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Louçã M, El Akrouti D, Lemesle A, Louessard M, Dufour N, Baroin C, de la Fouchardière A, Cotter L, Jean-Jacques H, Redeker V, Perrier AL. Huntingtin lowering impairs the maturation and synchronized synaptic activity of human cortical neuronal networks derived from induced pluripotent stem cells. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 200:106630. [PMID: 39106928 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2024.106630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite growing descriptions of wild-type Huntingtin (wt-HTT) roles in both adult brain function and, more recently, development, several clinical trials are exploring HTT-lowering approaches that target both wt-HTT and the mutant isoform (mut-HTT) responsible for Huntington's disease (HD). This non-selective targeting is based on the autosomal dominant inheritance of HD, supporting the idea that mut-HTT exerts its harmful effects through a toxic gain-of-function or a dominant-negative mechanism. However, the precise amount of wt-HTT needed for healthy neurons in adults and during development remains unclear. In this study, we address this question by examining how wt-HTT loss affects human neuronal network formation, synaptic maturation, and homeostasis in vitro. Our findings establish a role of wt-HTT in the maturation of dendritic arborization and the acquisition of network-wide synchronized activity by human cortical neuronal networks modeled in vitro. Interestingly, the network synchronization defects only became apparent when more than two-thirds of the wt-HTT protein was depleted. Our study underscores the critical need to precisely understand wt-HTT role in neuronal health. It also emphasizes the potential risks of excessive wt-HTT loss associated with non-selective therapeutic approaches targeting both wt- and mut-HTT isoforms in HD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathilde Louçã
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives : Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Donya El Akrouti
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives : Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Aude Lemesle
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives : Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Morgane Louessard
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives : Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Noëlle Dufour
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives : Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Chloé Baroin
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives : Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Aurore de la Fouchardière
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives : Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Laurent Cotter
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives : Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Hélène Jean-Jacques
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, CEA, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Virginie Redeker
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives : Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, CEA, Institute for Integrative Biology of the Cell, 91198 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Anselme L Perrier
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, CNRS, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives : Mécanismes, Thérapies, Imagerie, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, Molecular Imaging Research Center, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
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Kim LJY, Kundu B, Moretti P, Lozano AM, Rahimpour S. Advancements in surgical treatments for Huntington disease: From pallidotomy to experimental therapies. Neurotherapeutics 2024:e00452. [PMID: 39304438 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurot.2024.e00452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2024] [Revised: 09/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/12/2024] [Indexed: 09/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by choreic movements, behavioral changes, and cognitive impairment. The pathogenesis of this process is a consequence of mutant protein toxicity in striatal and cortical neurons. Thus far, neurosurgical management of HD has largely been limited to symptomatic relief of motor symptoms using ablative and stimulation techniques. These interventions, however, do not modify the progressive course of the disease. More recently, disease-modifying experimental therapeutic strategies have emerged targeting intrastriatal infusion of neurotrophic factors, cell transplantation, HTT gene silencing, and delivery of intrabodies. Herein we review therapies requiring neurosurgical intervention, including those targeting symptom management and more recent disease-modifying agents, with a focus on safety, efficacy, and surgical considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leo J Y Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Bornali Kundu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Paolo Moretti
- Department of Neurology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Neurology, George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Andres M Lozano
- Division of Neurosurgery and Toronto Western Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shervin Rahimpour
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neurosciences Center, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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3
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Bajikar SS, Sztainberg Y, Trostle AJ, Tirumala HP, Wan YW, Harrop CL, Bengtsson JD, Carvalho CMB, Pehlivan D, Suter B, Neul JL, Liu Z, Jafar-Nejad P, Rigo F, Zoghbi HY. Modeling antisense oligonucleotide therapy in MECP2 duplication syndrome human iPSC-derived neurons reveals gene expression programs responsive to MeCP2 levels. Hum Mol Genet 2024:ddae135. [PMID: 39277796 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddae135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Genomic copy-number variations (CNVs) that can cause neurodevelopmental disorders often encompass many genes, which complicates our understanding of how individual genes within a CNV contribute to pathology. MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS or MRXSL in OMIM; OMIM#300260) is one such CNV disorder caused by duplications spanning methyl CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) and other genes on Xq28. Using an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) to normalize MECP2 dosage is sufficient to rescue abnormal neurological phenotypes in mouse models overexpressing MECP2 alone, implicating the importance of increased MECP2 dosage within CNVs of Xq28. However, because MDS CNVs span MECP2 and additional genes, we generated human neurons from multiple MDS patient-derived induced pluripotent cells (iPSCs) to evaluate the benefit of using an ASO against MECP2 in a MDS human neuronal context. Importantly, we identified a signature of genes that is partially and qualitatively modulated upon ASO treatment, pinpointed genes sensitive to MeCP2 function, and altered in a model of Rett syndrome, a neurological disorder caused by loss of MeCP2 function. Furthermore, the signature contained genes that are aberrantly altered in unaffected control human neurons upon MeCP2 depletion, revealing gene expression programs qualitatively sensitive to MeCP2 levels in human neurons. Lastly, ASO treatment led to a partial rescue of abnormal neuronal morphology in MDS neurons. All together, these data demonstrate that ASOs targeting MECP2 benefit human MDS neurons. Moreover, our study establishes a paradigm by which to evaluate the contribution of individual genes within a CNV to pathogenesis and to assess their potential as a therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sameer S Bajikar
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, 1340 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Virginia, 415 Lane Road, Charlottesville, VA 22903, United States
| | - Yehezkel Sztainberg
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Alexander J Trostle
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Harini P Tirumala
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Ying-Wooi Wan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Caroline L Harrop
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Virginia, 1340 Jefferson Park Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903, United States
| | - Jesse D Bengtsson
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, 720 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122, United States
| | - Claudia M B Carvalho
- Pacific Northwest Research Institute, 720 Broadway, Seattle, WA 98122, United States
| | - Davut Pehlivan
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Section of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Bernhard Suter
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Section of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Jeffrey L Neul
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center, 110 Magnolia Circle, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, United States
| | - Zhandong Liu
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
| | - Paymaan Jafar-Nejad
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, United States
| | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, United States
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, 1250 Moursund Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Section of Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Texas Children's Hospital, 6621 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, United States
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, United States
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4
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Iwamoto N, Liu Y, Frank-Kamenetsky M, Maguire A, Tseng WC, Taborn K, Kothari N, Akhtar A, Bowman K, Shelke JD, Lamattina A, Hu XS, Jang HG, Kandasamy P, Liu F, Longo K, Looby R, Meena, Metterville J, Pan Q, Purcell-Estabrook E, Shimizu M, Prakasha PS, Standley S, Upadhyay H, Yang H, Yin Y, Zhao A, Francis C, Byrne M, Dale E, Verdine GL, Vargeese C. Preclinical evaluation of stereopure antisense oligonucleotides for allele-selective lowering of mutant HTT. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102246. [PMID: 39027419 PMCID: PMC11255113 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant disease caused by the expansion of cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) repeats in one copy of the HTT gene (mutant HTT, mHTT). The unaffected HTT gene encodes wild-type HTT (wtHTT) protein, which supports processes important for the health and function of the central nervous system. Selective lowering of mHTT for the treatment of HD may provide a benefit over nonselective HTT-lowering approaches, as it aims to preserve the beneficial activities of wtHTT. Targeting a heterozygous single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) where the targeted variant is on the mHTT gene is one strategy for achieving allele-selective activity. Herein, we investigated whether stereopure phosphorothioate (PS)- and phosphoryl guanidine (PN)-containing oligonucleotides can direct allele-selective mHTT lowering by targeting rs362273 (SNP3). We demonstrate that our SNP3-targeting molecules are potent, durable, and selective for mHTT in vitro and in vivo in mouse models. Through comparisons with a surrogate for the nonselective investigational compound tominersen, we also demonstrate that allele-selective molecules display equivalent potency toward mHTT with improved durability while sparing wtHTT. Our preclinical findings support the advancement of WVE-003, an investigational allele-selective compound currently in clinical testing (NCT05032196) for the treatment of patients with HD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ali Akhtar
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Fangjun Liu
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Ken Longo
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Meena
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | - Qianli Pan
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Hailin Yang
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Yuan Yin
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | | | | | - Mike Byrne
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Elena Dale
- Wave Life Sciences, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Gregory L. Verdine
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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5
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Gulumkar VN, Dowdy SF. Stereopure ASOs: An unanticipated increase in selectivity for targeting mutant HTT. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102312. [PMID: 39281704 PMCID: PMC11399643 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/18/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Vijay N Gulumkar
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Steven F Dowdy
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine, La Jolla, CA, USA
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6
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Sorets A, Schwensen K, Francini N, Kjar A, Abdulrahman A, Shostak A, Katdare K, Schoch K, Cowell R, Park J, Ligocki A, Ford W, Ventura-Antunes L, Hoogenboezem E, Prusky A, Castleberry M, Michell DL, Miller T, Vickers K, Schrag M, Duvall C, Lippmann E. Lipid-siRNA conjugate accesses a perivascular transport mechanism and achieves widespread and durable knockdown in the central nervous system. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.09.598079. [PMID: 38915549 PMCID: PMC11195074 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.09.598079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Short-interfering RNA (siRNA) has gained significant interest for treatment of neurological diseases by providing the capacity to achieve sustained inhibition of nearly any gene target. Yet, efficacious drug delivery throughout deep brain structures of the CNS remains a considerable hurdle for intrathecally administered therapeutics. We herein describe an albumin-binding lipid-siRNA conjugate that transports along meningeal and perivascular CSF pathways, leading to broad dispersion throughout the CNS parenchyma. We provide a detailed examination of the temporal kinetics of gene silencing, highlighting potent knockdown for up to five months from a single injection without detectable toxicity. Single-cell RNA sequencing further demonstrates gene silencing activity across diverse cell populations in the parenchyma and at brain borders, which may provide new avenues for neurological disease-modifying therapies.
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7
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Benatti HR, Anagnostakou V, Taghian T, Hall EF, Nath S, Heilman CB, Beneduce BM, Leporati A, Raskett C, Epshtein M, King R, Gounis MJ, Malek AM, Gray-Edwards HL. A minimally invasive endovascular approach to the cerebellopontine angle cistern enables broad CNS biodistribution of scAAV9-CB-GFP. Mol Ther 2024:S1525-0016(24)00546-X. [PMID: 39192584 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2024] [Accepted: 08/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorders pose a challenge for targeted therapy due to restricted access of therapeutic agents to the central nervous system (CNS). Current methods are limited by procedure-related risks, invasiveness, and insufficient CNS biodistribution. A novel percutaneous transvenous technology, currently in clinical trials for communicating hydrocephalus, offers a minimally invasive approach by providing endovascular access to the cerebrospinal fluid-filled cerebellopontine angle (CPA) cistern. We hypothesized that drug delivery to the CPA cistern could yield widespread CNS distribution. Using an ovine model, we compared the biodistribution of scAAV9-CB-GFP following CPA cistern infusion with previously reported cisterna magna (CM) administration. Targeting both the CPA cistern and CM in sheep, we employed a lumbar spine-inserted microcatheter under fluoroscopy. CPA delivery of AAV9 demonstrated biodistribution and transduction in the cerebral cortices, striatum, thalamus, midbrain, cerebellum, and spinal cord, with minor liver distribution comparable to CM. The favorable safety profile in humans with hydrocephalus suggests that percutaneous endovascular injection into the CPA could offer a clinically safer and minimally invasive delivery system for CNS gene and cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Ribeiro Benatti
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Vania Anagnostakou
- New England Center for Stroke Research, Department of Radiology, UMass Chan Medical School, 55 N Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Toloo Taghian
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; New England Center for Stroke Research, Department of Radiology, UMass Chan Medical School, 55 N Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Erin F Hall
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Sarah Nath
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Carl B Heilman
- Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | | | - Anita Leporati
- New England Center for Stroke Research, Department of Radiology, UMass Chan Medical School, 55 N Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Christopher Raskett
- New England Center for Stroke Research, Department of Radiology, UMass Chan Medical School, 55 N Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Mark Epshtein
- New England Center for Stroke Research, Department of Radiology, UMass Chan Medical School, 55 N Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Robert King
- New England Center for Stroke Research, Department of Radiology, UMass Chan Medical School, 55 N Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Matthew J Gounis
- New England Center for Stroke Research, Department of Radiology, UMass Chan Medical School, 55 N Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Adel M Malek
- Tufts Medical Center, 800 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02111, USA.
| | - Heather L Gray-Edwards
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; New England Center for Stroke Research, Department of Radiology, UMass Chan Medical School, 55 N Lake Avenue, Worcester, MA 01655, USA.
