1
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Lehrich BM, Delgado ER. Lipid Nanovesicle Platforms for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Precision Medicine Therapeutics: Progress and Perspectives. Organogenesis 2024; 20:2313696. [PMID: 38357804 PMCID: PMC10878025 DOI: 10.1080/15476278.2024.2313696] [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: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality globally. HCC is highly heterogenous with diverse etiologies leading to different driver mutations potentiating unique tumor immune microenvironments. Current therapeutic options, including immune checkpoint inhibitors and combinations, have achieved limited objective response rates for the majority of patients. Thus, a precision medicine approach is needed to tailor specific treatment options for molecular subsets of HCC patients. Lipid nanovesicle platforms, either liposome- (synthetic) or extracellular vesicle (natural)-derived present are improved drug delivery vehicles which may be modified to contain specific cargos for targeting specific tumor sites, with a natural affinity for liver with limited toxicity. This mini-review provides updates on the applications of novel lipid nanovesicle-based therapeutics for HCC precision medicine and the challenges associated with translating this therapeutic subclass from preclinical models to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon M. Lehrich
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Evan R. Delgado
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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2
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Singh V, Pathak S, Kumar N, Jayandharan GR. Development of an Optimized Promoter System for Exosomal and Naked AAV Vector-Based Suicide Gene Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:30945-30953. [PMID: 39035883 PMCID: PMC11256310 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c03949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Suicide gene therapy is a promising strategy for the potential treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the lack of high transduction efficiency and targeted vectors in delivering the suicide genes to only the HCC cells is a major impediment. In the present study, we utilized an adeno-associated virus serotype 6 (AAV6) and its exosomal counterpart (exo-AAV) comprising of an inducible Caspase 9 (iCasp9) gene under the control of different promoter systems for targeting HCC cells. We employed a ubiquitous cytomegalovirus immediate early enhancer/chicken β actin promoter (CAG), a liver-specific promoter (LP1), and a baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 5 (BIRC5) promoter for liver and cancer cell-specific expression of iCasp9, respectively. We further evaluated these vectors in Huh7 cells for their ability to kill the target cells. BIRC5 and LP1 promoter-driven iCasp9 vectors demonstrated superior cytotoxicity when compared to CAG promoter-driven iCasp9 vectors. Further validation in a murine model of HCC demonstrated that the LP1-iCasp9 or Birc5-iCasp9-based AAV6 vectors contributed to tumor regression (∼2 fold) as effectively as the AAV6-CAG-iCasp9 vectors (∼1.9 fold). Similarly, exo-AAV6 vectors showed ∼2.1 to 2.8 fold superior in vivo tumor regression when compared to mock-treated animals. Our study has developed two novel promoters (LP1 or BIRC5) whose efficacy is comparable to a strong ubiquitous promoter in both AAV and exo-AAV systems. This expands the toolkit of AAV vectors for safe and effective treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijayata Singh
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy,
Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences
and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Subhajit Pathak
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy,
Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences
and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Narendra Kumar
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy,
Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences
and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Giridhara R. Jayandharan
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy,
Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences
and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
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3
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Cloherty APM, Rader AG, Patel KS, Eisden TJTHD, van Piggelen S, Schreurs RRCE, Ribeiro CMS. Dengue virus exploits autophagy vesicles and secretory pathways to promote transmission by human dendritic cells. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1260439. [PMID: 38863700 PMCID: PMC11165123 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1260439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Dengue virus (DENV), transmitted by infected mosquitoes, is a major public health concern, with approximately half the world's population at risk for infection. Recent decades have increasing incidence of dengue-associated disease alongside growing frequency of outbreaks. Although promising progress has been made in anti-DENV immunizations, post-infection treatment remains limited to non-specific supportive treatments. Development of antiviral therapeutics is thus required to limit DENV dissemination in humans and to help control the severity of outbreaks. Dendritic cells (DCs) are amongst the first cells to encounter DENV upon injection into the human skin mucosa, and thereafter promote systemic viral dissemination to additional human target cells. Autophagy is a vesicle trafficking pathway involving the formation of cytosolic autophagosomes, and recent reports have highlighted the extensive manipulation of autophagy by flaviviruses, including DENV, for viral replication. However, the temporal profiling and function of autophagy activity in DENV infection and transmission by human primary DCs remains poorly understood. Herein, we demonstrate that mechanisms of autophagosome formation and extracellular vesicle (EV) release have a pro-viral role in DC-mediated DENV transmission. We show that DENV exploits early-stage canonical autophagy to establish infection in primary human DCs. DENV replication enhanced autophagosome formation in primary human DCs, and intrinsically-heightened autophagosome biogenesis correlated with relatively higher rates of DC susceptibility to DENV. Furthermore, our data suggest that viral replication intermediates co-localize with autophagosomes, while productive DENV infection introduces a block at the late degradative stages of autophagy in infected DCs but not in uninfected bystander cells. Notably, we identify for the first time that approximately one-fourth of DC-derived CD9/CD81/CD63+ EVs co-express canonical autophagy marker LC3, and demonstrate that DC-derived EV populations are an alternative, cell-free mechanism by which DCs promote DENV transmission to additional target sites. Taken together, our study highlights intersections between autophagy and secretory pathways during viral infection, and puts forward autophagosome accumulation and viral RNA-laden EVs as host determinants of DC-mediated DENV infection in humans. Host-directed therapeutics targeting autophagy and exocytosis pathways thus have potential to enhance DC-driven resistance to DENV acquisition and thereby limit viral dissemination by initial human target cells following mosquito-to-human transmission of DENV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra P. M. Cloherty
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Anusca G. Rader
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Kharishma S. Patel
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tracy-Jane T. H. D. Eisden
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sterre van Piggelen
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Renée R. C. E. Schreurs
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Carla M. S. Ribeiro
- Department of Experimental Immunology, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Institute for Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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4
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Sintakova K, Romanyuk N. The role of small extracellular vesicles and microRNA as their cargo in the spinal cord injury pathophysiology and therapy. Front Neurosci 2024; 18:1400413. [PMID: 38774785 PMCID: PMC11106386 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1400413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a devastating condition with a complex pathology that affects a significant portion of the population and causes long-term consequences. After primary injury, an inflammatory cascade of secondary injury occurs, followed by neuronal cell death and glial scar formation. Together with the limited regenerative capacity of the central nervous system, these are the main reasons for the poor prognosis after SCI. Despite recent advances, there is still no effective treatment. Promising therapeutic approaches include stem cells transplantation, which has demonstrated neuroprotective and immunomodulatory effects in SCI. This positive effect is thought to be mediated by small extracellular vesicles (sEVs); membrane-bound nanovesicles involved in intercellular communication through transport of functional proteins and RNA molecules. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about sEVs and microRNA as their cargo as one of the most promising therapeutic approaches for the treatment of SCI. We provide a comprehensive overview of their role in SCI pathophysiology, neuroprotective potential and therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristyna Sintakova
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
- Department of Neuroscience, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czechia
| | - Nataliya Romanyuk
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Institute of Experimental Medicine of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Czechia
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5
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Defourny KAY, Pei X, van Kuppeveld FJM, Nolte-T Hoen ENM. Picornavirus security proteins promote the release of extracellular vesicle enclosed viruses via the modulation of host kinases. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012133. [PMID: 38662794 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The discovery that extracellular vesicles (EVs) serve as carriers of virus particles calls for a reevaluation of the release strategies of non-enveloped viruses. Little is currently known about the molecular mechanisms that determine the release and composition of EVs produced by virus-infected cells, as well as conservation of these mechanisms among viruses. We previously described an important role for the Leader protein of the picornavirus encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV) in the induction of virus-carrying EV subsets with distinct molecular and physical properties. EMCV L acts as a 'viral security protein' by suppressing host antiviral stress and type-I interferon (IFN) responses. Here, we tested the ability of functionally related picornavirus proteins of Theilers murine encephalitis virus (TMEV L), Saffold virus (SAFV L), and coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3 2Apro), to rescue EV and EV-enclosed virus release when introduced in Leader-deficient EMCV. We show that all viral security proteins tested were able to promote virus packaging in EVs, but that only the expression of EMCV L and CVB3 2Apro increased overall EV production. We provide evidence that one of the main antiviral pathways counteracted by this class of picornaviral proteins, i.e. the inhibition of PKR-mediated stress responses, affected EV and EV-enclosed virus release during infection. Moreover, we show that the enhanced capacity of the viral proteins EMCV L and CVB3 2Apro to promote EV-enclosed virus release is linked to their ability to simultaneously promote the activation of the stress kinase P38 MAPK. Taken together, we demonstrate that cellular stress pathways involving the kinases PKR and P38 are modulated by the activity of non-structural viral proteins to increase the release EV-enclosed viruses during picornavirus infections. These data shed new light on the molecular regulation of EV production in response to virus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyra A Y Defourny
- Infection Biology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Xinyi Pei
- Infection Biology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Frank J M van Kuppeveld
- Virology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Esther N M Nolte-T Hoen
- Infection Biology Section, Division of Infectious Diseases & Immunology, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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6
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Silver E, Argiro A, Hong K, Adler E. Gene therapy vector-related myocarditis. Int J Cardiol 2024; 398:131617. [PMID: 38030043 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2023.131617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy is a technique to correct genetic abnormalities, through introduction of a functional gene or through direct genome editing. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene replacement shows promise for targeted therapies in treatment of inherited cardiomyopathies and is the most used approach in clinical trials. However, immune responses from the host to the virus and gene product pose delivery and safety challenges. This review explores the immunological reactions to AAV-based gene therapy, their potential toxic effects, with a focus on myocarditis, and future directions for gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Silver
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States; School of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT, United States.
