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Suleman S, Fawaz S, Roberts T, Ellison S, Bigger B, Themis M. Optimised protocols to generate high titre lentiviral vectors using a novel transfection agent enabling extended HEK293T culture following transient transfection and suspension culture. J Virol Methods 2024; 325:114884. [PMID: 38218417 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2024.114884] [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: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
HIV-1 based lentiviral viruses are considered powerful and versatile gene therapy vectors to deliver therapeutic genes to patients with hereditary or acquired diseases. These vectors can efficiently transduce a variety of cell types when dividing or non-dividing to provide permanent delivery and long-term gene expression. Demand for scalable manufacturing protocols able to generate enough high titre vector for widespread use of this technology is increasing and considerable efforts to improve vector production cost-effectively, is ongoing. Current methods for LV production mainly use transient transfection of producer cell lines. Cells can be grown at scale, either in 2D relying on culturing producer cells in multi-tray flask cell culture factories or in roller bottles or can be adapted to grow in 3D suspensions in large batch fermenters. This suits rapid production and testing of new vector constructs pre-clinically for their efficacy, particle titre and safety. In this study, we sought to improve lentiviral titre over time by testing two alternative commercially available transfection reagents Fugene® 6 and Genejuice® with the commonly used polycation, polyethyleneimine. Our aim was to identify less cytotoxic transfection reagents that could be used to generate LV particles at high titre past the often used 72 h period when vector is usually collected before producer cell death is caused due to post transfection cytotoxicity. We show that LV could be produced in extended culture using Genejuice® and even by transfected cells in glass flasks in suspension. Because this delivery agent is less toxic to 293 T producer cells, following optimisation of transfection we found that LV can be harvested for more than 10 days at high titre. Using our protocol, titres of 109 TU/ml and 108 TU/ml were routinely reached via traditional monolayer conditions or suspension cultures, respectively. We propose, this simple change in vector production enables large volumes of high titre vector to be produced, cost effectively for non-clinical in vivo and in vitro applications or for more stringent downstream clinical grade vector purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saqlain Suleman
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Serena Fawaz
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Terry Roberts
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Stuart Ellison
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Brian Bigger
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology & Regenerative Medicine, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Michael Themis
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK; Division of Ecology and Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK; Testavec Ltd, Queensgate House, Maidenhead, UK.
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Suleman S, Payne A, Bowden J, Haque SA, Zahn M, Fawaz S, Khalifa MS, Jobling S, Hay D, Franco M, Fronza R, Wang W, Strobel-Freidekind O, Deichmann A, Takeuchi Y, Waddington SN, Gil-Farina I, Schmidt M, Themis M. HIV- 1 lentivirus tethering to the genome is associated with transcription factor binding sites found in genes that favour virus survival. Gene Ther 2022; 29:720-729. [PMID: 35513551 PMCID: PMC9750860 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-022-00335-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors (LV) are attractive for permanent and effective gene therapy. However, integration into the host genome can cause insertional mutagenesis highlighting the importance of understanding of LV integration. Insertion site (IS) tethering is believed to involve cellular proteins such as PSIP1/LEDGF/p75, which binds to the virus pre-integration complexes (PICs) helping to target the virus genome. Transcription factors (TF) that bind both the vector LTR and host genome are also suspected influential to this. To determine the role of TF in the tethering process, we mapped predicted transcription factor binding sites (pTFBS) near to IS chosen by HIV-1 LV using a narrow 20 bp window in infected human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and their hepatocyte-like cell (HLC) derivatives. We then aligned the pTFBS with these sequences found in the LTRs of native and self-inactivated LTRs. We found significant enrichment of these sequences for pTFBS essential to HIV-1 life cycle and virus survival. These same sites also appear in HIV-1 patient IS and in mice infected with HIV-1 based LV. This in silco data analysis suggests pTFBS present in the virus LTR and IS sites selected by HIV-1 LV are important to virus survival and propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saqlain Suleman
- grid.7728.a0000 0001 0724 6933Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK ,Testavec Ltd, Queensgate House, Maidenhead, UK
| | - Annette Payne
- Testavec Ltd, Queensgate House, Maidenhead, UK ,grid.7728.a0000 0001 0724 6933Department of Computer Science, College of Engineering Design and Physical Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Johnathan Bowden
- grid.7728.a0000 0001 0724 6933Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Sharmin Al Haque
- grid.7728.a0000 0001 0724 6933Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Marco Zahn
- Genewerk GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.7700.00000 0001 2190 4373University Heidelberg, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Serena Fawaz
- grid.7728.a0000 0001 0724 6933Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Mohammad S. Khalifa
- grid.7728.a0000 0001 0724 6933Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - Susan Jobling
- Testavec Ltd, Queensgate House, Maidenhead, UK ,grid.7728.a0000 0001 0724 6933Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, College of Business, Arts and Social Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK
| | - David Hay
- grid.4305.20000 0004 1936 7988Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | - Wei Wang
- Genewerk GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Yasuhiro Takeuchi
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London, UK ,grid.70909.370000 0001 2199 6511Division of Advanced Therapies, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, UK
| | - Simon N. Waddington