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8
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Gao L, Bhattacharyya A, Beers B, Kaushik D, Bredlau AL, Kristensen A, Abd-Elaziz K, Grant R, Golden L, Kong R. Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of PTC518, an oral huntingtin lowering splicing modifier: A first-in-human study. Br J Clin Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 39155237 DOI: 10.1111/bcp.16202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 07/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/20/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS PTC518 is an orally administered, centrally and peripherally distributed huntingtin (HTT) pre-mRNA splicing modifier being developed for the treatment of Huntington's disease (HD) for which there is a high unmet medical need as there are currently no approved disease-modifying treatments. This first-in-human study investigated the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of PTC518 in healthy volunteers. METHODS This phase 1, single-centre, randomized study in 77 healthy male and female volunteers evaluated the safety and tolerability and PK of PTC518 following single ascending doses and multiple ascending doses, PD as assessed by HTT mRNA and HTT protein levels after single and multiple doses, and food effects. RESULTS PTC518 demonstrated a favourable safety profile. The majority of treatment-emergent adverse events were mild and transient. PTC518 Tmax was reached at 6-7 h and the terminal T1/2 was 54.0-75.3 h following a single oral dose. Exposure increased with dose though less than dose proportionally. The PTC518 concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid were approximately 2.6-fold higher than the unbound free-drug concentrations in plasma. A significant dose-dependent reduction of up to approximately 60% in HTT mRNA and a significant dose-dependent, time-dependent and sustained reduction in HTT protein levels of up to 35% were observed after PTC518 treatment. CONCLUSIONS PTC518 was well tolerated, and proof of mechanism of this novel splicing modifier was demonstrated by the dose-dependent decrease in systemic HTT mRNA and HTT protein levels. Results from this first-in-human study support further studies in patients with HD and demonstrate the potential for PTC518 as a breakthrough treatment for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Gao
- PTC Therapeutics, Warren, New Jersey, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Khalid Abd-Elaziz
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Lee Golden
- PTC Therapeutics, Warren, New Jersey, USA
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Gu Y, Yi Z, Zhou Z, Wang J, Li S, Zhu P, Liu N, Xu Y, He L, Wang Y, Fan Z. SNORD88B-mediated WRN nucleolar trafficking drives self-renewal in liver cancer initiating cells and hepatocarcinogenesis. Nat Commun 2024; 15:6730. [PMID: 39112443 PMCID: PMC11306581 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-50987-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Whether small nucleolar RNAs (snoRNAs) are involved in the regulation of liver cancer stem cells (CSCs) self-renewal and serve as therapeutic targets remains largely unclear. Here we show that a functional snoRNA (SNORD88B) is robustly expressed in Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumors and liver CSCs. SNORD88B deficiency abolishes the self-renewal of liver CSCs and hepatocarcinogenesis. Mechanistically, SNORD88B anchors WRN in the nucleolus, promoting XRCC5 interacts with STK4 promoter to suppress its transcription, leading to inactivation of Hippo signaling. Moreover, low expression of STK4 and high expression of XRCC5 are positively correlated with HCC poor prognosis. Additionally, snord88b knockout suppresses mouse liver tumorigenesis. Notably, co-administration of SNORD88B antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) with MST1 agonist adapalene (ADA) exert synergistic antitumor effects and increase overall murine survival. Our findings delineate that SNORD88B drives self-renewal of liver CSCs and accelerates HCC tumorigenesis via non-canonical mechanism, providing potential targets for liver cancer therapy by eliminating liver CSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Gu
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhibin Yi
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ziheng Zhou
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jianyi Wang
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shan Li
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Pingping Zhu
- School of Life Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Nian Liu
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lei He
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
| | - Yanying Wang
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory of Gene Resource and Molecular Development, College of Life Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
| | - Zusen Fan
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Key Laboratory of Epigenetic Regulation and Intervention, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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10
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Ye D, Chukwu C, Yang Y, Hu Z, Chen H. Adeno-associated virus vector delivery to the brain: Technology advancements and clinical applications. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 211:115363. [PMID: 38906479 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have emerged as a promising tool in the development of gene therapies for various neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a significant challenge to successfully delivering AAV vectors to the brain. Strategies that can overcome the BBB to improve the AAV delivery efficiency to the brain are essential to successful brain-targeted gene therapy. This review provides an overview of existing strategies employed for AAV delivery to the brain, including direct intraparenchymal injection, intra-cerebral spinal fluid injection, intranasal delivery, and intravenous injection of BBB-permeable AAVs. Focused ultrasound has emerged as a promising technology for the noninvasive and spatially targeted delivery of AAV administered by intravenous injection. This review also summarizes each strategy's current preclinical and clinical applications in treating neurological diseases. Moreover, this review includes a detailed discussion of the recent advances in the emerging focused ultrasound-mediated AAV delivery. Understanding the state-of-the-art of these gene delivery approaches is critical for future technology development to fulfill the great promise of AAV in neurological disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dezhuang Ye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Chinwendu Chukwu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Yaoheng Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Zhongtao Hu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, Saint Louis, MO 63130, USA; Department of Neurosurgery, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110 USA; Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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11
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Shirguppe S, Gapinske M, Swami D, Gosstola N, Acharya P, Miskalis A, Joulani D, Szkwarek MG, Bhattacharjee A, Elias G, Stilger M, Winter J, Woods WS, Anand D, Lim CKW, Gaj T, Perez-Pinera P. In vivo CRISPR base editing for treatment of Huntington's disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.05.602282. [PMID: 39005280 PMCID: PMC11245100 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.05.602282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited and ultimately fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an expanded polyglutamine-encoding CAG repeat within exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene, which produces a mutant protein that destroys striatal and cortical neurons. Importantly, a critical event in the pathogenesis of HD is the proteolytic cleavage of the mutant HTT protein by caspase-6, which generates fragments of the N-terminal domain of the protein that form highly toxic aggregates. Given the role that proteolysis of the mutant HTT protein plays in HD, strategies for preventing this process hold potential for treating the disorder. By screening 141 CRISPR base editor variants targeting splice elements in the HTT gene, we identified platforms capable of producing HTT protein isoforms resistant to caspase-6-mediated proteolysis via editing of the splice acceptor sequence for exon 13. When delivered to the striatum of a rodent HD model, these base editors induced efficient exon skipping and decreased the formation of the N-terminal fragments, which in turn reduced HTT protein aggregation and attenuated striatal and cortical atrophy. Collectively, these results illustrate the potential for CRISPR base editing to decrease the toxicity of the mutant HTT protein for HD.
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12
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Yazarlou F, Lipovich L, Loeb JA. Emerging roles of long non-coding RNAs in human epilepsy. Epilepsia 2024; 65:1491-1511. [PMID: 38687769 PMCID: PMC11166529 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Genome-scale biological studies conducted in the post-genomic era have revealed that two-thirds of human genes do not encode proteins. Most functional non-coding RNA transcripts in humans are products of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) genes, an abundant but still poorly understood class of human genes. As a result of their fundamental and multitasking regulatory roles, lncRNAs are associated with a wide range of human diseases, including neurological disorders. Approximately 40% of lncRNAs are specifically expressed in the brain, and many of them exhibit distinct spatiotemporal patterns of expression. Comparative genomics approaches have determined that 65%-75% of human lncRNA genes are primate-specific and hence can be posited as a contributing potential cause of the higher-order complexity of primates, including human, brains relative to those of other mammals. Although lncRNAs present important mechanistic examples of epileptogenic functions, the human/primate specificity of lncRNAs questions their relevance in rodent models. Here, we present an in-depth review that supports the contention that human lncRNAs are direct contributors to the etiology and pathogenesis of human epilepsy, as a means to accelerate the integration of lncRNAs into clinical practice as potential diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Meta-analytically, the major finding of our review is the commonality of lncRNAs in epilepsy and cancer pathogenesis through mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-related pathways. In addition, neuroinflammation may be a relevant part of the common pathophysiology of cancer and epilepsy. LncRNAs affect neuroinflammation-related signaling pathways such as nuclear factor kappa- light- chain- enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), Notch, and phosphatidylinositol 3- kinase/ protein kinase B (Akt) (PI3K/AKT), with the NF-κB pathway being the most common. Besides the controversy over lncRNA research in non-primate models, whether neuroinflammation is triggered by injury and/or central nervous system (CNS) toxicity during epilepsy modeling in animals or is a direct consequence of epilepsy pathophysiology needs to be considered meticulously in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Yazarlou
- Center for Childhood Cancer, Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, U.S.A
| | - Leonard Lipovich
- Shenzhen Huayuan Biological Science Research Institute, Shenzhen Huayuan Biotechnology Co. Ltd., 601 Building C1, Guangming Science Park, Fenghuang Street, 518000, Shenzhen, Guangdong, People’s Republic of China
- College of Science, Mathematics, and Technology, Wenzhou-Kean University, 88 Daxue Road, Ouhai District, 325060, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China
- Center for Molecular Medicine and Genetics, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, 3222 Scott Hall, 540 E. Canfield St., Detroit, Michigan 48201, U.S.A
| | - Jeffrey A. Loeb
- Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, U.S.A
- University of Illinois NeuroRepository, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60612, U.S.A
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13
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Nowak I, Paździor M, Sarna R, Madej M. Molecular Mechanisms in the Design of Novel Targeted Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:5436-5453. [PMID: 38920997 PMCID: PMC11202845 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46060325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are a diverse group of diseases characterized by a progressive loss of neurological function due to damage to nerve cells in the central nervous system. In recent years, there has been a worldwide increase in the expanding associated with increasing human life expectancy. Molecular mechanisms control many of the essential life processes of cells, such as replication, transcription, translation, protein synthesis and gene regulation. These are complex interactions that form the basis for understanding numerous processes in the organism and developing new diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. In the context of neurodegenerative diseases, molecular basis refers to changes at the molecular level that cause damage to or degeneration of nerve cells. These may include protein aggregates leading to pathological structures in brain cells, impaired protein transport in nerve cells, mitochondrial dysfunction, inflammatory processes or genetic mutations that impair nerve cell function. New medical therapies are based on these mechanisms and include gene therapies, reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress, and the use of miRNAs and regenerative medicine. The aim of this study was to bring together the current state of knowledge regarding selected neurodegenerative diseases, presenting the underlying molecular mechanisms involved, which could be potential targets for new forms of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Nowak
- Silesia LabMed, Centre for Research and Implementation, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 18 Medykow Str., 40-752 Katowice, Poland; (M.P.); (R.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Marlena Paździor
- Silesia LabMed, Centre for Research and Implementation, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 18 Medykow Str., 40-752 Katowice, Poland; (M.P.); (R.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Robert Sarna
- Silesia LabMed, Centre for Research and Implementation, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 18 Medykow Str., 40-752 Katowice, Poland; (M.P.); (R.S.); (M.M.)
| | - Marcel Madej
- Silesia LabMed, Centre for Research and Implementation, Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, 18 Medykow Str., 40-752 Katowice, Poland; (M.P.); (R.S.); (M.M.)
