1
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La Bella T, Bertin B, Mihaljevic A, Nozi J, Vidal P, Imbeaud S, Nault JC, Zucman-Rossi J, Ronzitti G. Predictive power of deleterious single amino acid changes to infer on AAV2 and AAV2-13 capsids fitness. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101327. [PMID: 39286333 PMCID: PMC11403266 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is the most widely used vector for in vivo gene transfer. A major limitation of capsid engineering is the incomplete understanding of the consequences of multiple amino acid variations on AAV capsid stability resulting in high frequency of non-viable capsids. In this context, the study of natural AAV variants can provide valuable insights into capsid regions that exhibit greater tolerance to mutations. Here, the characterization of AAV2 variants and the analysis of two public capsid libraries highlighted common features associated with deleterious mutations, suggesting that the impact of mutations on capsid viability is strictly dependent on their 3D location within the capsid structure. We developed a novel prediction method to infer the fitness of AAV2 variants containing multiple amino acid variations with 98% sensitivity, 98% accuracy, and 95% specificity. This novel approach might streamline the development of AAV vector libraries enriched in viable capsids, thus accelerating the identification of therapeutic candidates among engineered capsids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tiziana La Bella
- Genethon, 91000 Evry, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, University Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare Research Unit UMR_S951, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Bérangère Bertin
- Genethon, 91000 Evry, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, University Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare Research Unit UMR_S951, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Ante Mihaljevic
- Genethon, 91000 Evry, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, University Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare Research Unit UMR_S951, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Justine Nozi
- Genethon, 91000 Evry, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, University Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare Research Unit UMR_S951, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Patrice Vidal
- Genethon, 91000 Evry, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, University Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare Research Unit UMR_S951, 91000 Evry, France
| | - Sandrine Imbeaud
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, INSERM, 75000 Paris, France
| | - Jean-Charles Nault
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, INSERM, 75000 Paris, France
- Avicenne Hospital, Paris-Seine-Saint-Denis University Hospital, APHP, 93000 Bobigny, France
| | - Jessica Zucman-Rossi
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne Université, Université de Paris, INSERM, 75000 Paris, France
- Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, AP-HP, 75000 Paris, France
| | - Giuseppe Ronzitti
- Genethon, 91000 Evry, France
- Université Paris-Saclay, University Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare Research Unit UMR_S951, 91000 Evry, France
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2
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Cabanes-Creus M, Liao SHY, Gale Navarro R, Knight M, Nazareth D, Lau NS, Ly M, Zhu E, Roca-Pinilla R, Bugallo Delgado R, Vicente AF, Baltazar G, Westhaus A, Merjane J, Crawford M, McCaughan GW, Unzu C, González-Aseguinolaza G, Alexander IE, Pulitano C, Lisowski L. Harnessing whole human liver ex situ normothermic perfusion for preclinical AAV vector evaluation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1876. [PMID: 38485924 PMCID: PMC10940703 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46194-y] [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: 07/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Developing clinically predictive model systems for evaluating gene transfer and gene editing technologies has become increasingly important in the era of personalized medicine. Liver-directed gene therapies present a unique challenge due to the complexity of the human liver. In this work, we describe the application of whole human liver explants in an ex situ normothermic perfusion system to evaluate a set of fourteen natural and bioengineered adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors directly in human liver, in the presence and absence of neutralizing human sera. Under non-neutralizing conditions, the recently developed AAV variants, AAV-SYD12 and AAV-LK03, emerged as the most functional variants in terms of cellular uptake and transgene expression. However, when assessed in the presence of human plasma containing anti-AAV neutralizing antibodies (NAbs), vectors of human origin, specifically those derived from AAV2/AAV3b, were extensively neutralized, whereas AAV8- derived variants performed efficiently. This study demonstrates the potential of using normothermic liver perfusion as a model for early-stage testing of liver-focused gene therapies. The results offer preliminary insights that could help inform the development of more effective translational strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marti Cabanes-Creus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Sophia H Y Liao
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Renina Gale Navarro
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Maddison Knight
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Deborah Nazareth
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Ngee-Soon Lau
- Australian National Liver Transplantation Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Organ Assessment Repair and Optimisation, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Mark Ly
- Australian National Liver Transplantation Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Organ Assessment Repair and Optimisation, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Erhua Zhu
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Ramon Roca-Pinilla
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Ricardo Bugallo Delgado
- Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression Department, IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, CIMA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ana F Vicente
- Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression Department, IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, CIMA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Grober Baltazar
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Adrian Westhaus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Jessica Merjane
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Michael Crawford
- Australian National Liver Transplantation Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Organ Assessment Repair and Optimisation, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Geoffrey W McCaughan
- Australian National Liver Transplantation Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Liver Injury and Cancer Program, Centenary Research Institute, A.W Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Sydney, Australia
| | - Carmen Unzu
- Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression Department, IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, CIMA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Gloria González-Aseguinolaza
- Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression Department, IdiSNA, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra, CIMA, Pamplona, Spain
| | - Ian E Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
- Australian Genome Therapeutics Centre, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Carlo Pulitano
- Australian National Liver Transplantation Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Organ Assessment Repair and Optimisation, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Westmead, Australia.
- Australian Genome Therapeutics Centre, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Sydney, Westmead, Australia.
- Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute, Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Warsaw, Poland.
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3
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Lopez-Gordo E, Chamberlain K, Riyad JM, Kohlbrenner E, Weber T. Natural Adeno-Associated Virus Serotypes and Engineered Adeno-Associated Virus Capsid Variants: Tropism Differences and Mechanistic Insights. Viruses 2024; 16:442. [PMID: 38543807 PMCID: PMC10975205 DOI: 10.3390/v16030442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Today, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors are arguably the most promising in vivo gene delivery vehicles for durable therapeutic gene expression. Advances in molecular engineering, high-throughput screening platforms, and computational techniques have resulted in a toolbox of capsid variants with enhanced performance over parental serotypes. Despite their considerable promise and emerging clinical success, there are still obstacles hindering their broader use, including limited transduction capabilities, tissue/cell type-specific tropism and penetration into tissues through anatomical barriers, off-target tissue biodistribution, intracellular degradation, immune recognition, and a lack of translatability from preclinical models to clinical settings. Here, we first describe the transduction mechanisms of natural AAV serotypes and explore the current understanding of the systemic and cellular hurdles to efficient transduction. We then outline progress in developing designer AAV capsid variants, highlighting the seminal discoveries of variants which can transduce the central nervous system upon systemic administration, and, to a lesser extent, discuss the targeting of the peripheral nervous system, eye, ear, lung, liver, heart, and skeletal muscle, emphasizing their tissue and cell specificity and translational promise. In particular, we dive deeper into the molecular mechanisms behind their enhanced properties, with a focus on their engagement with host cell receptors previously inaccessible to natural AAV serotypes. Finally, we summarize the main findings of our review and discuss future directions.
