1
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Preethy H A, Rajendran K, Sukumar AJ, Krishnan UM. Emerging paradigms in Alzheimer's therapy. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 981:176872. [PMID: 39117266 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176872] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects elderly, and its incidence is continuously increasing across the globe. Unfortunately, despite decades of research, a complete cure for Alzheimer's disease continues to elude us. The current medications are mainly symptomatic and slow the disease progression but do not result in reversal of all disease pathologies. The growing body of knowledge on the factors responsible for the onset and progression of the disease has resulted in the identification of new targets that could be targeted for treatment of Alzheimer's disease. This has opened new vistas for treatment of Alzheimer's disease that have moved away from chemotherapeutic agents modulating a single target to biologics and combinations that acted on multiple targets thereby offering better therapeutic outcomes. This review discusses the emerging directions in therapeutic interventions against Alzheimer's disease highlighting their merits that promise to change the treatment paradigm and challenges that limit their clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agnes Preethy H
- School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India; Centre for Nanotechnology & Advanced Biomaterials, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Kayalvizhi Rajendran
- School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India; Centre for Nanotechnology & Advanced Biomaterials, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Anitha Josephine Sukumar
- School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India; Centre for Nanotechnology & Advanced Biomaterials, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Uma Maheswari Krishnan
- School of Chemical & Biotechnology, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India; Centre for Nanotechnology & Advanced Biomaterials, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India; School of Arts, Sciences, Humanities & Education, SASTRA Deemed University, Thanjavur, India.
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2
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Ebrahimi P, Davoudi E, Sadeghian R, Zadeh AZ, Razmi E, Heidari R, Morowvat MH, Sadeghian I. In vivo and ex vivo gene therapy for neurodegenerative diseases: a promise for disease modification. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:7501-7530. [PMID: 38775852 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03141-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs), including AD, PD, HD, and ALS, represent a growing public health concern linked to aging and lifestyle factors, characterized by progressive nervous system damage leading to motor and cognitive deficits. Current therapeutics offer only symptomatic management, highlighting the urgent need for disease-modifying treatments. Gene therapy has emerged as a promising approach, targeting the underlying pathology of diseases with diverse strategies including gene replacement, gene silencing, and gene editing. This innovative therapeutic approach involves introducing functional genetic material to combat disease mechanisms, potentially offering long-term efficacy and disease modification. With advancements in genomics, structural biology, and gene editing tools such as CRISPR/Cas9, gene therapy holds significant promise for addressing the root causes of NDDs. Significant progress in preclinical and clinical studies has demonstrated the potential of in vivo and ex vivo gene therapy to treat various NDDs, offering a versatile and precise approach in comparison to conventional treatments. The current review describes various gene therapy approaches employed in preclinical and clinical studies for the treatment of NDDs, including AD, PD, HD, and ALS, and addresses some of the key translational challenges in this therapeutic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pouya Ebrahimi
- Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Elham Davoudi
- Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, University of Massachusetts Lowell, Lowell, MA, USA
| | | | - Amin Zaki Zadeh
- Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Emran Razmi
- Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Reza Heidari
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Morowvat
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
| | - Issa Sadeghian
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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3
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Khan M. Polymers as Efficient Non-Viral Gene Delivery Vectors: The Role of the Chemical and Physical Architecture of Macromolecules. Polymers (Basel) 2024; 16:2629. [PMID: 39339093 PMCID: PMC11435517 DOI: 10.3390/polym16182629] [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: 08/26/2024] [Revised: 09/13/2024] [Accepted: 09/15/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is the technique of inserting foreign genetic elements into host cells to achieve a therapeutic effect. Although gene therapy was initially formulated as a potential remedy for specific genetic problems, it currently offers solutions for many diseases with varying inheritance patterns and acquired diseases. There are two major groups of vectors for gene therapy: viral vector gene therapy and non-viral vector gene therapy. This review examines the role of a macromolecule's chemical and physical architecture in non-viral gene delivery, including their design and synthesis. Polymers can boost circulation, improve delivery, and control cargo release through various methods. The prominent examples discussed include poly-L-lysine, polyethyleneimine, comb polymers, brush polymers, and star polymers, as well as hydrogels and natural polymers and their modifications. While significant progress has been made, challenges still exist in gene stabilization, targeting specificity, and cellular uptake. Overcoming cytotoxicity, improving delivery efficiency, and utilizing natural polymers and hybrid systems are vital factors for prospects. This comprehensive review provides an illuminating overview of the field, guiding the way toward innovative non-viral-based gene delivery solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majad Khan
- Department of Chemistry, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals KFUPM, Dahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Hydrogen Technologies and Carbon Management (IRC-HTCM), King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals KFUPM, Dahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
- Interdisciplinary Research Center for Refining and Advanced Chemicals (IRC-CRAC), King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Shang J, Song F, Zhang Z, Chen D, Yang S. Application of novel CRISPR tools in brain therapy. Life Sci 2024; 352:122855. [PMID: 38908787 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122855] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)-based genome editing toolkit has been widely used to modify the genome sequence of organisms. As the CRISPR toolbox continues to grow and new CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins are discovered, its applications have expanded beyond conventional genome editing. This now encompass epigenetic editing, gene expression control, and various other functions. Notably, these advancements are finding practical application in the treatment of brain diseases. Furthermore, the amalgamation of CRISPR and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) technologies has emerged as a potential approach for disease treatment. With this in mind, this review commences by offering a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in CRISPR gene editing tools. This encompasses an exploration of various Cas proteins, gene expression control, epigenetic editing, base editing and primer editing. Additionally, we present an in-depth examination of the manifold applications of these innovative CRISPR tools in the realms of brain therapeutics, such as neurodegenerative diseases, neurological syndromes and genetic disorders, epileptic disorders, and brain tumors, also explore the pathogenesis of these diseases. This includes their utilization in modeling, gene screening, therapeutic gene editing, as well as their emerging synergy with CAR-T technology. Finally, we discuss the remaining technical challenges that need to be addressed for effective utilization of CRISPR tools in disease treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawen Shang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Fei Song
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, China
| | - Zhenzhong Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Henan Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Di Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Henan Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
| | - Sen Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Henan Key Laboratory of Targeting Therapy and Diagnosis for Critical Diseases, Zhengzhou 450001, China.
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5
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Kim Y, Kim H, Cho B, An S, Kang S, Kim S, Kim J. Modeling APOE ε4 familial Alzheimer's disease in directly converted 3D brain organoids. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1435445. [PMID: 39185458 PMCID: PMC11341472 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1435445] [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: 05/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Brain organoids have become a valuable tool for studying human brain development, disease modeling, and drug testing. However, generating brain organoids with mature neurons is time-intensive and often incomplete, limiting their utility in studying age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Here, we report the generation of 3D brain organoids from human fibroblasts through direct reprogramming, with simplicity, efficiency, and reduced variability. We also demonstrate that induced brain organoids from APOE ε4 AD patient fibroblasts capture some disease-specific features and pathologies associated with APOE ε4 AD. Moreover, APOE ε4-induced brain organoids with mutant APP overexpression faithfully recapitulate the acceleration of AD-related pathologies, providing a more physiologically relevant and patient-specific model of familial AD. Importantly, transcriptome analysis reveals that gene sets specific to APOE ε4 patient-induced brain organoids are highly similar to those of APOE ε4 post-mortem AD brains. Overall, induced brain organoids from direct reprogramming offer a promising approach for more efficient and controlled studies of neurodegenerative disease modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunkyung Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongwon Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ, United States
| | - Byounggook Cho
- Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Saemin An
- Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soi Kang
- Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sumin Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Jongpil Kim
- Department of Chemistry, Dongguk University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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6
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Zhang H, Jiang W, Song T, Song M, Liu S, Zhou J, Cheng H, Ding Y. Lipid-Polymer Nanoparticles Mediate Compartmentalized Delivery of Cas9 and sgRNA for Glioblastoma Vasculature and Immune Reprogramming. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2309314. [PMID: 38923275 PMCID: PMC11348121 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202309314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Hypervascularized glioblastoma is naturally sensitive to anti-angiogenesis but suffers from low efficacy of transient vasculature normalization. In this study, a lipid-polymer nanoparticle is synthesized to execute compartmentalized Cas9 and sgRNA delivery for a permanent vasculature editing strategy by knocking out the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3). The phenylboronic acid branched cationic polymer is designed to condense sgRNA electrostatically (inner compartment) and patch Cas9 coordinatively (outer compartment), followed by liposomal hybridization with angiopep-2 decoration for blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration. The lipid-polymer nanoparticles can reach glioblastoma within 2 h post intravenous administration, and hypoxia in tumor cells triggers charge-elimination and degradation of the cationic polymer for burst release of Cas9 and sgRNA, accompanied by instant Cas9 RNP assembly, yielding ≈50% STAT3 knockout. The downregulation of downstream vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) reprograms vasculature normalization to improve immune infiltration, collaborating with interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) reduction to develop anti-glioblastoma responses. Collectively, the combinational assembly for compartmentalized Cas9/sgRNA delivery provides a potential solution in glioblastoma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaqing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesDepartment of PharmaceuticsChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Wenxin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesDepartment of PharmaceuticsChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Tingting Song
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesDepartment of PharmaceuticsChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Mingjie Song
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesDepartment of PharmaceuticsChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Shengyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesDepartment of PharmaceuticsChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Jianping Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesDepartment of PharmaceuticsChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Hao Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesDepartment of PharmaceuticsChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
| | - Yang Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Natural MedicinesDepartment of PharmaceuticsChina Pharmaceutical UniversityNanjing210009China
- State Key Laboratory of Functions and Applications of Medicinal PlantsGuizhou Medical UniversityGuiyang550014China
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7
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Gao J, Gunasekar S, Xia ZJ, Shalin K, Jiang C, Chen H, Lee D, Lee S, Pisal ND, Luo JN, Griciuc A, Karp JM, Tanzi R, Joshi N. Gene therapy for CNS disorders: modalities, delivery and translational challenges. Nat Rev Neurosci 2024; 25:553-572. [PMID: 38898231 DOI: 10.1038/s41583-024-00829-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapy is emerging as a powerful tool to modulate abnormal gene expression, a hallmark of most CNS disorders. The transformative potentials of recently approved gene therapies for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and active cerebral adrenoleukodystrophy are encouraging further development of this approach. However, most attempts to translate gene therapy to the clinic have failed to make it to market. There is an urgent need not only to tailor the genes that are targeted to the pathology of interest but to also address delivery challenges and thereby maximize the utility of genetic tools. In this Review, we provide an overview of gene therapy modalities for CNS diseases, emphasizing the interconnectedness of different delivery strategies and routes of administration. Important gaps in understanding that could accelerate the clinical translatability of CNS genetic interventions are addressed, and we present lessons learned from failed clinical trials that may guide the future development of gene therapies for the treatment and management of CNS disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Gao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
- Center for Bioactive Delivery, Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.
