Abstract
Background: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is characterized by a combination of inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes in the spinal cord and the brain. Natural and synthetic cannabinoids such as VCE-004.8 have been studied in preclinical models of MS and represent promising candidates for drug development. VCE-004.8 is a multitarget synthetic cannabidiol (CBD) derivative acting as a dual Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma/ Cannabinoid receptor type 2 (PPAR γ /CB 2) ligand agonist that also activates the Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway. EHP-101 is an oral lipidic formulation of VCE-004.8 that has shown efficacy in several preclinical models of autoimmune, inflammatory, fibrotic and neurodegenerative diseases.
Methods: The efficacy of EHP-101 in vivo was evaluated in two murine models of MS, the experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) and cuprizone-induced demyelination models. In EAE, transcriptomic analysis was performed by RNA-Seq and qPCR, and inflammatory and myelination markers were detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and confocal microscopy in both models of MS.
Results: EHP-101 alleviated clinical symptomatology in EAE and transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that EHP-101 prevented the expression of many inflammatory genes closely associated with MS pathophysiology in the spinal cord. EHP-101 normalized the expression of several genes associated with oligodendrocyte function such as Teneurin 4 (Tenm4) and Gap junction gamma-3 (Gjc3) that were downregulated in EAE. EHP-101 treatment prevented microglia activation and demyelination in both the spinal cord and the brain. Moreover, EAE was associated with a loss in the expression of Oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Olig2) in the corpus callosum, a marker for oligodendrocyte differentiation, which was restored by EHP-101 treatment. In addition, EHP-101 enhanced the expression of glutathione S-transferase pi (GSTpi), a marker for mature oligodendrocytes in the brain. We also found that a diet containing 0.2 % cuprizone for six weeks induced a clear loss of myelin in the brain measured by Cryomyelin staining and Myelin basic protein (MBP) expression. Moreover, EHP-101 also prevented cuprizone-induced microglial activation, astrogliosis and reduced axonal damage.
Conclusions: Our results provide evidence that EHP-101 showed potent anti-inflammatory activity, prevented demyelination and enhanced remyelination. Therefore, EHP-101 represents a promising drug candidate for the potential treatment of different forms of MS.
Cyclic phosphatidic acid derivative is a novel drug candidate for multiple sclerosis
