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Théron A, Maumus M, Biron-Andreani C, Sirvent N, Jorgensen C, Noël D. What is the rationale for mesenchymal stromal cells based therapies in the management of hemophilic arthropathies? Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2024; 32:634-642. [PMID: 38160743 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2023.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024]
Abstract
Hemophilia A and B are rare X-linked genetic bleeding disorders due to a complete or partial deficiency in the coagulation factors VIII or IX, respectively. The main treatment for hemophilia is prophylactic and based on coagulation factor replacement therapies. These treatments have significantly reduced bleeding and improved the patients' quality of life. Nevertheless, repeated joint bleedings (hemarthroses), even subclinical hemarthroses, can lead to hemophilic arthropathy (HA). This disabling condition is characterized by chronic pain due to synovial inflammation, cartilage and bone destruction requiring ultimately joint replacement. HA resembles to rheumatoid arthritis because of synovitis but HA is considered as having similarities with osteoarthritis as illustrated by the migration of immune cells, production of inflammatory cytokines, synovial hypertrophy and cartilage damage. Various drugs have been evaluated for the management of HA with limited success. The objective of the review is to discuss new therapeutic approaches with a special focus on the studies that have investigated the potential of using mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) in the management of HA. A systematic review of the literature has been made. Most of the studies have focused on the interest of MSCs for the delivery of missing factors VIII or IX but in some studies, more insight on the effect of MSC injection on synovial inflammation or cartilage structure were provided and put in perspective for possible clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Théron
- IRMB, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France; Resources and Competence Center for Hereditary Hemorrhagic Diseases, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France; Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Marie Maumus
- IRMB, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France
| | - Christine Biron-Andreani
- Resources and Competence Center for Hereditary Hemorrhagic Diseases, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Nicolas Sirvent
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Christian Jorgensen
- IRMB, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France; Clinical Immunology and Osteoarticular Disease Therapeutic Unit, Department of Rheumatology, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Danièle Noël
- IRMB, University of Montpellier, INSERM, Montpellier, France; Clinical Immunology and Osteoarticular Disease Therapeutic Unit, Department of Rheumatology, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
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2
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Bala NS, Thornburg CD. Gene Therapy in Hemophilia A: Achievements, Challenges, and Perspectives. Semin Thromb Hemost 2024. [PMID: 38588706 DOI: 10.1055/s-0044-1785483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Strides in advancements of care of persons with hemophilia include development of long-acting factor replacement therapies, novel substitution and hemostatic rebalancing agents, and most recently approved gene therapy. Several decades of preclinical and clinical trials have led to development of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector-mediated gene transfer for endogenous production of factor VIII (FVIII) in hemophilia A (HA). Only one gene therapy product for HA (valoctocogene roxaparvovec) has been approved by regulatory authorities. Results of valoctocogene roxaparvovec trial show significant improvement in bleeding rates and use of factor replacement therapy; however, sustainability and duration of response show variability with overall decline in FVIII expression over time. Further challenges include untoward adverse effects involving liver toxicity requiring immunosuppression and development of neutralizing antibodies to AAV vector rendering future doses ineffective. Real-life applicability of gene therapy for HA will require appropriate patient screening, infrastructure setup, long-term monitoring including data collection of patient-reported outcomes and innovative payment schemes. This review article highlights the success and development of HA gene therapy trials, challenges including adverse outcomes and variability of response, and perspectives on approach to gene therapy including shared decision-making and need for future strategies to overcome the several unmet needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha S Bala
- Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, Hemophilia and Thrombosis Treatment Center, San Diego, California
- Department of Pediatrics, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
| | - Courtney D Thornburg
- Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, Hemophilia and Thrombosis Treatment Center, San Diego, California
- Department of Pediatrics, UC San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California
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3
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Yang P, Yang Y, Wu Y, Huang C, Ding Y, Wang X, Wang S. An optimized and robust SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus system for viral entry research. J Virol Methods 2021; 295:114221. [PMID: 34182038 PMCID: PMC8233049 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is the culprit causing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). For the study of SARS-CoV-2 infection in a BSL-2 laboratory, a SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus particle (SARS2pp) production and infection system was constructed by using a lentiviral vector bearing dual-reporter genes eGFP and firefly luciferase (Luc2) for easy observation and analysis. Comparison of SARS2pp different production conditions revealed that the pseudovirus titer could be greatly improved by: 1) removing the last 19 amino acids of the spike protein and replacing the signal peptide with the mouse Igk signal sequence; 2) expressing the spike protein using CMV promoter other than CAG (a hybrid promoter consisting of a CMV enhancer, beta-actin promoter, splice donor, and a beta-globin splice acceptor); 3) screening better optimized spike protein sequences for SARS2pp production; and 4) adding 1 % BSA in the SARS2pp production medium. For infection, this SARS2pp system showed a good linear relationship between MOI 2-0.0002 and then was successfully used to evaluate SARS-CoV-2 infection inhibitors including recombinant human ACE2 proteins and SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibodies. The kidney, liver and small intestine-derived cell lines were also found to show different susceptibility to SARSpp and SARS2pp. Given its robustness and good performance, it is believed that this pseudovirus particle production and infection system will greatly promote future research for SARS-CoV-2 entry mechanisms and inhibitors and can be easily applied to study new emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Yuming Wu
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Cong Huang
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China; Cooperative Innovation Center for Molecular Target New Drug Study, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Yanlei Ding
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China
| | - Xuejun Wang
- Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China.
| | - Shengqi Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang 453007, China; Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine, Beijing 100850, China.
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Unexpected enhancement of FVIII immunogenicity by endothelial expression in lentivirus-transduced and transgenic mice. Blood Adv 2021; 4:2272-2285. [PMID: 32453842 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Factor VIII (FVIII) replacement therapy for hemophilia A is complicated by development of inhibitory antibodies (inhibitors) in ∼30% of patients. Because endothelial cells (ECs) are the primary physiologic expression site, we probed the therapeutic potential of genetically restoring FVIII expression selectively in ECs in hemophilia A mice (FVIIInull). Expression of FVIII was driven by the Tie2 promoter in the context of lentivirus (LV)-mediated in situ transduction (T2F8LV) or embryonic stem cell-mediated transgenesis (T2F8Tg). Both endothelial expression approaches were associated with a strikingly robust immune response. Following in situ T2F8LV-mediated EC transduction, all FVIIInull mice developed inhibitors but had no detectable plasma FVIII. In the transgenic approach, the T2F8Tg mice had normalized plasma FVIII levels, but showed strong sensitivity to developing an FVIII immune response upon FVIII immunization. A single injection of FVIII with incomplete Freund adjuvant led to high titers of inhibitors and reduction of plasma FVIII to undetectable levels. Because ECs are putative major histocompatibility complex class II (MHCII)-expressing nonhematopoietic, "semiprofessional" antigen-presenting cells (APCs), we asked whether they might directly influence the FVIII immune responses. Imaging and flow cytometric studies confirmed that both murine and human ECs express MHCII and efficiently bind and take up FVIII protein in vitro. Moreover, microvascular ECs preconditioned ex vivo with inflammatory cytokines could functionally present exogenously taken-up FVIII to previously primed CD4+/CXCR5+ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells to drive FVIII-specific proliferation. Our results show an unanticipated immunogenicity of EC-expressed FVIII and suggest a context-dependent role for ECs in the regulation of inhibitors as auxiliary APCs for Tfh cells.
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Cai Y, Shi Q. Platelet-Targeted FVIII Gene Therapy Restores Hemostasis and Induces Immune Tolerance for Hemophilia A. Front Immunol 2020; 11:964. [PMID: 32595633 PMCID: PMC7303294 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Platelets are small anucleated blood components primarily described as playing a fundamental role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Over the last decades, increasing evidence has demonstrated the role of platelets in modulating inflammatory reactions and immune responses. Platelets harbor several specialized organelles: granules, endosomes, lysosomes, and mitochondria that can synthesize proteins with pre-stored mRNAs when needed. While the functions of platelets in the immune response are well-recognized, little is known about the potential role of platelets in immune tolerance. Recent studies demonstrate that platelet-specific FVIII gene therapy can restore hemostasis and induce immune tolerance in hemophilia A mice, even mice with preexisting anti-FVIII immunity. Here, we review the potential mechanisms by which platelet-targeted FVIII gene therapy restores hemostasis in the presence of anti-FVIII inhibitory antibodies and induces immune tolerance in hemophilia A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanhua Cai
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Qizhen Shi
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Children's Research Institute, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,MACC Fund Research Center, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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6
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Platelet-inspired therapeutics: current status, limitations, clinical implications, and future potential. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2020; 11:24-48. [PMID: 32323161 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-020-00751-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent research has been successful in demonstrating the importance of the addition of platelets to the field of cell-mediated therapeutics, by making use of different platelet forms to design modalities able to positively impact a wide range of diseases. A key obstacle hindering the success of conventional therapeutic interventions is their inability to produce targeted treatment, resulting in a number of systemic side effects and a longer duration for the onset of action to occur. An additional challenge facing current popular therapeutic interventions is biocompatibility of the system, resulting in the decline of patient compliance to treatment. In an attempt to address these challenges, the past few decades have been witness to the discovery and innovation of precision therapy, in order to achieve targeted treatment for an array of conditions, thereby superseding alternative mechanisms of treatment. Platelet-mediated therapeutics, as well as employing platelets as drug delivery vehicles, are key components in advancing precision therapy within research and in clinical settings. This novel approach is designed with the objective that the platelets retain their original structure and functions within the body, thereby mitigating biocompatibility challenges. In this article, we review the current significant impact that the addition of platelet-inspired systems has made on the field of therapeutics; explore certain limitations of each system, together with ideas on how to overcome them; and discuss the clinical implications and future potential of platelet-inspired therapeutics. Graphical abstract.
