1
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Calabria A, Cipriani C, Spinozzi G, Rudilosso L, Esposito S, Benedicenti F, Albertini A, Pouzolles M, Luoni M, Giannelli S, Broccoli V, Guilbaud M, Adjali O, Taylor N, Zimmermann VS, Montini E, Cesana D. Intrathymic AAV delivery results in therapeutic site-specific integration at TCR loci in mice. Blood 2023; 141:2316-2329. [PMID: 36790505 PMCID: PMC10356579 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022017378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have been successfully exploited in gene therapy applications for the treatment of several genetic disorders. AAV is considered an episomal vector, but it has been shown to integrate within the host cell genome after the generation of double-strand DNA breaks or nicks. Although AAV integration raises some safety concerns, it can also provide therapeutic benefit; the direct intrathymic injection of an AAV harboring a therapeutic transgene results in integration in T-cell progenitors and long-term T-cell immunity. To assess the mechanisms of AAV integration, we retrieved and analyzed hundreds of AAV integration sites from lymph node-derived mature T cells and compared these with liver and brain tissue from treated mice. Notably, we found that although AAV integrations in the liver and brain were distributed across the entire mouse genome, >90% of the integrations in T cells were clustered within the T-cell receptor α, β, and γ genes. More precisely, the insertion mapped to DNA breaks created by the enzymatic activity of recombination activating genes (RAGs) during variable, diversity, and joining recombination. Our data indicate that RAG activity during T-cell receptor maturation induces a site-specific integration of AAV genomes and opens new therapeutic avenues for achieving long-term AAV-mediated gene transfer in dividing cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Calabria
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Carlo Cipriani
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giulio Spinozzi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Rudilosso
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Esposito
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Benedicenti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandra Albertini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Marie Pouzolles
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
| | - Mirko Luoni
- Stem Cell and Neurogenesis Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Giannelli
- Stem Cell and Neurogenesis Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Vania Broccoli
- Stem Cell and Neurogenesis Unit, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Neuroscience Institute, National Research Council of Italy, Milan, Italy
| | - Mickael Guilbaud
- Translational Gene Therapy Laboratory, INSERM and Nantes University, Nantes, France
| | - Oumeya Adjali
- Translational Gene Therapy Laboratory, INSERM and Nantes University, Nantes, France
| | - Naomi Taylor
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD
| | - Valérie S. Zimmermann
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Paris, France
| | - Eugenio Montini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Cesana
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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2
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Li W. Intrathymic AAV gene delivery. Blood 2023; 141:2286-2288. [PMID: 37166928 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023019863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
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3
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In vivo engineering of lymphocytes after systemic exosome-associated AAV delivery. Sci Rep 2020; 10:4544. [PMID: 32161326 PMCID: PMC7066196 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61518-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ex-vivo gene therapy using stem cells or T cells transduced by retroviral or lentiviral vectors has shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of immunodeficiencies and cancer. However, the process is expensive, technically challenging, and not readily scalable to large patient populations, particularly in underdeveloped parts of the world. Direct in vivo gene therapy would avoid these issues, and such approaches with adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have been shown to be safe and efficacious in clinical trials for diseases affecting differentiated tissues such as the liver and CNS. However, the ability to transduce lymphocytes with AAV in vivo after systemic delivery has not been carefully explored. Here, we show that both standard and exosome-associated preparations of AAV8 vectors can effectively transduce a variety of immune cell populations including CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells after systemic delivery in mice. We provide direct evidence of T cell transduction through the detection of AAV genomes and transgene mRNA, and show that intracellular and transmembrane proteins can be expressed. These findings establish the feasibility of AAV-mediated in vivo gene delivery to immune cells which will facilitate both basic and applied research towards the goal of direct in vivo gene immunotherapies.
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4
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Silvia G, Alessandro A. Intrathymic delivery a new route for adenoviral-associated vector gene therapy. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019; 145:499-501. [PMID: 31830489 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.11.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Gregori Silvia
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Aiuti Alessandro
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy.
