1
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Kitawi R, Ledger S, Kelleher AD, Ahlenstiel CL. Advances in HIV Gene Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2771. [PMID: 38474018 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Early gene therapy studies held great promise for the cure of heritable diseases, but the occurrence of various genotoxic events led to a pause in clinical trials and a more guarded approach to progress. Recent advances in genetic engineering technologies have reignited interest, leading to the approval of the first gene therapy product targeting genetic mutations in 2017. Gene therapy (GT) can be delivered either in vivo or ex vivo. An ex vivo approach to gene therapy is advantageous, as it allows for the characterization of the gene-modified cells and the selection of desired properties before patient administration. Autologous cells can also be used during this process which eliminates the possibility of immune rejection. This review highlights the various stages of ex vivo gene therapy, current research developments that have increased the efficiency and safety of this process, and a comprehensive summary of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) gene therapy studies, the majority of which have employed the ex vivo approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Kitawi
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Scott Ledger
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Anthony D Kelleher
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- UNSW RNA Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Chantelle L Ahlenstiel
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- UNSW RNA Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
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2
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A novel preclinical model of mucopolysaccharidosis type II for developing human hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy. Gene Ther 2022; 30:288-296. [PMID: 35835952 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-022-00357-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
A hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy (GT) using lentiviral vectors has attracted interest as a promising treatment approach for neuropathic lysosomal storage diseases. To proceed with the clinical development of HSC-GT, evaluation of the therapeutic potential of gene-transduced human CD34+ (hCD34+) cells in vivo is one of the key issues before human trials. Here, we established an immunodeficient murine model of mucopolysaccharidosis type II (MPS II), which are transplantable human cells, and demonstrated the application of those mice in evaluating the therapeutic efficacy of gene-modified hCD34+ cells. NOG/MPS II mice, which were generated using CRISPR/Cas9, exhibited a reduction of disease-causing enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatatase (IDS) activity and the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in their tissues. When we transplanted hCD34+ cells transduced with a lentiviral vector carrying the IDS gene into NOG/MPS II mice, a significant amelioration of biochemical pathophenotypes was observed in the visceral and neuronal tissues of those mice. In addition, grafted cells in the NOG/MPS II mice showed the oligoclonal integration pattern of the vector, but no obvious clonal dominance was detected in the mice. Our findings indicate the promising application of NOG/MPS II mice to preclinical study of HSC-GT for MPS II using human cells.
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3
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Lederer CW, Koniali L, Buerki-Thurnherr T, Papasavva PL, La Grutta S, Licari A, Staud F, Bonifazi D, Kleanthous M. Catching Them Early: Framework Parameters and Progress for Prenatal and Childhood Application of Advanced Therapies. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14040793. [PMID: 35456627 PMCID: PMC9031205 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are medicines for human use based on genes, cells or tissue engineering. After clear successes in adults, the nascent technology now sees increasing pediatric application. For many still untreatable disorders with pre- or perinatal onset, timely intervention is simply indispensable; thus, prenatal and pediatric applications of ATMPs hold great promise for curative treatments. Moreover, for most inherited disorders, early ATMP application may substantially improve efficiency, economy and accessibility compared with application in adults. Vindicating this notion, initial data for cell-based ATMPs show better cell yields, success rates and corrections of disease parameters for younger patients, in addition to reduced overall cell and vector requirements, illustrating that early application may resolve key obstacles to the widespread application of ATMPs for inherited disorders. Here, we provide a selective review of the latest ATMP developments for prenatal, perinatal and pediatric use, with special emphasis on its comparison with ATMPs for adults. Taken together, we provide a perspective on the enormous potential and key framework parameters of clinical prenatal and pediatric ATMP application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten W. Lederer
- The Molecular Genetics Thalassemia Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus; (L.K.); (P.L.P.); (M.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +357-22-392764
| | - Lola Koniali
- The Molecular Genetics Thalassemia Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus; (L.K.); (P.L.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Tina Buerki-Thurnherr
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland;
| | - Panayiota L. Papasavva
- The Molecular Genetics Thalassemia Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus; (L.K.); (P.L.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Stefania La Grutta
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, IFT National Research Council, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Amelia Licari
- Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Frantisek Staud
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic;
| | - Donato Bonifazi
- Consorzio per Valutazioni Biologiche e Farmacologiche (CVBF) and European Paediatric Translational Research Infrastructure (EPTRI), 70122 Bari, Italy;
| | - Marina Kleanthous
- The Molecular Genetics Thalassemia Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus; (L.K.); (P.L.P.); (M.K.)
