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Henriques C, Lopes MM, Silva AC, Lobo DD, Badin RA, Hantraye P, Pereira de Almeida L, Nobre RJ. Viral-based animal models in polyglutamine disorders. Brain 2024; 147:1166-1189. [PMID: 38284949 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae012] [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: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine disorders are a complex group of incurable neurodegenerative disorders caused by an abnormal expansion in the trinucleotide cytosine-adenine-guanine tract of the affected gene. To better understand these disorders, our dependence on animal models persists, primarily relying on transgenic models. In an effort to complement and deepen our knowledge, researchers have also developed animal models of polyglutamine disorders employing viral vectors. Viral vectors have been extensively used to deliver genes to the brain, not only for therapeutic purposes but also for the development of animal models, given their remarkable flexibility. In a time- and cost-effective manner, it is possible to use different transgenes, at varying doses, in diverse targeted tissues, at different ages, and in different species, to recreate polyglutamine pathology. This paper aims to showcase the utility of viral vectors in disease modelling, share essential considerations for developing animal models with viral vectors, and provide a comprehensive review of existing viral-based animal models for polyglutamine disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Henriques
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel M Lopes
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana C Silva
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Diana D Lobo
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Romina Aron Badin
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology François Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, Université Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Philippe Hantraye
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology François Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, Université Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui Jorge Nobre
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
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2
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Tawfik M, Chen F, Goldberg JL, Sabel BA. Nanomedicine and drug delivery to the retina: current status and implications for gene therapy. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2022; 395:1477-1507. [PMID: 36107200 PMCID: PMC9630211 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-022-02287-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
Abstract
Blindness affects more than 60 million people worldwide. Retinal disorders, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and glaucoma, are the leading causes of blindness. Finding means to optimize local and sustained delivery of drugs or genes to the eye and retina is one goal to advance the development of new therapeutics. Despite the ease of accessibility of delivering drugs via the ocular surface, the delivery of drugs to the retina is still challenging due to anatomic and physiologic barriers. Designing a suitable delivery platform to overcome these barriers should enhance drug bioavailability and provide a safe, controlled, and sustained release. Current inventions for posterior segment treatments include intravitreal implants and subretinal viral gene delivery that satisfy these criteria. Several other novel drug delivery technologies, including nanoparticles, micelles, dendrimers, microneedles, liposomes, and nanowires, are now being widely studied for posterior segment drug delivery, and extensive research on gene delivery using siRNA, mRNA, or aptamers is also on the rise. This review discusses the current state of retinal drug/gene delivery and highlights future therapeutic opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Tawfik
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Fang Chen
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Goldberg
- Spencer Center for Vision Research, Byers Eye Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Bernhard A Sabel
- Institute of Medical Psychology, Medical Faculty, Otto-Von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany.
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3
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Novel bicistronic lentiviral vectors correct β-Hexosaminidase deficiency in neural and hematopoietic stem cells and progeny: implications for in vivo and ex vivo gene therapy of GM2 gangliosidosis. Neurobiol Dis 2019; 134:104667. [PMID: 31682993 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2019.104667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 10/28/2019] [Accepted: 10/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The favorable outcome of in vivo and ex vivo gene therapy approaches in several Lysosomal Storage Diseases suggests that these treatment strategies might equally benefit GM2 gangliosidosis. Tay-Sachs and Sandhoff disease (the main forms of GM2 gangliosidosis) result from mutations in either the HEXA or HEXB genes encoding, respectively, the α- or β-subunits of the lysosomal β-Hexosaminidase enzyme. In physiological conditions, α- and β-subunits combine to generate β-Hexosaminidase A (HexA, αβ) and β-Hexosaminidase B (HexB, ββ). A major impairment to establishing in vivo or ex vivo gene therapy for GM2 gangliosidosis is the need to synthesize the α- and β-subunits at high levels and with the correct stoichiometric ratio, and to safely deliver the therapeutic products to all affected tissues/organs. Here, we report the generation and in vitro validation of novel bicistronic lentiviral vectors (LVs) encoding for both the murine and human codon optimized Hexa and Hexb genes. We show that these LVs drive the safe and coordinate expression of the α- and β-subunits, leading to supranormal levels of β-Hexosaminidase activity with prevalent formation of a functional HexA in SD murine neurons and glia, murine bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), and human SD fibroblasts. The restoration/overexpression of β-Hexosaminidase leads to the reduction of intracellular GM2 ganglioside storage in transduced and in cross-corrected SD murine neural progeny, indicating that the transgenic enzyme is secreted and functional. Importantly, bicistronic LVs safely and efficiently transduce human neurons/glia and CD34+ HSPCs, which are target and effector cells, respectively, in prospective in vivo and ex vivo GT approaches. We anticipate that these bicistronic LVs may overcome the current requirement of two vectors co-delivering the α- or β-subunits genes. Careful assessment of the safety and therapeutic potential of these bicistronic LVs in the SD murine model will pave the way to the clinical development of LV-based gene therapy for GM2 gangliosidosis.
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Charrier S, Lagresle-Peyrou C, Poletti V, Rothe M, Cédrone G, Gjata B, Mavilio F, Fischer A, Schambach A, de Villartay JP, Cavazzana M, Hacein-Bey-Abina S, Galy A. Biosafety Studies of a Clinically Applicable Lentiviral Vector for the Gene Therapy of Artemis-SCID. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2019; 15:232-245. [PMID: 31720302 PMCID: PMC6838972 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2019.08.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Genetic deficiency of the nuclease DCLRE1C/Artemis causes radiosensitive severe combined immunodeficiency (RS-SCID) with lack of peripheral T and B cells and increased sensitivity to ionizing radiations. Gene therapy based on transplanting autologous gene-modified hematopoietic stem cells could significantly improve the health of patients with RS-SCID by correcting their immune system. A lentiviral vector expressing physiological levels of human ARTEMIS mRNA from an EF1a promoter without post-transcriptional regulation was developed as a safe clinically applicable candidate for RS-SCID gene therapy. The vector was purified in GMP-comparable conditions and was not toxic in vitro or in vivo. Long-term engraftment of vector-transduced hematopoietic cells was achieved in irradiated Artemis-deficient mice following primary and secondary transplantation (6 months each). Vector-treated mice displayed T and B lymphopoiesis and polyclonal T cells, had structured lymphoid tissues, and produced immunoglobulins. Benign signs of inflammation were noted following secondary transplants, likely a feature of the model. There was no evidence of transgene toxicity and no induction of hematopoietic malignancy. In vitro, the vector had low genotoxic potential on murine hematopoietic progenitor cells using an immortalization assay. Altogether, these preclinical data show safety and efficacy, and support further development of the vector for the gene therapy of RS-SCID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Charrier
- Genethon and UMR_S951, INSERM, Université Evry, Université Paris Saclay, Evry, 91002 Evry, France
| | - Chantal Lagresle-Peyrou
- Biotherapy Clinical Investigation Center, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Ouest, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM, Paris, France.,Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, UMR 1163, INSERM, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris, France
| | - Valentina Poletti
- Genethon and UMR_S951, INSERM, Université Evry, Université Paris Saclay, Evry, 91002 Evry, France
| | - Michael Rothe
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Grégory Cédrone
- Genethon and UMR_S951, INSERM, Université Evry, Université Paris Saclay, Evry, 91002 Evry, France
| | - Bernard Gjata
- Genethon and UMR_S951, INSERM, Université Evry, Université Paris Saclay, Evry, 91002 Evry, France
| | - Fulvio Mavilio
- Genethon and UMR_S951, INSERM, Université Evry, Université Paris Saclay, Evry, 91002 Evry, France
| | - Alain Fischer
- INSERM, UMR 1163, Paris Descartes University-Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France.,Imagine Institute, Paris, France.,Immunology Pediatric Department, Hopital Necker-Enfants Malades, AP-HP, Paris, France.,Collège de France, Paris, France
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jean-Pierre de Villartay
- Laboratory of Genome Dynamics in the Immune System, UMR1163, INSERM, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris, France
| | - Marina Cavazzana
- Biotherapy Clinical Investigation Center, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Ouest, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM, Paris, France.,Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, UMR 1163, INSERM, Université Paris Descartes Sorbonne Paris Cité, Imagine Institute, Paris, France.,Biotherapy Department, Necker Children's Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Salima Hacein-Bey-Abina
- Biotherapy Clinical Investigation Center, Groupe Hospitalier Universitaire Ouest, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, INSERM, Paris, France
| | - Anne Galy
- Genethon and UMR_S951, INSERM, Université Evry, Université Paris Saclay, Evry, 91002 Evry, France
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Shangaris P, Loukogeorgakis SP, Subramaniam S, Flouri C, Jackson LH, Wang W, Blundell MP, Liu S, Eaton S, Bakhamis N, Ramachandra DL, Maghsoudlou P, Urbani L, Waddington SN, Eddaoudi A, Archer J, Antoniou MN, Stuckey DJ, Schmidt M, Thrasher AJ, Ryan TM, De Coppi P, David AL. In Utero Gene Therapy (IUGT) Using GLOBE Lentiviral Vector Phenotypically Corrects the Heterozygous Humanised Mouse Model and Its Progress Can Be Monitored Using MRI Techniques. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11592. [PMID: 31406195 PMCID: PMC6690943 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48078-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In utero gene therapy (IUGT) to the fetal hematopoietic compartment could be used to treat congenital blood disorders such as β-thalassemia. A humanised mouse model of β-thalassemia was used, in which heterozygous animals are anaemic with splenomegaly and extramedullary hematopoiesis. Intrahepatic in utero injections of a β globin-expressing lentiviral vector (GLOBE), were performed in fetuses at E13.5 of gestation. We analysed animals at 12 and 32 weeks of age, for vector copy number in bone marrow, peripheral blood liver and spleen and we performed integration site analysis. Compared to noninjected heterozygous animals IUGT normalised blood haemoglobin levels and spleen weight. Integration site analysis showed polyclonality. The left ventricular ejection fraction measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in treated heterozygous animals was similar to that of normal non-β-thalassemic mice but significantly higher than untreated heterozygous thalassemia mice suggesting that IUGT ameliorated poor cardiac function. GLOBE LV-mediated IUGT normalised the haematological and anatomical phenotype in a heterozygous humanised model of β-thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panicos Shangaris
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK.