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Luo X, Chen J, Schroeder JA, Allen KP, Baumgartner CK, Malarkannan S, Hu J, Williams CB, Shi Q. Platelet Gene Therapy Promotes Targeted Peripheral Tolerance by Clonal Deletion and Induction of Antigen-Specific Regulatory T Cells. Front Immunol 2018; 9:1950. [PMID: 30237796 PMCID: PMC6136275 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.01950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Delivery of gene therapy as well as of biologic therapeutics is often hampered by the immune response of the subject receiving the therapy. We have reported that effective gene therapy for hemophilia utilizing platelets as a delivery vehicle engenders profound tolerance to the therapeutic product. In this study, we investigated whether this strategy can be applied to induce immune tolerance to a non-coagulant protein and explored the fundamental mechanism of immune tolerance induced by platelet-targeted gene delivery. We used ovalbumin (OVA) as a surrogate non-coagulant protein and constructed a lentiviral vector in which OVA is driven by the platelet-specific αIIb promoter. Platelet-specific OVA expression was introduced by bone marrow transduction and transplantation. Greater than 95% of OVA was stored in platelet α-granules. Control mice immunized with OVA generated OVA-specific IgG antibodies; however, mice expressing OVA in platelets did not. Furthermore, OVA expression in platelets was sufficient to prevent the rejection of skin grafts from CAG-OVA mice, demonstrating that immune tolerance developed in platelet-specific OVA-transduced recipients. To assess the mechanism(s) involved in this tolerance we used OTII mice that express CD4+ effector T cells specific for an OVA-derived peptide. After platelet-specific OVA gene transfer, these mice showed normal thymic maturation of the T cells ruling against central tolerance. In the periphery, tolerance involved elimination of OVA-specific CD4+ effector T cells by apoptosis and expansion of an OVA-specific regulatory T cell population. These experiments reveal the existence of natural peripheral tolerance processes to platelet granule contents which can be co-opted to deliver therapeutically important products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofeng Luo
- Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory on Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Jocelyn A Schroeder
- Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Resource Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,MACC Fund Research Center, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Kenneth P Allen
- Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Resource Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | | | - Subramaniam Malarkannan
- Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Resource Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Jianda Hu
- Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory on Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Calvin B Williams
- Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Resource Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Qizhen Shi
- Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Departments of Pediatrics, Medicine, Microbiology and Immunology, and Biomedical Resource Center, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,MACC Fund Research Center, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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8
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Abstract
Gene therapy is an attractive approach for disease treatment. Since platelets are abundant cells circulating in blood with the distinctive abilities of storage and delivery and fundamental roles in hemostasis and immunity, they could be a unique target for gene therapy of diseases. Recent studies have demonstrated that ectopic expression of factor VIII (FVIII) in platelets under control of the platelet-specific promoter results in FVIII storage together with its carrier protein von Willebrand factor (VWF) in α-granules and the phenotypic correction of hemophilia A. Importantly, the storage and sequestration of FVIII in platelets appears to effectively restore hemostasis even in the presence of functional-blocking inhibitory antibodies. This review summarizes studies on platelet-specific gene therapy of hemophilia A as well as hemophilia B.
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9
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Chen Y, Luo X, Schroeder JA, Chen J, Baumgartner CK, Hu J, Shi Q. Immune tolerance induced by platelet-targeted factor VIII gene therapy in hemophilia A mice is CD4 T cell mediated. J Thromb Haemost 2017; 15:1994-2004. [PMID: 28799202 PMCID: PMC5630523 DOI: 10.1111/jth.13800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Essentials The immune response is a significant concern in gene therapy. Platelet-targeted gene therapy can restore hemostasis and induce immune tolerance. CD4 T cell compartment is tolerized after platelet gene therapy. Preconditioning regimen affects immune tolerance induction in platelet gene therapy. SUMMARY Background Immune responses are a major concern in gene therapy. Our previous studies demonstrated that platelet-targeted factor VIII (FVIII) (2bF8) gene therapy together with in vivo drug selection of transduced cells can rescue the bleeding diathesis and induce immune tolerance in FVIIInull mice. Objective To investigate whether non-selectable 2bF8 lentiviral vector (LV) for the induction of platelet-FVIII expression is sufficient to induce immune tolerance and how immune tolerance is induced after 2bF8LV gene therapy. Methods Platelet-FVIII expression was introduced by 2bF8LV transduction and transplantation. FVIII assays and tail bleeding tests were used to confirm the success of platelet gene therapy. Animals were challenged with rhF8 to explore if immune tolerance was induced after gene therapy. Treg cell analysis, T-cell proliferation assay and memory B-cell-mediated ELISPOT assay were used to investigate the potential mechanisms of immune tolerance. Results We showed that platelet-FVIII expression was sustained and the bleeding diathesis was restored in FVIIInull mice after 2bF8LV gene therapy. None of the transduced recipients developed anti-FVIII inhibitory antibodies in the groups preconditioned with 660 cGy irradiation or busulfan plus ATG treatment even after rhF8 challenge. Treg cells significantly increased in 2bF8LV-transduced recipients and the immune tolerance developed was transferable. CD4+ T cells from treated animals failed to proliferate in response to rhF8 re-stimulation, but memory B cells could differentiate into antibody secreting cells in 2bF8LV-transduced recipients. Conclusion 2bF8LV gene transfer without in vivo selection of manipulated cells can introduce immune tolerance in hemophilia A mice and this immune tolerance is CD4+ T cell mediated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Chen
- Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - X Luo
- Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - J A Schroeder
- Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - J Chen
- Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - C K Baumgartner
- Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - J Hu
- Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Q Shi
- Blood Research Institute, Blood Center of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Fujian Institute of Hematology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
- MACC Fund Research Center, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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10
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Ma Y, Yu L, Pan S, Gao S, Chen W, Zhang X, Dong W, Li J, Zhou R, Huang L, Han Y, Bai L, Zhang L, Zhang L. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated targeting of the Rosa26 locus produces Cre reporter rat strains for monitoring Cre-loxP-mediated lineage tracing. FEBS J 2017; 284:3262-3277. [PMID: 28763160 DOI: 10.1111/febs.14188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The rat is an important laboratory animal for physiological, toxicological and pharmacological studies. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated 9 (Cas9) is a simple and efficient tool to generate precise genetic modifications in rats, which will promote the accumulation of genetic resources and enable more precise studies of gene function. To monitor Cre-loxP-mediated excision in vivo, we generated a Cre reporter rat strain (Rosa26-imCherry) by knockin of a Cre reporter cassette at the Rosa26 locus using CRISPR/Cas9. Rosa26-imCherry rats exhibited inducible expression of the mCherry cassette (imCherry) using the Cre-loxP system, whereas normal rats exhibited ubiquitous expression of eGFP but not mCherry in the whole body. Injection of adeno-associated virus serotype 9-Cre into the hippocampus and skeletal muscle resulted in mCherry expression in virus-infected cells. Cre-loxP-mediated mCherry expression was then evaluated by crossing Rosa26-imCherry rats with transgenic rats ubiquitously expressing CAG-Cre, heart-specific α-MHC-Cre transgenic rats and liver-specific Alb-Cre knockin rats. Finally, using the established system the expression pattern of Cre driven by two endogenous gene promoters (Wfs1-Cre knockin rat, FabP2-Cre knockin rat) was traced. In summary, we demonstrated excision of the loxP-flanked allele in Rosa26-imCherry rats via activation of mCherry expression in the presence of Cre recombinase. This newly established Rosa26-imCherry rat strain represents a useful tool to facilitate Cre-expression pattern determination and tracing experiments.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- CRISPR-Cas Systems
- Crosses, Genetic
- Dependovirus/genetics
- Dependovirus/metabolism
- Embryo, Mammalian
- Female
- Gene Editing/methods
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Gene Knock-In Techniques
- Gene Targeting
- Genes, Reporter
- Genetic Loci
- Genetic Vectors/chemistry
- Genetic Vectors/metabolism
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
- Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism
- Integrases/genetics
- Integrases/metabolism
- Liver/metabolism
- Luminescent Proteins/genetics
- Luminescent Proteins/metabolism
- Male
- Myocardium/metabolism
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics
- RNA, Guide, CRISPR-Cas Systems/metabolism
- RNA, Untranslated/genetics
- RNA, Untranslated/metabolism
- Rats
- Rats, Transgenic
- Red Fluorescent Protein
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanwu Ma
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Yu
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shuo Pan
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Dong
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Li
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lan Huang
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunlin Han
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Bai
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lianfeng Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, NHFPC, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Peking Union Medicine College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Neuroscience Center, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
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11
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Follistatin N terminus differentially regulates muscle size and fat in vivo. Exp Mol Med 2017; 49:e377. [PMID: 28912572 PMCID: PMC5628274 DOI: 10.1038/emm.2017.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Revised: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Delivery of follistatin (FST) represents a promising strategy for both muscular dystrophies and diabetes, as FST is a robust antagonist of myostatin and activin, which are critical regulators of skeletal muscle and adipose tissues. FST is a multi-domain protein, and deciphering the function of different domains will facilitate novel designs for FST-based therapy. Our study aims to investigate the role of the N-terminal domain (ND) of FST in regulating muscle and fat mass in vivo. Different FST constructs were created and packaged into the adeno-associated viral vector (AAV). Overexpression of wild-type FST in normal mice greatly increased muscle mass while decreasing fat accumulation, whereas overexpression of an N terminus mutant or N terminus-deleted FST had no effect on muscle mass but moderately decreased fat mass. In contrast, FST-I-I containing the complete N terminus and double domain I without domain II and III had no effect on fat but increased skeletal muscle mass. The effects of different constructs on differentiated C2C12 myotubes were consistent with the in vivo finding. We hypothesized that ND was critical for myostatin blockade, mediating the increase in muscle mass, and was less pivotal for activin binding, which accounts for the decrease in the fat tissue. An in vitro TGF-beta1-responsive reporter assay revealed that FST-I-I and N terminus-mutated or -deleted FST showed differential responses to blockade of activin and myostatin. Our study provided direct in vivo evidence for a role of the ND of FST, shedding light on future potential molecular designs for FST-based gene therapy.
