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Kwak G, Grewal A, Slika H, Mess G, Li H, Kwatra M, Poulopoulos A, Woodworth GF, Eberhart CG, Ko HS, Manbachi A, Caplan J, Price RJ, Tyler B, Suk JS. Brain Nucleic Acid Delivery and Genome Editing via Focused Ultrasound-Mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Opening and Long-Circulating Nanoparticles. ACS NANO 2024; 18:24139-24153. [PMID: 39172436 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c05270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
We introduce a two-pronged strategy comprising focused ultrasound (FUS)-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening and long-circulating biodegradable nanoparticles (NPs) for systemic delivery of nucleic acids to the brain. Biodegradable poly(β-amino ester) polymer-based NPs were engineered to stably package various types of nucleic acid payloads and enable prolonged systemic circulation while retaining excellent serum stability. FUS was applied to a predetermined coordinate within the brain to transiently open the BBB, thereby allowing the systemically administered long-circulating NPs to traverse the BBB and accumulate in the FUS-treated brain region, where plasmid DNA or mRNA payloads produced reporter proteins in astrocytes and neurons. In contrast, poorly circulating and/or serum-unstable NPs, including the lipid NP analogous to a platform used in clinic, were unable to provide efficient nucleic acid delivery to the brain regardless of the BBB-opening FUS. The marriage of FUS-mediated BBB opening and the long-circulating NPs engineered to copackage mRNA encoding CRISPR-associated protein 9 and single-guide RNA resulted in genome editing in astrocytes and neurons precisely in the FUS-treated brain region. The combined delivery strategy provides a versatile means to achieve efficient and site-specific therapeutic nucleic acid delivery to and genome editing in the brain via a systemic route.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gijung Kwak
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
- Medicine Institute for Neuroscience Discovery (UM-MIND), School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Angad Grewal
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Hasan Slika
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Griffin Mess
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Haolin Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Mohit Kwatra
- Institute for Cell Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Alexandros Poulopoulos
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Graeme F Woodworth
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
- Medicine Institute for Neuroscience Discovery (UM-MIND), School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
| | - Charles G Eberhart
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21231, United States
| | - Han Seok Ko
- Institute for Cell Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Amir Manbachi
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Justin Caplan
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Richard J Price
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia 22904, United States
| | - Betty Tyler
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Jung Soo Suk
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
- Medicine Institute for Neuroscience Discovery (UM-MIND), School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, United States
- Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
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2
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Kachanov A, Kostyusheva A, Brezgin S, Karandashov I, Ponomareva N, Tikhonov A, Lukashev A, Pokrovsky V, Zamyatnin AA, Parodi A, Chulanov V, Kostyushev D. The menace of severe adverse events and deaths associated with viral gene therapy and its potential solution. Med Res Rev 2024; 44:2112-2193. [PMID: 38549260 DOI: 10.1002/med.22036] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
Over the past decade, in vivo gene replacement therapy has significantly advanced, resulting in market approval of numerous therapeutics predominantly relying on adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV). While viral vectors have undeniably addressed several critical healthcare challenges, their clinical application has unveiled a range of limitations and safety concerns. This review highlights the emerging challenges in the field of gene therapy. At first, we discuss both the role of biological barriers in viral gene therapy with a focus on AAVs, and review current landscape of in vivo human gene therapy. We delineate advantages and disadvantages of AAVs as gene delivery vehicles, mostly from the safety perspective (hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, neurotoxicity, inflammatory responses etc.), and outline the mechanisms of adverse events in response to AAV. Contribution of every aspect of AAV vectors (genomic structure, capsid proteins) and host responses to injected AAV is considered and substantiated by basic, translational and clinical studies. The updated evaluation of recent AAV clinical trials and current medical experience clearly shows the risks of AAVs that sometimes overshadow the hopes for curing a hereditary disease. At last, a set of established and new molecular and nanotechnology tools and approaches are provided as potential solutions for mitigating or eliminating side effects. The increasing number of severe adverse reactions and, sadly deaths, demands decisive actions to resolve the issue of immune responses and extremely high doses of viral vectors used for gene therapy. In response to these challenges, various strategies are under development, including approaches aimed at augmenting characteristics of viral vectors and others focused on creating secure and efficacious non-viral vectors. This comprehensive review offers an overarching perspective on the present state of gene therapy utilizing both viral and non-viral vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artyom Kachanov