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom.
| | | | | | - Christina Flouri
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, KCL, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Wei Wang
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Centre for Tumour Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Shanrun Liu
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Simon Eaton
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nahla Bakhamis
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK
| | | | | | - Luca Urbani
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon N Waddington
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Ayad Eddaoudi
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Joy Archer
- Central Diagnostic Services, Queen's Vet School Hospital, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Michael N Antoniou
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, KCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniel J Stuckey
- Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Manfred Schmidt
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Centre for Tumour Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Thomas M Ryan
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, UAB, Birmingham, Alabama, United States
| | - Paolo De Coppi
- UCL Institute of Child Health, UCL, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna L David
- Institute for Women's Health, University College London, 86-96 Chenies Mews, London, WC1E 6HX, UK
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6
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Anderson HE, Weir RFF. On the development of optical peripheral nerve interfaces. Neural Regen Res 2019; 14:425-436. [PMID: 30539808 PMCID: PMC6334609 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.245461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Limb loss and spinal cord injury are two debilitating conditions that continue to grow in prevalence. Prosthetic limbs and limb reanimation present two ways of providing affected individuals with means to interact in the world. These techniques are both dependent on a robust interface with the peripheral nerve. Current methods for interfacing with the peripheral nerve tend to suffer from low specificity, high latency and insufficient robustness for a chronic implant. An optical peripheral nerve interface may solve some of these problems by decreasing invasiveness and providing single axon specificity. In order to implement such an interface three elements are required: (1) a transducer capable of translating light into a neural stimulus or translating neural activity into changes in fluorescence, (2) a means for delivering said transducer and (3) a microscope for providing the stimulus light and detecting the fluorescence change. There are continued improvements in both genetically encoded calcium and voltage indicators as well as new optogenetic actuators for stimulation. Similarly, improvements in specificity of viral vectors continue to improve expression in the axons of the peripheral nerve. Our work has recently shown that it is possible to virally transduce axons of the peripheral nerve for recording from small fibers. The improvements of these components make an optical peripheral nerve interface a rapidly approaching alternative to current methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans E. Anderson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Richard F. ff. Weir
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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7
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Michieletto D, Lusic M, Marenduzzo D, Orlandini E. Physical principles of retroviral integration in the human genome. Nat Commun 2019; 10:575. [PMID: 30718508 PMCID: PMC6362086 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08333-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Certain retroviruses, including HIV, insert their DNA in a non-random fraction of the host genome via poorly understood selection mechanisms. Here, we develop a biophysical model for retroviral integration as stochastic and quasi-equilibrium topological reconnections between polymers. We discover that physical effects, such as DNA accessibility and elasticity, play important and universal roles in this process. Our simulations predict that integration is favoured within nucleosomal and flexible DNA, in line with experiments, and that these biases arise due to competing energy barriers associated with DNA deformations. By considering a long chromosomal region in human T-cells during interphase, we discover that at these larger scales integration sites are predominantly determined by chromatin accessibility. Finally, we propose and solve a reaction-diffusion problem that recapitulates the distribution of HIV hot-spots within T-cells. With few generic assumptions, our model can rationalise experimental observations and identifies previously unappreciated physical contributions to retroviral integration site selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- D. Michieletto
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD UK
| | - M. Lusic
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Integrative Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital and German Center for Infection Research, Im Neuenheimer Feld 344, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - D. Marenduzzo
- SUPA, School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3FD UK
| | - E. Orlandini
- Dipartimento di Fisica e Astronomia and Sezione INFN, Universitá di Padova, Via Marzolo 8, 35131 Padova, Italy
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8
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Ong T, Pennesi ME, Birch DG, Lam BL, Tsang SH. Adeno-Associated Viral Gene Therapy for Inherited Retinal Disease. Pharm Res 2019; 36:34. [PMID: 30617669 PMCID: PMC6534121 DOI: 10.1007/s11095-018-2564-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a group of rare, heterogenous eye disorders caused by gene mutations that result in degeneration of the retina. There are currently limited treatment options for IRDs; however, retinal gene therapy holds great promise for the treatment of different forms of inherited blindness. One such IRD for which gene therapy has shown positive initial results is choroideremia, a rare, X-linked degenerative disorder of the retina and choroid. Mutation of the CHM gene leads to an absence of functional Rab escort protein 1 (REP1), which causes retinal pigment epithelium cell death and photoreceptor degeneration. The condition presents in childhood as night blindness, followed by progressive constriction of visual fields, generally leading to vision loss in early adulthood and total blindness thereafter. A recently developed adeno-associated virus-2 (AAV2) vector construct encoding REP1 (AAV2-REP1) has been shown to deliver a functional version of the CHM gene into the retinal pigment epithelium and photoreceptor cells. Phase 1 and 2 studies of AAV2-REP1 in patients with choroideremia have produced encouraging results, suggesting that it is possible not only to slow or stop the decline in vision following treatment with AAV2-REP1, but also to improve visual acuity in some patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuyen Ong
- Nightstar Therapeutics, 203 Crescent Street, Suite 303, Waltham, Massachusetts, 02453, USA.
| | - Mark E Pennesi
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - David G Birch
- Retina Foundation of the Southwest, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Byron L Lam
- Bascom Palmer Eye Institute, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Department of Ophthalmology and of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
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9
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Wang H, Georgakopoulou A, Psatha N, Li C, Capsali C, Samal HB, Anagnostopoulos A, Ehrhardt A, Izsvák Z, Papayannopoulou T, Yannaki E, Lieber A. In vivo hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy ameliorates murine thalassemia intermedia. J Clin Invest 2018; 129:598-615. [PMID: 30422819 DOI: 10.1172/jci122836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Current thalassemia gene therapy protocols require the collection of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs), in vitro culture, lentivirus vector transduction, and retransplantation into myeloablated patients. Because of cost and technical complexity, it is unlikely that such protocols will be applicable in developing countries, where the greatest demand for a β-thalassemia therapy lies. We have developed a simple in vivo HSPC gene therapy approach that involves HSPC mobilization and an intravenous injection of integrating HDAd5/35++ vectors. Transduced HSPCs homed back to the bone marrow, where they persisted long-term. HDAd5/35++ vectors for in vivo gene therapy of thalassemia had a unique capsid that targeted primitive HSPCs through human CD46, a relatively safe SB100X transposase-based integration machinery, a micro-LCR-driven γ-globin gene, and an MGMT(P140K) system that allowed for increasing the therapeutic effect by short-term treatment with low-dose O6-benzylguanine plus bis-chloroethylnitrosourea. We showed in "healthy" human CD46-transgenic mice and in a mouse model of thalassemia intermedia that our in vivo approach resulted in stable γ-globin expression in the majority of circulating red blood cells. The high marking frequency was maintained in secondary recipients. In the thalassemia model, a near-complete phenotypic correction was achieved. The treatment was well tolerated. This cost-efficient and "portable" approach could permit a broader clinical application of thalassemia gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongjie Wang
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Aphrodite Georgakopoulou
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematology Department, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.,Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Nikoletta Psatha
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Chang Li
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Chrysi Capsali
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | - Achilles Anagnostopoulos
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematology Department, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | | | | | | | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematology Department, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - André Lieber
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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10
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Assembly and Functional Analysis of an S/MAR Based Episome with the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator Gene. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19041220. [PMID: 29673202 PMCID: PMC5979583 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19041220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Improving the efficacy of gene therapy vectors is still an important goal toward the development of safe and efficient gene therapy treatments. S/MAR (scaffold/matrix attached region)-based vectors are maintained extra-chromosomally in numerous cell types, which is similar to viral-based vectors. Additionally, when established as an episome, they show a very high mitotic stability. In the present study we tested the idea that addition of an S/MAR element to a CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) expression vector, may allow the establishment of a CFTR episome in bronchial epithelial cells. Starting from the observation that the S/MAR vector pEPI-EGFP (enhanced green fluorescence protein) is maintained as an episome in human bronchial epithelial cells, we assembled the CFTR vector pBQ-S/MAR. This vector, transfected in bronchial epithelial cells with mutated CFTR, supported long term wt CFTR expression and activity, which in turn positively impacted on the assembly of tight junctions in polarized epithelial cells. Additionally, the recovery of intact pBQ-S/MAR, but not the parental vector lacking the S/MAR element, from transfected cells after extensive proliferation, strongly suggested that pBQ-S/MAR was established as an episome. These results add a new element, the S/MAR, that can be considered to improve the persistence and safety of gene therapy vectors for cystic fibrosis pulmonary disease.
