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Kong C, Yin G, Wang X, Sun Y. In Utero Gene Therapy and its Application in Genetic Hearing Loss. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2024:e2400193. [PMID: 39007241 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202400193] [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: 04/08/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
For monogenic genetic diseases, in utero gene therapy (IUGT) shows the potential for early prevention against irreversible and lethal pathological changes. Moreover, animal models have also demonstrated the effectiveness of IUGT in the treatment of coagulation disorders, hemoglobinopathies, neurogenetic disorders, and metabolic and pulmonary diseases. For major alpha thalassemia and severe osteogenesis imperfecta, in utero stem cell transplantation has entered the phase I clinical trial stage. Within the realm of the inner ear, genetic hearing loss significantly hampers speech, cognitive, and intellectual development in children. Nowadays, gene therapies offer substantial promise for deafness, with the success of clinical trials in autosomal recessive deafness 9 using AAV-OTOF gene therapy. However, the majority of genetic mutations that cause deafness affect the development of cochlear structures before the birth of fetuses. Thus, gene therapy before alterations in cochlear structure leading to hearing loss has promising applications. In this review, addressing advances in various fields of IUGT, the progress, and application of IUGT in the treatment of genetic hearing loss are focused, in particular its implementation methods and unique advantages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenyang Kong
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Ge Yin
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Xiaohui Wang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
- Institute of Otorhinolaryngology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
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2
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Mattar CN, Chew WL, Lai PS. Embryo and fetal gene editing: Technical challenges and progress toward clinical applications. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101229. [PMID: 38533521 PMCID: PMC10963250 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
Gene modification therapies (GMTs) are slowly but steadily making progress toward clinical application. As the majority of rare diseases have an identified genetic cause, and as rare diseases collectively affect 5% of the global population, it is increasingly important to devise gene correction strategies to address the root causes of the most devastating of these diseases and to provide access to these novel therapies to the most affected populations. The main barriers to providing greater access to GMTs continue to be the prohibitive cost of developing these novel drugs at clinically relevant doses, subtherapeutic effects, and toxicity related to the specific agents or high doses required. In vivo strategy and treating younger patients at an earlier course of their disease could lower these barriers. Although currently regarded as niche specialties, prenatal and preconception GMTs offer a robust solution to some of these barriers. Indeed, treating either the fetus or embryo benefits from economy of scale, targeting pre-pathological tissues in the fetus prior to full pathogenesis, or increasing the likelihood of complete tissue targeting by correcting pluripotent embryonic cells. Here, we review advances in embryo and fetal GMTs and discuss requirements for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Citra N.Z. Mattar
- Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 12, Singapore, Singapore 119228
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, National University Health System, Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 12, Singapore, Singapore 119228
| | - Wei Leong Chew
- Genome Institute of Singapore, Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), Singapore, 60 Biopolis St, Singapore, Singapore 138672
| | - Poh San Lai
- Department of Paediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, NUHS Tower Block, Level 12, Singapore, Singapore 119228
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3
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Borges B, Varthaliti A, Schwab M, Clarke MT, Pivetti C, Gupta N, Cadwell CR, Guibinga G, Phillips S, Del Rio T, Ozsolak F, Imai-Leonard D, Kong L, Laird DJ, Herzeg A, Sumner CJ, MacKenzie TC. Prenatal AAV9-GFP administration in fetal lambs results in transduction of female germ cells and maternal exposure to virus. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101263. [PMID: 38827250 PMCID: PMC11141462 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Prenatal somatic cell gene therapy (PSCGT) could potentially treat severe, early-onset genetic disorders such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) or muscular dystrophy. Given the approval of adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) vectors in infants with SMA by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, we tested the safety and biodistribution of AAV9-GFP (clinical-grade and dose) in fetal lambs to understand safety and efficacy after umbilical vein or intracranial injection on embryonic day 75 (E75) . Umbilical vein injection led to widespread biodistribution of vector genomes in all examined lamb tissues and in maternal uteruses at harvest (E96 or E140; term = E150). There was robust GFP expression in brain, spinal cord, dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), without DRG toxicity and excellent transduction of diaphragm and quadriceps muscles. However, we found evidence of systemic toxicity (fetal growth restriction) and maternal exposure to the viral vector (transient elevation of total bilirubin and a trend toward elevation in anti-AAV9 antibodies). There were no antibodies against GFP in ewes or lambs. Analysis of fetal gonads demonstrated GFP expression in female (but not male) germ cells, with low levels of integration-specific reads, without integration in select proto-oncogenes. These results suggest potential therapeutic benefit of AAV9 PSCGT for neuromuscular disorders, but warrant caution for exposure of female germ cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beltran Borges
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Antonia Varthaliti
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Marisa Schwab
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Maria T Clarke
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Christopher Pivetti
- Department of Surgery, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95817, USA
| | - Nalin Gupta
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Cathryn R Cadwell
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Weill Neurohub, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ghiabe Guibinga
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research Biologics Center, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Shirley Phillips
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research Biologics Center, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Tony Del Rio
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research Biologics Center, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Fatih Ozsolak
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research Biologics Center, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Denise Imai-Leonard
- Comparative Pathology Laboratory, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Lingling Kong
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Diana J Laird
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Akos Herzeg
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Charlotte J Sumner
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Tippi C MacKenzie
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- The Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Benioff Children's Hospital, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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4
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Lemmens M, Dorsheimer L, Zeller A, Dietz-Baum Y. Non-clinical safety assessment of novel drug modalities: Genome safety perspectives on viral-, nuclease- and nucleotide-based gene therapies. MUTATION RESEARCH. GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS 2024; 896:503767. [PMID: 38821669 DOI: 10.1016/j.mrgentox.2024.503767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapies have emerged as promising treatments for various conditions including inherited diseases as well as cancer. Ensuring their safe clinical application requires the development of appropriate safety testing strategies. Several guidelines have been provided by health authorities to address these concerns. These guidelines state that non-clinical testing should be carried out on a case-by-case basis depending on the modality. This review focuses on the genome safety assessment of frequently used gene therapy modalities, namely Adeno Associated Viruses (AAVs), Lentiviruses, designer nucleases and mRNAs. Important safety considerations for these modalities, amongst others, are vector integrations into the patient genome (insertional mutagenesis) and off-target editing. Taking into account the constraints of in vivo studies, health authorities endorse the development of novel approach methodologies (NAMs), which are innovative in vitro strategies for genotoxicity testing. This review provides an overview of NAMs applied to viral and CRISPR/Cas9 safety, including next generation sequencing-based methods for integration site analysis and off-target editing. Additionally, NAMs to evaluate the oncogenicity risk arising from unwanted genomic modifications are discussed. Thus, a range of promising techniques are available to support the safe development of gene therapies. Thorough validation, comparisons and correlations with clinical outcomes are essential to identify the most reliable safety testing strategies. By providing a comprehensive overview of these NAMs, this review aims to contribute to a better understanding of the genome safety perspectives of gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lena Dorsheimer
- Research and Development, Preclinical Safety, Sanofi, Industriepark Hoechst, Frankfurt am Main 65926, Germany.