| | - Alessia Argiro
- Cardiomyopathy Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | - Kimberly Hong
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Eric Adler
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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7
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Driedonks TAP, Jiang L, Gololobova O, Liao Z, Witwer KW. ELISA-based detection of immunoglobulins against extracellular vesicles in blood plasma. JOURNAL OF EXTRACELLULAR BIOLOGY 2024; 3:e129. [PMID: 38939411 PMCID: PMC11080774 DOI: 10.1002/jex2.129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are intensively investigated for their therapeutic potential and application as drug delivery vehicle. A broad perception of favourable safety profiles and low immunogenicity make EVs an attractive alternative to synthetic nanoparticles. We recently showed that repeated intravenous administration of human cell-derived EVs into pig-tailed macaques unexpectedly elicited antibody responses after three or more injections. This coincided with decreasing EV circulation time, and may thus hamper successful EV-mediated cargo delivery into tissues. Here, we share the custom ELISA protocol that we used to measure such antibody responses. This protocol may help other researchers evaluate immune responses to EV-based therapies in preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom A. P. Driedonks
- Department of Comparative and Molecular PathobiologyJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Linglei Jiang
- Department of Comparative and Molecular PathobiologyJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Olesia Gololobova
- Department of Comparative and Molecular PathobiologyJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Zhaohao Liao
- Department of Comparative and Molecular PathobiologyJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Kenneth W. Witwer
- Department of Comparative and Molecular PathobiologyJohns Hopkins School of MedicineBaltimoreMarylandUSA
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8
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Khalil B, Linsenmeier M, Smith CL, Shorter J, Rossoll W. Nuclear-import receptors as gatekeepers of pathological phase transitions in ALS/FTD. Mol Neurodegener 2024; 19:8. [PMID: 38254150 PMCID: PMC10804745 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-023-00698-1] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are fatal neurodegenerative disorders on a disease spectrum that are characterized by the cytoplasmic mislocalization and aberrant phase transitions of prion-like RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). The common accumulation of TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43), fused in sarcoma (FUS), and other nuclear RBPs in detergent-insoluble aggregates in the cytoplasm of degenerating neurons in ALS/FTD is connected to nuclear pore dysfunction and other defects in the nucleocytoplasmic transport machinery. Recent advances suggest that beyond their canonical role in the nuclear import of protein cargoes, nuclear-import receptors (NIRs) can prevent and reverse aberrant phase transitions of TDP-43, FUS, and related prion-like RBPs and restore their nuclear localization and function. Here, we showcase the NIR family and how they recognize cargo, drive nuclear import, and chaperone prion-like RBPs linked to ALS/FTD. We also discuss the promise of enhancing NIR levels and developing potentiated NIR variants as therapeutic strategies for ALS/FTD and related neurodegenerative proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilal Khalil
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, U.S.A
| | - Miriam Linsenmeier
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, U.S.A
| | - Courtney L Smith
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, U.S.A
- Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Neuroscience Track, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, U.S.A
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, U.S.A..
| | - Wilfried Rossoll
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL, 32224, U.S.A..
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9
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Hadi M, Qutaiba B Allela O, Jabari M, Jasoor AM, Naderloo O, Yasamineh S, Gholizadeh O, Kalantari L. Recent advances in various adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) as gene therapy agents in hepatocellular carcinoma. Virol J 2024; 21:17. [PMID: 38216938 PMCID: PMC10785434 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02286-1] [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: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer, which is scientifically referred to as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a significant concern in the field of global health. It has been demonstrated that conventional chemotherapy, chemo-hormonal therapy, and conformal radiotherapy are ineffective against HCC. New therapeutic approaches are thus urgently required. Identifying single or multiple mutations in genes associated with invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and growth regulation has resulted in a more comprehensive comprehension of the molecular genetic underpinnings of malignant transformation, tumor advancement, and host interaction. This enhanced comprehension has notably propelled the development of novel therapeutic agents. Therefore, gene therapy (GT) holds great promise for addressing the urgent need for innovative treatments in HCC. However, the complexity of HCC demands precise and effective therapeutic approaches. The adeno-associated virus (AAV) distinctive life cycle and ability to persistently infect dividing and nondividing cells have rendered it an alluring vector. Another appealing characteristic of the wild-type virus is its evident absence of pathogenicity. As a result, AAV, a vector that lacks an envelope and can be modified to transport DNA to specific cells, has garnered considerable interest in the scientific community, particularly in experimental therapeutic strategies that are still in the clinical stage. AAV vectors emerge as promising tools for HCC therapy due to their non-immunogenic nature, efficient cell entry, and prolonged gene expression. While AAV-mediated GT demonstrates promise across diverse diseases, the current absence of ongoing clinical trials targeting HCC underscores untapped potential in this context. Furthermore, gene transfer through hepatic AAV vectors is frequently facilitated by GT research, which has been propelled by several congenital anomalies affecting the liver. Notwithstanding the enthusiasm associated with this notion, recent discoveries that expose the integration of the AAV vector genome at double-strand breaks give rise to apprehensions regarding their enduring safety and effectiveness. This review explores the potential of AAV vectors as versatile tools for targeted GT in HCC. In summation, we encapsulate the multifaceted exploration of AAV vectors in HCC GT, underlining their transformative potential within the landscape of oncology and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meead Hadi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Science, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mansoureh Jabari
- Medical Campus, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Asna Mahyazadeh Jasoor
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Omid Naderloo
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Gorgan Breanch, Gorgan, Iran
| | | | | | - Leila Kalantari
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
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10
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Huang Y, Wang YF, Ruan XZ, Lau CW, Wang L, Huang Y. The role of KLF2 in regulating hepatic lipogenesis and blood cholesterol homeostasis via the SCAP/SREBP pathway. J Lipid Res 2024; 65:100472. [PMID: 37949368 PMCID: PMC10805670 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2023.100472] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver steatosis is a common metabolic disorder resulting from imbalanced lipid metabolism, which involves various processes such as de novo lipogenesis, fatty acid uptake, fatty acid oxidation, and VLDL secretion. In this study, we discovered that KLF2, a transcription factor, plays a crucial role in regulating lipid metabolism in the liver. Overexpression of KLF2 in the liver of db/db mice, C57BL/6J mice, and Cd36-/- mice fed on a normal diet resulted in increased lipid content in the liver. Additionally, transgenic mice (ALB-Klf2) that overexpressed Klf2 in the liver developed liver steatosis after being fed a normal diet. We found that KLF2 promotes lipogenesis by increasing the expression of SCAP, a chaperone that facilitates the activation of SREBP, the master transcription factor for lipogenic gene expression. Our mechanism studies revealed that KLF2 enhances lipogenesis in the liver by binding to the promoter of SCAP and increasing the expression of genes involved in fatty acid synthesis. Reduction of KLF2 expression led to a decrease in SCAP expression and a reduction in the expression of SREBP1 target genes involved in lipogenesis. Overexpression of KLF2 also increased the activation of SREBP2 and the mRNA levels of its downstream target SOAT1. In C57BL/6J mice fed a high-fat diet, overexpression of Klf2 increased blood VLDL secretion, while reducing its expression decreased blood cholesterol levels. Our study emphasizes the novelty that hepatic KLF2 plays a critical role in regulating lipid metabolism through the KLF2/SCAP/SREBPs pathway, which is essential for hepatic lipogenesis and maintaining blood cholesterol homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhong Huang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; School of Biomedical Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China; Shenzhen Research Institute and Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yi Fan Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China
| | - Xiong Zhong Ruan
- Centre for Lipid Research & Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chi Wai Lau
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, PR China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yu Huang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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11
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Petit C, Bonnet C, Safieddine S. Deafness: from genetic architecture to gene therapy. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:665-686. [PMID: 37173518 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00597-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Progress in deciphering the genetic architecture of human sensorineural hearing impairment (SNHI) or loss, and multidisciplinary studies of mouse models, have led to the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying auditory system function, primarily in the cochlea, the mammalian hearing organ. These studies have provided unparalleled insights into the pathophysiological processes involved in SNHI, paving the way for the development of inner-ear gene therapy based on gene replacement, gene augmentation or gene editing. The application of these approaches in preclinical studies over the past decade has highlighted key translational opportunities and challenges for achieving effective, safe and sustained inner-ear gene therapy to prevent or cure monogenic forms of SNHI and associated balance disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Petit
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Institut de l'Audition, F-75012, Paris, France.
- Collège de France, F-75005, Paris, France.
| | - Crystel Bonnet
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Institut de l'Audition, F-75012, Paris, France
| | - Saaïd Safieddine
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Inserm, Institut de l'Audition, F-75012, Paris, France
- Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, F-75016, Paris, France
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12
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Li X, La Salvia S, Liang Y, Adamiak M, Kohlbrenner E, Jeong D, Chepurko E, Ceholski D, Lopez-Gordo E, Yoon S, Mathiyalagan P, Agarwal N, Jha D, Lodha S, Daaboul G, Phan A, Raisinghani N, Zhang S, Zangi L, Gonzalez-Kozlova E, Dubois N, Dogra N, Hajjar RJ, Sahoo S. Extracellular Vesicle-Encapsulated Adeno-Associated Viruses for Therapeutic Gene Delivery to the Heart. Circulation 2023; 148:405-425. [PMID: 37409482 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.122.063759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has emerged as one of the best tools for cardiac gene delivery due to its cardiotropism, long-term expression, and safety. However, a significant challenge to its successful clinical use is preexisting neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), which bind to free AAVs, prevent efficient gene transduction, and reduce or negate therapeutic effects. Here we describe extracellular vesicle-encapsulated AAVs (EV-AAVs), secreted naturally by AAV-producing cells, as a superior cardiac gene delivery vector that delivers more genes and offers higher NAb resistance. METHODS We developed a 2-step density-gradient ultracentrifugation method to isolate highly purified EV-AAVs. We compared the gene delivery and therapeutic efficacy of EV-AAVs with an equal titer of free AAVs in the presence of NAbs, both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we investigated the mechanism of EV-AAV uptake in human left ventricular and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in vitro and mouse models in vivo using a combination of biochemical techniques, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescence imaging. RESULTS Using cardiotropic AAV serotypes 6 and 9 and several reporter constructs, we demonstrated that EV-AAVs deliver significantly higher quantities of genes than AAVs in the presence of NAbs, both to human left ventricular and human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes in vitro and to mouse hearts in vivo. Intramyocardial delivery of EV-AAV9-sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2a to infarcted hearts in preimmunized mice significantly improved ejection fraction and fractional shortening compared with AAV9-sarcoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase 2a delivery. These data validated NAb evasion by and therapeutic efficacy of EV-AAV9 vectors. Trafficking studies using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cells in vitro and mouse hearts in vivo showed significantly higher expression of EV-AAV6/9-delivered genes in cardiomyocytes compared with noncardiomyocytes, even with comparable cellular uptake. Using cellular subfraction analyses and pH-sensitive dyes, we discovered that EV-AAVs were internalized into acidic endosomal compartments of cardiomyocytes for releasing and acidifying AAVs for their nuclear uptake. CONCLUSIONS Together, using 5 different in vitro and in vivo model systems, we demonstrate significantly higher potency and therapeutic efficacy of EV-AAV vectors compared with free AAVs in the presence of NAbs. These results establish the potential of EV-AAV vectors as a gene delivery tool to treat heart failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xisheng Li
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Sabrina La Salvia
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Yaxuan Liang
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Zhuhai, China (Y.L.)
