1
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Kavanagh EW, Tzeng SY, Sharma N, Cutting GR, Green JJ. Ligand-free biodegradable poly(beta-amino ester) nanoparticles for targeted systemic delivery of mRNA to the lungs. Biomaterials 2025; 313:122753. [PMID: 39217793 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2024.122753] [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] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 07/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Non-viral nanoparticles (NPs) have seen heightened interest as a delivery method for a variety of clinically relevant nucleic acid cargoes in recent years. While much of the focus has been on lipid NPs, non-lipid NPs, including polymeric NPs, have the possibility of improved efficacy, safety, and targeting, especially to non-liver organs following systemic administration. A safe and effective systemic approach for intracellular delivery to the lungs could overcome limitations to intratracheal/intranasal delivery of NPs and improve clinical benefit for a range of diseases including cystic fibrosis. Here, engineered biodegradable poly (beta-amino ester) (PBAE) NPs are shown to facilitate efficient delivery of mRNA to primary human airway epithelial cells from both healthy donors and individuals with cystic fibrosis. Optimized NP formulations made with differentially endcapped PBAEs and systemically administered in vivo lead to high expression of mRNA within the lungs in BALB/c and C57 B/L mice without requiring a complex targeting ligand. High levels of mRNA-based gene editing were achieved in an Ai9 mouse model across bronchial, epithelial, and endothelial cell populations. No toxicity was observed either acutely or over time, including after multiple systemic administrations of the NPs. The non-lipid biodegradable PBAE NPs demonstrate high levels of transfection in both primary human airway epithelial cells and in vivo editing of lung cell types that are targets for numerous life-limiting diseases particularly single gene disorders such as cystic fibrosis and surfactant deficiencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin W Kavanagh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephany Y Tzeng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Neeraj Sharma
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Garry R Cutting
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
| | - Jordan J Green
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA; Departments of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Materials Science & Engineering, Neurosurgery, Oncology, and Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
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2
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Kulhankova K, Cheng AX, Traore S, Auger M, Pelletier M, Hervault M, Wells KD, Green JA, Byrne A, Nelson B, Sponchiado M, Boosani C, Heffner CS, Snow KJ, Murray SA, Villacreses RA, Rector MV, Gansemer ND, Stoltz DA, Allamargot C, Couture F, Hemez C, Hallée S, Barbeau X, Harvey M, Lauvaux C, Gaillet B, Newby GA, Liu DR, McCray PB, Guay D. Amphiphilic shuttle peptide delivers base editor ribonucleoprotein to correct the CFTR R553X mutation in well-differentiated airway epithelial cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2024:gkae819. [PMID: 39315713 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/10/2024] [Indexed: 09/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Base editing could correct nonsense mutations that cause cystic fibrosis (CF), but clinical development is limited by the lack of delivery methods that efficiently breach the barriers presented by airway epithelia. Here, we present a novel amphiphilic shuttle peptide based on the previously reported S10 peptide that substantially improved base editor ribonucleoprotein (RNP) delivery. Studies of the S10 secondary structure revealed that the alpha-helix formed by the endosomal leakage domain (ELD), but not the cell penetrating peptide (CPP), was functionally important for delivery. By isolating and extending the ELD, we created a novel shuttle peptide, termed S237. While S237 achieved lower delivery of green fluorescent protein, it outperformed S10 at Cas9 RNP delivery to cultured human airway epithelial cells and to pig airway epithelia in vivo, possibly due to its lower net charge. In well-differentiated primary human airway epithelial cell cultures, S237 achieved a 4.6-fold increase in base editor RNP delivery, correcting up to 9.4% of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) R553X allele and restoring CFTR channel function close to non-CF levels. These findings deepen the understanding of peptide-mediated delivery and offer a translational approach for base editor RNP delivery for CF airway disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Soumba Traore
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Maud Auger
- Feldan Therapeutics, Quebec, Qc, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Laval University, Quebec, Qc, Canada
| | - Mia Pelletier
- Feldan Therapeutics, Quebec, Qc, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Laval University, Quebec, Qc, Canada
| | | | - Kevin D Wells
- Division of Animal Sciences, Swine Somatic Cell Genome Editing Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Jonathan A Green
- Division of Animal Sciences, Swine Somatic Cell Genome Editing Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Addison Byrne
- Division of Animal Sciences, Swine Somatic Cell Genome Editing Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Benjamin Nelson
- Division of Animal Sciences, Swine Somatic Cell Genome Editing Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Mariana Sponchiado
- Division of Animal Sciences, Swine Somatic Cell Genome Editing Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Chandra Boosani
- Division of Animal Sciences, Swine Somatic Cell Genome Editing Center, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Caleb S Heffner
- The Jackson Laboratory, Genetic Resource Science, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
| | - Kathy J Snow
- The Jackson Laboratory, Genetic Resource Science, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
| | - Stephen A Murray
- The Jackson Laboratory, Genetic Resource Science, Bar Harbor, ME, USA
| | - Raul A Villacreses
- Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Michael V Rector
- Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Nicholas D Gansemer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - David A Stoltz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Chantal Allamargot
- Central Microscopy Research Facility (CMRF), and Office for the Vice President of Research (OVPR), University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | - Colin Hemez
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Graduate Program in Biophysics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Bruno Gaillet
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Laval University, Quebec, Qc, Canada
| | - Gregory A Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Paul B McCray
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - David Guay
- Feldan Therapeutics, Quebec, Qc, Canada
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Laval University, Quebec, Qc, Canada
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3
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Sahu S, Castro M, Muldoon JJ, Asija K, Wyman SK, Krishnappa N, de Onate L, Eyquem J, Nguyen DN, Wilson RC. Peptide-enabled ribonucleoprotein delivery for CRISPR engineering (PERC) in primary human immune cells and hematopoietic stem cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.14.603391. [PMID: 39071446 PMCID: PMC11275745 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.14.603391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Peptide-enabled ribonucleoprotein delivery for CRISPR engineering (PERC) is a new approach for ex vivo genome editing of primary human cells. PERC uses a single amphiphilic peptide reagent to mediate intracellular delivery of the same pre-formed CRISPR ribonucleoprotein enzymes that are broadly used in research and therapeutics, resulting in high-efficiency editing of stimulated immune cells and cultured hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). PERC facilitates nuclease-mediated gene knockout, precise transgene knock-in, and base editing. PERC involves mixing the CRISPR ribonucleoprotein enzyme with peptide and then incubating the formulation with cultured cells. For efficient transgene knock-in, adeno-associated virus (AAV) bearing homology-directed repair template DNA may be included. In contrast to electroporation, PERC is appealing as it requires no dedicated hardware and has less impact on cell phenotype and viability. Due to the gentle nature of PERC, delivery can be performed multiple times without substantial impact to cell health or phenotype. Here we report methods for improved PERC-mediated editing of T cells as well as novel methods for PERC-mediated editing of HSPCs, including knockout and precise knock-in. Editing efficiencies can surpass 90% using either Cas9 or Cas12a in primary T cells or HSPCs. Because PERC calls for only three readily available reagents - protein, RNA, and peptide - and does not require dedicated hardware for any step, PERC demands no special expertise and is exceptionally straightforward to adopt. The inherent compatibility of PERC with established cell engineering pipelines makes this approach appealing for rapid deployment in research and clinical settings.
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4
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Sousa AA, Hemez C, Lei L, Traore S, Kulhankova K, Newby GA, Doman JL, Oye K, Pandey S, Karp PH, McCray PB, Liu DR. Systematic optimization of prime editing for the efficient functional correction of CFTR F508del in human airway epithelial cells. Nat Biomed Eng 2024:10.1038/s41551-024-01233-3. [PMID: 38987629 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-024-01233-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Prime editing (PE) enables precise and versatile genome editing without requiring double-stranded DNA breaks. Here we describe the systematic optimization of PE systems to efficiently correct human cystic fibrosis (CF) transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) F508del, a three-nucleotide deletion that is the predominant cause of CF. By combining six efficiency optimizations for PE-engineered PE guide RNAs, the PEmax architecture, the transient expression of a dominant-negative mismatch repair protein, strategic silent edits, PE6 variants and proximal 'dead' single-guide RNAs-we increased correction efficiencies for CFTR F508del from less than 0.5% in HEK293T cells to 58% in immortalized bronchial epithelial cells (a 140-fold improvement) and to 25% in patient-derived airway epithelial cells. The optimizations also resulted in minimal off-target editing, in edit-to-indel ratios 3.5-fold greater than those achieved by nuclease-mediated homology-directed repair, and in the functional restoration of CFTR ion channels to over 50% of wild-type levels (similar to those achieved via combination treatment with elexacaftor, tezacaftor and ivacaftor) in primary airway cells. Our findings support the feasibility of a durable one-time treatment for CF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander A Sousa
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Colin Hemez
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Lei Lei
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Soumba Traore
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Katarina Kulhankova
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Gregory A Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Jordan L Doman
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Keyede Oye
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Smriti Pandey
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Philip H Karp
- Department of Internal Medicine and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - Paul B McCray
- Stead Family Department of Pediatrics and Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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5
