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Entry of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) into host cells is a multistep process mediated by several host factors, including a tight junction protein claudin-1 (CLDN1). We repeatedly passaged HCV-JFH1-tau, an HCV substrain with higher infectivity, on Huh7.5.1-8 cells. A multi-passaged HCV-JFH1-tau lot was infectious to CLDN1-defective S7-A cells, non-permissive to original HCV-JFH1-tau infection. We identified a single mutation, M706L, in the E2 glycoprotein of the HCV-JFH1-tau lot as an essential mutation for infectivity to S7-A cells. The pseudovirus JFH1/M706L mutant could not infect human embryonic kidney 293 T (HEK293T) cells lacking CLDN family but infected HEK293T cells expressing CLDN1, CLDN6, or CLDN9. Thus, this mutant virus could utilize CLDN1, and other CLDN6 and CLDN9, making HCV possible to infect cells other than hepatocytes. iPS cells, one of the stem cells, do not express CLDN1 but express CLDN6 and other host factors required for HCV infection. We confirmed that the HCV-JFH1-tau-derived mutant with an M706L mutation infected iPS cells in a CLDN6-dependent manner. These results demonstrated that a missense mutation in E2 could broaden the CLDN member specificity for HCV infection. HCV may change its receptor requirement through a single amino acid mutation and infect non-hepatic cells.

SUMMARY Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD) is a severe, intractable genetic disease that affects the skeletal muscle, eyes, and brain and is attributed to a defect in alpha dystroglycan (αDG) O-mannosyl glycosylation. We previously established disease models of FCMD; however, they did not fully recapitulate the phenotypes observed in human patients. In this study, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a human FCMD patient and differentiated these cells into three-dimensional brain organoids and skeletal muscle. The brain organoids successfully mimicked patient phenotypes not reliably reproduced by existing models, including decreased αDG glycosylation and abnormal radial glial cell (RG) fiber migration. The basic polycyclic compound Mannan-007 (Mn007) restored αDG glycosylation in all models tested and partially rescued the abnormal RG migration observed in cortical organoids. Therefore, our study underscores the importance of αDG O -mannosyl glycans for normal RG architecture and proper neuronal migration in corticogenesis.

Summary Fukuyama congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD) is a severe, intractable genetic disease that affects the skeletal muscle, eyes, and brain and is attributed to a defect in alpha dystroglycan (αDG) O-mannosyl glycosylation. We previously established disease models of FCMD; however, they did not fully recapitulate the phenotypes observed in human patients. In this study, we generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a human FCMD patient and differentiated these cells into three-dimensional brain organoids and skeletal muscle. The brain organoids successfully mimicked patient phenotypes not reliably reproduced by existing models, including decreased αDG glycosylation and abnormal radial glial (RG) fiber migration. The basic polycyclic compound Mannan-007 (Mn007) restored αDG glycosylation in the brain and muscle models tested and partially rescued the abnormal RG fiber migration observed in cortical organoids. Therefore, our study underscores the importance of αDG O-mannosyl glycans for normal RG fiber architecture and proper neuronal migration in corticogenesis., Graphical abstract, Highlights • FCMD muscle and brain defects result from reduced α-dystroglycan (α-DG) glycosylation • iPSC-derived brain organoids exhibit structural defects like those seen in FCMD patients • FCMD organoids exhibit decreased α-DG glycosylation and abnormal radial glial migrations • Mannan-007 partially restored α-DG glycosylation and radial glial migration defects, Pathophysiology; Neuroscience; Tissue Engineering

Disruption of the gastrointestinal epithelial barrier is a hallmark of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs). The transmembrane protein claudin 2 (CLDN2) is a component of epithelial tight junctions (TJs). In the intestines of patients with IBDs, the expression of the pore-forming TJ protein CLDN2 is upregulated. Although CLDN2 is involved in these leaky barriers, whether it can be a target to enhance TJ integrity is unknown because a CLDN2-specific inhibitor has not been developed. Here, we used DNA immunization to generate a monoclonal antibody (mAb) that recognized an extracellular loop of CLDN2. Treatment of epithelial cell monolayers with the mAb increased barrier integrity. In addition, the anti-CLDN2 mAb attenuated the decrease in TJ integrity induced by the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and cotreatment of cells with anti-TNF-α mAb and anti-CLDN2 mAb showed additive attenuating effects. These findings indicate that CLDN2 may be a target for enhancing TJ integrity, and CLDN2 binder may be an enhancer of mucosal barrier integrity and a potential therapeutic option for IBDs.

