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Mahmood N, Choi JH, Wu PY, Dooling SW, Watkins TA, Huang Z, Lipman J, Zhao H, Yang A, Silversmith J, Inglebert Y, Koumenis C, Sharma V, Lacaille JC, Sossin WS, Khoutorsky A, McKinney RA, Costa-Mattioli M, Sonenberg N. The ISR downstream target ATF4 represses long-term memory in a cell type-specific manner. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2407472121. [PMID: 39047038 PMCID: PMC11295034 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2407472121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The integrated stress response (ISR), a pivotal protein homeostasis network, plays a critical role in the formation of long-term memory (LTM). The precise mechanism by which the ISR controls LTM is not well understood. Here, we report insights into how the ISR modulates the mnemonic process by using targeted deletion of the activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), a key downstream effector of the ISR, in various neuronal and non-neuronal cell types. We found that the removal of ATF4 from forebrain excitatory neurons (but not from inhibitory neurons, cholinergic neurons, or astrocytes) enhances LTM formation. Furthermore, the deletion of ATF4 in excitatory neurons lowers the threshold for the induction of long-term potentiation, a cellular model for LTM. Transcriptomic and proteomic analyses revealed that ATF4 deletion in excitatory neurons leads to upregulation of components of oxidative phosphorylation pathways, which are critical for ATP production. Thus, we conclude that ATF4 functions as a memory repressor selectively within excitatory neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niaz Mahmood
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Jung-Hyun Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Pei You Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Sean W. Dooling
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Trent A. Watkins
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
| | - Ziying Huang
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Jesse Lipman
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Hanjie Zhao
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Anqi Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Jake Silversmith
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
| | - Yanis Inglebert
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3G 0B1, Canada
- Department of Neurosciences, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Brain and Learning, Research Group on Neural Signaling and Circuitry, University of Montréal, Montréal, QCH3T1J4, Canada
| | - Constantinos Koumenis
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA19104-5156
| | - Vijendra Sharma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Windsor, Windsor, ONN9B 3P4, Canada
| | - Jean-Claude Lacaille
- Department of Neurosciences, Center for Interdisciplinary Research on Brain and Learning, Research Group on Neural Signaling and Circuitry, University of Montréal, Montréal, QCH3T1J4, Canada
| | - Wayne S. Sossin
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, Montreal Neurological Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Arkady Khoutorsky
- Department of Anesthesia and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QCH4A3J1, Canada
- Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 2B4, Canada
| | - R. Anne McKinney
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3G 0B1, Canada
| | - Mauro Costa-Mattioli
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Memory and Brain Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX77030
- Altos Labs Inc., Bay Area Institute of Science, Redwood City, CA94065
| | - Nahum Sonenberg
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
- Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QCH3A 1A3, Canada
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2
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Yoon AR, Lee S, Kim JH, Park Y, Koo T, Yun CO. CRISPR-mediated ablation of TP53 and EGFR mutations enhances gefitinib sensitivity and anti-tumor efficacy in lung cancer. Mol Ther 2024:S1525-0016(24)00473-8. [PMID: 39066480 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple pathogenic single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been identified as contributing factors in the aggravation of cancer prognosis and emergence of drug resistance in various cancers. Here, we targeted mutated EGFR and TP53 oncogenes harboring single-nucleotide missense mutations (EGFR-T790M and TP53-R273H) that are associated with gefitinib resistance. Co-delivery of adenine base editor (ABE) and EGFR- and TP53-SNP specific single-guide RNA via adenovirus (Ad) resulted in precise correction of the oncogenic mutations with high accuracy and efficiency in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, compared with a control group treated only with gefitinib, an EGFR inhibitor, co-treatment with Ad/ABE targeting SNPs in TP53 and EGFR in combination with gefitinib increased drug sensitivity and suppressed abnormal tumor growth more efficiently. Taken together, these results indicate that ABE-mediated correction of dual oncogenic SNPs can be an effective strategy for the treatment of drug-resistant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- A-Rum Yoon
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soyeon Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hee Kim
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yejin Park
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Taeyoung Koo
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
| | - Chae-Ok Yun
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Institute of Nano Science and Technology (INST), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Hanyang Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (HY-IBB), Hanyang University, Seoul, Republic of Korea; GeneMedicine Co., Ltd., 222 Wangsimni-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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3
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Prakasam R, Bonadiman A, Andreotti R, Zuccaro E, Dalfovo D, Marchioretti C, Tripathy D, Petris G, Anderson EN, Migazzi A, Tosatto L, Cereseto A, Battaglioli E, Sorarù G, Lim WF, Rinaldi C, Sambataro F, Pourshafie N, Grunseich C, Romanel A, Pandey UB, Contestabile A, Ronzitti G, Basso M, Pennuto M. LSD1/PRMT6-targeting gene therapy to attenuate androgen receptor toxic gain-of-function ameliorates spinobulbar muscular atrophy phenotypes in flies and mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:603. [PMID: 36746939 PMCID: PMC9902531 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36186-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) is caused by CAG expansions in the androgen receptor gene. Androgen binding to polyQ-expanded androgen receptor triggers SBMA through a combination of toxic gain-of-function and loss-of-function mechanisms. Leveraging cell lines, mice, and patient-derived specimens, we show that androgen receptor co-regulators lysine-specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) and protein arginine methyltransferase 6 (PRMT6) are overexpressed in an androgen-dependent manner specifically in the skeletal muscle of SBMA patients and mice. LSD1 and PRMT6 cooperatively and synergistically transactivate androgen receptor, and their effect is enhanced by expanded polyQ. Pharmacological and genetic silencing of LSD1 and PRMT6 attenuates polyQ-expanded androgen receptor transactivation in SBMA cells and suppresses toxicity in SBMA flies, and a preclinical approach based on miRNA-mediated silencing of LSD1 and PRMT6 attenuates disease manifestations in SBMA mice. These observations suggest that targeting overexpressed co-regulators can attenuate androgen receptor toxic gain-of-function without exacerbating loss-of-function, highlighting a potential therapeutic strategy for patients with SBMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramachandran Prakasam
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Angela Bonadiman
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Roberta Andreotti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
| | - Emanuela Zuccaro
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
| | - Davide Dalfovo
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Caterina Marchioretti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
| | - Debasmita Tripathy
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Gianluca Petris
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton, Saffron Walden, UK
| | - Eric N Anderson
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alice Migazzi
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Laura Tosatto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Anna Cereseto
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Elena Battaglioli
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Gianni Sorarù
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Wooi Fang Lim
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Carlo Rinaldi
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Fabio Sambataro
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Naemeh Pourshafie
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Christopher Grunseich
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Alessandro Romanel
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Udai Bhan Pandey
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | - Giuseppe Ronzitti
- Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Evry, France
- Genethon, 91000, Evry, France
| | - Manuela Basso
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
| | - Maria Pennuto
- Dulbecco Telethon Institute at the Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, University of Trento, Trento, Italy.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.
- Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova, Italy.
- Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy.
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Murphy KE, Zhang EY, Wyatt EV, Sperringer JE, Duncan BW, Maness PF. Doublecortin-Like Kinase 1 Facilitates Dendritic Spine Growth of Pyramidal Neurons in Mouse Prefrontal Cortex. Neuroscience 2023; 508:98-109. [PMID: 36064052 PMCID: PMC10317307 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 08/23/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The L1 cell adhesion molecule NrCAM (Neuron-glia related cell adhesion molecule) functions as a co-receptor for secreted class 3 Semaphorins to prune subpopulations of dendritic spines on apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons in the developing mouse neocortex. The developing spine cytoskeleton is enriched in actin filaments, but a small number of microtubules have been shown to enter the spine apparently trafficking vesicles to the membrane. Doublecortin-like kinase 1 (DCLK1) is a member of the Doublecortin (DCX) family of microtubule-binding proteins with serine/threonine kinase activity. To determine if DCLK1 plays a role in spine remodeling, we generated a tamoxifen-inducible mouse line (Nex1Cre-ERT2: DCLK1flox/flox: RCE) to delete microtubule binding isoforms of DCLK1 from pyramidal neurons during postnatal stages of spine development. Homozygous DCLK1 conditional mutant mice exhibited decreased spine density on apical dendrites of pyramidal neurons in the prefrontal cortex (layer 2/3). Mature mushroom spines were selectively decreased upon DCLK1 deletion but dendritic arborization was unaltered. Mutagenesis and binding studies revealed that DCLK1 bound NrCAM at the conserved FIGQY1231 motif in the NrCAM cytoplasmic domain, a known interaction site for the actin-spectrin adaptor Ankyrin. These findings demonstrate in a novel mouse model that DCLK1 facilitates spine growth and maturation on cortical pyramidal neurons in the mouse prefrontal cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey E Murphy
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Carolina Institute of Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Erin Y Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Carolina Institute of Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Elliott V Wyatt
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Carolina Institute of Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Justin E Sperringer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Carolina Institute of Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Bryce W Duncan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Carolina Institute of Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, United States
| | - Patricia F Maness
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, and Carolina Institute of Developmental Disabilities, University of North Carolina, School of Medicine at Chapel Hill, United States.
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Goel K, Ploski JE. RISC-y Business: Limitations of Short Hairpin RNA-Mediated Gene Silencing in the Brain and a Discussion of CRISPR/Cas-Based Alternatives. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:914430. [PMID: 35959108 PMCID: PMC9362770 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.914430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Manipulating gene expression within and outside the nervous system is useful for interrogating gene function and developing therapeutic interventions for a variety of diseases. Several approaches exist which enable gene manipulation in preclinical models, and some of these have been approved to treat human diseases. For the last couple of decades, RNA interference (RNAi) has been a leading technique to knockdown (i.e., suppress) specific RNA expression. This has been partly due to the technology's simplicity, which has promoted its adoption throughout biomedical science. However, accumulating evidence indicates that this technology can possess significant shortcomings. This review highlights the overwhelming evidence that RNAi can be prone to off-target effects and is capable of inducing cytotoxicity in some cases. With this in mind, we consider alternative CRISPR/Cas-based approaches, which may be safer and more reliable for gene knockdown. We also discuss the pros and cons of each approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanishk Goel
- School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, United States
| | - Jonathan E. Ploski
- Department of Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
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Alsing S, Doktor TK, Askou AL, Jensen EG, Ahmadov U, Kristensen LS, Andresen BS, Aagaard L, Corydon TJ. VEGFA-targeting miR-agshRNAs combine efficacy with specificity and safety for retinal gene therapy. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 28:58-76. [PMID: 35356684 PMCID: PMC8933642 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Retinal gene therapy using RNA interference (RNAi) to silence targeted genes requires both efficacy and safety. Short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) are useful for RNAi, but high expression levels and activity from the co-delivered passenger strand may cause undesirable cellular responses. Ago2-dependent shRNAs (agshRNAs) produce no passenger strand activity. To enhance efficacy and to investigate improvements in safety, we have generated VEGFA-targeting agshRNAs and microRNA (miRNA)-embedded agshRNAs (miR-agshRNAs) and inserted these RNAi effectors in Pol II/III-driven expression cassettes and lentiviral vectors (LVs). Compared with corresponding shRNAs, agshRNAs and miR-agshRNAs increased specificity and safety, while retaining a high knockdown efficacy and abolishing passenger strand activity. The agshRNAs also caused significantly smaller reductions in cell viability and reduced competition with the processing of endogenous miR21 compared with their shRNA counterparts. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of LV-transduced ARPE19 cells revealed that expression of shRNAs in general leads to more changes in gene expression levels compared with their agshRNA counterparts and activation of immune-related pathways. In mice, subretinal delivery of LVs encoding tissue-specific miR-agshRNAs resulted in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)-restricted expression and significant knockdown of Vegfa in transduced RPE cells. Collectively, our data suggest that agshRNAs and miR-agshRNA possess important advantages over shRNAs, thereby posing a clinically relevant approach with respect to efficacy, specificity, and safety.
