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Sarangi P, Senthilkumar MB, Amit S, Kumar N, Jayandharan GR. AAV mediated repression of Neat1 lncRNA combined with F8 gene augmentation mitigates pathological mediators of joint disease in haemophilia. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18460. [PMID: 38864710 PMCID: PMC11167708 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18460] [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: 12/03/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Haemophilic arthropathy (HA), a common comorbidity in haemophilic patients leads to joint pain, deformity and reduced quality of life. We have recently demonstrated that a long non-coding RNA, Neat1 as a primary regulator of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 3 and MMP13 activity, and its induction in the target joint has a deteriorating effect on articular cartilage. In the present study, we administered an Adeno-associated virus (AAV) 5 vector carrying an short hairpin (sh)RNA to Neat1 via intra-articular injection alone or in conjunction with systemic administration of a capsid-modified AAV8 (K31Q) vector carrying F8 gene (F8-BDD-V3) to study its impact on HA. AAV8K31Q-F8 vector administration at low dose, led to an increase in FVIII activity (16%-28%) in treated mice. We further observed a significant knockdown of Neat1 (~40 fold vs. untreated injured joint, p = 0.005) in joint tissue of treated mice and a downregulation of chondrodegenerative enzymes, MMP3, MMP13 and the inflammatory mediator- cPLA2, in mice receiving combination therapy. These data demonstrate that AAV mediated Neat1 knockdown in combination with F8 gene augmentation can potentially impact mediators of haemophilic joint disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pratiksha Sarangi
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and TechnologyIndian Institute of Technology KanpurKanpurUttar PradeshIndia
| | - Mohankumar B. Senthilkumar
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and TechnologyIndian Institute of Technology KanpurKanpurUttar PradeshIndia
| | - Sonal Amit
- Department of PathologyAutonomous State Medical CollegeKanpurUttar PradeshIndia
| | - Narendra Kumar
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and TechnologyIndian Institute of Technology KanpurKanpurUttar PradeshIndia
| | - Giridhara R. Jayandharan
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and TechnologyIndian Institute of Technology KanpurKanpurUttar PradeshIndia
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2
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Walton BL, Shattuck-Brandt R, Hamann CA, Tung VW, Colazo JM, Brand DD, Hasty KA, Duvall CL, Brunger JM. A programmable arthritis-specific receptor for guided articular cartilage regenerative medicine. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.31.578281. [PMID: 38352576 PMCID: PMC10862827 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.31.578281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Objective Investigational cell therapies have been developed as disease-modifying agents for the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), including those that inducibly respond to inflammatory factors driving OA progression. However, dysregulated inflammatory cascades do not specifically signify the presence of OA. Here, we deploy a synthetic receptor platform that regulates cell behaviors in an arthritis-specific fashion to confine transgene expression to sites characterized by cartilage degeneration. Methods An scFv specific for type II collagen (CII) was used to produce a synthetic Notch (synNotch) receptor that enables "CII-synNotch" mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) to recognize CII fibers exposed in damaged cartilage. Engineered cell activation by both CII-treated culture surfaces and on primary tissue samples was measured via inducible reporter transgene expression. TGFβ3-expressing cells were assessed for cartilage anabolic gene expression via qRT-PCR. In a co-culture with CII-synNotch MSCs engineered to express IL-1Ra, ATDC5 chondrocytes were stimulated with IL-1α, and inflammatory responses of ATDC5s were profiled via qRT-PCR and an NF-κB reporter assay. Results CII-synNotch MSCs are highly responsive to CII, displaying activation ranges over 40-fold in response to physiologic CII inputs. CII-synNotch cells exhibit the capacity to distinguish between healthy and damaged cartilage tissue and constrain transgene expression to regions of exposed CII fibers. Receptor-regulated TGFβ3 expression resulted in upregulation of Acan and Col2a1 in MSCs, and inducible IL-1Ra expression by engineered CII-synNotch MSCs reduced pro-inflammatory gene expression in chondrocytes. Conclusion This work demonstrates proof-of-concept that the synNotch platform guides MSCs for spatially regulated, disease-dependent delivery of OA-relevant biologic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie L Walton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | | | - Catherine A Hamann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Victoria W Tung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Juan M Colazo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - David D Brand
- Research Service, Lt. Col. Luke Weathers, Jr. VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Karen A Hasty
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Biomedical Engineering, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis VA Medical Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Craig L Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
- Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
| | - Jonathan M Brunger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
- Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37212, USA
- Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
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3
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Senthilkumar MB, Sarangi P, Amit S, Senguttuvan S, Kumar N, Jayandharan GR. Targeted delivery of miR125a-5p and human Factor VIII attenuates molecular mediators of hemophilic arthropathy. Thromb Res 2023; 231:8-16. [PMID: 37741049 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2023.09.008] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Hemophilic arthropathy (HA) due to repeated bleeding into the joint cavity is a major cause of morbidity in patients with hemophilia. The molecular mechanisms contributing to this condition are not well characterized. MicroRNAs (miRs) are known to modulate the phenotype of multiple joint diseases such as osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Since miR125a is known to modulate disease progression in OA and RA, we performed a targeted screen of miR125a-5p and its target genes in a murine model of chronic HA. A digital PCR analysis demonstrated significant downregulation of miR125a-5p (2-fold vs control joint). Further molecular evaluation revealed elevated expression of the immunological markers STAT1 (7.6-fold vs control joint) and TRAF6 (10.6 fold vs control joint), which are direct targets of miR125a-5p. We then studied the impact of targeted overexpression of miR125a-5p using an Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector in modulating the molecular mediators of HA. AAV5-miR125a vectors were administered intra-articularly either alone or in combination with a low dose of AAV8-based human factor 8 (F8) gene in a murine model of HA. We observed significantly increased expression of miR125a-5p in AAV5-miR125a administered mice (~12 fold vs injured joint) or in combination with AAV8-F8 vectors (~44 fold vs injured joint). The activity assay revealed ~17 %-20 % FVIII levels in mice that received low dose liver-directed F8 gene therapy. Further immunohistochemical analysis, demonstrated a decrease in inflammatory markers (STAT1 and TRAF6) and cartilage-degrading matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 3, 9, 13 in the joints of treated animals. These data highlight the crucial role of miR125a-5p in the development of HA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohankumar B Senthilkumar
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, UP, India
| | - Pratiksha Sarangi
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, UP, India
| | - Sonal Amit
- Department of Pathology, Government Medical College, Jalaun (Orai), Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Narendra Kumar
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, UP, India
| | - Giridhara R Jayandharan
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, UP, India.
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4
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Lee JC, Brien HJ, Walton BL, Eidman ZM, Toda S, Lim WA, Brunger JM. Instructional materials that control cellular activity through synthetic Notch receptors. Biomaterials 2023; 297:122099. [PMID: 37023529 PMCID: PMC10320837 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2023.122099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The field of regenerative engineering relies primarily on the dual technical platforms of cell selection/conditioning and biomaterial fabrication to support directed cell differentiation. As the field has matured, an appreciation for the influence of biomaterials on cell behaviors has resulted in engineered matrices that meet biomechanical and biochemical demands of target pathologies. Yet, despite advances in methods to produce designer matrices, regenerative engineers remain unable to reliably orchestrate behaviors of therapeutic cells in situ. Here, we present a platform named MATRIX whereby cellular responses to biomaterials can be custom defined by combining engineered materials with cells expressing cognate synthetic biology control modules. Such privileged channels of material-to-cell communication can activate synthetic Notch receptors and govern activities as diverse as transcriptome engineering, inflammation attenuation, and pluripotent stem cell differentiation, all in response to materials decorated with otherwise bioinert ligands. Further, we show that engineered cellular behaviors are confined to programmed biomaterial surfaces, highlighting the potential to use this platform to spatially organize cellular responses to bulk, soluble factors. This integrated approach of co-engineering cells and biomaterials for orthogonal interactions opens new avenues for reproducible control of cell-based therapies and tissue replacements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne C Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Hannah J Brien
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Bonnie L Walton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Zachary M Eidman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA
| | - Satoshi Toda
- WPI Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI), Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan
| | - Wendell A Lim
- Cell Design Institute and Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
| | - Jonathan M Brunger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA; Center for Stem Cell Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, 37212, USA.