| | - Swetharajan Gunasekar
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ziting Judy Xia
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kiruba Shalin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Christopher Jiang
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hao Chen
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai, China
| | - Dongtak Lee
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sohyung Lee
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nishkal D Pisal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - James N Luo
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ana Griciuc
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Jeffrey M Karp
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard-MIT Program in Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Rudolph Tanzi
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Genetics and Aging Research Unit, McCance Center for Brain Health, Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Nitin Joshi
- Center for Nanomedicine, Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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8
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Liu Y, Xia X, Zheng M, Shi B. Bio-Nano Toolbox for Precision Alzheimer's Disease Gene Therapy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2314354. [PMID: 38778446 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202314354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most burdensome aging-associated neurodegenerative disorder, and its treatment encounters numerous failures during drug development. Although there are newly approved in-market β-amyloid targeting antibody solutions, pathological heterogeneity among patient populations still challenges the treatment outcome. Emerging advances in gene therapies offer opportunities for more precise personalized medicine; while, major obstacles including the pathological heterogeneity among patient populations, the puzzled mechanism for druggable target development, and the precision delivery of functional therapeutic elements across the blood-brain barrier remain and limit the use of gene therapy for central neuronal diseases. Aiming for "precision delivery" challenges, nanomedicine provides versatile platforms that may overcome the targeted delivery challenges for AD gene therapy. In this perspective, to picture a toolbox for AD gene therapy strategy development, the most recent advances from benchtop to clinics are highlighted, possibly available gene therapy targets, tools, and delivery platforms are outlined, their challenges as well as rational design elements are addressed, and perspectives in this promising research field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Radiotherapy and Translational Medicine Center, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475000, China
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Xue Xia
- Department of Radiotherapy and Translational Medicine Center, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475000, China
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
| | - Meng Zheng
- Department of Radiotherapy and Translational Medicine Center, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475000, China
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Bingyang Shi
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
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9
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Ataei B, Hokmabadi M, Asadi S, Asadifard E, Aghaei Zarch SM, Najafi S, Bagheri-Mohammadi S. A review of the advances, insights, and prospects of gene therapy for Alzheimer's disease: A novel target for therapeutic medicine. Gene 2024; 912:148368. [PMID: 38485038 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2024.148368] [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: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) are still an important issue for scientists because it is difficult to cure with the available molecular medications and conventional treatments. Due to the complex nature of the brain structures and heterogeneous morphological and physiological properties of neuronal cells, interventions for cerebral-related disorders using surgical approaches, and classical and ongoing treatments remain hard for physicians. Furthermore, the development of newly designed medications attempts to target AD are not successful in improving AD, because abnormalities of tau protein, aggregation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptide, inflammatory responses, etc lead to advanced neurodegeneration processes that conventional treatments cannot stop them. In recent years, novel diagnostic strategies and therapeutic approaches have been developed to identify and cure early pathological events of AD. Accordingly, many gene-based therapies have been developed and introduce the therapeutic potential to prevent and cure AD. On the other hand, genetic investigations and postmortem assessments have detected a large number of factors associated with AD pathology. Also, genetically diverse animal models of AD help us to detect and prioritize novel resilience mechanisms. Hence, gene therapy can be considered an effective and powerful tool to identify and treat human diseases. Ultimately, gene study and gene-based therapy with a critical role in the detection and cure of various human disorders will have a fundamental role in our lives forever. This scientific review paper discusses the present status of different therapeutic strategies, particularly gene-based therapy in treating AD, along with its challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Ataei
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Basic Science, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
| | - Mahsa Hokmabadi
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Armin Pathobiology and Medical Genetics Laboratory, Tehran, Iran; Medical Genomics Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sahar Asadi
- Department of Community and Family Medicine, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
| | - Elnaz Asadifard
- Medical Genomics Research Center, Tehran Medical Sciences Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Mohsen Aghaei Zarch
- Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sajad Najafi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Saeid Bagheri-Mohammadi
- Department of Paramedicine, Amol School of Paramedical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran; Immunogenetics Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.
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10
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BenDavid E, Ramezanian S, Lu Y, Rousseau J, Schroeder A, Lavertu M, Tremblay JP. Emerging Perspectives on Prime Editor Delivery to the Brain. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:763. [PMID: 38931430 PMCID: PMC11206523 DOI: 10.3390/ph17060763] [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: 05/09/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Prime editing shows potential as a precision genome editing technology, as well as the potential to advance the development of next-generation nanomedicine for addressing neurological disorders. However, turning in prime editors (PEs), which are macromolecular complexes composed of CRISPR/Cas9 nickase fused with a reverse transcriptase and a prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA), to the brain remains a considerable challenge due to physiological obstacles, including the blood-brain barrier (BBB). This review article offers an up-to-date overview and perspective on the latest technologies and strategies for the precision delivery of PEs to the brain and passage through blood barriers. Furthermore, it delves into the scientific significance and possible therapeutic applications of prime editing in conditions related to neurological diseases. It is targeted at clinicians and clinical researchers working on advancing precision nanomedicine for neuropathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli BenDavid
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada;
- Division of Human Genetics, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Laboratory of Nanopharmacology and Pharmaceutical Nanoscience, Faculty of Pharmacy, Laval University, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3525433, Israel
| | - Sina Ramezanian
- Division of Human Genetics, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Yaoyao Lu
- Division of Human Genetics, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Joël Rousseau
- Division of Human Genetics, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Avi Schroeder
- Laboratory for Targeted Drug Delivery and Personalized Medicine Technologies, Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion—Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel;
| | - Marc Lavertu
- Laboratory of Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnique Montréal, Montréal, QC H3C 3A7, Canada;
| | - Jacques P. Tremblay
- Division of Human Genetics, Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec—Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 4G2, Canada
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Laval University, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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11
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Aulston BD, Gimse K, Bazick HO, Kramar EA, Pizzo DP, Parra-Rivas LA, Sun J, Branes-Guerrero K, Checka N, Bagheri N, Satyadev N, Carlson-Stevermer J, Saito T, Saido TC, Audhya A, Wood MA, Zylka MJ, Saha K, Roy S. Long term rescue of Alzheimer's deficits in vivo by one-time gene-editing of App C-terminus. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.08.598099. [PMID: 38895278 PMCID: PMC11185791 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.08.598099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/21/2024]
Abstract
Gene-editing technologies promise to create a new class of therapeutics that can achieve permanent correction with a single intervention. Besides eliminating mutant alleles in familial disease, gene-editing can also be used to favorably manipulate upstream pathophysiologic events and alter disease-course in wider patient populations, but few such feasible therapeutic avenues have been reported. Here we use CRISPR-Cas9 to edit the last exon of amyloid precursor protein (App), relevant for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Our strategy effectively eliminates an endocytic (YENPTY) motif at APP C-terminus, while preserving the N-terminus and compensatory APP-homologues. This manipulation favorably alters events along the amyloid-pathway - inhibiting toxic APP-β-cleavage fragments (including Aβ) and upregulating neuroprotective APP-α-cleavage products. AAV-driven editing ameliorates neuropathologic, electrophysiologic, and behavioral deficits in an AD knockin mouse model. Effects persist for many months, and no abnormalities are seen in WT mice even after germline App-editing; underlining overall efficacy and safety. Pathologic alterations in the glial-transcriptome of App-KI mice, as seen by single nuclei RNA-sequencing (sNuc-Seq), are also normalized by App C-terminus editing. Our strategy takes advantage of innate transcriptional rules that render terminal exons insensitive to nonsense-decay, and the upstream manipulation is expected to be effective for all forms of AD. These studies offer a path for a one-time disease-modifying treatment for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent D. Aulston
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Kirstan Gimse
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Hannah O. Bazick
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Eniko A. Kramar
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences University of California, Irvine 92697-2695, USA
| | - Donald P. Pizzo
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Leonardo A. Parra-Rivas
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jichao Sun
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Present address: Department of Geriatrics and Shenzhen Clinical Research Centre for Geriatrics, Shenzhen People’s Hospital, The Second Clinical Medical College, Jinan University, The First Affiliated Hospital, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, China
| | - Kristen Branes-Guerrero
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Present address: Eli Lilly Pharmaceuticals, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Nidhi Checka
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Neda Bagheri
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Nihal Satyadev
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Present address: Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Jared Carlson-Stevermer
- Synthego Corporation, 3696 Haven Ave Suite A, Redwood City, CA 94063
- Present address: Serotiny Inc., 329 Oyster Point Boulevard, 3rd Floor, South San Francisco, CA 94080
| | - Takashi Saito
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
- Department of Neurocognitive Science, Institute of Brain Science, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi 467-8601, Japan
| | - Takaomi C. Saido
- Laboratory for Proteolytic Neuroscience, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, 2-1 Hirosawa, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Anjon Audhya
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Marcelo A. Wood
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences University of California, Irvine 92697-2695, USA
| | - Mark J. Zylka
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Krishanu Saha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Subhojit Roy
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, USA
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12
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Chung HY, Lee GS, Nam SH, Lee JH, Han JP, Song S, Kim GD, Jung C, Hyeon DY, Hwang D, Choi BO, Yeom SC. Morc2a variants cause hydroxyl radical-mediated neuropathy and are rescued by restoring GHKL ATPase. Brain 2024; 147:2114-2127. [PMID: 38227798 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the Microrchidia CW-type zinc finger 2 (MORC2) GHKL ATPase module cause a broad range of neuropathies, such as Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2Z; however, the aetiology and therapeutic strategy are not fully understood. Previously, we reported that the Morc2a p.S87L mouse model exhibited neuropathy and muscular dysfunction through DNA damage accumulation. In the present study, we analysed the gene expression of Morc2a p.S87L mice and designated the primary causing factor. We investigated the pathological pathway using Morc2a p.S87L mouse embryonic fibroblasts and human fibroblasts harbouring MORC2 p.R252W. We subsequently assessed the therapeutic effect of gene therapy administered to Morc2a p.S87L mice. This study revealed that Morc2a p.S87L causes a protein synthesis defect, resulting in the loss of function of Morc2a and high cellular apoptosis induced by high hydroxyl radical levels. We considered the Morc2a GHKL ATPase domain as a therapeutic target because it simultaneously complements hydroxyl radical scavenging and ATPase activity. We used the adeno-associated virus (AAV)-PHP.eB serotype, which has a high CNS transduction efficiency, to express Morc2a or Morc2a GHKL ATPase domain protein in vivo. Notably, AAV gene therapy ameliorated neuropathy and muscular dysfunction with a single treatment. Loss-of-function characteristics due to protein synthesis defects in Morc2a p.S87L were also noted in human MORC2 p.S87L or p.R252W variants, indicating the correlation between mouse and human pathogenesis. In summary, CMT2Z is known as an incurable genetic disorder, but the present study demonstrated its mechanisms and treatments based on established animal models. This study demonstrates that the Morc2a p.S87L variant causes hydroxyl radical-mediated neuropathy, which can be rescued through AAV-based gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Yoon Chung
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Kangwon 25354, Korea
| | - Geon Seong Lee
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Kangwon 25354, Korea
| | - Soo Hyun Nam
- Samsung Medical Center, Cell & Gene Therapy Institute, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Jeong Hyeon Lee
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Kangwon 25354, Korea
| | - Jeong Pil Han
