1
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Wang W, Yang J. Development of mKate3/HaloTag7 (JFX650) and CFP/YFP Dual-Fluorescence (or Förster) Resonance Energy Transfer Pairs for Visualizing Dual-Molecular Activity. ACS Sens 2024. [PMID: 39340466 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c01444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/30/2024]
Abstract
Although several imaging strategies for dual fluorescence (or Förster) resonance energy transfer (FRET) biosensors have been reported, their implementation is challenging because of the limited performance of fluorescent proteins and the spectral overlap of FRET biosensors. These processes often require additional data calibration to eliminate artifacts. Many CFP/YFP FRET biosensors have been developed. In this study, we introduced the mKate3/HT7(JFX650) FRET pair, which effectively formed two pairs of FRET pairs for dual-FRET imaging when combined with the CFP/YFP FRET pair. The FRET donor mKate3 exhibited higher brightness than its predecessor mKate. The FRET acceptor, HT7(JFX650), is a HaloTag7 protein covalently conjugated with a far-red JFX650-THL ligand. The pair comprising mKate3 and HT7(JFX650) represents an excellent FRET dyad, exhibiting a high FRET efficiency ratio. To use the FRET pair for dual FRET biosensor imaging, we constructed PKA and K+ biosensors based on the mKate3/HT7(JFX650) FRET pair. These biosensors can be used along with CFP/YFP biosensors to simultaneously detect the responses of intracellular PKA/Src, PKA/Ca2+, and K+/Ca2+ under different stimuli. The findings revealed that dual FRET biosensors, which are based on the combination of CFP/YFP and mKate3/HT7 (JFX650), exhibit adequate compatibility and can be used to visualize multiple molecular activities in a live cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Wang
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Jie Yang
- Britton Chance Center and MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
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2
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Seidler AE, Donath S, Gentemann L, Buettner M, Heisterkamp A, Kalies S. Protocol for the application of single-cell damage in murine intestinal organoid models. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:103153. [PMID: 39088328 PMCID: PMC11342180 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103153] [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: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Spatially defined organoid damage enables the study of cellular repair processes. However, capturing dynamic events in living tissues is technically challenging. Here, we present a protocol for the application of single-cell damage in intestinal organoid models. We describe steps for isolating and cultivating murine colon organoids, lentivirus generation and transduction of organoids, single-cell ablation by a femtosecond laser, and follow-up imaging analysis. We provide examples for the image acquisition pipeline of dynamic processes in organoids using a confocal microscope. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Donath et al.1,2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Elisabeth Seidler
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Sören Donath
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Lara Gentemann
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Manuela Buettner
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Heisterkamp
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Kalies
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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3
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Głowacki P, Tręda C, Rieske P. Regulation of CAR transgene expression to design semiautonomous CAR-T. MOLECULAR THERAPY. ONCOLOGY 2024; 32:200833. [PMID: 39184876 PMCID: PMC11344471 DOI: 10.1016/j.omton.2024.200833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
Effective transgene expression is critical for genetically engineered cell therapy. Therefore, one of CAR-T cell therapy's critical areas of interest, both in registered products and next-generation approaches is the expression of transgenes. It turns out that various constitutive promoters used in clinical products may influence CAR-T cell antitumor effectiveness and impact the manufacturing process. Furthermore, next-generation CAR-T starts to install remotely controlled inducible promoters or even autonomous expression systems, opening new ways of priming, boosting, and increasing the safety of CAR-T. In this article, a wide range of constitutive and inducible promoters has been grouped and structured, making it possible to compare their pros and cons as well as clinical usage. Finally, logic gates based on Synthetic Notch have been elaborated, demonstrating the coupling of desired external signals with genetically engineered cellular responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paweł Głowacki
- Department of Tumor Biology, Chair of Medical Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9 Street, 90-752 Lodz, Poland
| | - Cezary Tręda
- Department of Tumor Biology, Chair of Medical Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9 Street, 90-752 Lodz, Poland
- Department of Research and Development Personather Ltd, Inwestycyjna 7, 95-050 Konstantynow Lodzki, Poland
| | - Piotr Rieske
- Department of Tumor Biology, Chair of Medical Biology, Medical University of Lodz, Zeligowskiego 7/9 Street, 90-752 Lodz, Poland
- Department of Research and Development Personather Ltd, Inwestycyjna 7, 95-050 Konstantynow Lodzki, Poland
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4
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Casco A, Ohashi M, Johannsen E. Epstein-Barr virus induces host shutoff extensively via BGLF5-independent mechanisms. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114743. [PMID: 39298313 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114743] [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: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a ubiquitous oncogenic virus associated with multiple cancers and autoimmune diseases. Unlike most herpesviruses, EBV reactivation from latency occurs asymptomatically, allowing it to spread efficiently to other hosts. However, available models are limited by the inefficient and asynchronous reactivation from latency into lytic replication. To address this problem, we develop a dual-fluorescent lytic reporter (DFLR) EBV that specifically labels cells in the early and late stages of replication. Using lymphoblastoid cell lines transformed by DFLR EBV as a model for EBV reactivation in B cells, we observe extensive reprogramming of the host cell transcriptome during lytic cycle progression. This includes widespread shutoff of host gene expression and disruption of mRNA processing. Unexpectedly, host shutoff remains extensive even in cells infected with DFLR EBV deleted for the BGLF5 nuclease. These findings implicate BGLF5-independent mechanisms as the primary drivers of host transcriptome remodeling during EBV lytic replication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Casco
- Department of Oncology, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Makoto Ohashi
- Department of Oncology, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Eric Johannsen
- Department of Oncology, McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA.
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5
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Chen AP, Gao P, Lin L, Ashok P, He H, Ma C, Zou DL, Allain V, Boyne A, Juillerat A, Duchateau P, Rath A, Teper D, Arulanandam A, Chang HM, Eyquem J, Li W. An improved approach to generate IL-15 +/+/TGFβR2 -/- iPSC-derived natural killer cells using TALEN. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2024; 4:100857. [PMID: 39260365 PMCID: PMC11440057 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/13/2024]
Abstract
We present a TALEN-based workflow to generate and maintain dual-edited (IL-15+/+/TGFβR2-/-) iPSCs that produce enhanced iPSC-derived natural killer (iNK) cells for cancer immunotherapy. It involves using a cell lineage promoter for knocking in (KI) gene(s) to minimize the potential effects of expression of any exogenous genes on iPSCs. As a proof-of-principle, we KI IL-15 under the endogenous B2M promoter and show that it results in high expression of the sIL-15 in iNK cells but minimal expression in iPSCs. Furthermore, given that it is known that knockout (KO) of TGFβR2 in immune cells can enhance resistance to the suppressive TGF-β signaling in the tumor microenvironment, we develop a customized medium containing Nodal that can maintain the pluripotency of iPSCs with TGFβR2 KO, enabling banking of these iPSC clones. Ultimately, we show that the dual-edited IL-15+/+/TGFβR2-/- iPSCs can be efficiently differentiated into NK cells that show enhanced autonomous growth and are resistant to the suppressive TGF-β signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Peng Gao
- Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc., Natick, MA, USA
| | - Liang Lin
- Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc., Natick, MA, USA
| | | | - Hongzhi He
- Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc., Natick, MA, USA
| | - Chao Ma
- Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc., Natick, MA, USA
| | | | - Vincent Allain
- Gladstone-University of California, San Francisco Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA; Université Paris Cité, INSERM UMR976, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - Armin Rath
- Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc., Aventura, FL, USA
| | | | | | | | - Justin Eyquem
- Gladstone-University of California, San Francisco Institute of Genomic Immunology, San Francisco, CA, USA; Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Wei Li
- Cytovia Therapeutics, Inc., Natick, MA, USA.
