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Tai-MacArthur S, Lombardi G, Shangaris P. The Theoretical Basis of In Utero Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Its Use in the Treatment of Blood Disorders. Stem Cells Dev 2021; 30:49-58. [PMID: 33280478 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2020.0181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Since its conception, prenatal therapy has been successful in correction of mainly anatomical defects, although the range of application has been limited. Research into minimally invasive fetal surgery techniques and prenatal molecular diagnostics has facilitated the development of in utero stem cell transplantation (IUT)-a method of delivering healthy stem cells to the early gestation fetus with the hope of engraftment, proliferation, and migration to the appropriate hematopoietic compartment. An area of application that shows promise is the treatment of hematopoietic disorders like hemoglobinopathies. The therapeutic rationale of IUT with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) is based on the proposed advantages the fetal environment offers based on its unique physiology. These advantages include the immature immune system facilitating the development of donor-specific tolerance, the natural migration of endogenous hematopoietic cells providing space for homing and engraftment of donor cells, and the fetal environment providing HSCs with the same opportunity to survive and proliferate regardless of their origin (donor or host). Maternal immune tolerance to the fetus and placenta also implies that the maternal environment could be accepting of donor cells. In theory, the fetus is a perfect recipient for stem cell transplant. Clinically, however, IUT is yet to see widespread success calling into question these assumptions of fetal physiology. This review aims to discuss and evaluate research surrounding these key assumptions and the clinical success of IUT in the treatment of thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Tai-MacArthur
- School of Basic and Medical Biosciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Giovanna Lombardi
- Immunoregulation Laboratory, School of Immunology, Microbial Sciences, and Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom
| | - Panicos Shangaris
- Immunoregulation Laboratory, School of Immunology, Microbial Sciences, and Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom.,School of Life Course Sciences, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, United Kingdom
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2
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Shangaris P, Loukogeorgakis SP, Subramaniam S, Flouri C, Jackson LH, Wang W, Blundell MP, Liu S, Eaton S, Bakhamis N, Ramachandra DL, Maghsoudlou P, Urbani L, Waddington SN, Eddaoudi A, Archer J, Antoniou MN, Stuckey DJ, Schmidt M, Thrasher AJ, Ryan TM, De Coppi P, David AL. In Utero Gene Therapy (IUGT) Using GLOBE Lentiviral Vector Phenotypically Corrects the Heterozygous Humanised Mouse Model and Its Progress Can Be Monitored Using MRI Techniques. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11592. [PMID: 31406195 PMCID: PMC6690943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48078-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In utero gene therapy (IUGT) to the fetal hematopoietic compartment could be used to treat congenital blood disorders such as β-thalassemia. A humanised mouse model of β-thalassemia was used, in which heterozygous animals are anaemic with splenomegaly and extramedullary hematopoiesis. Intrahepatic in utero injections of a β globin-expressing lentiviral vector (GLOBE), were performed in fetuses at E13.5 of gestation. We analysed animals at 12 and 32 weeks of age, for vector copy number in bone marrow, peripheral blood liver and spleen and we performed integration site analysis. Compared to noninjected heterozygous animals IUGT normalised blood haemoglobin levels and spleen weight. Integration site analysis showed polyclonality. The left ventricular ejection fraction measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in treated heterozygous animals was similar to that of normal non-β-thalassemic mice but significantly higher than untreated heterozygous thalassemia mice suggesting that IUGT ameliorated poor cardiac function. GLOBE LV-mediated IUGT normalised the haematological and anatomical phenotype in a heterozygous humanised model of β-thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panicos Shangaris
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK.