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Kangwon 25354, Korea
| | - Sumin Song
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Kangwon 25354, Korea
| | - Gap-Don Kim
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Kangwon 25354, Korea
| | - Choonkyun Jung
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Kangwon 25354, Korea
| | - Do Young Hyeon
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Daehee Hwang
- School of Biological Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Bioinformatics Institute, Bio-MAX, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Ok Choi
- Samsung Medical Center, Cell & Gene Therapy Institute, Seoul 06351, Korea
- Department of Health Science and Technology, Samsung Advanced Institute for Health Sciences & Technology, Seoul 06351, Korea
- Department of Neurology, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul 06351, Korea
| | - Su Cheong Yeom
- Graduate School of International Agricultural Technology and Institute of Green-Bio Science and Technology, Seoul National University, Kangwon 25354, Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, WCU Biomodulation Major, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Korea
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13
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Yu Y, Yu S, Battaglia G, Tian X. Amyloid-β in Alzheimer's disease: Structure, toxicity, distribution, treatment, and prospects. IBRAIN 2024; 10:266-289. [PMID: 39346788 PMCID: PMC11427815 DOI: 10.1002/ibra.12155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
Amyloid-β (Aβ) is a pivotal biomarker in Alzheimer's disease (AD), attracting considerable attention from numerous researchers. There is uncertainty regarding whether clearing Aβ is beneficial or harmful to cognitive function. This question has been a central topic of research, especially given the lack of success in developing Aβ-targeted drugs for AD. However, with the Food and Drug Administration's approval of Lecanemab as the first anti-Aβ medication in July 2023, there is a significant shift in perspective on the potential of Aβ as a therapeutic target for AD. In light of this advancement, this review aims to illustrate and consolidate the molecular structural attributes and pathological ramifications of Aβ. Furthermore, it elucidates the determinants influencing its expression levels while delineating the gamut of extant Aβ-targeted pharmacotherapies that have been subjected to clinical or preclinical evaluation. Subsequently, a comprehensive analysis is presented, dissecting the research landscape of Aβ across the domains above, culminating in the presentation of informed perspectives. Concluding reflections contemplate the supplementary advantages conferred by nanoparticle constructs, conceptualized within the framework of multivalent theory, within the milieu of AD diagnosis and therapeutic intervention, supplementing conventional modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifan Yu
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalunya (IBEC)The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona (Spain), Carrer Baldiri I ReixacBarcelonaSpain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA)BarcelonaSpain
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Shilong Yu
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalunya (IBEC)The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona (Spain), Carrer Baldiri I ReixacBarcelonaSpain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA)BarcelonaSpain
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Giuseppe Battaglia
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalunya (IBEC)The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona (Spain), Carrer Baldiri I ReixacBarcelonaSpain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA)BarcelonaSpain
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
| | - Xiaohe Tian
- Institute for Bioengineering of Catalunya (IBEC)The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona (Spain), Carrer Baldiri I ReixacBarcelonaSpain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA)BarcelonaSpain
- Department of Radiology and Huaxi MR Research Center (HMRRC), Functional and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, West China HospitalSichuan UniversityChengduChina
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14
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Simões S, Lino M, Barrera A, Rebelo C, Tomatis F, Vilaça A, Breunig C, Neuner A, Peça J, González R, Carvalho A, Stricker S, Ferreira L. Near-Infrared Light Activated Formulation for the Spatially Controlled Release of CRISPR-Cas9 Ribonucleoprotein for Brain Gene Editing. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202401004. [PMID: 38497898 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202401004] [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: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The CRISPR/Cas9 system has emerged as a promising platform for gene editing; however, the lack of an efficient and safe delivery system to introduce it into cells continues to hinder clinical translation. Here, we report a rationally designed gene-editing nanoparticle (NP) formulation for brain applications: an sgRNA:Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complex is immobilized on the NP surface by oligonucleotides that are complementary to the sgRNA. Irradiation of the formulation with a near-infrared (NIR) laser generates heat in the NP, leading to the release of the ribonucleoprotein complex. The gene-editing potential of the formulation was demonstrated in vitro at the single-cell level. The safety and gene editing of the formulation were also demonstrated in the brains of reporter mice, specifically in the subventricular zone after intracerebral administration and in the olfactory bulb after intranasal administration. The formulation presented here offers a new strategy for the spatially controlled delivery of the CRISPR system to the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susana Simões
- CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of University of Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research of University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel Lino
- CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of University of Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Angela Barrera
- CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of University of Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Catarina Rebelo
- CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of University of Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research of University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Francesca Tomatis
- CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of University of Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research of University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Andreia Vilaça
- CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of University of Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research of University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Christopher Breunig
- Epigenetic Engineering, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum, Germany
| | - Andrea Neuner
- Epigenetic Engineering, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum, Germany
| | - João Peça
- CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of University of Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Science, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ricardo González
- CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of University of Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research of University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Alexandra Carvalho
- CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of University of Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Interdisciplinary Research of University of Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Stefan Stricker
- Epigenetic Engineering, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Zentrum, Germany
| | - Lino Ferreira
- CNC-Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology of University of Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
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15
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Jiang S, Cai G, Yang Z, Shi H, Zeng H, Ye Q, Hu Z, Wang Z. Biomimetic Nanovesicles as a Dual Gene Delivery System for the Synergistic Gene Therapy of Alzheimer's Disease. ACS NANO 2024; 18:11753-11768. [PMID: 38649866 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c13150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The association between dysfunctional microglia and amyloid-β (Aβ) is a fundamental pathological event and increases the speed of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Additionally, the pathogenesis of AD is intricate and a single drug may not be enough to achieve a satisfactory therapeutic outcome. Herein, we reported a facile and effective gene therapy strategy for the modulation of microglia function and intervention of Aβ anabolism by ROS-responsive biomimetic exosome-liposome hybrid nanovesicles (designated as TSEL). The biomimetic nanovesicles codelivery β-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme-1 (BACE1) siRNA (siBACE1) and TREM2 plasmid (pTREM2) gene drug efficiently penetrate the blood-brain barrier and enhance the drug accumulation at AD lesions with the help of exosomes homing ability and angiopep-2 peptides. Specifically, an upregulation of TREM2 expression can reprogram microglia from a pro-inflammatory M1 phenotype to an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype while also restoring its capacity to phagocytose Aβ and its nerve repair function. In addition, siRNA reduces the production of Aβ plaques at the source by knocking out the BACE1 gene, which is expected to further enhance the therapeutic effect of AD. The in vivo study suggests that TSEL through the synergistic effect of two gene drugs can ameliorate APP/PS1 mice cognitive impairment by regulating the activated microglial phenotype, reducing the accumulation of Aβ, and preventing the retriggering of neuroinflammation. This strategy employs biomimetic nanovesicles for the delivery of dual nucleic acids, achieving synergistic gene therapy for AD, thus offering more options for the treatment of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujun Jiang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Guoen Cai
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, Institute of Clinical Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Zhimin Yang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Haoyuan Shi
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Huajie Zeng
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
| | - Qinyong Ye
- Department of Neurology, Center for Cognitive Neurology, Institute of Clinical Neurology, Fujian Medical University Union Hospital, Fuzhou 350001, China
| | - Zhiyuan Hu
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
- School of Nanoscience and Technology, Sino-Danish College, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- School of Chemical Engineering and Pharmacy, Wuhan Institute of Technology, Wuhan 430205, China
| | - Zihua Wang
- Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, Fujian 350122, China
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
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16
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Deneault E. Recent Therapeutic Gene Editing Applications to Genetic Disorders. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024; 46:4147-4185. [PMID: 38785523 PMCID: PMC11119904 DOI: 10.3390/cimb46050255] [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: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent years have witnessed unprecedented progress in therapeutic gene editing, revolutionizing the approach to treating genetic disorders. In this comprehensive review, we discuss the progression of milestones leading to the emergence of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based technology as a powerful tool for precise and targeted modifications of the human genome. CRISPR-Cas9 nuclease, base editing, and prime editing have taken center stage, demonstrating remarkable precision and efficacy in targeted ex vivo and in vivo genomic modifications. Enhanced delivery systems, including viral vectors and nanoparticles, have further improved the efficiency and safety of therapeutic gene editing, advancing their clinical translatability. The exploration of CRISPR-Cas systems beyond the commonly used Cas9, such as the development of Cas12 and Cas13 variants, has expanded the repertoire of gene editing tools, enabling more intricate modifications and therapeutic interventions. Outstandingly, prime editing represents a significant leap forward, given its unparalleled versatility and minimization of off-target effects. These innovations have paved the way for therapeutic gene editing in a multitude of previously incurable genetic disorders, ranging from monogenic diseases to complex polygenic conditions. This review highlights the latest innovative studies in the field, emphasizing breakthrough technologies in preclinical and clinical trials, and their applications in the realm of precision medicine. However, challenges such as off-target effects and ethical considerations remain, necessitating continued research to refine safety profiles and ethical frameworks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Deneault
- Regulatory Research Division, Centre for Oncology, Radiopharmaceuticals and Research, Biologic and Radiopharmaceutical Drugs Directorate, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
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17
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Rahimi A, Sameei P, Mousavi S, Ghaderi K, Hassani A, Hassani S, Alipour S. Application of CRISPR/Cas9 System in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Neurodegenerative Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04143-2. [PMID: 38639864 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04143-2] [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: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's are some of the most common neurological disorders, which affect millions of people worldwide. Although there have been many treatments for these diseases, there are still no effective treatments to treat or completely stop these disorders. Perhaps the lack of proper treatment for these diseases can be related to various reasons, but the poor results related to recent clinical research also prompted doctors to look for new treatment approaches. In this regard, various researchers from all over the world have provided many new treatments, one of which is CRISPR/Cas9. Today, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is mostly used for genetic modifications in various species. In addition, by using the abilities available in the CRISPR/Cas9 system, researchers can either remove or modify DNA sequences, which in this way can establish a suitable and useful treatment method for the treatment of genetic diseases that have undergone mutations. We conducted a non-systematic review of articles and study results from various databases, including PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Scopus, in recent years. and have investigated new treatment methods in neurodegenerative diseases with a focus on Alzheimer's disease. Then, in the following sections, the treatment methods were classified into three groups: anti-tau, anti-amyloid, and anti-APOE regimens. Finally, we discussed various applications of the CRISPR/Cas-9 system in Alzheimer's disease. Today, using CRISPR/Cas-9 technology, scientists create Alzheimer's disease models that have a more realistic phenotype and reveal the processes of pathogenesis; following the screening of defective genes, they establish treatments for this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Araz Rahimi
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Parsa Sameei
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Sana Mousavi
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Kimia Ghaderi
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Amin Hassani
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Sepideh Hassani
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University Medical Sciences (UMSU), Urmia, Iran.