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Kotowska-Zimmer A, Przybyl L, Pewinska M, Suszynska-Zajczyk J, Wronka D, Figiel M, Olejniczak M. A CAG repeat-targeting artificial miRNA lowers the mutant huntingtin level in the YAC128 model of Huntington's disease. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 28:702-715. [PMID: 35664700 PMCID: PMC9126840 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.04.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Among the many proposed therapeutic strategies for Huntington's disease (HD), allele-selective therapies are the most desirable but also the most challenging. RNA interference (RNAi) tools that target CAG repeats selectively reduce the mutant huntingtin level in cellular models of HD. The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy, selectivity, and safety of two vector-based RNAi triggers in an animal model of HD. CAG repeat-targeting short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and artificial miRNA (amiRNA) were delivered to the brains of YAC128 mice via intrastriatal injection of AAV5 vectors. Molecular tests demonstrated that both the shRNA and amiRNA reduced the mutant huntingtin level by 50% without influencing endogenous mouse huntingtin. In addition, a concentration-dependent reduction in HTT aggregates in the striatum was observed. In contrast to the shRNA, the amiRNA was well tolerated and did not show signs of toxicity during the course of the experiment up to 20 weeks post injection. Interestingly, amiRNA treatment reduced the spleen weight to values characteristic of healthy (WT) mice and improved motor performance on the static rod test. These preclinical data demonstrate that the CAG-targeting strategy and amiRNA could make an original and valuable contribution to currently used therapeutic approaches for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kotowska-Zimmer
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Lukasz Przybyl
- Laboratory of Mammalian Model Organisms, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marianna Pewinska
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Joanna Suszynska-Zajczyk
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Poznan University of Life Sciences, 60-632 Poznan, Poland
| | - Dorota Wronka
- Laboratory of Mammalian Model Organisms, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Maciej Figiel
- Department of Molecular Neurobiology, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Olejniczak
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
- Corresponding author Marta Olejniczak, Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland.
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8
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Wang D, Xiu J, Zhao J, Luo J. miR‐AB, a miRNA‐based shRNA viral toolkit for multicolor‐barcoded multiplex RNAi at a single‐cell level. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e53691. [PMID: 35201651 PMCID: PMC8982575 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202153691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Revised: 01/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Dapeng Wang
- Department of Immunology Binzhou Medical University Shandong China
| | - Jianbo Xiu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Biology Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Beijing China
| | - Jiangyue Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology The 4th Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University Shenyang China
| | - Junli Luo
- Department of Molecular Medicine The Scripps Research Institute Jupiter FL USA
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9
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Cirnaru MD, Creus-Muncunill J, Nelson S, Lewis TB, Watson J, Ellerby LM, Gonzalez-Alegre P, Ehrlich ME. Striatal Cholinergic Dysregulation after Neonatal Decrease in X-Linked Dystonia Parkinsonism-Related TAF1 Isoforms. Mov Disord 2021; 36:2780-2794. [PMID: 34403156 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND X-linked dystonia parkinsonism is a generalized, progressive dystonia followed by parkinsonism with onset in adulthood and accompanied by striatal neurodegeneration. Causative mutations are located in a noncoding region of the TATA-box binding protein-associated factor 1 (TAF1) gene and result in aberrant splicing. There are 2 major TAF1 isoforms that may be decreased in symptomatic patients, including the ubiquitously expressed canonical cTAF1 and the neuronal-specific nTAF1. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the behavioral and transcriptomic effects of decreased cTAF1 and/or nTAF1 in vivo. METHODS We generated adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors encoding microRNAs targeting Taf1 in a splice-isoform selective manner. We performed intracerebroventricular viral injections in newborn mice and rats and intrastriatal infusions in 3-week-old rats. The effects of Taf1 knockdown were assayed at 4 months of age with evaluation of motor function, histology, and RNA sequencing of the striatum, followed by its validation. RESULTS We report motor deficits in all cohorts, more pronounced in animals injected at P0, in which we also identified transcriptomic alterations in multiple neuronal pathways, including the cholinergic synapse. In both species, we show a reduced number of striatal cholinergic interneurons and their marker mRNAs after Taf1 knockdown in the newborn. CONCLUSION This study provides novel information regarding the requirement for TAF1 in the postnatal maintenance of striatal cholinergic neurons, the dysfunction of which is involved in other inherited forms of dystonia. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria-Daniela Cirnaru
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Jordi Creus-Muncunill
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Shareen Nelson
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular & Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Travis B Lewis
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular & Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jaime Watson
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular & Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lisa M Ellerby
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, California, USA
| | - Pedro Gonzalez-Alegre
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular & Molecular Therapeutics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michelle E Ehrlich
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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10
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Wang W, Zhou P, Wang X, Chen F, Christensen E, Thompson J, Ren X, Kells A, Stanek L, Carter T, Hou J, Sah D. Efficient and Precise Processing of the Optimized Pri-amiRNA in a Huntingtin-Lowering AAV Gene Therapy in Vitro and in Mice and Nonhuman Primates. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 33:37-60. [PMID: 34806402 PMCID: PMC10112875 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Huntington's Disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder caused by an inherited mutation in the huntingtin gene (HTT) comprising an expanded cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeat sequence that results in a pathogenic huntingtin protein. AAV gene therapy containing a primary artificial microRNA (pri-amiRNA) specifically targeting HTT mRNA has the potential to provide long-lasting therapeutic benefit, via durable reduction of mutant HTT expression after a single administration. The efficiency and precision of processing of the pri-amiRNA precursor to the mature guide strand by transduced cells is critical for specific and potent HTT lowering. The selection of the optimized pri-amiRNA comprised a series of in vitro studies followed by in vivo studies in small and then large mammals. Our studies demonstrate the predictivity of certain cell culture systems and rodent models for nonhuman primates (NHP) with respect to some, but not all key features of pri-amiRNA processing. In addition, our results show that the processing of pri-amiRNAs to the mature guide strand can differ greatly across different scaffolds and sequences while providing the same levels of target lowering. Importantly, our data demonstrate that there is a combinatorial effect of guide and passenger strand sequences, together with the scaffold, on pri-amiRNA processing, with different guide and passenger strand sequences within the same scaffold dramatically altering pri-amiRNA processing. Taken together, our results highlight the importance of optimizing not only target lowering, but also the efficiency and precision of pri-amiRNA processing in vitro, in rodents and in large mammals to identify the most potent and selective AAV gene therapy that harnesses the endogenous miRNA biogenesis pathway for target lowering without perturbing the endogenous cellular miRNA profile. The optimized pri-amiRNA was selected with this focus on efficiency and precision of pri-amiRNA processing in addition to its pharmacological activity on HTT lowering, and general tolerability in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc, 461444, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Pengcheng Zhou
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc, 461444, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Xin Wang
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc, 461444, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Fen Chen
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc, 461444, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Emily Christensen
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc, 461444, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Jeffrey Thompson
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc, 461444, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Xiaoqin Ren
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc, 461444, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Adrian Kells
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc, 461444, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Lisa Stanek
- Sanofi Genzyme, 2194, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Todd Carter
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc, 461444, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Jay Hou
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc, 461444, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States;
| | - Dinah Sah
- Voyager Therapeutics Inc, 461444, 75 Sidney Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 02139;
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11
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Hueso M, Mallén A, Suñé-Pou M, Aran JM, Suñé-Negre JM, Navarro E. ncRNAs in Therapeutics: Challenges and Limitations in Nucleic Acid-Based Drug Delivery. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms222111596. [PMID: 34769025 PMCID: PMC8584088 DOI: 10.3390/ijms222111596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are emerging therapeutic tools but there are barriers to their translation to clinical practice. Key issues concern the specificity of the targets, the delivery of the molecules, and their stability, while avoiding “on-target” and “off-target” side effects. In this “ncRNA in therapeutics” issue, we collect several studies of the differential expression of ncRNAs in cardiovascular diseases, bone metabolism-related disorders, neurology, and oncology, and their potential to be used as biomarkers or therapeutic targets. Moreover, we review recent advances in the use of antisense ncRNAs in targeted therapies with a particular emphasis on their basic biological mechanisms, their translational potential, and future trends.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Hueso
- Department of Nephrology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain
- Nephrology and Renal Transplantation Group, Infectious Disease and Transplantation Program, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (E.N.); Tel.: +34-932607602 (M.H.); Fax: +34-932607603 (M.H.)
| | - Adrián Mallén
- Nephrology and Renal Transplantation Group, Infectious Disease and Transplantation Program, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, 08907 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;
| | - Marc Suñé-Pou
- Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.S.-P.); (J.M.S.-N.)
| | - Josep M. Aran
- Immunoinflammatory Processes and Gene Therapeutics Lab, Institut d’Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge-IDIBELL, 08908 L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain;
| | - Josep M. Suñé-Negre
- Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology and Physical Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, University of Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII, 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; (M.S.-P.); (J.M.S.-N.)
| | - Estanislao Navarro
- Independent Researcher, 08950 Barcelona, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.H.); (E.N.); Tel.: +34-932607602 (M.H.); Fax: +34-932607603 (M.H.)