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4
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Han J, Tam K, Tam C, Hollis RP, Kohn DB. Improved lentiviral vector titers from a multi-gene knockout packaging line. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2021; 23:582-592. [PMID: 34938858 PMCID: PMC8660686 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are robust delivery vehicles for gene therapy as they can efficiently integrate transgenes into host cell genomes. However, LVs with lengthy or complex expression cassettes typically are produced at low titers and have reduced gene transfer capacity, creating barriers for clinical and commercial applications. Modifications of the packaging cell line and methods may be able to produce complex vectors at higher titer and infectivity and may improve production of many different LVs. In this study, we identified two host restriction factors in HEK293T packaging cells that impeded LV production, 2'-5'-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1) and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). Knocking out these two genes separately led to ∼2-fold increases in viral titer. We created a monoclonal cell line, CRISPRed HEK293T to Disrupt Antiviral Response (CHEDAR), by successively knocking out OAS1, LDLR, and PKR, a previously identified factor impeding LV titers. Packaging in CHEDAR yielded ∼7-fold increases in physical particles, full-length vector RNA, and vector titers. In addition, overexpressing transcription elongation factors, SPT4 and SPT5, during packaging improved the production of full-length vector RNA, thereby increasing titers by ∼2-fold. Packaging in CHEDAR with over-expression of SPT4 and SPT5 led to ∼11-fold increases of titers. These approaches improved the production of a variety of LVs, especially vectors with low titers or with internal promoters in the reverse orientation, and may be beneficial for multiple gene therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaying Han
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kevin Tam
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Curtis Tam
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Roger P. Hollis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Donald B. Kohn
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- The Eli & Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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5
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Christopher AC, Venkatesan V, Karuppusamy KV, Srinivasan S, Babu P, Azhagiri MKK, C K, Bagchi A, Rajendiran V, Ravi NS, Kumar S, Marepally SK, Mohankumar KM, Srivastava A, Velayudhan SR, Thangavel S. Preferential expansion of human CD34+CD133+CD90+ hematopoietic stem cells enhances gene-modified cell frequency for gene therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 33:188-201. [PMID: 34486377 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
CD34+CD133+CD90+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are responsible for long-term multi-lineage hematopoiesis and the high frequency of gene-modified HSCs is crucial for the success of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) gene therapy. However, the ex vivo culture and gene manipulation steps of HSPC graft preparation significantly reduce the frequency of HSCs, thus necessitating large doses of HSPCs and reagents for the manipulation. Here, we identified a combination of small molecules, Resveratrol, UM729, and SR1 that preferentially expands CD34+CD133+CD90+ HSCs over other subpopulations of adult HSPCs in ex vivo culture. The preferential expansion enriches the HSCs in ex vivo culture, enhances the adhesion and results in a 6-fold increase in the long-term engraftment in NSG mice. Further, the culture enriched HSCs are more responsive to gene modification by lentiviral transduction and gene editing, increasing the frequency of gene-modified HSCs up to 10-fold in vivo. The yield of gene-modified HSCs obtained by the culture enrichment is similar to the sort-purification of HSCs and superior to Cyclosporin-H treatment. Our study addresses a critical challenge of low frequency of gene-modified HSCs in HSPC graft by developing and demonstrating a facile HSPC culture condition that increases the frequency of gene-modified cells in vivo. This strategy will improve the outcome of HSPC gene therapy and also simplify the gene manipulation process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Vigneshwaran Venkatesan
- Center for Stem Cell Research, 302927, Vellore, Tamil nadu, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, 76793, Manipal, Karnataka, India;
| | - Karthik V Karuppusamy
- Center for Stem Cell Research, 302927, Vellore, Tamil nadu, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, 76793, Manipal, Karnataka, India;
| | | | - Prathibha Babu
- Center for Stem Cell Research, 302927, Vellore, Tamil nadu, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, 76793, Manipal, Karnataka, India;
| | - Manoj Kumar K Azhagiri
- Center for Stem Cell Research, 302927, Vellore, Tamil nadu, India.,Manipal Academy of Higher Education, 76793, Manipal, Karnataka, India;
| | - Karthik C
- Center for Stem Cell Research, 302927, Vellore, Tamil nadu, India;
| | - Abhirup Bagchi
- Center for Stem Cell Research, 302927, Vellore, Tamil nadu, India;
| | | | - Nithin Sam Ravi
- Center for Stem Cell Research, 302927, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India;
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Christian Medical College and Hospital Vellore, 30025, Center for Stem Cell Research, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India;
| | | | | | - Alok Srivastava
- Christian Medical College, Centre for Stem Cell Research, CMC Campus, Bagayam, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India, 632002.,Christian Medical College, Haematology, Ida Scudder Road, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India, 632004;
| | | | - Saravanabhavan Thangavel
- Center for Stem Cell Research, 302927, Christian Medical College Campus Bagayam,, Vellore, Tamil nadu, India, 632002;
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6
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Koniali L, Lederer CW, Kleanthous M. Therapy Development by Genome Editing of Hematopoietic Stem Cells. Cells 2021; 10:1492. [PMID: 34198536 PMCID: PMC8231983 DOI: 10.3390/cells10061492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Accessibility of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) for the manipulation and repopulation of the blood and immune systems has placed them at the forefront of cell and gene therapy development. Recent advances in genome-editing tools, in particular for clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) and CRISPR/Cas-derived editing systems, have transformed the gene therapy landscape. Their versatility and the ability to edit genomic sequences and facilitate gene disruption, correction or insertion, have broadened the spectrum of potential gene therapy targets and accelerated the development of potential curative therapies for many rare diseases treatable by transplantation or modification of HSCs. Ongoing developments seek to address efficiency and precision of HSC modification, tolerability of treatment and the distribution and affordability of corresponding therapies. Here, we give an overview of recent progress in the field of HSC genome editing as treatment for inherited disorders and summarize the most significant findings from corresponding preclinical and clinical studies. With emphasis on HSC-based therapies, we also discuss technical hurdles that need to be overcome en route to clinical translation of genome editing and indicate advances that may facilitate routine application beyond the most common disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lola Koniali
- Department of Molecular Genetics Thalassemia, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus; (L.K.); (M.K.)
