1
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Kagiava A, Karaiskos C, Lapathitis G, Heslegrave A, Sargiannidou I, Zetterberg H, Bosch A, Kleopa KA. Gene replacement therapy in two Golgi-retained CMT1X mutants before and after the onset of demyelinating neuropathy. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 30:377-393. [PMID: 37645436 PMCID: PMC10460951 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1 (CMT1X) is a demyelinating neuropathy resulting from loss-of-function mutations affecting the GJB1/connexin 32 (Cx32) gene. We previously showed functional and morphological improvement in Gjb1-null mice following AAV9-mediated delivery of human Cx32 driven by the myelin protein zero (Mpz) promoter in Schwann cells. However, CMT1X mutants may interfere with virally delivered wild-type (WT) Cx32. To confirm the efficacy of this vector also in the presence of CMT1X mutants, we delivered AAV9-Mpz-GJB1 by lumbar intrathecal injection in R75W/Gjb1-null and N175D/Gjb1-null transgenic lines expressing Golgi-retained mutations, before and after the onset of the neuropathy. Widespread expression of virally delivered Cx32 was demonstrated in both genotypes. Re-establishment of WT Cx32 function resulted in improved muscle strength and increased sciatic nerve motor conduction velocities in all treated groups from both mutant lines when treated before as well as after the onset of the neuropathy. Furthermore, morphological analysis showed improvement of myelination and reduction of inflammation in lumbar motor roots and peripheral nerves. In conclusion, this study provides proof of principle for a clinically translatable gene therapy approach to treat CMT1X before and after the onset of the neuropathy, even in the presence of endogenously expressed Golgi-retained Cx32 mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexia Kagiava
- Neuroscience Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, 2371 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Christos Karaiskos
- Neuroscience Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, 2371 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - George Lapathitis
- Neuroscience Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, 2371 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Amanda Heslegrave
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Irene Sargiannidou
- Neuroscience Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, 2371 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London WC1E 6BT, UK
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, 40530 Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, 40530 Mölndal, Sweden
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA
| | - Assumpció Bosch
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Institute of Neurosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellatera, Spain
- Unitat Mixta UAB-VHIR, Vall d'Hebron Institut de Recerca (VHIR), 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red sobre Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 028029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Kleopas A. Kleopa
- Neuroscience Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, 2371 Nicosia, Cyprus
- Center for Neuromuscular Disorders, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics and Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine, 2371 Nicosia, Cyprus
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2
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Rufino-Ramos D, Lule S, Mahjoum S, Ughetto S, Cristopher Bragg D, Pereira de Almeida L, Breakefield XO, Breyne K. Using genetically modified extracellular vesicles as a non-invasive strategy to evaluate brain-specific cargo. Biomaterials 2022; 281:121366. [PMID: 35033904 PMCID: PMC8886823 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/25/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The lack of techniques to trace brain cell behavior in vivo hampers the ability to monitor status of cells in a living brain. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), nanosized membrane-surrounded vesicles, released by virtually all brain cells might be able to report their status in easily accessible biofluids, such as blood. EVs communicate among tissues using lipids, saccharides, proteins, and nucleic acid cargo that reflect the state and composition of their source cells. Currently, identifying the origin of brain-derived EVs has been challenging, as they consist of a rare population diluted in an overwhelming number of blood and peripheral tissue-derived EVs. Here, we developed a sensitive platform to select out pre-labelled brain-derived EVs in blood as a platform to study the molecular fingerprints of brain cells. This proof-of-principle study used a transducible construct tagging tetraspanin (TSN) CD63, a membrane-spanning hallmark of EVs equipped with affinity, bioluminescent, and fluorescent tags to increase detection sensitivity and robustness in capture of EVs secreted from pre-labelled cells into biofluids. Our platform enables unprecedented efficient isolation of neural EVs from the blood. These EVs derived from pre-labelled mouse brain cells or engrafted human neuronal progenitor cells (hNPCs) were submitted to multiplex analyses, including transcript and protein levels, in compliance with the multibiomolecule EV carriers. Overall, our novel strategy to track brain-derived EVs in a complex biofluid opens up new avenues to study EVs released from pre-labelled cells in near and distal compartments into the biofluid source.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Rufino-Ramos
- Neurology and Radiology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 13(th)Street, Building 149, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA; CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra, 3004-504, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3000-548, Portugal; CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Sevda Lule
- Neurology and Radiology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 13(th)Street, Building 149, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Shadi Mahjoum
- Neurology and Radiology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 13(th)Street, Building 149, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Stefano Ughetto
- Neurology and Radiology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 13(th)Street, Building 149, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - D Cristopher Bragg
- Neurology and Radiology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 13(th)Street, Building 149, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA; The Collaborative Center for X-linked Dystonia-Parkinsonism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- CNC-Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Coimbra, 3004-504, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, 3000-548, Portugal; CIBB-Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Xandra O Breakefield
- Neurology and Radiology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 13(th)Street, Building 149, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA
| | - Koen Breyne
- Neurology and Radiology Department, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 13(th)Street, Building 149, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA.
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3
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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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4
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AAV9-mediated Schwann cell-targeted gene therapy rescues a model of demyelinating neuropathy. Gene Ther 2021; 28:659-675. [PMID: 33692503 PMCID: PMC8599011 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-021-00250-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the GJB1 gene, encoding the gap junction (GJ) protein connexin32 (Cx32), cause X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT1X), an inherited demyelinating neuropathy. We developed a gene therapy approach for CMT1X using an AAV9 vector to deliver the GJB1/Cx32 gene under the myelin protein zero (Mpz) promoter for targeted expression in Schwann cells. Lumbar intrathecal injection of the AAV9-Mpz.GJB1 resulted in widespread biodistribution in the peripheral nervous system including lumbar roots, sciatic and femoral nerves, as well as in Cx32 expression in the paranodal non-compact myelin areas of myelinated fibers. A pre-, as well as post-onset treatment trial in Gjb1-null mice, demonstrated improved motor performance and sciatic nerve conduction velocities along with improved myelination and reduced inflammation in peripheral nerve tissues. Blood biomarker levels were also significantly ameliorated in treated mice. This study provides evidence that a clinically translatable AAV9-mediated gene therapy approach targeting Schwann cells could potentially treat CMT1X.
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5
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Andrews MR. Gene therapy in the CNS-one size does not fit all. Gene Ther 2020; 28:393-395. [PMID: 32978509 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-020-00196-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Melissa R Andrews
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO171BJ, UK.
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6
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Mancini G, Horvath TL. Viral Vectors for Studying Brain Mechanisms that Control Energy Homeostasis. Cell Metab 2018; 27:1168-1175. [PMID: 29874565 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2017] [Revised: 03/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Viral vectors have been shown to be potent and versatile tools for genome editing. In the present Minireview, we focus on lentiviruses and adeno-associated viruses as vectors and their use in the study of the hypothalamic circuits involved in the regulation of energy homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giacomo Mancini
- Program in Integrative Cell Signalling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
| | - Tamas L Horvath
- Program in Integrative Cell Signalling and Neurobiology of Metabolism, Department of Comparative Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Anatomy and Histology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest 1078, Hungary.
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7
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Verhaagen J, Hobo B, Ehlert EME, Eggers R, Korecka JA, Hoyng SA, Attwell CL, Harvey AR, Mason MRJ. Small Scale Production of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors for Gene Delivery to the Nervous System. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1715:3-17. [PMID: 29188502 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7522-8_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Adeno-associated viral vectors have numerous applications in neuroscience, including the study of gene function in health and disease, targeting of light-sensitive proteins to anatomically distinct sets of neurons to manipulate neuronal activity (optogenetics), and the delivery of fluorescent protein to study anatomical connectivity in the brain. Moreover several phase I/II clinical trials for gene therapy of eye and brain diseases with adeno-associated viral vectors have shown that these vectors are well tolerated by human patients. In this chapter we describe a detailed protocol for the small scale production of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors. This protocol can be executed by investigators with experience in cell culture and molecular biological techniques in any well-equipped molecular neurobiology laboratory. With this protocol we typically obtain research batches of 100-200 μL that range in titer from 5 × 1012 to 2 × 1013 genomic copies/mL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Verhaagen
- Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Barbara Hobo
- Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erich M E Ehlert
- Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- UniQure, Meibergdreef 61, 1105BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ruben Eggers
- Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joanna A Korecka
- Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Neuroregeneration Research Institute, McLean Hospital/Harvard Medical School, 115 Mill Street, Belmont, MA, 02478, USA
| | - Stefan A Hoyng
- Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Neurosurgery, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Callan L Attwell
- Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Alan R Harvey
- School of Anatomy, Physiology and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
- Perron institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Matthew R J Mason
- Netherlands Institute for Neurosciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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8
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de Solis CA, Hosek MP, Holehonnur R, Ho A, Banerjee A, Luong JA, Jones LE, Chaturvedi D, Ploski JE. Adeno-associated viral serotypes differentially transduce inhibitory neurons within the rat amygdala. Brain Res 2017; 1672:148-162. [PMID: 28764932 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2017.07.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are frequently used to make localized genetic manipulations within the rodent brain. It is accepted that the different viral serotypes possess differing affinities for particular cell types, but it is not clear how these properties affect their ability to transduce specific neuronal cell sub-types. Here, we examined ten AAV serotypes for their ability to transduce neurons within the rat basal and lateral nuclei of the amygdala (BLA) and the central nucleus of the amygdala (CeA). AAV2 based viral genomes designed to express either green fluorescent protein (GFP) from a glutamate decarboxylase (GAD65) promoter or the far-red fluorescent protein (E2-Crimson) from a phosphate-activated glutaminase (PAG) promoter were created and pseudotyped as AAV2/1, AAV2/4, AAV2/5, AAV2/6, AAV2/7, AAV 2/8, AAV2/9, AAV2/rh10, AAV2/DJ and AAV2/DJ8. These viruses were infused into the BLA and CeA at equal titers and twenty-one days later tissue within the amygdala was examined for viral transduction efficiency. These serotypes transduced neurons with similar efficiency, except for AAV4 and AAV5, which exhibited significantly less efficient neuronal transduction. Notably, AAV4 and AAV5 possess the most divergent capsid protein sequences compared to the other commonly available serotypes. We found that the Gad65-GFP virus did not exclusively express GFP within inhibitory neurons, as assessed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), but when this virus was used to transduce CeA neurons, the majority of the neurons that expressed GFP were in fact inhibitory neurons and this was likely due to the fact that this nucleus contains a very high percentage of inhibitory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- C A de Solis
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - M P Hosek
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - R Holehonnur
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - A Ho
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - A Banerjee
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - J A Luong
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - L E Jones
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - D Chaturvedi
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - J E Ploski
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, The University of Texas at Dallas, United States.
