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Singh V, Pathak S, Kumar N, Jayandharan GR. Development of an Optimized Promoter System for Exosomal and Naked AAV Vector-Based Suicide Gene Therapy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:30945-30953. [PMID: 39035883 PMCID: PMC11256310 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c03949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Suicide gene therapy is a promising strategy for the potential treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the lack of high transduction efficiency and targeted vectors in delivering the suicide genes to only the HCC cells is a major impediment. In the present study, we utilized an adeno-associated virus serotype 6 (AAV6) and its exosomal counterpart (exo-AAV) comprising of an inducible Caspase 9 (iCasp9) gene under the control of different promoter systems for targeting HCC cells. We employed a ubiquitous cytomegalovirus immediate early enhancer/chicken β actin promoter (CAG), a liver-specific promoter (LP1), and a baculoviral IAP repeat-containing protein 5 (BIRC5) promoter for liver and cancer cell-specific expression of iCasp9, respectively. We further evaluated these vectors in Huh7 cells for their ability to kill the target cells. BIRC5 and LP1 promoter-driven iCasp9 vectors demonstrated superior cytotoxicity when compared to CAG promoter-driven iCasp9 vectors. Further validation in a murine model of HCC demonstrated that the LP1-iCasp9 or Birc5-iCasp9-based AAV6 vectors contributed to tumor regression (∼2 fold) as effectively as the AAV6-CAG-iCasp9 vectors (∼1.9 fold). Similarly, exo-AAV6 vectors showed ∼2.1 to 2.8 fold superior in vivo tumor regression when compared to mock-treated animals. Our study has developed two novel promoters (LP1 or BIRC5) whose efficacy is comparable to a strong ubiquitous promoter in both AAV and exo-AAV systems. This expands the toolkit of AAV vectors for safe and effective treatment of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijayata Singh
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy,
Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences
and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Subhajit Pathak
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy,
Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences
and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Narendra Kumar
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy,
Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences
and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Giridhara R. Jayandharan
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy,
Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family
Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences
and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
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2
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Pathak S, Singh V, Kumar N, Jayandharan GR. Inducible caspase 9-mediated suicide gene therapy using AAV6 vectors in a murine model of breast cancer. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 31:101166. [PMID: 38149057 PMCID: PMC10750187 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.101166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Breast carcinoma has one of the highest incidence rates (11.7%), with significant clinical heterogeneity. Although conventional chemotherapy and surgical resection are the current standard of care, the resistance and recurrence, after these interventions, necessitate alternate therapeutic approaches. Cancer gene therapy for breast cancer with the suicide gene is an attractive option due to their directed delivery into the tumor. In this study, we have developed a novel treatment strategy against breast cancer with recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 6 vectors carrying a suicide gene, inducible Caspase 9 (iCasp9). Upon treatment with AAV6-iCasp9 vectors and the chemical inducer of dimerizer, AP20187, the viability of murine breast cancer cells (4T1) was significantly reduced to ∼40%-60% (mock control 100%). Following intratumoral delivery of AAV6-iCasp9 vectors in an orthotopic breast cancer mouse model, we observed a significant increase in iCasp9 transgene expression and a significant reduction in tumor growth rate. At the molecular level, immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated subsequent activation of the effector caspase 3 and cellular death. These data highlight the potential of AAV6-iCasp9-based suicide gene therapy for aggressive breast cancer in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subhajit Pathak
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Vijayata Singh
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Narendra Kumar
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
| | - Giridhara R. Jayandharan
- Laurus Center for Gene Therapy, Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering and Mehta Family Center for Engineering in Medicine and Gangwal School of Medical Sciences and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh 208016, India
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3
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Moço PD, Xu X, Silva CAT, Kamen AA. Production of adeno-associated viral vector serotype 6 by triple transfection of suspension HEK293 cells at higher cell densities. Biotechnol J 2023; 18:e2300051. [PMID: 37337925 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202300051] [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: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, the use of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) as vectors for gene and cell therapy has increased, leading to a rise in the amount of AAV vectors required during pre-clinical and clinical trials. AAV serotype 6 (AAV6) has been found to be efficient in transducing different cell types and has been successfully used in gene and cell therapy protocols. However, the number of vectors required to effectively deliver the transgene to one single cell has been estimated at 106 viral genomes (VG), making large-scale production of AAV6 necessary. Suspension cell-based platforms are currently limited to low cell density productions due to the widely reported cell density effect (CDE), which results in diminished production at