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Wang C, Ying J, Nie X, Zhou T, Xiao D, Swarnkar G, Abu-Amer Y, Guan J, Shen J. Targeting angiogenesis for fracture nonunion treatment in inflammatory disease. Bone Res 2021; 9:29. [PMID: 34099632 PMCID: PMC8184936 DOI: 10.1038/s41413-021-00150-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Atrophic fracture nonunion poses a significant clinical problem with limited therapeutic interventions. In this study, we developed a unique nonunion model with high clinical relevance using serum transfer-induced rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Arthritic mice displayed fracture nonunion with the absence of fracture callus, diminished angiogenesis and fibrotic scar tissue formation leading to the failure of biomechanical properties, representing the major manifestations of atrophic nonunion in the clinic. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that the angiogenesis defect observed in RA mice was due to the downregulation of SPP1 and CXCL12 in chondrocytes, as evidenced by the restoration of angiogenesis upon SPP1 and CXCL12 treatment in vitro. In this regard, we developed a biodegradable scaffold loaded with SPP1 and CXCL12, which displayed a beneficial effect on angiogenesis and fracture repair in mice despite the presence of inflammation. Hence, these findings strongly suggest that the sustained release of SPP1 and CXCL12 represents an effective therapeutic approach to treat impaired angiogenesis and fracture nonunion under inflammatory conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuicui Wang
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Jun Ying
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO USA ,grid.417400.60000 0004 1799 0055Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China ,grid.417400.60000 0004 1799 0055Institute of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiaolei Nie
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, School of Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Tianhong Zhou
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, School of Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Ding Xiao
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Gaurav Swarnkar
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Yousef Abu-Amer
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO USA ,grid.415840.c0000 0004 0449 6533Shriners Hospital for Children, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Jianjun Guan
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, School of Engineering, Washington University, St. Louis, MO USA
| | - Jie Shen
- grid.4367.60000 0001 2355 7002Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, School of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, MO USA
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Zhang F, Yan X, Li M, Hua B, Xiao X, Monahan PE, Sun J. Exploring the Potential Feasibility of Intra-Articular Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Gene Therapy for Hemophilia Arthropathy. Hum Gene Ther 2020; 31:448-458. [PMID: 32079420 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2019.355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemophilia arthropathy (HA) represents the majority of morbidity in severe hemophilia patients, especially in resource-limited countries. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy is showing promise for managing hemophilia. However, patients with neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) against AAV, and inhibitors to clotting factors, are excluded from such therapy. This study explored the feasibility of AAV-mediated local gene therapy for HA. Factor VIII knockout (FVIII-/-) mice, with or without a FVIII inhibitor, were subjected to hemarthrosis induction and treated with either intravenous (IV) or intraarticular (IA) recombinant human factor VIII (rhFVIII). To investigate whether rhFVIII carried the risk to develop a FVIII inhibitor, FVIII-/- mice were treated with three doses of IV or IA rhFVIII and inhibitor development was measured. In patients with established HA requiring synovial fluid aspiration, plasma, and synovial fluid were collected and measured for anti-AAV capsid IgG (serotypes 1-9 and 843) and NAbs for AAV843. IA rhFVIII provided better protection from synovitis compared with IV rhFVIII, with or without the FVIII inhibitor. While IV rhFVIII led to all FVIII-/- mice developing an FVIII inhibitor (n = 31, median 4.9 Bethesda units [BU]/mL), only 50% of the mice developed a FVIII inhibitor by IA administration, and at a lower titer (median 0.55 BU/mL). In hemophilia patients, total anti-AAV IgG was lowest for AAV4 and AAV5, both in plasma and synovial fluid. Anti-AAV IgGs in synovial fluid for most samples were lower or similar to the plasma levels. These results show that direct IA rhFVIII administration yields better protection against bleeding-induced joint damage, even in the presence of an inhibitor antibody. IA rhFVIII delivery carried a lower risk of FVIII inhibitor formation compared with IV FVIII. The anti-AAV antibody level in synovial fluid was similar or lower than the plasma level, supporting the feasibility of local gene therapy for managing HA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feixu Zhang
- School of Bioengineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.,School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaobo Yan
- Department of Hematology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Min Li
- School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Baolai Hua
- Department of Hematology, Clinical Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xiao Xiao
- School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Paul E Monahan
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Harold R. Roberts Comprehensive Hemophilia Diagnosis and Treatment Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Spark Therapeutics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Junjiang Sun
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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7
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Young E, Gould D, Hart S. Toward gene therapy in rheumatoid arthritis. EXPERT REVIEW OF PRECISION MEDICINE AND DRUG DEVELOPMENT 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/23808993.2020.1736942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Young
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - David Gould
- Centre for Biochemical Pharmacology, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Stephen Hart
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Programme, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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Pferdehirt L, Ross AK, Brunger JM, Guilak F. A Synthetic Gene Circuit for Self-Regulating Delivery of Biologic Drugs in Engineered Tissues. Tissue Eng Part A 2019; 25:809-820. [PMID: 30968743 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2019.0027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPACT STATEMENT We engineered a synthetic transcription system based on nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling that can attenuate the effects of the inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1α in a self-regulating manner. This system responds in a time- and dose-dependent manner to rapidly produce therapeutic levels of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). The use of lentiviral gene therapy allows this system to be utilized through different transduction methods and in different cell types for a variety of applications. Broadly, this approach may be applicable in developing autoregulated biologic systems for tissue engineering and drug delivery in a range of disease applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lara Pferdehirt
- 1 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri.,2 Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.,3 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri.,4 Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Alison K Ross
- 1 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri.,2 Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.,3 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri.,4 Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri
| | - Jonathan M Brunger
- 5 Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Farshid Guilak
- 1 Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri.,2 Shriners Hospitals for Children-St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri.,3 Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri.,4 Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University in Saint Louis, Saint Louis, Missouri
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9
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Watson Levings RS, Broome TA, Smith AD, Rice BL, Gibbs EP, Myara DA, Hyddmark EV, Nasri E, Zarezadeh A, Levings PP, Lu Y, White ME, Dacanay EA, Foremny GB, Evans CH, Morton AJ, Winter M, Dark MJ, Nickerson DM, Colahan PT, Ghivizzani SC. Gene Therapy for Osteoarthritis: Pharmacokinetics of Intra-Articular Self-Complementary Adeno-Associated Virus Interleukin-1 Receptor Antagonist Delivery in an Equine Model. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2019; 29:90-100. [PMID: 29869540 DOI: 10.1089/humc.2017.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Toward the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), the authors have been investigating self-complementary adeno-associated virus (scAAV) for intra-articular delivery of therapeutic gene products. As OA frequently affects weight-bearing joints, pharmacokinetic studies of scAAV gene delivery were performed in the joints of the equine forelimb to identify parameters relevant to clinical translation in humans. Using interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) as a secreted therapeutic reporter, scAAV vector plasmids containing codon-optimized cDNA for equine IL-1Ra (eqIL-1Ra) were generated, which produced eqIL-1Ra at levels 30- to 50-fold higher than the native sequence. The most efficient cDNA was packaged in AAV2.5 capsid, and following characterization in vitro, the virus was injected into the carpal and metacarpophalangeal joints of horses over a 100-fold dose range. A putative ceiling dose of 5 × 1012 viral genomes was identified that elevated the steady-state eqIL-1Ra in the synovial fluids of injected joints by >40-fold over endogenous levels and was sustained for at least 6 months. No adverse effects were seen, and eqIL-1Ra in serum and urine remained at background levels throughout. Using the 5 × 1012 viral genome dose of scAAV, and green fluorescent protein as a cytologic marker, the local and systemic distribution of vector and transduced cells following intra-articular injection scAAV.GFP were compared in healthy equine joints and in those with late-stage, naturally occurring OA. In both cases, 99.7% of the vector remained within the injected joint. Strikingly, the pathologies characteristic of OA (synovitis, osteophyte formation, and cartilage erosion) were associated with a substantial increase in transgenic expression relative to tissues in healthy joints. This was most notable in regions of articular cartilage with visible damage, where foci of brilliantly fluorescent chondrocytes were observed. Overall, these data suggest that AAV-mediated gene transfer can provide relatively safe, sustained protein drug delivery to joints of human proportions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ted A Broome
- 2 Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Andrew D Smith
- 2 Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Brett L Rice
- 2 Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Eric P Gibbs
- 1 Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - David A Myara
- 1 Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - E Viktoria Hyddmark
- 1 Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Elham Nasri
- 1 Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Ali Zarezadeh
- 1 Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Padraic P Levings
- 1 Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Yuan Lu
