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Alpuche-Lazcano SP, Scarborough RJ, Gatignol A. MicroRNAs and long non-coding RNAs during transcriptional regulation and latency of HIV and HTLV. Retrovirology 2024; 21:5. [PMID: 38424561 PMCID: PMC10905857 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-024-00637-y] [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: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human T cell leukemia virus (HTLV) have replicative and latent stages of infection. The status of the viruses is dependent on the cells that harbour them and on different events that change the transcriptional and post-transcriptional events. Non-coding (nc)RNAs are key factors in the regulation of retrovirus replication cycles. Notably, micro (mi)RNAs and long non-coding (lnc)RNAs are important regulators that can induce switches between active transcription-replication and latency of retroviruses and have important impacts on their pathogenesis. Here, we review the functions of miRNAs and lncRNAs in the context of HIV and HTLV. We describe how specific miRNAs and lncRNAs are involved in the regulation of the viruses' transcription, post-transcriptional regulation and latency. We further discuss treatment strategies using ncRNAs for HIV and HTLV long remission, reactivation or possible cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio P Alpuche-Lazcano
- Virus-Cell Interactions Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, 3999, Côte Ste Catherine St., Montréal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada
- National Research Council Canada, Montréal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Robert J Scarborough
- Virus-Cell Interactions Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, 3999, Côte Ste Catherine St., Montréal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada
| | - Anne Gatignol
- Virus-Cell Interactions Laboratory, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, 3999, Côte Ste Catherine St., Montréal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada.
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2
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Kitawi R, Ledger S, Kelleher AD, Ahlenstiel CL. Advances in HIV Gene Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:2771. [PMID: 38474018 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25052771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Early gene therapy studies held great promise for the cure of heritable diseases, but the occurrence of various genotoxic events led to a pause in clinical trials and a more guarded approach to progress. Recent advances in genetic engineering technologies have reignited interest, leading to the approval of the first gene therapy product targeting genetic mutations in 2017. Gene therapy (GT) can be delivered either in vivo or ex vivo. An ex vivo approach to gene therapy is advantageous, as it allows for the characterization of the gene-modified cells and the selection of desired properties before patient administration. Autologous cells can also be used during this process which eliminates the possibility of immune rejection. This review highlights the various stages of ex vivo gene therapy, current research developments that have increased the efficiency and safety of this process, and a comprehensive summary of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) gene therapy studies, the majority of which have employed the ex vivo approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rose Kitawi
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Scott Ledger
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Anthony D Kelleher
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- St. Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia
- UNSW RNA Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Chantelle L Ahlenstiel
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
- UNSW RNA Institute, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia
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3
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Czuba-Wojnilowicz E, Klemm V, Cortez-Jugo C, Turville S, Aggarwal A, Caruso F, Kelleher AD, Ahlenstiel CL. Layer-by-Layer Particles Deliver Epigenetic Silencing siRNA to HIV-1 Latent Reservoir Cell Types. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:2039-2052. [PMID: 36848493 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c01030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
For over two decades, nanomaterials have been employed to facilitate intracellular delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA), both in vitro and in vivo, to induce post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) via RNA interference. Besides PTGS, siRNAs are also capable of transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) or epigenetic silencing, which targets the gene promoter in the nucleus and prevents transcription via repressive epigenetic modifications. However, silencing efficiency is hampered by poor intracellular and nuclear delivery. Here, polyarginine-terminated multilayered particles are reported as a versatile system for the delivery of TGS-inducing siRNA to potently suppress virus transcription in HIV-infected cells. siRNA is complexed with multilayered particles formed by layer-by-layer assembly of poly(styrenesulfonate) and poly(arginine) and incubated with HIV-infected cell types, including primary cells. Using deconvolution microscopy, uptake of fluorescently labeled siRNA is observed in the nuclei of HIV-1 infected cells. Viral RNA and protein are measured to confirm functional virus silencing from siRNA delivered using particles 16 days post-treatment. This work extends conventional particle-enabled PTGS siRNA delivery to the TGS pathway and paves the way for future studies on particle-delivered siRNA for efficient TGS of various diseases and infections, including HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Czuba-Wojnilowicz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Vera Klemm
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Christina Cortez-Jugo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Stuart Turville
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Anupriya Aggarwal
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Frank Caruso
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Anthony D Kelleher
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.,UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Chantelle L Ahlenstiel
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.,UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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4
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Ta TM, Malik S, Anderson EM, Jones AD, Perchik J, Freylikh M, Sardo L, Klase ZA, Izumi T. Insights Into Persistent HIV-1 Infection and Functional Cure: Novel Capabilities and Strategies. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:862270. [PMID: 35572626 PMCID: PMC9093714 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.862270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Although HIV-1 replication can be efficiently suppressed to undetectable levels in peripheral blood by combination antiretroviral therapy (cART), lifelong medication is still required in people living with HIV (PLWH). Life expectancies have been extended by cART, but age-related comorbidities have increased which are associated with heavy physiological and economic burdens on PLWH. The obstacle to a functional HIV cure can be ascribed to the formation of latent reservoir establishment at the time of acute infection that persists during cART. Recent studies suggest that some HIV reservoirs are established in the early acute stages of HIV infection within multiple immune cells that are gradually shaped by various host and viral mechanisms and may undergo clonal expansion. Early cART initiation has been shown to reduce the reservoir size in HIV-infected individuals. Memory CD4+ T cell subsets are regarded as the predominant cellular compartment of the HIV reservoir, but monocytes and derivative macrophages or dendritic cells also play a role in the persistent virus infection. HIV latency is regulated at multiple molecular levels in transcriptional and post-transcriptional processes. Epigenetic regulation of the proviral promoter can profoundly regulate the viral transcription. In addition, transcriptional elongation, RNA splicing, and nuclear export pathways are also involved in maintaining HIV latency. Although most proviruses contain large internal deletions, some defective proviruses may induce immune activation by expressing viral proteins or producing replication-defective viral-like particles. In this review article, we discuss the state of the art on mechanisms of virus persistence in the periphery and tissue and summarize interdisciplinary approaches toward a functional HIV cure, including novel capabilities and strategies to measure and eliminate the infected reservoirs and induce immune control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tram M. Ta
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Sajjaf Malik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Elizabeth M. Anderson
- Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health, Region 3, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Amber D. Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jocelyn Perchik
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Maryann Freylikh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Luca Sardo
- Department of Infectious Disease and Vaccines, Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, United States
| | - Zackary A. Klase
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States,Center for Neuroimmunology and CNS Therapeutics, Institute of Molecular Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Drexel University of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Taisuke Izumi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Misher College of Arts and Sciences, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, United States,*Correspondence: Taisuke Izumi,
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5
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Dey S, Misra A, Selvi Bharathavikru R. Long Non-coding RNAs, Lnc (ing) RNA Metabolism to Cancer Biology. Subcell Biochem 2022; 100:175-199. [PMID: 36301495 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-07634-3_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The eukaryotic genome is represented by a vast proportion of non-coding regions, which in recent years have been attributed to have important functional roles in gene regulation through a myriad of processes, ranging from proper localization, correct folding and, most importantly, spatial and temporally regulated expression of genes. One of the major contributing factors in these processes is ribonucleic acid (RNA) metabolism, which comprises the RNA-nucleoprotein (RNP) complexes that interact with and instruct the genome to function. Long non-coding RNAs are an integral component of several RNPs, and herein we provide an overview of the understanding of the long non-coding RNAs, their characteristics, their function and their balancing act as dual modulators in cancer manifestation and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sourav Dey
- RNP Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)-Berhampur, Transit Campus, Govt ITI Building, Engineering School Junction, Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha, India
| | - Arushi Misra
- RNP Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)-Berhampur, Transit Campus, Govt ITI Building, Engineering School Junction, Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha, India
| | - R Selvi Bharathavikru
- RNP Biology Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)-Berhampur, Transit Campus, Govt ITI Building, Engineering School Junction, Berhampur, Ganjam, Odisha, India.