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Lara-Sáez I, Mencía Á, Recuero E, Li Y, García M, Oteo M, Gallego MI, Enguita AB, de Prado-Verdún D, A S, Wang W, García-Escudero R, Murillas R, Santos M. Nonviral CRISPR/Cas9 mutagenesis for streamlined generation of mouse lung cancer models. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2322917121. [PMID: 38959035 PMCID: PMC11252735 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2322917121] [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: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Functional analysis in mouse models is necessary to establish the involvement of a set of genetic variations in tumor development. A modeling platform to facilitate and cost-effectively analyze the role of multiple genes in carcinogenesis would be valuable. Here, we present an innovative strategy for lung mutagenesis using CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoproteins delivered via cationic polymers. This approach allows the simultaneous inactivation of multiple genes. We validate the effectiveness of this system by targeting a group of tumor suppressor genes, specifically Rb1, Rbl1, Pten, and Trp53, which were chosen for their potential to cause lung tumors, namely small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC). Tumors with histologic and transcriptomic features of human SCLC emerged after intratracheal administration of CRISPR/polymer nanoparticles. These tumors carried loss-of-function mutations in all four tumor suppressor genes at the targeted positions. These findings were reproduced in two different pure genetic backgrounds. We provide a proof of principle for simplified modeling of lung tumorigenesis to facilitate functional testing of potential cancer-related genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Lara-Sáez
- Charles Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, DublinD04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Ángeles Mencía
- Biomedical Innovation Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid28040, Spain
- CB06/07/0019 Unit, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Raras, Madrid28029, Spain
- Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Bioengineering Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de la Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid28040, Spain
| | - Enrique Recuero
- Biomedical Innovation Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid28040, Spain
- Cellular and Molecular Genitourinary Oncology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Madrid28041, Spain
| | - Yinghao Li
- Charles Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, DublinD04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Marta García
- CB06/07/0019 Unit, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Raras, Madrid28029, Spain
- Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Bioengineering Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de la Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid28040, Spain
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnic School, Carlos III University, Leganés, Madrid28911, Spain
| | - Marta Oteo
- Biomedical Applications and Pharmacokinetics Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid28040, Spain
| | - Marta I. Gallego
- Unidad de Histología, Unidades Centrales Científico Tecnológicas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid28220, Spain
| | - Ana Belén Enguita
- Pathology Department, University Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Madrid28041, Spain
| | - Diana de Prado-Verdún
- Biomedical Innovation Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid28040, Spain
- CB06/07/0019 Unit, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Raras, Madrid28029, Spain
- Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Bioengineering Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de la Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid28040, Spain
| | - Sigen A
- Research and Clinical Translation Center of Gene Medicine and Tissue Engineering, School of Public Health, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan232001, China
| | - Wenxin Wang
- Charles Institute of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, DublinD04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Ramón García-Escudero
- Biomedical Innovation Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid28040, Spain
- Cellular and Molecular Genitourinary Oncology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Madrid28041, Spain
- Tumor Progression Mechanisms Program, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer, Madrid28029, Spain
| | - Rodolfo Murillas
- Biomedical Innovation Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid28040, Spain
- CB06/07/0019 Unit, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Raras, Madrid28029, Spain
- Regenerative Medicine and Tissue Bioengineering Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de la Fundación Jiménez Díaz, Madrid28040, Spain
| | - Mirentxu Santos
- Biomedical Innovation Unit, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas, Madrid28040, Spain
- Cellular and Molecular Genitourinary Oncology Group, Institute of Biomedical Research Hospital “12 de Octubre”, Madrid28041, Spain
- Tumor Progression Mechanisms Program, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer, Madrid28029, Spain
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6
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Liang SQ, Navia AW, Ramseier M, Zhou X, Martinez M, Lee C, Zhou C, Wu J, Xie J, Su Q, Wang D, Flotte TR, Anderson DG, Tarantal AF, Shalek AK, Gao G, Xue W. AAV5 Delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 Mediates Genome Editing in the Lungs of Young Rhesus Monkeys. Hum Gene Ther 2024. [PMID: 38767512 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2024.035] [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] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Genome editing has the potential to treat genetic diseases in a variety of tissues, including the lung. We have previously developed and validated a dual adeno-associated virus (AAV) CRISPR platform that supports effective editing in the airways of mice. To validate this delivery vehicle in a large animal model, we have shown that intratracheal instillation of CRISPR/Cas9 in AAV5 can edit a housekeeping gene or a disease-related gene in the lungs of young rhesus monkeys. We observed up to 8% editing of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in lung lobes after single-dose administration. Single-nuclear RNA sequencing revealed that AAV5 transduces multiple cell types in the caudal lung lobes, including alveolar cells, macrophages, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, and B cells. These results demonstrate that AAV5 is efficient in the delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 in the lung lobes of young rhesus monkeys.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Qing Liang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew W Navia
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Department of Chemistry, and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michelle Ramseier
