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Choules MP, Bonate PL, Heo N, Weddell J. Prospective approaches to gene therapy computational modeling - spotlight on viral gene therapy. J Pharmacokinet Pharmacodyn 2023:10.1007/s10928-023-09889-1. [PMID: 37848637 DOI: 10.1007/s10928-023-09889-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Clinical studies have found there still exists a lack of gene therapy dose-toxicity and dose-efficacy data that causes gene therapy dose selection to remain elusive. Model informed drug development (MIDD) has become a standard tool implemented throughout the discovery, development, and approval of pharmaceutical therapies, and has the potential to inform dose-toxicity and dose-efficacy relationships to support gene therapy dose selection. Despite this potential, MIDD approaches for gene therapy remain immature and require standardization to be useful for gene therapy clinical programs. With the goal to advance MIDD approaches for gene therapy, in this review we first provide an overview of gene therapy types and how they differ from a bioanalytical, formulation, route of administration, and regulatory standpoint. With this biological and regulatory background, we propose how MIDD can be advanced for AAV-based gene therapies by utilizing physiological based pharmacokinetic modeling and quantitative systems pharmacology to holistically inform AAV and target protein dynamics following dosing. We discuss how this proposed model, allowing for in-depth exploration of AAV pharmacology, could be the key the field needs to treat these unmet disease populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary P Choules
- Early Development, New Technologies Group, Astellas, Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Peter L Bonate
- Early Development, New Technologies Group, Astellas, Northbrook, IL, USA.
| | - Nakyo Heo
- Early Development, New Technologies Group, Astellas, Northbrook, IL, USA
| | - Jared Weddell
- Early Development, New Technologies Group, Astellas, Northbrook, IL, USA
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2
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Caulfield ME, Vander Werp MJ, Stancati JA, Collier TJ, Sortwell CE, Sandoval IM, Manfredsson FP, Steece-Collier K. Downregulation of striatal CaV1.3 inhibits the escalation of levodopa-induced dyskinesia in male and female parkinsonian rats of advanced age. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 181:106111. [PMID: 37001610 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In the past 25 years, the prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) has nearly doubled. Age remains the primary risk factor for PD and as the global aging population increases this trend is predicted to continue. Even when treated with levodopa, the gold standard dopamine (DA) replacement therapy, individuals with PD frequently develop therapeutic side effects. Levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID), a common side effect of long-term levodopa use, represents a significant unmet clinical need in the treatment of PD. Previously, in young adult (3-month-old) male parkinsonian rats, we demonstrated that the silencing of CaV1.3 (Cacan1d) L-type voltage-gated calcium channels via striatal delivery of rAAV-CaV1.3-shRNA provides uniform protection against the induction of LID, and significant reduction of established severe LID. With the goal of more closely replicating a clinical demographic, the current study examined the effects of CaV1.3-targeted gene therapy on LID escalation in male and female parkinsonian rats of advanced age (18-month-old at study completion). We tested the hypothesis that silencing aberrant CaV1.3 channel activity in the parkinsonian striatum would prevent moderate to severe dyskinesia with levodopa dose escalation. To test this hypothesis, 15-month-old male and female F344 rats were rendered unilaterally parkinsonian and primed with low-dose (3-4 mg/kg) levodopa. Following the establishment of stable, mild dyskinesias, rats received an intrastriatal injection of either the Cacna1d-specific rAAV-CaV1.3-shRNA vector (CAV-shRNA), or the scramble control rAAV-SCR-shRNA vector (SCR-shRNA). Daily (M-Fr) low-dose levodopa was maintained for 4 weeks during the vector transduction and gene silencing window followed by escalation to 6 mg/kg, then to 12 mg/kg levodopa. SCR-shRNA-shRNA rats showed stable LID expression with low-dose levodopa and the predicted escalation of LID severity with increased levodopa doses. Conversely, complex behavioral responses were observed in aged rats receiving CAV-shRNA, with approximately half of the male and female subjects-therapeutic 'Responders'-demonstrating protection against LID escalation, while the remaining half-therapeutic 'Non-Responders'-showed LID escalation similar to SCR-shRNA rats. Post-mortem histological analyses revealed individual variability in the detection of Cacna1d regulation in the DA-depleted striatum of aged rats. However, taken together, male and female therapeutic 'Responder' rats receiving CAV-shRNA had significantly less striatal Cacna1d in their vector-injected striatum relative to contralateral striatum than those with SCR-shRNA. The current data suggest that mRNA-level silencing of striatal CaV1.3 channels maintains potency in a clinically relevant in vivo scenario by preventing dose-dependent dyskinesia escalation in rats of advanced age. As compared to the uniform response previously reported in young male rats, there was notable variability between individual aged rats, particularly females, in the current study. Future investigations are needed to derive the sex-specific and age-related mechanisms which underlie variable responses to gene therapy and to elucidate factors which determine the therapeutic efficacy of treatment for PD.