high cell densities and decreased cell-specific productivity. This limitation hinders the potential of the suspension cell-based production process to increase yields. In this study, we investigated the improvement of the production of AAV6 at higher cell densities by transiently transfecting HEK293SF cells. The results showed that when the plasmid DNA was provided on a cell basis, the production could be carried out at medium cell density (MCD, 4 × 106 cells mL-1 ) resulting in titers above 1010 VG mL-1 . No detrimental effects on cell-specific virus yield or cell-specific functional titer were observed at MCD production. Furthermore, while medium supplementation alleviated the CDE in terms of VG/cell at high cell density (HCD, 10 × 106 cells mL-1 ) productions, the cell-specific functional titer was not maintained, and further studies are necessary to understand the observed limitations for AAV production in HCD processes. The MCD production method reported here lays the foundation for large-scale process operations, potentially solving the current vector shortage in AAV manufacturing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo D Moço
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Xingge Xu
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Cristina A T Silva
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Amine A Kamen
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
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4
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Mulcrone PL, Lam AK, Frabutt D, Zhang J, Chrzanowski M, Herzog RW, Xiao W. Chemical modification of AAV9 capsid with N-ethyl maleimide alters vector tissue tropism. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8436. [PMID: 37231038 PMCID: PMC10212940 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35547-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Although more adeno-associated virus AAV-based drugs enter the clinic, vector tissue tropism remains an unresolved challenge that limits its full potential despite that the tissue tropism of naturally occurring AAV serotypes can be altered by genetic engineering capsid vie DNA shuffling, or molecular evolution. To further expand the tropism and thus potential applications of AAV vectors, we utilized an alternative approach that employs chemical modifications to covalently link small molecules to reactive exposed Lysine residues of AAV capsids. We demonstrated that AAV9 capsid modified with N-ethyl Maleimide (NEM) increased its tropism more towards murine bone marrow (osteoblast lineage) while decreased transduction of liver tissue compared to the unmodified capsid. In the bone marrow, AAV9-NEM transduced Cd31, Cd34, and Cd90 expressing cells at a higher percentage than unmodified AAV9. Moreover, AAV9-NEM localized strongly in vivo to cells lining the calcified trabecular bone and transduced primary murine osteoblasts in culture, while WT AAV9 transduced undifferentiated bone marrow stromal cells as well as osteoblasts. Our approach could provide a promising platform for expanding clinical AAV development to treat bone pathologies such as cancer and osteoporosis. Thus, chemical engineering the AAV capsid holds great potential for development of future generations of AAV vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L Mulcrone
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Anh K Lam
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Dylan Frabutt
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Junping Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Matthew Chrzanowski
- Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 19140, USA
| | - Roland W Herzog
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Weidong Xiao
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
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5
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Pupo A, Fernández A, Low SH, François A, Suárez-Amarán L, Samulski RJ. AAV vectors: The Rubik's cube of human gene therapy. Mol Ther 2022; 30:3515-3541. [PMID: 36203359 PMCID: PMC9734031 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Defective genes account for ∼80% of the total of more than 7,000 diseases known to date. Gene therapy brings the promise of a one-time treatment option that will fix the errors in patient genetic coding. Recombinant viruses are highly efficient vehicles for in vivo gene delivery. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors offer unique advantages, such as tissue tropism, specificity in transduction, eliciting of a relatively low immune responses, no incorporation into the host chromosome, and long-lasting delivered gene expression, making them the most popular viral gene delivery system in clinical trials, with three AAV-based gene therapy drugs already approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or European Medicines Agency (EMA). Despite the success of AAV vectors, their usage in particular scenarios is still limited due to remaining challenges, such as poor transduction efficiency in certain tissues, low organ specificity, pre-existing humoral immunity to AAV capsids, and vector dose-dependent toxicity in patients. In the present review, we address the different approaches to improve AAV vectors for gene therapy with a focus on AAV capsid selection and engineering, strategies to overcome anti-AAV immune response, and vector genome design, ending with a glimpse at vector production methods and the current state of recombinant AAV (rAAV) at the clinical level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amaury Pupo
- R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Audry Fernández
- R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Siew Hui Low
- R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Achille François
- Viralgen. Parque Tecnológico de Guipuzkoa, Edificio Kuatro, Paseo Mikeletegui, 83, 20009 San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Lester Suárez-Amarán
- R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Richard Jude Samulski
- R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, Durham, NC 27709, USA,Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA,Corresponding author: Richard Jude Samulski, R&D Department, Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio), 20 T.W. Alexander, Suite 110 RTP, NC 27709, USA.
