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Jagadeeswaran I, Oh J, Sinnett SE. Preclinical Milestones in MECP2 Gene Transfer for Treating Rett Syndrome. Dev Neurosci 2024:1-10. [PMID: 38723617 DOI: 10.1159/000539267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in the transcriptional regulator methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2). After gene transfer in mice, exogenous MeCP2 expression must be regulated to avoid dose-dependent toxicity. SUMMARY The preclinical gene therapy literature for treating RTT illustrates a duly diligent progression that begins with proof-of-concept studies and advances toward the development of safer, regulated MECP2 viral genome designs. This design progression was partly achieved through international collaborative studies. In 2023, clinicians administered investigational gene therapies for RTT to patients a decade after the first preclinical gene therapy publications for RTT (clinical trial numbers NCT05606614 and NCT05898620). As clinicians take on a more prominent role in MECP2 gene therapy research, preclinical researchers may continue to test more nuanced hypotheses regarding the safety, efficacy, and mechanism of MECP2 gene transfer. KEY MESSAGE This review summarizes the history of preclinical MECP2 gene transfer for treating RTT and acknowledges major contributions among colleagues in the field. The first clinical injections are a shared milestone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Indumathy Jagadeeswaran
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, Texas, USA,
| | - Jiyoung Oh
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Sarah E Sinnett
- Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, Texas, USA
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, Texas, USA
- Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, Texas, USA
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2
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Sadhu C, Lyons C, Oh J, Jagadeeswaran I, Gray SJ, Sinnett SE. The Efficacy of a Human-Ready mini MECP2 Gene Therapy in a Pre-Clinical Model of Rett Syndrome. Genes (Basel) 2023; 15:31. [PMID: 38254921 PMCID: PMC10815157 DOI: 10.3390/genes15010031] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Inactivating mutations and the duplication of methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2), respectively, mediate Rett syndrome (RTT) and MECP2 duplication syndrome. These disorders underscore the conceptual dose-dependent risk posed by MECP2 gene therapy for mosaic RTT patients. Recently, a miRNA-Responsive Autoregulatory Element (miRARE) mitigated the dose-dependent toxicity posed by self-complementary adeno-associated viral vector serotype 9 (AAV9) miniMECP2 gene therapy (scAAV9/miniMECP2-myc) in mice. Here, we report an efficacy assessment for the human-ready version of this regulated gene therapy (TSHA-102) in male Mecp2-/y knockout (KO) mice after intracerebroventricular (ICV) administration at postnatal day 2 (P2) and after intrathecal (IT) administration at P7, P14 (±immunosuppression), and P28 (±immunosuppression). We also report qPCR studies on KO mice treated at P7-P35; protein analyses in KO mice treated at P38; and a survival safety study in female adult Mecp2-/+ mice. In KO mice, TSHA-102 improved respiration, weight, and survival across multiple doses and treatment ages. TSHA-102 significantly improved the front average stance and swing times relative to the front average stride time after P14 administration of the highest dose for that treatment age. Viral genomic DNA and miniMECP2 mRNA were present in the CNS. MiniMeCP2 protein expression was higher in the KO spinal cord compared to the brain. In female mice, TSHA-102 permitted survivals that were similar to those of vehicle-treated controls. In all, these pivotal data helped to support the regulatory approval to initiate a clinical trial for TSHA-102 in RTT patients (clinical trial identifier number NCT05606614).
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Affiliation(s)
- Chanchal Sadhu
- Formerly of Taysha Gene Therapies, Dallas, TX 75247, USA
| | - Christopher Lyons
- Formerly of the Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jiyoung Oh
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Indumathy Jagadeeswaran
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Steven J. Gray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Sarah E. Sinnett
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, TX 75390, USA
- Peter O’Donnell Jr. Brain Institute, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (UTSWMC), Dallas, TX 75390, USA
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3
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Reichart D, Newby GA, Wakimoto H, Lun M, Gorham JM, Curran JJ, Raguram A, DeLaughter DM, Conner DA, Marsiglia JDC, Kohli S, Chmatal L, Page DC, Zabaleta N, Vandenberghe L, Liu DR, Seidman JG, Seidman C. Efficient in vivo genome editing prevents hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in mice. Nat Med 2023; 29:412-421. [PMID: 36797483 PMCID: PMC9941048 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-022-02190-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/18/2023]
Abstract
Dominant missense pathogenic variants in cardiac myosin heavy chain cause hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a currently incurable disorder that increases risk for stroke, heart failure and sudden cardiac death. In this study, we assessed two different genetic therapies-an adenine base editor (ABE8e) and a potent Cas9 nuclease delivered by AAV9-to prevent disease in mice carrying the heterozygous HCM pathogenic variant myosin R403Q. One dose of dual-AAV9 vectors, each carrying one half of RNA-guided ABE8e, corrected the pathogenic variant in ≥70% of ventricular cardiomyocytes and maintained durable, normal cardiac structure and function. An additional dose provided more editing in the atria but also increased bystander editing. AAV9 delivery of RNA-guided Cas9 nuclease effectively inactivated the pathogenic allele, albeit with dose-dependent toxicities, necessitating a narrow therapeutic window to maintain health. These preclinical studies demonstrate considerable potential for single-dose genetic therapies to correct or silence pathogenic variants and prevent the development of HCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Reichart
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Gregory A Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Hiroko Wakimoto
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mingyue Lun
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joshua M Gorham
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Justin J Curran
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Aditya Raguram
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Daniel M DeLaughter
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - David A Conner
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Sajeev Kohli
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | | | - David C Page
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
- Whitehead Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Nerea Zabaleta
- Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Luk Vandenberghe
- Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Mass Eye and Ear, Boston, MA, USA
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | | | - Christine Seidman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD, USA.
