Pharmacogenomic screening identifies and repurposes leucovorin and dyclonine as pro-oligodendrogenic compounds in brain repair
Authors: Huré Jean-Baptiste , Foucault Louis , Ghayad Litsa Maria , Marie Corentine , Vachoud Nicolas , Baudouin Lucas , Azmani Rihab , Ivjanin Natalija , Arevalo-Nuevo Alvaro , Pigache Morgane , Bouslama-Oueghlani Lamia , Chemelle Julie-Anne , Dronne Marie-Aimée , Terreux Raphaël , Hassan Bassem , Gueyffier François , Raineteau Olivier , Parras Carlos 
Published: August 2024

Oligodendrocytes are the myelin-forming cells of the central nervous system (CNS), with oligodendroglial pathologies leading to strong disabilities, from early preterm-birth brain injury (PBI) to adult multiple sclerosis (MS). No medication presenting convincing repair capacity in humans has been approved for these pathologies so far. Here, we present a pharmacogenomic approach leading to the identification of small bioactive molecules with a large pro-oligodendrogenic activity, selected through an expert curation scoring strategy (OligoScore) of their large impact on transcriptional programs controlling oligodendrogenesis and (re)myelination. We demonstrate the pro-oligodendrogenic activity of these compoundsin vitro,using neural and oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) cultures, as well asex vivo,using organotypic cerebellar explant cultures. Focusing on the two most promising molecules, i.e. leucovorin and dyclonine, we tested their therapeutic efficacy using a mouse model of neonatal chronic hypoxia, which faithfully mimics aspects of PBI. In this model, both compounds promoted proliferation and oligodendroglial fate acquisition from neural stem/progenitor cells, with leucovorin also promoting their differentiation. We extended these findings to an adult focal de/remyelination mouse MS model, in which both compounds improved lesion repair by promoting OPC differentiation while maintaining the pool of OPCs, and in parallel, by accelerating the transition from pro-inflammatory to pro-regenerative microglial profiles and myelin debris clearance. This study paves the way for clinical trials aimed at repurposing these FDA-approved compounds to treat myelin pathologies such as PBI and MS.

Graphical abstract

Pharmacogenomic screening identifies and repurposes dyclonine and leucovorin as pro-oligodendrogenic and pro-myelinating compounds.Schematics of the pharmacogenomic approach leading to the identification of small bioactive molecules (compounds) with potential pro-oligodendrogenic activity, followed by thein vitrovalidation of the top compounds using neural and oligodendrocyte progenitor cell (OPC) cultures as well as organotypic cerebellar explants. The therapeutic efficacy of the top two compounds, leucovorin and dyclonine, both approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), was assessedin vivousing two clinically relevant mouse models of myelin pathologies. In the neonatal hypoxia mouse model, mimicking some aspects of preterm brain injury, both leucovorin and dyclonine promoted neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation into OPCs and OPC proliferation, with leucovorin additionally restoring the density of myelinating OLs found in normoxic conditions. In an adult focal de/remyelination mouse model of multiple sclerosis, both compounds significantly improved lesion repair in adult mice by promoting OPC differentiation while preserving the pool of OPCs, and by accelerating myelin debris clearance and shifting microglia from pro-inflammatory to pro-regenerative profiles.