Biophytis (France)

ABSTRACTBackground and AimsChemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a significant side effect that limits the dosage of many anticancer therapies, such as vincristine. At present, there are no effective pharmacological treatments to prevent CIPN. The Mas receptor (MasR) is expressed in the peripheral nervous system and plays a role in pain modulation. While the antinociceptive properties of MasR activation in CIPN have been documented, its potential neuroprotective effects have not been explored in the peripheral nervous system. BIO101, a highly purified form of the MasR activator 20‐hydroxyecdysone, exhibits a positive safety profile in a Phase 1 study without any serious adverse events.MethodsThis study aimed to investigate the neuroprotective effects of BIO101 in a mouse model of vincristine‐induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN). Swiss mice were treated with daily doses of vincristine. VIPN was evaluated through repeated measurements of tactile sensitivity, quantification of intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENF) and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons, and ultrastructural analysis of the sciatic nerve.ResultsVincristine led to mechanical allodynia and reduced the density of IENF, DRG neurons, and unmyelinated nerve fibers in the sciatic nerve. Prophylactic administration of BIO101 mitigated vincristine‐induced symptoms and nerve damage. The neuroprotective effect of BIO101 was nullified when the MasR antagonist A779 was administered; confirming the involvement of MasR.InterpretationTherefore, BIO101 emerges as a safe and promising preventive treatment against vincristine‐induced small fiber neuropathy.

9′-cis-norbixin (norbixin/BIO201) protects RPE cells against phototoxicity induced by blue light and N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E) in vitro and preserves visual functions in animal models of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in vivo. The purpose of this study was to examine the mode of action and the in vitro and in vivo effects of BIO203, a novel norbixin amide conjugate. Compared to norbixin, BIO203 displays improved stability at all temperatures tested for up to 18 months. In vitro, BIO203 and norbixin share a similar mode of action involving the inhibition of PPARs, NF-κB, and AP-1 transactivations. The two compounds also reduce IL-6, IL-8, and VEGF expression induced by A2E. In vivo, ocular maximal concentration and BIO203 plasma exposure are increased compared to those of norbixin. Moreover, BIO203 administered systemically protects visual functions and retinal structure in albino rats subjected to blue-light illumination and in the retinal degeneration model of Abca4−/− Rdh8−/− double knock-out mice following 6 months of oral complementation. In conclusion, we report here that BIO203 and norbixin share similar modes of action and protective effects in vitro and in vivo. BIO203, with its improved pharmacokinetic and stability properties, could be developed for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases such as AMD.

Atrophic A\\age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and Stargardt disease (STGD) are major blinding diseases affecting millions of patients worldwide, but no treatment is available. In dry AMD and STGD oxidative stress and subretinal accumulation of N-retinylidene-N-retinylethanolamine (A2E), a toxic by-product of the visual cycle, causes retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptor degeneration leading to visual impairment. Acute and chronic retinal degeneration following blue light damage (BLD) in BALB/c mice and aging of Abca4-/- Rdh8-/- mice, respectively, reproduce features of AMD and STGD. Efficacy of systemic administrations of 9'-cis-norbixin (norbixin), a natural di-apocarotenoid, prepared from Bixa orellana seeds with anti-oxidative properties, was evaluated during BLD in BALB/c mice, and in Abca4-/- Rdh8-/- mice of different ages, following three experimental designs: “preventive”, “early curative” and “late curative” supplementations. Norbixin injected intraperitoneally in BALB/c mice, maintained scotopic and photopic electroretinogram amplitude and was neuroprotective. Norbixin chronic oral administration for 6 months in Abca4-/- Rdh8-/- mice following the “early curative” supplementation showed optimal neuroprotection and maintenance of photoreceptor function and reduced ocular A2E accumulation. Thus, norbixin appears promising as a systemic drug candidate for both AMD and STGD treatment.

The oomycota Pythium oligandrum Po37 is used as a biocontrol agent of plant diseases. Here, we present the first draft of the P. oligandrum Po37 genome sequence, which comprises 725 scaffolds with a total length of 35.9 Mb and 11,695 predicted protein-coding genes.

We report here the genome of Pseudomonas putida strain UASWS0946, a highly ammonia-tolerant nitrifying strain isolated from sewage sludge aerobic granules, which displays adequate genetic equipment for soil depollution, sludge treatment, and biological fertilization in agriculture.