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom.
| | | | | | - Christina Flouri
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, KCL, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Wei Wang
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Centre for Tumour Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Shanrun Liu
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Simon Eaton
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nahla Bakhamis
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK
| | | | | | - Luca Urbani
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon N Waddington
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ayad Eddaoudi
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joy Archer
- Central Diagnostic Services, Queen's Vet School Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael N Antoniou
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, KCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J Stuckey
- Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred Schmidt
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Centre for Tumour Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Thomas M Ryan
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Paolo De Coppi
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna L David
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK
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Platt JL, West LJ, Chinnock RE, Cascalho M. Toward a solution for cardiac failure in the newborn. Xenotransplantation 2018; 25:e12479. [PMID: 30537350 DOI: 10.1111/xen.12479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The newborn infant with severe cardiac failure owed to congenital structural heart disease or cardiomyopathy poses a daunting therapeutic challenge. The ideal solution for both might be cardiac transplantation if availability of hearts was not limiting and if tolerance could be induced, obviating toxicity of immunosuppressive therapy. If one could safely and effectively exploit neonatal tolerance for successful xenotransplantation of the heart, the challenge of severe cardiac failure in the newborn infant might be met. We discuss the need, the potential for applying neonatal tolerance in the setting of xenotransplantation and the possibility that other approaches to this problem might emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey L Platt
- Department of Surgery and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Lori J West
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Surgery, Department of Immunology, Alberta Transplant Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Richard E Chinnock
- Department of Pediatrics, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Loma Linda, California
| | - Marilia Cascalho
- Department of Surgery and Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
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4
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Ghafarzadeh M, Namdari P, Tarhani M, Tarhani F. A review of application of stem cell therapy in the management of congenital heart disease. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med 2018; 33:1607-1615. [PMID: 30185081 DOI: 10.1080/14767058.2018.1520829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Research on stem cells has been rapidly growing with impressive breakthroughs. Although merely a few of the laboratory researches have successfully transited to the clinical trial phase, the application of stem cells as a therapeutic option for some currently incapacitating diseases hold fascinating potentials. This review emphasis the various opportunities for the application of stem cell in the treatment of fetal diseases. First, we provide a brief commentary on the common stem cell strategy used in the treatment of congenital anomalies, thereafter we discuss how stem cell is being used in the management of some fetal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Ghafarzadeh
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Genecology, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Parsa Namdari
- University of Debrecen Medical School, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Mehrnoosh Tarhani
- Research Committee Student, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
| | - Fariba Tarhani
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, Lorestan University of Medical Sciences, Khorramabad, Iran
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5
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Shangaris P, Loukogeorgakis SP, Blundell MP, Petra E, Shaw SW, Ramachandra DL, Maghsoudlou P, Urbani L, Thrasher AJ, De Coppi P, David AL. Long-Term Hematopoietic Engraftment of Congenic Amniotic Fluid Stem Cells After in Utero Intraperitoneal Transplantation to Immune Competent Mice. Stem Cells Dev 2018; 27:515-523. [PMID: 29482456 PMCID: PMC5910037 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2017.0116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Clinical success of in utero transplantation (IUT) using allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) has been limited to fetuses that lack an immune response to allogeneic cells due to severe immunological defects, and where transplanted genetically normal cells have a proliferative or survival advantage. Amniotic fluid (AF) is an autologous source of stem cells with hematopoietic potential that could be used to treat congenital blood disorders. We compared the ability of congenic and allogeneic mouse AF stem cells (AFSC) to engraft the hematopoietic system of time-mated C57BL/6J mice (E13.5). At 4 and 16 weeks of age, multilineage donor engraftment was higher in congenic versus allogeneic animals. In vitro mixed lymphocyte reaction confirmed an immune response in the allogeneic group with higher CD4 and CD8 cell counts and increased proliferation of stimulated lymphocytes. IUT with congenic cells resulted in 100% of donor animals having chimerism of around 8% and successful hematopoietic long-term engraftment in immune-competent mice when compared with IUT with allogeneic cells. AFSCs may be useful for autologous cell/gene therapy approaches in fetuses diagnosed with congenital hematopoietic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panicos Shangaris
- 1 Prenatal Cell and Gene Therapy Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom .,2 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| | - Stavros P Loukogeorgakis
- 2 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| | - Michael P Blundell
- 4 Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| | - Eleni Petra
- 2 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| | - Steven W Shaw
- 1 Prenatal Cell and Gene Therapy Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom .,2 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom .,3 Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University , Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Durrgah L Ramachandra
- 1 Prenatal Cell and Gene Therapy Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom .,2 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| | - Panagiotis Maghsoudlou
- 2 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| | - Luca Urbani
- 2 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| | - Adrian J Thrasher
- 4 Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo De Coppi
- 2 Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna L David
- 1 Prenatal Cell and Gene Therapy Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London , London, United Kingdom .,5 NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre , London United Kingdom
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Systemic multilineage engraftment in mice after in utero transplantation with human hematopoietic stem cells. Blood Adv 2018; 2:69-74. [PMID: 29344586 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2017011585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
IUHCT of human cord blood-derived CD34+ cells into fetal NSG mice results in systemic multilineage engraftment with human cells.Preconditioning with in utero injection of an anti-c-Kit receptor antibody (ACK2) results in an improved rate of engraftment.
