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Vargas-López V, Prada LF, Alméciga-Díaz CJ. Evidence of epigenetic landscape shifts in mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB and IVA. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3961. [PMID: 38368436 PMCID: PMC10874391 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54626-4] [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: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) are a group of monogenic diseases characterized by mutations in genes coding for proteins associated with the lysosomal function. Despite the monogenic nature, LSDs patients exhibit variable and heterogeneous clinical manifestations, prompting investigations into epigenetic factors underlying this phenotypic diversity. In this study, we focused on the potential role of epigenetic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB (MPS IIIB) and mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA). We analyzed DNA methylation (5mC) and histone modifications (H3K14 acetylation and H3K9 trimethylation) in MPS IIIB and MPS IVA patients' fibroblasts and healthy controls. The findings revealed that global DNA hypomethylation is present in cell lines for both diseases. At the same time, histone acetylation was increased in MPS IIIB and MPS IVA cells in a donor-dependent way, further indicating a shift towards relaxed open chromatin in these MPS. Finally, the constitutive heterochromatin marker, histone H3K9 trimethylation, only showed reduced clustering in MPS IIIB cells, suggesting limited alterations in heterochromatin organization. These findings collectively emphasize the significance of epigenetic mechanisms in modulating the phenotypic variations observed in LSDs. While global DNA hypomethylation could contribute to the MPS pathogenesis, the study also highlights individual-specific epigenetic responses that might contribute to phenotypic heterogeneity. Further research into the specific genes and pathways affected by these epigenetic changes could provide insights into potential therapeutic interventions for these MPS and other LSDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Vargas-López
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Faculty of Science, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cra. 7 No. 43-82 Edificio 54, Laboratorio 305A, Bogotá D.C., 110231, Colombia
| | - Luisa F Prada
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Faculty of Science, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cra. 7 No. 43-82 Edificio 54, Laboratorio 305A, Bogotá D.C., 110231, Colombia
| | - Carlos J Alméciga-Díaz
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Faculty of Science, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cra. 7 No. 43-82 Edificio 54, Laboratorio 305A, Bogotá D.C., 110231, Colombia.
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Leal AF, Celik B, Fnu N, Khan S, Tomatsu S, Alméciga-Díaz CJ. Iron oxide-coupled CRISPR-nCas9-based genome editing assessment in mucopolysaccharidosis IVA mice. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 31:101153. [PMID: 38107675 PMCID: PMC10724691 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.101153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IVA is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by mutations in the GALNS gene that leads to the lysosomal accumulation of keratan sulfate (KS) and chondroitin 6-sulfate, causing skeletal dysplasia and cardiopulmonary complications. Current enzyme replacement therapy does not impact the bone manifestation of the disease, supporting that new therapeutic alternatives are required. We previously demonstrated the suitability of the CRISPR-nCas9 system to rescue the phenotype of human MPS IVA fibroblasts using iron oxide nanoparticles (IONPs) as non-viral vectors. Here, we have extended this strategy to an MPS IVA mouse model by inserting the human GALNS cDNA into the ROSA26 locus. The results showed increased GALNS activity, mono-KS reduction, partial recovery of the bone pathology, and non-IONPs-related toxicity or antibody-mediated immune response activation. This study provides, for the first time, in vivo evidence of the potential of a CRISPR-nCas9-based gene therapy strategy for treating MPS IVA using non-viral vectors as carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Felipe Leal
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Faculty of Science, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá DC 110231, Colombia
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Betul Celik
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Nidhi Fnu
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Shaukat Khan
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
| | - Shunji Tomatsu
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA
| | - Carlos Javier Alméciga-Díaz
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Faculty of Science, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá DC 110231, Colombia
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Leal AF, Alméciga-Díaz CJ, Tomatsu S. Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA: Current Disease Models and Drawbacks. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16148. [PMID: 38003337 PMCID: PMC10671113 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216148] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA) is a rare disorder caused by mutations in the N-acetylgalactosamine-6-sulfate-sulfatase (GALNS) encoding gene. GALNS leads to the lysosomal degradation of the glycosaminoglyccreasans keratan sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate. Impaired GALNS enzymes result in skeletal and non-skeletal complications in patients. For years, the MPS IVA pathogenesis and the assessment of promising drugs have been evaluated using in vitro (primarily fibroblasts) and in vivo (mainly mouse) models. Even though value information has been raised from those studies, these models have several limitations. For instance, chondrocytes have been well recognized as primary cells affected in MPS IVA and responsible for displaying bone development impairment in MPS IVA patients; nonetheless, only a few investigations have used those cells to evaluate basic and applied concepts. Likewise, current animal models are extensively represented by mice lacking GALNS expression; however, it is well known that MPS IVA mice do not recapitulate the skeletal dysplasia observed in humans, making some comparisons difficult. This manuscript reviews the current in vitro and in vivo MPS IVA models and their drawbacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Felipe Leal
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA;
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Faculty of Science, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
| | - Carlos Javier Alméciga-Díaz
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Faculty of Science, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, Colombia;
| | - Shunji Tomatsu
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA;
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu 501-1193, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA
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Lu X, Zhang M, Li G, Zhang S, Zhang J, Fu X, Sun F. Applications and Research Advances in the Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 Systems for the Treatment of Inherited Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13202. [PMID: 37686009 PMCID: PMC10487642 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241713202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid advancements in gene therapy have opened up new possibilities for treating genetic disorders, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, thalassemia, cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, and familial hypercholesterolemia. The utilization of the clustered, regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) system has revolutionized the field of gene therapy by enabling precise targeting of genes. In recent years, CRISPR/Cas9 has demonstrated remarkable efficacy in treating cancer and genetic diseases. However, the susceptibility of nucleic acid drugs to degradation by nucleic acid endonucleases necessitates the development of functional vectors capable of protecting the nucleic acids from enzymatic degradation while ensuring safety and effectiveness. This review explores the biomedical potential of non-viral vector-based CRISPR/Cas9 systems for treating genetic diseases. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive overview of recent advances in viral and non-viral vector-based gene therapy for genetic disorders, including preclinical and clinical study insights. Additionally, the review analyzes the current limitations of these delivery systems and proposes avenues for developing novel nano-delivery platforms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Fengying Sun
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China; (X.L.); (M.Z.); (G.L.); (S.Z.); (J.Z.); (X.F.)
