Thomas Cordonnier - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Thomas Cordonnier

Research paper thumbnail of Protein encapsulation and release from PEO-b-polyphosphoester templated calcium carbonate particles

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2016

Calcium carbonate particles are promising candidates as proteins carriers for their controlled de... more Calcium carbonate particles are promising candidates as proteins carriers for their controlled delivery in the body. The present paper aims at investigating the protein encapsulation by in situ precipitation of calcium carbonate particles prepared by a process based on supercritical CO2 and using a new type of degradable well-defined double hydrophilic block copolymers composed of poly(ethylene oxide) and polyphosphoester blocks acting as templating agent for the calcium carbonate. For this study, lysozyme was chosen as a model for therapeutic protein for its availability and ease of detection. It was found that by this green process, loading into the CaCO3 microparticles with a diameter about 2μm can be obtained as determined by scanning electron microscopy. A protein loading up to 6.5% active lysozyme was measured by a specific bioassay (Micrococcus lysodeikticus). By encapsulating fluorescent-labelled lysozyme (lysozyme-FITC), the confocal microscopy images confirmed its encapsulation and suggested a core-shell distribution of lysozyme into CaCO3, leading to a release profile reaching a steady state at 59% of release after 90min.

Research paper thumbnail of Associations cellules souches mésenchymateuses et céramiques pour l'ingénierie tissulaire osseuse : intérêt du milieu cellulaire et de l'environnement tridimensionnel sur la différenciation ostéoblastique

Http Www Theses Fr, Oct 29, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Growth Hormone Stimulates Proliferation and Differentiation in M2H4 Odontoblasts

Research paper thumbnail of Sustained release of TGF-β1 from biodegradable microparticles prepared by a new green process in CO2 medium

International journal of pharmaceutics, Jan 21, 2015

The aim of this work was to encapsulate transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) into PLGA micropar... more The aim of this work was to encapsulate transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) into PLGA microparticles for regenerative medicine applications. TGF-β1 was firstly precipitated to ensure its stability during subsequent encapsulation within microparticles. A novel emulsification/extraction process in CO2 medium under mild conditions of pressure and temperature was used to encapsulate the protein. Interestingly, non-volatile injectable solvents, isosorbide dimethyl ether (DMI) and glycofurol (GF), were employed to precipitate the protein and to dissolve the polymer. Good encapsulation efficiency was obtained with preserved bioactivity of the protein. The microparticles were characterized in terms of size and zeta potential. In addition, the morphology and surface properties were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) respectively. In vitro release study of the protein from microparticles was presented to assess the capacity of these system...

Research paper thumbnail of Inhibition of the HER2-YB1-AR axis with Lapatinib synergistically enhances Enzalutamide anti-tumor efficacy in castration resistant prostate cancer

Oncotarget, Jan 15, 2015

Incurable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is driven by androgen receptor (AR) activat... more Incurable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is driven by androgen receptor (AR) activation. Potent therapies that prevent AR signaling, such as Enzalutamide (ENZ), are mainstay treatments for CRPC; however patients eventually progress with ENZ resistant (ENZR) disease. In this study, we investigated one mechanism of ENZ resistance, and tried to improve therapeutic efficiency of ENZ. We found HER2 expression is increased in ENZR tumors and cell lines, and is induced by ENZ treatment of LNCaP cells. ENZ-induced HER2 overexpression was dependent on AKT-YB1 activation and modulated AR activity. HER2 dependent AR activation in LNCaP and ENZR cells was effectively blocked by treatment with the EGFR/HER2 inhibitor Lapatinib, which reduced cell viability and increased apoptosis. Despite efficacy in vitro, in vivo monotherapy with Lapatinib did not prevent ENZR tumor growth. However, combination treatment of Lapatinib with ENZ most effectively induced cell death in LNCaP cells in v...

Research paper thumbnail of Protein Encapsulation into PLGA Nanoparticles by a Novel Phase Separation Method Using Non-Toxic Solvents

Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology, 2014

Nanoparticles of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (... more Nanoparticles of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) are widely used as drug delivery systems for the administration of biomolecules like proteins. The purpose of this work is to validate a novel formulation method by a phase separation phenomenon using the non-toxic solvent glycofurol (GF) in order to encapsulate proteins into PLGA nanoparticles. Nanoprecipitates of a model protein (lysozyme) and a therapeutic protein (TGF-β1) were formed to ensure their stability upon subsequent encapsulation into PLGA nanoparticles. Good encapsulation efficiency was obtained with preservation of the structure integrity and protein bioactivity after encapsulation. PLGA nanoparticles were then characterized in terms of size, zeta potential and morphology. Moreover, residual solvent was quantified and in vitro release study of the encapsulated proteins was performed to demonstrate the efficacy of our encapsulation method in drug sustained release. Finally, cytocompatibility study of nanoparticles was performed. Thus, we developed an effective method based on the preliminary step of protein precipitation for the formulation of PLGA nanoparticles as protein carriers for biomedical applications.