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in Sosnowiec, Medical University of Silesia, 40-055 Katowice, Poland
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14
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Owusu-Yaw BS, Zhang Y, Garrett L, Yao A, Shing K, Batista AR, Sena-Esteves M, Upadhyay J, Kegel-Gleason K, Todd N. Focused Ultrasound-Mediated Disruption of the Blood-Brain Barrier for AAV9 Delivery in a Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:710. [PMID: 38931834 PMCID: PMC11206648 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a monogenic neurodegenerative disorder caused by a cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeat expansion in the HTT gene. There are no cures for HD, but the genetic basis of this disorder makes gene therapy a viable approach. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-miRNA-based therapies have been demonstrated to be effective in lowering HTT mRNA; however, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a significant challenge for gene delivery to the brain. Delivery strategies include direct injections into the central nervous system, which are invasive and can result in poor diffusion of viral particles through the brain parenchyma. Focused ultrasound (FUS) is an alternative approach that can be used to non-invasively deliver AAVs by temporarily disrupting the BBB. Here, we investigate FUS-mediated delivery of a single-stranded AAV9 bearing a cDNA for GFP in 2-month-old wild-type mice and the zQ175 HD mouse model at 2-, 6-, and 12-months. FUS treatment improved AAV9 delivery for all mouse groups. The delivery efficacy was similar for all WT and HD groups, with the exception of the zQ175 12-month cohort, where we observed decreased GFP expression. Astrocytosis did not increase after FUS treatment, even within the zQ175 12-month group exhibiting higher baseline levels of GFAP expression. These findings demonstrate that FUS can be used to non-invasively deliver an AAV9-based gene therapy to targeted brain regions in a mouse model of Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernie S. Owusu-Yaw
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (Y.Z.); (N.T.)
| | - Yongzhi Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (Y.Z.); (N.T.)
| | - Lilyan Garrett
- College of Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Alvin Yao
- Department of Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA;
| | - Kai Shing
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (K.S.); (K.K.-G.)
| | - Ana Rita Batista
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (A.R.B.); (M.S.-E.)
| | - Miguel Sena-Esteves
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (A.R.B.); (M.S.-E.)
| | - Jaymin Upadhyay
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Kimberly Kegel-Gleason
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (K.S.); (K.K.-G.)
| | - Nick Todd
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (Y.Z.); (N.T.)
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15
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Sarli SL, Fakih HH, Kelly K, Devi G, Rembetsy-Brown J, McEachern H, Ferguson C, Echeverria D, Lee J, Sousa J, Sleiman H, Khvorova A, Watts J. Quantifying the activity profile of ASO and siRNA conjugates in glioblastoma xenograft tumors in vivo. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:4799-4817. [PMID: 38613388 PMCID: PMC11109979 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma multiforme is a universally lethal brain tumor that largely resists current surgical and drug interventions. Despite important advancements in understanding GBM biology, the invasiveness and heterogeneity of these tumors has made it challenging to develop effective therapies. Therapeutic oligonucleotides-antisense oligonucleotides and small-interfering RNAs-are chemically modified nucleic acids that can silence gene expression in the brain. However, activity of these oligonucleotides in brain tumors remains inadequately characterized. In this study, we developed a quantitative method to differentiate oligonucleotide-induced gene silencing in orthotopic GBM xenografts from gene silencing in normal brain tissue, and used this method to test the differential silencing activity of a chemically diverse panel of oligonucleotides. We show that oligonucleotides chemically optimized for pharmacological activity in normal brain tissue do not show consistent activity in GBM xenografts. We then survey multiple advanced oligonucleotide chemistries for their activity in GBM xenografts. Attaching lipid conjugates to oligonucleotides improves silencing in GBM cells across several different lipid classes. Highly hydrophobic lipid conjugates cholesterol and docosanoic acid enhance silencing but at the cost of higher neurotoxicity. Moderately hydrophobic, unsaturated fatty acid and amphiphilic lipid conjugates still improve activity without compromising safety. These oligonucleotide conjugates show promise for treating glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha L Sarli
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Hassan H Fakih
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Karen Kelly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Gitali Devi
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Julia M Rembetsy-Brown
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Holly R McEachern
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Chantal M Ferguson
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan Lee
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Sousa
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Hanadi F Sleiman
- Department of Chemistry, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jonathan K Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
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16
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Sano T, Nagata T, Ebihara S, Yoshida-Tanaka K, Nakamura A, Sasaki A, Shimozawa A, Mochizuki H, Uchihara T, Hasegawa M, Yokota T. Effects of local reduction of endogenous α-synuclein using antisense oligonucleotides on the fibril-induced propagation of pathology through the neural network in wild-type mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2024; 12:75. [PMID: 38745295 PMCID: PMC11092238 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-024-01766-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
In Parkinson's disease and other synucleinopathies, fibrillar forms of α-synuclein (aSyn) are hypothesized to structurally convert and pathologize endogenous aSyn, which then propagates through the neural connections, forming Lewy pathologies and ultimately causing neurodegeneration. Inoculation of mouse-derived aSyn preformed fibrils (PFFs) into the unilateral striatum of wild-type mice causes widespread aSyn pathologies in the brain through the neural network. Here, we used the local injection of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) against Snca mRNA to confine the area of endogenous aSyn protein reduction and not to affect the PFFs properties in this model. We then varied the timing and location of ASOs injection to examine their impact on the initiation and propagation of aSyn pathologies in the whole brain and the therapeutic effect using abnormally-phosphorylated aSyn (pSyn) as an indicator. By injecting ASOs before or 0-14 days after the PFFs were inoculated into the same site in the left striatum, the reduction in endogenous aSyn in the striatum leads to the prevention and inhibition of the regional spread of pSyn pathologies to the whole brain including the contralateral right hemisphere. ASO post-injection inhibited extension from neuritic pathologies to somatic ones. Moreover, injection of ASOs into the right striatum prevented the remote regional spread of pSyn pathologies from the left striatum where PFFs were inoculated and no ASO treatment was conducted. This indicated that the reduction in endogenous aSyn protein levels at the propagation destination site can attenuate pSyn pathologies, even if those at the propagation initiation site are not inhibited, which is consistent with the original concept of prion-like propagation that endogenous aSyn is indispensable for this regional spread. Our results demonstrate the importance of recruiting endogenous aSyn in this neural network propagation model and indicate a possible potential for ASO treatment in synucleinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuhiko Sano
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
- Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Nagata
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.
- Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.
- NucleoTIDE and PepTIDE Drug Discovery Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.
| | - Satoe Ebihara
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
- Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Kie Yoshida-Tanaka
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
- Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Ayako Nakamura
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
- Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Asuka Sasaki
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
- Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Aki Shimozawa
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo, 156-0057, Japan
| | - Hideki Mochizuki
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, 2-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Toshiki Uchihara
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
- Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan
| | - Masato Hasegawa
- Department of Brain and Neurosciences, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, 2-1-6 Kamikitazawa, Setagaya-Ku, Tokyo, 156-0057, Japan
| | - Takanori Yokota
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.
- Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.
- NucleoTIDE and PepTIDE Drug Discovery Center, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo, 113-8519, Japan.
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17
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Cantara S, Simoncelli G, Ricci C. Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASOs) in Motor Neuron Diseases: A Road to Cure in Light and Shade. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4809. [PMID: 38732027 PMCID: PMC11083842 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/23/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are short oligodeoxynucleotides designed to bind to specific regions of target mRNA. ASOs can modulate pre-mRNA splicing, increase levels of functional proteins, and decrease levels of toxic proteins. ASOs are being developed for the treatment of motor neuron diseases (MNDs), including spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA). The biggest success has been the ASO known as nusinersen, the first effective therapy for SMA, able to improve symptoms and slow disease progression. Another success is tofersen, an ASO designed to treat ALS patients with SOD1 gene mutations. Both ASOs have been approved by the FDA and EMA. On the other hand, ASO treatment in ALS patients with the C9orf72 gene mutation did not show any improvement in disease progression. The aim of this review is to provide an up-to-date overview of ASO research in MNDs, from preclinical studies to clinical trials and, where available, regulatory approval. We highlight the successes and failures, underline the strengths and limitations of the current ASO research, and suggest possible approaches that could lead to more effective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Cantara
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Giorgia Simoncelli
- Unit of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Department of Neurological and Motor Sciences, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Senese, 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Claudia Ricci
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Neurological Sciences, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy;
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18
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Ali S, Wang P, Murphy RE, Allen JA, Zhou J. Orphan GPR52 as an emerging neurotherapeutic target. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103922. [PMID: 38387741 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
GPR52 is a highly conserved, brain-enriched, Gs/olf-coupled orphan G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) that controls various cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent physiological and pathological processes. Stimulation of GPR52 activity might be beneficial for the treatment of schizophrenia, psychiatric disorders and other human neurological diseases, whereas inhibition of its activity might provide a potential therapeutic approach for Huntington's disease. Excitingly, HTL0048149 (HTL'149), an orally available GPR52 agonist, has been advanced into phase I human clinical trials for the treatment of schizophrenia. In this concise review, we summarize the current understanding of GPR52 receptor distribution as well as its structure and functions, highlighting the recent advances in drug discovery efforts towards small-molecule GPR52 ligands. The opportunities and challenges presented by targeting GPR52 for novel therapeutics are also briefly discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saghir Ali
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Pingyuan Wang
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - Ryan E Murphy
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA
| | - John A Allen
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
| | - Jia Zhou
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, and Center for Addiction Sciences and Therapeutics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555, USA.
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19
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Cheng Y, Zhang S, Shang H. Latest advances on new promising molecular-based therapeutic approaches for Huntington's disease. J Transl Int Med 2024; 12:134-147. [PMID: 38779119 PMCID: PMC11107186 DOI: 10.2478/jtim-2023-0142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a devastating, autosomal-dominant inherited, neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive motor deficits, cognitive impairments, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. It is caused by excessive cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeats within the huntingtin gene (HTT). Presently, therapeutic interventions capable of altering the trajectory of HD are lacking, while medications for abnormal movement and psychiatric symptoms are limited. Numerous pre-clinical and clinical studies have been conducted and are currently underway to test the efficacy of therapeutic approaches targeting some of these mechanisms with varying degrees of success. In this review, we update the latest advances on new promising molecular-based therapeutic strategies for this disorder, including DNA-targeting techniques such as zinc-finger proteins, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and CRISPR/Cas9; post-transcriptional huntingtin-lowering approaches such as RNAi, antisense oligonucleotides, and small-molecule splicing modulators; and novel methods to clear the mHTT protein, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras. We mainly focus on the ongoing clinical trials and the latest pre-clinical studies to explore the progress of emerging potential HD therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangfan Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Rare disease center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Sirui Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Rare disease center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan Province, China
| | - Huifang Shang
- Department of Neurology, Laboratory of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Rare disease center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu610041, Sichuan Province, China
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20
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Tong H, Yang T, Xu S, Li X, Liu L, Zhou G, Yang S, Yin S, Li XJ, Li S. Huntington's Disease: Complex Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3845. [PMID: 38612657 PMCID: PMC11011923 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) arises from the abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin gene (HTT), resulting in the production of the mutant huntingtin protein (mHTT) with a polyglutamine stretch in its N-terminus. The pathogenic mechanisms underlying HD are complex and not yet fully elucidated. However, mHTT forms aggregates and accumulates abnormally in neuronal nuclei and processes, leading to disruptions in multiple cellular functions. Although there is currently no effective curative treatment for HD, significant progress has been made in developing various therapeutic strategies to treat HD. In addition to drugs targeting the neuronal toxicity of mHTT, gene therapy approaches that aim to reduce the expression of the mutant HTT gene hold great promise for effective HD therapy. This review provides an overview of current HD treatments, discusses different therapeutic strategies, and aims to facilitate future therapeutic advancements in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (H.T.); (T.Y.); (S.X.); (X.L.); (L.L.); (G.Z.); (S.Y.); (S.Y.)
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Ministry of Education), Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau Institute of CNS Regeneration, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; (H.T.); (T.Y.); (S.X.); (X.L.); (L.L.); (G.Z.); (S.Y.); (S.Y.)