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6
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Lints R, Walker CA, Delfi O, Prouse M, PohLui De Silva M, Bohlander SK, Wood AC. Mutational cooperativity of RUNX1::RUNX1T1 isoform 9a and oncogenic NRAS in zebrafish myeloid leukaemia. Biol Open 2024; 13:bio060523. [PMID: 39177514 PMCID: PMC11381922 DOI: 10.1242/bio.060523] [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: 07/30/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
RUNX1::RUNX1T1 (R::RT1) acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) remains a clinical challenge, and further research is required to model and understand leukaemogenesis. Previous zebrafish R::RT1 models were hampered by embryonic lethality and low penetrance of the malignant phenotype. Here, we overcome this by developing an adult zebrafish model in which the human R::RT1 isoform 9a is co-expressed with the frequently co-occurring oncogenic NRASG12D mutation in haematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), using the Runx1+23 enhancer. Approximately 50% of F0 9a+NRASG12D transgenic zebrafish developed signs of haematological disease between 5 and 14 months, with 27% exhibiting AML-like pathology: myeloid precursor expansion, erythrocyte reduction, kidney marrow hypercellularity and the presence of blasts. Moreover, only 9a+NRASG12D transplant recipients developed leukaemia with high rates of mortality within 40 days, inferring the presence of leukaemia stem cells. These leukaemic features were rare or not observed in animals expressing either the NRAS or 9a oncogenes alone, suggesting 9a and NRAS cooperation drives leukaemogenesis. This novel adult AML zebrafish model provides a powerful new tool for investigating the basis of R::RT1 - NRAS cooperativity with the potential to uncover new therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Lints
- Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Christina A Walker
- Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Omid Delfi
- Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Matthew Prouse
- Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | | | - Stefan K Bohlander
- Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Andrew C Wood
- Leukaemia and Blood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Pathology, University of Auckland, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
- Starship Child Health, Starship Blood and Cancer Centre, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
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7
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Escalante GM, Reidel IG, Mutsvunguma LZ, Cua S, Tello BA, Rodriguez E, Farelo MA, Zimmerman C, Muniraju M, Li H, Govindan AN, Axthelm MK, Wong SW, Ogembo JG. Multivalent MVA-vectored vaccine elicits EBV neutralizing antibodies in rhesus macaques that reduce EBV infection in humanized mice. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1445209. [PMID: 39346922 PMCID: PMC11427267 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1445209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is an oncogenic human herpesvirus associated with ~350,000 cases of lymphoid and epithelial malignancies every year, and is etiologically linked to infectious mononucleosis and multiple sclerosis. Despite four decades of research, no EBV vaccine candidate has yet reached licensure. Most previous vaccine attempts focused on a single viral entry glycoprotein, gp350, but recent data from clinical and pre-clinical studies, and the elucidation of viral entry mechanisms, support the inclusion of multiple entry glycoproteins in EBV vaccine design. Methods Here we generated a modified vaccinia Ankara (MVA)-vectored EBV vaccine, MVA-EBV5-2, that targets five EBV entry glycoproteins, gp350, gB, and the gp42gHgL complex. We characterized the genetic and translational stability of the vaccine, followed by immunogenicity assessment in BALB/c mice and rhesus lymphocryptovirus-negative rhesus macaques as compared to a gp350-based MVA vaccine. Finally, we assessed the efficacy of MVA-EBV5-2-immune rhesus serum at preventing EBV infection in human CD34+ hematopoietic stem cell-reconstituted NSG mice, under two EBV challenge doses. Results The MVA-EBV5-2 vaccine was genetically and translationally stable over 10 viral passages as shown by genetic and protein expression analysis, and when administered to female and male BALB/c mice, elicited serum EBV-specific IgG of both IgG1 and IgG2a subtypes with neutralizing activity in vitro. In Raji B cells, this neutralizing activity outperformed that of serum from mice immunized with a monovalent MVA-vectored gp350 vaccine. Similarly, MVA-EBV5-2 elicited EBV-specific IgG in rhesus macaques that were detected in both serum and saliva of immunized animals, with serum antibodies demonstrating neutralizing activity in vitro that outperformed serum from MVA-gp350-immunized macaques. Finally, pre-treatment with serum from MVA-EBV5-2-immunized macaques resulted in fewer EBV-infected mice in the two challenge experiments than pretreatment with serum from pre-immune macaques or macaques immunized with the monovalent gp350-based vaccine. Discussion These results support the inclusion of multiple entry glycoproteins in EBV vaccine design and position our vaccine as a strong candidate for clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela M Escalante
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Ivana G Reidel
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Lorraine Z Mutsvunguma
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Simeon Cua
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Brenda A Tello
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Esther Rodriguez
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Mafalda A Farelo
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Cloe Zimmerman
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
- Irell & Manella Graduate School of Biological Sciences of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - Murali Muniraju
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
| | - He Li
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Aparna N Govindan
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Michael K Axthelm
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
| | - Scott W Wong
- Vaccine and Gene Therapy Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
- Oregon National Primate Research Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR, United States
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, United States
| | - Javier Gordon Ogembo
- Department of Immuno-Oncology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, Duarte, CA, United States
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8
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Cattaneo S, Bettegazzi B, Crippa L, Asth L, Regoni M, Soukupova M, Zucchini S, Cantore A, Codazzi F, Valtorta F, Simonato M. Gene therapy for epilepsy targeting neuropeptide Y and its Y2 receptor to dentate gyrus granule cells. EMBO Rep 2024:10.1038/s44319-024-00244-0. [PMID: 39251828 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00244-0] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is emerging as an alternative option for individuals with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. Here, we explore the potential of a novel gene therapy based on Neuropeptide Y (NPY), a well-known endogenous anticonvulsant. We develop a lentiviral vector co-expressing NPY with its inhibitory receptor Y2 in which, for the first time, both transgenes are placed under the control of the minimal CamKIIa(0.4) promoter, biasing expression toward excitatory neurons and allowing autoregulation of neuronal excitability by Y2 receptor-mediated inhibition. Vector-induced NPY and Y2 expression and safety are first assessed in cultures of hippocampal neurons. In vivo experiments demonstrate efficient and nearly selective overexpression of both genes in granule cell mossy fiber terminals following vector administration in the dentate gyrus. Telemetry video-EEG monitoring reveals a reduction in the frequency and duration of seizures in the synapsin triple KO model. This study shows that targeting a small subset of neurons (hippocampal granule cells) with a combined overexpression of NPY and Y2 receptor is sufficient to reduce the occurrence of spontaneous seizures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Cattaneo
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Barbara Bettegazzi
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Crippa
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Laila Asth
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maria Regoni
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessio Cantore
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20123, Milan, Italy
| | - Franca Codazzi
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Flavia Valtorta
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132, Milan, Italy
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132, Milan, Italy.
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
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9
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Triller J, Prots I, Jäck HM, Wittmann J. An Enhanced Retroviral Vector for Efficient Genetic Manipulation and Selection in Mammalian Cells. Biomolecules 2024; 14:1131. [PMID: 39334897 PMCID: PMC11430422 DOI: 10.3390/biom14091131] [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: 07/15/2024] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Introducing genetic material into hard-to-transfect mammalian cell lines and primary cells is often best achieved through retroviral infection. An ideal retroviral vector should offer a compact, selectable, and screenable marker while maximizing transgene delivery capacity. However, a previously published retroviral vector featuring an EGFP/Puromycin fusion protein failed to meet these criteria in our experiments. We encountered issues such as low infection efficiency, weak EGFP fluorescence, and selection against infected cells. To address these shortcomings, we developed a novel retroviral vector based on the Moloney murine leukemia virus. This vector includes a compact bifunctional EGFP and Puromycin resistance cassette connected by a 2A peptide. Our extensively tested vector demonstrated superior EGFP expression, efficient Puromycin selection, and no growth penalty in infected cells compared with the earlier design. These benefits were consistent across multiple mammalian cell types, underscoring the versatility of our vector. In summary, our enhanced retroviral vector offers a robust solution for efficient infection, reliable detection, and effective selection in mammalian cells. Its improved performance and compact design make it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications involving precise genetic manipulation and characterization in cell-based studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana Triller
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center of Molecular Medicine (NFZ), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Glückstraße 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Iryna Prots
- Department of Operative Dentistry and Periodontology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Glückstraße 11, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Hans-Martin Jäck
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center of Molecular Medicine (NFZ), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Glückstraße 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Jürgen Wittmann
- Division of Molecular Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Nikolaus-Fiebiger-Center of Molecular Medicine (NFZ), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Glückstraße 6, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
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10
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Zhang X, Wu H, Gao T, Li Y, Zhong D, Li M, Li S, Ma C, Moon A, Fu Q, Qiu HJ, Sun Y. A recombinant pseudorabies virus surface - displaying the classical swine fever E2 protein induces specific antibodies rapidly. Vet Microbiol 2024; 298:110240. [PMID: 39255716 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2024.110240] [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: 06/02/2024] [Revised: 08/19/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/12/2024]
Abstract
Pseudorabies virus (PRV) and classical swine fever virus (CSFV) are both economically important pathogens threatening the pig industry in many countries. The triple-gene-deleted variant of PRV, herein referred to as rPRVTJ-delgE/gI/TK, has exhibited pronounced efficacy and safety profiles. This underscores its viability as a prospective vaccine vector. However, the generation of specific anti-E2 antibodies necessitates elevated immunization doses and extended durations when the extracellular domain of the E2 protein of CSFV is secreted via the recombinant rPRVTJ-delgE/gI/TK vector. To enhance the presentation of exogenous antigens by antigen-presenting cells (APCs), we engineered the E2 protein expressed on the surface of PRV particles in this study. The recombinant virus expressing the E2 protein with a heterogonous transmembrane domain was generated in the backbone of rPRVTJ-delgE/gI/TK and designated as rPRVTJ-UL44-E2. The E2 gene was fused to the 3' terminus of the UL44 gene utilizing P2A, a self-cleaving peptide sequence. The electron microscopy showed that the E2 protein was anchored on the surface of the viral particles of rPRVTJ-delgE/gI/TK-E2. The insertion of the E2 gene did not alter the native biological characteristics of the viral vector. Rabbits immunized with 107 median tissue culture infective doses (TCID50) of rPRVTJ-UL44-E2 exhibited a rapid seroconversion to anti-E2 specific antibodies within 7 days post-immunization (dpi). All the rabbits immunized with the rPRVTJ-UL44-E2 had generated antibodies specific to E2 prior to the administration of the booster immunization. However, the immunized rabbits were not protected from the CSFV C-strain challenge. Nevertheless, this strategy has notably achieved rapid induction of E2-specific non-neutralizing antibodies. These findings provide insights that the design of rPRVTJ-UL44-E2 requires optimization, thereby indicating a promising avenue for augmenting vaccine-induced immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS 678 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150069, China; College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, 33 Guangyun Road, Foshan, Guangdong 528231, China
| | - Hongxia Wu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS 678 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150069, China
| | - Tianqi Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS 678 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150069, China
| | - Yongfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS 678 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150069, China
| | - Dailang Zhong
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS 678 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150069, China
| | - Mingzhi Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS 678 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150069, China
| | - Shuwen Li
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS 678 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150069, China; College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, 33 Guangyun Road, Foshan, Guangdong 528231, China
| | - Caoyuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS 678 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150069, China
| | - Assad Moon
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS 678 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150069, China
| | - Qiang Fu
- College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, 33 Guangyun Road, Foshan, Guangdong 528231, China.
| | - Hua-Ji Qiu
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS 678 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150069, China; College of Life Science and Engineering, Foshan University, 33 Guangyun Road, Foshan, Guangdong 528231, China.
| | - Yuan Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, CAAS 678 Haping Road, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150069, China.
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11
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Leopold AV, Verkhusha VV. Engineering signalling pathways in mammalian cells. Nat Biomed Eng 2024:10.1038/s41551-024-01237-z. [PMID: 39237709 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-024-01237-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
In mammalian cells, signalling pathways orchestrate cellular growth, differentiation and survival, as well as many other processes that are essential for the proper functioning of cells. Here we describe cutting-edge genetic-engineering technologies for the rewiring of signalling networks in mammalian cells. Specifically, we describe the recombination of native pathway components, cross-kingdom pathway transplantation, and the development of de novo signalling within cells and organelles. We also discuss how, by designing signalling pathways, mammalian cells can acquire new properties, such as the capacity for photosynthesis, the ability to detect cancer and senescent cell markers or to synthesize hormones or metabolites in response to chemical or physical stimuli. We also review the applications of mammalian cells in biocomputing. Technologies for engineering signalling pathways in mammalian cells are advancing basic cellular biology, biomedical research and drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna V Leopold
- Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Vladislav V Verkhusha
- Medicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
- Department of Genetics and Gruss-Lipper Biophotonics Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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12
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Lebek T, Malaguti M, Boezio GL, Zoupi L, Briscoe J, Elfick A, Lowell S. PUFFFIN: an ultra-bright, customisable, single-plasmid system for labelling cell neighbourhoods. EMBO J 2024; 43:4110-4135. [PMID: 38997504 PMCID: PMC11405414 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00154-w] [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: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell communication coordinates developmental processes, maintains homeostasis, and contributes to disease. Therefore, understanding the relationship between cells in a shared environment is crucial. Here we introduce Positive Ultra-bright Fluorescent Fusion For Identifying Neighbours (PUFFFIN), a cell neighbour-labelling system based upon secretion and uptake of positively supercharged fluorescent protein s36GFP. We fused s36GFP to mNeonGreen or to a HaloTag, facilitating ultra-bright, sensitive, colour-of-choice labelling. Secretor cells transfer PUFFFIN to neighbours while retaining nuclear mCherry, making identification, isolation, and investigation of live neighbours straightforward. PUFFFIN can be delivered to cells, tissues, or embryos on a customisable single-plasmid construct composed of interchangeable components with the option to incorporate any transgene. This versatility enables the manipulation of cell properties, while simultaneously labelling surrounding cells, in cell culture or in vivo. We use PUFFFIN to ask whether pluripotent cells adjust the pace of differentiation to synchronise with their neighbours during exit from naïve pluripotency. PUFFFIN offers a simple, sensitive, customisable approach to profile non-cell-autonomous responses to natural or induced changes in cell identity or behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamina Lebek
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Mattias Malaguti
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
- Centre for Engineering Biology, Institute of Quantitative Biology, Biochemistry and Biotechnology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3FF, UK
| | | | - Lida Zoupi
- Centre for Discovery Brain Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
- Simons Initiative for the Developing Brain, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | | | - Alistair Elfick
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Engineering, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH8 3DW, UK
- UK Centre for Mammalian Synthetic Biology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH9 3BF, UK
| | - Sally Lowell
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Regeneration and Repair, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK.