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
| | - Shahriar Alipour
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University Medical Sciences (UMSU), Urmia, Iran.
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Applied Cell Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
- Student Research Committee, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
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18
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Gee MS, Kwon E, Song MH, Jeon SH, Kim N, Lee JK, Koo T. CRISPR base editing-mediated correction of a tau mutation rescues cognitive decline in a mouse model of tauopathy. Transl Neurodegener 2024; 13:21. [PMID: 38610033 PMCID: PMC11010288 DOI: 10.1186/s40035-024-00415-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Min Sung Gee
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunji Kwon
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graudate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Myeong-Hoon Song
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graudate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Ho Jeon
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Namkwon Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong Kil Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
| | - Taeyoung Koo
- College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graudate School, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, 02447, Republic of Korea.
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19
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Srinivas T, Siqueira E, Guil S. Techniques for investigating lncRNA transcript functions in neurodevelopment. Mol Psychiatry 2024; 29:874-890. [PMID: 38145986 PMCID: PMC11176085 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-023-02377-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are sequences of 200 nucleotides or more that are transcribed from a large portion of the mammalian genome. While hypothesized to have a variety of biological roles, many lncRNAs remain largely functionally uncharacterized due to unique challenges associated with their investigation. For example, some lncRNAs overlap with other genomic loci, are expressed in a cell-type-specific manner, and/or are differentially processed at the post-transcriptional level. The mammalian CNS contains a vast diversity of lncRNAs, and lncRNAs are highly abundant in the mammalian brain. However, interrogating lncRNA function in models of the CNS, particularly in vivo, can be complex and challenging. Here we review the breadth of methods used to investigate lncRNAs in the CNS, their merits, and the understanding they can provide with respect to neurodevelopment and pathophysiology. We discuss remaining challenges in the field and provide recommendations to assay lncRNAs based on current methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara Srinivas
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Edilene Siqueira
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sonia Guil
- Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Germans Trias i Pujol Health Science Research Institute, 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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20
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Tsuchida CA, Wasko KM, Hamilton JR, Doudna JA. Targeted nonviral delivery of genome editors in vivo. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2307796121. [PMID: 38437567 PMCID: PMC10945750 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2307796121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell-type-specific in vivo delivery of genome editing molecules is the next breakthrough that will drive biological discovery and transform the field of cell and gene therapy. Here, we discuss recent advances in the delivery of CRISPR-Cas genome editors either as preassembled ribonucleoproteins or encoded in mRNA. Both strategies avoid pitfalls of viral vector-mediated delivery and offer advantages including transient editor lifetime and potentially streamlined manufacturing capability that are already proving valuable for clinical use. We review current applications and future opportunities of these emerging delivery approaches that could make genome editing more efficacious and accessible in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Connor A. Tsuchida
- University of California, Berkeley—University of California, San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
| | - Kevin M. Wasko
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
| | - Jennifer R. Hamilton
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
| | - Jennifer A. Doudna
- University of California, Berkeley—University of California, San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA94720
- Gladstone Institutes, University of California,San Francisco, CA94158
- HHMI, University of California, Berkeley, CA94720
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21
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Jiang H, Tang M, Xu Z, Wang Y, Li M, Zheng S, Zhu J, Lin Z, Zhang M. CRISPR/Cas9 system and its applications in nervous system diseases. Genes Dis 2024; 11:675-686. [PMID: 37692518 PMCID: PMC10491921 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.03.017] [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: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) system is an acquired immune system of many bacteria and archaea, comprising CRISPR loci, Cas genes, and its associated proteins. This system can recognize exogenous DNA and utilize the Cas9 protein's nuclease activity to break DNA double-strand and to achieve base insertion or deletion by subsequent DNA repair. In recent years, multiple laboratory and clinical studies have revealed the therapeutic role of the CRISPR/Cas9 system in neurological diseases. This article reviews the CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing technology and its potential for clinical application against neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibin Jiang
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Mengyan Tang
- The First School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Zidi Xu
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Yanan Wang
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Mopu Li
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Shuyin Zheng
- The Second School of Medicine, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325035, China
| | - Jianghu Zhu
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second School of Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- Key Laboratory of Perinatal Medicine of Wenzhou, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Malformations in Children of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Disease, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Zhenlang Lin
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second School of Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- Key Laboratory of Perinatal Medicine of Wenzhou, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Malformations in Children of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Disease, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, The Second School of Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- Key Laboratory of Perinatal Medicine of Wenzhou, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
- Key Laboratory of Structural Malformations in Children of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325000, China
- Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Pediatric Disease, Wenzhou, Zhejiang 325027, China
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22
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Chen K, Stahl EC, Kang MH, Xu B, Allen R, Trinidad M, Doudna JA. Engineering self-deliverable ribonucleoproteins for genome editing in the brain. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1727. [PMID: 38409124 PMCID: PMC10897210 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45998-2] [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: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The delivery of CRISPR ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) for genome editing in vitro and in vivo has important advantages over other delivery methods, including reduced off-target and immunogenic effects. However, effective delivery of RNPs remains challenging in certain cell types due to low efficiency and cell toxicity. To address these issues, we engineer self-deliverable RNPs that can promote efficient cellular uptake and carry out robust genome editing without the need for helper materials or biomolecules. Screening of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) fused to CRISPR-Cas9 protein identifies potent constructs capable of efficient genome editing of neural progenitor cells. Further engineering of these fusion proteins establishes a C-terminal Cas9 fusion with three copies of A22p, a peptide derived from human semaphorin-3a, that exhibits substantially improved editing efficacy compared to other constructs. We find that self-deliverable Cas9 RNPs generate robust genome edits in clinically relevant genes when injected directly into the mouse striatum. Overall, self-deliverable Cas9 proteins provide a facile and effective platform for genome editing in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Chen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth C Stahl
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Min Hyung Kang
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Bryant Xu
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Ryan Allen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Marena Trinidad
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Gladstone-UCSF Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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23
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Zhang H, Kelly K, Lee J, Echeverria D, Cooper D, Panwala R, Amrani N, Chen Z, Gaston N, Wagh A, Newby G, Xie J, Liu DR, Gao G, Wolfe S, Khvorova A, Watts J, Sontheimer E. Self-delivering, chemically modified CRISPR RNAs for AAV co-delivery and genome editing in vivo. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:977-997. [PMID: 38033325 PMCID: PMC10810193 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Guide RNAs offer programmability for CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing but also add challenges for delivery. Chemical modification, which has been key to the success of oligonucleotide therapeutics, can enhance the stability, distribution, cellular uptake, and safety of nucleic acids. Previously, we engineered heavily and fully modified SpyCas9 crRNA and tracrRNA, which showed enhanced stability and retained activity when delivered to cultured cells in the form of the ribonucleoprotein complex. In this study, we report that a short, fully stabilized oligonucleotide (a 'protecting oligo'), which can be displaced by tracrRNA annealing, can significantly enhance the potency and stability of a heavily modified crRNA. Furthermore, protecting oligos allow various bioconjugates to be appended, thereby improving cellular uptake and biodistribution of crRNA in vivo. Finally, we achieved in vivo genome editing in adult mouse liver and central nervous system via co-delivery of unformulated, chemically modified crRNAs with protecting oligos and AAV vectors that express tracrRNA and either SpyCas9 or a base editor derivative. Our proof-of-concept establishment of AAV/crRNA co-delivery offers a route towards transient editing activity, target multiplexing, guide redosing, and vector inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Karen Kelly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan Lee
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - David Cooper
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Rebecca Panwala
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Nadia Amrani
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Zexiang Chen
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Nicholas Gaston
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Atish Wagh
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gregory A Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Scot A Wolfe
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan K Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Erik J Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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24
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Konishi CT, Moulayes N, Butola T, Zhang V, Kagan D, Yang Q, Pressler M, Dirvin BG, Devinsky O, Basu J, Long C. Modeling and Correction of Protein Conformational Disease in iPSC-derived Neurons through Personalized Base Editing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.17.576134. [PMID: 38293034 PMCID: PMC10827171 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.17.576134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024]
Abstract
Altered protein conformation can cause incurable neurodegenerative disorders. Mutations in SERPINI1 , the gene encoding neuroserpin, alter protein conformation resulting in cytotoxic aggregation in neuronal endoplasmic reticulum. Aggregates cause oxidative stress impairing function, leading to neuronal death. Familial encephalopathy with neuroserpin inclusion bodies (FENIB) is a rare autosomal dominant progressive myoclonic epilepsy. Patients present with seizures and cognitive impairments that progress to dementia and premature death. We developed HEK293T and induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) models of FENIB, harboring the patient's pathogenic SERPINI1 variant or stably overexpressing mutant neuroserpin fused to GFP (MUT NS-GFP). FENIB cells form neuroserpin inclusions which increase in size and number. Here, we utilized a personalized adenine base editor (ABE)-mediated approach to efficiently correct the pathogenic variant and to restore neuronal dendritic morphology. ABE-treated MUT NS-GFP cells demonstrated reduced inclusion size and number. Using an inducible MUT NS-GFP neuron system, we identified early prevention of toxic protein expression allowed aggregate clearance, while late prevention halted neuronal impairments. To address several challenges for clinical applications of gene correction, we developed a neuron-specific engineered virus-like particle to optimize neuronal ABE delivery. Preventing mutant protein with altered conformation production improved toxic protein clearance. Our findings provide a targeted strategy and may treat FENIB and potentially other neurodegenerative diseases due to altered protein conformation such as Alzheimer's and Huntington's diseases.