| | - Andreas Zeller
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, pRED Innovation Center Basel, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel 4070, Switzerland
| | - Yasmin Dietz-Baum
- Research and Development, Preclinical Safety, Sanofi, Industriepark Hoechst, Frankfurt am Main 65926, Germany
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5
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Kasimsetty A, Sabatino DE. Integration and the risk of liver cancer-Is there a real risk? J Viral Hepat 2024; 31 Suppl 1:26-34. [PMID: 38606944 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.13915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapies are in clinical development for haemophilia and other genetic diseases. Since the recombinant AAV genome primarily remains episomal, it provides the opportunity for long-term expression in tissues that are not proliferating and reduces the safety concerns compared with integrating viral vectors. However, AAV integration events are detected at a low frequency. Preclinical studies in mouse models have reported hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after systemic AAV administration in some settings, though this has not been reported in large animal models. The risk of HCC or other cancers after AAV gene therapy in clinical studies thus remains theoretical. Potential risk factors for HCC after gene therapy are beginning to be elucidated through animal studies, but their relevance to human studies remains unknown. Studies to investigate the factors that may influence the risk of oncogenesis as well as detailed investigation of cases of cancer in AAV gene therapy patients will be important to define the potential risk of AAV genotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aradhana Kasimsetty
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Denise E Sabatino
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Hematology, Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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6
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Baruteau J, Brunetti-Pierri N, Gissen P. Liver-directed gene therapy for inherited metabolic diseases. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024; 47:9-21. [PMID: 38171926 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapy clinical trials are rapidly expanding for inherited metabolic liver diseases whilst two gene therapy products have now been approved for liver based monogenic disorders. Liver-directed gene therapy has recently become an option for treatment of haemophilias and is likely to become one of the favoured therapeutic strategies for inherited metabolic liver diseases in the near future. In this review, we present the different gene therapy vectors and strategies for liver-targeting, including gene editing. We highlight the current development of viral and nonviral gene therapy for a number of inherited metabolic liver diseases including urea cycle defects, organic acidaemias, Crigler-Najjar disease, Wilson disease, glycogen storage disease Type Ia, phenylketonuria and maple syrup urine disease. We describe the main limitations and open questions for further gene therapy development: immunogenicity, inflammatory response, genotoxicity, gene therapy administration in a fibrotic liver. The follow-up of a constantly growing number of gene therapy treated patients allows better understanding of its benefits and limitations and provides strategies to design safer and more efficacious treatments. Undoubtedly, liver-targeting gene therapy offers a promising avenue for innovative therapies with an unprecedented potential to address the unmet needs of patients suffering from inherited metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Baruteau
- Department of Paediatric Metabolic Medicine, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- National Institute of Health Research Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale (SSM, School of Advanced Studies), Genomics and Experimental Medicine Program, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Paul Gissen
- Department of Paediatric Metabolic Medicine, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- National Institute of Health Research Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
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7
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Pham QDM, Thomson SM, Schaible BN, Mills KD, Atala A, Porada CD, Almeida-Porada G. Acceptability of prenatal diagnosis and prenatal treatment of haemophilia using cell and gene therapies within US haemophilia community. Haemophilia 2023; 29:1024-1031. [PMID: 37228173 PMCID: PMC10524589 DOI: 10.1111/hae.14805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2023] [Revised: 05/11/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The overall burden of disease in persons with haemophilia continues to be high despite the latest advancements in therapeutics. Clinical trials testing prenatal treatments for several genetic disorders are underway or are recruiting subjects, attesting to the much-needed change in paradigm of how patients with monogenic disorders can be treated. Here we investigate the overall attitude towards prenatal diagnosis, preferences on types of prenatal therapies for haemophilia, the level of 'acceptable' risk tolerated, and which social and moral pressures or disease personal experiences may predict willingness of individuals to consider foetal therapy in a future pregnancy. RESULTS A multidisciplinary team designed the survey, and the study was carried out using REDCap, and publicized through the National Haemophilia Foundation. Subjects ≥18 years of age were eligible to participate in the study. We assessed participants' attitudes towards prenatal therapy and their level of 'acceptable' risk towards the procedure and therapy. The survey was completed by 67 adults, the majority females. Respondents were willing to undergo prenatal diagnosis, and their main concerns related to the well-being of the pregnant woman and the foetus regarding lasting therapeutic efficacy, side effects of the therapy, and procedural risks, but they were likely to accept a wide range of prenatal therapeutic options, particularly if the foetal therapy proved to be long-lasting and safe. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate the willingness of persons with haemophilia, and the haemophilia community, to explore new treatment options beyond the currently offered approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quan D. M. Pham
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Sharon M. Thomson
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Burk N. Schaible
- Center for Research in Obstetrics and Gynecology, WFSOM, Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | | | - Anthony Atala
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Christopher D. Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
| | - Graça Almeida-Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSOM), Winston Salem, NC, USA