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9
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Dai HY, He R, Zhang Y, Wu RH, Xiao YY. Adenoviral vector mediated ferritin over-expression in mesenchymal stem cells detected by 7T MRI in vitro. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0185260. [PMID: 28945778 PMCID: PMC5612726 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of the present work was to verify whether adenoviral vector mediated ferritin over-expression in mesenchymal stem cells could be detected by 7T MRI device, and to explore the relationship between ferritin content and MRI signal intensities. METHODS A recombined adenoviral vector (rAdV) encoding ferritin heavy chain (FTH1) subunit was specially designed for the aim of infecting bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs). Ferritin over-expression in BMSCs was determined by cell immunocytochemistry and the ferritin content in cells was determined by ELISA assay. BMSCs were subjected to cell viability, proliferation and multi-differentiation analyses as well as 7T MRI test using fast spin-echo pulse sequence. The R2 value andδR2 were calculated according to T2 mapping images. RESULTS As was confirmed by cell immunocytochemistry and ELISA assay, rAdV mediated ferritin was over-expressed in BMSCs. Ferritin over-expression did not interfere with stem cell viability or pluripotent differentiation but slowed cell proliferation. The R2 value of BMSCs-FTH1 vs control BMSCs from 1-4 weeks was16.65±1.28 s-1 vs 13.99±0.80 s-1, (t = 3.94, p = 0.004), 15.63±1.37 s-1 vs 13.87±0.83 s-1 (t = 2.47, p = 0.039), 15.53±0.88 s-1 vs 14.25±0.53 s-1 (t = 2.80, p = 0.023) and 14.61±1.28 s-1 vs 13.69±1.03 s-1 (t = 1.25, p = 0.24), respectively. δR2 gradually decreased from 1-4 weeks and the difference between the groups had statistical significance (F = 12.45, p<0.01).δR2 was positively correlated with OD value (r = 0.876, p<0.01) and ferritin concentration (r = 0.899, p<0.01) as determined by Pearson correlation. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirms that ferritin could be over-expressed in BMSCs as a result of rAdV mediated infection and could be quantitatively detected by 7T MRI device. The differences in T2 signal intensities and R2 values stem from internal contrast generated by endogenous ferritin over-expression. The correlation between δR2, OD and ferritin concentration suggests that MRI can detect ferritin signal change accurately.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-yang Dai
- Department of Medical Imaging, Huizhou Municipal Central Hospital, Huizhou, China
| | - Rong He
- Department of Medical Imaging, the 2 Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Medical Imaging, the 2 Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Ren-hua Wu
- Department of Medical Imaging, the 2 Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
| | - Ye-yu Xiao
- Department of Medical Imaging, the 2 Affiliated Hospital of Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, China
- * E-mail:
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10
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Schober AL, Gagarkin DA, Chen Y, Gao G, Jacobson L, Mongin AA. Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Serotype 6 (rAAV6) Potently and Preferentially Transduces Rat Astrocytes In vitro and In vivo. Front Cell Neurosci 2016; 10:262. [PMID: 27891076 PMCID: PMC5104754 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2016.00262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors are an increasingly popular tool for gene delivery to the CNS because of their non-pathological nature, low immunogenicity, and ability to stably transduce dividing and non-dividing cells. One of the limitations of rAAVs is their preferential tropism for neuronal cells. Glial cells, specifically astrocytes, appear to be infected at low rates. To overcome this limitation, previous studies utilized rAAVs with astrocyte-specific promoters or assorted rAAV serotypes and pseudotypes with purported selectivity for astrocytes. Yet, the reported glial infection rates are not consistent from study to study. In the present work, we tested seven commercially available recombinant serotypes- rAAV1, 2, and 5 through 9, for their ability to transduce primary rat astrocytes [visualized via viral expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP)]. In cell cultures, rAAV6 consistently demonstrated the highest infection rates, while rAAV2 showed astrocytic transduction in some, but not all, of the tested viral batches. To verify that all rAAV constructs utilized by us were viable and effective, we confirmed high infectivity rates in retinal pigmented epithelial cells (ARPE-19), which are known to be transduced by numerous rAAV serotypes. Based on the in vitro results, we next tested the cell type tropism of rAAV6 and rAAV2 in vivo, which were both injected in the barrel cortex at approximately equal doses. Three weeks later, the brains were sectioned and immunostained for viral GFP and the neuronal marker NeuN or the astrocytic marker GFAP. We found that rAAV6 strongly and preferentially transduced astrocytes (>90% of cells in the virus-infected areas), but not neurons (∼10% infection rate). On the contrary, rAAV2 preferentially infected neurons (∼65%), but not astrocytes (∼20%). Overall, our results suggest that rAAV6 can be used as a tool for manipulating gene expression (either delivery or knockdown) in rat astrocytes in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra L. Schober
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, AlbanyNY, USA
| | - Dmitriy A. Gagarkin
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, AlbanyNY, USA
| | - Ying Chen
- ViGene Biosciences, Inc., RockvilleMD, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center–Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, WorcesterMA, USA
| | - Lauren Jacobson
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, AlbanyNY, USA
| | - Alexander A. Mongin
- Department of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, AlbanyNY, USA
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Watakabe A, Sadakane O, Hata K, Ohtsuka M, Takaji M, Yamamori T. Application of viral vectors to the study of neural connectivities and neural circuits in the marmoset brain. Dev Neurobiol 2016; 77:354-372. [PMID: 27706918 PMCID: PMC5324647 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 09/18/2016] [Accepted: 09/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
It is important to study the neural connectivities and functions in primates. For this purpose, it is critical to be able to transfer genes to certain neurons in the primate brain so that we can image the neuronal signals and analyze the function of the transferred gene. Toward this end, our team has been developing gene transfer systems using viral vectors. In this review, we summarize our current achievements as follows. 1) We compared the features of gene transfer using five different AAV serotypes in combination with three different promoters, namely, CMV, mouse CaMKII (CaMKII), and human synapsin 1 (hSyn1), in the marmoset cortex with those in the mouse and macaque cortices. 2) We used target‐specific double‐infection techniques in combination with TET‐ON and TET‐OFF using lentiviral retrograde vectors for enhanced visualization of neural connections. 3) We used an AAV‐mediated gene transfer method to study the transcriptional control for amplifying fluorescent signals using the TET/TRE system in the primate neocortex. We also established systems for shRNA mediated gene targeting in a neocortical region where a gene is significantly expressed and for expressing the gene using the CMV promoter for an unexpressed neocortical area in the primate cortex using AAV vectors to understand the regulation of downstream genes. Our findings have demonstrated the feasibility of using viral vector mediated gene transfer systems for the study of primate cortical circuits using the marmoset as an animal model. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 354–372, 2017
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiya Watakabe
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Osamu Sadakane
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Katsusuke Hata
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Masanari Ohtsuka
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Masafumi Takaji
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Yamamori
- Laboratory for Molecular Analysis of Higher Brain Function, Brain Science Institute, RIKEN, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
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12
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Kuo CC, Shen H, Harvey BK, Yu SJ, Kopajtic T, Hinkle JJ, Kyrkanides S, Katz JL, Wang Y. Differential modulation of methamphetamine-mediated behavioral sensitization by overexpression of Mu opioid receptors in nucleus accumbens and ventral tegmental area. Psychopharmacology (Berl) 2016; 233:661-72. [PMID: 26554386 PMCID: PMC7336502 DOI: 10.1007/s00213-015-4134-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/29/2015] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Repeated administration of methamphetamine (Meth) induces behavioral sensitization which is characterized by a progressive increase in locomotor response after each injection. Previous studies have shown that Mu opioid receptors (MORs) can regulate Meth-mediated behavioral sensitization. However, the reported interactions are controversial; systemic activation of MORs either enhanced or suppressed Meth sensitization. It is possible that alteration of Meth sensitization after systemic administration of MOR ligands reflects the sum of distinct MOR reactions in multiple brain regions. OBJECTIVES The purpose of the present study was to examine the actions of MORs on Meth sensitization after regionally selective overexpression of human MOR through an AAV6-based gene delivery system. METHOD We demonstrated that adeno-associated virus (AAV)-MOR increased MOR immunoreactivity and binding in vitro. AAV-MOR or AAV-green fluorescent protein (GFP) was injected into the nucleus accumbens (NAc) or ventral tegmental area (VTA) of adult mice. Two weeks after viral infection, animals received Meth or saline for five consecutive days. Locomotor behavior and striatal dopamine (DA) and 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) level were determined. RESULTS Repeated administration of Meth progressively increased locomotor activity; this sensitization reaction was attenuated by intra-NAc AAV-MOR microinjections. Infusion of AAV-MOR to VTA enhanced Meth sensitization. AAV-MOR significantly enhanced DA levels in VTA after VTA infection but reduced DOPAC/DA turnover in the NAc after NAc injection. CONCLUSION Our data suggest a differential modulation of Meth sensitization by overexpression of MOR in NAc and VTA. Regional manipulation of MOR expression through AAV may be a novel approach to control Meth abuse and psychomimetic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chung Kuo
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Hui Shen
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Brandon K. Harvey
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Seong-Jin Yu
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan,Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Theresa Kopajtic
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Josh. J. Hinkle
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Stephanos Kyrkanides
- Department of Children’s Dentistry, Stony Brook University Health Science Center, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8701, USA
| | - Jonathan L. Katz
- Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Yun Wang
- Center for Neuropsychiatric Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan. .,Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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Healthy and diseased corticospinal motor neurons are selectively transduced upon direct AAV2-2 injection into the motor cortex. Gene Ther 2016; 23:272-82. [PMID: 26704722 PMCID: PMC4777664 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2015.112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2015] [Revised: 11/01/2015] [Accepted: 12/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Direct gene delivery to the neurons of interest, without affecting other neuron populations in the cerebral cortex, represent a challenge owing to the heterogeneity and cellular complexity of the brain. Genetic modulation of corticospinal motor neurons (CSMN) is required for developing effective and long-term treatment strategies for motor neuron diseases, in which voluntary movement is impaired. Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) have been widely used for neuronal transduction studies owing to long-term and stable gene expression as well as low immunoreactivity in humans. Here we report that AAV2-2 transduces CSMN with high efficiency upon direct cortex injection and that transduction efficiencies are similar during presymptomatic and symptomatic stages in hSOD1G93A transgenic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mice. Our findings reveal that choice of promoter improves selectivity as AAV2-2 chicken β-actin promoter injection results in about 70% CSMN transduction, the highest percentage reported to date. CSMN transduction in both wild-type and transgenic ALS mice allows detailed analysis of single axon fibers within the corticospinal tract in both cervical and lumbar spinal cord and reveals circuitry defects, which mainly occur between CSMN and spinal motor neurons in hSOD1G93A transgenic ALS mice. Our findings set the stage for CSMN gene therapy in ALS and related motor neuron diseases.