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12
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Selvaraj N, Wang CK, Bowser B, Broadt T, Shaban S, Burns J, Saptharishi N, Pechan P, Golebiowski D, Alimardanov A, Yang N, Mitra G, Vepachedu R. Detailed Protocol for the Novel and Scalable Viral Vector Upstream Process for AAV Gene Therapy Manufacturing. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:850-861. [PMID: 33397196 PMCID: PMC8418526 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vector-based gene therapy has been adapted for use in more than 100 clinical trials. This is mainly because of its excellent safety profile, ability to target a wide range of tissues, stable transgene expression, and significant clinical benefit. However, the major challenge is to produce a high-titer, high-potency vector to achieve a better therapeutic effect. Even though the three plasmid-based transient transfection method is currently being used for AAV production in many clinical trials, there are complications associated with scalability and it is not cost-effective. Other methods require either large-scale production of two herpes simplex viruses, rHSV-RepCap and rHSV-GOI (gene of interest), with high titers, or a stable cell line with high titer wild-type adenovirus infection. Both of these options make the process even more complex. To address this issue, we have developed a stable cell line-based production with the use of only one rHSV-RepCap virus. Using this new methodology in small-scale production, we achieved ∼1-6 E + 04 vg/cell of AAV9 in the top producer clones. Large-scale production in 10-CS (10-Cell Stack) of one of the top producing clones resulted in ∼1-2 E + 13 vg/10-CS with 50% of full capsid ratio after purification. This method could potentially be adapted to suspension cells. The major advantage of this novel methodology is that by using the rHSV-RepCap virus, high titer AAV can be produced with any GOI containing a stable adherent or suspension producer cell line. The use of this AAV production platform could be beneficial for the treatment of many diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nagarathinam Selvaraj
- Biopharmaceutical Development Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Chao-Kuei Wang
- Biopharmaceutical Development Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Brian Bowser
- Biopharmaceutical Development Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Trevor Broadt
- Biopharmaceutical Development Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Samir Shaban
- Biopharmaceutical Development Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Jenna Burns
- Biopharmaceutical Development Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Nirmala Saptharishi
- Biopharmaceutical Development Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Peter Pechan
- Solid Biosciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Asaf Alimardanov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Nora Yang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - George Mitra
- Biopharmaceutical Development Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
| | - Ramarao Vepachedu
- Biopharmaceutical Development Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland, USA
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13
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Winkle M, El-Daly SM, Fabbri M, Calin GA. Noncoding RNA therapeutics - challenges and potential solutions. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2021; 20:629-651. [PMID: 34145432 PMCID: PMC8212082 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-021-00219-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 786] [Impact Index Per Article: 262.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Therapeutic targeting of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), such as microRNAs (miRNAs) and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), represents an attractive approach for the treatment of cancers, as well as many other diseases. Over the past decade, substantial effort has been made towards the clinical application of RNA-based therapeutics, employing mostly antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNAs, with several gaining FDA approval. However, trial results have so far been ambivalent, with some studies reporting potent effects whereas others demonstrated limited efficacy or toxicity. Alternative entities such as antimiRNAs are undergoing clinical testing, and lncRNA-based therapeutics are gaining interest. In this Perspective, we discuss key challenges facing ncRNA therapeutics - including issues associated with specificity, delivery and tolerability - and focus on promising emerging approaches that aim to boost their success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Winkle
- Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas State University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sherien M El-Daly
- Medical Biochemistry Department, Medical Research Division - Cancer Biology and Genetics Laboratory, Centre of Excellence for Advanced Sciences - National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Muller Fabbri
- Cancer Biology Program, University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - George A Calin
- Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas State University, Houston, TX, USA.
- The RNA Interference and Non-codingRNA Center, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Texas State University, Houston, TX, USA.
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14
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Correction of β-thalassemia by CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the α-globin locus in human hematopoietic stem cells. Blood Adv 2021; 5:1137-1153. [PMID: 33635334 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020001996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
β-thalassemias (β-thal) are a group of blood disorders caused by mutations in the β-globin gene (HBB) cluster. β-globin associates with α-globin to form adult hemoglobin (HbA, α2β2), the main oxygen-carrier in erythrocytes. When β-globin chains are absent or limiting, free α-globins precipitate and damage cell membranes, causing hemolysis and ineffective erythropoiesis. Clinical data show that severity of β-thal correlates with the number of inherited α-globin genes (HBA1 and HBA2), with α-globin gene deletions having a beneficial effect for patients. Here, we describe a novel strategy to treat β-thal based on genome editing of the α-globin locus in human hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs). Using CRISPR/Cas9, we combined 2 therapeutic approaches: (1) α-globin downregulation, by deleting the HBA2 gene to recreate an α-thalassemia trait, and (2) β-globin expression, by targeted integration of a β-globin transgene downstream the HBA2 promoter. First, we optimized the CRISPR/Cas9 strategy and corrected the pathological phenotype in a cellular model of β-thalassemia (human erythroid progenitor cell [HUDEP-2] β0). Then, we edited healthy donor HSPCs and demonstrated that they maintained long-term repopulation capacity and multipotency in xenotransplanted mice. To assess the clinical potential of this approach, we next edited β-thal HSPCs and achieved correction of α/β globin imbalance in HSPC-derived erythroblasts. As a safer option for clinical translation, we performed editing in HSPCs using Cas9 nickase showing precise editing with no InDels. Overall, we described an innovative CRISPR/Cas9 approach to improve α/β globin imbalance in thalassemic HSPCs, paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies for β-thal.
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15
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Beck G, Zhang J, Fong K, Mochizuki H, Mouradian MM, Papa SM. Striatal ΔFosB gene suppression inhibits the development of abnormal involuntary movements induced by L-Dopa in rats. Gene Ther 2021; 28:760-770. [PMID: 33707771 PMCID: PMC8433270 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-021-00249-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
L-Dopa-induced dyskinesia (LID) is associated with upregulation of striatal ΔFosB in animal models and patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). A mechanistic role of ΔFosB is suspected because its transgenic overexpression leads to early appearance of LID in rodents and primates. The present study in rodents is aimed at exploring the therapeutic potential of striatal ΔFosB gene suppression to control LID in patients with PD. To determine the effect of reducing striatal ΔFosB expression, we used RNAi gene knockdown in a rat model of PD and assessed abnormal involuntary movements (AIMs) in response to L-Dopa. Rats with dopamine depletion received striatal injections of rAAV-ΔFosB shRNA or a control virus before exposure to chronic L-Dopa treatment. Development of AIMs during the entire L-Dopa treatment period was markedly inhibited by ΔFosB gene knockdown and its associated molecular changes. The antiparkinsonian action of L-Dopa was unchanged by ΔFosB gene knockdown. These results suggest a major role for ΔFosB in the development of LID, and support exploring strategies to reduce striatal ΔFosB levels in patients with PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goichi Beck
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - Jie Zhang
- RWJMS Institute for Neurological Therapeutics and Department of Neurology, Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Kayoko Fong
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hideki Mochizuki
- Department of Neurology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Suita, Japan
| | - M Maral Mouradian
- RWJMS Institute for Neurological Therapeutics and Department of Neurology, Rutgers - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
| | - Stella M Papa
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA. .,Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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16
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Braga L, Ali H, Secco I, Giacca M. Non-coding RNA therapeutics for cardiac regeneration. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 117:674-693. [PMID: 32215566 PMCID: PMC7898953 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A growing body of evidence indicates that cardiac regeneration after myocardial infarction can be achieved by stimulating the endogenous capacity of cardiomyocytes (CMs) to replicate. This process is controlled, both positively and negatively, by a large set of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). Some of the microRNAs (miRNAs) that can stimulate CM proliferation is expressed in embryonic stem cells and is required to maintain pluripotency (e.g. the miR-302∼367 cluster). Others also govern the proliferation of different cell types, including cancer cells (e.g. the miR-17∼92 cluster). Additional miRNAs were discovered through systematic screenings (e.g. miR-199a-3p and miR-590-3p). Several miRNAs instead suppress CM proliferation and are involved in the withdrawal of CMs from the cell cycle after birth (e.g. the let-7 and miR-15 families). Similar regulatory roles on CM proliferation are also exerted by a few long ncRNAs. This body of information has obvious therapeutic implications, as miRNAs with activator function or short antisense oligonucleotides against inhibitory miRNAs or lncRNAs can be administered to stimulate cardiac regeneration. Expression of miRNAs can be achieved by gene therapy using adeno-associated vectors, which transduce CMs with high efficiency. More effective and safer for therapeutic purposes, small nucleic acid therapeutics can be obtained as chemically modified, synthetic molecules, which can be administered through lipofection or inclusion in lipid or polymer nanoparticles for efficient cardiac delivery. The notion that it is possible to reprogramme CMs into a regenerative state and that this property can be enhanced by ncRNA therapeutics remains exciting, however extensive experimentation in large mammals and rigorous assessment of safety are required to advance towards clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Braga
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Hashim Ali
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Ilaria Secco
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Mauro Giacca
- British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London, The James Black Centre, 125 Coldharbour Lane, London SE5 9NU, UK
- Molecular Medicine Laboratory, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
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17
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Melis C, Beauvais G, Muntean BS, Cirnaru MD, Otrimski G, Creus-Muncunill J, Martemyanov KA, Gonzalez-Alegre P, Ehrlich ME. Striatal Dopamine Induced ERK Phosphorylation Is Altered in Mouse Models of Monogenic Dystonia. Mov Disord 2021; 36:1147-1157. [PMID: 33458877 DOI: 10.1002/mds.28476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Similar to some monogenic forms of dystonia, levodopa-induced dyskinesia is a hyperkinetic movement disorder with abnormal nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurotransmission. Molecularly, it is characterized by hyper-induction of phosphorylation of extracellular signal-related kinase in response to dopamine in medium spiny neurons of the direct pathway. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to determine if mouse models of monogenic dystonia exhibit molecular features of levodopa-induced dyskinesia. METHODS Western blotting and quantitative immunofluorescence was used to assay baseline and/or dopamine-induced levels of the phosphorylated kinase in the striatum in mouse models of DYT1, DYT6, and DYT25 expressing a reporter in dopamine D1 receptor-expressing projection neurons. Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) immunoassay and adenylyl cyclase activity assays were also performed. RESULTS In DYT1 and DYT6 models, blocking dopamine reuptake with cocaine leads to enhanced extracellular signal-related kinase phosphorylation in dorsomedial striatal medium spiny neurons in the direct pathway, which is abolished by pretreatment with the N-methyl-d-aspartate antagonist MK-801. Phosphorylation is decreased in a model of DYT25. Levels of basal and stimulated cAMP and adenylyl cyclase activity were normal in the DYT1 and DYT6 mice and decreased in the DYT25 mice. Oxotremorine induced increased abnormal movements in the DYT1 knock-in mice. CONCLUSIONS The increased dopamine induction of extracellular signal-related kinase phosphorylation in 2 genetic types of dystonia, similar to what occurs in levodopa-induced dyskinesia, and its decrease in a third, suggests that abnormal signal transduction in response to dopamine in the postsynaptic nigrostriatal pathway might be a point of convergence for dystonia and other hyperkinetic movement disorders, potentially offering common therapeutic targets. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Melis
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Genevieve Beauvais
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapy, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Brian S Muntean
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Maria-Daniela Cirnaru
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Garrett Otrimski
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapy, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jordi Creus-Muncunill
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kirill A Martemyanov
- Department of Neuroscience, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Pedro Gonzalez-Alegre
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular and Molecular Therapy, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.,Department of Neurology, The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michelle E Ehrlich
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
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18