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Calabria A, Cipriani C, Spinozzi G, Rudilosso L, Esposito S, Benedicenti F, Albertini A, Pouzolles M, Luoni M, Giannelli S, Broccoli V, Guilbaud M, Adjali O, Taylor N, Zimmermann VS, Montini E, Cesana D. Intrathymic AAV delivery results in therapeutic site-specific integration at TCR loci in mice. Blood 2023; 141:2316-2329. [PMID: 36790505 PMCID: PMC10356579 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022017378] [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: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have been successfully exploited in gene therapy applications for the treatment of several genetic disorders. AAV is considered an episomal vector, but it has been shown to integrate within the host cell genome after the generation of double-strand DNA breaks or nicks. Although AAV integration raises some safety concerns, it can also provide therapeutic benefit; the direct intrathymic injection of an AAV harboring a therapeutic transgene results in integration in T-cell progenitors and long-term T-cell immunity. To assess the mechanisms of AAV integration, we retrieved and analyzed hundreds of AAV integration sites from lymph node-derived mature T cells and compared these with liver and brain tissue from treated mice. Notably, we found that although AAV integrations in the liver and brain were distributed across the entire mouse genome, >90% of the integrations in T cells were clustered within the T-cell receptor α, β, and γ genes. More precisely, the insertion mapped to DNA breaks created by the enzymatic activity of recombination activating genes (RAGs) during variable, diversity, and joining recombination. Our data indicate that RAG activity during T-cell receptor maturation induces a site-specific integration of AAV genomes and opens new therapeutic avenues for achieving long-term AAV-mediated gene transfer in dividing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Calabria
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Cipriani
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Spinozzi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Rudilosso
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Esposito
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Benedicenti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Albertini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marie Pouzolles
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
| | - Mirko Luoni
- Stem Cell and Neurogenesis Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Giannelli
- Stem Cell and Neurogenesis Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Vania Broccoli
- Stem Cell and Neurogenesis Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Milan, Italy
| | - Mickael Guilbaud
- Translational Gene Therapy Laboratory, INSERM and Nantes University, Nantes, France
| | - Oumeya Adjali
- Translational Gene Therapy Laboratory, INSERM and Nantes University, Nantes, France
| | - Naomi Taylor
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Valérie S. Zimmermann
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
| | - Eugenio Montini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Cesana
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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9
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Mattar CNZ, Chan JKY, Choolani M. Gene modification therapies for hereditary diseases in the fetus. Prenat Diagn 2023; 43:674-686. [PMID: 36965009 PMCID: PMC10946994 DOI: 10.1002/pd.6347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/27/2023]
Abstract
Proof-of-principle disease models have demonstrated the feasibility of an intrauterine gene modification therapy (in utero gene therapy (IUGT)) approach to hereditary diseases as diverse as coagulation disorders, haemoglobinopathies, neurogenetic disorders, congenital metabolic, and pulmonary diseases. Gene addition, which requires the delivery of an integrating or episomal transgene to the target cell nucleus to be transcribed, and gene editing, where the mutation is corrected within the gene of origin, have both been used successfully to increase normal protein production in a bid to reverse or arrest pathology in utero. While most experimental models have employed lentiviral, adenoviral, and adeno-associated viral vectors engineered to efficiently enter target cells, newer models have also demonstrated the applicability of non-viral lipid nanoparticles. Amelioration of pathology is dependent primarily on achieving sustained therapeutic transgene expression, silencing of transgene expression, production of neutralising antibodies, the dilutional effect of the recipient's growth on the mass of transduced cells, and the degree of pre-existing cellular damage. Safety assessment of any IUGT strategy will require long-term postnatal surveillance of both the fetal recipient and the maternal bystander for cell and genome toxicity, oncogenic potential, immune-responsiveness, and germline mutation. In this review, we discuss advances in the field and the push toward clinical translation of IUGT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Citra N. Z. Mattar
- Yong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- National University Health SystemsSingaporeSingapore
| | - Jerry K. Y. Chan
- KK Women's and Children's HospitalSingaporeSingapore
- Duke‐NUS Medical SchoolSingaporeSingapore
| | - Mahesh Choolani
- Yong Loo Lin School of MedicineNational University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- National University Health SystemsSingaporeSingapore
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10
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Di Minno G, Castaman G, De Cristofaro R, Brunetti-Pierri N, Pastore L, Castaldo G, Trama U, Di Minno M. Progress, and prospects in the therapeutic armamentarium of persons with congenital hemophilia. Defining the place for liver-directed gene therapy. Blood Rev 2023; 58:101011. [PMID: 36031462 DOI: 10.1016/j.blre.2022.101011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Revised: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In persons with congenital severe hemophilia A (HA) living in high-income countries, twice weekly intravenous infusions of extended half-life (EHL) factor VIII (FVIII) products, or weekly/biweekly/monthly subcutaneous injections of emicizumab are the gold standard home treatments to grant days without hurdles and limitations. Once weekly/twice monthly infusions of EHL Factor IX (FIX) products achieve the same target in severe hemophilia B (HB). Gene therapy, which is likely to be licensed for clinical use within 1-2 years, embodies a shift beyond these standards. At an individual patient level, a single functional gene transfer leads to a > 10-yr almost full correction of the hemostatic defect in HB and to a sustained (3-6-yrs) expression of FVIII sufficient to discontinue exogenous clotting factor administrations. At the doses employed, the limited liver toxicity of systemically infused recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors is documented by long-term (12-15 yrs) follow-ups, and pre-existing high-titer neutralizing antibodies to the AAV5 vector are no longer an exclusion criterion for effective transgene expression with this vector. A safe durable treatment that converts a challenging illness to a phenotypically curable disease, allows persons to feel virtually free from the fears and the obligations of hemophilia for years/decades. Along with patient organizations and health care professionals, communicating to government authorities and reimbursement agencies the liberating potential of this substantial innovation, and disseminating across the Centers updated information on benefits and risks of this strategy, will align expectations of different stakeholders and establish the notion of a potentially lifelong cure of hemophilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Di Minno
- Hub Center for Hemorrhagic and Thrombotic Disorders, Dep. of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
| | - Giancarlo Castaman
- Center for Bleeding Disorders and Coagulation, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
| | - Raimondo De Cristofaro
- Center for Hemorrhagic and Thrombotic Diseases, Foundation University Hospital A. Gemelli IRCCS, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy; Dept of Translational Medicine, School of Medicine, Università degli Studi di Napoli "Federico II", Italy.
| | - Lucio Pastore
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, and Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Castaldo
- CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, and Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy.
| | - Ugo Trama
- Coordination of the Regional Health System, General Directorate for Health Protection, Naples, Italy.