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6
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Suzuki K, Levert A, Yeung J, Starr M, Cameron J, Williams R, Rismanto N, Stark T, Druery D, Prasad S, Ferrarini C, Hanafi I, McNally LP, Cunningham P, Liu Z, Ishida T, Huang CS, Oswald V, Evans L, Symonds G, Brew BJ, Zaunders J. HIV-1 viral blips are associated with repeated and increasingly high levels of cell-associated HIV-1 RNA transcriptional activity. AIDS 2021; 35:2095-2103. [PMID: 34148986 PMCID: PMC8505147 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000003001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Some HIV+ patients, virally suppressed on ART, show occasional 'blips' of detectable HIV-1 plasma RNA. We used a new highly sensitive assay of cell-associated HIV-1 RNA to measure transcriptional activity in PBMCs and production of infectious virus from the viral reservoir, in patients with and without 'blips'. DESIGN/METHODS RNA and DNA extracted from cells in 6 ml of peripheral blood, from suppressed patients with one to two 'blip' episodes over the past 2 years of ART (n = 55), or no 'blips' (n = 52), were assayed for HIV-1 RNA transcripts and proviral DNA targeting the highly conserved 'R' region of the LTR. Follow-up samples were also collected. Purified CD4+ T cells were cultured with anti-CD3/CD28/CD2 T-cell activator to amplify transcription and measure replication competent virus. RESULTS HIV-1 RNA transcripts ranged from 1.3 to 5415 copies/106 white blood cells. 'Blip' patients had significantly higher levels vs. without blips (median 192 vs. 49; P = 0.0007), which correlated with: higher levels of inducible transcripts after activation in vitro, sustained higher HIV-1 transcription levels in follow-up samples along with increasing HIV-1 DNA in some, and production of replication-competent HIV-1. CONCLUSION Viral 'blips' are significant reflecting higher transcriptional activity from the reservoir and contribute to the reservoir over time. This sensitive assay can be used in monitoring the size and activity of the HIV-1 reservoir and will be useful in HIV-1 cure strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Suzuki
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Angelique Levert
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Julie Yeung
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Mitchell Starr
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Jane Cameron
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Raffaella Williams
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Nikolas Rismanto
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Tayla Stark
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Dylan Druery
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Salzeena Prasad
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Cristina Ferrarini
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Imelda Hanafi
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Leon Patrick McNally
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Philip Cunningham
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
| | - Zhixin Liu
- Stats Central, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | | | | | - Velma Oswald
- Clinical Immunology and HIV Medicine, Liverpool Hospital
| | - Louise Evans
- Clinical Immunology and HIV Medicine, Liverpool Hospital
- University of New South Wales
| | | | - Bruce James Brew
- Departments of Neurology and Immunology
- Peter Duncan Neurosciences Unit, St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, and University of Notre Dame
- Department of HIV Medicine, St Vincent's Hospital
- St Vincent's Clinical School, Delacy Building, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John Zaunders
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research, NSW State Reference laboratory for HIV
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7
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Aptamer-mediated transcriptional gene silencing of Fox p 3 inhibits regulatory T cells and potentiates antitumor response. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 25:143-151. [PMID: 34457999 PMCID: PMC8365334 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The inhibition of immunosuppressive mechanisms may switch the balance between tolerance and surveillance, leading to an increase in antitumor activity. Regulatory T cells play an important role in the control of immunosuppression, exhibiting the unique property of inhibiting T cell proliferation. These cells migrate to tumor sites or may be generated at the tumor site itself from the conversion of lymphocytes exposed to tumor microenvironment signaling. Because of the high similarity between regulatory T cells and other lymphocytes, the available approaches to inhibit this population are nonspecific and may antagonize antitumor response. In this work we explore a new strategy for inhibition of regulatory T cells based on the use of a chimeric aptamer targeting a marker of immune activation harboring a small antisense RNA molecule for transcriptional gene silencing of Foxp3, which is essential for the control of the immunosuppressive phenotype. The silencing of Foxp3 inhibits the immunosuppressive phenotype of regulatory T cells and potentiates the effect of the GVAX antitumor vaccine in immunocompetent animals challenged with syngeneic tumors. This novel approach highlights an alternative method to antagonize regulatory T cell function to augment antitumor immune responses.
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8
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Ismail SD, Pankrac J, Ndashimye E, Prodger JL, Abrahams MR, Mann JFS, Redd AD, Arts EJ. Addressing an HIV cure in LMIC. Retrovirology 2021; 18:21. [PMID: 34344423 PMCID: PMC8330180 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-021-00565-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 persists in infected individuals despite years of antiretroviral therapy (ART), due to the formation of a stable and long-lived latent viral reservoir. Early ART can reduce the latent reservoir and is associated with post-treatment control in people living with HIV (PLWH). However, even in post-treatment controllers, ART cessation after a period of time inevitably results in rebound of plasma viraemia, thus lifelong treatment for viral suppression is indicated. Due to the difficulties of sustained life-long treatment in the millions of PLWH worldwide, a cure is undeniably necessary. This requires an in-depth understanding of reservoir formation and dynamics. Differences exist in treatment guidelines and accessibility to treatment as well as social stigma between low- and-middle income countries (LMICs) and high-income countries. In addition, demographic differences exist in PLWH from different geographical regions such as infecting viral subtype and host genetics, which can contribute to differences in the viral reservoir between different populations. Here, we review topics relevant to HIV-1 cure research in LMICs, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa, the region of the world bearing the greatest burden of HIV-1. We present a summary of ART in LMICs, highlighting challenges that may be experienced in implementing a HIV-1 cure therapeutic. Furthermore, we discuss current research on the HIV-1 latent reservoir in different populations, highlighting research in LMIC and gaps in the research that may facilitate a global cure. Finally, we discuss current experimental cure strategies in the context of their potential application in LMICs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherazaan D Ismail
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Joshua Pankrac
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
| | - Emmanuel Ndashimye
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
- Center for AIDS Research Uganda Laboratories, Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jessica L Prodger
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A 5C1, Canada
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Melissa-Rose Abrahams
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
| | - Jamie F S Mann
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada
- Bristol Veterinary School, University of Bristol, Langford House, Langford, Bristol, BS40 5DU, UK
| | - Andrew D Redd
- Division of Medical Virology, Department of Pathology, Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, 7925, South Africa
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Laboratory of Immunoregulation, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Eric J Arts
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, N6A5C1, Canada.
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA.
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9
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Huo Y, Sheng Z, Lu DR, Ellwanger DC, Li CM, Homann O, Wang S, Yin H, Ren R. Blinatumomab-induced T cell activation at single cell transcriptome resolution. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:145. [PMID: 33648458 PMCID: PMC7923532 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07435-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Bi-specific T-cell engager (BiTE) antibody is a class of bispecific antibodies designed for cancer immunotherapy. Blinatumomab is the first approved BiTE to treat acute B cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). It brings killer T and target B cells into close proximity, activating patient’s autologous T cells to kill malignant B cells via mechanisms such as cytolytic immune synapse formation and inflammatory cytokine production. However, the activated T-cell subtypes and the target cell-dependent T cell responses induced by blinatumomab, as well as the mechanisms of resistance to blinatumomab therapy are largely unknown. Results In this study, we performed single-cell sequencing analysis to identify transcriptional changes in T cells following blinatumomab-induced T cell activation using single cells from both, a human cell line model and a patient-derived model of blinatumomab-mediated cytotoxicity. In total, the transcriptome of 17,920 single T cells from the cell line model and 2271 single T cells from patient samples were analyzed. We found that CD8+ effector memory T cells, CD4+ central memory T cells, naïve T cells, and regulatory T cells were activated after blinatumomab treatment. Here, blinatumomab-induced transcriptional changes reflected the functional immune activity of the blinatumomab-activated T cells, including the upregulation of pathways such as the immune system, glycolysis, IFNA signaling, gap junctions, and IFNG signaling. Co-stimulatory (TNFRSF4 and TNFRSF18) and co-inhibitory (LAG3) receptors were similarly upregulated in blinatumomab-activated T cells, indicating ligand-dependent T cell functions. Particularly, B-ALL cell expression of TNFSF4, which encodes the ligand of T cell co-stimulatory receptor TNFRSF4, was found positively correlated with the response to blinatumomab treatment. Furthermore, recombinant human TNFSF4 protein enhanced the cytotoxic activity of blinatumomab against B-ALL cells. Conclusion These results reveal a target cell-dependent mechanism of T-cell activation by blinatumomab and suggest that TNFSF4 may be responsible for the resistant mechanism and a potential target for combination therapy with blinatumomab, to treat B-ALL or other B-cell malignancies. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-021-07435-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Huo
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory for Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, RuiJin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Building 11, No. 197, Ruijin No.2 Rd, Shanghai, 200025, P.R. China.,Amgen Asia R&D Center, Amgen Biopharmaceutical R&D (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 13F, Building 2, No. 4560, Jinke Rd, Shanghai, 201210, P.R. China
| | - Zhen Sheng
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory for Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, RuiJin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Building 11, No. 197, Ruijin No.2 Rd, Shanghai, 200025, P.R. China.,Amgen Asia R&D Center, Amgen Biopharmaceutical R&D (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 13F, Building 2, No. 4560, Jinke Rd, Shanghai, 201210, P.R. China
| | - Daniel R Lu
- Genome Analysis Unit, Amgen Research, Amgen Inc.,, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Daniel C Ellwanger
- Genome Analysis Unit, Amgen Research, Amgen Inc.,, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Chi-Ming Li
- Genome Analysis Unit, Amgen Research, Amgen Inc.,, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Oliver Homann
- Genome Analysis Unit, Amgen Research, Amgen Inc.,, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Songli Wang
- Genome Analysis Unit, Amgen Research, Amgen Inc.,, South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Hong Yin
- Amgen Asia R&D Center, Amgen Biopharmaceutical R&D (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., 13F, Building 2, No. 4560, Jinke Rd, Shanghai, 201210, P.R. China.
| | - Ruibao Ren
- Shanghai Institute of Hematology, State Key Laboratory for Medical Genomics, National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Collaborative Innovation Center of Hematology, RuiJin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Building 11, No. 197, Ruijin No.2 Rd, Shanghai, 200025, P.R. China.