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21
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Han B, Liang W, Li XJ, Li S, Yan S, Tu Z. Large animal models for Huntington's disease research. Zool Res 2024; 45:275-283. [PMID: 38485497 PMCID: PMC11017086 DOI: 10.24272/j.issn.2095-8137.2023.199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder for which there is currently no effective treatment available. Consequently, the development of appropriate disease models is critical to thoroughly investigate disease progression. The genetic basis of HD involves the abnormal expansion of CAG repeats in the huntingtin ( HTT) gene, leading to the expansion of a polyglutamine repeat in the HTT protein. Mutant HTT carrying the expanded polyglutamine repeat undergoes misfolding and forms aggregates in the brain, which precipitate selective neuronal loss in specific brain regions. Animal models play an important role in elucidating the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders such as HD and in identifying potential therapeutic targets. Due to the marked species differences between rodents and larger animals, substantial efforts have been directed toward establishing large animal models for HD research. These models are pivotal for advancing the discovery of novel therapeutic targets, enhancing effective drug delivery methods, and improving treatment outcomes. We have explored the advantages of utilizing large animal models, particularly pigs, in previous reviews. Since then, however, significant progress has been made in developing more sophisticated animal models that faithfully replicate the typical pathology of HD. In the current review, we provide a comprehensive overview of large animal models of HD, incorporating recent findings regarding the establishment of HD knock-in (KI) pigs and their genetic therapy. We also explore the utilization of large animal models in HD research, with a focus on sheep, non-human primates (NHPs), and pigs. Our objective is to provide valuable insights into the application of these large animal models for the investigation and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bofeng Han
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Weien Liang
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Jiang Li
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Shihua Li
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
| | - Sen Yan
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China. E-mail:
| | - Zhuchi Tu
- Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau CNS Regeneration Institute of Jinan University, Key Laboratory of CNS Regeneration (Jinan University)-Ministry of Education, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Non-Human Primate Research, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510632, China. E-mail:
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22
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Caron NS, Aly AEE, Findlay Black H, Martin DDO, Schmidt ME, Ko S, Anderson C, Harvey EM, Casal LL, Anderson LM, Rahavi SMR, Reid GSD, Oda MN, Stanimirovic D, Abulrob A, McBride JL, Leavitt BR, Hayden MR. Systemic delivery of mutant huntingtin lowering antisense oligonucleotides to the brain using apolipoprotein A-I nanodisks for Huntington disease. J Control Release 2024; 367:27-44. [PMID: 38215984 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2024.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Efficient delivery of therapeutics to the central nervous system (CNS) remains a major challenge for the treatment of neurological diseases. Huntington disease (HD) is a dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide expansion mutation in the HTT gene which codes for a toxic mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. Pharmacological reduction of mHTT in the CNS using antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) ameliorates HD-like phenotypes in rodent models of HD, with such therapies being investigated in clinical trials for HD. In this study, we report the optimization of apolipoprotein A-I nanodisks (apoA-I NDs) as vehicles for delivery of a HTT-targeted ASO (HTT ASO) to the brain and peripheral organs for HD. We demonstrate that apoA-I wild type (WT) and the apoA-I K133C mutant incubated with a synthetic lipid, 1,2-dimyristoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine, can self-assemble into monodisperse discoidal particles with diameters <20 nm that transmigrate across an in vitro blood-brain barrier model of HD. We demonstrate that apoA-I NDs are well tolerated in vivo, and that apoA-I K133C NDs show enhanced distribution to the CNS and peripheral organs compared to apoA-I WT NDs following systemic administration. ApoA-I K133C conjugated with HTT ASO forms NDs (HTT ASO NDs) that induce significant mHTT lowering in the liver, skeletal muscle and heart as well as in the brain when delivered intravenously in the BACHD mouse model of HD. Furthermore, HTT ASO NDs increase the magnitude of mHTT lowering in the striatum and cortex compared to HTT ASO alone following intracerebroventricular administration. These findings demonstrate the potential utility of apoA-I NDs as biocompatible vehicles for enhancing delivery of mutant HTT lowering ASOs to the CNS and peripheral organs for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas S Caron
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Amirah E-E Aly
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Hailey Findlay Black
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Dale D O Martin
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mandi E Schmidt
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Neuroscience, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Seunghyun Ko
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christine Anderson
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Emily M Harvey
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lorenzo L Casal
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Lisa M Anderson
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Seyed M R Rahavi
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Gregor S D Reid
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | | | - Danica Stanimirovic
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Abedelnasser Abulrob
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jodi L McBride
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA; Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Michael R Hayden
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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23
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Bahat A, Itzhaki E, Weiss B, Tolmasov M, Tsoory M, Kuperman Y, Brandis A, Shurrush KA, Dikstein R. Lowering mutant huntingtin by small molecules relieves Huntington's disease symptoms and progression. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:523-546. [PMID: 38374466 PMCID: PMC10940305 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-023-00020-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an incurable inherited disorder caused by a repeated expansion of glutamines in the huntingtin gene (Htt). The mutant protein causes neuronal degeneration leading to severe motor and psychological symptoms. Selective downregulation of the mutant Htt gene expression is considered the most promising therapeutic approach for HD. We report the identification of small molecule inhibitors of Spt5-Pol II, SPI-24 and SPI-77, which selectively lower mutant Htt mRNA and protein levels in HD cells. In the BACHD mouse model, their direct delivery to the striatum diminished mutant Htt levels, ameliorated mitochondrial dysfunction, restored BDNF expression, and improved motor and anxiety-like phenotypes. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that these SPIs pass the blood-brain-barrier. Prolonged subcutaneous injection or oral administration to early-stage mice significantly delayed disease deterioration. SPI-24 long-term treatment had no side effects or global changes in gene expression. Thus, lowering mutant Htt levels by small molecules can be an effective therapeutic strategy for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anat Bahat
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
| | - Elad Itzhaki
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Benjamin Weiss
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Michael Tolmasov
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life-Sciences and The Leslie & Susan Gonda Multidisciplinary Brain Research Center Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Michael Tsoory
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Yael Kuperman
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Alexander Brandis
- Life Sciences Core Facilities, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Khriesto A Shurrush
- The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel
| | - Rivka Dikstein
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, 76100, Israel.
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24
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Wu J, Ren J, Cui H, Xie Y, Tang Y. Rapid and high-purity differentiation of human medium spiny neurons reveals LMNB1 hypofunction and subtype necessity in modeling Huntington's disease. Inflamm Regen 2024; 44:7. [PMID: 38360694 PMCID: PMC10870681 DOI: 10.1186/s41232-024-00320-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Different neural subtypes are selectively lost in diverse neurodegenerative diseases. Huntington's disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease characterized by motor abnormalities that primarily affect the striatum. The Huntingtin (HTT) mutation involves an expanded CAG repeat, leading to insoluble polyQ, which renders GABA+ medium spiny neurons (MSN) more venerable to cell death. Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) technology allows for the construction of disease-specific models, providing valuable cellular models for studying pathogenesis, drug screening, and high-throughput analysis. METHODS In this study, we established a method that allows for rapid and efficient generation of MSNs (> 90%) within 21 days from hPSC-derived neural progenitor cells, by introducing a specific combination of transcription factors. RESULTS We efficiently induced several neural subtypes, in parallel, based on the same cell source, and revealed that, compared to other neural subtypes, MSNs exhibited higher polyQ aggregation propensity and overexpression toxicity, more severe dysfunction in BDNF/TrkB signaling, greater susceptibility to BDNF withdrawal, and more severe disturbances in nucleocytoplasmic transport (NCT). We further found that the nuclear lamina protein LMNB1 was greatly reduced in HD neurons and mislocalized to the cytoplasm and axons. Knockdown of HTT or treatment with KPT335, an orally selective inhibitor of nuclear export (SINE), effectively attenuated the pathological phenotypes and alleviated neuronal death caused by BDNF withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS This study thus establishes an effective method for obtaining MSNs and underscores the necessity of using high-purity MSNs to study HD pathogenesis, especially the MSN-selective vulnerability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junjiao Wu
- Department of Rheumatology and Immunology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
- Provincial Clinical Research Center for Rheumatic and Immunologic Diseases, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Jie Ren
- Department of Geriatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Hongfei Cui
- Department of Geriatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yali Xie
- Department of Geriatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China
| | - Yu Tang
- Department of Geriatrics, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, Hunan, China.
- Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
- Key Laboratory of Hunan Province in Neurodegenerative Disorders, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410008, China.
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25
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Bondulich MK, Phillips J, Cañibano-Pico M, Nita IM, Byrne LM, Wild EJ, Bates GP. Translatable plasma and CSF biomarkers for use in mouse models of Huntington's disease. Brain Commun 2024; 6:fcae030. [PMID: 38370446 PMCID: PMC10873584 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcae030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is an inherited neurodegenerative disorder for which a wide range of disease-modifying therapies are in development and the availability of biomarkers to monitor treatment response is essential for the success of clinical trials. Baseline levels of neurofilament light chain in CSF and plasma have been shown to be effective in predicting clinical disease status, subsequent clinical progression and brain atrophy. The identification of further sensitive prognostic fluid biomarkers is an active research area, and total-Tau and YKL-40 levels have been shown to be increased in CSF from Huntington's disease mutation carriers. The use of readouts with clinical utility in the preclinical assessment of potential therapeutics should aid in the translation of new treatments. Here, we set out to determine how the concentrations of these three proteins change in plasma and CSF with disease progression in representative, well-established mouse models of Huntington's disease. Plasma and CSF were collected throughout disease progression from R6/2 transgenic mice with CAG repeats of 200 or 90 codons (R6/2:Q200 and R6/2:Q90), zQ175 knock-in mice and YAC128 transgenic mice, along with their respective wild-type littermates. Neurofilament light chain and total-Tau concentrations were quantified in CSF and plasma using ultrasensitive single-molecule array (Quanterix) assays, and a novel Quanterix assay was developed for breast regression protein 39 (mouse homologue of YKL-40) and used to quantify breast regression protein 39 levels in plasma. CSF levels of neurofilament light chain and plasma levels of neurofilament light chain and breast regression protein 39 increased in wild-type biofluids with age, whereas total-Tau remained constant. Neurofilament light chain and breast regression protein 39 were elevated in the plasma and CSF from Huntington's disease mouse models, as compared with wild-type littermates, at presymptomatic stages, whereas total-Tau was only increased at the latest disease stages analysed. Levels of biomarkers that had been measured in the same CSF or plasma samples taken at the latest stages of disease were correlated. The demonstration that breast regression protein 39 constitutes a robust plasma biomarker in Huntington's disease mouse models supports the further investigation of YKL-40 as a CSF biomarker for Huntington's disease mutation carriers. Neurofilament light chain and Tau are considered markers of neuronal damage, and breast regression protein 39 is a marker of inflammation; the similarities and differences in the levels of these proteins between mouse models may provide future insights into their underlying pathology. These data will facilitate the use of fluid biomarkers in the preclinical assessment of therapeutic agents for Huntington's disease, providing readouts with direct relevance to clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie K Bondulich
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Jemima Phillips
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - María Cañibano-Pico
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Iulia M Nita
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Lauren M Byrne
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Edward J Wild
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Gillian P Bates
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UCL, London WC1N 3BG, UK
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26
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Franklin GL, Teive HAG, Tensini FS, Camargo CHF, de Lima NDSC, de Dos Santos DDC, Meira AT, Tabrizi SJ. The Huntington's Disease Gene Discovery. Mov Disord 2024; 39:227-234. [PMID: 38179605 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The gene for Huntington's disease (HD) was discovered in 1993, after an international collaborative initiative that led researchers to remote regions of South America. It was the most remarkable milestone, since George Huntington's initial description. Through the phenomenological discussions led by Jean-Martin Charcot and Willian Osler, and finally Americo Negrette's reports, which served as the inspiration for the Venezuela Project led by Nancy Wexler, the journey toward discovering the Huntington's disease (HD) gene was marked by substantial efforts. This monumental achievement involved the analysis of more than 18,000 blood samples and gathered dozens of researchers in an integrated effort, enabling the mapping of the gene on chromosome 4 in 1983 and leading, a decade later, to the precise localization and identification of the HTT gene. The discovery of the HD mutation represented a pivotal moment in the field of genetics and neurology, significantly enhancing our understanding of the disease and creating opportunities for future treatments. The progress made and the knowledge gained during this journey catalyzed the development of many innovative molecular techniques that have advanced research in other medical conditions. In this article, the authors celebrate three decades of this memorable event, revisiting the historical aspects, providing insights into the techniques developed, and delving into the paths that ultimately led to the discovery of the HD gene. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo L Franklin
- Internal Medicine Department, Pontifical University Catholic of Parana, Medical School, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Hélio A G Teive
- Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Internal Medicine Department, HC, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Fernando Spina Tensini
- Movement Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Internal Medicine Department, HC, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Alex T Meira
- Internal Medicine Department, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, UK Dementia Research Institute, University College London, London, UK
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27
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Metz T, Welling MM, Suidgeest E, Nieuwenhuize E, de Vlaam T, Curtis D, Hailu TT, van der Weerd L, van Roon-Mom WMC. Biodistribution of Radioactively Labeled Splice Modulating Antisense Oligonucleotides After Intracerebroventricular and Intrathecal Injection in Mice. Nucleic Acid Ther 2024; 34:26-34. [PMID: 38386285 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2023.0018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) are promising therapeutic candidates, especially for neurological diseases. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection is the predominant route of administration in mouse studies, while in clinical trials, intrathecal (IT) administration is mostly used. There is little knowledge on the differences in distribution of these injection methods within the same species over time. In this study, we compared the distribution of splice-switching AONs targeting exon 15 of amyloid precursor protein pre-mRNA injected via the ICV and IT route in mice. The AON was labeled with radioactive indium-111 and mice were imaged using single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) 0, 4, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after injection. In vivo SPECT imaging showed 111In-AON activity diffused throughout the central nervous system (CNS) in the first hours after injection. The 111In-AON activity in the CNS persisted over the course of 4 days, while signal in the kidneys rapidly decreased. Postmortem counting in different organs and tissues showed very similar distribution of 111In-AON activity throughout the body, while the signal in the different brain regions was higher with ICV injection. Overall, IT and ICV injection have very similar distribution patterns in the mouse, but ICV injection is much more effective in reaching the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Metz
- Department of Human Genetics,Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Mick M Welling
- Interventional Molecular Imaging Laboratory, Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ernst Suidgeest
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Esmée Nieuwenhuize
- Department of Human Genetics,Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Louise van der Weerd
- Department of Human Genetics,Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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28
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Kuijper EC, Overzier M, Suidgeest E, Dzyubachyk O, Maguin C, Pérot JB, Flament J, Ariyurek Y, Mei H, Buijsen RAM, van der Weerd L, van Roon-Mom W. Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated disruption of HTT caspase-6 cleavage site ameliorates the phenotype of YAC128 Huntington disease mice. Neurobiol Dis 2024; 190:106368. [PMID: 38040383 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In Huntington disease, cellular toxicity is particularly caused by toxic protein fragments generated from the mutant huntingtin (HTT) protein. By modifying the HTT protein, we aim to reduce proteolytic cleavage and ameliorate the consequences of mutant HTT without lowering total HTT levels. To that end, we use an antisense oligonucleotide (AON) that targets HTT pre-mRNA and induces partial skipping of exon 12, which contains the critical caspase-6 cleavage site. Here, we show that AON-treatment can partially restore the phenotype of YAC128 mice, a mouse model expressing the full-length human HTT gene including 128 CAG-repeats. Wild-type and YAC128 mice were treated intracerebroventricularly with AON12.1, scrambled AON or vehicle starting at 6 months of age and followed up to 12 months of age, when MRI was performed and mice were sacrificed. AON12.1 treatment induced around 40% exon skip and protein modification. The phenotype on body weight and activity, but not rotarod, was restored by AON treatment. Genes differentially expressed in YAC128 striatum changed toward wild-type levels and striatal volume was preserved upon AON12.1 treatment. However, scrambled AON also showed a restorative effect on gene expression and appeared to generally increase brain volume.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elsa C Kuijper
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands.