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11
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Wang W, Bartholomae CC, Gabriel R, Deichmann A, Schmidt M. The LAM-PCR Method to Sequence LV Integration Sites. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1448:107-20. [PMID: 27317177 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3753-0_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/17/2023]
Abstract
Integrating viral gene transfer vectors are commonly used gene delivery tools in clinical gene therapy trials providing stable integration and continuous gene expression of the transgene in the treated host cell. However, integration of the reverse-transcribed vector DNA into the host genome is a potentially mutagenic event that may directly contribute to unwanted side effects. A comprehensive and accurate analysis of the integration site (IS) repertoire is indispensable to study clonality in transduced cells obtained from patients undergoing gene therapy and to identify potential in vivo selection of affected cell clones. To date, next-generation sequencing (NGS) of vector-genome junctions allows sophisticated studies on the integration repertoire in vitro and in vivo. We have explored the use of the Illumina MiSeq Personal Sequencer platform to sequence vector ISs amplified by non-restrictive linear amplification-mediated PCR (nrLAM-PCR) and LAM-PCR. MiSeq-based high-quality IS sequence retrieval is accomplished by the introduction of a double-barcode strategy that substantially minimizes the frequency of IS sequence collisions compared to the conventionally used single-barcode protocol. Here, we present an updated protocol of (nr)LAM-PCR for the analysis of lentiviral IS using a double-barcode system and followed by deep sequencing using the MiSeq device.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cynthia C Bartholomae
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard Gabriel
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Annette Deichmann
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manfred Schmidt
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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12
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Öner A. Recent Advancements in Gene Therapy for Hereditary Retinal Dystrophies. Turk J Ophthalmol 2017; 47:338-343. [PMID: 29326851 PMCID: PMC5758769 DOI: 10.4274/tjo.41017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary retinal dystrophies (HRDs) are degenerative diseases of the retina which have marked clinical and genetic heterogeneity. Common presentations among these disorders include night or colour blindness, tunnel vision, and subsequent progression to complete blindness. The known causative disease genes have a variety of developmental and functional roles, with mutations in more than 120 genes shown to be responsible for the phenotypes. In addition, mutations within the same gene have been shown to cause different disease phenotypes, even amongst affected individuals within the same family, highlighting further levels of complexity. The known disease genes encode proteins involved in retinal cellular structures, phototransduction, the visual cycle, and photoreceptor structure or gene regulation. Significant advancements have been made in understanding the genetic pathogenesis of ocular diseases, and gene replacement and gene silencing have been proposed as potentially efficacious therapies. Because of its favorable anatomical and immunological characteristics, the eye has been at the forefront of translational gene therapy. Recent improvements have been made in the safety and specificity of vector-based ocular gene transfer methods. Dozens of promising proofs of concept have been obtained in animal models of HRDs and some of them have been relayed to the clinic. The results from the first clinical trials for a congenital form of blindness have generated great interest and have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of intraocular administrations of viral vectors in humans. This review summarizes the clinical development of retinal gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayşe Öner
- Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology, Kayseri, Turkey
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13
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Analyzing the Genotoxicity of Retroviral Vectors in Hematopoietic Cell Gene Therapy. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2017; 8:21-30. [PMID: 29159200 PMCID: PMC5684499 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2017.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Retroviral vectors, including those derived from gammaretroviruses and lentiviruses, have found their way into the clinical arena and demonstrated remarkable efficacy for the treatment of immunodeficiencies, leukodystrophies, and globinopathies. Despite these successes, gene therapy unfortunately also has had to face severe adverse events in the form of leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes, related to the semi-random vector integration into the host cell genome that caused deregulation of neighboring proto-oncogenes. Although improvements in vector design clearly lowered the risk of this insertional mutagenesis, analysis of potential genotoxicity and the consequences of vector integration remain important parameters for basic and translational research and most importantly for the clinic. Here, we review current assays to analyze biodistribution and genotoxicity in the pre-clinical setting and describe tools to monitor vector integration sites in vector-treated patients as a biosafety readout.
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14
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Alton EWFW, Beekman JM, Boyd AC, Brand J, Carlon MS, Connolly MM, Chan M, Conlon S, Davidson HE, Davies JC, Davies LA, Dekkers JF, Doherty A, Gea-Sorli S, Gill DR, Griesenbach U, Hasegawa M, Higgins TE, Hironaka T, Hyndman L, McLachlan G, Inoue M, Hyde SC, Innes JA, Maher TM, Moran C, Meng C, Paul-Smith MC, Pringle IA, Pytel KM, Rodriguez-Martinez A, Schmidt AC, Stevenson BJ, Sumner-Jones SG, Toshner R, Tsugumine S, Wasowicz MW, Zhu J. Preparation for a first-in-man lentivirus trial in patients with cystic fibrosis. Thorax 2016; 72:137-147. [PMID: 27852956 PMCID: PMC5284333 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-208406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
We have recently shown that non-viral gene therapy can stabilise the decline of lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, the effect was modest, and more potent gene transfer agents are still required. Fuson protein (F)/Hemagglutinin/Neuraminidase protein (HN)-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors are more efficient for lung gene transfer than non-viral vectors in preclinical models. In preparation for a first-in-man CF trial using the lentiviral vector, we have undertaken key translational preclinical studies. Regulatory-compliant vectors carrying a range of promoter/enhancer elements were assessed in mice and human air–liquid interface (ALI) cultures to select the lead candidate; cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance receptor (CFTR) expression and function were assessed in CF models using this lead candidate vector. Toxicity was assessed and ‘benchmarked’ against the leading non-viral formulation recently used in a Phase IIb clinical trial. Integration site profiles were mapped and transduction efficiency determined to inform clinical trial dose-ranging. The impact of pre-existing and acquired immunity against the vector and vector stability in several clinically relevant delivery devices was assessed. A hybrid promoter hybrid cytosine guanine dinucleotide (CpG)- free CMV enhancer/elongation factor 1 alpha promoter (hCEF) consisting of the elongation factor 1α promoter and the cytomegalovirus enhancer was most efficacious in both murine lungs and human ALI cultures (both at least 2-log orders above background). The efficacy (at least 14% of airway cells transduced), toxicity and integration site profile supports further progression towards clinical trial and pre-existing and acquired immune responses do not interfere with vector efficacy. The lead rSIV.F/HN candidate expresses functional CFTR and the vector retains 90–100% transduction efficiency in clinically relevant delivery devices. The data support the progression of the F/HN-pseudotyped lentiviral vector into a first-in-man CF trial in 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric W F W Alton
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Jeffery M Beekman
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A Christopher Boyd
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - June Brand
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Lung Pathology Unit, Department of Airway Disease Infection, NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Marianne S Carlon
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mary M Connolly
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Mario Chan
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Sinead Conlon
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Heather E Davidson
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jane C Davies
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Lee A Davies
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Johanna F Dekkers
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ann Doherty
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sabrina Gea-Sorli
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Deborah R Gill
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Uta Griesenbach
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Tracy E Higgins
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Laura Hyndman
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Gerry McLachlan
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Makoto Inoue
- ID Pharme Co. Ltd. (DNAVEC Center), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Stephen C Hyde
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - J Alastair Innes
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Toby M Maher
- Fibrosis Research Group, Inflammation, Repair & Development Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Caroline Moran
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Cuixiang Meng
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael C Paul-Smith
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Ian A Pringle
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Kamila M Pytel
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea Rodriguez-Martinez
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Barbara J Stevenson
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Stephanie G Sumner-Jones
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Toshner
- Fibrosis Research Group, Inflammation, Repair & Development Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College, London, UK
| | | | - Marguerite W Wasowicz
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Jie Zhu
- Lung Pathology Unit, Department of Airway Disease Infection, NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
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15
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Abstract
Viral vector use in gene therapy has highlighted several safety concerns, including genotoxic events. Generally, vector-mediated genotoxicity results from upregulation of cellular proto-oncogenes via promoter insertion, promoter activation, or gene transcript truncation, with enhancer-mediated activation of nearby genes the primary mechanism reported in gene therapy trials. Vector-mediated genotoxicity can be influenced by virus type, integration target site, and target cell type; different vectors have distinct integration profiles which are cell-specific. Non-viral factors, including patient age, disease, and dose can also influence genotoxic potential, thus the choice of test models and clinical trial populations is important to ensure they are indicative of efficacy and safety. Efforts have been made to develop viral vectors with less risk of insertional mutagenesis, including self-inactivating (SIN) vectors, enhancer-blocking insulators, and microRNA targeting of vectors, although insertional mutagenesis is not completely abrogated. Here we provide an overview of the current understanding of viral vector-mediated genotoxicity risk from factors contributing to viral vector-mediated genotoxicity to efforts made to reduce genotoxicity, and testing strategies required to adequately assess the risk of insertional mutagenesis. It is clear that there is not a 'one size fits all' approach to vector modification for reducing genotoxicity, and addressing these challenges will be a key step in the development of therapies such as CRISPR-Cas9 and delivery of future gene-editing technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhiannon M David
- Genetic Toxicology, Discovery Safety, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, UK