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasiya Kostyusheva
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Sergey Brezgin
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
- Division of Biotechnology, Scientific Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
| | - Ivan Karandashov
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Natalia Ponomareva
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
- Division of Biotechnology, Scientific Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
| | - Andrey Tikhonov
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alexander Lukashev
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vadim Pokrovsky
- Laboratory of Biochemical Fundamentals of Pharmacology and Cancer Models, Blokhin Cancer Research Center, Moscow, Russia
- Department of Biochemistry, People's Friendship University, Russia (RUDN University), Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey A Zamyatnin
- Division of Biotechnology, Scientific Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
- Belozersky Research, Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Alessandro Parodi
- Division of Biotechnology, Scientific Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
| | - Vladimir Chulanov
- Division of Biotechnology, Scientific Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- Faculty of Infectious Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry Kostyushev
- Martsinovsky Institute of Medical Parasitology, Tropical and Vector-Borne Diseases, Sechenov University, Moscow, Russia
- Division of Biotechnology, Scientific Center for Genetics and Life Sciences, Sirius University of Science and Technology, Sochi, Russia
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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3
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Hanlon KS, Cheng M, Ferrer RM, Ryu JR, Lee B, De La Cruz D, Patel N, Espinoza P, Santoscoy MC, Gong Y, Ng C, Nguyen DM, Nammour J, Clark SW, Heine VM, Sun W, Kozarsky K, Maguire CA. In vivo selection in non-human primates identifies AAV capsids for on-target CSF delivery to spinal cord. Mol Ther 2024; 32:2584-2603. [PMID: 38845196 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.05.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic administration of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for spinal cord gene therapy has challenges including toxicity at high doses and pre-existing immunity that reduces efficacy. Intrathecal (IT) delivery of AAV vectors into cerebral spinal fluid can avoid many issues, although distribution of the vector throughout the spinal cord is limited, and vector entry to the periphery sometimes initiates hepatotoxicity. Here we performed biopanning in non-human primates (NHPs) with an IT injected AAV9 peptide display library. We identified top candidates by sequencing inserts of AAV DNA isolated from whole tissue, nuclei, or nuclei from transgene-expressing cells. These barcoded candidates were pooled with AAV9 and compared for biodistribution and transgene expression in spinal cord and liver of IT injected NHPs. Most candidates displayed increased retention in spinal cord compared with AAV9. Greater spread from the lumbar to the thoracic and cervical regions was observed for several capsids. Furthermore, several capsids displayed decreased biodistribution to the liver compared with AAV9, providing a high on-target/low off-target biodistribution. Finally, we tested top candidates in human spinal cord organoids and found them to outperform AAV9 in efficiency of transgene expression in neurons and astrocytes. These capsids have potential to serve as leading-edge delivery vehicles for spinal cord-directed gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Killian S Hanlon
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02116, USA; University College London, London, UK
| | - Ming Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02116, USA
| | - Roberto Montoro Ferrer
- Department of Pediatric Neurology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Leukodystrophy Center, Amsterdam Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Jae Ryun Ryu
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Korea 21 Plus Program for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Boram Lee
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Korea 21 Plus Program for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Demitri De La Cruz
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02116, USA
| | - Nikita Patel
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02116, USA
| | - Paula Espinoza
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02116, USA
| | - Miguel C Santoscoy
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02116, USA
| | - Yi Gong
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02116, USA
| | - Carrie Ng
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02116, USA
| | - Diane M Nguyen
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02116, USA
| | - Josette Nammour
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02116, USA
| | - Sean W Clark
- SwanBio Therapeutics, Bala Cynwyd, PA 19005, USA
| | - Vivi M Heine
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Emma Center for Personalized Medicine, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, the Netherlands; Department of Complex Trait Genetics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, De Boelelaan, Amsterdam, the Netherland
| | - Woong Sun
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Korea 21 Plus Program for Biomedical Science, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | | | - Casey A Maguire
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02116, USA.