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Staber JM, Pollpeter MJ, Anderson CG, Burrascano M, Cooney AL, Sinn PL, Rutkowski DT, Raschke WC, McCray PB. Long-term correction of hemophilia A mice following lentiviral mediated delivery of an optimized canine factor VIII gene. Gene Ther 2017; 24:742-748. [PMID: 28905885 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2017.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Revised: 07/17/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Current therapies for hemophilia A include frequent prophylactic or on-demand intravenous factor treatments which are costly, inconvenient and may lead to inhibitor formation. Viral vector delivery of factor VIII (FVIII) cDNA has the potential to alleviate the debilitating clotting defects. Lentiviral-based vectors delivered to murine models of hemophilia A mediate phenotypic correction. However, a limitation of lentiviral-mediated FVIII delivery is inefficient transduction of target cells. Here, we engineer a feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) -based lentiviral vector pseudotyped with the baculovirus GP64 envelope glycoprotein to mediate efficient gene transfer to mouse hepatocytes. In anticipation of future studies in FVIII-deficient dogs, we investigated the efficacy of FIV-delivered canine FVIII (cFVIII). Codon-optimization of the cFVIII sequence increased activity and decreased blood loss as compared to the native sequence. Further, we compared a standard B-domain deleted FVIII cDNA to a cDNA including 256 amino acids of the B-domain with 11 potential asparagine-linked oligosaccharide linkages. Restoring a partial B-domain resulted in modest reduction of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress markers. Importantly, our optimized vectors achieved wild-type levels of phenotypic correction with minimal inhibitor formation. These studies provide insights into optimal design of a therapeutically relevant gene therapy vector for a devastating bleeding disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Staber
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - M J Pollpeter
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | | | - A L Cooney
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Center for Gene Therapy of Cystic Fibrosis and Other Genetic Diseases, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - P L Sinn
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Center for Gene Therapy of Cystic Fibrosis and Other Genetic Diseases, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - D T Rutkowski
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - W C Raschke
- Department of Virogenics, San Diego, CA, USA
| | - P B McCray
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Center for Gene Therapy of Cystic Fibrosis and Other Genetic Diseases, Iowa City, IA, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
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13
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Jiang JG, Shen GF, Li J, Qiao C, Xiao B, Yan H, Wang DW, Xiao X. Adeno-associated virus-mediated expression of myostatin propeptide improves the growth of skeletal muscle and attenuates hyperglycemia in db/db mice. Gene Ther 2016; 24:167-175. [PMID: 27983718 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2016.85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2016] [Revised: 10/25/2016] [Accepted: 11/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Inhibition of myostatin, a negative growth modulator for muscle, can functionally enhance muscle mass and improve glucose and fat metabolism in myostatin propeptide (MPRO) transgenic mice. This study was to investigate whether myostatin inhibition by adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene delivery of MPRO could improve muscle mass and achieve therapeutic effects on glucose regulation and lipid metabolism in the db/db mice and the mechanisms involved in that process. Eight-week-old male db/db mice were administered saline, AAV-GFP and AAV-MPRO/Fc vectors and monitored random blood glucose levels and body weight for 36 weeks. Body weight gain was not different during follow-up among the groups, but AAV-MPRO/Fc vectors resulted high level of MPRO in the blood companied by an increase in skeletal muscle mass and muscle hypertrophy. In addition, AAV-MPRO/Fc-treated db/db mice showed significantly lower blood glucose and insulin levels and significantly increased glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity compared with the control groups (P<0.05). Moreover, these mice exhibited lower triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acid (FFA) content in the skeletal muscle, although no difference was observed in fat pad weights and serum TG and FFA levels. Finally, AAV-MPRO/Fc-treated mice had enhanced insulin signaling in the skeletal muscle. These data suggest that AAV-mediated MPRO therapy may provide an important clue for potential clinical applications to prevent type II diabetes, and these studies confirm that MPRO is a therapeutic target for type II diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J G Jiang
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Gene Therapy Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - G F Shen
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Gene Therapy Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - J Li
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - C Qiao
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - B Xiao
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - H Yan
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Gene Therapy Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - D W Wang
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Gene Therapy Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - X Xiao
- Departments of Internal Medicine and Gene Therapy Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.,Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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14
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Setiawan LC, van Dort KA, Rits MA, Kootstra NA. Mutations in CypA Binding Region of HIV-1 Capsid Affect Capsid Stability and Viral Replication in Primary Macrophages. AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses 2016; 32:390-8. [PMID: 26414211 DOI: 10.1089/aid.2014.0361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the cyclophilin A (CypA) binding region in the HIV-1 capsid affect their dependency on the known HIV-1 cofactor CypA and allow escape from the HIV-1 restriction factor Trim5α in human and simian cells. Here we study the effect of these mutations in the CypA binding region of capsid on cofactor binding, capsid destabilization, and viral replication in primary cells. We showed that the viral capsid with mutations in the CypA binding region (CypA-BR) interacted efficiently with CypA, but had an increased stability upon infection as compared to the wild-type capsid. Interestingly, the wild-type virus was able to infect monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) more efficiently as compared to the CypA-BR mutant variant. The lower infectivity of the CypA-BR mutant virus in MDM was associated with lower levels of reverse transcription products. Similar to the wild-type virus, the CypA-BR mutant variant was unable to induce a strong innate response in primary macrophages. These data demonstrate that mutations in the CypA binding site of the capsid resulted in higher capsid stability and hampered infectivity in macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurentia C. Setiawan
- Laboratory of Viral Immune Pathogenesis, Department of Experimental Immunology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Karel A. van Dort
- Laboratory of Viral Immune Pathogenesis, Department of Experimental Immunology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten A.N. Rits
- Laboratory of Viral Immune Pathogenesis, Department of Experimental Immunology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Neeltje A. Kootstra
- Laboratory of Viral Immune Pathogenesis, Department of Experimental Immunology, Center for Infection and Immunity Amsterdam (CINIMA), Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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15
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Scherbakov AM, Sorokin DV, Tatarskiy VV, Prokhorov NS, Semina SE, Berstein LM, Krasil'nikov MA. The phenomenon of acquired resistance to metformin in breast cancer cells: The interaction of growth pathways and estrogen receptor signaling. IUBMB Life 2016; 68:281-92. [PMID: 26892736 DOI: 10.1002/iub.1481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2015] [Accepted: 01/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Metformin, a biguanide antidiabetic drug, is used to decrease hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Recently, the epidemiological studies revealed the potential of metformin as an anti-tumor drug for several types of cancer, including breast cancer. Anti-tumor metformin action was found to be mediated, at least in part, via activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-intracellular energy sensor, which inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and some other signaling pathways. Nevertheless, some patients can be non-sensitive or resistant to metformin action. Here we analyzed the mechanism of the formation of metformin-resistant phenotype in breast cancer cells and its role in estrogen receptor (ER) regulation. The experiments were performed on the ER-positive MCF-7 breast cancer cells and metformin-resistant MCF-7 subline (MCF-7/M) developed due to long-term metformin treatment. The transcriptional activity of NF-κB and ER was measured by the luciferase reporter gene analysis. The protein expression was determined by immunoblotting (Snail1, (phospho)AMPK, (phospho)IκBα, (phospho)mTOR, cyclin D1, (phospho)Akt and ERα) and immunohistochemical analysis (E-cadherin). We have found that: 1) metformin treatment of MCF-7 cells is accompanied with the stimulation of AMPK and inhibition of growth-related proteins including IκBα, NF-κB, cyclin D1 and ERα; 2) long-term metformin treatment lead to the appearance and progression of cross-resistance to metformin and tamoxifen; the resistant cells are characterized with the unaffected AMPK activity, but the irreversible ER suppression and constitutive activation of Akt/Snail1 signaling; 3) Akt/Snail1 signaling is involved into progression of metformin resistance. The results presented may be considered as the first evidence of the progression of cross-resistance to metformin and tamoxifen in breast cancer cells. Importantly, the acquired resistance to both drugs is based on the constitutive activation of Akt/Snail1/E-cadherin signaling that opens new perspectives to overcome the metformin/tamoxifen resistance of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander M Scherbakov
- Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Institute of Clinical Oncology, N.N. Blokhin Cancer Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
| | - Danila V Sorokin
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Carcinogenesis, N.N. Blokhin Cancer Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
| | - Victor V Tatarskiy
- Laboratory of Cell Death Mechanisms, Institute of Carcinogenesis, N.N. Blokhin Cancer Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolay S Prokhorov
- Laboratory of Microbial Viruses, S.N. Winogradsky Institute of Microbiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Svetlana E Semina
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Carcinogenesis, N.N. Blokhin Cancer Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
| | - Lev M Berstein
- Laboratory of Oncoendocrinology, N.N. Petrov Research Institute of Oncology, St, Petersburg, Russia
| | - Mikhail A Krasil'nikov
- Laboratory of Molecular Endocrinology, Institute of Carcinogenesis, N.N. Blokhin Cancer Research Centre, Moscow, Russia
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16
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Abbasi H, Hosseini SM, Hajian M, Nasiri Z, Bahadorani M, Tahmoorespur M, Nasiri MR, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Lentiviral vector-mediated transduction of goat undifferentiated spermatogonia. Anim Reprod Sci 2015; 163:10-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Revised: 08/05/2015] [Accepted: 09/02/2015] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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17
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Adaptation of HIV-1 to rhTrim5α-mediated restriction in vitro. Virology 2015; 486:239-47. [PMID: 26469551 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Revised: 08/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/24/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recently, gene therapy with rhTrim5α, an innate restriction factor which blocks HIV-1 at a post entry step, have been shown to be applicable as treatment in vitro. However, HIV-1 might adapt to replicate in the presence of rhTrim5α due to its high mutation rate. Here we observed that two different HIV-1 isolates were able to replicate in cells expressing high levels of rhTrim5α. Escape mutations were found in the conserved regions of the viral genome, Gag and p51 RT subunit. Furthermore, the escape mutations, predominantly in the capsid and p51 RT, altered viral sensitivity to modified huTrim5α R332P and R335G variants, with only a minor effect on the replication capacity in primary PBMCs. Therefore, gene therapy with rhTrim5α might be suitable for HIV-1 treatment, however the virus will eventually escape the pressure by gaining mutations in the conserved regions of the viral genome without any severe fitness cost.