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Course MM, Gudsnuk K, Desai N, Chamberlain JR, Valdmanis PN. Endogenous MicroRNA Competition as a Mechanism of shRNA-Induced Cardiotoxicity. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 19:572-580. [PMID: 31927330 PMCID: PMC6957822 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2019] [Revised: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 12/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Gene knockdown using short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) is a promising strategy for targeting dominant mutations; however, delivering too much shRNA can disrupt the processing of endogenous microRNAs (miRNAs) and lead to toxicity. Here, we sought to understand the effect that excessive shRNAs have on muscle miRNAs by treating mice with recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAVs) that produce shRNAs with 19-nt or 21-nt stem sequences. Small RNA sequencing of their muscle and liver tissues revealed that shRNA expression was highest in the heart, where mice experienced substantial cardiomyopathy when shRNAs accumulated to 51.2% ± 13.7% of total small RNAs. With the same treatment, shRNAs in other muscle tissues reached only 12.1% ± 5.0% of total small RNAs. Regardless of treatment, the predominant heart miRNAs remained relatively stable across samples. Instead, the lower-expressed miR-451, one of the few miRNAs processed independently of Dicer, changed in relation to shRNA level and toxicity. Our data suggest that a protective mechanism exists in cardiac tissue for maintaining the levels of most miRNAs in response to shRNA delivery, in contrast with what has been shown in the liver. Quantifying miRNA profiles after excessive shRNA delivery illuminates the host response to rAAV-shRNA, allowing for safer and more robust therapeutic gene knockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meredith M Course
- Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kathryn Gudsnuk
- Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Nitin Desai
- Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Joel R Chamberlain
- Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paul N Valdmanis
- Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
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19
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Huichalaf CH, Al-Ramahi I, Park KW, Grunke SD, Lu N, de Haro M, El-Zein K, Gallego-Flores T, Perez AM, Jung SY, Botas J, Zoghbi HY, Jankowsky JL. Cross-species genetic screens to identify kinase targets for APP reduction in Alzheimer's disease. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:2014-2029. [PMID: 30753434 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2018] [Revised: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
An early hallmark of Alzheimer's disease is the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ), inspiring numerous therapeutic strategies targeting this peptide. An alternative approach is to destabilize the amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) from which Aβ is derived. We interrogated innate pathways governing APP stability using a siRNA screen for modifiers whose own reduction diminished APP in human cell lines and transgenic Drosophila. As proof of principle, we validated PKCβ-a known modifier identified by the screen-in an APP transgenic mouse model. PKCβ was genetically targeted using a novel adeno-associated virus shuttle vector to deliver microRNA-adapted shRNA via intracranial injection. In vivo reduction of PKCβ initially diminished APP and delayed plaque formation. Despite persistent PKCβ suppression, the effect on APP and amyloid diminished over time. Our study advances this approach for mining druggable modifiers of disease-associated proteins, while cautioning that prolonged in vivo validation may be needed to reveal emergent limitations on efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ismael Al-Ramahi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Nan Lu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maria de Haro
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karla El-Zein
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tatiana Gallego-Flores
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alma M Perez
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Juan Botas
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Huda Y Zoghbi
- Department of Neuroscience.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics.,Department of Pediatrics.,Department of Neurology.,Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Joanna L Jankowsky
- Department of Neuroscience.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology.,Department of Neurology.,Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
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20
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Kotowska-Zimmer A, Ostrovska Y, Olejniczak M. Universal RNAi Triggers for the Specific Inhibition of Mutant Huntingtin, Atrophin-1, Ataxin-3, and Ataxin-7 Expression. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 19:562-571. [PMID: 31927329 PMCID: PMC6957814 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The expansion of CAG repeats within the coding region of associated genes is responsible for nine inherited neurodegenerative disorders including Huntington’s disease (HD), spinocerebellar ataxias (SCAs), and dentatorubral-pallidoluysian atrophy (DRPLA). Despite years of research aimed at developing an effective method of treatment, these diseases remain incurable and only their symptoms are controlled. The purpose of this study was to develop effective and allele-selective genetic tools for silencing the expression of mutated genes containing expanded CAG repeats. Here we show that repeat-targeting short hairpin RNAs preferentially reduce the levels of mutant huntingtin, atrophin-1, ataxin-3, and ataxin-7 proteins in patient-derived fibroblasts and may serve as universal allele-selective reagents for polyglutamine (polyQ) diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Kotowska-Zimmer
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Yuliya Ostrovska
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Marta Olejniczak
- Department of Genome Engineering, Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland; Dystrogen Gene Therapies, 1415 W 37(th) Street, Chicago, IL, USA.
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21
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Tabrizi SJ, Ghosh R, Leavitt BR. Huntingtin Lowering Strategies for Disease Modification in Huntington's Disease. Neuron 2019; 101:801-819. [PMID: 30844400 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2019.01.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 33.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is caused by an abnormally expanded CAG repeat expansion in the HTT gene, which confers a predominant toxic gain of function in the mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein. There are currently no disease-modifying therapies available, but approaches that target proximally in disease pathogenesis hold great promise. These include DNA-targeting techniques such as zinc-finger proteins, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and CRISPR/Cas9; post-transcriptional huntingtin-lowering approaches such as RNAi, antisense oligonucleotides, and small-molecule splicing modulators; and novel methods to clear the mHTT protein, such as proteolysis-targeting chimeras. Improvements in the delivery and distribution of such agents as well as the development of objective biomarkers of disease and of HTT lowering pharmacodynamic outcomes have brought these potential therapies to the forefront of Huntington's disease research, with clinical trials in patients already underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Tabrizi
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute (DRI) at UCL, London, UK.
| | - Rhia Ghosh
- Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- UBC Centre for Huntington's Disease, Department of Medical Genetics and Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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22
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Kaadt E, Alsing S, Cecchi CR, Damgaard CK, Corydon TJ, Aagaard L. Efficient Knockdown and Lack of Passenger Strand Activity by Dicer-Independent shRNAs Expressed from Pol II-Driven MicroRNA Scaffolds. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 14:318-328. [PMID: 30654192 PMCID: PMC6348697 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The expression of short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) may result in unwanted activity from the co-processed passenger strand. Recent studies have shown that shortening the stem of conventional shRNAs abolishes passenger strand release. These Dicer-independent shRNAs, expressed from RNA polymerase III (Pol III) promoters, rely on Ago2 processing in resemblance to miR-451. Using strand-specific reporters, we tested two designs, and our results support the loss of passenger strand activity. We demonstrate that artificial primary microRNA (pri-miRNA) transcripts, expressed from Pol II promoters, can potently silence a gene of choice. Among six different scaffolds tested, miR-324 and miR-451 were readily re-targeted to direct efficient knockdown from either a CMV or a U1 snRNA promoter. Importantly, the miR-shRNAs have no passenger strand activity and remain active in Dicer-knockout cells. Our vectors are straightforward to design, as we replace the pre-miR-324 or -451 sequences with a Dicer-independent shRNA mimicking miR-451 with unpaired A-C nucleotides at the base. The use of Pol II promoters allows for controlled expression, while the inclusion of pri-miRNA sequences likely requires Drosha processing and, as such, mimics microRNA biogenesis. Since this improved and tunable system bypasses the requirement for Dicer activity and abolishes passenger strand activity completely, it will likely prove favorable in both research and therapeutic applications in terms of versatility and enhanced safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik Kaadt
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Sidsel Alsing
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Claudia R Cecchi
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas J Corydon
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark; Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Lars Aagaard
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C, Denmark.
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23
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Dystonia: Are animal models relevant in therapeutics? Rev Neurol (Paris) 2018; 174:608-614. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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24
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Roovers J, De Jonghe P, Weckhuysen S. The therapeutic potential of RNA regulation in neurological disorders. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2018; 22:1017-1028. [PMID: 30372655 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2018.1542429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gene regulation is the term used to describe the mechanisms by which a cell increases or decreases the amount of a gene product (RNA or protein). In complex organs such as the brain, gene regulation is of the utmost importance; aberrations in the regulation of specific genes can lead to neurological disorders. Understanding these mechanisms can create new strategies for targeting these disorders and progress is being made. Two drugs that function at the RNA level (nusinersen and eteplirsen) have now been approved by the FDA for the treatment of Spinomuscular atrophy and Duchenne muscular dystrophy, respectively; several other compounds for neurological disease are currently being investigated in preclinical studies and clinical trials. Areas covered: We highlight how gene regulation at the level of RNA molecules can be used as a therapeutic strategy to treat neurological disorders. We provide examples of how such an approach is being studied or used and discuss the current hurdles. Expert opinion: Targeting gene expression at the RNA level is a promising strategy to treat genetic neurological disorders. Safe administration, long-term efficacy, and potential side effects, however, still need careful evaluation before RNA therapeutics can be applied on a larger scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jolien Roovers
- a Neurogenetics Group , Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB , Antwerp , Belgium.,b Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Institute Born-Bunge , University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium
| | - Peter De Jonghe
- a Neurogenetics Group , Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB , Antwerp , Belgium.,b Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Institute Born-Bunge , University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium.,c Department of Neurology , University Hospital Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium
| | - Sarah Weckhuysen
- a Neurogenetics Group , Center for Molecular Neurology, VIB , Antwerp , Belgium.,b Laboratory of Neurogenetics, Institute Born-Bunge , University of Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium.,c Department of Neurology , University Hospital Antwerp , Antwerp , Belgium
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25
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Beauvais G, Watson JL, Aguirre JA, Tecedor L, Ehrlich ME, Gonzalez-Alegre P. Efficient RNA interference-based knockdown of mutant torsinA reveals reversibility of PERK-eIF2α pathway dysregulation in DYT1 transgenic rats in vivo. Brain Res 2018; 1706:24-31. [PMID: 30366018 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.10.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2018] [Revised: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
DYT1 dystonia is a neurological disease caused by a dominant mutation that results in the loss of a glutamic acid in the endoplasmic reticulum-resident protein torsinA. Currently, treatments are symptomatic and only provide partial relief. Multiple reports support the hypothesis that selectively reducing expression of mutant torsinA without affecting levels of the wild type protein should be beneficial. Published cell-based studies support this hypothesis. It is unclear, however, if phenotypes are reversible by targeting the molecular defect once established in vivo. Here, we generated adeno-associated virus encoding artificial microRNA targeting human mutant torsinA and delivered them to the striatum of symptomatic transgenic rats that express the full human TOR1A mutant gene. We achieved efficient suppression of human mutant torsinA expression in DYT1 transgenic rats, partly reversing its accumulation in the nuclear envelope. This intervention rescued PERK-eIF2α pathway dysregulation in striatal projection neurons but not behavioral abnormalities. Moreover, we found abnormal expression of components of dopaminergic neurotransmission in DYT1 rat striatum, which were not normalized by suppressing mutant torsinA expression. Our findings demonstrate the reversibility of translational dysregulation in DYT1 neurons and confirm the presence of abnormal dopaminergic neurotransmission in DYT1 dystonia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Beauvais
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular & Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Jaime L Watson
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular & Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Jose A Aguirre
- Department of Human Physiology, University of Malaga, Malaga 29071, Spain
| | - Luis Tecedor
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular & Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States
| | - Michelle E Ehrlich
- Department of Neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Pedro Gonzalez-Alegre
- Raymond G. Perelman Center for Cellular & Molecular Therapeutics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States; Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, PA 19104, United States.