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7
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Mokhtari S, Colletti EJ, Atala A, Zanjani ED, Porada CD, Almeida-Porada G. Boosting Hematopoietic Engraftment after in Utero Transplantation through Vascular Niche Manipulation. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 6:957-969. [PMID: 27304918 PMCID: PMC4912311 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2016.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2015] [Revised: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
In utero hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell transplantation (IUHSCT) has only been fully successful in the treatment of congenital immunodeficiency diseases. Using sheep as a large animal model of IUHSCT, we demonstrate that administration of CD146+CXCL12+VEGFR2+ or CD146+CXCL12+VEGFR2− cells prior to, or in combination with, hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSC), results in robust CXCL12 production within the fetal marrow environment, and significantly increases the levels of hematopoietic engraftment. While in the fetal recipient, donor-derived HSC were found to reside within the trabecular bone, the increased expression of VEGFR2 in the microvasculature of CD146+CXCL12+VEGFR2+ transplanted animals enhanced levels of donor-derived hematopoietic cells in circulation. These studies provide important insights into IUHSCT biology, and demonstrate the feasibility of enhancing HSC engraftment to levels that would likely be therapeutic in many candidate diseases for IUHSCT. After IUHSCT, HSC engraft in the trabecular bone of the metaphysis CD146++(+/−) cells engraft in diaphysis and make hematopoiesis-supporting cytokines Donor cell-derived CXCL12 and VEGFR2 significantly increase HSC engraftment IUHSCT of CD146+CXCL12+VEGFR2+ cells prior to HSC could be curative in several diseases
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Affiliation(s)
- Saloomeh Mokhtari
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1083, USA
| | - Evan J Colletti
- Experimental Station, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89503, USA
| | - Anthony Atala
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1083, USA
| | - Esmail D Zanjani
- Experimental Station, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, NV 89503, USA
| | - Christopher D Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1083, USA
| | - Graça Almeida-Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, 391 Technology Way, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1083, USA.