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4
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Drouyer M, Merjane J, Nazareth D, Knight M, Scott S, Liao SHY, Ginn SL, Zhu E, Alexander IE, Lisowski L. Development of CNS tropic AAV1-like variants with reduced liver-targeting following systemic administration in mice. Mol Ther 2024; 32:818-836. [PMID: 38297833 PMCID: PMC10928139 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.01.024] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Directed evolution of natural AAV9 using peptide display libraries have been widely used in the search for an optimal recombinant AAV (rAAV) for transgene delivery across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to the CNS following intravenous ( IV) injection. In this study, we used a different approach by creating a shuffled rAAV capsid library based on parental AAV serotypes 1 through 12. Following selection in mice, 3 novel variants closely related to AAV1, AAV-BBB6, AAV-BBB28, and AAV-BBB31, emerged as top candidates. In direct comparisons with AAV9, our novel variants demonstrated an over 270-fold improvement in CNS transduction and exhibited a clear bias toward neuronal cells. Intriguingly, our AAV-BBB variants relied on the LY6A cellular receptor for CNS entry, similar to AAV9 peptide variants AAV-PHP.eB and AAV.CAP-B10, despite the different bioengineering methods used and parental backgrounds. The variants also showed reduced transduction of both mouse liver and human primary hepatocytes in vivo. To increase clinical translatability, we enhanced the immune escape properties of our new variants by introducing additional modifications based on rational design. Overall, our study highlights the potential of AAV1-like vectors for efficient CNS transduction with reduced liver tropism, offering promising prospects for CNS gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Drouyer
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Jessica Merjane
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Deborah Nazareth
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Maddison Knight
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Suzanne Scott
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Sophia H Y Liao
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Samantha L Ginn
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Erhua Zhu
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia
| | - Ian E Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia; Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia; Australian Genome Therapeutics Centre, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW, Australia; Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute, Warsaw, Poland.
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5
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Singh S, Pandey AK, Malemnganba T, Prajapati VK. Technological advancements in viral vector designing and optimization for therapeutic applications. ADVANCES IN PROTEIN CHEMISTRY AND STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY 2024; 139:57-87. [PMID: 38448144 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2023.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Viral vector engineering is critical to the advancement of several sectors of biotechnology, gene therapy, and vaccine development. These vectors were produced from viruses, were employed to deliver therapeutic genes or to alter biological processes. The potential for viral vectors to improve the precision, safety, and efficiency of therapeutic interventions has boosted their demand. The dynamic interplay between technological advancements and computational tools in establishing the landscape of viral vector engineering and vector optimization for therapeutic reasons is discussed in this chapter. It also emphasizes the importance of in silico techniques in maximizing vector potential for therapeutics and many phases of viral vector engineering, from genomic analysis to computer modelling and advancements to improve precise gene delivery. High-throughput screening propels the expedited process of vector selection, and computational techniques to analyze complex omics data to further enhance vector capabilities have been discussed. As in silico models reveal insights into off-target effects and integration sites, vector safety (biodistribution and toxicity) remains a crucial part and bridges the gap between preclinical and clinical investigations. Despite the limitations, this chapter depicts a future in which technology and computing merge to catapult viral vector therapy into an era of boundless possibilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyendra Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Life Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindri, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India
| | - Anurag Kumar Pandey
- College of Biotechnology, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel University of Agriculture and Technology, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Vijay Kumar Prajapati
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Delhi South Campus, Dhaula Kuan, New Delhi, India.
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6
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Kok CY, Tsurusaki S, Cabanes-Creus M, Igoor S, Rao R, Skelton R, Liao SH, Ginn SL, Knight M, Scott S, Mietzsch M, Fitzsimmons R, Miller J, Mohamed TM, McKenna R, Chong JJ, Hill AP, Hudson JE, Alexander IE, Lisowski L, Kizana E. Development of new adeno-associated virus capsid variants for targeted gene delivery to human cardiomyocytes. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 30:459-473. [PMID: 37674904 PMCID: PMC10477751 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) have emerged as one of the most promising gene therapy vectors that have been successfully used in pre-clinical models of heart disease. However, this has not translated well to humans due to species differences in rAAV transduction efficiency. As a result, the search for human cardiotropic capsids is a major contemporary challenge. We used a capsid-shuffled rAAV library to perform directed evolution in human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs). Five candidates emerged, with four presenting high sequence identity to AAV6, while a fifth divergent variant was related to AAV3b. Functional analysis of the variants was performed in vitro using hiPSC-CMs, cardiac organoids, human cardiac slices, non-human primate and porcine cardiac slices, as well as mouse heart and liver in vivo. We showed that cell entry was not the best predictor of transgene expression efficiency. The novel variant rAAV.KK04 was the best-performing vector in human-based screening platforms, exceeding the benchmark rAAV6. None of the novel capsids demonstrate a significant transduction of liver in vivo. The range of experimental models used revealed the value of testing for tropism differences under the conditions of human specificity, bona fide, myocardium and cell type of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Y. Kok
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Westmead Clinical School, the Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Shinya Tsurusaki
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Marti Cabanes-Creus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Sindhu Igoor
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Renuka Rao
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Rhys Skelton
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Sophia H.Y. Liao
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Samantha L. Ginn
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Maddison Knight
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Suzanne Scott
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Mario Mietzsch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0245, USA
| | - Rebecca Fitzsimmons
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Jessica Miller
- Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Tamer M.A. Mohamed
- Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
- Surgery Department, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Robert McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0245, USA
| | - James J.H. Chong
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Westmead Clinical School, the Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Adam P. Hill
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health, UNSW, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - James E. Hudson
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
| | - Ian E. Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children’s Hospital Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Centre, 24-100 Pulawy, Poland
| | - Eddy Kizana
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Westmead Clinical School, the Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
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7
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Cunningham SC, van Dijk EB, Zhu E, Sugden M, Mandwie M, Siew S, Devanapalli B, Tolun AA, Klein A, Wilson L, Aryamanesh N, Gissen P, Baruteau J, Bhattacharya K, Alexander IE. Recapitulation of Skewed X-Inactivation in Female Ornithine Transcarbamylase-Deficient Primary Human Hepatocytes in the FRG Mouse: A Novel System for Developing Epigenetic Therapies. Hum Gene Ther 2023; 34:917-926. [PMID: 37350098 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2023.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Realization of the immense therapeutic potential of epigenetic editing requires development of clinically predictive model systems that faithfully recapitulate relevant aspects of the target disease pathophysiology. In female patients with ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) deficiency, an X-linked condition, skewed inactivation of the X chromosome carrying the wild-type OTC allele is associated with increased disease severity. The majority of affected female patients can be managed medically, but a proportion require liver transplantation. With rapid development of epigenetic editing technology, reactivation of silenced wild-type OTC alleles is becoming an increasingly plausible therapeutic approach. Toward this end, privileged access to explanted diseased livers from two affected female infants provided the opportunity to explore whether engraftment and expansion of dissociated patient-derived hepatocytes in the FRG mouse might produce a relevant model for evaluation of epigenetic interventions. Hepatocytes from both infants were successfully used to generate chimeric mouse-human livers, in which clusters of primary human hepatocytes were either OTC positive or negative by immunohistochemistry (IHC), consistent with clonal expansion from individual hepatocytes in which the mutant or wild-type OTC allele was inactivated, respectively. Enumeration of the proportion of OTC-positive or -negative human hepatocyte clusters was consistent with dramatic skewing in one infant and minimal to modest skewing in the other. Importantly, IHC and fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis of intact and dissociated liver samples from both infants showed qualitatively similar patterns, confirming that the chimeric mouse-human liver model recapitulated the native state in each infant. Also of importance was the induction of a treatable metabolic phenotype, orotic aciduria, in mice, which correlated with the presence of clonally expanded OTC-negative primary human hepatocytes. We are currently using this unique model to explore CRISPR-dCas9-based epigenetic targeting strategies in combination with efficient adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene delivery to reactivate the silenced functional OTC gene on the inactive X chromosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon C Cunningham