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10
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Kelleher AD, Cortez-Jugo C, Cavalieri F, Qu Y, Glanville AR, Caruso F, Symonds G, Ahlenstiel CL. RNAi therapeutics: an antiviral strategy for human infections. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2020; 54:121-129. [PMID: 33171339 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2020.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Gene silencing induced by RNAi represents a promising antiviral development strategy. This review will summarise the current state of RNAi therapeutics for treating acute and chronic human virus infections. The gene silencing pathways exploited by RNAi therapeutics will be described and include both classic RNAi, inducing cytoplasmic mRNA degradation post-transcription and novel RNAi, mediating epigenetic modifications at the transcription level in the nucleus. Finally, the challenge of delivering gene modifications via RNAi will be discussed, along with the unique characteristics of respiratory versus systemic administration routes to highlight recent advances and future potential of RNAi antiviral treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christina Cortez-Jugo
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology and the Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Yijiao Qu
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology and the Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | | | - Frank Caruso
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology and the Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
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11
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Ahlenstiel CL, Symonds G, Kent SJ, Kelleher AD. Block and Lock HIV Cure Strategies to Control the Latent Reservoir. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:424. [PMID: 32923412 PMCID: PMC7457024 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The HIV latent reservoir represents the major challenge to cure development. Residing in resting CD4+ T cells and myeloid cells at multiple locations in the body, including sanctuary sites such as the brain, the latent reservoir is not eliminated by ART and has the ability to reactivate virus replication to pre-therapy levels when ART is ceased. There are four broad areas of HIV cure research. The only successful cure strategy, thus far, is stem cell transplantation using naturally HIV resistant CCR5Δ32 stem cells. A second potential cure approach uses gene editing technology, such as zinc-finger nucleases and CRISPR/Cas9. Another two cure strategies aim to control the HIV reservoir, with polar opposite concepts; The "shock and kill" approach, which aims to "shock" or reactivate the latent virus and then "kill" infected cells via targeted immune responses. Lastly, the "block and lock" approach, which aims to enhance the latent virus state by "blocking" HIV transcription and "locking" the HIV promoter in a deep latent state via epigenetic modifications. "Shock and kill" approaches are a major focus of cure studies, however we predict that the increased specificity of "block and lock" approaches will be required for the successful development of a sustained HIV clinical remission in the absence of ART. This review focuses on the current research of novel "block and lock" approaches being explored to generate an HIV cure via induction of epigenetic silencing. We will also discuss potential future therapeutic delivery and the challenges associated with progressing "block and lock" cure approaches as these move toward clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephen J Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,ARC Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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12
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Ohata PJ, Kerr SJ, Avihingsanon A, Ramautarsing R, Gatechompol S, Ueaphongsukkit T, Phanuphak N, Kroon E, Ubolyam S, Colby D, Phanuphak P. Conference proceedings from the 22nd Bangkok International Symposium on HIV Medicine. Future Virol 2020. [DOI: 10.2217/fvl-2020-0009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The Bangkok International Symposium on HIV Medicine is one of the longest running and largest international conferences in the Asia–Pacific, providing healthcare workers with the most up-to-date information pertaining to HIV and coinfections. In the third week of January 2020, 500 HIV researchers and service providers from over 21 countries worldwide gathered in Bangkok to share data and experiences in the treatment and prevention of HIV, TB and sexually transmitted infections. Highlights of the 2020 symposium included a roundtable discussion of pre-exposure prophylaxis, a 1-day forum on TB, the potential for a HBV cure and, for the first time, oral presentations from four young investigators from the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pirapon June Ohata
- HIV-NAT, Thai Red Cross – AIDS Research Centre, 104 Ratchadamri Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Stephen J Kerr
- HIV-NAT, Thai Red Cross – AIDS Research Centre, 104 Ratchadamri Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Biostatistics Excellence Centre, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, NSW, Sydney 2052, Australia
| | - Anchalee Avihingsanon
- HIV-NAT, Thai Red Cross – AIDS Research Centre, 104 Ratchadamri Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Tuberculosis Research Unit (TB RU), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Reshmie Ramautarsing
- PREVENTION, Thai Red Cross – AIDS Research Centre, 104 Ratchadamri Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sivaporn Gatechompol
- HIV-NAT, Thai Red Cross – AIDS Research Centre, 104 Ratchadamri Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Tuberculosis Research Unit (TB RU), Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Thornthun Ueaphongsukkit
- HIV-NAT, Thai Red Cross – AIDS Research Centre, 104 Ratchadamri Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Nittaya Phanuphak
- PREVENTION, Thai Red Cross – AIDS Research Centre, 104 Ratchadamri Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Eugene Kroon
- SEARCH, Thai Red Cross – AIDS Research Centre, 104 Ratchadamri Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Sasiwimol Ubolyam
- HIV-NAT, Thai Red Cross – AIDS Research Centre, 104 Ratchadamri Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
| | - Donn Colby
- SEARCH, Thai Red Cross – AIDS Research Centre, 104 Ratchadamri Rd., Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
- Henry M Jackson Foundation, Bethesda, MD 20817, USA
- US Military HIV Research Program, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - Praphan Phanuphak
- HIV-NAT, Thai Red Cross – AIDS Research Centre, 104 Ratchadamri Rd, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand
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13
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The utilization of genetically modified T cells to therapeutically target to various previously incurable diseases such, as cancer, has expanded exponentially in recent years. This success now provides the motivating force in applying the same technology for incurable infectious diseases including HIV. The common bottleneck in gene therapy continues to be at the level of gene delivery. Although present approaches adapt the cell to the delivery technology, emerging techniques now focus on leaving cells in their phenotypically resting state. In doing so, engraftment and proliferation potential are retained and in turn increase the efficacy of this approach at a lowered cost. This review will outline the main efforts of gene delivery using viral vectors or nonviral vectors and challenges moving forward not only in resting T cells, but also in other resting immune cells including hematopoietic stem cells. RECENT FINDINGS In focusing on HIV cure efforts using gene therapy, progress on solving the challenges of gene delivery will be described for both viral and nonviral vectors. Advances in the basic virology of lentiviruses have led to the proposal of many next generation lentiviral vector platforms for resting immune cells. Moreover, we will also highlight the progress made in nonviral approaches using nanotechnology as alternatives and/or synergistic technologies to be used alongside lentiviral platforms. SUMMARY The innovative approaches described in these recent studies, particularly those using the natural mechanisms employed by HIV to enhance for example virus entry or virus latency, will enable future optimization of gene delivery platforms and therapeutics, which will importantly, provide a pathway toward translation into clinical practice.