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Almeida-Porada G, Atala A, Porada CD. In utero stem cell transplantation and gene therapy: rationale, history, and recent advances toward clinical application. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2016; 5:16020. [PMID: 27069953 PMCID: PMC4813605 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2016.20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2015] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Recent advances in high-throughput molecular testing have made it possible to diagnose most genetic disorders relatively early in gestation with minimal risk to the fetus. These advances should soon allow widespread prenatal screening for the majority of human genetic diseases, opening the door to the possibility of treatment/correction prior to birth. In addition to the obvious psychological and financial benefits of curing a disease in utero, and thereby enabling the birth of a healthy infant, there are multiple biological advantages unique to fetal development, which provide compelling rationale for performing potentially curative treatments, such as stem cell transplantation or gene therapy, prior to birth. Herein, we briefly review the fields of in utero transplantation (IUTx) and in utero gene therapy and discuss the biological hurdles that have thus far restricted success of IUTx to patients with immunodeficiencies. We then highlight several recent experimental breakthroughs in immunology, hematopoietic/marrow ontogeny, and in utero cell delivery, which have collectively provided means of overcoming these barriers, thus setting the stage for clinical application of these highly promising therapies in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graça Almeida-Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Anthony Atala
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Christopher D Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine , Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
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9
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Takahashi K, Endo M, Miyoshi T, Tsuritani M, Shimazu Y, Hosoda H, Saga K, Tamai K, Flake AW, Yoshimatsu J, Kimura T. Immune tolerance induction using fetal directed placental injection in rodent models: a murine model. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0123712. [PMID: 25876079 PMCID: PMC4395343 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0123712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Induction of the immune response is a major problem in replacement therapies for inherited protein deficiencies. Tolerance created in utero can facilitate postnatal treatment. In this study, we aimed to induce immune tolerance towards a foreign protein with early gestational cell transplantation into the chorionic villi under ultrasound guidance in the murine model. Methods Pregnant C57BL/6 (B6) mice on day 10 of gestation were anesthetized and imaged by high resolution ultrasound. Murine embryos and their placenta were positioned to get a clear view in B-mode with power mode of the labyrinth, which is the equivalent of chorionic villi in the human. Bone marrow cells (BMCs) from B6-Green Fluorescence Protein (B6GFP) transgenic mice were injected into the fetal side of the placenta which includes the labyrinth with glass microcapillary pipettes. Each fetal mouse received 2 x 105 viable GFP-BMCs. After birth, we evaluated the humoral and cell-mediated immune response against GFP. Results Bone marrow transfer into fetal side of placenta efficiently distributed donor cells to the fetal mice. The survival rate of this procedure was 13.5%(5 out of 37). Successful engraftment of the B6-GFP donor skin grafts was observed in all recipient (5 out of 5) mice 6 weeks after birth. Induction of anti-GFP antibodies was completely inhibited. Cytotoxic immune reactivity of thymic cells against cells harboring GFP was suppressed by ELISPOT assay. Conclusions In this study, we utilized early gestational placental injection targeting the murine fetus, to transfer donor cells carrying a foreign protein into the fetal circulation. This approach is sufficient to induce both humoral and cell-mediated immune tolerance against the foreign protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Takahashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masayuki Endo
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Takekazu Miyoshi
- Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Tsuritani
- Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yukiko Shimazu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hosoda
- Department of Biochemistry, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kotaro Saga
- Department of Gene Therapy Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Katsuto Tamai
- Department of Stem Cell Therapy Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Alan W. Flake
- Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Jun Yoshimatsu
- Department of Perinatology and Gynecology, National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Tadashi Kimura
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Osaka, Japan
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Ihara N, Akihiro U, Onami N, Tsumura H, Inoue E, Hayashi S, Sago H, Mizutani S. Partial rescue of mucopolysaccharidosis type VII mice with a lifelong engraftment of allogeneic stem cells in utero. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2015; 55:55-64. [PMID: 25421592 PMCID: PMC4654854 DOI: 10.1111/cga.12099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In utero hematopoietic cell transplantation (IUHCT) has been performed in Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII (MPSVII) mice, but a lifelong engraftment of allogeneic donor cells has not been achieved. In this study, we sought to confirm a lifelong engraftment of allogeneic donor cells immunologically matched to the mother and to achieve partial rescue of phenotypes in the original MPSVII strain through IUHCT by intravenous injection. We performed in vitro fertilization in a MPSVII murine model and transferred affected embryos to ICR/B6-GFP surrogate mothers in cases where fetuses receiving IUHCT were all homozygous. Lineage-depleted cells from ICR/B6-GFP mice were injected intravenously at E14.5. Chimerism was confirmed by flow cytometry at 4 weeks after birth, and β-glucuronidase activity in serum and several phenotypes were assessed at 8 weeks of age or later. Donor cells in chimeric mice from ICR/B6-GFP mothers were detected at death, and were confirmed in several tissues including the brains of sacrificed chimeric mice. Although the serum enzyme activity of chimeric mice was extremely low, the engraftment rate of donor cells correlated with enzyme activity. Furthermore, improvement of bone structure and rescue of reproductive ability were confirmed in our limited preclinical study. We confirmed the lifelong engraftment of donor cells in an original immunocompetent MPSVII murine model using intravenous IUHCT with cells immunologically matched to the mother without myeloablation, and the improvement of several phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Norimasa Ihara