| | - Marta Adamiak
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Erik Kohlbrenner
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
- Spark Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA (E.K.)
| | - Dongtak Jeong
- Department of Molecular and Life Science, College of Science and Convergence Technology, Hanyang University-ERICA, Ansan, South Korea (D.J.)
| | - Elena Chepurko
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Delaine Ceholski
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Estrella Lopez-Gordo
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Seonghun Yoon
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | - Neha Agarwal
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Divya Jha
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Shweta Lodha
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | - Anh Phan
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Nikhil Raisinghani
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Shihong Zhang
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Lior Zangi
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Edgar Gonzalez-Kozlova
- Department of Oncological Sciences (E.G.-K.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Nicole Dubois
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology (N. Dubois), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
- Mindich Child Health and Development Institute (N. Dubois), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Navneet Dogra
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (N. Dogra), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
- Icahn Genomics Institute (N.Dogra), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Roger J Hajjar
- Gene and Cell Therapy Institute, Massachusetts General Brigham, Boston (R.J.H.)
| | - Susmita Sahoo
- Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.L., S.L.S., M.A., E.C., D.C., E.L.-G., S.Y., N.A., D.J., S.L., A.P., N.R., S.Z., L.Z., S.S.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
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13
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Ravichandran AJ, Romeo FJ, Mazurek R, Ishikawa K. Barriers in Heart Failure Gene Therapy and Approaches to Overcome Them. Heart Lung Circ 2023; 32:780-789. [PMID: 37045653 PMCID: PMC10440286 DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2023.02.011] [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: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
With the growing prevalence and incidence of heart failure worldwide, investigation and development of new therapies to address disease burden are of great urgency. Gene therapy is one promising approach for the management of heart failure, but several barriers currently exclude safe and efficient gene delivery to the human heart. These barriers include the anatomical and biological difficulty of specifically targeting cardiomyocytes, the vascular endothelium, and immunogenicity against administered vectors and the transgene. We review approaches taken to overcome these barriers with a focus on vector modification, evasion of immune responses, and heart-targeted delivery techniques. While various modifications proposed to date show promise in managing some barriers, continued investigation into improvements to existing therapies is required to address transduction efficiency, duration of transgene expression, and immune response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anjali J Ravichandran
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Francisco J Romeo
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA. https://twitter.com/FJRomeoMD
| | - Renata Mazurek
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kiyotake Ishikawa
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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14
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Rufino-Ramos D, Albuquerque PR, Leandro K, Carmona V, Martins IM, Fernandes R, Henriques C, Lobo D, Faro R, Perfeito R, Mendonça LS, Pereira D, Gomes CM, Nobre RJ, Pereira de Almeida L. Extracellular vesicle-based delivery of silencing sequences for the treatment of Machado-Joseph disease/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3. Mol Ther 2023; 31:1275-1292. [PMID: 37025062 PMCID: PMC10188911 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.04.001] [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: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Machado-Joseph disease (MJD)/spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 (SCA3) is the most common autosomal dominantly inherited ataxia worldwide. It is caused by an over-repetition of the trinucleotide CAG within the ATXN3 gene, which confers toxic properties to ataxin-3 (ATXN3) species. RNA interference technology has shown promising therapeutic outcomes but still lacks a non-invasive delivery method to the brain. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) emerged as promising delivery vehicles due to their capacity to deliver small nucleic acids, such as microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs were found to be enriched into EVs due to specific signal motifs designated as ExoMotifs. In this study, we aimed at investigating whether ExoMotifs would promote the packaging of artificial miRNAs into EVs to be used as non-invasive therapeutic delivery vehicles to treat MJD/SCA3. We found that miRNA-based silencing sequences, associated with ExoMotif GGAG and ribonucleoprotein A2B1 (hnRNPA2B1), retained the capacity to silence mutant ATXN3 (mutATXN3) and were 3-fold enriched into EVs. Bioengineered EVs containing the neuronal targeting peptide RVG on the surface significantly decreased mutATXN3 mRNA in primary cerebellar neurons from MJD YAC 84.2 and in a novel dual-luciferase MJD mouse model upon daily intranasal administration. Altogether, these findings indicate that bioengineered EVs carrying miRNA-based silencing sequences are a promising delivery vehicle for brain therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Rufino-Ramos
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Patrícia R Albuquerque
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Kevin Leandro
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Vitor Carmona
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Inês M Martins
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rita Fernandes
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Carina Henriques
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Diana Lobo
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rosário Faro
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rita Perfeito
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Liliana S Mendonça
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Dina Pereira
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Célia M Gomes
- CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui Jorge Nobre
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra 3004-504, Portugal; CIBB - Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
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15
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Maguire CA. Accessorizing viral vectors with extracellular vesicles for enhanced performance. Mol Ther 2023; 31:1204-1206. [PMID: 37044086 PMCID: PMC10188910 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.03.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Casey A Maguire
- Harvard Medical School, The Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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16
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Arjomandnejad M, Dasgupta I, Flotte TR, Keeler AM. Immunogenicity of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Vectors for Gene Transfer. BioDrugs 2023; 37:311-329. [PMID: 36862289 PMCID: PMC9979149 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-023-00585-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have emerged as promising gene delivery vehicles resulting in three US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and one European Medicines Agency (EMA)-approved AAV-based gene therapies. Despite being a leading platform for therapeutic gene transfer in several clinical trials, host immune responses against the AAV vector and transgene have hampered their widespread application. Multiple factors, including vector design, dose, and route of administration, contribute to the overall immunogenicity of AAVs. The immune responses against the AAV capsid and transgene involve an initial innate sensing. The innate immune response subsequently triggers an adaptive immune response to elicit a robust and specific response against the AAV vector. AAV gene therapy clinical trials and preclinical studies provide important information about the immune-mediated toxicities associated with AAV, yet studies suggest preclinical models fail to precisely predict the outcome of gene delivery in humans. This review discusses the contribution of the innate and adaptive immune response against AAVs, highlighting the challenges and potential strategies to mitigate these responses, thereby enhancing the therapeutic potential of AAV gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Motahareh Arjomandnejad
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 386 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Ishani Dasgupta
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 386 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Terence R Flotte
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 386 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Allison M Keeler
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 386 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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17
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Meyer AH, Feldsien TM, Mezler M, Untucht C, Venugopalan R, Lefebvre DR. Novel Developments to Enable Treatment of CNS Diseases with Targeted Drug Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041100. [PMID: 37111587 PMCID: PMC10145602 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major hurdle for the development of systemically delivered drugs against diseases of the central nervous system (CNS). Because of this barrier there is still a huge unmet need for the treatment of these diseases, despite years of research efforts across the pharmaceutical industry. Novel therapeutic entities, such as gene therapy and degradomers, have become increasingly popular in recent years, but have not been the focus for CNS indications so far. To unfold their full potential for the treatment of CNS diseases, these therapeutic entities will most likely have to rely on innovative delivery technologies. Here we will describe and assess approaches, both invasive and non-invasive, that can enable, or at least increase, the probability of a successful drug development of such novel therapeutics for CNS indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel H Meyer
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstraße, 67061 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Thomas M Feldsien
- Drug Delivery and Combination Products, Development Sciences, AbbVie Inc., 1 N Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Mario Mezler
- Quantitative, Translational & ADME Sciences, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstraße, 67061 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Christopher Untucht
- Neuroscience Discovery, AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG, Knollstraße, 67061 Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - Ramakrishna Venugopalan
- Drug Delivery and Combination Products, Development Sciences, AbbVie Inc., 1 N Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
| | - Didier R Lefebvre
- Drug Delivery and Combination Products, Development Sciences, AbbVie Inc., 1 N Waukegan Road, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
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18
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AAV vectors applied to the treatment of CNS disorders: Clinical status and challenges. J Control Release 2023; 355:458-473. [PMID: 36736907 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.01.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Revised: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, adeno-associated virus (AAV) has become the most important vector for central nervous system (CNS) gene therapy. AAV has already shown promising results in the clinic, for several CNS diseases that cannot be treated with drugs, including neurodegenerative diseases, neuromuscular diseases, and lysosomal storage disorders. Currently, three of the four commercially available AAV-based drugs focus on neurological disorders, including Upstaza for aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency, Luxturna for hereditary retinal dystrophy, and Zolgensma for spinal muscular atrophy. All these studies have provided paradigms for AAV-based therapeutic intervention platforms. AAV gene therapy, with its dual promise of targeting disease etiology and enabling 'long-term correction' of disease processes, has the advantages of immune privilege, high delivery efficiency, tissue specificity, and cell tropism in the CNS. Although AAV-based gene therapy has been shown to be effective in most CNS clinical trials, limitations have been observed in its clinical applications, which are often associated with side effects. In this review, we summarized the therapeutic progress, challenges, limitations, and solutions for AAV-based gene therapy in 14 types of CNS diseases. We focused on viral vector technologies, delivery routes, immunosuppression, and other relevant clinical factors. We also attempted to integrate several hurdles faced in clinical and preclinical studies with their solutions, to seek the best path forward for the application of AAV-based gene therapy in the context of CNS diseases. We hope that these thoughtful recommendations will contribute to the efficient translation of preclinical studies and wide application of clinical trials.