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Eva B van Dijk
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Erhua Zhu
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Maya Sugden
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Mawj Mandwie
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Susan Siew
- Department of Gastroenterology, James Fairfax Institute of Paediatric Nutrition, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Beena Devanapalli
- NSW Biochemical Genetics Service, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Australia
| | - Adviye Ayper Tolun
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
- NSW Biochemical Genetics Service, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Westmead, Australia
| | - Anne Klein
- Australian e-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Sydney, Australia
| | - Laurence Wilson
- Australian e-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Sydney, Australia
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Macquarie University, Macquarie Park, Australia
| | - Nader Aryamanesh
- Embryology Research Unit, Bioinformatics Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Paul Gissen
- National Institute for Health Research Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julien Baruteau
- National Institute for Health Research Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kaustuv Bhattacharya
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
- Genetic Metabolic Disorders Service, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ian E Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
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8
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López-Astacio RA, Adu OF, Lee H, Hafenstein SL, Parrish CR. The Structures and Functions of Parvovirus Capsids and Missing Pieces: the Viral DNA and Its Packaging, Asymmetrical Features, Nonprotein Components, and Receptor or Antibody Binding and Interactions. J Virol 2023; 97:e0016123. [PMID: 37367301 PMCID: PMC10373561 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00161-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Parvoviruses are among the smallest and superficially simplest animal viruses, infecting a broad range of hosts, including humans, and causing some deadly infections. In 1990, the first atomic structure of the canine parvovirus (CPV) capsid revealed a 26-nm-diameter T=1 particle made up of two or three versions of a single protein, and packaging about 5,100 nucleotides of single-stranded DNA. Our structural and functional understanding of parvovirus capsids and their ligands has increased as imaging and molecular techniques have advanced, and capsid structures for most groups within the Parvoviridae family have now been determined. Despite those advances, significant questions remain unanswered about the functioning of those viral capsids and their roles in release, transmission, or cellular infection. In addition, the interactions of capsids with host receptors, antibodies, or other biological components are also still incompletely understood. The parvovirus capsid's apparent simplicity likely conceals important functions carried out by small, transient, or asymmetric structures. Here, we highlight some remaining open questions that may need to be answered to provide a more thorough understanding of how these viruses carry out their various functions. The many different members of the family Parvoviridae share a capsid architecture, and while many functions are likely similar, others may differ in detail. Many of those parvoviruses have not been experimentally examined in detail (or at all in some cases), so we, therefore, focus this minireview on the widely studied protoparvoviruses, as well as the most thoroughly investigated examples of adeno-associated viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A. López-Astacio
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Oluwafemi F. Adu
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Hyunwook Lee
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Susan L. Hafenstein
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Colin R. Parrish
- Baker Institute for Animal Health, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
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9
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Sasaki N, Kok CY, Westhaus A, Alexander IE, Lisowski L, Kizana E. In Search of Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors With Enhanced Cardiac Tropism for Gene Therapy. Heart Lung Circ 2023; 32:816-824. [PMID: 37451880 DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2023.06.704] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Globally, adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have been increasingly used for clinical gene therapy trials. In Australia, AAV-based gene therapy is available for hereditary diseases such as retinal dystrophy or spinal muscular atrophy 1 (SMA1). Many preclinical studies have used AAV vectors for gene therapy in models of cardiac disease with outcomes of varying translational potential. However, major barriers to effective and safe therapeutic gene delivery to the human heart remain to be overcome. These include tropism, efficient gene transfer, mitigating off-target gene delivery and avoidance of the host immune response. Developing such an enhanced AAV vector for cardiac gene therapy is of great interest to the field of advanced cardiac therapeutics. In this review, we provide an overview of the approaches currently being employed in the search for cardiac cell-specific AAV capsids, ranging from natural AAVs selected as a result of infection and latency in the heart, to the use of cutting-edge molecular techniques to engineer and select AAVs specific for cardiac cells with the use of high-throughput methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuki Sasaki
- The Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Cindy Y Kok
- The Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Adrian Westhaus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ian E Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Eddy Kizana
- The Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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10
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Cabanes-Creus M, Navarro RG, Liao SH, Scott S, Carlessi R, Roca-Pinilla R, Knight M, Baltazar G, Zhu E, Jones M, Denisenko E, Forrest AR, Alexander IE, Tirnitz-Parker JE, Lisowski L. Characterization of the humanized FRG mouse model and development of an AAV-LK03 variant with improved liver lobular biodistribution. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 28:220-237. [PMID: 36700121 PMCID: PMC9860073 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Recent clinical successes have intensified interest in using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for therapeutic gene delivery. The liver is a key clinical target, given its critical physiological functions and involvement in a wide range of genetic diseases. In the present study, we first investigated the validity of a liver xenograft mouse model repopulated with primary hepatocytes using single-nucleus RNA sequencing (sn-RNA-seq) by studying the transcriptomic profile of human hepatocytes pre- and post-engraftment. Complementary immunofluorescence analyses performed in highly engrafted animals confirmed that the human hepatocytes organize and present appropriate patterns of zone-dependent enzyme expression in this model. Next, we tested a set of rationally designed HSPG de-targeted AAV-LK03 variants for relative transduction performance in human hepatocytes. We used immunofluorescence, next-generation sequencing, and single-nucleus transcriptomics data from highly engrafted FRG mice to demonstrate that the optimally HSPG de-targeted AAV-LK03 displayed a significantly improved lobular transduction profile in this model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marti Cabanes-Creus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Renina Gale Navarro
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Sophia H.Y. Liao
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Suzanne Scott
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Carlessi
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Ramon Roca-Pinilla
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Maddison Knight
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Grober Baltazar
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Erhua Zhu
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Matthew Jones
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Elena Denisenko
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Alistair R.R. Forrest
- Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research, QEII Medical Centre and Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Ian E. Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute and The Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Janina E.E. Tirnitz-Parker
- Curtin Medical School, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Bentley, WA 6102, Australia
- UWA Centre for Medical Research, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
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11