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13
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Kozlowski C, Hadyniak SE, Kay JN. Retinal neurons establish mosaic patterning by excluding homotypic somata from their dendritic territories. Cell Rep 2024; 43:114615. [PMID: 39133615 PMCID: PMC11440617 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.114615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
In vertebrate retina, individual neurons of the same type are distributed regularly across the tissue in a pattern known as a mosaic. Establishment of mosaics during development requires cell-cell repulsion among homotypic neurons, but the mechanisms underlying this repulsion remain unknown. Here, we show that two mouse retinal cell types, OFF and ON starburst amacrine cells, establish mosaic spacing by using their dendritic arbors to repel neighboring homotypic somata. Using transgenic tools and single-cell labeling, we identify a developmental period when starburst somata are contacted by neighboring starburst dendrites; these serve to exclude somata from settling within the neighbor's dendritic territory. Dendrite-soma exclusion is mediated by MEGF10, a cell-surface molecule required for starburst mosaic patterning. Our results implicate dendrite-soma exclusion as a key mechanism underlying starburst mosaic spacing and raise the possibility that this could be a general mechanism for mosaic patterning across many cell types and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Kozlowski
- Departments of Neurobiology, Ophthalmology, and Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sarah E Hadyniak
- Departments of Neurobiology, Ophthalmology, and Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jeremy N Kay
- Departments of Neurobiology, Ophthalmology, and Cell Biology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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14
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Zanfrini E, Bandral M, Jarc L, Ramirez-Torres MA, Pezzolla D, Kufrin V, Rodriguez-Aznar E, Avila AKM, Cohrs C, Speier S, Neumann K, Gavalas A. Generation and application of novel hES cell reporter lines for the differentiation and maturation of hPS cell-derived islet-like clusters. Sci Rep 2024; 14:19863. [PMID: 39191834 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69645-4] [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: 08/07/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The significant advances in the differentiation of human pluripotent stem (hPS) cells into pancreatic endocrine cells, including functional β-cells, have been based on a detailed understanding of the underlying developmental mechanisms. However, the final differentiation steps, leading from endocrine progenitors to mono-hormonal and mature pancreatic endocrine cells, remain to be fully understood and this is reflected in the remaining shortcomings of the hPS cell-derived islet cells (SC-islet cells), which include a lack of β-cell maturation and variability among different cell lines. Additional signals and modifications of the final differentiation steps will have to be assessed in a combinatorial manner to address the remaining issues and appropriate reporter lines would be useful in this undertaking. Here we report the generation and functional validation of hPS cell reporter lines that can monitor the generation of INS+ and GCG+ cells and their resolution into mono-hormonal cells (INSeGFP, INSeGFP/GCGmCHERRY) as well as β-cell maturation (INSeGFP/MAFAmCHERRY) and function (INSGCaMP6). The reporter hPS cell lines maintained strong and widespread expression of pluripotency markers and differentiated efficiently into definitive endoderm and pancreatic progenitor (PP) cells. PP cells from all lines differentiated efficiently into islet cell clusters that robustly expressed the corresponding reporters and contained glucose-responsive, insulin-producing cells. To demonstrate the applicability of these hPS cell reporter lines in a high-content live imaging approach for the identification of optimal differentiation conditions, we adapted our differentiation procedure to generate SC-islet clusters in microwells. This allowed the live confocal imaging of multiple SC-islets for a single condition and, using this approach, we found that the use of the N21 supplement in the last stage of the differentiation increased the number of monohormonal β-cells without affecting the number of α-cells in the SC-islets. The hPS cell reporter lines and the high-content live imaging approach described here will enable the efficient assessment of multiple conditions for the optimal differentiation and maturation of SC-islets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Zanfrini
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Manuj Bandral
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Luka Jarc
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Maria Alejandra Ramirez-Torres
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Daniela Pezzolla
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Vida Kufrin
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Eva Rodriguez-Aznar
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Ana Karen Mojica Avila
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christian Cohrs
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Speier
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany
- German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Katrin Neumann
- Stem Cell Engineering Facility (SCEF), CRTD, TU Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anthony Gavalas
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of TU Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany.
- German Centre for Diabetes Research (DZD), Munich-Neuherberg, Germany.
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15
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Bayly CL, Dai XQ, Nian C, Orban PC, Verchere CB, MacDonald PE, Lynn FC. An INSULIN and IAPP dual reporter enables tracking of functional maturation of stem cell-derived insulin producing cells. Mol Metab 2024; 89:102017. [PMID: 39182839 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2024.102017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2024] [Revised: 07/24/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Human embryonic stem cell (hESC; SC)-derived pancreatic β cells can be used to study diabetes pathologies and develop cell replacement therapies. Although current differentiation protocols yield SCβ cells with varying degrees of maturation, these cells still differ from deceased donor human β cells in several respects. We sought to develop a reporter cell line that could be used to dynamically track SCβ cell functional maturation. METHODS To monitor SCβ cell maturation in vitro, we created an IAPP-2A-mScar and INSULIN-2A-EGFP dual fluorescent reporter (INS2A-EGFP/+;IAPP2A-mScarlet/+) hESC line using CRISPR/Cas9. Pluripotent SC were then differentiated using a 7-stage protocol to islet-like cells. Immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry, qPCR, GSIS and electrophysiology were used to characterise resulting cell populations. RESULTS We observed robust expression of EGFP and mScarlet fluorescent proteins in insulin- and IAPP-expressing cells without any compromise to their differentiation. We show that the proportion of insulin-producing cells expressing IAPP increases over a 4-week maturation period, and that a subset of insulin-expressing cells remain IAPP-free. Compared to this IAPP-free population, we show these insulin- and IAPP-expressing cells are less polyhormonal, more glucose-sensitive, and exhibit decreased action potential firing in low (2.8 mM) glucose. CONCLUSIONS The INS2A-EGFP/+;IAPP2A-mScarlet/+ hESC line provides a useful tool for tracking populations of maturing hESC-derived β cells in vitro. This tool has already been shared with 3 groups and is freely available to all.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen L Bayly
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Xiao-Qing Dai
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Cuilan Nian
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Paul C Orban
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - C Bruce Verchere
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Centre of Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Vancouver BC, Canada
| | - Patrick E MacDonald
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada; Alberta Diabetes Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Francis C Lynn
- BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada; School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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16
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Zenere G, Wu C, Midkiff CC, Johnson NM, Grice CP, Wimley WC, Kaur A, Braun SE. Extracellular domain, hinge, and transmembrane determinants affecting surface CD4 expression of a novel anti-HIV chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) construct. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293990. [PMID: 39133676 PMCID: PMC11318886 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells have demonstrated clinical potential, but current receptors still need improvements to be successful against chronic HIV infection. In this study, we address some requirements of CAR motifs for strong surface expression of a novel anti-HIV CAR by evaluating important elements in the extracellular, hinge, and transmembrane (TM) domains. When combining a truncated CD4 extracellular domain and CD8α hinge/TM, the novel CAR did not express extracellularly but was detectable intracellularly. By shortening the CD8α hinge, CD4-CAR surface expression was partially recovered and addition of the LYC motif at the end of the CD8α TM fully recovered both intracellular and extracellular CAR expression. Mutation of LYC to TTA or TTC showed severe abrogation of CAR expression by flow cytometry and confocal microscopy. Additionally, we determined that CD4-CAR surface expression could be maximized by the removal of FQKAS motif at the junction of the extracellular domain and the hinge region. CD4-CAR surface expression also resulted in cytotoxic CAR T cell killing of HIV Env+ target cells. In this study, we identified elements that are crucial for optimal CAR surface expression, highlighting the need for structural analysis studies to establish fundamental guidelines of CAR designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Zenere
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
- BioMedical Sciences Program, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Chengxiang Wu
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Cecily C. Midkiff
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Nathan M. Johnson
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
- BioMedical Sciences Program, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Christopher P. Grice
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
- BioMedical Sciences Program, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - William C. Wimley
- Department of BioChemistry and Molecular Biology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Amitinder Kaur
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
| | - Stephen E. Braun
- Tulane National Primate Research Center, Tulane University School of Medicine, Covington, Louisiana, United States of America
- Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana, United States of America
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17
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Ma L, Zhang K, Xu J, Wang J, Jiang T, Du X, Zhang J, Huang J, Ren F, Liu D, Xue W, Kan D, Yao M, Liang Y, Jason-Sun H. Building a novel TRUCK by harnessing the endogenous IFN-gamma promoter for cytokine expression. Mol Ther 2024; 32:2728-2740. [PMID: 38879754 PMCID: PMC11405158 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.06.017] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the remarkable success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T therapy in hematological malignancies, its efficacy in solid tumors remains limited. Cytokine-engineered CAR T cells offer a promising avenue, yet their clinical translation is hindered by the risks associated with constitutive cytokine expression. In this proof-of-concept study, we leverage the endogenous interferon (IFN)-γ promoter for transgenic interleukin (IL)-15 expression. We demonstrate that IFN-γ expression is tightly regulated by T cell receptor signaling. By introducing an internal ribosome entry site IL15 into the 3' UTR of the IFN-γ gene via homology directed repair-mediated knock-in, we confirm that IL-15 expression can co-express with IFN-γ in an antigen stimulation-dependent manner. Importantly, the insertion of transgenes does not compromise endogenous IFN-γ expression. In vitro and in vivo data demonstrate that IL-15 driven by the IFN-γ promoter dramatically improves CAR T cells' antitumor activity, suggesting the effectiveness of IL-15 expression. Last, as a part of our efforts toward clinical translation, we have developed an innovative two-gene knock-in approach. This approach enables the simultaneous integration of CAR and IL-15 genes into TRAC and IFN-γ gene loci using a single AAV vector. CAR T cells engineered to express IL-15 using this approach demonstrate enhanced antitumor efficacy. Overall, our study underscores the feasibility of utilizing endogenous promoters for transgenic cytokines expression in CAR T cells.