Research paper thumbnail of Healing of long-bone defects in sheep metatarsals using bioceramics and mesenchymal stem cells

Current Orthopaedic Practice, 2012

ABSTRACT Background: Autologous bone is the most effective bone graft procedure but is limited in... more ABSTRACT Background: Autologous bone is the most effective bone graft procedure but is limited in quantity and requires a second surgery site. These drawbacks have encouraged scientists and surgeons to find alternative approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic granules to promote bone regeneration in a preclinical model. Methods: In this work, a 2.5-cm critical-sized bone defect was created using Masquelet's technique in sheep metatarsals. The defect was filled with a poly-methylmethacrylate spacer, which was replaced 6 weeks later with biphasic calcium phosphate granules, with or without autologous mesenchymal stem cells (n=7 per group). Results: After 12 weeks, nondecalcified histology demonstrated good and homogeneous bone formation for biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic granules, with or without autologous mesenchymal stem cells. No significant difference was observed between the two groups; however, all the implants were able to support bone formation and for certain cases exhibited bone unions. Conclusions: These results highlighted the potential of biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic granules to be used as scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cells in the reconstruction of critical-sized bone defects instead of autologous bone grafts.

Research paper thumbnail of Abstract 1494: Silencing Notch-1 and Notch-3 promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and self-renewal potential in human bladder cancer

Research paper thumbnail of Combination AZD5363 with Enzalutamide Significantly Delays Enzalutamide-resistant Prostate Cancer in Preclinical Models

European Urology, 2014

The phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway is a key pathway activa... more The phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway is a key pathway activated in castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). This preclinical study evaluates targeting of Akt with AZD5363 alone and in combination with enzalutamide (ENZ) to prevent and delay resistance. Our results demonstrate AZD5363 has significant proapoptotic, antiproliferative activity as monotherapy in ENZ-resistant cell lines in vitro and significantly decreased tumour growth in ENZ-resistant xenograft. The combination of AZD5363 and ENZ showed synergistic decreases in cell proliferation and induced cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and C4-2. Notably, the combination of AZD5363 and ENZ resulted in an impressive regression of castrate-resistant LNCaP xenograft tumours without any recurrence demonstrated, whereas progression occurred with both monotherapies. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were also continuously suppressed, and nadir PSA levels were lower in the combination arm compared to ENZ alone. Combination AZD5363 and ENZ at time of castration similarly resulted in significant regression of tumours, with greater relative suppression of PSA compared to when administered to castrate-resistant xenografts. In summary, combination AZD5363 and ENZ significantly delays the development of ENZ resistance in preclinical models through synergistic increases in apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Our results also suggest greater efficacy may be seen with earlier combination treatment. This study provides preclinical data to support evaluation of combination targeting of the PI3K/Akt pathway and the androgen-receptor axis in the clinic using AZD5363 and ENZ, respectively. Targeting of the Akt and androgen receptor pathways with AZD5363 and enzalutamide, respectively, significantly delayed the development of enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer through increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. This preclinical synergy provides a strong rationale for clinical evaluation of this combination.

Research paper thumbnail of Hsp27 regulates EGF/β-catenin mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer

International Journal of Cancer, 2014

Increased expression of the molecular chaperone Hsp27 is associated with the progression of prost... more Increased expression of the molecular chaperone Hsp27 is associated with the progression of prostate cancer (PCa) to castration-resistant disease, which is lethal due to metastatic spread of the prostate tumor. Metastasis requires epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which endows cancer cells with the ability to disseminate from the primary tumor and colonize new tissue sites. A wide variety of secreted factors promote EMT, and while overexpression and constitutive activation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling is associated with poor prognosis of PCa, a precise role of EGF in PCa progression to metastasis remains unclear. Here, we show that Hsp27 is required for EGF-induced cell migration, invasion and MMPs activity as well as the expression of EMT markers including Fibronectin, Vimentin and Slug with concomitant decrease of E-cadherin. Mechanistically, we found that Hsp27 is required for EGF-induced AKT and GSK3β phosphorylation and β-catenin nuclear translocation. Moreover, silencing Hsp27 decreases EGF dependent phosphorylation of β-catenin on tyrosine 142 and 654, enhances β-catenin ubiquitination and degradation, prevents β-catenin nuclear translocation and binding to the Slug promoter. These data suggest that Hsp27 is required for EGF-mediated EMT via modulation of the β-catenin/Slug signaling pathway. Together, our findings underscore the importance of Hsp27 in EGF induced EMT in PCa and highlight the use of Hsp27 knockdown as a useful strategy for patients with advanced disease.

Research paper thumbnail of Consistent Osteoblastic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 and Low Serum

Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 2011

Providing fully mature and functional osteoblasts is challenging for bone tissue engineering and ... more Providing fully mature and functional osteoblasts is challenging for bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Such cells could be obtained from multipotent bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after induction by different osteogenic factors. However, there are some discrepancies in results, notably due to the use of sera and to the type of osteogenic factor. In this study, we compared the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow MSCs induced by dexamethasone (Dex) or bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) by assessing phenotypes in vitro and functional osteoblasts in vivo. Reducing the content of fetal calf serum from 10% to 2% significantly increased the mineral deposition and expression of osteoblastic markers during osteogenesis. In comparison to Dex condition, the addition of BMP4 greatly improved the differentiation of MSCs into fully mature osteoblasts as seen by high expression of Osterix. These results were confirmed in different supportive matrixes, plastic flasks, or biphasic calcium phosphate biomaterials. In contrast to Dex-derived osteoblasts, BMP4-derived osteoblasts from MSCs were significantly able to produce new bone in subcutis of nude mice in accordance with in vitro results. In conclusion, we describe a convenient ex vivo method to produce consistently mature functional osteoblasts from human MSCs with use of BMP4 and low serum.