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26
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Park HH, Triboulet R, Bentler M, Guda S, Du P, Xu H, Gregory RI, Brendel C, Williams DA. DROSHA Knockout Leads to Enhancement of Viral Titers for Vectors Encoding miRNA-Adapted shRNAs. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 12:591-599. [PMID: 30195795 PMCID: PMC6078836 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
RNAi-based gene therapy using miRNA-adapted short hairpin RNAs (shRNAmiR) is a powerful approach to modulate gene expression. However, we have observed low viral titers with shRNAmiR-containing recombinant vectors and hypothesized that this could be due to cleavage of viral genomic RNA by the endogenous microprocessor complex during virus assembly. To test this hypothesis, we targeted DROSHA, the core component of the microprocessor complex, and successfully generated monoallelic and biallelic DROSHA knockout (KO) HEK293T cells for vector production. DROSHA KO was verified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot analysis. We produced lentiviral vectors containing Venus with or without shRNA hairpins and generated virus supernatants using DROSHA KO packaging cells. We observed an increase in the fluorescence intensity of hairpin-containing Venus transcripts in DROSHA KO producer cells consistent with reduced microprocessor cleavage of encoded mRNA transcripts, and recovery in the viral titer of hairpin-containing vectors compared with non-hairpin-containing constructs. We confirmed the absence of significant shRNAmiR processing by northern blot analysis and showed that this correlated with an increase in the amount of full-length vector genomic RNA. These findings may have important implications in future production of viral shRNAmiR-containing vectors for RNAi-based therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hee Ho Park
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Program of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Gangwon-do 24341, Republic of Korea
| | - Robinson Triboulet
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Swaroopa Guda
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Peng Du
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Haiming Xu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard I Gregory
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christian Brendel
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David A Williams
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA; Harvard Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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27
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Askou AL, Alsing S, Holmgaard A, Bek T, Corydon TJ. Dissecting microRNA dysregulation in age-related macular degeneration: new targets for eye gene therapy. Acta Ophthalmol 2018; 96:9-23. [PMID: 28271607 DOI: 10.1111/aos.13407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are key regulators of gene expression in humans. Overexpression or depletion of individual miRNAs is associated with human disease. Current knowledge suggests that the retina is influenced by miRNAs and that dysregulation of miRNAs as well as alterations in components of the miRNA biogenesis machinery are involved in retinal diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Furthermore, recent studies have indicated that the vitreous has a specific panel of circulating miRNAs and that this panel varies according to the specific pathological stress experienced by the retinal cells. MicroRNA (miRNA) profiling indicates subtype-specific miRNA profiles for late-stage AMD highlighting the importance of proper miRNA regulation in AMD. This review will describe the function of important miRNAs involved in inflammation, oxidative stress and pathological neovascularization, the key molecular mechanisms leading to AMD, and focus on dysregulated miRNAs as potential therapeutic targets in AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sidsel Alsing
- Department of Biomedicine; Aarhus University; Aarhus C Denmark
| | | | - Toke Bek
- Department of Ophthalmology; Aarhus University Hospital; Aarhus C Denmark
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28
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Beauvais G, Rodriguez-Losada N, Ying L, Zakirova Z, Watson JL, Readhead B, Gadue P, French DL, Ehrlich ME, Gonzalez-Alegre P. Exploring the Interaction Between eIF2α Dysregulation, Acute Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and DYT1 Dystonia in the Mammalian Brain. Neuroscience 2018; 371:455-468. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2017.12.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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29
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Bannerman P, Guo F, Chechneva O, Burns T, Zhu X, Wang Y, Kim B, Singhal NK, McDonough JA, Pleasure D. Brain Nat8l Knockdown Suppresses Spongiform Leukodystrophy in an Aspartoacylase-Deficient Canavan Disease Mouse Model. Mol Ther 2018; 26:793-800. [PMID: 29456021 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2018.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2017] [Revised: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/06/2018] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Canavan disease, a leukodystrophy caused by loss-of-function ASPA mutations, is characterized by brain dysmyelination, vacuolation, and astrogliosis ("spongiform leukodystrophy"). ASPA encodes aspartoacylase, an oligodendroglial enzyme that cleaves the abundant brain amino acid N-acetyl-L-aspartate (NAA) to L-aspartate and acetate. Aspartoacylase deficiency results in a 50% or greater elevation in brain NAA concentration ([NAAB]). Prior studies showed that homozygous constitutive knockout of Nat8l, the gene encoding the neuronal NAA synthesizing enzyme N-acetyltransferase 8-like, prevents aspartoacylase-deficient mice from developing spongiform leukodystrophy. We now report that brain Nat8l knockdown elicited by intracerebroventricular/intracisternal administration of an adeno-associated viral vector carrying a short hairpin Nat8l inhibitory RNA to neonatal aspartoacylase-deficient AspaNur7/Nur7 mice lowers [NAAB] and suppresses development of spongiform leukodystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Bannerman
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Fuzheng Guo
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Olga Chechneva
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Travis Burns
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Xiaoqing Zhu
- Cancer Institute, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong 266-61, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Bokyung Kim
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
| | - Naveen K Singhal
- Department of Biological Sciences and School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - Jennifer A McDonough
- Department of Biological Sciences and School of Biomedical Sciences, Kent State University, Kent, OH 44242, USA
| | - David Pleasure
- Institute for Pediatric Regenerative Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
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30
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Abstract
Gene suppression approaches have emerged over the last 20 years as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. These include RNA interference and anti-sense oligonucleotides, both of which act at the post-transcriptional level, and genome-editing techniques, which aim to repair the responsible mutant gene. All serve to inhibit the expression of disease-causing proteins, leading to the potential prevention or even reversal of the disease phenotype. In this review we summarise the main developments in gene suppression strategies, using examples from Huntington's disease and other inherited causes of neurodegeneration, and explore how these might illuminate a path to tackle other proteinopathy-associated dementias in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhia Ghosh
- UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- UCL Huntington's Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
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31
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Disruption of Protein Processing in the Endoplasmic Reticulum of DYT1 Knock-in Mice Implicates Novel Pathways in Dystonia Pathogenesis. J Neurosci 2017; 36:10245-10256. [PMID: 27707963 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0669-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Dystonia type 1 (DYT1) is a dominantly inherited neurological disease caused by mutations in TOR1A, the gene encoding the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein torsinA. Previous work mostly completed in cell-based systems suggests that mutant torsinA alters protein processing in the secretory pathway. We hypothesized that inducing ER stress in the mammalian brain in vivo would trigger or exacerbate mutant torsinA-induced dysfunction. To test this hypothesis, we crossed DYT1 knock-in with p58(IPK)-null mice. The ER co-chaperone p58(IPK) interacts with BiP and assists in protein maturation by helping to fold ER cargo. Its deletion increases the cellular sensitivity to ER stress. We found a lower generation of DYT1 knock-in/p58 knock-out mice than expected from this cross, suggesting a developmental interaction that influences viability. However, surviving animals did not exhibit abnormal motor function. Analysis of brain tissue uncovered dysregulation of eiF2α and Akt/mTOR translational control pathways in the DYT1 brain, a finding confirmed in a second rodent model and in human brain. Finally, an unbiased proteomic analysis identified relevant changes in the neuronal protein landscape suggesting abnormal ER protein metabolism and calcium dysregulation. Functional studies confirmed the interaction between the DYT1 genotype and neuronal calcium dynamics. Overall, these findings advance our knowledge on dystonia, linking translational control pathways and calcium physiology to dystonia pathogenesis and identifying potential new pharmacological targets. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Dystonia type 1 (DYT1) is one of the different forms of inherited dystonia, a neurological disorder characterized by involuntary, disabling movements. DYT1 is caused by mutations in the gene that encodes the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-resident protein torsinA. How mutant torsinA causes neuronal dysfunction remains unknown. Here, we show the behavioral and molecular consequences of stressing the ER in DYT1 mice by increasing the amount of misfolded proteins. This resulted in the generation of a reduced number of animals, evidence of abnormal ER protein processing and dysregulation of translational control pathways. The work described here proposes a shared mechanism for different forms of dystonia, links for the first time known biological pathways to dystonia pathogenesis, and uncovers potential pharmacological targets for its treatment.