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18
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Abstract
Hemophilia is an X-linked inherited bleeding disorder consisting of two classifications, hemophilia A and hemophilia B, depending on the underlying mutation. Although the disease is currently treatable with intravenous delivery of replacement recombinant clotting factor, this approach represents a significant cost both monetarily and in terms of quality of life. Gene therapy is an attractive alternative approach to the treatment of hemophilia that would ideally provide life-long correction of clotting activity with a single injection. In this review, we will discuss the multitude of approaches that have been explored for the treatment of both hemophilia A and B, including both in vivo and ex vivo approaches with viral and nonviral delivery vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey L Rogers
- University of Florida, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Roland W Herzog
- University of Florida, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Gainesville, FL 32610
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19
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Matsui H, Fujimoto N, Sasakawa N, Ohinata Y, Shima M, Yamanaka S, Sugimoto M, Hotta A. Delivery of full-length factor VIII using a piggyBac transposon vector to correct a mouse model of hemophilia A. PLoS One 2014; 9:e104957. [PMID: 25126862 PMCID: PMC4134236 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0104957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 07/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral vectors have been used for hemophilia A gene therapy. However, due to its large size, full-length Factor VIII (FVIII) cDNA has not been successfully delivered using conventional viral vectors. Moreover, viral vectors may pose safety risks, e.g., adverse immunological reactions or virus-mediated cytotoxicity. Here, we took advantages of the non-viral vector gene delivery system based on piggyBac DNA transposon to transfer the full-length FVIII cDNA, for the purpose of treating hemophilia A. We tested the efficiency of this new vector system in human 293T cells and iPS cells, and confirmed the expression of the full-length FVIII in culture media using activity-sensitive coagulation assays. Hydrodynamic injection of the piggyBac vectors into hemophilia A mice temporally treated with an immunosuppressant resulted in stable production of circulating FVIII for over 300 days without development of anti-FVIII antibodies. Furthermore, tail-clip assay revealed significant improvement of blood coagulation time in the treated mice.piggyBac transposon vectors can facilitate the long-term expression of therapeutic transgenes in vitro and in vivo. This novel gene transfer strategy should provide safe and efficient delivery of FVIII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideto Matsui
- Department of Regulatory Medicine for Thrombosis, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
- * ; (HM)
| | - Naoko Fujimoto
- Department of Reprogramming Science, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- iCeMS, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Noriko Sasakawa
- Department of Reprogramming Science, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasuhide Ohinata
- Life Science Experimental Facility, Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, 4-4-37 Takeda, Kofu, Yamanashi, Japan
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Saitama, Japan
| | - Midori Shima
- Pediatrcs, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Shinya Yamanaka
- Department of Reprogramming Science, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- iCeMS, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Mitsuhiko Sugimoto
- Department of Regulatory Medicine for Thrombosis, Nara Medical University, Kashihara, Nara, Japan
| | - Akitsu Hotta
- Department of Reprogramming Science, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- iCeMS, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
- PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), Saitama, Japan
- * ; (HM)
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20
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Schroeder JA, Chen Y, Fang J, Wilcox DA, Shi Q. In vivo enrichment of genetically manipulated platelets corrects the murine hemophilic phenotype and induces immune tolerance even using a low multiplicity of infection. J Thromb Haemost 2014; 12:1283-93. [PMID: 24931217 PMCID: PMC4127102 DOI: 10.1111/jth.12633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our previous studies have demonstrated that platelet-specific gene delivery to hematopoietic stem cells can induce sustained therapeutic levels of platelet factor VIII (FVIII) expression in mice with hemophilia A. OBJECTIVE In this study, we aimed to enhance platelet FVIII expression while minimizing potential toxicities. METHODS A novel lentiviral vector (LV), which harbors dual genes, the FVIII gene driven by the αIIb promoter (2bF8) and a drug-resistance gene, the MGMT(P140K) cassette, was constructed. Platelet FVIII expression in mice with hemophilia A was introduced by transduction of hematopoietic stem cells and transplantation. The recipients were treated with O(6)-benzylguanine followed by 1,3-bis-2 chloroethyl-1-nitrosourea monthly three or four times. Animals were analyzed by using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), quantitative PCR, FVIII:C assays, and inhibitor assays. Phenotypic correction was assessed by tail clipping tests and rotational thromboelastometry analysis. RESULTS Even using a low multiplicity of infection of 1 and a non-myeloablative conditioning regimen, after in vivo selection, the levels of platelet FVIII expression in recipients increased to 4.33 ± 5.48 mU per 10(8) platelets (n = 16), which were 19.7-fold higher than the levels obtained from the recipients before treatment. Quantitative PCR results confirmed that 2bF8/MGMT-LV-transduced cells were effectively enriched after drug-selective treatment. Fifteen of 16 treated animals survived tail clipping. Blood loss and whole blood clotting time were normalized in the treated recipients. Notably, no anti-FVIII antibodies were detected in the treated animals even after recombinant human B-domain deleted FVIII challenge. CONCLUSION we have established an effective in vivo selective system that allows us to enrich 2bF8LV-transduced cells, enhancing platelet FVIII expression while reducing the potential toxicities associated with platelet gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Schroeder
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Blood Research Institute, BloodCenter of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA; Children's Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, USA
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21
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The mesenchymal stem cells derived from transgenic mice carrying human coagulation factor VIII can correct phenotype in hemophilia A mice. J Genet Genomics 2013; 40:617-28. [PMID: 24377868 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2013.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2013] [Revised: 11/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/07/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Hemophilia A (HA) is an inherited X-linked recessive bleeding disorder caused by coagulant factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency. Previous studies showed that introduction of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) modified by FVIII-expressing retrovirus may result in phenotypic correction of HA animals. This study aimed at the investigation of an alternative gene therapy strategy that may lead to sustained FVIII transgene expression in HA mice. B-domain-deleted human FVIII (hFVIIIBD) vector was microinjected into single-cell embryos of wild-type mice to generate a transgenic mouse line, from which hFVIIIBD-MSCs were isolated, followed by transplantation into HA mice. RT-PCR and real-time PCR analysis demonstrated the expression of hFVIIIBD in multi-organs of recipient HA mice. Immunohistochemistry showed the presence of hFVIIIBD positive staining in multi-organs of recipient HA mice. ELISA indicated that plasma hFVIIIBD level in recipient mice reached its peak (77 ng/mL) at the 3rd week after implantation, and achieved sustained expression during the 5-week observation period. Plasma FVIII activities of recipient HA mice increased from 0% to 32% after hFVIIIBD-MSCs transplantation. APTT (activated partial thromboplastin time) value decreased in hFVIIIBD-MSCs transplanted HA mice compared with untreated HA mice (45.5 s vs. 91.3 s). Our study demonstrated an effective phenotypic correction in HA mice using genetically modified MSCs from hFVIIIBD transgenic mice.
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22
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Pichard V, Aubert D, Boni S, Battaglia S, Ivacik D, Nguyen TH, Arbuthnot P, Ferry N. Specific micro RNA-regulated TetR-KRAB transcriptional control of transgene expression in viral vector-transduced cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51952. [PMID: 23251659 PMCID: PMC3522580 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2012] [Accepted: 11/07/2012] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Precise control of transgene expression in a tissue-specific and temporally regulated manner is desirable for many basic and applied investigations gene therapy applications. This is important to regulate dose of transgene products and minimize unwanted effects. Previously described methods have employed tissue specific promoters, miRNA-based transgene silencing or tetR-KRAB-mediated suppression of transgene promoters. To improve on versatility of transgene expression control, we have developed expression systems that use combinations of a tetR-KRAB artificial transgene-repressor, endogenous miRNA silencing machinery and tissue specific promoters. Precise control of transgene expression was demonstrated in liver-, macrophage- and muscle-derived cells. Efficiency was also demonstrated in vivo in murine muscle. This multicomponent and modular regulatory system provides a robust and easily adaptable method for achieving regulated transgene expression in different tissue types. The improved precision of regulation will be useful for many gene therapy applications requiring specific spatiotemporal transgene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Pichard
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) Unité Mixte de Recherche (UMR) 948, Nantes, France.