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MESH Headings
- Interferon-gamma/metabolism
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Humans
- Animals
- Mice
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Interleukin-15/genetics
- Interleukin-15/metabolism
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Genetic Vectors/genetics
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Transgenes
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/genetics
- Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell/metabolism
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
- Gene Expression
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Affiliation(s)
- Liya Ma
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Kaiwen Zhang
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian Xu
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Ting Jiang
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaolong Du
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhang
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Fengyi Ren
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Dong Liu
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Weiwei Xue
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Dongxu Kan
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Mengjiao Yao
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yutian Liang
- Shenzhen Celconta Life Science Co. Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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18
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Erdmann EA, Brandhorst AKM, Gorbushina AA, Schumacher J. The Tet-on system for controllable gene expression in the rock-inhabiting black fungus Knufia petricola. Extremophiles 2024; 28:38. [PMID: 39105933 PMCID: PMC11303440 DOI: 10.1007/s00792-024-01354-2] [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: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/07/2024]
Abstract
Knufia petricola is a black fungus that colonizes sun-exposed surfaces as extreme and oligotrophic environments. As ecologically important heterotrophs and biofilm-formers on human-made surfaces, black fungi form one of the most resistant groups of biodeteriorating organisms. Due to its moderate growth rate in axenic culture and available protocols for its transformation and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing, K. petricola is used for studying the morpho-physiological adaptations shared by extremophilic and extremotolerant black fungi. In this study, the bacteria-derived tetracycline (TET)-dependent promoter (Tet-on) system was implemented to enable controllable gene expression in K. petricola. The functionality i.e., the dose-dependent inducibility of TET-regulated constructs was investigated by using GFP fluorescence, pigment synthesis (melanin and carotenoids) and restored uracil prototrophy as reporters. The newly generated cloning vectors containing the Tet-on construct, and the validated sites in the K. petricola genome for color-selectable or neutral insertion of expression constructs complete the reverse genetics toolbox. One or multiple genes can be expressed on demand from different genomic loci or from a single construct by using 2A self-cleaving peptides, e.g., for localizing proteins and protein complexes in the K. petricola cell or for using K. petricola as host for the expression of heterologous genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileen A Erdmann
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antonia K M Brandhorst
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna A Gorbushina
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Berlin, Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Schumacher
- Bundesanstalt für Materialforschung und -prüfung (BAM), Berlin, Germany.
- Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.
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19
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Cargnin Faccin F, Cáceres CJ, Gay LC, Seibert B, van Bentem N, Rodriguez LA, Soares Fraiha AL, Cardenas M, Geiger G, Ortiz L, Carnaccini S, Kapczynski DR, Rajao DS, Perez DR. Mass vaccination with reassortment-impaired live H9N2 avian influenza vaccine. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:136. [PMID: 39097573 PMCID: PMC11297921 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00923-y] [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: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Avian influenza poses a severe threat to poultry production and global food security, prompting the development of vaccination programs in numerous countries. Modified live virus (MLV) vaccines, with their potential for mass application, offer a distinct advantage over existing options. However, concerns surrounding reversion, recombination, and unintended transmission have hindered the progress of MLV development for avian influenza in poultry. To address these concerns, we engineered reassortment-impaired, non-transmissible, safe, immunogenic, and protective MLVs through the rearrangement of internal gene segments and additional modifications to the surface gene segments HA and NA. The unique peptide marker aspartic acid-arginine-proline-alanine-valine-isoleucine-alanine-asparragine (DRPAVIAN) was incorporated into HA, while NA was modified to encode the chicken interleukin-18 (ckIL18) gene (MLV-H9N2-IL). In vitro, the MLV-H9N2 and MLV-H9N2-IL candidates demonstrated stability and virus titers comparable to the wild-type H9N2 strain. In chickens, the MLV-H9N2 and MLV-H9N2-IL candidates did not transmit via direct contact. Co-infection studies with wild-type virus confirmed that the altered HA and NA segments exhibited fitness disadvantages and did not reassort. Vaccinated chickens showed no clinical signs upon vaccination, all seroconverted, and the inclusion of ckIL18 in the MLV-H9N2-IL vaccine enhanced neutralizing antibody production. A significant decrease in viral loads post-challenge underscored the protective effect of the MLVs. The MLV-H9N2-IL vaccine, administered via drinking water, proved immunogenic in chickens in a dose-dependent manner, generating protective levels of neutralizing antibodies upon aggressive homologous virus challenge. In summary, this study lays the groundwork for safe MLVs against avian influenza suitable for mass vaccination efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Cargnin Faccin
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - C Joaquin Cáceres
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - L Claire Gay
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Brittany Seibert
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- W. Harry Feinstone Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Nick van Bentem
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Division of Farm Animal Health, Department Population Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Luis A Rodriguez
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ana Luiza Soares Fraiha
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo, Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Matias Cardenas
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Ginger Geiger
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Lucia Ortiz
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Silvia Carnaccini
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Darrell R Kapczynski
- Exotic and Emerging Avian Viral Disease Research Unit, Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, U.S. National Poultry Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, USDA, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Daniela S Rajao
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Daniel R Perez
- Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA.
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20
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Bland T, Hirani N, Briggs DC, Rossetto R, Ng K, Taylor IA, McDonald NQ, Zwicker D, Goehring NW. Optimized PAR-2 RING dimerization mediates cooperative and selective membrane binding for robust cell polarity. EMBO J 2024; 43:3214-3239. [PMID: 38907033 PMCID: PMC11294563 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00123-3] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Cell polarity networks are defined by quantitative features of their constituent feedback circuits, which must be tuned to enable robust and stable polarization, while also ensuring that networks remain responsive to dynamically changing cellular states and/or spatial cues during development. Using the PAR polarity network as a model, we demonstrate that these features are enabled by the dimerization of the polarity protein PAR-2 via its N-terminal RING domain. Combining theory and experiment, we show that dimer affinity is optimized to achieve dynamic, selective, and cooperative binding of PAR-2 to the plasma membrane during polarization. Reducing dimerization compromises positive feedback and robustness of polarization. Conversely, enhanced dimerization renders the network less responsive due to kinetic trapping of PAR-2 on internal membranes and reduced sensitivity of PAR-2 to the anterior polarity kinase, aPKC/PKC-3. Thus, our data reveal a key role for a dynamically oligomeric RING domain in optimizing interaction affinities to support a robust and responsive cell polarity network, and highlight how optimization of oligomerization kinetics can serve as a strategy for dynamic and cooperative intracellular targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tom Bland
- Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Riccardo Rossetto
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany
| | - KangBo Ng
- Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Neil Q McDonald
- Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Institute of Structural and Molecular Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Birkbeck College, London, WC1E 7HX, UK
| | - David Zwicker
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Nathan W Goehring
- Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- Institute for the Physics of Living Systems, University College London, London, UK.
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21
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Zhong BL, Elliot JM, Wang P, Li H, Hall RN, Wang B, Prakash M, Dunn AR. Split Luciferase Molecular Tension Sensors for Bioluminescent Readout of Mechanical Forces in Biological Systems. ACS Sens 2024; 9:3489-3495. [PMID: 38973210 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c02664] [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: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
The ability of proteins to sense and transmit mechanical forces underlies many biological processes, but characterizing these forces in biological systems remains a challenge. Existing genetically encoded force sensors typically rely on fluorescence or bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (FRET or BRET) to visualize tension. However, these force sensing modules are relatively large, and interpreting measurements requires specialized image analysis and careful control experiments. Here, we report a compact molecular tension sensor that generates a bioluminescent signal in response to tension. This sensor (termed PILATeS) makes use of the split NanoLuc luciferase and consists of the H. sapiens titin I10 domain with the insertion of a 10-15 amino acid tag derived from the C-terminal β-strand of NanoLuc. Mechanical load across PILATeS mediates exposure of this tag to recruit the complementary split NanoLuc fragment, resulting in force-dependent bioluminescence. We demonstrate the ability of PILATeS to report biologically meaningful forces by visualizing forces at the interface between integrins and extracellular matrix substrates. We further use PILATeS as a genetically encoded sensor of tension experienced by the mechanosensing protein vinculin. We anticipate that PILATeS will provide an accessible means of visualizing molecular-scale forces in biological systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian L Zhong
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Jeandele M Elliot
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Pengli Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Hongquan Li
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - R Nelson Hall
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Manu Prakash
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Alexander R Dunn
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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22
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Mori T, Niki T, Uchida Y, Mukai K, Kuchitsu Y, Kishimoto T, Sakai S, Makino A, Kobayashi T, Arai H, Yokota Y, Taguchi T, Suzuki KGN. A non-toxic equinatoxin-II reveals the dynamics and distribution of sphingomyelin in the cytosolic leaflet of the plasma membrane. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16872. [PMID: 39043900 PMCID: PMC11266560 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-67803-2] [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: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Sphingomyelin (SM) is a major sphingolipid in mammalian cells. SM is enriched in the extracellular leaflet of the plasma membrane (PM). Besides this localization, recent electron microscopic and biochemical studies suggest the presence of SM in the cytosolic leaflet of the PM. In the present study, we generated a non-toxic SM-binding variant (NT-EqtII) based on equinatoxin-II (EqtII) from the sea anemone Actinia equina, and examined the dynamics of SM in the cytosolic leaflet of living cell PMs. NT-EqtII with two point mutations (Leu26Ala and Pro81Ala) had essentially the same specificity and affinity to SM as wild-type EqtII. NT-EqtII expressed in the cytosol was recruited to the PM in various cell lines. Super-resolution microscopic observation revealed that NT-EqtII formed tiny domains that were significantly colocalized with cholesterol and N-terminal Lyn. Meanwhile, single molecule observation at high resolutions down to 1 ms revealed that all the examined lipid probes including NT-EqtII underwent apparent fast simple Brownian diffusion, exhibiting that SM and other lipids in the cytosolic leaflet rapidly moved in and out of domains. Thus, the novel SM-binding probe demonstrated the presence of the raft-like domain in the cytosolic leaflet of living cell PMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiki Mori
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Takahiro Niki
- Department of Health Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasunori Uchida
- Laboratory of Organelle Pathophysiology, Department of Integrative Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kojiro Mukai
- Laboratory of Organelle Pathophysiology, Department of Integrative Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Kuchitsu
- Laboratory of Organelle Pathophysiology, Department of Integrative Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takuma Kishimoto
- Division of Molecular Interaction, Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Life Science, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Shota Sakai
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Asami Makino
- Lipid Biology Laboratory, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | | | - Hiroyuki Arai
- Department of Health Chemistry, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasunari Yokota
- Department of EECE, Faculty of Engineering, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Taguchi
- Laboratory of Organelle Pathophysiology, Department of Integrative Life Sciences, Graduate School of Life Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
| | - Kenichi G N Suzuki
- United Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
- Institute for Glyco-Core Research (iGCORE), Gifu University, Gifu, Japan.