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6
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Mulcrone PL, Herzog RW, Xiao W. Adding recombinant AAVs to the cancer therapeutics mix. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 27:73-88. [PMID: 36321134 PMCID: PMC9588955 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is a powerful biological tool that is reshaping therapeutic landscapes for several diseases. Researchers are using both non-viral and viral-based gene therapy methods with success in the lab and the clinic. In the cancer biology field, gene therapies are expanding treatment options and the possibility of favorable outcomes for patients. While cellular immunotherapies and oncolytic virotherapies have paved the way in cancer treatments based on genetic engineering, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV), a viral-based module, is also emerging as a potential cancer therapeutic through its malleability, specificity, and broad application to common as well as rare tumor types, tumor microenvironments, and metastatic disease. A wide range of AAV serotypes, promoters, and transgenes have been successful at reducing tumor growth and burden in preclinical studies, suggesting more groundbreaking advances using rAAVs in cancer are on the horizon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L. Mulcrone
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA,Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Roland W. Herzog
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Weidong Xiao
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA,Corresponding author Weidong Xiao, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA.
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7
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Flitsch LJ, Börner K, Stüllein C, Ziegler S, Sonntag-Buck V, Wiedtke E, Semkova V, Au Yeung SWC, Schlee J, Hajo M, Mathews M, Ludwig BS, Kossatz S, Kessler H, Grimm D, Brüstle O. Identification of adeno-associated virus variants for gene transfer into human neural cell types by parallel capsid screening. Sci Rep 2022; 12:8356. [PMID: 35589936 PMCID: PMC9120183 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-12404-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Human brain cells generated by in vitro cell programming provide exciting prospects for disease modeling, drug discovery and cell therapy. These applications frequently require efficient and clinically compliant tools for genetic modification of the cells. Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) fulfill these prerequisites for a number of reasons, including the availability of a myriad of AAV capsid variants with distinct cell type specificity (also called tropism). Here, we harnessed a customizable parallel screening approach to assess a panel of natural or synthetic AAV capsid variants for their efficacy in lineage-related human neural cell types. We identified common lead candidates suited for the transduction of directly converted, early-stage induced neural stem cells (iNSCs), induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived later-stage, radial glia-like neural progenitors, as well as differentiated astrocytic and mixed neuroglial cultures. We then selected a subset of these candidates for functional validation in iNSCs and iPSC-derived astrocytes, using shRNA-induced downregulation of the citrate transporter SLC25A1 and overexpression of the transcription factor NGN2 for proofs-of-concept. Our study provides a comparative overview of the susceptibility of different human cell programming-derived brain cell types to AAV transduction and a critical discussion of the assets and limitations of this specific AAV capsid screening approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Jessica Flitsch
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kathleen Börner
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Virology, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,AskBio GmbH, Am Taubenfeld 21, 69123, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christian Stüllein
- CLADIAC GmbH, Kurfürsten-Anlage 52-58, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.,Stüllein Software Engineering (SSE), Friedrich-Hartung-Str. 16, 64560, Riedstadt, Germany
| | - Simon Ziegler
- CLADIAC GmbH, Kurfürsten-Anlage 52-58, 69115, Heidelberg, Germany.,KINSYS GmbH, Holtzstr. 2, 76135, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Vera Sonntag-Buck
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Virology, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ellen Wiedtke
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Virology, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vesselina Semkova
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany.,LIFE and BRAIN GmbH, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Si Wah Christina Au Yeung
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Julia Schlee
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mohamad Hajo
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany.,Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), Kurt-Georg-Kiesinger-Allee 3, 53175, Bonn, Germany
| | - Mona Mathews
- LIFE and BRAIN GmbH, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Beatrice Stefanie Ludwig
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich (TUM), University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der Isar and Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research (Transla TUM, Einsteinstr. 25, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Susanne Kossatz
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, School of Medicine, Technical University Munich (TUM), University Hospital Klinikum Rechts der Isar and Central Institute for Translational Cancer Research (Transla TUM, Einsteinstr. 25, 81675, Munich, Germany
| | - Horst Kessler
- Institute for Advanced Study, Department Chemie, Technical University Munich (TUM), Lichtenbergstr. 4, 85747, Garching, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Center for Infectious Diseases, Virology, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,BioQuant, Heidelberg University, Im Neuenheimer Feld 267, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Heidelberg, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Oliver Brüstle
- Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Medical Faculty and University Hospital Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany. .,LIFE and BRAIN GmbH, Venusberg-Campus 1, Building 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
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8
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Singh V, Khan N, Jayandharan GR. Vector engineering, strategies and targets in cancer gene therapy. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:402-417. [PMID: 33859378 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00331-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2020] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the molecular basis of disease and the design of rationally designed molecular therapies has been the holy grail in the management of human cancers. Gene-based therapies are an important avenue for achieving a possible cure. Focused research in the last three decades has provided significant clues to optimize the potential of cancer gene therapy. The development of gene therapies with a high potential to kill the target cells at the lowest effective dose possible, the development of vectors with significant ability to target cancer-associated antigen, the application of adjunct therapies to target dysregulated microRNA, and embracing a hybrid strategy with a combination of gene therapy and low-dose chemotherapy in a disease-specific manner will be pivotal. This article outlines the advances and challenges in the field with emphasis on the biology and scope of vectors used for gene transfer, newer targets identified, and their outcome in preclinical and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijayata Singh
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, UP, India
| | - Nusrat Khan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, UP, India
| | - Giridhara R Jayandharan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, UP, India. .,The Mehta Family Centre for Engineering in Medicine, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, UP, India.
