Heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are cell surface/secreted molecules expressed by all cells. HSPGs consist of carbohydrate side-chains attached to a core protein and are involved in regulating key signalling pathways in the developing mammalian brain via sugar-protein interactions. It has been hypothesized, in the ‘heparan sulphate (HS) code hypothesis’, that the specificity for the interaction between the HSPGs and particular signalling pathways is encoded by its HS side-chain. HS has an enormous variety of structures due to postsynthetic modification. Hs2st and Hs6st1 are enzymes involved in generating different HS structures by sulphating the 2-carbon or 6-carbon molecule of the sugar backbone respectively. Fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) are a family of signalling molecules crucial for forebrain development. Some of its members such as Fgf8 are morphogens which pattern the forebrain via regulated gradient formation while others such as Fgf2 drive neurogenesis and cell proliferation. One of the main molecular consequences of Fgf signalling is activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) where the activation of Erk then drives developmental events such as neurogenesis or cell migration. Based on previous studies on the HS code hypothesis, we hypothesized that differential sulphation regulates Fgf signalling in a specific manner depending on the HS sulphation pattern. We performed binding assays on Hs2st-/- mice to ascertain the molecular mechanism behind the role of differential sulphation in Erk signalling through Fgf2 in the forebrain. We found that differential sulphation also has an important role to play in regionally targeting Fgf2/Erk signalling through regulating the formation of active signalling complexes. Studying the Fgf8/Erk signalling axis at E14.5 developing mouse corticoseptal boundary (CSB) revealed increased Fgf8 levels and Erk hyperactivation in both Hs2st and Hs6st1 null mutants. The dysregulation of Fgf8/Erk signalling at the CSB also highly correlates with the high expression of Hs2st and Hs6st1 at the CSB. A closer look into the molecular phenotypes of Hs2st-/- and Hs6st1-/- CSB revealed differences between them in which Hs6st1-/- CSB has higher Fgf8 levels compared to Hs2st-/- CSB. To elucidate the mechanisms underlying Hs2st and Hs6st1 role at the CSB, we investigated the formation and interpretation of Fgf8/Erk signalling gradient using Fgf8 bead assays in mice with Hs2st and Hs6st1 loss of function throughout development. We found that differential sulphation has a complex effect on Fgf8 gradient formation and interpretation in the forebrain in which Hs2st acts to stabilise the Fgf8 distribution through regulating Fgf8 levels through time while Hs6st1 acts to stabilise the Fgf8 distribution by maintaining the shape of the Fgf8 gradient through restricting Fgf8 levels during the formation of the Fgf8 distribution. In addition, we found Hs2st and Hs6st1 both function to increase the sensitivity of the CSB to Fgf8 for an Erk response although through different modes of action. Therefore, we conclude that differential HS sulphation plays a specific role in Fgf/Erk signalling depending on the HS sulphation pattern.

Hepatic lipase (HL) plays a pivotal role in the catabolism of apolipoprotein (apo)B-containing lipoproteins and high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles through its reported catalytic and non-catalytic extracellular functions. The current study tested the hypothesis that HL expression might impair formation and secretion of hepatic derived very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and apoA-I (nascent HDL). Stable or transient expression of human HL (hHL) in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in decreased incorporation of [3H]glycerol into cell-associated and secreted (VLDL-associated) 3H-triacylglcyerol (TAG) relative to control cells. Stable expression of catalytically-inactive hHL (hHLSG) also resulted in decreased secretion of VLDL-associated 3H-TAG whereas cell-associated 3H-TAG levels were unchanged. Expression of hHL or hHLSG increased cell-associated 35S-apoB100 with relatively no change in secreted 35S-apoB100. Importantly, hHL or hHLSG expression resulted in reduced 3H-TAG associated with the microsomal lumen lipid droplets (LLD), and increased relative expression of ApoB and genes involved in lipogenesis and fatty acyl oxidation. Transient expression of hHL in HL-null primary hepatocytes, mediated by adenoviral gene transfer, resulted in decreased steady-state levels of cell-associated and secreted apoA-I and reduced rates of synthesis and secretion of 35S-apoA-I. HL-null hepatocytes exhibited increased levels of secreted 35S-apoA-I relative to wildtype hepatocytes while cell-associated 35S-apoA-I levels were normal. Transient expression of a hHL chimera (hHLmt), in which the C-terminus of hHL was replaced with mouse HL sequences, exerted an inhibitory effect on apoA-I production similar to that of hHL even though hHLmt was secreted less effectively than hHL with impaired exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as compared with hHL. In contrast, stable expression of hHL in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cell-associated and secreted 35S-apoA-I levels. These studies demonstrate that hHL has an intracellular (but non-catalytic) role in reducing the content of the LLD and ultimately the buoyancy of secreted VLDL particles, and that the N-terminal sequences of ER-residing hHL directly or indirectly modulates the production and secretion of apoA-I (nascent HDL) from hepatocytes.