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Goganau I, Blesch A. Gene Therapy for Spinal Cord Injury. Transl Neurosci 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4899-7654-3_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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15
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van der Kallen LR, Eggers R, Ehlert EM, Verhaagen J, Smit AB, van Kesteren RE. Genetic Deletion of the Transcriptional Repressor NFIL3 Enhances Axon Growth In Vitro but Not Axonal Repair In Vivo. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0127163. [PMID: 25993115 PMCID: PMC4438979 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0127163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Axonal regeneration after injury requires the coordinated expression of genes in injured neurons. We previously showed that either reducing expression or blocking function of the transcriptional repressor NFIL3 activates transcription of regeneration-associated genes Arg1 and Gap43 and strongly promotes axon outgrowth in vitro. Here we tested whether genetic deletion or dominant-negative inhibition of NFIL3 could promote axon regeneration and functional recovery after peripheral nerve lesion in vivo. Contrary to our expectations, we observed no changes in the expression of regeneration-associated genes and a significant delay in functional recovery following genetic deletion of Nfil3. When NFIL3 function was inhibited specifically in dorsal root ganglia prior to sciatic nerve injury, we observed a decrease in regenerative axon growth into the distal nerve segment rather than an increase. Finally, we show that deletion of Nfil3 changes sciatic nerve lesion-induced expression in dorsal root ganglia of genes that are not typically involved in regeneration, including several olfactory receptors and developmental transcription factors. Together our findings show that removal of NFIL3 in vivo does not recapitulate the regeneration-promoting effects that were previously observed in vitro, indicating that in vivo transcriptional control of regeneration is probably more complex and more robust against perturbation than in vitro data may suggest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loek R. van der Kallen
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ruben Eggers
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erich M. Ehlert
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - August B. Smit
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ronald E. van Kesteren
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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Abstract
Recent advances in tissue clearing techniques have provided a promising method of visualizing axonal trajectories with unprecedented accuracy and speed. While previous studies have utilized transgenic labeling in mice, the use of virus or chemical neuronal tracers will provide additional spatiotemporal control as well as the ability to use animal models in which transgenic axonal labeling is not available. The histological assessment of spinal cord tissue in three dimensions has previously been very time consuming and prone to errors of interpretation. Advances in tissue clearing have significantly improved visualization of fluorescently labelled axons. While recent proof-of-concept studies have been performed with transgenic mice in which axons were prelabeled with GFP, investigating axonal regeneration requires stringent axonal tracing methods as well as the use of animal models in which transgenic axonal labeling is not available. Using rodent models of spinal cord injury, we labeled axon tracts of interest using both adeno-associated virus and chemical tracers and performed tetrahydrofuran-based tissue clearing to image multiple axon types in spinal cords using light sheet and confocal microscopy. Using this approach, we investigated the relationships between axons and scar-forming cells at the injury site as well as connections between sensory axons and motor pools in the spinal cord. In addition, we used these methods to trace axons in nonhuman primates. This reproducible and adaptable virus-based approach can be combined with transgenic mice or with chemical-based tract-tracing methods, providing scientists with flexibility in obtaining axonal trajectory information from transparent tissue.
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Meng X, Yang F, Ouyang T, Liu B, Wu C, Jiang W. Specific gene expression in mouse cortical astrocytes is mediated by a 1740bp-GFAP promoter-driven combined adeno-associated virus 2/5/7/8/9. Neurosci Lett 2015; 593:45-50. [PMID: 25778419 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2015.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2015] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
We sought to demonstrate the in vivo transduction efficiency and tropism range in astrocytes of a combined-serotype adeno associated virus (AAV2/5/7/8/9). To control expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP), a 1740bp glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter was obtained and ligated into vectors of each AAV serotype (2/5/7/8/9). Purified AAVs were then injected into the somatosensory cortex of C57BL/6J mice. Cell-type specific antibodies and subsequent immunofluorescence were used to identify astrocytes (GFAP), neurons (neuronal nuclear antigen, NeuN), microglia (ionized calcium-binding adapter molecule 1, Iba1), and oligodendrocytes (myelin basic protein, MBP), whereby, EGFP expression was measured in each cell type at 1-4 weeks post-injection. Our results indicated that the majority of astrocytes expressed EGFP, while only a small number of neurons expressed EGFP. Both microglia and oligodendrocytes lacked EGFP expression after viral injection. Quantitative analyses revealed that the percentage of EGFP-positive astrocytes was about 98% after viral injection, while the EGFP-positive neuronal percentage was less than 2%. Thus, this study shows that using a combined-serotype AAV carrying a 1740bp GFAP promoter results in successful, cell-type specific infection of the central nervous system, with robust gene expression in murine astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiandong Meng
- Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China; Department of Neurology, Lanzhou General Hospital of PLA, Lanzhou 730050, PR China
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Tangpeng Ouyang
- Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Shanghai SBO Medical Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chen Wu
- Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710032, China.
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AAV.shRNA-mediated downregulation of ROCK2 attenuates degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in toxin-induced models of Parkinson's disease in vitro and in vivo. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 73:150-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2014.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 09/19/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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Fagoe ND, van Heest J, Verhaagen J. Spinal cord injury and the neuron-intrinsic regeneration-associated gene program. Neuromolecular Med 2014; 16:799-813. [PMID: 25269879 DOI: 10.1007/s12017-014-8329-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2014] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Spinal cord injury (SCI) affects millions of people worldwide and causes a significant physical, emotional, social and economic burden. The main clinical hallmark of SCI is the permanent loss of motor, sensory and autonomic function below the level of injury. In general, neurons of the central nervous system (CNS) are incapable of regeneration, whereas injury to the peripheral nervous system is followed by axonal regeneration and usually results in some degree of functional recovery. The weak neuron-intrinsic regeneration-associated gene (RAG) response upon injury is an important reason for the failure of neurons in the CNS to regenerate an axon. This response consists of the expression of many RAGs, including regeneration-associated transcription factors (TFs). Regeneration-associated TFs are potential key regulators of the RAG program. The function of some regeneration-associated TFs has been studied in transgenic and knock-out mice and by adeno-associated viral vector-mediated overexpression in injured neurons. Here, we review these studies and propose that AAV-mediated gene delivery of combinations of regeneration-associated TFs is a potential strategy to activate the RAG program in injured CNS neurons and achieve long-distance axon regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitish D Fagoe
- Laboratory for Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands,
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20
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Comparative analyses of adeno-associated viral vector serotypes 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9 in marmoset, mouse and macaque cerebral cortex. Neurosci Res 2014; 93:144-57. [PMID: 25240284 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2014.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 197] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2014] [Revised: 08/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Here we investigated the transduction characteristics of adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) serotypes 1, 2, 5, 8 and 9 in the marmoset cerebral cortex. Using three constructs that each has hrGFP under ubiquitous (CMV), or neuron-specific (CaMKII and Synapsin I (SynI)) promoters, we investigated (1) the extent of viral spread, (2) cell type tropism, and (3) neuronal transduction efficiency of each serotype. AAV2 was clearly distinct from other serotypes in small spreading and neuronal tropism. We did not observe significant differences in viral spread among other serotypes. Regarding the cell tropism, AAV1, 5, 8 and 9 exhibited mostly glial expression for CMV construct. However, when the CaMKII construct was tested, cortical neurons were efficiently transduced (>∼70% in layer 3) by all serotypes, suggesting that glial expression obscured neuronal expression for CMV construct. For both SynI and CaMKII constructs, we observed generally high-level expression in large pyramidal cells especially in layer 5, as well as in parvalbumin-positive interneurons. The expression from the CaMKII construct was more uniformly observed in excitatory cells compared with SynI construct. Injection of the same viral preparations in mouse and macaque cortex resulted in essentially the same result with some species-specific differences.
