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Mundisugih J, Ravindran D, Kizana E. Exploring the Therapeutic Potential of Gene Therapy in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1351. [PMID: 38927558 PMCID: PMC11201581 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12061351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Right dominant arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy, commonly known as Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC), represents a formidable challenge in cardiovascular medicine, as conventional therapies are commonly ineffective in impeding disease progression and the development of end-stage heart failure. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy presents a promising avenue for targeted therapeutic interventions, potentially revolutionising treatment approaches for ARVC patients. Encouraging results from preclinical studies have sparked optimism about the possibility of curing specific subtypes of ARVC in the near future. This narrative review delves into the dynamic landscape of genetic therapy for ARVC, elucidating its underlying mechanisms and developmental stages, and providing updates on forthcoming trials. Additionally, it examines the hurdles and complexities impeding the successful translation of ARVC genetic therapies into clinical practice. Despite notable scientific advancements, the journey towards implementing genetic therapies for ARVC patients in real-world clinical settings is still in its early phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Mundisugih
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Dhanya Ravindran
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
| | - Eddy Kizana
- Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
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2
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Xie Y, Butler M. N-glycomic profiling of capsid proteins from Adeno-Associated Virus serotypes. Glycobiology 2024; 34:cwad074. [PMID: 37774344 PMCID: PMC10950483 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwad074] [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: 05/01/2023] [Revised: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector has become the leading platform for gene delivery. Each serotype exhibits a different tissue tropism, immunogenicity, and in vivo transduction performance. Therefore, selecting the most suitable AAV serotype is critical for efficient gene delivery to target cells or tissues. Genome divergence among different serotypes is due mainly to the hypervariable regions of the AAV capsid proteins. However, the heterogeneity of capsid glycosylation is largely unexplored. In the present study, the N-glycosylation profiles of capsid proteins of AAV serotypes 1 to 9 have been systemically characterized and compared using a previously developed high-throughput and high-sensitivity N-glycan profiling platform. The results showed that all 9 investigated AAV serotypes were glycosylated, with comparable profiles. The most conspicuous feature was the high abundance mannosylated N-glycans, including FM3, M5, M6, M7, M8, and M9, that dominated the chromatograms within a range of 74 to 83%. Another feature was the relatively lower abundance of fucosylated and sialylated N-glycan structures, in the range of 23%-40% and 10%-17%, respectively. However, the exact N-glycan composition differed. These differences may be utilized to identify potential structural relationships between the 9 AAV serotypes. The current research lays the foundation for gaining better understanding of the importance of N-glycans on the AAV capsid surface that may play a significant role in tissue tropism, interaction with cell surface receptors, cellular uptake, and intracellular processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjing Xie
- National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue, Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 X099, Ireland
| | - Michael Butler
- National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Foster Avenue, Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, A94 X099, Ireland
- School of Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering, University College Dublin (UCD), Belfield, Dublin 4, D04 V1W8, Ireland
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3
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Wessels U, Neff F, Fakhiri J, Mayer K, Brinkmann U, Stubenrauch K. Novel assay format for total anti-adeno-associated virus antibody detection with low capsid consumption and built-in specificity control. Bioanalysis 2024; 16:431-442. [PMID: 38497775 PMCID: PMC11216498 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2023-0254] [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: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim: To develop an assay format for detection of total anti-adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) antibodies with low capsid material consumption. Methods: An immune complex (IC) assay format was developed. The format is based on the formation of ICs in solution and their subsequent detection using an anti-AAV2 antibody for capture and an antibody against the study species IgG for detection. Results: The feasibility of the IC assay for detection of preexisting and treatment-emergent anti-AAV2 antibodies was demonstrated in cynomolgus monkey and human serum samples, including samples from a preclinical study with AAV2-based therapies. Conclusion: The presented IC assay is an easy-to-perform total anti-AAV2 antibody assay that requires a small amount of unlabeled capsid material and provides an intrinsic specificity control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Wessels
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center, Munich, Germany
- Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, Penzberg, 82377, Germany
| | - Florian Neff
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia Fakhiri
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center, Munich, Germany
| | - Klaus Mayer
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center, Munich, Germany
| | - Ulrich Brinkmann
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center, Munich, Germany
| | - Kay Stubenrauch
- Roche Pharma Research & Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Center, Munich, Germany
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4
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Damacena de Angelis C, Meddeb M, Chen N, Fisher SA. An antisense oligonucleotide efficiently suppresses splicing of an alternative exon in vascular smooth muscle in vivo. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2024; 326:H860-H869. [PMID: 38276948 PMCID: PMC11221813 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.00745.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Targeting alternative exons for therapeutic gain has been achieved in a few instances and potentially could be applied more broadly. The myosin phosphatase (MP) enzyme is a critical hub upon which signals converge to regulate vessel tone. Alternative exon 24 of myosin phosphatase regulatory subunit (Mypt1 E24) is an ideal target as toggling between the two isoforms sets smooth muscle sensitivity to vasodilators such as nitric oxide (NO). This study aimed to develop a gene-based therapy to suppress splicing of Mypt1 E24 thereby switching MP enzyme to the NO-responsive isoform. CRISPR/Cas9 constructs were effective at editing of Mypt1 E24 in vitro; however, targeting of vascular smooth muscle in vivo with AAV9 was inefficient. In contrast, an octo-guanidine conjugated antisense oligonucleotide targeting the 5' splice site of Mypt1 E24 was highly efficient in vivo. It reduced the percent splicing inclusion of Mypt1 E24 from 80% to 10% in mesenteric arteries. The maximal and half-maximal effects occurred at 12.5 and 6.25 mg/kg, respectively. The effect persisted for at least 1 mo without toxicity. This highly effective splice-blocking antisense oligonucleotide could be developed as a novel therapy to reverse vascular dysfunction common to diseases such as hypertension and heart failure.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Alternative exon usage is a major driver of phenotypic diversity in all cell types including smooth muscle. However, the functional significance of most of the hundreds of thousands of alternative exons has not been defined, nor in most cases even tested. If their importance to vascular function were known these alternative exons could represent novel therapeutic targets. Here, we present injection of Vivo-morpholino splice-blocking antisense oligonucleotides as a simple, efficient, and cost-effective method for suppression of alternative exon usage in vascular smooth muscle in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mariam Meddeb
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Nelson Chen
- University of Maryland-Baltimore Scholars Program, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
| | - Steven A Fisher
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Department of Physiology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
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5
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Chen P, Paraiso WKD, Cabral H. Revitalizing Cytokine-Based Cancer Immunotherapy through Advanced Delivery Systems. Macromol Biosci 2023; 23:e2300275. [PMID: 37565723 DOI: 10.1002/mabi.202300275] [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: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Cytokines can coordinate robust immune responses, holding great promise as therapeutics against infections, autoimmune diseases, and cancers. In cancer treatment, numerous pro-inflammatory cytokines have displayed promising efficacy in preclinical studies. However, their clinical application is hindered by poor pharmacokinetics, significant toxicity and unsatisfactory anticancer efficacy. Thus, while IFN-α and IL-2 are approved for specific cancer treatments, other cytokines still remain subject of intense investigation. To accelerate the application of cytokines as cancer immunotherapeutics, strategies need to be directed to improve their safety and anticancer performance. In this regard, delivery systems could be used to generate innovative therapies by targeting the cytokines or nucleic acids, such as DNA and mRNA, encoding the cytokines to tumor tissues. This review centers on these innovative delivery strategies for cytokines, summarizing key approaches, such as gene delivery and protein delivery, and critically examining their potential and challenges for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengwen Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
| | | | - Horacio Cabral
- Department of Bioengineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan
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6
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Minskaia E, Galieva A, Egorov AD, Ivanov R, Karabelsky A. Viral Vectors in Gene Replacement Therapy. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:2157-2178. [PMID: 38462459 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923120179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Throughout the years, several hundred million people with rare genetic disorders have been receiving only symptom management therapy. However, research and development efforts worldwide have led to the development of long-lasting, highly efficient, and safe gene therapy for a wide range of hereditary diseases. Improved viral vectors are now able to evade the preexisting immunity and more efficiently target and transduce therapeutically relevant cells, ensuring genome maintenance and expression of transgenes at the relevant levels. Hematological, ophthalmological, neurodegenerative, and metabolic therapeutic areas have witnessed successful treatment of hemophilia and muscular dystrophy, restoration of immune system in children with immunodeficiencies, and restoration of vision. This review focuses on three leading vector platforms of the past two decades: adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), adenoviruses (AdVs), and lentiviruses (LVs). Special attention is given to successful preclinical and clinical studies that have led to the approval of gene therapies: six AAV-based (Glybera® for lipoprotein lipase deficiency, Luxturna® for retinal dystrophy, Zolgensma® for spinal muscular atrophy, Upstaza® for AADC, Roctavian® for hemophilia A, and Hemgenix® for hemophilia B) and three LV-based (Libmeldy® for infantile metachromatic leukodystrophy, Zynteglo® for β-thalassemia, and Skysona® for ALD). The review also discusses the problems that arise in the development of gene therapy treatments, which, nevertheless, do not overshadow the successes of already developed gene therapies and the hope these treatments give to long-suffering patients and their families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekaterina Minskaia
- Scientific Center of Translational Medicine, Department of Gene Therapy, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, 354530, Russia.