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Meumann N, Cabanes-Creus M, Ertelt M, Navarro RG, Lucifora J, Yuan Q, Nien-Huber K, Abdelrahman A, Vu XK, Zhang L, Franke AC, Schmithals C, Piiper A, Vogt A, Gonzalez-Carmona M, Frueh JT, Ullrich E, Meuleman P, Talbot SR, Odenthal M, Ott M, Seifried E, Schoeder CT, Schwäble J, Lisowski L, Büning H. Adeno-associated virus serotype 2 capsid variants for improved liver-directed gene therapy. Hepatology 2023; 77:802-815. [PMID: 35976053 PMCID: PMC9936986 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Current liver-directed gene therapies look for adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors with improved efficacy. With this background, capsid engineering is explored. Whereas shuffled capsid library screenings have resulted in potent liver targeting variants with one first vector in human clinical trials, modifying natural serotypes by peptide insertion has so far been less successful. Here, we now report on two capsid variants, MLIV.K and MLIV.A, both derived from a high-throughput in vivo AAV peptide display selection screen in mice. APPROACH AND RESULTS The variants transduce primary murine and human hepatocytes at comparable efficiencies, a valuable feature in clinical development, and show significantly improved liver transduction efficacy, thereby allowing a dose reduction, and outperform parental AAV2 and AAV8 in targeting human hepatocytes in humanized mice. The natural heparan sulfate proteoglycan binding ability is markedly reduced, a feature that correlates with improved hepatocyte transduction. A further property that might contribute to the improved transduction efficacy is the lower capsid melting temperature. Peptide insertion also caused a moderate change in sensitivity to human sera containing anti-AAV2 neutralizing antibodies, revealing the impact of epitopes located at the basis of the AAV capsid protrusions. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, MLIV.K and MLIV.A are AAV peptide display variants selected in immunocompetent mice with improved hepatocyte tropism and transduction efficiency. Because these features are maintained across species, MLIV variants provide remarkable potential for translation of therapeutic approaches from mice to men.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Meumann
- Institute of Experimental Hematology , Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne , University of Cologne , Cologne , Germany
| | - Marti Cabanes-Creus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit , Children's Medical Research Institute , The University of Sydney , Sydney , New South Wales , Australia
| | - Moritz Ertelt
- Institute for Drug Discovery , University Leipzig Medical School , Leipzig , Germany.,Center for Scalable Data Analytics and Artificial Intelligence ScaDS.AI , Dresden/Leipzig , Germany
| | - Renina Gale Navarro
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit , Children's Medical Research Institute , The University of Sydney , Sydney , New South Wales , Australia
| | - Julie Lucifora
- Cancer Research Center of Lyon , Institut National de la Santé et la Recherche Médicale , Lyon , France
| | - Qinggong Yuan
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology , Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany.,Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research , Hannover , Germany
| | - Karin Nien-Huber
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology , Goethe University Hospital Medical School , German Red Cross Blood Donor Service , Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Ahmed Abdelrahman
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology , Goethe University Hospital Medical School , German Red Cross Blood Donor Service , Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Xuan-Khang Vu
- Institute of Experimental Hematology , Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany
| | - Liang Zhang
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne , University of Cologne , Cologne , Germany.,Institute of Pathology , University Hospital Cologne , Cologne , Germany
| | - Ann-Christin Franke
- Institute of Experimental Hematology , Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany
| | - Christian Schmithals
- Department of Internal Medicine I , University Hospital Frankfurt , Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Albrecht Piiper
- Department of Internal Medicine I , University Hospital Frankfurt , Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Annabelle Vogt
- Department of Internal Medicine I , University Hospital Bonn , Bonn , Germany
| | | | - Jochen T Frueh
- Experimental Immunology , Children's University Hospital , Goethe University Frankfurt , Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Evelyn Ullrich
- Experimental Immunology , Children's University Hospital , Goethe University Frankfurt , Frankfurt am Main , Germany
| | - Philip Meuleman
- Laboratory of Liver Infectious Diseases , Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences , Ghent University , Ghent , Belgium
| | - Steven R Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science , Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany
| | - Margarete Odenthal
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne , University of Cologne , Cologne , Germany.,Institute of Pathology , University Hospital Cologne , Cologne , Germany
| | - Michael Ott
- Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology , Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany.,Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research , Hannover , Germany
| | - Erhard Seifried
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology , Goethe University Hospital Medical School , German Red Cross Blood Donor Service , Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Clara T Schoeder
- Institute for Drug Discovery , University Leipzig Medical School , Leipzig , Germany
| | - Joachim Schwäble
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology , Goethe University Hospital Medical School , German Red Cross Blood Donor Service , Frankfurt , Germany
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit , Children's Medical Research Institute , The University of Sydney , Sydney , New South Wales , Australia.,Military Institute of Medicine , Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies , Warsaw , Poland
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Institute of Experimental Hematology , Hannover Medical School , Hannover , Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne , University of Cologne , Cologne , Germany
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12
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Merjane J, Chung R, Patani R, Lisowski L. Molecular mechanisms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis as broad therapeutic targets for gene therapy applications utilizing adeno-associated viral vectors. Med Res Rev 2023. [PMID: 36786126 DOI: 10.1002/med.21937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
Despite the devastating clinical outcome of the neurodegenerative disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), its etiology remains mysterious. Approximately 90% of ALS is characterized as sporadic, signifying that the patient has no family history of the disease. The development of an impactful disease modifying therapy across the ALS spectrum has remained out of grasp, largely due to the poorly understood mechanisms of disease onset and progression. Currently, ALS is invariably fatal and rapidly progressive. It is hypothesized that multiple factors can lead to the development of ALS, however, treatments are often focused on targeting specific familial forms of the disease (10% of total cases). There is a strong need to develop disease modifying treatments for ALS that can be effective across the full ALS spectrum of familial and sporadic cases. Although the onset of disease varies significantly between patients, there are general disease mechanisms and progressions that can be seen broadly across ALS patients. Therefore, this review explores the targeting of these widespread disease mechanisms as possible areas for therapeutic intervention to treat ALS broadly. In particular, this review will focus on targeting mechanisms of defective protein homeostasis and RNA processing, which are both increasingly recognized as design principles of ALS pathogenesis. Additionally, this review will explore the benefits of gene therapy as an approach to treating ALS, specifically focusing on the use of adeno-associated virus (AAV) as a vector for gene delivery to the CNS and recent advances in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Merjane
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Roger Chung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rickie Patani
- Department of Neuromuscular Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London, UK.,The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.,Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
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13
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Yang TY, Braun M, Lembke W, McBlane F, Kamerud J, DeWall S, Tarcsa E, Fang X, Hofer L, Kavita U, Upreti VV, Gupta S, Loo L, Johnson AJ, Chandode RK, Stubenrauch KG, Vinzing M, Xia CQ, Jawa V. Immunogenicity assessment of AAV-based gene therapies: An IQ consortium industry white paper. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 26:471-494. [PMID: 36092368 PMCID: PMC9418752 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Immunogenicity has imposed a challenge to efficacy and safety evaluation of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-based gene therapies. Mild to severe adverse events observed in clinical development have been implicated with host immune responses against AAV gene therapies, resulting in comprehensive evaluation of immunogenicity during nonclinical and clinical studies mandated by health authorities. Immunogenicity of AAV gene therapies is complex due to the number of risk factors associated with product components and pre-existing immunity in human subjects. Different clinical mitigation strategies have been employed to alleviate treatment-induced or -boosted immunogenicity in order to achieve desired efficacy, reduce toxicity, or treat more patients who are seropositive to AAV vectors. In this review, the immunogenicity risk assessment, manifestation of immunogenicity and its impact in nonclinical and clinical studies, and various clinical mitigation strategies are summarized. Last, we present bioanalytical strategies, methodologies, and assay validation applied to appropriately monitor immunogenicity in AAV gene therapy-treated subjects.
