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Mandalawatta HP, Rajendra K, Fairfax K, Hewitt AW. Emerging trends in virus and virus-like particle gene therapy delivery to the brain. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102280. [PMID: 39206077 PMCID: PMC11350507 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Recent advances in gene therapy and gene-editing techniques offer the very real potential for successful treatment of neurological diseases. However, drug delivery constraints continue to impede viable therapeutic interventions targeting the brain due to its anatomical complexity and highly restrictive microvasculature that is impervious to many molecules. Realizing the therapeutic potential of gene-based therapies requires robust encapsulation and safe and efficient delivery to the target cells. Although viral vectors have been widely used for targeted delivery of gene-based therapies, drawbacks such as host genome integration, prolonged expression, undesired off-target mutations, and immunogenicity have led to the development of alternative strategies. Engineered virus-like particles (eVLPs) are an emerging, promising platform that can be engineered to achieve neurotropism through pseudotyping. This review outlines strategies to improve eVLP neurotropism for therapeutic brain delivery of gene-editing agents.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - K.C. Rajendra
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Kirsten Fairfax
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Alex W. Hewitt
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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Bao Y, Chen H, Xu Z, Gao J, Jiang L, Xia J. Photo-Responsive Phase-Separating Fluorescent Molecules for Intracellular Protein Delivery. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2023; 62:e202307045. [PMID: 37648812 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202307045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
Cellular membranes, including the plasma and endosome membranes, are barriers to outside proteins. Various vehicles have been devised to deliver proteins across the plasma membrane, but in many cases, the payload gets trapped in the endosome. Here we designed a photo-responsive phase-separating fluorescent molecule (PPFM) with a molecular weight of 666.8 daltons. The PPFM compound condensates as fluorescent droplets in the aqueous solution by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), which disintegrate upon photoirradiation with a 405 nm light-emitting diode (LED) lamp within 20 min or a 405 nm laser within 3 min. The PPFM coacervates recruit a wide range of peptides and proteins and deliver them into mammalian cells. Photolysis disperses the payload from condensates into the cytosolic space. Altogether, a type of small molecules that are photo-responsive and phase separating are discovered; their coacervates can serve as transmembrane vehicles for intracellular delivery of proteins, whereas photo illumination triggers the cytosolic distribution of the payload.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yishu Bao
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hongfei Chen
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zhiyi Xu
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jiayang Gao
- Center for Cell & Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Liwen Jiang
- Center for Cell & Developmental Biology, School of Life Sciences, and State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jiang Xia
- Department of Chemistry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong SAR, China
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Pseudotyped Viruses for Mammarenavirus. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2023; 1407:279-297. [PMID: 36920703 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-99-0113-5_15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/16/2023]
Abstract
Mammarenaviruses are classified into New World arenaviruses (NW) and Old World arenaviruses (OW). The OW arenaviruses include the first discovered mammarenavirus-lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) and the highly lethal Lassa virus (LASV). Mammarenaviruses are transmitted to human by rodents, resulting in severe acute infections and hemorrhagic fever. Pseudotyped viruses have been widely used as a tool in the study of mammarenaviruses. HIV-1, SIV, FIV-based lentiviral vectors, VSV-based vectors, MLV-based vectors, and reverse genetic approaches have been applied in the construction of pseudotyped mammarenaviruses. Pseudotyped mammarenaviruses are commonly used in receptor research, neutralizing antibody detection, inhibitor screening, viral virulence studies, functional analysis of N-linked glycans, and studies of viral infection, endocytosis, and fusion mechanisms.
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Deng L, Liang P, Cui H. Pseudotyped lentiviral vectors: Ready for translation into targeted cancer gene therapy? Genes Dis 2022. [PMID: 37492721 PMCID: PMC10363566 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2022.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy holds great promise for curing cancer by editing the deleterious genes of tumor cells, but the lack of vector systems for efficient delivery of genetic material into specific tumor sites in vivo has limited its full therapeutic potential in cancer gene therapy. Over the past two decades, increasing studies have shown that lentiviral vectors (LVs) modified with different glycoproteins from a donating virus, a process referred to as pseudotyping, have altered tropism and display cell-type specificity in transduction, leading to selective tumor cell killing. This feature of LVs together with their ability to enable high efficient gene delivery in dividing and non-dividing mammalian cells in vivo make them to be attractive tools in future cancer gene therapy. This review is intended to summarize the status quo of some typical pseudotypings of LVs and their applications in basic anti-cancer studies across many malignancies. The opportunities of translating pseudotyped LVs into clinic use in cancer therapy have also been discussed.
