Metabolomic and Signaling Programs Induced by Immobilized versus Soluble IFN γin Neural Stem Cells

  • Hannah J. Baumann
  • , Patricia Betonio
  • , Chathura S. Abeywickrama
  • , Leah P. Shriver
  • , Nic D. Leipzig

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Neural stem cells (NSCs) provide a strategy to replace damaged neurons following traumatic central nervous system injuries. A major hurdle to translation of this therapy is that direct application of NSCs to CNS injury does not support sufficient neurogenesis due to lack of proper cues. To provide prolonged spatial cues to NSCs IFN-γwas immobilized to biomimetic hydrogel substrate to supply physical and biochemical signals to instruct the encapsulated NSCs to be neurogenic. However, the immobilization of factors, including IFN-γ, versus soluble delivery of the same factor, has been incompletely characterized especially with respect to activation of signaling and metabolism in cells over longer time points. In this study, protein and metabolite changes in NSCs induced by immobilized versus soluble IFN-γat 7 days were evaluated. Soluble IFN-γ, refreshed daily over 7 days, elicited stronger responses in NSCs compared to immobilized IFN-γ, indicating that immobilization may not sustain signaling or has altered ligand/receptor interaction and integrity. However, both IFN-γdelivery types supported increased βIII tubulin expression in parallel with canonical and noncanonical receptor-signaling compared to no IFN-γ. Global metabolomics and pathway analysis revealed that soluble and immobilized IFN-γaltered metabolic pathway activities including energy, lipid, and amino acid synthesis, with soluble IFN-γhaving the greatest metabolic impact overall. Finally, soluble and immobilized IFN-γsupport mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) expression that correlates to differentiated NSCs. This work utilizes new methods to evaluate cell responses to protein delivery and provides insight into mode of action that can be harnessed to improve regenerative medicine-based strategies.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2125-2135
Number of pages11
JournalBioconjugate Chemistry
Volume31
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 16 2020

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