| | - Maurice Overzier
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Ernst Suidgeest
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Oleh Dzyubachyk
- Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Cécile Maguin
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Pérot
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, France; Institut du Cerveau - Paris Brain Institute, Sorbonne Université, France
| | - Julien Flament
- Université Paris-Saclay, Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, France
| | - Yavuz Ariyurek
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Department of Biomedical Data Sciences, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands
| | - Louise van der Weerd
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands; Department of Radiology, Leiden University Medical Center, the Netherlands
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29
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Bhat MA, Dhaneshwar S. Neurodegenerative Diseases: New Hopes and Perspectives. Curr Mol Med 2024; 24:1004-1032. [PMID: 37691199 DOI: 10.2174/1566524023666230907093451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and Friedrich ataxia are all incurable neurodegenerative diseases defined by the continuous progressive loss of distinct neuronal subtypes. Despite their rising prevalence among the world's ageing population, fewer advances have been made in the concurrent massive efforts to develop newer drugs. Recently, there has been a shift in research focus towards the discovery of new therapeutic agents for neurodegenerative diseases. In this review, we have summarized the recently developed therapies and their status in the management of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Aadil Bhat
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Lucknow, Amity University Uttar Pradesh, Noida, UP, India
| | - Suneela Dhaneshwar
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University Maharashtra, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
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30
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Dai S, Qiu L, Veeraraghavan VP, Sheu CL, Mony U. Advances in iPSC Technology in Neural Disease Modeling, Drug Screening, and Therapy. Curr Stem Cell Res Ther 2024; 19:809-819. [PMID: 37291782 DOI: 10.2174/1574888x18666230608105703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative disorders (NDs) including Alzheimer's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington's disease are all incurable and can only be managed with drugs for the associated symptoms. Animal models of human illnesses help to advance our understanding of the pathogenic processes of diseases. Understanding the pathogenesis as well as drug screening using appropriate disease models of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are vital for identifying novel therapies. Human-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models can be an efficient model to create disease in a dish and thereby can proceed with drug screening and identifying appropriate drugs. This technology has many benefits, including efficient reprogramming and regeneration potential, multidirectional differentiation, and the lack of ethical concerns, which open up new avenues for studying neurological illnesses in greater depth. The review mainly focuses on the use of iPSC technology in neuronal disease modeling, drug screening, and cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sihan Dai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Linhui Qiu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Vishnu Priya Veeraraghavan
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077, India
| | - Chia-Lin Sheu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Ullas Mony
- Centre of Molecular Medicine and Diagnostics (COMManD), Department of Biochemistry, Saveetha Dental College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Saveetha University, Chennai, 600077, India
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31
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Vemula P, Schoch KM, Miller TM. Evaluating the efficacy of purchased antisense oligonucleotides to reduce mouse and human tau in vivo. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1320182. [PMID: 38192302 PMCID: PMC10773814 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1320182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Many preclinical and clinical studies support the use of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) as effective therapeutic strategies. However, acquiring ASOs for research purposes may be limited by partnerships with the pharmaceutical companies. Our lab previously developed an effective ASO strategy to lower human tau and reverse pathology in aged tauopathy model mice. Testing the efficacy of purchased tau lowering ASOs would provide support for these reagents as broad research tools. Purchased mouse and human tau lowering ASOs were infused or injected intracerebroventricularly into wildtype and tau transgenic mice. Following treatment, brain tissue evaluated for ASO distribution and levels of tau mRNA, protein, and phosphorylated tau. We show that purchased ASOs enter cell types of the brain and effectively decrease mouse or human tau mRNA and protein levels. Human tau lowering ASO treatment in PS19 mice decreased phosphorylated tau and gliosis relative to saline-treated PS19 mice, consistent with our previous study using a non-commercial tau lowering ASO. The results of this study demonstrate the efficacy of purchased tau targeting ASOs in vivo to support their broad use by researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pranav Vemula
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kathleen M Schoch
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Timothy M Miller
- Department of Neurology, Hope Center for Neurological Disorders, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
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32
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He T, Wen C, Yang G, Yang X. Targeted Protein Degradation: Principles, Strategies, and Applications. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2300083. [PMID: 37518856 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Protein degradation is a general process to maintain cell homeostasis. The intracellular protein quality control system mainly includes the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the lysosome pathway. Inspired by the physiological process, strategies to degrade specific proteins have developed, which emerge as potent and effective tools in biological research and drug discovery. This review focuses on recent advances in targeted protein degradation techniques, summarizing the principles, advantages, and challenges. Moreover, the potential applications and future direction in biological science and clinics are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting He
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, P. R. China
| | - Chenxi Wen
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, P. R. China
| | - Guodong Yang
- The State Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, P. R. China
| | - Xuekang Yang
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, P. R. China
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33
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Makeeva VS, Dyrkheeva NS, Lavrik OI, Zakian SM, Malakhova AA. Mutant-Huntingtin Molecular Pathways Elucidate New Targets for Drug Repurposing. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16798. [PMID: 38069121 PMCID: PMC10706709 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The spectrum of neurodegenerative diseases known today is quite extensive. The complexities of their research and treatment lie not only in their diversity. Even many years of struggle and narrowly focused research on common pathologies such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other brain diseases have not brought cures for these illnesses. What can be said about orphan diseases? In particular, Huntington's disease (HD), despite affecting a smaller part of the human population, still attracts many researchers. This disorder is known to result from a mutation in the HTT gene, but having this information still does not simplify the task of drug development and studying the mechanisms of disease progression. Nonetheless, the data accumulated over the years and their analysis provide a good basis for further research. Here, we review studies devoted to understanding the mechanisms of HD. We analyze genes and molecular pathways involved in HD pathogenesis to describe the action of repurposed drugs and try to find new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladlena S. Makeeva
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Akad. Lavrentiev Ave., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.S.M.); (S.M.Z.); (A.A.M.)
| | - Nadezhda S. Dyrkheeva
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Akad. Lavrentiev Ave., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
| | - Olga I. Lavrik
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 8 Akad. Lavrentiev Ave., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia;
| | - Suren M. Zakian
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Akad. Lavrentiev Ave., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.S.M.); (S.M.Z.); (A.A.M.)
| | - Anastasia A. Malakhova
- Institute of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Branch of Russian Academy of Sciences, 10 Akad. Lavrentiev Ave., 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (V.S.M.); (S.M.Z.); (A.A.M.)