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25
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Williams L, Larsen J. Nanoparticle-mediated delivery of non-viral gene editing technology to the brain. Prog Neurobiol 2024; 232:102547. [PMID: 38042249 PMCID: PMC10872436 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/04/2023]
Abstract
Neurological disorders pose a significant burden on individuals and society, affecting millions worldwide. These disorders, including but not limited to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Huntington's disease, often have limited treatment options and can lead to progressive degeneration and disability. Gene editing technologies, including Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFN), Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALEN), and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats-associated Protein 9 (CRISPR-Cas9), offer a promising avenue for potential cures by targeting and correcting the underlying genetic mutations responsible for neurologic disorders. However, efficient delivery methods are crucial for the successful application of gene editing technologies in the context of neurological disorders. The central nervous system presents unique challenges to treatment development due to the blood-brain barrier, which restricts the entry of large molecules. While viral vectors are traditionally used for gene delivery, nonviral delivery methods, such as nanoparticle-mediated delivery, offer safer alternatives that can efficiently transport gene editing components. Herein we aim to introduce the three main gene editing nucleases as nonviral treatments for neurologic disorders, the delivery barriers associated with brain targeting, and the current nonviral techniques used for brain-specific delivery. We highlight the challenges and opportunities for future research in this exciting and growing field that could lead to blood-brain barrier bypassing therapeutic gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucian Williams
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29631, USA
| | - Jessica Larsen
- Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29631, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29631, USA.
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26
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He T, Wen C, Yang G, Yang X. Targeted Protein Degradation: Principles, Strategies, and Applications. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023; 7:e2300083. [PMID: 37518856 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Protein degradation is a general process to maintain cell homeostasis. The intracellular protein quality control system mainly includes the ubiquitin-proteasome system and the lysosome pathway. Inspired by the physiological process, strategies to degrade specific proteins have developed, which emerge as potent and effective tools in biological research and drug discovery. This review focuses on recent advances in targeted protein degradation techniques, summarizing the principles, advantages, and challenges. Moreover, the potential applications and future direction in biological science and clinics are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting He
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, P. R. China
| | - Chenxi Wen
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, P. R. China
| | - Guodong Yang
- The State Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, P. R. China
| | - Xuekang Yang
- Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, P. R. China
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27
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Aslan C, Zolbanin NM, Faraji F, Jafari R. Exosomes for CRISPR-Cas9 Delivery: The Cutting Edge in Genome Editing. Mol Biotechnol 2023:10.1007/s12033-023-00932-7. [PMID: 38012525 DOI: 10.1007/s12033-023-00932-7] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
Gene mutation correction was challenging until the discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein (Cas). CRISPR is a new era for genome modification, and this technology has bypassed the limitations of previous methods such as zinc-finger nuclease and transcription activator-like effector nuclease. Currently, this method is becoming the method of choice for gene-editing purposes, especially therapeutic gene editing in diseases such as cardiovascular, neurological, renal, genetic, optical, and stem cell, as well as blood disorders and muscular degeneration. However, finding the optimum delivery system capable of carrying this large complex persists as the main challenge of this technology. Therefore, it would be ideal if the delivery vehicle could direct the introduction of editing functions to specific cells in a multicellular organism. Exosomes are membrane-bound vesicles with high biocompatibility and low immunogenicity; they offer the best and most reliable way to fill the CRISPR/Cas9 system delivery gap. This review presents the current evidence on the molecular mechanisms and challenges of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome modification. Also, the role of CRISPR/Cas9 in the development of treatment and diagnosis of numerous disorders, from malignancies to viral infections, has been discussed. Lastly, the focus is on new advances in exosome-delivery technologies that may play a role in CRISPR/Cas9 delivery for future clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cynthia Aslan
- Research Center for Integrative Medicine in Aging, Aging Research Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Naime Majidi Zolbanin
- Experimental and Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Pharmacy, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Faraji
- Hazrat-e Rasool General Hospital, Antimicrobial Resistance Research Center, Institute of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Floor 3, Building No. 3, Niyayesh St, Sattar Khan St, Tehran, 1445613131, Iran.
| | - Reza Jafari
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Cellular and Molecular Medicine Research Institute, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Shafa St., Ershad Blvd., P.O. Box: 1138, Urmia, 57147, Iran.
- Department of Immunology and Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran.
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28
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Chen K, Stahl EC, Kang MH, Xu B, Allen R, Trinidad M, Doudna JA. Engineering self-deliverable ribonucleoproteins for genome editing in the brain. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.15.567251. [PMID: 38014180 PMCID: PMC10680703 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.15.567251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
The delivery of CRISPR ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) for genome editing in vitro and in vivo has important advantages over other delivery methods, including reduced off-target and immunogenic effects 1 . However, effective delivery of RNPs remains challenging in certain cell types due to low efficiency and cell toxicity. To address these issues, we engineered self-deliverable RNPs that can promote efficient cellular uptake and carry out robust genome editing without the need for helper materials or biomolecules. Screening of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) fused to CRISPR-Cas9 protein identified potent constructs capable of efficient genome editing of neural progenitor cells. Further engineering of these fusion proteins identified a C-terminal Cas9 fusion with three copies of A22p, a peptide derived from human semaphorin-3a, that exhibited substantially improved editing efficacy compared to other constructs. We found that self-deliverable Cas9 RNPs generated robust genome edits in clinically relevant genes when injected directly into the mouse striatum. Overall, self-deliverable Cas9 proteins provide a facile and effective platform for genome editing in vitro and in vivo .
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29
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Nakamura S, Morohoshi K, Inada E, Sato Y, Watanabe S, Saitoh I, Sato M. Recent Advances in In Vivo Somatic Cell Gene Modification in Newborn Pups. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15301. [PMID: 37894981 PMCID: PMC10607593 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015301] [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: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Germline manipulation at the zygote stage using the CRISPR/Cas9 system has been extensively employed for creating genetically modified animals and maintaining established lines. However, this approach requires a long and laborious task. Recently, many researchers have attempted to overcome these limitations by generating somatic mutations in the adult stage through tail vein injection or local administration of CRISPR reagents, as a new strategy called "in vivo somatic cell genome editing". This approach does not require manipulation of early embryos or strain maintenance, and it can test the results of genome editing in a short period. The newborn is an ideal stage to perform in vivo somatic cell genome editing because it is immune-privileged, easily accessible, and only a small amount of CRISPR reagents is required to achieve somatic cell genome editing throughout the entire body, owing to its small size. In this review, we summarize in vivo genome engineering strategies that have been successfully demonstrated in newborns. We also report successful in vivo genome editing through the neonatal introduction of genome editing reagents into various sites in newborns (as exemplified by intravenous injection via the facial vein), which will be helpful for creating models for genetic diseases or treating many genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shingo Nakamura
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, National Defense Medical College Research Institute, Tokorozawa 359-8513, Japan;
| | - Kazunori Morohoshi
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, National Defense Medical College Research Institute, Tokorozawa 359-8513, Japan;
| | - Emi Inada
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan;
| | - Yoko Sato
- Graduate School of Public Health, Shizuoka Graduate University of Public Health, Aoi-ku, Shizuoka 420-0881, Japan;
| | - Satoshi Watanabe
- Institute of Livestock and Grassland Science, NARO, Tsukuba 305-0901, Japan;
| | - Issei Saitoh
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Asahi University School of Dentistry, Mizuho 501-0296, Japan;
| | - Masahiro Sato
- Department of Genome Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Setagaya-ku, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan;
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30
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Sowbhagya R, Muktha H, Ramakrishnaiah TN, Surendra AS, Tanvi Y, Nivitha K, Rajashekara S. CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing in mice for the development of drug delivery mechanism. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:7729-7743. [PMID: 37438488 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-023-08659-z] [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: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To manipulate particular locations in the bacterial genome, researchers have recently resorted to a group of unique sequences in bacterial genomes that are responsible for safeguarding bacteria against bacteriophages. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) are two such systems, each of which consists of an RNA component and an enzyme component. METHODS AND RESULTS This review focuses primarily on how CRISPR/Cas9 technology can be used to make models to study human diseases in mice. Creating RNA molecules that direct endonucleases to a specific position in the genome are crucial for achieving a specific genetic modification. CRISPR/Cas9 technology has allowed scientists to edit the genome with greater precision than ever before. Researchers can use knock-in and knock-out methods to model human diseases such as Neurological, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. CONCLUSIONS In terms of developing innovative methods to discover ailments for diseases/disorders, improved CRISPR/Cas9 technology will provide easier access to valuable novel animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramachandregowda Sowbhagya
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, 7th Main Rd, MSRIT, M S R Nagar, Mathikere, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 054, India
| | - Harsha Muktha
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, 7th Main Rd, MSRIT, M S R Nagar, Mathikere, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 054, India
| | - Thippenahalli Narasimhaiah Ramakrishnaiah
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, 7th Main Rd, MSRIT, M S R Nagar, Mathikere, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 054, India
| | - Adagur Sudarshan Surendra
- Department of Biochemistry, M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, 7th Main Rd, MSRIT, M S R Nagar, Mathikere, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 054, India
| | - Yesudas Tanvi
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, 7th Main Rd, MSRIT, M S R Nagar, Mathikere, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 054, India
| | - Karayi Nivitha
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetics, M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce, 7th Main Rd, MSRIT, M S R Nagar, Mathikere, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 054, India
| | - Somashekara Rajashekara
- Centre for Applied Genetics, Department of Studies in Zoology, Bangalore University, Jnana Bharathi Campus, Off Mysuru Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560 056, India.