- Department of Reproductive Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development Hospital, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Pediatrics and Developmental Biology, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
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11
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Derderian SC, Jeanty C, Walters MC, Vichinsky E, MacKenzie TC. In utero hematopoietic cell transplantation for hemoglobinopathies. Front Pharmacol 2015; 5:278. [PMID: 25628564 PMCID: PMC4290536 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
In utero hematopoietic cell transplantation (IUHCTx) is a promising strategy to circumvent the challenges of postnatal hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation. The goal of IUHCTx is to introduce donor cells into a naïve host prior to immune maturation, thereby inducing donor–specific tolerance. Thus, this technique has the potential of avoiding host myeloablative conditioning with cytotoxic agents. Over the past two decades, several attempts at IUHCTx have been made to cure numerous underlying congenital anomalies with limited success. In this review, we will briefly review the history of IUHCTx and give a perspective on alpha thalassemia major, one target disease for its clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Christopher Derderian
- Department of Surgery, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine, University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Cerine Jeanty
- Department of Surgery, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine, University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Mark C Walters
- Children's Hospital and Research Center Oakland Oakland, CA, USA
| | | | - Tippi C MacKenzie
- Department of Surgery, Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine, University of California San Francisco San Francisco, CA, USA
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12
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Ramachandra DL, Shaw SSW, Shangaris P, Loukogeorgakis S, Guillot PV, Coppi PD, David AL. In utero therapy for congenital disorders using amniotic fluid stem cells. Front Pharmacol 2014; 5:270. [PMID: 25566071 PMCID: PMC4271591 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2014.00270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital diseases are responsible for over a third of all pediatric hospital admissions. Advances in prenatal screening and molecular diagnosis have allowed the detection of many life-threatening genetic diseases early in gestation. In utero transplantation (IUT) with stem cells could cure affected fetuses but so far in humans, successful IUT using allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), has been limited to fetuses with severe immunologic defects and more recently IUT with allogeneic mesenchymal stem cell transplantation, has improved phenotype in osteogenesis imperfecta. The options of preemptive treatment of congenital diseases in utero by stem cell or gene therapy changes the perspective of congenital diseases since it may avoid the need for postnatal treatment and reduce future costs. Amniotic fluid stem (AFS) cells have been isolated and characterized in human, mice, rodents, rabbit, and sheep and are a potential source of cells for therapeutic applications in disorders for treatment prenatally or postnatally. Gene transfer to the cells with long-term transgenic protein expression is feasible. Recently, pre-clinical autologous transplantation of transduced cells has been achieved in fetal sheep using minimally invasive ultrasound guided injection techniques. Clinically relevant levels of transgenic protein were expressed in the blood of transplanted lambs for at least 6 months. The cells have also demonstrated the potential of repair in a range of pre-clinical disease models such as neurological disorders, tracheal repair, bladder injury, and diaphragmatic hernia repair in neonates or adults. These results have been encouraging, and bring personalized tissue engineering for prenatal treatment of genetic disorders closer to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durrgah L. Ramachandra
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Steven S. W. Shaw
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
- Prenatal Therapy, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Panicos Shangaris
- Prenatal Therapy, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Stavros Loukogeorgakis
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Pascale V. Guillot
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
- Cellular Reprogramming and Perinatal Therapy, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Paolo De Coppi
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anna L. David
- Prenatal Therapy, Institute for Women’s Health, University College London, London, UK
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In utero depletion of fetal hematopoietic stem cells improves engraftment after neonatal transplantation in mice. Blood 2014; 124:973-80. [PMID: 24879814 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2014-02-550327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Although in utero hematopoietic cell transplantation is a promising strategy to treat congenital hematopoietic disorders, levels of engraftment have not been therapeutic for diseases in which donor cells have no survival advantage. We used an antibody against the murine c-Kit receptor (ACK2) to deplete fetal host hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and increase space within the hematopoietic niche for donor cell engraftment. Fetal mice were injected with ACK2 on embryonic days 13.5 to 14.5 and surviving pups were transplanted with congenic hematopoietic cells on day of life 1. Low-dose ACK2 treatment effectively depleted HSCs within the bone marrow with minimal toxicity and the antibody was cleared from the serum before the neonatal transplantation. Chimerism levels were significantly higher in treated pups than in controls; both myeloid and lymphoid cell chimerism increased because of higher engraftment of HSCs in the bone marrow. To test the strategy of repeated HSC depletion and transplantation, some mice were treated with ACK2 postnatally, but the increase in engraftment was lower than that seen with prenatal treatment. We demonstrate a successful fetal conditioning strategy associated with minimal toxicity. Such strategies could be used to achieve clinically relevant levels of engraftment to treat congenital stem cell disorders.