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34
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Ikenoshita S, Matsuo K, Yabuki Y, Kawakubo K, Asamitsu S, Hori K, Usuki S, Hirose Y, Bando T, Araki K, Ueda M, Sugiyama H, Shioda N. A cyclic pyrrole-imidazole polyamide reduces pathogenic RNA in CAG/CTG triplet repeat neurological disease models. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e164792. [PMID: 37707954 PMCID: PMC10645379 DOI: 10.1172/jci164792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Expansion of CAG and CTG (CWG) triplet repeats causes several inherited neurological diseases. The CWG repeat diseases are thought to involve complex pathogenic mechanisms through expanded CWG repeat-derived RNAs in a noncoding region and polypeptides in a coding region, respectively. However, an effective therapeutic approach has not been established for the CWG repeat diseases. Here, we show that a CWG repeat DNA-targeting compound, cyclic pyrrole-imidazole polyamide (CWG-cPIP), suppressed the pathogenesis of coding and noncoding CWG repeat diseases. CWG-cPIP bound to the hairpin form of mismatched CWG DNA, interfering with transcription elongation by RNA polymerase through a preferential activity toward repeat-expanded DNA. We found that CWG-cPIP selectively inhibited pathogenic mRNA transcripts from expanded CWG repeats, reducing CUG RNA foci and polyglutamine accumulation in cells from patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) and Huntington's disease (HD). Treatment with CWG-cPIP ameliorated behavioral deficits in adeno-associated virus-mediated CWG repeat-expressing mice and in a genetic mouse model of HD, without cytotoxicity or off-target effects. Together, we present a candidate compound that targets expanded CWG repeat DNA independently of its genomic location and reduces both pathogenic RNA and protein levels. CWG-cPIP may be used for the treatment of CWG repeat diseases and improvement of clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susumu Ikenoshita
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG)
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Kazuya Matsuo
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG)
| | - Yasushi Yabuki
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG)
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and
| | - Kosuke Kawakubo
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG)
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and
| | - Sefan Asamitsu
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG)
| | - Karin Hori
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG)
| | - Shingo Usuki
- Liaison Laboratory Research Promotion Center, IMEG, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yuki Hirose
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Toshikazu Bando
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kimi Araki
- Institute of Resource Development and Analysis and
- Center for Metabolic Regulation of Healthy Aging, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Mitsuharu Ueda
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences
| | - Hiroshi Sugiyama
- Department of Chemistry, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Science (iCeMS), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Norifumi Shioda
- Department of Genomic Neurology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG)
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and
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35
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Shing K, Sapp E, Boudi A, Liu S, Seeley C, Marchionini D, DiFiglia M, Kegel-Gleason KB. Early whole-body mutant huntingtin lowering averts changes in proteins and lipids important for synapse function and white matter maintenance in the LacQ140 mouse model. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 187:106313. [PMID: 37777020 PMCID: PMC10731584 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Expansion of a triplet repeat tract in exon 1 of the HTT gene causes Huntington's disease (HD). The mutant HTT protein (mHTT) has numerous aberrant interactions with diverse, pleiomorphic effects. Lowering mHTT is a promising approach to treat HD, but it is unclear when lowering should be initiated, how much is necessary, and what duration should occur to achieve benefits. Furthermore, the effects of mHTT lowering on brain lipids have not been assessed. Using a mHtt-inducible mouse model, we analyzed mHtt lowering initiated at different ages and sustained for different time-periods. mHTT protein in cytoplasmic and synaptic compartments of the striatum was reduced 38-52%; however, there was minimal lowering of mHTT in nuclear and perinuclear regions where aggregates formed at 12 months of age. Total striatal lipids were reduced in 9-month-old LacQ140 mice and preserved by mHtt lowering. Subclasses important for white matter structure and function including ceramide (Cer), sphingomyelin (SM), and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), contributed to the reduction in total lipids. Phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), and bismethyl phosphatidic acid (BisMePA) were also changed in LacQ140 mice. Levels of all subclasses except ceramide were preserved by mHtt lowering. mRNA expression profiling indicated that a transcriptional mechanism contributes to changes in myelin lipids, and some but not all changes can be prevented by mHtt lowering. Our findings suggest that early and sustained reduction in mHtt can prevent changes in levels of select striatal proteins and most lipids, but a misfolded, degradation-resistant form of mHTT hampers some benefits in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Shing
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Adel Boudi
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Sophia Liu
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | - Connor Seeley
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
| | | | - Marian DiFiglia
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA
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36
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Spencer-Dene B, Mukherjee P, Alex A, Bera K, Tseng WJ, Shi J, Chaney EJ, Spillman DR, Marjanovic M, Miranda E, Boppart SA, Hood SR. Localization of unlabeled bepirovirsen antisense oligonucleotide in murine tissues using in situ hybridization and CARS imaging. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:1575-1590. [PMID: 37460153 PMCID: PMC10578491 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079699.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
Current methods for detecting unlabeled antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drugs rely on immunohistochemistry (IHC) and/or conjugated molecules, which lack sufficient sensitivity, specificity, and resolution to fully investigate their biodistribution. Our aim was to demonstrate the qualitative and quantitative distribution of unlabeled bepirovirsen, a clinical stage ASO, in livers and kidneys of dosed mice using novel staining and imaging technologies at subcellular resolution. ASOs were detected in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) and frozen tissues using an automated chromogenic in situ hybridization (ISH) assay: miRNAscope. This was then combined with immunohistochemical detection of cell lineage markers. ASO distribution in hepatocytes versus nonparenchymal cell lineages was quantified using HALO AI image analysis. To complement this, hyperspectral coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering (HS-CARS) imaging microscopy was used to specifically detect the unique cellular Raman spectral signatures following ASO treatment. Bepirovirsen was localized primarily in nonparenchymal liver cells and proximal renal tubules. Codetection of ASO with distinct cell lineage markers of liver and kidney populations aided target cell identity facilitating quantification. Positive liver signal was quantified using HALO AI, with 12.9% of the ASO localized to the hepatocytes and 87.1% in nonparenchymal cells. HS-CARS imaging specifically detected ASO fingerprints based on the unique vibrational signatures following unlabeled ASO treatment in a totally nonperturbative manner at subcellular resolution. Together, these novel detection and imaging modalities represent a significant increase in our ability to detect unlabeled ASOs in tissues, demonstrating improved levels of specificity and resolution. These methods help us understand their underlying mechanisms of action and ultimately improve the therapeutic potential of these important drugs for treating globally significant human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bradley Spencer-Dene
- In Vitro/In Vivo Translation, BioImaging, GSK, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom
| | - Prabuddha Mukherjee
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Aneesh Alex
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- In Vitro/In Vivo Translation, BioImaging, GSK, Upper Providence, Pennsylvania 19426, USA
| | - Kajari Bera
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Wei-Ju Tseng
- In Vitro/In Vivo Translation, BioImaging, GSK, Upper Providence, Pennsylvania 19426, USA
| | - Jindou Shi
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Eric J Chaney
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Darold R Spillman
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Marina Marjanovic
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Elena Miranda
- In Vitro/In Vivo Translation, BioImaging, GSK, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen A Boppart
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
- Carle Illinois College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
| | - Steve R Hood
- In Vitro/In Vivo Translation, BioImaging, GSK, Stevenage SG1 2NY, United Kingdom
- GSK Center for Optical Molecular Imaging, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA
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37
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Liu L, Malagu K, Haughan AF, Khetarpal V, Stott AJ, Esmieu W, Vater HD, Webster SJ, Van de Poël AJ, Clissold C, Cosgrove B, Sutton B, Spencer JA, Breccia P, Gancia E, Bonomo S, Ladduwahetty T, Lazari O, Patel H, Atton HC, Clifton S, Mota DM, Magnani D, O'Neill A, Stebbeds M, Macabuag N, Todd D, Herva ME, Mitchell P, Visser M, Compte Sancerni S, Grand Moursel L, da Silva M, Kritikou E, Heikkinen TT, Bolkvadze T, Fodale V, Spadafora D, Daldin M, Bresciani A, Mangette JE, Doherty EM, Lee MR, Herbst T, Monteagudo E, Macdonald D, Plotnikov NV, Chambers M, McAllister G, Muňoz-Sanjuan I, Dominguez C. Identification and Optimization of RNA-Splicing Modulators as Huntingtin Protein-Lowering Agents for the Treatment of Huntington's Disease. J Med Chem 2023; 66:13205-13246. [PMID: 37712656 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.3c01173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by an expanded CAG trinucleotide repeat in exon 1 of the huntingtin (HTT) gene. We report the design of a series of HTT pre-mRNA splicing modulators that lower huntingtin (HTT) protein, including the toxic mutant huntingtin (mHTT), by promoting insertion of a pseudoexon containing a premature termination codon at the exon 49-50 junction. The resulting transcript undergoes nonsense-mediated decay, leading to a reduction of HTT mRNA transcripts and protein levels. The starting benzamide core was modified to pyrazine amide and further optimized to give a potent, CNS-penetrant, and orally bioavailable HTT-splicing modulator 27. This compound reduced canonical splicing of the HTT RNA exon 49-50 and demonstrated significant HTT-lowering in both human HD stem cells and mouse BACHD models. Compound 27 is a structurally diverse HTT-splicing modulator that may help understand the mechanism of adverse effects such as peripheral neuropathy associated with branaplam.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longbin Liu
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Karine Malagu
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Alan F Haughan
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Vinod Khetarpal
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Andrew J Stott
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - William Esmieu
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Huw D Vater
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Stephen J Webster
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Amanda J Van de Poël
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Cole Clissold
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Brett Cosgrove
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Benjamin Sutton
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Jonathan A Spencer
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Perla Breccia
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Emanuela Gancia
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Silvia Bonomo
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Tammy Ladduwahetty
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Ovadia Lazari
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Hiral Patel
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Helen C Atton
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Steve Clifton
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Daniel M Mota
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Dario Magnani
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Amy O'Neill
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Marta Stebbeds
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Natsuko Macabuag
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Daniel Todd
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Maria E Herva
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Philip Mitchell
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - Mijke Visser
- Charles River, Darwinweg 24, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Marta da Silva
- Charles River, Darwinweg 24, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eva Kritikou
- Charles River, Darwinweg 24, 2333 CR Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Elizabeth M Doherty
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Matthew R Lee
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Todd Herbst
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Edith Monteagudo
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Douglas Macdonald
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Nikolay V Plotnikov
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Mark Chambers
- Discovery from Charles River, Charles River, Chesterford Research Park, Saffron Walden CB10 1XL, U.K
| | - George McAllister
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Ignacio Muňoz-Sanjuan
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
| | - Celia Dominguez
- CHDI Management/CHDI Foundation, 6080 Center Drive, Los Angeles, California 90045, United States
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38
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Jiang A, Handley RR, Lehnert K, Snell RG. From Pathogenesis to Therapeutics: A Review of 150 Years of Huntington's Disease Research. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:13021. [PMID: 37629202 PMCID: PMC10455900 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241613021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by an expanded polyglutamine-coding (CAG) trinucleotide repeat in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. HD behaves as a highly penetrant dominant disorder likely acting through a toxic gain of function by the mutant huntingtin protein. Widespread cellular degeneration of the medium spiny neurons of the caudate nucleus and putamen are responsible for the onset of symptomology that encompasses motor, cognitive, and behavioural abnormalities. Over the past 150 years of HD research since George Huntington published his description, a plethora of pathogenic mechanisms have been proposed with key themes including excitotoxicity, dopaminergic imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, metabolic defects, disruption of proteostasis, transcriptional dysregulation, and neuroinflammation. Despite the identification and characterisation of the causative gene and mutation and significant advances in our understanding of the cellular pathology in recent years, a disease-modifying intervention has not yet been clinically approved. This review includes an overview of Huntington's disease, from its genetic aetiology to clinical presentation and its pathogenic manifestation. An updated view of molecular mechanisms and the latest therapeutic developments will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Jiang
- Applied Translational Genetics Group, Centre for Brain Research, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1010, New Zealand; (R.R.H.); (K.L.); (R.G.S.)
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39
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Tejwani L, Jung Y, Kokubu H, Sowmithra S, Ni L, Lee C, Sanders B, Lee PJ, Xiang Y, Luttik K, Soriano A, Yoon J, Park J, Ro HH, Ju H, Liao C, Tieze SM, Rigo F, Jafar-Nejad P, Lim J. Reduction of nemo-like kinase increases lysosome biogenesis and ameliorates TDP-43-related neurodegeneration. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e138207. [PMID: 37384409 PMCID: PMC10425213 DOI: 10.1172/jci138207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Protein aggregation is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although mutations in TARDBP, encoding transactive response DNA-binding protein 43 kDa (TDP-43), account for less than 1% of all ALS cases, TDP-43-positive aggregates are present in nearly all ALS patients, including patients with sporadic ALS (sALS) or carrying other familial ALS-causing (fALS-causing) mutations. Interestingly, TDP-43 inclusions are also present in subsets of patients with frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease; therefore, methods of activating intracellular protein quality control machinery capable of clearing toxic cytoplasmic TDP-43 species may alleviate disease-related phenotypes. Here, we identify a function of nemo-like kinase (Nlk) as a negative regulator of lysosome biogenesis. Genetic or pharmacological reduction of Nlk increased lysosome formation and improved clearance of aggregated TDP-43. Furthermore, Nlk reduction ameliorated pathological, behavioral, and life span deficits in 2 distinct mouse models of TDP-43 proteinopathy. Because many toxic proteins can be cleared through the autophagy/lysosome pathway, targeted reduction of Nlk represents a potential approach to therapy development for multiple neurodegenerative disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leon Tejwani
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | - Youngseob Jung
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Hiroshi Kokubu
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Sowmithra Sowmithra
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Luhan Ni
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Changwoo Lee
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | - Benjamin Sanders
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | - Paul J. Lee
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | - Yangfei Xiang
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Kimberly Luttik
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | | | | | - Junhyun Park
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
| | | | - Hyoungseok Ju
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | | | | | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | | | - Janghoo Lim
- Interdepartmental Neuroscience Program
- Department of Neuroscience, and
- Department of Genetics, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- Program in Cellular Neuroscience, Neurodegeneration and Repair, and
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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40
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Aly AEE, Caron NS, Black HF, Schmidt ME, Anderson C, Ko S, Baddeley HJE, Anderson L, Casal LL, Rahavi RSM, Martin DDO, Hayden MR. Delivery of mutant huntingtin-lowering antisense oligonucleotides to the brain by intranasally administered apolipoprotein A-I nanodisks. J Control Release 2023; 360:913-927. [PMID: 37468110 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Lowering mutant huntingtin (mHTT) in the central nervous system (CNS) using antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) is a promising approach currently being evaluated in clinical trials for Huntington disease (HD). However, the therapeutic potential of ASOs in HD patients is limited by their inability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). In non-human primates, intrathecal infusion of ASOs results in limited brain distribution, with higher ASO concentrations in superficial regions and lower concentrations in deeper regions, such as the basal ganglia. To address the need for improved delivery of ASOs to the brain, we are evaluating the therapeutic potential of apolipoprotein A-I nanodisks (apoA-I NDs) as novel delivery vehicles for mHTT-lowering ASOs to the CNS after intranasal administration. Here, we have demonstrated the ability of apoA-I nanodisks to bypass the BBB after intranasal delivery in the BACHD model of HD. Following intranasal administration of apoA-I NDs, apoA-I protein levels were elevated along the rostral-caudal brain axis, with highest levels in the most rostral brain regions including the olfactory bulb and frontal cortex. Double-label immunohistochemistry indicates that both the apoA-I and ASO deposit in neurons. Most importantly, a single intranasal dose of apoA-I ASO-NDs significantly reduces mHTT levels in the brain regions most affected in HD, namely the cortex and striatum. This approach represents a novel non-invasive means for improving delivery and brain distribution of oligonucleotide therapies and enhancing likelihood of efficacy. Improved ASO delivery to the brain has widespread application for treatment of many other CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirah E-E Aly
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Nicholas S Caron
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Hailey Findlay Black
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Mandi E Schmidt
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Christine Anderson
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Seunghyun Ko
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Helen J E Baddeley
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Lisa Anderson
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Lorenzo L Casal
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Reza S M Rahavi
- Michael Cuccione Childhood Cancer Research Program, British Columbia Children's a Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Dale D O Martin
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael R Hayden
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada.