Hepatic lipase (HL) plays a pivotal role in the catabolism of apolipoprotein (apo)B-containing lipoproteins and high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles through its reported catalytic and non-catalytic extracellular functions. The current study tested the hypothesis that HL expression might impair formation and secretion of hepatic derived very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and apoA-I (nascent HDL). Stable or transient expression of human HL (hHL) in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in decreased incorporation of [3H]glycerol into cell-associated and secreted (VLDL-associated) 3H-triacylglcyerol (TAG) relative to control cells. Stable expression of catalytically-inactive hHL (hHLSG) also resulted in decreased secretion of VLDL-associated 3H-TAG whereas cell-associated 3H-TAG levels were unchanged. Expression of hHL or hHLSG increased cell-associated 35S-apoB100 with relatively no change in secreted 35S-apoB100. Importantly, hHL or hHLSG expression resulted in reduced 3H-TAG associated with the microsomal lumen lipid droplets (LLD), and increased relative expression of ApoB and genes involved in lipogenesis and fatty acyl oxidation. Transient expression of hHL in HL-null primary hepatocytes, mediated by adenoviral gene transfer, resulted in decreased steady-state levels of cell-associated and secreted apoA-I and reduced rates of synthesis and secretion of 35S-apoA-I. HL-null hepatocytes exhibited increased levels of secreted 35S-apoA-I relative to wildtype hepatocytes while cell-associated 35S-apoA-I levels were normal. Transient expression of a hHL chimera (hHLmt), in which the C-terminus of hHL was replaced with mouse HL sequences, exerted an inhibitory effect on apoA-I production similar to that of hHL even though hHLmt was secreted less effectively than hHL with impaired exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as compared with hHL. In contrast, stable expression of hHL in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cell-associated and secreted 35S-apoA-I levels. These studies demonstrate that hHL has an intracellular (but non-catalytic) role in reducing the content of the LLD and ultimately the buoyancy of secreted VLDL particles, and that the N-terminal sequences of ER-residing hHL directly or indirectly modulates the production and secretion of apoA-I (nascent HDL) from hepatocytes.