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van Gestel MA, Boender AJ, de Vrind VAJ, Garner KM, Luijendijk MCM, Adan RAH. Recombinant adeno-associated virus: efficient transduction of the rat VMH and clearance from blood. PLoS One 2014; 9:e97639. [PMID: 24858547 PMCID: PMC4032260 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0097639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
To promote the efficient and safe application of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors as a gene transfer tool in the central nervous system (CNS), transduction efficiency and clearance were studied for serotypes commonly used to transfect distinct areas of the brain. As AAV2 was shown to transduce only small volumes in several brain regions, this study compares the transduction efficiency of three AAV pseudotyped vectors, namely AAV2/1, AAV2/5 and AAV2/8, in the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMH). No difference was found between AAV2/1 and AAV2/5 in transduction efficiency. Both AAV2/1 and AAV2/5 achieved a higher transduction rate than AAV2/8. One hour after virus administration to the brain, no viral particles could be traced in blood, indicating that no or negligible numbers of virions crossed the blood-brain barrier. In order to investigate survival of AAV in blood, clearance was determined following systemic AAV administration. The half-life of AAV2/1, AAV2/2, AAV2/5 and AAV2/8 was calculated by determining virus clearance rates from blood after systemic injection. The half-life of AAV2/2 was 4.2 minutes, which was significantly lower than the half-lives of AAV2/1, AAV2/5 and AAV2/8. With a half-life of more than 11 hours, AAV2/8 particles remained detectable in blood significantly longer than AAV2/5. We conclude that application of AAV in the CNS is relatively safe as no AAV particles are detectable in blood after injection into the brain. With a half-life of 1.67 hours of AAV2/5, a systemic injection with 1×109 genomic copies of AAV would be fully cleared from blood after 2 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margriet A. van Gestel
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Arjen J. Boender
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Veronne A. J. de Vrind
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Keith M. Garner
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Mieneke C. M. Luijendijk
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Roger A. H. Adan
- Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Translational Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
- * E-mail:
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22
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Alves JN, Muir EM, Andrews MR, Ward A, Michelmore N, Dasgupta D, Verhaagen J, Moloney EB, Keynes RJ, Fawcett JW, Rogers JH. AAV vector-mediated secretion of chondroitinase provides a sensitive tracer for axonal arborisations. J Neurosci Methods 2014; 227:107-20. [PMID: 24583077 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2014.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2013] [Revised: 02/14/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
As part of a project to express chondroitinase ABC (ChABC) in neurons of the central nervous system, we have inserted a modified ChABC gene into an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector and injected it into the vibrissal motor cortex in adult rats to determine the extent and distribution of expression of the enzyme. A similar vector for expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) was injected into the same location. For each vector, two versions with minor differences were used, giving similar results. After 4 weeks, the brains were stained to show GFP and products of chondroitinase digestion. Chondroitinase was widely expressed, and the AAV-ChABC and AAV-GFP vectors gave similar expression patterns in many respects, consistent with the known projections from the directly transduced neurons in vibrissal motor cortex and adjacent cingulate cortex. In addition, diffusion of vector to deeper neuronal populations led to labelling of remote projection fields which was much more extensive with AAV-ChABC than with AAV-GFP. The most notable of these populations are inferred to be neurons of cortical layer 6, projecting widely in the thalamus, and neurons of the anterior pole of the hippocampus, projecting through most of the hippocampus. We conclude that, whereas GFP does not label the thinnest axonal branches of some neuronal types, chondroitinase is efficiently secreted from these arborisations and enables their extent to be sensitively visualised. After 12 weeks, chondroitinase expression was undiminished.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Nuno Alves
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0PY, UK; Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Elizabeth M Muir
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Melissa R Andrews
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0PY, UK
| | - Anneliese Ward
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Nicholas Michelmore
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Debayan Dasgupta
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Laboratory for Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105BA Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Elizabeth B Moloney
- Laboratory for Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Meibergdreef 47, 1105BA Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Roger J Keynes
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK
| | - James W Fawcett
- John van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0PY, UK
| | - John H Rogers
- Department of Physiology Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EG, UK.
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Holehonnur R, Luong JA, Chaturvedi D, Ho A, Lella SK, Hosek MP, Ploski JE. Adeno-associated viral serotypes produce differing titers and differentially transduce neurons within the rat basal and lateral amygdala. BMC Neurosci 2014; 15:28. [PMID: 24533621 PMCID: PMC3937004 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-15-28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2013] [Accepted: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years, there has been an increased interest in using recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAV) to make localized genetic manipulations within the rodent brain. Differing serotypes of AAV possess divergent capsid protein sequences and these variations greatly influence each serotype's ability to transduce particular cell types and brain regions. We therefore aimed to determine the AAV serotype that is optimal for targeting neurons within the Basal and Lateral Amygdala (BLA) since the transduction efficiency of AAV has not been previously examined within the BLA. This region is desirable to genetically manipulate due to its role in emotion, learning & memory, and numerous psychiatric disorders. We accomplished this by screening 9 different AAV serotypes (AAV2/1, AAV2/2, AAV2/5, AAV2/7, AAV2/8, AAV2/9, AAV2/rh10, AAV2/DJ and AAV2/DJ8) designed to express red fluorescent protein (RFP) under the regulation of an alpha Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II promoter (αCaMKII). RESULTS We determined that these serotypes produce differing amounts of virus under standard laboratory production. Notably AAV2/2 consistently produced the lowest titers compared to the other serotypes examined. These nine serotypes were bilaterally infused into the rat BLA at the highest titers achieved for each serotype and at a normalized titer of 7.8E + 11 GC/ml. Twenty one days following viral infusion the degree of transduction was quantitated throughout the amygdala. These viruses exhibited differential transduction of neurons within the BLA. AAV2/7 exhibited a trend toward having the highest efficiency of transduction and AAV2/5 exhibited significantly lower transduction efficiency as compared to the serotypes examined. AAV2/5's decreased ability to transduce BLA neurons correlates with its significantly different capsid protein sequences as compared to the other serotypes examined. CONCLUSIONS For laboratories producing their own recombinant adeno-associated viruses, the use of AAV2/2 is likely less desirable since AAV2/2 produces significantly lower titers than many other serotypes of AAV. Numerous AAV serotypes appear to efficiently transduce BLA neurons, with the exception of AAV2/5. Taking into consideration the ability of certain serotypes to achieve high titers and transduce BLA neurons well, in our hands AAV2/DJ8 and AAV2/9 appear to be ideal serotypes to use when targeting neurons within the BLA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roopashri Holehonnur
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Jonathan A Luong
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Dushyant Chaturvedi
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Anthony Ho
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Srihari K Lella
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Matthew P Hosek
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Jonathan E Ploski
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, 800 West Campbell RD, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
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Liu Y, Keefe K, Tang X, Lin S, Smith GM. Use of self-complementary adeno-associated virus serotype 2 as a tracer for labeling axons: implications for axon regeneration. PLoS One 2014; 9:e87447. [PMID: 24498323 PMCID: PMC3911946 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Various types of tracers are available for use in axon regeneration, but they require an extra operational tracer injection, time-consuming immunohistochemical analysis and cause non-specific labeling. Considerable efforts over the past years have explored other methodologies, especially the use of viral vectors, to investigate axon regeneration after injury. Recent studies have demonstrated that self-complementary Adeno-Associated Virus (scAAV) induced a high transduction efficiency and faster expression of transgenes. Here, we describe for the first time the use of scAAV2-GFP to label long-projection axons in the corticospinal tract (CST), rubrospinal tract (RST) and the central axons of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) in the normal and lesioned animal models. We found that scAAV2-GFP could efficiently transduce neurons in the sensorimotor cortex, red nucleus and DRG. Strong GFP expression could be transported anterogradely along the axon to label the numerous axon fibers from CST, RST and central axons of DRG separately. Comparison of the scAAV2 vector with single-stranded (ss) AAV2 vector in co-labeled sections showed that the scAAV2 vector induced a faster and stronger transgene expression than the ssAAV2 vector in DRG neurons and their axons. In both spinal cord lesion and dorsal root crush injury models, scAAV-GFP could efficiently label the lesioned and regenerated axons around the lesion cavity and the dorsal root entry zone (DREZ) respectively. Further, scAAV2-GFP vector could be combined with traditional tracer to specifically label sensory and motor axons after spinal cord lesion. Thus, we show that using scAAV2-GFP as a tracer is a more effective and efficient way to study axon regeneration following injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingpeng Liu
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kathy Keefe
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Xiaoqing Tang
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Shen Lin
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - George M. Smith
- Shriners Hospitals Pediatric Research Center, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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Alves CH, Pellissier LP, Vos RM, Garcia Garrido M, Sothilingam V, Seide C, Beck SC, Klooster J, Furukawa T, Flannery JG, Verhaagen J, Seeliger MW, Wijnholds J. Targeted ablation of Crb2 in photoreceptor cells induces retinitis pigmentosa. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 23:3384-401. [PMID: 24493795 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In humans, the Crumbs homolog-1 (CRB1) gene is mutated in autosomal recessive Leber congenital amaurosis and early-onset retinitis pigmentosa. In mammals, the Crumbs family is composed of: CRB1, CRB2, CRB3A and CRB3B. Recently, we showed that removal of mouse Crb2 from retinal progenitor cells, and consequent removal from Müller glial and photoreceptor cells, results in severe and progressive retinal degeneration with concomitant loss of retinal function that mimics retinitis pigmentosa due to mutations in the CRB1 gene. Here, we studied the effects of cell-type-specific loss of CRB2 from the developing mouse retina using targeted conditional deletion of Crb2 in photoreceptors or Müller cells. We analyzed the consequences of targeted loss of CRB2 in the adult mouse retina using adeno-associated viral vectors encoding Cre recombinase and short hairpin RNA against Crb2. In vivo retinal imaging by means of optical coherence tomography on retinas lacking CRB2 in photoreceptors showed progressive thinning of the photoreceptor layer and cellular mislocalization. Electroretinogram recordings under scotopic conditions showed severe attenuation of the a-wave, confirming the degeneration of photoreceptors. Retinas lacking CRB2 in developing photoreceptors showed early onset of abnormal lamination, whereas retinas lacking CRB2 in developing Müller cells showed late onset retinal disorganization. Our data suggest that in the developing retina, CRB2 has redundant functions in Müller glial cells, while CRB2 has essential functions in photoreceptors. Our data suggest that short-term loss of CRB2 in adult mouse photoreceptors, but not in Müller glial cells, causes sporadic loss of adhesion between photoreceptors and Müller cells.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Marina Garcia Garrido
- Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen D-72076, Germany
| | - Vithiyanjali Sothilingam
- Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen D-72076, Germany
| | - Christina Seide
- Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen D-72076, Germany
| | - Susanne C Beck
- Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen D-72076, Germany
| | | | - Takahisa Furukawa
- Institute for Protein Research & CREST-JST, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan Department of Developmental Biology, Osaka Bioscience Institute, Suita, Osaka, Japan and
| | - John G Flannery
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Department of Neuroregeneration, The Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Meibergdreef 47, 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mathias W Seeliger
- Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Centre for Ophthalmology, Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Tübingen D-72076, Germany
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Pêgo AP, Kubinova S, Cizkova D, Vanicky I, Mar FM, Sousa MM, Sykova E. Regenerative medicine for the treatment of spinal cord injury: more than just promises? J Cell Mol Med 2014; 16:2564-82. [PMID: 22805417 PMCID: PMC4118226 DOI: 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2012.01603.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinal cord injury triggers a complex set of events that lead to tissue healing without the restoration of normal function due to the poor regenerative capacity of the spinal cord. Nevertheless, current knowledge about the intrinsic regenerative ability of central nervous system axons, when in a supportive environment, has made the prospect of treating spinal cord injury a reality. Among the range of strategies under investigation, cell-based therapies offer the most promising results, due to the multifactorial roles that these cells can fulfil. However, the best cell source is still a matter of debate, as are clinical issues that include the optimal cell dose as well as the timing and route of administration. In this context, the role of biomaterials is gaining importance. These can not only act as vehicles for the administered cells but also, in the case of chronic lesions, can be used to fill the permanent cyst, thus creating a more favourable and conducive environment for axonal regeneration in addition to serving as local delivery systems of therapeutic agents to improve the regenerative milieu. Some of the candidate molecules for the future are discussed in view of the knowledge derived from studying the mechanisms that facilitate the intrinsic regenerative capacity of central nervous system neurons. The future challenge for the multidisciplinary teams working in the field is to translate the knowledge acquired in basic research into effective combinatorial therapies to be applied in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Paula Pêgo
- INEB - Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
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Hutson TH, Kathe C, Menezes SC, Rooney MC, Bueler H, Moon LDF. The use of an adeno-associated viral vector for efficient bicistronic expression of two genes in the central nervous system. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1162:189-207. [PMID: 24838969 PMCID: PMC5597041 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0777-9_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/16/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors are one of the most promising therapeutic delivery systems for gene therapy to the central nervous system (CNS). Preclinical testing of novel gene therapies requires the careful design and production of AAV vectors and their successful application in a model of CNS injury. One major limitation of AAV vectors is their limited packaging capacity (<5 kb) making the co-expression of two genes (e.g., from two promoters) difficult. An internal ribosomal entry site has been used to express two genes: However, the second transgene is often expressed at lower levels than the first. In addition to this, achieving high levels of transduction in the CNS can be challenging. In this chapter we describe the cloning of a bicistronic AAV vector that uses the foot-and-mouth disease virus 2A sequence to efficiently express two genes from a single promoter. Bicistronic expression of a therapeutic gene and a reporter gene is desirable so that the axons from transduced neurons can be tracked and, after CNS injury, the amount of axonal sprouting or regeneration quantified. We go on to describe how to perform a pyramidotomy model of CNS injury and the injection of AAV vectors into the sensorimotor cortex to provide efficient transduction and bicistronic gene expression in cortical neurons such that transduced axons are detectable in the dorsal columns of the spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Haynes Hutson
- Neurorestoration Group, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, Guy's Campus, London, SE1 1UL, UK,
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Sooksawate T, Isa K, Matsui R, Kato S, Kinoshita M, Kobayashi K, Watanabe D, Kobayashi K, Isa T. Viral vector-mediated selective and reversible blockade of the pathway for visual orienting in mice. Front Neural Circuits 2013; 7:162. [PMID: 24130520 PMCID: PMC3795302 DOI: 10.3389/fncir.2013.00162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2013] [Accepted: 09/21/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, by using a combination of two viral vectors, we developed a technique for pathway-selective and reversible synaptic transmission blockade, and successfully induced a behavioral deficit of dexterous hand movements in macaque monkeys by affecting a population of spinal interneurons. To explore the capacity of this technique to work in other pathways and species, and to obtain fundamental methodological information, we tried to block the crossed tecto-reticular pathway, which is known to control orienting responses to visual targets, in mice. A neuron-specific retrograde gene transfer vector with the gene encoding enhanced tetanus neurotoxin (eTeNT) tagged with enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) under the control of a tetracycline responsive element was injected into the left medial pontine reticular formation. 7-17 days later, an adeno-associated viral vector with a highly efficient Tet-ON sequence, rtTAV16, was injected into the right superior colliculus. 5-9 weeks later, the daily administration of doxycycline (Dox) was initiated. Visual orienting responses toward the left side were impaired 1-4 days after Dox administration. Anti-GFP immunohistochemistry revealed that a number of neurons in the intermediate and deep layers of the right superior colliculus were positively stained, indicating eTeNT expression. After the termination of Dox administration, the anti-GFP staining returned to the baseline level within 28 days. A second round of Dox administration, starting from 28 days after the termination of the first Dox administration, resulted in the reappearance of the behavioral impairment. These findings showed that pathway-selective and reversible blockade of synaptic transmission also causes behavioral effects in rodents, and that the crossed tecto-reticular pathway clearly controls visual orienting behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thongchai Sooksawate
- Department of Developmental Physiology, National Institute for Physiological Sciences Okazaki, Japan ; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chulalongkorn University Bangkok, Thailand
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Adeno-associated Virus-mediated, Mifepristone-regulated Transgene Expression in the Brain. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2013; 2:e106. [PMID: 23860550 PMCID: PMC3731885 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2013.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2012] [Accepted: 05/20/2013] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy, in its current configuration, is irreversible and does not allow control over transgene expression in case of side effects. Only few regulated vector systems are available, and none of these has reached clinical applicability yet. The mifepristone (Mfp)-regulated Gene Switch (GS) system is characterized by promising features such as being composed of mainly human components and an approved small-molecule drug as an inducer. However, it has not yet been evaluated in adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, neither has it been tested for applicability in viral vectors in the central nervous system (CNS). Here, we demonstrate that the GS system can be used successfully in AAV vectors in the brain, and that short-term induced glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) expression prevented neurodegeneration in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease (PD). We also demonstrate repeated responsiveness to the inducer Mfp and absence of immunological tissue reactions in the rat brain. Human equivalent dosages of Mfp used in this study were lower than those used safely for treatment of psychiatric threats, indicating that the inducer could be safely applied in patients. Our results suggest that the GS system in AAV vectors is well suited for further development towards clinical applicability.Molecular Therapy-Nucleic Acids (2013) 2, e106; doi:10.1038/mtna.2013.35; published online 16 July 2013.
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Koch JC, Solis GP, Bodrikov V, Michel U, Haralampieva D, Shypitsyna A, Tönges L, Bähr M, Lingor P, Stuermer CA. Upregulation of reggie-1/flotillin-2 promotes axon regeneration in the rat optic nerve in vivo and neurite growth in vitro. Neurobiol Dis 2013; 51:168-76. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2012.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2012] [Revised: 10/14/2012] [Accepted: 11/09/2012] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
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Chtarto A, Bockstael O, Gebara E, Vermoesen K, Melas C, Pythoud C, Levivier M, De Witte O, Luthi-Carter R, Clinkers R, Tenenbaum L. An adeno-associated virus-based intracellular sensor of pathological nuclear factor-κB activation for disease-inducible gene transfer. PLoS One 2013; 8:e53156. [PMID: 23301037 PMCID: PMC3536800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0053156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2012] [Accepted: 11/26/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stimulation of resident cells by NF-κB activating cytokines is a central element of inflammatory and degenerative disorders of the central nervous system (CNS). This disease-mediated NF-κB activation could be used to drive transgene expression selectively in affected cells, using adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer. We have constructed a series of AAV vectors expressing GFP under the control of different promoters including NF-κB -responsive elements. As an initial screen, the vectors were tested in vitro in HEK-293T cells treated with TNF-α. The best profile of GFP induction was obtained with a promoter containing two blocks of four NF-κB -responsive sequences from the human JCV neurotropic polyoma virus promoter, fused to a new tight minimal CMV promoter, optimally distant from each other. A therapeutical gene, glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) cDNA under the control of serotype 1-encapsidated NF-κB -responsive AAV vector (AAV-NF) was protective in senescent cultures of mouse cortical neurons. AAV-NF was then evaluated in vivo in the kainic acid (KA)-induced status epilepticus rat model for temporal lobe epilepsy, a major neurological disorder with a central pathophysiological role for NF-κB activation. We demonstrate that AAV-NF, injected in the hippocampus, responded to disease induction by mediating GFP expression, preferentially in CA1 and CA3 neurons and astrocytes, specifically in regions where inflammatory markers were also induced. Altogether, these data demonstrate the feasibility to use disease-activated transcription factor-responsive elements in order to drive transgene expression specifically in affected cells in inflammatory CNS disorders using AAV-mediated gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelwahed Chtarto
- Laboratory of Experimental Neurosurgery, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium.