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14
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Ait-Ammar A, Kula A, Darcis G, Verdikt R, De Wit S, Gautier V, Mallon PWG, Marcello A, Rohr O, Van Lint C. Current Status of Latency Reversing Agents Facing the Heterogeneity of HIV-1 Cellular and Tissue Reservoirs. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:3060. [PMID: 32038533 PMCID: PMC6993040 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.03060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most explored therapeutic approaches aimed at eradicating HIV-1 reservoirs is the "shock and kill" strategy which is based on HIV-1 reactivation in latently-infected cells ("shock" phase) while maintaining antiretroviral therapy (ART) in order to prevent spreading of the infection by the neosynthesized virus. This kind of strategy allows for the "kill" phase, during which latently-infected cells die from viral cytopathic effects or from host cytolytic effector mechanisms following viral reactivation. Several latency reversing agents (LRAs) with distinct mechanistic classes have been characterized to reactivate HIV-1 viral gene expression. Some LRAs have been tested in terms of their potential to purge latent HIV-1 in vivo in clinical trials, showing that reversing HIV-1 latency is possible. However, LRAs alone have failed to reduce the size of the viral reservoirs. Together with the inability of the immune system to clear the LRA-activated reservoirs and the lack of specificity of these LRAs, the heterogeneity of the reservoirs largely contributes to the limited success of clinical trials using LRAs. Indeed, HIV-1 latency is established in numerous cell types that are characterized by distinct phenotypes and metabolic properties, and these are influenced by patient history. Hence, the silencing mechanisms of HIV-1 gene expression in these cellular and tissue reservoirs need to be better understood to rationally improve this cure strategy and hopefully reach clinical success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina Ait-Ammar
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Virology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Anna Kula
- Malopolska Centre of Biotechnology, Laboratory of Virology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Gilles Darcis
- Infectious Diseases Department, Liège University Hospital, Liège, Belgium
| | - Roxane Verdikt
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Virology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium
| | - Stephane De Wit
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses, CHU Saint-Pierre, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Bruxelles, Belgium
| | - Virginie Gautier
- UCD Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research (CEPHR), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Patrick W G Mallon
- UCD Centre for Experimental Pathogen Host Research (CEPHR), School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Alessandro Marcello
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy
| | - Olivier Rohr
- Université de Strasbourg, EA7292, FMTS, IUT Louis Pasteur, Schiltigheim, France
| | - Carine Van Lint
- Service of Molecular Virology, Department of Molecular Virology (DBM), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), Gosselies, Belgium
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15
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Abstract
The RNA interference (RNAi) pathway regulates mRNA stability and translation in nearly all human cells. Small double-stranded RNA molecules can efficiently trigger RNAi silencing of specific genes, but their therapeutic use has faced numerous challenges involving safety and potency. However, August 2018 marked a new era for the field, with the US Food and Drug Administration approving patisiran, the first RNAi-based drug. In this Review, we discuss key advances in the design and development of RNAi drugs leading up to this landmark achievement, the state of the current clinical pipeline and prospects for future advances, including novel RNAi pathway agents utilizing mechanisms beyond post-translational RNAi silencing.
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16
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Niu Q, Liu Z, Alamer E, Fan X, Chen H, Endsley J, Gelman BB, Tian B, Kim JH, Michael NL, Robb ML, Ananworanich J, Zhou J, Hu H. Structure-guided drug design identifies a BRD4-selective small molecule that suppresses HIV. J Clin Invest 2019; 129:3361-3373. [PMID: 31329163 DOI: 10.1172/jci120633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV integrates its provirus into the host genome and establishes latent infection. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) can control HIV viremia, but cannot eradicate or cure the virus. Approaches targeting host epigenetic machinery to repress HIV, leading to an aviremic state free of ART, are needed. Bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family protein BRD4 is an epigenetic reader involved in HIV transcriptional regulation. Using structure-guided drug design, we identified a small molecule (ZL0580) that induced epigenetic suppression of HIV via BRD4. We showed that ZL0580 induced HIV suppression in multiple in vitro and ex vivo cell models. Combination treatment of cells of aviremic HIV-infected individuals with ART and ZL0580 revealed that ZL0580 accelerated HIV suppression during ART and delayed viral rebound after ART cessation. Mechanistically different from the BET/BRD4 pan-inhibitor JQ1, which nonselectively binds to BD1 and BD2 domains of all BET proteins, ZL0580 selectively bound to BD1 domain of BRD4. We further demonstrate that ZL0580 induced HIV suppression by inhibiting Tat transactivation and transcription elongation as well as by inducing repressive chromatin structure at the HIV promoter. Our findings establish a proof of concept for modulation of BRD4 to epigenetically suppress HIV and provide a promising chemical scaffold for the development of probes and/or therapeutic agents for HIV epigenetic silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingli Niu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA.,Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences
| | - Zhiqing Liu
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
| | - Edrous Alamer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA.,Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences
| | - Xiuzhen Fan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA.,Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences
| | - Haiying Chen
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
| | - Janice Endsley
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA.,Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences
| | | | - Bing Tian
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, UTMB, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jerome H Kim
- International Vaccine Institute, Gwanak-gu, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Nelson L Michael
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Merlin L Robb
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Jintanat Ananworanich
- US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA.,Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.,Department of Global Health, The University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jia Zhou
- Chemical Biology Program, Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology
| | - Haitao Hu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB), Galveston, Texas, USA.,Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences
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17
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Tsukamoto T. Gene Therapy Approaches to Functional Cure and Protection of Hematopoietic Potential in HIV Infection. Pharmaceutics 2019; 11:E114. [PMID: 30862061 PMCID: PMC6470728 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics11030114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Although current antiretroviral drug therapy can suppress the replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), a lifelong prescription is necessary to avoid viral rebound. The problem of persistent and ineradicable viral reservoirs in HIV-infected people continues to be a global threat. In addition, some HIV-infected patients do not experience sufficient T-cell immune restoration despite being aviremic during treatment. This is likely due to altered hematopoietic potential. To achieve the global eradication of HIV disease, a cure is needed. To this end, tremendous efforts have been made in the field of anti-HIV gene therapy. This review will discuss the concepts of HIV cure and relative viral attenuation and provide an overview of various gene therapy approaches aimed at a complete or functional HIV cure and protection of hematopoietic functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsuo Tsukamoto
- Department of Immunology, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, Osaka 5898511, Japan.
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18
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Pitman MC, Lewin SR. Towards a cure for human immunodeficiency virus. Intern Med J 2018; 48:12-15. [PMID: 29314511 DOI: 10.1111/imj.13673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Revised: 10/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Pitman
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sharon R Lewin
- The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne and Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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19
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Transcriptional gene silencing limits CXCR4-associated depletion of bone marrow CD34+ cells in HIV-1 infection. AIDS 2018; 32:1737-1747. [PMID: 29762163 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0000000000001882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Hematological abnormalities that include changes in bone marrow, such as in anemia and pancytopenia, are common among HIV-infected patients, particularly in the advanced stage of disease. Such abnormalities may be caused by a reduced bone marrow function for hematopoiesis. The aim of this study was to determine whether transcriptional gene silencing can help to preserve the hosts' hematopoietic potential in addition to peripheral CD4+ T cells against CCR5-tropic HIV infection. DESIGN NOD/SCID/JAK3null (NOJ) mice were transplanted with human cord-derived CD34+ cells with or without transduction with a lentiviral vector expressing a promoter-targeting shRNA called PromA. METHODS At 16 weeks after transplantation, mice engrafted with CD34+ cells were infected with CCR5-tropic HIV-1JRFL. RESULTS At week 2 postinfection, HIV replication was observed in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and splenocytes. In mice transplanted with unmanipulated CD34+ cells, viral replication was accompanied by a loss of peripheral/spleen CD4+CCR5+ T cells. Interestingly, bone marrow CD34+ cells in HIV-infected mice were also depleted, but in a CXCR4-associated manner. Conversely, the lentiviral transfer of PromA in CD34+ cells prior to transplantation rendered the humanized NOJ mice resistant to HIV replication in CD4+ T cells, resulting in better preservation of peripheral/spleen CD4+CCR5+ T cells and bone marrow CD34+ cells at 2 weeks after infection. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that stable gene transfer of PromA to hematopoietic stem cells not only limited HIV replication but also led to preservation of different subsets of hematopoietic cells, including bone marrow stem/progenitor cells and CD4+ T cells.
