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Pires-Ferreira D, Reil D, Tang Q, Blackwood M, Gallagher T, Keeler AM, Chichester JA, Vyhnal KK, Lindborg JA, Benson J, Fu D, Flotte TR, Gruntman AM. Limb Perfusion Delivery of a rAAV1 Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Vector in Non-Human Primates Is Safe but Insufficient for Therapy. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:1188. [PMID: 39336779 PMCID: PMC11431094 DOI: 10.3390/genes15091188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 09/06/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES α-1 antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is an inherited, genetic condition characterized by reduced serum levels of AAT and increased risk of developing emphysema and liver disease. AAT is normally synthesized primarily in the liver, but muscle-targeting with a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector for α-1 antitrypsin (AAT) gene therapy has been used to minimize liver exposure to the virus and hepatotoxicity. Clinical trials of direct intramuscular (IM) administration of rAAV1-hAAT have demonstrated its overall safety and transgene expression for 5 years. However, the failure to reach the therapeutic target level after 100 large-volume (1.5 mL) IM injections of maximally concentrated vector led us to pursue a muscle-targeting approach using isolated limb perfusion. This targets the rAAV to a greater muscle mass and allows for a higher total volume (and thereby a higher dose) than is tolerable by multiple direct IM injections. Limb perfusion has been shown to be feasible in non-human primates using the rAAV1 serotype and a ubiquitous promoter expressing an epitope-tagged AAT matched to the host species. METHODS In this study, we performed a biodistribution and preclinical safety study in non-human primates with a clinical candidate rAAV1-human AAT (hAAT) vector at doses ranging from 3.0 × 1012 to 1.3 × 1013 vg/kg, bracketing those used in our clinical trials. RESULTS We found that limb perfusion delivery of rAAV1-hAAT was safe and showed a biodistribution pattern similar to previous studies. However, serum levels of AAT obtained with high-dose limb perfusion still reached only ~50% of the target serum levels. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that clinically effective AAT gene therapy may ultimately require delivery at doses between 3.5 × 1013-1 × 1014 vg/kg, which is within the dose range used for approved rAAV gene therapies. Muscle-targeting strategies could be incorporated when delivering systemic administration of high-dose rAAV gene therapies to increase transduction of muscle tissues and reduce the burden on the liver, especially in diseases that can present with hepatotoxicity such as AAT deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debora Pires-Ferreira
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; (D.P.-F.); (D.R.); (Q.T.); (M.B.); (T.G.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Darcy Reil
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; (D.P.-F.); (D.R.); (Q.T.); (M.B.); (T.G.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Qiushi Tang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; (D.P.-F.); (D.R.); (Q.T.); (M.B.); (T.G.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Meghan Blackwood
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; (D.P.-F.); (D.R.); (Q.T.); (M.B.); (T.G.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Thomas Gallagher
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; (D.P.-F.); (D.R.); (Q.T.); (M.B.); (T.G.); (A.M.K.)
| | - Allison M. Keeler
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; (D.P.-F.); (D.R.); (Q.T.); (M.B.); (T.G.); (A.M.K.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jessica A. Chichester
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kristin K. Vyhnal
- Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA; (K.K.V.); (J.A.L.); (J.B.)
| | - Jane A. Lindborg
- Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA; (K.K.V.); (J.A.L.); (J.B.)
| | - Janet Benson
- Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM 87108, USA; (K.K.V.); (J.A.L.); (J.B.)
| | - Dongtao Fu
- Department of Pathology, Immunology, and Laboratory Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Terence R. Flotte
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; (D.P.-F.); (D.R.); (Q.T.); (M.B.); (T.G.); (A.M.K.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Alisha M. Gruntman
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; (D.P.-F.); (D.R.); (Q.T.); (M.B.); (T.G.); (A.M.K.)
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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Zambon AA, Falzone YM, Bolino A, Previtali SC. Molecular mechanisms and therapeutic strategies for neuromuscular diseases. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:198. [PMID: 38678519 PMCID: PMC11056344 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05229-9] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Neuromuscular diseases encompass a heterogeneous array of disorders characterized by varying onset ages, clinical presentations, severity, and progression. While these conditions can stem from acquired or inherited causes, this review specifically focuses on disorders arising from genetic abnormalities, excluding metabolic conditions. The pathogenic defect may primarily affect the anterior horn cells, the axonal or myelin component of peripheral nerves, the neuromuscular junction, or skeletal and/or cardiac muscles. While inherited neuromuscular disorders have been historically deemed not treatable, the advent of gene-based and molecular therapies is reshaping the treatment landscape for this group of condition. With the caveat that many products still fail to translate the positive results obtained in pre-clinical models to humans, both the technological development (e.g., implementation of tissue-specific vectors) as well as advances on the knowledge of pathogenetic mechanisms form a collective foundation for potentially curative approaches to these debilitating conditions. This review delineates the current panorama of therapies targeting the most prevalent forms of inherited neuromuscular diseases, emphasizing approved treatments and those already undergoing human testing, offering insights into the state-of-the-art interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Andrea Zambon
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Institute for Experimental Neurology, Inspe, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Yuri Matteo Falzone
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Institute for Experimental Neurology, Inspe, Milan, Italy
- Neurology Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Bolino
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Institute for Experimental Neurology, Inspe, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Carlo Previtali
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Institute for Experimental Neurology, Inspe, Milan, Italy.