- Cardiovascular Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
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4
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Nicolas CT, VanLith CJ, Hickey RD, Du Z, Hillin LG, Guthman RM, Cao WJ, Haugo B, Lillegard A, Roy D, Bhagwate A, O'Brien D, Kocher JP, Kaiser RA, Russell SJ, Lillegard JB. In vivo lentiviral vector gene therapy to cure hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 and prevent development of precancerous and cancerous lesions. Nat Commun 2022; 13:5012. [PMID: 36008405 PMCID: PMC9411607 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32576-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional therapy for hereditary tyrosinemia type-1 (HT1) with 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)−1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC) delays and in some cases fails to prevent disease progression to liver fibrosis, liver failure, and activation of tumorigenic pathways. Here we demonstrate cure of HT1 by direct, in vivo administration of a therapeutic lentiviral vector targeting the expression of a human fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) transgene in the porcine model of HT1. This therapy is well tolerated and provides stable long-term expression of FAH in pigs with HT1. Genomic integration displays a benign profile, with subsequent fibrosis and tumorigenicity gene expression patterns similar to wild-type animals as compared to NTBC-treated or diseased untreated animals. Indeed, the phenotypic and genomic data following in vivo lentiviral vector administration demonstrate comparative superiority over other therapies including ex vivo cell therapy and therefore support clinical application of this approach. Hereditary tyrosinemia type 1 (HT1) is an inborn error of metabolism caused by a deficiency in fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH). Here, the authors show in an animal model that HT1 can be treated via in vivo portal vein administration of a lentiviral vector carrying the human FAH transgene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara T Nicolas
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Faculty of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.,Department of Surgery, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | - Raymond D Hickey
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Zeji Du
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Lori G Hillin
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Rebekah M Guthman
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Medical College of Wisconsin, Wausau, WI, USA
| | - William J Cao
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | | | - Diya Roy
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Aditya Bhagwate
- Department of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Daniel O'Brien
- Department of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Jean-Pierre Kocher
- Department of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Robert A Kaiser
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA.,Midwest Fetal Care Center, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | | | - Joseph B Lillegard
- Department of Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA. .,Midwest Fetal Care Center, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA. .,Pediatric Surgical Associates, Minneapolis, MN, USA.
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5
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Khoja S, Liu XB, Truong B, Nitzahn M, Lambert J, Eliav A, Nasser E, Randolph E, Burke KE, White R, Zhu X, Martini PG, Nissim I, Cederbaum SD, Lipshutz GS. Intermittent lipid nanoparticle mRNA administration prevents cortical dysmyelination associated with arginase deficiency. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 28:859-874. [PMID: 35694211 PMCID: PMC9156989 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Arginase deficiency is associated with prominent neuromotor features, including spastic diplegia, clonus, and hyperreflexia; intellectual disability and progressive neurological decline are other signs. In a constitutive murine model, we recently described leukodystrophy as a significant component of the central nervous system features of arginase deficiency. In the present studies, we sought to examine if the administration of a lipid nanoparticle carrying human ARG1 mRNA to constitutive knockout mice could prevent abnormalities in myelination associated with arginase deficiency. Imaging of the cingulum, striatum, and cervical segments of the corticospinal tract revealed a drastic reduction of myelinated axons; signs of degenerating axons were also present with thin myelin layers. Lipid nanoparticle/ARG1 mRNA administration resulted in both light and electron microscopic evidence of a dramatic recovery of myelin density compared with age-matched controls; oligodendrocytes were seen to be extending processes to wrap many axons. Abnormally thin myelin layers, when myelination was present, were resolved with intermittent mRNA administration, indicative of not only a greater density of myelinated axons but also an increase in the thickness of the myelin sheath. In conclusion, lipid nanoparticle/ARG1 mRNA administration in arginase deficiency prevents the associated leukodystrophy and restores normal oligodendrocyte function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhail Khoja
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xiao-Bo Liu
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Brian Truong
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Matthew Nitzahn
- Molecular Biology Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Jenna Lambert
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Adam Eliav
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Eram Nasser
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Emma Randolph
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | | | - Rebecca White
- Moderna Inc., 200 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xuling Zhu
- Moderna Inc., 200 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Itzhak Nissim