- 1 Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Margaret E White
- 1 Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - E Anthony Dacanay
- 1 Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Gregory B Foremny
- 1 Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Christopher H Evans
- 3 Rehabilitation Medicine Research Center, Mayo Clinic , Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Alison J Morton
- 2 Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Mathew Winter
- 4 Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Michael J Dark
- 5 Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathology, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - David M Nickerson
- 6 Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Central Florida , Orlando, Florida
| | - Patrick T Colahan
- 2 Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
| | - Steven C Ghivizzani
- 1 Department of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida
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Graceffa V, Vinatier C, Guicheux J, Evans CH, Stoddart M, Alini M, Zeugolis DI. State of art and limitations in genetic engineering to induce stable chondrogenic phenotype. Biotechnol Adv 2018; 36:1855-1869. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2018.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Revised: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Cell-specific gene therapy driven by an optimized hypoxia-regulated vector reduces choroidal neovascularization. J Mol Med (Berl) 2018; 96:1107-1118. [PMID: 30105447 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-018-1683-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2017] [Revised: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant growth of blood vessels in the choroid layer of the eye, termed choroidal neovascularization (CNV), is the pathological hallmark of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), causing irreversible blindness among the elderly. Co-localization of proangiogenic factors and hypoxia inducible factors (HIF) in neovascular membranes from AMD eyes suggests the role of hypoxia in pathogenesis of CNV. In order to utilize hypoxic conditions in RPE for therapeutic purposes, we developed an optimized hypoxia regulated, RPE cell-specific gene therapy to inhibit choroidal neovascularization. An adeno-associated virus (AAV2) vector comprising a RPE-specific promoter and HIF-1 response elements (HRE) was designed to regulate production of human endostatin (a powerful angiostatic protein) in RPE. The vector was tested in a mouse model of laser-induced CNV using subretinal delivery. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) images from live mice and confocal images from lectin stained RPE flat mount sections demonstrated reduction in CNV areas by 80% compared to untreated eyes. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) confirmed exogenous endostatin mRNA expression from the regulated vector that was significantly elevated 3, 7, and 14 days following laser treatment, but its expression was completely shut off after 45 days. Thus, RPE-specific, hypoxia-regulated delivery of anti-angiogenic proteins could be a valuable therapeutic approach to treat neovascular AMD at the time and in the ocular space where it arises. KEY POINTS An optimized gene therapy vector targeting hypoxia and tissue-specific expression has been designed. The inhibitory role of gene therapy vector was tested in a mouse model of laser-induced CNV. An 80% reduction in choroidal neovascularization was achieved by the optimized vector. The expression of endostatin was limited to retinal pigment epithelium and regulated by hypoxia.
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12
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Gabner S, Ertl R, Velde K, Renner M, Jenner F, Egerbacher M, Hlavaty J. Cytokine-induced interleukin-1 receptor antagonist protein expression in genetically engineered equine mesenchymal stem cells for osteoarthritis treatment. J Gene Med 2018; 20:e3021. [PMID: 29608232 PMCID: PMC6001542 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A combination of tissue engineering methods employing mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) together with gene transfer takes advantage of innovative strategies and highlights a new approach for targeting osteoarthritis (OA) and other cartilage defects. Furthermore, the development of systems allowing tunable transgene expression as regulated by natural disease-induced substances is highly desirable. METHODS Bone marrow-derived equine MSCs were transduced with a lentiviral vector expressing interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) gene under the control of an inducible nuclear factor-kappa B-responsive promoter and IL-1Ra production upon pro-inflammatory cytokine stimulation [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α, interleukin (IL)-1β] was analysed. To assess the biological activity of the IL-1Ra protein that was produced and the therapeutic effect of IL-1Ra-expressing MSCs (MSC/IL-1Ra), cytokine-based two- and three-dimensional in vitro models of osteoarthritis using equine chondrocytes were established and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis was used to measure the gene expression of aggrecan, collagen IIA1, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, interleukin-8, matrix metalloproteinase-1 and matrix metalloproteinase-13. RESULTS A dose-dependent increase in IL-1Ra expression was found in MSC/IL-1Ra cells upon TNFα administration, whereas stimulation using IL-1β did not lead to IL-1Ra production above the basal level observed in nonstimulated cells as a result of the existing feedback loop. Repeated cycles of induction allowed on/off modulation of transgene expression. In vitro analyses revealed that IL-1Ra protein present in the conditioned medium from MSC/IL-1Ra cells blocks OA onset in cytokine-treated equine chondrocytes and co-cultivation of MSC/IL-1Ra cells with osteoarthritic spheroids alleviates the severity of the osteoarthritic changes. CONCLUSIONS Thus, pro-inflammatory cytokine induced IL-1Ra protein expression from genetically modified MSCs might represent a promising strategy for osteoarthritis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Gabner
- Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Working Group Histology and EmbryologyUniversity of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Reinhard Ertl
- VetCORE, Facility for ResearchUniversity of Veterinary MedicineViennaAustria
| | - Karsten Velde
- Equine University HospitalUniversity of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Matthias Renner
- Division of Medical BiotechnologyPaul‐Ehrlich‐InstitutLangenGermany
| | - Florien Jenner
- Equine University HospitalUniversity of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Monika Egerbacher
- Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Working Group Histology and EmbryologyUniversity of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
| | - Juraj Hlavaty
- Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Working Group Histology and EmbryologyUniversity of Veterinary Medicine ViennaViennaAustria
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Gabner S, Hlavaty J, Velde K, Renner M, Jenner F, Egerbacher M. Inflammation-induced transgene expression in genetically engineered equine mesenchymal stem cells. J Gene Med 2018; 18:154-64. [PMID: 27272202 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.2888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2015] [Revised: 05/31/2016] [Accepted: 05/31/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Osteoarthritis, a chronic and progressive degenerative joint disorder, ranks amongst the top five causes of disability. Given the high incidence, associated socioeconomic costs and the absence of effective disease-modifying therapies of osteoarthritis, cell-based treatments offer a promising new approach. Owing to their paracrine, differentiation and self-renewal abilities, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have great potential for regenerative medicine, which might be further enhanced by targeted gene therapy. Hence, the development of systems allowing transgene expression, particularly when regulated by natural disease-dependent occuring substances, is of high interest. METHODS Bone marrow-isolated equine MSCs were stably transduced with an HIV-1 based lentiviral vector expressing the luciferase gene under control of an inducible nuclear factor κB (NFκB)-responsive promoter. Marker gene expression was analysed by determining luciferase activity in transduced cells stimulated with different concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1β or tumour necrosis factor (TNF)α. RESULTS A dose-dependent increase in luciferase expression was observed in transduced MSCs upon cytokine stimulation. The induction effect was more potent in cells treated with TNFα compared to those treated with IL-1β. Maximum transgene expression was obtained after 48 h of stimulation and the same time was necessary to return to baseline luciferase expression levels after withdrawal of the stimulus. Repeated cycles of induction allowed on-off modulation of transgene expression without becoming refractory to induction. The NFκB-responsive promoter retained its inducibility also in chondrogenically differentiated MSC/Luc cells. CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study demonstrate that on demand transgene expression from the NFκB-responsive promoter using naturally occurring inflammatory cytokines can be induced in undifferentiated and chondrogenically differentiated equine MSCs. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Gabner
- Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Juraj Hlavaty
- Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karsten Velde
- Equine University Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Renner
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Florien Jenner
- Equine University Hospital, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Monika Egerbacher
- Institute of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
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Adkar SS, Brunger JM, Willard VP, Wu CL, Gersbach CA, Guilak F. Genome Engineering for Personalized Arthritis Therapeutics. Trends Mol Med 2017; 23:917-931. [PMID: 28887050 PMCID: PMC5657581 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Revised: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Arthritis represents a family of complex joint pathologies responsible for the majority of musculoskeletal conditions. Nearly all diseases within this family, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and juvenile idiopathic arthritis, are chronic conditions with few or no disease-modifying therapeutics available. Advances in genome engineering technology, most recently with CRISPR-Cas9, have revolutionized our ability to interrogate and validate genetic and epigenetic elements associated with chronic diseases such as arthritis. These technologies, together with cell reprogramming methods, including the use of induced pluripotent stem cells, provide a platform for human disease modeling. We summarize new evidence from genome-wide association studies and genomics that substantiates a genetic basis for arthritis pathogenesis. We also review the potential contributions of genome engineering in the development of new arthritis therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaunak S Adkar
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Shriners Hospitals for Children - St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jonathan M Brunger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | | | - Chia-Lung Wu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Shriners Hospitals for Children - St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Charles A Gersbach
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA.
| | - Farshid Guilak
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Shriners Hospitals for Children - St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Cytex Therapeutics, Inc., Durham, NC 27705, USA.