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Sossi V, Patterson JR, McCormick S, Kemp CJ, Miller KM, Stoll AC, Kuhn N, Kubik M, Kochmanski J, Luk KC, Sortwell CE. Dopaminergic Positron Emission Tomography Imaging in the Alpha-Synuclein Preformed Fibril Model Reveals Similarities to Early Parkinson's Disease. Mov Disord 2022; 37:1739-1748. [PMID: 35524682 PMCID: PMC9391270 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Positron emission tomography (PET) imaging in early Parkinson's disease (PD) subjects reveals that increased dopamine (DA) turnover and reduced dopamine transporter (DAT) density precede decreases in DA synthesis and storage. The rat α-synuclein preformed fibril (α-syn PFF) model provides a platform to investigate DA dynamics during multiple stages of α-syn inclusion-triggered nigrostriatal degeneration. OBJECTIVES We investigated multiple aspects of in vivo dopaminergic deficits longitudinally and similarities to human PD using translational PET imaging readouts. METHODS Longitudinal imaging was performed every 2 months in PFF and control rats for 7 months. [18 F]-Fluoro-3,4-dihydroxyphenyl-L-alanine (FDOPA) imaging was performed to investigate DA synthesis and storage (Kocc ) and DA turnover, estimated by its inverse, the effective distribution volume ratio (EDVR). 11 C-Methylphenidate (MP) was used to estimate DAT density (BPND ). RESULTS Early DA turnover increases and DAT binding decreases were observed in the ipsilateral striatum of PFF rats, progressing longitudinally. EDVR decreased 26%, 38%, and 47%, and BPND decreased 36%, 50%, and 65% at the 2-, 4-, and 6-month time points, respectively, compared to ipsilateral control striatum. In contrast, deficits in DA synthesis and storage were not observed in the ipsilateral striatum of PFF rats compared to control injections and were relatively preserved up to 6 months (Kocc decreased 20% at 6 months). CONCLUSIONS The relative preservation of DA synthesis and storage compared to robust progressive deficits in DAT density and increases in DA turnover in the rat α-syn PFF model display remarkable face validity to dopaminergic alterations in human PD. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vesna Sossi
- Department of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Joseph R. Patterson
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceMichigan State UniversityGrand RapidsMichiganUSA
| | - Siobhan McCormick
- Pacific Parkinson's Research CentreUniversity of British ColumbiaVancouverBritish ColumbiaCanada
| | - Christopher J. Kemp
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceMichigan State UniversityGrand RapidsMichiganUSA
| | - Kathryn M. Miller
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceMichigan State UniversityGrand RapidsMichiganUSA
| | - Anna C. Stoll
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceMichigan State UniversityGrand RapidsMichiganUSA
| | - Nathan Kuhn
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceMichigan State UniversityGrand RapidsMichiganUSA
| | - Michael Kubik
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceMichigan State UniversityGrand RapidsMichiganUSA
| | - Joseph Kochmanski
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceMichigan State UniversityGrand RapidsMichiganUSA
| | - Kelvin C. Luk
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Caryl E. Sortwell
- Department of Translational NeuroscienceMichigan State UniversityGrand RapidsMichiganUSA
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Benevides ES, Sunshine MD, Rana S, Fuller DD. Optogenetic activation of the diaphragm. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6503. [PMID: 35444167 PMCID: PMC9021282 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10240-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Impaired diaphragm activation is common in many neuromuscular diseases. We hypothesized that expressing photoreceptors in diaphragm myofibers would enable light stimulation to evoke functional diaphragm activity, similar to endogenous bursts. In a mouse model, adeno-associated virus (AAV) encoding channelrhodopsin-2 (AAV9-CAG-ChR2-mVenus, 6.12 × 1011 vg dose) was delivered to the diaphragm using a minimally invasive method of microinjection to the intrapleural space. At 8-18 weeks following AAV injection, mice were anesthetized and studied during spontaneous breathing. We first showed that diaphragm electromyographic (EMG) potentials could be evoked with brief presentations of light, using a 473 nm high intensity LED. Evoked potential amplitude increased with intensity or duration of the light pulse. We next showed that in a paralyzed diaphragm, trains of light pulses evoked diaphragm EMG activity which resembled endogenous bursting, and this was sufficient to generate respiratory airflow. Light-evoked diaphragm EMG bursts showed no diminution after up to one hour of stimulation. Histological evaluation confirmed transgene expression in diaphragm myofibers. We conclude that intrapleural delivery of AAV9 can drive expression of ChR2 in the diaphragm and subsequent photostimulation can evoke graded compound diaphragm EMG activity similar to endogenous inspiratory bursting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ethan S Benevides