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Neurod4 converts endogenous neural stem cells to neurons with synaptic formation after spinal cord injury. iScience 2021; 24:102074. [PMID: 33644710 PMCID: PMC7889987 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcriptome analysis of injured Xenopus laevis tadpole and mice suggested that Neurod4L.S., a basic-helix-loop-helix transcription factor, was the most promising transcription factor to exert neuroregeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI) in mammals. We generated a pseudotyped retroviral vector with the neurotropic lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) envelope to deliver murine Neurod4 to mice undergoing SCI. SCI induced ependymal cells to neural stem cells (NSCs) in the central canal. The LCMV envelope-based pseudotypedvector preferentially introduced Neurod4 into activated NSCs, which converted to neurons with axonal regrowth and suppressed the scar-forming glial lineage. Neurod4-induced inhibitory neurons predominantly projected to the subsynaptic domains of motor neurons at the epicenter, and Neurod4-induced excitatory neurons predominantly projected to subsynaptic domains of motor neurons caudal to the injury site suggesting the formation of functional synapses. Thus, Neurod4 is a potential therapeutic factor that can improve anatomical and functional recovery after SCI. Neurod4 is predominantly expressed in injured Xenopus laevis tadpole An LCMV-based pseudotyped retroviral vector has tropism to neural stem cells Neurod4 converts endogenous neural stem cells to neurons after spinal cord injury The new excitatory and inhibitory synaptic formation leads to functional recovery
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Munis AM. Gene Therapy Applications of Non-Human Lentiviral Vectors. Viruses 2020; 12:v12101106. [PMID: 33003635 PMCID: PMC7599719 DOI: 10.3390/v12101106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent commercialization of lentiviral vector (LV)-based cell therapies and successful reports of clinical studies have demonstrated the untapped potential of LVs to treat diseases and benefit patients. LVs hold notable and inherent advantages over other gene transfer agents based on their ability to transduce non-dividing cells, permanently transform target cell genome, and allow stable, long-term transgene expression. LV systems based on non-human lentiviruses are attractive alternatives to conventional HIV-1-based LVs due to their lack of pathogenicity in humans. This article reviews non-human lentiviruses and highlights their unique characteristics regarding virology and molecular biology. The LV systems developed based on these lentiviruses, as well as their successes and shortcomings, are also discussed. As the field of gene therapy is advancing rapidly, the use of LVs uncovers further challenges and possibilities. Advances in virology and an improved understanding of lentiviral biology will aid in the creation of recombinant viral vector variants suitable for translational applications from a variety of lentiviruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altar M Munis
- Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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Eleftheriadou I, Dieringer M, Poh XY, Sanchez-Garrido J, Gao Y, Sgourou A, Simmons LE, Mazarakis ND. Selective transduction of astrocytic and neuronal CNS subpopulations by lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with Chikungunya virus envelope. Biomaterials 2017; 123:1-14. [PMID: 28152379 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2017.01.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors are gene delivery vehicles that integrate into the host genome of dividing and non-dividing mammalian cells facilitating long-term transgene expression. Lentiviral vector versatility is greatly increased by incorporating heterologous viral envelope proteins onto the vector particles instead of the native envelope, conferring on these pseudotyped vectors a modified tropism and host range specificity. We investigated the pseudotyping efficiency of HIV-1 based lentiviral vectors with alphaviral envelope proteins from the Chikungunya Virus (CHIKV-G) and Sindbis Virus (SINV-G). Following vector production optimisation, titres for the CHIKV-G pseudotype were comparable to the VSV-G pseudotype but those for the SINV-G pseudotype were significantly lower. High titre CHIKV-G pseudotyped vector efficiently transduced various human and mouse neural cell lines and normal human astrocytes (NHA) in vitro. Although transduction was broad, tropism for NHAs was observed. In vivo stereotaxic delivery in striatum, thalamus and hippocampus respectively in the adult rat brain revealed localised transduction restricted to striatal astrocytes and hippocampal dentate granule neurons. Transduction of different subtypes of granule neurons from precursor to post-mitotic stages of differentiation was evident in the sub-granular zone and dentate granule cell layer. No significant inflammatory response was observed, but comparable to that of VSV-G pseudotyped lentiviral vectors. Robust long-term expression followed for three months post-transduction along with absence of neuroinflammation, coupled to the selective and unique neuron/glial tropism indicates that these vectors could be useful for modelling and gene therapy studies in the CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ioanna Eleftheriadou
- Gene Therapy, Centre for Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Dieringer
- Gene Therapy, Centre for Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Xuan Ying Poh
- Gene Therapy, Centre for Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Sanchez-Garrido
- Gene Therapy, Centre for Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Yunan Gao
- Gene Therapy, Centre for Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Argyro Sgourou
- Laboratory of Biology, Hellenic Open University, Tsamadou 13-15, 26222 Patra, Greece
| | - Laura E Simmons
- Gene Therapy, Centre for Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas D Mazarakis
- Gene Therapy, Centre for Neuroinflammation & Neurodegeneration, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, London, W12 0NN, United Kingdom.
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8
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Lévy C, Verhoeyen E, Cosset FL. Surface engineering of lentiviral vectors for gene transfer into gene therapy target cells. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2015; 24:79-85. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2015.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2015] [Revised: 06/09/2015] [Accepted: 08/05/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Heterogeneity and Bipotency of Astroglial-Like Cerebellar Progenitors along the Interneuron and Glial Lineages. J Neurosci 2015; 35:7388-402. [PMID: 25972168 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5255-14.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cerebellar GABAergic interneurons in mouse comprise multiple subsets of morphologically and neurochemically distinct phenotypes located at strategic nodes of cerebellar local circuits. These cells are produced by common progenitors deriving from the ventricular epithelium during embryogenesis and from the prospective white matter (PWM) during postnatal development. However, it is not clear whether these progenitors are also shared by other cerebellar lineages and whether germinative sites different from the PWM originate inhibitory interneurons. Indeed, the postnatal cerebellum hosts another germinal site along the Purkinje cell layer (PCL), in which Bergmann glia are generated up to first the postnatal weeks, which was proposed to be neurogenic. Both PCL and PWM comprise precursors displaying traits of juvenile astroglia and neural stem cell markers. First, we examine the proliferative and fate potential of these niches, showing that different proliferative dynamics regulate progenitor amplification at these sites. In addition, PCL and PWM differ in the generated progeny. GABAergic interneurons are produced exclusively by PWM astroglial-like progenitors, whereas PCL precursors produce only astrocytes. Finally, through in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo clonal analyses we provide evidence that the postnatal PWM hosts a bipotent progenitor that gives rise to both interneurons and white matter astrocytes.