Hepatic lipase (HL) plays a pivotal role in the catabolism of apolipoprotein (apo)B-containing lipoproteins and high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles through its reported catalytic and non-catalytic extracellular functions. The current study tested the hypothesis that HL expression might impair formation and secretion of hepatic derived very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and apoA-I (nascent HDL). Stable or transient expression of human HL (hHL) in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in decreased incorporation of [3H]glycerol into cell-associated and secreted (VLDL-associated) 3H-triacylglcyerol (TAG) relative to control cells. Stable expression of catalytically-inactive hHL (hHLSG) also resulted in decreased secretion of VLDL-associated 3H-TAG whereas cell-associated 3H-TAG levels were unchanged. Expression of hHL or hHLSG increased cell-associated 35S-apoB100 with relatively no change in secreted 35S-apoB100. Importantly, hHL or hHLSG expression resulted in reduced 3H-TAG associated with the microsomal lumen lipid droplets (LLD), and increased relative expression of ApoB and genes involved in lipogenesis and fatty acyl oxidation. Transient expression of hHL in HL-null primary hepatocytes, mediated by adenoviral gene transfer, resulted in decreased steady-state levels of cell-associated and secreted apoA-I and reduced rates of synthesis and secretion of 35S-apoA-I. HL-null hepatocytes exhibited increased levels of secreted 35S-apoA-I relative to wildtype hepatocytes while cell-associated 35S-apoA-I levels were normal. Transient expression of a hHL chimera (hHLmt), in which the C-terminus of hHL was replaced with mouse HL sequences, exerted an inhibitory effect on apoA-I production similar to that of hHL even though hHLmt was secreted less effectively than hHL with impaired exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as compared with hHL. In contrast, stable expression of hHL in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cell-associated and secreted 35S-apoA-I levels. These studies demonstrate that hHL has an intracellular (but non-catalytic) role in reducing the content of the LLD and ultimately the buoyancy of secreted VLDL particles, and that the N-terminal sequences of ER-residing hHL directly or indirectly modulates the production and secretion of apoA-I (nascent HDL) from hepatocytes.

La production physiologique continue de cellules myélinisantes dans le système nerveux (SN) de mammifère offre de nouvelles perspectives thérapeutiques. Lors d’une atteinte de la myéline, une régénération endogène impliquant la génération d’oligodendrocytes s’engage. Ce processus repose sur la mobilisation de progéniteurs oligodendrocytaires parenchymateux et de progéniteurs de la zone sous-ventriculaire (SVZ). Cette réparation ne permet cependant pas une récupération fonctionnelle systématique. Nos travaux ont pour but d’identifier les facteurs qui contrôlent les différentes étapes de régénération. Ils révèlent une réexpression du CNTF et une surexpression des héparans sulfates protéoglycanes (HSPGs) suite à une démyélinisation du corps calleux. Ces changements de l’environnement péri-lésionnel régulent positivement le processus de remyélinisation. Nous avons montré un impact direct de l’expression post-lésionnelle du CNTF sur la mobilisation des deux sources cellulaires. Différents tests in vitro ont identifié le CNTF comme facteur chémoattractant pour ces cellules. Nos données montrent également que des modifications de sulfatation des héparans sulfates (HS) protéoglycanes contrôlées par la N-désacétylase-Sulfotransférase 1 des cellules du lignage oligodendrocytaire s’établissent en bordure de lésion et créent un microenvironnement favorable à la régénération. Divers test fonctionnels in vivo et in vitro révèlent le rôle clef des HSPGs dans la cinétique de démyélinisation et de remyélinisation en régulant la mobilisation des cellules du lignage oligodendrocytaire et l’activation microgliale. / In the mammal’s nervous system, the ongoing production of new myelinating cells on has open news therapeutic perspectives for demyelinating diseases. An endogenous regeneration process involving the generation of oligodendrocytes can occur following demyelination. This process relies on the mobilization of an endogenous reservoir of progenitor cells located in the adult brain: The parenchymal oligodendrocyte precursors and the subventricular zone derived neural progenitors. However, these endogenous repair attempts do not permit an efficient functional recovery. These failures are mainly due to mobilization, differentiation or to the generation of a hostile environment for the repair process. Our work is focusing on the identification of factors regulating those events. Our data show the reexpression of CNTF and overexpression of heparan sulphate proteoglycans (HSPGs) following a focal demyelination of the corpus callosum in adult mice. These environmental changes favor myelin repair. We show a direct impact of the post-lesional expression of CNTF on the mobilization of both cellular sources. Using various in vitro assays, we showed that CNTF is acting on the two cellular sources as a chemoattractant factor. Our data also show that sulfation modifications of HSPGs performed by the deacetylase-N-sulfotransferase 1 (Ndst1) on oligodendrocyte lineage cells occurred around the lesion and created a permissive microenvironment for the regenerative process. Various in vitro and in vivo functional assays demonstrated the key role of HSPGs in demyelination and remyelination dynamic by controlling mobilization of the oligodendrocyte lineage cells and microglial activation.