| | - Alima Galieva
- Scientific Center of Translational Medicine, Department of Gene Therapy, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, 354530, Russia
| | - Alexander D Egorov
- Scientific Center of Translational Medicine, Department of Gene Therapy, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, 354530, Russia
| | - Roman Ivanov
- Scientific Center of Translational Medicine, Department of Gene Therapy, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, 354530, Russia
| | - Alexander Karabelsky
- Scientific Center of Translational Medicine, Department of Gene Therapy, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, 354530, Russia
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Duan D. Lethal immunotoxicity in high-dose systemic AAV therapy. Mol Ther 2023; 31:3123-3126. [PMID: 37822079 PMCID: PMC10638066 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023] Open
Abstract
High-dose systemic gene therapy with adeno-associated virus (AAV) is in clinical trials to treat various inherited diseases. Despite remarkable success in spinal muscular atrophy and promising results in other diseases, fatality has been observed due to liver, kidney, heart, or lung failure. Innate and adaptive immune responses to the vector play a critical role in the toxicity. Host factors also contribute to patient death. This mini-review summarizes clinical findings and calls for concerted efforts from all stakeholders to better understand the mechanisms underlying lethality in AAV gene therapy and to develop effective strategies to prevent/treat high-dose systemic AAV-gene-therapy-induced immunotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology and Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
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8
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Bez Batti Angulski A, Hosny N, Cohen H, Martin AA, Hahn D, Bauer J, Metzger JM. Duchenne muscular dystrophy: disease mechanism and therapeutic strategies. Front Physiol 2023; 14:1183101. [PMID: 37435300 PMCID: PMC10330733 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2023.1183101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe, progressive, and ultimately fatal disease of skeletal muscle wasting, respiratory insufficiency, and cardiomyopathy. The identification of the dystrophin gene as central to DMD pathogenesis has led to the understanding of the muscle membrane and the proteins involved in membrane stability as the focal point of the disease. The lessons learned from decades of research in human genetics, biochemistry, and physiology have culminated in establishing the myriad functionalities of dystrophin in striated muscle biology. Here, we review the pathophysiological basis of DMD and discuss recent progress toward the development of therapeutic strategies for DMD that are currently close to or are in human clinical trials. The first section of the review focuses on DMD and the mechanisms contributing to membrane instability, inflammation, and fibrosis. The second section discusses therapeutic strategies currently used to treat DMD. This includes a focus on outlining the strengths and limitations of approaches directed at correcting the genetic defect through dystrophin gene replacement, modification, repair, and/or a range of dystrophin-independent approaches. The final section highlights the different therapeutic strategies for DMD currently in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Joseph M. Metzger
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN, United States
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9
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Masri S, Carré L, Jaulin N, Vandamme C, Couzinié C, Guy-Duché A, Dupont JB, Pereira A, Charpentier E, David L, Gernoux G, Guilbaud M, Adjali O. Transcriptomic Analysis Reveals the Inability of Recombinant AAV8 to Activate Human Monocyte-Derived Dendritic Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10447. [PMID: 37445621 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) is considered as one of the most successful and widely used viral vectors for in vivo gene therapy. However, host immune responses to the vector and/or the transgene product remain a major hurdle to successful AAV gene transfer. In contrast to antivector adaptive immunity, the initiation of the innate immunity towards rAAV is still poorly understood but is directly dependent on the interaction between the viral vector and innate immune cells. Here, we used a quantitative transcriptomic-based approach to determine the activation of inflammatory and anti-viral pathways after rAAV8-based infection of monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) obtained from 12 healthy human donors. We have shown that rAAV8 particles are efficiently internalized, but that this uptake does not induce any detectable transcriptomic change in moDCs in contrast to an adenoviral infection, which upregulates anti-viral pathways. These findings suggest an immunologically favorable profile for rAAV8 serotype with regard to in vitro activation of moDC model. Transcriptomic analysis of rAAV-infected innate immune cells is a powerful method to determine the ability of the viral vector to be seen by these sensor cells, which remains of great importance to better understand the immunogenicity of rAAV vectors and to design immune-stealth products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samer Masri
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT-Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, F-44200 Nantes, France
| | - Laure Carré
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT-Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, F-44200 Nantes, France
| | - Nicolas Jaulin
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT-Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, F-44200 Nantes, France
| | - Céline Vandamme
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT-Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, F-44200 Nantes, France
| | - Célia Couzinié
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT-Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, F-44200 Nantes, France
| | - Aurélien Guy-Duché
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT-Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, F-44200 Nantes, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Dupont
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT-Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, F-44200 Nantes, France
| | - Allwyn Pereira
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT-Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, F-44200 Nantes, France
| | - Eric Charpentier
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, CNRS, INSERM, SFR Santé, UMS 3556, UMS016, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Laurent David
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, Center for Research in Transplantation and Translational Immunology, UMR 1064, ITUN, F-44000 Nantes, France
| | - Gwladys Gernoux
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT-Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, F-44200 Nantes, France
| | - Mickaël Guilbaud
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT-Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, F-44200 Nantes, France
| | - Oumeya Adjali
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT-Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, F-44200 Nantes, France
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10
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Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) was named more than 150 years ago. About four decades ago, the DMD gene was discovered, and the reading frame shift was determined as the genetic underpinning. These pivotal findings significantly changed the landscape of DMD therapy development. Restoration of dystrophin expression with gene therapy became a primary focus. Investment in gene therapy has led to the approval of exon skipping by regulatory agencies, multiple clinical trials of systemic microdystrophin therapy using adeno-associated virus vectors, and revolutionary genome editing therapy using the CRISPR technology. However, many important issues surfaced during the clinical translation of DMD gene therapy (such as low efficiency of exon skipping, immune toxicity-induced serious adverse events, and patient death). In this issue of Human Gene Therapy, several research articles highlighted some of the latest developments in DMD gene therapy. Importantly, a collection of articles from experts in the field reviewed the progress, major challenges, and future directions of DMD gene therapy. These insightful discussions have significant implications for gene therapy of other neuromuscular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA
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11
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Maturana CJ, Chan A, Verpeut JL, Engel EA. Local and systemic administration of AAV vectors with alphaherpesvirus latency-associated promoter 2 drives potent transgene expression in mouse liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle. J Virol Methods 2023; 314:114688. [PMID: 36736702 PMCID: PMC10236909 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2023.114688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 01/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has great potential as a source of treatments for conditions that might respond to potent and ubiquitous transgene expression. However, among its drawbacks, the genetic "payload" of AAV vectors is limited to <4.9 kb and some commonly used gene promoters are sizeable and susceptible to transcriptional silencing. We recently described a short (404 bp), potent, and persistent promoter obtained from the genome of pseudorabies virus (PrV) called alphaherpesvirus latency-associated promoter 2 (LAP2). Here, we evaluated the biodistribution and potency of transgene expression in mouse peripheral tissues in response to local and systemic administration of AAV8-LAP2 and AAV9-LAP2. We found that administration of these vectors resulted in levels of transgene expression that were similar to the larger EF1α promoter. LAP2 drives potent transgene expression in mouse liver and kidney when administered systemically and in skeletal muscle in response to intramuscular delivery. Notably, in skeletal muscle, administration of vectors with LAP2 and EF1α promoters resulted in preferential transduction of myofibers type 2. A direct side-by-side comparison between LAP2 and the EF1α promoter revealed that, despite its smaller size, LAP2 was equally potent to the EF1α promoter and resulted in widespread gene expression after IV and IM administration of AAV8 or AAV9 vectors. Collectively, these findings suggest that constructs that include LAP2 may have the capacity to deliver large therapeutically effective payloads in support of future gene therapy protocols.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola J Maturana
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
| | - Angela Chan
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Jessica L Verpeut
- Department of Psychology, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ 85287, USA
| | - Esteban A Engel
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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12
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Yang OJ, Robilotto GL, Alom F, Alemán K, Devulapally K, Morris A, Mickle AD. Evaluating the transduction efficiency of systemically delivered AAV vectors in the rat nervous system. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1001007. [PMID: 36755734 PMCID: PMC9899837 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1001007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene delivery or manipulation with viral vectors is a frequently used tool in basic neuroscience studies. Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are the most widely used vectors due to their relative safety and long-term efficacy without causing overt immunological complications. Many AAV serotypes have been discovered and engineered that preferentially transduce different populations of neurons. However, efficient targeting of peripheral neurons remains challenging for many researchers, and evaluation of peripheral neuron transduction with AAVs in rats is limited. Here, we aimed to test the efficiency of systemic AAVs to transduce peripheral neurons in rats. We administered AAV9-tdTomato, AAV-PHP.S-tdTomato, or AAV-retro-GFP systemically to neonatal rats via intraperitoneal injection. After 5 weeks, we evaluated expression patterns in peripheral sensory, motor, and autonomic neurons. No significant difference between the serotypes in the transduction of sensory neurons was noted, and all serotypes were more efficient in transducing NF200 + neurons compared to smaller CGRP + neurons. AAV-retro was more efficient at transducing motor neurons compared to other serotypes. Moreover, PHP.S was more efficient at transducing sympathetic neurons, and AAV-retro was more efficient at transducing parasympathetic neurons. These results indicate that specific AAV serotypes target peripheral neuron populations more efficiently than others in the neonatal rat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia J. Yang
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Gabriella L. Robilotto
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Firoj Alom
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States,Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Rajshahi, Rajshahi, Bangladesh
| | - Karla Alemán
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Karthik Devulapally
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Abigail Morris
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Aaron D. Mickle
- Department of Physiological Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States,Department of Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States,J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States,*Correspondence: Aaron D. Mickle,
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13
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Hakim CH, Pérez-López D, Burke MJ, Teixeira J, Duan D. Molecular and Biochemical Assessment of Gene Therapy in the Canine Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2587:255-301. [PMID: 36401035 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2772-3_15] [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: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the dystrophin gene result in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a progressive muscle-wasting disease. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated gene replacement, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing hold the potential to treat DMD. Molecular and biochemical analyses are essential to determine gene transfer efficiency and therapeutic efficacy. In this chapter, we present a series of methods routinely used in our laboratory to extract and quantify DNA, RNA, and protein in gene therapy studies performed in the canine DMD model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chady H Hakim
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Dennis Pérez-López
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Matthew J Burke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - James Teixeira
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
- Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
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14
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Katz MG, Hadas Y, Bailey RA, Fazal S, Vincek A, Madjarova SJ, Shtraizent N, Vandenberghe LH, Eliyahu E. Efficient cardiac gene transfer and early-onset expression of a synthetic adeno-associated viral vector, Anc80L65, after intramyocardial administration. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2022; 164:e429-e443. [PMID: 34985414 PMCID: PMC8733395 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2021.05.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Gene therapy is a promising approach in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated that adeno-associated viral vectors are the most attractive vehicles for gene transfer. However, preexisting immunity, delayed gene expression, and postinfection immune response limit the success of this technology. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the first synthetic adeno-associated viral lineage clone, Anc80L65, for cardiac gene therapy. METHODS By combining 2 different reporter approaches by fluorescence with green fluorescent protein and bioluminescence (Firefly luciferase), we compared transduction efficiency of Anc80L65 and adeno-associated virus, serotype 9 in neonatal rat cardiomyocytes ex vivo and rat hearts in vivo after intramyocardial and intracoronary administration. RESULTS In cardiomyocytes, Anc80L65 provided a green fluorescent protein expression of 28.9% (36.4 ± 3.34 cells/field) at 24 hours and approximately 100% on day 7. In contrast, adeno-associated virus, serotype 9 green fluorescent protein provided minimal green fluorescent protein expression of 5.64% at 24 hours and 11.8% on day 7. After intramyocardial injection, vector expression peaked on day 7 with Anc80L65; however, with adeno-associated virus, serotype 9 the peak expression was during week 6. Administration of Anc80L65 demonstrated significantly more efficient expression of reporter gene than after adeno-associated virus, serotype 9 at 6 weeks (6.81 ± 0.64 log10 gc/100 ng DNA vs 6.49 ± 0.28 log10 gc/100 ng DNA, P < .05). These results were consistent with the amount of genome copy per cell observed in the heart. CONCLUSIONS Anc80L65 vector allows fast and robust gene transduction compared with adeno-associated virus, serotype 9 vector in cardiac gene therapy. Anc80L65 did not adversely affect cardiac function and caused no inflammatory response or toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G Katz
- Department of Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY.