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32
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Adamson-Small L, Potter M, Byrne BJ, Clément N. Sodium Chloride Enhances Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Production in a Serum-Free Suspension Manufacturing Platform Using the Herpes Simplex Virus System. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2017; 28:1-14. [PMID: 28117600 PMCID: PMC5346630 DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2016.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The increase in effective treatments using recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors has underscored the importance of scalable, high-yield manufacturing methods. Previous work from this group reported the use of recombinant herpes simplex virus type 1 (rHSV) vectors to produce rAAV in adherent HEK293 cells, demonstrating the capacity of this system and quality of the product generated. Here we report production and optimization of rAAV using the rHSV system in suspension HEK293 cells (Expi293F) grown in serum and animal component-free medium. Through adjustment of salt concentration in the medium and optimization of infection conditions, titers greater than 1 × 1014 vector genomes per liter (VG/liter) were observed in purified rAAV stocks produced in Expi293F cells. Furthermore, this system allowed for high-titer production of multiple rAAV serotypes (2, 5, and 9) as well as multiple transgenes (green fluorescent protein and acid α-glucosidase). A proportional increase in vector production was observed as this method was scaled, with a final 3-liter shaker flask production yielding an excess of 1 × 1015 VG in crude cell harvests and an average of 3.5 × 1014 total VG of purified rAAV9 material, resulting in greater than 1 × 105 VG/cell. These results support the use of this rHSV-based rAAV production method for large-scale preclinical and clinical vector production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Adamson-Small
- Department of Pediatrics, Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL
| | - Mark Potter
- Department of Pediatrics, Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL
| | - Barry J Byrne
- Department of Pediatrics, Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL
| | - Nathalie Clément
- Department of Pediatrics, Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida , Gainesville, FL
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33
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Pfister EL, Chase KO, Sun H, Kennington LA, Conroy F, Johnson E, Miller R, Borel F, Aronin N, Mueller C. Safe and Efficient Silencing with a Pol II, but Not a Pol lII, Promoter Expressing an Artificial miRNA Targeting Human Huntingtin. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2017; 7:324-334. [PMID: 28624208 PMCID: PMC5424568 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2016] [Revised: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is a devastating, incurable neurodegenerative disease affecting up to 12 per 100,000 patients worldwide. The disease is caused by a mutation in the Huntingtin (Htt) gene. There is interest in reducing mutant Huntingtin by targeting it at the mRNA level, but the maximum tolerable dose and long-term effects of such a treatment are unknown. Using a self-complementary AAV9 vector, we delivered a mir-155-based artificial miRNA under the control of the chicken β-actin or human U6 promoter. In mouse brain, the artificial miRNA reduced the human huntingtin mRNA by 50%. The U6, but not the CβA promoter, produced the artificial miRNA at supraphysiologic levels. Embedding the antisense strand in a U6-mir-30 scaffold reduced expression of the antisense strand but increased the sense strand. In mice treated with scAAV9-U6-mir-155-HTT or scAAV9-CβA-mir-155-HTT, activated microglia were present around the injection site 1 month post-injection. Six months post-injection, mice treated with scAAV9-CβA-mir-155-HTT were indistinguishable from controls. Those that received scAAV9-U6-mir-155-HTT showed behavioral abnormalities and striatal damage. In conclusion, miRNA backbone and promoter can be used together to modulate expression levels and strand selection of artificial miRNAs, and in brain, the CβA promoter can provide an effective and safe dose of a human huntingtin miRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edith L Pfister
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Kathryn O Chase
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Huaming Sun
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lori A Kennington
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Faith Conroy
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Emily Johnson
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
| | - Rachael Miller
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Florie Borel
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Neil Aronin
- Department of Medicine and RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Christian Mueller
- Department of Pediatrics and Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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Cambon K, Zimmer V, Martineau S, Gaillard MC, Jarrige M, Bugi A, Miniarikova J, Rey M, Hassig R, Dufour N, Auregan G, Hantraye P, Perrier AL, Déglon N. Preclinical Evaluation of a Lentiviral Vector for Huntingtin Silencing. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2017; 5:259-276. [PMID: 28603746 PMCID: PMC5453866 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder resulting from a polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) protein. There is currently no cure for this disease, but recent studies suggest that RNAi to downregulate the expression of both normal and mutant HTT is a promising therapeutic approach. We previously developed a small hairpin RNA (shRNA), vectorized in an HIV-1-derived lentiviral vector (LV), that reduced pathology in an HD rodent model. Here, we modified this vector for preclinical development by using a tat-independent third-generation LV (pCCL) backbone and removing the original reporter genes. We demonstrate that this novel vector efficiently downregulated HTT expression in vitro in striatal neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of HD patients. It reduced two major pathological HD hallmarks while triggering a minimal inflammatory response, up to 6 weeks after injection, when administered by stereotaxic surgery in the striatum of an in vivo rodent HD model. Further assessment of this shRNA vector in vitro showed proper processing by the endogenous silencing machinery, and we analyzed gene expression changes to identify potential off-targets. These preclinical data suggest that this new shRNA vector fulfills primary biosafety and efficiency requirements for further development in the clinic as a cure for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Cambon
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Virginie Zimmer
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Research Center, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Martineau
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Marie-Claude Gaillard
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Margot Jarrige
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR861, I-Stem, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
- UEVE UMR861, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
- CECS, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Aurore Bugi
- CECS, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Jana Miniarikova
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure, 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Rey
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Research Center, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raymonde Hassig
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Noelle Dufour
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Gwenaelle Auregan
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Philippe Hantraye
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Anselme L. Perrier
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR861, I-Stem, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
- UEVE UMR861, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Nicole Déglon
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Research Center, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Corresponding author: Nicole Déglon, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LNCM), Pavillon 3, Avenue de Beaumont, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Günther A, Luczak V, Abel T, Baumann A. Caspase-3 and GFAP as early markers for apoptosis and astrogliosis in shRNA-induced hippocampal cytotoxicity. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017; 220:1400-1404. [PMID: 28167801 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.154583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Genetic manipulation of cells and tissue by RNA interference has significantly contributed to the functional characterization of individual proteins and their role in physiological processes. Despite its versatility, RNA interference can have detrimental side effects, including reduced cell viability. We applied recombinant adeno-associated viruses by stereotaxic injection into the murine hippocampus to express different short hairpin RNA (shRNA) constructs along with eGFP. Tissue responses were assessed immunohistochemically for up to 8 weeks post-infection. Strong hippocampal degeneration and tissue atrophy was observed, most likely induced by high shRNA expression. The effect was entirely absent in mice injected with vectors driving only expression of eGFP. Active caspase-3 (Casp-3) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were identified as molecular markers and early indicators of adverse tissue responses. Our findings also demonstrate that detrimental effects of high shRNA expression in hippocampal tissue can be monitored even before the onset of tissue degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Günther
- Institute of Complex Systems, Cellular Biophysics (ICS-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany
| | - Vince Luczak
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Ted Abel
- Department of Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Arnd Baumann
- Institute of Complex Systems, Cellular Biophysics (ICS-4), Forschungszentrum Jülich, Jülich 52425, Germany
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36
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Borel F, Gernoux G, Cardozo B, Metterville JP, Toro Cabrera GC, Song L, Su Q, Gao GP, Elmallah MK, Brown RH, Mueller C. Therapeutic rAAVrh10 Mediated SOD1 Silencing in Adult SOD1(G93A) Mice and Nonhuman Primates. Hum Gene Ther 2016; 27:19-31. [PMID: 26710998 PMCID: PMC4741242 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease; survival in ALS is typically 3-5 years. No treatment extends patient survival by more than three months. Approximately 20% of familial ALS and 1-3% of sporadic ALS patients carry a mutation in the gene encoding superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1). In a transgenic ALS mouse model expressing the mutant SOD1(G93A) protein, silencing the SOD1 gene prolongs survival. One study reports a therapeutic effect of silencing the SOD1 gene in systemically treated adult ALS mice; this was achieved with a short hairpin RNA, a silencing molecule that has raised multiple safety concerns, and recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) 9. We report here a silencing method based on an artificial microRNA termed miR-SOD1 systemically delivered using adeno-associated virus rAAVrh10, a serotype with a demonstrated safety profile in CNS clinical trials. Silencing of SOD1 in adult SOD1(G93A) transgenic mice with this construct profoundly delayed both disease onset and death in the SOD1(G93A) mice, and significantly preserved muscle strength and motor and respiratory functions. We also document that intrathecal delivery of the same rAAVrh10-miR-SOD1 in nonhuman primates significantly and safely silences SOD1 in lower motor neurons. This study supports the view that rAAVrh10-miR-SOD1 merits further development for the treatment of SOD1-linked ALS in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florie Borel
- 1 Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Gwladys Gernoux
- 1 Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Brynn Cardozo
- 1 Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Jake P Metterville
- 2 Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Gabriela C Toro Cabrera
- 1 Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts.,2 Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Lina Song
- 1 Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Qin Su
- 3 Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Guang Ping Gao
- 1 Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts.,3 Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Mai K Elmallah
- 1 Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts.,4 Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Robert H Brown
- 2 Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Christian Mueller
- 1 Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts.,4 Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School , Worcester, Massachusetts
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Saraiva J, Nobre RJ, Pereira de Almeida L. Gene therapy for the CNS using AAVs: The impact of systemic delivery by AAV9. J Control Release 2016; 241:94-109. [PMID: 27637390 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2016] [Revised: 09/09/2016] [Accepted: 09/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Several attempts have been made to discover the ideal vector for gene therapy in central nervous system (CNS). Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are currently the preferred vehicle since they exhibit stable transgene expression in post-mitotic cells, neuronal tropism, low risk of insertional mutagenesis and diminished immune responses. Additionally, the discovery that a particular serotype, AAV9, bypasses the blood-brain barrier has raised the possibility of intravascular administration as a non-invasive delivery route to achieve widespread CNS gene expression. AAV9 intravenous delivery has already shown promising results for several diseases in animal models, including lysosomal storage disorders and motor neuron diseases, opening the way to the first clinical trial in the field. This review presents an overview of clinical trials for CNS disorders using AAVs and will focus on preclinical studies based on the systemic gene delivery using AAV9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana Saraiva
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui Jorge Nobre
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal; Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Luis Pereira de Almeida
- CNC - Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, Portugal; Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
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38
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Brendel C, Guda S, Renella R, Bauer DE, Canver MC, Kim YJ, Heeney MM, Klatt D, Fogel J, Milsom MD, Orkin SH, Gregory RI, Williams DA. Lineage-specific BCL11A knockdown circumvents toxicities and reverses sickle phenotype. J Clin Invest 2016; 126:3868-3878. [PMID: 27599293 DOI: 10.1172/jci87885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Reducing expression of the fetal hemoglobin (HbF) repressor BCL11A leads to a simultaneous increase in γ-globin expression and reduction in β-globin expression. Thus, there is interest in targeting BCL11A as a treatment for β-hemoglobinopathies, including sickle cell disease (SCD) and β-thalassemia. Here, we found that using optimized shRNAs embedded within an miRNA (shRNAmiR) architecture to achieve ubiquitous knockdown of BCL11A profoundly impaired long-term engraftment of both human and mouse hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) despite a reduction in nonspecific cellular toxicities. BCL11A knockdown was associated with a substantial increase in S/G2-phase human HSCs after engraftment into immunodeficient (NSG) mice, a phenotype that is associated with HSC exhaustion. Lineage-specific, shRNAmiR-mediated suppression of BCL11A in erythroid cells led to stable long-term engraftment of gene-modified cells. Transduced primary normal or SCD human HSCs expressing the lineage-specific BCL11A shRNAmiR gave rise to erythroid cells with up to 90% reduction of BCL11A protein. These erythrocytes demonstrated 60%-70% γ-chain expression (vs. < 10% for negative control) and a corresponding increase in HbF. Transplantation of gene-modified murine HSCs from Berkeley sickle cell mice led to a substantial improvement of sickle-associated hemolytic anemia and reticulocytosis, key pathophysiological biomarkers of SCD. These data form the basis for a clinical trial application for treating sickle cell disease.