Hepatic lipase (HL) plays a pivotal role in the catabolism of apolipoprotein (apo)B-containing lipoproteins and high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles through its reported catalytic and non-catalytic extracellular functions. The current study tested the hypothesis that HL expression might impair formation and secretion of hepatic derived very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and apoA-I (nascent HDL). Stable or transient expression of human HL (hHL) in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in decreased incorporation of [3H]glycerol into cell-associated and secreted (VLDL-associated) 3H-triacylglcyerol (TAG) relative to control cells. Stable expression of catalytically-inactive hHL (hHLSG) also resulted in decreased secretion of VLDL-associated 3H-TAG whereas cell-associated 3H-TAG levels were unchanged. Expression of hHL or hHLSG increased cell-associated 35S-apoB100 with relatively no change in secreted 35S-apoB100. Importantly, hHL or hHLSG expression resulted in reduced 3H-TAG associated with the microsomal lumen lipid droplets (LLD), and increased relative expression of ApoB and genes involved in lipogenesis and fatty acyl oxidation. Transient expression of hHL in HL-null primary hepatocytes, mediated by adenoviral gene transfer, resulted in decreased steady-state levels of cell-associated and secreted apoA-I and reduced rates of synthesis and secretion of 35S-apoA-I. HL-null hepatocytes exhibited increased levels of secreted 35S-apoA-I relative to wildtype hepatocytes while cell-associated 35S-apoA-I levels were normal. Transient expression of a hHL chimera (hHLmt), in which the C-terminus of hHL was replaced with mouse HL sequences, exerted an inhibitory effect on apoA-I production similar to that of hHL even though hHLmt was secreted less effectively than hHL with impaired exit from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as compared with hHL. In contrast, stable expression of hHL in McA-RH7777 cells resulted in a dose-dependent increase in cell-associated and secreted 35S-apoA-I levels. These studies demonstrate that hHL has an intracellular (but non-catalytic) role in reducing the content of the LLD and ultimately the buoyancy of secreted VLDL particles, and that the N-terminal sequences of ER-residing hHL directly or indirectly modulates the production and secretion of apoA-I (nascent HDL) from hepatocytes.

Tissue repair is a complex process that is difficult to emulate. The addition of the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate (HS), a multi-potential regulator of numerous growth factors and cytokines endogenously expressed during the repair process, may represent a valuable tool for tissue engineering. The addition of exogenous HS into wound site has previously been shown to promote tissue repair in a number of models, however, the incorporation of HS into controlled release systems or biomaterials for tissue engineering had not been explored prior to the work presented here. Thus, this thesis explores the incorporation of HS and its analogue heparin into synthetic biodegradable polymer biomaterials with different potential applications, either as a slow releasing drug reservoir, or as a drug releasing cell scaffold. Polycaprolactone was used to make microcapsules and electrospun fibers for HS or heparin entrapment. These materials were characterized for their drug release profiles, biocompatibility and bioactivity. Microcapsules encapsulating heparin or HS were made by the oil - in - water solvent evaporation method which allowed fabrication of slow releasing drug reservoirs. Either pure water or a poly(vinyl alcohol) solution was used in the drug phase which resulted in capsules with similar size and drug loading. However the internal morphology and drug release profiles showed differences depending on the drug phase, in either case release was sustained for over 30 days. These capsules elicited no pro-inflammatory response from macrophages in vitro, and the released HS retained its bioactivity to induce the proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells, an important cell type for bone tissue engineering. Heparin and HS were incorporated into electrospun fibers as a drug releasing scaffold for two different tissue engineering applications. Heparin fibers were studied as a drug releasing membrane that could be used in vascular repair to prevent the unwanted proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Heparin release was sustained from the fibers for at least 2 weeks. The fibers did not induce a pro-inflammatory response from macrophages in vitro and the released heparin retained the ability to inhibit the proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells. HS fibers were studied as a tissue engineering scaffold for bone repair using human mesenchymal stem cells. HS release was maintained for over 30 days which is thought to be an appropriate time for bone repair applications. The release profiles depended on the HS concentration in the spinning solution which affected the morphology of the fibers. The fibers did not elicit a pro-inflammatory response in cultured macrophages and supported the proliferation and mineralization of human mesechymal stem cells. The HS fibers were then taken through to an in vivo model to study ectopic bone formation of pre-osteoblast cells on HS releasing scaffolds. The fibers produced a chronic inflammatory response in vivo, which lead to the clearance of implanted cells and no mineralization of the scaffold. The HS and heparin materials made in this work showed sustained release over appropriate time frames for different tissue repair applications. The released HS and heparin maintained bioactivity and showed good biocompatibility in vitro, however, further in vivo studies are required to fully test their efficacy for tissue engineering.