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Department of Chemistry, and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Xuntao Zhou
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michele Martinez
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Charles Lee
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Chen Zhou
- Horae Gene Therapy Center and Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joae Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center and Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Qin Su
- Horae Gene Therapy Center and Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Dan Wang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center and Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Terence R Flotte
- Horae Gene Therapy Center and Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Harvard and MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Alice F Tarantal
- Departments of Pediatrics and Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, School of Medicine, and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Alex K Shalek
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Department of Chemistry, and Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center and Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wen Xue
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, USA
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7
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Premchandar A, Ming R, Baiad A, Da Fonte DF, Xu H, Faubert D, Veit G, Lukacs GL. Readthrough-induced misincorporated amino acid ratios guide mutant-specific therapeutic approaches for two CFTR nonsense mutations. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1389586. [PMID: 38725656 PMCID: PMC11079177 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1389586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a monogenic disease caused by mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. Premature termination codons (PTCs) represent ∼9% of CF mutations that typically cause severe expression defects of the CFTR anion channel. Despite the prevalence of PTCs as the underlying cause of genetic diseases, understanding the therapeutic susceptibilities of their molecular defects, both at the transcript and protein levels remains partially elucidated. Given that the molecular pathologies depend on the PTC positions in CF, multiple pharmacological interventions are required to suppress the accelerated nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), to correct the CFTR conformational defect caused by misincorporated amino acids, and to enhance the inefficient stop codon readthrough. The G418-induced readthrough outcome was previously investigated only in reporter models that mimic the impact of the local sequence context on PTC mutations in CFTR. To identify the misincorporated amino acids and their ratios for PTCs in the context of full-length CFTR readthrough, we developed an affinity purification (AP)-tandem mass spectrometry (AP-MS/MS) pipeline. We confirmed the incorporation of Cys, Arg, and Trp residues at the UGA stop codons of G542X, R1162X, and S1196X in CFTR. Notably, we observed that the Cys and Arg incorporation was favored over that of Trp into these CFTR PTCs, suggesting that the transcript sequence beyond the proximity of PTCs and/or other factors can impact the amino acid incorporation and full-length CFTR functional expression. Additionally, establishing the misincorporated amino acid ratios in the readthrough CFTR PTCs aided in maximizing the functional rescue efficiency of PTCs by optimizing CFTR modulator combinations. Collectively, our findings contribute to the understanding of molecular defects underlying various CFTR nonsense mutations and provide a foundation to refine mutation-dependent therapeutic strategies for various CF-causing nonsense mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ruiji Ming
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Abed Baiad
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Haijin Xu
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Denis Faubert
- IRCM Mass Spectrometry and Proteomics Platform, Institut de Recherches Cliniques de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Guido Veit
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Gergely L. Lukacs
- Department of Physiology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
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8
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Lopes R, Prasad MK. Beyond the promise: evaluating and mitigating off-target effects in CRISPR gene editing for safer therapeutics. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 11:1339189. [PMID: 38390600 PMCID: PMC10883050 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1339189] [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: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last decade, CRISPR has revolutionized drug development due to its potential to cure genetic diseases that currently do not have any treatment. CRISPR was adapted from bacteria for gene editing in human cells in 2012 and, remarkably, only 11 years later has seen it's very first approval as a medicine for the treatment of sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent beta-thalassemia. However, the application of CRISPR systems is associated with unintended off-target and on-target alterations (including small indels, and structural variations such as translocations, inversions and large deletions), which are a source of risk for patients and a vital concern for the development of safe therapies. In recent years, a wide range of methods has been developed to detect unwanted effects of CRISPR-Cas nuclease activity. In this review, we summarize the different methods for off-target assessment, discuss their strengths and limitations, and highlight strategies to improve the safety of CRISPR systems. Finally, we discuss their relevance and application for the pre-clinical risk assessment of CRISPR therapeutics within the current regulatory context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Lopes
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Centre Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
| | - Megana K Prasad
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Roche Innovation Centre Basel, F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Basel, Switzerland
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