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5
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Pouzolles M, Machado A, Guilbaud M, Irla M, Gailhac S, Barennes P, Cesana D, Calabria A, Benedicenti F, Sergé A, Raman I, Li QZ, Montini E, Klatzmann D, Adjali O, Taylor N, Zimmermann VS. Intrathymic adeno-associated virus gene transfer rapidly restores thymic function and long-term persistence of gene-corrected T cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2019; 145:679-697.e5. [PMID: 31513879 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2019.08.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Revised: 07/28/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Patients with T-cell immunodeficiencies are generally treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, but alternatives are needed for patients without matched donors. An innovative intrathymic gene therapy approach that directly targets the thymus might improve outcomes. OBJECTIVE We sought to determine the efficacy of intrathymic adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes to transduce thymocyte subsets and correct the T-cell immunodeficiency in a zeta-associated protein of 70 kDa (ZAP-70)-deficient murine model. METHODS AAV serotypes were injected intrathymically into wild-type mice, and gene transfer efficiency was monitored. ZAP-70-/- mice were intrathymically injected with an AAV8 vector harboring the ZAP70 gene. Thymus structure, immunophenotyping, T-cell receptor clonotypes, T-cell function, immune responses to transgenes and autoantibodies, vector copy number, and integration were evaluated. RESULTS AAV8, AAV9, and AAV10 serotypes all transduced thymocyte subsets after in situ gene transfer, with transduction of up to 5% of cells. Intrathymic injection of an AAV8-ZAP-70 vector into ZAP-70-/- mice resulted in a rapid thymocyte differentiation associated with the development of a thymic medulla. Strikingly, medullary thymic epithelial cells expressing the autoimmune regulator were detected within 10 days of gene transfer, correlating with the presence of functional effector and regulatory T-cell subsets with diverse T-cell receptor clonotypes in the periphery. Although thymocyte reconstitution was transient, gene-corrected peripheral T cells harboring approximately 1 AAV genome per cell persisted for more than 40 weeks, and AAV vector integration was detected. CONCLUSIONS Intrathymic AAV-transduced progenitors promote a rapid restoration of the thymic architecture, with a single wave of thymopoiesis generating long-term peripheral T-cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Pouzolles
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Alice Machado
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Mickaël Guilbaud
- INSERM UMR1089, Université de Nantes, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Magali Irla
- Center of Immunology Marseille-Luminy (CIML), INSERM U1104, CNRS UMR7280, Aix-Marseille Université UM2, Marseille, France
| | - Sarah Gailhac
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Pierre Barennes
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (i3), Paris, France
| | - Daniela Cesana
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Calabria
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Benedicenti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Arnauld Sergé
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS, INSERM, Institut Paoli-Calmettes, CRCM, Marseille, France
| | - Indu Raman
- Microarray Core Facility, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex
| | - Quan-Zhen Li
- Microarray Core Facility, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex; Department of Immunology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Tex
| | - Eugenio Montini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - David Klatzmann
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Immunology-Immunopathology-Immunotherapy (i3), Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Biotherapy (CIC-BTi) and Inflammation-Immunopathology-Biotherapy Department (i2B), Paris, France
| | - Oumeya Adjali
- INSERM UMR1089, Université de Nantes, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nantes, Nantes, France.
| | - Naomi Taylor
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France; Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Md.
| | - Valérie S Zimmermann
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France.