| | - Matteo Di Minno
- Hub Center for Hemorrhagic and Thrombotic Disorders, Dep. of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, School of Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
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11
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Herzeg A, Almeida-Porada G, Charo RA, David AL, Gonzalez-Velez J, Gupta N, Lapteva L, Lianoglou B, Peranteau W, Porada C, Sanders SJ, Sparks TN, Stitelman DH, Struble E, Sumner CJ, MacKenzie TC. Prenatal Somatic Cell Gene Therapies: Charting a Path Toward Clinical Applications (Proceedings of the CERSI-FDA Meeting). J Clin Pharmacol 2022; 62 Suppl 1:S36-S52. [PMID: 36106778 PMCID: PMC9547535 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.2127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
We are living in a golden age of medicine in which the availability of prenatal diagnosis, fetal therapy, and gene therapy/editing make it theoretically possible to repair almost any defect in the genetic code. Furthermore, the ability to diagnose genetic disorders before birth and the presence of established surgical techniques enable these therapies to be delivered safely to the fetus. Prenatal therapies are generally used in the second or early third trimester for severe, life-threatening disorders for which there is a clear rationale for intervening before birth. While there has been promising work for prenatal gene therapy in preclinical models, the path to a clinical prenatal gene therapy approach is complex. We recently held a conference with the University of California, San Francisco-Stanford Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation, researchers, patient advocates, regulatory (members of the Food and Drug Administration), and other stakeholders to review the scientific background and rationale for prenatal somatic cell gene therapy for severe monogenic diseases and initiate a dialogue toward a safe regulatory path for phase 1 clinical trials. This review represents a summary of the considerations and discussions from these conversations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akos Herzeg
- UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal PrecisionMedicine, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Graca Almeida-Porada
- Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
- Wake Forest University, School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - R. Alta Charo
- University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Anna L. David
- Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Institute for Women’s Health, University College London Medical School, London, UK
- National Institute for Health Research University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Juan Gonzalez-Velez
- UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal PrecisionMedicine, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Nalin Gupta
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Brain Tumor Center, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Benioff Children’s Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Larissa Lapteva
- Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies/Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Billie Lianoglou
- UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal PrecisionMedicine, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - William Peranteau
- Center for Fetal Research, Division of General, Thoracic, and Fetal Surgery, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Christopher Porada
- Fetal Research and Therapy Program, Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University, Winston Salem, North Carolina, USA
- Wake Forest University, School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
| | - Stephan J. Sanders
- UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal PrecisionMedicine, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Teresa N. Sparks
- UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal PrecisionMedicine, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - David H. Stitelman
- Yale University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Pediatric Surgery, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Evi Struble
- Office of Tissues and Advanced Therapies/Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Charlotte J. Sumner
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tippi C. MacKenzie
- UCSF Center for Maternal-Fetal PrecisionMedicine, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Benioff Children’s Hospital, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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12
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Premature delivery in the domestic sow in response to in utero delivery of AAV9 to fetal piglets. Gene Ther 2022; 29:513-519. [PMID: 34803165 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-021-00305-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Numerous pediatric neurogenetic diseases may be optimally treated by in utero gene therapy (IUGT); but advancing such treatments requires animal models that recapitulate developmental physiology relevant to humans. One disease that could benefit from IUGT is the autosomal recessive motor neuron disease spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Current SMA gene-targeting therapeutics are more efficacious when delivered shortly after birth, however postnatal treatment is rarely curative in severely affected patients. IUGT may provide benefit for SMA patients. In previous studies, we developed a large animal porcine model of SMA using AAV9 to deliver a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) directed at porcine survival motor neuron gene (Smn) mRNA on postnatal day 5. Here, we aimed to model developmental features of SMA in fetal piglets and to demonstrate the feasibility of prenatal gene therapy by delivering AAV9-shSmn in utero. Saline (sham), AAV9-GFP, or AAV9-shSmn was injected under direct ultrasound guidance between gestational ages 77-110 days. We developed an ultrasound-guided technique to deliver virus under direct visualization to mimic the clinic setting. Saline injection was tolerated and resulted in viable, healthy piglets. Litter rejection occurred within seven days of AAV9 injection for all other rounds. Our real-world experience of in utero viral delivery followed by AAV9-related fetal rejection suggests that the domestic sow may not be a viable model system for preclinical in utero AAV9 gene therapy studies.
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13
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Sabatino DE, Bushman FD, Chandler RJ, Crystal RG, Davidson BL, Dolmetsch R, Eggan KC, Gao G, Gil-Farina I, Kay MA, McCarty DM, Montini E, Ndu A, Yuan J. Evaluating the state of the science for adeno-associated virus integration: An integrated perspective. Mol Ther 2022; 30:2646-2663. [PMID: 35690906 PMCID: PMC9372310 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 37.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
On August 18, 2021, the American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy (ASGCT) hosted a virtual roundtable on adeno-associated virus (AAV) integration, featuring leading experts in preclinical and clinical AAV gene therapy, to further contextualize and understand this phenomenon. Recombinant AAV (rAAV) vectors are used to develop therapies for many conditions given their ability to transduce multiple cell types, resulting in long-term expression of transgenes. Although most rAAV DNA typically remains episomal, some rAAV DNA becomes integrated into genomic DNA at a low frequency, and rAAV insertional mutagenesis has been shown to lead to tumorigenesis in neonatal mice. Currently, the risk of rAAV-mediated oncogenesis in humans is theoretical because no confirmed genotoxic events have been reported to date. However, because insertional mutagenesis has been reported in a small number of murine studies, there is a need to characterize this genotoxicity to inform research, regulatory needs, and patient care. The purpose of this white paper is to review the evidence of rAAV-related host genome integration in animal models and possible risks of insertional mutagenesis in patients. In addition, technical considerations, regulatory guidance, and bioethics are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise E Sabatino
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Division of Hematology, Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Frederic D Bushman
- Department of Microbiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Randy J Chandler
- National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ronald G Crystal
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Beverly L Davidson
- The Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Mark A Kay
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | | | - Eugenio Montini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Adora Ndu
- BridgeBio Pharma, Inc., Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jing Yuan
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
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14
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Lederer CW, Koniali L, Buerki-Thurnherr T, Papasavva PL, La Grutta S, Licari A, Staud F, Bonifazi D, Kleanthous M. Catching Them Early: Framework Parameters and Progress for Prenatal and Childhood Application of Advanced Therapies. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14040793. [PMID: 35456627 PMCID: PMC9031205 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are medicines for human use based on genes, cells or tissue engineering. After clear successes in adults, the nascent technology now sees increasing pediatric application. For many still untreatable disorders with pre- or perinatal onset, timely intervention is simply indispensable; thus, prenatal and pediatric applications of ATMPs hold great promise for curative treatments. Moreover, for most inherited disorders, early ATMP application may substantially improve efficiency, economy and accessibility compared with application in adults. Vindicating this notion, initial data for cell-based ATMPs show better cell yields, success rates and corrections of disease parameters for younger patients, in addition to reduced overall cell and vector requirements, illustrating that early application may resolve key obstacles to the widespread application of ATMPs for inherited disorders. Here, we provide a selective review of the latest ATMP developments for prenatal, perinatal and pediatric use, with special emphasis on its comparison with ATMPs for adults. Taken together, we provide a perspective on the enormous potential and key framework parameters of clinical prenatal and pediatric ATMP application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten W. Lederer
- The Molecular Genetics Thalassemia Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus; (L.K.); (P.L.P.); (M.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +357-22-392764
| | - Lola Koniali
- The Molecular Genetics Thalassemia Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus; (L.K.); (P.L.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Tina Buerki-Thurnherr
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, 9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland;
| | - Panayiota L. Papasavva
- The Molecular Genetics Thalassemia Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus; (L.K.); (P.L.P.); (M.K.)