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4
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Słyk Ż, Stachowiak N, Małecki M. Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors for Gene Therapy of the Central Nervous System: Delivery Routes and Clinical Aspects. Biomedicines 2024; 12:1523. [PMID: 39062095 PMCID: PMC11274884 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines12071523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 06/23/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The Central Nervous System (CNS) is vulnerable to a range of diseases, including neurodegenerative and oncological conditions, which present significant treatment challenges. The blood-brain barrier (BBB) restricts molecule penetration, complicating the achievement of therapeutic concentrations in the CNS following systemic administration. Gene therapy using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors emerges as a promising strategy for treating CNS diseases, demonstrated by the registration of six gene therapy products in the past six years and 87 ongoing clinical trials. This review explores the implementation of rAAV vectors in CNS disease treatment, emphasizing AAV biology and vector engineering. Various administration methods-such as intravenous, intrathecal, and intraparenchymal routes-and experimental approaches like intranasal and intramuscular administration are evaluated, discussing their advantages and limitations in different CNS contexts. Additionally, the review underscores the importance of optimizing therapeutic efficacy through the pharmacokinetics (PK) and pharmacodynamics (PD) of rAAV vectors. A comprehensive analysis of clinical trials reveals successes and challenges, including barriers to commercialization. This review provides insights into therapeutic strategies using rAAV vectors in neurological diseases and identifies areas requiring further research, particularly in optimizing rAAV PK/PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Żaneta Słyk
- Department of Applied Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Natalia Stachowiak
- Department of Applied Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maciej Małecki
- Department of Applied Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
- Laboratory of Gene Therapy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
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5
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Brimble MA, Morton CL, Winston SM, Reeves IL, Spence Y, Cheng PH, Zhou J, Nathwani AC, Thomas PG, Souquette A, Davidoff AM. Pre-Existing Immunity to a Nucleic Acid Contaminant-Derived Antigen Mediates Transaminitis and Resultant Diminished Transgene Expression in a Mouse Model of Hepatic Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Gene Transfer. Hum Gene Ther 2024; 35:477-489. [PMID: 38420654 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2023.188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver injury with concomitant loss of therapeutic transgene expression can be a clinical sequela of systemic administration of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) when used for gene therapy, and a significant barrier to treatment efficacy. Despite this, it has been difficult to replicate this phenotype in preclinical models, thereby limiting the field's ability to systematically investigate underlying biological mechanisms and develop interventions. Prior animal models have focused on capsid and transgene-related immunogenicity, but the impact of concurrently present nontransgene or vector antigens on therapeutic efficacy, such as those derived from contaminating nucleic acids within rAAV preps, has yet to be investigated. In this study, using Ad5-CMV_GFP-immunized immunocompetent BALB/cJ mice, and a coagulation factor VIII expressing rAAV preparation that contains green flourescent protein (GFP) cDNA packaged as P5-associated contaminants, we establish a model to induce transaminitis and observe concomitant therapeutic efficacy reduction after rAAV administration. We observed strong epitope-specific anti-GFP responses in splenic CD8+ T cells when GFP cDNA was delivered as a P5-associated contaminant of rAAV, which coincided and correlated with alanine and aspartate aminotransferase elevations. Furthermore, we report a significant reduction in detectable circulating FVIII protein, as compared with control mice. Lastly, we observed an elevation in the detection of AAV8 capsid-specific T cells when GFP was delivered either as a contaminant or transgene to Ad5-CMV_GFP-immunized mice. We present this model as a potential tool to study the underlying biology of post-AAV hepatotoxicity and demonstrate the potential for T cell responses against proteins produced from AAV encapsidated nontherapeutic nucleic acids, to interfere with efficacious gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Brimble
- Departments of, Host Microbe Interactions, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Christopher L Morton
- Departments of, Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Stephen M Winston
- Departments of, Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Isaiah L Reeves
- Departments of, Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Yunyu Spence
- Departments of, Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Pei-Hsin Cheng
- Departments of, Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Junfang Zhou
- Departments of, Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Amit C Nathwani
- Research Department of Haematology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul G Thomas
- Departments of, Host Microbe Interactions, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Aisha Souquette
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew M Davidoff
- Departments of, Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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6