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41
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Birolini G, Valenza M, Ottonelli I, Talpo F, Minoli L, Cappelleri A, Bombaci M, Caccia C, Canevari C, Trucco A, Leoni V, Passoni A, Favagrossa M, Nucera MR, Colombo L, Paltrinieri S, Bagnati R, Duskey JT, Caraffi R, Vandelli MA, Taroni F, Salmona M, Scanziani E, Biella G, Ruozi B, Tosi G, Cattaneo E. Chronic cholesterol administration to the brain supports complete and long-lasting cognitive and motor amelioration in Huntington's disease. Pharmacol Res 2023; 194:106823. [PMID: 37336430 PMCID: PMC10463277 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2023.106823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Evidence that Huntington's disease (HD) is characterized by impaired cholesterol biosynthesis in the brain has led to strategies to increase its level in the brain of the rapidly progressing R6/2 mouse model, with a positive therapeutic outcome. Here we tested the long-term efficacy of chronic administration of cholesterol to the brain of the slowly progressing zQ175DN knock-in HD mice in preventing ("early treatment") or reversing ("late treatment") HD symptoms. To do this we used the most advanced formulation of cholesterol loaded brain-permeable nanoparticles (NPs), termed hybrid-g7-NPs-chol, which were injected intraperitoneally. We show that one cycle of treatment with hybrid-g7-NPs-chol, administered in the presymptomatic ("early treatment") or symptomatic ("late treatment") stages is sufficient to normalize cognitive defects up to 5 months, as well as to improve other behavioral and neuropathological parameters. A multiple cycle treatment combining both early and late treatments ("2 cycle treatment") lasting 6 months generates therapeutic effects for more than 11 months, without severe adverse reactions. Sustained cholesterol delivery to the brain of zQ175DN mice also reduces mutant Huntingtin aggregates in both the striatum and cortex and completely normalizes synaptic communication in the striatal medium spiny neurons compared to saline-treated HD mice. Furthermore, through a meta-analysis of published and current data, we demonstrated the power of hybrid-g7-NPs-chol and other strategies able to increase brain cholesterol biosynthesis, to reverse cognitive decline and counteract the formation of mutant Huntingtin aggregates. These results demonstrate that cholesterol delivery via brain-permeable NPs is a therapeutic option to sustainably reverse HD-related behavioral decline and neuropathological signs over time, highlighting the therapeutic potential of cholesterol-based strategies in HD patients. DATA AVAILABILITY: This study does not include data deposited in public repositories. Data are available on request to the corresponding authors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Birolini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Valenza
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", 20122 Milan, Italy.
| | - Ilaria Ottonelli
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I. Center, Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Francesca Talpo
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Lucia Minoli
- Pathology Department, Evotec, 37135 Verona, Italy; Mouse & Animal Pathology Lab (MAPLab), Fondazione UniMi, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Cappelleri
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; Mouse & Animal Pathology Lab (MAPLab), Fondazione UniMi, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Bombaci
- Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Caccia
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics. Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20131 Milan, Italy
| | - Caterina Canevari
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Arianna Trucco
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Valerio Leoni
- Laboratory of Clinical Chemistry, Hospital Pio XI of Desio, ASST-Brianza and Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Milano Bicocca, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Alice Passoni
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Favagrossa
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Rosaria Nucera
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Colombo
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Saverio Paltrinieri
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy
| | - Renzo Bagnati
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Jason Thomas Duskey
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I. Center, Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Riccardo Caraffi
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I. Center, Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Maria Angela Vandelli
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I. Center, Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Franco Taroni
- Unit of Medical Genetics and Neurogenetics. Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, 20131 Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Salmona
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Eugenio Scanziani
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria e Scienze Animali, Università degli Studi di Milano, 26900 Lodi, Italy; Mouse & Animal Pathology Lab (MAPLab), Fondazione UniMi, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Gerardo Biella
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Barbara Ruozi
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I. Center, Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanni Tosi
- Nanotech Lab, Te.Far.T.I. Center, Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Elena Cattaneo
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy; Istituto Nazionale di Genetica Molecolare "Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi", 20122 Milan, Italy.
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Shing K, Sapp E, Boudi A, Liu S, Seeley C, Marchionini D, DiFiglia M, Kegel-Gleason KB. Early whole-body mutant huntingtin lowering averts changes in proteins and lipids important for synapse function and white matter maintenance in the LacQ140 mouse model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.01.26.525697. [PMID: 36747614 PMCID: PMC9900921 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.26.525697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Expansion of a triplet repeat tract in exon1 of the HTT gene causes Huntington's disease (HD). The mutant HTT protein (mHTT) has numerous aberrant interactions with diverse, pleiomorphic effects. No disease modifying treatments exist but lowering mutant huntingtin (mHTT) by gene therapy is a promising approach to treat Huntington's disease (HD). It is not clear when lowering should be initiated, how much lowering is necessary and for what duration lowering should occur to achieve benefits. Furthermore, the effects of mHTT lowering on brain lipids have not been assessed. Using a mHtt-inducible mouse model we analyzed whole body mHtt lowering initiated at different ages and sustained for different time-periods. Subcellular fractionation (density gradient ultracentrifugation), protein chemistry (gel filtration, western blot, and capillary electrophoresis immunoassay), liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry of lipids, and bioinformatic approaches were used to test effects of mHTT transcriptional lowering. mHTT protein in cytoplasmic and synaptic compartments of the caudate putamen, which is most affected in HD, was reduced 38-52%. Little or no lowering of mHTT occurred in nuclear and perinuclear regions where aggregates formed at 12 months of age. mHtt transcript repression partially or fully preserved select striatal proteins (SCN4B, PDE10A). Total lipids in striatum were reduced in LacQ140 mice at 9 months and preserved by early partial mHtt lowering. The reduction in total lipids was due in part to reductions in subclasses of ceramide (Cer), sphingomyelin (SM), and monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG), which are known to be important for white matter structure and function. Lipid subclasses phosphatidylinositol (PI), phosphatidylserine (PS), and bismethyl phosphatidic acid (BisMePA) were also changed in LacQ140 mice. Levels of all subclasses other than ceramide were preserved by early mHtt lowering. Pathway enrichment analysis of RNAseq data imply a transcriptional mechanism is responsible in part for changes in myelin lipids, and some but not all changes can be rescued by mHTT lowering. Our findings suggest that early and sustained reduction in mHtt can prevent changes in levels of select striatal proteins and most lipids but a misfolded, degradation-resistant form of mHTT hampers some benefits in the long term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Shing
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Adel Boudi
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Sophia Liu
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | - Connor Seeley
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
| | | | - Marian DiFiglia
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129
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43
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Ciurea AV, Mohan AG, Covache-Busuioc RA, Costin HP, Glavan LA, Corlatescu AD, Saceleanu VM. Unraveling Molecular and Genetic Insights into Neurodegenerative Diseases: Advances in Understanding Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's Diseases and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10809. [PMID: 37445986 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310809] [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: 05/13/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are, according to recent studies, one of the main causes of disability and death worldwide. Interest in molecular genetics has started to experience exponential growth thanks to numerous advancements in technology, shifts in the understanding of the disease as a phenomenon, and the change in the perspective regarding gene editing and the advantages of this action. The aim of this paper is to analyze the newest approaches in genetics and molecular sciences regarding four of the most important neurodegenerative disorders: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We intend through this review to focus on the newest treatment, diagnosis, and predictions regarding this large group of diseases, in order to obtain a more accurate analysis and to identify the emerging signs that could lead to a better outcome in order to increase both the quality and the life span of the patient. Moreover, this review could provide evidence of future possible novel therapies that target the specific genes and that could be useful to be taken into consideration when the classical approaches fail to shed light.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandru Vlad Ciurea
- Department of Neurosurgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
- Neurosurgery Department, Sanador Clinical Hospital, 010991 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Aurel George Mohan
- Department of Neurosurgery, Bihor County Emergency Clinical Hospital, 410167 Oradea, Romania
- Department of Neurosurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Oradea University, 410610 Oradea, Romania
| | | | - Horia-Petre Costin
- Department of Neurosurgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Luca-Andrei Glavan
- Department of Neurosurgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Antonio-Daniel Corlatescu
- Department of Neurosurgery, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 020021 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Vicentiu Mircea Saceleanu
- Neurosurgery Department, Sibiu County Emergency Hospital, 550245 Sibiu, Romania
- Neurosurgery Department, "Lucian Blaga" University of Medicine, 550024 Sibiu, Romania
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44
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Thomson SB, Stam A, Brouwers C, Fodale V, Bresciani A, Vermeulen M, Mostafavi S, Petkau TL, Hill A, Yung A, Russell-Schulz B, Kozlowski P, MacKay A, Ma D, Beg MF, Evers MM, Vallès A, Leavitt BR. AAV5-miHTT-mediated huntingtin lowering improves brain health in a Huntington's disease mouse model. Brain 2023; 146:2298-2315. [PMID: 36508327 PMCID: PMC10232253 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntingtin (HTT)-lowering therapies show great promise in treating Huntington's disease. We have developed a microRNA targeting human HTT that is delivered in an adeno-associated serotype 5 viral vector (AAV5-miHTT), and here use animal behaviour, MRI, non-invasive proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy and striatal RNA sequencing as outcome measures in preclinical mouse studies of AAV5-miHTT. The effects of AAV5-miHTT treatment were evaluated in homozygous Q175FDN mice, a mouse model of Huntington's disease with severe neuropathological and behavioural phenotypes. Homozygous mice were used instead of the more commonly used heterozygous strain, which exhibit milder phenotypes. Three-month-old homozygous Q175FDN mice, which had developed acute phenotypes by the time of treatment, were injected bilaterally into the striatum with either formulation buffer (phosphate-buffered saline + 5% sucrose), low dose (5.2 × 109 genome copies/mouse) or high dose (1.3 × 1011 genome copies/mouse) AAV5-miHTT. Wild-type mice injected with formulation buffer served as controls. Behavioural assessments of cognition, T1-weighted structural MRI and striatal proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy were performed 3 months after injection, and shortly afterwards the animals were sacrificed to collect brain tissue for protein and RNA analysis. Motor coordination was assessed at 1-month intervals beginning at 2 months of age until sacrifice. Dose-dependent changes in AAV5 vector DNA level, miHTT expression and mutant HTT were observed in striatum and cortex of AAV5-miHTT-treated Huntington's disease model mice. This pattern of microRNA expression and mutant HTT lowering rescued weight loss in homozygous Q175FDN mice but did not affect motor or cognitive phenotypes. MRI volumetric analysis detected atrophy in four brain regions in homozygous Q175FDN mice, and treatment with high dose AAV5-miHTT rescued this effect in the hippocampus. Like previous magnetic resonance spectroscopy studies in Huntington's disease patients, decreased total N-acetyl aspartate and increased myo-inositol levels were found in the striatum of homozygous Q175FDN mice. These neurochemical findings were partially reversed with AAV5-miHTT treatment. Striatal transcriptional analysis using RNA sequencing revealed mutant HTT-induced changes that were partially reversed by HTT lowering with AAV5-miHTT. Striatal proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis suggests a restoration of neuronal function, and striatal RNA sequencing analysis shows a reversal of transcriptional dysregulation following AAV5-miHTT in a homozygous Huntington's disease mouse model with severe pathology. The results of this study support the use of magnetic resonance spectroscopy in HTT-lowering clinical trials and strengthen the therapeutic potential of AAV5-miHTT in reversing severe striatal dysfunction in Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah B Thomson
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
| | - Anouk Stam