| | - Ann T Doherty
- Genetic Toxicology, Discovery Safety, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, UK
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16
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Meneghini V, Lattanzi A, Tiradani L, Bravo G, Morena F, Sanvito F, Calabria A, Bringas J, Fisher-Perkins JM, Dufour JP, Baker KC, Doglioni C, Montini E, Bunnell BA, Bankiewicz K, Martino S, Naldini L, Gritti A. Pervasive supply of therapeutic lysosomal enzymes in the CNS of normal and Krabbe-affected non-human primates by intracerebral lentiviral gene therapy. EMBO Mol Med 2016; 8:489-510. [PMID: 27025653 PMCID: PMC5128736 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201505850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) and globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD or Krabbe disease) are severe neurodegenerative lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) caused by arylsulfatase A (ARSA) and galactosylceramidase (GALC) deficiency, respectively. Our previous studies established lentiviral gene therapy (GT) as a rapid and effective intervention to provide pervasive supply of therapeutic lysosomal enzymes in CNS tissues of MLD and GLD mice. Here, we investigated whether this strategy is similarly effective in juvenile non-human primates (NHP). To provide proof of principle for tolerability and biological efficacy of the strategy, we established a comprehensive study in normal NHP delivering a clinically relevant lentiviral vector encoding for the human ARSA transgene. Then, we injected a lentiviral vector coding for the human GALC transgene in Krabbe-affected rhesus macaques, evaluating for the first time the therapeutic potential of lentiviral GT in this unique LSD model. We showed favorable safety profile and consistent pattern of LV transduction and enzyme biodistribution in the two models, supporting the robustness of the proposed GT platform. We documented moderate inflammation at the injection sites, mild immune response to vector particles in few treated animals, no indication of immune response against transgenic products, and no molecular evidence of insertional genotoxicity. Efficient gene transfer in neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes close to the injection sites resulted in robust production and extensive spreading of transgenic enzymes in the whole CNS and in CSF, leading to supraphysiological ARSA activity in normal NHP and close to physiological GALC activity in the Krabbe NHP, in which biological efficacy was associated with preliminary indication of therapeutic benefit. These results support the rationale for the clinical translation of intracerebral lentiviral GT to address CNS pathology in MLD, GLD, and other neurodegenerative LSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasco Meneghini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Annalisa Lattanzi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Tiradani
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele Bravo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Morena
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesca Sanvito
- Anatomy and Histopathology Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Calabria
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - John Bringas
- University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jeanne M Fisher-Perkins
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - Jason P Dufour
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - Kate C Baker
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - Claudio Doglioni
- Anatomy and Histopathology Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Eugenio Montini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Bruce A Bunnell
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | | | - Sabata Martino
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Gritti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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17
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Yang E, Wang F, Xu Y, Wang H, Hu Y, Shen H, Chen ZW. A lentiviral vector-based therapeutic vaccine encoding Ag85B-Rv3425 potently increases resistance to acute tuberculosis infection in mice. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2015; 47:588-96. [PMID: 26112017 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmv059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2015] [Accepted: 04/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Few treatment options for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB call attention to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for TB. Therapeutic vaccines are promising candidates because they can induce antigen-specific cellular immune responses, which play an important role in the elimination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). In this study, a novel lentiviral vector therapeutic vaccine for delivering MTB-specific fusion protein Ag85B-Rv3425 was constructed. Results showed that one single-injection of this recombinant lentivirus vaccine could trigger antigen-specific Th1-type immune responses in mice. More importantly, mice with acute infection benefited a lot from a single-dose administration of this vaccine by markedly reduced MTB burdens in lungs and spleens as well as attenuated lesions in lungs compared with untreated mice. These results displayed good prospects of this novel vaccine for the immunotherapy of TB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enzhuo Yang
- Unit of Anti-Tuberculosis Immunity, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Feifei Wang
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Ying Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Honghai Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yong Hu
- Department of Neonatology, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200040, China
| | - Hongbo Shen
- Unit of Anti-Tuberculosis Immunity, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zheng W Chen
- Unit of Anti-Tuberculosis Immunity, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
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18
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Sundarasetty BS, Kloess S, Oberschmidt O, Naundorf S, Kuehlcke K, Daenthanasanmak A, Gerasch L, Figueiredo C, Blasczyk R, Ruggiero E, Fronza R, Schmidt M, von Kalle C, Rothe M, Ganser A, Koehl U, Stripecke R. Generation of lentivirus-induced dendritic cells under GMP-compliant conditions for adaptive immune reconstitution against cytomegalovirus after stem cell transplantation. J Transl Med 2015. [PMID: 26198406 PMCID: PMC4511080 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-015-0599-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Reactivation of latent viruses such as human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) results in high morbidity and mortality. Effective immunization against HCMV shortly after allo-HSCT is an unmet clinical need due to delayed adaptive T cell development. Donor-derived dendritic cells (DCs) have a critical participation in stimulation of naïve T cells and immune reconstitution, and therefore adoptive DC therapy could be used to protect patients after HSCT. However, previous methods for ex vivo generation of adoptive donor-derived DCs were complex and inconsistent, particularly regarding cell viability and potency after thawing. We have previously demonstrated in humanized mouse models of HSCT the proof-of-concept of a novel modality of lentivirus-induced DCs (“SmyleDCpp65”) that accelerated antigen-specific T cell development. Methods Here we demonstrate the feasibility of good manufacturing practices (GMP) for production of donor-derived DCs consisting of monocytes from peripheral blood transduced with an integrase-defective lentiviral vector (IDLV, co-expressing GM-CSF, IFN-α and the cytomegalovirus antigen pp65) that were cryopreserved and thawed. Results Upscaling and standardized production of one lot of IDLV and three lots of SmyleDCpp65 under GMP-compliant conditions were feasible. Analytical parameters for quality control of SmyleDCpp65 identity after thawing and potency after culture were defined. Cell recovery, uniformity, efficacy of gene transfer, purity and viability were high and consistent. SmyleDCpp65 showed only residual and polyclonal IDLV integration, unbiased to proto-oncogenic hot-spots. Stimulation of autologous T cells by GMP-grade SmyleDCpp65 was validated. Conclusion These results underscore further developments of this individualized donor-derived cell vaccine to accelerate immune reconstitution against HCMV after HSCT in clinical trials. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12967-015-0599-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bala Sai Sundarasetty
- REBIRTH, Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, Hannover Medical School, OE6862, Hans Borst Zentrum, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, OE6862, Hans Borst Zentrum, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Stephan Kloess
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics and GMP Core Facility IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Olaf Oberschmidt
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics and GMP Core Facility IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | | | | | - Anusara Daenthanasanmak
- REBIRTH, Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, Hannover Medical School, OE6862, Hans Borst Zentrum, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, OE6862, Hans Borst Zentrum, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Laura Gerasch
- REBIRTH, Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, Hannover Medical School, OE6862, Hans Borst Zentrum, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, OE6862, Hans Borst Zentrum, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Constanca Figueiredo
- REBIRTH, Tolerogenic Cell Therapy, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Rainer Blasczyk
- REBIRTH, Tolerogenic Cell Therapy, Department of Transfusion Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Eliana Ruggiero
- Division of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Raffaele Fronza
- Division of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Manfred Schmidt
- Division of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Christof von Kalle
- Division of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Michael Rothe
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Arnold Ganser
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, OE6862, Hans Borst Zentrum, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Institute of Cellular Therapeutics and GMP Core Facility IFB-Tx, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Renata Stripecke
- REBIRTH, Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, Hannover Medical School, OE6862, Hans Borst Zentrum, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany. .,Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, OE6862, Hans Borst Zentrum, Carl Neuberg Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
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19
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Coherence analysis discriminates between retroviral integration patterns in CD34(+) cells transduced under differing clinical trial conditions. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2015; 2:15015. [PMID: 26029726 PMCID: PMC4445430 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2015.15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Revised: 03/12/2015] [Accepted: 03/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Unequivocal demonstration of the therapeutic utility of γ-retroviral vectors for gene therapy applications targeting the hematopoietic system was accompanied by instances of insertional mutagenesis. These events stimulated the ongoing development of putatively safer integrating vector systems and analysis methods to characterize and compare integration site (IS) biosafety profiles. Continuing advances in next-generation sequencing technologies are driving the generation of ever-more complex IS datasets. Available bioinformatic tools to compare such datasets focus on the association of integration sites (ISs) with selected genomic and epigenetic features, and the choice of these features determines the ability to discriminate between datasets. We describe the scalable application of point-process coherence analysis (CA) to compare patterns produced by vector ISs across genomic intervals, uncoupled from association with genomic features. To explore the utility of CA in the context of an unresolved question, we asked whether the differing transduction conditions used in the initial Paris and London SCID-X1 gene therapy trials result in divergent genome-wide integration profiles. We tested a transduction carried out under each condition, and showed that CA could indeed resolve differences in IS distributions. Existence of these differences was confirmed by the application of established methods to compare integration datasets.