- Division of Metabolism and Human Genetics, The Children Hospital of Philadelphia and The Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perlman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Stephen D. Cederbaum
- Department of Psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Gerald S. Lipshutz
- Department of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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6
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Khoja S, Nitzahn M, Hermann K, Truong B, Borzone R, Willis B, Rudd M, Palmer DJ, Ng P, Brunetti-Pierri N, Lipshutz GS. Conditional disruption of hepatic carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 in mice results in hyperammonemia without orotic aciduria and can be corrected by liver-directed gene therapy. Mol Genet Metab 2018; 124:243-253. [PMID: 29801986 PMCID: PMC6076338 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1) is a urea cycle enzyme that forms carbamoyl phosphate from bicarbonate, ammonia and ATP. Bi-allelic mutations of the CPS1 gene result in a urea cycle disorder presenting with hyperammonemia, often with reduced citrulline, and without orotic aciduria. CPS1 deficiency is particularly challenging to treat and lack of early recognition typically results in early neonatal death. Therapeutic interventions have limited efficacy and most patients develop long-term neurologic sequelae. Using transgenic techniques, we generated a conditional Cps1 knockout mouse. By loxP/Cre recombinase technology, deletion of the Cps1 locus was achieved in adult transgenic animals using a Cre recombinase-expressing adeno-associated viral vector. Within four weeks from vector injection, all animals developed hyperammonemia without orotic aciduria and died. Minimal CPS1 protein was detectable in livers. To investigate the efficacy of gene therapy for CPS deficiency following knock-down of hepatic endogenous CPS1 expression, we injected these mice with a helper-dependent adenoviral vector (HDAd) expressing the large murine CPS1 cDNA under control of the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase promoter. Liver-directed HDAd-mediated gene therapy resulted in survival, normalization of plasma ammonia and glutamine, and 13% of normal Cps1 expression. A gender difference in survival suggests that female mice may require higher hepatic CPS1 expression. We conclude that this conditional murine model recapitulates the clinical and biochemical phenotype detected in human patients with CPS1 deficiency and will be useful to investigate ammonia-mediated neurotoxicity and for the development of cell- and gene-based therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suhail Khoja
- Departments of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Matt Nitzahn
- Departments of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Molecular Biology Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Kip Hermann
- Departments of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Brian Truong
- Departments of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | | | - Brandon Willis
- Mouse Biology Program (MBP), University of California, Davis, United States
| | - Mitchell Rudd
- Departments of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States
| | - Donna J Palmer
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Philip Ng
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Naples, Italy; Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Gerald S Lipshutz
- Departments of Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Molecular Biology Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Urology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center at UCLA, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States; Semel Institute for Neuroscience, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.
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7
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Rescue of the Functional Alterations of Motor Cortical Circuits in Arginase Deficiency by Neonatal Gene Therapy. J Neurosci 2017; 36:6680-90. [PMID: 27335400 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0897-16.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Arginase 1 deficiency is a urea cycle disorder associated with hyperargininemia, spastic diplegia, loss of ambulation, intellectual disability, and seizures. To gain insight on how loss of arginase expression affects the excitability and synaptic connectivity of the cortical neurons in the developing brain, we used anatomical, ultrastructural, and electrophysiological techniques to determine how single-copy and double-copy arginase deletion affects cortical circuits in mice. We find that the loss of arginase 1 expression results in decreased dendritic complexity, decreased excitatory and inhibitory synapse numbers, decreased intrinsic excitability, and altered synaptic transmission in layer 5 motor cortical neurons. Hepatic arginase 1 gene therapy using adeno-associated virus rescued nearly all these abnormalities when administered to neonatal homozygous knock-out animals. Therefore, gene therapeutic strategies can reverse physiological and anatomical markers of arginase 1 deficiency and therefore may be of therapeutic benefit for the neurological disabilities in this syndrome. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT These studies are one of the few investigations to try to understand the underlying neurological dysfunction that occurs in urea cycle disorders and the only to examine arginase deficiency. We have demonstrated by multiple modalities that, in murine layer 5 cortical neurons, a gradation of abnormalities exists based on the functional copy number of arginase: intrinsic excitability is altered, there is decreased density in asymmetrical and perisomatic synapses, and analysis of the dendritic complexity is lowest in the homozygous knock-out. With neonatal administration of adeno-associated virus expressing arginase, there is near-total recovery of the abnormalities in neurons and cortical circuits, supporting the concept that neonatal gene therapy may prevent the functional abnormalities that occur in arginase deficiency.