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Colon-Cortes Y, Hasan MA, Aslanidi G. Intra-tracheal delivery of AAV6 vectors results in sustained transduction in murine lungs without genomic integration. Gene 2021; 763S:100037. [PMID: 32904225 PMCID: PMC7452375 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.100037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 05/20/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Despite the progress made in AAV-based gene therapy targeting different organ systems, lung-targeted gene therapy using AAV vectors has not been effective, mostly due to the poor transduction and un-sustained gene expression in airway epithelium. Furthermore, concerns over possible harmful insertional mutagenesis seen in other cell types, particularly hepatocytes, raised a question about AAV safety. In this study, we evaluate the long-term persistence of this vector in mouse lungs and any possible harmful integration of these vectors into the host genome. AAV6 vectors expressing reporter gene (firefly luciferase) were delivered to the lungs of C57BL/6 mice through intra-tracheal intubation. Despite the large variation among individual animals, most animals had high and sustained luciferase activity with a peak from 2 to 3 weeks post-transduction before a significant decline between 15 and 19 weeks post-transduction. More importantly, even after its decline, most animals maintained detectable luciferase expression for 150 days or more, which was confirmed by post-necropsy qPCR analysis of luciferase gene expression. At the termination point of experiments, an average of one copy of AAV expression cassette per mouse genome was detected. We also found that partial overlaps between the AAV6 expression cassette and the mouse genome were distributed broadly with no apparent systematic preference in any mouse chromosomal map location. In summary, our data suggest that AAV6 mediated long-term gene expression in the lungs with no evidence of genomic integration, and thus, any insertional mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - George Aslanidi
- The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, United States of America.
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10
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Hashemzadeh MS, Tapeh BE, Mirhosseini SA. The Role of Bacterial Superantigens in the Immune Response: From Biology to Cancer Treatment. CURRENT CANCER THERAPY REVIEWS 2021. [DOI: 10.2174/1573394716666200812150402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Aims:
Encouraging results have been indicated preclinically and in patients using the
bacterial superantigen. This review article intends to summarize the role of the superantigens that
have been recently used in the treatment of cancer. In addition, the vector systems, including lentiviral
vectors, adeno-associated vector systems and retroviral vectors that are increasingly being
used in basic and applied research, were discussed. Most importantly, the new CRISPR technique
has also been discussed in this literature review.
Discussion:
More successful therapies can be achieved by manipulating bacterial vector systems
through incorporating genes related to the superantigens and cytokines. The products of SAg and
cytokine genes contribute to the strong stimulation of the immune system against tumor cells. They
bind to MHC II molecules as well as the V beta regions of TCR and lead to the production of IL2
and other cytokines, the activation of antigen-presenting cells and T lymphocytes. Additionally, superantigens
can be used to eradicate tumor cells. Better results in cancer treatment can be achieved
by transferring superantigen genes and subsequent strong immune stimulation along with other cancer
immunotherapy agents.