| | - Carsten W. Lederer
- Department of Molecular Genetics Thalassemia, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus; (L.K.); (M.K.)
- Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus
| | - Marina Kleanthous
- Department of Molecular Genetics Thalassemia, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus; (L.K.); (M.K.)
- Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus
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7
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Sagoo P, Gaspar HB. The transformative potential of HSC gene therapy as a genetic medicine. Gene Ther 2021; 30:197-215. [PMID: 34040164 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-021-00261-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are precursor cells that give rise to blood, immune and tissue-resident progeny in humans. Their position at the starting point of hematopoiesis offers a unique therapeutic opportunity to treat certain hematologic diseases by implementing corrective changes that are subsequently directed through to multiple cell lineages. Attempts to exploit HSCs clinically have evolved over recent decades, from initial approaches that focused on transplantation of healthy donor allogeneic HSCs to treat rare inherited monogenic hematologic disorders, to more contemporary genetic modification of autologous HSCs offering the promise of benefits to a wider range of diseases. We are on the cusp of an exciting new era as the transformative potential of HSC gene therapy to offer durable delivery of gene-corrected cells to a range of tissues and organs, including the central nervous system, is beginning to be realized. This article reviews the rationale for targeting HSCs, the approaches that have been used to date for delivering therapeutic genes to these cells, and the latest technological breakthroughs in manufacturing and vector design. The challenges faced by the biotechnology cell and gene therapy sector in the commercialization of HSC gene therapy are also discussed.
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8
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Abstract
Sickle cell disease and the ß-thalassemias are caused by mutations of the ß-globin gene and represent the most frequent single gene disorders worldwide. Even in European countries with a previous low frequency of these conditions the prevalence has substantially increased following large scale migration from Africa and the Middle East to Europe. The hemoglobin diseases severely limit both, life expectancy and quality of life and require either life-long supportive therapy if cure cannot be achieved by allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Strategies for ex vivo gene therapy aiming at either re-establishing normal ß-globin chain synthesis or at re-activating fetal γ-globin chain and HbF expression are currently in clinical development. The European Medicine Agency (EMA) conditionally licensed gene addition therapy based on lentiviral transduction of hematopoietic stem cells in 2019 for a selected group of patients with transfusion dependent non-ß° thalassemia major without a suitable stem cell donor. Gene therapy thus offers a relevant chance to this group of patients for whom cure has previously not been on the horizon. In this review, we discuss the potential and the challenges of gene addition and gene editing strategies for the hemoglobin diseases.
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9
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Preclinical Development of Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell-Based Gene Therapy for Immune Deficiencies: A Journey from Mouse Cage to Bed Side. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12060549. [PMID: 32545727 PMCID: PMC7357087 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12060549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent clinical trials using patient’s own corrected hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), such as for primary immunodeficiencies (Adenosine deaminase (ADA) deficiency, X-linked Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), X-linked chronic granulomatous disease (CGD), Wiskott–Aldrich Syndrome (WAS)), have yielded promising results in the clinic; endorsing gene therapy to become standard therapy for a number of diseases. However, the journey to achieve such a successful therapy is not easy, and several challenges have to be overcome. In this review, we will address several different challenges in the development of gene therapy for immune deficiencies using our own experience with Recombinase-activating gene 1 (RAG1) SCID as an example. We will discuss product development (targeting of the therapeutic cells and choice of a suitable vector and delivery method), the proof-of-concept (in vitro and in vivo efficacy, toxicology, and safety), and the final release steps to the clinic (scaling up, good manufacturing practice (GMP) procedures/protocols and regulatory hurdles).