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20
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Parr-Brownlie LC, Bosch-Bouju C, Schoderboeck L, Sizemore RJ, Abraham WC, Hughes SM. Lentiviral vectors as tools to understand central nervous system biology in mammalian model organisms. Front Mol Neurosci 2015; 8:14. [PMID: 26041987 PMCID: PMC4434958 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2015.00014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Lentiviruses have been extensively used as gene delivery vectors since the mid-1990s. Usually derived from the human immunodeficiency virus genome, they mediate efficient gene transfer to non-dividing cells, including neurons and glia in the adult mammalian brain. In addition, integration of the recombinant lentiviral construct into the host genome provides permanent expression, including the progeny of dividing neural precursors. In this review, we describe targeted vectors with modified envelope glycoproteins and expression of transgenes under the regulation of cell-selective and inducible promoters. This technology has broad utility to address fundamental questions in neuroscience and we outline how this has been used in rodents and primates. Combining viral tract tracing with immunohistochemistry and confocal or electron microscopy, lentiviral vectors provide a tool to selectively label and trace specific neuronal populations at gross or ultrastructural levels. Additionally, new generation optogenetic technologies can be readily utilized to analyze neuronal circuit and gene functions in the mature mammalian brain. Examples of these applications, limitations of current systems and prospects for future developments to enhance neuroscience knowledge will be reviewed. Finally, we will discuss how these vectors may be translated from gene therapy trials into the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise C. Parr-Brownlie
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Health Research Centre, University of OtagoDunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand Centre of Research ExcellenceDunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Lucia Schoderboeck
- Brain Research New Zealand Centre of Research ExcellenceDunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Biochemistry, Brain Health Research Centre, University of OtagoDunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, Brain Health Research Centre, University of OtagoDunedin, New Zealand
| | - Rachel J. Sizemore
- Department of Anatomy, Brain Health Research Centre, University of OtagoDunedin, New Zealand
- Brain Research New Zealand Centre of Research ExcellenceDunedin, New Zealand
| | - Wickliffe C. Abraham
- Brain Research New Zealand Centre of Research ExcellenceDunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Psychology, Brain Health Research Centre, University of OtagoDunedin, New Zealand
| | - Stephanie M. Hughes
- Brain Research New Zealand Centre of Research ExcellenceDunedin, New Zealand
- Department of Biochemistry, Brain Health Research Centre, University of OtagoDunedin, New Zealand
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21
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Yu H, Fischer G, Ebert AD, Wu HE, Bai X, Hogan QH. Analgesia for neuropathic pain by dorsal root ganglion transplantation of genetically engineered mesenchymal stem cells: initial results. Mol Pain 2015; 11:5. [PMID: 25888914 PMCID: PMC4331376 DOI: 10.1186/s12990-015-0002-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Accepted: 01/26/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cell-based therapy may hold promise for treatment of chronic pain. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are readily available and robust, and their secretion of therapeutic peptides can be enhanced by genetically engineering. We explored the analgesic potential of transplanting bone marrow-derived MSCs that have been transduced with lentivectors. To optimize efficacy and safety, primary sensory neurons were targeted by MSC injection into the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs). Results MSCs were transduced using lentivectors to express enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) or to co-express the analgesic peptide glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) and EGFP by a viral 2A bicistronic transgene cassette. Engineered MSCs were injected into the 4th lumbar (L4) and L5 DRGs of adult allogeneic rats to evaluate survival in the DRGs. MSCs were detected by immunofluorescence staining up to 2–3 weeks after injection, distributed in the extracellular matrix space without disrupting satellite glial cell apposition to sensory neurons, suggesting well-tolerated integration of engrafted MSCs into DRG tissue. To examine their potential for inhibiting development of neuropathic pain, MSCs were injected into the L4 and L5 DRGs ipsilateral to a spinal nerve ligation injury. Animals injected with GDNF-engineered MSCs showed moderate but significant reduction in mechanical allodynia and hyperalgesia compared to controls implanted with MSCs expressing EGFP alone. We also observed diminished long-term survival of allografted MSCs at 3 weeks, and the development of a highly-proliferating population of MSCs in 12% of DRGs after transplantation. Conclusions These data indicate that genetically modified MSCs secreting analgesic peptides could potentially be developed as a novel DRG-targeted cell therapy for treating neuropathic pain. However, further work is needed to address the challenges of MSC survival and excess proliferation, possibly with trials of autologous MSCs, evaluation of clonally selected populations of MSCs, and investigation of regulation of MSC proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Yu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
| | - Gregory Fischer
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
| | - Allison D Ebert
- Department of Cell Biology, Neurobiology & Anatomy, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
| | - Hsiang-En Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
| | - Xiaowen Bai
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA.
| | - Quinn H Hogan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Rd, Milwaukee, WI, 53226, USA. .,Zablocki Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 5000 W National Ave, Milwaukee, WI, 53295, USA.
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22
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Cell cycle status of CD34(+) hemopoietic stem cells determines lentiviral integration in actively transcribed and development-related genes. Mol Ther 2014; 23:683-96. [PMID: 25523760 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2014.246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 12/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy utilizing lentiviral-vectors (LVs) is postulated as a dynamic therapeutic alternative for monogenic diseases. However, retroviral gene transfer may cause insertional mutagenesis. Although, such risks had been originally estimated as extremely low, several reports of leukemias or clonal dominance, have led to a re-evaluation of the mechanisms operating in insertional mutagenesis. Therefore, unraveling the mechanism of retroviral integration is mandatory toward safer gene therapy applications. In the present study, we undertook an experimental approach which enabled direct correlation of the cell cycle stage of the target cell with the integration profile of LVs. CD34(+) cells arrested at different stages of cell cycle, were transduced with a GFP-LV. LAM-PCR was employed for integration site detection, followed by microarray analysis to correlate transcribed genes with integration sites. The results indicate that ~10% of integration events occurred in actively transcribed genes and that the cell cycle stage of target cells affects integration pattern. Specifically, use of thymine promoted a safer profile, since it significantly reduced integration within cell cycle-related genes, while we observed increased possibility for integration into genes related to development, and decreased possibility for integration within cell cycle and cancer-related genes, when transduction occurs during mitosis.