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8
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Durrani-Kolarik S, Pool CA, Gray A, Heyob KM, Cismowski MJ, Pryhuber G, Lee LJ, Yang Z, Tipple TE, Rogers LK. miR-29b supplementation decreases expression of matrix proteins and improves alveolarization in mice exposed to maternal inflammation and neonatal hyperoxia. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2017; 313:L339-L349. [PMID: 28473324 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00273.2016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2016] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 04/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Even with advances in the care of preterm infants, chronic lung disease or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) continues to be a significant pulmonary complication. Among those diagnosed with BPD, a subset of infants develop severe BPD with disproportionate pulmonary morbidities. In addition to decreased alveolarization, these infants develop obstructive and/or restrictive lung function due to increases in or dysregulation of extracellular matrix proteins. Analyses of plasma obtained from preterm infants during the first week of life indicate that circulating miR-29b is suppressed in infants that subsequently develop BPD and that decreased circulating miR-29b is inversely correlated with BPD severity. Our mouse model mimics the pathophysiology observed in infants with severe BPD, and we have previously reported decreased pulmonary miR-29b expression in this model. The current studies tested the hypothesis that adeno-associated 9 (AAV9)-mediated restoration of miR-29b in the developing lung will improve lung alveolarization and minimize the deleterious changes in matrix deposition. Pregnant C3H/HeN mice received an intraperitoneal LPS injection on embryonic day 16 and newborn pups were exposed to 85% oxygen from birth to 14 days of life. On postnatal day 3, AAV9-miR-29b or AAV9-control was administered intranasally. Mouse lung tissues were then analyzed for changes in miR-29 expression, alveolarization, and matrix protein levels and localization. Although only modest improvements in alveolarization were detected in the AAV9-miR29b-treated mice at postnatal day 28, treatment completely attenuated defects in matrix protein expression and localization. Our data suggest that miR-29b restoration may be one component of a novel therapeutic strategy to treat or prevent severe BPD in prematurely born infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaheen Durrani-Kolarik
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Caylie A Pool
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Ashley Gray
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Kathryn M Heyob
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Mary J Cismowski
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Gloria Pryhuber
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York
| | - L James Lee
- The Center for Affordable Nanoengineering of Polymeric Biomedical Devices, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Zhaogang Yang
- The Center for Affordable Nanoengineering of Polymeric Biomedical Devices, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Trent E Tipple
- Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; and
| | - Lynette K Rogers
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; .,Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio
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9
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Ali M, Heyob KM, Velten M, Tipple TE, Rogers LK. DHA suppresses chronic apoptosis in the lung caused by perinatal inflammation. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2015; 309:L441-8. [PMID: 26138643 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00137.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously shown that an adverse perinatal environment significantly alters lung growth and development and results in persistently altered cardiopulmonary physiology in adulthood. Our model of maternal LPS treatment followed by 14 days of neonatal hyperoxia exposure causes severe pulmonary disease characterized by permanent decreases in alveolarization and diffuse interstitial fibrosis. The current investigations tested the hypothesis that dysregulation of Notch signaling pathways contributes to the permanently altered lung phenotype in our model and that the improvements we have observed previously with maternal docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) supplementation are mediated through normalization of Notch-related protein expression. Results indicated that inflammation (IL-6 levels) and oxidation (F2a-isoprostanes) persisted through 8 wk of life in mice exposed to LPS/O2 perinatally. These changes were attenuated by maternal DHA supplementation. Modest but inconsistent differences were observed in Notch-pathway proteins Jagged 1, DLL 1, PEN2, and presenilin-2. We detected substantial increases in markers of apoptosis including PARP-1, APAF-1, caspase-9, BCL2, and HMGB1, and these increases were attenuated in mice that were nursed by DHA-supplemented dams during the perinatal period. Although Notch signaling is not significantly altered at 8 wk of age in mice with perinatal exposure to LPS/O2, our findings indicate that persistent apoptosis continues to occur at 8 wk of age. We speculate that ongoing apoptosis may contribute to persistently altered lung development and may further enhance susceptibility to additional pulmonary disease. Finally, we found that maternal DHA supplementation prevented sustained inflammation, oxidation, and apoptosis in our model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehboob Ali
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Kathryn M Heyob
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Markus Velten
- Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhlems-University, University Medical Center, Bonn, Germany; and
| | - Trent E Tipple
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Lynette K Rogers
- Center for Perinatal Research, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio; Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio;
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