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10
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Goyal H, Chachoua I, Pecquet C, Vainchenker W, Constantinescu SN. A p53-JAK-STAT connection involved in myeloproliferative neoplasm pathogenesis and progression to secondary acute myeloid leukemia. Blood Rev 2020; 42:100712. [PMID: 32660739 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2020.100712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of JAK2 V617F as a highly prevalent somatic acquired mutation in the majority of myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), it has become clear that these diseases are driven by pathologic activation of JAK2 and eventually of STAT5 and other members of the STAT family. The concept was strengthened by the discovery of the other activating driver mutations in MPL (thrombopoietin receptor, TpoR) and in calreticulin gene, which all lead to persistent activation of wild type JAK2. Although with a rare frequency, MPNs can evolve to secondary acute myeloid leukemia (sAML), a condition that is resistant to treatment. Here we focus on the role of p53 in this transition. In sAML mutations in TP53 or amplification in genes coding for negative regulators of p53 are much more frequent than in de novo AML. We review studies that explore a signaling and biochemical interaction between activated STATs and p53 in MPNs and other cancers. With the development of advanced sequencing efforts, strong evidence has been presented for dominant negative effects of mutated p53 in leukemia. In other studies, gain of function effects have been described that might be cell type specific. A more profound understanding of the potential interaction between p53 and activated STATs is necessary in order to take full advantage of novel p53-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harsh Goyal
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Université catholique de Louvain and de Duve Institute, Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO (Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ilyas Chachoua
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Université catholique de Louvain and de Duve Institute, Brussels, Belgium; Karolinska Institutet, Department of Oncology-Pathology, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Christian Pecquet
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Université catholique de Louvain and de Duve Institute, Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO (Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology), Brussels, Belgium
| | - William Vainchenker
- INSERM, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1170, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Paris-Saclay, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1170, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France; Gustave Roussy, Unité Mixte de Recherche 1170, Villejuif, France
| | - Stefan N Constantinescu
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Brussels, Brussels, Belgium; Université catholique de Louvain and de Duve Institute, Brussels, Belgium; WELBIO (Walloon Excellence in Life Sciences and Biotechnology), Brussels, Belgium.
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11
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Naldini L. Genetic engineering of hematopoiesis: current stage of clinical translation and future perspectives. EMBO Mol Med 2019; 11:e9958. [PMID: 30670463 PMCID: PMC6404113 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201809958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Here I review the scientific background, current stage of development and future perspectives that I foresee in the field of genetic manipulation of hematopoietic stem cells with a special emphasis on clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital and Research Institute, "Vita - Salute San Raffaele" University Medical School, Milan, Italy
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12
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Masiuk KE, Laborada J, Roncarolo MG, Hollis RP, Kohn DB. Lentiviral Gene Therapy in HSCs Restores Lineage-Specific Foxp3 Expression and Suppresses Autoimmunity in a Mouse Model of IPEX Syndrome. Cell Stem Cell 2019; 24:309-317.e7. [PMID: 30639036 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2018.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked (IPEX) syndrome is a devastating autoimmune disease caused by mutations in FoxP3, a transcription factor required for the development and function of regulatory T cells (Treg cells). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) can be curative, but suitable donors are often unavailable. Here, we demonstrate a strategy for autologous HSCT and gene therapy utilizing a lentiviral vector (LV) to restore FoxP3 expression under the control of endogenous human FOXP3 regulatory elements. Both murine transplant models and humanized mice engrafted with LV-modified HSCs show high levels of LV expression selective for CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg cells. LV transduction of scurfy (FoxP3mut) HSCs restores development of functional FoxP3+ Treg cells that suppress T cell proliferation in vitro and rescue the scurfy autoimmune phenotype in vivo. These findings demonstrate preclinical efficacy for the treatment of IPEX patients by autologous HSC transplant and may provide valuable insights into new cell therapies for autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katelyn E Masiuk
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Laborada
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Maria Grazia Roncarolo
- Division of Stem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Roger P Hollis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Donald B Kohn
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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13
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Anti-human CD117 antibody-mediated bone marrow niche clearance in nonhuman primates and humanized NSG mice. Blood 2019; 133:2104-2108. [PMID: 30617195 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2018-06-853879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
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14
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Petrillo C, Thorne LG, Unali G, Schiroli G, Giordano AMS, Piras F, Cuccovillo I, Petit SJ, Ahsan F, Noursadeghi M, Clare S, Genovese P, Gentner B, Naldini L, Towers GJ, Kajaste-Rudnitski A. Cyclosporine H Overcomes Innate Immune Restrictions to Improve Lentiviral Transduction and Gene Editing In Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells. Cell Stem Cell 2018; 23:820-832.e9. [PMID: 30416070 PMCID: PMC6292841 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2018.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2018] [Revised: 08/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Innate immune factors may restrict hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) genetic engineering and contribute to broad individual variability in gene therapy outcomes. Here, we show that HSCs harbor an early, constitutively active innate immune block to lentiviral transduction that can be efficiently overcome by cyclosporine H (CsH). CsH potently enhances gene transfer and editing in human long-term repopulating HSCs by inhibiting interferon-induced transmembrane protein 3 (IFITM3), which potently restricts VSV glycoprotein-mediated vector entry. Importantly, individual variability in endogenous IFITM3 levels correlated with permissiveness of HSCs to lentiviral transduction, suggesting that CsH treatment will be useful for improving ex vivo gene therapy and standardizing HSC transduction across patients. Overall, our work unravels the involvement of innate pathogen recognition molecules in immune blocks to gene correction in primary human HSCs and highlights how these roadblocks can be overcome to develop innovative cell and gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Petrillo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, MI 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, School of Medicine, Milan, MI 20132, Italy