Conclusion:
Superantigens induce the proliferation of T lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells
by binding to MHCII molecules and V beta regions in T cell receptors. Therefore, the presentation
of tumor cell antigens is increased. Additionally, the production of important cytokines by T cells
and APCs contributes to the stimulation of immune response against tumor cells. The manipulation
of bacterial vector systems through incorporating genesrelated to SAgs and other immune response
factors is a good strategy for the immune system stimulating and eradicating tumor cells along with
other immunotherapy agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad S. Hashemzadeh
- Nanobiotechnology Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behnam E.G. Tapeh
- Applied Microbiology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed A. Mirhosseini
- Applied Microbiology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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11
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Krotova K, Aslanidi G. Modifiers of Adeno-Associated Virus-Mediated Gene Expression in Implication for Serotype-Universal Neutralizing Antibody Assay. Hum Gene Ther 2020; 31:1124-1131. [PMID: 32495655 PMCID: PMC7588322 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy is undergoing major expansion into clinical practice, with two treatments currently being granted Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval. However, the presence of pre-existing neutralizing antibodies (NAB) is one of the significant hurdles for the clinical application of AAV vectors that significantly limits the patient population, which benefits from the treatment. A reliable diagnostic to evaluate the patient's seropositivity is required to ensure the effectiveness of the AAV-mediated therapeutic. Here, we describe a simple method for the determination of AAV NAB activity based on our finding that Compound C makes HEK293 cell highly permissive for infection by 10 commonly used AAV serotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karina Krotova
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, USA
| | - George Aslanidi
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, Minnesota, USA
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12
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Hacker UT, Bentler M, Kaniowska D, Morgan M, Büning H. Towards Clinical Implementation of Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Vectors for Cancer Gene Therapy: Current Status and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1889. [PMID: 32674264 PMCID: PMC7409174 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have gained tremendous attention as in vivo delivery systems in gene therapy for inherited monogenetic diseases. First market approvals, excellent safety data, availability of large-scale production protocols, and the possibility to tailor the vector towards optimized and cell-type specific gene transfer offers to move from (ultra) rare to common diseases. Cancer, a major health burden for which novel therapeutic options are urgently needed, represents such a target. We here provide an up-to-date overview of the strategies which are currently developed for the use of AAV vectors in cancer gene therapy and discuss the perspectives for the future translation of these pre-clinical approaches into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich T. Hacker
- Department of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pulmonology, and Infectious Diseases, University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), Leipzig University Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (M.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Martin Bentler
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (M.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Dorota Kaniowska
- Department of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pulmonology, and Infectious Diseases, University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), Leipzig University Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Michael Morgan
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (M.B.); (M.M.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (M.B.); (M.M.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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Khan N, Maurya S, Bammidi S, Jayandharan GR. AAV6 Vexosomes Mediate Robust Suicide Gene Delivery in a Murine Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 17:497-504. [PMID: 32258213 PMCID: PMC7114838 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
During recombinant Adeno-associated virus (AAV) production, a proportionately large amount of vectors is released in the culture supernatant, which is often discarded. It has been shown that these vectors often associate with vesiculated structures, such as exosomes. Exosome-associated AAV (vexosomes) represent an additional gene-delivery platform. The efficiency of such vexosomes in suicide gene therapy is unexplored. In the present study, we have generated AAV serotype 6 vexosomes containing an inducible caspase 9 (iCasp9) suicide gene by a differential ultracentrifugation-based protocol. We further tested the cytotoxic potential of these vexosomes in a human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model in vitro and in vivo. The AAV6-iCasp9 containing vexosomes, when primed with a pro-drug (AP20187), demonstrated a significant loss in cell viability (57% ± 8% versus 100% ± 4.8%, p < 0.001) in comparison to mock-treated Huh7 cells. An intratumoral administration of AAV6-iCasp9 vexosomes and AP20187 in a murine xenograft model revealed a 2.3-fold increase in tumor regression in comparison to untreated animals. These findings were further corroborated by histological analysis and apoptosis assays. In conclusion, our data demonstrate the therapeutic potential of AAV6 vexosomes in a xenotransplantation model of HCC. Furthermore, the simplicity in production and isolation of vexosomes should further facilitate its application in other malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nusrat Khan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Shubham Maurya
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sridhar Bammidi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Giridhara R Jayandharan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur 208016, Uttar Pradesh, India
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Pre-arrayed Pan-AAV Peptide Display Libraries for Rapid Single-Round Screening. Mol Ther 2020; 28:1016-1032. [PMID: 32105604 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Display of short peptides on the surface of adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) is a powerful technology for the generation of gene therapy vectors with altered cell specificities and/or transduction efficiencies. Following its extensive prior use in the best characterized AAV serotype 2 (AAV2), recent reports also indicate the potential of other AAV isolates as scaffolds for peptide display. In this study, we systematically explored the respective capacities of 13 different AAV capsid variants to tolerate 27 peptides inserted on the surface followed by production of reporter-encoding vectors. Single-round screening in pre-arrayed 96-well plates permitted rapid and simple identification of superior vectors in >90 cell types, including T cells and primary cells. Notably, vector performance depended not only on the combination of capsid, peptide, and cell type, but also on the position of the inserted peptide and the nature of flanking residues. For optimal data availability and accessibility, all results were assembled in a searchable online database offering multiple output styles. Finally, we established a reverse-transduction pipeline based on vector pre-spotting in 96- or 384-well plates that facilitates high-throughput library panning. Our comprehensive illustration of the vast potential of alternative AAV capsids for peptide display should accelerate their in vivo screening and application as unique gene therapy vectors.