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15
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Application of Synthetic Tumor-Specific Promoters Responsive to the Tumor Microenvironment. Methods Mol Biol 2017. [PMID: 28801910 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7223-4_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Activity of endogenous promoters can be altered by including additional responsive elements (REs). These elements can be responsive to features of the tumor environment or alternatively to signaling pathways specifically activated in cancer cells. These REs incorporated into tumor-specific promoters can improve cancer targeting, the replicative capacity, and lytic activity of conditionally replicative adenovirus. Here we outline an approach to incorporate hypoxia and inflammation REs into a specific fragment of the SPARC promoter and the steps to clone a nucleosome positioning sequence (NPS ) identified in the osteocalcin promoter that contains a Wnt RE upstream of a heterologous synthetic promoter.
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16
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Brunger JM, Zutshi A, Willard VP, Gersbach CA, Guilak F. Genome Engineering of Stem Cells for Autonomously Regulated, Closed-Loop Delivery of Biologic Drugs. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 8:1202-1213. [PMID: 28457885 PMCID: PMC5425682 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic inflammatory diseases such as arthritis are characterized by dysregulated responses to pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Pharmacologic anti-cytokine therapies are often effective at diminishing this inflammatory response but have significant side effects and are used at high, constant doses that do not reflect the dynamic nature of disease activity. Using the CRISPR/Cas9 genome-engineering system, we created stem cells that antagonize IL-1- or TNF-α-mediated inflammation in an autoregulated, feedback-controlled manner. Our results show that genome engineering can be used successfully to rewire endogenous cell circuits to allow for prescribed input/output relationships between inflammatory mediators and their antagonists, providing a foundation for cell-based drug delivery or cell-based vaccines via a rapidly responsive, autoregulated system. The customization of intrinsic cellular signaling pathways in stem cells, as demonstrated here, opens innovative possibilities for safer and more effective therapeutic approaches for a wide variety of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan M Brunger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Ananya Zutshi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | | | - Charles A Gersbach
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Farshid Guilak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA; Cytex Therapeutics, Inc., Durham, NC 27705, USA; Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Shriners Hospitals for Children - St. Louis, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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17
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Aalbers CJ, Broekstra N, van Geldorp M, Kramer E, Ramiro S, Tak PP, Vervoordeldonk MJ, Finn JD. Empty Capsids and Macrophage Inhibition/Depletion Increase rAAV Transgene Expression in Joints of Both Healthy and Arthritic Mice. Hum Gene Ther 2017; 28:168-178. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2016.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J. Aalbers
- Arthrogen B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Sofia Ramiro
- Department of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Paul P. Tak
- Arthrogen B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Margriet J. Vervoordeldonk
- Arthrogen B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jonathan D. Finn
- Arthrogen B.V., Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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18
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Mohamed H, Chernajovsky Y, Gould D. Assembly PCR synthesis of optimally designed, compact, multi-responsive promoters suited to gene therapy application. Sci Rep 2016; 6:29388. [PMID: 27387837 PMCID: PMC4937410 DOI: 10.1038/srep29388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy has the potential to provide innovative treatments for genetic and non-genetic diseases, with the ability to auto-regulate expression levels of therapeutic molecules so that they are produced locally and in direct response to disease activity. Generating disease responsive gene therapy vectors requires knowledge of the activation profile of transcription factors (TFs) during active disease, in order to assemble binding sites for these TFs into synthetic promoters, which can be appropriately activated by the disease process. In this study, we optimised a PCR random assembly approach to generate promoters with optimal spacing between TF binding sites (TFBSs) and their distance from the TATA box. In promoters with optimal spacing, it was possible to demonstrate activation by individual transcription pathways and either additive or synergistic promoter activation when transfected cells were treated with combined stimuli. The kinetics and sensitivity of promoter activation was further explored in transduced cells and when lentivirus was directly delivered to mouse paws a synthetic promoter demonstrated excellent activation by real-time imaging in response to local inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Mohamed
- Queen Mary University of London, William Harvey Research Institute, Bone &Joint Research Unit, United Kingdom
| | - Y Chernajovsky
- Queen Mary University of London, William Harvey Research Institute, Bone &Joint Research Unit, United Kingdom
| | - D Gould
- Queen Mary University of London, William Harvey Research Institute, Bone &Joint Research Unit, United Kingdom
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19
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Nepomnyashchikh TS, Antonets DV, Shchelkunov SN. Gene therapy of arthritis. RUSS J GENET+ 2016. [DOI: 10.1134/s1022795416050094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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20
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Bevaart L, Aalbers CJ, Vierboom MPM, Broekstra N, Kondova I, Breedveld E, Hauck B, Wright JF, Tak PP, Vervoordeldonk MJ. Safety, Biodistribution, and Efficacy of an AAV-5 Vector Encoding Human Interferon-Beta (ART-I02) Delivered via Intra-Articular Injection in Rhesus Monkeys with Collagen-Induced Arthritis. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2016; 26:103-12. [PMID: 26086763 DOI: 10.1089/humc.2015.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Preclinical studies to assess biodistribution, safety, and initial efficacy of ART-I02, an adeno-associated type 5 (rAAV5) vector expressing human interferon β (hIFN-β), were performed in a total of 24 rhesus monkeys with collagen-induced arthritis. All monkeys were naïve or showed limited neutralizing antibody (Nab) titers to AAV5 at the start of the study. Animals were injected with a single intra-articular dose of ART-I02 or placebo, consisting of 3.2×10(13) vg (Dose A=maximum feasible dose), 4.58×10(12) vg (Dose B), or placebo in the first affected finger joint, the ipsilateral knee, and ankle joint at the same time point. Animals were monitored for clinical parameters and well-being with a maximum of 4 weeks, with the option that the severity of arthritis could necessitate an earlier time point of sacrifice. No adverse events were noted after injection of ART-I02. No abnormalities were observed after histological evaluation of all organs. At both dose levels, immunohistochemical staining indicated expression of hIFN-β. In animals injected with Dose A, we observed stabilization or a reduction in swelling in the finger joint in which vector was administered. The highest copy numbers of vector DNA were detected in synovial tissue of the injected joint and the draining lymph node of the injected knee. High titers of Nab to rAAV5 were observed at the end of the study. Five monkeys developed an rAAV5-specific T-cell response. Two monkeys developed Nab to hIFN-β. In conclusion, intra-articular injection of ART-I02 was well-tolerated and did not induce adverse events. After administration of Dose A of ART-I02, we observed a beneficial effect on joint swelling, substantiated by decreased histological inflammation and bone erosion scores. A GMP vector for clinical application has been manufactured and is currently being tested in GLP rodent studies, with the aim to move forward to a clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Caroline J Aalbers
- 1 Arthrogen B.V., Amsterdam 1105 BA, The Netherlands .,2 Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam , 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Michel P M Vierboom
- 3 Department of Immunobiology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre , Rijswijk 2288 GH, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ivanela Kondova
- 3 Department of Immunobiology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre , Rijswijk 2288 GH, The Netherlands
| | - Elia Breedveld
- 3 Department of Immunobiology, Biomedical Primate Research Centre , Rijswijk 2288 GH, The Netherlands
| | - Bernd Hauck
- 4 Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia , Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - J Fraser Wright