Background Oligodendrocytes, which form myelin, enable rapid and efficient nerve conduction. Destruction of myelin causes demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis. Primary oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs) from postnatal rodents have been utilized to elucidate the developmental mechanism of oligodendrocytes in vitro. However, this process is complicated and takes up to several weeks. New method We established a method to culture OPCs from neonatal rat brain in DMEM/F-12 with Stem-Pro, bFGF (10 ng/mL), and rhPDGF (30 ng/mL). The culture, without shaking or immunopanning, became OPC-enriched rather than a mixed glial culture. Results Immunofluorescent analysis using cell lineage markers suggested that these cells were initially glial progenitors, which gradually changed to OPCs with a few cells further differentiating into oligodendrocytes. Using compounds that promote OPC differentiation, we confirmed that these cells were compatible for high-throughput screening in a 96-well plate format. In co-culture with dorsal root ganglion neuron, OPCs showed myelin sheath-like morphologies. This method was also applicable to mouse OPCs. Comparison with existing methods Although the purity of the OPCs was not comparable to that after immunopanning, most cells were of the oligodendrocyte lineage at 8 DIV, while less than 10% were astrocytes. This method requires mediums with only two growth factors without any specific equipment like antibodies or magnet and takes simple procedures. Conclusions The simplicity and high yield of our method make it a good choice when working with oligodendrocytes/OPCs. We believe that this method is an affordable protocol for various biological applications without any special techniques or equipment.

Although chronic ethanol treatment is known to impair learning and memory, humans commonly consume a range of alcoholic beverages. However, the specific effects of some alcoholic beverages on behavioral performance are largely unknown. The present study compared the effects of a range of alcoholic beverages (plain ethanol solution, red wine, sake and whiskey; with a matched alcohol concentration of 10%) on learning and memory. 6-week-old C57BL6J mice were orally administered alcohol for 7 weeks. The results revealed that red wine treatment exhibited a trend toward improvement of spatial memory and advanced extinction of fear memory. Additionally, red wine treatment significantly increased mRNA levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors in mice hippocampus. These results support previous reports that red wine has beneficial effects.

Tight junctions (TJs) are complex biochemical structures that seal the intercellular space and prevent the free movement of solutes across epithelial cell sheets. Modulating the TJ seal is a promising option for increasing the transdermal absorption of drugs. Within TJs, the binding of the claudin (CLDN) family of tetratransmembrane proteins through cis- and trans-interactions is an integral part of seal formation. Because epidermal TJs contain CLDN-1 and CLDN-4, a binder for these CLDNs may be a useful modulator of the permeability of the epidermal barrier. Here, we investigated whether m19, which can bind to CLDN-1/-4 (also CLDN-2/-5), modulates the integrity of epidermal TJs and the permeability of cell sheets to solutes. Treatment of normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs) with the CLDN binder reduced the integrity of TJs. A CLDN-1-specific binder (a monoclonal antibody, clone 7A5) also weakened the TJ seal in NHEKs. Although m19 attenuated the TJ barrier in human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2), 7A5 did not. Treatment of NHEKs with 7A5 enhanced permeation of a paracellular permeation marker. These findings indicate that CLDN-1 is a potential target for modulating the permeability of the epidermis, and that our CLDN-1 binder is a promising candidate molecule for development as a dermal absorption enhancer.

Epithelium plays pivotal roles in biological barrier separating the inside of body and the outside environment. Ninety percent of malignant tumors are derived from epithelium. Most pathological microorganisms invade into the body from mucosal epithelium. Thus, epithelium is potential targets for drug development. Claudins (CLs), a family of tetra-transmembrane protein consisting of over 20 members, are structural and functional components of tight junction-seals in epithelium. Modulation of CL-seals enhanced mucosal absorption of drugs. CLs are often over-expressed in malignant tumors. CL-4 expression is increased in the epithelial cells covering the mucosal immune tissues. Very recently, CLs are also expected to be targets for traumatic brain injury and regenerative therapy. In this review, we overview the past, the present and the future of CLs-targeted drug development.