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Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third most common cause of cancer death globally, mainly due to lack of effective treatments – a problem that gene therapy is poised to solve. Successful gene therapy requires safe and efficient delivery vectors, and recent advances in both viral and nonviral vectors have made an important impact on HCC gene therapy delivery. This review explores how adenoviral, retroviral and adeno-associated viral vectors have been modified to increase safety and delivery capacity, highlighting studies and clinical trials using these vectors for HCC gene therapy. Nanoparticles, liposomes, exosomes and virosomes are also featured in their roles as HCC gene delivery vectors. Finally, new discoveries in gene editing technology and their impacts on HCC gene therapy are discussed.
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16
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Batır MB, Şahin E, Çam FS. Evaluation of the CRISPR/Cas9 directed mutant TP53 gene repairing effect in human prostate cancer cell line PC-3. Mol Biol Rep 2019; 46:6471-6484. [PMID: 31571107 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-05093-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Prostate cancer is a common health problem among men worldwide and most of these prostate cancer cases are related to a dysfunctional mutant Tumor Protein p53 (TP53) gene. However, the CRISPR/Cas9 system can be used for repairing of a dysfunctional mutant TP53 gene in combination with donor single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (ssODN) via cells' own homology-directed repair (HDR) mechanism. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the CRISPR/Cas9 repairing efficiency on TP53 414delC (p.K139fs*31) null mutation, located in the TP53 gene, of human prostate cancer cell line PC-3 in combination with ssODNs. According to the next-generation sequencing results, TP53 414delC mutation was repaired with an efficiency of 19.95% and 26.0% at the TP53 414delC position with ssODN1 and ssODN2 accompanied by sgRNA2 guided CRISPR/Cas9, respectively. Besides, qPCR and immunofluorescence analysis showed that PC-3 cells, the TP53 414delC mutation of which were repaired, expressed wild type p53 again. Also, significantly increased number of apoptotic cells, driven by the repaired TP53 gene were detected compared to the control cells by flow cytometry analysis. As a result, sgRNA2 guided CRISPR/Cas9 system accompanied by ssODN was shown to effectively repair the TP53 414delC gene region and inhibit the cell proliferation of PC-3 cells. Therefore, the effects of the TP53 414delC mutation repairment in PC-3 cells will be investigated in the in vivo models for tumor clearance analysis in the near future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammet Burak Batır
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Letters, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey.
| | - Ergin Şahin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ankara University, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Fethi Sırrı Çam
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Manisa Celal Bayar University, Manisa, Turkey
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17
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Khan N, Bammidi S, Jayandharan GR. A CD33 Antigen-Targeted AAV6 Vector Expressing an Inducible Caspase-9 Suicide Gene Is Therapeutic in a Xenotransplantation Model of Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Bioconjug Chem 2019; 30:2404-2416. [PMID: 31436412 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.9b00511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Current chemotherapeutic regimens for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) have been modestly effective in patients and are associated with poor long-term survival (<30% at 5 years). Viral vector-based suicide gene therapy is an attractive option, if these vectors can target the AML cells with high specificity and efficiency. In this study, we have developed a receptor-specific adeno-associated virus (AAV) based vector to target the CD33 antigen which is overexpressed in leukemic cells. A targeting peptide was rationally designed from the antigen-binding regions of a CD33 monoclonal antibody. This peptide was further expressed on the capsid of the AAV6 vector, since this serotype was most efficient among AAV1-rh10 vectors to infect the pro-monocytic, human myeloid leukemia cells (U937). AAV6-CD33 vectors expressing a suicide gene, the inducible caspase 9 (iCasp9), and its prodrug AP20187 significantly reduced (∼59%) the viability of U937 cells. To further test its efficacy and specificity in vivo, AAV6-CD33 vectors were administered into a xenotransplantation model of AML in zebrafish through systemic delivery. We observed a significant antileukemic effect with AAV6-CD33 vectors, with a markedly higher survival (100% for AAV6-CD33 vectors vs 15% for mock-treated) and a higher number of TUNEL positive apoptotic cells after systemic vector delivery. Taken together, our work demonstrates the efficacy and translational potential of CD33-targeted AAV6 vectors for cytotoxic gene therapy in AML.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nusrat Khan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering , Indian Institute of Technology , Kanpur , 208016 , Uttar Pradesh , India
| | - Sridhar Bammidi
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering , Indian Institute of Technology , Kanpur , 208016 , Uttar Pradesh , India
| | - Giridhara R Jayandharan
- Department of Biological Sciences and Bioengineering , Indian Institute of Technology , Kanpur , 208016 , Uttar Pradesh , India
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18
