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Yang Y, He L, Xie Y, Zhu L, Wu J, Fan Y, Yang Y, Sun X. In situ correction of various β-thalassemia mutations in human hematopoietic stem cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 11:1276890. [PMID: 38333188 PMCID: PMC10850376 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1276890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
β-thalassemia (β-thal) is the most common monogenic disorder caused by various mutations in the human hemoglobin β (HBB) gene and affecting millions of people worldwide. Electroporation of Cas9 and single-guide RNA (sgRNA)-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex-mediated gene targeting in patient-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), followed by autologous transplantation, holds the promise to cure patients lacking a compatible bone marrow donor. In this study, a universal gene correction method was devised to achieve in situ correction of most types of HBB mutations by using validated CRISPR/sgRNA-RNP complexes and recombinant adeno-associated viral 6 (rAAV6) donor-mediated homology-directed repair (HDR) in HSCs. The gene-edited HSCs exhibited multi-lineage formation abilities, and the expression of β-globin transcripts was restored in differentiated erythroid cells. The method was applied to efficiently correct different mutations in β-thal patient-derived HSCs, and the edited HSCs retained the ability to engraft into the bone marrow of immunodeficient NOD-scid-IL2Rg-/- (NSI) mice. This study provides an efficient and safe approach for targeting HSCs by HDR at the HBB locus, which provides a potential therapeutic approach for treating other types of monogenic diseases in patient-specific HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinghong Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lina He
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Zigong Hospital of Women and Children Health Care, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yingjun Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lifen Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianfeng Wu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Fan
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaofang Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Major Obstetric Diseases, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Higher Education Joint Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Xu F, Li D, Tang C, Liang B, Guan K, Liu R, Peng P. Magnetic resonance imaging assessment of the changes of cardiac and hepatic iron load in thalassemia patients before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19652. [PMID: 37950037 PMCID: PMC10638442 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46524-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate the value of T2* technique on 3.0 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in evaluating the changes of cardiac and hepatic iron load before and after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in patients with thalassemia (TM), the 141 TM patients were divided into 6 group for subgroup analysis: 6, 12, 18, 24 and > 24 months group, according to the postoperative interval. The T2* values of heart and liver (H-T2*, L-T2*) were quantified in TM patients before and after HSCT using 3.0 T MRI T2* technology, and the corresponding serum ferritin (SF) was collected at the same time, and the changes of the three before and after HSCT were compared. The overall H-T2* (P = 0.001) and L-T2* (P = 0.041) of patients after HSCT were higher than those before HSCT (mean relative changes = 19.63%, 7.19%). The H-T2* (P < 0.001) and L-T2* (P < 0.001) > 24 months after HSCT were significantly higher than those before HSCT (mean relative changes = 69.19%, 93.73%). The SF of 6 months (P < 0.001), 12 months (P = 0.008), 18 months (P = 0.002) and > 24 months (P = 0.001) were significantly higher than those before HSCT (mean relative changes = 57.93%, 73.84%, 128.51%, 85.47%). There was no significant improvement in cardiac and liver iron content in TM patients within 24 months after HSCT, while the reduction of cardiac and liver iron content in patients is obvious when > 24 months after HSCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengming Xu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Da Li
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Cheng Tang
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Thalassemia Medicine (Guangxi Medical University), Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Bumin Liang
- School of International Education, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Kaiming Guan
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Rongrong Liu
- Department of Haematology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Peng Peng
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
- NHC Key Laboratory of Thalassemia Medicine (Guangxi Medical University), Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
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Van Timothee BM, Du J, Ren Y, He Y, Ruan Y, Liu X, Chen L, Wen J, Ding R, Yu L, Liu Q, Liu X, Liao J, Peng Z, Wu X, Li C, Feng X. The Effect of Iron Overload on the Mobilization of Peripheral Blood Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Pediatric Patients with Thalassemia Major. Acta Haematol 2023; 146:518-522. [PMID: 37634507 DOI: 10.1159/000532086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of iron overload on the mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) in pediatric patients with β-thalassemia major (TM). METHODS We retrospectively reviewed the records of 226 patients with TM from whom PBSCs were collected. Iron overload was based on serum ferritin level, and liver and cardiac iron overload was measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) T2*. RESULTS The mean age of the TM patients was 7.35 ± 3.41 years. Of the patients, only 171 received MRI. Of the 171 patients, 35 had normal liver iron levels, 39 mild liver iron overload, 90 intermediate liver iron overload, and 7 severe liver iron overload. The intermediate + severe group was associated with significantly higher age and BMI and lower leukapheresis product white blood cell count and CD34+ cell levels (all, p < 0.05). CONCLUSION Leukapheresis indices were similar between patients with different degrees of iron overload according to the ferritin level and cardiac iron overload, in which the later might be due to the small number of patients with cardiac overload. In patients with TM, the intermediate and severe liver iron overload was associated with poorer mobilization of PBSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jing Du
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuqiong Ren
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuelin He
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
- Nanfang-Chunfu Children's Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Dongguan, China
| | - Yongsheng Ruan
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Libai Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianyun Wen
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongfang Ding
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiujun Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoting Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jianyun Liao
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
- Nanfang-Chunfu Children's Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Dongguan, China