- Division of Advanced Bioimaging, National Cancer Center Research Institute (NCCRI), Tokyo, Japan.
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23
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Eslami SM, Padhi C, Rahman IR, van der Donk WA. Expression and Subcellular Localization of Lanthipeptides in Human Cells. ACS Synth Biol 2024; 13:2128-2140. [PMID: 38925629 PMCID: PMC11264318 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.4c00178] [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: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 05/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Cyclic peptides, such as most ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs), represent a burgeoning area of interest in therapeutic and biotechnological research because of their conformational constraints and reduced susceptibility to proteolytic degradation compared to their linear counterparts. Herein, an expression system is reported that enables the production of structurally diverse lanthipeptides and derivatives in mammalian cells. Successful targeting of lanthipeptides to the nucleus, the endoplasmic reticulum, and the plasma membrane is demonstrated. In vivo expression and targeting of such peptides in mammalian cells may allow for screening of lanthipeptide-based cyclic peptide inhibitors of native, organelle-specific protein-protein interactions in mammalian systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M. Eslami
- Department
of Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Chandrashekhar Padhi
- Department
of Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Imran R. Rahman
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Illinois
at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
| | - Wilfred A. van der Donk
- Department
of Chemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Illinois at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Illinois
at Urbana−Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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24
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Suresh S, Shaw AL, Pemberton JG, Scott MK, Harris NJ, Parson MAH, Jenkins ML, Rohilla P, Alvarez-Prats A, Balla T, Yip CK, Burke JE. Molecular basis for plasma membrane recruitment of PI4KA by EFR3. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.30.587787. [PMID: 38746453 PMCID: PMC11092606 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.30.587787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The lipid kinase phosphatidylinositol 4 kinase III alpha (PI4KIIIa/PI4KA) is a master regulator of the lipid composition and asymmetry of the plasma membrane. PI4KA exists primarily in a heterotrimeric complex with its regulatory proteins TTC7 and FAM126. Fundamental to PI4KA activity is its targeted recruitment to the plasma membrane by the lipidated proteins EFR3A and EFR3B. Here, we report a cryo-EM structure of the C-terminus of EFR3A bound to the PI4KA-TTC7B-FAM126A complex, with extensive validation using both hydrogen deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS), and mutational analysis. The EFR3A C-terminus undergoes a disorder-order transition upon binding to the PI4KA complex, with an unexpected direct interaction with both TTC7B and FAM126A. Complex disrupting mutations in TTC7B, FAM126A, and EFR3 decrease PI4KA recruitment to the plasma membrane. Multiple post-translational modifications and disease linked mutations map to this site, providing insight into how PI4KA membrane recruitment can be regulated and disrupted in human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushant Suresh
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Alexandria L Shaw
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Joshua G Pemberton
- Section on Molecular Signal Transduction, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Current address: Department of Biology, Western University, London, ON, N6A 3K7 Canada
| | - Mackenzie K Scott
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Noah J Harris
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Matthew AH Parson
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Meredith L Jenkins
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
| | - Pooja Rohilla
- Section on Molecular Signal Transduction, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Alejandro Alvarez-Prats
- Section on Molecular Signal Transduction, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Tamas Balla
- Section on Molecular Signal Transduction, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Calvin K Yip
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - John E Burke
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8W 2Y2, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V6T 1Z3, Canada
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25
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Duan M, Dev I, Lu A, Ayrapetyan G, You MY, Shapiro MG. SEMPER: Stoichiometric expression of mRNA polycistrons by eukaryotic ribosomes for compact, ratio-tunable multi-gene expression. Cell Syst 2024; 15:597-609.e4. [PMID: 38971149 PMCID: PMC11298409 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2024.06.001] [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: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Here, we present a method for expressing multiple open reading frames (ORFs) from single transcripts using the leaky scanning model of translation initiation. In this approach termed "stoichiometric expression of mRNA polycistrons by eukaryotic ribosomes" (SEMPER), adjacent ORFs are translated from a single mRNA at tunable ratios determined by their order in the sequence and the strength of their translation initiation sites. We validate this approach by expressing up to three fluorescent proteins from one plasmid in two different cell lines. We then use it to encode a stoichiometrically tuned polycistronic construct encoding gas vesicle acoustic reporter genes that enables efficient formation of the multi-protein complex while minimizing cellular toxicity. We also demonstrate that SEMPER enables polycistronic expression of recombinant monoclonal antibodies from plasmid DNA and of two fluorescent proteins from single mRNAs made through in vitro transcription. Finally, we provide a probabilistic model to elucidate the mechanisms underlying SEMPER. A record of this paper's transparent peer review process is included in the supplemental information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengtong Duan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Ishaan Dev
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Andrew Lu
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; UCLA-Caltech Medical Scientist Training Program, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Goar Ayrapetyan
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Mei Yi You
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Mikhail G Shapiro
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Andrew and Peggy Cherng Department of Medical Engineering, Caltech, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MD 20815, USA.
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26
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Wagner JT, Müller-Schmucker SM, Wang W, Arnold P, Uhlig N, Issmail L, Eberlein V, Damm D, Roshanbinfar K, Ensser A, Oltmanns F, Peter AS, Temchura V, Schrödel S, Engel FB, Thirion C, Grunwald T, Wuhrer M, Grimm D, Überla K. Influence of AAV vector tropism on long-term expression and Fc-γ receptor binding of an antibody targeting SARS-CoV-2. Commun Biol 2024; 7:865. [PMID: 39009807 PMCID: PMC11250830 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06529-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Long-acting passive immunization strategies are needed to protect immunosuppressed vulnerable groups from infectious diseases. To further explore this concept for COVID-19, we constructed Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors encoding the human variable regions of the SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody, TRES6, fused to murine constant regions. An optimized vector construct was packaged in hepatotropic (AAV8) or myotropic (AAVMYO) AAV capsids and injected intravenously into syngeneic TRIANNI-mice. The highest TRES6 serum concentrations (511 µg/ml) were detected 24 weeks after injection of the myotropic vector particles and mean TRES6 serum concentrations remained above 100 µg/ml for at least one year. Anti-drug antibodies or TRES6-specific T cells were not detectable. After injection of the AAV8 particles, vector mRNA was detected in the liver, while the AAVMYO particles led to high vector mRNA levels in the heart and skeletal muscle. The analysis of the Fc-glycosylation pattern of the TRES6 serum antibodies revealed critical differences between the capsids that coincided with different binding activities to murine Fc-γ-receptors. Concomitantly, the vector-based immune prophylaxis led to protection against SARS-CoV-2 infection in K18-hACE2 mice. High and long-lasting expression levels, absence of anti-drug antibodies and favourable Fc-γ-receptor binding activities warrant further exploration of myotropic AAV vector-based delivery of antibodies and other biologicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannik T Wagner
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Sandra M Müller-Schmucker
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Wenjun Wang
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Philipp Arnold
- Institute of Functional and Clinical Anatomy, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Nadja Uhlig
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Preclinical Validation, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Leila Issmail
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Preclinical Validation, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Valentina Eberlein
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Preclinical Validation, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Dominik Damm
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kaveh Roshanbinfar
- Experimental Renal and Cardiovascular Research, Department of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Armin Ensser
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Friederike Oltmanns
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Antonia Sophia Peter
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Vladimir Temchura
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Felix B Engel
- Experimental Renal and Cardiovascular Research, Department of Nephropathology, Institute of Pathology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Thomas Grunwald
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Preclinical Validation, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Manfred Wuhrer
- Center for Proteomics and Metabolomics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Section Viral Vector Technologies, Medical Faculty and Faculty of Engineering Sciences, University of Heidelberg; BioQuant Center, BQ0030, University of Heidelberg; German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Klaus Überla
- Institute of Clinical and Molecular Virology, University Hospital Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), Erlangen, Germany.