Most malignant tumors are derived from epithelium, and pathologic microorganisms often invade the body through the mucosal epithelium. Thus epithelial tissues are potent targets for drug delivery. The tight junction (TJ) is the intercellular seal in epithelial cell sheets. Claudins (CLs) are a family of tetratransmembrane proteins with a molecular mass of approximately 23 kDa. CLs are key structural and sealing components of TJs. CLs are often overexpressed in malignant tumors. CL-4 is highly expressed in the epithelial cells covering mucosal immune tissues. Therefore CLs may be potent targets for drug delivery, cancer therapy, and mucosal vaccination. Herein, we overview a series of our studies using the C-terminal fragment of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin to target and bind CLs; we also discuss the efficacy of CL-targeted drug delivery.

Claudin-1 (CLDN-1), an integral transmembrane protein, is an attractive target for drug absorption, prevention of infection, and cancer therapy. Previously, we generated mouse anti-CLDN-1 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and found that they enhanced epidermal absorption of a drug and prevented hepatitis C virus infection in human hepatocytes. Here, we investigated anti-tumor activity of a human-mouse chimeric IgG1, xi-3A2, from one of the anti-CLDN-1 mAbs, clone 3A2. Xi-3A2 accumulated in the tumor tissues in mice bearing with human CLDN-1-expressing tumor cells. Xi-3A2 activated Fcγ receptor IIIa-expressing reporter cells in the presence of human CLDN-1-expressing cells, suggesting xi-3A2 has a potential to exhibit antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity against CLDN-1 expressing tumor cells. We also constructed a mutant xi-3A2 antibody with Gly, Ser, and Ile substituted with Ala, Asp, and Arg at positions 236, 239, and 332 of the Fc domain. This mutant antibody showed greater activation of Fcγ receptor IIIa and in vivo anti-tumor activity in mice bearing human CLDN-1-expressing tumors than xi-3A2 did. These findings indicate that the G236A/S239D/I332E mutant of xi-3A2 might be a promising lead for tumor therapy.

Claudin-1 (CLDN1), a known host factor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry and cell-to-cell transmission, is a target molecule for inhibiting HCV infection. We previously developed four clones of mouse anti-CLDN1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) that prevented HCV infection in vitro. Two of these mAbs showed the highest antiviral activity. Here, we optimized the anti-CLDN1 mAbs as candidates for therapeutics by protein engineering. Although Fab fragments of the mAbs prevented in vitro HCV infection, their inhibitory effects were much weaker than those of the whole mAbs. In contrast, human chimeric IgG1 mAbs generated by grafting the variable domains of the mouse mAb light and heavy chains inhibited in vitro HCV infection as efficiently as the parental mouse mAbs. However, the chimeric IgG1 mAbs activated Fcγ receptor, suggesting that cytotoxicity against mAb-bound CLDN1-expressing cells occurred through the induction of antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). To avoid ADCC-induced side effects, we prepared human chimeric IgG4 mAbs. The chimeric IgG4 mAbs did not activate Fcγ receptor or induce ADCC, but they prevented in vitro HCV infection as efficiently as did the parental mouse mAbs. These findings indicate that the IgG4 form of human chimeric anti-CLDN1 mAb may be a candidate molecule for clinically applicable HCV therapy.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) entry into host cells is a complex process requiring multiple host factors, including claudin-1 (CLDN1). Safe and effective therapeutic entry inhibitors need to be developed. We isolated a human hepatic Huh7.5.1-derived cell mutant that is nonpermissive to HCV, and comparative microarray analysis showed that the mutant was CLDN1 defective. Four hybridomas were obtained, which produced monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) that interacted with the parental Huh7.5.1 cell but not with the CLDN1-defective mutant. All MAbs produced by these hybridomas specifically bound to human CLDN1 with a very high affinity and prevented HCV infection of Huh7.5.1 cells in a dose-dependent manner, without apparent cytotoxicity. Two selected MAbs also inhibited HCV infection of human liver-chimeric mice without significant adverse effects. CLDN1 may be a potential target to prevent HCV infection in vivo . Anti-CLDN1 MAbs may hence be promising candidates as novel anti-HCV agents. IMPORTANCE Safe and effective therapeutic entry inhibitors against hepatitis C virus (HCV) are very useful for combination therapies with other anti-HCV drugs, such as direct-acting antivirals. In this study, we first showed an effective strategy for developing functional monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against extracellular domains of a multimembrane-spanning target protein, claudin-1 (CLDN1), by using parental cells expressing the intact target membrane protein and target-defective cells. The established MAbs against CLDN1, which had a very high affinity for intact CLDN1, efficiently inhibited in vitro and in vivo HCV infections. These anti-CLDN1 MAbs are promising leads for novel entry inhibitors against HCV.