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure Biopharma B.V., 1105BP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Cynthia Brouwers
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure Biopharma B.V., 1105BP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Valentina Fodale
- Department of Translational Biology, IRBM S.p.A., Pomezia 00071, Italy
| | - Alberto Bresciani
- Department of Translational Biology, IRBM S.p.A., Pomezia 00071, Italy
| | - Michael Vermeulen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
| | - Sara Mostafavi
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
| | - Terri L Petkau
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
| | - Austin Hill
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
| | - Andrew Yung
- UBC MRI Research Centre, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T2B5, Canada
| | - Bretta Russell-Schulz
- UBC MRI Research Centre, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T2B5, Canada
| | - Piotr Kozlowski
- UBC MRI Research Centre, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T2B5, Canada
| | - Alex MacKay
- UBC MRI Research Centre, Department of Radiology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T2B5, Canada
| | - Da Ma
- Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC 27101, USA
| | - Mirza Faisal Beg
- School of Engineering Science, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC V5A0A7, Canada
| | - Melvin M Evers
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure Biopharma B.V., 1105BP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Astrid Vallès
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure Biopharma B.V., 1105BP Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, University of British Columbia and BC Children’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC V5Z4H4, Canada
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Page JJ, Almanza JR, Xiong S, Aishwarya V, Kroner A. Self-delivering mRNA inhibitors of MK2 improve outcomes after spinal cord injury. J Neuroimmunol 2023; 379:578103. [PMID: 37172370 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2023.578103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Functional recovery and tissue damage after spinal cord injury (SCI) are influenced by secondary damage mechanisms, including inflammation. The inflammatory response after SCI relies on a variety of cell types with both protective and cytotoxic functions. The macrophage derived MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 has been described as a critical regulator of inflammation with detrimental function after SCI. Targeted modification of inflammatory effector molecules after SCI faces challenges of optimal timing, dosage and location of administration. Modified RNA inhibitors, FANA antisense oligonucleotides, are promising inhibitors due to their stability, local penetration of cells and high efficacy in targeted suppression. Here, we describe the use of anti- MAPK-activated protein kinase 2 FANA antisense oligonucleotides in a mouse model of contusional SCI. The most efficient inhibitor was selected with in vitro and in vivo techniques and then applied via intrathecal injections after SCI. This treatment resulted in improved gait applying DigiGait assessments and tissue preservation, indicating the usefulness of the target and inhibition approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin J Page
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Jose Rosas Almanza
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Shuana Xiong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Veenu Aishwarya
- AUM LifeTech, Inc., 3675 Market Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Antje Kroner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Clement J. Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, WI, USA.
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Li F, Ichinose K, Ishibashi S, Yamamoto S, Iwasawa E, Suzuki M, Yoshida-Tanaka K, Yoshioka K, Nagata T, Hirabayashi H, Mogushi K, Yokota T. Preferential delivery of lipid-ligand conjugated DNA/RNA heteroduplex oligonucleotide to ischemic brain in hyperacute stage. Mol Ther 2023; 31:1106-1122. [PMID: 36694463 PMCID: PMC10124084 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) is a major tool used for silencing pathogenic genes. For stroke in the hyperacute stage, however, the ability of ASO to regulate genes is limited by its poor delivery to the ischemic brain owing to sudden occlusion of the supplying artery. Here we show that, in a mouse model of permanent ischemic stroke, lipid-ligand conjugated DNA/RNA heteroduplex oligonucleotide (lipid-HDO) was unexpectedly delivered 9.6 times more efficiently to the ischemic area of the brain than to the contralateral non-ischemic brain and achieved robust gene knockdown and change of stroke phenotype, despite a 90% decrease in cerebral blood flow in the 3 h after occlusion. This delivery to neurons was mediated via receptor-mediated transcytosis by lipoprotein receptors in brain endothelial cells, the expression of which was significantly upregulated after ischemia. This study provides proof-of-concept that lipid-HDO is a promising gene-silencing technology for stroke treatment in the hyperacute stage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuying Li
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University & Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong Medicine and Health Key Laboratory of Clinical Pathology, Shandong Lung Cancer Institute, Shandong Institute of Nephrology, Jinan, China
| | - Keiko Ichinose
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Ishibashi
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan; Department of Internal Medicine, Fukaya Red Cross Hospital, Saitama, Japan
| | - Syunsuke Yamamoto
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Research Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Eri Iwasawa
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Motohiro Suzuki
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kie Yoshida-Tanaka
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kotaro Yoshioka
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Nagata
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideki Hirabayashi
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Research Laboratories, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kaoru Mogushi
- Innovative Human Resource Development Division, Institute of Education, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takanori Yokota
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan; Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.
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TR-FRET-Based Immunoassay to Measure Ataxin-2 as a Target Engagement Marker in Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 2. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:3553-3567. [PMID: 36894829 PMCID: PMC10122633 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03294-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxia type 2 (SCA2) is an autosomal dominantly inherited neurodegenerative disease, which belongs to the trinucleotide repeat disease group with a CAG repeat expansion in exon 1 of the ATXN2 gene resulting in an ataxin-2 protein with an expanded polyglutamine (polyQ)-stretch. The disease is late manifesting leading to early death. Today, therapeutic interventions to cure the disease or even to decelerate disease progression are not available yet. Furthermore, primary readout parameter for disease progression and therapeutic intervention studies are limited. Thus, there is an urgent need for quantifiable molecular biomarkers such as ataxin-2 becoming even more important due to numerous potential protein-lowering therapeutic intervention strategies. The aim of this study was to establish a sensitive technique to measure the amount of soluble polyQ-expanded ataxin-2 in human biofluids to evaluate ataxin-2 protein levels as prognostic and/or therapeutic biomarker in SCA2. Time-resolved fluorescence energy transfer (TR-FRET) was used to establish a polyQ-expanded ataxin-2-specific immunoassay. Two different ataxin-2 antibodies and two different polyQ-binding antibodies were validated in three different concentrations and tested in cellular and animal tissue as well as in human cell lines, comparing different buffer conditions to evaluate the best assay conditions. We established a TR-FRET-based immunoassay for soluble polyQ-expanded ataxin-2 and validated measurements in human cell lines including iPSC-derived cortical neurons. Additionally, our immunoassay was sensitive enough to monitor small ataxin-2 expression changes by siRNA or starvation treatment. We successfully established the first sensitive ataxin-2 immunoassay to measure specifically soluble polyQ-expanded ataxin-2 in human biomaterials.
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48
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Therapeutic targeting of Huntington's disease: Molecular and clinical approaches. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 655:18-24. [PMID: 36913762 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.02.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant ailment that affects a larger population. Due to its complex pathology operating at DNA, RNA, and protein levels, it is regarded as a protein-misfolding disease and an expansion repeat disorder. Despite the availability of early genetic diagnostics, disease-modifying treatments are still missing. Importantly, potential therapies are starting to make their way through clinical trials. Still, clinical trials are ongoing to discover potential drugs to relieve HD symptoms. However, now being aware of the root cause, the clinical studies are focused on molecular therapies to target it. The road to success has not been without bumps since a big phase III trial of tominersen was unexpectedly discontinued due to exceeding risks than drug's benefit to the patients. Although the trial's conclusion was disappointing, there is still cause to be optimistic about what this technique may achieve. We have reviewed the present disease-modifying therapies in clinical development for HD and examined the current landscape of developing clinical therapies. We further investigated the pharmaceutical development of Huntington's medicine in the pharma industries and addressed the existing challenges in their therapeutic success.
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49
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Han JY, Seo J, Choi Y, Im W, Ban JJ, Sung JJ. CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing of Huntington's disease neurospheres. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:2127-2136. [PMID: 36550260 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-08175-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disease caused by polyglutamine aggregation encoded by an expanded CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene (HTT). In this study, we cultured neurospheres derived from R6/2 mice, a representative animal model of HD, as an in vitro model. GuideRNAs were designed to induce large deletion or frameshift indel mutation of CAG expansion. These gRNAs and Cas9 were delivered to the R6/2 neurospheres and disease-related phenotypes were observed. METHODS AND RESULTS Deletion or indel mutation of the CAG repeat was confirmed by PCR, T7E1 assay and sequencing of the edited neurospheres. Edited neurospheres showed decreased polyglutamine aggregation compared with control HD neurospheres. In the edited neurosphere, we confirmed the upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), whose reduced expressions are closely involved in the disease progression. In addition, flow cytometry result showed an increase in cell viability with an overall decrease in necrotic and apoptotic populations among edited R6/2 neurospheres. Additional siRNA experiments confirmed that the increased viability was decreased through inhibition of PGC-1α or BDNF. CONCLUSION Our study confirmed that CAG repeat of R6/2 mouse-derived neurospheres can be edited through CRISPR-Cas9. Editing of CAG repeat sequence decreases polyglutamine aggregation and cellular apoptosis of HD neurospheres, which may be related to the increased expressions of PGC-1α and BDNF. Our data provide the evidence that CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing has therapeutic potential on HD neuronal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Yun Han
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea
| | - Jaewoo Seo
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea
| | - Yoori Choi
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Wooseok Im
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jae-Jun Ban
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea. .,Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Jung-Joon Sung
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea. .,Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. .,Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
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50
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Tang X, Xing S, Ma M, Xu Z, Guan Q, Chen Y, Feng F, Liu W, Chen T, Chen Y, Sun H. The Development and Design Strategy of Leucine-Rich Repeat Kinase 2 Inhibitors: Promising Therapeutic Agents for Parkinson's Disease. J Med Chem 2023; 66:2282-2307. [PMID: 36758171 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting millions of people worldwide. Mutations in the gene encoding leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) are the most common genetic risk factor for PD. Elevated LRRK2 kinase activity is found in idiopathic and familial PD cases. LRRK2 mutations are involved in multiple PD pathogeneses, including dysregulation of mitochondrial homeostasis, ciliogenesis, etc. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of the biological function, structure, and mutations of LRRK2. We also examine recent advances and challenges in developing LRRK2 inhibitors and address prospective protein-based targeting strategies. The binding mechanisms, structure-activity relationships, and pharmacokinetic features of inhibitors are emphasized to provide a comprehensive compendium on the rational design of LRRK2 inhibitors. We hope that this publication can serve as a guide for designing novel LRRK2 inhibitors based on the summarized facts and perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xu Tang
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuaishuai Xing
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingkang Ma
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziwei Xu
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Qianwen Guan
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuting Chen
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Feng
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
- Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceuticals Science College, Institute of Food and Pharmaceuticals Research, Huai'an 223005, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenyuan Liu
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingkai Chen
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210023, People's Republic of China
| | - Haopeng Sun
- School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 211198, People's Republic of China
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