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6
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De Barros SC, Zimmermann VS, Taylor N. Concise review: hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: targeting the thymus. Stem Cells 2014; 31:1245-51. [PMID: 23554173 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation can cure patients suffering from diverse genetic and acquired diseases as well as cancers. Nevertheless, under conditions where T-cell reconstitution is critical, the entry of donor progenitors into the thymus remains a major bottleneck. It is assumed that following the intravenous injection of HSC, they first home to the BM. More committed progenitors can then be exported to the thymus in response to a myriad of signals regulating thymus seeding. Notably although, the thymus is not continually receptive to the import of hematopoietic progenitors. Furthermore, as stem cells with self-renewing capacity do not take up residence in the thymus under physiological conditions, the periodic colonization of the thymus is essential for the sustained differentiation of T lymphocytes. As such, we and others have invested significant efforts into exploring avenues that might foster a long-term thymus-autonomous differentiation. Here, we review strategic approaches that have resulted in long-term T-cell differentiation in immunodeficient (SCID) mice, even across histocompatibility barriers. These include the forced thymic entry of BM precursors by their direct intrathymic injection as well as the transplantation of neonatal thymi. The capacity of the thymus to support hematopoietic progenitors with renewal potential will hopefully promote the development of new therapeutic strategies aimed at enhancing T-cell differentiation in patients undergoing HSC transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphanie C De Barros
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, Université Montpellier , Montpellier, France
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7
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Weber ND, Aubert M, Dang CH, Stone D, Jerome KR. DNA cleavage enzymes for treatment of persistent viral infections: recent advances and the pathway forward. Virology 2014; 454-455:353-61. [PMID: 24485787 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2013.12.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2013] [Accepted: 12/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Treatment for most persistent viral infections consists of palliative drug options rather than curative approaches. This is often because long-lasting viral DNA in infected cells is not affected by current antivirals, providing a source for viral persistence and reactivation. Targeting latent viral DNA itself could therefore provide a basis for novel curative strategies. DNA cleavage enzymes can be used to induce targeted mutagenesis of specific genes, including those of exogenous viruses. Although initial in vitro and even in vivo studies have been carried out using DNA cleavage enzymes targeting various viruses, many questions still remain concerning the feasibility of these strategies as they transition into preclinical research. Here, we review the most recent findings on DNA cleavage enzymes for human viral infections, consider the most relevant animal models for several human viral infections, and address issues regarding safety and enzyme delivery. Results from well-designed in vivo studies will ideally provide answers to the most urgent remaining questions, and allow continued progress toward clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas D Weber
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, E5-110, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
| | - Martine Aubert
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, E5-110, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Chung H Dang
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, E5-110, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Daniel Stone
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, E5-110, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
| | - Keith R Jerome
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, E5-110, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA; Department of Microbiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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8
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Gottrand G, Taleb K, Ragon I, Bergot AS, Goldstein JD, Marodon G. Intrathymic injection of lentiviral vector curtails the immune response in the periphery of normal mice. J Gene Med 2012; 14:90-9. [PMID: 22228582 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gene transfer in the thymus, based on HIV-derived lentiviral vectors, is a promising avenue for modulation of T cell selection and autoimmunity. However, the impact of intrathymic (IT) injections on an antigen-specific immune response elicited in the periphery of normal mice has not been investigated yet. METHODS Highly concentrated stocks of lentiviral vectors expressing the soluble form of hemaglutinin of the influenza virus (LvHA) were injected in the thymus of normal BALB/c mice. The CD4 and CD8-mediated immune responses to HA after peripheral immunization were measured by various parameters. RESULTS We first show that a lentiviral vector expressing the luciferase was detected for at least 2 months after IT-injections. We then show that the LvHA vector could elicit a functional CD4- and CD8-T cell-mediated immune responses in the peripheral lymphoid organs of BALB/c mice. IT-injection of the LvHA vector significantly curbed this response: lower numbers of transferred HA-specific CD4(+) T cells were found in LvHA-injected compared to control animals. Furthermore, lower frequencies of HA-specific CD8(+) T cells, interferon γ-producing cells and cytotoxic cells were detected from 3 weeks to 3 months in LvHA-injected mice compared to controls. However, these reduced CD8-mediated responses were not increased after depletion of CD25(+) cells in vitro or in vivo. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained in the present study show that injection of the LvHA lentiviral vector significantly curtailed the immune response to the same antigen in the periphery. Increased selection of HA-specific regulatory T cells and negative selection of HA-specific CD8(+) T cell precursors may explain the results. Our work establish the feasibility of IT-injections of lentiviral vectors to manipulate T cell tolerance in the thymus of normal mice, for basic and pre-clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaëlle Gottrand