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23
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Chuah MK, Vandendriessche T. Platelet-directed gene therapy overcomes inhibitory antibodies to factor VIII. J Thromb Haemost 2012; 10:1566-9. [PMID: 22642298 DOI: 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2012.04794.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M K Chuah
- Department of Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Free University of Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
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24
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Wang L, Rosenberg JB, De BP, Ferris B, Wang R, Rivella S, Kaminsky SM, Crystal RG. In vivo gene transfer strategies to achieve partial correction of von Willebrand disease. Hum Gene Ther 2012; 23:576-88. [PMID: 22482515 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
von Willebrand disease (VWD), the most common hereditary coagulation disorder, results from mutations in the 52-exon gene for von Willebrand factor (VWF), which encodes an 8.4-kB cDNA. Studies with VWF cDNA plasmids have demonstrated that in vivo gene transfer to the liver will correct the coagulation dysfunction in VWF(-/-) mice, but the correction is transient. To develop gene therapy for VWF that would mediate long-term expression of the VWF cDNA in liver, we first evaluated segmental pre-mRNA trans-splicing (SPTS) with two adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 8 vectors, each delivering one-half of the VWF cDNA. However, although the two vectors functioned well to generate VWF multimers after infection of cells in vitro, the efficiency of SPTS was insufficient to correct the VWF(-/-) mouse in vivo. As an alternative, we assessed the ability of a lentiviral vector to transfer the intact murine VWF cDNA in vivo directly to the neonatal liver of VWF(-/-) mice, using generation of VWF multimers, bleeding time, and bleeding volume as efficacy parameters. The VWF lentivirus generated VWF multimers and partially or completely corrected the coagulation defect on a persistent basis in 33% of the treated VWF-deficient mice. On the basis of the concept that partial persistent correction with gene transfer could be beneficial in VWD patients, these observations suggest that lentiviral delivery of VWF cDNA should be explored as a candidate for gene therapy in patients with a severe form of VWD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Wang
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10065, USA
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25
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Shi Q, Kuether EL, Schroeder JA, Fahs SA, Montgomery RR. Intravascular recovery of VWF and FVIII following intraperitoneal injection and differences from intravenous and subcutaneous injection in mice. Haemophilia 2012; 18:639-46. [PMID: 22221819 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2516.2011.02735.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Intravenous infusion studies in humans suggest that both von Willebrand factor (VWF) and factor VIII (FVIII) remain intravascular in contrast to other coagulation proteins. We explored whether infusion of VWF and FVIII by either intraperitoneal (i.p.) or subcutaneous (s.c.) injection would result in efficient absorption of these large proteins into the vascular circulation. FVIII(null) or VWF(null) mice were infused with plasma-derived or recombinant VWF and/or FVIII by i.p., s.c., or intravenous (i.v.) injection. Both VWF and FVIII were absorbed into the blood circulation after i.p. injection with a peak between 2 and 4 h at levels similar to those observed in mice infused intravenously. In contrast, neither VWF nor FVIII was detected in the plasma following s.c. injection. Although i.v. injection achieved peak plasma levels quickly, both human VWF and FVIII rapidly decreased during the first 2 h following i.v. injection. Following both i.v. and i.p. infusion of VWF, the multimeric structure of circulating VWF was similar to that observed in the infusate. These results demonstrate that both VWF and FVIII can be efficiently absorbed into the blood circulation following i.p., but not s.c. injection, indicating that i.p. administration could be an alternative route for VWF or FVIII infusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Q Shi
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
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Sabatino DE, Nichols TC, Merricks E, Bellinger DA, Herzog RW, Monahan PE. Animal models of hemophilia. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2012; 105:151-209. [PMID: 22137432 PMCID: PMC3713797 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394596-9.00006-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The X-linked bleeding disorder hemophilia is caused by mutations in coagulation factor VIII (hemophilia A) or factor IX (hemophilia B). Unless prophylactic treatment is provided, patients with severe disease (less than 1% clotting activity) typically experience frequent spontaneous bleeds. Current treatment is largely based on intravenous infusion of recombinant or plasma-derived coagulation factor concentrate. More effective factor products are being developed. Moreover, gene therapies for sustained correction of hemophilia are showing much promise in preclinical studies and in clinical trials. These advances in molecular medicine heavily depend on availability of well-characterized small and large animal models of hemophilia, primarily hemophilia mice and dogs. Experiments in these animals represent important early and intermediate steps of translational research aimed at development of better and safer treatments for hemophilia, such a protein and gene therapies or immune tolerance protocols. While murine models are excellent for studies of large groups of animals using genetically defined strains, canine models are important for testing scale-up and for long-term follow-up as well as for studies that require larger blood volumes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denise E. Sabatino
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Timothy C. Nichols
- Francis Owen Blood Research Laboratory, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516
| | - Elizabeth Merricks
- Francis Owen Blood Research Laboratory, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516
| | - Dwight A. Bellinger
- Francis Owen Blood Research Laboratory, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516
| | - Roland W. Herzog
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610
| | - Paul E. Monahan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27516
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Greene TK, Lambert MP, Poncz M. Ectopic platelet-delivered factor (F) VIII for the treatment of Hemophilia A: Plasma and platelet FVIII, is it all the same? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; Suppl 1. [PMID: 24319630 DOI: 10.4172/2157-7412.s1-001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Hemophilia A is the most common inherited bleeding diathesis and is due to a deficiency of functional coagulation factor (F) VIII. Most patients have a severe deficiency and require a program of prophylactic plus acute infusions of recombinant FVIII to prevent significant joint and other target organ damage. One of the greatest challenges remaining in the care of these patients is that one fifth to third of the patients develop inhibitors to the infused proteins. While a significant portion of such inhibitors can be either overcome or the inhibitors eliminated, some patients with persistent and significant titers of inhibitors need to rely on second tier therapies that are not as effective at preventing significant bleeding morbidity or mortality. A number of groups have been developing therapeutic strategies for FVIII gene therapy for this disorder. Virtually all of these therapies have in common a rise in the plasma level of FVIII, and interpretation of their efficacy is straightforward related to levels achieved. However, several groups have also shown that FVIII can be ectopically expressed in developing megakaryocytes, where although plasma FVIII levels remain undetectable, this FVIII can be released and be effective at sites of platelet activation. Moreover, it is clear that this platelet (p) FVIII is protected to a degree from inhibitors, making pFVIII a particularly attractive strategy for gene therapy for hemophilia A. Yet at the same time, we have shown that pFVIII has a different availability and distribution in a growing thrombus than plasma FVIII. The clinical implications and challenges of these findings as murine and canine hemophilia A preclinical studies go forward with pFVIII are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teshell K Greene
- Department of Pediatrics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Inhibition of the single downstream target BAG1 activates the latent apoptotic potential of MYC. Mol Cell Biol 2011; 31:5037-45. [PMID: 21986497 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.06297-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant MYC expression is a common oncogenic event in human cancer. Paradoxically, MYC can either drive cell cycle progression or induce apoptosis. The latent ability of MYC to induce apoptosis has been termed "intrinsic tumor suppressor activity," and reactivating this apoptotic function in tumors is widely considered a valuable therapeutic goal. As a transcription factor, MYC controls the expression of many downstream targets, and for the majority of these, it remains unclear whether or not they play direct roles in MYC function. To identify the subset of genes specifically required for biological activity, we conducted a screen for functionally important MYC targets and identified BAG1, which encodes a prosurvival chaperone protein. Expression of BAG1 is regulated by MYC in both a mouse model of breast cancer and transformed human cells. Remarkably, BAG1 induction is essential for protecting cells from MYC-induced apoptosis. Ultimately, the synthetic lethality we have identified between MYC overexpression and BAG1 inhibition establishes a new pathway that might be exploited to reactivate the latent apoptotic potential of MYC as a cancer therapy.
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29
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Taupin P. Chimeric proteins comprising the constant region of immunoglobulins for treating hemophilia B (WO2005001025). Expert Opin Ther Pat 2011; 21:967-70. [PMID: 21476878 DOI: 10.1517/13543776.2011.577070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The application (WO2005001025) details recombinant fusion proteins attached to the constant region of heavy chains of immunoglobulins. They are found to be particularly useful for the treatment of hemostatic disorders, such as hemophilia B. It aims at engineering chimeric proteins comprising of a single molecule of human factor IX (FIX) and the constant region (Fc domain) of one or two heavy chain(s) of human IgG (rFIXFc). cDNA for rFIXFc was generated by a PCR. rFIXFc protein was isolated and purified from stably transfected mammalian cells. The concentration and clotting activity of rFIXFc were assessed in mice, rats, monkeys, and FIX-deficient mice and dogs, after intravenous administration. The half-life of rFIXFc activity is prolonged by three to fourfold, compared with rFIX, when administered intravenously in all animals. The generation of chimeric proteins, comprised of FIX fused to the Fc domain of IgG, extends the clotting activity of the recombinant molecule. rFIXFc represents a promising candidate for the treatment of patients with hemophilia B. The application claims the methods of making recombinant chimeric proteins comprising of one biologically active molecule fused to the Fc region of the heavy chain(s) of immunoglobulins and their use for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippe Taupin
- Dublin City University, School of Biotechnology, Glasnevin, Dublin 9, Ireland.