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19
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Kalargyrou AA, Guilfoyle SE, Smith AJ, Ali RR, Pearson RA. Extracellular vesicles in the retina - putative roles in physiology and disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 15:1042469. [PMID: 36710933 PMCID: PMC9877344 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1042469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The retina encompasses a network of neurons, glia and epithelial and vascular endothelia cells, all coordinating visual function. Traditionally, molecular information exchange in this tissue was thought to be orchestrated by synapses and gap junctions. Recent findings have revealed that many cell types are able to package and share molecular information via extracellular vesicles (EVs) and the technological advancements in visualisation and tracking of these delicate nanostructures has shown that the role of EVs in cell communication is pleiotropic. EVs are released under physiological conditions by many cells but they are also released during various disease stages, potentially reflecting the health status of the cells in their cargo. Little is known about the physiological role of EV release in the retina. However, administration of exogenous EVs in vivo after injury suggest a neurotrophic role, whilst photoreceptor transplantation in early stages of retina degeneration, EVs may facilitate interactions between photoreceptors and Müller glia cells. In this review, we consider some of the proposed roles for EVs in retinal physiology and discuss current evidence regarding their potential impact on ocular therapies via gene or cell replacement strategies and direct intraocular administration in the diseased eye.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini A. Kalargyrou
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Siobhan E. Guilfoyle
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander J. Smith
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R. Ali
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Rachael A. Pearson
- King’s College London, Guy’s Hospital, Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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20
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Extracellular Vesicles and Viruses: Two Intertwined Entities. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021036. [PMID: 36674550 PMCID: PMC9861478 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses share many attributes in common with extracellular vesicles (EVs). The cellular machinery that is used for EV production, packaging of substrates and secretion is also commonly manipulated by viruses for replication, assembly and egress. Viruses can increase EV production or manipulate EVs to spread their own genetic material or proteins, while EVs can play a key role in regulating viral infections by transporting immunomodulatory molecules and viral antigens to initiate antiviral immune responses. Ultimately, the interactions between EVs and viruses are highly interconnected, which has led to interesting discoveries in their associated roles in the progression of different diseases, as well as the new promise of combinational therapeutics. In this review, we summarize the relationships between viruses and EVs and discuss major developments from the past five years in the engineering of virus-EV therapies.
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21
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Pupo A, Fernández A, Low SH, François A, Suárez-Amarán L, Samulski RJ. AAV vectors: The Rubik's cube of human gene therapy. Mol Ther 2022; 30:3515-3541. [PMID: 36203359 PMCID: PMC9734031 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Defective genes account for ∼80% of the total of more than 7,000 diseases known to date. Gene therapy brings the promise of a one-time treatment option that will fix the errors in patient genetic coding. Recombinant viruses are highly efficient vehicles for in vivo gene delivery. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors offer unique advantages, such as tissue tropism, specificity in transduction, eliciting of a relatively low immune responses, no incorporation into the host chromosome, and long-lasting delivered gene expression, making them the most popular viral gene delivery system in clinical trials, with three AAV-based gene therapy drugs already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or European Medicines Agency (EMA). Despite the success of AAV vectors, their usage in particular scenarios is still limited due to remaining challenges, such as poor transduction efficiency in certain tissues, low organ specificity, pre-existing humoral immunity to AAV capsids, and vector dose-dependent toxicity in patients. In the present review, we address the different approaches to improve AAV vectors for gene therapy with a focus on AAV capsid selection and engineering, strategies to overcome anti-AAV immune response, and vector genome design, ending with a glimpse at vector production methods and the current state of recombinant AAV (rAAV) at the clinical level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaury Pupo
- R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Audry Fernández
- R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Siew Hui Low
- R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Achille François
- Viralgen. Parque Tecnológico de Guipuzkoa, Edificio Kuatro, Paseo Mikeletegui, 83, 20009 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Lester Suárez-Amarán
- R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Richard Jude Samulski
- R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, Durham, NC 27709, USA,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA,Corresponding author: Richard Jude Samulski, R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, NC 27709, USA.
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22
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Liu G, Wu J, Chen G, Shang A. The potential therapeutic value and application prospect of engineered exosomes in human diseases. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1051380. [PMID: 36531952 PMCID: PMC9751586 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1051380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Exosomes are tiny vesicles produced by a wide range of cells that contain complex RNA and protein. In the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of illness, they offer great potential. In vitro engineering technique modifies exosomes to produce designed exosomes that include nucleic acids, proteins, and medicines, and are targeted to particular tissues or cells. Their applications range from tumor imaging and gene therapy to vaccine production and regenerative medicine to targeted medication delivery. Many disciplines have promising futures for using this technology. In this review, we'll look at the potential therapeutic usefulness and use of engineered exosomes in a variety of human illnesses with various systemic manifestations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gege Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Junlu Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- School of Clinical Medcine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Guofei Chen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Suzhou Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Suzhou, China
| | - Anquan Shang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Second People’s Hospital of Lianyungang & Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Oncology Hospitals of Lianyungang, Lianyungang, China
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23
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Prabhakar S, Beauchamp RL, Cheah PS, Yoshinaga A, Haidar EA, Lule S, Mani G, Maalouf K, Stemmer-Rachamimov A, Jung DH, Welling DB, Giovannini M, Plotkin SR, Maguire CA, Ramesh V, Breakefield XO. Gene replacement therapy in a schwannoma mouse model of neurofibromatosis type 2. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 26:169-180. [PMID: 35846573 PMCID: PMC9263409 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Loss of function of the neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) tumor suppressor gene leads to the formation of schwannomas, meningiomas, and ependymomas, comprising ∼50% of all sporadic cases of primary nervous system tumors. NF2 syndrome is an autosomal dominant condition, with bi-allelic inactivation of germline and somatic alleles resulting in loss of function of the encoded protein merlin and activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway signaling in NF2-deficient cells. Here we describe a gene replacement approach through direct intratumoral injection of an adeno-associated virus vector expressing merlin in a novel human schwannoma model in nude mice. In culture, the introduction of an AAV1 vector encoding merlin into CRISPR-modified human NF2-null arachnoidal cells (ACs) or Schwann cells (SCs) was associated with decreased size and mTORC1 pathway activation consistent with restored merlin activity. In vivo, a single injection of AAV1-merlin directly into human NF2-null SC-derived tumors growing in the sciatic nerve of nude mice led to regression of tumors over a 10-week period, associated with a decrease in dividing cells and an increase in apoptosis, in comparison with vehicle. These studies establish that merlin re-expression via gene replacement in NF2-null schwannomas is sufficient to cause tumor regression, thereby potentially providing an effective treatment for NF2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shilpa Prabhakar
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Roberta L. Beauchamp
- Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Pike See Cheah
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, 25 Shattuck St, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, JALAN UNIVERSITI 1 Serdang, 43400 Seri Kembangan, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Akiko Yoshinaga
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Edwina Abou Haidar
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Sevda Lule
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Gayathri Mani
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02129, USA
| | - Katia Maalouf
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Anat Stemmer-Rachamimov
- Department of Pathology and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - David H. Jung
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - D. Bradley Welling
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts Eye and Ear and Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
- Program in Speech and Hearing Bioscience and Technology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Marco Giovannini
- Department of Head and Neck Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (JCCC), University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Scott R. Plotkin
- Department of Neurology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Casey A. Maguire
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and NeuroDiscovery Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Vijaya Ramesh
- Department of Neurology and Center for Genomic Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Xandra O. Breakefield
- Department of Neurology and Center for Molecular Imaging Research, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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24
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Li X, Wei X, Lin J, Ou L. A versatile toolkit for overcoming AAV immunity. Front Immunol 2022; 13:991832. [PMID: 36119036 PMCID: PMC9479010 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.991832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a promising delivery vehicle for in vivo gene therapy and has been widely used in >200 clinical trials globally. There are already several approved gene therapy products, e.g., Luxturna and Zolgensma, highlighting the remarkable potential of AAV delivery. In the past, AAV has been seen as a relatively non-immunogenic vector associated with low risk of toxicity. However, an increasing number of recent studies indicate that immune responses against AAV and transgene products could be the bottleneck of AAV gene therapy. In clinical studies, pre-existing antibodies against AAV capsids exclude many patients from receiving the treatment as there is high prevalence of antibodies among humans. Moreover, immune response could lead to loss of efficacy over time and severe toxicity, manifested as liver enzyme elevations, kidney injury, and thrombocytopenia, resulting in deaths of non-human primates and patients. Therefore, extensive efforts have been attempted to address these issues, including capsid engineering, plasmapheresis, IgG proteases, CpG depletion, empty capsid decoy, exosome encapsulation, capsid variant switch, induction of regulatory T cells, and immunosuppressants. This review will discuss these methods in detail and highlight important milestones along the way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuefeng Li
- The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People’s Hospital; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Shenzhen Luohu People’s Hospital, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaoli Wei
- Guangzhou Dezheng Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Guangzhou, China
| | - Jinduan Lin
- The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Qingyuan People’s Hospital; State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, Sino-French Hoffmann Institute, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Li Ou
- Genemagic Biosciences, Philadelphia, PA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, United States
- *Correspondence: Li Ou,
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25
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McLachlan G, Alton EWFW, Boyd AC, Clarke NK, Davies JC, Gill DR, Griesenbach U, Hickmott JW, Hyde SC, Miah KM, Molina CJ. Progress in Respiratory Gene Therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:893-912. [PMID: 36074947 PMCID: PMC7615302 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2022.172] [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] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prospect of gene therapy for inherited and acquired respiratory disease has energized the research community since the 1980s, with cystic fibrosis, as a monogenic disorder, driving early efforts to develop effective strategies. The fact that there are still no approved gene therapy products for the lung, despite many early phase clinical trials, illustrates the scale of the challenge: In the 1990s, first-generation non-viral and viral vector systems demonstrated proof-of-concept but low efficacy. Since then, there has been steady progress toward improved vectors with the capacity to overcome at least some of the formidable barriers presented by the lung. In addition, the inclusion of features such as codon optimization and promoters providing long-term expression have improved the expression characteristics of therapeutic transgenes. Early approaches were based on gene addition, where a new DNA copy of a gene is introduced to complement a genetic mutation: however, the advent of RNA-based products that can directly express a therapeutic protein or manipulate gene expression, together with the expanding range of tools for gene editing, has stimulated the development of alternative approaches. This review discusses the range of vector systems being evaluated for lung delivery; the variety of cargoes they deliver, including DNA, antisense oligonucleotides, messenger RNA (mRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and peptide nucleic acids; and exemplifies progress in selected respiratory disease indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerry McLachlan
- The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eric W F W Alton
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - A Christopher Boyd
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nora K Clarke
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jane C Davies
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah R Gill
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Medicine Group, Radcliffe Department of Medicine (NDCLS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Uta Griesenbach
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jack W Hickmott
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen C Hyde
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Medicine Group, Radcliffe Department of Medicine (NDCLS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kamran M Miah
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Medicine Group, Radcliffe Department of Medicine (NDCLS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Juarez Molina
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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26
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Zhang H, Zhan Q, Huang B, Wang Y, Wang X. AAV-mediated gene therapy: Advancing cardiovascular disease treatment. Front Cardiovasc Med 2022; 9:952755. [PMID: 36061546 PMCID: PMC9437345 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2022.952755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy has revolutionized the field of medicine, offering new hope for those with common and rare diseases. For nearly three decades, adeno-associated virus (AAV) has shown significant therapeutic benefits in multiple clinical trials, mainly due to its unique replication defects and non-pathogenicity in humans. In the field of cardiovascular disease (CVD), compared with non-viral vectors, lentiviruses, poxviruses, and adenovirus vectors, AAV possesses several advantages, including high security, low immunogenicity, sustainable and stable exogenous gene expression etc., which makes AAV one of the most promising candidates for the treatment of many genetic disorders and hereditary diseases. In this review, we evaluate the current information on the immune responses, transport pathways, and mechanisms of action associated with AAV-based CVD gene therapies and further explore potential optimization strategies to improve the efficiency of AAV transduction for the improved safety and efficiency of CVD treatment. In conclusion, AAV-mediated gene therapy has great potential for development in the cardiovascular system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huili Zhang
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
- Oncology Department, Zhejiang Xiaoshan HospitaI, Hangzhou, China
| | - Qi Zhan
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Biao Huang
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yigang Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Medicine, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
- Yigang Wang
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Oncology Department, Zhejiang Xiaoshan HospitaI, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaoyan Wang
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27
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Jäschke N, Büning H. Adeno-Associated Virus Vector Design-Moving the Adeno-Associated Virus to a Bioengineered Therapeutic Nanoparticle. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2022; 36:667-685. [PMID: 35778330 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2022.04.002] [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: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Although the number of market-approved gene therapies is still low, this new class of therapeutics has become an integral part of modern medicine. The success and safety of gene therapy depend on the vectors used to deliver the therapeutic material. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have emerged as the most frequently used delivery system for in vivo gene therapy. This success was achieved with first-generation vectors, using capsids derived from natural AAV serotypes. Their broad tropism, the high seroprevalence for many of the AAV serotypes in the human population, and the high vector doses needed to transduce a sufficient number of therapy-relevant target cells are challenges that are addressed by engineering the capsid and the vector genome, improving the efficacy of these biological nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nico Jäschke
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str.1, Hannover 30625, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str.1, Hannover 30625, Germany; REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str.1, Hannover 30625, Germany; German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig.