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27
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Delhaye L, Moschonas GD, Fijalkowska D, Verhee A, De Sutter D, Van de Steene T, De Meyer M, Grzesik H, Van Moortel L, De Bosscher K, Jacobs T, Eyckerman S. Leveraging a self-cleaving peptide for tailored control in proximity labeling proteomics. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2024; 4:100818. [PMID: 38986614 PMCID: PMC11294833 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions play an important biological role in every aspect of cellular homeostasis and functioning. Proximity labeling mass spectrometry-based proteomics overcomes challenges typically associated with other methods and has quickly become the current state of the art in the field. Nevertheless, tight control of proximity-labeling enzymatic activity and expression levels is crucial to accurately identify protein interactors. Here, we leverage a T2A self-cleaving peptide and a non-cleaving mutant to accommodate the protein of interest in the experimental and control TurboID setup. To allow easy and streamlined plasmid assembly, we built a Golden Gate modular cloning system to generate plasmids for transient expression and stable integration. To highlight our T2A Split/link design, we applied it to identify protein interactions of the glucocorticoid receptor and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nucleocapsid and non-structural protein 7 (NSP7) proteins by TurboID proximity labeling. Our results demonstrate that our T2A split/link provides an opportune control that builds upon previously established control requirements in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louis Delhaye
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; OncoRNALab, Center for Medical Genetics Ghent (CMGG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - George D Moschonas
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Daria Fijalkowska
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Annick Verhee
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Delphine De Sutter
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Tessa Van de Steene
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Margaux De Meyer
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Hanna Grzesik
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laura Van Moortel
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karolien De Bosscher
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Thomas Jacobs
- VIB-UGent Center for Plant Systems Biology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Plant Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Faculty of Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sven Eyckerman
- VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
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28
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Ancel S, Michaud J, Sizzano F, Tauzin L, Oliveira M, Migliavacca E, Schüler SC, Raja S, Dammone G, Karaz S, Sánchez-García JL, Metairon S, Jacot G, Bentzinger CF, Feige JN, Stuelsatz P. A dual-color PAX7 and MYF5 in vivo reporter to investigate muscle stem cell heterogeneity in regeneration and aging. Stem Cell Reports 2024; 19:1024-1040. [PMID: 38876109 PMCID: PMC11252486 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2024.05.005] [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: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Increasing evidence suggests that the muscle stem cell (MuSC) pool is heterogeneous. In particular, a rare subset of PAX7-positive MuSCs that has never expressed the myogenic regulatory factor MYF5 displays unique self-renewal and engraftment characteristics. However, the scarcity and limited availability of protein markers make the characterization of these cells challenging. Here, we describe the generation of StemRep reporter mice enabling the monitoring of PAX7 and MYF5 proteins based on equimolar levels of dual nuclear fluorescence. High levels of PAX7 protein and low levels of MYF5 delineate a deeply quiescent MuSC subpopulation with an increased capacity for asymmetric division and distinct dynamics of activation, proliferation, and commitment. Aging primarily reduces the MYF5Low MuSCs and skews the stem cell pool toward MYF5High cells with lower quiescence and self-renewal potential. Altogether, we establish the StemRep model as a versatile tool to study MuSC heterogeneity and broaden our understanding of mechanisms regulating MuSC quiescence and self-renewal in homeostatic, regenerating, and aged muscles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ancel
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Joris Michaud
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Federico Sizzano
- Nestlé Institute of Food Safety & Analytical Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Loic Tauzin
- Nestlé Institute of Food Safety & Analytical Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Manuel Oliveira
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Eugenia Migliavacca
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Svenja C Schüler
- Département de pharmacologie-physiologie, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5H3, Canada
| | - Sruthi Raja
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gabriele Dammone
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sonia Karaz
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Sylviane Metairon
- Nestlé Institute of Food Safety & Analytical Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Guillaume Jacot
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C Florian Bentzinger
- Département de pharmacologie-physiologie, Institut de pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Centre de Recherche du Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke, Faculté de médecine et des sciences de la santé, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1H 5H3, Canada
| | - Jérôme N Feige
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland; School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Pascal Stuelsatz
- Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences, Nestlé Research, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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29
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Sivakumar P, Vaishnavi V, Gayatri K, Satheesh GR, Siddiqi I. Improved validation of protein interactions using bicistronic BiFC (Bi2FC). PHYSIOLOGY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY OF PLANTS : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FUNCTIONAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2024; 30:1047-1054. [PMID: 39100877 PMCID: PMC11291819 DOI: 10.1007/s12298-024-01477-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Refolding based Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation (BiFC) has emerged as an important in vivo technique to identify protein interactions. Significant improvements have been made to enhance the detection capacities of BiFC, however less attention has been paid to the detection of expression levels of proteins. Here we demonstrate development and validation of an improved method to identify protein interactions that incorporates an expression control based on bicistronic expression of the protein of interest and a fluorescent protein separated by a self-cleaving peptide. This method gives robust identification of positive interactions and more reliably identifies absence of interactions. We also show an earlier identified non-interacting pair in yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) to be interacting in vivo. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12298-024-01477-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prakash Sivakumar
- CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002 India
| | - Vijayaraj Vaishnavi
- CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007 India
| | - Kothuri Gayatri
- CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007 India
| | - Gayathri R. Satheesh
- CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007 India
| | - Imran Siddiqi
- CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, 500007 India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002 India
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30
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Zhang Z, Zabaikina I, Nieto C, Vahdat Z, Bokes P, Singh A. Stochastic Gene Expression in Proliferating Cells: Differing Noise Intensity in Single-Cell and Population Perspectives. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.28.601263. [PMID: 38979195 PMCID: PMC11230457 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.28.601263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Random fluctuations (noise) in gene expression can be studied from two complementary perspectives: following expression in a single cell over time or comparing expression between cells in a proliferating population at a given time. Here, we systematically investigated scenarios where both perspectives lead to different levels of noise in a given gene product. We first consider a stable protein, whose concentration is diluted by cellular growth, and the protein inhibits growth at high concentrations, establishing a positive feedback loop. For a stochastic model with molecular bursting of gene products, we analytically predict and contrast the steady-state distributions of protein concentration in both frameworks. Although positive feedback amplifies the noise in expression, this amplification is much higher in the population framework compared to following a single cell over time. We also study other processes that lead to different noise levels even in the absence of such dilution-based feedback. When considering randomness in the partitioning of molecules between daughters during mitosis, we find that in the single-cell perspective, the noise in protein concentration is independent of noise in the cell cycle duration. In contrast, partitioning noise is amplified in the population perspective by increasing randomness in cell-cycle time. Overall, our results show that the commonly used single-cell framework that does not account for proliferating cells can, in some cases, underestimate the noise in gene product levels. These results have important implications for studying the inter-cellular variation of different stress-related expression programs across cell types that are known to inhibit cellular growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanhao Zhang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Delaware. Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Iryna Zabaikina
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Comenius University, Bratislava 84248, Slovakia
| | - César Nieto
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Delaware. Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Zahra Vahdat
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Delaware. Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Pavol Bokes
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Comenius University, Bratislava 84248, Slovakia
| | - Abhyudai Singh
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Delaware. Newark, DE 19716, USA
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31
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Zhuang X, Wang Q, Joost S, Ferrena A, Humphreys DT, Li Z, Blum M, Bastl K, Ding S, Landais Y, Zhan Y, Zhao Y, Chaligne R, Lee JH, Carrasco SE, Bhanot UK, Koche RP, Bott MJ, Katajisto P, Soto-Feliciano YM, Pisanic T, Thomas T, Zheng D, Wong ES, Tammela T. Aging limits stemness and tumorigenesis in the lung by reprogramming iron homeostasis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.23.600305. [PMID: 38979280 PMCID: PMC11230188 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.23.600305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Aging is associated with a decline in the number and fitness of adult stem cells 1-4 . Aging-associated loss of stemness is posited to suppress tumorigenesis 5,6 , but this hypothesis has not been tested in vivo . Here, using physiologically aged autochthonous genetically engineered mouse models and primary cells 7,8 , we demonstrate aging suppresses lung cancer initiation and progression by degrading stemness of the alveolar cell of origin. This phenotype is underpinned by aging-associated induction of the transcription factor NUPR1 and its downstream target lipocalin-2 in the cell of origin in mice and humans, leading to a functional iron insufficiency in the aged cells. Genetic inactivation of the NUPR1-lipocalin-2 axis or iron supplementation rescue stemness and promote tumorigenic potential of aged alveolar cells. Conversely, targeting the NUPR1- lipocalin-2 axis is detrimental to young alveolar cells via induction of ferroptosis. We find that aging-associated DNA hypomethylation at specific enhancer sites associates with elevated NUPR1 expression, which is recapitulated in young alveolar cells by inhibition of DNA methylation. We uncover that aging drives a functional iron insufficiency, which leads to loss of stemness and tumorigenesis, but promotes resistance to ferroptosis. These findings have significant implications for the therapeutic modulation of cellular iron homeostasis in regenerative medicine and in cancer prevention. Furthermore, our findings are consistent with a model whereby most human cancers initiate in young individuals, revealing a critical window for such cancer prevention efforts.