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Puppo A, Cesi G, Marrocco E, Piccolo P, Jacca S, Shayakhmetov DM, Parks RJ, Davidson BL, Colloca S, Brunetti-Pierri N, Ng P, Donofrio G, Auricchio A. Retinal transduction profiles by high-capacity viral vectors. Gene Ther 2014; 21:855-65. [PMID: 24989814 PMCID: PMC4193889 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2014.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Retinal gene therapy with adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors is safe and effective in humans. However, the limited cargo capacity of AAV prevents their use for therapy of those inherited retinopathies (IRs) due to mutations in large (>5kb) genes. Viral vectors derived from Adenovirus (Ad), Lentivirus (LV) and Herpesvirus (HV) can package large DNA sequences but do not target efficiently retinal photoreceptors (PRs) where the majority of genes responsible for IRs are expressed. Here, we have evaluated the mouse retinal transduction profiles of vectors derived from 16 different Ad serotypes, 7 LV pseudotypes, and from a bovine HV. Most of the vectors tested transduced efficiently the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We found that LV-GP64 tends to transduce more PRs than the canonical LV-VSVG albeit this was restricted to a narrow region. We observed more extensive PR transduction with HdAd1, 2 and 5/F35++ than with LV, although none of them outperformed the canonical HdAd5 or matched the extension of PR transduction achieved with AAV2/8.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Puppo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - G Cesi
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - E Marrocco
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - P Piccolo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - S Jacca
- Department of Medical Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - D M Shayakhmetov
- Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - R J Parks
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - B L Davidson
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Neurology and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | | | - P Ng
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - G Donofrio
- Department of Medical Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - A Auricchio
- 1] Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy [2] Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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12
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Merienne N, Le Douce J, Faivre E, Déglon N, Bonvento G. Efficient gene delivery and selective transduction of astrocytes in the mammalian brain using viral vectors. Front Cell Neurosci 2013; 7:106. [PMID: 23847471 PMCID: PMC3701857 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2013.00106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2013] [Accepted: 06/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are now considered as key players in brain information processing because of their newly discovered roles in synapse formation and plasticity, energy metabolism and blood flow regulation. However, our understanding of astrocyte function is still fragmented compared to other brain cell types. A better appreciation of the biology of astrocytes requires the development of tools to generate animal models in which astrocyte-specific proteins and pathways can be manipulated. In addition, it is becoming increasingly evident that astrocytes are also important players in many neurological disorders. Targeted modulation of protein expression in astrocytes would be critical for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Gene transfer is valuable to target a subpopulation of cells and explore their function in experimental models. In particular, viral-mediated gene transfer provides a rapid, highly flexible and cost-effective, in vivo paradigm to study the impact of genes of interest during central nervous system development or in adult animals. We will review the different strategies that led to the recent development of efficient viral vectors that can be successfully used to selectively transduce astrocytes in the mammalian brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Merienne
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Lausanne University Hospital Lausanne, Switzerland
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Ramachandran PS, Keiser MS, Davidson BL. Recent advances in RNA interference therapeutics for CNS diseases. Neurotherapeutics 2013; 10:473-85. [PMID: 23589092 PMCID: PMC3701762 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-013-0183-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, RNA interference technology has shown therapeutic promise in rodent models of dominantly inherited brain diseases, including those caused by polyglutamine repeat expansions in the coding region of the affected gene. For some of these diseases, proof-of concept studies in model organisms have transitioned to safety testing in larger animal models, such as the nonhuman primate. Here, we review recent progress on RNA interference-based therapies in various model systems. We also highlight outstanding questions or concerns that have emerged as a result of an improved (and ever advancing) understanding of the technologies employed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Megan S. Keiser
- />Interdisciplinary program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA USA
| | - Beverly L. Davidson
- />Interdisciplinary program in Genetics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA
- />Interdisciplinary program in Neuroscience, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA USA
- />Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, USA
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Shah PS, Schaffer DV. Antiviral RNAi: translating science towards therapeutic success. Pharm Res 2011; 28:2966-82. [PMID: 21826573 PMCID: PMC5012899 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-011-0549-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2011] [Accepted: 07/25/2011] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Viruses continuously evolve to contend with an ever-changing environment that involves transmission between hosts and sometimes species, immune responses, and in some cases therapeutic interventions. Given the high mutation rate of viruses relative to the timescales of host evolution and drug development, novel drug classes that are readily screened and translated to the clinic are needed. RNA interference (RNAi)-a natural mechanism for specific degradation of target RNAs that is conserved from plants to invertebrates and vertebrates-can potentially be harnessed to yield therapies with extensive specificity, ease of design, and broad application. In this review, we discuss basic mechanisms of action and therapeutic applications of RNAi, including design considerations and areas for future development in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Priya S. Shah
- Department of Chemical and Biolmolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 USA
| | - David V. Schaffer
- Department of Chemical and Biolmolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720 USA
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Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful approach for reducing expression of endogenously expressed proteins. It is widely used for biological applications and is being harnessed to silence mRNAs encoding pathogenic proteins for therapy. Various methods - including delivering RNA oligonucleotides and expressing RNAi triggers from viral vectors - have been developed for successful RNAi in cell culture and in vivo. Recently, RNAi-based gene silencing approaches have been demonstrated in humans, and ongoing clinical trials hold promise for treating fatal disorders or providing alternatives to traditional small molecule therapies. Here we describe the broad range of approaches to achieve targeted gene silencing for therapy, discuss important considerations when developing RNAi triggers for use in humans, and review the current status of clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beverly L Davidson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA.