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Gene Transfer Technology, EGA Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK ,grid.11951.3d0000 0004 1937 1135MRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witswatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Manfred Schmidt
- Genewerk GmbH, Heidelberg, Germany ,grid.461742.20000 0000 8855 0365Department of Translational Oncology, NCT and DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Themis
- grid.7728.a0000 0001 0724 6933Department of Life Sciences, College of Health, Medicine & Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK ,grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Division of Ecology and Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Mournetas V, Pereira SM, Fernig DG, Murray P. A descriptive guide for absolute quantification of produced shRNA pseudotyped lentiviral particles by real-time PCR. J Biol Methods 2016; 3:e55. [PMID: 31453218 PMCID: PMC6706118 DOI: 10.14440/jbm.2016.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 08/22/2016] [Accepted: 08/23/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene silencing techniques, including RNA interference methodologies, are widely used in reverse genetics to study the role of specific genes in biological processes. RNA interference has become easier to implement thanks to the RNAi Consortium (TRC), which has developed libraries of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) sequences in pseudotyped lentiviral particles capable of targeting most genes in the human and mouse genomes. However, a problem is the lack of a simple method to titrate the homemade lentiviral particle product, making it difficult to optimize and standardize shRNA experiments. Here we provide a guide describing a quick, non-laborious and reliable method for the titration of TRC pseudotyped lentiviral particles that is based on the detection and measurement of viral RNA using quantitative PCR. Our data demonstrate that purified linearized shRNA plasmids represent more suitable standards than circular or unpurified linearized plasmids. We also show that for precise absolute quantification, it is important to determine suitable plasmid and viral cDNA concentrations in order to find the linear range for quantification, as well as to reduce inhibition and primer dimer amplification. Finally, we show that the lentivirus concentration impacts the level of knockdown in transduced cells. Primers utilized in this non-functional titration can potentially be applied to functional titration of proviral DNA copies or transgene expression, overcoming problems arising from the absence of fluorescent reporter genes in TRC plasmids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Mournetas
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, L697 ZB Liverpool, United Kingdom.,Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, L697 ZB Liverpool, United Kingdom.,CECS / ISTEM, 2 Rue Henri Desbruères, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Sofia Melo Pereira
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, L697 ZB Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - David G Fernig
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Integrative Biology, University of Liverpool, L697 ZB Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Patricia Murray
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, L697 ZB Liverpool, United Kingdom
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Martinet J, Bourdenet G, Meliani A, Jean L, Adriouch S, Cohen JL, Mingozzi F, Boyer O. Induction of Hematopoietic Microchimerism by Gene-Modified BMT Elicits Antigen-Specific B and T Cell Unresponsiveness toward Gene Therapy Products. Front Immunol 2016; 7:360. [PMID: 27695454 PMCID: PMC5023671 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2016.00360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene therapy is a promising treatment option for hemophilia and other protein deficiencies. However, immune responses against the transgene product represent an obstacle to safe and effective gene therapy, urging for the implementation of tolerization strategies. Induction of a hematopoietic chimerism via bone marrow transplantation (BMT) is a potent means for inducing immunological tolerance in solid organ transplantation. OBJECTIVES We reasoned, here, that the same viral vector could be used, first, to transduce BM cells for inducing chimerism-associated transgene-specific immune tolerance and, second, for correcting protein deficiencies by vector-mediated systemic production of the deficient coagulation factor. METHODS Evaluation of strategies to induce B and T cell tolerance was performed using ex vivo gene transfer with lentiviral (LV) vectors encoding coagulation factor IX (FIX) or the SIINFEKL epitope of ovalbumin. Following induction of microchimerism via BMT, animals were challenged with in vivo gene transfer with LV vectors. RESULTS The experimental approach prevented humoral immune response against FIX, resulting in persistence of therapeutic levels of circulating FIX, after LV-mediated gene transfer in vivo. In an ovalbumin model, we also demonstrated that this approach effectively tolerized the CD8+ T cell compartment in an antigen-specific manner. CONCLUSION These results provide the proof-of-concept that inducing a microchimerism by gene-modified BMT is a powerful tool to provide transgene-specific B and T cell tolerance in a gene therapy setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jérémie Martinet
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, Pathophysiology and Biotherapy of Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases, INSERM, CHU Rouen , Rouen , France
| | - Gwladys Bourdenet
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, Pathophysiology and Biotherapy of Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases, INSERM, CHU Rouen , Rouen , France
| | - Amine Meliani
- U974, INSERM, University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris, France; Genethon, Evry, France
| | - Laetitia Jean
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, Pathophysiology and Biotherapy of Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases, INSERM, CHU Rouen , Rouen , France
| | - Sahil Adriouch
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, Pathophysiology and Biotherapy of Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases, INSERM, CHU Rouen , Rouen , France
| | | | - Federico Mingozzi
- U974, INSERM, University Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris, France; Genethon, Evry, France
| | - Olivier Boyer
- Normandie University, UNIROUEN, Pathophysiology and Biotherapy of Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases, INSERM, CHU Rouen , Rouen , France
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