| | - Stefania La Grutta
- Institute of Translational Pharmacology, IFT National Research Council, 90146 Palermo, Italy;
| | - Amelia Licari
- Pediatric Clinic, Department of Clinical, Surgical, Diagnostic and Pediatric Sciences, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Frantisek Staud
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic;
| | - Donato Bonifazi
- Consorzio per Valutazioni Biologiche e Farmacologiche (CVBF) and European Paediatric Translational Research Infrastructure (EPTRI), 70122 Bari, Italy;
| | - Marina Kleanthous
- The Molecular Genetics Thalassemia Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus; (L.K.); (P.L.P.); (M.K.)
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15
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Abstract
Prenatal gene therapy could provide a cure for many monogenic diseases. Prenatal gene therapy has multiple potential advantages over postnatal therapy, including treating before the onset of disease, the ability to induce tolerance and cross the blood-brain barrier. In this chapter, we will describe in utero gene therapy and its rationale, clinical trials of postnatal gene therapy, preclinical studies of in utero gene therapy, and potential risks to the mother and fetus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa E Schwab
- Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Tippi C MacKenzie
- Center for Maternal-Fetal Precision Medicine
- Department of Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California
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16
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Dalwadi DA, Calabria A, Tiyaboonchai A, Posey J, Naugler WE, Montini E, Grompe M. AAV integration in human hepatocytes. Mol Ther 2021; 29:2898-2909. [PMID: 34461297 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors are considered promising tools for gene therapy directed at the liver. Whereas rAAV is thought to be an episomal vector, its single-stranded DNA genome is prone to intra- and inter-molecular recombination leading to rearrangements and integration into the host cell genome. Here, we ascertained the integration frequency of rAAV in human hepatocytes transduced either ex vivo or in vivo and subsequently expanded in a mouse model of xenogeneic liver regeneration. Chromosomal rAAV integration events and vector integrity were determined using the capture-PacBio sequencing approach, a long-read next-generation sequencing method that has not previously been used for this purpose. Chromosomal integrations were found at a surprisingly high frequency of 1%-3% both in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, most of the inserted rAAV sequences were heavily rearranged and were accompanied by deletions of the host genomic sequence at the integration site.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhwanil A Dalwadi
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Andrea Calabria
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Amita Tiyaboonchai
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Jeffrey Posey
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Willscott E Naugler
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA
| | - Eugenio Montini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Markus Grompe
- Papé Family Pediatric Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR 97239, USA.
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17
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Yung NK, Maassel NL, Ullrich SJ, Ricciardi AS, Stitelman DH. A narrative review of in utero gene therapy: advances, challenges, and future considerations. Transl Pediatr 2021; 10:1486-1496. [PMID: 34189107 PMCID: PMC8192997 DOI: 10.21037/tp-20-89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The field of in utero gene therapy (IUGT) represents a crossroad of technologic advancements and medical ethical boundaries. Several strategies have been developed for IUGT focusing on either modifying endogenous genes, replacing missing genes, or modifying gene transcription products. The list of candidate diseases such as hemoglobinopathies, cystic fibrosis, lysosomal storage disorders continues to grow with new strategies being developed as our understanding of their respective underlying molecular pathogenesis increases. Treatment in utero has several distinct advantages to postnatal treatment. Biologic and physiologic phenomena enable the delivery of a higher effective dose, generation of immune tolerance, and the prevention of phenotypic onset for genetic diseases. Therapeutic technology for IUGT including CRISPR-Cas9 systems, zinc finger nucleases (ZFN), and peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) has already shown promise in animal models and early postnatal clinical trials. While the ability to detect fetal diagnoses has dramatically improved with developments in ultrasound and next-generation sequencing, treatment options remain experimental, with several translational gaps remaining prior to implementation in the clinical realm. Complicating this issue, the potential diseases targeted by this approach are often debilitating and would otherwise prove fatal if not treated in some manner. The leap from small animals to large animals, and subsequently, to humans will require further vigorous testing of safety and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas K Yung
- Department of General Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Nathan L Maassel
- Department of General Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sarah J Ullrich
- Department of General Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Adele S Ricciardi
- Department of General Surgery, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David H Stitelman
- Department of General Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA.,Department of Pediatric Surgery, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
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18
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Abstract
Decades of preclinical and clinical studies developing gene therapy for hemophilia are poised to bear fruit with current promising pivotal studies likely to lead to regulatory approval. However, this recent success should not obscure the multiple challenges that were overcome to reach this destination. Gene therapy for hemophilia A and B benefited from advancements in the general gene therapy field, such as the development of adeno-associated viral vectors, as well as disease-specific breakthroughs, like the identification of B-domain deleted factor VIII and hyperactive factor IX Padua. The gene therapy field has also benefited from hemophilia B clinical studies, which revealed for the first time critical safety concerns related to immune responses to the vector capsid not anticipated in preclinical models. Preclinical studies have also investigated gene transfer approaches for other rare inherited bleeding disorders, including factor VII deficiency, von Willebrand disease, and Glanzmann thrombasthenia. Here we review the successful gene therapy journey for hemophilia and pose some unanswered questions. We then discuss the current state of gene therapy for these other rare inherited bleeding disorders and how the lessons of hemophilia gene therapy may guide clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valder R. Arruda
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jesse Weber
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Benjamin J. Samelson-Jones
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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19
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Palanki R, Peranteau WH, Mitchell MJ. Delivery technologies for in utero gene therapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 169:51-62. [PMID: 33181188 PMCID: PMC7855052 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2020.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Advances in prenatal imaging, molecular diagnostic tools, and genetic screening have unlocked the possibility to treat congenital diseases in utero prior to the onset of clinical symptoms. While fetal surgery and in utero stem cell transplantation can be harnessed to treat specific structural birth defects and congenital hematological disorders, respectively, in utero gene therapy allows for phenotype correction of a wide range of genetic disorders within the womb. However, key challenges to realizing the broad potential of in utero gene therapy are biocompatibility and efficiency of intracellular delivery of transgenes. In this review, we outline the unique considerations to delivery of in utero gene therapy components and highlight advances in viral and non-viral delivery platforms that meet these challenges. We also discuss specialized delivery technologies for in utero gene editing and provide future directions to engineer novel delivery modalities for clinical translation of this promising therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rohan Palanki
