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Nenninger AW, Willman M, Willman J, Stewart E, Mesidor P, Novoa M, Morrill NK, Alvarez L, Joly-Amado A, Peters MM, Gulick D, Nash KR. Improving Gene Therapy for Angelman Syndrome with Secreted Human UBE3A. Neurotherapeutics 2022; 19:1329-1339. [PMID: 35534672 PMCID: PMC9587189 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-022-01239-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The rare genetic neurodevelopmental disease Angelman syndrome (AS) is caused by the loss of function of UBE3A, a ubiquitin ligase. The disease results in a lifetime of severe symptoms, including intellectual disability and motor impairments for which there are no effective treatments. One avenue of treatment for AS is the use of gene therapy to reintroduce a functional copy of the UBE3A gene. Our group had previously shown that recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) expressing mouse Ube3a could rescue deficits in a mouse model of AS. Here, we expand on this work and show that this approach could be successfully replicated in a second AS model using the human UBE3A gene. Furthermore, we address the challenge of limited vector distribution in the brain by developing a novel modified form of UBE3A. This modified protein, termed STUB, was designed with a secretion signal and a cell-penetrating peptide. This allowed transduced cells to act as factories for the production of UBE3A protein that could be taken up by neighboring non-transduced cells, thus increasing the number of neurons receiving the therapeutic protein. Combining this construct with intracerebroventricular injections to maximize rAAV distribution within the brain, we demonstrate that this novel approach improves the recovery of behavioral and electrophysiological deficits in the AS rat model. More importantly, a comparison of rAAV-STUB to a rAAV expressing the normal human UBE3A gene showed that STUB was a more effective therapeutic. These data suggest that rAAV-STUB is a new potential approach for the treatment of AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin W Nenninger
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Matthew Willman
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Jonathan Willman
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Emma Stewart
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Philippe Mesidor
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Michelle Novoa
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Nicole K Morrill
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Luis Alvarez
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Aurélie Joly-Amado
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Melinda M Peters
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Danielle Gulick
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Kevin R Nash
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA.
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Noureddine A, Maestas-Olguin A, Saada EA, LaBauve AE, Agola JO, Baty KE, Howard T, Sabo JK, Espinoza CRS, Doudna JA, Schoeniger JS, Butler KS, Negrete OA, Brinker CJ, Serda RE. Engineering of monosized lipid-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles for CRISPR delivery. Acta Biomater 2020; 114:358-368. [PMID: 32702530 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR gene editing technology is strategically foreseen to control diseases by correcting underlying aberrant genetic sequences. In order to overcome drawbacks associated with viral vectors, the establishment of an effective non-viral CRISPR delivery vehicle has become an important goal for nanomaterial scientists. Herein, we introduce a monosized lipid-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticle (LC-MSN) delivery vehicle that enables both loading of CRISPR components [145 µg ribonucleoprotein (RNP) or 40 µg plasmid/mg nanoparticles] and efficient release within cancer cells (70%). The RNP-loaded LC-MSN exhibited 10% gene editing in both in vitro reporter cancer cell lines and in an in vivo Ai9-tdTomato reporter mouse model. The structural and chemical versatility of the mesoporous silica core and lipid coating along with framework dissolution-assisted cargo delivery open new prospects towards safe CRISPR component delivery and enhanced gene editing. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: After the discovery of CRISPR gene-correcting technology in bacteria. The translation of this technology to mammalian cells may change the face of cancer therapy within the next years. This was first made possible through the use of viral vectors; however, such systems limit the safe translation of CRISPR into clinics because its difficult preparation and immunogenicity. Therefore, biocompatible non-viral nanoparticulate systems are required to successfully deliver CRISPR into cancer cells. The present study presents the use of biomimetic lipid-coated mesoporous silica nanoparticles showing successful delivery of CRISPR ribonucleoprotein and plasmid into HeLa cervical and A549 lung cancer cells as well as successful gene editing in mice brain.