| | - Lucy G Thorne
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Giulia Unali
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, MI 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, School of Medicine, Milan, MI 20132, Italy
| | - Giulia Schiroli
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, MI 20132, Italy
| | - Anna M S Giordano
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, MI 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, School of Medicine, Milan, MI 20132, Italy
| | - Francesco Piras
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, MI 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, School of Medicine, Milan, MI 20132, Italy
| | - Ivan Cuccovillo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, MI 20132, Italy
| | - Sarah J Petit
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Fatima Ahsan
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Mahdad Noursadeghi
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Simon Clare
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridgeshire CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Pietro Genovese
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, MI 20132, Italy
| | - Bernhard Gentner
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, MI 20132, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, MI 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, School of Medicine, Milan, MI 20132, Italy
| | - Greg J Towers
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Anna Kajaste-Rudnitski
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, MI 20132, Italy.
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15
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Psatha N, Reik A, Phelps S, Zhou Y, Dalas D, Yannaki E, Levasseur DN, Urnov FD, Holmes MC, Papayannopoulou T. Disruption of the BCL11A Erythroid Enhancer Reactivates Fetal Hemoglobin in Erythroid Cells of Patients with β-Thalassemia Major. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2018; 10:313-326. [PMID: 30182035 PMCID: PMC6120587 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In the present report, we carried out clinical-scale editing in adult mobilized CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) using zinc-finger nuclease-mediated disruption of BCL11a to upregulate the expression of γ-globin (fetal hemoglobin). In these cells, disruption of the erythroid-specific enhancer of the BCL11A gene increased endogenous γ-globin expression to levels that reached or exceeded those observed following knockout of the BCL11A coding region without negatively affecting survival or in vivo long-term proliferation of edited HSPCs and other lineages. In addition, BCL11A enhancer modification in mobilized CD34+ cells from patients with β-thalassemia major resulted in a readily detectable γ-globin increase with a preferential increase in G-gamma, leading to an improved phenotype and, likely, a survival advantage for maturing erythroid cells after editing. Furthermore, we documented that both normal and β-thalassemia HSPCs not only can be efficiently expanded ex vivo after editing but can also be successfully edited post-expansion, resulting in enhanced early in vivo engraftment compared with unexpanded cells. Overall, this work highlights a novel and effective treatment strategy for correcting the β-thalassemia phenotype by genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoletta Psatha
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Susan Phelps
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Demetri Dalas
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,Hematology Department, BMT Unit, G. Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | | | | | - Thalia Papayannopoulou
- Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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16
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Sii-Felice K, Giorgi M, Leboulch P, Payen E. Hemoglobin disorders: lentiviral gene therapy in the starting blocks to enter clinical practice. Exp Hematol 2018; 64:12-32. [PMID: 29807062 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2018.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The β-hemoglobinopathies, transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease, are the most prevalent inherited disorders worldwide and affect millions of people. Many of these patients have a shortened life expectancy and suffer from severe morbidity despite supportive therapies, which impose an enormous financial burden to societies. The only available curative therapy is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, although most patients do not have an HLA-matched sibling donor, and those who do still risk life-threatening complications. Therefore, gene therapy by one-time ex vivo modification of hematopoietic stem cells followed by autologous engraftment is an attractive new therapeutic modality. The first proof-of-principle of conversion to transfusion independence by means of a lentiviral vector expressing a marked and anti-sickling βT87Q-globin gene variant was reported a decade ago in a patient with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia. In follow-up multicenter Phase II trials with an essentially identical vector (termed LentiGlobin BB305) and protocol, 12 of the 13 patients with a non-β0/β0 genotype, representing more than half of all transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia cases worldwide, stopped red blood cell transfusions with total hemoglobin levels in blood approaching normal values. Correction of biological markers of dyserythropoiesis was achieved in evaluated patients. In nine patients with β0/β0 transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia or equivalent severity (βIVS1-110), median annualized transfusion volume decreased by 73% and red blood cell transfusions were stopped in three patients. Proof-of-principle of therapeutic efficacy in the first patient with sickle cell disease was also reported with LentiGlobin BB305. Encouraging results were presented in children with transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia in another trial with the GLOBE lentiviral vector and several other gene therapy trials are currently open for both transfusion-dependent β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Phase III trials are now under way and should help to determine benefit/risk/cost ratios to move gene therapy toward clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Sii-Felice
- UMR E007, Service of Innovative Therapies, Institute of Biology François Jacob and University Paris Saclay, CEA Paris Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Marie Giorgi
- UMR E007, Service of Innovative Therapies, Institute of Biology François Jacob and University Paris Saclay, CEA Paris Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Philippe Leboulch
- UMR E007, Service of Innovative Therapies, Institute of Biology François Jacob and University Paris Saclay, CEA Paris Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Emmanuel Payen
- UMR E007, Service of Innovative Therapies, Institute of Biology François Jacob and University Paris Saclay, CEA Paris Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; INSERM, Paris, France.