Research paper thumbnail of Pericyte-Like Progenitors Show High Immaturity and Engraftment Potential as Compared with Mesenchymal Stem Cells

PLoS ONE, 2012

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and pericyte progenitors (PPs) are both perivascular cells with sim... more Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and pericyte progenitors (PPs) are both perivascular cells with similar multipotential properties regardless of tissue of origin. We compared the phenotype and function of the 2 cell types derived from the same bone-marrow samples but expanded in their respective media-pericyte conditions (endothelial cell growth medium 2 [EGM-2]) for PPs and standard medium (mesenchymal stem cell medium [MSM]) for MSCs. After 3 weeks of culture, whatever the expansion medium, all cells showed similar characteristics (MSC markers and adipo-osteo-chondroblastic differentiation potential), although neuronal potential was greater in EGM-2-than MSM-cultured cells. As compared with MSM-cultured MSCs, EGM-2-cultured PPs showed higher expression of the pericyte-specific antigen 3G5 than a-smooth muscle actin. In addition, EGM-2-cultured PPs showed an immature phenotype, with upregulation of stemness OCT4 and SOX2 proteins and downregulation of markers of osteoblastic, chondroblastic, adipocytic and vascular smooth muscle lineages. Despite having less effective in vitro immunosuppression capacities than standard MSCs, EGM-2-cultured PPs had higher engraftment potentials when combined with biomaterials heterotopically-transplanted in Nude mice. Furthermore, these engrafted cells generated more collagen matrix and were preferentially perivascular or lined trabeculae as compared with MSM-cultured MSCs. In conclusion, EGM-2-cultured PPs are highly immature cells with increased plasticity and engraftment potential.

Research paper thumbnail of Determining a Clinically Relevant Strategy for Bone Tissue Engineering: An “All-in-One” Study in Nude Mice

PLoS ONE, 2013

Purpose: Autologous bone grafting (BG) remains the standard reconstruction strategy for large cra... more Purpose: Autologous bone grafting (BG) remains the standard reconstruction strategy for large craniofacial defects. Calcium phosphate (CaP) biomaterials, such as biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), do not yield consistent results when used alone and must then be combined with cells through bone tissue engineering (BTE). In this context, total bone marrow (TBM) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are the primary sources of cellular material used with biomaterials. However, several other BTE strategies exist, including the use of growth factors, various scaffolds, and MSC isolated from different tissues. Thus, clinicians might be unsure as to which method offers patients the most benefit. For this reason, the aim of this study was to compare eight clinically relevant BTE methods in an ''all-in-one'' study. Methods: We used a transgenic rat strain expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), from which BG, TBM, and MSC were harvested. Progenitor cells were then mixed with CaP materials and implanted subcutaneously into nude mice. After eight weeks, bone formation was evaluated by histology and scanning electron microscopy, and GFP-expressing cells were tracked with photon fluorescence microscopy. Results/Conclusions: Bone formation was observed in only four groups. These included CaP materials mixed with BG or TBM, in which abundant de novo bone was formed, and BCP mixed with committed cells grown in two-and threedimensions, which yielded limited bone formation. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that only the TBM and BG groups were positive for GFP expressing-cells, suggesting that these donor cells were still present in the host and contributed to the formation of bone. Since the TBM-based procedure does not require bone harvest or cell culture techniques, but provides abundant de novo bone formation, we recommend consideration of this strategy for clinical applications.

Research paper thumbnail of 1125 Silencing NOTCH-1 and NOTCH-3 Promotes Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition (Emt) and Self-Renewal Potential in Human Bladder Cancer

The Journal of Urology, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Osteoblastic differentiation and potent osteogenicity of three-dimensional hBMSC-BCP particle constructs

Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2014

Bone tissue engineering usually consists of associating osteoprogenitor cells and macroporous sca... more Bone tissue engineering usually consists of associating osteoprogenitor cells and macroporous scaffolds. This study investigated the in vitro osteoblastic differentiation and resulting in vivo bone formation induced by a different approach that uses particles as substrate for human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs), in order to provide cells with a higher degree of freedom and allow them to synthesize a three-dimensional (3D) environment. Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) particles (35 mg, ~175 µm in diameter) were therefore associated with 4 × 10(5) hBMSCs. To discriminate the roles of BCP properties and cell-synthesized 3D environments, inert glass beads (GBs) of similar size were used under the same conditions. In both cases, high cell proliferation and extensive extracellular matrix (ECM) production resulted in the rapid formation of thick cell-synthesized 3D constructs. In vitro, spontaneous osteoblastic differentiation was observed in the 3D constructs at the mRNA and protein levels by monitoring the expression of Runx2, BMP2, ColI, BSP and OCN. The hBMSC-BCP particle constructs implanted in the subcutis of nude mice induced abundant ectopic bone formation after 8 weeks (~35%, n = 5/5). In comparison, only fibrous tissue without bone was observed in the implanted hBMSC-GB constructs (n = 0/5). Furthermore, little bone formation (~3%, n = 5/5) was found in hBMSC-macroporous BCP discs (diameter 8 × 3 mm). This study underlines the lack of correspondence between bone formation and in vitro differentiation assays. Furthermore, these results highlight the importance of using BCP as well as a 3D environment for achieving high bone yield of interest for bone engineering.