| | - Yoav Hadas
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Rasheed A Bailey
- Department of Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Shahood Fazal
- Department of Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Adam Vincek
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | | | | | - Luk H Vandenberghe
- Grousbeck Center of Gene Therapy, Ocular Genomics Institute, Mass Eye and Ear, Boston, Mass; Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass; The Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Mass
| | - Efrat Eliyahu
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn Institute for Genomics and Multiscale Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Icahn School for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
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15
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Strategies for Bottlenecks of rAAV-Mediated Expression in Skeletal and Cardiac Muscle of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13112021. [DOI: 10.3390/genes13112021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy using the adeno-associated virus (rAAV) to deliver mini/micro- dystrophin is the current promising strategy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). However, the further transformation of this strategy still faces many “bottlenecks”. Most gene therapies are only suitable for infants with strong muscle cell regeneration and immature immune system, and the treatment depends heavily on the high dose of rAAV. However, high-dose rAAV inevitably causes side effects such as immune response and acute liver toxicity. Therefore, how to reduce the degree of fibrosis and excessive immune response in older patients and uncouple the dependence association between therapeutic effect and high dose rAAV are crucial steps for the transformation of rAAV-based gene therapy. The article analyzes the latest research and finds that the application of utrophin, the homologous protein of dystrophin, could avoid the immune response associated with dystrophin, and the exploration of methods to improve the expression level of mini/micro-utrophin in striated muscle, combined with the novel MyoAAV with high efficiency and specific infection of striated muscle, is expected to achieve the same therapeutic efficacy under the condition of reducing the dose of rAAV. Furthermore, the delivery of allogeneic cardio sphere-derived cells (CDCs) with anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic characteristics combined with immune suppression can provide a continuous and appropriate “window period” for gene therapy. This strategy can expand the number of patients who could benefit from gene therapy.
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16
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Qi Z, Wang S, Xuan A, Gu X, Deng J, Huang C, Zhang L, Yin X. MiR-142a-3p: A novel ACh receptor transcriptional regulator in association with peripheral nerve injury. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 30:325-336. [PMID: 36381585 PMCID: PMC9633872 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Long-term denervation leads to the disintegration of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) located at the endplate structure, which translates to deficits in functional activation despite nerve repair. Because of a lack of effective measures to protect AChR expression, we explored the effect of alterations in muscular miR-142a-3p on nAChR. In this study, we constructed a model of miR-142a-3p knockdown by transfecting a miR-142a-3p inhibitor short hairpin RNA (shRNA) into C2C12 myotubes, and we injected this miR-142a-3p inhibitor shRNA into the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle in uninjured mice and in denervated mice by transecting the sciatic nerve. Our results showed that miR-142a-3p knockdown led to an increased number and area of AChR clusters in myotubes in vitro and larger neuromuscular endplates in adult mice. Furthermore, miR-142a-3p knockdown delayed the disintegration of motor endplates after denervation. Last, upon miR-142a-3p knockdown in uninjured and denervated mice, we observed an increase in the mRNA levels of five AChR subunits as well as mRNAs of genes implicated in AChR transcription and AChR clustering. Together, these results suggest that miR-142a-3p may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention to prevent motor endplate degradation following peripheral nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhidan Qi
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shen Wang
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ang Xuan
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinyi Gu
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Deng
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Huang
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Electron Microscopy Analysis Laboratory, Medical and Health Analysis Center, Peking University, Beijing, China,Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Yin
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China,Pizhou People’s Hospital, Jiangsu, China,Corresponding author Xiaofeng Yin, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China.
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17
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Burdett T, Nuseibeh S. Changing trends in the development of AAV-based gene therapies: a meta-analysis of past and present therapies. Gene Ther 2022; 30:323-335. [PMID: 36089633 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-022-00363-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy has seen a transformation from a proof-of-concept approach to a clinical reality over the past several decades, with adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy emerging as the leading platform for in vivo gene transfer. A systematic review of AAV-based gene therapies in clinical development was conducted herein to determine why only a handful of AAV-based gene therapy products have achieved market approval. The indication to be treated, route of administration and vector design were investigated as critical factors and assessed for their impact on clinical safety and efficacy. A shift in recent years towards high-dose systemic administration for the treatment of metabolic, neurological and haematological diseases was identified, with intravenous administration demonstrating the highest efficacy and safety risks in clinical trials. Recent years have seen a decline in favour of traditional AAV serotypes and promoters, accompanied by an increase in favour and higher clinical success rate for novel capsids and tissue-specific promoters. Furthermore, a meta-analysis was performed to identify factors that may inhibit the translation of therapeutic efficacy from preclinical large animal studies to first-in-human clinical trials and a detrimental effect on clinical efficacy was associated with alterations to administration routes.
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18
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Rao R, Farraha M, Logan GJ, Igoor S, Kok CY, Chong JJH, Alexander IE, Kizana E. Performance of Cardiotropic rAAV Vectors Is Dependent on Production Method. Viruses 2022; 14:v14081623. [PMID: 35893689 PMCID: PMC9341392 DOI: 10.3390/v14081623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is making significant impact on a modest, yet growing, number of human diseases. Justifiably, the preferred viral vector for clinical use is that based on recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV). There is a need to scale up rAAV vector production with the transition from pre-clinical models to human application. Standard production methods based on the adherent cell type (HEK293) are limited in scalability and other methods, such as those based on the baculovirus and non-adherent insect cell (Sf9) system, have been pursued as an alternative to increase rAAV production. In this study, we compare these two production methods for cardiotropic rAAVs. Transduction efficiency for both production methods was assessed in primary cardiomyocytes, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), and in mice following systemic delivery. We found that the rAAV produced by the traditional HEK293 method out-performed vector produced using the baculovirus/Sf9 system in vitro and in vivo. This finding provides a potential caveat for vector function when using the baculovirus/Sf9 production system and underscores the need for thorough assessment of vector performance when using diverse rAAV production methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renuka Rao
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead 2145, Australia; (R.R.); (M.F.); (S.I.); (C.Y.K.); (J.J.H.C.)
| | - Melad Farraha
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead 2145, Australia; (R.R.); (M.F.); (S.I.); (C.Y.K.); (J.J.H.C.)
| | - Grant J. Logan
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia;
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children′s Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, Australia;
| | - Sindhu Igoor
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead 2145, Australia; (R.R.); (M.F.); (S.I.); (C.Y.K.); (J.J.H.C.)
| | - Cindy Y. Kok
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead 2145, Australia; (R.R.); (M.F.); (S.I.); (C.Y.K.); (J.J.H.C.)
| | - James J. H. Chong
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead 2145, Australia; (R.R.); (M.F.); (S.I.); (C.Y.K.); (J.J.H.C.)
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia;
- Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead 2145, Australia
| | - Ian E. Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children′s Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, Australia;
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia
| | - Eddy Kizana
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Westmead 2145, Australia; (R.R.); (M.F.); (S.I.); (C.Y.K.); (J.J.H.C.)