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, UPMC University of Paris 06, Paris, France
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9
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Liu X, Wu J, Yammine M, Zhou J, Posocco P, Viel S, Liu C, Ziarelli F, Fermeglia M, Pricl S, Victorero G, Nguyen C, Erbacher P, Behr JP, Peng L. Structurally Flexible Triethanolamine Core PAMAM Dendrimers Are Effective Nanovectors for DNA Transfection in Vitro and in Vivo to the Mouse Thymus. Bioconjug Chem 2011; 22:2461-73. [DOI: 10.1021/bc200275g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Liu
- Aix-Marseille
Université,
Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, CNRS UPR 3118, Département de Chimie, 163 avenue
de Luminy, 13288 Marseille cedex 09, France
- State Key Laboratory of Virology,
College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Jiangyu Wu
- Aix-Marseille
Université,
Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, CNRS UPR 3118, Département de Chimie, 163 avenue
de Luminy, 13288 Marseille cedex 09, France
- State Key Laboratory of Virology,
College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Miriam Yammine
- INSERM U928, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13288
Marseille cedex 09, France
| | - Jiehua Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Virology,
College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Paola Posocco
- Molecular Simulation
Engineering
(MOSE) Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste,
Italy
| | - Stephane Viel
- Aix-Marseille Université, LCP UMR 6264, Campus de Saint Jérôme,
av. Escadrille Normandie Niémen, case 512, 13013 Marseille,
France
| | - Cheng Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology,
College of Chemistry and Molecular Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, P. R. China
| | - Fabio Ziarelli
- Aix-Marseille Université, Fédération des Sciences Chimiques, Spectropole,
av. Escadrille Normandie Niémen, case 511, 13013 Marseille,
France
| | - Maurizio Fermeglia
- Molecular Simulation
Engineering
(MOSE) Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste,
Italy
| | - Sabrina Pricl
- Molecular Simulation
Engineering
(MOSE) Laboratory, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Trieste, Piazzale Europa 1, 34127 Trieste,
Italy
| | | | - Catherine Nguyen
- INSERM U928, 163 avenue de Luminy, 13288
Marseille cedex 09, France
| | - Patrick Erbacher
- Polyplus-transfection SA, Bioparc, Boulevard S. Brandt, BP90018, 67401 Illkirch,
France
| | - Jean-Paul Behr
- Laboratoire de Chimie Génétique,
Faculté de Pharmacie, CNRS UMR7514, 67401 Illkirch, France
| | - Ling Peng
- Aix-Marseille
Université,
Centre Interdisciplinaire de Nanoscience de Marseille, CNRS UPR 3118, Département de Chimie, 163 avenue
de Luminy, 13288 Marseille cedex 09, France
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10
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Raj D, Davidoff AM, Nathwani AC. Self-complementary adeno-associated viral vectors for gene therapy of hemophilia B: progress and challenges. Expert Rev Hematol 2011; 4:539-49. [PMID: 21939421 PMCID: PMC3200187 DOI: 10.1586/ehm.11.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Therapies currently used for hemophilia involve injection of protein concentrates that are expensive, invasive and associated with side effects such as development of neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors) that diminish therapeutic efficacy. Gene transfer is an attractive alternative to circumvent these issues. However, until now, clinical trials using gene therapy to treat hemophilia have failed to demonstrate sustained efficacy, although a vector based on a self-complementary adeno-associated virus has recently shown promise. This article will briefly outline a novel gene-transfer approach using self-complementary adeno-associated viral vectors using hemophilia B as a target disorder. This approach is currently being evaluated in the clinic. We will provide an overview of the development of self-complementary adeno-associated virus vectors as well as preclinical and clinical data with this vector system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Raj
- Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Andrew M Davidoff
- Department of Surgery, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- Departments of Surgery and Pediatrics, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Amit C Nathwani
- Department of Haematology, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
- NHS Blood and Transplant, London, UK
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11
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Liu LL, Du XM, Wang Z, Wu BJ, Jin M, Xin B, Wang D, Bai ZL. A simplified intrathymic injection technique for mice. Biotech Histochem 2011; 87:140-7. [DOI: 10.3109/10520295.2011.577755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- LL Liu
- Laboratory for Developmental Immunology, School of Life Science, Shandong University,
Jinan 250100
| | - XM Du
- Laboratory Medicine of Jinan Military Hospital,
Jinan 250031
| | - Z Wang
- College of Chemistry and Life Science, Shenyang Normal University,
Shenyang 110034, China
| | - BJ Wu
- Laboratory for Developmental Immunology, School of Life Science, Shandong University,
Jinan 250100
| | - M Jin
- Laboratory for Developmental Immunology, School of Life Science, Shandong University,
Jinan 250100
| | - B Xin
- Laboratory for Developmental Immunology, School of Life Science, Shandong University,
Jinan 250100
| | - D Wang
- Laboratory for Developmental Immunology, School of Life Science, Shandong University,
Jinan 250100
| | - ZL Bai
- Laboratory for Developmental Immunology, School of Life Science, Shandong University,