- Neurology Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
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Tong L, Ozes B, Moss K, Myers M, Ridgley A, Sahenk Z. AAV1.NT-3 gene therapy in the SOD1KO mouse model of accelerated sarcopenia. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2023; 14:2204-2215. [PMID: 37553101 PMCID: PMC10570084 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sarcopenia, an age-related loss of muscle mass, is a critical factor that affects the health of the older adults. The SOD1KO mouse is deficient of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase, used as an accelerated aging model. We previously showed that NT-3 improves muscle fibre size by activating the mTOR pathway, suggesting a potential for attenuating age-related muscle loss. This study assessed the therapeutic efficacy of AAV1.NT-3 in this accelerated aging model. METHODS Twelve 6 months old SOD1KO mice were injected intramuscularly with a 1 × 1011 vg dose of AAV1.tMCK.NT-3, and 13 age-matched SOD1KO mice were used as controls. The treatment effect was evaluated using treadmill, rotarod and gait analyses as well as histological studies assessing changes in muscle fibre, and fibre type switch, in tibialis anterior, gastrocnemius, and triceps muscles, and myelin thickness by calculating G ratio in sciatic and tibial nerves. Molecular studies involved qPCR experiments to analyse the expression levels of mitochondrial and glycolysis markers and western blot experiments to assess the activity of mTORC1 pathway. RESULTS Treatment resulted in a 36% (154.9 vs. 114.1; P < 0.0001) and 76% increase (154.3 vs. 87.6; P < 0.0001) in meters ran, with treadmill test at 3 and 6 months post gene delivery. In addition, the treated cohort stayed on rotarod 30% (52.7 s vs. 40.4 s; P = 0.0095) and 54% (50.4 s vs. 32.7 s; P = 0.0007) longer, compared with untreated counterparts at 3 and 6 months post injection. Gait analysis, performed at endpoint, showed that stride width was normalized to wild type levels (29.3 mm) by an 11% decrease, compared with untreated cohort (28.6 mm vs. 32.1 mm; P = 0.0014). Compared with wild-type, SOD1KO mice showed 9.4% and 11.4% fibre size decrease in tibialis anterior and gastrocnemius muscles, respectively, which were normalized to wild type levels with treatment. Fibre diameter increase was observed prominently in FTG fibre type. G ratio analysis revealed hypomyelination in the tibial (0.721) and sciatic (0.676) nerves of SOD1KO model, which was reversed in the NT-3 cohort (0.646 and 0.634, respectively). Fibre size increase correlated with the increase in the p-S6 and p-4E-BP1 levels, and in the glycolysis markers in tibialis anterior. Alterations observed in the mitochondrial markers were not rescued with treatment. Overall, response to NT-3 was subdued in gastrocnemius muscle. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that AAV1.NT-3 gene therapy protected SOD1KO mouse from accelerated aging effects functionally and histologically. We further confirmed that NT-3 has potential to activate the mTOR and glycolytic pathways in muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingying Tong
- Center for Gene TherapyThe Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbusOHUSA
| | - Burcak Ozes
- Center for Gene TherapyThe Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbusOHUSA
| | - Kyle Moss
- Center for Gene TherapyThe Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbusOHUSA
| | - Morgan Myers
- Center for Gene TherapyThe Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbusOHUSA
| | - Alicia Ridgley
- Center for Gene TherapyThe Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbusOHUSA
| | - Zarife Sahenk
- Center for Gene TherapyThe Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children's HospitalColumbusOHUSA
- Department of Pediatrics and NeurologyNationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State UniversityColumbusOHUSA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineNationwide Children's HospitalColumbusOHUSA
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4
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Dietz J, Jacobsen F, Zhuge H, Daya N, Bigot A, Zhang W, Ehrhardt A, Vorgerd M, Ehrke-Schulz E. Muscle Specific Promotors for Gene Therapy - A Comparative Study in Proliferating and Differentiated Cells. J Neuromuscul Dis 2023:JND221574. [PMID: 37270809 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-221574] [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: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Depending on the therapy approach and disease background, the heterogeneity of muscular tissues complicates the development of targeted gene therapy, where either expression in all muscle types or restriction to only one muscle type is warranted. Muscle specificity can be achieved using promotors mediating tissue specific and sustained physiological expression in the desired muscle types but limited activity in non-targeted tissue. Several muscle specific promotors have been described, but direct comparisons between them are lacking. OBJECTIVE Here we present a direct comparison of muscle specific Desmin-, MHCK7, microRNA206- and Calpain3 promotor. METHODS To directly compare these muscle specific promotors we utilized transfection of reporter plasmids using an in vitro model based on electrical pulse stimulation (EPS) to provoke sarcomere formation in 2D cell culture for quantification of promotor activities in far differentiated mouse and human myotubes. RESULTS We found that Desmin- and MHCK7 promotors showed stronger reporter gene expression levels in proliferating and differentiated myogenic cell lines than miR206 and CAPN3 promotor. However, Desmin and MHCK7 promotor promoted gene expression also cardiac cells whereas miR206 and CAPN3 promotor expression was restricted to skeletal muscle. CONCLUSIONS Our results provides direct comparison of muscle specific promotors with regard to expression strengths and specificity as this is important feature to avoid undesired transgene expression in non-target muscle cells for a desired therapy approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julienne Dietz
