stroke. Although recent studies have demonstrated promising neuroprotective efficacies of pharmacological CDK inhibitors in related animal models, none of them were however clinically relevant to human treatment.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn the present study, we report that systemic delivery of (S)-roscovitine, a well known inhibitor of mitotic CDKs and CDK5, was neuroprotective in a dose-dependent manner in two models of focal ischemia, as recommended by STAIR guidelines. We show that (S)-roscovitine was able to cross the blood brain barrier. (S)-roscovitine significant in vivo positive effect remained when the compound was systemically administered 2 hrs after the insult. Moreover, we validate one of (S)-roscovitine in vivo target after ischemia. Cerebral increase of CDK5/p25 activity was observed 3 hrs after the insult and prevented by systemic (S)-roscovitine administration. Our results show therefore that roscovitine protects in vivo neurons possibly through CDK5 dependent mechanisms.Conclusions/SignificanceAltogether, our data bring new evidences for the further development of pharmacological CDK inhibitors in stroke therapy.

We describe a novel, two-nanoparticle mRNA delivery system and show that it is highly effective as a means of intracellular enzyme replacement therapy (i-ERT) using a murine model of ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD). Our Hybrid mRNA Technology delivery system (HMT) comprises an inert lipid nanoparticle that protects the mRNA from nucleases in the blood as it distributes to the liver and a polymer micelle that targets hepatocytes and triggers endosomal release of mRNA. This results in high-level synthesis of the desired protein specifically in the liver. HMT delivery of human OTC mRNA normalizes plasma ammonia and urinary orotic acid levels, and leads to a prolonged survival benefit in the murine OTCD model. HMT represents a unique, non-viral mRNA delivery method that allows multi-dose, systemic administration for treatment of single-gene inherited metabolic diseases.

• High-density lipoprotein and its major apolipoprotein ApoA-I prevent von Willebrand factor self-association. • Targeting von Willebrand factor self-association could be a new approach to treating thrombotic disorders.The ability of von Willebrand factor (VWF) to initiate platelet adhesion depends on the number of monomers in individual VWF multimers and on the self-association of individual VWF multimers into larger structures. VWF self-association is accelerated by shear stress. We observed that VWF self-association occurs during adsorption of VWF onto surfaces, assembly of secreted VWF into hyperadhesive VWF strings on the endothelial surface, and incorporation of fluid-phase VWF into VWF fibers. VWF adsorption under static conditions increased with increased VWF purity and was prevented by a component of plasma. We identified that component as high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and its major apolipoprotein ApoA-I. HDL and ApoA-I also prevented VWF on the endothelium from self-associating into longer strands and inhibited the attachment of fluid-phase VWF onto vessel wall strands. Platelet adhesion to VWF fibers was reduced in proportion to the reduction in selfassociated VWF. In a mouse model of thrombotic microangiopathy, HDL also largely prevented the thrombocytopenia induced by injection of high doses of human VWF. Finally, a potential role for ApoA-I in microvascular occlusion associated with thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and sepsis was revealed by the inverse relationship between the concentration of ApoA-I and that of hyperadhesive VWF. These results suggest that interference with VWF self-association would be a new approach to treating thrombotic disorders. are characterized by systemic endothelial activation and microvascular occlusion. In recent studies, von Willebrand factor (VWF) secreted from the endothelium as a result of systemic endothelial activation has been shown to contribute to microvascular dysfunction and occlusion. A portion of the newly secreted VWF remains attached to the endothelial surface, from which it is normally removed through cleavage by the plasma metalloprotease ADAMTS13. 6 However, when ADAMTS13 is inhibited, as during episodes of TTP, or when VWF removal is delayed, as in conditions of intense inflammation such as sepsis and malaria, 7 the secreted VWF self-associates into long, thick strands that bind platelets to form occlusive thrombi in the small blood vessels. 6 VWF synthesis is a complex process. VWF homodimers first form in the endoplasmic reticulum through disulfide bonds involving cysteine residues near the VWF carboxyl terminus. In the Golgi apparatus, these dimers are linked together into chains through disulfide bonds at the amino termini, producing a ladder of multimeric molecules, each differing from the next largest by the molecular mass of a VWF dimer. The largest multimers found in blood can be enormous, reaching a molecular mass of more than 20 million Da. These gargantuan molecules can form even larger structures by associating with other VWF multime...

Severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) often causes an acute systemic hypercoagulable state that rapidly develops into consumptive coagulopathy. We have recently demonstrated that TBI-induced coagulopathy (TBI-IC) is initiated and disseminated by brain-derived extracellular vesicles (BDEVs) and propagated by extracellular vesicles (EVs) from endothelial cells and platelets. Here, we present results from a study designed to test the hypothesis that anticoagulation targeting anionic phospholipid-expressing EVs prevents TBI-IC and improves the outcomes of mice subjected to severe TBI. We evaluated the effects of a fusion protein (ANV-6L15) for improving the outcomes of TBI. ANV-6L15 combines the phosphatidylserine (PS)-binding annexin V with a peptide anticoagulant modified to preferentially target extrinsic coagulation. We found that ANV-6L15 reduced intracranial hematoma by 70.2%, improved neurological function, and reduced death by 56.8% in mice subjected to fluid percussion injury at 1.9 atm. It protected the TBI mice by preventing vascular leakage, tissue edema, and the TBI-induced hypercoagulable state. We further showed that the extrinsic tenase complex was formed on the surfaces of circulating EVs, with the highest level found on BDEVs. Phospholipidomic analysis detected the highest levels of PS on BDEVs, as compared to EVs from endothelial cells and platelets (79.1, 15.2, and 3.5 nM/mg of protein, respectively). These findings demonstrate that TBI-IC results from a trauma-induced hypercoagulable state and may be treated by anticoagulation targeting on the anionic phospholipid-expressing membrane of EVs from the brain and other cells.

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S66rescued from neonatal lethality, yet experience massive elevations of the characteristic metabolites (methylmalonic and 2-methylcitric acid) because of the lack of hepatic Mut activity. Disease related metabolites were measured in plasma samples derived from Mut -/-;Tg INS-MCK-Mut mice (n=7) prior to AAV gene delivery. The mice were then injected via the retro-orbital route with 1.5X10 11 GC of either AAV8-hAAT-MUT or AAV8-CBA-MUT. At 10 days and 30 days post-treatment, mice treated with either vector showed a significant reduction in methylcitrate and methymalonic acid levels, with AAV8-CBA-MUT (n=2) treated mice manifesting methylcitrate and methylmalonic acid levels that trended lower than those measured in mice injected with AAV8-hAAT-MUT (n=4) at both time points. Further studies will be needed to precisely compare the differences between the hAAT and CBA promoters in MMA mouse models, but our preliminary results demonstrate that the Mut -/-;Tg INS-MCK-Mut mice can be used to easily ascertain hepatic correction of Mut deficiency, which should help inform the selection of regulatory elements that will provide maximal therapeutic efficacy to treat patients with MMA.