- Rehabilitation Science PhD Program, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Michael D Sunshine
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Sabhya Rana
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - David D Fuller
- Department of Physical Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. .,Breathing Research and Therapeutics Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA. .,McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
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5
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Brown D, Altermatt M, Dobreva T, Chen S, Wang A, Thomson M, Gradinaru V. Deep Parallel Characterization of AAV Tropism and AAV-Mediated Transcriptional Changes via Single-Cell RNA Sequencing. Front Immunol 2021; 12:730825. [PMID: 34759919 PMCID: PMC8574206 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.730825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered variants of recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) are being developed rapidly to meet the need for gene-therapy delivery vehicles with particular cell-type and tissue tropisms. While high-throughput AAV engineering and selection methods have generated numerous variants, subsequent tropism and response characterization have remained low throughput and lack resolution across the many relevant cell and tissue types. To fully leverage the output of these large screening paradigms across multiple targets, we have developed an experimental and computational single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) pipeline for in vivo characterization of barcoded rAAV pools at high resolution. Using this platform, we have both corroborated previously reported viral tropisms and discovered unidentified AAV capsid targeting biases. As expected, we observed that the tropism profile of AAV.CAP-B10 in mice was shifted toward neurons and away from astrocytes when compared with AAV-PHP.eB. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that this neuronal bias is due mainly to increased targeting efficiency for glutamatergic neurons, which we confirmed by RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization. We further uncovered cell subtype tropisms of AAV variants in vascular and glial cells, such as low transduction of pericytes and Myoc+ astrocytes. Additionally, we have observed cell-type-specific transitory responses to systemic AAV-PHP.eB administration, such as upregulation of genes involved in p53 signaling in endothelial cells three days post-injection, which return to control levels by day twenty-five. The presented experimental and computational approaches for parallel characterization of AAV tropism will facilitate the advancement of safe and precise gene delivery vehicles, and showcase the power of understanding responses to gene therapies at the single-cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Brown
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Michael Altermatt
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Tatyana Dobreva
- Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Sisi Chen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Alexander Wang
- Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Matt Thomson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
| | - Viviana Gradinaru
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
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6
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Huet AT, Dombrowski T, Rankovic V, Thirumalai A, Moser T. Developing Fast, Red-Light Optogenetic Stimulation of Spiral Ganglion Neurons for Future Optical Cochlear Implants. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:635897. [PMID: 33776648 PMCID: PMC7991399 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.635897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Optogenetic stimulation of type I spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs) promises an alternative to the electrical stimulation by current cochlear implants (CIs) for improved hearing restoration by future optical CIs (oCIs). Most of the efforts in using optogenetic stimulation in the cochlea so far used early postnatal injection of viral vectors carrying blue-light activated channelrhodopsins (ChRs) into the cochlea of mice. However, preparing clinical translation of the oCI requires (i) reliable and safe transduction of mature SGNs of further species and (ii) use of long-wavelength light to avoid phototoxicity. Here, we employed a fast variant of the red-light activated channelrhodopsin Chrimson (f-Chrimson) and different AAV variants to implement optogenetic SGN stimulation in Mongolian gerbils. We compared early postnatal (p8) and adult (>8 weeks) AAV administration, employing different protocols for injection of AAV-PHP.B and AAV2/6 into the adult cochlea. Success of the optogenetic manipulation was analyzed by optically evoked auditory brainstem response (oABR) and immunohistochemistry of mid-modiolar cryosections of the cochlea. In order to most efficiently evaluate the immunohistochemical results a semi-automatic procedure to identify transduced cells in confocal images was developed. Our results indicate that the rate of SGN transduction is significantly lower for AAV administration into the adult cochlea compared to early postnatal injection. SGN transduction upon AAV administration into the adult cochlea was largely independent of the chosen viral vector and injection approach. The higher the rate of SGN transduction, the lower were oABR thresholds and the larger were oABR amplitudes. Our results highlight the need to optimize viral vectors and virus administration for efficient optogenetic manipulation of SGNs in the adult cochlea for successful clinical translation of SGN-targeting gene therapy and of the oCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoine Tarquin Huet
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Optogenetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Dombrowski
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, St. Elisabeth Hospital, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Vladan Rankovic
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Optogenetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
- Restorative Cochlear Genomics Group, Auditory Neuroscience and Optogenetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Anupriya Thirumalai
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Göttingen Graduate School for Neurosciences and Molecular Biosciences, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Tobias Moser
- Institute for Auditory Neuroscience and InnerEarLab, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Auditory Neuroscience and Optogenetics Laboratory, German Primate Center, Göttingen, Germany
- Collaborative Research Center 889, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Multiscale Bioimaging Cluster of Excellence (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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7
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Manfredsson FP, Polinski NK, Subramanian T, Boulis N, Wakeman DR, Mandel RJ. The Future of GDNF in Parkinson's Disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2020; 12:593572. [PMID: 33364933 PMCID: PMC7750181 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2020.593572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Fredric P Manfredsson
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, United States
| | - Nicole K Polinski
- The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, New York, NY, United States
| | - Thyagarajan Subramanian
- Department of Neurology and Neural and Behavioral Sciences, Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Nicholas Boulis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Dustin R Wakeman
- Virscio, Inc., New Haven, CT, United States.,Department of Psychiatry, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ronald J Mandel
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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Zhao J, Yue Y, Patel A, Wasala L, Karp JF, Zhang K, Duan D, Lai Y. High-Resolution Histological Landscape of AAV DNA Distribution in Cellular Compartments and Tissues following Local and Systemic Injection. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2020; 18:856-868. [PMID: 32953935 PMCID: PMC7479330 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is one of the most important gene delivery vehicles for in vivo gene therapy. Intramuscular (i.m.) and intravascular (i.v.) injection are commonly used for AAV gene transfer. Unfortunately, the fate of AAV vectors following administration remains unclear at the histological level. Taking advantage of RNAscope, a recently developed in situ hybridization technique that can reveal high-resolution viral DNA localization information, in this study, we evaluated body-wide distribution of an AAV9 vector in the context of the cell and tissue microenvironments. We observed distinctive kinetics of cell and nuclear entry of the AAV DNA in striated muscle and liver following i.m. and i.v. injection. We also found characteristic distribution patterns of the AAV DNA in various histological structures in internal organs, including gonads and lymph nodes, following i.v. injection. Finally, we showed significantly body-wide spreading of the AAV DNA following i.m. injection. These results add a new dimension to our understanding of AAV transduction biology and provide a basis for assessing the full impact of AAV gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junling Zhao
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Yongping Yue