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Subbarayan MS, Hudson C, Moss LD, Nash KR, Bickford PC. T cell infiltration and upregulation of MHCII in microglia leads to accelerated neuronal loss in an α-synuclein rat model of Parkinson's disease. J Neuroinflammation 2020; 17:242. [PMID: 32799878 PMCID: PMC7429710 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-020-01911-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most prevalent movement disorder characterized by up to 80% loss of dopamine (DA) neurons and accumulation of Lewy body deposits composed of α-synuclein (α-syn). Accumulation of α-syn is associated with microglial activation, leading to a pro-inflammatory environment linked with the pathogenesis of PD. Along with microglia, CD4 and CD8 T cells are observed in SNpc. The contribution of T-cells to PD development remains unclear with studies demonstrating that they may mediate neurodegeneration or act in a neuroprotective manner. METHODS Here, we assessed the contribution of T cells to PD neurodegeneration using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) coding human wild-type α-syn or GFP injected into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) in T cell deficient (athymic nude) and T cell competent (heterozygous) rats. The rats were behaviorally assessed with cylinder test to test paw bias. Following behavior testing, brains were collected and analyzed for markers of dopamine neuron, microglial activation, T cells, and α-syn expression. RESULTS Injection of AAV9-α-syn unilaterally into the SN of T cell competent rats resulted in a significant paw bias in comparison to the controls at 60 days post-injection. Conversely, T cell-deficient rats injected with AAV9-α-syn showed no deficit in paw bias. As expected, injected T cell competent rats demonstrated a significant increase in microglial activation (MHCII staining) as well as significant dopaminergic neuron loss. In contrast, the T cell-deficient counterparts did not show a significant increase in microglial activation or significant neuron loss compared to the control animals. We also observed CD4 and CD8 T cells in SNpc following microglial MHCII expression and dopaminergic neuron loss. The time course of T cell entry correlates with upregulation of MHCII and the peak loss of TH+ cells in the SNpc. CONCLUSION These data demonstrate that T cell infiltration and microglial upregulation of MHCII are involved in α-synuclein-mediated DA neuron loss in this rat model of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meena S Subbarayan
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
- Center for Excellence in Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Charles Hudson
- Research Service, James A Haley Veterans Hospital, 13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Lauren D Moss
- Center for Excellence in Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Kevin R Nash
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA
| | - Paula C Bickford
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA.
- Center for Excellence in Aging and Brain Repair, Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA.
- Research Service, James A Haley Veterans Hospital, 13000 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL-33612, USA.
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CNS-Wide over Expression of Fractalkine Improves Cognitive Functioning in a Tauopathy Model. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2018; 14:312-325. [PMID: 30499006 PMCID: PMC6525127 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-018-9822-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Accumulating evidence increasingly implicates regulation of neuroinflammation as a potential therapeutic target in Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders. Fractalkine (FKN) is a unique chemokine that is expressed and secreted by neurons and reduces expression of pro-inflammatory genes. To further demonstrate the utility of agents that increase FKN signaling throughout the central nervous system as possible therapies for AD, we assessed the impact of soluble FKN (sFKN) over expression on cognition in tau depositing rTg450 mice after the onset of cognitive deficits. Using adeno-associated virus serotype 4, we infected cells lining the ventricular system with soluble FKN to increase FKN signaling over a larger fraction of the brain than achieved with intraparenchymal injections. We found that soluble FKN over expression by cells lining the ventricles significantly improved cognitive performance on the novel mouse recognition and radial arm water maze tasks. These benefits were achieved without detectable reductions in tau hyperphosphorylation, hippocampal atrophy, or microglial CD45 expression. Utilizing qPCR, we report a significant increase in Vegfa expression, indicating an increase in trophic support and possible neovascularization in AAV-sFKN-injected mice. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration that FKN over expression can rescue cognitive function in a tau depositing mouse line. Regulating neuroinflammation is an attractive therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease. Microglial activation can not only drive pathology but also accelerate cognitive decline. The chemokine fractalkine regulates the microglial phenotype, increasing trophic support of neurons, and significantly improving cognitive functioning in the rTg4510 mouse model of tauopathy. ![]()
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