- 4 Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia , Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Paul Peter Tak
- 1 Arthrogen B.V., Amsterdam 1105 BA, The Netherlands .,2 Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam , 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
| | - Margriet J Vervoordeldonk
- 1 Arthrogen B.V., Amsterdam 1105 BA, The Netherlands .,2 Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center/University of Amsterdam , 1105 AZ, The Netherlands
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21
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Lorenzo C, Pérez-Chacón G, Garaulet G, Mallorquín Z, Zapata JM, Rodríguez A. Efficient expression of bioactive murine IL12 as a self-processing P2A polypeptide driven by inflammation-regulated promoters in tumor cell lines. Cancer Gene Ther 2015; 22:542-51. [DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2015.53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Revised: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 09/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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22
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Intra-articular etanercept treatment in inflammatory arthritis: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled proof of mechanism clinical trial validating TNF as a potential therapeutic target for local treatment. Joint Bone Spine 2015; 82:338-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbspin.2015.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2014] [Accepted: 03/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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23
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Mullen L, Ferdjani J, Sacre S. Simvastatin Inhibits Toll-like Receptor 8 (TLR8) Signaling in Primary Human Monocytes and Spontaneous Tumor Necrosis Factor Production from Rheumatoid Synovial Membrane Cultures. Mol Med 2015; 21:726-734. [PMID: 26322850 DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2015.00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Simvastatin has been shown to have antiinflammatory effects that are independent of its serum cholesterol lowering action, but the mechanisms by which these antiinflammatory effects are mediated have not been elucidated. To explore the mechanism involved, the effect of simvastatin on toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling in primary human monocytes was investigated. A short pretreatment with simvastatin dose-dependently inhibited the production of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in response to TLR8 activation (but not TLR2, -4 or -5). Statins are known inhibitors of the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway, but, intriguingly, TLR8 inhibition could not be reversed by addition of mevalonate or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, downstream products of cholesterol biosynthesis. TLR8 signaling was examined in HEK 293 cells stably expressing TLR8, where simvastatin inhibited I kappa B kinase (IKK)α/β phosphorylation and subsequent nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation without affecting the pathway to activating protein-1 (AP-1). Because simvastatin has been reported to have antiinflammatory effects in RA patients and TLR8 signaling contributes to TNF production in human RA synovial tissue in culture, simvastatin was tested in these cultures. Simvastatin significantly inhibited the spontaneous release of TNF in this model, which was not reversed by mevalonate. Together, these results demonstrate a hitherto unrecognized mechanism of simvastatin inhibition of TLR8 signaling that may in part explain its beneficial antiinflammatory effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Mullen
- Brighton Musculoskeletal Research Centre and School of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Trafford Centre, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Jason Ferdjani
- Brighton Musculoskeletal Research Centre and School of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Trafford Centre, Brighton, United Kingdom
| | - Sandra Sacre
- Brighton Musculoskeletal Research Centre and School of Clinical and Laboratory Investigation, Brighton and Sussex Medical School, Trafford Centre, Brighton, United Kingdom
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24
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Bevaart L, Aalbers CC, Vierboom M, Broekstra N, Kondova I, Breedveld E, Hauck B, Wright F, Tak PP, Vervoordeldonk MJ. SAFETY, BIODISTRIBUTION, AND EFFICACY OF AN AAV-5 VECTOR ENCODING HUMAN INTERFERON-BETA (ART-I02) DELIVERED VIA INTRA-ARTICULAR INJECTION IN RHESUS MONKEYS WITH COLLAGEN-INDUCED ARTHRITIS. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2015. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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25
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Viale DL, Cafferata EG, Gould D, Rotondaro C, Chernajovsky Y, Curiel DT, Podhajcer OL, Veronica Lopez M. Therapeutic improvement of a stroma-targeted CRAd by incorporating motives responsive to the melanoma microenvironment. J Invest Dermatol 2013; 133:2576-2584. [PMID: 23604101 DOI: 10.1038/jid.2013.191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2012] [Revised: 02/27/2013] [Accepted: 03/21/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
We have previously designed a conditionally replicative oncolytic adenovirus (CRAd) named Ad-F512 that can target both the stromal and the malignant melanoma cell compartments. The replication capacity of this CRAd is driven by a 0.5-Kb SPARC promoter fragment (named F512). To improve CRAd's efficacy, we cloned into F512 motives responsive to hypoxia (hypoxia-responsive element (HRE)) and inflammation (nuclear factor kappa B) to obtain a chimeric promoter named κBF512HRE. Using luciferase as a reporter gene, we observed 10-15-fold increased activity under hypoxia and 10-80-fold induction upon tumor necrosis factor-α addition. We next constructed a CRAd (Ad-κBF512HRE) where E1A activity was under κBF512HRE regulation. Treatment of nude mice harboring established tumors made of a mix of SB2 melanoma cells and WI-38 fibroblasts with Ad-κBF512HRE led to the complete elimination of tumors in 100% of mice (8/8). Moreover, Ad-5/3-κBF512HRE, a viral variant pseudotyped with a chimeric 5/3 fiber, exerted a strong lytic effect on CAR-negative melanoma cells and was highly effective in vivo on established tumors made of melanoma cells and WI-38 fibroblasts, leading to the complete elimination of 4/5 tumors. These results indicate that this improved stroma-targeted oncolytic adenovirus can override the resistance of melanoma tumors and might become of significant importance for melanoma therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego L Viale
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Leloir Institute-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Eduardo G Cafferata
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Leloir Institute-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - David Gould
- Bone and Joint Research Unit, University of London, London, UK
| | - Cecilia Rotondaro
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Leloir Institute-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - David T Curiel
- Division of Human Gene Therapy, Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, Pathology and Surgery, Gene Therapy Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA; Biologic Therapeutics Center, Division of Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Osvaldo L Podhajcer
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Leloir Institute-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - M Veronica Lopez
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Therapy, Leloir Institute-CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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26
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The role of different subsets of regulatory T cells in immunopathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis. ARTHRITIS 2012; 2012:805875. [PMID: 23133752 PMCID: PMC3486158 DOI: 10.1155/2012/805875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2012] [Revised: 09/11/2012] [Accepted: 09/20/2012] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common autoimmune disease and a systemic inflammatory disease which is characterized by chronic joint inflammation and variable degrees of bone and cartilage erosion and hyperplasia of synovial tissues. Considering the role of autoreactive T cells (particularly Th1 and Th17 cells) in pathophysiology of RA, it might be assumed that the regulatory T cells (Tregs) will be able to control the initiation and progression of disease. The frequency, function, and properties of various subsets of Tregs including natural Tregs (nTregs), IL-10-producing type 1 Tregs (Tr1 cells), TGF-β-producing Th3 cells, CD8+ Tregs, and NKT regulatory cells have been investigated in various studies associated with RA and collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) as experimental model of this disease. In this paper, we intend to submit the comprehensive information about the immunobiology of various subsets of Tregs and their roles and function in immunopathophysiology of RA and its animal model, CIA.