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Aman Patel
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- School of Medicine, Saint Louis University, St. Louis, MO 63104, USA
| | - Lakmini Wasala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Jacob F. Karp
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Keqing Zhang
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
| | - Yi Lai
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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9
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Chu Y, Bartus RT, Manfredsson FP, Olanow CW, Kordower JH. Long-term post-mortem studies following neurturin gene therapy in patients with advanced Parkinson's disease. Brain 2020; 143:960-975. [PMID: 32203581 PMCID: PMC7089653 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awaa020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
We performed post-mortem studies on two patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease 8 and10 years following AAV2-neurturin (CERE120) gene therapy, the longest post-mortem trophic factor gene therapy cases reported to date. CERE120 was delivered to the putamen bilaterally in one case (10 years post-surgery), and to the putamen plus the substantia nigra bilaterally in the second (8 years post-surgery). In both patients there was persistent, albeit limited, neurturin expression in the putamen covering ∼3–12% of the putamen. In the putamen, dense staining of tyrosine hydroxylase-positive fibres was observed in areas that contained detectable neurturin expression. In the substantia nigra, neurturin expression was detected in 9.8–18.95% and 22.02–39% of remaining melanin-containing neurons in the patient with putamenal and combined putamenal and nigral gene delivery, respectively. Melanized neurons displayed intense tyrosine hydroxylase and RET proto-oncogene expression in nigral neurons in the patient where CERE120 was directly delivered to the nigra. There was no difference in the degree of Lewy pathology in comparison to untreated control patients with Parkinson’s disease, and α-synuclein aggregates were detected in neurons that also stained for neurturin, RET, and tyrosine hydroxylase. These changes were not associated with antiparkinsonian benefits likely due to the limited neurturin expression. This study provides the longest term evidence of persistent transgene expression following gene delivery to the CNS and the first human results when targeting both the terminal fields in the putamen as well as the originating nigral neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yaping Chu
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA
| | | | - Fredric P Manfredsson
- Parkinson’s Disease Research Unit, Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85013, USA
| | - C Warren Olanow
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Clintrex Inc. Sarasota, Florida, USA
| | - Jeffrey H Kordower
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA
- Correspondence to: Jeffrey H. Kordower, PhD Department of Neurological Sciences Rush University Medical Center 1735 West Harrison Street Chicago, Illinois 60612, USA E-mail:
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10
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Kelly SC, McKay EC, Beck JS, Collier TJ, Dorrance AM, Counts SE. Locus Coeruleus Degeneration Induces Forebrain Vascular Pathology in a Transgenic Rat Model of Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2019; 70:371-388. [PMID: 31177220 PMCID: PMC6929678 DOI: 10.3233/jad-190090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Noradrenergic locus coeruleus (LC) neuron loss is a significant feature of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD). The LC is the primary source of norepinephrine in the forebrain, where it modulates attention and memory in vulnerable cognitive regions such as prefrontal cortex (PFC) and hippocampus. Furthermore, LC-mediated norepinephrine signaling is thought to play a role in blood-brain barrier (BBB) maintenance and neurovascular coupling, suggesting that LC degeneration may impact the high comorbidity of cerebrovascular disease and AD. However, the extent to which LC projection system degeneration influences vascular pathology is not fully understood. To address this question in vivo, we stereotactically lesioned LC projection neurons innervating the PFC of six-month-old Tg344-19 AD rats using the noradrenergic immunotoxin, dopamine-β-hydroxylase IgG-saporin (DBH-sap), or an untargeted control IgG-saporin (IgG-sap). DBH-sap-lesioned animals performed significantly worse than IgG-sap animals on the Barnes maze task in measures of both spatial and working memory. DBH-sap-lesioned rats also displayed increased amyloid and inflammation pathology compared to IgG-sap controls. However, we also discovered prominent parenchymal albumin extravasation with DBH-sap lesions indicative of BBB breakdown. Moreover, microvessel wall-to-lumen ratios were increased in the PFC of DBH-sap compared to IgG-sap rats, suggesting that LC deafferentation results in vascular remodeling. Finally, we noted an early emergence of amyloid angiopathy in the DBH-sap-lesioned Tg344-19 AD rats. Taken together, these data indicate that LC projection system degeneration is a nexus lesion that compromises both vascular and neuronal function in cognitive brain areas during the prodromal stages of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah C. Kelly