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Weishaupt N, Li S, Di Pardo A, Sipione S, Fouad K. Synergistic effects of BDNF and rehabilitative training on recovery after cervical spinal cord injury. Behav Brain Res 2012; 239:31-42. [PMID: 23131414 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2012.10.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2012] [Revised: 10/23/2012] [Accepted: 10/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Promoting the rewiring of lesioned motor tracts following a spinal cord injury is a promising strategy to restore motor function. For instance, axonal collaterals may connect to spared, lesion-bridging neurons, thereby establishing a detour for descending signals and thus promoting functional recovery. In our rat model of cervical spinal cord injury, we attempted to promote targeted rewiring of the unilaterally injured corticospinal tract (CST) via the spared reticulospinal tract (RtST). To promote new connections between the two tracts in the brainstem, we administered viral vectors producing two neurotrophins. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a known promotor of collateral growth, was expressed in the motor cortex, and neurotrophin 3 (NT-3), which has chemoattractive properties, was expressed in the reticular formation. Because rehabilitative training has proven to be beneficial in promoting functionally meaningful plasticity following injury, we added training in a skilled reaching task. Different neurotrophin or control treatments with or without training were evaluated. As hypothesized, improvements of motor performance with the injured forelimb following neurotrophin treatment alone were absent or modest compared to untreated controls. In contrast, we found a significant synergistic effect on performance when BDNF treatment was combined with training. The mechanism of this recovery remains unidentified, as histological analyses of CST and RtST collateral projections did not reveal differences among treatment groups. In conclusion, we demonstrate that following a cervical spinal lesion, rehabilitative training is necessary to translate effects of BDNF into functional recovery by mechanisms which are likely independent of collateral sprouting of the CST or RtST into the gray matter.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Weishaupt
- Centre for Neuroscience, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.
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Williams RR, Pearse DD, Tresco PA, Bunge MB. The assessment of adeno-associated vectors as potential intrinsic treatments for brainstem axon regeneration. J Gene Med 2012; 14:20-34. [PMID: 22106053 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1628] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated transgene expression is a promising therapeutic to change the intrinsic state of neurons and promote repair after central nervous system injury. Given that numerous transgenes have been identified as potential candidates, the present study demonstrates how to determine whether their expression by AAV has a direct intrinsic effect on axon regeneration. METHODS Serotype 2 AAV-enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) was stereotaxically injected into the brainstem of adult rats, followed by a complete transection of the thoracic spinal cord and Schwann cell (SC) bridge implantation. RESULTS The expression of EGFP in brainstem neurons labeled numerous axons in the thoracic spinal cord and that regenerated into the SC bridge. The number of EGFP-labeled axons rostral to the bridge directly correlated with the number of EGFP-labeled axons that regenerated into the bridge. Animals with a greater number of EGFP-labeled axons rostral to the bridge exhibited an increased percentage of those axons found near the distal end of the bridge compared to animals with a lesser number. This suggested that EGFP may accumulate distally in the axon with time, enabling easier visualization. By labeling brainstem axons with EGFP before injury, numerous axon remnants undergoing Wallerian degeneration may be identified distal to the complete transection up to 6 weeks after injury. CONCLUSIONS Serotype 2 AAV-EGFP enabled easy visualization of brainstem axon regeneration. Rigorous models of axonal injury (i.e. complete transection and cell implantation) should be used in combination with AAV-EGFP to directly assess AAV-mediated expression of therapeutic transgenes as intrinsic treatments to improve axonal regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan R Williams
- University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, The Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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Hellström M, Pollett MA, Harvey AR. Post-injury delivery of rAAV2-CNTF combined with short-term pharmacotherapy is neuroprotective and promotes extensive axonal regeneration after optic nerve trauma. J Neurotrauma 2012; 28:2475-83. [PMID: 21861632 DOI: 10.1089/neu.2011.1928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors expressing neurotrophic genes reduce neuronal death and promote axonal regeneration in central nervous system (CNS) injury models. Currently, however, use of rAAV to treat clinical neurotrauma is problematic because there is a delay in the onset of transgene expression. Using the adult rat retina and optic nerve (ON), we have tested whether rAAV gene therapy administered at the time of injury combined with short-term pharmacotherapy has synergistic effects that enhance neuronal survival and regeneration. The ON was transected and a 1.5 cm segment of autologous peripheral nerve (PN) was grafted onto the cut end. At this time, bicistronic rAAV2 encoding ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and green fluorescent protein (rAAV2-CNTF-GFP) was injected into the injured eye. To provide interim support for axotomized retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) during vector integration and therapeutic transgene expression, rCNTF protein and a cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) analogue (CPT-cAMP) were injected intravitreally 3 and 10 days postoperatively. For comparison, another rAAV2-CNTF-GFP group received two intravitreal saline injections 3 and 10 days after the PN-ON surgery. A further PN graft group received only postoperative intravitreal injections of rCNTF plus CPT-cAMP. After 4 weeks, regenerating RGCs were retrogradely labelled by applying fluorogold to the distal end of each PN graft. Compared to saline-injected animals, both RGC survival and axonal regrowth were significantly higher in the rCNTF and CPT-cAMP injected rAAV2-CNTF-GFP group; approximately one third of the RGC population survived axotomy, and 27% of these regrew an axon. These values were also higher than those obtained in rats that received only rCNTF plus CPT-cAMP injections. Therefore, we show for the first time that rAAV-mediated gene delivery at the time of, or just after, neurotrauma is most successful when combined with temporary post-injury trophic support, and is potentially a viable treatment strategy for patients after acute CNS injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mats Hellström
- School of Anatomy and Human Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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AAV2 mediated retrograde transduction of corticospinal motor neurons reveals initial and selective apical dendrite degeneration in ALS. Neurobiol Dis 2012; 47:174-83. [PMID: 22521461 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2012.03.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2011] [Revised: 03/26/2012] [Accepted: 03/31/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Corticospinal motor neurons (CSMN) are the cortical component of motor neuron circuitry, which controls voluntary movement and degenerates in diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, primary lateral sclerosis and hereditary spastic paraplegia. By using dual labeling combined with molecular marker analysis, we identified AAV2-2 mediated retrograde transduction as an effective approach to selectively target CSMN without affecting other neuron populations both in wild-type and hSOD1(G93A) transgenic ALS mice. This approach reveals very precise details of cytoarchitectural defects within vulnerable neurons in vivo. We report that CSMN vulnerability is marked by selective degeneration of apical dendrites especially in layer II/III of the hSOD1(G93A) mouse motor cortex, where cortical input to CSMN function is vastly modulated. While our findings confirm the presence of astrogliosis and microglia activation, they do not lend support to their direct role for the initiation of CSMN vulnerability. This study enables development of targeted gene replacement strategies to CSMN in the cerebral cortex, and reveals CSMN cortical modulation defects as a potential cause of neuronal vulnerability in ALS.
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Kou J, Kim H, Pattanayak A, Song M, Lim JE, Taguchi H, Paul S, Cirrito JR, Ponnazhagan S, Fukuchi KI. Anti-Amyloid-β Single-Chain Antibody Brain Delivery Via AAV Reduces Amyloid Load But May Increase Cerebral Hemorrhages in an Alzheimer's Disease Mouse Model. J Alzheimers Dis 2012; 27:23-38. [PMID: 21709371 DOI: 10.3233/jad-2011-110230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Accumulation of amyloid-β protein (Aβ) in the brain is thought to be a causal event in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Immunotherapy targeting Aβ holds great promise for reducing Aβ in the brain. Here, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of anti-Aβ single-chain antibody (scFv59) delivery via recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) on reducing Aβ deposits in an AD mouse model (TgAβPPswe/PS1dE9). First, delivery of scFv59 to the brain was optimized by injecting rAAV serotypes 1, 2, and 5 into the right lateral ventricle. Symmetrical high expression of scFv59 was found throughout the hippocampus and partly in the neocortex in both hemispheres via rAAV1 or rAAV5, while scFv59 expression via rAAV2 was mostly limited to one hemisphere. rAAV1, however, induced apoptosis and microglial activation but rAAV5 did not. Therefore, rAAV5 was selected for therapeutic scFv59 delivery in TgAβPPswe/PS1dE9 mice. rAAV5 was similarly injected into the ventricle of 10-month-old TgAβPPswe/PS1dE9 mice and 5 months later its efficacy and safety were evaluated. Immunoreactive Aβ deposits reduced in the hippocampus. Aβ42 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tended to increase and the Aβ40 : 42 ratio decreased in CSF, suggesting that Aβ42 was relocated from the parenchyma to CSF. Hemorrhages associated with a focal increase in blood vessel amyloid were found in the brain. While immunotherapy has great potential for clearing cerebral Aβ, caution for cerebrovascular effects should be exercised when rAAV-mediated anti-Aβ immunotherapy is applied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinghong Kou
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL 61656, USA
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Verhaagen J, Van Kesteren RE, Bossers KAM, Macgillavry HD, Mason MR, Smit AB. Molecular target discovery for neural repair in the functional genomics era. HANDBOOK OF CLINICAL NEUROLOGY 2012; 109:595-616. [PMID: 23098739 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-444-52137-8.00037-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A comprehensive understanding of the molecular pathways activated by traumatic neural injury is of major importance for the development of treatments for spinal cord injury (SCI). High-throughput gene expression profiling is a powerful approach to reveal genome-wide changes in gene expression during a specific biological process. Microarray analysis of injured nerves or neurons would ideally generate new hypotheses concerning the progression or deregulation of injury- and repair-related biological processes, such as neural scar formation and axon regeneration. These hypotheses should subsequently be tested experimentally and would eventually provide the molecular substrates for the development of novel therapeutics. Over the last decade, this approach has elucidated numerous extrinsic (mostly neural scar-associated) as well as neuron-intrinsic genes that are regulated following an injury. To date, the main challenge is to translate the observed injury-induced gene expression changes into a mechanistic framework to understand their functional implications. To achieve this, research on neural repair will have to adopt the conceptual advances and analytical tools provided by the functional genomics and systems biology revolution. Based on progress made in bioinformatics, high-throughput and high-content functional cellular screening, and in vivo gene transfer technology, we propose a multistep "roadmap" that provides an integrated strategy for molecular target discovery for repair of the injured spinal cord.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joost Verhaagen
- Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Hutson TH, Verhaagen J, Yáñez-Muñoz RJ, Moon LDF. Corticospinal tract transduction: a comparison of seven adeno-associated viral vector serotypes and a non-integrating lentiviral vector. Gene Ther 2012; 19:49-60. [PMID: 21562590 PMCID: PMC3160493 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2010] [Revised: 02/20/2011] [Accepted: 02/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
The corticospinal tract (CST) is extensively used as a model system for assessing potential therapies to enhance neuronal regeneration and functional recovery following spinal cord injury (SCI). However, efficient transduction of the CST is challenging and remains to be optimised. Recombinant adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors and integration-deficient lentiviral vectors are promising therapeutic delivery systems for gene therapy to the central nervous system (CNS). In the present study the cellular tropism and transduction efficiency of seven AAV vector serotypes (AAV1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8) and an integration-deficient lentiviral vector were assessed for their ability to transduce corticospinal neurons (CSNs) following intracortical injection. AAV1 was identified as the optimal serotype for transducing cortical and CSNs with green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression detectable in fibres projecting through the dorsal CST (dCST) of the cervical spinal cord. In contrast, AAV3 and AAV4 demonstrated a low efficacy for transducing CNS cells and AAV8 presented a potential tropism for oligodendrocytes. Furthermore, it was shown that neither AAV nor lentiviral vectors generate a significant microglial response. The identification of AAV1 as the optimal serotype for transducing CSNs should facilitate the design of future gene therapy strategies targeting the CST for the treatment of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- T H Hutson
- Neurorestoration Group, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, King's College London, London, UK.