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30
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Suga T, Kimura E, Morioka Y, Ikawa M, Li S, Uchino K, Uchida Y, Yamashita S, Maeda Y, Chamberlain JS, Uchino M. Muscle fiber type-predominant promoter activity in lentiviral-mediated transgenic mouse. PLoS One 2011; 6:e16908. [PMID: 21445245 PMCID: PMC3060803 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0016908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2010] [Accepted: 01/17/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Variations in gene promoter/enhancer activity in different muscle fiber types after gene transduction was noticed previously, but poorly analyzed. The murine stem cell virus (MSCV) promoter drives strong, stable gene expression in hematopoietic stem cells and several other cells, including cerebellar Purkinje cells, but it has not been studied in muscle. We injected a lentiviral vector carrying an MSCV-EGFP cassette (LvMSCV-EGFP) into tibialis anterior muscles and observed strong EGFP expression in muscle fibers, primary cultured myoblasts, and myotubes isolated from injected muscles. We also generated lentiviral-mediated transgenic mice carrying the MSCV-EGFP cassette and detected transgene expression in striated muscles. LvMSCV-EGFP transgenic mice showed fiber type-dependent variations in expression: highest in types I and IIA, intermediate in type IID/X, and lowest in type IIB fibers. The soleus and diaphragm muscles, consisting mainly of types I and IIA, are most severely affected in the mdx mouse model of muscular dystrophy. Further analysis of this promoter may have the potential to achieve certain gene expression in severely affected muscles of mdx mice. The Lv-mediated transgenic mouse may prove a useful tool for assessing the enhancer/promoter activities of a variety of different regulatory cassettes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Suga
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - En Kimura
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Medicine, and Biochemistry, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Yuka Morioka
- Research Center for Infection-Associated Cancer, Division of Disease Model Innovation, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Masahito Ikawa
- Research Institute for Microbial Diseases, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Sheng Li
- Department of Neurology, Medicine, and Biochemistry, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Katsuhisa Uchino
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yuji Uchida
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Division of Life Science, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sojo University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Yamashita
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Yasushi Maeda
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Jeffrey S. Chamberlain
- Department of Neurology, Medicine, and Biochemistry, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Makoto Uchino
- Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
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Petrus I, Chuah M, VandenDriessche T. Gene therapy strategies for hemophilia: benefits versus risks. J Gene Med 2011; 12:797-809. [PMID: 20848668 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemophilia is an inherited bleeding disorder caused by a deficiency of functional clotting factors VIII or IX in the blood plasma. The drawbacks of the classical protein substitution therapy fueled interest in alternative treatments by gene therapy. Hemophilia has been recognized as an ideal target disease for gene therapy because a relatively modest increase in clotting factor levels can result in a significant therapeutic benefit. Consequently, introducing a functional FVIII or FIX gene copy into the appropriate target cells could ultimately provide a cure for hemophilic patients. Several cell types have been explored for hemophilia gene therapy, including hepatocytes, muscle, endothelial and hematopoietic cells. Both nonviral and viral vectors have been considered for the development of hemophilia gene therapy, including transposons, γ-retroviral, lentiviral, adenoviral and adeno-associated viral vectors. Several of these strategies have resulted in stable correction of the bleeding diathesis in hemophilia A and B murine as well as canine models, paving the way towards clinical trials. Although clotting factor expression has been detected in hemophilic patients treated by gene therapy, the challenge now lies in obtaining prolonged therapeutic FVIII or FIX levels in these patients. This review highlights the benefits and potential risks of the different gene therapy strategies for hemophilia that have been developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge Petrus
- Free University of Brussels, Vesalius Research Center, Flanders Institute of Biotechnology (VIB) & University of Leuven, Belgium
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32
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Matsui H, Hegadorn C, Ozelo M, Burnett E, Tuttle A, Labelle A, McCray PB, Naldini L, Brown B, Hough C, Lillicrap D. A microRNA-regulated and GP64-pseudotyped lentiviral vector mediates stable expression of FVIII in a murine model of Hemophilia A. Mol Ther 2011; 19:723-30. [PMID: 21285959 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2010.290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective to use gene therapy to provide sustained, therapeutic levels of factor VIII (FVIII) for hemophilia A is compromised by the emergence of inhibitory antibodies that prevent FVIII from performing its essential function as a cofactor for factor IX (FIX). FVIII appears to be more immunogenic than FIX and an immune response is associated more frequently with FVIII than FIX gene therapy strategies. We have evaluated a modified lentiviral delivery strategy that facilitates liver-restricted transgene expression and prevents off-target expression in hematopoietic cells by incorporating microRNA (miRNA) target sequences. In contrast to outcomes using this strategy to deliver FIX, this modified delivery strategy was in and of itself insufficient to prevent an anti-FVIII immune response in treated hemophilia A mice. However, pseudotyping the lentivirus with the GP64 envelope glycoprotein, in conjunction with a liver-restricted promoter and a miRNA-regulated FVIII transgene resulted in sustained, therapeutic levels of FVIII. These modifications to the lentiviral delivery system effectively restricted FVIII transgene expression to the liver. Plasma levels of FVIII could be increased to around 9% that of normal levels when macrophages were depleted prior to treating the hemophilia A mice with the modified lentiviral FVIII delivery system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideto Matsui
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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33
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Abstract
Gene therapy for hemophilia A would be facilitated by development of smaller expression cassettes encoding factor VIII (FVIII), which demonstrate improved biosynthesis and/or enhanced biologic properties. B domain deleted (BDD) FVIII retains full procoagulant function and is expressed at higher levels than wild-type FVIII. However, a partial BDD FVIII, leaving an N-terminal 226 amino acid stretch (N6), increases in vitro secretion of FVIII tenfold compared with BDD-FVIII. In this study, we tested various BDD constructs in the context of either wild-type or codon-optimized cDNA sequences expressed under control of the strong, ubiquitous Spleen Focus Forming Virus promoter within a self-inactivating HIV-based lentiviral vector. Transduced 293T cells in vitro demonstrated detectable FVIII activity. Hemophilic mice treated with lentiviral vectors showed expression of FVIII activity and phenotypic correction sustained over 250 days. Importantly, codon-optimized constructs achieved an unprecedented 29- to 44-fold increase in expression, yielding more than 200% normal human FVIII levels. Addition of B domain sequences to BDD-FVIII did not significantly increase in vivo expression. These significant findings demonstrate that shorter FVIII constructs that can be more easily accommodated in viral vectors can result in increased therapeutic efficacy and may deliver effective gene therapy for hemophilia A.
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34
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Abstract
Ectopically expressed, human B-domainless (hB) factor 8 (F8) in platelets improves hemostasis in hemophilia A mice in several injury models. However, in both a cuticular bleeding model and a cremaster laser arteriole/venule injury model, there were limitations to platelet-derived (p) hBF8 efficacy, including increased clot embolization. We now address whether variants of F8 with enhanced activity, inactivation resistant F8 (IR8) and canine (c) BF8, would improve clotting efficacy. In both transgenic and lentiviral murine model approaches, pIR8 expressed at comparable levels to phBF8, but pcBF8 expressed at only approximately 30%. Both variants were more effective than hBF8 in cuticular bleeding and FeCl(3) carotid artery models. However, in the cremaster injury model, only pcBF8 was more effective, markedly decreasing clot embolization. Because inhibitors of F8 are stored in platelet granules and IR8 is not protected by binding to von Willebrand factor, we also tested whether pIR8 was effective in the face of inhibitors and found that pIR8 is protected from the inhibitors. In summary, pF8 variants with high specific activity are more effective in controlling bleeding, but this improved efficacy was inconsistent between bleeding models, perhaps reflecting the underlying mechanism(s) for the increased specific activity of the studied F8 variants.
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35
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Pérez-Luz S, Díaz-Nido J. Prospects for the use of artificial chromosomes and minichromosome-like episomes in gene therapy. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010; 2010:642804. [PMID: 20862363 PMCID: PMC2938438 DOI: 10.1155/2010/642804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2010] [Revised: 06/02/2010] [Accepted: 07/05/2010] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial chromosomes and minichromosome-like episomes are large DNA molecules capable of containing whole genomic loci, and be maintained as nonintegrating, replicating molecules in proliferating human somatic cells. Authentic human artificial chromosomes are very difficult to engineer because of the difficulties associated with centromere structure, so they are not widely used for gene-therapy applications. However, OriP/EBNA1-based episomes, which they lack true centromeres, can be maintained stably in dividing cells as they bind to mitotic chromosomes and segregate into daughter cells. These episomes are more easily engineered than true human artificial chromosomes and can carry entire genes along with all their regulatory sequences. Thus, these constructs may facilitate the long-term persistence and physiological regulation of the expression of therapeutic genes, which is crucial for some gene therapy applications. In particular, they are promising vectors for gene therapy in inherited diseases that are caused by recessive mutations, for example haemophilia A and Friedreich's ataxia. Interestingly, the episome carrying the frataxin gene (deficient in Friedreich's ataxia) has been demonstrated to rescue the susceptibility to oxidative stress which is typical of fibroblasts from Friedreich's ataxia patients. This provides evidence of their potential to treat genetic diseases linked to recessive mutations through gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Pérez-Luz
- Departamento de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.
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36
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Ide LM, Iwakoshi NN, Gangadharan B, Jobe S, Moot R, McCarty D, Doering CB, Spencer HT. Functional aspects of factor VIII expression after transplantation of genetically-modified hematopoietic stem cells for hemophilia A. J Gene Med 2010; 12:333-44. [PMID: 20209485 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Major complications with respect to the development of gene therapy treatments for hemophilia A include low factor VIII (fVIII) expression and humoral immune responses resulting in inhibitory anti-fVIII antibodies. We previously achieved sustained curative fVIII activity levels in hemophilia A mice after nonmyeloablative transplantation of genetically-modified hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) encoding a B-domain deleted porcine fVIII (BDDpfVIII) transgene with no evidence of an immune response. METHODS Mouse HSCs were transduced using MSCV-based recombinant virus encoding BDDpfVIII and transplanted into hemophilia A mice. Transplanted mice were followed for donor cell engraftment, fVIII expression and activity, and generation of anti-fVIII immune response. RESULTS We now show that: (i) the protein expressed by hematopoietic cells has a specific activity similar to that of purified protein; (ii) BDDpfVIII expressed from hematopoietic cells effectively induces thrombus formation, which is shown using a new method of in vivo analysis of fVIII function; (iii) naïve and pre-immunized mice receiving HSC gene therapy are nonresponsive to challenges with recombinant human fVIII; (iv) nonresponsiveness is not broken after stringent challenges with BDDpfVIII; and (v) T cells from these mice are unresponsive to BDDpfVIII presentation. Furthermore, stem cells isolated from donors with high titer anti-human fVIII antibodies show no defects in donor cell engraftment or the ability to express BDDpfVIII. CONCLUSIONS These results demonstrate that HSC gene therapy can be an effective alternative treatment for individuals with hemophilia A and may benefit patients by inducing immunological nonresponsiveness to fVIII replacement products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucienne M Ide
- Department of Pediatrics, Aflac Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service, Emory University and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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37