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney 2006, Australia;
- Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead 2145, Australia
- Correspondence:
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19
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Kaminski TW, Ju EM, Gudapati S, Vats R, Arshad S, Dubey RK, Katoch O, Tutuncuoglu E, Frank J, Brzoska T, Stolz DB, Watkins SC, Chan SY, Ragni MV, Novelli EM, Sundd P, Pradhan-Sundd T. Defenestrated endothelium delays liver-directed gene transfer in hemophilia A mice. Blood Adv 2022; 6:3729-3734. [PMID: 35427414 PMCID: PMC9631574 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021006388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemophilia A is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by defective or deficient coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) activity. Until recently, the only treatment for prevention of bleeding involved IV administration of FVIII. Gene therapy with adeno-associated vectors (AAVs) has shown some efficacy in patients with hemophilia A. However, limitations persist due to AAV-induced cellular stress, immunogenicity, and reduced durability of gene expression. Herein, we examined the efficacy of liver-directed gene transfer in FVIII knock-out mice by AAV8-GFP. Surprisingly, compared with control mice, FVIII knockout (F8TKO) mice showed significant delay in AAV8-GFP transfer in the liver. We found that the delay in liver-directed gene transfer in F8TKO mice was associated with absence of liver sinusoidal endothelial cell (LSEC) fenestration, which led to aberrant expression of several sinusoidal endothelial proteins, causing increased capillarization and decreased permeability of LSECs. This is the first study to link impaired liver-directed gene transfer to liver-endothelium maladaptive structural changes associated with FVIII deficiency in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz W. Kaminski
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Eun-Mi Ju
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Shweta Gudapati
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Ravi Vats
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Bioengineering, and
| | - Sanya Arshad
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Rikesh K. Dubey
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Omika Katoch
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Egemen Tutuncuoglu
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Jonathan Frank
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Tomasz Brzoska
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, and
| | | | - Simon C. Watkins
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Stephen Y. Chan
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Division of Pulmonary Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA; and
| | - Margaret V. Ragni
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, and
- Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Enrico M. Novelli
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, and
| | - Prithu Sundd
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Bioengineering, and
- Division of Pulmonary Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA; and
| | - Tirthadipa Pradhan-Sundd
- Pittsburgh Heart, Lung and Blood Vascular Medicine Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
- Department of Bioengineering, and
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, and
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20
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Chai Z, Zhang X, Dobbins AL, Samulski RJ, Merricks EP, Nichols TC, Li C. Dexamethasone Transiently Enhances Transgene Expression in the Liver When Administered at Late-Phase Post Long-Term Adeno-Associated Virus Transduction. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:119-130. [PMID: 34617445 PMCID: PMC8885437 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids have anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive functions and have commonly been used for preventing liver toxicity after the systemic application of a high dose of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector for gene therapy. Clinical studies have reported that glucocorticoids have rescued factor IX (FIX) expression in patients with hemophilia B who showed a reduced FIX expression at 6 to 10 weeks post-AAV vector administration. In this study, we explored whether glucocorticoids could affect transgene expression in AAV targeted livers in animal models. When dexamethasone was applied before AAV9/FIX vector administration in the wild-type C57BL/6 mice, FIX expression was much higher than that of the control mice at any time point. More importantly, FIX expression transiently increased after dexamethasone was administered at week 6 or later post-AAV injection regardless of the various dexamethasone treatments applied. The transient enhancement in transgene expression was observed once there were one to several consecutive dexamethasone treatments completed. A similar result was also achieved in other wild-type BALB/c and hemophilia B mice that were treated with AAV9/FIX and dexamethasone. This mechanism study demonstrated that the administration of dexamethasone did not change either AAV genome copy number or transgene expression at the transcription level but transiently decreased interferon beta (IFN-β) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) expression in the livers of mice at a later time after AAV injection. Next, we studied the effect of dexamethasone on late transgene expression in hemophilia B dogs. Dexamethasone was administered 1 year after AAV9/FIX injection. Inconsistent with the results in mice, no significant change of FIX expression was observed in hemophilia B dogs. In summary, the results from this study indicate that dexamethasone may have various effects on transgene expression in AAV-transduced livers in different species, which provides valuable information about the rational application of dexamethasone in future clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Chai
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Xintao Zhang
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amanda Lee Dobbins
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Richard Jude Samulski
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elizabeth P. Merricks
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Blood Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Timothy C. Nichols
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Blood Research Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Chengwen Li
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.,Correspondence: Dr. Chengwen Li, Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 7007 Thurston-Bowles Building, 104 Manning Drive, CB #7352, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.
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21
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Cas9-specific immune responses compromise local and systemic AAV CRISPR therapy in multiple dystrophic canine models. Nat Commun 2021; 12:6769. [PMID: 34819506 PMCID: PMC8613397 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26830-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated CRISPR-Cas9 editing holds promise to treat many diseases. The immune response to bacterial-derived Cas9 has been speculated as a hurdle for AAV-CRISPR therapy. However, immunological consequences of AAV-mediated Cas9 expression have thus far not been thoroughly investigated in large mammals. We evaluate Cas9-specific immune responses in canine models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) following intramuscular and intravenous AAV-CRISPR therapy. Treatment results initially in robust dystrophin restoration in affected dogs but also induces muscle inflammation, and Cas9-specific humoral and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses that are not prevented by the muscle-specific promoter and transient prednisolone immune suppression. In normal dogs, AAV-mediated Cas9 expression induces similar, though milder, immune responses. In contrast, other therapeutic (micro-dystrophin and SERCA2a) and reporter (alkaline phosphatase, AP) vectors result in persistent expression without inducing muscle inflammation. Our results suggest Cas9 immunity may represent a critical barrier for AAV-CRISPR therapy in large mammals.
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22
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Pipe SW, Gonen-Yaacovi G, Segurado OG. Hemophilia A Gene Therapy: Current and Next-Generation Approaches. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2021; 22:1099-1115. [PMID: 34781798 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2022.2002842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION : Hemophilia comprises a group of X-linked hemorrhagic disorders that result from a deficiency of coagulation factors. The disorder affects mainly males and leads to chronic pain, joint deformity, reduced mobility, and increased mortality. Current therapies require frequent administration of replacement clotting factors, but the emergence of alloantibodies (inhibitors) diminishes their efficacy. New therapies are being developed to produce the deficient clotting factors and prevent the emergence of inhibitors. AREAS COVERED : This article provides an update on the characteristics and disease pathophysiology of hemophilia A, as well as current treatments, with a special focus on ongoing clinical trials related to gene replacement therapies. EXPERT OPINION : Gene replacement therapies provide safe, durable, and stable transgene expression while avoiding the challenges of clotting factor replacement therapies in patients with hemophilia. Improving the specificity of the viral construct and decreasing the therapeutic dose are critical toward minimizing cellular stress, induction of the unfolded protein response, and the resulting loss of protein production in liver cells. Next-generation gene therapies incorporating chimeric DNA sequences in the transgene can increase clotting factor synthesis and secretion, and advance the efficacy, safety, and durability of gene replacement therapy for hemophilia A as well as other blood clotting disorders.
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23
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Öztürk BE, Johnson ME, Kleyman M, Turunç S, He J, Jabalameli S, Xi Z, Visel M, Dufour VL, Iwabe S, Pompeo Marinho LFL, Aguirre GD, Sahel JA, Schaffer DV, Pfenning AR, Flannery JG, Beltran WA, Stauffer WR, Byrne LC. scAAVengr, a transcriptome-based pipeline for quantitative ranking of engineered AAVs with single-cell resolution. eLife 2021; 10:64175. [PMID: 34664552 PMCID: PMC8612735 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64175] [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: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapies are rapidly advancing to the clinic, and AAV engineering has resulted in vectors with increased ability to deliver therapeutic genes. Although the choice of vector is critical, quantitative comparison of AAVs, especially in large animals, remains challenging. Methods Here, we developed an efficient single-cell AAV engineering pipeline (scAAVengr) to simultaneously quantify and rank efficiency of competing AAV vectors across all cell types in the same animal. Results To demonstrate proof-of-concept for the scAAVengr workflow, we quantified - with cell-type resolution - the abilities of naturally occurring and newly engineered AAVs to mediate gene expression in primate retina following intravitreal injection. A top performing variant identified using this pipeline, K912, was used to deliver SaCas9 and edit the rhodopsin gene in macaque retina, resulting in editing efficiency similar to infection rates detected by the scAAVengr workflow. scAAVengr was then used to identify top-performing AAV variants in mouse brain, heart, and liver following systemic injection. Conclusions These results validate scAAVengr as a powerful method for development of AAV vectors. Funding This work was supported by funding from the Ford Foundation, NEI/NIH, Research to Prevent Blindness, Foundation Fighting Blindness, UPMC Immune Transplant and Therapy Center, and the Van Sloun fund for canine genetic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bilge E Öztürk
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Molly E Johnson
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Michael Kleyman
- Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Serhan Turunç
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Jing He
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Sara Jabalameli
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Zhouhuan Xi
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States.,Eye Center of Xiangya Hospital, Hunan Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Meike Visel
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Valérie L Dufour
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Simone Iwabe
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Luis Felipe L Pompeo Marinho
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - Gustavo D Aguirre
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - David V Schaffer
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States.,Chemical Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - Andreas R Pfenning
- Computational Biology, School of Computer Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - John G Flannery
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, United States.,Vision Science, Herbert Wertheim School of Optometry, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, United States
| | - William A Beltran
- Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States
| | - William R Stauffer
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
| | - Leah C Byrne
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States.,Division of Experimental Retinal Therapies, Department of Clinical Sciences & Advanced Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, United States.,Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, United States
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24
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Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked, muscle wasting disease that affects 1 in 5000 males. Affected individuals become wheelchair bound by the age of twelve and eventually die in their third decade due to respiratory and cardiac complications. The disease is caused by mutations in the DMD gene that codes for dystrophin. Dystrophin is a structural protein that maintains the integrity of muscle fibres and protects them from contraction-induced damage. The absence of dystrophin compromises the stability and function of the muscle fibres, eventually leading to muscle degeneration. So far, there is no effective treatment for deteriorating muscle function in DMD patients. A promising approach for treating this life-threatening disease is gene transfer to restore dystrophin expression using a safe, non-pathogenic viral vector called adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector. Whilst microdystrophin gene transfer using AAV vectors shows extremely impressive therapeutic success so far in large animal models of DMD, translating this advanced therapy medicinal product from bench to bedside still offers scope for many optimization steps. In this paper, the authors review the current progress of AAV-microdystrophin gene therapy for DMD and other treatment strategies that may apply to a subset of DMD patients depending on the mutations they carry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nertiyan Elangkovan
- Centres for Gene & Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Royal Holloway - University of London, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
| | - George Dickson
- Centres for Gene & Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Royal Holloway - University of London, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
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25
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Morgan J, Muntoni F. Changes in Myonuclear Number During Postnatal Growth -Implications for AAV Gene Therapy for Muscular Dystrophy. J Neuromuscul Dis 2021; 8:S317-S324. [PMID: 34334413 PMCID: PMC8673494 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-210683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Adult skeletal muscle is a relatively stable tissue, as the multinucleated muscle fibres contain post-mitotic myonuclei. During early postnatal life, muscle growth occurs by the addition of skeletal muscle stem cells (satellite cells) or their progeny to growing muscle fibres. In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which we shall use as an example of muscular dystrophies, the muscle fibres lack dystrophin and undergo necrosis. Satellite-cell mediated regeneration occurs, to repair and replace the necrotic muscle fibres, but as the regenerated muscle fibres still lack dystrophin, they undergo further cycles of degeneration and regeneration.AAV gene therapy is a promising approach for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy. But for a single dose of, for example, AAV coding for dystrophin, to be effective, the treated myonuclei must persist, produce sufficient dystrophin and a sufficient number of nuclei must be targeted. This latter point is crucial as AAV vector remains episomal and does not replicate in dividing cells. Here, we describe and compare the growth of skeletal muscle in rodents and in humans and discuss the evidence that myofibre necrosis and regeneration leads to the loss of viral genomes within skeletal muscle. In addition, muscle growth is expected to lead to the dilution of the transduced nuclei especially in case of very early intervention, but it is not clear if growth could result in insufficient dystrophin to prevent muscle fibre breakdown. This should be the focus of future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Morgan
- The Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,National Institute for Health Research, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Francesco Muntoni
- The Dubowitz Neuromuscular Centre, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK.,National Institute for Health Research, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, UK
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26
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Meng Y, Sun D, Qin Y, Dong X, Luo G, Liu Y. Cell-penetrating peptides enhance the transduction of adeno-associated virus serotype 9 in the central nervous system. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 21:28-41. [PMID: 33768127 PMCID: PMC7960505 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) have been widely used in the gene therapy field for decades. However, because of the challenge of effectively delivering rAAV vectors through the blood-brain barrier (BBB), their applications for treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases are quite limited. In this study, we found that several cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) can significantly enhance the in vitro transduction efficiency of AAV serotype 9 (AAV9), a promising AAV vector for treatment of CNS diseases, the best of which was the LAH4 peptide. The enhancement of AAV9 transduction by LAH4 relied on binding of the AAV9 capsid to the peptide. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the LAH4 peptide increased the AAV9 transduction in the CNS in vitro and in vivo after systemic administration. Taken together, our results suggest that CPP peptides can interact directly with AAV9 and increase the ability of this AAV vector to cross the BBB, which further induces higher expression of target genes in the brain. Our study will help to improve the applications of AAV gene delivery vectors for the treatment of CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Meng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Dong Sun
- Institute of Translational Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Yiyan Qin
- Institute of Translational Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Xiaoyi Dong
- Institute of Translational Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
| | - Guangzuo Luo
- Institute of Translational Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
- Corresponding author: Guangzuo Luo, Institute of Translational Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China.