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28
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Kawajiri K, Ihara K, Sasano T. Gene therapy to terminate tachyarrhythmias. Expert Rev Cardiovasc Ther 2022; 20:431-442. [PMID: 35655364 DOI: 10.1080/14779072.2022.2085686] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION To date, the treatment option for tachyarrhythmia is classified into drug therapy, catheter ablation, and implantable device therapy. However, the efficacy of the antiarrhythmic drugs is limited. Although the indication of catheter ablation is expanding, several fatal tachyarrhythmias are still refractory to ablation. Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator increases survival, but it is not a curable treatment. Therefore, a novel therapy for tachyarrhythmias refractory to present treatments is desired. Gene therapy is being developed as a promising candidate for this purpose, and basic research and translational research have been accumulated in recent years. AREAS COVERED This paper reviews the current state of gene therapy for arrhythmias, including susceptible arrhythmias, the route of administration to the heart, and the type of vector to use. We also discuss the latest progress in the technology of gene delivery and genome editing. EXPERT OPINION Gene therapy is one of the most promising technologies for arrhythmia treatment. However, additional technological innovation to achieve safe, localized, homogeneous, and long-lasting gene transfer is required for its clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohei Kawajiri
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Kensuke Ihara
- Department of Bio-informational Pharmacology, Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Sasano
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
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29
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Extracellular Vesicles as Novel Drug-Delivery Systems through Intracellular Communications. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12060550. [PMID: 35736256 PMCID: PMC9230693 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12060550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Since it has been reported that extracellular vesicles (EVs) carry cargo using cell-to-cell comminication according to various in vivo situations, they are exprected to be applied as new drug-delivery systems (DDSs). In addition, non-coding RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), have attracted much attention as potential biomarkers in the encapsulated extracellular-vesicle (EV) form. EVs are bilayer-based lipids with heterogeneous populations of varying sizes and compositions. The EV-mediated transport of contents, which includes proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids, has attracted attention as a DDS through intracellular communication. Many reports have been made on the development of methods for introducing molecules into EVs and efficient methods for introducing them into target vesicles. In this review, we outline the possible molecular mechanisms by which miRNAs in exosomes participate in the post-transcriptional regulation of signaling pathways via cell–cell communication as novel DDSs, especially small EVs.
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30
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Gross DA, Tedesco N, Leborgne C, Ronzitti G. Overcoming the Challenges Imposed by Humoral Immunity to AAV Vectors to Achieve Safe and Efficient Gene Transfer in Seropositive Patients. Front Immunol 2022; 13:857276. [PMID: 35464422 PMCID: PMC9022790 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.857276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the major goals of in vivo gene transfer is to achieve long-term expression of therapeutic transgenes in terminally differentiated cells. The extensive clinical experience and the recent approval of Luxturna® (Spark Therapeutics, now Roche) and Zolgensma® (AveXis, now Novartis) place vectors derived from adeno-associated viruses (AAV) among the best options for gene transfer in multiple tissues. Despite these successes, limitations remain to the application of this therapeutic modality in a wider population. AAV was originally identified as a promising virus to derive gene therapy vectors because, despite infecting humans, it was not associated with any evident disease. Thee large proportion of AAV infections in the human population is now revealing as a limitation because after exposure to wild-type AAV, anti-AAV antibodies develops and may neutralize the vectors derived from the virus. Injection of AAV in humans is generally well-tolerated although the immune system can activate after the recognition of AAV vectors capsid and genome. The formation of high-titer neutralizing antibodies to AAV after the first injection precludes vector re-administration. Thus, both pre-existing and post-treatment humoral responses to AAV vectors greatly limit a wider application of this gene transfer modality. Different methods were suggested to overcome this limitation. The extensive preclinical data available and the large clinical experience in the control of AAV vectors immunogenicity are key to clinical translation and to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of these methods and ultimately bring a curative treatment to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- David-Alexandre Gross
- Genethon, Evry, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, Evry, France
| | - Novella Tedesco
- Genethon, Evry, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, Evry, France
| | - Christian Leborgne
- Genethon, Evry, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, Evry, France
| | - Giuseppe Ronzitti
- Genethon, Evry, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, Evry, France
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31
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Hu Y, Sun Y, Wan C, Dai X, Wu S, Lo PC, Huang J, Lovell JF, Jin H, Yang K. Microparticles: biogenesis, characteristics and intervention therapy for cancers in preclinical and clinical research. J Nanobiotechnology 2022; 20:189. [PMID: 35418077 PMCID: PMC9006557 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-022-01358-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), spherical biological vesicles, mainly contain nucleic acids, proteins, lipids and metabolites for biological information transfer between cells. Microparticles (MPs), a subtype of EVs, directly emerge from plasma membranes, and have gained interest in recent years. Specific cell stimulation conditions, such as ultraviolet and X-rays irradiation, can induce the release of MPs, which are endowed with unique antitumor functionalities, either for therapeutic vaccines or as direct antitumor agents. Moreover, the size of MPs (100–1000 nm) and their spherical structures surrounded by a lipid bilayer membrane allow MPs to function as delivery vectors for bioactive antitumor compounds, with favorable phamacokinetic behavior, immunostimulatory activity and biological function, without inherent carrier-specific toxic side effects. In this review, the mechanisms underlying MP biogenesis, factors that influence MP production, properties of MP membranes, size, composition and isolation methods of MPs are discussed. Additionally, the applications and mechanisms of action of MPs, as well as the main hurdles for their applications in cancer management, are introduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Hu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yajie Sun
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Chao Wan
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xiaomeng Dai
- Department of Medical Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shuhui Wu
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Pui-Chi Lo
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong kong, China
| | - Jing Huang
- College of Biomedicine and Health and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China
| | - Jonathan F Lovell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14260, USA
| | - Honglin Jin
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China. .,College of Biomedicine and Health and College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, 430070, China.
| | - Kunyu Yang
- Cancer Center, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China.
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32
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Schwannoma Gene Therapy via Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Delivery of Apoptosis-Associated Speck-like Protein Containing CARD (ASC): Preclinical Efficacy and Safety. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020819. [PMID: 35055004 PMCID: PMC8775599 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 01/04/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Schwannomas are tumors derived from Schwann-lineage cells, cells that protect and support myelinated nerves in the peripheral nervous system. They are typically slow-growing, encapsulated and benign. These tumors develop along peripheral, spinal and cranial nerves causing pain, sensory-motor dysfunction and death. Primary treatment for schwannoma is operative resection which can be associated with significant morbidity. Pharmacotherapy is largely restricted to bevacizumab, which has minimal or no efficacy for many patients and can be associated with treatment-limiting adverse effects. Given the suffering and morbidity associated with schwannoma and the paucity of therapeutic options, there is an urgent need for safe and effective therapies for schwannomas. We previously demonstrated that adeno-associated virus serotype 1 (AAV1) vector mediated delivery of the inflammasome adaptor protein, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) under the control of the P0 promoter, produced a prolonged reduction in tumor volume and tumor-associated pain in human xenograft and mouse syngeneic schwannoma models. Here, we present data essential for the translation of our AAV1-P0-ASC schwannoma gene therapy to clinical trials. We determine the minimum effective dose of AAV1-P0-hASC required to induce an anti-tumor effect in the xenograft human-schwannoma model. We also show that the presence of preexisting AAV1 immunity does not alter the antitumor efficacy of AAV-P0-mASC in a syngeneic mouse schwannoma model. Furthermore, the maximum deliverable intratumoral dose of AAV1-P0-ASC was not associated with neuronal toxicity in immunocompetent mice. Taken together, these safety and efficacy data support the translation of the AAV1-P0-ASC schwannoma gene therapy strategy to clinical trials.