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Dylla DE, Xie L, Michele DE, Kunz S, McCray PB. Altering α-dystroglycan receptor affinity of LCMV pseudotyped lentivirus yields unique cell and tissue tropism. GENETIC VACCINES AND THERAPY 2011; 9:8. [PMID: 21477292 PMCID: PMC3080791 DOI: 10.1186/1479-0556-9-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2010] [Accepted: 04/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The envelope glycoprotein of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) can efficiently pseudotype lentiviral vectors. Some strains of LCMV exploit high affinity interactions with α-dystroglycan (α-DG) to bind to cell surfaces and subsequently fuse in low pH endosomes. LCMV strains with low α-DG affinity utilize an unknown receptor and display unique tissue tropisms. We pseudotyped non-primate feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vectors using LCMV derived glycoproteins with high or low affinity to α-DG and evaluated their properties in vitro and in vivo. METHODS We pseudotyped FIV with the LCMV WE54 strain envelope glycoprotein and also engineered a point mutation in the WE54 envelope glycoprotein (L260F) to diminish α-DG affinity and direct binding to alternate receptors. We hypothesized that this change would alter in vivo tissue tropism and enhance gene transfer to neonatal animals. RESULTS In mice, hepatic α- and β-DG expression was greatest at the late gestational and neonatal time points. When displayed on the surface of the FIV lentivirus the WE54 L260F mutant glycoprotein bound weakly to immobilized α-DG. Additionally, LCMV WE54 pseudotyped FIV vector transduction was neutralized by pre-incubation with soluble α-DG, while the mutant glycoprotein pseudotyped vector was not. In vivo gene transfer in adult mice with either envelope yielded low transduction efficiencies in hepatocytes following intravenous delivery. In marked contrast, neonatal gene transfer with the LCMV envelopes, and notably with the FIV-L260F vector, conferred abundant liver and lower level cardiomyocyte transduction as detected by luciferase assays, bioluminescent imaging, and β-galactosidase staining. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that a developmentally regulated receptor for LCMV is expressed abundantly in neonatal mice. LCMV pseudotyped vectors may have applications for neonatal gene transfer. ABBREVIATIONS Armstrong 53b (Arm53b); baculovirus Autographa californica GP64 (GP64); charge-coupled device (CCD); dystroglycan (DG); feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV); glycoprotein precursor (GP-C); firefly luciferase (Luc); lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV); nuclear targeted β-galactosidase (ntLacZ); optical density (OD); PBS/0.1% (w/v) Tween-20 (PBST); relative light units (RLU); Rous sarcoma virus (RSV); transducing units per milliliter (TU/ml); vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV-G); wheat germ agglutinin (WGA); 50% reduction in binding (C50).
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas E Dylla
- Genetics Ph,D, Program, Program in Gene Therapy, 240 EMRB, The University of Iowa Roy J, and Lucille A, Carver College of Medicine, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242 USA.
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Pseudotyping vesicular stomatitis virus with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoproteins enhances infectivity for glioma cells and minimizes neurotropism. J Virol 2011; 85:5679-84. [PMID: 21450833 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.02511-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV)-based oncolytic virotherapy has the potential to significantly improve the prognosis of aggressive malignancies such as brain cancer. However, VSV's inherent neurotoxicity has hindered clinical development so far. Given that this neurotropism is attributed to the glycoprotein VSV-G, VSV was pseudotyped with the nonneurotropic envelope glycoprotein of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV-GP→VSV-GP). Compared to VSV, VSV-GP showed enhanced infectivity for brain cancer cells in vitro while sparing primary human and rat neurons in vitro and in vivo, respectively. In conclusion, VSV-GP has a much wider therapeutic window than VSV and is thus more suitable for clinical applications, especially in the brain.
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Abstract
Enveloped viruses penetrate their cell targets following the merging of their membrane with that of the cell. This fusion process is catalyzed by one or several viral glycoproteins incorporated on the membrane of the virus. These envelope glycoproteins (EnvGP) evolved in order to combine two features. First, they acquired a domain to bind to a specific cellular protein, named "receptor." Second, they developed, with the help of cellular proteins, a function of finely controlled fusion to optimize the replication and preserve the integrity of the cell, specific to the genus of the virus. Following the activation of the EnvGP either by binding to their receptors and/or sometimes the acid pH of the endosomes, many changes of conformation permit ultimately the action of a specific hydrophobic domain, the fusion peptide, which destabilizes the cell membrane and leads to the opening of the lipidic membrane. The comprehension of these mechanisms is essential to develop medicines of the therapeutic class of entry inhibitor like enfuvirtide (Fuzeon) against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In this chapter, we will summarize the different envelope glycoprotein structures that viruses develop to achieve membrane fusion and the entry of the virus. We will describe the different entry pathways and cellular proteins that viruses have subverted to allow infection of the cell and the receptors that are used. Finally, we will illustrate more precisely the recent discoveries that have been made within the field of the entry process, with a focus on the use of pseudoparticles. These pseudoparticles are suitable for high-throughput screenings that help in the development of natural or artificial inhibitors as new therapeutics of the class of entry inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- François-Loic Cosset
- Université de Lyon, UCB-Lyon1, IFR128, Lyon, France,INSERM, U758, Lyon, France,Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Dimitri Lavillette
- Université de Lyon, UCB-Lyon1, IFR128, Lyon, France,INSERM, U758, Lyon, France,Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France
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19
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Abstract
Lentiviral vectors have evolved over the last decade as powerful, reliable, and safe tools for stable gene transfer in a wide variety of mammalian cells. Contrary to other vectors derived from oncoretroviruses, they allow for stable gene delivery into most nondividing primary cells. In particular, lentivectors (LVs) derived from HIV-1 have gradually evolved to display many desirable features aimed at increasing both their safety and their versatility. This is why lentiviral vectors are becoming the most useful and promising tools for genetic engineering, to generate cells that can be used for research, diagnosis, and therapy. This chapter describes protocols and guidelines, for production and titration of LVs, which can be implemented in a research laboratory setting, with an emphasis on standardization in order to improve transposability of results between laboratories. We also discuss latest designs in LV technology.