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27
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Garaulet G, Alfranca A, Torrente M, Escolano A, López-Fontal R, Hortelano S, Redondo JM, Rodríguez A. IL10 released by a new inflammation-regulated lentiviral system efficiently attenuates zymosan-induced arthritis. Mol Ther 2012; 21:119-30. [PMID: 22760540 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2012.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Administration of anti-inflammatory cytokines is a common therapeutic strategy in chronic inflammatory diseases. Gene therapy is an efficient method for delivering therapeutic molecules to target cells. Expression of the cell adhesion molecule E-selectin (ESEL), which is expressed in the early stages of inflammation, is controlled by proinflammatory cytokines, making its promoter a good candidate for the design of inflammation-regulated gene therapy vectors. This study describes an ESEL promoter (ESELp)-based lentiviral vector (LV) that drives localized transgene expression during inflammation. Mouse matrigel plug assays with ESELp-transduced endothelial cells showed that systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS) administration selectively induces ESELp-controlled luciferase expression in vivo. Inflammation-specific induction was confirmed in a mouse model of arthritis, showing that this LV is repeatedly induced early in acute inflammation episodes and is downregulated during remission. Moreover, the local acute inflammatory response in this animal model was efficiently blocked by expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL10) driven by our LV system. This inflammation-regulated expression system has potential application in the design of new strategies for the local treatment of chronic inflammatory diseases such as cardiovascular and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Garaulet
- Department of Molecular Biology, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Vosters JL, Roescher N, Illei GG, Chiorini JA, Tak PP. TACI-Fc gene therapy improves autoimmune sialadenitis but not salivary gland function in non-obese diabetic mice. Oral Dis 2011; 18:365-74. [PMID: 22212434 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-0825.2011.01885.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Patients with Sjögren's syndrome (SS) show aberrant expression of the B cell-related mediators, B cell-activating factor (BAFF), and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) in serum and salivary glands (SGs). We studied the biological effect of neutralizing these cytokines by local gene transfer of the common receptor transmembrane activator and CAML interactor (TACI) in an animal model of SS. MATERIAL AND METHODS A recombinant serotype 2 adeno-associated virus (rAAV2) encoding TACI-Fc was constructed, and its efficacy was tested in the SGs of non-obese diabetic mice. Ten weeks later, SG inflammation was evaluated and serum and SG tissue were analyzed for inflammatory markers including immunoglobulins (Ig) and cytokines. RESULTS AAV2-TACI-Fc gene therapy significantly reduced the number of inflammatory foci in the SG, owing to a decrease in IgD(+) cells and CD138(+) cells. Moreover, IgG and IgM levels, but not IgA levels, were reduced in the SG. Overall expression of mainly proinflammatory cytokines tended to be lower in AAV2-TACI-Fc-treated mice. Salivary flow was unaffected. CONCLUSION Although local expression of soluble TACI-Fc reduced inflammation and immunoglobulin levels in the SG, further research will have to prove whether dual blockade of APRIL and BAFF by TACI-Fc can provide a satisfying treatment for the clinical symptoms of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Vosters
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Subang MC, Fatah R, Bright C, Blanco P, Berenstein M, Wu Y, Podhajcer OL, Winyard PG, Chernajovsky Y, Gould D. A novel hybrid promoter responsive to pathophysiological and pharmacological regulation. J Mol Med (Berl) 2011; 90:401-11. [PMID: 22038171 PMCID: PMC3308011 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-011-0826-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2011] [Revised: 09/30/2011] [Accepted: 10/13/2011] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to construct a promoter containing DNA motifs for an endogenous transcription factor associated with inflammation along with motifs for pharmacological regulation factors. We demonstrate in transfected cells that expression of a gene of interest is induced by hypoxic conditions or through pharmacological induction, and also show pharmacological repression. In vivo studies utilised electroporation of plasmid to mouse paws, a delivery method shown to be effective by bioluminescence imaging. For gene therapy, the promoter was used to drive expression of IL-1Ra in a paw inflammation model with therapeutic effect observed which was further enhanced when the promoter was additionally induced with a pharmacological activator. One of the most important observations from this study was that promoter induction by hypoxia or inflammation could be prevented by the pharmacological repressor in the absence of doxycycline. These studies demonstrate that hybrid promoters enable pharmacological adjustment to the pathophysiological level of gene expression and, importantly, that they allow termination of gene expression even in the presence of pathophysiological stimuli.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria C Subang
- Bone and Joint Research Unit, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London, UK
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Aalbers CJ, Tak PP, Vervoordeldonk MJ. Advancements in adeno-associated viral gene therapy approaches: exploring a new horizon. F1000 MEDICINE REPORTS 2011; 3:17. [PMID: 21941595 PMCID: PMC3169911 DOI: 10.3410/m3-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy is a promising new therapeutic strategy that has been explored in a wide variety of diseases, ranging from cancer to hemophilia, and ocular disorders to autoimmune diseases, among others. Proof of concept of gene transfer approaches has been shown in over 100 studies of animal models of disease, although only a few are under development for clinical application. The US Food and Drug Administration and the European Medicines Agency have not approved any viral human gene therapy products for sale so far, but the amount of gene-related research and development occurring in the United States and Europe continues to grow at a fast rate. This review summarizes the current status of developments in the field of viral gene therapy using adeno-associated virus as a vector, with a special focus on arthritis. For rheumatoid arthritis, and to a lesser extent for other immune-related inflammatory disorders, several cell and gene transfer approaches have been investigated at the preclinical level and a few have been implemented in clinical trials. Finally, both the potential and the hurdles that are faced during development of a viral gene therapy through to its clinical application are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline J. Aalbers
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center / University of Amsterdam, AmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Arthrogen BV, AmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Paul P. Tak
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center / University of Amsterdam, AmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Arthrogen BV, AmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | - Margriet J. Vervoordeldonk
- Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Center / University of Amsterdam, AmsterdamThe Netherlands
- Arthrogen BV, AmsterdamThe Netherlands
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Payne KA, Lee HH, Haleem AM, Martins C, Yuan Z, Qiao C, Xiao X, Chu CR. Single intra-articular injection of adeno-associated virus results in stable and controllable in vivo transgene expression in normal rat knees. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2011; 19:1058-65. [PMID: 21571082 PMCID: PMC3139006 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2011.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2010] [Revised: 04/14/2011] [Accepted: 04/19/2011] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that in vivo transgene expression mediated by single intra-articular injection of adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) persists within intra-articular tissues 1 year post-injection and can be externally controlled using an AAV2-based tetracycline-inducible gene regulation system containing the tetracycline response element (TRE) promoter. METHODS Sprague Dawley rats received intra-articular injections of AAV2-cytomegalovirus (CMV)-enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) and AAV2-CMV-luciferase (Luc) into their right and left knees, respectively. Luciferase expression was evaluated over 1 year using bioluminescence imaging. After sacrifice, tissues were analyzed for GFP+ cells by fluorescent microscopy. To study external control of intra-articular AAV-transgene expression, another set of rats was co-injected with AAV2-TRE-Luc and AAV2-CMV-reverse-tetracycline-controlled transactivator (rtTA) into the right knees, and AAV2-CMV-Luc and AAV2-CMV-rtTA into the left knees. Rats received oral doxycycline (Dox), an analog of tetracycline, for 7 days. Luciferase expression was assessed by bioluminescence imaging. RESULTS Luciferase expression was localized to the injected joint and persisted throughout the 1-year study period. Abundant GFP+ cells were observed within intra-articular soft tissues. Transgene expression in AAV2-TRE-Luc injected joints was upregulated by oral administration of Dox, and downregulated following its removal, at 14 days and 13 months post-AAV injection. CONCLUSIONS This longitudinal in vivo study shows that sustained and stable AAV-mediated intra-articular transgene expression can be achieved through a single intra-articular injection and can be controlled using a tetracycline-controlled inducible AAV system in a normal rat knee model. Highly regulatable long-term intra-articular transgene expression is of potential clinical utility for development of treatment strategies for chronic intra-articular disease processes such as inflammatory and degenerative arthritis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin A. Payne
- Cartilage Restoration Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hannah H. Lee
- Cartilage Restoration Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Amgad M. Haleem
- Cartilage Restoration Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Cesar Martins
- Cartilage Restoration Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Zhenhua Yuan
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, The Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chunping Qiao