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - William H Peranteau
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; The Center for Fetal Research, Division of General, Thoracic and Fetal Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael J Mitchell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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20
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Wang Q, Zhong X, Li Q, Su J, Liu Y, Mo L, Deng H, Yang Y. CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated In Vivo Gene Integration at the Albumin Locus Recovers Hemostasis in Neonatal and Adult Hemophilia B Mice. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 18:520-531. [PMID: 32775489 PMCID: PMC7393320 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 loaded by vectors could induce high rates of specific site genome editing and correct disease-causing mutations. However, most monogenic genetic diseases such as hemophilia are caused by different mutations dispersed in one gene, instead of an accordant mutation. Vectors developed for correcting specific mutations may not be suited to different mutations at other positions. Site-specific gene addition provides an ideal solution for long-term, stable gene therapy. We have demonstrated SaCas9-mediated homology-directed factor IX (FIX) in situ targeting for sustained treatment of hemophilia B. In this study, we tested a more efficient dual adeno-associated virus (AAV) strategy with lower vector dose for liver-directed genome editing that enables CRISPR-Cas9-mediated site-specific integration of therapeutic transgene within the albumin gene, and we aimed to develop a more universal gene-targeting approach. We successfully achieved coagulation function in newborn and adult hemophilia B mice by a single injection of dual AAV vectors. FIX levels in treated mice persisted even after a two-thirds partial hepatectomy, indicating stable gene integration. Our results suggest that this CRISPR-Cas9-mediated site-specific gene integration in hepatocytes could transform into a common clinical therapeutic method for hemophilia B and other genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingnan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Xiaomei Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Qian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Li Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Hongxin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu 610041, China
- Corresponding author: Yang Yang, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
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21
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Sawamoto K, Karumuthil-Melethil S, Khan S, Stapleton M, Bruder JT, Danos O, Tomatsu S. Liver-Targeted AAV8 Gene Therapy Ameliorates Skeletal and Cardiovascular Pathology in a Mucopolysaccharidosis IVA Murine Model. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 18:50-61. [PMID: 32577432 PMCID: PMC7301175 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.05.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA (MPS IVA) is due to the deficiency of GALNS (N-acetylgalactosamine 6-sulfate sulfatase) and is characterized by systemic skeletal dysplasia. We have evaluated adeno-associated virus 8 (AAV8) vectors expressing different forms of human GALNS under a liver-specific promoter. The vectors were delivered intravenously into 4-week-old MPS IVA knockout (KO) and immune tolerant (MTOL) mice at a dose of 5 × 1013 genome copies (GC)/kg. These mice were monitored for 12 weeks post-injection. GALNS enzyme activity was elevated significantly in plasma of all treated mice at 2 weeks post-injection. The activity observed was 4- to 19-fold higher than that in wild-type mice and was maintained throughout the monitoring period. Treatment with AAV vectors resulted in a reduction of keratan sulfate (KS) levels in plasma to normal levels 2 weeks post-injection, which were maintained until necropsy. Both vectors reduced the storage in articular cartilage, ligaments, and meniscus surrounding articular cartilage and growth plate region as well as heart muscle and valves. Our results suggest that the continuous presence of high levels of circulating enzyme increases the penetration into bone and heart and reduces the KS level, thereby improving storage in these regions. The current data support a strategy for developing a novel treatment to address the bone and heart disease in MPS IVA using AAV gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuki Sawamoto
- Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19899-0269, USA
| | | | - Shaukat Khan
- Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19899-0269, USA
| | - Molly Stapleton
- Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19899-0269, USA
| | | | - Olivier Danos
- REGENXBIO, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
- Corresponding author: Olivier Danos, PhD, REGENXBIO, 9600 Blackwell Road, Suite 210, Rockville, MD 20850, USA.
| | - Shunji Tomatsu
- Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE 19899-0269, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Corresponding author: Shunji Tomatsu, MD, PhD, Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, 1600 Rockland Road, Wilmington, DE 19899-0269, USA.
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22
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Rodriguez M, Porada CD, Almeida-Porada G. Mechanistic Insights into Factor VIII Immune Tolerance Induction via Prenatal Cell Therapy in Hemophilia A. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2019; 5:145-161. [PMID: 32351874 DOI: 10.1007/s40778-019-00165-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review Prenatal stem cell and gene therapy approaches are amongst the few therapies that can promise the birth of a healthy infant with specific known genetic diseases. This review describes fetal immune cell signaling and its potential influence on donor cell engraftment, and summarizes mechanisms of central T cell tolerance to peripherally-acquired antigen in the context of prenatal therapies for Hemophilia A. Recent Findings During early gestation, different subsets of antigen presenting cells take up peripherally-acquired, non-inherited antigens and induce the deletion of antigen-reactive T-cell precursors in the thymus, demonstrating the potential for using prenatal cell and gene therapies to induce central tolerance to FVIII in the context of prenatal diagnosis/therapy of Hemophilia A. Summary Prenatal cell and gene therapies are promising approaches to treat several genetic disorders including Hemophilia A and B. Understanding the mechanisms of how FVIII-specific tolerance is achieved during ontogeny could help develop novel therapies for HA and better approaches to overcome FVIII inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Rodriguez
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Christopher D Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Graҫa Almeida-Porada
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
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23
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Shangaris P, Loukogeorgakis SP, Subramaniam S, Flouri C, Jackson LH, Wang W, Blundell MP, Liu S, Eaton S, Bakhamis N, Ramachandra DL, Maghsoudlou P, Urbani L, Waddington SN, Eddaoudi A, Archer J, Antoniou MN, Stuckey DJ, Schmidt M, Thrasher AJ, Ryan TM, De Coppi P, David AL. In Utero Gene Therapy (IUGT) Using GLOBE Lentiviral Vector Phenotypically Corrects the Heterozygous Humanised Mouse Model and Its Progress Can Be Monitored Using MRI Techniques. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11592. [PMID: 31406195 PMCID: PMC6690943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48078-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In utero gene therapy (IUGT) to the fetal hematopoietic compartment could be used to treat congenital blood disorders such as β-thalassemia. A humanised mouse model of β-thalassemia was used, in which heterozygous animals are anaemic with splenomegaly and extramedullary hematopoiesis. Intrahepatic in utero injections of a β globin-expressing lentiviral vector (GLOBE), were performed in fetuses at E13.5 of gestation. We analysed animals at 12 and 32 weeks of age, for vector copy number in bone marrow, peripheral blood liver and spleen and we performed integration site analysis. Compared to noninjected heterozygous animals IUGT normalised blood haemoglobin levels and spleen weight. Integration site analysis showed polyclonality. The left ventricular ejection fraction measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in treated heterozygous animals was similar to that of normal non-β-thalassemic mice but significantly higher than untreated heterozygous thalassemia mice suggesting that IUGT ameliorated poor cardiac function. GLOBE LV-mediated IUGT normalised the haematological and anatomical phenotype in a heterozygous humanised model of β-thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panicos Shangaris
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK.