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23
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Serguera C, Bemelmans AP. Gene therapy of the central nervous system: general considerations on viral vectors for gene transfer into the brain. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2014; 170:727-38. [PMID: 25459120 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2014.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2014] [Revised: 08/13/2014] [Accepted: 09/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The last decade has nourished strong doubts on the beneficial prospects of gene therapy for curing fatal diseases. However, this climate of reservation is currently being transcended by the publication of several successful clinical protocols, restoring confidence in the appropriateness of therapeutic gene transfer. A strong sign of this present enthusiasm for gene therapy by clinicians and industrials is the market approval of the therapeutic viral vector Glybera, the first commercial product in Europe of this class of drug. This new field of medicine is particularly attractive when considering therapies for a number of neurological disorders, most of which are desperately waiting for a satisfactory treatment. The central nervous system is indeed a very compliant organ where gene transfer can be stable and successful if provided through an appropriate strategy. The purpose of this review is to present the characteristics of the most efficient virus-derived vectors used by researchers and clinicians to genetically modify particular cell types or whole regions of the brain. In addition, we discuss major issues regarding side effects, such as genotoxicity and immune response associated to the use of these vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Serguera
- CEA, DSV, I(2)BM, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen) and CNRS, CEA URA 2210, 18, route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - A-P Bemelmans
- CEA, DSV, I(2)BM, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen) and CNRS, CEA URA 2210, 18, route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
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24
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Trapani I, Puppo A, Auricchio A. Vector platforms for gene therapy of inherited retinopathies. Prog Retin Eye Res 2014; 43:108-28. [PMID: 25124745 PMCID: PMC4241499 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2014.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Revised: 07/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinopathies (IR) are common untreatable blinding conditions. Most of them are inherited as monogenic disorders, due to mutations in genes expressed in retinal photoreceptors (PR) and in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The retina's compatibility with gene transfer has made transduction of different retinal cell layers in small and large animal models via viral and non-viral vectors possible. The ongoing identification of novel viruses as well as modifications of existing ones based either on rational design or directed evolution have generated vector variants with improved transduction properties. Dozens of promising proofs of concept have been obtained in IR animal models with both viral and non-viral vectors, and some of them have been relayed to clinical trials. To date, recombinant vectors based on the adeno-associated virus (AAV) represent the most promising tool for retinal gene therapy, given their ability to efficiently deliver therapeutic genes to both PR and RPE and their excellent safety and efficacy profiles in humans. However, AAVs' limited cargo capacity has prevented application of the viral vector to treatments requiring transfer of genes with a coding sequence larger than 5 kb. Vectors with larger capacity, i.e. nanoparticles, adenoviral and lentiviral vectors are being exploited for gene transfer to the retina in animal models and, more recently, in humans. This review focuses on the available platforms for retinal gene therapy to fight inherited blindness, highlights their main strengths and examines the efforts to overcome some of their limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Trapani
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - Agostina Puppo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - Alberto Auricchio
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy; Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
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25
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Niederer HA, Bangham CRM. Integration site and clonal expansion in human chronic retroviral infection and gene therapy. Viruses 2014; 6:4140-64. [PMID: 25365582 PMCID: PMC4246213 DOI: 10.3390/v6114140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2014] [Revised: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Retroviral vectors have been successfully used therapeutically to restore expression of genes in a range of single-gene diseases, including several primary immunodeficiency disorders. Although clinical trials have shown remarkable results, there have also been a number of severe adverse events involving malignant outgrowth of a transformed clonal population. This clonal expansion is influenced by the integration site profile of the viral integrase, the transgene expressed, and the effect of the viral promoters on the neighbouring host genome. Infection with the pathogenic human retrovirus HTLV-1 also causes clonal expansion of cells containing an integrated HTLV-1 provirus. Although the majority of HTLV-1-infected people remain asymptomatic, up to 5% develop an aggressive T cell malignancy. In this review we discuss recent findings on the role of the genomic integration site in determining the clonality and the potential for malignant transformation of cells carrying integrated HTLV-1 or gene therapy vectors, and how these results have contributed to the understanding of HTLV-1 pathogenesis and to improvements in gene therapy vector safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather A Niederer
- Department of Immunology, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK.
| | - Charles R M Bangham
- Department of Immunology, Wright-Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK.
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26
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Nicholls PK, Stanton PG, Rainczuk KE, Qian H, Gregorevic P, Harrison CA. Lentiviral transduction of rat Sertoli cells as a means to modify gene expression. SPERMATOGENESIS 2014; 2:279-284. [PMID: 23248769 PMCID: PMC3521750 DOI: 10.4161/spmg.22516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Primary cell culture is an established and widely used technique to study Sertoli cell function in vitro. However, the relative difficulty of stably overexpressing or knocking down genes in Sertoli cell culture has limited progress in the field. In this technical report, we present a method to transduce 20 dpp rat Sertoli cell cultures with VSV-G pseudotyped lentiviral based vectors at a high rate (~80%), with stable reporter gene expression. Although high transgene expression is desirable, it was noted that at transduction rates > 60% inter-Sertoli cell tight junction integrity and, hence, Sertoli cell function, were transiently compromised. We envisage that this optimized procedure has the potential to stimulate Sertoli cell research, and motivate the use of Sertoli cells in various cell therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter K Nicholls
- Prince Henry's Institute of Medical Research; Clayton, VIC Australia ; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Monash University; Clayton, VIC Australia
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27
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McAllister RG, Liu J, Woods MW, Tom SK, Rupar CA, Barr SD. Lentivector integration sites in ependymal cells from a model of metachromatic leukodystrophy: non-B DNA as a new factor influencing integration. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2014; 3:e187. [PMID: 25158091 PMCID: PMC4221599 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2014.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The blood–brain barrier controls the passage of molecules from the blood into the central nervous system (CNS) and is a major challenge for treatment of neurological diseases. Metachromatic leukodystrophy is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disease caused by loss of arylsulfatase A (ARSA) activity. Gene therapy via intraventricular injection of a lentiviral vector is a potential approach to rapidly and permanently deliver therapeutic levels of ARSA to the CNS. We present the distribution of integration sites of a lentiviral vector encoding human ARSA (LV-ARSA) in murine brain choroid plexus and ependymal cells, administered via a single intracranial injection into the CNS. LV-ARSA did not exhibit a strong preference for integration in or near actively transcribed genes, but exhibited a strong preference for integration in or near satellite DNA. We identified several genomic hotspots for LV-ARSA integration and identified a consensus target site sequence characterized by two G-quadruplex-forming motifs flanking the integration site. In addition, our analysis identified several other non-B DNA motifs as new factors that potentially influence lentivirus integration, including human immunodeficiency virus type-1 in human cells. Together, our data demonstrate a clinically favorable integration site profile in the murine brain and identify non-B DNA as a potential new host factor that influences lentiviral integration in murine and human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert G McAllister
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Center for Human Immunology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jiahui Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Matthew W Woods
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Center for Human Immunology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sean K Tom
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Center for Human Immunology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - C Anthony Rupar
- 1] Department of Biochemistry, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada [2] Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada [3] Department of Pediatrics, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada [4] Children's Health Research Institute, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stephen D Barr
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Center for Human Immunology, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
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28
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García-Moreno F, Vasistha NA, Begbie J, Molnár Z. CLoNe is a new method to target single progenitors and study their progeny in mouse and chick. Development 2014; 141:1589-98. [PMID: 24644261 PMCID: PMC3957378 DOI: 10.1242/dev.105254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 02/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Cell lineage analysis enables us to address pivotal questions relating to: the embryonic origin of cells and sibling cell relationships in the adult body; the contribution of progenitors activated after trauma or disease; and the comparison across species in evolutionary biology. To address such fundamental questions, several techniques for clonal labelling have been developed, each with its shortcomings. Here, we report a novel method, CLoNe that is designed to work in all vertebrate species and tissues. CLoNe uses a cocktail of labelling, targeting and transposition vectors that enables targeting of specific subpopulations of progenitor types with a combination of fluorophores resulting in multifluorescence that describes multiple clones per specimen. Furthermore, transposition into the genome ensures the longevity of cell labelling. We demonstrate the robustness of this technique in mouse and chick forebrain development, and show evidence that CLoNe will be broadly applicable to study clonal relationships in different tissues and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernando García-Moreno
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Navneet A. Vasistha
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Jo Begbie
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Zoltán Molnár
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
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29
