1
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Li M, Zhong Y, Zhu M, Pang C, Xiao L, Bu Y, Li H, Diao Y, Yang C, Liu D. Identification of new AAV vectors with enhanced blood-brain barrier penetration efficiency via organ-on-a-chip. Analyst 2024; 149:3980-3988. [PMID: 38872436 DOI: 10.1039/d4an00404c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2024]
Abstract
To overcome limitations in the generalizability and efficiency of current AAV vectors, in this current study, we constructed an AAV variant library by the insertion of random heptapeptide sequences in the receptor-binding domain of the AAV9 capsid gene. We then applied a recently developed organ-on-a-chip in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier (BBB) to iteratively enrich for variants that efficiently cross the BBB and transduce astrocyte cells. Through multiple rounds of screening, we obtained two candidate AAV variants, AAV-M6 and AAV-M8, which showed significantly higher BBB penetration efficiency than AAV9 or AAV-PHP.eB. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay showed that AAV-M6 could accumulate to a 5 times higher titer, while AAV-M8 reached a 3 times higher titer, than AAV-PHP.eB in the neural chamber of the model. The transduction assay further verified that the AAV-M6 candidate vector was able to infect HA-1800 cells after crossing the BBB, suggesting it could potentially transduce brain parenchymal cells after crossing the hCMEC/D3 layer at higher efficiency than AAV-PHP.eB. Molecular simulations suggested that the human receptor proteins, LY6D and M6PR, could bind the AAV-M6 heptapeptide insertion with high affinity. This study provides two promising candidate AAV vectors and demonstrates the use of this in vitro BBB model for scalable, high-throughput screening of gene therapies. These tools can drive investigations of the mechanisms underlying BBB permeability and the cell-type specificity of virus vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengmeng Li
- Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Medicine of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| | | | - Mingyang Zhu
- Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Medicine of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| | - Chunjin Pang
- Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Medicine of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| | - Lu Xiao
- Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Medicine of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| | - Ye Bu
- PackGene Biotech, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Huapeng Li
- PackGene Biotech, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yong Diao
- Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Medicine of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
| | - Chaoyong Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, the Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Fujian Province, Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Dan Liu
- Engineering Research Centre of Molecular Medicine of Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine and Molecular Diagnosis of Fujian Universities, School of Medicine, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
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2
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Huang Q, Chan KY, Wu J, Botticello-Romero NR, Zheng Q, Lou S, Keyes C, Svanbergsson A, Johnston J, Mills A, Lin CY, Brauer PP, Clouse G, Pacouret S, Harvey JW, Beddow T, Hurley JK, Tobey IG, Powell M, Chen AT, Barry AJ, Eid FE, Chan YA, Deverman BE. An AAV capsid reprogrammed to bind human transferrin receptor mediates brain-wide gene delivery. Science 2024; 384:1220-1227. [PMID: 38753766 DOI: 10.1126/science.adm8386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Developing vehicles that efficiently deliver genes throughout the human central nervous system (CNS) will broaden the range of treatable genetic diseases. We engineered an adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid, BI-hTFR1, that binds human transferrin receptor (TfR1), a protein expressed on the blood-brain barrier. BI-hTFR1 was actively transported across human brain endothelial cells and, relative to AAV9, provided 40 to 50 times greater reporter expression in the CNS of human TFRC knockin mice. The enhanced tropism was CNS-specific and absent in wild-type mice. When used to deliver GBA1, mutations of which cause Gaucher disease and are linked to Parkinson's disease, BI-hTFR1 substantially increased brain and cerebrospinal fluid glucocerebrosidase activity compared with AAV9. These findings establish BI-hTFR1 as a potential vector for human CNS gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Huang
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Ken Y Chan
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Jason Wu
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Nuria R Botticello-Romero
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Qingxia Zheng
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Shan Lou
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Casey Keyes
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Alexander Svanbergsson
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Jencilin Johnston
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Allan Mills
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Chin-Yen Lin
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Pamela P Brauer
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Gabrielle Clouse
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Simon Pacouret
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - John W Harvey
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Thomas Beddow
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Jenna K Hurley
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Isabelle G Tobey
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Megan Powell
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Albert T Chen
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Andrew J Barry
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Fatma-Elzahraa Eid
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
- Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Al-Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt
| | - Yujia A Chan
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
| | - Benjamin E Deverman
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142 USA
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3