Research paper thumbnail of 3D environment on human mesenchymal stem cells differentiation for bone tissue engineering

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2010

In this work a novel method was developed to create a three dimensional environment at a cellular... more In this work a novel method was developed to create a three dimensional environment at a cellular level for bone tissue engineering. Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) particles of 140-200 lm were used in association with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The cells seeded on these particles adhered and proliferated more rapidly in the first day of culture compared to culture on plastic. Analyses of hMSCs cultured without osteogenic factors on BCP particles revealed an abundant extracellular matrix production forming 3-dimensional (3D) hMSCs/ BCP particles constructs after few days. Bone morphogenetic 2 (BMP-2), bone sialoprotein (BSP) and ALP gene expression using real time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed that expression profiles were modified by the culture substrate while the addition of osteogenic medium enhanced bone markers expression. These results indicate that BCP particles alone are able to induce an osteoblastic differentiation of hMSCs that might be of interest for bone tissue engineering.

Research paper thumbnail of Preparation of polymeric particles in CO2 medium using non-toxic solvents: Formulation and comparisons with a phase separation method

European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2012

The aim of this work was to elaborate formulation strategies to encapsulate a protein into biodeg... more The aim of this work was to elaborate formulation strategies to encapsulate a protein into biodegradable polymeric particles for sustained release purpose. In this paper, two encapsulation methods will be presented, one dealing with a phase separation phenomenon while the other involving an emulsification/extraction process in CO(2) medium. In those methods, only non-volatile injectable solvents such as glycofurol or isosorbide dimethyl ether were used to dissolve the polymer. Moreover, experimental designs were built up to help us to go further in the understanding of the processes and to better predict output responses in design space. Spherical particles were successfully generated with a satisfactory encapsulation yield. Further characterization steps such as in vitro, in vivo releases will be carried out to validate the interest of our encapsulation methods in the development of drug delivery systems.

Research paper thumbnail of Hsp27 Regulates Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition, Metastasis, and Circulating Tumor Cells in Prostate Cancer

Cancer Research, 2013

Defining the mechanisms underlying metastatic progression of prostate cancer may lead to insights... more Defining the mechanisms underlying metastatic progression of prostate cancer may lead to insights into how to decrease morbidity and mortality in this disease. An important determinant of metastasis is epithelial-tomesenchymal transition (EMT), and the mechanisms that control the process of EMT in cancer cells are still emerging. Here, we report that the molecular chaperone Hsp27 (HSPB1) drives EMT in prostate cancer, whereas its attenuation reverses EMT and decreases cell migration, invasion, and matrix metalloproteinase activity. Mechanistically, silencing Hsp27 decreased IL-6-dependent STAT3 phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and STAT3 binding to the Twist promoter, suggesting that Hsp27 is required for IL-6-mediated EMT via modulation of STAT3/Twist signaling. We observed a correlation between Hsp27 and Twist in patients with prostate cancer, with Hsp27 and Twist expression each elevated in high-grade prostate cancer tumors. Hsp27 inhibition by OGX-427, an antisense therapy currently in phase II trials, reduced tumor metastasis in a murine model of prostate cancer. More importantly, OGX-427 treatment decreased the number of circulating tumor cells in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in a phase I clinical trial. Overall, this study defines Hsp27 as a critical regulator of IL-6-dependent and IL-6-independent EMT, validating this chaperone as a therapeutic target to treat metastatic prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 73(10); 3109-19. Ó2013 AACR.

Research paper thumbnail of Growth hormone stimulates proliferation and differentiation of M2H4 odontoblastic cell line

Research paper thumbnail of Osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells with platelet lysate

Biomaterials, 2010

Culture of expanded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded on biomaterials may represent a clinical... more Culture of expanded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded on biomaterials may represent a clinical alternative to autologous bone graft in bone regeneration. Foetal bovine serum (FBS) is currently used for MSC expansion, despite risks of infectious disease transmission and immunological reaction due to its xenogenic origin. This study aimed to compare the osteogenic capacities of clinical-grade human MSCs cultured with FBS or allogenic human platelet lysate (PL). In vitro, MSCs cultured in PL both accelerate the expansion rate over serial passages and spontaneously induce osteoblastic gene expression such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (Op) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). In vivo, ectopic bone formation is only observed on ceramics seeded with MSCs grown in PL medium implanted under the skin of immunodeficient mice for 7 weeks. In conclusion, allogenic human PL accelerates MSC proliferation and enhances MSC osteogenic differentiation.