Tissue repair is a complex process that is difficult to emulate. The addition of the glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate (HS), a multi-potential regulator of numerous growth factors and cytokines endogenously expressed during the repair process, may represent a valuable tool for tissue engineering. The addition of exogenous HS into wound site has previously been shown to promote tissue repair in a number of models, however, the incorporation of HS into controlled release systems or biomaterials for tissue engineering had not been explored prior to the work presented here. Thus, this thesis explores the incorporation of HS and its analogue heparin into synthetic biodegradable polymer biomaterials with different potential applications, either as a slow releasing drug reservoir, or as a drug releasing cell scaffold. Polycaprolactone was used to make microcapsules and electrospun fibers for HS or heparin entrapment. These materials were characterized for their drug release profiles, biocompatibility and bioactivity. Microcapsules encapsulating heparin or HS were made by the oil - in - water solvent evaporation method which allowed fabrication of slow releasing drug reservoirs. Either pure water or a poly(vinyl alcohol) solution was used in the drug phase which resulted in capsules with similar size and drug loading. However the internal morphology and drug release profiles showed differences depending on the drug phase, in either case release was sustained for over 30 days. These capsules elicited no pro-inflammatory response from macrophages in vitro, and the released HS retained its bioactivity to induce the proliferation of human mesenchymal stem cells, an important cell type for bone tissue engineering. Heparin and HS were incorporated into electrospun fibers as a drug releasing scaffold for two different tissue engineering applications. Heparin fibers were studied as a drug releasing membrane that could be used in vascular repair to prevent the unwanted proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Heparin release was sustained from the fibers for at least 2 weeks. The fibers did not induce a pro-inflammatory response from macrophages in vitro and the released heparin retained the ability to inhibit the proliferation in vascular smooth muscle cells. HS fibers were studied as a tissue engineering scaffold for bone repair using human mesenchymal stem cells. HS release was maintained for over 30 days which is thought to be an appropriate time for bone repair applications. The release profiles depended on the HS concentration in the spinning solution which affected the morphology of the fibers. The fibers did not elicit a pro-inflammatory response in cultured macrophages and supported the proliferation and mineralization of human mesechymal stem cells. The HS fibers were then taken through to an in vivo model to study ectopic bone formation of pre-osteoblast cells on HS releasing scaffolds. The fibers produced a chronic inflammatory response in vivo, which lead to the clearance of implanted cells and no mineralization of the scaffold. The HS and heparin materials made in this work showed sustained release over appropriate time frames for different tissue repair applications. The released HS and heparin maintained bioactivity and showed good biocompatibility in vitro, however, further in vivo studies are required to fully test their efficacy for tissue engineering.