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, The Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xiao Xiao
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, The Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Constance R. Chu
- Cartilage Restoration Center, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Cao S, Wu C, Yang Y, Sniderhan LF, Maggirwar SB, Dewhurst S, Lu Y. Lentiviral vector-mediated stable expression of sTNFR-Fc in human macrophage and neuronal cells as a potential therapy for neuroAIDS. J Neuroinflammation 2011; 8:48. [PMID: 21569583 PMCID: PMC3118348 DOI: 10.1186/1742-2094-8-48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2011] [Accepted: 05/14/2011] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infection frequently causes neurologic disease, which is the result of viral replication and activation of macrophages and microglia in the CNS, and subsequent secretion of high levels of neurotoxic products, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α). We therefore hypothesized that a soluble TNF-α antagonist might have potential utility as a neuroprotective effecter molecule, and conducted proof-of-concept studies to test this hypothesis. Methods To develop novel therapeutics for the treatment of neuroAIDS, we constructed and characterized a soluble TNF receptor (sTNFR)-Fc fusion protein with the goal of neutralizing TNF-α, and tested the stability of expression of this gene following delivery by a lentiviral vector. Results High-titer lentiviral vectors were prepared, allowing efficient transduction of macrophage/glial and neuronal cell lines, as well as primary rat cerebellar neurons. Efficient, stable secretion of sTNFR-Fc was demonstrated in supernatants from transduced cell lines over 20 passages, using both western blot and ELISA. Biological activity of the secreted sTNFR-Fc was confirmed by TNF-specific in vitro protein binding and functional blocking assays. Finally, the secreted protein was shown to protect neuronal cells from TNF-α, HIV-1 Tat-, and gp120-mediated neurotoxicity. Conclusions These results demonstrate that lentiviral vector mediated expression of sTNFR-Fc may have potential as a novel therapy for neuroAIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengbo Cao
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96822, USA
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Yang T, Duan R, Cao H, Lee BH, Xia C, Chang Z, Keith Tanswell A, Hu J. Development of an inflammation-inducible gene expression system using helper-dependent adenoviral vectors. J Gene Med 2011; 12:832-9. [PMID: 20848669 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical studies have shown that gene therapy is a promising approach for treating such genetic diseases as the eye disease, Leber's congenital amaurosis. Development of gene therapy approaches for treating chronic inflammatory diseases is, however, more challenging because it requires the production of anti-inflammatory molecules at the diseased tissues only when they are needed. METHODS We designed such a system by modifying the human interleukin (IL)-6 gene promoter to direct transgene expression and delivered the system into cultured cells as well as mouse lungs using a helper-dependent adenoviral vector. RESULTS We have demonstrated both in vitro and in vivo that the reporter LacZ or human IL-10 gene can be induced by inflammatory stimuli. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained indicate that the inflammation inducible gene expression system based on the modified human IL-6 gene promoter has the potential to be used for developing gene therapy for treating inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyao Yang
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
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Denys A, Thiolat A, Descamps D, Lemeiter D, Benihoud K, Bessis N, Boissier MC. Intra-articular electrotransfer of mouse soluble tumour necrosis factor receptor in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis. J Gene Med 2010; 12:659-68. [PMID: 20623491 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation and destruction of the joints. In the collagen-induced arthritis mouse model of RA, we developed a nonviral gene therapy method designed to block in situ the main cytokine tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha METHODS Electrotransfer was used to deliver a plasmid encoding extracellular domain of mouse soluble TNF-alpha receptor type I fused to the Fc fragment of mouse immunoglobulin (Ig)G1 (pTNFR-Is) corresponding to a dimeric TNF-alpha soluble receptor fusion protein (mTNFR-Is/Ig). RESULTS Delivery of the plasmid into the knees at symptom onset improved the histological inflammation and destruction not only at the knees, but also at the ankles, indicating a local and a regional therapeutic effect. The plasmid was detected in synovial membrane and meniscus specimens from the injected joints. In the synovial membrane, 15 days post-injection, interleukin (IL)-17 and TNF-alpha mRNAs expression were increased, whereas IL-10 mRNA was unchanged. However, the empty plasmid exerted a pro-inflammatory effect 30 days post-injection. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that local nonviral gene therapy against TNF-alpha is effective, although further work is needed to decrease plasmid induced inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Denys
- EA4222, Li2P, University of Paris 13, Bobigny, France.
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Phillips BE, Giannoukakis N. Drug delivery technologies for autoimmune disease. Expert Opin Drug Deliv 2010; 7:1279-89. [DOI: 10.1517/17425247.2010.527329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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Boutin S, Monteilhet V, Veron P, Leborgne C, Benveniste O, Montus MF, Masurier C. Prevalence of serum IgG and neutralizing factors against adeno-associated virus (AAV) types 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9 in the healthy population: implications for gene therapy using AAV vectors. Hum Gene Ther 2010; 21:704-12. [PMID: 20095819 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2009.182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 686] [Impact Index Per Article: 49.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are small, nonenveloped single-stranded DNA viruses that require helper viruses to facilitate efficient replication. Despite the presence of humoral responses to the wild-type AAV in humans, AAV remains one of the most promising candidates for therapeutic gene transfer to treat many genetic and acquired diseases. Characterization of the IgG subclass responses to AAV and study of the prevalence of both IgG and neutralizing factors to AAV types 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9 in the human population are of importance for the development of new strategies to overcome these immune responses. Natural exposure to AAV types 1, 2, 5, 6, 8, and 9 can result in the production of antibodies from all four IgG subclasses, with a predominant IgG1 response and low IgG2, IgG3, and IgG4 responses. Prevalences of anti-AAV1 and -AAV2 total IgG determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were higher (67 and 72%) than those of anti-AAV5 (40%), anti-AAV6 (46%), anti-AAV8 (38%), and anti-AAV9 (47%). Furthermore, data showed that cross-reactions are important. The two highest neutralizing factor seroprevalences were observed for AAV2 (59%) and AAV1 (50.5%) and the lowest were observed for AAV8 (19%) and AAV5 (3.2%). Vectors based on AAV5, AAV8, and AAV9 may have an advantage for gene therapy in humans. Furthermore, among individuals seropositive for AAV5, AAV8, and AAV9, about 70-100% present low titers. Better characterization of the preexisting humoral responses to the AAV capsid and cross-reactivity will allow development of new strategies to circumvent AAV acquired immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvie Boutin
- Laboratoire d'Immunologie, Genethon R&D, Evry Cedex, France
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Jorgensen C, Apparailly F. Prospects for gene therapy in inflammatory arthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2010; 24:541-52. [DOI: 10.1016/j.berh.2010.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Khoury M, Courties G, Fabre S, Bouffi C, Seemayer CA, Vervoordeldonk MJ, Tak PP, Jorgensen C, Apparailly F. Adeno-associated virus type 5-mediated intraarticular administration of tumor necrosis factor small interfering RNA improves collagen-induced arthritis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010; 62:765-70. [DOI: 10.1002/art.27302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Stok KS, Noël D, Apparailly F, Gould D, Chernajovsky Y, Jorgensen C, Müller R. Quantitative imaging of cartilage and bone for functional assessment of gene therapy approaches in experimental arthritis. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2010; 4:387-94. [DOI: 10.1002/term.251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
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Vosters JL, Yin H, Roescher N, Kok MR, Tak PP, Chiorini JA. Local expression of tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1:immunoglobulin G can induce salivary gland dysfunction in a murine model of Sjögren's syndrome. Arthritis Res Ther 2009; 11:R189. [PMID: 20003451 PMCID: PMC3003528 DOI: 10.1186/ar2888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2009] [Revised: 11/10/2009] [Accepted: 12/14/2009] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Tumor necrosis factor is a pleiotropic cytokine with potent immune regulatory functions. Although tumor necrosis factor inhibitors have demonstrated great utility in treating other autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, there are conflicting results in Sjögren's syndrome. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of a locally expressed tumor necrosis factor inhibitor on the salivary gland function and histopathology in an animal model of Sjögren's syndrome. Methods Using in vivo adeno associated viral gene transfer, we have stably expressed soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1-Fc fusion protein locally in the salivary glands in the Non Obese Diabetic model of Sjögren's syndrome. Pilocarpine stimulated saliva flow was measured to address the salivary gland function and salivary glands were analyzed for focus score and cytokine profiles. Additionally, cytokines and autoantibody levels were measured in plasma. Results Local expression of tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1:immunoglobulin G fusion protein resulted in decreased saliva flow over time. While no change in lymphocytic infiltrates or autoantibody levels was detected, statistically significant increased levels of tumor growth factor-β1 and decreased levels of interleukin-5, interleukin-12p70 and interleukin -17 were detected in the salivary glands. In contrast, plasma levels showed significantly decreased levels of tumor growth factor-β1 and increased levels of interleukin-4, interferon-γ, interleukin-10 and interleukin-12p70. Conclusions Our findings suggest that expression of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in the salivary gland can have a negative effect on salivary gland function and that other cytokines should be explored as points for therapeutic intervention in Sjögren's syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jelle L Vosters