Research paper thumbnail of Protein encapsulation and release from PEO-b-polyphosphoester templated calcium carbonate particles

International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 2016

Calcium carbonate particles are promising candidates as proteins carriers for their controlled de... more Calcium carbonate particles are promising candidates as proteins carriers for their controlled delivery in the body. The present paper aims at investigating the protein encapsulation by in situ precipitation of calcium carbonate particles prepared by a process based on supercritical CO2 and using a new type of degradable well-defined double hydrophilic block copolymers composed of poly(ethylene oxide) and polyphosphoester blocks acting as templating agent for the calcium carbonate. For this study, lysozyme was chosen as a model for therapeutic protein for its availability and ease of detection. It was found that by this green process, loading into the CaCO3 microparticles with a diameter about 2μm can be obtained as determined by scanning electron microscopy. A protein loading up to 6.5% active lysozyme was measured by a specific bioassay (Micrococcus lysodeikticus). By encapsulating fluorescent-labelled lysozyme (lysozyme-FITC), the confocal microscopy images confirmed its encapsulation and suggested a core-shell distribution of lysozyme into CaCO3, leading to a release profile reaching a steady state at 59% of release after 90min.

Research paper thumbnail of Associations cellules souches mésenchymateuses et céramiques pour l'ingénierie tissulaire osseuse : intérêt du milieu cellulaire et de l'environnement tridimensionnel sur la différenciation ostéoblastique

Http Www Theses Fr, Oct 29, 2010

Research paper thumbnail of Growth Hormone Stimulates Proliferation and Differentiation in M2H4 Odontoblasts

Research paper thumbnail of Sustained release of TGF-β1 from biodegradable microparticles prepared by a new green process in CO2 medium

International journal of pharmaceutics, Jan 21, 2015

The aim of this work was to encapsulate transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) into PLGA micropar... more The aim of this work was to encapsulate transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) into PLGA microparticles for regenerative medicine applications. TGF-β1 was firstly precipitated to ensure its stability during subsequent encapsulation within microparticles. A novel emulsification/extraction process in CO2 medium under mild conditions of pressure and temperature was used to encapsulate the protein. Interestingly, non-volatile injectable solvents, isosorbide dimethyl ether (DMI) and glycofurol (GF), were employed to precipitate the protein and to dissolve the polymer. Good encapsulation efficiency was obtained with preserved bioactivity of the protein. The microparticles were characterized in terms of size and zeta potential. In addition, the morphology and surface properties were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) respectively. In vitro release study of the protein from microparticles was presented to assess the capacity of these system...

Research paper thumbnail of Inhibition of the HER2-YB1-AR axis with Lapatinib synergistically enhances Enzalutamide anti-tumor efficacy in castration resistant prostate cancer

Oncotarget, Jan 15, 2015

Incurable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is driven by androgen receptor (AR) activat... more Incurable castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) is driven by androgen receptor (AR) activation. Potent therapies that prevent AR signaling, such as Enzalutamide (ENZ), are mainstay treatments for CRPC; however patients eventually progress with ENZ resistant (ENZR) disease. In this study, we investigated one mechanism of ENZ resistance, and tried to improve therapeutic efficiency of ENZ. We found HER2 expression is increased in ENZR tumors and cell lines, and is induced by ENZ treatment of LNCaP cells. ENZ-induced HER2 overexpression was dependent on AKT-YB1 activation and modulated AR activity. HER2 dependent AR activation in LNCaP and ENZR cells was effectively blocked by treatment with the EGFR/HER2 inhibitor Lapatinib, which reduced cell viability and increased apoptosis. Despite efficacy in vitro, in vivo monotherapy with Lapatinib did not prevent ENZR tumor growth. However, combination treatment of Lapatinib with ENZ most effectively induced cell death in LNCaP cells in v...

Research paper thumbnail of Protein Encapsulation into PLGA Nanoparticles by a Novel Phase Separation Method Using Non-Toxic Solvents

Journal of Nanomedicine & Nanotechnology, 2014

Nanoparticles of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (... more Nanoparticles of biocompatible and biodegradable polymers such as poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) are widely used as drug delivery systems for the administration of biomolecules like proteins. The purpose of this work is to validate a novel formulation method by a phase separation phenomenon using the non-toxic solvent glycofurol (GF) in order to encapsulate proteins into PLGA nanoparticles. Nanoprecipitates of a model protein (lysozyme) and a therapeutic protein (TGF-β1) were formed to ensure their stability upon subsequent encapsulation into PLGA nanoparticles. Good encapsulation efficiency was obtained with preservation of the structure integrity and protein bioactivity after encapsulation. PLGA nanoparticles were then characterized in terms of size, zeta potential and morphology. Moreover, residual solvent was quantified and in vitro release study of the encapsulated proteins was performed to demonstrate the efficacy of our encapsulation method in drug sustained release. Finally, cytocompatibility study of nanoparticles was performed. Thus, we developed an effective method based on the preliminary step of protein precipitation for the formulation of PLGA nanoparticles as protein carriers for biomedical applications.