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110122, China
- Corresponding author: Ying Liu, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, China Medical University, Shenyang, 110122, China.
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27
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Saeb S, Ravanshad M, Pourkarim MR, Daouad F, Baesi K, Rohr O, Wallet C, Schwartz C. Brain HIV-1 latently-infected reservoirs targeted by the suicide gene strategy. Virol J 2021; 18:107. [PMID: 34059075 PMCID: PMC8166011 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01584-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Reducing the pool of HIV-1 reservoirs in patients is a must to achieve functional cure. The most prominent HIV-1 cell reservoirs are resting CD4 + T cells and brain derived microglial cells. Infected microglial cells are believed to be the source of peripheral tissues reseedings and the emergence of drug resistance. Clearing infected cells from the brain is therefore crucial. However, many characteristics of microglial cells and the central nervous system make extremely difficult their eradication from brain reservoirs. Current methods, such as the "shock and kill", the "block and lock" and gene editing strategies cannot override these difficulties. Therefore, new strategies have to be designed when considering the elimination of brain reservoirs. We set up an original gene suicide strategy using latently infected microglial cells as model cells. In this paper we provide proof of concept of this strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sepideh Saeb
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
- University of Strasbourg, Research Unit 7292, DHPI, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France
| | - Mehrdad Ravanshad
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mahmoud Reza Pourkarim
- KU Leuven, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Division of Clinical and Epidemiological Virology, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Fadoua Daouad
- University of Strasbourg, Research Unit 7292, DHPI, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France
| | - Kazem Baesi
- Hepatitis and AIDS Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Olivier Rohr
- University of Strasbourg, Research Unit 7292, DHPI, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France
| | - Clémentine Wallet
- University of Strasbourg, Research Unit 7292, DHPI, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France
| | - Christian Schwartz
- University of Strasbourg, Research Unit 7292, DHPI, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France.
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28
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Tang F, Wong H, Ng CM. Rational Clinical Dose Selection of Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Gene Therapy Based on Allometric Principles. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2021; 110:803-807. [PMID: 33884615 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.2269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
One of the challenges in translational medicine is to select first-in-human doses of investigational drugs based on findings in preclinical studies. Despite substantial progress in the optimization of recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors of in vivo gene therapy for treating various diseases, there remain significant limitations to the use of preclinical data to guide dose selection in clinical trials. Here we introduce a novel concept of gene efficiency factor (GEF) to describe the efficiency of the gene transfer system and describe and apply the concept of GEF in AAV-mediated in vivo gene transfer systems. We explore the utility of allometric scaling to translate GEF across species using AAV-mediated in vivo factor IX (FIX) gene therapy for hemophilia B and to demonstrate the use of GEF in predicting efficacious AAV vector doses in humans. We show for the first time that an allometric relationship exists for GEF of AAV-mediated in vivo gene therapy. Furthermore, we demonstrate the feasibility of using the allometric relationship of GEF to select efficacious first-in-human doses of virus-mediated invivo gene therapy. Based on our findings, allometry of GEF can be used to translate biological efficiency from animal studies to clinical studies and provide a rational basis of setting first-in-human doses for new virus-mediated invivo gene therapy products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Tang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Harvey Wong
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Chee M Ng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA.,NewGround Pharmaceutical Consulting LLC, Foster City, California, USA
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29
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Soukupová M, Zucchini S, Trempat P, Ingusci S, Perrier-Biollay C, Barbieri M, Cattaneo S, Bettegazzi B, Falzoni S, Berthommé H, Simonato M. Improvement of HSV-1 based amplicon vectors for a safe and long-lasting gene therapy in non-replicating cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 21:399-412. [PMID: 33869657 PMCID: PMC8044385 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
A key factor for developing gene therapy strategies for neurological disorders is the availability of suitable vectors. Currently, the most advanced are adeno-associated vectors that, while being safe and ensuring long-lasting transgene expression, have a very limited cargo capacity. In contrast, herpes simplex virus-based amplicon vectors can host huge amounts of foreign DNA, but concerns exist about their safety and ability to express transgenes long-term. We aimed at modulating and prolonging amplicon-induced transgene expression kinetics in vivo using different promoters and preventing transgene silencing. To pursue the latter, we deleted bacterial DNA sequences derived from vector construction and shielded the transgene cassette using AT-rich and insulator-like sequences (SAm technology). We employed luciferase and GFP as reporter genes. To determine transgene expression kinetics, we injected vectors in the hippocampus of mice that were longitudinally scanned for bioluminescence for 6 months. To evaluate safety, we analyzed multiple markers of damage and performed patch clamp electrophysiology experiments. All vectors proved safe, and we managed to modulate the duration of transgene expression, up to obtaining a stable, long-lasting expression using the SAm technology. Therefore, these amplicon vectors represent a flexible, efficient, and safe tool for gene delivery in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Soukupová
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.,Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Pascal Trempat
- Bioviron, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Selene Ingusci
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Mario Barbieri
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Stefano Cattaneo
- School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Bettegazzi
- School of Medicine, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Simonetta Falzoni
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pathology, Oncology and Experimental Biology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Hervé Berthommé
- Bioviron, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69100 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, Section of Pharmacology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, 20132 Milan, Italy
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30
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Chen W, Yao S, Wan J, Tian Y, Huang L, Wang S, Akter F, Wu Y, Yao Y, Zhang X. BBB-crossing adeno-associated virus vector: An excellent gene delivery tool for CNS disease treatment. J Control Release 2021; 333:129-138. [PMID: 33775685 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) remains a challenge in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, as it hinders the infiltration of many therapeutic drugs into the brain parenchyma. Therefore, developing efficacious pharmacological agents that can traverse the BBB is crucial for optimal treatment of diseases of the CNS such as neurodegenerative conditions and brain tumors. Adeno-associated virus (AAV), one of the most promising gene therapy vectors, has been shown to cross the BBB safely and is non-pathogenic in nature and therefore has been utilized for numerous diseases of the CNS. Along with the development of protein engineering techniques such as directed evolution including DNA shuffling, a great number of BBB-crossing AAVs have been developed, that could be systemically injected for therapeutic benefit. In this review, we discuss several feasible approaches to improve transportation of therapeutic agents to the CNS. We also discuss the advantages of using BBB-crossing AAVs, their role as a gene delivery agent and highlight the different types of BBB-AAV vectors that have been developed in order to provide a greater insight into how they can be used in diseases of the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenli Chen
- Center for Pituitary Tumor Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shun Yao
- Center for Pituitary Tumor Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China; Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jie Wan
- Department of Immunology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Yu Tian
- Department of Immunology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Lan Huang
- Department of Immunology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
| | - Shanshan Wang
- Department of TCM, Yangzhou Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Yangzhou 225600, China
| | - Farhana Akter
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yinqiu Wu
- Department of Immunology, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China; School of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225600, China; Department of Nuclear Medicine, Yangzhou Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Yangzhou 225600, China
| | - Yizheng Yao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Xiaochun Zhang
- School of Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225600, China; Department of Oncology, Yangzhou Traditional Chinese Medical Hospital, Yangzhou 225600, China.