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17
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Lidonnici MR, Ferrari G. Gene therapy and gene editing strategies for hemoglobinopathies. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2018; 70:87-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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18
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Kohn DB. Historical Perspective on the Current Renaissance for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Gene Therapy. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2017; 31:721-735. [DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2017.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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19
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Improving Gene Therapy Efficiency through the Enrichment of Human Hematopoietic Stem Cells. Mol Ther 2017; 25:2163-2175. [PMID: 28663101 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Lentiviral vector (LV)-based hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy is becoming a promising clinical strategy for the treatment of genetic blood diseases. However, the current approach of modifying 1 × 108 to 1 × 109 CD34+ cells per patient requires large amounts of LV, which is expensive and technically challenging to produce at clinical scale. Modification of bulk CD34+ cells uses LV inefficiently, because the majority of CD34+ cells are short-term progenitors with a limited post-transplant lifespan. Here, we utilized a clinically relevant, immunomagnetic bead (IB)-based method to purify CD34+CD38- cells from human bone marrow (BM) and mobilized peripheral blood (mPB). IB purification of CD34+CD38- cells enriched severe combined immune deficiency (SCID) repopulating cell (SRC) frequency an additional 12-fold beyond standard CD34+ purification and did not affect gene marking of long-term HSCs. Transplant of purified CD34+CD38- cells led to delayed myeloid reconstitution, which could be rescued by the addition of non-transduced CD38+ cells. Importantly, LV modification and transplantation of IB-purified CD34+CD38- cells/non-modified CD38+ cells into immune-deficient mice achieved long-term gene-marked engraftment comparable with modification of bulk CD34+ cells, while utilizing ∼7-fold less LV. Thus, we demonstrate a translatable method to improve the clinical and commercial viability of gene therapy for genetic blood cell diseases.
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20
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Zonari E, Desantis G, Petrillo C, Boccalatte FE, Lidonnici MR, Kajaste-Rudnitski A, Aiuti A, Ferrari G, Naldini L, Gentner B. Efficient Ex Vivo Engineering and Expansion of Highly Purified Human Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Populations for Gene Therapy. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 8:977-990. [PMID: 28330619 PMCID: PMC5390102 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2016] [Revised: 02/13/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Ex vivo gene therapy based on CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) has shown promising results in clinical trials, but genetic engineering to high levels and in large scale remains challenging. We devised a sorting strategy that captures more than 90% of HSC activity in less than 10% of mobilized peripheral blood (mPB) CD34+ cells, and modeled a transplantation protocol based on highly purified, genetically engineered HSCs co-infused with uncultured progenitor cells. Prostaglandin E2 stimulation allowed near-complete transduction of HSCs with lentiviral vectors during a culture time of less than 38 hr, mitigating the negative impact of standard culture on progenitor cell function. Exploiting the pyrimidoindole derivative UM171, we show that transduced mPB CD34+CD38- cells with repopulating potential could be expanded ex vivo. Implementing these findings in clinical gene therapy protocols will improve the efficacy, safety, and sustainability of gene therapy and generate new opportunities in the field of gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Zonari
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Giacomo Desantis
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Carolina Petrillo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Milan 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Alessandro Aiuti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Milan 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy; Pediatric Immunohematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCSS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Giuliana Ferrari
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Milan 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Milan 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Bernhard Gentner
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Milan 20132, Italy; Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, IRCSS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan 20132, Italy.