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32
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Peter M, Shipman S, Heo J, Macklis JD. Limitations of fluorescent timer protein maturation kinetics to isolate transcriptionally synchronized human neural progenitor cells. iScience 2024; 27:109911. [PMID: 38784012 PMCID: PMC11111830 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109911] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) into subtype-specific neurons holds substantial potential for disease modeling in vitro. For successful differentiation, a detailed understanding of the transcriptional networks regulating cell fate decisions is critical. The heterochronic nature of neurodevelopment, during which distinct cells in the brain and during in vitro differentiation acquire their fates in an unsynchronized manner, hinders pooled transcriptional comparisons. One approach is to "translate" chronologic time into linear developmental and maturational time. Simple binary promotor-driven fluorescent proteins (FPs) to pool similar cells are unable to achieve this goal, due to asynchronous promotor onset in individual cells. We tested five fluorescent timer (FT) molecules expressed from the endogenous paired box 6 (PAX6) promoter in 293T and human hPSCs. Each of these FT systems faithfully reported chronologic time in 293T cells, but none of the FT constructs followed the same fluorescence kinetics in human neural progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Peter
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Seth Shipman
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jaewon Heo
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jeffrey D. Macklis
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, and Center for Brain Science, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
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33
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Kath J, Franke C, Drosdek V, Du W, Glaser V, Fuster-Garcia C, Stein M, Zittel T, Schulenberg S, Porter CE, Andersch L, Künkele A, Alcaniz J, Hoffmann J, Abken H, Abou-el-Enein M, Pruß A, Suzuki M, Cathomen T, Stripecke R, Volk HD, Reinke P, Schmueck-Henneresse M, Wagner DL. Integration of ζ-deficient CARs into the CD3ζ gene conveys potent cytotoxicity in T and NK cells. Blood 2024; 143:2599-2611. [PMID: 38493479 PMCID: PMC11196866 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023020973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-redirected immune cells hold significant therapeutic potential for oncology, autoimmune diseases, transplant medicine, and infections. All approved CAR-T therapies rely on personalized manufacturing using undirected viral gene transfer, which results in nonphysiological regulation of CAR-signaling and limits their accessibility due to logistical challenges, high costs and biosafety requirements. Random gene transfer modalities pose a risk of malignant transformation by insertional mutagenesis. Here, we propose a novel approach utilizing CRISPR-Cas gene editing to redirect T cells and natural killer (NK) cells with CARs. By transferring shorter, truncated CAR-transgenes lacking a main activation domain into the human CD3ζ (CD247) gene, functional CAR fusion-genes are generated that exploit the endogenous CD3ζ gene as the CAR's activation domain. Repurposing this T/NK-cell lineage gene facilitated physiological regulation of CAR expression and redirection of various immune cell types, including conventional T cells, TCRγ/δ T cells, regulatory T cells, and NK cells. In T cells, CD3ζ in-frame fusion eliminated TCR surface expression, reducing the risk of graft-versus-host disease in allogeneic off-the-shelf settings. CD3ζ-CD19-CAR-T cells exhibited comparable leukemia control to TCRα chain constant (TRAC)-replaced and lentivirus-transduced CAR-T cells in vivo. Tuning of CD3ζ-CAR-expression levels significantly improved the in vivo efficacy. Notably, CD3ζ gene editing enabled redirection of NK cells without impairing their canonical functions. Thus, CD3ζ gene editing is a promising platform for the development of allogeneic off-the-shelf cell therapies using redirected killer lymphocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Kath
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Clemens Franke
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Vanessa Drosdek
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Weijie Du
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Viktor Glaser
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Carla Fuster-Garcia
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Maik Stein
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Tatiana Zittel
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sarah Schulenberg
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Caroline E. Porter
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Lena Andersch
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium, Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Annette Künkele
- Department of Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium, Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Joshua Alcaniz
- Experimental Pharmacology & Oncology Berlin Buch GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jens Hoffmann
- Experimental Pharmacology & Oncology Berlin Buch GmbH, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hinrich Abken
- Division of Genetic Immunotherapy, Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy, Regensburg, Germany
- Chair Genetic Immunotherapy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Mohamed Abou-el-Enein
- Division of Medical Oncology, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA
- USC/CHLA Cell Therapy Program, University of Southern California, and Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Axel Pruß
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Masataka Suzuki
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Toni Cathomen
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Renata Stripecke
- Clinic of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Düsseldorf, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Institute for Translational Immune-Oncology, Cancer Research Center Cologne-Essen, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research, Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Hans-Dieter Volk
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Petra Reinke
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Schmueck-Henneresse
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Dimitrios L. Wagner
- Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Transfusion Medicine, Charité–Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
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34
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Taya T, Kami D, Teruyama F, Matoba S, Gojo S. Peptide-encoding gene transfer to modulate intracellular protein-protein interactions. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101226. [PMID: 38516692 PMCID: PMC10952081 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Peptide drug discovery has great potential, but the cell membrane is a major obstacle when the target is an intracellular protein-protein interaction (PPI). It is difficult to target PPIs with small molecules; indeed, there are no intervention tools that can target any intracellular PPI. In this study, we developed a platform that enables the introduction of peptides into cells via mRNA-based gene delivery. Peptide-length nucleic acids do not enable stable ribosome binding and exhibit little to no translation into protein. In this study, a construct was created in which the sequence encoding dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) was placed in front of the sequence encoding the target peptide, together with a translation skipping sequence, as a sequence that meets the requirements of promoting ribosome binding and rapid decay of the translated protein. This enabled efficient translation from the mRNA encoding the target protein while preventing unnecessary protein residues. Using this construct, we showed that it can inhibit Drp1/Fis1 binding, one of the intracellular PPIs, which governs mitochondrial fission, an important aspect of mitochondrial dynamics. In addition, it was shown to inhibit pathological hyperfission, normalize mitochondrial dynamics and metabolism, and inhibit apoptosis of the mitochondrial pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiko Taya
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kami
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Fumiya Teruyama
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
- Pharmacology Research Department, Tokyo New Drug Research Laboratories, Kowa Company, Ltd, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoaki Matoba
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Satoshi Gojo
- Department of Regenerative Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan
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35
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Fischer J, Fedotova A, Jaki L, Sallard E, Erhardt A, Fuchs J, Ruzsics Z. Combining CRISPR-Cas-mediated terminal resolution with a novel genetic workflow to achieve high-diversity adenoviral libraries. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101241. [PMID: 38585687 PMCID: PMC10995876 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
While recombinant adenoviruses (rAds) are widely used in both laboratory and medical gene transfer, library-based applications using this vector platform are not readily available. Recently, we developed a new method, the CRISPR-Cas9 mediated in vivo terminal resolution aiding high-efficiency rescue of rAds from recombinant DNA. Here we report on a genetic workflow that allows construction of bacterial artificial chromosome-based rAd libraries reconstituted using highly efficient terminal resolution. We utilized frequent, pre-existing genomic sequences to allow the insertion of a selection marker, complementing two selected target sites into novel endonuclease recognition sites. In the second step, this selection marker is replaced with a transgene or mutation of interest via Gibson assembly. Our approach does not cause unwanted genomic off-target mutations while providing substantial flexibility for the site and nature of the genetic modification. This new genetic workflow, which we termed half site-directed fragment replacement (HFR) allows the introduction of more than 106 unique modifications into rAd encoding BACs using laboratory scale methodology. To demonstrate the power of HFR, we rescued barcoded viral vector libraries yielding a diversity of approximately 2.5 × 104 unique rAds per cm2 of transfected cell culture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julian Fischer
- Institute of Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ariana Fedotova
- Institute of Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lena Jaki
- Institute of Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Erwan Sallard
- Virology and Microbiology, Centre for Biomedical Education & Research (ZBAF), Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, 58453 Witten, Germany
| | - Anja Erhardt
- Virology and Microbiology, Centre for Biomedical Education & Research (ZBAF), Faculty of Health, Witten/Herdecke University, 58453 Witten, Germany
| | - Jonas Fuchs
- Institute of Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Zsolt Ruzsics
- Institute of Virology, University Medical Center Freiburg, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
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Jeyagaran A, Urbanczyk M, Layland SL, Weise F, Schenke-Layland K. Forward programming of hiPSCs towards beta-like cells using Ngn3, Pdx1, and MafA. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13608. [PMID: 38871849 PMCID: PMC11176171 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64346-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Transplantation of stem cell-derived β-cells is a promising therapeutic advancement in the treatment of type 1 diabetes mellitus. A current limitation of this approach is the long differentiation timeline that generates a heterogeneous population of pancreatic endocrine cells. To address this limitation, an inducible lentiviral overexpression system of mature β-cell markers was introduced into human induced-pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). Following the selection of the successfully transduced hiPSCs, the cells were treated with doxycycline in the pancreatic progenitor induction medium to support their transition toward the pancreatic lineage. Cells cultured with doxycycline presented the markers of interest, NGN3, PDX1, and MAFA, after five days of culture, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion assays demonstrated that the cells were glucose-responsive in a monolayer culture. When cultured as a spheroid, the markers of interest and insulin secretion in a static glucose-stimulated insulin secretion assay were maintained; however, insulin secretion upon consecutive glucose challenges was limited. Comparison to human fetal and adult donor tissues identified that although the hiPSC-derived spheroids present similar markers to adult insulin-producing cells, they are functionally representative of fetal development. Together, these results suggest that with optimization of the temporal expression of these markers, forward programming of hiPSCs towards insulin-producing cells could be a possible alternative for islet transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abiramy Jeyagaran
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Max Urbanczyk
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Shannon L Layland
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Women's Health, Eberhard Karls University, 72076, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Frank Weise
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University Tübingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany
| | - Katja Schenke-Layland
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department for Medical Technologies and Regenerative Medicine, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, 72076, Tübingen, Germany.
- NMI Natural and Medical Sciences Institute at the University Tübingen, 72770, Reutlingen, Germany.
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Miles LB, Calcinotto V, Oveissi S, Serrano RJ, Sonntag C, Mulia O, Lee C, Bryson-Richardson RJ. CRIMP: a CRISPR/Cas9 insertional mutagenesis protocol and toolkit. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5011. [PMID: 38866742 PMCID: PMC11169554 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-49341-7] [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: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Site-directed insertion is a powerful approach for generating mutant alleles, but low efficiency and the need for customisation for each target has limited its application. To overcome this, we developed a highly efficient targeted insertional mutagenesis system, CRIMP, and an associated plasmid toolkit, CRIMPkit, that disrupts native gene expression by inducing complete transcriptional termination, generating null mutant alleles without inducing genetic compensation. The protocol results in a high frequency of integration events and can generate very early targeted insertions, during the first cell division, producing embryos with expression in one or both halves of the body plan. Fluorescent readout of integration events facilitates selection of successfully mutagenized fish and, subsequently, visual identification of heterozygous and mutant animals. Together, these advances greatly improve the efficacy of generating and studying mutant lines. The CRIMPkit contains 24 ready-to-use plasmid vectors to allow easy and complete mutagenesis of any gene in any reading frame without requiring custom sequences, modification, or subcloning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee B Miles
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Vanessa Calcinotto
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Sara Oveissi
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Rita J Serrano
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Carmen Sonntag
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Orlen Mulia
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Clara Lee
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Melbourne, VIC, 3800, Australia
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Rintz E, Celik B, Fnu N, Herreño-Pachón AM, Khan S, Benincore-Flórez E, Tomatsu S. Molecular therapy and nucleic acid adeno-associated virus-based gene therapy delivering combinations of two growth-associated genes to MPS IVA mice. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102211. [PMID: 38831899 PMCID: PMC11145352 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis type IVA (MPS IVA) is caused by a deficiency of the galactosamine (N-acetyl)-6-sulfatase (GALNS) enzyme responsible for the degradation of specific glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). The progressive accumulation of GAGs leads to various skeletal abnormalities (short stature, hypoplasia, tracheal obstruction) and several symptoms in other organs. To date, no treatment is effective for patients with bone abnormalities. To improve bone pathology, we propose a novel combination treatment with the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors expressing GALNS enzyme and a natriuretic peptide C (CNP; NPPC gene) as a growth-promoting agent for MPS IVA. In this study, an MPS IVA mouse model was treated with an AAV vector expressing GALNS combined with another AAV vector expressing NPPC gene, followed for 12 weeks. After the combination therapy, bone growth in mice was induced with increased enzyme activity in tissues (bone, liver, heart, lung) and plasma. Moreover, there were significant changes in bone morphology in CNP-treated mice with increased CNP activity in plasma. Delivering combinations of CNP and GALNS gene therapies enhanced bone growth in MPS IVA mice more than in GALNS gene therapy alone. Enzyme expression therapy alone fails to reach the bone growth region; our results indicate that combining it with CNP offers a potential alternative.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estera Rintz
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Department of Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Gdansk, 80-308 Gdansk, Poland
| | - Betul Celik
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Nidhi Fnu
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Angélica María Herreño-Pachón
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
| | - Shaukat Khan
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA
| | | | - Shunji Tomatsu
- Nemours Children’s Health, Wilmington, DE 19803, USA
- Faculty of Arts and Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19144, USA
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Moses E, Atlan T, Sun X, Franěk R, Siddiqui A, Marinov GK, Shifman S, Zucker DM, Oron-Gottesman A, Greenleaf WJ, Cohen E, Ram O, Harel I. The killifish germline regulates longevity and somatic repair in a sex-specific manner. NATURE AGING 2024; 4:791-813. [PMID: 38750187 DOI: 10.1038/s43587-024-00632-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Classical evolutionary theories propose tradeoffs among reproduction, damage repair and lifespan. However, the specific role of the germline in shaping vertebrate aging remains largely unknown. In this study, we used the turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri) to genetically arrest germline development at discrete stages and examine how different modes of infertility impact life history. We first constructed a comprehensive single-cell gonadal atlas, providing cell-type-specific markers for downstream phenotypic analysis. We show here that germline depletion-but not arresting germline differentiation-enhances damage repair in female killifish. Conversely, germline-depleted males instead showed an extension in lifespan and rejuvenated metabolic functions. Through further transcriptomic analysis, we highlight enrichment of pro-longevity pathways and genes in germline-depleted male killifish and demonstrate functional conservation of how these factors may regulate longevity in germline-depleted Caenorhabditis elegans. Our results, therefore, demonstrate that different germline manipulation paradigms can yield pronounced sexually dimorphic phenotypes, implying alternative responses to classical evolutionary tradeoffs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eitan Moses
- Department of Genetics, Silberman Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tehila Atlan
- Department of Genetics, Silberman Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Xue Sun
- Department of Biochemistry, Silberman Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Roman Franěk
- Department of Genetics, Silberman Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, University of South Bohemia in Ceske Budejovice, Vodnany, Czech Republic
| | - Atif Siddiqui
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Sagiv Shifman
- Department of Genetics, Silberman Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - David M Zucker
- Department of Statistics and Data Science, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Adi Oron-Gottesman
- Department of Genetics, Silberman Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - William J Greenleaf
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Center for Personal Dynamic Regulomes, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
- Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ehud Cohen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada (IMRIC), Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Oren Ram
- Department of Biochemistry, Silberman Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Itamar Harel
- Department of Genetics, Silberman Institute, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Givat Ram, Jerusalem, Israel.