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14
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Nagase K, Kitazawa S, Kogure T, Yamada S, Katayama K, Kanazawa H. Viral vector purification with thermoresponsive-anionic mixed polymer brush modified beads-packed column. Sep Purif Technol 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2022.120445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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15
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Westhaus A, Cabanes Creus M, Jonker T, Sallard E, Navarro RG, Zhu E, Baltazar G, Lee S, Wilmott P, Gonzalez-Cordero A, Santilli G, Thrasher AJ, Alexander IE, Lisowski L. AAV-p40 bioengineering platform for variant selection based on transgene expression. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:664-682. [PMID: 35297686 PMCID: PMC10112876 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The power of AAV directed evolution for identifying novel vector variants with improved properties is well established, as evidenced by numerous publications reporting novel AAV variants. However, most capsid variants reported to date have been identified using either replication-competent selection platforms or PCR-based capsid DNA recovery methods, which can bias the selection towards efficient replication or unproductive intracellular trafficking, respectively. A central objective of this study was to validate a functional transduction (FT)-based method for rapid identification of novel AAV variants based on AAV capsid mRNA expression in target cells. We performed a comparison of the FT platform to existing replication competent strategies. Based on the selection kinetics and function of novel capsids identified in an in vivo screen in a xenograft model of human hepatocytes, we identified the mRNA-based FT selection as the most optimal AAV selection method. Lastly, to gain insight into the mRNA-based selection mechanism driven by the native AAV-p40 promoter, we studied its activity in a range of in vitro and in vivo targets. We found AAV-p40 to be a ubiquitously active promoter that can be modified for cell type-specific expression by incorporating binding sites for silencing transcription factors, allowing for cell-type-specific library selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Westhaus
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Translational Vectorology Group, 214 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, 2145;
| | - Marti Cabanes Creus
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Translational Vectorology Group, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia;
| | - Timo Jonker
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia;
| | - Erwan Sallard
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia;
| | - Renina Gale Navarro
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Translational Vectorology Group, 214 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, 2145;
| | - Erhua Zhu
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Gene Therapy Research Unit, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia;
| | - Grober Baltazar
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Translational Vectorology Group, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia;
| | - Scott Lee
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia;
| | - Patrick Wilmott
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Translational Vectorology Group, 214 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, 2145;
| | - Anai Gonzalez-Cordero
- The University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine and Health, 522555, Stem Cell & Organoid Facility and Stem Cell Medicine Group, Children's Medical Research Institute, 214 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 2145;
| | - Giorgia Santilli
- UCL-Institute of Child Health, Centre for Immunodeficiencies, 30 guilford street, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, WC1N 1EH;
| | - Adrian J Thrasher
- Institute of Child Health, London, UK, Molecular Immunology Unit, 30 guilford street, london, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, wc1n1eh;
| | - Ian Edward Alexander
- Sydney Children's Hospitals Network and Children's Medical Research Institute, Corner Hawkesbury Rd & Hainsworth St, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, 2145 Sydney;
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia;
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16
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Ahmad A, Mandwie M, O'Sullivan KM, Smyth C, York J, Doyle H, Holdsworth S, Pickering MC, Lachmann PJ, Alexander IE, Logan G. Conversion of the liver into a biofactory for DNaseI using adeno-associated virus vector gene transfer reduces neutrophil extracellular traps in a model of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:560-571. [PMID: 35293226 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are proving to be clinically transformative tools in the treatment of monogenic genetic disease. Rapid ongoing development of this technology promises to not only increase the number of monogenic disorders amenable to this approach, but also to bring diseases with complex multigenic and non-genetic aetiologies within therapeutic reach. Here we explore the broader paradigm of converting the liver into a biofactory for systemic output of therapeutic molecules using AAV-mediated delivery of DNaseI as an exemplar. DNaseI can clear neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are nuclear-protein structures possessing anti-microbial action that are also involved in the pathophysiology of clinically troubling immune-mediated diseases. However, a translational challenge is short half-life of the enzyme in vivo (<5 hours). The current study demonstrates that AAV-mediated liver-targeted gene transfer stably induces serum DNaseI activity to >190-fold above physiological levels. In lupus-prone mice (NZBWF1) activity was maintained for longer than 6 months, the latest time point tested, and resulted in a clear functional effect with reduced renal presence of neutrophils, NETs, IgG and complement C3. However, treatment in this complex disease model did not extend life-span, improve serological endpoints or preserve renal function indicating there are elements of pathophysiology not accessible to DNaseI in the NZBWF1 model. We conclude that a translational solution to the challenge of short half-life of DNaseI is AAV-mediated gene delivery and that this may be efficacious in treating disease where NETs are a dominant pathological mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Ahmad
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Gene Therapy Research Unit, Westmead, Australia;
| | - Mawj Mandwie
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Gene Therapy Research Unit, Westmead, Australia;
| | | | - Christine Smyth
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Gene Therapy Research Unit, 214 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, NSW, Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, 2145;
| | - Jarrod York
- The University of Sydney, 4334, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia;
| | - Helen Doyle
- The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network Randwick and Westmead, 371501, Pathology, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia;
| | - Stephen Holdsworth
- Monash University, 2541, Department of Medicine, Clayton, Victoria, Australia;
| | - Matthew C Pickering
- Imperial College London, 4615, Centre of Inflammatory Disease, London, London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
| | - Peter J Lachmann
- University of Cambridge, 2152, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland;
| | - Ian Edward Alexander
- Sydney Children's Hospitals Network and Children's Medical Research Institute, Corner Hawkesbury Rd & Hainsworth St, Locked Bag 4001, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia, 2145 Sydney;
| | - Grant Logan
- Children's Medical Research Institute, 58454, Gene Therapy Research Unit, 214 Hawkesbury Road, Westmead, Australia, 2145;
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17
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Cabanes-Creus M, Navarro RG, Zhu E, Baltazar G, Liao SH, Drouyer M, Amaya AK, Scott S, Nguyen LH, Westhaus A, Hebben M, Wilson LO, Thrasher AJ, Alexander IE, Lisowski L. Novel human liver-tropic AAV variants define transferable domains that markedly enhance the human tropism of AAV7 and AAV8. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 24:88-101. [PMID: 34977275 PMCID: PMC8693155 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent clinical successes have intensified interest in using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for therapeutic gene delivery. The liver is a key clinical target, given its critical physiological functions and involvement in a wide range of genetic diseases. Here, we report the bioengineering of a set of next-generation AAV vectors, named AAV-SYDs (where "SYD" stands for Sydney, Australia), with increased human hepato-tropism in a liver xenograft mouse model repopulated with primary human hepatocytes. We followed a two-step process that staggered directed evolution and domain-swapping approaches. Using DNA-family shuffling, we first mapped key AAV capsid regions responsible for efficient human hepatocyte transduction in vivo. Focusing on these regions, we next applied domain-swapping strategies to identify and study key capsid residues that enhance primary human hepatocyte uptake and transgene expression. Our findings underscore the potential of AAV-SYDs as liver gene therapy vectors and provide insights into the mechanism responsible for their enhanced transduction profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marti Cabanes-Creus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Renina Gale Navarro
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Erhua Zhu
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute & The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Grober Baltazar
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Sophia H.Y. Liao
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Matthieu Drouyer
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Anais K. Amaya
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute & The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Suzanne Scott
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute & The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Loan Hanh Nguyen
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Adrian Westhaus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Great Ormond Institute of Child Health, University College London, WC1N 1EH London, UK
| | - Matthias Hebben
- LogicBio Therapeutics, 65 Hayden avenue, Lexington, 02421 MA, USA