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Di Francesco V, Chua AJ, Huang D, D'Souza A, Yang A, Bleier BS, Amiji MM. RNA therapies for CNS diseases. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 208:115283. [PMID: 38494152 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Neurological disorders are a diverse group of conditions that pose an increasing health burden worldwide. There is a general lack of effective therapies due to multiple reasons, of which a key obstacle is the presence of the blood-brain barrier, which limits drug delivery to the central nervous system, and generally restricts the pool of candidate drugs to small, lipophilic molecules. However, in many cases, these are unable to target key pathways in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders. As a group, RNA therapies have shown tremendous promise in treating various conditions because they offer unique opportunities for specific targeting by leveraging Watson-Crick base pairing systems, opening up possibilities to modulate pathological mechanisms that previously could not be addressed by small molecules or antibody-protein interactions. This potential paradigm shift in disease management has been enabled by recent advances in synthesizing, purifying, and delivering RNA. This review explores the use of RNA-based therapies specifically for central nervous system disorders, where we highlight the inherent limitations of RNA therapy and present strategies to augment the effectiveness of RNA therapeutics, including physical, chemical, and biological methods. We then describe translational challenges to the widespread use of RNA therapies and close with a consideration of future prospects in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Di Francesco
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Andy J Chua
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA; Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Sengkang General Hospital, 110 Sengkang E Way, 544886, Singapore
| | - Di Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Anisha D'Souza
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Alicia Yang
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Benjamin S Bleier
- Department of Otolaryngology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, 243 Charles Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Mansoor M Amiji
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, 140 The Fenway Building, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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4
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Park MJ, Lee J, Bagon BB, Matienzo ME, Lee CM, Kim K, Kim DI. Therapeutic potential of AAV-FL-Klotho in obesity: Impact on weight loss and lipid metabolism in mice. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Basis Dis 2024; 1870:167055. [PMID: 38325589 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbadis.2024.167055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Klotho, an anti-aging protein, has gained attention for its protective effects against various diseases, including metabolic disorders, through recombinant Klotho administration. However, the potential of Klotho as a target for gene therapy requires further exploration, as it remains relatively understudied in the context of metabolic disorders. In this study, we demonstrate that AAV-full length(FL)-Klotho administration induces weight loss in mice and provides protection against high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity and hepatic steatosis, concurrently reducing the weights of white adipose tissue and liver. AAV-FL-Klotho administration also enhanced thermogenic gene expression in brown adipose tissue (BAT) and improved the morphology of interscapular BAT. The weight loss effect of AAV-FL-Klotho was found to be, at least in part, mediated by UCP1-dependent thermogenesis in brown adipocytes, potentially influenced by hepatokines secreted from AAV-FL-Klotho-transduced hepatocytes. These findings suggest that AAV-FL-Klotho is an attractive candidate for gene therapy to combat obesity. Nevertheless, unbiased experiments have also revealed disturbances in lipid metabolism due to AAV-FL-Klotho, as evidenced by the emergence of lipomas and increased expression of hepatic lipogenic proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min-Jung Park
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Junhyeong Lee
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Bernadette B Bagon
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Merc Emil Matienzo
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Chang-Min Lee
- College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea
| | - Keon Kim
- College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; Department of Veterinary Internal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
| | - Dong-Il Kim
- Department of Veterinary Physiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea; College of Veterinary Medicine and BK21 FOUR Program, Chonnam National University, Gwangju 61186, Republic of Korea.
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5
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Rouse CJ, Jensen VN, Heldermon CD. Mucopolysaccharidosis type IIIB: a current review and exploration of the AAV therapy landscape. Neural Regen Res 2024; 19:355-359. [PMID: 37488890 PMCID: PMC10503619 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.377606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidoses type IIIB is a rare genetic disorder caused by mutations in the gene that encodes for N-acetyl-alpha-glucosaminidase. This results in the aggregation of heparan sulfate polysaccharides within cell lysosomes that leads to progressive and severe debilitating neurological dysfunction. Current treatment options are expensive, limited, and presently there are no approved cures for mucopolysaccharidoses type IIIB. Adeno-associated virus gene therapy has significantly advanced the field forward, allowing researchers to successfully design, enhance, and improve potential cures. Our group recently published an effective treatment using a codon-optimized triple mutant adeno-associated virus 8 vector that restores N-acetyl-alpha-glucosaminidase levels, auditory function, and lifespan in the murine model for mucopolysaccharidoses type IIIB to that seen in healthy mice. Here, we review the current state of the field in relation to the capsid landscape, adeno-associated virus gene therapy and its successes and challenges in the clinic, and how novel adeno-associated virus capsid designs have evolved research in the mucopolysaccharidoses type IIIB field.