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Erin C. McKay
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - John S. Beck
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Timothy J. Collier
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Anne M. Dorrance
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Scott E. Counts
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Family Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Hauenstein Neurosciences Center, Mercy Health Saint Mary’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
- Michigan Alzheimer’s Disease Core Center, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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Raghunathan R, Polinski NK, Klein JA, Hogan JD, Shao C, Khatri K, Leon D, McComb ME, Manfredsson FP, Sortwell CE, Zaia J. Glycomic and Proteomic Changes in Aging Brain Nigrostriatal Pathway. Mol Cell Proteomics 2018; 17:1778-1787. [PMID: 29915149 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.ra118.000680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Revised: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological disorder characterized by the progressive loss of functional dopaminergic neurons in the nigrostriatal pathway in the brain. Although current treatments provide only symptomatic relief, gene therapy has the potential to slow or halt the degeneration of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons in PD patients. Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are vectors of choice in gene therapy because of their well-characterized safety and efficacy profiles; however, although gene therapy has been successful in preclinical models of the disease, clinical trials in humans have failed to demonstrate efficacy. Significantly, all primary AAV receptors of the virus are glycans. We thus hypothesize that age related changes in glycan receptors of heparan sulfate (HS) proteoglycans (receptor for rAAV2), and/or N-glycans with terminal galactose (receptor for rAAV9) results in poor adeno-associated virus binding in either the striatum or substantia nigra, or both, affecting transduction and gene delivery. To test our hypothesis we analyzed the striatum and substantia nigra for changes in HS, N-glycans and proteomic signatures in young versus aged rat brain striatum and substantia nigra. We observed different brain region-specific HS disaccharide profiles in aged compared with young adult rats for brain region-specific profiles in striatum versus substantia nigra. We observed brain region- and age-specific N-glycan compositional profiles with respect to the terminal galactose units that serve as receptors for AAV9. We also observed brain region-specific changes in protein expression in the aging nigrostriatal pathway. These studies provide insight into age- and brain region-specific changes in glycan receptors and proteome that will inform design of improved viral vectors for Parkinson Disease (PD) gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rekha Raghunathan
- From the ‡Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nicole K Polinski
- ‖Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University
| | - Joshua A Klein
- ¶Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - John D Hogan
- ¶Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Chun Shao
- §Department of Biochemistry, Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Kshitij Khatri
- §Department of Biochemistry, Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Deborah Leon
- §Department of Biochemistry, Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mark E McComb
- §Department of Biochemistry, Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Fredric P Manfredsson
- ‖Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University
| | - Caryl E Sortwell
- ‖Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University
| | - Joseph Zaia
- From the ‡Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, Massachusetts; .,§Department of Biochemistry, Center for Biomedical Mass Spectrometry, Boston University Medical Campus, Boston, Massachusetts.,¶Bioinformatics Program, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
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12