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Stahl EC, Sabo JK, Kang MH, Allen R, Applegate E, Kim SE, Kwon Y, Seth A, Lemus N, Salinas-Rios V, Soczek KM, Trinidad M, Vo LT, Jeans C, Wozniak A, Morris T, Kimberlin A, Foti T, Savage DF, Doudna JA. Genome editing in the mouse brain with minimally immunogenic Cas9 RNPs. Mol Ther 2023; 31:2422-2438. [PMID: 37403358 PMCID: PMC10422012 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.06.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Transient delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) into the central nervous system (CNS) for therapeutic genome editing could avoid limitations of viral vector-based delivery including cargo capacity, immunogenicity, and cost. Here, we tested the ability of cell-penetrant Cas9 RNPs to edit the mouse striatum when introduced using a convection-enhanced delivery system. These transient Cas9 RNPs showed comparable editing of neurons and reduced adaptive immune responses relative to one formulation of Cas9 delivered using AAV serotype 9. The production of ultra-low endotoxin Cas9 protein manufactured at scale further improved innate immunity. We conclude that injection-based delivery of minimally immunogenic CRISPR genome editing RNPs into the CNS provides a valuable alternative to virus-mediated genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth C Stahl
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jennifer K Sabo
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Min Hyung Kang
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ryan Allen
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Elizabeth Applegate
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Shin Eui Kim
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Yoonjin Kwon
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Anmol Seth
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Nicholas Lemus
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Viviana Salinas-Rios
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Katarzyna M Soczek
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Marena Trinidad
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Linda T Vo
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Chris Jeans
- California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - David F Savage
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Jennifer A Doudna
- Innovative Genomics Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; California Institute for Quantitative Biosciences (QB3), University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Department of Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; MBIB Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Gladstone Institutes, University of California, Berkeley, San Francisco, CA 94114, USA.
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32
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Nie X, You W, Zhang Z, Gao F, Zhou XH, Wang HL, Wang LH, Chen G, Wang CH, Hong CY, Shao Q, Wang F, Xia L, Li Y, You YZ. DPA-Zinc around Polyplexes Acts Like PEG to Reduce Protein Binding While Targeting Cancer Cells. Adv Healthc Mater 2023; 12:e2203252. [PMID: 37154112 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202203252] [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: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy holds great promise as an effective treatment for many diseases of genetic origin. Gene therapy works by employing cationic polymers, liposomes, and nanoparticles to condense DNA into polyplexes via electronic interactions. Then, a therapeutic gene is introduced into target cells, thereby restoring or changing cellular function. However, gene transfection efficiency remains low in vivo due to high protein binding, poor targeting ability, and substantial endosomal entrapment. Artificial sheaths containing PEG, anions, or zwitterions can be introduced onto the surface of gene carriers to prevent interaction with proteins; however, they reduce the cellular uptake efficacy, endosomal escape, targeting ability, thereby, lowering gene transfection. Here, it is reported that linking dipicolylamine-zinc (DPA-Zn) ions onto polyplex nanoparticles can produce a strong hydration water layer around the polyplex, mimicking the function of PEGylation to reduce protein binding while targeting cancer cells, augmenting cellular uptake and endosomal escape. The polyplexes with a strong hydration water layer on the surface can achieve a high gene transfection even in a 50% serum environment. This strategy provides a new solution for preventing protein adsorption while improving cellular uptake and endosomal escape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Nie
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Wei You
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Ze Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Fan Gao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Zhou
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Hai-Li Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Long-Hai Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Guang Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Chang-Hui Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, China
| | - Chun-Yan Hong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Qi Shao
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Fei Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
| | - Lei Xia
- CAS Key Laboratory of Soft Matter Chemistry, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Yang Li
- Laboratory for Biomaterials and Drug Delivery, Department of Anesthesiology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Ye-Zi You
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230026, China
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Forgham H, Liu L, Zhu J, Javed I, Cai W, Qiao R, Davis TP. Vector enabled CRISPR gene editing - A revolutionary strategy for targeting the diversity of brain pathologies. Coord Chem Rev 2023; 487:215172. [PMID: 37305445 PMCID: PMC10249757 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2023.215172] [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: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Brain pathologies are considered one of the greatest contributors of death and disability worldwide. Neurodegenerative Alzheimer's disease is the second leading cause of death in adults, whilst brain cancers including glioblastoma multiforme in adults, and pediatric-type high-grade gliomas in children remain largely untreatable. A further compounding issue for patients with brain pathologies is that of long-term neuropsychiatric sequela - as a symptom or arising from high dose therapeutic intervention. The major challenge to effective, low dose treatment is finding therapeutics that successfully cross the blood-brain barrier and target aberrant cellular processes, while having minimum effect on essential cellular processes, and healthy bystander cells. Following over 30 years of research, CRISPR technology has emerged as a biomedical tour de force with the potential to revolutionise the treatment of both neurological and cancer related brain pathologies. The aim of this review is to take stock of the progress made in CRISPR technology in relation to treating brain pathologies. Specifically, we will describe studies which look beyond design, synthesis, and theoretical application; and focus instead on in vivo studies with translation potential. Along with discussing the latest breakthrough techniques being applied within the CRISPR field, we aim to provide a prospective on the knowledge gaps that exist and challenges that still lay ahead for CRISPR technology prior to successful application in the brain disease treatment field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Forgham
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Liwei Liu
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Jiayuan Zhu
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Ibrahim Javed
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Weibo Cai
- Departments of Radiology and Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin – Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Ruirui Qiao
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
| | - Thomas P. Davis
- Australian Institute of Bioengineering & Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland 4072, Australia
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Xie R, Wang Y, Burger JC, Li D, Zhu M, Gong S. Non-viral approaches for gene therapy and therapeutic genome editing across the blood-brain barrier. MED-X 2023; 1:6. [PMID: 37485250 PMCID: PMC10357415 DOI: 10.1007/s44258-023-00004-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/25/2023]
Abstract
The success of brain-targeted gene therapy and therapeutic genome editing hinges on the efficient delivery of biologics bypassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which presents a significant challenge in the development of treatments for central nervous system disorders. This is particularly the case for nucleic acids and genome editors that are naturally excluded by the BBB and have poor chemical stability in the bloodstream and poor cellular uptake capability, thereby requiring judiciously designed nanovectors administered systemically for intracellular delivery to brain cells such as neurons. To overcome this obstacle, various strategies for bypassing the BBB have been developed in recent years to deliver biologics to the brain via intravenous administration using non-viral vectors. This review summarizes various brain targeting strategies and recent representative reports on brain-targeted non-viral delivery systems that allow gene therapy and therapeutic genome editing via intravenous administration, and highlights ongoing challenges and future perspectives for systemic delivery of biologics to the brain via non-viral vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruosen Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705 USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715 USA
| | - Yuyuan Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705 USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715 USA
| | - Jacobus C. Burger
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715 USA
| | - Dongdong Li
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705 USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715 USA
| | - Min Zhu
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715 USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
| | - Shaoqin Gong
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705 USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715 USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53715 USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706 USA
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35
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Hu Y, Lu B, Deng Z, Xing F, Hsu W. Virus-like particle-based delivery of Cas9/guide RNA ribonucleoprotein efficiently edits the brachyury gene and inhibits chordoma growth in vivo. Discov Oncol 2023; 14:70. [PMID: 37198417 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-023-00680-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE Chordoma is a rare and aggressive bone cancer driven by the developmental transcription factor brachyury. Efforts to target brachyury are hampered by the absence of ligand-accessible small-molecule binding pockets. Genome editing with CRISPR systems provides an unprecedented opportunity to modulate undruggable transcription factor targets. However, delivery of CRISPR remains a bottleneck for in vivo therapy development. The aim was to investigate the in vivo therapeutic efficiency of Cas9/guide RNA (gRNA) ribonucleoprotein (RNP) delivery through a novel virus-like particle (VLP) by fusing an aptamer-binding protein to the lentiviral nucleocapsid protein. METHODS The p24 based ELISA and transmission electron microscopy were used to determine the characterization of engineered VLP-packaged Cas9/gRNA RNP. The deletion efficiency of brachyury gene in chordoma cells and tissues was measured by genome cleavage detection assay. RT-PCR, Western blot, immunofluorescence staining, and IHC were employed to test the function of brachyury deletion. Cell growth and tumor volume were measured to evaluate the therapeutic efficiency of brachyury deletion by VLP-packaged Cas9/gRNA RNP. RESULTS Our "all-in-one" VLP-based Cas9/gRNA RNP system allows for transient expression of Cas9 in chordoma cells, but maintains efficient editing capacity leading to approximately 85% knockdown of brachyury with subsequent inhibition of chordoma cell proliferation and tumor progression. In addition, this VLP-packaged brachyury-targeting Cas9 RNP avoids systemic toxicities in vivo. CONCLUSION Our preclinical studies demonstrate the potential of VLP-based Cas9/gRNA RNP gene therapy for the treatment of brachyury-dependent chordoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunping Hu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
| | - Baisong Lu
- Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Zhiyong Deng
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Fei Xing
- Department of Cancer Biology, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston- Salem, NC, 27157, USA
| | - Wesley Hsu
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Medical Center Boulevard, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
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Kalamakis G, Platt RJ. CRISPR for neuroscientists. Neuron 2023:S0896-6273(23)00306-9. [PMID: 37201524 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.04.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Genome engineering technologies provide an entry point into understanding and controlling the function of genetic elements in health and disease. The discovery and development of the microbial defense system CRISPR-Cas yielded a treasure trove of genome engineering technologies and revolutionized the biomedical sciences. Comprising diverse RNA-guided enzymes and effector proteins that evolved or were engineered to manipulate nucleic acids and cellular processes, the CRISPR toolbox provides precise control over biology. Virtually all biological systems are amenable to genome engineering-from cancer cells to the brains of model organisms to human patients-galvanizing research and innovation and giving rise to fundamental insights into health and powerful strategies for detecting and correcting disease. In the field of neuroscience, these tools are being leveraged across a wide range of applications, including engineering traditional and non-traditional transgenic animal models, modeling disease, testing genomic therapies, unbiased screening, programming cell states, and recording cellular lineages and other biological processes. In this primer, we describe the development and applications of CRISPR technologies while highlighting outstanding limitations and opportunities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgios Kalamakis
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Randall J Platt
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Department of Chemistry, University of Basel, Petersplatz 1, 4003 Basel, Switzerland; NCCR MSE, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Botnar Research Center for Child Health, Mattenstrasse 24a, 4058 Basel, Switzerland.