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Si Y, Chen K, Ngo HG, Guan JS, Totoro A, Zhou Z, Kim S, Kim T, Zhou L, Liu X. Targeted EV to Deliver Chemotherapy to Treat Triple-Negative Breast Cancers. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:146. [PMID: 35057042 PMCID: PMC8781632 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14010146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 12/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs) are heterogeneous and metastatic, and targeted therapy is highly needed for TNBC treatment. Recent studies showed that extracellular vesicles (EV) have great potential to deliver therapies to treat cancers. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a natural compound, verrucarin A (Ver-A), delivered by targeted EV, to treat TNBC. First, the surface expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and CD47 were confirmed with immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining of patient tissue microarray, flow cytometry and Western blotting. EVs were isolated from HEK 293F culture and surface tagged with anti-EGFR/CD47 mAbs to construct mAb-EV. The flow cytometry, confocal imaging and live-animal In Vivo Imaging System (IVIS) demonstrated that mAb-EV could effectively target TNBC and deliver the drug. The drug Ver-A, with dosage-dependent high cytotoxicity to TNBC cells, was packed in mAb-EV. The anti-TNBC efficacy study showed that Ver-A blocked tumor growth in both 4T1 xenografted immunocompetent mouse models and TNBC patient-derived xenograft models with minimal side effects. This study demonstrated that the targeted mAb-EV-Ver-A had great potential to treat TNBCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingnan Si
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (Y.S.); (K.C.); (H.G.N.); (A.T.); (Z.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Kai Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (Y.S.); (K.C.); (H.G.N.); (A.T.); (Z.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Hanh Giai Ngo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (Y.S.); (K.C.); (H.G.N.); (A.T.); (Z.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Jia Shiung Guan
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 703 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (J.S.G.); (S.K.); (T.K.)
| | - Angela Totoro
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (Y.S.); (K.C.); (H.G.N.); (A.T.); (Z.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Zhuoxin Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (Y.S.); (K.C.); (H.G.N.); (A.T.); (Z.Z.); (L.Z.)
| | - Seulhee Kim
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 703 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (J.S.G.); (S.K.); (T.K.)
| | - Taehyun Kim
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 703 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (J.S.G.); (S.K.); (T.K.)
| | - Lufang Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (Y.S.); (K.C.); (H.G.N.); (A.T.); (Z.Z.); (L.Z.)
- Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 703 19th Street South, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (J.S.G.); (S.K.); (T.K.)
| | - Xiaoguang Liu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), 1825 University Blvd, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA; (Y.S.); (K.C.); (H.G.N.); (A.T.); (Z.Z.); (L.Z.)
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Hull JA, Mietzsch M, Chipman P, Strugatsky D, McKenna R. Structural characterization of an envelope-associated adeno-associated virus type 2 capsid. Virology 2022; 565:22-28. [PMID: 34638006 PMCID: PMC9911311 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2021.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) are classified as non-enveloped ssDNA viruses. However, AAV capsids embedded within exosomes have been observed, and it has been suggested that the AAV membrane associated accessory protein (MAAP) may play a role in envelope-associated AAV (EA-AAV) capsid formation. Here, we observed and selected sufficient homogeneous EA-AAV capsids of AAV2, produced using the Sf9 baculoviral expression system, to determine the cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure at 3.14 Å resolution. The reconstructed map confirmed that the EA-AAV capsid, showed no significant structural variation compared to the non-envelope capsid. In addition, the Sf9 expression system used implies the notion that MAAP may enhance exosome AAV encapsulation. Furthermore, we speculate that these EA-AAV capsids may have therapeutic benefits over the currently used non-envelope AAV capsids, with advantages in immune evasion and/or improved infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Hull
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0245, USA
| | - Mario Mietzsch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0245, USA
| | - Paul Chipman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0245, USA
| | - David Strugatsky
- California NanoSystems Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Robert McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610-0245, USA.
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Abstract
Extracellular vesicles are lipid-bilayer-enclosed nanoparticles present in the majority of biological fluids that mediate intercellular communication. EVs are able to transfer their contents (including nucleic acids, proteins, lipids, and small molecules) to recipient cells, and thus hold great promise as drug delivery vehicles. However, their therapeutic application is limited by lack of efficient cargo loading strategies, a need to improve EV tissue-targeting capabilities and a requirement to improve escape from the endolysosomal system. These challenges can be effectively addressed by modifying EVs with peptides which confer specific advantageous properties, thus enhancing their therapeutic potential. Here we provide an overview of the applications of peptide technology with respect to EV therapeutics. We focus on the utility of EV-modifying peptides for the purposes of promoting cargo loading, tissue-targeting and endosomal escape, leading to enhanced delivery of the EV cargo to desired cells/tissues and subcellular target locations. Both endogenous and exogenous methods for modifying EVs with peptides are considered.
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Muhuri M, Gao G. Membranous Bubbles: High-Purity and High-Titer Exosomes as the Potential Solution for Adeno-Associated Viruses to Evade Neutralization? Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:1427-1429. [PMID: 34935455 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.29189.mmu] [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
Affiliation(s)
- Manish Muhuri
- Horae Gene Therapy Center.,Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems.,VIDE Program, and
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center.,Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems.,Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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Rapti K, Grimm D. Adeno-Associated Viruses (AAV) and Host Immunity - A Race Between the Hare and the Hedgehog. Front Immunol 2021; 12:753467. [PMID: 34777364 PMCID: PMC8586419 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.753467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) have emerged as the lead vector in clinical trials and form the basis for several approved gene therapies for human diseases, mainly owing to their ability to sustain robust and long-term in vivo transgene expression, their amenability to genetic engineering of cargo and capsid, as well as their moderate toxicity and immunogenicity. Still, recent reports of fatalities in a clinical trial for a neuromuscular disease, although linked to an exceptionally high vector dose, have raised new caution about the safety of recombinant AAVs. Moreover, concerns linger about the presence of pre-existing anti-AAV antibodies in the human population, which precludes a significant percentage of patients from receiving, and benefitting from, AAV gene therapies. These concerns are exacerbated by observations of cellular immune responses and other adverse events, including detrimental off-target transgene expression in dorsal root ganglia. Here, we provide an update on our knowledge of the immunological and molecular race between AAV (the “hedgehog”) and its human host (the “hare”), together with a compendium of state-of-the-art technologies which provide an advantage to AAV and which, thus, promise safer and more broadly applicable AAV gene therapies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kleopatra Rapti
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,BioQuant Center, BQ0030, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,BioQuant Center, BQ0030, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research Deutsches Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (DZIF) and German Center for Cardiovascular Research Deutsches Zentrum für Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen (DZHK), Partner Site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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Engineering and loading therapeutic extracellular vesicles for clinical translation: A data reporting frame for comparability. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 178:113972. [PMID: 34509573 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as new drug delivery systems as well as a regenerative cell-free effectors going beyond academic research to reach industrial research and development (R&D). Many proof-of-concept studies are now published describing the delivery of drugs, nanoparticles or biologics among which nucleic acids, proteins, viruses, etc. Their main interests rely on their intrinsic biocompatibility, targeting capabilities and biological activities. The possibility of loading EVs with exogenous therapeutic drug/nanoparticles or imaging tracers opens up the perspectives to extend EV therapeutic properties and enable EV tracking. Clinical translation is still hampered by the difficulty to produce and load EVs with large scale, efficient and cGMP methods. In this review, we critically discuss important notions related to EV engineering and the methods available with a particular focus on technologies fitted for clinical translation. Besides, we provide a tentative data reporting frame in order to support comparability and standardization in the field.
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Liu B, Li Z, Huang S, Yan B, He S, Chen F, Liang Y. AAV-Containing Exosomes as a Novel Vector for Improved Gene Delivery to Lung Cancer Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:707607. [PMID: 34485293 PMCID: PMC8414974 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.707607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung carcinoma is the most common type of cancer and the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Among the numerous therapeutic strategies for the treatment of lung cancer, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer has been demonstrated to have the potential to effectively suppress tumor growth or reverse the progression of the disease in a number of preclinical studies. AAV vector has a safety profile; however, the relatively low delivery efficacy to particular subtypes of lung carcinoma has limited its prospective clinical translation. Exosomes are nanosized extracellular vesicles secreted from nearly all known cell types. Exosomes have a membrane-enclosed structure carrying a range of cargo molecules for efficient intercellular transfer of functional entities, thus are considered as a superior vector for drug delivery. In the present study, we developed a novel strategy to produce and purify AAV-containing exosomes (AAVExo) from AAV-packaging HEK 293T cells. The cellular uptake capacity of exosomes assisted and enhanced AAV entry into cells and protected AAV from antibody neutralization, which was a serious challenge for AAV in vivo application. We tested a list of lung cancer cell lines representing non-small-cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer and found that AAVExo apparently improved the gene transfer efficiency compared to conventional AAV vector. Our in vitro results were supported in vivo in a lung cancer xenograft rodent model. Additionally, we evaluated the gene delivery efficiency in the presence of neutralizing antibody on lung cancer cells. The results demonstrated that AAVExo-mediated gene transfer was not impacted, while the AAV vectors were significantly blocked by the neutralizing antibody. Taken together, we established an efficient methodology for AAVExo purification, and the purified AAVExo largely enhanced gene delivery to lung cancer cells with remarkable resistance to antibody neutralization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Liu
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, China.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University/Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqing Li
- Department of Burns, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shi Huang
- Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Biying Yan
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, China
| | - Shan He
- Department of Burns, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengyuan Chen
- Department of Pathology, School of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Yaxuan Liang
- Center for Biological Science and Technology, Advanced Institute of Natural Sciences, Beijing Normal University at Zhuhai, Zhuhai, China
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40