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Pinto C, Silva G, Ribeiro AS, Oliveira M, Garrido M, Bandeira VS, Nascimento A, Coroadinha AS, Peixoto C, Barbas A, Paredes J, Brito C, Alves PM. Evaluation of AAV-mediated delivery of shRNA to target basal-like breast cancer genetic vulnerabilities. J Biotechnol 2019; 300:70-77. [PMID: 31150679 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2019.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 05/27/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV) for gene therapy applications are gaining momentum, with more therapies moving into later stages of clinical development and towards market approval, namely for cancer therapy. The development of cytotoxic vectors is often hampered by side effects arising when non-target cells are infected, and their production can be hindered by toxic effects of the transgene on the producing cell lines. In this study, we evaluated the potential of rAAV-mediated delivery of short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) to target basal-like breast cancer genetic vulnerabilities. Our results show that by optimizing the stoichiometry of the plasmids upon transfection and time of harvest, it is possible to increase the viral titers and quality. All rAAV-shRNA vectors obtained efficiently transduced the BLBC cell lines MDA-MB-468 and HCC1954. In MDA-MB-468, transduction with rAAV-shRNA vector targeting PSMA2 was associated with significant decrease in cell viability and apoptosis induction. Importantly, rAAV2-PSMA2 also slowed tumor growth in a BLBC mouse xenograft model, thus potentially representing a therapeutic strategy against this type of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Pinto
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Gabriela Silva
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Ana S Ribeiro
- Bayer Portugal, Carnaxide, Portugal; i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Mónica Oliveira
- Bayer Portugal, Carnaxide, Portugal; i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Manuel Garrido
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Vanessa S Bandeira
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - André Nascimento
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Ana Sofia Coroadinha
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Cristina Peixoto
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Ana Barbas
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; Bayer Portugal, Carnaxide, Portugal.
| | - Joana Paredes
- i3S, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Rua Alfredo Allen, 208, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal; IPATIMUP, Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology of the University of Porto, Rua Dr Roberto Frias s/n, Porto, Portugal.
| | - Catarina Brito
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Paula M Alves
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2780-901 Oeiras, Portugal; Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
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Büning H, Srivastava A. Capsid Modifications for Targeting and Improving the Efficacy of AAV Vectors. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2019; 12:248-265. [PMID: 30815511 PMCID: PMC6378346 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2019.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In the past decade, recombinant vectors based on a non-pathogenic parvovirus, the adeno-associated virus (AAV), have taken center stage as a gene delivery vehicle for the potential gene therapy for a number of human diseases. To date, the safety of AAV vectors in 176 phase I, II, and III clinical trials and their efficacy in at least eight human diseases are now firmly documented. Despite these remarkable achievements, it has also become abundantly clear that the full potential of first generation AAV vectors composed of naturally occurring capsids is not likely to be realized, since the wild-type AAV did not evolve for the purpose of therapeutic gene delivery. In this article, we provide a brief historical account of the progress that has been made in the development of capsid-modified, next-generation AAV vectors to ensure both the safety and efficacy of these vectors in targeting a wide variety of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hildegard Büning
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Cluster of Excellence, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Arun Srivastava
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Departments of Pediatrics and Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
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20
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Extraction of Amana edulis Induces Liver Cancer Apoptosis. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2018; 2018:3927075. [PMID: 30069223 PMCID: PMC6057330 DOI: 10.1155/2018/3927075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
HCC is one of the fastest-rising causes of cancer-related death. Novel therapeutic approaches for treatment are warranted. The goal of this study is to find effective components from Chinese herbal medicines, which is an important alternative source of anticancer medicine. To this end, six different herbs were selected from various traditional literatures. Soxhlet extractor was used to distill the strong polar and weak polar components of each herb. The inhibitive effect of each component was determined using liver cancer cells BEL7404. From total of 12 extractions, it was found that the combined crude lysate of Amana edulis from water and ethanol system had the best efficacy. At the concentration of 0.1 mg/mL, this component has the highest inhibition rate up to 70%. To investigate the underlying molecular reasons, we observed that the component can significantly induce the liver cancer cells apoptosis and retard the cell reproduction at G2/M stage. Verification experiments showed that this component also has apparent inhibitive effects on other liver cancer cells, such as HepG2 and Huh7. On the other hand, it has less effectiveness on another cell line HepaRG, which retains many characteristics of primary human hepatocytes. The results suggested that there might be highly efficient antihepatoma ingredient in the water and ethanol extraction of Amana edulis. The pure substances remain to be isolated and further research on their targets is required.