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20
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Landgren H, Curtis MA. Locating and labeling neural stem cells in the brain. J Cell Physiol 2010; 226:1-7. [DOI: 10.1002/jcp.22319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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21
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Abstract
Lentiviral vectors have become an important research tool and have just entered into clinical trials. As wild-type lentiviruses engage specific receptors that have limited tropism, most investigators have replaced the endogenous envelope glycoprotein with an alternative envelope. Such pseudotyped vectors have the potential to infect a wide variety of cell types and species. Alternatively, selection of certain viral envelope glycoproteins may also facilitate cell targeting to enhance directed gene transfer. We describe the method for generating pseudotyped vector and provide information regarding available pseudotypes and their respective target tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Bischof
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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22
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van Hooijdonk LWA, Ichwan M, Dijkmans TF, Schouten TG, de Backer MWA, Adan RAH, Verbeek FJ, Vreugdenhil E, Fitzsimons CP. Lentivirus-mediated transgene delivery to the hippocampus reveals sub-field specific differences in expression. BMC Neurosci 2009; 10:2. [PMID: 19144149 PMCID: PMC2647928 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2202-10-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2008] [Accepted: 01/13/2009] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In the adult hippocampus, the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus is a heterogeneous structure formed by neurons of different ages, morphologies and electrophysiological properties. Retroviral vectors have been extensively used to transduce cells of the granule cell layer and study their inherent properties in an intact brain environment. In addition, lentivirus-based vectors have been used to deliver transgenes to replicative and non-replicative cells as well, such as post mitotic neurons of the CNS. However, only few studies have been dedicated to address the applicability of these widespread used vectors to hippocampal cells in vivo. Therefore, the aim of this study was to extensively characterize the cell types that are effectively transduced in vivo by VSVg-pseudotyped lentivirus-based vectors in the hippocampus dentate gyrus. Results In the present study we used Vesicular Stomatitis Virus G glycoprotein-pseudotyped lentivirual vectors to express EGFP from three different promoters in the mouse hippocampus. In contrast to lentiviral transduction of pyramidal cells in CA1, we identified sub-region specific differences in transgene expression in the granule cell layer of the dentate gyrus. Furthermore, we characterized the cell types transduced by these lentiviral vectors, showing that they target primarily neuronal progenitor cells and immature neurons present in the sub-granular zone and more immature layers of the granule cell layer. Conclusion Our observations suggest the existence of intrinsic differences in the permissiveness to lentiviral transduction among various hippocampal cell types. In particular, we show for the first time that mature neurons of the granule cell layer do not express lentivirus-delivered transgenes, despite successful expression in other hippocampal cell types. Therefore, amongst hippocampal granule cells, only adult-generated neurons are target for lentivirus-mediated transgene delivery. These properties make lentiviral vectors excellent systems for overexpression or knockdown of genes in neuronal progenitor cells, immature neurons and adult-generated neurons of the mouse hippocampus in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenneke W A van Hooijdonk
- Medical Pharmacology Department, Leiden/Amsterdam Center for Drug Research, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden University, the Netherlands.
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23
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24
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Abstract
Viruses can be engineered to efficiently deliver exogenous genes, but their natural gene delivery properties often fail to meet human therapeutic needs. Therefore, engineering viral vectors with new properties, including enhanced targeting abilities and resistance to immune responses, is a growing area of research. This review discusses protein engineering approaches to generate viral vectors with novel gene delivery capabilities. Rational design of viral vectors has yielded successful advances in vitro, and to an extent in vivo. However, there is often insufficient knowledge of viral structure-function relationships to reengineer existing functions or create new capabilities, such as virus-cell interactions, whose molecular basis is distributed throughout the primary sequence of the viral proteins. Therefore, high-throughput library and directed evolution methods offer alternative approaches to engineer viral vectors with desired properties. Parallel and integrated efforts in rational and library-based design promise to aid the translation of engineered viral vectors toward the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- David V Schaffer
- The Department of Chemical Engineering, the Department of Bioengineering, and The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3220, USA.
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25
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Reumers V, Deroose CM, Krylyshkina O, Nuyts J, Geraerts M, Mortelmans L, Gijsbers R, Van den Haute C, Debyser Z, Baekelandt V. Noninvasive and quantitative monitoring of adult neuronal stem cell migration in mouse brain using bioluminescence imaging. Stem Cells 2008; 26:2382-90. [PMID: 18599812 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2007-1062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
It is now generally accepted that continuous neurogenesis occurs in the adult mammalian brain, including that of humans. Modulation of adult neurogenesis can provide therapeutic benefits for various brain disorders, including stroke and Parkinson's disease. The subventricular zone-olfactory bulb pathway is one of the preferred model systems by which to study neural stem cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation in adult rodent brain. Research on adult neurogenesis would greatly benefit from reliable methods for long-term noninvasive in vivo monitoring. We have used lentiviral vectors encoding firefly luciferase to stably mark endogenous neural stem cells in the mouse subventricular zone. We show that bioluminescence imaging (BLI) allows quantitative follow-up of the migration of adult neural stem cells into the olfactory bulb in time. Moreover, we propose a model to fit the kinetic data that allows estimation of migration and survival times of the neural stem cells using in vivo BLI. Long-term expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor in the subventricular zone attenuated neurogenesis, as detected by histology and BLI. In vivo monitoring of the impact of drugs or genes on adult neurogenesis is now within reach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veerle Reumers
- Neurobiology and Gene Therapy, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Flanders, Belgium
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26
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Origin and progeny of reactive gliosis: A source of multipotent cells in the injured brain. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105:3581-6. [PMID: 18299565 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0709002105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 557] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive gliosis is the universal reaction to brain injury, but the precise origin and subsequent fate of the glial cells reacting to injury are unknown. Astrocytes react to injury by hypertrophy and up-regulation of the glial-fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Whereas mature astrocytes do not normally divide, a subpopulation of the reactive GFAP(+) cells does so, prompting the question of whether the proliferating GFAP(+) cells arise from endogenous glial progenitors or from mature astrocytes that start to proliferate in response to brain injury. Here we show by genetic fate mapping and cell type-specific viral targeting that quiescent astrocytes start to proliferate after stab wound injury and contribute to the reactive gliosis and proliferating GFAP(+) cells. These proliferating astrocytes remain within their lineage in vivo, while a more favorable environment in vitro revealed their multipotency and capacity for self-renewal. Conversely, progenitors present in the adult mouse cerebral cortex labeled by NG2 or the receptor for the platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFRalpha) did not form neurospheres after (or before) brain injury. Taken together, the first fate-mapping analysis of astrocytes in the adult mouse cerebral cortex shows that some astrocytes acquire stem cell properties after injury and hence may provide a promising cell type to initiate repair after brain injury.