- Department of Human Medicine, Institute of Virology and Microbiology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, Bochum, Germany
| | - Frank Jacobsen
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, Bochum, Germany
| | - Heidi Zhuge
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, Bochum, Germany
| | - Nassam Daya
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, Bochum, Germany
| | - Anne Bigot
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, F-75013 Paris, France
| | - Wenli Zhang
- Department of Human Medicine, Institute of Virology and Microbiology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Anja Ehrhardt
- Department of Human Medicine, Institute of Virology and Microbiology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
| | - Matthias Vorgerd
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bergmannsheil, Heimer Institute for Muscle Research, Bochum, Germany
| | - Eric Ehrke-Schulz
- Department of Human Medicine, Institute of Virology and Microbiology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, Germany
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5
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Müthel S, Marg A, Ignak B, Kieshauer J, Escobar H, Stadelmann C, Spuler S. Cas9-induced single cut enables highly efficient and template-free repair of a muscular dystrophy causing founder mutation. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 31:494-511. [PMID: 36865086 PMCID: PMC9972404 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
With thousands of patients worldwide, CAPN3 c.550delA is the most frequent mutation causing severe, progressive, and untreatable limb girdle muscular dystrophy. We aimed to genetically correct this founder mutation in primary human muscle stem cells. We designed editing strategies providing CRISPR-Cas9 as plasmid and mRNA first in patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells and applied this strategy then in primary human muscle stem cells from patients. Mutation-specific targeting yielded highly efficient and precise correction of CAPN3 c.550delA to wild type for both cell types. Most likely a single cut generated by SpCas9 resulted in a 5' staggered overhang of one base pair, which triggered an overhang-dependent base replication of an A:T at the mutation site. This recovered the open reading frame and the CAPN3 DNA sequence was repaired template-free to wild type, which led to CAPN3 mRNA and protein expression. Off-target analysis using amplicon sequencing of 43 in silico predicted sites demonstrates the safety of this approach. Our study extends previous usage of single cut DNA modification since our gene product has been repaired into the wild-type CAPN3 sequence with the perspective of a real cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Müthel
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Muscle Research Unit at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Andreas Marg
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Muscle Research Unit at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Busem Ignak
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Muscle Research Unit at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Janine Kieshauer
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Muscle Research Unit at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Helena Escobar
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Muscle Research Unit at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Stadelmann
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Muscle Research Unit at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Spuler
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Muscle Research Unit at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center, a Cooperation Between the Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC) and the Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Experimental and Clinical Research Center, 10117 Berlin, Germany
- Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Ozes B, Tong L, Myers M, Moss K, Ridgley A, Sahenk Z. AAV1.NT-3 gene therapy prevents age-related sarcopenia. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:1306-1329. [PMID: 36897179 PMCID: PMC10042697 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Sarcopenia is progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, occurring during normal aging with significant consequences on the quality of life for elderly. Neurotrophin 3 (NT-3) is an important autocrine factor supporting Schwann cell survival and differentiation and stimulating axon regeneration and myelination. NT-3 is involved in the maintenance of neuromuscular junction (NMJ) integrity, restoration of impaired radial growth of muscle fibers through activation of the Akt/mTOR pathway. We tested the efficacy of NT-3 gene transfer therapy in wild type (WT)-aged C57BL/6 mice, a model for natural aging and sarcopenia, via intramuscular injection 1 × 1011 vg AAV1.tMCK.NT-3, at 18 months of age. The treatment efficacy was assessed at 6 months post-injection using run to exhaustion and