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20
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Higaki K, Hirao M, Kawana-Tachikawa A, Iriguchi S, Kumagai A, Ueda N, Bo W, Kamibayashi S, Watanabe A, Nakauchi H, Suzuki K, Kaneko S. Generation of HIV-Resistant Macrophages from IPSCs by Using Transcriptional Gene Silencing and Promoter-Targeted RNA. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 12:793-804. [PMID: 30141412 PMCID: PMC6111070 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.07.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has markedly prolonged the prognosis of HIV-1 patients. However, lifelong dependency on HAART is a continuing challenge, and an effective therapeutic is much desired. Recently, introduction of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting the HIV-1 promoter was found to suppress HIV-1 replication via transcriptional gene silencing (TGS). The technology is expected to be applied with hemato-lymphopoietic cell transplantation of HIV patients to suppress HIV transcription in transplanted hemato-lymphopoietic cells. Combination of the TGS technology with new cell transplantation strategy with induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived hemato-lymphopoietic cells might contribute to new gene therapy in the HIV field. In this study, we evaluated iPSC-derived macrophage functions and feasibility of TGS technology in macrophages. Human iPSCs were transduced with shRNAs targeting the HIV-1 promoter region (shPromA) by using a lentiviral vector. The shPromA-transfected iPSCs were successfully differentiated into functional macrophages, and they exhibited strong protection against HIV-1 replication with alteration in the histone structure of the HIV-1 promoter region to induce heterochromatin formation. These results indicated that iPS-derived macrophage is a useful tool to investigate HIV infection and protection, and that the TGS technology targeting the HIV promoter is a potential candidate of new gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kei Higaki
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Masako Hirao
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Ai Kawana-Tachikawa
- AIDS Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
| | - Shoichi Iriguchi
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Ayako Kumagai
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Norihiro Ueda
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Wang Bo
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Sanae Kamibayashi
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Akira Watanabe
- Watanabe Laboratory, Department of Life Science Frontier, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, 606-8501 Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiromitsu Nakauchi
- Division of Stem Cell Therapy, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Kazuo Suzuki
- St Vincent's Centre for Applied Medical Research (AMR), St Vincent's Hospital, Darlinghurst, NSW 2010, Australia.
| | - Shin Kaneko
- Shin Kaneko Laboratory, Department of Cell Growth and Differentiation, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
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21
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Ma XX, Ma Z, Pan Q. The Challenges of Long-Term Transcriptional Gene Silencing by RNA Viruses. Trends Biochem Sci 2018; 43:649-650. [PMID: 30041840 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2018.06.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2018] [Revised: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 06/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Since the past few decades, the small RNA (sRNA) technologies including small interfering RNA and miRNA have been widely explored for therapeutic development. Classically, these sRNAs target the coding regions of mRNA to exert temporal gene silencing in a post-transcriptional manner. Interestingly, sRNAs targeting gene promoters have been recently described to mediate long-term transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) by epigenetic modifications. This has further harnessed the potential applications in gene therapy. However, efficient delivery is a common hurdle for almost any types of gene therapy approaches. In a recent issue of Trends in Biochemical Sciences, Baltusnikas et al. have proposed to use RNA viruses to deliver sRNA for long-term TGS, suggesting long-term therapy by a single administration approach for various diseases, including chronic, incurable, and fatal illnesses. Being a novel and ambitious gene therapy strategy, we hereby would like to emphasize three major challenges and propose potential solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Xia Ma
- Center for Biomedical Research, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, China; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Zhongren Ma
- Center for Biomedical Research, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qiuwei Pan
- Center for Biomedical Research, Northwest Minzu University, Lanzhou, China; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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22
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Shrivastava S, Charlins P, Ackley A, Embree H, Dropulic B, Akkina R, Weinberg MS, Morris KV. Stable Transcriptional Repression and Parasitism of HIV-1. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 12:12-18. [PMID: 30195752 PMCID: PMC6019856 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Gene-based therapies represent a promising treatment for HIV-1 infection, as they offer the potential for sustained viral inhibition and reduced treatment interventions. One approach developed here involves using conditionally replicating vectors (CR-vectors). CR-vectors utilize HIV-expressed proteins to replicate and disseminate along with HIV into the budding viral particles, thereby co-infecting target cellular reservoirs. We generated and characterized several CR-vectors carrying various therapeutic payloads of non-coding RNAs targeted to HIV-1, both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally. Both virus and vector expression was followed in cell culture systems and T cells in the presence and absence of mycophenolic acid (MPA) selection. We find here that CR-vectors functionally suppress HIV expression in a long-term stable manner and that transcriptional targeting of and epigenetic silencing of HIV can be passaged to newly infected cells by the action of the CR-vector, ultimately establishing a sustained parasitism of HIV. Our findings suggest that CR-vectors with modulatory non-coding RNAs may be a viable approach to achieving long-term sustained suppression of HIV-1, leading ultimately to a functional cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Surya Shrivastava
- Hematological Malignancy and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute and Center for Gene Therapy, City of Hope-Beckman Research Institute, 1500 Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91007, USA
| | - Paige Charlins
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Amanda Ackley
- Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Ramesh Akkina
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Marc S Weinberg
- Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kevin V Morris
- Hematological Malignancy and Stem Cell Transplantation Institute and Center for Gene Therapy, City of Hope-Beckman Research Institute, 1500 Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91007, USA; Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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23
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Zhou J, Lazar D, Li H, Xia X, Satheesan S, Charlins P, O'Mealy D, Akkina R, Saayman S, Weinberg MS, Rossi JJ, Morris KV. Receptor-targeted aptamer-siRNA conjugate-directed transcriptional regulation of HIV-1. Am J Cancer Res 2018; 8:1575-1590. [PMID: 29556342 PMCID: PMC5858168 DOI: 10.7150/thno.23085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene-based therapies represent a promising therapeutic paradigm for the treatment of HIV-1, as they have the potential to maintain sustained viral inhibition with reduced treatment interventions. Such an option may represent a long-term treatment alternative to highly active antiretroviral therapy. Methods: We previously described a therapeutic approach, referred to as transcriptional gene silencing (TGS), whereby small noncoding RNAs directly inhibit the transcriptional activity of HIV-1 by targeting sites within the viral promoter, specifically the 5' long terminal repeat (LTR). TGS differs from traditional RNA interference (RNAi) in that it is characterized by concomitant silent-state epigenetic marks on histones and DNA. To deliver TGS-inducing RNAs, we developed functional RNA conjugates based on the previously reported dual function of the gp120 (A-1) aptamer conjugated to 27-mer Dicer-substrate anti-HIV-1 siRNA (dsiRNA), LTR-362. Results: We demonstrate here that high levels of processed guide RNAs localize to the nucleus in infected T lymphoblastoid CEM cell line and primary human CD4+ T-cells. Treatment of the aptamer-siRNA conjugates induced TGS with an ~10-fold suppression of viral p24 levels as measured at day 12 post infection. To explore the silencing efficacy of aptamer-siRNA conjugates in vivo, HIV-1-infected humanized NOD/SCID/IL2 rγnull mice (hu-NSG) were treated with the aptamer-siRNA conjugates. Systemic delivery of the A-1-stick-LTR-362 27-mer siRNA conjugates suppressed HIV-1 infection and protected CD4+ T cell levels in viremia hu-NSG mice. Principle conclusions: Collectively these data suggest that the gp120 aptamer-dsiRNA conjugate design is suitable for systemic delivery of small RNAs that can be used to suppress HIV-1.
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Mechanism of Interferon-Stimulated Gene Induction in HIV-1-Infected Macrophages. J Virol 2017; 91:JVI.00744-17. [PMID: 28768867 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00744-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Viruses manipulate the complex interferon and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) system in different ways. We have previously shown that HIV inhibits type I and III interferons in its key target cells but directly stimulates a subset of >20 ISGs in macrophages and dendritic cells, many of which are antiviral. Here, we examine the mechanism of induction of ISGs and show this occurs in two phases. The first phase was transient (0 to 24 h postinfection [hpi]), induced mainly by extracellular vesicles and one of its component proteins, HSP90α, contained within the HIV inoculum. The second, dominant, and persistent phase (>48 hpi) was induced via newly transcribed HIV RNA and sensed via RIGI, as shown by the reduction in ISG expression after the knockdown of the RIGI adaptor, MAVS, by small interfering RNA (siRNA) and the inhibition of both the initiation and elongation of HIV transcription by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) transcriptional silencing. We further define the induction pathway, showing sequential HIV RNA stimulation via Tat, RIGI, MAVS, IRF1, and IRF7, also identified by siRNA knockdown. IRF1 also plays a key role in the first phase. We also show that the ISGs IFIT1 to -3 inhibit HIV production, measured as extracellular infectious virus. All induced antiviral ISGs probably lead to restriction of HIV replication in macrophages, contributing to a persistent, noncytopathic infection, while the inhibition of interferon facilitates spread to adjacent cells. Both may influence the size of macrophage HIV reservoirs in vivo Elucidating the mechanisms of ISG induction may help in devising immunotherapeutic strategies to limit the size of these reservoirs.IMPORTANCE HIV, like other viruses, manipulates the antiviral interferon and interferon-stimulated gene (ISG) system to facilitate its initial infection and establishment of viral reservoirs. HIV specifically inhibits all type I and III interferons in its target cells, including macrophages, dendritic cells, and T cells. It also induces a subset of over 20 ISGs of differing compositions in each cell target. This occurs in two temporal phases in macrophages. Extracellular vesicles contained within the inoculum induce the first, transient phase of ISGs. Newly transcribed HIV RNA induce the second, dominant ISG phase, and here, the full induction pathway is defined. Therefore, HIV nucleic acids, which are potent inducers of interferon and ISGs, are initially concealed, and antiviral ISGs are not fully induced until replication is well established. These antiviral ISGs may contribute to persistent infection in macrophages and to the establishment of viral reservoirs in vivo.