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6
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Schiera G, Di Liegro CM, Schirò G, Sorbello G, Di Liegro I. Involvement of Astrocytes in the Formation, Maintenance, and Function of the Blood-Brain Barrier. Cells 2024; 13:150. [PMID: 38247841 PMCID: PMC10813980 DOI: 10.3390/cells13020150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a fundamental structure that protects the composition of the brain by determining which ions, metabolites, and nutrients are allowed to enter the brain from the blood or to leave it towards the circulation. The BBB is structurally composed of a layer of brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs) bound to each other through tight junctions (TJs). However, its development as well as maintenance and properties are controlled by the other brain cells that contact the BCECs: pericytes, glial cells, and even neurons themselves. Astrocytes seem, in particular, to have a very important role in determining and controlling most properties of the BBB. Here, we will focus on these latter cells, since the comprehension of their roles in brain physiology has been continuously expanding, even including the ability to participate in neurotransmission and in complex functions such as learning and memory. Accordingly, pathological conditions that alter astrocytic functions can alter the BBB's integrity, thus compromising many brain activities. In this review, we will also refer to different kinds of in vitro BBB models used to study the BBB's properties, evidencing its modifications under pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Schiera
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (Dipartimento di Scienzee Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche) (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (G.S.); (C.M.D.L.)
| | - Carlo Maria Di Liegro
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (Dipartimento di Scienzee Tecnologie Biologiche, Chimiche e Farmaceutiche) (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, 90128 Palermo, Italy; (G.S.); (C.M.D.L.)
| | - Giuseppe Schirò
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.S.); (G.S.)
- Neurology and Multiple Sclerosis Center, Unità Operativa Complessa (UOC), Foundation Institute “G. Giglio”, 90015 Cefalù, Italy
| | - Gabriele Sorbello
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.S.); (G.S.)
| | - Italia Di Liegro
- Department of Biomedicine, Neurosciences and Advanced Diagnostics, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy; (G.S.); (G.S.)
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Huang Q, Chan KY, Lou S, Keyes C, Wu J, Botticello-Romero NR, Zheng Q, Johnston J, Mills A, Brauer PP, Clouse G, Pacouret S, Harvey JW, Beddow T, Hurley JK, Tobey IG, Powell M, Chen AT, Barry AJ, Eid FE, Chan YA, Deverman BE. An AAV capsid reprogrammed to bind human Transferrin Receptor mediates brain-wide gene delivery. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.20.572615. [PMID: 38187643 PMCID: PMC10769326 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.20.572615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
Developing vehicles that efficiently deliver genes throughout the human central nervous system (CNS) will broaden the range of treatable genetic diseases. We engineered an AAV capsid, BI-hTFR1, that binds human Transferrin Receptor (TfR1), a protein expressed on the blood-brain barrier (BBB). BI-hTFR1 was actively transported across a human brain endothelial cell layer and, relative to AAV9, provided 40-50 times greater reporter expression in the CNS of human TFRC knock-in mice. The enhanced tropism was CNS-specific and absent in wild type mice. When used to deliver GBA1, mutations of which cause Gaucher disease and are linked to Parkinson's disease, BI-hTFR1 substantially increased brain and cerebrospinal fluid glucocerebrosidase activity compared to AAV9. These findings establish BI-hTFR1 as a promising vector for human CNS gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Huang
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Ken Y. Chan
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Shan Lou
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Casey Keyes
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Jason Wu
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | | | - Qingxia Zheng
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Jencilin Johnston
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Allan Mills
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Pamela P. Brauer
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Gabrielle Clouse
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Simon Pacouret
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - John W. Harvey
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Thomas Beddow
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Jenna K. Hurley
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Isabelle G. Tobey
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Megan Powell
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Albert T. Chen
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Andrew J. Barry
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Fatma-Elzahraa Eid
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
- Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Al-Azhar University; Cairo, Egypt
| | - Yujia A. Chan
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
| | - Benjamin E. Deverman
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard; Cambridge, USA
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Vos EN, Demirbas D, Mangel M, Gozalbo MER, Levy HL, Berry GT. The treatment of biochemical genetic diseases: From substrate reduction to nucleic acid therapies. Mol Genet Metab 2023; 140:107693. [PMID: 37716025 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2023.107693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/18/2023]
Abstract