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39
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Malhotra M, Toulouse A, Godinho BMDC, Mc Carthy DJ, Cryan JF, O'Driscoll CM. RNAi therapeutics for brain cancer: current advancements in RNAi delivery strategies. MOLECULAR BIOSYSTEMS 2016; 11:2635-57. [PMID: 26135606 DOI: 10.1039/c5mb00278h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Malignant primary brain tumors are aggressive cancerous cells that invade the surrounding tissues of the central nervous system. The current treatment options for malignant brain tumors are limited due to the inability to cross the blood-brain barrier. The advancements in current research has identified and characterized certain molecular markers that are essential for tumor survival, progression, metastasis and angiogenesis. These molecular markers have served as therapeutic targets for the RNAi based therapies, which enable site-specific silencing of the gene responsible for tumor proliferation. However, to bring about therapeutic success, an efficient delivery carrier that can cross the blood-brain barrier and reach the targeted site is essential. The current review focuses on the potential of targeted, non-viral and viral particles containing RNAi therapeutic molecules as delivery strategies specifically for brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meenakshi Malhotra
- Pharmacodelivery Group, School of Pharmacy, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
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40
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Williams MJ, Klockars A, Eriksson A, Voisin S, Dnyansagar R, Wiemerslage L, Kasagiannis A, Akram M, Kheder S, Ambrosi V, Hallqvist E, Fredriksson R, Schiöth HB. The Drosophila ETV5 Homologue Ets96B: Molecular Link between Obesity and Bipolar Disorder. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1006104. [PMID: 27280443 PMCID: PMC4900636 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Several reports suggest obesity and bipolar disorder (BD) share some physiological and behavioural similarities. For instance, obese individuals are more impulsive and have heightened reward responsiveness, phenotypes associated with BD, while bipolar patients become obese at a higher rate and earlier age than people without BD; however, the molecular mechanisms of such an association remain obscure. Here we demonstrate, using whole transcriptome analysis, that Drosophila Ets96B, homologue of obesity-linked gene ETV5, regulates cellular systems associated with obesity and BD. Consistent with a role in obesity and BD, loss of nervous system Ets96B during development increases triacylglyceride concentration, while inducing a heightened startle-response, as well as increasing hyperactivity and reducing sleep. Of notable interest, mouse Etv5 and Drosophila Ets96B are expressed in dopaminergic-rich regions, and loss of Ets96B specifically in dopaminergic neurons recapitulates the metabolic and behavioural phenotypes. Moreover, our data indicate Ets96B inhibits dopaminergic-specific neuroprotective systems. Additionally, we reveal that multiple SNPs in human ETV5 link to body mass index (BMI) and BD, providing further evidence for ETV5 as an important and novel molecular intermediate between obesity and BD. We identify a novel molecular link between obesity and bipolar disorder. The Drosophila ETV5 homologue Ets96B regulates the expression of cellular systems with links to obesity and behaviour, including the expression of a conserved endoplasmic reticulum molecular chaperone complex known to be neuroprotective. Finally, a connection between the obesity-linked gene ETV5 and bipolar disorder emphasizes a functional relationship between obesity and BD at the molecular level. The World Health Organization suggests obesity is a major cause of poor health and is becoming the leading public health concern. Likewise, mood-based disorders, such as bipolar disorder, are one of the top ten causes of disability worldwide. There is evidence that obesity and bipolar disorder may be linked and that obesity may exacerbate bipolar disorder symptoms. For the first time, our work evidences a molecular-link between obesity and bipolar disorder. In humans the obesity-linked gene ETV5 was also associated with bipolar disorder. Using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster (the fruit fly) we show that the ETV5 homologue Ets96B regulates a series of genes known to be neuroprotective and inhibiting the expression of Ets96 in dopaminergic neurons induces phenotypes linked to obesity and bipolar disorder, including increased lipid storage, increased anxiety and reduced sleep. Our work will help to further the understanding of how these to disorders may interact.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J. Williams
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Anica Klockars
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Eriksson
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sarah Voisin
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Rohit Dnyansagar
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lyle Wiemerslage
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anna Kasagiannis
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Mehwish Akram
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sania Kheder
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Valerie Ambrosi
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Emilie Hallqvist
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Robert Fredriksson
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Helgi B. Schiöth
- Functional Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
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Targeted disruption of influenza A virus hemagglutinin in genetically modified mice reduces viral replication and improves disease outcome. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23746. [PMID: 27033724 PMCID: PMC4817130 DOI: 10.1038/srep23746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 03/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Influenza A virus can cause acute respiratory infection in animals and humans around the globe, and is still a major threat to animal husbandry and public health. Due to antigenic drift and antigenic shift of the virus, development of novel anti-influenza strategies has become an urgent task. Here we generated transgenic (TG) mice stably expressing a short-hairpin RNA specifically targeting hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza A virus, and investigated the susceptibility of the mice to influenza virus infection. We found that HA expression was dramatically disrupted in TG mice infected with WSN or PR8 virus. Importantly, the animals showed reduced virus production in lungs, slower weight loss, attenuated acute organ injury and consequently increased survival rates as compared to wild type (WT) mice after the viral infection. Moreover, TG mice exhibited a normal level of white blood cells following the virus infection, whereas the number of these cells was significantly decreased in WT mice with same challenge. Together, these experiments demonstrate that the TG mice are less permissive for influenza virus replication, and suggest that shRNA-based efficient disruption of viral gene expression in animals may be a useful strategy for prevention and control of a viral zoonosis.
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42
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Manufacturing of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors for clinical trials. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2016; 3:16002. [PMID: 27014711 PMCID: PMC4804725 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2016.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 182] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2015] [Revised: 11/08/2015] [Accepted: 11/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The ability to elicit robust and long-term transgene expression in vivo together with minimal immunogenicity and little to no toxicity are only a few features that make recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors ideally suited for many gene therapy applications. Successful preclinical studies have encouraged the use of rAAV for therapeutic gene transfer to patients in the clinical setting. Nevertheless, the use of rAAV in clinical trials has underscored the need for production and purification systems capable of generating large amounts of highly pure rAAV particles. To date, generating vector quantities sufficient to meet the expanding clinical demand is still a hurdle when using current production systems. In this chapter, we will provide a description of the current methods to produce clinical grade of rAAV under current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) settings.
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de Solis CA, Holehonnur R, Banerjee A, Luong JA, Lella SK, Ho A, Pahlavan B, Ploski JE. Viral delivery of shRNA to amygdala neurons leads to neurotoxicity and deficits in Pavlovian fear conditioning. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2015; 124:34-47. [PMID: 26182988 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2015.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2015] [Revised: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The use of viral vector technology to deliver short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) to cells of the nervous system of many model organisms has been widely utilized by neuroscientists to study the influence of genes on behavior. However, there have been numerous reports that delivering shRNAs to the nervous system can lead to neurotoxicity. Here we report the results of a series of experiments where adeno-associated viruses (AAV), that were engineered to express shRNAs designed to target known plasticity associated genes (i.e. Arc, Egr1 and GluN2A) or control shRNAs that were designed not to target any rat gene product for depletion, were delivered to the rat basal and lateral nuclei of the amygdala (BLA), and auditory Pavlovian fear conditioning was examined. In our first set of experiments we found that animals that received AAV (3.16E13-1E13 GC/mL; 1 μl/side), designed to knockdown Arc (shArc), or control shRNAs targeting either luciferase (shLuc), or nothing (shCntrl), exhibited impaired fear conditioning compared to animals that received viruses that did not express shRNAs. Notably, animals that received shArc did not exhibit differences in fear conditioning compared to animals that received control shRNAs despite gene knockdown of Arc. Viruses designed to harbor shRNAs did not induce obvious morphological changes to the cells/tissue of the BLA at any dose of virus tested, but at the highest dose of shRNA virus examined (3.16E13 GC/mL; 1 μl/side), a significant increase in microglia activation occurred as measured by an increase in IBA1 immunoreactivity. In our final set of experiments we infused viruses into the BLA at a titer of (1.60E+12 GC/mL; 1 μl/side), designed to express shArc, shLuc, shCntrl or shRNAs designed to target Egr1 (shEgr1), or GluN2A (shGluN2A), or no shRNA, and found that all groups exhibited impaired fear conditioning compared to the group which received a virus that did not express an shRNA. The shEgr1 and shGluN2A groups exhibited gene knockdown of Egr1 and GluN2A compared to the other groups examined respectively, but Arc was not knocked down in the shArc group under these conditions. Differences in fear conditioning among the shLuc, shCntrl, shArc and shEgr1 groups were not detected under these circumstances; however, the shGluN2A group exhibited significantly impaired fear conditioning compared to most of the groups, indicating that gene specific deficits in fear conditioning could be observed utilizing viral mediated delivery of shRNA. Collectively, these data indicate that viral mediated shRNA expression was toxic to neurons in vivo, under all viral titers examined and this toxicity in some cases may be masking gene specific changes in learning. Therefore, the use of this technology in behavioral neuroscience warrants a heightened level of careful consideration and potential methods to alleviate shRNA induced toxicity are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher A de Solis
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - Roopashri Holehonnur
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - Anwesha Banerjee
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - Jonathan A Luong
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - Srihari K Lella
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - Anthony Ho
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - Bahram Pahlavan
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, United States
| | - Jonathan E Ploski
- School of Behavioral and Brain Sciences and the Department of Molecular & Cell Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, United States.