rotarod tests, in vivo muscle contractility assay, and histopathological studies of the peripheral nervous system, including NMJ connectivity and muscle. AAV1.NT-3 gene therapy in WT-aged C57BL/6 mice resulted in functional and in vivo muscle physiology improvements, supported by quantitative histology from muscle, peripheral nerves and NMJ. Hindlimb and forelimb muscles in the untreated cohort showed the presence of a muscle- and sex-dependent remodeling and fiber size decrease with aging, which was normalized toward values obtained from 10 months old WT mice with treatment. The molecular studies assessing the NT-3 effect on the oxidative state of distal hindlimb muscles, accompanied by western blot analyses for mTORC1 activation were in accordance with the histological findings. Considering the cost and quality of life to the individual, we believe our study has important implications for management of age-related sarcopenia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Burcak Ozes
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Lingying Tong
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Morgan Myers
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Kyle Moss
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Alicia Ridgley
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
| | - Zarife Sahenk
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205, USA
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7
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Methods for CRISPR-Cas as Ribonucleoprotein Complex Delivery In Vivo. Mol Biotechnol 2023; 65:181-195. [PMID: 35322386 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-022-00479-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
The efficient delivery of CRISPR-Cas components is still a key and unsolved problem. CRISPR-Cas delivery in the form of a Cas protein+sgRNA (ribonucleoprotein complex, RNP complex), has proven to be extremely effective, since it allows to increase on-target activity, while reducing nonspecific activity. The key point for in vivo genome editing is the direct delivery of artificial nucleases and donor DNA molecules into the somatic cells of an adult organism. At the same time, control of the dose of artificial nucleases is impossible, which affects the efficiency of genome editing in the affected cells. Poor delivery efficiency and low editing efficacy reduce the overall potency of the in vivo genome editing process. Here we review how this problem is currently being solved in scientific works and what types of in vivo delivery methods of Cas9/sgRNA RNPs have been developed.
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Schoser B. Molekulare Therapien erblicher Myopathien im Erwachsenenalter
– eine kursive Rundschau. FORTSCHRITTE DER NEUROLOGIE · PSYCHIATRIE 2022; 91:164-168. [PMID: 36347473 DOI: 10.1055/a-1953-7261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
ZusammenfassungUnterschiedliche Formen der molekularen Therapie sind zu einer neuen
Möglichkeit in der Präzisionsbehandlung erblicher
neuromuskulärer Erkrankungen geworden. Dieser kursive Überblick
über die molekularen Therapien bei hereditären Myopathien wird
sich auf ausgewählte aktuelle Phase 1 bis 3 Studien zu häufigen
hereditären Myopathien im Erwachsenenalter wie die Dystrophinopathie
Becker-Kiener, die Fazioskapulohumerale Muskeldystrophie, Calpainopathie, und
die Dysferlinopathie fokussieren. Die Therapieoptionen zum Morbus Pompe dienen
als Beispiel für die hereditären metabolischen Myopathien.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benedikt Schoser
- Friedrich-Baur-Institut, Neurologische Klinik,
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, München,
Germany
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9
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Lasa-Elgarresta J, Mosqueira-Martín L, González-Imaz K, Marco-Moreno P, Gerenu G, Mamchaoui K, Mouly V, López de Munain A, Vallejo-Illarramendi A. Targeting the Ubiquitin-Proteasome System in Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy With CAPN3 Mutations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:822563. [PMID: 35309930 PMCID: PMC8924035 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.822563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
LGMDR1 is caused by mutations in the CAPN3 gene that encodes calpain 3 (CAPN3), a non-lysosomal cysteine protease necessary for proper muscle function. Our previous findings show that CAPN3 deficiency leads to reduced SERCA levels through increased protein degradation. This work investigates the potential contribution of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway to increased SERCA degradation in LGMDR1. Consistent with our previous results, we observed that CAPN3-deficient human myotubes exhibit reduced SERCA protein levels and high cytosolic calcium concentration. Treatment with the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib (Velcade) increased SERCA2 protein levels and normalized intracellular calcium levels in CAPN3-deficient myotubes. Moreover, bortezomib was able to recover mutated CAPN3 protein in a patient carrying R289W and R546L missense mutations. We found that CAPN3 knockout mice (C3KO) presented SERCA deficits in skeletal muscle in the early stages of the disease, prior to the manifestation of muscle deficits. However, treatment with bortezomib (0.8 mg/kg every 72 h) for 3 weeks did not rescue SERCA levels. No change in muscle proteasome activity was observed in bortezomib-treated animals, suggesting that higher bortezomib doses are needed to rescue SERCA levels in this model. Overall, our results lay the foundation for exploring inhibition of the ubiquitin-proteasome as a new therapeutic target to treat LGMDR1 patients. Moreover, patients carrying missense mutations in CAPN3 and presumably other genes may benefit from proteasome inhibition by rescuing mutant protein levels. Further studies in suitable models will be necessary to demonstrate the therapeutic efficacy of proteasome inhibition for different missense mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaione Lasa-Elgarresta