| | - Laurence O.W. Wilson
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Adrian J. Thrasher
- Great Ormond Institute of Child Health, University College London, WC1N 1EH London, UK
| | - Ian E. Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute & The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Vector and Genome Engineering Facility, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
- Military Institute of Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
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18
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Meumann N, Schmithals C, Elenschneider L, Hansen T, Balakrishnan A, Hu Q, Hook S, Schmitz J, Bräsen JH, Franke AC, Olarewaju O, Brandenberger C, Talbot SR, Fangmann J, Hacker UT, Odenthal M, Ott M, Piiper A, Büning H. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Is a Natural Target for Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) 2 Vectors. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020427. [PMID: 35053588 PMCID: PMC8774135 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Gene therapy is a novel approach to treat diseases by introducing corrective genetic information into target cells. Adeno-associated virus vectors are the most frequently applied gene delivery tools for in vivo gene therapy and are also studied as part of innovative anticancer strategies. Here, we report on the natural preference of AAV2 vectors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to nonmalignant liver cells in mice and human tissue. This preference in transduction is due to the improved intracellular processing of AAV2 vectors in HCC, resulting in significantly more vector genomes serving as templates for transcription in the cell nucleus. Based on this natural tropism for HCC, novel therapeutic strategies can be designed or existing therapeutic approaches can be strengthened as they currently result in only a minor improvement of the poor prognosis for most liver cancer patients. Abstract Although therapeutic options are gradually improving, the overall prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still poor. Gene therapy-based strategies are developed to complement the therapeutic armamentarium, both in early and late-stage disease. For efficient delivery of transgenes with antitumor activity, vectors demonstrating preferred tumor tropism are required. Here, we report on the natural tropism of adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 2 vectors for HCC. When applied intravenously in transgenic HCC mouse models, similar amounts of vectors were detected in the liver and liver tumor tissue. In contrast, transduction efficiency, as indicated by the level of transgene product, was moderate in the liver but was elevated up to 19-fold in mouse tumor tissue. Preferred transduction of HCC compared to hepatocytes was confirmed in precision-cut liver slices from human patient samples. Our mechanistic studies revealed that this preference is due to the improved intracellular processing of AAV2 vectors in HCC, resulting, for example, in nearly 4-fold more AAV vector episomes that serve as templates for gene transcription. Given this background, AAV2 vectors ought to be considered to strengthen current—or develop novel—strategies for treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Meumann
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (N.M.); (A.-C.F.); (O.O.); (U.T.H.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Christian Schmithals
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany; (C.S.); (A.P.)
| | - Leroy Elenschneider
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine Preclinical Pharmacology and In-Vitro Toxicology, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (L.E.); (T.H.)
| | - Tanja Hansen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine Preclinical Pharmacology and In-Vitro Toxicology, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (L.E.); (T.H.)
| | - Asha Balakrishnan
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (M.O.)
- Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Qingluan Hu
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (M.O.)
- Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Sebastian Hook
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (M.O.)
- Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jessica Schmitz
- Nephropathology Unit, Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.S.); (J.H.B.)
| | - Jan Hinrich Bräsen
- Nephropathology Unit, Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.S.); (J.H.B.)
| | - Ann-Christin Franke
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (N.M.); (A.-C.F.); (O.O.); (U.T.H.)
| | - Olaniyi Olarewaju
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (N.M.); (A.-C.F.); (O.O.); (U.T.H.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christina Brandenberger
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Research (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Steven R. Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Josef Fangmann
- KRH Klinikum Siloah, Liver Center Hannover (LCH), 30459 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Ulrich T. Hacker
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (N.M.); (A.-C.F.); (O.O.); (U.T.H.)
- Department of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pulmonology, and Infectious Diseases, University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), Leipzig University Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Margarete Odenthal
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Ott
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (M.O.)
- Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Albrecht Piiper
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany; (C.S.); (A.P.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (N.M.); (A.-C.F.); (O.O.); (U.T.H.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-511-532-5106
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19
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Kok CY, MacLean LM, Ho JC, Lisowski L, Kizana E. Potential Applications for Targeted Gene Therapy to Protect Against Anthracycline Cardiotoxicity: JACC: CardioOncology Primer. JACC CardioOncol 2022; 3:650-662. [PMID: 34988473 PMCID: PMC8702812 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccao.2021.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthracyclines are associated with risk of significant dose-dependent cardiotoxicity. Conventional heart failure therapies have neither ameliorated declining cardiac function nor addressed the underlying cause. Gene therapy may confer long-term cardioprotection by rendering the heart resistant to anthracyclines after 1 treatment, although the optimal therapeutic target remains to be elucidated. Recombinant adeno-associated virus is now clinically approved for the treatment of lipoprotein lipase deficiency, spinal muscular atrophy, and hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. High-throughput methods allow selection of recombinant adeno-associated virus capsids that facilitate efficient gene delivery to specific target cells. Vector safety is enhanced by incorporating cardiac-specific promoters into vector design and localizing delivery to reduce off-target risk. Any cardioprotective transgene may bear a degree of risk as they may play as yet unknown roles, which require careful assessment using clinically relevant models. The innovative technologies outlined here make gene therapy a promising proof of principle, with potential further application to nonanthracycline chemotherapeutics. Protection against anthracycline cardiotoxicity may be achieved by gene delivery to the heart. The optimal cardioprotective target gene remains to be identified. Targeted gene expression in human myocytes can now be achieved with advances in AAV vectorology. It is critical to minimize risk of off-target effects which may impede anthracycline oncotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Y Kok
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Westmead Clinical School, the Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lauren M MacLean
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jett C Ho
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Military Institute of Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Warsaw, Poland.,Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia.,Vector and Genome Engineering Facility, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Eddy Kizana
- Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Westmead Clinical School, the Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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20
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Ahmad A, Mandwie M, Dreismann AK, Smyth CM, Doyle H, Malik TH, Pickering MC, Lachmann PJ, Alexander IE, Logan GJ. Adeno-Associated Virus Vector Gene Delivery Elevates Factor I Levels and Downregulates the Complement Alternative Pathway In Vivo. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:1370-1381. [PMID: 34238030 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The complement system is a key component of innate immunity, but impaired regulation influences disease susceptibility, including age-related macular degeneration and some kidney diseases. While complete complement inhibition has been used successfully to treat acute kidney disease, key unresolved challenges include strategies to modulate rather than completely inhibit the system and to deliver therapy potentially over decades. Elevating concentrations of complement factor I (CFI) restricts complement activation in vitro and this approach was extended in the current study to modulate complement activation in vivo. Sustained increases in CFI levels were achieved using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector to target the liver, inducing a 4- to 5-fold increase in circulating CFI levels. This led to decreased activity of the alternative pathway as demonstrated by a reduction in the rate of inactive C3b (iC3b) deposition and more rapid formation of C3 degradation products. In addition, vector application in a mouse model of systemic lupus erythematosus (NZBWF1), where tissue injury is, in part, complement dependent, resulted in reduced complement C3 and IgG renal deposition. Collectively, these data demonstrate that sustained elevation of CFI reduces complement activation in vivo providing proof-of-principle support for the therapeutic application of AAV gene delivery to modulate complement activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Ahmad
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Mawj Mandwie
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Anna K Dreismann
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Christine M Smyth