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44
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Guda S, Brendel C, Renella R, Du P, Bauer DE, Canver MC, Grenier JK, Grimson AW, Kamran SC, Thornton J, de Boer H, Root DE, Milsom MD, Orkin SH, Gregory RI, Williams DA. miRNA-embedded shRNAs for Lineage-specific BCL11A Knockdown and Hemoglobin F Induction. Mol Ther 2015; 23:1465-74. [PMID: 26080908 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) technology using short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) expressed via RNA polymerase (pol) III promoters has been widely exploited to modulate gene expression in a variety of mammalian cell types. For certain applications, such as lineage-specific knockdown, embedding targeting sequences into pol II-driven microRNA (miRNA) architecture is required. Here, using the potential therapeutic target BCL11A, we demonstrate that pol III-driven shRNAs lead to significantly increased knockdown but also increased cytotoxcity in comparison to pol II-driven miRNA adapted shRNAs (shRNA(miR)) in multiple hematopoietic cell lines. We show that the two expression systems yield mature guide strand sequences that differ by a 4 bp shift. This results in alternate seed sequences and consequently influences the efficacy of target gene knockdown. Incorporating a corresponding 4 bp shift into the guide strand of shRNA(miR)s resulted in improved knockdown efficiency of BCL11A. This was associated with a significant de-repression of the hemoglobin target of BCL11A, human γ-globin or the murine homolog Hbb-y. Our results suggest the requirement for optimization of shRNA sequences upon incorporation into a miRNA backbone. These findings have important implications in future design of shRNA(miR)s for RNAi-based therapy in hemoglobinopathies and other diseases requiring lineage-specific expression of gene silencing sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swaroopa Guda
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Christian Brendel
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Raffaele Renella
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Peng Du
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel E Bauer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Jennifer K Grenier
- Genetic Perturbation Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew W Grimson
- Department of Molecular Biology & Genetics, College of Arts and Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Sophia C Kamran
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - James Thornton
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Helen de Boer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David E Root
- Genetic Perturbation Platform, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael D Milsom
- Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stuart H Orkin
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Richard I Gregory
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Stem Cell Program, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - David A Williams
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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45
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Fremont R, Tewari A, Khodakhah K. Aberrant Purkinje cell activity is the cause of dystonia in a shRNA-based mouse model of Rapid Onset Dystonia-Parkinsonism. Neurobiol Dis 2015; 82:200-212. [PMID: 26093171 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2015.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2014] [Revised: 06/08/2015] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in the α3 isoform of the sodium pump are responsible for Rapid Onset Dystonia-Parkinsonism (RDP). A pharmacologic model of RDP replicates the most salient features of RDP, and implicates both the cerebellum and basal ganglia in the disorder; dystonia is associated with aberrant cerebellar output, and the parkinsonism-like features are attributable to the basal ganglia. The pharmacologic agent used to generate the model, ouabain, is selective for sodium pumps. However, close to the infusion sites in vivo it likely affects all sodium pump isoforms. Therefore, it remains to be established whether selective loss of α3-containing sodium pumps replicates the pharmacologic model. Moreover, while the pharmacologic model suggested that aberrant firing of Purkinje cells was the main cause of abnormal cerebellar output, it did not allow the scrutiny of this hypothesis. To address these questions RNA interference using small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) delivered via adeno-associated viruses (AAV) was used to specifically knockdown α3-containing sodium pumps in different regions of the adult mouse brain. Knockdown of the α3-containing sodium pumps mimicked both the behavioral and electrophysiological changes seen in the pharmacologic model of RDP, recapitulating key aspects of the human disorder. Further, we found that knockdown of the α3 isoform altered the intrinsic pacemaking of Purkinje cells, but not the neurons of the deep cerebellar nuclei. Therefore, acute knockdown of proteins associated with inherited dystonias may be a good strategy for developing phenotypic genetic mouse models where traditional transgenic models have failed to produce symptomatic mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel Fremont
- Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ambika Tewari
- Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Kamran Khodakhah
- Dominick P Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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46
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Askou AL, Aagaard L, Kostic C, Arsenijevic Y, Hollensen AK, Bek T, Jensen TG, Mikkelsen JG, Corydon TJ. Multigenic lentiviral vectors for combined and tissue-specific expression of miRNA- and protein-based antiangiogenic factors. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2015; 2:14064. [PMID: 26052532 PMCID: PMC4449022 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2014.64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2014] [Revised: 11/14/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Lentivirus-based gene delivery vectors carrying multiple gene cassettes are powerful tools in gene transfer studies and gene therapy, allowing coexpression of multiple therapeutic factors and, if desired, fluorescent reporters. Current strategies to express transgenes and microRNA (miRNA) clusters from a single vector have certain limitations that affect transgene expression levels and/or vector titers. In this study, we describe a novel vector design that facilitates combined expression of therapeutic RNA- and protein-based antiangiogenic factors as well as a fluorescent reporter from back-to-back RNApolII-driven expression cassettes. This configuration allows effective production of intron-embedded miRNAs that are released upon transduction of target cells. Exploiting such multigenic lentiviral vectors, we demonstrate robust miRNA-directed downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, leading to reduced angiogenesis, and parallel impairment of angiogenic pathways by codelivering the gene encoding pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF). Notably, subretinal injections of lentiviral vectors reveal efficient retinal pigment epithelium-specific gene expression driven by the VMD2 promoter, verifying that multigenic lentiviral vectors can be produced with high titers sufficient for in vivo applications. Altogether, our results suggest the potential applicability of combined miRNA- and protein-encoding lentiviral vectors in antiangiogenic gene therapy, including new combination therapies for amelioration of age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lars Aagaard
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Corinne Kostic
- Department of Ophthalmology, Unit of Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Biology, University of Lausanne, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Yvan Arsenijevic
- Department of Ophthalmology, Unit of Gene Therapy and Stem Cell Biology, University of Lausanne, Jules-Gonin Eye Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Toke Bek
- Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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47
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Berger A, Lorain S, Joséphine C, Desrosiers M, Peccate C, Voit T, Garcia L, Sahel JA, Bemelmans AP. Repair of rhodopsin mRNA by spliceosome-mediated RNA trans-splicing: a new approach for autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. Mol Ther 2015; 23:918-930. [PMID: 25619725 PMCID: PMC4427870 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 01/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The promising clinical results obtained for ocular gene therapy in recent years have paved the way for gene supplementation to treat recessively inherited forms of retinal degeneration. The situation is more complex for dominant mutations, as the toxic mutant gene product must be removed. We used spliceosome-mediated RNA trans-splicing as a strategy for repairing the transcript of the rhodopsin gene, the gene most frequently mutated in autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa. We tested 17 different molecules targeting the pre-mRNA intron 1, by transient transfection of HEK-293T cells, with subsequent trans-splicing quantification at the transcript level. We found that the targeting of some parts of the intron promoted trans-splicing more efficiently than the targeting of other areas, and that trans-splicing rate could be increased by modifying the replacement sequence. We then developed cell lines stably expressing the rhodopsin gene, for the assessment of phenotypic criteria relevant to the pathogenesis of retinitis pigmentosa. Using this model, we showed that trans-splicing restored the correct localization of the protein to the plasma membrane. Finally, we tested our best candidate by AAV gene transfer in a mouse model of retinitis pigmentosa that expresses a mutant allele of the human rhodopsin gene, and demonstrated the feasibility of trans-splicing in vivo. This work paves the way for trans-splicing gene therapy to treat retinitis pigmentosa due to rhodopsin gene mutation and, more generally, for the treatment of genetic diseases with dominant transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adeline Berger
- Centre de recherche Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie UM80, INSERM U968, and CNRS UMR 7210, Paris, France
| | - Stéphanie Lorain
- Centre de recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UM76, INSERM U974 and CNRS FRE 3617, Paris, France
| | - Charlène Joséphine
- Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Département des Sciences du Vivant (DSV), Institut d'Imagerie Biomédicale (I2BM), MIRCen, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, UMR9199, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Melissa Desrosiers
- Centre de recherche Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie UM80, INSERM U968, and CNRS UMR 7210, Paris, France
| | - Cécile Peccate
- Centre de recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UM76, INSERM U974 and CNRS FRE 3617, Paris, France
| | - Thomas Voit
- Centre de recherche en Myologie, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UM76, INSERM U974 and CNRS FRE 3617, Paris, France
| | - Luis Garcia
- UFR des sciences de la santé Simone Veil, Université Versailles Saint-Quentin, Montigny-le-Bretonneux, France
| | - José-Alain Sahel
- Centre de recherche Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie UM80, INSERM U968, and CNRS UMR 7210, Paris, France; Centre Hospitalier National d'Ophtalmologie des Quinze-Vingts, INSERM-DHOS CIC 503, Paris, France; Fondation Ophtalmologique Adolphe de Rothschild, Paris, France; Institute of Ophthalmology, University College of London, London, UK
| | - Alexis-Pierre Bemelmans
- Centre de recherche Institut de la Vision, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie UM80, INSERM U968, and CNRS UMR 7210, Paris, France; Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives (CEA), Département des Sciences du Vivant (DSV), Institut d'Imagerie Biomédicale (I2BM), MIRCen, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, UMR9199, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
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48
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Dai Z, Wu R, Zhao YC, Wang KK, Huang YY, Yang X, Xie ZC, Tu CC, Ouyang HS, Wang TD, Pang DX. Early lethality of shRNA-transgenic pigs due to saturation of microRNA pathways. J Zhejiang Univ Sci B 2015; 15:466-73. [PMID: 24793764 DOI: 10.1631/jzus.b1400001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is considered as a potential modality for clinical treatment and anti-virus animal breeding. Here, we investigate the feasibility of inhibiting classical swine fever virus (CSFV) replication by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in vitro and in vivo. We generate four different shRNA-positive clonal cells and two types of shRNA-transgenic pigs. CSFV could be effectively inhibited in shRNA-positive clonal cells and tail tip fibroblasts of shRNA-transgenic pigs. Unexpectedly, an early lethality due to shRNA is observed in these shRNA-transgenic pigs. With further research on shRNA-positive clonal cells and transgenic pigs, we report a great induction of interferon (IFN)-responsive genes in shRNA-positive clonal cells, altered levels of endogenous microRNAs (miRNA), and their processing enzymes in shRNA-positive cells. What is more, abnormal expressions of miRNAs and their processing enzymes are also observed in the livers of shRNA-transgenic pigs, indicating saturation of miRNA/shRNA pathways induced by shRNA. In addition, we investigate the effects of shRNAs on the development of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos. These results show that shRNA causes adverse effects in vitro and in vivo and shRNA-induced disruption of the endogenous miRNA pathway may lead to the early lethality of shRNA-transgenic pigs. We firstly report abnormalities of the miRNA pathway in shRNA-transgenic animals, which may explain the early lethality of shRNA-transgenic pigs and has important implications for shRNA-transgenic animal preparation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Dai
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Embryo Engineering, College of Animal Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130062, China; Department of Life Sciences, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin 150040, China; Institute of Military Veterinary, Academy of Military Medical Sciences, Changchun 130062, China
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Godinho BM, Malhotra M, O’Driscoll CM, Cryan JF. Delivering a disease-modifying treatment for Huntington's disease. Drug Discov Today 2015; 20:50-64. [DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2014.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 07/28/2014] [Accepted: 09/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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50
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Svancarova P, Svetlikova D, Betakova T. Synergic and antagonistic effect of small hairpin RNAs targeting the NS gene of the influenza A virus in cells and mice. Virus Res 2014; 195:100-11. [PMID: 25192613 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2014.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2014] [Revised: 07/24/2014] [Accepted: 08/11/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, we demonstrate the effect of individual and mixtures of shRNAs targeting the NS gene to treat an established infection of influenza A virus (IAV). We prepared 10 shRNAs targeting the NS gene of the IAV, and these shRNAs were tested individually or in mixtures 16h after infection. Our results revealed: (i) shRNA targeting the NS1 transcript decreased the virus titre up to 21% (P<0.01), (ii) shRNA targeting NEP transcript did not influence the replication of IAV in the infected cells; (iii) a mixture of shRNAs targeting the NS1 transcript was less effective than the individual shRNAs and decreased the virus titre up to 42% in vitro; (iv) a mixture of individually inactive shRNAs targeting the NEP transcript significantly inhibited the replication of IAV in vitro; (v) the activities of the individual shRNAs in vivo predominantly corresponded to their activities in vitro; (vi) a synergistic effect of the shRNAs was observed in vivo; and (vii) a shRNA targeting the region common to both the NS1 and NEP transcripts, shNS593, exhibited the strongest inhibition and reduced the virus titre up to 16.4% in vitro, prolonged the survival of the mice by three days and abolished the protective effect of other shRNAs in vivo. shRNAs inhibited influenza virus infection in a gene-specific manner. NS1 mRNA was significantly reduced in lungs treated with shRNAs and the levels of RIG-1, IFN-α, IFN-β and IFN-γ mRNAs shRNAs were not altered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra Svancarova
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Darina Svetlikova
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Tatiana Betakova
- Institute of Virology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05 Bratislava, Slovak Republic; Centre for Molecular Medicine, Vlarska 3-7, 831 01 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
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