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Transforming growth factor α transforms astrocytes to a growth-supportive phenotype after spinal cord injury. J Neurosci 2011; 31:15173-87. [PMID: 22016551 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.3441-11.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are both detrimental and beneficial for repair and recovery after spinal cord injury (SCI). These dynamic cells are primary contributors to the growth-inhibitory glial scar, yet they are also neuroprotective and can form growth-supportive bridges on which axons traverse. We have shown that intrathecal administration of transforming growth factor α (TGFα) to the contused mouse spinal cord can enhance astrocyte infiltration and axonal growth within the injury site, but the mechanisms of these effects are not well understood. The present studies demonstrate that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is upregulated primarily by astrocytes and glial progenitors early after SCI. TGFα directly activates the EGFR on these cells in vitro, inducing their proliferation, migration, and transformation to a phenotype that supports robust neurite outgrowth. Overexpression of TGFα in vivo by intraparenchymal adeno-associated virus injection adjacent to the injury site enhances cell proliferation, alters astrocyte distribution, and facilitates increased axonal penetration at the rostral lesion border. To determine whether endogenous EGFR activation is required after injury, SCI was also performed on Velvet (C57BL/6J-Egfr(Vel)/J) mice, a mutant strain with defective EGFR activity. The affected mice exhibited malformed glial borders, larger lesions, and impaired recovery of function, indicating that intrinsic EGFR activation is necessary for neuroprotection and normal glial scar formation after SCI. By further stimulating precursor proliferation and modifying glial activation to promote a growth-permissive environment, controlled stimulation of EGFR at the lesion border may be considered in the context of future strategies to enhance endogenous cellular repair after injury.
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van Kesteren RE, Mason MRJ, Macgillavry HD, Smit AB, Verhaagen J. A gene network perspective on axonal regeneration. Front Mol Neurosci 2011; 4:46. [PMID: 22125511 PMCID: PMC3222109 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2011.00046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2011] [Accepted: 11/02/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The regenerative capacity of injured neurons in the central nervous system is limited due to the absence of a robust neuron-intrinsic injury-induced gene response that supports axon regeneration. In peripheral neurons axotomy induces a large cohort of regeneration-associated genes (RAGs). The forced expression of some of these RAGs in injured neurons has some beneficial effect on axon regeneration, but the reported effects are rather small. Transcription factors (TFs) provide a promising class of RAGs. TFs are hubs in the regeneration-associated gene network, and potentially control the coordinate expression of many RAGs simultaneously. Here we discuss the use of combined experimental and computational methods to identify novel regeneration-associated TFs with a key role in initiating and maintaining the RAG-response in injured neurons. We propose that a relatively small number of hub TFs with multiple functional connections in the RAG network might provide attractive new targets for gene-based and/or pharmacological approaches to promote axon regeneration in the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronald E van Kesteren
- Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Neuroscience Campus Amsterdam, VU University Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Koornneef A, van Logtenstein R, Timmermans E, Pisas L, Blits B, Abad X, Fortes P, Petry H, Konstantinova P, Ritsema T. AAV-mediated in vivo knockdown of luciferase using combinatorial RNAi and U1i. Gene Ther 2011; 18:929-35. [PMID: 21472008 PMCID: PMC3169806 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.41] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has been successfully employed for specific inhibition of gene expression; however, safety and delivery of RNAi remain critical issues. We investigated the combinatorial use of RNAi and U1 interference (U1i). U1i is a gene-silencing technique that acts on the pre-mRNA by preventing polyadenylation. RNAi and U1i have distinct mechanisms of action in different cellular compartments and their combined effect allows usage of minimal doses, thereby avoiding toxicity while retaining high target inhibition. As a proof of concept, we investigated knockdown of the firefly luciferase reporter gene by combinatorial use of RNAi and U1i, and evaluated their inhibitory potential both in vitro and in vivo. Co-transfection of RNAi and U1i constructs showed additive reduction of luciferase expression up to 95% in vitro. We attained similar knockdown when RNAi and U1i constructs were hydrodynamically transfected into murine liver, demonstrating for the first time successful in vivo application of U1i. Moreover, we demonstrated long-term gene silencing by AAV-mediated transduction of murine muscle with RNAi/U1i constructs targeting firefly luciferase. In conclusion, these results provide a proof of principle for the combinatorial use of RNAi and U1i to enhance target gene knockdown in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Koornneef
- Department of Research and Development, Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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Comparison of the efficacy of four viral vectors for transducing hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory neurons in the rat supraoptic nucleus. J Neurosci Methods 2011; 197:238-48. [PMID: 21392530 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2011.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2010] [Revised: 02/09/2011] [Accepted: 02/24/2011] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Since transgenes were first cloned into recombinant adenoviruses almost 30 years ago, a variety of viral vectors have become important tools in genetic research. Viruses adeptly transport genetic material into eukaryotic cells, and replacing all or part of the viral genome with genes of interest or silencing sequences creates a method of gene expression modulation in which the timing and location of manipulations can be specific. The hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system (HNS), consisting of the paraventricular (PVN) and supraoptic (SON) nuclei in the hypothalamus, regulates fluid balance homeostasis and is highly plastic, yet tightly regulated by extracellular fluid (ECF) osmolality and volume. Its reversible plasticity and physiological relevance make it a good system for studying interactions between gene expression and physiology. Here, four viral vectors were compared for their ability to transduce magnocellular neurosecretory neurons (MNCs) of the SON in adult rats. The vectors included an adenovirus, a lentivirus (HIV) and two serotypes of adeno-associated viruses (AAV5 and AAV2). Though adenovirus and AAV2 vectors have previously been used to transduce SON neurons, HIV and AAV5 have not. All four vectors transduced MNCs, but the AAV vectors were the most effective, transducing large numbers of MNCs, with minimal or no glial transduction. The AAV vectors were injected using a convection enhanced delivery protocol to maximize dispersal through the tissue, resulting in the transduction of neurons throughout the anterior to posterior length of the SON (∼1.5mm). AAV5, but not AAV2, showed some selectivity for SON neurons relative to those in the surrounding hypothalamus.
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Efficient and stable transduction of dopaminergic neurons in rat substantia nigra by rAAV 2/1, 2/2, 2/5, 2/6.2, 2/7, 2/8 and 2/9. Gene Ther 2011; 18:517-27. [PMID: 21326331 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2010.179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Dysfunction of the nigrostriatal system is the major cause of Parkinson's disease (PD). This brain region is therefore an important target for gene delivery aiming at disease modeling and gene therapy. Recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors have been developed as efficient vehicles for gene transfer into the central nervous system. Recently, several serotypes have been described, with varying tropism for brain transduction. In light of the further development of a viral vector-mediated rat model for PD, we performed a comprehensive comparison of the transduction and tropism for dopaminergic neurons (DNs) in the adult Wistar rat substantia nigra (SN) of seven rAAV vector serotypes (rAAV 2/1, 2/2, 2/5, 2/6.2, 2/7, 2/8 and 2/9). All vectors were normalized by titer and volume, and stereotactically injected into the SN. Gene expression was assessed non-invasively and quantitatively in vivo by bioluminescence imaging at 2 and 5 weeks after injection, and was found to be stable over time. Immunohistochemistry at 6 weeks following injection revealed the most widespread enhanced green fluorescence protein expression and the highest number of positive nigral cells using rAAV 2/7, 2/9 and 2/1. The area transduced by rAAV 2/8 was smaller, but nevertheless almost equal numbers of nigral cells were targeted. Detailed confocal analysis revealed that serotype 2/7, 2/9, 2/1 and 2/8 transduced at least 70% of the DNs. In conclusion, these results show that various rAAV serotypes efficiently transduce nigral DNs, but significant differences in transgene expression pattern and level were observed.