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Achieving HIV-1 Control through RNA-Directed Gene Regulation. Genes (Basel) 2016; 7:genes7120119. [PMID: 27941595 PMCID: PMC5192495 DOI: 10.3390/genes7120119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2016] [Revised: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 infection has been transformed by combined anti-retroviral therapy (ART), changing a universally fatal infection into a controllable infection. However, major obstacles for an HIV-1 cure exist. The HIV latent reservoir, which exists in resting CD4+ T cells, is not impacted by ART, and can reactivate when ART is interrupted or ceased. Additionally, multi-drug resistance can arise. One alternate approach to conventional HIV-1 drug treatment that is being explored involves gene therapies utilizing RNA-directed gene regulation. Commonly known as RNA interference (RNAi), short interfering RNA (siRNA) induce gene silencing in conserved biological pathways, which require a high degree of sequence specificity. This review will provide an overview of the silencing pathways, the current RNAi technologies being developed for HIV-1 gene therapy, current clinical trials, and the challenges faced in progressing these treatments into clinical trials.
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McAllery SA, Ahlenstiel CL, Suzuki K, Symonds GP, Kelleher AD, Turville SG. The feasibility of incorporating Vpx into lentiviral gene therapy vectors. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2016; 5:16066. [PMID: 27790625 PMCID: PMC5070512 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2016.66] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 08/30/2016] [Accepted: 08/31/2016] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
While current antiretroviral therapy has significantly improved, challenges still remain in life-long targeting of HIV-1 reservoirs. Lentiviral gene therapy has the potential to deliver protective genes into the HIV-1 reservoir. However, inefficient reverse transcription (RT) occurs in HIV-1 reservoirs during lentiviral gene delivery. The viral protein Vpx is capable of increasing lentiviral RT by antagonizing the restriction factor SAMHD1. Incorporating Vpx into lentiviral vectors could substantially increase gene delivery into the HIV-1 reservoir. The feasibility of this Vpx approach was tested in resting cell models utilizing macrophages and dendritic cells. Our results showed Vpx exposure led to increased permissiveness of cells over a period that exceeded 2 weeks. Consequently, significant lower potency of HIV-1 antiretrovirals inhibiting RT and integration was observed. When Vpx was incorporated with anti-HIV-1 genes inhibiting either pre-RT or post-RT stages of the viral life-cycle, transduction levels significantly increased. However, a stronger antiviral effect was only observed with constructs that inhibit pre-RT stages of the viral life cycle. In conclusion this study demonstrates a way to overcome the major delivery obstacle of gene delivery into HIV-1 reservoir cell types. Importantly, incorporating Vpx with pre-RT anti-HIV-1 genes, demonstrated the greatest protection against HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kazuo Suzuki
- St Vincent's Center for Applied Medical Research , Darlinghurst, Australia
| | - Geoff P Symonds
- St Vincent's Center for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia; Calimmune Pty Ltd., Darlinghurst, Australia
| | - Anthony D Kelleher
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; St Vincent's Center for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst, Australia
| | - Stuart G Turville
- The Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales , Sydney, Australia
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Weinberg MS, Morris KV. Transcriptional gene silencing in humans. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:6505-17. [PMID: 27060137 PMCID: PMC5001580 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2016] [Revised: 02/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been over a decade since the first observation that small non-coding RNAs can functionally modulate epigenetic states in human cells to achieve functional transcriptional gene silencing (TGS). TGS is mechanistically distinct from the RNA interference (RNAi) gene-silencing pathway. TGS can result in long-term stable epigenetic modifications to gene expression that can be passed on to daughter cells during cell division, whereas RNAi does not. Early studies of TGS have been largely overlooked, overshadowed by subsequent discoveries of small RNA-directed post-TGS and RNAi. A reappraisal of early work has been brought about by recent findings in human cells where endogenous long non-coding RNAs function to regulate the epigenome. There are distinct and common overlaps between the proteins involved in small and long non-coding RNA transcriptional regulatory mechanisms, suggesting that the early studies using small non-coding RNAs to modulate transcription were making use of a previously unrecognized endogenous mechanism of RNA-directed gene regulation. Here we review how non-coding RNA plays a role in regulation of transcription and epigenetic gene silencing in human cells by revisiting these earlier studies and the mechanistic insights gained to date. We also provide a list of mammalian genes that have been shown to be transcriptionally regulated by non-coding RNAs. Lastly, we explore how TGS may serve as the basis for development of future therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc S Weinberg
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, WITS 2050, South Africa HIV Pathogenesis Research Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Haematology, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, WITS 2050, South Africa
| | - Kevin V Morris
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA Center for Gene Therapy, City of Hope - BeckmanResearch Institute; Duarte, CA 91010, USA School of Biotechnology and Biomedical Sciences, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, 2033 Australia
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28
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Swamy MN, Wu H, Shankar P. Recent advances in RNAi-based strategies for therapy and prevention of HIV-1/AIDS. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2016; 103:174-186. [PMID: 27013255 PMCID: PMC4935623 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2015] [Revised: 03/10/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) provides a powerful tool to silence specific gene expression and has been widely used to suppress host factors such as CCR5 and/or viral genes involved in HIV-1 replication. Newer nuclease-based gene-editing technologies, such as zinc finger nucleases (ZFN), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALEN) and the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system, also provide powerful tools to ablate specific genes. Because of differences in co-receptor usage and the high mutability of the HIV-1 genome, a combination of host factors and viral genes needs to be suppressed for effective prevention and treatment of HIV-1 infection. Whereas the continued presence of small interfering/short hairpin RNA (si/shRNA) mediators is needed for RNAi to be effective, the continued expression of nucleases in the gene-editing systems is undesirable. Thus, RNAi provides the only practical way for expression of multiple silencers in infected and uninfected cells, which is needed for effective prevention/treatment of infection. There have been several advances in the RNAi field in terms of si/shRNA design, targeted delivery to HIV-1 susceptible cells, and testing for efficacy in preclinical humanized mouse models. Here, we comprehensively review the latest advances in RNAi technology towards prevention and treatment of HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjunath N Swamy
- Center of Emphasis in Infectious Disease, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA.
| | - Haoquan Wu
- Center of Emphasis in Infectious Disease, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Premlata Shankar
- Center of Emphasis in Infectious Disease, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA.
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29
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Tsukamoto T, Yamamoto H, Okada S, Matano T. Recursion-based depletion of human immunodeficiency virus-specific naive CD4(+) T cells may facilitate persistent viral replication and chronic viraemia leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Med Hypotheses 2016; 94:81-5. [PMID: 27515208 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2016.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2015] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Although antiretroviral therapy has made human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection a controllable disease, it is still unclear how viral replication persists in untreated patients and causes CD4(+) T-cell depletion leading to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) in several years. Theorists tried to explain it with the diversity threshold theory in which accumulated mutations in the HIV genome make the virus so diverse that the immune system will no longer be able to recognize all the variants and fail to control the viraemia. Although the theory could apply to a number of cases, macaque AIDS models using simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) have shown that failed viral control at the set point is not always associated with T-cell escape mutations. Moreover, even monkeys without a protective major histocompatibility complex (MHC) allele can contain replication of a super infected SIV following immunization with a live-attenuated SIV vaccine, while those animals are not capable of fighting primary SIV infection. Here we propose a recursion-based virus-specific naive CD4(+) T-cell depletion hypothesis through thinking on what may happen in individuals experiencing primary immunodeficiency virus infection. This could explain the mechanism for impairment of virus-specific immune response in the course of HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Hiroyuki Yamamoto
- AIDS Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Seiji Okada
- Center for AIDS Research, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Matano
- AIDS Research Center, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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30
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Glass JJ, Yuen D, Rae J, Johnston APR, Parton RG, Kent SJ, De Rose R. Human immune cell targeting of protein nanoparticles--caveospheres. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:8255-8265. [PMID: 27031090 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr00506c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Nanotechnology has the power to transform vaccine and drug delivery through protection of payloads from both metabolism and off-target effects, while facilitating specific delivery of cargo to immune cells. However, evaluation of immune cell nanoparticle targeting is conventionally restricted to monocultured cell line models. We generated human caveolin-1 nanoparticles, termed caveospheres, which were efficiently functionalized with monoclonal antibodies. Using this platform, we investigated CD4+ T cell and CD20+ B cell targeting within physiological mixtures of primary human blood immune cells using flow cytometry, imaging flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Antibody-functionalization enhanced caveosphere binding to targeted immune cells (6.6 to 43.9-fold) within mixed populations and in the presence of protein-containing fluids. Moreover, targeting caveospheres to CCR5 enabled caveosphere internalization by non-phagocytic CD4+ T cells--an important therapeutic target for HIV treatment. This efficient and flexible system of immune cell-targeted caveosphere nanoparticles holds promise for the development of advanced immunotherapeutics and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua J Glass
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Daniel Yuen
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - James Rae
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Angus P R Johnston
- Drug Delivery, Disposition and Dynamics, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, Monash University, Parkville, Australia
| | - Robert G Parton
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience and Centre for Microscopy and Microanalysis, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Australia
| | - Stephen J Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia and Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Health, Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia.