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Benskey MJ, Sellnow RC, Sandoval IM, Sortwell CE, Lipton JW, Manfredsson FP. Silencing Alpha Synuclein in Mature Nigral Neurons Results in Rapid Neuroinflammation and Subsequent Toxicity. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:36. [PMID: 29497361 PMCID: PMC5819572 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Human studies and preclinical models of Parkinson’s disease implicate the involvement of both the innate and adaptive immune systems in disease progression. Further, pro-inflammatory markers are highly enriched near neurons containing pathological forms of alpha synuclein (α-syn), and α-syn overexpression recapitulates neuroinflammatory changes in models of Parkinson’s disease. These data suggest that α-syn may initiate a pathological inflammatory response, however the mechanism by which α-syn initiates neuroinflammation is poorly understood. Silencing endogenous α-syn results in a similar pattern of nigral degeneration observed following α-syn overexpression. Here we aimed to test the hypothesis that loss of α-syn function within nigrostriatal neurons results in neuronal dysfunction, which subsequently stimulates neuroinflammation. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing an short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting endogenous α-syn was unilaterally injected into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) of adult rats, after which nigrostriatal pathology and indices of neuroinflammation were examined at 7, 10, 14 and 21 days post-surgery. Removing endogenous α-syn from nigrostriatal neurons resulted in a rapid up-regulation of the major histocompatibility complex class 1 (MHC-1) within transduced nigral neurons. Nigral MHC-1 expression occurred prior to any overt cell death and coincided with the recruitment of reactive microglia and T-cells to affected neurons. Following the induction of neuroinflammation, α-syn knockdown resulted in a 50% loss of nigrostriatal neurons in the SNc and a corresponding loss of nigrostriatal terminals and dopamine (DA) concentrations within the striatum. Expression of a control shRNA did not elicit any pathological changes. Silencing α-syn within glutamatergic neurons of the cerebellum did not elicit inflammation or cell death, suggesting that toxicity initiated by α-syn silencing is specific to DA neurons. These data provide evidence that loss of α-syn function within nigrostriatal neurons initiates a neuronal-mediated neuroinflammatory cascade, involving both the innate and adaptive immune systems, which ultimately results in the death of affected neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J Benskey
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Rhyomi C Sellnow
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Ivette M Sandoval
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States.,Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Caryl E Sortwell
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States.,Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Jack W Lipton
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States.,Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
| | - Fredric P Manfredsson
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, United States.,Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids, MI, United States
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13
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Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation Does Not Modify the Functional Deficits or Axonopathy Induced by Nigrostriatal α-Synuclein Overexpression. Sci Rep 2017; 7:16356. [PMID: 29180681 PMCID: PMC5703955 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-16690-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) protects dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) against 6-OHDA and MPTP. We evaluated STN DBS in a parkinsonian model that displays α-synuclein pathology using unilateral, intranigral injections of recombinant adeno-associated virus pseudotype 2/5 to overexpress wildtype human α-synuclein (rAAV2/5 α-syn). A low titer of rAAV2/5 α-syn results in progressive forelimb asymmetry, loss of striatal dopaminergic terminal density and modest loss of SNpc dopamine neurons after eight weeks, corresponding to robust human-Snca expression and no effect on rat-Snca, Th, Bdnf or Trk2. α-syn overexpression increased phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 (p-rpS6) in SNpc neurons, a readout of trkB activation. Rats received intranigral injections of rAAV2/5 α-syn and three weeks later received four weeks of STN DBS or electrode implantation that remained inactive. STN DBS did not protect against α-syn-mediated deficits in forelimb akinesia, striatal denervation or loss of SNpc neuron, nor did STN DBS elevate p-rpS6 levels further. ON stimulation, forelimb asymmetry was exacerbated, indicating α-syn overexpression-mediated neurotransmission deficits. These results demonstrate that STN DBS does not protect the nigrostriatal system against α-syn overexpression-mediated toxicity. Whether STN DBS can be protective in other models of synucleinopathy is unknown.