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An Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Capable of Penetrating the Mucus Barrier to Inhaled Gene Therapy. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2018; 9:296-304. [PMID: 30038933 PMCID: PMC6054694 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Diffusion of the viral vectors evaluated in inhaled gene therapy clinical trials to date are largely hindered within airway mucus, which limits their access to, and transduction of, the underlying airway epithelium prior to clearance from the lung. Here, we discovered that adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 6 was able to rapidly diffuse through mucus collected from cystic fibrosis (CF) patients, unlike previously tested AAV serotypes. A point mutation of the AAV6 capsid suggests a potential mechanism by which AAV6 avoids adhesion to the mucus mesh. Significantly greater transgene expression was achieved with AAV6 compared to a mucoadhesive serotype, AAV1, in air-liquid interface cultures of human CF bronchial epithelium with naturally secreted mucus or induced mucus hypersecretion. In addition, AAV6 achieved superior distribution and overall level of transgene expression compared to AAV1 in the airways and whole lungs, respectively, of transgenic mice with airway mucus obstruction. Our findings motivate further evaluation and clinical development of AAV6 for inhaled gene therapy.
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A novel and highly efficient AAV6 mutant. Virus Genes 2017; 54:165-171. [PMID: 29282655 DOI: 10.1007/s11262-017-1531-2] [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: 09/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus has been gaining prominence in its use as a highly secure virus gene vector with low immunogenicity in the field of human gene therapy. However, wild-type adeno-associated virus sometimes has low transduction efficiency for certain tissues or cells both in vivo and in vitro. Thus, achieving the desired level of expression often requires a large dose. Large doses of viral injection in clinical applications will not only trigger the body's immune response but will come at a high production cost. To improve the transduction efficiency of adeno-associated virus 6 (AAV6), we herein used fusion PCR to mutate a specific amino acid of the VP2 region of the wild-type AAV6 (AAV6-WT) and obtained AAV6-S663L, AAV6Y705 + 731F + T492A, AAV6Y705 + 731F + T492 V + S663 V and so on. We concluded that AAV6-S663L was the most efficient AAV6 mutant. When HEK293 cells were infected in vitro with a virus at a multiplicity of infection value of 1000, the transduction rate of AAV6-WT was only 43.8%, while that of AAV6-S663L was 83.9%. This highly efficient AAV6 mutant is highly significant for the future use of AAV6 in gene therapy.
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Ahmed H, Shubina-Oleinik O, Holt JR. Emerging Gene Therapies for Genetic Hearing Loss. J Assoc Res Otolaryngol 2017; 18:649-670. [PMID: 28815315 PMCID: PMC5612923 DOI: 10.1007/s10162-017-0634-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2017] [Accepted: 07/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy, or the treatment of human disease using genetic material, for inner ear dysfunction is coming of age. Recent progress in developing gene therapy treatments for genetic hearing loss has demonstrated tantalizing proof-of-principle in animal models. While successful translation of this progress into treatments for humans awaits, there is growing interest from patients, scientists, clinicians, and industry. Nonetheless, it is clear that a number of hurdles remain, and expectations for total restoration of auditory function should remain tempered until these challenges have been overcome. Here, we review progress, prospects, and challenges for gene therapy in the inner ear. We focus on technical aspects, including routes of gene delivery to the inner ear, choice of vectors, promoters, inner ear targets, therapeutic strategies, preliminary success stories, and points to consider for translating of these successes to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hena Ahmed
- Departments of Otolaryngology and Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Olga Shubina-Oleinik
- Departments of Otolaryngology and Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey R Holt
- Departments of Otolaryngology and Neurology, F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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