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Franz S, Weidner N, Blesch A. Gene therapy approaches to enhancing plasticity and regeneration after spinal cord injury. Exp Neurol 2011; 235:62-9. [PMID: 21281633 DOI: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2010] [Revised: 01/17/2011] [Accepted: 01/24/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
During the past decades, new insights into mechanisms that limit plasticity and functional recovery after spinal cord injury have spurred the development of novel approaches to enhance axonal regeneration and rearrangement of spared circuitry. Gene therapy may provide one means to address mechanisms that underlie the insufficient regenerative response of injured neurons and can also be used to identify factors important for axonal growth. Several genetic approaches aimed to modulate the environment of injured axons, for example by localized expression of growth factors, to enhance axonal sprouting and regeneration and to guide regenerating axons towards their target have been described. In addition, genetic modification of injured neurons via intraparenchymal injection, or via retrograde transport of viral vectors has been used to manipulate the intrinsic growth capacity of injured neurons. In this review we will summarize some of the progress and limitations of cell transplantation and gene therapy to enhance axonal bridging and regeneration across a lesion site, and to maximize the function, collateral sprouting and connectivity of spared axonal systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Franz
- Spinal Cord Injury Center, Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany
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Kim JH, Park JS, Yang HN, Woo DG, Jeon SY, Do HJ, Lim HY, Kim JM, Park KH. The use of biodegradable PLGA nanoparticles to mediate SOX9 gene delivery in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) and induce chondrogenesis. Biomaterials 2010; 32:268-78. [PMID: 20875683 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2010.08.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2010] [Accepted: 08/27/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
In stem cell therapy, transfection of specific genes into stem cells is an important technique to induce cell differentiation. To perform gene transfection in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs), we designed and fabricated a non-viral vector system for specific stem cell differentiation. Several kinds of gene carriers were evaluated with regard to their transfection efficiency and their ability to enhance hMSCs differentiation. Of these delivery vehicles, biodegradable poly (DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles yielded the best results, as they complexed with high levels of plasmid DNA (pDNA), allowed robust gene expression in hMSCs, and induced chondrogenesis. Polyplexing with polyethylenimine (PEI) enhanced the cellular uptake of SOX9 DNA complexed with PLGA nanoparticles both in vitro and in vivo. The expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and SOX9 increased up to 75% in hMSCs transfected with PEI/SOX9 complexed PLGA nanoparticles 2 days after transfection. SOX9 gene expression was evaluated by RT-PCR, real time-qPCR, glycosaminoglycan (GAG)/DNA levels, immunoblotting, histology, and immunofluorescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Hwan Kim
- Department of Biomedical Science, College of Life Science, CHA University 606-16, Yeoksam 1-Dong, Kangnam-gu, Seoul 135-081, Republic of Korea
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Aartsen WM, van Cleef KWR, Pellissier LP, Hoek RM, Vos RM, Blits B, Ehlert EME, Balaggan KS, Ali RR, Verhaagen J, Wijnholds J. GFAP-driven GFP expression in activated mouse Müller glial cells aligning retinal blood vessels following intravitreal injection of AAV2/6 vectors. PLoS One 2010; 5:e12387. [PMID: 20808778 PMCID: PMC2927518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2010] [Accepted: 07/27/2010] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Müller cell gliosis occurs in various retinal pathologies regardless of the underlying cellular defect. Because activated Müller glial cells span the entire retina and align areas of injury, they are ideal targets for therapeutic strategies, including gene therapy. Methodology/Principal Findings We used adeno-associated viral AAV2/6 vectors to transduce mouse retinas. The transduction pattern of AAV2/6 was investigated by studying expression of the green fluorescent protein (GFP) transgene using scanning-laser ophthalmoscopy and immuno-histochemistry. AAV2/6 vectors transduced mouse Müller glial cells aligning the retinal blood vessels. However, the transduction capacity was hindered by the inner limiting membrane (ILM) and besides Müller glial cells, several other inner retinal cell types were transduced. To obtain Müller glial cell-specific transgene expression, the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter was replaced by the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter. Specificity and activation of the GFAP promoter was tested in a mouse model for retinal gliosis. Mice deficient for Crumbs homologue 1 (CRB1) develop gliosis after light exposure. Light exposure of Crb1−/− retinas transduced with AAV2/6-GFAP-GFP induced GFP expression restricted to activated Müller glial cells aligning retinal blood vessels. Conclusions/Significance Our experiments indicate that AAV2 vectors carrying the GFAP promoter are a promising tool for specific expression of transgenes in activated glial cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy M. Aartsen
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Koen W. R. van Cleef
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Lucie P. Pellissier
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Robert M. Hoek
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rogier M. Vos
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Bas Blits
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Molecular Therapeutics, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Erich M. E. Ehlert
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kamaljit S. Balaggan
- Division of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R. Ali
- Division of Molecular Therapy, Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joost Verhaagen
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Neuromedical Genetics, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an Institute of the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail:
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de Backer MWA, Fitzsimons CP, Brans MAD, Luijendijk MCM, Garner KM, Vreugdenhil E, Adan RAH. An adeno-associated viral vector transduces the rat hypothalamus and amygdala more efficient than a lentiviral vector. BMC Neurosci 2010; 11:81. [PMID: 20626877 PMCID: PMC2912914 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-11-81] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2010] [Accepted: 07/13/2010] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background This study compared the transduction efficiencies of an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector, which was pseudotyped with an AAV1 capsid and encoded the green fluorescent protein (GFP), with a lentiviral (LV) vector, which was pseudotyped with a VSV-G envelop and encoded the discosoma red fluorescent protein (dsRed), to investigate which viral vector transduced the lateral hypothalamus or the amygdala more efficiently. The LV-dsRed and AAV1-GFP vector were mixed and injected into the lateral hypothalamus or into the amygdala of adult rats. The titers that were injected were 1 × 108 or 1 × 109 genomic copies of AAV1-GFP and 1 × 105 transducing units of LV-dsRed. Results Immunostaining for GFP and dsRed showed that AAV1-GFP transduced significantly more cells than LV-dsRed in both the lateral hypothalamus and the amygdala. In addition, the number of LV particles that were injected can not easily be increased, while the number of AAV1 particles can be increased easily with a factor 100 to 1000. Both viral vectors appear to predominantly transduce neurons. Conclusions This study showed that AAV1 vectors are better tools to overexpress or knockdown genes in the lateral hypothalamus and amygdala of adult rats, since more cells can be transduced with AAV1 than with LV vectors and the titer of AAV1 vectors can easily be increased to transduce the area of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijke W A de Backer
- Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Mason MRJ, Ehlert EME, Eggers R, Pool CW, Hermening S, Huseinovic A, Timmermans E, Blits B, Verhaagen J. Comparison of AAV serotypes for gene delivery to dorsal root ganglion neurons. Mol Ther 2010; 18:715-24. [PMID: 20179682 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2010.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
For many experiments in the study of the peripheral nervous system, it would be useful to genetically manipulate primary sensory neurons. We have compared vectors based on adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8, and lentivirus (LV), all expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP), for efficiency of transduction of sensory neurons, expression level, cellular tropism, and persistence of transgene expression following direct injection into the dorsal root ganglia (DRG), using histological quantification and qPCR. Two weeks after injection, AAV1, AAV5, and AAV6 had transduced the most neurons. The time course of GFP expression from these three vectors was studied from 1 to 12 weeks after injection. AAV5 was the most effective serotype overall, followed by AAV1. Both these serotypes showed increasing neuronal transduction rates at later time points, with some injections of AAV5 yielding over 90% of DRG neurons GFP(+) at 12 weeks. AAV6 performed well initially, but transduction rates declined dramatically between 4 and 12 weeks. AAV1 and AAV5 both transduced large-diameter neurons, IB4(+) neurons, and CGRP(+) neurons. In conclusion, AAV5 is a highly effective gene therapy vector for primary sensory neurons following direct injection into the DRG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew R J Mason
- Laboratory for Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, Institute of the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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Ehlert EM, Eggers R, Niclou SP, Verhaagen J. Cellular toxicity following application of adeno-associated viral vector-mediated RNA interference in the nervous system. BMC Neurosci 2010; 11:20. [PMID: 20167052 PMCID: PMC2841193 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-11-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2009] [Accepted: 02/18/2010] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background After a spinal cord lesion, axon regeneration is inhibited by the presence of a diversity of inhibitory molecules in the lesion environment. At and around the lesion site myelin-associated inhibitors, chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) and several axon guidance molecules, including all members of the secreted (class 3) Semaphorins, are expressed. Interfering with multiple inhibitory signals could potentially enhance the previously reported beneficial effects of blocking single molecules. RNA interference (RNAi) is a tool that can be used to simultaneously silence expression of multiple genes. In this study we aimed to employ adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated expression of short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) to target all Semaphorin class 3 signaling by knocking down its receptors, Neuropilin 1 (Npn-1) and Neuropilin 2 (Npn-2). Results We have successfully generated shRNAs that knock down Npn-1 and Npn-2 in a neuronal cell line. We detected substantial knockdown of Npn-2 mRNA when AAV5 viral vector particles expressing Npn-2 specific shRNAs were injected in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of the rat. Unexpectedly however, AAV1-mediated expression of Npn-2 shRNAs and a control shRNA in the red nucleus resulted in an adverse tissue response and neuronal degeneration. The observed toxicity was dose dependent and was not seen with control GFP expressing AAV vectors, implicating the shRNAs as the causative toxic agents. Conclusions RNAi is a powerful tool to knock down Semaphorin receptor expression in neuronal cells in vitro and in vivo. However, when shRNAs are expressed at high levels in CNS neurons, they trigger an adverse tissue response leading to neuronal degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erich M Ehlert
- Department of Neuroregeneration, Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience, an institute of the Royal Academy of Arts and Sciences, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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