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Cheng M, Dietz L, Gong Y, Eichler F, Nammour J, Ng C, Grimm D, Maguire CA. Neutralizing antibody evasion and transduction with purified extracellular vesicle-enveloped AAV vectors. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:1457-1470. [PMID: 34445894 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is classified as a non-enveloped DNA virus. However, several years ago we discovered that in media of packaging cells producing recombinant AAV vectors, AAV capsids can associate with the interior and surface of extracellular vesicles (EVs), sometimes referred to as exosomes. Since then we and others have demonstrated that exosome-enveloped AAV, exo-AAV, can enhance transduction in vivo as well as evade neutralizing antibodies. While promising, these data were generated with differential centrifugation to pellet the exo-AAV. This method results in a heterogeneous mixture of exo-AAV, co-precipitating proteins, as well as free AAV capsids. To define the properties of exo-AAV more accurately, here we used a density gradient method to purify exo-AAV. We next performed head-to-head comparisons of standard AAV1, differential centrifuged exo-AAV1, and gradient purified exo-AAV1 for antibody evasion and transgene expression in the murine brain. We found purified exo-AAV1 to be more resistant to neutralizing antibodies than the other AAV preparations. Direct intracranial injection of purified exo-AAV1 into mice resulted in robust transduction, which transduced a larger area of brain than standard AAV1. We also identified the recently described membrane-associated accessory protein (MAAP) by mass spectrometry of purified exo-AAV1 preparations. Finally, we used a scalable method, size-exclusion chromatography to isolate exo-AAV1, and demonstrated functional transduction in cultured cells and increased antibody resistance. Together, these data suggest that higher purity exo-AAV will have beneficial characteristics for gene delivery and also may lead to mechanistic insights into the incorporation of AAV into EVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Cheng
- Massachusetts General Hospital, 2348, Boston, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Laura Dietz
- Heidelberg University, Infectious Diseases/Virology, Heidelberg, BW, Germany;
| | - Yi Gong
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Neurology, Boston, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Florian Eichler
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Neurology, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02114;
| | - Josette Nammour
- Massachusetts General Hospital, 2348, Boston, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Carrie Ng
- Massachusetts General Hospital - Harvard Medical School, Neurology, 149 13th Street, Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02129;
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Heidelberg University, Infectious Diseases/Virology, BioQuant BQ0030, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, Heidelberg, BW, Germany, D-69120;
| | - Casey A Maguire
- The Massachusetts General Hospital, 149 13th Street, Charlestown, Massachusetts, United States, 02474;
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41
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Griciuc A, Federico AN, Natasan J, Forte AM, McGinty D, Nguyen H, Volak A, LeRoy S, Gandhi S, Lerner EP, Hudry E, Tanzi RE, Maguire CA. Gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease targeting CD33 reduces amyloid beta accumulation and neuroinflammation. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:2920-2935. [PMID: 32803224 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). CD33 (Siglec-3) is a transmembrane sialic acid-binding receptor on the surface of microglial cells. CD33 is upregulated on microglial cells from post-mortem AD patient brains, and high levels of CD33 inhibit uptake and clearance of amyloid beta (Aβ) in microglial cell cultures. Furthermore, knockout of CD33 reduces amyloid plaque burden in mouse models of AD. Here, we tested whether a gene therapy strategy to reduce CD33 on microglia in AD could decrease Aβ plaque load. Intracerebroventricular injection of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-based system encoding an artificial microRNA targeting CD33 (miRCD33) into APP/PS1 mice reduced CD33 mRNA and TBS-soluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels in brain extracts. Treatment of APP/PS1 mice with miRCD33 vector at an early age (2 months) was more effective at reducing Aβ plaque burden than intervening at later times (8 months). Furthermore, early intervention downregulated several microglial receptor transcripts (e.g. CD11c, CD47 and CD36) and pro-inflammatory activation genes (e.g. Tlr4 and Il1b). Marked reductions in the chemokine Ccl2 and the pro-inflammatory cytokine Tnfα were observed at the protein level in the brain of APP/PS1 mice treated with miRCD33 vector. Overall, our data indicate that CD33 is a viable target for AAV-based knockdown strategies to reduce AD pathology. One Sentence Summary: A gene therapy approach for Alzheimer's disease using adeno-associated virus vector-based knockdown of CD33 reduced amyloid beta accumulation and neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Griciuc
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Anthony N Federico
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Jeyashree Natasan
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Angela M Forte
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Danielle McGinty
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Huong Nguyen
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Laboratory, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Adrienn Volak
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Stanley LeRoy
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02114, USA
| | - Sheetal Gandhi
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Laboratory, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Eli P Lerner
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Laboratory, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Eloise Hudry
- Alzheimer's Disease Research Laboratory, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Rudolph E Tanzi
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Casey A Maguire
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA, 02114, USA
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Duan L, Ouyang K, Wang J, Xu L, Xu X, Wen C, Xie Y, Liang Y, Xia J. Exosomes as Targeted Delivery Platform of CRISPR/Cas9 for Therapeutic Genome Editing. Chembiochem 2021; 22:3360-3368. [PMID: 34418266 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202100359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic genome editing harnesses the power of genome editing tools to correct erroneous genes associated with disease pathology. To bring the CRISPR/Cas9 tool from the bench to the bedside, a critical hurdle is the safe and efficient delivery of this nucleic acid tool to the desired type of cells in patients. This review discusses the use of natural carriers, extracellular vesicles (EVs), in particular exosomes, to fill the gap. Exosomes are lipid-containing nanovesicle released by various types of cells to mediate cell-cell communications. Their inherent long-distance transportation capability, biocompatibility, and engineerability have made EVs potential vehicles for delivering therapeutic drugs. We summarize the recent progress of harnessing exosomes as delivery vehicles for the CRISPR/Cas system to achieve therapeutic gene editing for disease treatment, with a focus on various strategies to achieve selective delivery to a particular type of cell and efficient packaging of the genome editing tools in the vesicles. Critical issues and possible solutions in the design and engineering of the targeting vehicles are highlighted. Taken together, we demonstrate EV/exosome-mediated packaging of the nucleic acid/protein tools and the cell/tissue-targeted delivery to be a viable way towards the clinical translation of the CRISPR/Cas9 technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Duan
- Department of Orthopedics, The First affiliated hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, P. R. China.,Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and, Digital Orthopedic Technology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, P. R. China
| | - Kan Ouyang
- Department of Orthopedics, The First affiliated hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, P. R. China
| | - Jianhong Wang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, 518020, P. R. China
| | - Limei Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First affiliated hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, P. R. China.,Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and, Digital Orthopedic Technology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, P. R. China
| | - Xiao Xu
- Department of Orthopedics, The First affiliated hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, P. R. China.,Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and, Digital Orthopedic Technology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, P. R. China
| | - Caining Wen
- Department of Orthopedics, The First affiliated hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, P. R. China.,Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and, Digital Orthopedic Technology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, P. R. China
| | - Yixin Xie
- Department of Orthopedics, The First affiliated hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, P. R. China.,Guangdong Provincial Research Center for Artificial Intelligence and, Digital Orthopedic Technology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, 518035, P. R. China
| | - Yujie Liang
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Shenzhen Kangning Hospital, Shenzhen Mental Health Center, Shenzhen, 518020, P. R. China
| | - Jiang Xia
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, P. R. China.,Center for Cell & Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, P. R. China
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43
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Abstract
For therapeutic materials to be successfully delivered to the heart, several barriers need to be overcome, including the anatomical challenges of access, the mechanical force of the blood flow, the endothelial barrier, the cellular barrier and the immune response. Various vectors and delivery methods have been proposed to improve the cardiac-specific uptake of materials to modify gene expression. Viral and non-viral vectors are widely used to deliver genetic materials, but each has its respective advantages and shortcomings. Adeno-associated viruses have emerged as one of the best tools for heart-targeted gene delivery. In addition, extracellular vesicles, including exosomes, which are secreted by most cell types, have gained popularity for drug delivery to several organs, including the heart. Accumulating evidence suggests that extracellular vesicles can carry and transfer functional proteins and genetic materials into target cells and might be an attractive option for heart-targeted delivery. Extracellular vesicles or artificial carriers of non-viral and viral vectors can be bioengineered with immune-evasive and cardiotropic properties. In this Review, we discuss the latest strategies for targeting and delivering therapeutic materials to the heart and how the knowledge of different vectors and delivery methods could successfully translate cardiac gene therapy into the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Sahoo
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Taro Kariya
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kiyotake Ishikawa
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.
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A Confocal Microscopic Study of Gene Transfer into the Mesencephalic Tegmentum of Juvenile Chum Salmon, Oncorhynchus keta, Using Mouse Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22115661. [PMID: 34073457 PMCID: PMC8199053 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22115661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 05/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, data on the presence of adenoviral receptors in fish are very limited. In the present work, we used mouse recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV) with a calcium indicator of the latest generation GCaMP6m that are usually applied for the dorsal hippocampus of mice but were not previously used for gene delivery into fish brain. The aim of our work was to study the feasibility of transduction of rAAV in the mouse hippocampus into brain cells of juvenile chum salmon and subsequent determination of the phenotype of rAAV-labeled cells by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Delivery of the gene in vivo was carried out by intracranial injection of a GCaMP6m-GFP-containing vector directly into the mesencephalic tegmentum region of juvenile (one-year-old) chum salmon, Oncorhynchus keta. AAV incorporation into brain cells of the juvenile chum salmon was assessed at 1 week after a single injection of the vector. AAV expression in various areas of the thalamus, pretectum, posterior-tuberal region, postcommissural region, medial and lateral regions of the tegmentum, and mesencephalic reticular formation of juvenile O. keta was evaluated using CLSM followed by immunohistochemical analysis of the localization of the neuron-specific calcium binding protein HuCD in combination with nuclear staining with DAPI. The results of the analysis showed partial colocalization of cells expressing GCaMP6m-GFP with red fluorescent HuCD protein. Thus, cells of the thalamus, posterior tuberal region, mesencephalic tegmentum, cells of the accessory visual system, mesencephalic reticular formation, hypothalamus, and postcommissural region of the mesencephalon of juvenile chum salmon expressing GCaMP6m-GFP were attributed to the neuron-specific line of chum salmon brain cells, which indicates the ability of hippocampal mammal rAAV to integrate into neurons of the central nervous system of fish with subsequent expression of viral proteins, which obviously indicates the neuronal expression of a mammalian adenoviral receptor homolog by juvenile chum salmon neurons.