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31
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Bankoti K, Generotti C, Hwa T, Wang L, O'Malley BW, Li D. Advances and challenges in adeno-associated viral inner-ear gene therapy for sensorineural hearing loss. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 21:209-236. [PMID: 33850952 PMCID: PMC8010215 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
There is growing attention and effort focused on treating the root cause of sensorineural hearing loss rather than managing associated secondary characteristic features. With recent substantial advances in understanding sensorineural hearing-loss mechanisms, gene delivery has emerged as a promising strategy for the biological treatment of hearing loss associated with genetic dysfunction. There are several successful and promising proof-of-principle examples of transgene deliveries in animal models; however, there remains substantial further progress to be made in these avenues before realizing their clinical application in humans. Herein, we review different aspects of development, ongoing preclinical studies, and challenges to the clinical transition of transgene delivery of the inner ear toward the restoration of lost auditory and vestibular function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamakshi Bankoti
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Charles Generotti
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Tiffany Hwa
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Lili Wang
- Department of Medicine, Gene Therapy Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bert W O'Malley
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daqing Li
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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32
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Levy G, Barak B. Postnatal therapeutic approaches in genetic neurodevelopmental disorders. Neural Regen Res 2021; 16:414-422. [PMID: 32985459 PMCID: PMC7996025 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.293133] [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: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic neurodevelopmental disorders are characterized by abnormal neurophysiological and behavioral phenotypes, affecting individuals worldwide. While the subject has been heavily researched, current treatment options relate mostly to alleviating symptoms, rather than targeting the altered genome itself. In this review, we address the neurogenetic basis of neurodevelopmental disorders, genetic tools that are enabling precision research of these disorders in animal models, and postnatal gene-therapy approaches for neurodevelopmental disorders derived from preclinical studies in the laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gilad Levy
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Boaz Barak
- The Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- The School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Social Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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33
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Weber-Adrian D, Kofoed RH, Silburt J, Noroozian Z, Shah K, Burgess A, Rideout S, Kügler S, Hynynen K, Aubert I. Systemic AAV6-synapsin-GFP administration results in lower liver biodistribution, compared to AAV1&2 and AAV9, with neuronal expression following ultrasound-mediated brain delivery. Sci Rep 2021; 11:1934. [PMID: 33479314 PMCID: PMC7820310 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-81046-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-surgical gene delivery to the brain can be achieved following intravenous injection of viral vectors coupled with transcranial MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRIgFUS) to temporarily and locally permeabilize the blood-brain barrier. Vector and promoter selection can provide neuronal expression in the brain, while limiting biodistribution and expression in peripheral organs. To date, the biodistribution of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) within peripheral organs had not been quantified following intravenous injection and MRIgFUS delivery to the brain. We evaluated the quantity of viral DNA from the serotypes AAV9, AAV6, and a mosaic AAV1&2, expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the neuron-specific synapsin promoter (syn). AAVs were administered intravenously during MRIgFUS targeting to the striatum and hippocampus in mice. The syn promoter led to undetectable levels of GFP expression in peripheral organs. In the liver, the biodistribution of AAV9 and AAV1&2 was 12.9- and 4.4-fold higher, respectively, compared to AAV6. The percentage of GFP-positive neurons in the FUS-targeted areas of the brain was comparable for AAV6-syn-GFP and AAV1&2-syn-GFP. In summary, MRIgFUS-mediated gene delivery with AAV6-syn-GFP had lower off-target biodistribution in the liver compared to AAV9 and AAV1&2, while providing neuronal GFP expression in the striatum and hippocampus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Weber-Adrian
- grid.410356.50000 0004 1936 8331Present Address: Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Queen′s University, Kingston, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Biological Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Rikke Hahn Kofoed
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Biological Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Joseph Silburt
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Biological Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Zeinab Noroozian
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Biological Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Kairavi Shah
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Institute of Medical Sciences, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Alison Burgess
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Shawna Rideout
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Sebastian Kügler
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Neurology, Center Nanoscale Microscopy and Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB) at University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kullervo Hynynen
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Physical Sciences, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Department of Medical Biophysics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
| | - Isabelle Aubert
- grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Biological Sciences, Hurvitz Brain Sciences Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON Canada ,grid.17063.330000 0001 2157 2938Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON Canada
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34
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Soetens E, Ballegeer M, Saelens X. An Inside Job: Applications of Intracellular Single Domain Antibodies. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10121663. [PMID: 33322697 PMCID: PMC7764588 DOI: 10.3390/biom10121663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Sera of camelid species contain a special kind of antibody that consists only of heavy chains. The variable antigen binding domain of these heavy chain antibodies can be expressed as a separate entity, called a single domain antibody that is characterized by its small size, high solubility and oftentimes exceptional stability. Because of this, most single domain antibodies fold correctly when expressed in the reducing environment of the cytoplasm, and thereby retain their antigen binding specificity. Single domain antibodies can thus be used to target a broad range of intracellular proteins. Such intracellular single domain antibodies are also known as intrabodies, and have proven to be highly useful tools for basic research by allowing visualization, disruption and even targeted degradation of intracellular proteins. Furthermore, intrabodies can be used to uncover prospective new therapeutic targets and have the potential to be applied in therapeutic settings in the future. In this review we provide a brief overview of recent advances in the field of intracellular single domain antibodies, focusing on their use as research tools and potential therapeutic applications. Special attention is given to the available methods that allow delivery of single domain antibodies into cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline Soetens
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium; (E.S.); (M.B.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Marlies Ballegeer
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium; (E.S.); (M.B.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Xavier Saelens
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, B-9052 Ghent, Belgium; (E.S.); (M.B.)
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Correspondence:
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35
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Sherif AY, Harisa GI, Alanazi FK, Youssof AME. Engineering of Exosomes: Steps Towards Green Production of Drug Delivery System. Curr Drug Targets 2020; 20:1537-1549. [PMID: 31309889 DOI: 10.2174/1389450120666190715104100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2019] [Revised: 06/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Targeting of therapeutic agents to their specific site of action not only increases the treatment efficacy, but also reduces systemic toxicity. Therefore, various drug delivery systems (DDSs) have been developed to achieve this target. However, most of those DDSs have several issues regarding biocompatibility and environmental hazard. In contrast to the synthetic DDSs, exosome-based natural carriers are biocompatible, biodegradable and safe for the environment. Since exosomes play a role in intercellular communication, they have been widely utilized as carriers for different therapeutic agents. This article was aimed to provide an overview of exosomes as an environment-friendly DDS in terms of engineering, isolation, characterization, application and limitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelrahman Y Sherif
- Kayyali Chair for Pharmaceutical Industry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Gamaleldin I Harisa
- Kayyali Chair for Pharmaceutical Industry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Biochemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Fars K Alanazi
- Kayyali Chair for Pharmaceutical Industry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah M E Youssof
- Kayyali Chair for Pharmaceutical Industry, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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36
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Zhao J, Yue Y, Patel A, Wasala L, Karp JF, Zhang K, Duan D, Lai Y. High-Resolution Histological Landscape of AAV DNA Distribution in Cellular Compartments and Tissues following Local and Systemic Injection. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2020; 18:856-868. [PMID: 32953935 PMCID: PMC7479330 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is one of the most important gene delivery vehicles for in vivo gene therapy. Intramuscular (i.m.) and intravascular (i.v.) injection are commonly used for AAV gene transfer. Unfortunately, the fate of AAV vectors following administration remains unclear at the histological level. Taking advantage of RNAscope, a recently developed in situ hybridization technique that can reveal high-resolution viral DNA localization information, in this study, we evaluated body-wide distribution of an AAV9 vector in the context of the cell and tissue microenvironments. We observed distinctive kinetics of cell and nuclear entry of the AAV DNA in striated muscle and liver following i.m. and i.v. injection. We also found characteristic distribution patterns of the AAV DNA in various histological structures in internal organs, including gonads and lymph nodes, following i.v. injection. Finally, we showed significantly body-wide spreading of the AAV DNA following i.m. injection. These results add a new dimension to our understanding of AAV transduction biology and provide a basis for assessing the full impact of AAV gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junling Zhao
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Yongping Yue
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Aman Patel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Lakmini Wasala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Jacob F. Karp
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Keqing Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Yi Lai
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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37
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Hakim CH, Clément N, Wasala LP, Yang HT, Yue Y, Zhang K, Kodippili K, Adamson-Small L, Pan X, Schneider JS, Yang NN, Chamberlain JS, Byrne BJ, Duan D. Micro-dystrophin AAV Vectors Made by Transient Transfection and Herpesvirus System Are Equally Potent in Treating mdx Mouse Muscle Disease. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2020; 18:664-678. [PMID: 32775499 PMCID: PMC7403893 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [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: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Vector production scale-up is a major barrier in systemic adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy. Many scalable manufacturing methods have been developed. However, the potency of the vectors generated by these methods has rarely been compared with vectors made by transient transfection (TT), the most commonly used method in preclinical studies. In this study, we blindly compared therapeutic efficacy of an AAV9 micro-dystrophin vector generated by the TT method and scalable herpes simplex virus (HSV) system in a Duchenne muscular dystrophy mouse model. AAV was injected intravenously at 5 × 1014 (high), 5 × 1013 (medium), or 5 × 1012 (low) viral genomes (vg)/kg. Comparable levels of micro-dystrophin expression were observed at each dose in a dose-dependent manner irrespective of the manufacturing method. Vector biodistribution was similar in mice injected with either the TT or the HSV method AAV. Evaluation of muscle degeneration/regeneration showed equivalent protection by vectors made by either method in a dose-dependent manner. Muscle function was similarly improved in a dose-dependent manner irrespective of the vector production method. No apparent toxicity was observed in any mouse. Collectively, our results suggest that the biological potency of the AAV micro-dystrophin vector made by the scalable HSV method is comparable to that made by the TT method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chady H. Hakim
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Nathalie Clément
- Department of Pediatrics, Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lakmini P. Wasala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Hsiao T. Yang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Yongping Yue
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Keqing Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Kasun Kodippili
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Laura Adamson-Small
- Department of Pediatrics, Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Xiufang Pan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | | | - N. Nora Yang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jeffrey S. Chamberlain
- Department of Neurology, Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Specialized Research Center, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Barry J. Byrne
- Department of Pediatrics, Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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38