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom.
| | | | | | - Christina Flouri
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, KCL, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Wei Wang
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Centre for Tumour Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Shanrun Liu
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Simon Eaton
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nahla Bakhamis
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK
| | | | | | - Luca Urbani
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon N Waddington
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ayad Eddaoudi
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joy Archer
- Central Diagnostic Services, Queen's Vet School Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael N Antoniou
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, KCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J Stuckey
- Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred Schmidt
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Centre for Tumour Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Thomas M Ryan
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Paolo De Coppi
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna L David
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK
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24
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Papasavva P, Kleanthous M, Lederer CW. Rare Opportunities: CRISPR/Cas-Based Therapy Development for Rare Genetic Diseases. Mol Diagn Ther 2019; 23:201-222. [PMID: 30945166 PMCID: PMC6469594 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-019-00392-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Rare diseases pose a global challenge, in that their collective impact on health systems is considerable, whereas their individually rare occurrence impedes research and development of efficient therapies. In consequence, patients and their families are often unable to find an expert for their affliction, let alone a cure. The tide is turning as pharmaceutical companies embrace gene therapy development and as serviceable tools for the repair of primary mutations separate the ability to create cures from underlying disease expertise. Whereas gene therapy by gene addition took decades to reach the clinic by incremental disease-specific refinements of vectors and methods, gene therapy by genome editing in its basic form merely requires certainty about the causative mutation. Suddenly we move from concept to trial in 3 years instead of 30: therapy development in the fast lane, with all the positive and negative implications of the phrase. Since their first application to eukaryotic cells in 2013, the proliferation and refinement in particular of tools based on clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) prokaryotic RNA-guided nucleases has prompted a landslide of therapy-development studies for rare diseases. An estimated thousands of orphan diseases are up for adoption, and legislative, entrepreneurial, and research initiatives may finally conspire to find many of them a good home. Here we summarize the most significant recent achievements and remaining hurdles in the application of CRISPR/Cas technology to rare diseases and take a glimpse at the exciting road ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panayiota Papasavva
- Department of Molecular Genetics Thalassaemia, Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine and The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 6 International Airport Avenue, 1683, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Marina Kleanthous
- Department of Molecular Genetics Thalassaemia, Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine and The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 6 International Airport Avenue, 1683, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Carsten W Lederer
- Department of Molecular Genetics Thalassaemia, Cyprus School of Molecular Medicine and The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, 6 International Airport Avenue, 1683, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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25
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Baruteau J, Waddington SN. Fetal gene therapy for neurodegenerative lysosomal storage diseases. J Inherit Metab Dis 2019; 42:391-393. [PMID: 30715735 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Baruteau
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
- Metabolic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Programme, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Simon N Waddington
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, UK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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26
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Stephens CJ, Lauron EJ, Kashentseva E, Lu ZH, Yokoyama WM, Curiel DT. Long-term correction of hemophilia B using adenoviral delivery of CRISPR/Cas9. J Control Release 2019; 298:128-141. [PMID: 30771412 PMCID: PMC6636336 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2019.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Hemophilia B (HB) is a life-threatening inherited disease caused by mutations in the FIX gene, leading to reduced protein function and abnormal blood clotting. Due to its monogenic nature, HB is one of the primary targets for gene therapy. Indeed, successful correction of HB has been shown in clinical trials using gene therapy approaches. However, application of these strategies to non-adult patients is limited due to high cell turnover as young patients develop, resulting in vector dilution and subsequent loss of therapeutic expression. Gene editing can potentially overcome this issue by permanently inserting the corrective gene. Integration allows replication of the therapeutic transgene at every cell division and can avoid issues associated with vector dilution. In this study, we explored adenovirus as a platform for corrective CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene knock-in. We determined as a proof-of-principle that adenoviral delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 is capable of corrective gene addition, leading to long-term augmentation of FIX activity and phenotypic correction in a murine model of juvenile HB. While we found on-target error-free integration in all examined samples, some mice also contained mutations at the integration target site. Additionally, we detected adaptive immune responses against the vector and Cas9 nuclease. Overall, our findings show that the adenovirus platform is suitable for gene insertion in juveniles with inherited disease, suggesting this approach may be applicable to other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin J Stephens
- Cancer Biology Division, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8224, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Molecular Genetics and Genomics Program, Division of Biology and Biomedical Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8226, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Elvin J Lauron
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8045, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Elena Kashentseva
- Cancer Biology Division, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8224, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Zhi Hong Lu
- Cancer Biology Division, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8224, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Wayne M Yokoyama
- Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8045, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - David T Curiel
- Cancer Biology Division, Department of Radiation Oncology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8224, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA; Department of Radiation Oncology, Biologic Therapeutics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus Box 8224, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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27