| | - Robert De Rose
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia and ARC Centre of Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
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31
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Pandit A, de Boer RJ. HIV-1 CCR5 gene therapy will fail unless it is combined with a suicide gene. Sci Rep 2015; 5:18088. [PMID: 26674113 PMCID: PMC4682191 DOI: 10.1038/srep18088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) has successfully turned Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) from a deadly pathogen into a manageable chronic infection. ART is a lifelong therapy which is both expensive and toxic, and HIV can become resistant to it. An alternative to lifelong ART is gene therapy that targets the CCR5 co-receptor and creates a population of genetically modified host cells that are less susceptible to viral infection. With generic mathematical models we show that gene therapy that only targets the CCR5 co-receptor fails to suppress HIV-1 (which is in agreement with current data). We predict that the same gene therapy can be markedly improved if it is combined with a suicide gene that is only expressed upon HIV-1 infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aridaman Pandit
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584CH, The Netherlands
| | - Rob J de Boer
- Theoretical Biology and Bioinformatics, Utrecht University, Utrecht, 3584CH, The Netherlands
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32
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Liu C, Ma X, Liu B, Chen C, Zhang H. HIV-1 functional cure: will the dream come true? BMC Med 2015; 13:284. [PMID: 26588898 PMCID: PMC4654816 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-015-0517-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2015] [Accepted: 11/03/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The reservoir of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), a long-lived pool of latently infected cells harboring replication-competent viruses, is the major obstacle to curing acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). Although the combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) can successfully suppress HIV-1 viremia and significantly delay the progression of the disease, it cannot eliminate the viral reservoir and the patient must continue to take anti-viral medicines for life. Currently, the appearance of the 'Berlin patient', the 'Boston patients', and the 'Mississippi baby' have inspired many therapeutic strategies for HIV-1 aimed at curing efforts. However, the specific eradication of viral latency and the recovery and optimization of the HIV-1-specific immune surveillance are major challenges to achieving such a cure. Here, we summarize recent studies addressing the mechanisms underlying the viral latency and define two categories of viral reservoir: 'shallow' and 'deep'. We also present the current strategies and recent advances in the development of a functional cure for HIV-1, focusing on full/partial replacement of the immune system, 'shock and kill', and 'permanent silencing' approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Liu
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Xiancai Ma
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Bingfeng Liu
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Cancan Chen
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Hui Zhang
- Institute of Human Virology, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China. .,Key Laboratory of Tropical Disease Control of Ministry of Education, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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Novel RNA Duplex Locks HIV-1 in a Latent State via Chromatin-mediated Transcriptional Silencing. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2015; 4:e261. [PMID: 26506039 PMCID: PMC4881759 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2015.31] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) of mammalian genes can be induced by short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting promoter regions. We previously reported potent TGS of HIV-1 by siRNA (PromA), which targets tandem NF-κB motifs within the viral 5′LTR. In this study, we screened a siRNA panel with the aim of identifying novel 5′LTR targets, to provide multiplexing potential with enhanced viral silencing and application toward developing alternate therapeutic strategies. Systematic examination identified a novel siRNA target, si143, confirmed to induce TGS as the silencing mechanism. TGS was prolonged with virus suppression >12 days, despite a limited ability to induce post- TGS. Epigenetic changes associated with silencing were suggested by partial reversal by histone deacetylase inhibitors and confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation analyses, which showed induction of H3K27me3 and H3K9me3, reduction in H3K9Ac, and recruitment of argonaute-1, all characteristic marks of heterochromatin and TGS. Together, these epigenetic changes mimic those associated with HIV-1 latency. Further, robust resistance to reactivation was observed in the J-Lat 9.2 cell latency model, when transduced with shPromA and/or sh143. These data support si/shRNA-mediated TGS approaches to HIV-1 and provide alternate targets to pursue a functional cure, whereby the viral reservoir is locked in latency following antiretroviral therapy cessation.
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Ahlenstiel CL, Suzuki K, Marks K, Symonds GP, Kelleher AD. Controlling HIV-1: Non-Coding RNA Gene Therapy Approaches to a Functional Cure. Front Immunol 2015; 6:474. [PMID: 26441979 PMCID: PMC4584958 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2015.00474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The current treatment strategy for HIV-1 involves prolonged and intensive combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), which successfully suppresses plasma viremia. It has transformed HIV-1 infection into a chronic disease. However, despite the success of cART, a latent form of HIV-1 infection persists as integrated provirus in resting memory CD4(+) T cells. Virus can reactivate from this reservoir upon cessation of treatment, and hence HIV requires lifelong therapy. The reservoir represents a major barrier to eradication. Understanding molecular mechanisms regulating HIV-1 transcription and latency are crucial to develop alternate treatment strategies, which impact upon the reservoir and provide a path toward a "functional cure" in which there is no detectable viremia in the absence of cART. Numerous reports have suggested ncRNAs are involved in regulating viral transcription and latency. This review will discuss the latest developments in ncRNAs, specifically short interfering (si)RNA and short hairpin (sh)RNA, targeting molecular mechanisms of HIV-1 transcription, which may represent potential future therapeutics. It will also briefly address animal models for testing potential therapeutics and current gene therapy clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kazuo Suzuki
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Immunovirology Laboratory, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | - Katherine Marks
- Immunovirology Laboratory, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
| | | | - Anthony D. Kelleher
- The Kirby Institute, UNSW Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Immunovirology Laboratory, St. Vincent’s Centre for Applied Medical Research, Darlinghurst, NSW, Australia
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Méndez C, Ahlenstiel CL, Kelleher AD. Post-transcriptional gene silencing, transcriptional gene silencing and human immunodeficiency virus. World J Virol 2015; 4:219-244. [PMID: 26279984 PMCID: PMC4534814 DOI: 10.5501/wjv.v4.i3.219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2014] [Revised: 01/24/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
While human immunodeficiency virus 1 (HIV-1) infection is controlled through continuous, life-long use of a combination of drugs targeting different steps of the virus cycle, HIV-1 is never completely eradicated from the body. Despite decades of research there is still no effective vaccine to prevent HIV-1 infection. Therefore, the possibility of an RNA interference (RNAi)-based cure has become an increasingly explored approach. Endogenous gene expression is controlled at both, transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels by non-coding RNAs, which act through diverse molecular mechanisms including RNAi. RNAi has the potential to control the turning on/off of specific genes through transcriptional gene silencing (TGS), as well as fine-tuning their expression through post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS). In this review we will describe in detail the canonical RNAi pathways for PTGS and TGS, the relationship of TGS with other silencing mechanisms and will discuss a variety of approaches developed to suppress HIV-1 via manipulation of RNAi. We will briefly compare RNAi strategies against other approaches developed to target the virus, highlighting their potential to overcome the major obstacle to finding a cure, which is the specific targeting of the HIV-1 reservoir within latently infected cells.
