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Mehmetoglu-Gurbuz T, Yeh R, Garg H, Joshi A. Combination gene therapy for HIV using a conditional suicidal gene with CCR5 knockout. Virol J 2021; 18:31. [PMID: 33516234 PMCID: PMC7847599 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01501-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene therapy approaches using hematopoietic stem cells to generate an HIV resistant immune system have been shown to be successful. The deletion of HIV co-receptor CCR5 remains a viable strategy although co-receptor switching to CXCR4 remains a major pitfall. To overcome this, we designed a dual gene therapy strategy that incorporates a conditional suicide gene and CCR5 knockout (KO) to overcome the limitations of CCR5 KO alone. METHODS A two-vector system was designed that included an integrating lentiviral vector that expresses a HIV Tat dependent Thymidine Kinase mutant SR39 (TK-SR39) and GFP reporter gene. The second non-integrating lentiviral (NIL) vector expresses a CCR5gRNA-CRISPR/Cas9 cassette and HIV Tat protein. RESULTS Transduction of cells sequentially with the integrating followed by the NIL vector allows for insertion of the conditional suicide gene, KO of CCR5 and transient expression of GFP to enrich the modified cells. We used this strategy to modify TZM cells and generate a cell line that was resistant to CCR5 tropic viruses while permitting infection of CXCR4 tropic viruses which could be controlled via treatment with Ganciclovir. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates proof of principle that a combination gene therapy for HIV is a viable strategy and can overcome the limitation of editing CCR5 gene alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tugba Mehmetoglu-Gurbuz
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Center of Emphasis in Infectious Diseases, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 5001 El Paso Dr, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Rose Yeh
- Paul L Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX, USA
| | - Himanshu Garg
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Center of Emphasis in Infectious Diseases, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 5001 El Paso Dr, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA
| | - Anjali Joshi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Center of Emphasis in Infectious Diseases, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 5001 El Paso Dr, El Paso, TX, 79905, USA.
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Tsukamoto T. Gene Therapy Approaches to Functional Cure and Protection of Hematopoietic Potential in HIV Infection. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:pharmaceutics11030114. [PMID: 30862061 PMCID: PMC6470728 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11030114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Although current antiretroviral drug therapy can suppress the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a lifelong prescription is necessary to avoid viral rebound. The problem of persistent and ineradicable viral reservoirs in HIV-infected people continues to be a global threat. In addition, some HIV-infected patients do not experience sufficient T-cell immune restoration despite being aviremic during treatment. This is likely due to altered hematopoietic potential. To achieve the global eradication of HIV disease, a cure is needed. To this end, tremendous efforts have been made in the field of anti-HIV gene therapy. This review will discuss the concepts of HIV cure and relative viral attenuation and provide an overview of various gene therapy approaches aimed at a complete or functional HIV cure and protection of hematopoietic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Tsukamoto
- Department of Immunology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka 5898511, Japan.
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Spanevello F, Calistri A, Del Vecchio C, Mantelli B, Frasson C, Basso G, Palù G, Cavazzana M, Parolin C. Development of Lentiviral Vectors Simultaneously Expressing Multiple siRNAs Against CCR5, vif and tat/rev Genes for an HIV-1 Gene Therapy Approach. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2016; 5:e312. [PMID: 27093170 PMCID: PMC5014525 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2016.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 03/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy holds considerable promise for the functional cure of HIV-1 infection and, in this context, RNA interference (RNAi)-based approaches represent powerful strategies. Stable expression of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting HIV genes or cellular cofactors has the potential to render HIV-1 susceptible cells resistant to infection. To inhibit different steps of virus life cycle, self-inactivating lentiviral vectors expressing multiple siRNAs targeting the CCR5 cellular gene as well as vif and tat/rev viral transcripts, under the control of different RNA polymerase III promoters (U6, 7SK, H1) were developed. The use of a single RNA polymerase III promoter driving the expression of a sequence giving rise to three siRNAs directed against the selected targets (e-shRNA) was also investigated. Luciferase assay and inhibition of HIV-1 replication in human Jurkat T-cell line were adopted to select the best combination of promoter/siRNA. The efficacy of selected developed combinatorial vectors in interfering with viral replication was evaluated in human primary CD4(+) T lymphocytes. We identified two effective anti-HIV combinatorial vectors that conferred protection against R5- and X4- tropic viruses. Overall, our results showed that the antiviral effect is influenced by different factors, including the promoter used to express the RNAi molecules and the selected cassette combination. These findings contribute to gain further insights in the design of RNAi-based gene therapy approaches against HIV-1 for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arianna Calistri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Mantelli
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Chiara Frasson
- Oncohematology Laboratory, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Istituto di Ricerca Pediatrica Città della Speranza (IRP), Padova, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Basso
- Oncohematology Laboratory, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Giorgio Palù
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Marina Cavazzana