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27
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Peterson EB, Mastrangelo MA, Federoff HJ, Bowers WJ. Neuronal specificity of HSV/sleeping beauty amplicon transduction in utero is driven primarily by tropism and cell type composition. Mol Ther 2007; 15:1848-55. [PMID: 17653102 PMCID: PMC2587304 DOI: 10.1038/sj.mt.6300267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A novel bipartite vector system consisting of the herpes simplex virus (HSV) amplicon and the Sleeping Beauty(SB) transposon was previously shown to efficiently deliver a "transgenon" (integrating transgene) in utero. This vector platform facilitated long-term transgenon expression specifically within neurons and neuronal precursor cells of the rodent brain. However, the mechanism underlying the neurospecificity of the HSV/SB amplicon in the setting of mouse embryogenesis is unknown. We find that embryonic cells expressing the Sox1 "neurocompetence" transcription factor represent the primary targets for HSV amplicon transduction in utero. These cells, which comprise the ependymal and subventricular zones (SVZs), express significant levels of high-mobility-group protein B1 (HMGB1), a co-factor shown to facilitate SB-mediated transposition. Using a conventional, non-integrating amplicon expressing Cre recombinase to "tag" transduced cells embryonically in ROSA26 Cre indicator mice in utero, we found transduced cells were exclusively of the neuronal lineage but that in comparison to HSV/SB-mediated in utero delivery, staining patterns were less widespread and "tagged" neuroprogenitor cells were absent. Our findings demonstrate that in utero HSV/SB amplicon gene transfer is primarily neurospecific owing to viral tropism and target cell populations present embryonically, where multi-potent cells of the developing embryo are supportive of SB-driven transposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise B. Peterson
- Center for Aging and Developmental Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
- Aab Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Michael A. Mastrangelo
- Center for Aging and Developmental Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
- Aab Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - Howard J. Federoff
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
- Center for Aging and Developmental Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
- Aab Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
| | - William J. Bowers
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
- Center for Aging and Developmental Biology, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
- Aab Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY 14642
- Corresponding Author William J. Bowers, Ph.D. Department of Neurology Center for Aging and Developmental Biology Aab Institute for Biomedical Sciences University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry 601 Elmwood Ave., Box 645 Rochester, NY 14642 USA Phone: 585−273−2195 Fax: 585−276−1957
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28
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Lauterbach H, Truong P, McGavern DB. Clearance of an immunosuppressive virus from the CNS coincides with immune reanimation and diversification. Virol J 2007; 4:53. [PMID: 17553158 PMCID: PMC1899484 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-4-53] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2007] [Accepted: 06/06/2007] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Once a virus infection establishes persistence in the central nervous system (CNS), it is especially difficult to eliminate from this specialized compartment. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance to fully understand scenarios during which a persisting virus is ultimately purged from the CNS by the adaptive immune system. Such a scenario can be found following infection of adult mice with an immunosuppressive variant of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) referred to as clone 13. In this study we demonstrate that following intravenous inoculation, clone 13 rapidly infected peripheral tissues within one week, but more slowly inundated the entire brain parenchyma over the course of a month. During the establishment of persistence, we observed that genetically tagged LCMV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) progressively lost function; however, the severity of this loss in the CNS was never as substantial as that observed in the periphery. One of the most impressive features of this model system is that the peripheral T cell response eventually regains functionality at ~60–80 days post-infection, and this was associated with a rapid decline in virus from the periphery. Coincident with this "reanimation phase" was a massive influx of CD4 T and B cells into the CNS and a dramatic reduction in viral distribution. In fact, olfactory bulb neurons served as the last refuge for the persisting virus, which was ultimately purged from the CNS within 200 days post-infection. These data indicate that a functionally revived immune response can prevail over a virus that establishes widespread presence both in the periphery and brain parenchyma, and that therapeutic enhancement of an existing response could serve as an effective means to thwart long term CNS persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henning Lauterbach
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Phi Truong
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Dorian B McGavern
- Molecular and Integrative Neurosciences Department, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
- Harold L. Dorris Neurological Research Institute, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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29