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Schwotzer N, El Sissy C, Desguerre I, Frémeaux-Bacchi V, Servais L, Fakhouri F. Thrombotic Microangiopathy as an Emerging Complication of Viral Vector-Based Gene Therapy. Kidney Int Rep 2024; 9:1995-2005. [PMID: 39081755 PMCID: PMC11284364 DOI: 10.1016/j.ekir.2024.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy has brought tremendous hope for patients with severe life-threatening monogenic diseases. Although studies have shown the efficacy of gene therapy, serious adverse events have also emerged, including thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA) following viral vector-based gene therapy. In this review, we briefly summarize the concept of gene therapy, and the immune response triggered by viral vectors. We also discuss the incidence, presentation, and potential underlying mechanisms, including complement activation, of gene therapy-associated TMA. Further studies are needed to better define the pathogenesis of this severe complication of gene therapy, and the optimal measures to prevent it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Schwotzer
- Service of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Carine El Sissy
- Department of Immunology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
- Paris University, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Desguerre
- Paediatric Neurology Department, Necker Hospital, APHP Centre, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Véronique Frémeaux-Bacchi
- Department of Immunology, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
- Paris University, Paris, France
| | - Laurent Servais
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Center and NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Center, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Neuromuscular Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Liege and University Hospital of Liege, Belgium
| | - Fadi Fakhouri
- Service of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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7
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Pitarch Castellano I, López Briz E, Ibáñez Albert E, Aguado Codina C, Sevilla T, Poveda Andrés JL. Onasemnogene Abeparvovec Administration via Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter: A Case Report. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 11:590. [PMID: 38790585 PMCID: PMC11120195 DOI: 10.3390/children11050590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Onasemnogene abeparvovec (OA) is the approved intravenous gene therapy for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). A functional copy of the human SMN1 gene was inserted into the target motor neuron cells via a viral vector, AAV9. In clinical trials, OA was infused through a peripheral venous catheter, and no data are available on central catheter use. Recently, we had a case where OA was administered directly into the right atrium via a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) instead of a peripheral line, as recommended. The patient was a female child aged 4 months, diagnosed as SMA type I. For practical reasons, a dose of OA according to the weight of the patient (1.1 × 1014 vectorial genomes/kg) was administered via PICC in 1 h, as the product information recommends. The drug was well tolerated, with no hypersensitivity reactions or initial elevation of transaminases or other adverse effects. To our knowledge, this is the first case reported where OA was administered via a central line. This type of administration is not contraindicated, but it is not specifically contemplated or recommended. It is unknown whether central line administration could have any implications for transduction efficiency and immunogenicity. Future studies should clarify these aspects, as each gene therapy has a specific optimal dose recorded that depends on the site and route of administration of the drug, the AAV variant and the transgene.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eduardo López Briz
- Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico la Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Eugenia Ibáñez Albert
- Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico la Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Cristina Aguado Codina
- Department of Clinical Analysis, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico la Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Teresa Sevilla
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico la Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain;
| | - José L. Poveda Andrés
- Management Department, Hospital Universitario y Politécnico la Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain;
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8
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Flotte TR. Intrathecal gene therapy for neurologic disease in humans. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1185-1186. [PMID: 38663405 PMCID: PMC11081911 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Terence R Flotte
- Horae Gene Therapy Center and Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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9
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Hordeaux J, Lamontagne RJ, Song C, Buchlis G, Dyer C, Buza EL, Ramezani A, Wielechowski E, Greig JA, Chichester JA, Bell P, Wilson JM. High-dose systemic adeno-associated virus vector administration causes liver and sinusoidal endothelial cell injury. Mol Ther 2024; 32:952-968. [PMID: 38327046 PMCID: PMC11163197 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
We analyzed retrospective data from toxicology studies involving administration of high doses of adeno-associated virus expressing different therapeutic transgenes to 21 cynomolgus and 15 rhesus macaques. We also conducted prospective studies to investigate acute toxicity following high-dose systemic administration of enhanced green fluorescent protein-expressing adeno-associated virus to 10 rhesus macaques. Toxicity was characterized by transaminitis, thrombocytopenia, and alternative complement pathway activation that peaked on post-administration day 3. Although most animals recovered, some developed ascites, generalized edema, hyperbilirubinemia, and/or coagulopathy that prompted unscheduled euthanasia. Study endpoint livers from animals that recovered and from unscheduled necropsies of those that succumbed to toxicity were analyzed via hypothesis-driven histopathology and unbiased single-nucleus RNA sequencing. All liver cell types expressed high transgene transcript levels at early unscheduled timepoints that subsequently decreased. Thrombocytopenia coincided with sinusoidal platelet microthrombi and sinusoidal endothelial injury identified via immunohistology and single-nucleus RNA sequencing. Acute toxicity, sinusoidal injury, and liver platelet sequestration were similarly observed with therapeutic transgenes and enhanced green fluorescent protein at doses ≥1 × 1014 GC/kg, suggesting it was the consequence of high-dose systemic adeno-associated virus administration, not green fluorescent protein toxicity. These findings highlight a potential toxic effect of high-dose intravenous adeno-associated virus on nonhuman primate liver microvasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Hordeaux