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Qiao C, Li J, Zheng H, Bogan J, Li J, Yuan Z, Zhang C, Bogan D, Kornegay J, Xiao X. Hydrodynamic limb vein injection of adeno-associated virus serotype 8 vector carrying canine myostatin propeptide gene into normal dogs enhances muscle growth. Hum Gene Ther 2010; 20:1-10. [PMID: 18828709 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2008.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Inhibition or blockade of myostatin, a negative growth factor of skeletal muscle, enhances muscle growth and therefore is considered a promising strategy for the treatment of muscle-wasting diseases such as the muscular dystrophies. Previously, we showed that myostatin blockade in both normal and dystrophin-deficient mdx mice by systemic delivery of the myostatin propeptide (MPRO) gene by an adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8) vector could enhance muscle growth and ameliorate dystrophic lesions. Here, we further investigate whether the muscle growth effect of myostatin blockade can be achieved in dogs by gene transfer. First, we cloned the canine MPRO gene, packaged it in the AAV8 vector, and showed robust muscle-enhancing effects after systemic delivery into neonatal mice. This vector was then further tested in two 3-month-old normal dogs (weighing 9.7 and 6.3 kg). The vector was delivered to one limb by hydrodynamic vein injection, and the contralateral limb served as a control. The delivery procedure was safe, without discernible adverse effects. AAV vector DNA and MPRO gene expression were detected by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining of muscle biopsies. Overexpression of MPRO resulted in enhanced muscle growth without a cytotoxic T lymphocytic immune response, as evidenced by larger myofibers in multiple muscles, increased muscle volume determined by magnetic resonance imaging, and the lack of CD4+ and CD8+ T cell infiltration in the vector-injected limbs. Our preliminary study thus supports further investigation of this therapeutic strategy in the dystrophin-deficient golden retriever muscular dystrophy dog model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunping Qiao
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Liu L, He P, Cai K, Zhang Y, Li J, Cao F, Ding Z, Zhang N. Lentivirus-mediated expression of MxA in chicken spermatogonial stem cells. Reprod Domest Anim 2010; 45:e131-7. [PMID: 20412511 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2009.01534.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to construct a lentivirus vector that carries the human myxovirus-resistant A (MxA) anti-virus gene for efficiently infecting rooster spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). A lentiviral vector carrying the enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) and MxA fusion gene (EGFP-MxA) was constructed using TOPO technology in this study. Enhanced green fluorescent protein-MxA was inserted in the right orientation as determined by restriction enzyme digest. No gene recombination in the vector occurred. After infecting 293FT cells, EGFP-MxA fusion protein was expressed as granular green fluorescence characteristic of EGFP-MxA expression, suggesting that the TOPO expression vector was properly constructed and the fusion protein expressed correctly. The EGFP-MxA recombinant lentivirus was packaged by cotransfecting 293FT cells with EGFP-MxA and the packaging plasmids. We also purified SSCs from testicle tissues from 25-day-old roosters for infection with the EGFP-MxA recombinant virus. After infecting rooster SSCs with the recombinant virus for 72 h, EGFP-MxA expression was detected by EGFP expression. Enhanced green fluorescent protein-MxA expression in SSCs was further confirmed at the transcription level by RT-PCR and at the protein level by immunocytochemistry. Staining with Hoechst 33342 showed that infected SSCs differed from the sertoli cells. Similar to stem cells, SSCs were positive for alkaline phosphoric acid enzyme and for stage-specific embryonic antigen-1 stem cell factor. The results demonstrated that the recombinant virus made in our study can infect rooster SSCs efficiently to express the anti-virus protein MxA, establishing the basis of transferring MxA into SSCs to obtain virus-resistant, genetically-modified roosters.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Huzhou Teachers College, Huzhou College of Life Sciences, Suzhou University, Suzhou, China
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39
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Dooriss KL, Denning G, Gangadharan B, Javazon EH, McCarty DA, Spencer HT, Doering CB. Comparison of factor VIII transgenes bioengineered for improved expression in gene therapy of hemophilia A. Hum Gene Ther 2010; 20:465-78. [PMID: 19222367 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2008.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful gene therapy of hemophilia A depends on the sustained expression of therapeutic levels of factor VIII (fVIII). Because of mRNA instability, interactions with resident endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones, and the requirement for carbohydrate-facilitated transport from the ER to the Golgi apparatus, fVIII is expressed at much lower levels from mammalian cells than other proteins of similar size and complexity. A number of bioengineered forms of B domain-deleted (BDD) human fVIII have been generated and shown to have enhanced expression. Previously, we demonstrated that recombinant BDD porcine fVIII exhibits high-level expression due to specific sequence elements that increase biosynthesis via enhanced posttranslational transit through the secretory pathway. In the current study, high-expression recombinant fVIII constructs were compared directly in order to determine the relative expression of the various bioengineered fVIII transgenes. The data demonstrate that BDD porcine fVIII expression is superior to that of any of the human fVIII variant constructs tested. Mean fVIII expression of 18 units/10(6) cells/24 hr was observed from HEK-293 cells expressing a single copy of the porcine fVIII transgene, which was 36- to 225-fold greater than that of any human fVIII transgene tested. Furthermore, greater than 10-fold higher expression was observed in human cells transduced with BDD porcine fVIII versus BDD human fVIII-encoding lentiviral vectors, even at low proviral copy numbers, supporting its use over other human fVIII variants in future hemophilia A gene therapy clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry L Dooriss
- Molecular and Systems Pharmacology Graduate Program, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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40
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Sadelain M, Chang A, Lisowski L. Supplying clotting factors from hematopoietic stem cell-derived erythroid and megakaryocytic lineage cells. Mol Ther 2009; 17:1994-9. [PMID: 19844194 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Systemically distributed proteins such as clotting factors have been traditionally expressed from muscle or liver to achieve therapeutic, long-term expression. As long-lived cell capable of generating an abundant progeny, hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) also merit consideration for this purpose. To be clinically relevant, this approach would require that hematopoietic cells be capable of expressing high levels of functional, secreted proteins, that the risk of insertional oncogenesis be minimized, and that sufficient stem cell engraftment be achieved following minimally invasive conditioning. Recent reports demonstrate the feasibility of expressing either factor IX (FIX) or factor VIII (FVIII) in erythroblasts and platelets using lineage-restricted vectors, resulting in effective treatments in mouse models of hemophilia. The erythroid system is especially powerful in providing high protein output, yielding FIX levels approaching 1 micro g/ml per vector copy in the plasma of long-term hematopoietic chimeras, a secretion level that vastly outperforms any other current mammalian constitutive or long-terminal repeat (LTR)-driven vector system. These early but promising studies raise the prospect of further developing these strategies for clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Sadelain
- Center for Cell Engineering, Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, USA.
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41
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van den Biggelaar M, Bouwens EAM, Kootstra NA, Hebbel RP, Voorberg J, Mertens K. Storage and regulated secretion of factor VIII in blood outgrowth endothelial cells. Haematologica 2009; 94:670-8. [PMID: 19336741 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.13427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene therapy provides an attractive alternative for protein replacement therapy in hemophilia A patients. Recent studies have shown the potential benefit of directing factor (F)VIII gene delivery to cells that also express its natural carrier protein von Willebrand factor (VWF). In this study, we explored the feasibility of blood outgrowth endothelial cells as a cellular FVIII delivery device with particular reference to long-term production levels, intracellular storage in Weibel-Palade bodies and agonist-induced regulated secretion. DESIGN AND METHODS Human blood outgrowth endothelial cells were isolated from peripheral blood collected from healthy donors, transduced at passage 5 using a lentiviral vector encoding human B-domain deleted FVIII-GFP and characterized by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. RESULTS Blood outgrowth endothelial cells displayed typical endothelial morphology and expressed the endothelial-specific marker VWF. Following transduction with a lentivirus encoding FVIII-GFP, 80% of transduced blood outgrowth endothelial cells expressed FVIII-GFP. Levels of FVIII-GFP positive cells declined slowly upon prolonged culturing. Transduced blood outgrowth endothelial cells expressed 1.6+/-1.0 pmol/1 x 10(6) cells/24h FVIII. Morphological analysis demonstrated that FVIII-GFP was stored in Weibel-Palade bodies together with VWF and P-selectin. FVIII levels were only slightly increased following agonist-induced stimulation, whereas a 6- to 8-fold increase of VWF levels was observed. Subcellular fractionation revealed that 15-22% of FVIII antigen was present within the dense fraction containing Weibel-Palade bodies. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that blood outgrowth endothelial cells, by virtue of their ability to store a significant portion of synthesized FVIII-GFP in Weibel-Palade bodies, provide an attractive cellular on-demand delivery device for gene therapy of hemophilia A.
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Directed engineering of a high-expression chimeric transgene as a strategy for gene therapy of hemophilia A. Mol Ther 2009; 17:1145-54. [PMID: 19259064 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Human coagulation factor VIII (fVIII) is inefficiently biosynthesized in vitro and has proven difficult to express at therapeutic levels using available clinical gene-transfer technologies. Recently, we showed that a porcine and certain hybrid human/porcine fVIII transgenes demonstrate up to 100-fold greater expression than human fVIII. In this study, we extend these results to describe the use of a humanized, high-expression, hybrid human/porcine fVIII transgene that is 89% identical to human fVIII and was delivered by lentiviral vectors (LVs) to hematopoietic stem cells for gene therapy of hemophilia A. Recombinant human immunodeficiency virus-based vectors encoding the fVIII chimera efficiently transduced human embryonic kidney (HEK)-293T cells. Cells transduced with hybrid human/porcine fVIII encoding vectors expressed fVIII at levels 6- to 100-fold greater than cells transduced with vectors encoding human fVIII. Transplantation of transduced hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells into hemophilia A mice resulted in long-term fVIII expression at therapeutic levels despite <5% genetically modified blood mononuclear cells. Furthermore, the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) -derived vector effectively transduced the human hematopoietic cell lines K562, EU1, U.937, and Jurkat as well as the nonhematopoietic cell lines, HEK-293T and HeLa. All cell lines expressed hybrid human/porcine fVIII, albeit at varying levels with the K562 cells expressing the highest level of the hematopoietic cell lines. From these studies, we conclude that humanized high-expression hybrid fVIII transgenes can be utilized in gene therapy applications for hemophilia A to significantly increase fVIII expression levels compared to what has been previously achieved.
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Intracellular cotrafficking of factor VIII and von Willebrand factor type 2N variants to storage organelles. Blood 2008; 113:3102-9. [PMID: 19088379 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2008-05-159699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Weibel-Palade bodies (WPBs) are the endothelial storage organelles that are formed upon von Willebrand factor (VWF) expression. Apart from VWF, WPBs contain a variety of hemostatic and inflammatory proteins. Some of these are thought to be targeted to WPBs by directly interacting with VWF in the secretory pathway. Previous studies have demonstrated that coexpression of factor VIII (FVIII) with VWF results in costorage of both proteins. However, whether cotrafficking is driven by intracellular FVIII-VWF assembly has remained unclear. We now have addressed this issue using recombinant VWF type 2N variants that are known to display reduced FVIII binding in the circulation. Binding studies using purified fluorescent FVIII and VWF type 2N variants revealed FVIII binding defects varying from moderate (Arg854Gln, Cys1060Arg) to severe (Arg763Gly, Thr791Met, Arg816Trp). Upon expression in HEK293 cells, all VWF variants induced formation of WPB-like organelles that were able to recruit P-selectin, as well as FVIII. WPBs containing FVIII did not display their typical elongated shape, suggesting that FVIII affects the organization of VWF tubules therein. The finding that VWF type 2N variants are still capable of cotargeting FVIII to storage granules implies that trafficking of WPB cargo proteins does not necessarily require high-affinity assembly with VWF.