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Carneiro A, Lee H, Lin L, van Haasteren J, Schaffer DV. Novel Lung Tropic Adeno-Associated Virus Capsids for Therapeutic Gene Delivery. Hum Gene Ther 2020; 31:996-1009. [PMID: 32799685 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Efforts to identify mutations that underlie inherited genetic diseases combined with strides in the development of gene therapy vectors over the last three decades have culminated in the approval of several adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies. Genetic diseases that manifest in the lung such as cystic fibrosis (CF) and surfactant deficiencies, however, have so far proven to be elusive targets. Early clinical trials in CF using AAV serotype 2 (AAV2) achieved safety, but not efficacy endpoints; however, importantly, these studies provided critical information on barriers that need to be surmounted to translate AAV lung gene therapy toward clinical success. Bolstered with an improved understanding of AAV biology and more clinically relevant lung models, next-generation molecular biology and bioinformatics approaches have given rise to novel AAV capsid variants that offer improvements in transduction efficiency, immunological profile, and the ability to circumvent physical barriers in the lung such as mucus. This review discusses the principal limiting barriers to clinical success in lung gene therapy and focuses on novel engineered AAV capsid variants that have been developed to overcome those challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Carneiro
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Hyuncheol Lee
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Li Lin
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Joost van Haasteren
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - David V Schaffer
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,Innovative Genomics Institute (IGI), University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
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39
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Yin S, Ma L, Shao T, Zhang M, Guan Y, Wang L, Hu Y, Chen X, Han H, Shen N, Qiu W, Geng H, Yu Y, Li S, Yu W, Liu M, Li D. Enhanced genome editing to ameliorate a genetic metabolic liver disease through co-delivery of adeno-associated virus receptor. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2020; 65:718-730. [PMID: 32815069 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-020-1744-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Genome editing through adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors is a promising gene therapy strategy for various diseases, especially genetic disorders. However, homologous recombination (HR) efficiency is extremely low in adult animal models. We assumed that increasing AAV transduction efficiency could increase genome editing activity, especially HR efficiency, for in vivo gene therapy. Firstly, a mouse phenylketonuria (PKU) model carrying a pathogenic R408W mutation in phenylalanine hydroxylase (Pah) was generated. Through co-delivery of the general AAV receptor (AAVR), we found that AAVR could dramatically increase AAV transduction efficiency in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, co-delivery of SaCas9/sgRNA/donor templates with AAVR via AAV8 vectors increased indel rate over 2-fold and HR rate over 15-fold for the correction of the single mutation in PahR408W mice. Moreover, AAVR co-injection successfully increased the site-specific insertion rate of a 1.4 kb Pah cDNA by 11-fold, bringing the HR rate up to 7.3% without detectable global off-target effects. Insertion of Pah cDNA significantly decreased the Phe level and ameliorated PKU symptoms. This study demonstrates a novel strategy to dramatically increase AAV transduction which substantially enhanced in vivo genome editing efficiency in adult animal models, showing clinical potential for both conventional and genome editing-based gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuming Yin
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Lie Ma
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Tingting Shao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Mei Zhang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yuting Guan
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Liren Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yaqiang Hu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Honghui Han
- Bioray Laboratories Inc., Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Nan Shen
- Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Wenjuan Qiu
- Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Hongquan Geng
- Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yongguo Yu
- Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Shichang Li
- College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Key Laboratory of Adolescent Health Assessment and Exercise Intervention, Ministry of Education, College of Physical Education and Health, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Weishi Yu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.,CIPHER GENE LLC, Beijing, 100089, China
| | - Mingyao Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Dali Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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40
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Macedo A, Gontijo AM. The intersectional genetics landscape for humans. Gigascience 2020; 9:giaa083. [PMID: 32761099 PMCID: PMC7407247 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giaa083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The human body is made up of hundreds-perhaps thousands-of cell types and states, most of which are currently inaccessible genetically. Intersectional genetic approaches can increase the number of genetically accessible cells, but the scope and safety of these approaches have not been systematically assessed. A typical intersectional method acts like an "AND" logic gate by converting the input of 2 or more active, yet unspecific, regulatory elements (REs) into a single cell type specific synthetic output. RESULTS Here, we systematically assessed the intersectional genetics landscape of the human genome using a subset of cells from a large RE usage atlas (Functional ANnoTation Of the Mammalian genome 5 consortium, FANTOM5) obtained by cap analysis of gene expression sequencing (CAGE-seq). We developed the heuristics and algorithms to retrieve and quality-rank "AND" gate intersections. Of the 154 primary cell types surveyed, >90% can be distinguished from each other with as few as 3 to 4 active REs, with quantifiable safety and robustness. We call these minimal intersections of active REs with cell-type diagnostic potential "versatile entry codes" (VEnCodes). Each of the 158 cancer cell types surveyed could also be distinguished from the healthy primary cell types with small VEnCodes, most of which were robust to intra- and interindividual variation. Methods for the cross-validation of CAGE-seq-derived VEnCodes and for the extraction of VEnCodes from pooled single-cell sequencing data are also presented. CONCLUSIONS Our work provides a systematic view of the intersectional genetics landscape in humans and demonstrates the potential of these approaches for future gene delivery technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andre Macedo
- Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua do Instituto Bacteriológico 5, 1150–190, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Alisson M Gontijo
- Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Rua do Instituto Bacteriológico 5, 1150–190, Lisbon, Portugal
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41
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Lee S, Dondzillo A, Gubbels SP, Raphael Y. Practical aspects of inner ear gene delivery for research and clinical applications. Hear Res 2020; 394:107934. [PMID: 32204962 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2020.107934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The application of gene therapy is widely expanding in research and continuously improving in preparation for clinical applications. The inner ear is an attractive target for gene therapy for treating environmental and genetic diseases in both the auditory and vestibular systems. With the lack of spontaneous cochlear hair cell replacement, hair cell regeneration in adult mammals is among the most important goals of gene therapy. In addition, correcting gene defects can open up a new era for treating inner ear diseases. The relative isolation and small size of the inner ear dictate local administration routes and carefully calculated small volumes of reagents. In the current review, we will cover effective timing, injection routes and types of vectors for successful gene delivery to specific target cells within the inner ear. Differences between research purposes and clinical applications are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sungsu Lee
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Anna Dondzillo
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Samuel P Gubbels
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Yehoash Raphael
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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42
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Wasala NB, Yue Y, Lostal W, Wasala LP, Niranjan N, Hajjar RJ, Babu GJ, Duan D. Single SERCA2a Therapy Ameliorated Dilated Cardiomyopathy for 18 Months in a Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Mol Ther 2020; 28:845-854. [PMID: 31981493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of dystrophin leads to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). A pathogenic feature of DMD is the significant elevation of cytosolic calcium. Supraphysiological calcium triggers protein degradation, membrane damage, and eventually muscle death and dysfunction. Sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium ATPase (SERCA) is a calcium pump that transports cytosolic calcium to the SR during excitation-contraction coupling. We hypothesize that a single systemic delivery of SERCA2a with adeno-associated virus (AAV) may improve calcium recycling and provide long-lasting benefits in DMD. To test this, we injected an AAV9 human SERCA2a vector (6 × 1012 viral genome particles/mouse) intravenously to 3-month-old mdx mice, the most commonly used DMD model. Immunostaining and western blot showed robust human SERCA2a expression in the heart and skeletal muscle for 18 months. Concomitantly, SR calcium uptake was significantly improved in these tissues. SERCA2a therapy significantly enhanced grip force and treadmill performance, completely prevented myocardial fibrosis, and normalized electrocardiograms (ECGs). Cardiac catheterization showed normalization of multiple systolic and diastolic hemodynamic parameters in treated mice. Importantly, chamber dilation was completely prevented, and ejection fraction was restored to the wild-type level. Our results suggest that a single systemic AAV9 SERCA2a therapy has the potential to provide long-lasting benefits for DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalinda B Wasala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Yongping Yue
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - William Lostal
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Lakmini P Wasala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Nandita Niranjan
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | | | - Gopal J Babu
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ 07103, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
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43
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Chen VP, Gao Y, Geng L, Steele M, Jenks N, Peng KW, Brimijoin S. Systemic Safety of a Recombinant AAV8 Vector for Human Cocaine Hydrolase Gene Therapy: A Good Laboratory Practice Preclinical Study in Mice. Hum Gene Ther 2020; 31:70-79. [PMID: 31650869 PMCID: PMC6985763 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2019.233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cocaine addiction continues to impose major burdens on affected individuals and broader society but is highly resistant to medical treatment or psychotherapy. This study was undertaken with the goal of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permission for a first-in-human clinical trial of a gene therapy for treatment-seeking cocaine users to become and remain abstinent. The approach was based on intravenous administration of AAV8-hCocH, an adeno-associated viral vector encoding a modified plasma enzyme that metabolizes cocaine into harmless by-products. To assess systemic safety, we conducted "Good Laboratory Practice" (GLP) studies in cocaine-experienced and cocaine-naive mice at doses of 5E12 and 5E13 vector genomes/kg. Results showed total lack of viral vector-related adverse effects in all tests performed. Instead, mice given one injection of AAV8-hCocH and regular daily injections of cocaine had far less tissue pathology than cocaine-injected mice with no vector treatment. Biodistribution analysis showed the vector located almost exclusively in the liver. These results indicate that a liver-directed AAV8-hCocH gene transfer at reasonable dosage is safe, well tolerated, and effective. Thus, gene transfer therapy emerges as a radically new approach to treat compulsive cocaine abuse. In fact, based on these positive findings, the FDA recently accepted our latest request for investigational new drug application (IND 18579).
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicky Ping Chen
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Liyi Geng
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Mike Steele
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Nathan Jenks
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Kah-Whye Peng
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Stephen Brimijoin
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota
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44
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Tulalamba W, Weinmann J, Pham QH, El Andari J, VandenDriessche T, Chuah MK, Grimm D. Distinct transduction of muscle tissue in mice after systemic delivery of AAVpo1 vectors. Gene Ther 2019; 27:170-179. [PMID: 31624368 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-019-0106-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The human musculature is a promising and pivotal target for human gene therapy, owing to numerous diseases that affect this tissue and that are often monogenic, making them amenable to treatment and potentially cure on the genetic level. Particularly attractive would be the possibility to deliver clinically relevant DNA to muscle tissue from a minimally invasive, intravenous vector delivery. To date, this aim has been approximated by the use of Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) of different serotypes (rh.74, 8, 9) that are effective, but unfortunately not specific to the muscle and hence not ideal for use in patients. Here, we have thus studied the muscle tropism and activity of another AAV serotype, AAVpo1, that was previously isolated from pigs and found to efficiently transduce muscle following direct intramuscular injection in mice. The new data reported here substantiate the usefulness of AAVpo1 for muscle gene therapies by showing, for the first time, its ability to robustly transduce all major muscle tissues, including heart and diaphragm, from peripheral infusion. Importantly, in stark contrast to AAV9 that forms the basis for ongoing clinical gene therapy trials in the muscle, AAVpo1 is nearly completely detargeted from the liver, making it a very attractive and potentially safer option.