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Lattanzi A, Salvagno C, Maderna C, Benedicenti F, Morena F, Kulik W, Naldini L, Montini E, Martino S, Gritti A. Therapeutic benefit of lentiviral-mediated neonatal intracerebral gene therapy in a mouse model of globoid cell leukodystrophy. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 23:3250-68. [PMID: 24463623 PMCID: PMC4030779 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD) is an inherited lysosomal storage disease caused by β-galactocerebrosidase (GALC) deficiency. Gene therapy (GT) should provide rapid, extensive and lifetime GALC supply in central nervous system (CNS) tissues to prevent or halt irreversible neurologic progression. Here we used a lentiviral vector (LV) to transfer a functional GALC gene in the brain of Twitcher mice, a severe GLD model. A single injection of LV.GALC in the external capsule of Twitcher neonates resulted in robust transduction of neural cells with minimal and transient activation of inflammatory and immune response. Importantly, we documented a proficient transduction of proliferating and post-mitotic oligodendroglia, a relevant target cell type in GLD. GALC activity (30–50% of physiological levels) was restored in the whole CNS of treated mice as early as 8 days post-injection. The early and stable enzymatic supply ensured partial clearance of storage and reduction of psychosine levels, translating in amelioration of histopathology and enhanced lifespan. At 6 months post-injection in non-affected mice, LV genome persisted exclusively in the injected region, where transduced cells overexpressed GALC. Integration site analysis in transduced brain tissues showed no aberrant clonal expansion and preferential targeting of neural-specific genes. This study establishes neonatal LV-mediated intracerebral GT as a rapid, effective and safe therapeutic intervention to correct CNS pathology in GLD and provides a strong rationale for its application in this and similar leukodystrophies, alone or in combination with therapies targeting the somatic pathology, with the final aim of providing an effective and timely treatment of these global disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Lattanzi
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (TIGET), Via Olgettina 58, Milano 20132 Italy Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, via del Giochetto, Perugia, Italy Present address: Genethon, 1-bis Rue de l'Internationale, Evry, France
| | - Camilla Salvagno
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (TIGET), Via Olgettina 58, Milano 20132 Italy
| | - Claudio Maderna
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (TIGET), Via Olgettina 58, Milano 20132 Italy
| | - Fabrizio Benedicenti
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (TIGET), Via Olgettina 58, Milano 20132 Italy
| | - Francesco Morena
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, via del Giochetto, Perugia, Italy
| | - Willem Kulik
- Laboratory for Genetic Metabolic Diseases, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, F0-224, PO Box 22700, Amsterdam 1100 DE, The Netherlands
| | - Luigi Naldini
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (TIGET), Via Olgettina 58, Milano 20132 Italy
| | - Eugenio Montini
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (TIGET), Via Olgettina 58, Milano 20132 Italy
| | - Sabata Martino
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, University of Perugia, via del Giochetto, Perugia, Italy
| | - Angela Gritti
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (TIGET), Via Olgettina 58, Milano 20132 Italy
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30
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Suwanmanee T, Hu G, Gui T, Bartholomae CC, Kutschera I, von Kalle C, Schmidt M, Monahan PE, Kafri T. Integration-deficient lentiviral vectors expressing codon-optimized R338L human FIX restore normal hemostasis in Hemophilia B mice. Mol Ther 2013; 22:567-574. [PMID: 23941813 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2013.188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2013] [Accepted: 07/31/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Integration-deficient lentiviral vectors (IDLVs) have been shown to transduce a wide spectrum of target cells and organs in vitro and in vivo and to maintain long-term transgene expression in nondividing cells. However, epigenetic silencing of episomal vector genomes reduces IDLV transgene expression levels and renders these safe vectors less efficient. In this article, we describe for the first time a complete correction of factor IX (FIX) deficiency in hemophilia B mice by IDLVs carrying a novel, highly potent human FIX cDNA. A 50-fold increase in human FIX cDNA potency was achieved by combining two mechanistically independent yet synergistic strategies: (i) optimization of the human FIX cDNA codon usage to increase human FIX protein production per vector genome and (ii) generation of a highly catalytic mutant human FIX protein in which the arginine residue at position 338 was substituted with leucine. The enhanced human FIX activity was not associated with liver damage or with the formation of human FIX-directed inhibitory antibodies and rendered IDLV-treated FIX-knockout mice resistant to a challenging tail-clipping assay. A novel S1 nuclease-based B1-quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay showed low levels of IDLV integration in mouse liver. Overall, this study demonstrates that IDLVs carrying an improved human FIX cDNA safely and efficiently cure hemophilia B in a mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thipparat Suwanmanee
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Genlin Hu
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tong Gui
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Cynthia C Bartholomae
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ina Kutschera
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christof von Kalle
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manfred Schmidt
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Paul E Monahan
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Tal Kafri
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
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Pichard V, Boni S, Baron W, Nguyen TH, Ferry N. Priming of hepatocytes enhances in vivo liver transduction with lentiviral vectors in adult mice. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2013; 23:8-17. [PMID: 22428976 DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2011.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors are promising tools for liver disease gene therapy, because they can achieve protracted expression of transgenes in hepatocytes. However, the question as to whether cell division is required for optimal hepatocyte transduction has still not been completely answered. Liver gene-transfer efficiency after in vivo administration of recombinant lentiviral vectors carrying a green fluorescent protein reporter gene under the control of a liver-specific promoter in mice that were either hepatectomized or treated with cholic acid or phenobarbital was compared. Phenobarbital is known as a weak inducer of hepatocyte proliferation, whereas cholic acid has no direct effect on the cell cycle. This study shows that cholic acid is able to prime hepatocytes without mitosis induction. Both phenobarbital and cholic acid significantly increased hepatocyte transduction six- to ninefold, although cholic acid did not modify the mitotic index or cell-cycle entry. However, the effect of either compound was weaker than that observed after partial hepatectomy. In no cases was there a correlation between the expression of cell-cycle marker and transduction efficiency. We conclude that priming of hepatocytes should be considered a clinically applicable strategy to enhance in vivo liver gene therapy with lentiviral vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginie Pichard
- INSERM U948, Biothérapies Hépatiques, CHU Hotel Dieu, 44093 Nantes Cedex, France
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Ritter T, Wilk M, Nosov M. Gene Therapy Approaches to Prevent Corneal Graft Rejection: Where Do We Stand? Ophthalmic Res 2013; 50:135-40. [DOI: 10.1159/000350547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Understanding lentiviral vector chromatin targeting: working to reduce insertional mutagenic potential for gene therapy. Gene Ther 2012; 20:581-8. [PMID: 23171920 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2012.88] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Replication-deficient retroviruses have been successfully utilized as vectors, offering an efficient, stable method of therapeutic gene delivery. Many examples exist proving this mode of integrative gene transfer is both effective and safe in cultured systems and clinical trials. Along with their success, severe side effects have occurred with early retroviral vectors causing a shift in the approach to vector design before further clinical testing. Several alternative delivery methods are available but lentiviral vectors (LV) are among the most favorable as they are already well understood. LV offer safer integration site selection profiles and a lower degree of genotoxicity, compared with γ-retroviral vectors. Following their introduction, development of the self-inactivating vector configuration was a huge step to this mode of therapy but did not confer full protection against insertional mutagenesis. As a result integration, modeling must be improved to eventually avoid this possibility. The cellular factor LEDGF/p75 seems to play an essential role in the process of LV site selection and its interactions with chromatin are being quickly resolved. LEDGF/p75 is at the center of one example directed integration effort where recombinant products bias the integration event, a step toward fully directed integration into pre-determined benign loci. A more accurate picture of the details of LEDGF/p75 in the natural integration process is emerging, including new binding specificities, chromatin interaction kinetics and additional cellular factors. Together with next-generation sequencing technology and bio-informatics to analyze integration patterns, these advancements will lead to highly focused directed integration, accelerating wide-spread acceptance of LV for gene therapy.
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Chick HE, Nowrouzi A, Fronza R, McDonald RA, Kane NM, Alba R, Delles C, Sessa WC, Schmidt M, Thrasher AJ, Baker AH. Integrase-deficient lentiviral vectors mediate efficient gene transfer to human vascular smooth muscle cells with minimal genotoxic risk. Hum Gene Ther 2012; 23:1247-57. [PMID: 22931362 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2012.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that injury-induced neointima formation was rescued by adenoviral-Nogo-B gene delivery. Integrase-competent lentiviral vectors (ICLV) are efficient at gene delivery to vascular cells but present a risk of insertional mutagenesis. Conversely, integrase-deficient lentiviral vectors (IDLV) offer additional benefits through reduced mutagenesis risk, but this has not been evaluated in the context of vascular gene transfer. Here, we have investigated the performance and genetic safety of both counterparts in primary human vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and compared gene transfer efficiency and assessed the genotoxic potential of ICLVs and IDLVs based on their integration frequency and insertional profile in the human genome. Expression of enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) mediated by IDLVs (IDLV-eGFP) demonstrated efficient transgene expression in VSMCs. IDLV gene transfer of Nogo-B mediated efficient overexpression of Nogo-B in VSMCs, leading to phenotypic effects on VSMC migration and proliferation, similar to its ICLV version and unlike its eGFP control and uninfected VSMCs. Large-scale integration site analyses in VSMCs indicated that IDLV-mediated gene transfer gave rise to a very low frequency of genomic integration compared to ICLVs, revealing a close-to-random genomic distribution in VSMCs. This study demonstrates for the first time the potential of IDLVs for safe and efficient vascular gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen E Chick
- British Heart Foundation Glasgow Cardiovascular Research Centre, Institute of Cardiovascular and Medical Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8TA, United Kingdom
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Gabriel R, Schmidt M, von Kalle C. Integration of retroviral vectors. Curr Opin Immunol 2012; 24:592-7. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2012.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 08/23/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Ustek D, Sirma S, Gumus E, Arikan M, Cakiris A, Abaci N, Mathew J, Emrence Z, Azakli H, Cosan F, Cakar A, Parlak M, Kursun O. A genome-wide analysis of lentivector integration sites using targeted sequence capture and next generation sequencing technology. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2012; 12:1349-54. [PMID: 22613802 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2012.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2011] [Revised: 05/02/2012] [Accepted: 05/04/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
One application of next-generation sequencing (NGS) is the targeted resequencing of interested genes which has not been used in viral integration site analysis of gene therapy applications. Here, we combined targeted sequence capture array and next generation sequencing to address the whole genome profiling of viral integration sites. Human 293T and K562 cells were transduced with a HIV-1 derived vector. A custom made DNA probe sets targeted pLVTHM vector used to capture lentiviral vector/human genome junctions. The captured DNA was sequenced using GS FLX platform. Seven thousand four hundred and eighty four human genome sequences flanking the long terminal repeats (LTR) of pLVTHM fragment sequences matched with an identity of at least 98% and minimum 50 bp criteria in both cells. In total, 203 unique integration sites were identified. The integrations in both cell lines were totally distant from the CpG islands and from the transcription start sites and preferentially located in introns. A comparison between the two cell lines showed that the lentiviral-transduced DNA does not have the same preferred regions in the two different cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duran Ustek
- Department of Genetics, Istanbul University, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Istanbul 34093, Turkey.