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Harper SQ, Staber PD, Beck CR, Fineberg SK, Stein C, Ochoa D, Davidson BL. Optimization of feline immunodeficiency virus vectors for RNA interference. J Virol 2006; 80:9371-80. [PMID: 16973543 PMCID: PMC1617215 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00958-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) occurs naturally in plant and animal cells as a means for modulating gene expression. This process has been experimentally manipulated to achieve targeted gene silencing in cells, tissues, and animals, using a variety of vector systems. Here, we tested the hypothesis that vectors based on feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) could be used for coexpression of reporter constructs and RNAi expression cassettes. We found, unexpectedly, in our initial constructs that placement of RNAi expression cassettes downstream from a polymerase II (pol II)-expressed reporter gene inhibited reporter expression but not vector titer. Through a series of intermediate vector constructs, we found that placement of the RNAi expression cassette relative to the Rev response element and the pol II expression cassette was critical for efficient RNAi and reporter gene expression. These results suggested that steric factors, including RNA structure and recruitment of competing transcriptional machinery, may affect gene expression from FIV vectors. In a second series of studies, we show that target sequence silencing can be achieved in cells transduced by FIV vectors coexpressing reporter genes and 3' untranslated region resident microRNAs. The optimized FIV-based RNAi expression vectors will find broad use given the extensive tropism of pseudotyped FIV vectors for many cell types in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Q Harper
- Program in Gene Therapy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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30
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Wong LF, Goodhead L, Prat C, Mitrophanous KA, Kingsman SM, Mazarakis ND. Lentivirus-mediated gene transfer to the central nervous system: therapeutic and research applications. Hum Gene Ther 2006; 17:1-9. [PMID: 16409120 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2006.17.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The management of disorders of the nervous system remains a medical challenge. The key goals are to understand disease mechanisms, to validate therapeutic targets, and to develop new therapeutic strategies. Viral vector-mediated gene transfer can meet these goals and vectors based on lentiviruses have particularly useful features. Lentiviral vectors can deliver 8 kb of sequence, they mediate gene transfer into any neuronal cell type, expression and therapy are sustained, and normal cellular functions in vitro and in vivo are not compromised. After delivery into the nervous system they induce no significant immune responses, there are no unwanted side effects of the vectors per se to date, and manufacturing and safety testing for clinical applications are well advanced. There are now numerous examples of effective long-term treatment of animal models of neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, motor neuron diseases, lysosomal storage diseases, and spinal injury, using a range of therapeutic genes expressed in lentiviral vectors. Significant issues remain in some areas of neural gene therapy including defining the optimum therapeutic gene(s), increasing the specificity of delivery, regulating expression of potentially toxic genes, and designing clinically relevant strategies. We discuss the applications of lentiviral vectors in therapy and research and highlight the essential features that will ensure their translation to the clinic in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang-Fong Wong
- Oxford BioMedica (UK), Medawar Centre, Oxford Science Park, Oxford OX4 4GA, UK.
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31
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Dolcetta D, Perani L, Givogri MI, Galbiati F, Amadio S, Del Carro U, Finocchiaro G, Fanzani A, Marchesini S, Naldini L, Roncarolo MG, Bongarzone E. Design and optimization of lentiviral vectors for transfer of GALC expression in Twitcher brain. J Gene Med 2006; 8:962-71. [PMID: 16732552 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Demyelination in globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) is due to a deficiency of galactocerebrosidase (GALC) activity. Up to now, in vivo brain viral gene transfer of GALC showed modest impact on disease development in Twitcher mice, an animal model for GLD. Lentiviral vectors, which are highly efficient to transfer the expression of therapeutic genes in neurons and glial cells, have not been evaluated for direct cerebral therapy in GLD mice. METHODS Lentiviral vectors containing the untagged cDNA or the hemagglutinin (HA)-tagged cDNA for the full-length mouse GALC sequence were generated and validated in vitro. In vivo therapeutic efficacy of these vectors was evaluated by histology, biochemistry and electrophysiology after transduction of ependymal or subependymal layers in young Twitcher pups. RESULTS Both GALC lentiviral vectors transduced neurons, oligodendrocytes and astrocytes with efficiencies above 75% and conferred high levels of enzyme activity. GALC accumulated in lysosomes of transduced cells and was also secreted to the extracellular medium. Conditioned GALC medium was able to correct the enzyme deficiency when added to non-transduced Twitcher glial cultures. Mice that received intraventricular injections of GALC vector showed accumulation of GALC in ependymal cells but no diffusion of the enzyme from the ependymal ventricular tree into the cerebral parenchyma. Significant expression of GALC-HA was detected in neuroglioblasts when GALC-HA lentiviral vectors were injected in the subventricular zone of Twitcher mice. Life span and motor conduction in both groups of treated Twitcher mice were not significantly ameliorated. CONCLUSIONS Lentiviral vectors showed to be efficient for reconstitution of the GALC expression in Twitcher neural cells. GALC was able to accumulate in lysosomes as well as to enter the secretory pathway of lysosomal enzymes, two fundamental aspects for gene therapy of lysosomal storage diseases. Our in vivo results, while showing the capacity of lentiviral vectors to transfer expression of therapeutic GALC in the Twitcher brain, did not limit progression of disease in Twitchers and highlight the need to evaluate other routes of administration.