Il est bien établi que la gp120 du VIH-1 se fixe aux héparane sulfate (HS) cellulaires, par le biais de la boucle V3 ce qui favorise l'infectivité virale. Cependant, une variété de polyanions solubles, conjugués à CD4 (mCD4-HS12) a des propriétés antivirales et a montré in vitro une activité contre le VIH-1 à de très faibles concentrations (nM). En raison de la complexité structurale des HS, le criblage d'oligosaccharides différenciellement sulfatés pour améliorer l'activité de la molécule serait trop difficile. En vue d'obtenir une molécule plus spécifique, de plus haute affinité et plus facile à produire, des peptides mimant les HS ont été synthétisés par nos collaborateurs. Notre but était de cribler ces peptides pour leur capacité à inhiber l'entrée de VIH-1. À cette fin, nous avons mis en place une plateforme permettant d'immobiliser CCR5 et CXCR4 solubilisés sur des biocapteurs (Biacore) pour cribler des molécules qui inhibent la liaison de gp120-CD4 aux corécepteurs. Pour contrôler le processus de solubilisation, CXCL12, le ligand naturel de CXCR4, a été injecté sur CXCR4 immobilisé. Les affinités des isoformes de CXCL12 (α et γ) pour CXCR4 ont été calculées dans les fourchettes de valeurs précédemment obtenues avec des techniques différentes, prouvant ainsi la fonctionnalité de notre système et nous permettant d'étudier les mécanismes de fixation de ces deux isoformes sur CXCR4 ainsi que leur régulation par HS. Le système a ensuite été utilisé pour cribler la capacité d'inhibition des peptides mimétiques du HS. Chaque peptide, [S(XDXS)n] contient des acides aminés qui imitent les groupes hydroxyles, carboxyles et sulfates des HS. Le peptide contenant des résidus sulphotyrosines, une fois conjugué à mCD4 (mCD4-P3YSO3), montre un IC50 de l'ordre du nM, pour l'inhibition simultanée de la liaison de gp120 aux HS, à CD4, aux anticorps, aux corécepteurs ainsi que l'infection par VIH-1 in cellulo. Il constitue le premier inhibiteur bivalent de l'entrée qui cible à la fois les virus R5 et X4 et le concept d'un peptide mimétique des HS se prête à une analyse structurale et fonctionnelle de la liaison des chaînes HS aux protéines, une nouvelle technique dans ce domain / It is well-established that cell-associated Heparan Sulphate (HS) binds the V3 loop of gp120 of HIV-1 thus aiding in viral infectivity. However, a variety of soluble polyanions have antiviral properties once conjugated to CD4 and a CD4-conjugated HS (mCD4-HS12), showed nM activity against HIV-1 in vitro. Due to the structural complexity of HS, screening differently sulphated oligosaccharides to improve the molecule's activity would be too cumbersome, thus in order to obtain a more specific, higher affinity and easier to produce moiety, collaborators synthesized HS mimetic peptides. We aimed to screen these peptides and other anionic molecules for their capacity to inhibit HIV-1 entry. To this end we set-up a platform whereby solubilised CCR5 and CXCR4 were immobilized on biosensors (biacore) and used to screen for molecules that inhibited gp120-CD4 binding to the coreceptors. To control the solubilization process, CXCL12, the natural ligand of CXCR4, was injected over the immobilized CXCR4. The affinities of CXCL12 isoforms (α and γ) for CXCR4 were calculated within the ranges of values that have been previously described with different techniques, thus proving the functionality of our system and enabling us to investigate the binding mechanisms of these two isoforms with CXCR4 and their regulation by HS. The system was subsequently used to screen the inhibitory capacity of the HS mimetic peptides. Each peptide, [S(XDXS)n], contained amino acids that mimic the hydroxyl, carboxyl and sulphate groups on HS chains. The peptide containing sulphotyrosine residues, when conjugated to mCD4 (mCD4-P3YSO3), displayed nM IC50 for simultaneously inhibiting gp120 binding to HS, CD4, antibody, coreceptors and HIV-1 infection in vitro. This is the first bivalent entry inhibitor that targets both R5 and X4 viruses and the concept of a HSmimetic peptide lends itself to structural-functional analysis of HS chains binding to proteins, a novel technique in this field.

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