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Arens A, Appelt JU, Bartholomae CC, Gabriel R, Paruzynski A, Gustafson D, Cartier N, Aubourg P, Deichmann A, Glimm H, von Kalle C, Schmidt M. Bioinformatic clonality analysis of next-generation sequencing-derived viral vector integration sites. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2012; 23:111-8. [PMID: 22559057 DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2011.219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Clonality analysis of viral vector-transduced cell populations represents a convincing approach to dissect the physiology of tissue and organ regeneration, to monitor the fate of individual gene-corrected cells in vivo, and to assess vector biosafety. With the decoding of mammalian genomes and the introduction of next-generation sequencing technologies, the demand for automated bioinformatic analysis tools that can rapidly process and annotate vector integration sites is rising. Here, we provide a publicly accessible, graphical user interface-guided automated bioinformatic high-throughput integration site analysis pipeline. Its performance and key features are illustrated on pyrosequenced linear amplification-mediated PCR products derived from one patient previously enrolled in the first lentiviral vector clinical gene therapy study. Analysis includes trimming of vector genome junctions, alignment of genomic sequence fragments to the host genome for the identification of integration sites, and the annotation of nearby genomic elements. Most importantly, clinically relevant features comprise the determination of identical integration sites with respect to different time points or cell lineages, as well as the retrieval of the most prominent cell clones and common integration sites. The resulting output is summarized in tables within a convenient spreadsheet and can be further processed by researchers without profound bioinformatic knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Arens
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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Lim KI. Retroviral infection of hES cells produces random-like integration patterns. Mol Cells 2012; 33:525-31. [PMID: 22526396 PMCID: PMC3887731 DOI: 10.1007/s10059-012-0038-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Revised: 03/11/2012] [Accepted: 03/14/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Retroviral integration provides us with a powerful tool to realize prolonged gene expressions that are often critical to gene therapy. However, the perturbation of gene regulations in host cells by viral genome integration can lead to detrimental effects, yielding cancer. The oncogenic potential of retroviruses is linked to the preference of retroviruses to integrate into genomic regions that are enriched in gene regulatory elements. To better navigate the double-edged sword of retroviral integration we need to understand how retroviruses select their favored genomic loci during infections. In this study I showed that in addition to host proteins that tether retroviral pre-integration complexes to specific genomic regions, the epigenetic architecture of host genome might strongly affect retroviral integration patterns. Specifically, retroviruses showed their characteristic integration preference in differentiated somatic cells. In contrast, retroviral infections of hES cells, which are known to display decondensed chromatin, produced random-like integration patterns lacking of strong preference for regulatory-element-rich genomic regions. Better identification of the cellular and viral factors that determine retroviral integration patterns will facilitate the design of retroviral vectors for safer use in gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwang-il Lim
- Departments of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering and The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, USA.
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Absence of ocular malignant transformation after sub-retinal delivery of rAAV2/2 or integrating lentiviral vectors in p53-deficient mice. Gene Ther 2011; 19:182-8. [PMID: 22113317 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Insertional mutagenesis following gene therapy with gammaretroviral vectors can cause the development of lymphoproliferation in children with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency. In experimental studies, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors have also been reported to increase susceptibility to carcinogenesis. The possibility of vector-induced transformation in quiescent ocular cells is probably significantly lower than in mitotically active cells, but given the increasing number of clinical applications of rAAV and lentiviral vectors for ocular disease, a specific assessment of their oncogenic potential in the eye is important. In this study, we investigated the effect of rAAV2/2 and integrating HIV-1 vectors upon the incidence of ocular neoplasia in p53 tumour-suppressor gene-knockout (p53(-/-)) mice, which are highly susceptible to intraocular malignant transformation. Subretinal injections of high titre rAAV2/2 or integrating HIV-1 vectors induced no tumours in p53(-/-) or p53(+/-) animals, nor significantly affected their natural longevity. We conclude that any insertional events arising from subretinal delivery of these vectors appear insufficient to cause intraocular malignancy, even in highly susceptible animals. These findings support the continued development of these vectors for ocular applications.
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Abstract
Substantial advances in our understanding of lentivirus lifecycles and their various constituent proteins have permitted the bioengineering of lentiviral vectors now considered safe enough for clinical trials for both lethal and non-lethal diseases. They possess distinct properties that make them particularly suitable for gene delivery in ophthalmic diseases, including high expression, consistent targeting of various post-mitotic ocular cells in vivo and a paucity of associated intraocular inflammation, all contributing to their ability to mediate efficient and stable intraocular gene transfer. In this review, the intraocular tropisms and therapeutic applications of both primate and non-primate lentiviral vectors, and how the unique features of the eye influence these, are discussed. The feasibility of therapeutic targeting using these vectors in animal models of both anterior and posterior ophthalmic disorders has been established, and has, in combination with substantial progress in enhancing lentiviral vector bio-safety over the past two decades, paved the way for the first human ophthalmic clinical trials using lentivirus-based gene transfer vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- K S Balaggan
- Department of Genetics, Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK.
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Abel U, Deichmann A, Nowrouzi A, Gabriel R, Bartholomae CC, Glimm H, von Kalle C, Schmidt M. Analyzing the number of common integration sites of viral vectors--new methods and computer programs. PLoS One 2011; 6:e24247. [PMID: 22022353 PMCID: PMC3194800 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0024247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2011] [Accepted: 08/07/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Vectors based on γ-retroviruses or lentiviruses have been shown to stably express therapeutical transgenes and effectively cure different hematological diseases. Molecular follow up of the insertional repertoire of gene corrected cells in patients and preclinical animal models revealed different integration preferences in the host genome including clusters of integrations in small genomic areas (CIS; common integrations sites). In the majority, these CIS were found in or near genes, with the potential to influence the clonal fate of the affected cell. To determine whether the observed degree of clustering is statistically compatible with an assumed standard model of spatial distribution of integrants, we have developed various methods and computer programs for γ-retroviral and lentiviral integration site distribution. In particular, we have devised and implemented mathematical and statistical approaches for comparing two experimental samples with different numbers of integration sites with respect to the propensity to form CIS as well as for the analysis of coincidences of integration sites obtained from different blood compartments. The programs and statistical tools described here are available as workspaces in R code and allow the fast detection of excessive clustering of integration sites from any retrovirally transduced sample and thus contribute to the assessment of potential treatment-related risks in preclinical and clinical retroviral gene therapy studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich Abel
- Department of Medical Biometry, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- * E-mail: (UA); (MS)
| | - Annette Deichmann
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ali Nowrouzi
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard Gabriel
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cynthia C. Bartholomae
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hanno Glimm
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christof von Kalle
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manfred Schmidt
- Department of Translational Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- * E-mail: (UA); (MS)
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Pichard V, Boni S, Baron W, Nguyen TH, Ferry N. Priming of Hepatocytes EnhancesIn VivoLiver Transduction with Lentiviral Vectors in Adult Mice. Hum Gene Ther 2011. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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44
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Nowrouzi A, Glimm H, von Kalle C, Schmidt M. Retroviral vectors: post entry events and genomic alterations. Viruses 2011; 3:429-55. [PMID: 21994741 PMCID: PMC3185758 DOI: 10.3390/v3050429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2011] [Revised: 03/24/2011] [Accepted: 04/05/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The curative potential of retroviral vectors for somatic gene therapy has been demonstrated impressively in several clinical trials leading to sustained long-term correction of the underlying genetic defect. Preclinical studies and clinical monitoring of gene modified hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells in patients have shown that biologically relevant vector induced side effects, ranging from in vitro immortalization to clonal dominance and oncogenesis in vivo, accompany therapeutic efficiency of integrating retroviral gene transfer systems. Most importantly, it has been demonstrated that the genotoxic potential is not identical among all retroviral vector systems designed for clinical application. Large scale viral integration site determination has uncovered significant differences in the target site selection of retrovirus subfamilies influencing the propensity for inducing genetic alterations in the host genome. In this review we will summarize recent insights gained on the mechanisms of insertional mutagenesis based on intrinsic target site selection of different retrovirus families. We will also discuss examples of side effects occurring in ongoing human gene therapy trials and future prospectives in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Nowrouzi
- Department of Translational Oncology, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; E-Mail: (A.N.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hanno Glimm
- Department of Translational Oncology, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; E-Mail: (A.N.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christof von Kalle
- Department of Translational Oncology, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; E-Mail: (A.N.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (C.v.K.); (M.S.); Tel.: +49-6221-56-6991; +49-6221-42-1600; Fax: +49-6221-56-6930; +49-6221-42-1611
| | - Manfred Schmidt
- Department of Translational Oncology, German Cancer Research Center, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; E-Mail: (A.N.)
- National Center for Tumor Diseases, Im Neuenheimer Feld 581, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mails: (C.v.K.); (M.S.); Tel.: +49-6221-56-6991; +49-6221-42-1600; Fax: +49-6221-56-6930; +49-6221-42-1611
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