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MESH Headings
- Action Potentials/physiology
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Astrocytes/metabolism
- Biological Assay
- Brain/cytology
- Brain/metabolism
- Brain/physiology
- Cells, Cultured
- Culture Media, Conditioned/pharmacology
- DNA, Complementary
- Disease Models, Animal
- Galactosylceramidase/analysis
- Galactosylceramidase/genetics
- Gene Expression
- Gene Transfer Techniques
- Genetic Vectors
- Genetics
- HeLa Cells
- Hemagglutinins/chemistry
- Homozygote
- Humans
- Immunohistochemistry
- Lentivirus/genetics
- Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell/genetics
- Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell/pathology
- Leukodystrophy, Globoid Cell/therapy
- Lysosomes/enzymology
- Lysosomes/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Mutant Strains
- Neurons/metabolism
- Oligodendroglia/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- D Dolcetta
- Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
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32
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Geraerts M, Eggermont K, Hernandez-Acosta P, Garcia-Verdugo JM, Baekelandt V, Debyser Z. Lentiviral Vectors Mediate Efficient and Stable Gene Transfer in Adult Neural Stem CellsIn Vivo. Hum Gene Ther 2006; 17:635-50. [PMID: 16776572 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2006.17.635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Modulation of adult neurogenesis may offer new therapeutic strategies for various brain disorders. In the adult mammalian brain the subventricular zone (SVZ) of the lateral ventricle is a region of continuous neurogenesis. Lentiviral vectors stably integrate into dividing and nondividing cells, in contrast to retroviral vectors, which integrate only into dividing cells. We compared their potential for gene transfer into both quiescent and slowly dividing stem cells as well as into more rapidly dividing progenitor cells. In contrast to retroviral vectors, stereotactic injection of lentiviral vectors into the SVZ of adult mice resulted in efficient and long-term marker gene expression in cells with characteristics of both immature type B cells and migrating precursor cells. After migration along the rostral migratory stream and differentiation, the number of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP)-expressing granular and periglomerular interneurons increased over time in the ipsilateral olfactory bulb. Moreover, the number of eGFP-labeled neuronal progenitor cells in the SVZ increased over time. By intraventricular injection of lentiviral vectors we could restrict gene transfer to ependymal cells and type B astroglial-like stem cells. In conclusion, lentiviral vectors surpass retroviral vectors in efficient long-term in vivo marking of subventricular zone stem cells for basic research and therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martine Geraerts
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and IRC KULAK (Interdisciplinary Research Center, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven-Campus Kortrijk), Leuven, 3000, Belgium
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33
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Geraerts M, Eggermont K, Hernandez-Acosta P, Garcia-Verdugo JM, Baekelandt V, Debyser Z. Lentiviral Vectors Mediate Efficient and Stable Gene Transfer in Adult Neural Stem Cells In Vivo. Hum Gene Ther 2006. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2006.17.ft-211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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34
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Sands MS, Davidson BL. Gene therapy for lysosomal storage diseases. Mol Ther 2006; 13:839-49. [PMID: 16545619 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2006.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2005] [Revised: 01/28/2006] [Accepted: 01/28/2006] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lysosomal storage diseases (LSDs) comprise a diverse group of monogenetic disorders with complex clinical phenotypes that include both systemic and central nervous system pathologies. In recent years, the identification or development of mouse models recapitulating the clinical course of the LSDs has been instrumental in evaluating therapeutic strategies. Here, we review the various gene replacement strategies for target organs affected in many LSDs and describe briefly the various vector systems employed to test how best to accomplish long-lasting therapies for these fatal disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Sands
- Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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35
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Jakobsson J, Nielsen TT, Staflin K, Georgievska B, Lundberg C. Efficient transduction of neurons using Ross River glycoprotein-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors. Gene Ther 2006; 13:966-73. [PMID: 16511527 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3302701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors are promising tools for CNS gene transfer since they efficiently transduce the cells of the nervous system in vivo. In this study, we have investigated the transduction efficiency of lentiviral vectors pseudotyped with Ross River virus glycoprotein (RRV-G) (RRV-G-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors (RRV-LV)). The RRV is an alphavirus with an extremely broad host range, including the cells of the central nervous system. Previous studies have shown that lentiviral vectors can be efficiently pseudotyped with this envelope protein and have demonstrated promising features of such vectors, including the possibility to establish stable producer cell lines. After injection of RRV-LV expressing green fluorescent protein into different structures in the rat brain we found efficient transduction of both neurons and glial cells. By using two cell-type-specific promoters, neuron-specific enolase and human glial fibrillary acidic protein, we demonstrated cell-specific transgene expression in the desired cell type. Ross River virus glycoprotein-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors also transduced human neural progenitor cells in vitro, showing that receptors for the RRV-G are present on human neural cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Jakobsson
- 1Department of Experimental Medical Research, Section for Neuroscience, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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36
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Jakobsson J, Lundberg C. Lentiviral Vectors for Use in the Central Nervous System. Mol Ther 2006; 13:484-93. [PMID: 16403676 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2005.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2005] [Revised: 10/28/2005] [Accepted: 11/08/2005] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors have been used extensively as gene transfer tools for the central nervous system throughout the past decade since they transduce most cell types in the brain, resulting in high-level and long-term transgene expression. This review discusses some of the recent progress in this field, including preclinical gene therapy experiments in disease models, development of regulated vectors, and the application of siRNA's using lentiviral vectors. We also describe some of the features that make lentiviral vectors a likely candidate for human gene therapy in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johan Jakobsson
- Department of Experimental Medical Research, CNS Gene Therapy Unit, Section for Neuroscience, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Lund University, 221 84 Lund, Sweden.
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37
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Wong LF, Goodhead L, Prat C, Mitrophanous KA, Kingsman SM, Mazarakis ND. Lentivirus-Mediated Gene Transfer to the Central Nervous System: Therapeutic and Research Applications. Hum Gene Ther 2005. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2005.17.ft-160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Cronin J, Zhang XY, Reiser J. Altering the tropism of lentiviral vectors through pseudotyping. Curr Gene Ther 2005; 5:387-98. [PMID: 16101513 PMCID: PMC1368960 DOI: 10.2174/1566523054546224] [Citation(s) in RCA: 376] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
The host range of retroviral vectors including lentiviral vectors can be expanded or altered by a process known as pseudotyping. Pseudotyped lentiviral vectors consist of vector particles bearing glycoproteins (GPs) derived from other enveloped viruses. Such particles possess the tropism of the virus from which the GP was derived. For example, to exploit the natural neural tropism of rabies virus, vectors designed to target the central nervous system have been pseudotyped using rabies virus-derived GPs. Among the first and still most widely used GPs for pseudotyping lentiviral vectors is the vesicular stomatitis virus GP (VSV-G), due to the very broad tropism and stability of the resulting pseudotypes. Pseudotypes involving VSV-G have become effectively the standard for evaluating the efficiency of other pseudotypes. This review samples a few of the more prominent examples from the ever-expanding list of published lentiviral pseudotypes, noting comparisons made with pseudotypes involving VSV-G in terms of titer, viral particle stability, toxicity, and host-cell specificity. Particular attention is paid to publications of successfully targeting a specific organ or cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Cronin
- Gene Therapy Program, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, 70112, USA
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