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Wang W, Liu J, Yang M, Qiu R, Li Y, Bian S, Hao B, Lei B. Intravitreal Injection of an Exosome-Associated Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Enhances Retinoschisin 1 Gene Transduction in the Mouse Retina. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:707-716. [PMID: 33832349 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate whether exosome-associated adeno-associated virus (AAV) retinoschisin 1 (RS1) vector improved the transduction efficiency of RS1 in the mouse retina. pAAV2-RS1-ZsGreen plasmid was constructed by homologous recombination. Exosome-associated AAV vectors containing human RS1 gene (exosome-associated AAV [exo-AAV]2-RS1-ZsGreen) were isolated from producer cells' supernatant, and confirmed by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and western blotting. In vitro, HEK-293T cells were transduced with AAV2-RS1-ZsGreen and exo-AAV2-RS1-ZsGreen. In vivo, 1 μL of AAV2-RS1-ZsGreen or 1 μL exo-AAV2-RS1-ZsGreen (2 × 108 genome copies/μL) was injected intravitreally into the C57BL/6J mouse eyes. Phosphate buffer saline was injected as controls. The mRNA and the protein expression in the retina were detected. Exo-AAV2-RS1-ZsGreen possessed lipid bilayers, a saucer-like structures and an average of 120 nm particle size. The expression of RS1 and ZsGreen in exo-AAV2-RS1-ZsGreen group were 7.6 times and 5.7 times that of AAV2-RS1-ZsGreen group in HEK-293T cells, respectively. Furthermore, RS1 protein expression increased by 11.8 times in HEK-293T cells. Intravitreal injection of exo-AAV significantly increased the transduction efficiency of RS1 than AAV. Exo-AAV may be a powerful gene delivery system for gene therapy of X-link retinoschisis as well as other inherited retina degenerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiping Wang
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Jingyang Liu
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Mingzhu Yang
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ruiqi Qiu
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Ya Li
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Shasha Bian
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bingtao Hao
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Bo Lei
- Henan Eye Institute, Henan Eye Hospital, People's Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Henan Provincial People's Hospital, Zhengzhou, China
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Wagner HJ, Weber W, Fussenegger M. Synthetic Biology: Emerging Concepts to Design and Advance Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors for Gene Therapy. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:2004018. [PMID: 33977059 PMCID: PMC8097373 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202004018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Three recent approvals and over 100 ongoing clinical trials make adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors the leading gene delivery vehicles in gene therapy. Pharmaceutical companies are investing in this small and nonpathogenic gene shuttle to increase the therapeutic portfolios within the coming years. This prospect of marking a new era in gene therapy has fostered both investigations of the fundamental AAV biology as well as engineering studies to enhance delivery vehicles. Driven by the high clinical potential, a new generation of synthetic-biologically engineered AAV vectors is on the rise. Concepts from synthetic biology enable the control and fine-tuning of vector function at different stages of cellular transduction and gene expression. It is anticipated that the emerging field of synthetic-biologically engineered AAV vectors can shape future gene therapeutic approaches and thus the design of tomorrow's gene delivery vectors. This review describes and discusses the recent trends in capsid and vector genome engineering, with particular emphasis on synthetic-biological approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna J. Wagner
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichMattenstrasse 26Basel4058Switzerland
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of FreiburgSchänzlestraße 1Freiburg79104Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSSUniversity of FreiburgSchänzlestraße 18Freiburg79104Germany
| | - Wilfried Weber
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of FreiburgSchänzlestraße 1Freiburg79104Germany
- Signalling Research Centres BIOSS and CIBSSUniversity of FreiburgSchänzlestraße 18Freiburg79104Germany
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and EngineeringETH ZurichMattenstrasse 26Basel4058Switzerland
- Faculty of ScienceUniversity of BaselKlingelbergstrasse 50Basel4056Switzerland
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Kovács OT, Soltész-Katona E, Marton N, Baricza E, Hunyady L, Turu G, Nagy G. Impact of Medium-Sized Extracellular Vesicles on the Transduction Efficiency of Adeno-Associated Viruses in Neuronal and Primary Astrocyte Cell Cultures. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22084221. [PMID: 33921740 PMCID: PMC8073863 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22084221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are safe and efficient gene therapy vectors with promising results in the treatment of several diseases. Extracellular vesicles (EV) are phospholipid bilayer-surrounded structures carrying several types of lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids with the ability to cross biological barriers. EV-associated AAVs might serve as new and efficient gene therapy vectors considering that they carry the benefits of both AAVs and EVs. (2) We tested vesicle-associated AAVs and vesicles mixed with AAVs on two major cell types of the central nervous system: a neural cell line (N2A) and primary astrocyte cells. (3) In contrast to previously published in vivo observations, the extracellular vesicle packaging did not improve but, in the case of primary astrocyte cells, even inhibited the infection capacity of the AAV particles. The observed effect was not due to the inhibitory effects of the vesicles themselves, since mixing the AAVs with extracellular vesicles did not change the effectiveness. (4) Our results suggest that improvement of the in vivo efficacy of the EV-associated AAV particles is not due to the enhanced interaction between the AAV and the target cells, but most likely to the improved delivery of the AAVs through tissue barriers and to the shielding of AAVs from neutralizing antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orsolya Tünde Kovács
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (O.T.K.); (E.B.)
- Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó street 37-47, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (E.S.-K.); (L.H.)
| | - Eszter Soltész-Katona
- Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó street 37-47, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (E.S.-K.); (L.H.)
| | - Nikolett Marton
- Jahn Ferenc Dél-pesti Hospital, Department of Radiology, Köves street 1, 1204 Budapest, Hungary;
| | - Eszter Baricza
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (O.T.K.); (E.B.)
| | - László Hunyady
- Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó street 37-47, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (E.S.-K.); (L.H.)
- MTA-SE Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gábor Turu
- Department of Physiology, Semmelweis University, Tűzoltó street 37-47, 1094 Budapest, Hungary; (E.S.-K.); (L.H.)
- MTA-SE Laboratory of Molecular Physiology, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, 1085 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence: (G.T.); (G.N.)
| | - György Nagy
- Department of Genetics, Cell- and Immunobiology, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, 1089 Budapest, Hungary; (O.T.K.); (E.B.)
- Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, Semmelweis University, Árpád fejedelem street 7, 1023 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence: (G.T.); (G.N.)
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Sahoo S, Adamiak M, Mathiyalagan P, Kenneweg F, Kafert-Kasting S, Thum T. Therapeutic and Diagnostic Translation of Extracellular Vesicles in Cardiovascular Diseases: Roadmap to the Clinic. Circulation 2021; 143:1426-1449. [PMID: 33819075 PMCID: PMC8021236 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.120.049254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Exosomes are small membrane-bound vesicles of endocytic origin that are actively secreted. The potential of exosomes as effective communicators of biological signaling in myocardial function has previously been investigated, and a recent explosion in exosome research not only underscores their significance in cardiac physiology and pathology, but also draws attention to methodological limitations of studying these extracellular vesicles. In this review, we discuss recent advances and challenges in exosome research with an emphasis on scientific innovations in isolation, identification, and characterization methodologies, and we provide a comprehensive summary of web-based resources available in the field. Importantly, we focus on the biology and function of exosomes, highlighting their fundamental role in cardiovascular pathophysiology to further support potential applications of exosomes as biomarkers and therapeutics for cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Sahoo
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (S.S., M.A., P.M.)
| | - Marta Adamiak
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (S.S., M.A., P.M.)
| | - Prabhu Mathiyalagan
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (S.S., M.A., P.M.)
| | - Franziska Kenneweg
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS) (F.K., S.K-K., T.T.), Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Sabine Kafert-Kasting
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS) (F.K., S.K-K., T.T.), Hannover Medical School, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany (S.K-K., T.T.)
| | - Thomas Thum
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS) (F.K., S.K-K., T.T.), Hannover Medical School, Germany
- REBIRTH Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine (T.T.), Hannover Medical School, Germany
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Hannover, Germany (S.K-K., T.T.)
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49
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Standardized procedure to measure the size distribution of extracellular vesicles together with other particles in biofluids with microfluidic resistive pulse sensing. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0249603. [PMID: 33793681 PMCID: PMC8016234 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The particle size distribution (PSD) of extracellular vesicles (EVs) and other submicron particles in biofluids is commonly measured by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA) and tunable resistive pulse sensing (TRPS). A new technique for measuring the PSD is microfluidic resistive pulse sensing (MRPS). Because specific guidelines for measuring EVs together with other particles in biofluids with MRPS are lacking, we developed an operating procedure to reproducibly measure the PSD. The PSDs of particles in human plasma, conditioned medium of PC3 prostate cancer cell line (PC3 CM), and human urine were measured with MRPS (nCS1, Spectradyne LLC) to investigate: (i) the optimal diluent that reduces the interfacial tension of the sample while keeping EVs intact, (ii) the lower limit of detection (LoD) of particle size, (iii) the reproducibility of the PSD, (iv) the optimal dilution for measuring the PSD, and (v) the agreement in measured concentration between microfluidic cartridges with overlapping detection ranges. We found that the optimal diluent is 0.1% bovine serum albumin (w/v) in Dulbecco’s phosphate-buffered saline. Based on the shape of the PSD, which is expected to follow a power-law function within the full detection range, we obtained a lower LoD of 75 nm for plasma and PC3 CM and 65 nm for urine. Normalized PSDs are reproducible (R2 > 0.950) at dilutions between 10–100x for plasma, 5–20x for PC3 CM, and 2–4x for urine. Furthermore, sample dilution does not impact the dilution-corrected concentration when the microfluidic cartridges are operated within their specified concentration ranges. PSDs from microfluidic cartridges with overlapping detection ranges agreed well (R2 > 0.936) and when combined the overall PSD spanned 5 orders of magnitude of measured concentration. Based on these findings, we have developed operating guidelines to reproducibly measure the PSD of EVs together with other particles in biofluids with MRPS.
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50
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Carvalho PM, Makowski M, Domingues MM, Martins IC, Santos NC. Lipid membrane-based therapeutics and diagnostics. Arch Biochem Biophys 2021; 704:108858. [PMID: 33798534 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2021.108858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Success rates in drug discovery are extremely low, and the imbalance between new drugs entering clinical research and their approval is steadily widening. Among the causes of the failure of new therapeutic agents are the lack of safety and insufficient efficacy. On the other hand, timely disease diagnosis may enable an early management of the disease, generally leading to better and less costly outcomes. Several strategies have been explored to overcome the barriers for drug development and facilitate diagnosis. Using lipid membranes as platforms for drug delivery or as biosensors are promising strategies, due to their biocompatibility and unique physicochemical properties. We examine some of the lipid membrane-based strategies for drug delivery and diagnostics, including their advantages and shortcomings. Regarding synthetic lipid membrane-based strategies for drug delivery, liposomes are the archetypic example of a successful approach, already with a long period of well-succeeded clinical application. The use of lipid membrane-based structures from biological sources as drug carriers, currently under clinical evaluation, is also discussed. These biomimetic strategies can enhance the in vivo lifetime of drug and delivery system by avoiding fast clearance, consequently increasing their therapeutic window. The strategies under development using lipid membranes for diagnostic purposes are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrícia M Carvalho
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marcin Makowski
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Marco M Domingues
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Ivo C Martins
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Nuno C Santos
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Prof. Egas Moniz, 1649-028, Lisbon, Portugal.
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