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Leal AF, Alméciga-Díaz CJ. Efficient CRISPR/Cas9 nickase-mediated genome editing in an in vitro model of mucopolysaccharidosis IVA. Gene Ther 2023; 30:107-114. [PMID: 35581402 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-022-00344-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2022] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA (MPS IVA) is a lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) caused by mutations in gene encoding for GALNS enzyme. Lack of GALNS activity leads to the accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) keratan sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate. Although enzyme replacement therapy has been approved since 2014 for MPS IVA, still there is an unmet medical need to have improved therapies for this disorder. CRISPR/Cas9-based gene therapy has been tested for several LSDs with encouraging findings, but to date it has not been assayed on MPS IVA. In this work, we validated for the first time the use of CRISPR/Cas9, using a Cas9 nickase, for the knock-in of an expression cassette containing GALNS cDNA in an in vitro model of MPS IVA. The results showed the successful homologous recombination of the expression cassette into the AAVS1 locus, as well as a long-term increase in GALNS activity reaching up to 40% of wild-type levels. We also observed normalization of lysosomal mass, total GAGs, and oxidative stress, which are some of the major findings regarding the pathophysiological events in MPS IVA. These results represent a proof-of-concept of the use of CRISPR/Cas9 nickase strategy for the development of a novel therapeutic alternative for MPS IVA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés Felipe Leal
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Faculty of Science, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., 110231, Colombia
| | - Carlos Javier Alméciga-Díaz
- Institute for the Study of Inborn Errors of Metabolism, Faculty of Science, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá D.C., 110231, Colombia.
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Mucopolysaccharidoses: Cellular Consequences of Glycosaminoglycans Accumulation and Potential Targets. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:ijms24010477. [PMID: 36613919 PMCID: PMC9820209 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) constitute a heterogeneous group of lysosomal storage disorders characterized by the lysosomal accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Although lysosomal dysfunction is mainly affected, several cellular organelles such as mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, and their related process are also impaired, leading to the activation of pathophysiological cascades. While supplying missing enzymes is the mainstream for the treatment of MPS, including enzyme replacement therapy (ERT), hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), or gene therapy (GT), the use of modulators available to restore affected organelles for recovering cell homeostasis may be a simultaneous approach. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the cellular consequences of the lysosomal GAGs accumulation and discusses the use of potential modulators that can reestablish normal cell function beyond ERT-, HSCT-, or GT-based alternatives.
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Delivery and assessment of a CRISPR/nCas9-based genome editing system on in vitro models of mucopolysaccharidoses IVA assisted by magnetite-based nanoparticles. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15045. [PMID: 36057729 PMCID: PMC9440901 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19407-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis IV A (MPS IVA) is a lysosomal disorder caused by mutations in the GALNS gene. Consequently, the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) keratan sulfate and chondroitin 6-sulfate accumulate in the lysosomal lumen. Although enzyme replacement therapy has shown essential advantages for the patients, several challenges remain to overcome, such as the limited impact on the bone lesion and recovery of oxidative profile. Recently, we validated a CRISPR/nCas9-based gene therapy with promising results in an in vitro MPS IVA model. In this study, we have expanded the use of this CRISPR/nCas9 system to several MPS IVA fibroblasts carrying different GALNS mutations. Considering the latent need to develop more safety vectors for gene therapy, we co-delivered the CRISPR/nCas9 system with a novel non-viral vector based on magnetoliposomes (MLPs). We found that the CRISPR/nCas9 treatment led to an increase in enzyme activity between 5 and 88% of wild-type levels, as well as a reduction in GAGs accumulation, lysosomal mass, and mitochondrial-dependent oxidative stress, in a mutation-dependent manner. Noteworthy, MLPs allowed to obtain similar results to those observed with the conventional transfection agent lipofectamine. Overall, these results confirmed the potential of CRISPR/nCas9 as a genome editing tool for treating MPS IVA. We also demonstrated the potential use of MLPs as a novel delivery system for CRISPR/nCas9-based therapies.
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