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37
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Advancement in CRISPR/Cas9 Technology to Better Understand and Treat Neurological Disorders. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:1019-1035. [PMID: 35751791 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-022-01242-3] [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] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Neurological disorders have complicated pathophysiology that may involve several genetic mutations. Conventional treatment has limitations as they only treat apparent symptoms. Although, personalized medicine is emerging as a promising neuro-intervention, lack of precision is the major pitfall. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/Cas9 system is evolving as a technological platform that may overcome the therapeutic limitations towards precision medicine. In the future, targeting genes in neurological disorders may be the mainstay of modern therapy. The present review on CRISPR/Cas9 and its application in various neurological disorders may provide a platform for its future clinical relevance towards developing precise and personalized medicine.
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Li M, Sun X, Yin M, Shen J, Yan S. Recent Advances in Nanoparticle-Mediated Co-Delivery System: A Promising Strategy in Medical and Agricultural Field. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:5121. [PMID: 36982200 PMCID: PMC10048901 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Drug and gene delivery systems mediated by nanoparticles have been widely studied for life science in the past decade. The application of nano-delivery systems can dramatically improve the stability and delivery efficiency of carried ingredients, overcoming the defects of administration routes in cancer therapy, and possibly maintaining the sustainability of agricultural systems. However, delivery of a drug or gene alone sometimes cannot achieve a satisfactory effect. The nanoparticle-mediated co-delivery system can load multiple drugs and genes simultaneously, and improve the effectiveness of each component, thus amplifying efficacy and exhibiting synergistic effects in cancer therapy and pest management. The co-delivery system has been widely reported in the medical field, and studies on its application in the agricultural field have recently begun to emerge. In this progress report, we summarize recent progress in the preparation and application of drug and gene co-delivery systems and discuss the remaining challenges and future perspectives in the design and fabrication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingshan Li
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Xiaowei Sun
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Meizhen Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jie Shen
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Shuo Yan
- Department of Plant Biosecurity and MARA Key Laboratory of Surveillance and Management for Plant Quarantine Pests, College of Plant Protection, China Agricultural University, Beijing 100193, China
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39
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Han JY, Seo J, Choi Y, Im W, Ban JJ, Sung JJ. CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing of Huntington's disease neurospheres. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:2127-2136. [PMID: 36550260 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-08175-6] [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: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal genetic disease caused by polyglutamine aggregation encoded by an expanded CAG repeat in the huntingtin gene (HTT). In this study, we cultured neurospheres derived from R6/2 mice, a representative animal model of HD, as an in vitro model. GuideRNAs were designed to induce large deletion or frameshift indel mutation of CAG expansion. These gRNAs and Cas9 were delivered to the R6/2 neurospheres and disease-related phenotypes were observed. METHODS AND RESULTS Deletion or indel mutation of the CAG repeat was confirmed by PCR, T7E1 assay and sequencing of the edited neurospheres. Edited neurospheres showed decreased polyglutamine aggregation compared with control HD neurospheres. In the edited neurosphere, we confirmed the upregulation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1 alpha (PGC-1α) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), whose reduced expressions are closely involved in the disease progression. In addition, flow cytometry result showed an increase in cell viability with an overall decrease in necrotic and apoptotic populations among edited R6/2 neurospheres. Additional siRNA experiments confirmed that the increased viability was decreased through inhibition of PGC-1α or BDNF. CONCLUSION Our study confirmed that CAG repeat of R6/2 mouse-derived neurospheres can be edited through CRISPR-Cas9. Editing of CAG repeat sequence decreases polyglutamine aggregation and cellular apoptosis of HD neurospheres, which may be related to the increased expressions of PGC-1α and BDNF. Our data provide the evidence that CRISPR-Cas9 mediated genome editing has therapeutic potential on HD neuronal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Yun Han
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea
| | - Jaewoo Seo
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea
| | - Yoori Choi
- Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.,Department of Nuclear Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Wooseok Im
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.,Institute of Women's Life Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Jae-Jun Ban
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea. .,Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea.
| | - Jung-Joon Sung
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101 Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 110-744, South Korea. .,Biomedical Research Institute, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea. .,Neuroscience Research Institute, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
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40
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Phan HTL, Kim K, Lee H, Seong JK. Progress in and Prospects of Genome Editing Tools for Human Disease Model Development and Therapeutic Applications. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:483. [PMID: 36833410 PMCID: PMC9957140 DOI: 10.3390/genes14020483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Programmable nucleases, such as zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas, are widely accepted because of their diversity and enormous potential for targeted genomic modifications in eukaryotes and other animals. Moreover, rapid advances in genome editing tools have accelerated the ability to produce various genetically modified animal models for studying human diseases. Given the advances in gene editing tools, these animal models are gradually evolving toward mimicking human diseases through the introduction of human pathogenic mutations in their genome rather than the conventional gene knockout. In the present review, we summarize the current progress in and discuss the prospects for developing mouse models of human diseases and their therapeutic applications based on advances in the study of programmable nucleases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Thi Lam Phan
- Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyoungmi Kim
- Department of Physiology, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Korea University College of Medicine, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Ho Lee
- Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang 10408, Republic of Korea
| | - Je Kyung Seong
- Korea Mouse Phenotyping Center, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Genomics, BK21 PLUS Program for Creative Veterinary Science Research, Research Institute for Veterinary Science, College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program for Bioinformatics, Program for Cancer Biology, BIO-MAX/N-Bio Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of Korea
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41
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Single-cell RNA-sequencing identifies disease-associated oligodendrocytes in male APP NL-G-F and 5XFAD mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:802. [PMID: 36781874 PMCID: PMC9925742 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36519-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with progressive neuronal degeneration as amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau proteins accumulate in the brain. Glial cells were recently reported to play an important role in the development of AD. However, little is known about the role of oligodendrocytes in AD pathogenesis. Here, we describe a disease-associated subpopulation of oligodendrocytes that is present during progression of AD-like pathology in the male AppNL-G-F and male 5xFAD AD mouse brains and in postmortem AD human brains using single-cell RNA sequencing analysis. Aberrant Erk1/2 signaling was found to be associated with the activation of disease-associated oligodendrocytes (DAOs) in male AppNL-G-F mouse brains. Notably, inhibition of Erk1/2 signaling in DAOs rescued impaired axonal myelination and ameliorated Aβ-associated pathologies and cognitive decline in the male AppNL-G-F AD mouse model.
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Mota IFL, de Lima LS, Santana BDM, Gobbo GDAM, Bicca JVML, Azevedo JRM, Veras LG, Taveira RDAA, Pinheiro GB, Mortari MR. Alzheimer's Disease: Innovative Therapeutic Approaches Based on Peptides and Nanoparticles. Neuroscientist 2023; 29:78-96. [PMID: 34018874 DOI: 10.1177/10738584211016409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia in the world and its etiology is not yet fully understood. The pathology of AD is primarily characterized by intracellular neurofibrillary tangles and extracellular amyloid-β plaques. Unfortunately, few treatment options are available, and most treat symptoms, as is the case of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (IAChE) and N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor antagonists. For more than 20 years pharmaceutical research has targeted the "amyloid cascade hypothesis," but this has not produced meaningful results, leading researchers to focus now on other characteristics of the disease and on multitarget approaches. This review aims to evaluate some new treatments that are being developed and studied. Among these are new treatments based on peptides, which have high selectivity and low toxicity; however, these compounds have a short half-life and encounter challenges when crossing the blood-brain barrier. The present review discusses up-and-coming peptides tested as treatments and explores some nanotechnological strategies to overcome the downsides. These compounds are promising, as they not only act on the symptoms but also aim to prevent progressive neuronal loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabela F L Mota
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Larissa S de Lima
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Bruna de M Santana
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Giovanna de A M Gobbo
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - João V M L Bicca
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Juliana R M Azevedo
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Letícia G Veras
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo de A A Taveira
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Gabriela B Pinheiro
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Márcia R Mortari
- Laboratory of Neuropharmacology, Department of Physiological Sciences, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Brasília, Brasília, Brazil
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43
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Dhuriya YK, Naik AA. CRISPR: a tool with potential for genomic reprogramming in neurological disorders. Mol Biol Rep 2023; 50:1845-1856. [PMID: 36507966 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-08136-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The intricate neural circuitry of the brain necessitates precise and synchronized transcriptional programs. Any disturbance during embryonic or adult development, whether caused by genetic or environmental factors, may result in refractory and recurrent neurological disorders. Inadequate knowledge of the pathogenic mechanisms underlying neurological disorders is the primary obstacle to the development of effective treatments, necessitating the development of alternative therapeutic approaches to identify rational molecular targets. Recently, with the evolution of CRISPR-Cas9 technology, an engineered RNA system provides precise and highly effective correction or silencing of disease-causing mutations by modulating expression and thereby avoiding the limitations of the RNA interference strategy. This article discusses the CRISPR-Cas9 technology, its mechanisms, and the limitations of the new technology. We provide a glimpse of how the far-reaching implications of CRISPR can open new avenues for the development of tools to combat neurological disorders, as well as a review of recent attempts by neuroscientists to launch therapeutic correction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Aijaz A Naik
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Bethesda, USA.