Newborn screening (NBS) began a revolution in the management of biochemical genetic diseases, greatly increasing the number of patients for whom dietary therapy would be beneficial in preventing complications in phenylketonuria as well as in a few similar disorders. The advent of next generation sequencing and expansion of NBS have markedly increased the number of biochemical genetic diseases as well as the number of patients identified each year. With the avalanche of new and proposed therapies, a second wave of options for the treatment of biochemical genetic disorders has emerged. These therapies range from simple substrate reduction to enzyme replacement, and now ex vivo gene therapy with autologous cell transplantation. In some instances, it may be optimal to introduce nucleic acid therapy during the prenatal period to avoid fetopathy. However, as with any new therapy, complications may occur. It is important for physicians and other caregivers, along with ethicists, to determine what new therapies might be beneficial to the patient, and which therapies have to be avoided for those individuals who have less severe problems and for which standard treatments are available. The purpose of this review is to discuss the "Standard" treatment plans that have been in place for many years and to identify the newest and upcoming therapies, to assist the physician and other healthcare workers in making the right decisions regarding the initiation of both the "Standard" and new therapies. We have utilized several diseases to illustrate the applications of these different modalities and discussed for which disorders they may be suitable. The future is bright, but optimal care of the patient, including and especially the newborn infant, requires a deep knowledge of the disease process and careful consideration of the necessary treatment plan, not just based on the different genetic defects but also with regards to different variants within a gene itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Naomi Vos
- Division of Genetics & Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital; and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America; Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America.
| | - Didem Demirbas
- Division of Genetics & Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital; and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America; Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America.
| | - Matthew Mangel
- Division of Genetics & Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital; and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America.
| | - M Estela Rubio Gozalbo
- Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Genetics, Maastricht University Medical Centre+, P. Debyelaan 25, 6229 HX Maastricht, the Netherlands; GROW, Maastricht University, Minderbroedersberg 4-6, 6211 LK Maastricht, the Netherlands; MetabERN: European Reference Network for Hereditary Metabolic Disorders, Udine, Italy; UMD: United for Metabolic Diseases Member, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Harvey L Levy
- Division of Genetics & Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital; and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America.
| | - Gerard T Berry
- Division of Genetics & Genomics, Boston Children's Hospital; and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America; Manton Center for Orphan Disease Research, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, United States of America.
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9
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Li L, Vasan L, Kartono B, Clifford K, Attarpour A, Sharma R, Mandrozos M, Kim A, Zhao W, Belotserkovsky A, Verkuyl C, Schmitt-Ulms G. Advances in Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2725. [PMID: 37893099 PMCID: PMC10603849 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11102725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors are gene therapy delivery tools that offer a promising platform for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Keeping up with developments in this fast-moving area of research is a challenge. This review was thus written with the intention to introduce this field of study to those who are new to it and direct others who are struggling to stay abreast of the literature towards notable recent studies. In ten sections, we briefly highlight early milestones within this field and its first clinical success stories. We showcase current clinical trials, which focus on gene replacement, gene augmentation, or gene suppression strategies. Next, we discuss ongoing efforts to improve the tropism of rAAV vectors for brain applications and introduce pre-clinical research directed toward harnessing rAAV vectors for gene editing applications. Subsequently, we present common genetic elements coded by the single-stranded DNA of rAAV vectors, their so-called payloads. Our focus is on recent advances that are bound to increase treatment efficacies. As needed, we included studies outside the neurodegenerative disease field that showcased improved pre-clinical designs of all-in-one rAAV vectors for gene editing applications. Finally, we discuss risks associated with off-target effects and inadvertent immunogenicity that these technologies harbor as well as the mitigation strategies available to date to make their application safer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leyao Li
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Lakshmy Vasan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Bryan Kartono
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Kevan Clifford
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), 250 College St., Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
| | - Ahmadreza Attarpour
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, 101 College St., Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Raghav Sharma
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Matthew Mandrozos
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ain Kim
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Wenda Zhao
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Ari Belotserkovsky
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Claire Verkuyl
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Gerold Schmitt-Ulms
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, Krembil Discovery Centre, 6th Floor, 60 Leonard Avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 0S8, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Medical Sciences Building, 6th Floor, 1 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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10
