Huntington's disease (HD) is a genetically heritable disorder, linked with continuing cell loss and degeneration mostly in the striatum. Currently, cell therapy approaches in HD have essentially been focused on replenishing or shielding cells lost over the period of the disease. Herein, we sought to explore the in vitro and in vivo efficacy of primary rat Sertoli cells (SCs) and their paracrine effect against oxidative stress with emphasis on HD. Initially, SCs were isolated and immunophenotypically characterized by positive expression of GATA4. Besides, synthesis of neurotrophic factors of glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor and VEGF by SCs were proved. Next, PC12 cells were exposed to hydrogen peroxide in the presence of conditioned media (CM) collected from SC (SC-CM) and cell viability and neuritogenesis were determined. Bilateral striatal implantation of SC in 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NP)-lesioned rat models was performed, and 1 month later, post-graft analysis was done. According to our in vitro results, the CM of SC protected PC12 cells against oxidative stress and remarkably augmented cell viability and neurite outgrowth. Moreover, grafted SCs survived, exhibited decreases in both gliosis and inflammatory cytokine levels, and ameliorated motor coordination and muscle activity, together with an increase in striatal volume as well as in dendritic length of the striatum in HD rats. In conclusion, our results indicate that SCs provide a supportive environment, with potential therapeutic benefits aimed at HD.
Keywords: Huntington; Neuroprotection; Sertoli cells; Striatum; Transplantation.