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36
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Bobbin ML, Burnett JC, Rossi JJ. RNA interference approaches for treatment of HIV-1 infection. Genome Med 2015; 7:50. [PMID: 26019725 PMCID: PMC4445287 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-015-0174-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
HIV/AIDS is a chronic and debilitating disease that cannot be cured with current antiretroviral drugs. While combinatorial antiretroviral therapy (cART) can potently suppress HIV-1 replication and delay the onset of AIDS, viral mutagenesis often leads to viral escape from multiple drugs. In addition to the pharmacological agents that comprise cART drug cocktails, new biological therapeutics are reaching the clinic. These include gene-based therapies that utilize RNA interference (RNAi) to silence the expression of viral or host mRNA targets that are required for HIV-1 infection and/or replication. RNAi allows sequence-specific design to compensate for viral mutants and natural variants, thereby drastically expanding the number of therapeutic targets beyond the capabilities of cART. Recent advances in clinical and preclinical studies have demonstrated the promise of RNAi therapeutics, reinforcing the concept that RNAi-based agents might offer a safe, effective, and more durable approach for the treatment of HIV/AIDS. Nevertheless, there are challenges that must be overcome in order for RNAi therapeutics to reach their clinical potential. These include the refinement of strategies for delivery and to reduce the risk of mutational escape. In this review, we provide an overview of RNAi-based therapies for HIV-1, examine a variety of combinatorial RNAi strategies, and discuss approaches for ex vivo delivery and in vivo delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maggie L Bobbin
- Irell & Manella School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010 USA
| | - John C Burnett
- Irell & Manella School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010 USA ; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 9101 USA
| | - John J Rossi
- Irell & Manella School of Biological Sciences, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010 USA ; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, East Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 9101 USA
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Promoter Targeting RNAs: Unexpected Contributors to the Control of HIV-1 Transcription. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2015; 4:e222. [PMID: 25625613 PMCID: PMC4345301 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2014.67] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2014] [Accepted: 11/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In spite of prolonged and intensive treatment with combined antiretroviral therapy (cART), which efficiently suppresses plasma viremia, the integrated provirus of HIV-1 persists in resting memory CD4+ T cells as latent infection. Treatment with cART does not substantially reduce the burden of latent infection. Once cART is ceased, HIV-1 replication recrudesces from these reservoirs in the overwhelming majority of patients. There is increasing evidence supporting a role for noncoding RNAs (ncRNA), including microRNAs (miRNAs), antisense (as)RNAs, and short interfering (si)RNA in the regulation of HIV-1 transcription. This appears to be mediated by interaction with the HIV-1 promoter region. Viral miRNAs have the potential to act as positive or negative regulators of HIV transcription. Moreover, inhibition of virally encoded long-asRNA can induce positive transcriptional regulation, while antisense strands of siRNA targeting the NF-κB region suppress viral transcription. An in-depth understanding of the interaction between ncRNAs and the HIV-1 U3 promoter region may lead to new approaches for the control of HIV reservoirs. This review focuses on promoter associated ncRNAs, with particular emphasis on their role in determining whether HIV-1 establishes active or latent infection.
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HIV Latency and the noncoding RNA therapeutic landscape. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2015; 848:169-89. [PMID: 25757621 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2432-5_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) belongs to the subfamily of lentiviruses that are characterized by long incubation periods and chronic, persistent infection. The virus integrates into the genome of infected CD4+ cells and, in a subpopulation of cells, adopts a transcriptionally silent state, a process referred to a viral latency. This property makes it exceedingly difficult to therapeutically target the virus and eradicate infection. If left untreated, the inexorable demise of the infected individual's immune system ensues, a causal result of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Latently infected cells provide a reservoir that maintains viral infection indefinitely. In this chapter we explore the role of noncoding RNAs in HIV infection and in the establishment and maintenance of viral latency. Both short and long noncoding RNAs are endogenous modulators of epigenetic regulation in human cells and play an active role in gene expression. Lastly, we explore therapeutic modalities based on expressed RNAs that are capable of countering infection, transcriptionally regulating the virus, and suppressing or activating the latent state.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Highly active antiretroviral therapy has been the big paradigm for transforming HIV infection in a chronic disease. However, it requires lifelong administration as the HIV provirus integrated within infected cells cannot be eliminated and virus replication resumes following antiviral discontinuation. Cumulative toxicities, incomplete immune restoration, elevated cost, drug-drug interactions and selection of drug-resistant viruses are well-known limitations of prolonged HIV medication. AREAS COVERED The first proof-of-concept that HIV infection could be cured was the Berlin patient. By blocking infection of target cells, gene therapy may allow viral clearance from carriers or prevention of infection in newly exposed individuals. Advances in the field of gene-targeting strategies, T-cell-based approaches and human stem cells are revolutionizing the field. A series of ongoing and planned trials are testing gene therapy as HIV cure. The ultimate goal is the elimination of latent viral reservoirs in HIV-infected persons and the need for lifelong antiretroviral therapy. Following a search in PubMed, we have reviewed current gene therapy strategies investigated for HIV infection as well as the latest communications on HIV eradication presented at international conferences. EXPERT OPINION Multiple efforts are underway to reproduce the Berlin patient situation by engineering autologous T cells or hematopoietic stem cells resistant to HIV infection. There is no doubt that the major challenge is the elimination of latent viral reservoirs. With this goal in mind, we have entered a new era in the hope for HIV cure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen de Mendoza
- Puerta de Hierro Research Institute and University Hospital, Department of Internal Medicine , Majadahonda, Madrid , Spain
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Ross JP, Kassir Z. The varied roles of nuclear argonaute-small RNA complexes and avenues for therapy. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2014; 3:e203. [PMID: 25313622 PMCID: PMC4217078 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2014.54] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Argonautes are highly conserved proteins found in almost all eukaryotes and some bacteria and archaea. In humans, there are eight argonaute proteins evenly distributed across two clades, the Ago clade (AGO1-4) and the Piwi clade (PIWIL1-4). The function of Ago proteins is best characterized by their role in RNA interference (RNAi) and cytoplasmic post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) – which involves the loading of siRNA or miRNA into argonaute to direct silencing of genes at the posttranscriptional or translational level. However, nuclear-localized, as opposed to cytoplasmic, argonaute-small RNA complexes may also orchestrate the mechanistically very different process of transcriptional gene silencing, which results in prevention of transcription from a gene locus by the formation of silent chromatin domains. More recently, the role of argonaute in other aspects of epigenetic regulation of chromatin, alternative splicing and DNA repair is emerging. This review focuses on the activity of nuclear-localized short RNA-argonaute complexes in a mammalian setting and discusses recent in vivo studies employing nuclear-directed sRNA for therapeutic interventions. These studies heed the potential development of RNA-based drugs which induce epigenetic changes in the cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P Ross
- CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zena Kassir
- 1] CSIRO Food and Nutrition Flagship, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia [2] Garvan Institute of Medical Research, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Site-specific host gene modification by zinc finger nucleases: pointing the way to drug free control of HIV-1? Clin Transl Immunology 2014; 3:e19. [PMID: 25505967 PMCID: PMC4232064 DOI: 10.1038/cti.2014.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Revised: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) for human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) infection has transformed its clinical course with spectacular reductions in morbidity and mortality, turning this once fatal diagnosis into a manageable chronic infection. However, ART has its limitations. Current ART does not eliminate the virus. Interruption of therapy results in rapid rebound of the virus, and such rebounds are associated with excess morbidity and mortality. This means that therapy once started is for life. This raises the issues of drug resistance due to suboptimal compliance, cumulative toxicities and mounting costs. Efforts to control the virus through novel interventions, particularly through cell or gene therapy have had a resurgence of interest as a single patient was apparently cured by an allogeneic stem cell transplantation from a donor who carried homozygous mutations that disable expression of the HIV-1 co-receptor CCR5. This paper reviews the state of play of gene therapy for HIV infection in the context of a recent paper showing the safety and feasibility of an approach that involves the ex vivo disruption of the ccr5 gene in autologous CD4 T cells using a virally delivered zinc finger nuclease, before their expansion and reinfusion. Although there are still considerable challenges, this approach may point towards a future drug free therapy for HIV-1 infection.
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Passaes CP, Sáez-Cirión A. HIV cure research: advances and prospects. Virology 2014; 454-455:340-52. [PMID: 24636252 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2014.02.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 02/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Thirty years after the identification of HIV, a cure for HIV infection is still to be achieved. Advances of combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) in recent years have transformed HIV infection into a chronic disease when treatment is available. However, in spite of the favorable outcomes provided by the newer therapies, cART is not curative and patients are at risk of developing HIV-associated disorders. Moreover, universal access to antiretroviral treatment is restricted by financial obstacles. This review discusses the most recent strategies that have been developed in the search for an HIV cure and to improve life quality of people living with HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline P Passaes
- Unité de Régulation des Infections Rétrovirales, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France; CEA, Division of Immuno-Virology, iMETI/DSV, 18 Route du Panorama, 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France.
| | - Asier Sáez-Cirión
- Unité de Régulation des Infections Rétrovirales, Institut Pasteur, 25-28 rue du Dr Roux, 75724 Paris Cedex 15, France.
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Kelleher AD. Promoter targeted small RNAs: stabilising viral reservoirs. MICROBIOLOGY AUSTRALIA 2014. [DOI: 10.1071/ma14033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
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