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Helen Doyle
- Pathology, Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, Australia
| | - Talat H Malik
- Centre for Inflammatory Disease, Imperial College London, United Kingdom; and
| | - Matthew C Pickering
- Centre for Inflammatory Disease, Imperial College London, United Kingdom; and
| | - Peter J Lachmann
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Ian E Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Grant J Logan
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
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21
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Lisowski L, Staber JM, Wright JF, Valentino LA. The intersection of vector biology, gene therapy, and hemophilia. Res Pract Thromb Haemost 2021; 5:e12586. [PMID: 34485808 PMCID: PMC8410952 DOI: 10.1002/rth2.12586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 07/01/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is at the forefront of the drive to bring the potential of cure to patients with genetic diseases. Multiple mechanisms of effective and efficient gene therapy delivery (eg, lentiviral, adeno-associated) for transgene expression as well as gene editing have been explored to improve vector and construct attributes and achieve therapeutic success. Recent clinical research has focused on recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors as a preferred method owing to their naturally occurring vector biology characteristics, such as serotypes with specific tissue tropisms, facilitated in vivo delivery, and stable physicochemical properties. For those living with hereditary diseases like hemophilia, this potential curative approach is balanced against the need to provide safe, predictable, effective, and durable factor expression. While in vivo studies of rAAV gene therapy have demonstrated amelioration of the bleeding phenotype in adults, long-term safety and effectiveness remain to be established. This review discusses vector biology in the context of rAAV-based liver-directed gene therapy for hemophilia and provides an overview of the types of viral vectors and vector components that are under investigation, as well as an assessment of the challenges associated with gene therapy delivery and durability of expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research UnitFaculty of Medicine and HealthChildren's Medical Research InstituteThe University of SydneyWestmeadAustralia
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative TherapiesMilitary Institute of MedicineWarsawPoland
| | - Janice M. Staber
- Stead Family Department of PediatricsUniversity of IowaIowa CityIAUSA
- Carver College of MedicineUniversity of IowaIowa CityIAUSA
| | - J. Fraser Wright
- Department of PediatricsDivision of Hematology, OncologyStem Cell Transplantation and Regenerative MedicineCenter for Definitive and Curative MedicineStanford University School of MedicineStanfordCAUSA
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22
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Large EE, Silveria MA, Zane GM, Weerakoon O, Chapman MS. Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Gene Delivery: Dissecting Molecular Interactions upon Cell Entry. Viruses 2021; 13:1336. [PMID: 34372542 PMCID: PMC8310307 DOI: 10.3390/v13071336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human gene therapy has advanced from twentieth-century conception to twenty-first-century reality. The recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) is a major gene therapy vector. Research continues to improve rAAV safety and efficacy using a variety of AAV capsid modification strategies. Significant factors influencing rAAV transduction efficiency include neutralizing antibodies, attachment factor interactions and receptor binding. Advances in understanding the molecular interactions during rAAV cell entry combined with improved capsid modulation strategies will help guide the design and engineering of safer and more efficient rAAV gene therapy vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Michael S. Chapman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; (E.E.L.); (M.A.S.); (G.M.Z.); (O.W.)
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23
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Cabanes-Creus M, Hallwirth CV, Westhaus A, Ng BH, Liao SHY, Zhu E, Navarro RG, Baltazar G, Drouyer M, Scott S, Logan GJ, Santilli G, Bennett A, Ginn SL, McCaughan G, Thrasher AJ, Agbandje-McKenna M, Alexander IE, Lisowski L. Restoring the natural tropism of AAV2 vectors for human liver. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/560/eaba3312. [PMID: 32908003 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aba3312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Recent clinical successes in gene therapy applications have intensified interest in using adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) as vectors for therapeutic gene delivery. Although prototypical AAV2 shows robust in vitro transduction of human hepatocyte-derived cell lines, it has not translated into an effective vector for liver-directed gene therapy in vivo. This is consistent with observations made in Fah-/-/Rag2-/-/Il2rg-/- (FRG) mice with humanized livers, showing that AAV2 functions poorly in this xenograft model. Here, we derived naturally hepatotropic AAV capsid sequences from primary human liver samples. We demonstrated that capsid mutations, likely acquired as an unintentional consequence of tissue culture propagation, attenuated the intrinsic human hepatic tropism of natural AAV2 and related human liver AAV isolates. These mutations resulted in amino acid changes that increased binding to heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), which has been regarded as the primary cellular receptor mediating AAV2 infection of human hepatocytes. Propagation of natural AAV variants in vitro showed tissue culture adaptation with resulting loss of tropism for human hepatocytes. In vivo readaptation of the prototypical AAV2 in FRG mice with a humanized liver resulted in restoration of the intrinsic hepatic tropism of AAV2 through decreased binding to HSPG. Our results challenge the notion that high affinity for HSPG is essential for AAV2 entry into human hepatocytes and suggest that natural AAV capsids of human liver origin are likely to be more effective for liver-targeted gene therapy applications than culture-adapted AAV2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marti Cabanes-Creus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Claus V Hallwirth
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Adrian Westhaus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Great Ormond Institute of Child Health, University College London, WC1N 1EH London, UK
| | - Boaz H Ng
- Vector and Genome Engineering Facility, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Sophia H Y Liao
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Erhua Zhu
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Renina Gale Navarro
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Grober Baltazar
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Matthieu Drouyer
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Suzanne Scott
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Grant J Logan
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Giorgia Santilli
- Great Ormond Institute of Child Health, University College London, WC1N 1EH London, UK
| | - Antonette Bennett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Samantha L Ginn
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Geoff McCaughan
- Liver Injury and Cancer Program, Centenary Research Institute, A.W Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Australian National Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Adrian J Thrasher
- Great Ormond Institute of Child Health, University College London, WC1N 1EH London, UK
| | - Mavis Agbandje-McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Ian E Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia. .,Vector and Genome Engineering Facility, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Centre, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
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24
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Effects of Altering HSPG Binding and Capsid Hydrophilicity on Retinal Transduction by AAV. J Virol 2021; 95:JVI.02440-20. [PMID: 33658343 PMCID: PMC8139652 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02440-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) have recently emerged as the leading vector for retinal gene therapy. However, AAV vectors which are capable of achieving clinically relevant levels of transgene expression and widespread retinal transduction are still an unmet need. Using rationally designed AAV2-based capsid variants, we investigate the role of capsid hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity as it relates to retinal transduction. We show that hydrophilic, single amino acid (aa) mutations (V387R, W502H, E530K, L583R) in AAV2 negatively impact retinal transduction when heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) binding remains intact. Conversely, addition of hydrophobic point mutations to an HSPG binding deficient capsid (AAV2ΔHS) lead to increased retinal transduction in both mouse and macaque. Our top performing vector, AAV2(4pMut)ΔHS, achieved robust rod and cone photoreceptor (PR) transduction in macaque, especially in the fovea, and demonstrates the ability to spread laterally beyond the borders of the subretinal injection (SRI) bleb. This study both evaluates biophysical properties of AAV capsids that influence retinal transduction, and assesses the transduction and tropism of a novel capsid variant in a clinically relevant animal model.ImportanceRationally guided engineering of AAV capsids aims to create new generations of vectors with enhanced potential for human gene therapy. By applying rational design principles to AAV2-based capsids, we evaluated the influence of hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acid (aa) mutations on retinal transduction as it relates to vector administration route. Through this approach we identified a largely deleterious relationship between hydrophilic aa mutations and canonical HSPG binding by AAV2-based capsids. Conversely, the inclusion of hydrophobic aa substitutions on a HSPG binding deficient capsid (AAV2ΔHS), generated a vector capable of robust rod and cone photoreceptor (PR) transduction. This vector AAV2(4pMut)ΔHS also demonstrates a remarkable ability to spread laterally beyond the initial subretinal injection (SRI) bleb, making it an ideal candidate for the treatment of retinal diseases which require a large area of transduction.