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21
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Zhao HF, Abraham A, Kim YS, Wang YD, Pestina T, Zhan J, Humphries K, Nienhuis AW, Persons DA. Lentiviral Transfer of γ-Globin with Fusion Gene NUP98-HOXA10HD Expands Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Ameliorates Murine β-Thalassemia. Mol Ther 2017; 25:593-605. [PMID: 28190779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, an engineered Homeobox-nucleoporin fusion gene, NUP98-HOXA10HD or NA10HD, was reported to expand and maintain murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). We postulated that NA10HD would increase the number of human γ-globin-expressing cells to therapeutic levels. We developed a double gene lentiviral vector encoding both human γ-globin and NA10HD, which was used to transduce human peripheral blood CD34+ cells and increased engraftment 2- to 2.5-fold at 15 weeks post-transplantation in immunodeficient mice. In β-thalassemic mice transplanted with β-thalassemic HSCs transduced with the γ-globin/NA10HD vector, the number of fetal hemoglobin (HbF)-expressing cells was significantly increased after 3 months, leading to resolution of the anemia. Furthermore, the increases in HbF were maintained at 6 months and persisted after secondary transplantation. In addition, NA10HD enrichment of transduced HSCs led to HbF increases without affecting homeostasis of the white blood cell lineages. Our results suggest that NA10HD increases the number of γ-globin-transduced HSCs that engraft, leading to an elevated number of fetal hemoglobin-containing red cells. These effects of NA10HD provide an improved platform for testing of the therapeutic efficacy of novel globin vectors and provide further impetus to develop safe and effective methods for selective expansion of genetically modified cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Fen Zhao
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Allistair Abraham
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yoon-Sang Kim
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yong-Dong Wang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Tamara Pestina
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jun Zhan
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Keith Humphries
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Arthur W Nienhuis
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
| | - Derek A Persons
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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22
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Longitudinal Analysis of Patient Specific Predictors for Mortality in Sickle Cell Disease. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164743. [PMID: 27764159 PMCID: PMC5072581 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2016] [Accepted: 09/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction White Blood Cell (WBC) count, %HbF, and serum creatinine (Cr), have been identified as markers for increased mortality in sickle cell anemia (SCA) but no studies have examined the significance of longitudinal rate of change in these or other biomarkers for SCA individuals. Methods Clinical, demographic and laboratory data from SCA patients seen in 2002 by our hospital system were obtained. Those who were still followed in 2012 (survival cohort) were compared to those who had died in the interim (mortality cohort). Patients lost to follow-up were excluded. Age adjusted multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were constructed to assess hazard ratios of mortality risk associated with the direction and degree of change for each variable. Results 359 SCA patients were identified. Baseline higher levels of WBC, serum creatinine and hospital admissions were associated with increased mortality, as were alkaline phosphatase and aspartate aminotransaminase levels. Lower baseline levels of %HbF were also associated with increased mortality. When longitudinal rates of change for individuals were assessed, increases in Hb or WBC over patient baseline values were associated with greater mortality risk (HR 1.54, p = 0.02 and HR 1.16, p = 0.01 with negative predictive values of 87.8 and 94.4 respectively), while increasing ED use was associated with decreased mortality (HR 0.84, p = 0.01). We did not detect any increased mortality risk for longitudinal changes in annual clinic visits or admissions, creatinine or %HbF. Conclusions Although initial steady state observations can help predict survival in SCA, the longitudinal course of a patient may give additional prognostic information.