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Mercado NM, Collier TJ, Sortwell CE, Steece-Collier K. BDNF in the Aged Brain: Translational Implications for Parkinson's Disease. AUSTIN NEUROLOGY & NEUROSCIENCES 2017; 2:1021. [PMID: 29726549 PMCID: PMC5929154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) is a member of the neurotrophin family of secreted growth factors. BDNF signaling is known to exert both chronic, pro-survival effects related to gene expression and protein synthesis ("canonical signaling"), and acute effects as a modulator of neurotransmission ("non-canonical signaling"). BDNF has received a great deal of attention for its role in neurodegenerative diseases including Huntington's Disease (HD), Alzheimer's Disease (AD), and Parkinson's Disease (PD) and has been extensively reviewed elsewhere in this regard (e.g., [1-6]). However aging-related changes in BDNF function and expression have been studied only rarely, with the majority of studies characterizing changes in structures such as the hippocampus and neocortex. In this review, we attempt to briefly summarize the extent of the existing literature on age-related BDNF changes, and discuss the relevance of these changes as a factor potentially impacting therapeutics in aged parkinsonian subjects.
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Affiliation(s)
- N M Mercado
- Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, USA
| | - T J Collier
- Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, USA
- Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, Mercy Health Saint Mary's, USA
| | - C E Sortwell
- Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, USA
- Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, Mercy Health Saint Mary's, USA
| | - K Steece-Collier
- Department of Translational Science & Molecular Medicine, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, USA
- Hauenstein Neuroscience Center, Mercy Health Saint Mary's, USA
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15
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Kanaan NM, Sellnow RC, Boye SL, Coberly B, Bennett A, Agbandje-McKenna M, Sortwell CE, Hauswirth WW, Boye SE, Manfredsson FP. Rationally Engineered AAV Capsids Improve Transduction and Volumetric Spread in the CNS. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2017; 8:184-197. [PMID: 28918020 PMCID: PMC5503098 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.06.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2016] [Revised: 06/14/2017] [Accepted: 06/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is the most common vector for clinical gene therapy of the CNS. This popularity originates from a high safety record and the longevity of transgene expression in neurons. Nevertheless, clinical efficacy for CNS indications is lacking, and one reason for this is the relatively limited spread and transduction efficacy in large regions of the human brain. Using rationally designed modifications of the capsid, novel AAV capsids have been generated that improve intracellular processing and result in increased transgene expression. Here, we sought to improve AAV-mediated neuronal transduction to minimize the existing limitations of CNS gene therapy. We investigated the efficacy of CNS transduction using a variety of tyrosine and threonine capsid mutants based on AAV2, AAV5, and AAV8 capsids, as well as AAV2 mutants incapable of binding heparan sulfate (HS). We found that mutating several tyrosine residues on the AAV2 capsid significantly enhanced neuronal transduction in the striatum and hippocampus, and the ablation of HS binding also increased the volumetric spread of the vector. Interestingly, the analogous tyrosine substitutions on AAV5 and AAV8 capsids did not improve the efficacy of these serotypes. Our results demonstrate that the efficacy of CNS gene transfer can be significantly improved with minor changes to the AAV capsid and that the effect is serotype specific.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas M Kanaan
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Rhyomi C Sellnow
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Sanford L Boye
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Ben Coberly
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Neuroscience Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48825, USA
| | - Antonette Bennett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Mavis Agbandje-McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The McKnight Brain Institute, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Caryl E Sortwell
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - William W Hauswirth
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Shannon E Boye
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Fredric P Manfredsson
- Department of Translational Science and Molecular Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA; Mercy Health Saint Mary's, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA.
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