- Group of Neuroscience, Departments of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, Hospital Donostia, UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Spain.,IIS Biodonostia, Neurosciences Area, Group of Neuromuscular Diseases, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Laura Mosqueira-Martín
- Group of Neuroscience, Departments of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, Hospital Donostia, UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Spain.,IIS Biodonostia, Neurosciences Area, Group of Neuromuscular Diseases, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Klaudia González-Imaz
- IIS Biodonostia, Neurosciences Area, Group of Neuromuscular Diseases, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Pablo Marco-Moreno
- IIS Biodonostia, Neurosciences Area, Group of Neuromuscular Diseases, San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Gorka Gerenu
- IIS Biodonostia, Neurosciences Area, Group of Neuromuscular Diseases, San Sebastian, Spain.,CIBERNED, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, UPV/EHU, Leioa, Spain
| | - Kamel Mamchaoui
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Mouly
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Adolfo López de Munain
- Group of Neuroscience, Departments of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, Hospital Donostia, UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Spain.,IIS Biodonostia, Neurosciences Area, Group of Neuromuscular Diseases, San Sebastian, Spain.,CIBERNED, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ainara Vallejo-Illarramendi
- Group of Neuroscience, Departments of Pediatrics and Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Nursing, Hospital Donostia, UPV/EHU, San Sebastian, Spain.,IIS Biodonostia, Neurosciences Area, Group of Neuromuscular Diseases, San Sebastian, Spain.,CIBERNED, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Madrid, Spain
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10
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Mitrani-Rosenbaum S, Yakovlev L, Becker Cohen M, Argov Z, Fellig Y, Harazi A. Pre Clinical Assessment of AAVrh74.MCK.GNE Viral Vector Therapeutic Potential: Robust Activity Despite Lack of Consistent Animal Model for GNE Myopathy. J Neuromuscul Dis 2021; 9:179-192. [PMID: 34806613 PMCID: PMC8842764 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-210755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Background: GNE myopathy is a unique adult onset rare neuromuscular disease caused by recessive mutations in the GNE gene. The pathophysiological mechanism of this disorder is not well understood and to date, there is no available therapy for this debilitating disease. We have previously established proof of concept that AAV based gene therapy can effectively deliver the wild type human GNE into cultured muscle cells from human patients and in mice, using a CMV promoter driven human wild type GNE plasmid delivered through an adeno associated virus (AAV8) based platform. Objective: In the present study we have generated a muscle specific GNE construct, driven by the MCK promoter and packaged with the AAVrh74 serotype for efficacy evaluation in an animal model of GNE Myopathy. Methods: The viral vector was systemically delivered at 2 doses to two age groups of a Gne–/– hGNED207V Tg mouse described as a preclinical model of GNE Myopathy, and treatment was monitored for long term efficacy. Results: In spite of the fact that the full described characteristics of the preclinical model could not be reproduced, the systemic injection of the rAAVrh74.MCK.GNE viral vector resulted in a long term presence and expression of human wt GNE in the murine muscles and in some improvements of their mild phenotype. The Gne–/– hGNED207V Tg mice are smaller from birth, but cannot be differentiated from littermates by muscle function (grip strength and Rotarod) and their muscle histology is normal, even at advanced age. Conclusions: The rAAVrh74.MCK.GNE vector is a robust tool for the development of GNE Myopathy therapies that supply the intact GNE. However, there is still no reliable animal model to fully assess its efficacy since the previously developed Gne–/– hGNED207V Tg mice do not present disease characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Mitrani-Rosenbaum
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Medical Center, The Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Lena Yakovlev
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Medical Center, The Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michal Becker Cohen
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Medical Center, The Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Zohar Argov
- Department of Neurology, Hadassah Medical Center, The Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yakov Fellig
- Department of Pathology, Hadassah Medical Center, The Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Avi Harazi
- Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy, Hadassah Medical Center, The Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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