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Qiao C, Li J, Zheng H, Bogan J, Li J, Yuan Z, Zhang C, Bogan D, Kornegay J, Xiao X. Hydrodynamic limb vein injection of AAV8 canine myostatin propeptide gene in normal dogs enhances muscle growth. Hum Gene Ther 2008. [DOI: 10.1089/hgt.2008.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Chang AH, Stephan MT, Lisowski L, Sadelain M. Erythroid-specific human factor IX delivery from in vivo selected hematopoietic stem cells following nonmyeloablative conditioning in hemophilia B mice. Mol Ther 2008; 16:1745-52. [PMID: 18682698 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2008.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
We have developed a lentiviral vector system for human factor IX (hFIX) gene transfer in hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) that provides erythroid cell-derived systemic protein delivery following nonmyeloablative conditioning and in vivo methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) drug selection. After bone marrow transplantation under moderate Busulfan conditioning, the initial hFIX expression in the chimeras was minimally detectable. However, the hFIX levels rose sharply following in vivo MGMT-drug selection and eventually reached a level that is considered curative in hemophilia B therapy (>500 ng/ml). The rise of hFIX levels was proportional to the increase in vector copy (VC) number in peripheral blood cells. High levels of hFIX expression were maintained in serially engrafted mice chimeras for 18 months. Importantly, high-level hFIX expression by erythroid cells did not result in anemia or adversely affect red blood cell counts. The prospect of combining reduced intensity conditioning, a presumably lowered risk of insertional mutagenesis due to low VC number requirement and erythroid-restricted transgene expression, as well as long-term protein expression at high level, strongly supports the potential applicability of adult stem cell-based gene therapy in nonlethal blood or metabolic disorders, as demonstrated here for hemophilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex H Chang
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.
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Qiao C, Li J, Jiang J, Zhu X, Wang B, Li J, Xiao X. Myostatin propeptide gene delivery by adeno-associated virus serotype 8 vectors enhances muscle growth and ameliorates dystrophic phenotypes in mdx mice. Hum Gene Ther 2008; 19:241-54. [PMID: 18288893 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2007.159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Myostatin has been extensively documented as a negative regulator of muscle growth. Myostatin inhibition is therefore considered an attractive strategy for the treatment of muscle-wasting diseases such as muscular dystrophies. To investigate whether systemic gene delivery of myostatin propeptide (MRPO), a natural inhibitor of myostatin, could enhance body-wide skeletal muscle growth, we used adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8) vectors to deliver the MRPO gene into either normal mice or mdx mice, a murine model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). In normal mice, a significant increase in skeletal muscle mass was observed after either an intraperitoneal injection of AAV-MPRO into neonates, or an intravenous injection of AAV-MPRO76AFc (a modified MPRO fused with IgG Fc) into adults. Enhanced muscle growth occurred because of myofiber hypertrophy, not hyperplasia. In mdx mice, a significant increase in skeletal muscle mass was also observed after AAV-MPRO76AFc injection. The treated mdx mice showed larger and more uniform myofibers, fewer infiltrating mononuclear cells, less fibrosis, and lower serum creatine kinase levels. In addition, a grip force test and an in vitro tetanic contractile force test showed improved muscle strength. A treadmill test, however, showed reduced endurance of the treated mdx mice compared with their untreated counterparts. Importantly, no cardiac hypertrophy was observed in either normal or mdx mice after myostatin inhibition by gene delivery. These results clearly demonstrate the efficacy of AAV8-mediated myostatin propeptide gene delivery in a rodent model of DMD, and warrant further investigation in large animal models and eventually in human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunping Qiao
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics, University of North Carolina School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Syngeneic transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells that are genetically modified to express factor VIII in platelets restores hemostasis to hemophilia A mice with preexisting FVIII immunity. Blood 2008; 112:2713-21. [PMID: 18495954 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2008-02-138214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although genetic induction of factor VIII (FVIII) expression in platelets can restore hemostasis in hemophilia A mice, this approach has not been studied in the clinical setting of preexisting FVIII inhibitory antibodies to determine whether such antibodies would affect therapeutic engraftment. We generated a line of transgenic mice (2bF8) that express FVIII only in platelets using the platelet-specific alphaIIb promoter and bred this 2bF8 transgene into a FVIII(null) background. Bone marrow (BM) from heterozygous 2bF8 transgenic (2bF8(tg+/-)) mice was transplanted into immunized FVIII(null) mice after lethal or sublethal irradiation. After BM reconstitution, 85% of recipients survived tail clipping when the 1100-cGy (myeloablative) regimen was used, 85.7% of recipients survived when 660-cGy (nonmyeloablative) regimens were used, and 60% of recipients survived when the recipients were conditioned with 440 cGy. Our further studies showed that transplantation with 1% to 5% 2bF8(tg+/-) BM cells still improved hemostasis in hemophilia A mice with inhibitors. These results demonstrate that the presence of FVIII-specific immunity in recipients does not negate engraftment of 2bF8 genetically modified hematopoietic stem cells, and transplantation of these hematopoietic stem cells can efficiently restore hemostasis to hemophilic mice with preexisting inhibitory antibodies under either myeloablative or nonmyeloablative regimens.
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Picanço V, Heinz S, Bott D, Behrmann M, Covas DT, Seifried E, Tonn T. Recombinant expression of coagulation factor VIII in hepatic and non-hepatic cell lines stably transduced with third generation lentiviral vectors comprising the minimal factor VIII promoter. Cytotherapy 2007; 9:785-94. [PMID: 17917890 DOI: 10.1080/14653240701656053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lentiviral vectors have the capacity to transduce stably non-dividing, differentiated and undifferentiated cells of various tissues, including liver. To obtain high-level expression of transgenes, vectors often rely on viral promoters. However, recent data suggest that the supraphysiologic expression from ubiquitous viral promoters may not be beneficial and harbor the risk of oncogene activation. Therefore this study explored the lentiviral-mediated expression of human coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) driven by the physiologic FVIII gene promoter (FVIII-p), the liver-specific human alpha-1-antitrypsin gene promoter (hAAT-p), the ubiquitous but non-viral EF1alpha promoter (EF1alpha-p) and the viral CMV promoter. METHODS Hepatic and non-hepatic cell lines were stably transduced with lentiviral vectors encoding FVIIIdelB and EGFP. To compare the different promoters, lentiviral vectors were cloned to drive FVIII expression from FVIII-p, EF1alpha-p, hAAT-p and CMV-p. RESULTS As expected, the strong viral CMV-p and the ubiquitous EF1alpha-p resulted in the highest FVIII expression in all cell lines tested (CMV-p 1.85 IU/mL/10(6) cells for 293T, 3.15 for HepG2, 5.03 for SK-Hep, 0.91 for Hepa1-6; EF1-alpha promoter 0.30 IU/mL/10(6) cells for 293T, 0.04 for HepG2, 2.75 for SK-Hep, 0.46 for Hepa1-6). While the hAAT-p resulted in low FVIII levels (0.10 IU/mL/10(6)cells in HepG2 and 0.04 in Hepa1-6), the FVIII promoter gave reasonable expression levels in hepatic cells (0.47 IU/mL/10(6)cells in Hepa1-6 and 0.44 in SK-Hep). DISCUSSION These results indicate the potential usefulness of the FVIII-p for hemophilia A gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Picanço
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Red Cross Blood Donor Service Baden-Wuerttemberg-Hesse, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Clinics, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
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Matsui H, Shibata M, Brown B, Labelle A, Hegadorn C, Andrews C, Hebbel RP, Galipeau J, Hough C, Lillicrap D. Ex Vivo Gene Therapy for Hemophilia A That Enhances Safe Delivery and Sustained In Vivo Factor VIII Expression from Lentivirally Engineered Endothelial Progenitors. Stem Cells 2007; 25:2660-9. [PMID: 17615271 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.2006-0699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Novel therapeutic strategies for hemophilia must be at least as effective as current treatments and demonstrate long-term safety. To date, several small clinical trials of hemophilia gene transfer have failed to show the promise of preclinical evaluations. Therefore, we wanted to develop and evaluate the feasibility of a novel ex vivo gene transfer strategy whereby cells derived from progenitor cells are engineered to express factor VIII (FVIII) and then implanted subcutaneously to act as a depot for FVIII expression. Circulating blood outgrowth endothelial cells (BOECs) were isolated from canine and murine blood and transduced with a lentiviral vector encoding the canine FVIII transgene. To enhance safety, these cells were implanted subcutaneously in a Matrigel scaffold, and the efficacy of this strategy was compared with i.v. delivery of engineered BOECs in nonhemophilic nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency mice. Therapeutic levels of FVIII persisted for 15 weeks, and these levels of stable expression were extended to 20 weeks when the cytomegalovirus promoter was replaced with the thrombomodulin regulatory element. Subsequent studies in immunocompetent hemophilic mice, pretreated with tolerizing doses of FVIII or with transient immunosuppression, showed therapeutic FVIII expression for 27 weeks before the eventual return to baseline levels. This loss of transgene expression appears to be due to the disappearance of the implanted cells. The animals treated with either of the two tolerizing regimens did not develop anti-FVIII antibodies. Biodistribution analysis demonstrated that BOECs were retained inside the subcutaneous implants. These results indicate, for the first time, that genetically modified endothelial progenitor cells implanted in a subcutaneous scaffold can provide sustained therapeutic levels of FVIII and are a promising and safe treatment modality for hemophilia A. Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest is found at the end of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideto Matsui
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
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