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Tian G, Cao C, Li S, Wang W, Zhang Y, Lv Y. rAAV2-Mediated Restoration of GALC in Neural Stem Cells from Krabbe Patient-Derived iPSCs. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16040624. [PMID: 37111381 PMCID: PMC10143348 DOI: 10.3390/ph16040624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Krabbe disease is a rare neurodegenerative fatal disease. It is caused by deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme galactocerebrosidase (GALC), which results in progressive accumulation of galactolipid substrates in myelin-forming cells. However, there is still a lack of appropriate neural models and effective approaches for Krabbe disease. We generated induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from a Krabbe patient previously. Here, Krabbe patient-derived neural stem cells (K-NSCs) were induced from these iPSCs. By using nine kinds of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors to infect K-NSCs, we found that the rAAV2 vector has high transduction efficiency for K-NSCs. Most importantly, rAAV2-GALC rescued GALC enzymatic activity in K-NSCs. Our findings not only establish a novel patient NSC model for Krabbe disease, but also firstly indicate the potential of rAAV2-mediated gene therapy for this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoshuai Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Chunyu Cao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443000, China
| | - Shuyue Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443000, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Neurology, China-Japan Friendship Hospital, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Ye Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100005, China
| | - Yafeng Lv
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443000, China
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11
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Campos LJ, Arokiaraj CM, Chuapoco MR, Chen X, Goeden N, Gradinaru V, Fox AS. Advances in AAV technology for delivering genetically encoded cargo to the nonhuman primate nervous system. CURRENT RESEARCH IN NEUROBIOLOGY 2023; 4:100086. [PMID: 37397806 PMCID: PMC10313870 DOI: 10.1016/j.crneur.2023.100086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Modern neuroscience approaches including optogenetics, calcium imaging, and other genetic manipulations have facilitated our ability to dissect specific circuits in rodent models to study their role in neurological disease. These approaches regularly use viral vectors to deliver genetic cargo (e.g., opsins) to specific tissues and genetically-engineered rodents to achieve cell-type specificity. However, the translatability of these rodent models, cross-species validation of identified targets, and translational efficacy of potential therapeutics in larger animal models like nonhuman primates remains difficult due to the lack of efficient primate viral vectors. A refined understanding of the nonhuman primate nervous system promises to deliver insights that can guide the development of treatments for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we outline recent advances in the development of adeno-associated viral vectors for optimized use in nonhuman primates. These tools promise to help open new avenues for study in translational neuroscience and further our understanding of the primate brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lillian J. Campos
- Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 05616, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Cynthia M. Arokiaraj
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Miguel R. Chuapoco
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Xinhong Chen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Nick Goeden
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
- Capsida Biotherapeutics, Thousand Oaks, CA, 91320, USA
| | - Viviana Gradinaru
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
| | - Andrew S. Fox
- Department of Psychology and the California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, CA, 05616, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson's (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, MD, 20815, USA
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12
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Zhang HC, Du Y, Chen L, Yuan ZQ, Cheng Y. MicroRNA schizophrenia: Etiology, biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 146:105064. [PMID: 36707012 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
The three sets of symptoms associated with schizophrenia-positive, negative, and cognitive-are burdensome and have serious effects on public health, which affects up to 1% of the population. It is now commonly believed that in addition to the traditional dopaminergic mesolimbic pathway, the etiology of schizophrenia also includes neuronal networks, such as glutamate, GABA, serotonin, BDNF, oxidative stress, inflammation and the immune system. Small noncoding RNA molecules called microRNAs (miRNAs) have come to light as possible participants in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia in recent years by having an impact on these systems. These small RNAs regulate the stability and translation of hundreds of target transcripts, which has an impact on the entire gene network. There may be improved approaches to treat and diagnose schizophrenia if it is understood how these changes in miRNAs alter the critical related signaling pathways that drive the development and progression of the illness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng-Chang Zhang
- Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Du
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China
| | - Zeng-Qiang Yuan
- Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China; Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yong Cheng
- Center on Translational Neuroscience, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China; Institute of National Security, Minzu University of China, Beijing, China.
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