Jinan 250100
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12
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Aichinger M, Hinterberger M, Klein L. Probing gene function in thymic epithelial cells. Eur J Cell Biol 2011; 91:24-30. [PMID: 21392839 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2011.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2010] [Accepted: 01/22/2011] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) provide a highly specialized microenvironment for the generation of a functional and self-tolerant T cell repertoire. Much of our current view of TEC biology is derived from gain- or loss-of-function approaches, which have significantly contributed to our understanding of gene function in TEC development and T cell repertoire selection. Here, we will review transgenic and viral strategies that have been used to manipulate gene expression in TECs, highlight some of the shortcomings of particular currently available tools and provide a brief outline of our own attempts to more rapidly and/or more specifically assess gene function in TECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Aichinger
- Institute for Immunology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Goethestrasse 31, Munich, Germany
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13
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Induction of immune tolerance to a therapeutic protein by intrathymic gene delivery. Mol Ther 2010; 18:2146-54. [PMID: 20664526 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2010.164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The efficacy of recombinant enzyme therapy for genetic diseases is limited in some patients by the generation of a humoral immune response to the therapeutic protein. Inducing immune tolerance to the protein prior to treatment has the potential to increase therapeutic efficacy. Using an AAV8 vector encoding human acid α-glucosidase (hGAA), we have evaluated direct intrathymic injection for inducing tolerance. We have also compared the final tolerogenic states achieved by intrathymic and intravenous injection. Intrathymic vector delivery induced tolerance equivalent to that generated by intravenous delivery, but at a 25-fold lower dose, the thymic hGAA expression level was 10,000-fold lower than the liver expression necessary for systemic tolerance induction. Splenic regulatory T cells (Tregs) were apparent after delivery by both routes, but with different phenotypes. Intrathymic delivery resulted in Tregs with higher FoxP3, TGFβ, and IL-10 mRNA levels. These differences may account for the differences noted in splenic T cells, where only intravenous delivery appeared to inhibit their activation. Our results imply that different mechanisms may be operating to generate immune tolerance by intrathymic and intravenous delivery of an AAV vector, and suggest that the intrathymic route may hold promise for decreasing the humoral immune response to therapeutic proteins in genetic disease indications.
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14
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Vicente R, Swainson L, Marty-Grès S, De Barros SC, Kinet S, Zimmermann VS, Taylor N. Molecular and cellular basis of T cell lineage commitment. Semin Immunol 2010; 22:270-5. [PMID: 20630771 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2010.04.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2010] [Accepted: 04/23/2010] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The thymus forms as an alymphoid thymic primordium with T cell differentiation requiring the seeding of this anlage. This review will focus on the characteristics of the hematopoietic progenitors which colonize the thymus and their subsequent commitment/differentiation, both in mice and men. Within the thymus, the interplay between Notch1 and IL-7 signals is crucial for the orchestration of T cell development, but the precise requirements for these factors in murine and human thympoeisis are not synonymous. Recent advances in our understanding of the mechanisms regulating precursor entry and their maintenance in the thymus will also be presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Vicente
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, CNRS UMR 5535/IFR 122, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
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Intrathymic transplantation of bone marrow-derived progenitors provides long-term thymopoiesis. Blood 2009; 115:1913-20. [PMID: 20040762 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2009-06-229724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The sustained differentiation of T cells in the thymus cannot be maintained by resident intrathymic (IT) precursors and requires that progenitors be replenished from the bone marrow (BM). In patients with severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) treated by hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, late T-cell differentiation defects are thought to be due to an insufficient entry of donor BM progenitors into the thymus. Indeed, we find that the intravenous injection of BM progenitors into nonconditioned zeta-chain-associated protein kinase 70 (ZAP-70)-deficient mice with SCID supports short- but not long-term thymopoiesis. Remarkably, we now show that the IT administration of these progenitors produces a significant level of donor-derived thymopoiesis for more than 6 months after transplantation. In contrast to physiologic thymopoiesis, long-term donor thymopoiesis was not due to the continued recruitment of progenitors from the BM. Rather, IT transplantation resulted in the unique generation of a large population of early c-Kit(high) donor precursors within the thymus. These ZAP-70-deficient mice that received an IT transplant had a significantly increased prothymocyte niche compared with their untreated counterparts; this phenotype was associated with the generation of a medulla. Thus, IT administration of BM progenitors results in the filling of an expanded precursor niche and may represent a strategy for enhancing T-cell differentiation in patients with SCID.
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