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Cabanes-Creus M, Navarro RG, Liao SHY, Baltazar G, Drouyer M, Zhu E, Scott S, Luong C, Wilson LOW, Alexander IE, Lisowski L. Single amino acid insertion allows functional transduction of murine hepatocytes with human liver tropic AAV capsids. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 21:607-620. [PMID: 34095344 PMCID: PMC8142051 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent successes in clinical gene therapy applications have intensified the interest in using adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) as vectors for gene delivery into human liver. An inherent intriguing characteristic of AAVs is that vector variants vary substantially in their ability to transduce hepatocytes from different species. This has historically limited the value of preclinical studies using rodent models for predicting the efficiency of AAV vectors in liver-targeted gene therapy clinical studies. In this work, we aimed to investigate the key determinants of the observed differential interspecies transduction abilities among AAV variants. We took advantage of domain swapping strategies between AAV-KP1, a newly identified variant with enhanced murine liver tropism, and AAV3b, which functions poorly in mice. The systematic in vivo comparison of AAV3b/AAV-KP1 chimeric variants allowed us to identify a threonine insertion at position 265 within variable region I (VR-I) as the key residue that confers murine hepatic transduction to human-derived clade B (AAV2-like) and clade C (AAV3b-like) variants. We propose to use this insertion to generate phylogenetically related AAV surrogates in support of toxicology and dosing studies in the murine liver model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marti Cabanes-Creus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Renina Gale Navarro
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Sophia H Y Liao
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Grober Baltazar
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Matthieu Drouyer
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Erhua Zhu
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Suzanne Scott
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Australian e-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Sydney, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Clement Luong
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Laurence O W Wilson
- Australian e-Health Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Sydney, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Ian E Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and The Children's Hospital at Westmead, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Vector and Genome Engineering Facility, Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Military Institute of Medicine, Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
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Rodríguez-Márquez E, Meumann N, Büning H. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid engineering in liver-directed gene therapy. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2020; 21:749-766. [PMID: 33331201 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2021.1865303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Gene therapy clinical trials with adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors report impressive clinical efficacy data. Nevertheless, challenges have become apparent, such as the need for high vector doses and the induction of anti-AAV immune responses that cause the loss of vector-transduced hepatocytes. This fostered research focusing on development of next-generation AAV vectors capable of dealing with these hurdles.Areas Covered: While both the viral vector genome and the capsid are subjects to engineering, this review focuses on the latter. Specifically, we summarize the principles of capsid engineering strategies, and describe developments and applications of engineered capsid variants for liver-directed gene therapy.Expert Opinion: Capsid engineering is a promising strategy to significantly improve efficacy of the AAV vector system in clinical application. Reduction in vector dose will further improve vector safety, lower the risk of host immune responses and the cost of manufacturing. Capsid engineering is also expected to result in AAV vectors applicable to patients with preexisting immunity toward natural AAV serotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Rodríguez-Márquez
- Universidad Autónoma De Madrid, Madrid, Spain.,Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Nadja Meumann
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF, Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Germany
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La QT, Ren B, Logan GJ, Cunningham SC, Khandekar N, Nassif NT, O’Brien BA, Alexander IE, Simpson AM. Use of a Hybrid Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Transposon System to Deliver the Insulin Gene to Diabetic NOD Mice. Cells 2020; 9:E2227. [PMID: 33023100 PMCID: PMC7600325 DOI: 10.3390/cells9102227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Previously, we used a lentiviral vector to deliver furin-cleavable human insulin (INS-FUR) to the livers in several animal models of diabetes using intervallic infusion in full flow occlusion (FFO), with resultant reversal of diabetes, restoration of glucose tolerance and pancreatic transdifferentiation (PT), due to the expression of beta (β)-cell transcription factors (β-TFs). The present study aimed to determine whether we could similarly reverse diabetes in the non-obese diabetic (NOD) mouse using an adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) to deliver INS-FUR ± the β-TF Pdx1 to the livers of diabetic mice. The traditional AAV8, which provides episomal expression, and the hybrid AAV8/piggyBac that results in transgene integration were used. Diabetic mice that received AAV8-INS-FUR became hypoglycaemic with abnormal intraperitoneal glucose tolerance tests (IPGTTs). Expression of β-TFs was not detected in the livers. Reversal of diabetes was not achieved in mice that received AAV8-INS-FUR and AAV8-Pdx1 and IPGTTs were abnormal. Normoglycaemia and glucose tolerance were achieved in mice that received AAV8/piggyBac-INS-FUR/FFO. Definitive evidence of PT was not observed. This is the first in vivo study using the hybrid AAV8/piggyBac system to treat Type 1 diabetes (T1D). However, further development is required before the system can be used for gene therapy of T1D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Que T. La
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (Q.T.L.); (B.R.); (N.T.N.); (B.A.O.)
- Centre for Health Technologies, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Binhai Ren
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (Q.T.L.); (B.R.); (N.T.N.); (B.A.O.)
- Centre for Health Technologies, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Grant J. Logan
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute and Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, 214 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; (G.J.L.); (S.C.C.); (N.K.); (I.E.A.)
| | - Sharon C. Cunningham
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute and Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, 214 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; (G.J.L.); (S.C.C.); (N.K.); (I.E.A.)
| | - Neeta Khandekar
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute and Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, 214 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; (G.J.L.); (S.C.C.); (N.K.); (I.E.A.)
| | - Najah T. Nassif
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (Q.T.L.); (B.R.); (N.T.N.); (B.A.O.)
- Centre for Health Technologies, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Bronwyn A. O’Brien
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (Q.T.L.); (B.R.); (N.T.N.); (B.A.O.)
- Centre for Health Technologies, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Ian E. Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute and Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, 214 Hawkesbury Rd, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; (G.J.L.); (S.C.C.); (N.K.); (I.E.A.)
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Ann M. Simpson
- School of Life Sciences, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia; (Q.T.L.); (B.R.); (N.T.N.); (B.A.O.)
- Centre for Health Technologies, University of Technology Sydney, 15 Broadway, Ultimo, NSW 2007, Australia
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