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Wegorzewska M, Nijagal A, Wong CM, Le T, Lescano N, Tang Q, MacKenzie TC. Fetal intervention increases maternal T cell awareness of the foreign conceptus and can lead to immune-mediated fetal demise. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2014; 192:1938-45. [PMID: 24415782 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1302403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Fetal interventions to diagnose and treat congenital anomalies are growing in popularity but often lead to preterm labor. The possible contribution of the maternal adaptive immune system to postsurgical pregnancy complications has not been explored. We recently showed that fetal intervention in mice increases maternal T cell trafficking into the fetus and hypothesized that this process also may lead to increased maternal T cell recognition of the foreign conceptus and subsequent breakdown in maternal-fetal tolerance. In this study, we show that fetal intervention in mice results in accumulation of maternal T cells in the uterus and that these activated cells can produce effector cytokines. In adoptive transfer experiments, maternal T cells specific for a fetal alloantigen proliferate after fetal intervention, escape apoptosis, and become enriched compared with endogenous T cells in the uterus and uterine-draining lymph nodes. Finally, we demonstrate that such activation and accumulation can have a functional consequence: in utero transplantation of hematopoietic cells carrying the fetal alloantigen leads to enhanced demise of semiallogeneic fetuses within a litter. We further show that maternal T cells are necessary for this phenomenon. These results suggest that fetal intervention enhances maternal T cell recognition of the fetus and that T cell activation may be a culprit in postsurgical pregnancy complications. Our results have clinical implications for understanding and preventing complications associated with fetal surgery such as preterm labor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Wegorzewska
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
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Direct and indirect antigen presentation lead to deletion of donor-specific T cells after in utero hematopoietic cell transplantation in mice. Blood 2013; 121:4595-602. [PMID: 23610372 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2012-10-463174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
In utero hematopoietic cell transplantation (IUHCTx) is a promising method to induce donor-specific tolerance but the mechanisms of antigen presentation that educate host T cells and the relative importance of deletion vs regulation in this setting are unknown. We studied the roles of direct and indirect antigen presentation (mediated by donor- and host-derived antigen-presenting cells [APCs], respectively) in a mouse model of IUHCTx. We found that IUHCTx leads to precocious maturation of neonatal host dendritic cells (DCs) and that there is early differentiation of donor-derived DCs, even after transplantation of a stem cell source without mature APCs. We next performed allogeneic IUHCTx into donor-specific T-cell receptor transgenic mice and confirmed that both direct and indirect antigen presentation lead to clonal deletion of effector T cells in chimeras. Deletion did not persist when chimerism was lost. Importantly, although the percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs) after IUHCTx increased, there was no expansion in Treg numbers. In wild-type mice, there was a similar deletion of effector cells without expansion of donor-specific Tregs. Thus, tolerance induction after IUHCTx depends on both direct and indirect antigen presentation and is secondary to thymic deletion, without de novo Treg induction.
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