Research paper thumbnail of Healing of long-bone defects in sheep metatarsals using bioceramics and mesenchymal stem cells

Current Orthopaedic Practice, 2012

ABSTRACT Background: Autologous bone is the most effective bone graft procedure but is limited in... more ABSTRACT Background: Autologous bone is the most effective bone graft procedure but is limited in quantity and requires a second surgery site. These drawbacks have encouraged scientists and surgeons to find alternative approaches. The aim of this study was to investigate the ability of biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic granules to promote bone regeneration in a preclinical model. Methods: In this work, a 2.5-cm critical-sized bone defect was created using Masquelet's technique in sheep metatarsals. The defect was filled with a poly-methylmethacrylate spacer, which was replaced 6 weeks later with biphasic calcium phosphate granules, with or without autologous mesenchymal stem cells (n=7 per group). Results: After 12 weeks, nondecalcified histology demonstrated good and homogeneous bone formation for biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic granules, with or without autologous mesenchymal stem cells. No significant difference was observed between the two groups; however, all the implants were able to support bone formation and for certain cases exhibited bone unions. Conclusions: These results highlighted the potential of biphasic calcium phosphate ceramic granules to be used as scaffolds for mesenchymal stem cells in the reconstruction of critical-sized bone defects instead of autologous bone grafts.

Research paper thumbnail of Abstract 1494: Silencing Notch-1 and Notch-3 promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and self-renewal potential in human bladder cancer

Research paper thumbnail of Combination AZD5363 with Enzalutamide Significantly Delays Enzalutamide-resistant Prostate Cancer in Preclinical Models

European Urology, 2014

The phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway is a key pathway activa... more The phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/Akt (PI3K/Akt) pathway is a key pathway activated in castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). This preclinical study evaluates targeting of Akt with AZD5363 alone and in combination with enzalutamide (ENZ) to prevent and delay resistance. Our results demonstrate AZD5363 has significant proapoptotic, antiproliferative activity as monotherapy in ENZ-resistant cell lines in vitro and significantly decreased tumour growth in ENZ-resistant xenograft. The combination of AZD5363 and ENZ showed synergistic decreases in cell proliferation and induced cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines LNCaP and C4-2. Notably, the combination of AZD5363 and ENZ resulted in an impressive regression of castrate-resistant LNCaP xenograft tumours without any recurrence demonstrated, whereas progression occurred with both monotherapies. Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels were also continuously suppressed, and nadir PSA levels were lower in the combination arm compared to ENZ alone. Combination AZD5363 and ENZ at time of castration similarly resulted in significant regression of tumours, with greater relative suppression of PSA compared to when administered to castrate-resistant xenografts. In summary, combination AZD5363 and ENZ significantly delays the development of ENZ resistance in preclinical models through synergistic increases in apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Our results also suggest greater efficacy may be seen with earlier combination treatment. This study provides preclinical data to support evaluation of combination targeting of the PI3K/Akt pathway and the androgen-receptor axis in the clinic using AZD5363 and ENZ, respectively. Targeting of the Akt and androgen receptor pathways with AZD5363 and enzalutamide, respectively, significantly delayed the development of enzalutamide-resistant prostate cancer through increased apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. This preclinical synergy provides a strong rationale for clinical evaluation of this combination.

Research paper thumbnail of Hsp27 regulates EGF/β-catenin mediated epithelial to mesenchymal transition in prostate cancer

International Journal of Cancer, 2014

Increased expression of the molecular chaperone Hsp27 is associated with the progression of prost... more Increased expression of the molecular chaperone Hsp27 is associated with the progression of prostate cancer (PCa) to castration-resistant disease, which is lethal due to metastatic spread of the prostate tumor. Metastasis requires epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which endows cancer cells with the ability to disseminate from the primary tumor and colonize new tissue sites. A wide variety of secreted factors promote EMT, and while overexpression and constitutive activation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling is associated with poor prognosis of PCa, a precise role of EGF in PCa progression to metastasis remains unclear. Here, we show that Hsp27 is required for EGF-induced cell migration, invasion and MMPs activity as well as the expression of EMT markers including Fibronectin, Vimentin and Slug with concomitant decrease of E-cadherin. Mechanistically, we found that Hsp27 is required for EGF-induced AKT and GSK3β phosphorylation and β-catenin nuclear translocation. Moreover, silencing Hsp27 decreases EGF dependent phosphorylation of β-catenin on tyrosine 142 and 654, enhances β-catenin ubiquitination and degradation, prevents β-catenin nuclear translocation and binding to the Slug promoter. These data suggest that Hsp27 is required for EGF-mediated EMT via modulation of the β-catenin/Slug signaling pathway. Together, our findings underscore the importance of Hsp27 in EGF induced EMT in PCa and highlight the use of Hsp27 knockdown as a useful strategy for patients with advanced disease.

Research paper thumbnail of Consistent Osteoblastic Differentiation of Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 and Low Serum

Tissue Engineering Part C: Methods, 2011

Providing fully mature and functional osteoblasts is challenging for bone tissue engineering and ... more Providing fully mature and functional osteoblasts is challenging for bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Such cells could be obtained from multipotent bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) after induction by different osteogenic factors. However, there are some discrepancies in results, notably due to the use of sera and to the type of osteogenic factor. In this study, we compared the osteogenic differentiation of bone marrow MSCs induced by dexamethasone (Dex) or bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) by assessing phenotypes in vitro and functional osteoblasts in vivo. Reducing the content of fetal calf serum from 10% to 2% significantly increased the mineral deposition and expression of osteoblastic markers during osteogenesis. In comparison to Dex condition, the addition of BMP4 greatly improved the differentiation of MSCs into fully mature osteoblasts as seen by high expression of Osterix. These results were confirmed in different supportive matrixes, plastic flasks, or biphasic calcium phosphate biomaterials. In contrast to Dex-derived osteoblasts, BMP4-derived osteoblasts from MSCs were significantly able to produce new bone in subcutis of nude mice in accordance with in vitro results. In conclusion, we describe a convenient ex vivo method to produce consistently mature functional osteoblasts from human MSCs with use of BMP4 and low serum.