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23
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Psatha N, Karponi G, Yannaki E. Optimizing autologous cell grafts to improve stem cell gene therapy. Exp Hematol 2016; 44:528-39. [PMID: 27106799 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2016.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 04/06/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Over the past decade, stem cell gene therapy has achieved unprecedented curative outcomes for several genetic disorders. Despite the unequivocal success, clinical gene therapy still faces challenges. Genetically engineered hematopoietic stem cells are particularly vulnerable to attenuation of their repopulating capacity once exposed to culture conditions, ultimately leading to low engraftment levels posttransplant. This becomes of particular importance when transduction rates are low or/and competitive transplant conditions are generated by reduced-intensity conditioning in the absence of a selective advantage of the transduced over the unmodified cells. These limitations could partially be overcome by introducing megadoses of genetically modified CD34(+) cells into conditioned patients or by transplanting hematopoietic stem cells hematopoietic stem cells with high engrafting and repopulating potential. On the basis of the lessons gained from cord blood transplantation, we summarize the most promising approaches to date of increasing either the numbers of hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation or/and their engraftability, as a platform toward the optimization of engineered stem cell grafts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikoletta Psatha
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematology Department-BMT Unit, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Garyfalia Karponi
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematology Department-BMT Unit, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematology Department-BMT Unit, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece; Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
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24
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Chin CJ, Cooper AR, Lill GR, Evseenko D, Zhu Y, He CB, Casero D, Pellegrini M, Kohn DB, Crooks GM. Genetic Tagging During Human Mesoderm Differentiation Reveals Tripotent Lateral Plate Mesodermal Progenitors. Stem Cells 2016; 34:1239-50. [PMID: 26934332 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Although clonal studies of lineage potential have been extensively applied to organ specific stem and progenitor cells, much less is known about the clonal origins of lineages formed from the germ layers in early embryogenesis. We applied lentiviral tagging followed by vector integration site analysis (VISA) with high-throughput sequencing to investigate the ontogeny of the hematopoietic, endothelial and mesenchymal lineages as they emerge from human embryonic mesoderm. In contrast to studies that have used VISA to track differentiation of self-renewing stem cell clones that amplify significantly over time, we focused on a population of progenitor clones with limited self-renewal capability. Our analyses uncovered the critical influence of sampling on the interpretation of lentiviral tag sharing, particularly among complex populations with minimal clonal duplication. By applying a quantitative framework to estimate the degree of undersampling we revealed the existence of tripotent mesodermal progenitors derived from pluripotent stem cells, and the subsequent bifurcation of their differentiation into bipotent endothelial/hematopoietic or endothelial/mesenchymal progenitors. Stem Cells 2016;34:1239-1250.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chee Jia Chin
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM)
| | - Aaron R Cooper
- Molecular Biology Interdepartmental PhD Program, DGSOM University of California Los Angeles.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, DGSOM, DGSOM University of California Los Angeles
| | - Georgia R Lill
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, DGSOM, DGSOM University of California Los Angeles
| | - Denis Evseenko
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine of University of Southern California (USC). All in, Los Angeles, CA, United States
| | - Yuhua Zhu
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM)
| | - Chong Bin He
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM)
| | - David Casero
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM)
| | - Matteo Pellegrini
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Development Biology, DGSOM University of California Los Angeles.,Molecular Biology Institute (MBI)
| | - Donald B Kohn
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, DGSOM, DGSOM University of California Los Angeles.,Molecular Biology Institute (MBI).,Department of Pediatrics, DGSOM University of California Los Angeles.,Broad Stem Cell Research Center (BSCRC), DGSOM University of California Los Angeles.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC), DGSOM University of California Los Angeles
| | - Gay M Crooks
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine (DGSOM).,Department of Pediatrics, DGSOM University of California Los Angeles.,Broad Stem Cell Research Center (BSCRC), DGSOM University of California Los Angeles.,Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, DGSOM University of California Los Angeles
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25
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Genetic treatment of a molecular disorder: gene therapy approaches to sickle cell disease. Blood 2016; 127:839-48. [PMID: 26758916 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2015-09-618587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective medical management for sickle cell disease (SCD) remains elusive. As a prevalent and severe monogenic disorder, SCD has been long considered a logical candidate for gene therapy. Significant progress has been made in moving toward this goal. These efforts have provided substantial insight into the natural regulation of the globin genes and illuminated challenges for genetic manipulation of the hematopoietic system. The initial γ-retroviral vectors, next-generation lentiviral vectors, and novel genome engineering and gene regulation approaches each share the goal of preventing erythrocyte sickling. After years of preclinical studies, several clinical trials for SCD gene therapies are now open. This review focuses on progress made toward achieving gene therapy, the current state of the field, consideration of factors that may determine clinical success, and prospects for future development.
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26
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Amelioration of murine sickle cell disease by nonablative conditioning and γ-globin gene-corrected bone marrow cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2015; 2:15045. [PMID: 26665131 PMCID: PMC4667717 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2015.45] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2015] [Revised: 09/24/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Patients with severe sickle cell disease (SCD) are candidates for gene therapy using autologous hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), but concomitant multi-organ disease may contraindicate pretransplant conditioning with full myeloablation. We tested whether nonmyeloablative conditioning, a regimen used successfully for allogeneic bone marrow transplantation of adult SCD patients, allows engraftment of γ-globin gene-corrected cells to a therapeutic level in the Berkeley mouse model of SCD. Animals transplanted according to this regimen averaged 35% engraftment of transduced hematopoietic stem cells with an average vector copy < 2.0. Fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels ranged from 20 to 44% of total hemoglobin and approximately two-thirds of circulating red blood cells expressed HbF detected by immunofluorescence (F-cells). Gene therapy treatment of SCD mice ameliorated anemia, reduced hyperleukocytosis, improved renal function, and reduced iron accumulation in liver, spleen, and kidneys. Thus, modest levels of chimerism with donor cells expressing high levels of HbF from an insulated γ-globin lentiviral vector can improve the pathology of SCD in mice, thereby illustrating a potentially safe and effective strategy for gene therapy in humans.
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