Effects of Biotin on survival, ensheathment, and ATP production by oligodendrocyte lineage cells in vitro

PLoS One. 2020 May 29;15(5):e0233859. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0233859. eCollection 2020.

Abstract

Mechanisms implicated in disease progression in multiple sclerosis include continued oligodendrocyte (OL)/myelin injury and failure of myelin repair. Underlying causes include metabolic stress with resultant energy deficiency. Biotin is a cofactor for carboxylases involved in ATP production that impact myelin production by promoting fatty acid synthesis. Here, we investigate the effects of high dose Biotin (MD1003) on the functional properties of post-natal rat derived oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). A2B5 positive OPCs were assessed using an in vitro injury assay, culturing cells in either DFM (DMEM/F12+N1) or "stress media" (no glucose (NG)-DMEM), with Biotin added over a range from 2.5 to 250 μg/ml, and cell viability determined after 24 hrs. Biotin reduced the increase in OPC cell death in the NG condition. In nanofiber myelination assays, biotin increased the percentage of ensheathing cells, the number of ensheathed segments per cell, and length of ensheathed segments. In dispersed cell culture, Biotin also significantly increased ATP production, assessed using a Seahorse bio-analyzer. For most assays, the positive effects of Biotin were observed at the higher end of the dose-response analysis. We conclude that Biotin, in vitro, protects OL lineage cells from metabolic injury, enhances myelin-like ensheathment, and is associated with increased ATP production.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / biosynthesis*
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Biotin / pharmacology*
  • Cell Lineage / drug effects*
  • Cell Proliferation / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Humans
  • Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells / cytology
  • Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cells / drug effects
  • Oligodendroglia / cytology*
  • Oligodendroglia / drug effects
  • Oligodendroglia / metabolism
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley

Substances

  • Biotin
  • Adenosine Triphosphate

Grants and funding

This study was funded by a research grant to McGill University (Jack Antel, PI) from Medday Pharmaceuticals The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.