| | - Zhiyong Peng
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
- Nanfang-Chunfu Children's Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Dongguan, China
| | - Xuedong Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chunfu Li
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
- Nanfang-Chunfu Children's Institute of Hematology and Oncology, Dongguan, China
| | - Xiaoqin Feng
- Department of Pediatrics, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Baiyun District, Guangzhou, China
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Thalassaemia is an autosomal recessive blood disorder, caused by mutations in globin genes or their regulatory regions, resulting in a reduced rate of synthesis of one of the globin chains that make up haemoglobin. In β-thalassaemia there is an underproduction of β-globin chains combined with excess of free α-globin chains. The excess free α-globin chains precipitate in red blood cells, leading to their increased destruction (haemolysis) and ineffective erythropoiesis. The conventional treatment is based on the correction of haemoglobin through regular red blood cell transfusions and treating the iron overload that develops subsequently with iron chelation therapy. Although, early detection and initiations of such supportive treatment has improved the quality of life for people with transfusion-dependent thalassaemia, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only widely available therapy with a curative potential. Gene therapy for β-thalassaemia has recently received conditional authorisation for marketing in Europe, and may soon become widely available as another alternative therapy with curative potential for people with transfusion-dependent thalassaemia. This is an update of a previously published Cochrane Review. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effectiveness and safety of different types of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, in people with transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia. SEARCH METHODS We searched the Cochrane Cystic Fibrosis and Genetic Disorders Group Haemoglobinopathies Trials Register comprising references identified from comprehensive electronic database searches and handsearches of relevant journals and abstract books of conference proceedings. We also searched online trial registries. Date of the most recent search: 07 April 2021. SELECTION CRITERIA Randomised controlled trials and quasi-randomised controlled trials comparing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation with each other or with standard therapy (regular transfusion and chelation regimen). DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Two review authors independently screened trials and had planned to extract data and assess risk of bias using standard Cochrane methodologies and assess the quality using GRADE approach, but no trials were identified for inclusion in the current review. MAIN RESULTS No relevant trials were retrieved after a comprehensive search of the literature. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS We were unable to identify any randomised controlled trials or quasi-randomised controlled trials on the effectiveness and safety of different types of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in people with transfusion-dependent β-thalassaemia. The absence of high-level evidence for the effectiveness of these interventions emphasises the need for well-designed, adequately-powered, randomised controlled clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshay Sharma
- Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Latika Puri
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee 38105, USA
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Amjad F, Fatima T, Fayyaz T, Khan MA, Qadeer MI. Novel genetic therapeutic approaches for modulating the severity of β-thalassemia (Review). Biomed Rep 2020; 13:48. [PMID: 32953110 PMCID: PMC7484974 DOI: 10.3892/br.2020.1355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thalassemia is a genetic haematological disorder that arises due to defects in the α and β-globin genes. Worldwide, 0.3-0.4 million children are born with haemoglobinopathies per year. Thalassemic patients, as well as their families, face various serious clinical, socio-economic, and psychosocial challenges throughout their life. Different therapies are available in clinical practice to minimize the suffering of thalassemic patients to some extent and potentially cure the disease. Predominantly, patients undergo transfusion therapy to maintain their haemoglobin levels. Due to multiple transfusions, the iron levels in their bodies are elevated. Iron overload results in damage to body organs, resulting in heart failure, liver function failure or endocrine failure, all of which are commonly observed. Certain drugs have been developed to enhance the expression of the γ-gene, which ultimately results in augmentation of fetal haemoglobin (HbF) levels and total haemoglobin levels in the body. However, its effectiveness is dependent on the genetic makeup of the individual patient. At present, allogeneic haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) is the only practically available option with a high curative rate. However, the outcome of HSCT is strongly influenced by factors such as age at transplantation, irregular iron chelation history before transplantation, histocompatibility, and source of stem cells. Gene therapy using the lentiglobin vector is the most recent method for cure without any mortality, graft rejection and clonal dominance issues. However, delayed platelet engraftment is being reported in some patients. Genome editing is a novel approach which may be used to treat patients with thalassemia; it makes use of targeted nucleases to correct the mutations in specific DNA sequences and modify the sequence to the normal wild-type sequence. To edit the genome at the required sites, CRISPR/Cas9 is an efficient and accurate tool that is used in various genetic engineering programs. Genome editing mediated by CRISPR/Cas9 has the ability to restore the normal β-globin function with minimal side effects. Using CRISPR/Cas9, expression of BCL11A can be downregulated along with increased production of HbF. However, these genome editing tools are still under in-vitro trials. CRISPR/Cas9 has can be used for precise transcriptional regulation, genome modification and epigenetic editing. Additional research is required in this regard, as CRISPR/Cas9 may potentially exhibit off-target activity and there are legal and ethical considerations regarding its use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fareeha Amjad
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of The Punjab, Lahore, Punjab 54590, Pakistan
| | - Tamseel Fatima
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of The Punjab, Lahore, Punjab 54590, Pakistan
| | - Tuba Fayyaz
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of The Punjab, Lahore, Punjab 54590, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Aslam Khan
- Sundas Molecular Analysis Centre (SUNMAC), Sundas Foundation, Lahore, Punjab 54000, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Imran Qadeer
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of The Punjab, Lahore, Punjab 54590, Pakistan.,Sundas Molecular Analysis Centre (SUNMAC), Sundas Foundation, Lahore, Punjab 54000, Pakistan
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