- Biotherapy Department, Necker Children's Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Biotherapy Clinical Investigation Center, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Ouest, Assistance Publique–Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM, Paris, France
- Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Imagine Institute, Paris, France
- INSERM UMR1163, Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, Paris, France
| | - Cristina Parolin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
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Garg H, Joshi A. Conditional Cytotoxic Anti-HIV Gene Therapy for Selectable Cell Modification. Hum Gene Ther 2016; 27:400-15. [PMID: 26800572 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy remains one of the potential strategies to achieve a cure for HIV infection. One of the major limitations of anti-HIV gene therapy concerns recovering an adequate number of modified cells to generate an HIV-proof immune system. Our study addresses this issue by developing a methodology that can mark conditional vector-transformed cells for selection and subsequently target HIV-infected cells for elimination by treatment with ganciclovir (GCV). We used the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (TK) mutant SR39, which is highly potent at killing cells at low GCV concentrations. This gene was cloned into a conditional HIV vector, pNL-GFPRRESA, which expresses the gene of interest as well as green fluorescent protein (GFP) in the presence of HIV Tat protein. We show here that TK-SR39 was more potent that wild-type TK (TK-WT) at eliminating infected cells at lower concentrations of GCV. As the vector expresses GFP in the presence of Tat, transient expression of Tat either by Tat RNA transfection or transduction by a nonintegrating lentiviral (NIL) vector marked the cells with GFP for selection. In cells selected by this strategy, TK-SR39 was more potent at limiting virus replication than TK-WT. Finally, in Jurkat cells modified and selected by this approach, infection with CXCR4-tropic Lai virus could be suppressed by treatment with GCV. GCV treatment limited the number of HIV-infected cells, virus production, as well as virus-induced cytopathic effects in this model. We provide proof of principle that TK-SR39 in a conditional HIV vector can provide a safe and effective anti-HIV strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himanshu Garg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , El Paso, Texas
| | - Anjali Joshi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center , El Paso, Texas
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Garg H, Lee RTC, Tek NO, Maurer-Stroh S, Joshi A. Identification of conserved motifs in the West Nile virus envelope essential for particle secretion. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:197. [PMID: 24007503 PMCID: PMC3766686 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2013] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Enveloped viruses utilize cellular membranes to bud from infected cells. The process of virion assembly and budding is often facilitated by the presence of certain conserved motifs within viral proteins in conjunction with cellular factors. We hence examined the West Nile Virus (WNV) Envelope protein for the presence of any such motifs and their functional characterization. Results We identified conserved 461PXAP464 and 349YCYL352 motifs in the WNV envelope glycoprotein bearing resemblance to retroviral late domains. Disruptive mutations of PXAP to LAAL and of the highly conserved Cys350 in the YCYL motif, led to a severe reduction in WNV particle production. Similar motifs in case of retroviruses are known to interact with components of host sorting machinery like PXAP with Tsg101 and YXXL with Alix. However, in the case of WNV, siRNA mediated depletion of Alix or Tsg101 did not have an effect on WNV release. Molecular modeling suggested that while the 461PXAP464 motif is surface accessible and could potentially interact with cellular proteins required for WNV assembly, the 349YCYL352 motif was found to be internal with Cys350 important for protein folding via disulphide bonding. Conclusions The conserved 461PXAP464 and 349YCYL352 motifs in the WNV envelope are indispensable for WNV particle production. Although these motifs bear sequence similarity to retroviral late domains and are essential for WNV assembly, they are functionally distinct suggesting that they are not the typical late domain like motifs of retroviruses and may play a role other than Alix/Tsg101 utilization/dependence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himanshu Garg
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 5001 El Paso Dr, MSB-1 Annex, El Paso, TX 79905, USA.
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Current world literature. Curr Opin Pediatr 2012; 24:770-9. [PMID: 23146873 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0b013e32835af8de] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Abstract
Apoptosis of uninfected bystander cells is a key element of HIV pathogenesis and believed to be the driving force behind the selective depletion of CD4+ T cells leading to immunodeficiency. While several viral proteins have been implicated in this process the complex interaction between Env glycoprotein expressed on the surface of infected cells and the receptor and co-receptor expressing bystander cells has been proposed as a major mechanism. HIV-1 utilizes CD4 as the primary receptor for entry into cells; however, it is the viral co-receptor usage that greatly influences CD4 decline and progression to AIDS. This phenomenon is relatively simple for X4 viruses, which arise later during the course of the disease, are considered to be highly fusogenic, and cause a rapid CD4+ T cell decline. However, in contrast, R5 viruses in general have a greater transmissibility, are encountered early during the disease and have a lesser pathogenic potential than the former. The above generalization gets complicated in numerous situations where R5 viruses persist throughout the disease and are capable of causing a rigorous CD4+ T cell decline. This review will discuss the multiple factors that are reported to influence HIV induced bystander apoptosis and pathogenesis including Env glycoprotein phenotype, virus tropism, disease stage, co-receptor expression on CD4+ T cells, immune activation and therapies targeting the viral envelope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himanshu Garg
- Center of Excellence for Infectious Disease, Department of Biomedical Science, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, 5001 El Paso Dr, MSB-1 Annex, El Paso, TX 79905, USA.
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