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - R Jason Lamontagne
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Chunjuan Song
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - George Buchlis
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Cecilia Dyer
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Buza
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ali Ramezani
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Erik Wielechowski
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jenny A Greig
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jessica A Chichester
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Peter Bell
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - James M Wilson
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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10
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Xie Q, Chen X, Ma H, Zhu Y, Ma Y, Jalinous L, Cox GF, Weaver F, Yang J, Kennedy Z, Gruntman A, Du A, Su Q, He R, Tai PW, Gao G, Xie J. Improved gene therapy for spinal muscular atrophy in mice using codon-optimized hSMN1 transgene and hSMN1 gene-derived promotor. EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:945-965. [PMID: 38413838 PMCID: PMC11018631 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-024-00037-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Physiological regulation of transgene expression is a major challenge in gene therapy. Onasemnogene abeparvovec (Zolgensma®) is an approved adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector gene therapy for infants with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), however, adverse events have been observed in both animals and patients following treatment. The construct contains a native human survival motor neuron 1 (hSMN1) transgene driven by a strong, cytomegalovirus enhancer/chicken β-actin (CMVen/CB) promoter providing high, ubiquitous tissue expression of SMN. We developed a second-generation AAV9 gene therapy expressing a codon-optimized hSMN1 transgene driven by a promoter derived from the native hSMN1 gene. This vector restored SMN expression close to physiological levels in the central nervous system and major systemic organs of a severe SMA mouse model. In a head-to-head comparison between the second-generation vector and a benchmark vector, identical in design to onasemnogene abeparvovec, the 2nd-generation vector showed better safety and improved efficacy in SMA mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Xiupeng Chen
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Hong Ma
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Viral Vector Core, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Yijie Ma
- CANbridge Pharmaceuticals, Burlington, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jun Yang
- CANbridge Pharmaceuticals, Burlington, MA, USA
| | | | - Alisha Gruntman
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Pediatrics, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ailing Du
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Qin Su
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Viral Vector Core, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ran He
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Viral Vector Core, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Phillip Wl Tai
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Viral Vector Core, UMass Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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11
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Tien E, Grubor B, Kirkland M, Chan SJ, van der Munnik N, Xu W, Henry K, Hamann S, Wei C, Lee WH, Gianni D, Brennecke A, Nambiar K, Chen J, Liu B, Shen S, Tremblay C, Plowey ED, Trapa P, Fikes J, Suh J, Morris D. Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Dorsal Root Ganglion Toxicity in the New Zealand White Rabbit. Toxicol Pathol 2024; 52:35-54. [PMID: 38385340 DOI: 10.1177/01926233241229808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated degeneration of sensory neurons in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and trigeminal ganglia (TG) has been observed in non-human primates (NHPs) following intravenous (IV) and intrathecal (IT) delivery. Administration of recombinant AAV encoding a human protein transgene via a single intra-cisterna magna (ICM) injection in New Zealand white rabbits resulted in histopathology changes very similar to NHPs: mononuclear cell infiltration, degeneration/necrosis of sensory neurons, and nerve fiber degeneration of sensory tracts in the spinal cord and of multiple nerves. AAV-associated clinical signs and incidence/severity of histologic findings indicated that rabbits were equally or more sensitive than NHPs to sensory neuron damage. Another study using human and rabbit transgene constructs of the same protein demonstrated comparable changes suggesting that the effects are not an immune response to the non-self protein transgene. Rabbit has not been characterized as a species for general toxicity testing of AAV gene therapies, but these studies suggest that it may be an alternative model to investigate mechanisms of AAV-mediated neurotoxicity and test novel AAV designs mitigating these adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Tien
- Biogen Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Su Jing Chan
- Voyager Therapeutics, Inc., Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Wenlong Xu