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Affiliation(s)
- Warut Tulalamba
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), B-1050, Brussels, Belgium.,Research Division, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, 10700, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jonas Weinmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, BioQuant Center, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Boehringer Ingelheim Pharma GmbH & Co. KG, Drug Discovery Sciences, Birkendorfer Straße 65, 88400, Biberach an der Riß, Germany
| | - Quang Hong Pham
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), B-1050, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jihad El Andari
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, BioQuant Center, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thierry VandenDriessche
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), B-1050, Brussels, Belgium. .,Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular & Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Marinee K Chuah
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), B-1050, Brussels, Belgium. .,Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, Center for Molecular & Vascular Biology, University of Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, BioQuant Center, Heidelberg University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Boehler JF, Ricotti V, Gonzalez JP, Soustek-Kramer M, Such L, Brown KJ, Schneider JS, Morris CA. Membrane recruitment of nNOSµ in microdystrophin gene transfer to enhance durability. Neuromuscul Disord 2019; 29:735-741. [PMID: 31521486 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2019.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Several gene transfer clinical trials are currently ongoing with the common aim of delivering a shortened version of dystrophin, termed a microdystrophin, for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, one of the main differences between these trials is the microdystrophin protein produced following treatment. Each gene transfer product is based on different selections of dystrophin domain combinations to assemble microdystrophin transgenes that maintain functional dystrophin domains and fit within the packaging limits of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector. While domains involved in mechanical function, such as the actin-binding domain and β-dystroglycan binding domain, have been identified for many years and included in microdystrophin constructs, more recently the neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) domain has also been identified due to its role in enhancing nNOS membrane localization. As nNOS membrane localization has been established as an important requirement for prevention of functional ischemia in skeletal muscle, inclusion of the nNOS domain into a microdystrophin construct represents an important consideration. The aim of this mini review is to highlight what is currently known about the nNOS domain of dystrophin and to describe potential implications of this domain in a microdystrophin gene transfer clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica F Boehler
- Solid Biosciences, 141 Portland Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Valeria Ricotti
- Solid Biosciences, 141 Portland Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - J Patrick Gonzalez
- Solid Biosciences, 141 Portland Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | | | - Lauren Such
- Solid Biosciences, 141 Portland Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Kristy J Brown
- Solid Biosciences, 141 Portland Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Joel S Schneider
- Solid Biosciences, 141 Portland Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States
| | - Carl A Morris
- Solid Biosciences, 141 Portland Street, Cambridge, MA 02139, United States.
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46
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Nance ME, Shi R, Hakim CH, Wasala NB, Yue Y, Pan X, Zhang T, Robinson CA, Duan SX, Yao G, Yang NN, Chen SJ, Wagner KR, Gersbach CA, Duan D. AAV9 Edits Muscle Stem Cells in Normal and Dystrophic Adult Mice. Mol Ther 2019; 27:1568-1585. [PMID: 31327755 PMCID: PMC6731180 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2019.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR editing of muscle stem cells (MuSCs) with adeno-associated virus serotype-9 (AAV9) holds promise for sustained gene repair therapy for muscular dystrophies. However, conflicting evidence exists on whether AAV9 transduces MuSCs. To rigorously address this question, we used a muscle graft model. The grafted muscle underwent complete necrosis before regenerating from its MuSCs. We injected AAV9.Cre into Ai14 mice. These mice express tdTomato upon Cre-mediated removal of a floxed stop codon. About 28%-47% and 24%-89% of Pax7+ MuSCs expressed tdTomato in pre-grafts and regenerated grafts (p > 0.05), respectively, suggesting AAV9 efficiently transduced MuSCs, and AAV9-edited MuSCs renewed successfully. Robust MuSC transduction was further confirmed by delivering AAV9.Cre to Pax7-ZsGreen-Ai14 mice in which Pax7+ MuSCs are genetically labeled by ZsGreen. Next, we co-injected AAV9.Cas9 and AAV9.gRNA to dystrophic mdx mice to repair the mutated dystrophin gene. CRISPR-treated and untreated muscles were grafted to immune-deficient, dystrophin-null NSG.mdx4cv mice. Grafts regenerated from CRISPR-treated muscle contained the edited genome and yielded 2.7-fold more dystrophin+ cells (p = 0.015). Importantly, increased dystrophin expression was not due to enhanced formation of revertant fibers or de novo transduction by residual CRISPR vectors in the graft. We conclude that AAV9 effectively transduces MuSCs. AAV9 CRISPR editing of MuSCs may provide enduring therapy.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats
- Dependovirus/genetics
- Disease Models, Animal
- Dystrophin/chemistry
- Dystrophin/genetics
- Gene Editing
- Gene Expression
- Gene Transfer Techniques
- Genes, Reporter
- Genetic Vectors/genetics
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Muscle, Skeletal/metabolism
- Muscle, Skeletal/pathology
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/genetics
- Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/therapy
- Myoblasts/metabolism
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics
- Regeneration
- Satellite Cells, Skeletal Muscle/metabolism
- Transduction, Genetic
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael E Nance
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Ruicheng Shi
- Department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Chady H Hakim
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Nalinda B Wasala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Yongping Yue
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Xiufang Pan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Tracy Zhang
- The Hugo W. Moser Research Institute, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Carolyn A Robinson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Sean X Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Gang Yao
- Department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - N Nora Yang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Shi-Jie Chen
- Department of Physics, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Kathryn R Wagner
- The Hugo W. Moser Research Institute, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA; Department of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Charles A Gersbach
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; Department of Biomedical, Biological and Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA; Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA.
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47
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Pan X, Sands SA, Yue Y, Zhang K, LeVine SM, Duan D. An Engineered Galactosylceramidase Construct Improves AAV Gene Therapy for Krabbe Disease in Twitcher Mice. Hum Gene Ther 2019; 30:1039-1051. [PMID: 31184217 PMCID: PMC6761594 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2019.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Krabbe disease is an inherited neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the galactosylceramidase gene. In the infantile form, patients die before 3 years of age. Systemic adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) gene therapy was recently shown to reverse the disease course in human patients in another lethal infantile neurodegenerative disease. To explore AAV9 therapy for Krabbe disease, we engineered a codon-optimized AAV9 galactosylceramidase vector. We further incorporated features to allow AAV9-derived galactosylceramidase to more efficiently cross the blood-brain barrier and be secreted from transduced cells. We tested the optimized vector by a single systemic injection in the twitcher mouse, an authentic Krabbe disease model. Untreated twitcher mice showed characteristic neuropathology and motion defects. They died prematurely with a median life span of 41 days. Intravenous injection in 2-day-old twitcher mice reduced central and peripheral neuropathology and significantly improved the gait pattern and body weight. Noticeably, the median life span was extended to 150 days. Intraperitoneal injection in 6- to 12-day-old twitcher mice also significantly improved the motor function, body weight, and median life span (to 104 days). Our results far exceed the ≤70 days median life span seen in all reported stand-alone systemic AAV therapies. Our study highlights the importance of vector engineering for Krabbe disease gene therapy. The engineered vector warrants further development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiufang Pan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Scott A. Sands
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Yongping Yue
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Keqing Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Steven M. LeVine
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
- Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
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48
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Ingusci S, Verlengia G, Soukupova M, Zucchini S, Simonato M. Gene Therapy Tools for Brain Diseases. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:724. [PMID: 31312139 PMCID: PMC6613496 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorders affecting the central nervous system (CNS) are still incompletely understood. Many of these disorders lack a cure and are seeking more specific and effective treatments. In fact, in spite of advancements in knowledge of the CNS function, the treatment of neurological disorders with modern medical and surgical approaches remains difficult for many reasons, such as the complexity of the CNS, the limited regenerative capacity of the tissue, and the difficulty in conveying conventional drugs to the organ due to the blood-brain barrier. Gene therapy, allowing the delivery of genetic materials that encodes potential therapeutic molecules, represents an attractive option. Gene therapy can result in a stable or inducible expression of transgene(s), and can allow a nearly specific expression in target cells. In this review, we will discuss the most commonly used tools for the delivery of genetic material in the CNS, including viral and non-viral vectors; their main applications; their advantages and disadvantages. We will discuss mechanisms of genetic regulation through cell-specific and inducible promoters, which allow to express gene products only in specific cells and to control their transcriptional activation. In addition, we will describe the applications to CNS diseases of post-transcriptional regulation systems (RNA interference); of systems allowing spatial or temporal control of expression [optogenetics and Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs)]; and of gene editing technologies (CRISPR/Cas9, Zinc finger proteins). Particular attention will be reserved to viral vectors derived from herpes simplex type 1, a potential tool for the delivery and expression of multiple transgene cassettes simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Ingusci
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gianluca Verlengia
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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49
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Ellsworth JL, O'Callaghan M, Rubin H, Seymour A. Low Seroprevalence of Neutralizing Antibodies Targeting Two Clade F AAV in Humans. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2019; 29:60-67. [PMID: 29624457 DOI: 10.1089/humc.2017.239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
To assess the therapeutic utility of AAVHSC15 and AAVHSC17, two recently described Clade F adeno-associated viruses (AAVs), the seroprevalence of neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) to these AAVs was assessed in a representative human population and compared to that of AAV9. NAb levels were measured in 100 unique human sera of different races (34, Black, 33 Caucasian, and 33 Hispanic) and sex (49% female, 51% male) collected within the United States. Fifty-six sera were tested in Huh7 cells and 44 sera were tested in 2V6.11 cells with vectors packaged with either a CMV-promoter upstream of LacZ or a CBA-promoter upstream of Firefly Luciferase, respectively. For AAVHSC15, AAVHSC17, and AAV9, 24/100 (24%), 21/100 (21%), and 17/100 (17%), respectively, of all sera tested were seropositive for NAbs using 50% inhibition of cellular transduction at a 1/16 dilution of serum as cutoff for seropositivity. Only 6% of positive sera had titers of 1/150 to 1/340, indicating that the majority of positive sera were of low titer. Significant cross-reactivity of NAbs across all three AAV serotypes was observed. These data show that approximately 80% of humans evaluated were seronegative for pre-existing NAbs to the AAV serotypes tested, suggesting that the vast majority of human subjects would be amenable to therapeutic intervention with Clade F AAVs.
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50
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Wasala LP, Hakim CH, Yue Y, Yang NN, Duan D. Systemic Delivery of Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors in Mice and Dogs. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1937:281-294. [PMID: 30706404 PMCID: PMC6690205 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9065-8_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Many diseases affect multiple tissues and/or organ systems, or affect tissues that are broadly distributed. For these diseases, an effective gene therapy will require systemic delivery of the therapeutic vector to all affected locations. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has been used as a gene therapy vector for decades in preclinical studies and human trials. These studies have shown outstanding safety and efficacy of the AAV vector for gene therapy. Recent studies have revealed yet another unique feature of the AAV vector. Specifically, AAV can lead to bodywide gene transfer following a single intravascular injection. Here we describe the protocols for effective systemic delivery of AAV in both neonatal and adult mice and dogs. We also share lessons we learned from systemic gene therapy in the murine and canine models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lakmini P Wasala
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Chady H Hakim
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Yongping Yue
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - N Nora Yang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.
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