- Molecular Physiology and Therapeutics Branch, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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Kay JD, Gouze E, Oligino TJ, Gouze JN, Watson RS, Levings PP, Bush ML, Dacanay A, Nickerson DM, Robbins PD, Evans CH, Ghivizzani SC. Intra-articular gene delivery and expression of interleukin-1Ra mediated by self-complementary adeno-associated virus. J Gene Med 2009; 11:605-14. [PMID: 19384892 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The adeno-associated virus (AAV) has many safety features that favor its use in the treatment of arthritic conditions; however, the conventional, single-stranded vector is inefficient for gene delivery to fibroblastic cells that primarily populate articular tissues. This has been attributed to the inability of these cells to convert the vector to a double-stranded form. To overcome this, we evaluated double-stranded self-complementary (sc) AAV as a vehicle for intra-articular gene delivery. METHODS Conventional and scAAV vectors were used to infect lapine articular fibroblasts in culture to determine transduction efficiency, transgene expression levels, and nuclear trafficking. scAAV containing the cDNA for interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist (Ra) was delivered to the joints of naïve rabbits and those with IL-1beta-induced arthritis. From lavage of the joint space, levels of transgenic expression and persistence were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Infiltrating leukocytes were quantified using a hemocytometer. RESULTS Transgene expression from scAAV had an earlier onset and was approximately 25-fold greater than conventional AAV despite the presence of similar numbers of viral genomes in the nuclei of infected cells. Fibroblasts transduced with scAAV produced amounts of IL1-Ra comparable to those transduced with adenoviral and lentiviral vectors. IL1-Ra was present in lavage fluid of most animals for 2 weeks in sufficient quantities to inhibit inflammation of the IL-1beta-driven model. Once lost, neither subsequent inflammatory events, nor re-administration of the virus could re-establish transgene expression. CONCLUSIONS scAAV-mediated intra-articular gene transfer is robust and similarly efficient in both normal and inflamed joints; the resulting transgenic expression is sufficient to achieve biological relevance in joints of human proportion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesse D Kay
- Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, 32610-0137, USA
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Evans CH, Ghivizzani SC, Robbins PD. Progress and Prospects: genetic treatments for disorders of bones and joints. Gene Ther 2009; 16:944-52. [DOI: 10.1038/gt.2009.73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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Theoharis S, Krueger U, Tan PH, Haskard DO, Weber M, George AJ. Targeting gene delivery to activated vascular endothelium using anti E/P-Selectin antibody linked to PAMAM dendrimers. J Immunol Methods 2009; 343:79-90. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2008.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2008] [Revised: 11/26/2008] [Accepted: 12/17/2008] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Abstract
Gene therapy offers great possibilities for treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Traditional surgical and pharmaceutical methods of treating RA have met with limited therapeutic success and have failed to produce a cure, but the past several years have seen extensive progress toward development of a gene therapy for arthritis. Numerous vectors and therapeutic genes have been investigated in animal models of arthritis, and the potential of gene therapy to treat or manage RA has been demonstrated in several clinical studies. Gene therapy offers the possibility of overcoming many of the limitations of current biologic therapies by providing long-term, high-level localized expression of therapeutic genes, potentially in as little as a single dose. In this review, we explore the advances in gene therapy for RA and summarize the recent preclinical and clinical data. In addition, we provide an overview of vectors and targets for RA gene therapy.
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Ghivizzani SC, Gouze E, Gouze JN, Kay JD, Bush ML, Watson RS, Levings PP, Nickerson DM, Colahan PT, Robbins PD, Evans CH. Perspectives on the use of gene therapy for chronic joint diseases. Curr Gene Ther 2008; 8:273-86. [PMID: 18691023 DOI: 10.2174/156652308785160638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Advances in molecular and cellular biology have identified a wide variety of proteins including targeted cytokine inhibitors, immunomodulatory proteins, cytotoxic mediators, angiogenesis inhibitors, and intracellular signalling molecules that could be of great benefit in the treatment of chronic joint diseases, such as osteo- and rheumatoid arthritis. Unfortunately, protein-based drugs are difficult to administer effectively. They have a high rate of turnover, requiring frequent readministration, and exposure in non-diseased tissue can lead to serious side effects. Gene transfer technologies offer methods to enhance the efficacy of protein-based therapies, enabling the body to produce these molecules locally at elevated levels for extended periods. The proof of concept of gene therapies for arthritis has been exhaustively demonstrated in multiple laboratories and in numerous animal models. This review attempts to condense these studies and to discuss the relative benefits and limitations of the methods proposed and to discuss the challenges toward translating these technologies into clinical realities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven C Ghivizzani
- Gene Therapy Laboratory, Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville FL 32610, USA.
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Intraarticular factor IX protein or gene replacement protects against development of hemophilic synovitis in the absence of circulating factor IX. Blood 2008; 112:4532-41. [PMID: 18716130 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2008-01-131417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemophilic bleeding into joints causes synovial and microvascular proliferation and inflammation (hemophilic synovitis) that contribute to end-stage joint degeneration (hemophilic arthropathy), the major morbidity of hemophilia. New therapies are needed for joint deterioration that progresses despite standard intravenous (IV) clotting factor replacement. To test whether factor IX within the joint space can protect joints from hemophilic synovitis, we established a hemophilia B mouse model of synovitis. Factor IX knockout (FIX(-/-)) mice received a puncture of the knee joint capsule with a needle to induce hemarthrosis; human factor IX (hFIX) was either injected through the needle into the joint space (intraarticularly) or immediately delivered IV. FIX(-/-) mice receiving intraarticular FIX protein were protected from synovitis compared with mice receiving same or greater doses of hFIX IV. Next, adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene transfer vectors expressing hFIX were injected into knee joints of FIX(-/-) mice. Joints treated with 10(10) vector genomes (vg)/joint AAV2-, AAV5-, or AAV8-hFIX or 2.5 x 10(9) vg/joint AAV5-hFIX developed significantly fewer pathologic changes 2 weeks after injury compared with the pathology of control injured contralateral hind limbs. Extravascular factor activity and joint-directed gene transfer may ameliorate hemophilic joint destruction, even in the absence of circulating FIX.
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Delgado M, Toscano MG, Benabdellah K, Cobo M, O'Valle F, Gonzalez-Rey E, Martín F. In vivo delivery of lentiviral vectors expressing vasoactive intestinal peptide complementary DNA as gene therapy for collagen-induced arthritis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 58:1026-37. [PMID: 18383372 DOI: 10.1002/art.23283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) has been shown to exert potent immunomodulatory activity, and the use of lentiviral vectors has been found to be an effective means of gene delivery. The present study was therefore undertaken to investigate the feasibility and efficiency of gene therapy using lentiviral vectors expressing VIP (LentiVIP) for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). METHODS We evaluated the therapeutic potential of the gene therapy strategy in the collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model, administering the vectors at different phases of the disease. The inflammatory response was determined by measuring the levels of various inflammatory cytokines and chemokines in the joints and serum. The Th1-mediated response was evaluated by determining the proliferative response and cytokine profile of T cells stimulated with autoantigen. RESULTS A single intraperitoneal injection of LentiVIP was highly effective in treating CIA. Mice with established, severe arthritis showed complete regression of the disease. The therapeutic effect of LentiVIP was associated with widespread biodistribution of the vector and increased VIP levels, especially in joints and lymphoid organs, and was mediated through a striking reduction of the 2 deleterious components of the disease, i.e., the autoimmune response (self-reactive Th1 cell activity and autoantibody production) and the inflammatory response. LentiVIP treatment also induced the generation and/or activation of CD4+,CD25+,FoxP3+ Treg cells in arthritic mice. CONCLUSION Our findings show that in vivo administration of lentiviral vector expressing VIP produces one of the most potent therapeutic effects described so far in any animal model of RA. We propose that VIP gene transfer should be further investigated as a potential novel, effective treatment of RA and other chronic autoimmune disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Delgado
- Immunology and Cell Biology Department, Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina López Neyra, CSIC, Granada, Spain
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