- Sonata Therapeutics, Watertown, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kate Henry
- Biogen Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Cong Wei
- Biogen Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Jeron Chen
- Voyager Therapeutics, Inc., Lexington, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bin Liu
- Vertex, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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12
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Audic F. Gene therapy in spinal muscular atrophy. Arch Pediatr 2023; 30:8S12-8S17. [PMID: 38043977 DOI: 10.1016/s0929-693x(23)00222-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Infantile SMA is a neuromuscular disease caused by the motor neuron degeneration, depending on the age of appearance of clinical signs and the evolution of the disease, three types of decreasing severity have been defined. SMA is caused by mutations or deletions of the SMN1 gene and disease. Various therapies aimed at increasing SMN protein levels have been developed. Gene therapy is part of the therapeutic arsenal now available for the treatment of SMA under certain conditions. It uses the scAAV9 vector carrying a functional copy of SMN1 to restore SMN protein expression at the cellular level. Because the adeno-associated virus genome is maintained as it is an episome, a single intravenous administration is sufficient to producing a long-lasting therapeutic effect. The effectiveness of gene replacement therapy in patients with SMA has been demonstrated in various studies. It is now clear that treatment as early as possible provides better clinical results. However, this treatment must be carried out in a suitable medical environment, with close monitoring initially due to potentially serious side effects. In France, this treatment has been available since 2019. A national committee of experts involved in the treatment of pediatric SMA patients has established that pediatric patients with SMA decide on the indications for disease-modifying therapies (DMT) in children. The French Spinal Muscular Atrophy Registry (SMA France Registry) was established in January 2020. The registry includes all patients with genetically confirmed SMN1-related SMA. All patients treated with GT are systematically included in the registry. As of July 21, 2023: 72 patients with SMA have been treated with GT in France since June 2019. The arrival of new treatments reveals new clinical phenotypes of SMA which constitute a new management challenge. Treatment as early as possible is also a very important factor for a favorable outcome and calls for presymptomatic screening. However, the arrival of these new treatments, extremely expensive raises other socio-economic questions. © 2023 Published by Elsevier Masson SAS on behalf of French Society of Pediatrics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frédérique Audic
- Centre de Référence des Maladies Neuromusculaires de l'enfant PACARARE, Service de Neuropédiatrie, Hôpital Timone Enfants, 264 rue Saint Pierre, 14 13385 Marseille Cedex 5, France.
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13
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Hanlon KS, Cheng M, De La Cruz D, Patel N, Santoscoy MC, Gong Y, Ng C, Nguyen DM, Nammour J, Clark SW, Kozarsky K, Maguire CA. In vivo selection in non-human primates identifies superior AAV capsids for on-target CSF delivery to spinal cord. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.13.557506. [PMID: 37745398 PMCID: PMC10515928 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.13.557506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Systemic administration of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors for spinal cord gene therapy has challenges including toxicity at high doses and pre-existing immunity that reduces efficacy. Intrathecal delivery of AAV vectors into the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) can avoid many of the issues of systemic delivery, although achieving broad distribution of the vector and transgene expression throughout the spinal cord is challenging and vector entry to the periphery occurs, sometimes initiating hepatotoxicity. Here we performed two rounds of in vivo biopanning in non-human primates (NHPs) with an AAV9 peptide display library injected intrathecally and performed insert sequencing on DNA isolated from either whole tissue (conventional selection), isolated nuclei, or nuclei from transgene-expressing cells. A subsequent barcoded pool of candidates and AAV9 was compared at the DNA (biodistribution) and RNA (expression) level in spinal cord and liver of intrathecally injected NHPs. Most of the candidates displayed enhanced biodistribution compared to AAV9 at all levels of spinal cord ranging from 2 to 265-fold. Nuclear isolation or expression-based selection yielded 4 of 7 candidate capsids with enhanced transgene expression in spinal cord (up to 2.4-fold), while no capsid obtained by conventional selection achieved that level. Furthermore, several capsids displayed lower biodistribution to the liver of up to 1,250-fold, compared to AAV9, providing a remarkable on target/off target biodistribution ratio. These capsids may have potential for gene therapy programs directed at the spinal cord and the selection method described here should be useful in clinically relevant large animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Killian S. Hanlon
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ming Cheng
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Demitri De La Cruz
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Nikita Patel
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Miguel C. Santoscoy
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Yi Gong
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Carrie Ng
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Diane M. Nguyen
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Josette Nammour
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | | | - Casey A. Maguire
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
- Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Charlestown, MA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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