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Palaschak B, Herzog RW, Markusic DM. AAV-Mediated Gene Delivery to the Liver: Overview of Current Technologies and Methods. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1950:333-360. [PMID: 30783984 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9139-6_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors to treat liver-specific genetic diseases are the focus of several ongoing clinical trials. The ability to give a peripheral injection of virus that will successfully target the liver is one of many attractive features of this technology. Although initial studies of AAV liver gene transfer revealed some limitations, extensive animal modeling and further clinical development have helped solve some of these issues, resulting in several successful clinical trials that have reached curative levels of clotting factor expression in hemophilia. Looking beyond gene replacement, recent technologies offer the possibility for AAV liver gene transfer to directly repair deficient genes and potentially treat autoimmune disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett Palaschak
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Roland W Herzog
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - David M Markusic
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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28
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Chan JKY, Gil-Farina I, Johana N, Rosales C, Tan YW, Ceiler J, Mcintosh J, Ogden B, Waddington SN, Schmidt M, Biswas A, Choolani M, Nathwani AC, Mattar CNZ. Therapeutic expression of human clotting factors IX and X following adeno-associated viral vector-mediated intrauterine gene transfer in early-gestation fetal macaques. FASEB J 2018; 33:3954-3967. [PMID: 30517034 PMCID: PMC6404563 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201801391r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Adeno-associated viral vectors (AAVs) achieve stable therapeutic expression without long-term toxicity in adults with hemophilia. To avert irreversible complications in congenital disorders producing early pathogenesis, safety and efficacy of AAV-intrauterine gene transfer (IUGT) requires assessment. We therefore performed IUGT of AAV5 or -8 with liver-specific promoter-1 encoding either human coagulation factors IX (hFIX) or X (hFX) into Macaca fascicularis fetuses at ∼0.4 gestation. The initial cohort received 1 × 1012 vector genomes (vgs) of AAV5-hFIX (n = 5; 0.45 × 1013 vg/kg birth weight), resulting in ∼3.0% hFIX at birth and 0.6–6.8% over 19–51 mo. The next cohort received 0.2–1 × 1013 vg boluses. AAV5-hFX animals (n = 3; 3.57 × 1013 vg/kg) expressed <1% at birth and 9.4–27.9% up to 42 mo. AAV8-hFIX recipients (n = 3; 2.56 × 1013 vg/kg) established 4.2–41.3% expression perinatally and 9.8–25.3% over 46 mo. Expression with AAV8-hFX (n = 6, 3.12 × 1013 vg/kg) increased from <1% perinatally to 9.8–13.4% >35 mo. Low expressers (<1%, n = 3) were postnatally challenged with 2 × 1011 vg/kg AAV5 resulting in 2.4–13.2% expression and demonstrating acquired tolerance. Linear amplification–mediated-PCR analysis demonstrated random integration of 57–88% of AAV sequences retrieved from hepatocytes with no events occurring in or near oncogenesis-associated genes. Thus, early-IUGT in macaques produces sustained curative expression related significantly to integrated AAV in the absence of clinical toxicity, supporting its therapeutic potential for early-onset monogenic disorders.—Chan, J. K. Y., Gil-Farina I., Johana, N., Rosales, C., Tan, Y. W., Ceiler, J., Mcintosh, J., Ogden, B., Waddington, S. N., Schmidt, M., Biswas, A., Choolani, M., Nathwani, A. C., Mattar, C. N. Z. Therapeutic expression of human clotting factors IX and X following adeno-associated viral vector–mediated intrauterine gene transfer in early-gestation fetal macaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry K Y Chan
- Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, Singapore
| | - Irene Gil-Farina
- Department of Translational Oncology, German Cancer Research Center/National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nuryanti Johana
- Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Cecilia Rosales
- University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yi Wan Tan
- Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jessika Ceiler
- Department of Translational Oncology, German Cancer Research Center/National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jenny Mcintosh
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Bryan Ogden
- SingHealth Experimental Medicine Centre, Singapore Health Services Pte, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Simon N Waddington
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,Faculty of Health Sciences, Wits/South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC), Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa; and
| | - Manfred Schmidt
- University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom.,GeneWerk, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Arijit Biswas
- Department of Translational Oncology, German Cancer Research Center/National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mahesh Choolani
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Amit C Nathwani
- University College London (UCL) Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Citra N Z Mattar
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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29
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Hartman HA, Rossidis AC, Peranteau WH. In Utero Gene Therapy and Genome Editing. CURRENT STEM CELL REPORTS 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s40778-018-0117-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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30
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CRYSTAL RONALDG, PAGOVICH ODELYAE. THE JEREMIAH METZGER LECTURE NOVEL THERAPEUTIC STRATEGIES OF ALLERGIC AND IMMUNOLOGIC DISORDERS. TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN CLINICAL AND CLIMATOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 2018; 129:250-265. [PMID: 30166721 PMCID: PMC6116601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Advances in understanding the immunological basis and mechanisms underlying allergic and immunologic disorders have led to effective but costly long-term and repetitive biologic therapies. Gene therapy is a rapidly advancing technology, in which a single administration of an adeno-associated virus encoding the therapeutic protein or monoclonal antibody may provide effective long-term therapy for allergic and immunologic disorders. In this review, we summarize the recent studies from our laboratory developing gene therapy strategies to treat hereditary angioedema and peanut allergy. The unraveling of the pathogenesis of immune-based disorders, including hereditary deficiencies of components of the immune system and allergic disorders, has led to the development of therapies using parenteral administration of recombinant proteins or monoclonal antibodies (1). While many of these therapies are highly effective, they are limited by the half-life of the therapeutic protein or antibody, requiring repetitive administration of days to weeks (2-15). The focus of recent work in our laboratory has been to solve this problem by substituting protein/monoclonal antibody administration with gene therapy, where current technology allows for a single administration of the gene coding for a protein or antibody to provide persistent expression of effective levels of the therapeutic protein or antibody. Gene therapy is a drug delivery platform which uses genetic material, usually in the form of coding exons of the therapeutic gene, to correct, compensate for, or prevent the development of an abnormal phenotype (16). Originally conceptualized as a strategy to treat rare hereditary disorders, gene therapy is being developed for a wide range of human disorders, including common acquired conditions (17-20). In this review, we will describe how we have adopted gene therapy technology to develop therapies for immune-related disorders, using as examples hereditary angioedema, an inherited autosomal dominant disorder, and peanut allergy, a common acquired allergic disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- RONALD G. CRYSTAL
- Correspondence and reprint requests: Ronald G. Crystal, MD, Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College,
1300 York Avenue, Box 164, New York, New York 10065646-962-4363646-962-0220
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