Research paper thumbnail of Pericyte-Like Progenitors Show High Immaturity and Engraftment Potential as Compared with Mesenchymal Stem Cells

PLoS ONE, 2012

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and pericyte progenitors (PPs) are both perivascular cells with sim... more Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and pericyte progenitors (PPs) are both perivascular cells with similar multipotential properties regardless of tissue of origin. We compared the phenotype and function of the 2 cell types derived from the same bone-marrow samples but expanded in their respective media-pericyte conditions (endothelial cell growth medium 2 [EGM-2]) for PPs and standard medium (mesenchymal stem cell medium [MSM]) for MSCs. After 3 weeks of culture, whatever the expansion medium, all cells showed similar characteristics (MSC markers and adipo-osteo-chondroblastic differentiation potential), although neuronal potential was greater in EGM-2-than MSM-cultured cells. As compared with MSM-cultured MSCs, EGM-2-cultured PPs showed higher expression of the pericyte-specific antigen 3G5 than a-smooth muscle actin. In addition, EGM-2-cultured PPs showed an immature phenotype, with upregulation of stemness OCT4 and SOX2 proteins and downregulation of markers of osteoblastic, chondroblastic, adipocytic and vascular smooth muscle lineages. Despite having less effective in vitro immunosuppression capacities than standard MSCs, EGM-2-cultured PPs had higher engraftment potentials when combined with biomaterials heterotopically-transplanted in Nude mice. Furthermore, these engrafted cells generated more collagen matrix and were preferentially perivascular or lined trabeculae as compared with MSM-cultured MSCs. In conclusion, EGM-2-cultured PPs are highly immature cells with increased plasticity and engraftment potential.

Research paper thumbnail of Determining a Clinically Relevant Strategy for Bone Tissue Engineering: An “All-in-One” Study in Nude Mice

PLoS ONE, 2013

Purpose: Autologous bone grafting (BG) remains the standard reconstruction strategy for large cra... more Purpose: Autologous bone grafting (BG) remains the standard reconstruction strategy for large craniofacial defects. Calcium phosphate (CaP) biomaterials, such as biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP), do not yield consistent results when used alone and must then be combined with cells through bone tissue engineering (BTE). In this context, total bone marrow (TBM) and bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) are the primary sources of cellular material used with biomaterials. However, several other BTE strategies exist, including the use of growth factors, various scaffolds, and MSC isolated from different tissues. Thus, clinicians might be unsure as to which method offers patients the most benefit. For this reason, the aim of this study was to compare eight clinically relevant BTE methods in an ''all-in-one'' study. Methods: We used a transgenic rat strain expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), from which BG, TBM, and MSC were harvested. Progenitor cells were then mixed with CaP materials and implanted subcutaneously into nude mice. After eight weeks, bone formation was evaluated by histology and scanning electron microscopy, and GFP-expressing cells were tracked with photon fluorescence microscopy. Results/Conclusions: Bone formation was observed in only four groups. These included CaP materials mixed with BG or TBM, in which abundant de novo bone was formed, and BCP mixed with committed cells grown in two-and threedimensions, which yielded limited bone formation. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that only the TBM and BG groups were positive for GFP expressing-cells, suggesting that these donor cells were still present in the host and contributed to the formation of bone. Since the TBM-based procedure does not require bone harvest or cell culture techniques, but provides abundant de novo bone formation, we recommend consideration of this strategy for clinical applications.

Research paper thumbnail of 1125 Silencing NOTCH-1 and NOTCH-3 Promotes Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition (Emt) and Self-Renewal Potential in Human Bladder Cancer

The Journal of Urology, 2013

Research paper thumbnail of Osteoblastic differentiation and potent osteogenicity of three-dimensional hBMSC-BCP particle constructs

Journal of Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine, 2014

Bone tissue engineering usually consists of associating osteoprogenitor cells and macroporous sca... more Bone tissue engineering usually consists of associating osteoprogenitor cells and macroporous scaffolds. This study investigated the in vitro osteoblastic differentiation and resulting in vivo bone formation induced by a different approach that uses particles as substrate for human bone marrow stromal cells (hBMSCs), in order to provide cells with a higher degree of freedom and allow them to synthesize a three-dimensional (3D) environment. Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) particles (35 mg, ~175 µm in diameter) were therefore associated with 4 × 10(5) hBMSCs. To discriminate the roles of BCP properties and cell-synthesized 3D environments, inert glass beads (GBs) of similar size were used under the same conditions. In both cases, high cell proliferation and extensive extracellular matrix (ECM) production resulted in the rapid formation of thick cell-synthesized 3D constructs. In vitro, spontaneous osteoblastic differentiation was observed in the 3D constructs at the mRNA and protein levels by monitoring the expression of Runx2, BMP2, ColI, BSP and OCN. The hBMSC-BCP particle constructs implanted in the subcutis of nude mice induced abundant ectopic bone formation after 8 weeks (~35%, n = 5/5). In comparison, only fibrous tissue without bone was observed in the implanted hBMSC-GB constructs (n = 0/5). Furthermore, little bone formation (~3%, n = 5/5) was found in hBMSC-macroporous BCP discs (diameter 8 × 3 mm). This study underlines the lack of correspondence between bone formation and in vitro differentiation assays. Furthermore, these results highlight the importance of using BCP as well as a 3D environment for achieving high bone yield of interest for bone engineering.