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44
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Zhen S, Chen H, Lu J, Yang X, Tuo X, Chang S, Tian Y, Li X. Intravaginal delivery for CRISPR-Cas9 technology: For example, the treatment of HPV infection. J Med Virol 2023; 95:e28552. [PMID: 36734062 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.28552] [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: 12/13/2022] [Revised: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
The increasing incidence of sexually transmitted diseases in women, including human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, has led to the need to develop user-friendly potential prevention methods. At present, although there are several therapeutic parts, none of them has a preventive effect, but they are only limited to providing patients with symptom relief. Researchers have now recognized the need to find effective local preventive agents. One of the potential undiscovered local fungicides is the vaginal delivery of CRISPR/Cas9. CRISPR/Cas9 delivery involves silencing gene expression in a sequence-specific manner in the pathogenic agent, thus showing microbicidal activity. However, vaginal mucosal barrier and physiological changes (such as pH value and variable epithelial thickness in the menstrual cycle) are the main obstacles to effective delivery and cell uptake of CRISPR/Cas9. To enhance the vaginal delivery of CRISPR/Cas9, so far, nano-carrier systems such as lipid delivery systems, macromolecular systems, polymer nanoparticles, aptamers, and cell-penetrating peptides have been extensively studied. In this paper, various nano-carriers and their prospects in the preclinical stage are described, as well as the future significance of CRISPR/Cas9 vaginal delivery based on nano-carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Zhen
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Genetic Disease Diagnosis Center of Shaanxi Province, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
- Medical Genetics Centre, Northwest Women's and Children's Hospital, Xi'an, China
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jiaojiao Lu
- Department of Radiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiling Yang
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoqian Tuo
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shixue Chang
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuhan Tian
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xu Li
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
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45
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Wang Y, Wang X, Xie R, Burger JC, Tong Y, Gong S. Overcoming the Blood-Brain Barrier for Gene Therapy via Systemic Administration of GSH-Responsive Silica Nanocapsules. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2208018. [PMID: 36445243 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202208018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR genome editing can potentially treat the root causes of many genetic diseases, including central nervous system (CNS) disorders. However, the promise of brain-targeted therapeutic genome editing relies on the efficient delivery of biologics bypassing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which represents a major challenge in the development of CRISPR therapeutics. We created and screened a library of glutathione (GSH)-responsive silica nanocapsules (SNCs) for brain targeted delivery of biologics via systemic administration. In vivo studies demonstrate that systemically delivered SNCs conjugated with glucose and rabies virus glycoprotein peptide under glycemic control can efficiently bypass the intact BBB, enabling brain-wide delivery of various biologics including CRISPR genome editors targeting different genes in both Ai14 reporter mice and wild-type mice. In particular, up to 28% neuron editing via systemic delivery of Cre mRNA in Ai14 mice, up to 6.1% amyloid precursor protein (App) gene editing (resulting in 19.1% reduction in the expression level of intact APP), and up to 3.9% tyrosine hydroxylase (Th) gene editing (resulting in 30.3% reduction in the expression level of TH) in wild-type mice are observed. This versatile SNC nanoplatform may offer a novel strategy for the treatment of CNS disorders including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuyuan Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Xiuxiu Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Ruosen Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Jacobus C Burger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Yao Tong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Shaoqin Gong
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53705, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53706, USA
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46
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Prions: a threat to health security and the need for effective medical countermeasures. GLOBAL HEALTH JOURNAL 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.glohj.2023.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
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47
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Metzger JM, Wang Y, Neuman SS, Snow KJ, Murray SA, Lutz CM, Bondarenko V, Felton J, Gimse K, Xie R, Li D, Zhao Y, Flowers MT, Simmons HA, Roy S, Saha K, Levine JE, Emborg ME, Gong S. Efficient in vivo neuronal genome editing in the mouse brain using nanocapsules containing CRISPR-Cas9 ribonucleoproteins. Biomaterials 2023; 293:121959. [PMID: 36527789 PMCID: PMC9868115 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Genome editing of somatic cells via clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) offers promise for new therapeutics to treat a variety of genetic disorders, including neurological diseases. However, the dense and complex parenchyma of the brain and the post-mitotic state of neurons make efficient genome editing challenging. In vivo delivery systems for CRISPR-Cas proteins and single guide RNA (sgRNA) include both viral vectors and non-viral strategies, each presenting different advantages and disadvantages for clinical application. We developed non-viral and biodegradable PEGylated nanocapsules (NCs) that deliver preassembled Cas9-sgRNA ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). Here, we show that the RNP NCs led to robust genome editing in neurons following intracerebral injection into the healthy mouse striatum. Genome editing was predominantly observed in medium spiny neurons (>80%), with occasional editing in cholinergic, calretinin, and parvalbumin interneurons. Glial activation was minimal and was localized along the needle tract. Our results demonstrate that the RNP NCs are capable of safe and efficient neuronal genome editing in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeanette M Metzger
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Yuyuan Wang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Samuel S Neuman
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Kathy J Snow
- The Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, ME, 04609, USA
| | | | | | - Viktoriya Bondarenko
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Jesi Felton
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Kirstan Gimse
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Ruosen Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Dongdong Li
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Yi Zhao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Matthew T Flowers
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Heather A Simmons
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Subhojit Roy
- Departments of Pathology and Neuroscience, University of California-San Diego, San Diego, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Krishanu Saha
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Jon E Levine
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Neuroscience, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA
| | - Marina E Emborg
- Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Medical Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA.
| | - Shaoqin Gong
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA; Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, 53715, USA.
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Hooked Up from a Distance: Charting Genome-Wide Long-Range Interaction Maps in Neural Cells Chromatin to Identify Novel Candidate Genes for Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021164. [PMID: 36674677 PMCID: PMC9863356 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021164] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA sequence variants (single nucleotide polymorphisms or variants, SNPs/SNVs; copy number variants, CNVs) associated to neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD) and traits often map on putative transcriptional regulatory elements, including, in particular, enhancers. However, the genes controlled by these enhancers remain poorly defined. Traditionally, the activity of a given enhancer, and the effect of its possible alteration associated to the sequence variants, has been thought to influence the nearest gene promoter. However, the obtainment of genome-wide long-range interaction maps in neural cells chromatin challenged this view, showing that a given enhancer is very frequently not connected to the nearest promoter, but to a more distant one, skipping genes in between. In this Perspective, we review some recent papers, who generated long-range interaction maps (by HiC, RNApolII ChIA-PET, Capture-HiC, or PLACseq), and overlapped the identified long-range interacting DNA segments with DNA sequence variants associated to NDD (such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and autism) and traits (intelligence). This strategy allowed to attribute the function of enhancers, hosting the NDD-related sequence variants, to a connected gene promoter lying far away on the linear chromosome map. Some of these enhancer-connected genes had indeed been already identified as contributive to the diseases, by the identification of mutations within the gene's protein-coding regions (exons), validating the approach. Significantly, however, the connected genes also include many genes that were not previously found mutated in their exons, pointing to novel candidate contributors to NDD and traits. Thus, long-range interaction maps, in combination with DNA variants detected in association with NDD, can be used as "pointers" to identify novel candidate disease-relevant genes. Functional manipulation of the long-range interaction network involving enhancers and promoters by CRISPR-Cas9-based approaches is beginning to probe for the functional significance of the identified interactions, and the enhancers and the genes involved, improving our understanding of neural development and its pathology.
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Mani S, Jindal D, Singh M. Gene Therapy, A Potential Therapeutic Tool for Neurological and Neuropsychiatric Disorders: Applications, Challenges and Future Perspective. Curr Gene Ther 2023; 23:20-40. [PMID: 35345999 DOI: 10.2174/1566523222666220328142427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders are the main risks for the health care system, exhibiting a huge socioeconomic load. The available range of pharmacotherapeutics mostly provides palliative consequences and fails to treat such conditions. The molecular etiology of various neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders is mostly associated with a change in genetic background, which can be inherited/triggered by other environmental factors. To address such conditions, gene therapy is considered a potential approach claiming a permanent cure of the disease primarily by deletion, silencing, or edition of faulty genes and by insertion of healthier genes. In gene therapy, vectors (viral/nonvial) play an important role in delivering the desired gene to a specific region of the brain. Targeted gene therapy has unraveled opportunities for the treatment of many neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. For improved gene delivery, the current techniques mainly focus on designing a precise viral vector, plasmid transfection, nanotechnology, microRNA, and in vivo clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-based therapy. These latest techniques have great benefits in treating predominant neurological and neurodevelopmental disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and autism spectrum disorder, as well as rarer diseases. Nevertheless, all these delivery methods have their limitations, including immunogenic reactions, off-target effects, and a deficiency of effective biomarkers to appreciate the effectiveness of therapy. In this review, we present a summary of the current methods in targeted gene delivery, followed by the limitations and future direction of gene therapy for the cure of neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Mani
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Emerging Diseases, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, U.P., India
| | - Divya Jindal
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Emerging Diseases, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, U.P., India
| | - Manisha Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Centre for Emerging Diseases, Jaypee Institute of Information Technology, Noida, U.P., India
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50
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Liu Y, Shen Y. Applications of Nanoparticles in Alzheimer's Disease. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 96:459-471. [PMID: 37807779 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230098] [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: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
With the rapid aging of the global population, the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases has become a significant concern, with Alzheimer's disease (AD) being the most common. However, the clinical trials of many drugs targeting AD have failed due to the challenges posed by the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which makes intracerebral administration of drugs difficult. However, nanoparticles (NPs) may aid in the delivery of such drugs. NPs are materials with sizes between 1-100 nm that offer several advantages, such as improving biocompatibility, prolonging half-life, transporting large molecules, crossing the BBB to deliver to the central nervous system, and exhibiting good targeting ability. In addition to drug delivery, NPs also have excellent diagnostic potential, and multifunctional NPs can integrate the advantages of diagnosis, targeting, and treatment. This mini-review article provides an overview of NPs, including the composition of the carrier, strategies for crossing the BBB, and different targets of AD pathology, with the aim of providing guidance for the development prospects of NPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Liu
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yong Shen
- Institute on Aging and Brain Disorders, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, Neurodegenerative Disorder Research Center, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
- Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
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