Research paper thumbnail of 3D environment on human mesenchymal stem cells differentiation for bone tissue engineering

Journal of Materials Science: Materials in Medicine, 2010

In this work a novel method was developed to create a three dimensional environment at a cellular... more In this work a novel method was developed to create a three dimensional environment at a cellular level for bone tissue engineering. Biphasic calcium phosphate (BCP) particles of 140-200 lm were used in association with human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs). The cells seeded on these particles adhered and proliferated more rapidly in the first day of culture compared to culture on plastic. Analyses of hMSCs cultured without osteogenic factors on BCP particles revealed an abundant extracellular matrix production forming 3-dimensional (3D) hMSCs/ BCP particles constructs after few days. Bone morphogenetic 2 (BMP-2), bone sialoprotein (BSP) and ALP gene expression using real time quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) confirmed that expression profiles were modified by the culture substrate while the addition of osteogenic medium enhanced bone markers expression. These results indicate that BCP particles alone are able to induce an osteoblastic differentiation of hMSCs that might be of interest for bone tissue engineering.

Research paper thumbnail of Preparation of polymeric particles in CO2 medium using non-toxic solvents: Formulation and comparisons with a phase separation method

European Journal of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmaceutics, 2012

The aim of this work was to elaborate formulation strategies to encapsulate a protein into biodeg... more The aim of this work was to elaborate formulation strategies to encapsulate a protein into biodegradable polymeric particles for sustained release purpose. In this paper, two encapsulation methods will be presented, one dealing with a phase separation phenomenon while the other involving an emulsification/extraction process in CO(2) medium. In those methods, only non-volatile injectable solvents such as glycofurol or isosorbide dimethyl ether were used to dissolve the polymer. Moreover, experimental designs were built up to help us to go further in the understanding of the processes and to better predict output responses in design space. Spherical particles were successfully generated with a satisfactory encapsulation yield. Further characterization steps such as in vitro, in vivo releases will be carried out to validate the interest of our encapsulation methods in the development of drug delivery systems.

Research paper thumbnail of Hsp27 Regulates Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition, Metastasis, and Circulating Tumor Cells in Prostate Cancer

Cancer Research, 2013

Defining the mechanisms underlying metastatic progression of prostate cancer may lead to insights... more Defining the mechanisms underlying metastatic progression of prostate cancer may lead to insights into how to decrease morbidity and mortality in this disease. An important determinant of metastasis is epithelial-tomesenchymal transition (EMT), and the mechanisms that control the process of EMT in cancer cells are still emerging. Here, we report that the molecular chaperone Hsp27 (HSPB1) drives EMT in prostate cancer, whereas its attenuation reverses EMT and decreases cell migration, invasion, and matrix metalloproteinase activity. Mechanistically, silencing Hsp27 decreased IL-6-dependent STAT3 phosphorylation, nuclear translocation, and STAT3 binding to the Twist promoter, suggesting that Hsp27 is required for IL-6-mediated EMT via modulation of STAT3/Twist signaling. We observed a correlation between Hsp27 and Twist in patients with prostate cancer, with Hsp27 and Twist expression each elevated in high-grade prostate cancer tumors. Hsp27 inhibition by OGX-427, an antisense therapy currently in phase II trials, reduced tumor metastasis in a murine model of prostate cancer. More importantly, OGX-427 treatment decreased the number of circulating tumor cells in patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer in a phase I clinical trial. Overall, this study defines Hsp27 as a critical regulator of IL-6-dependent and IL-6-independent EMT, validating this chaperone as a therapeutic target to treat metastatic prostate cancer. Cancer Res; 73(10); 3109-19. Ó2013 AACR.

Research paper thumbnail of Growth hormone stimulates proliferation and differentiation of M2H4 odontoblastic cell line

Research paper thumbnail of Osteoblastic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells with platelet lysate

Biomaterials, 2010

Culture of expanded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded on biomaterials may represent a clinical... more Culture of expanded mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) seeded on biomaterials may represent a clinical alternative to autologous bone graft in bone regeneration. Foetal bovine serum (FBS) is currently used for MSC expansion, despite risks of infectious disease transmission and immunological reaction due to its xenogenic origin. This study aimed to compare the osteogenic capacities of clinical-grade human MSCs cultured with FBS or allogenic human platelet lysate (PL). In vitro, MSCs cultured in PL both accelerate the expansion rate over serial passages and spontaneously induce osteoblastic gene expression such as alkaline phosphatase (ALP), bone sialoprotein (BSP), osteopontin (Op) and bone morphogenetic protein-2 (BMP-2). In vivo, ectopic bone formation is only observed on ceramics seeded with MSCs grown in PL medium implanted under the skin of immunodeficient mice for 7 weeks. In conclusion, allogenic human PL accelerates MSC proliferation and enhances MSC osteogenic differentiation.