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Paul JW, Muratcioğlu S, Kuriyan J. A fluorescence-based sensor for calibrated measurement of protein kinase stability in live cells. Protein Sci 2024; 33:e5023. [PMID: 38801214 PMCID: PMC11129626 DOI: 10.1002/pro.5023] [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: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Oncogenic mutations can destabilize signaling proteins, resulting in increased or unregulated activity. Thus, there is considerable interest in mapping the relationship between mutations and the stability of signaling proteins, to better understand the consequences of oncogenic mutations and potentially inform the development of new therapeutics. Here, we develop a tool to study protein-kinase stability in live mammalian cells and the effects of the HSP90 chaperone system on the stability of these kinases. We determine the expression levels of protein kinases by monitoring the fluorescence of fluorescent proteins fused to those kinases, normalized to that of co-expressed reference fluorescent proteins. We used this tool to study the dependence of Src- and Raf-family kinases on the HSP90 system. We demonstrate that this sensor reports on destabilization induced by oncogenic mutations in these kinases. We also show that Src-homology 2 and Src-homology 3 domains, which are required for autoinhibition of Src-family kinases, stabilize these kinase domains in the cell. Our expression-calibrated sensor enables the facile characterization of the effects of mutations and small-molecule drugs on protein-kinase stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph W. Paul
- Department of Molecular and Cell BiologyUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
- California Institute for Quantitative Bioscience (QB3)University of CaliforniaBerkeleyCaliforniaUSA
| | - Serena Muratcioğlu
- Department of BiochemistryVanderbilt University School of MedicineNashvilleTennesseeUSA
| | - John Kuriyan
- Department of BiochemistryVanderbilt University School of MedicineNashvilleTennesseeUSA
- Department of ChemistryVanderbilt UniversityNashvilleTennesseeUSA
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Truong T, Martin K, Salemi M, Ray A, Phinney BS, Penn BH. The balance between antiviral and antibacterial responses during M. tuberculosis infection is regulated by the ubiquitin ligase CBL. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.15.594178. [PMID: 38798543 PMCID: PMC11118416 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.15.594178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
As a first line of host defense, macrophages must be able to effectively sense and respond to diverse types of pathogens, and while a particular type of immune response may be beneficial in some circumstances, it can be detrimental in others. Upon infecting a macrophage, M. tuberculosis (Mtb) induces proinflammatory cytokines that activate antibacterial responses. Surprisingly, Mtb also triggers antiviral responses that actually hinder the ability of macrophages to control Mtb infection. The ubiquitin ligase CBL suppresses these antiviral responses and shifts macrophages toward a more antibacterial state during Mtb infection, however, the mechanisms by which CBL regulates immune signaling are unknown. We found that CBL controls responses to multiple stimuli and broadly suppresses the expression of antiviral effector genes. We then used mass-spectrometry to investigate potential CBL substrates and identified over 46,000 ubiquitylated peptides in Mtb-infected macrophages, as well as roughly 400 peptides with CBL-dependent ubiquitylation. We then performed genetic interaction analysis of CBL and its putative substrates, and identified the Fas associated factor 2 (FAF2) adapter protein as a key signaling molecule protein downstream of CBL. Together, these analyses identify thousands of new ubiquitin-mediated signaling events during the innate immune response and reveal an important new regulatory hub in this response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tina Truong
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- Graduate Group in Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Kelsey Martin
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Michelle Salemi
- Proteomics Core Facility, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Abigail Ray
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- Microbiology Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Brett S. Phinney
- Proteomics Core Facility, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
| | - Bennett H. Penn
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States of America
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Farber G, Dong Y, Wang Q, Rathod M, Wang H, Dixit M, Keepers B, Xie Y, Butz K, Polacheck WJ, Liu J, Qian L. Direct conversion of cardiac fibroblasts into endothelial-like cells using Sox17 and Erg. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4170. [PMID: 38755186 PMCID: PMC11098819 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48354-6] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells are a heterogeneous population with various organ-specific and conserved functions that are critical to organ development, function, and regeneration. Here we report a Sox17-Erg direct reprogramming approach that uses cardiac fibroblasts to create differentiated endothelial cells that demonstrate endothelial-like molecular and physiological functions in vitro and in vivo. Injection of these induced endothelial cells into myocardial infarct sites after injury results in improved vascular perfusion of the scar region. Furthermore, we use genomic analyses to illustrate that Sox17-Erg reprogramming instructs cardiac fibroblasts toward an arterial-like identity. This results in a more efficient direct conversion of fibroblasts into endothelial-like cells when compared to traditional Etv2-based reprogramming. Overall, this Sox17-Erg direct reprogramming strategy offers a robust tool to generate endothelial cells both in vitro and in vivo, and has the potential to be used in repairing injured tissue.
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Grants
- R01 HL139880 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R01HL139880 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- P30 CA016086 NCI NIH HHS
- R35HL155656 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- R01HL139976 U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
- AHA20EIA35320128 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- R01 HL139976 NHLBI NIH HHS
- P30 ES010126 NIEHS NIH HHS
- AHA20EIA35310348 American Heart Association (American Heart Association, Inc.)
- F30 HL154659 NHLBI NIH HHS
- R35 HL155656 NHLBI NIH HHS
- U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory Farber
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yanhan Dong
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Qiaozi Wang
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Mitesh Rathod
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, NC, USA
- University of North Carolina Kidney Center, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Haofei Wang
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Michelle Dixit
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Benjamin Keepers
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Yifang Xie
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kendall Butz
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - William J Polacheck
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University, Chapel Hill and Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jiandong Liu
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Li Qian
- The McAllister Heart Institute, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.
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Ho YK, Woo JY, Loke KM, Deng LW, Too HP. Enhanced anti-tumor efficacy with multi-transgene armed mesenchymal stem cells for treating peritoneal carcinomatosis. J Transl Med 2024; 22:463. [PMID: 38750559 PMCID: PMC11097589 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05278-5] [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: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have garnered significant interest for their tumor-tropic property, making them potential therapeutic delivery vehicles for cancer treatment. We have previously shown the significant anti-tumour activity in mice preclinical models and companion animals with naturally occurring cancers using non-virally engineered MSCs with a therapeutic transgene encoding cytosine deaminase and uracil phosphoribosyl transferase (CDUPRT) and green fluorescent protein (GFP). Clinical studies have shown improved response rate with combinatorial treatment of 5-fluorouracil and Interferon-beta (IFNb) in peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC). However, high systemic toxicities have limited the clinical use of such a regime. METHODS In this study, we evaluated the feasibility of intraperitoneal administration of non-virally engineered MSCs to co-deliver CDUPRT/5-Flucytosine prodrug system and IFNb to potentially enhance the cGAS-STING signalling axis. Here, MSCs were engineered to express CDUPRT or CDUPRT-IFNb. Expression of CDUPRT and IFNb was confirmed by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. The anti-cancer efficacy of the engineered MSCs was evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo model. ES2, HT-29 and Colo-205 were cocultured with engineered MSCs at various ratio. The cell viability with or without 5-flucytosine was measured with MTS assay. To further compare the anti-cancer efficacy of the engineered MSCs, peritoneal carcinomatosis mouse model was established by intraperitoneal injection of luciferase expressing ES2 stable cells. The tumour burden was measured through bioluminescence tracking. RESULTS Firstly, there was no changes in phenotypes of MSCs despite high expression of the transgene encoding CDUPRT and IFNb (CDUPRT-IFNb). Transwell migration assays and in-vivo tracking suggested the co-expression of multiple transgenes did not impact migratory capability of the MSCs. The superiority of CDUPRT-IFNb over CDUPRT expressing MSCs was demonstrated in ES2, HT-29 and Colo-205 in-vitro. Similar observations were observed in an intraperitoneal ES2 ovarian cancer xenograft model. The growth of tumor mass was inhibited by ~ 90% and 46% in the mice treated with MSCs expressing CDUPRT-IFNb or CDUPRT, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results established the effectiveness of MSCs co-expressing CDUPRT and IFNb in controlling and targeting PC growth. This study lay the foundation for the development of clinical trial using multigene-armed MSCs for PC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon Khei Ho
- Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596, Singapore.
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
- AGeM Bio, Singapore, 119276, Singapore.
- Singapore Innovate, Singapore, 059911, Singapore.
| | - Jun Yung Woo
- Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kin Man Loke
- Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lih-Wen Deng
- Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Heng-Phon Too
- Department of Biochemistry, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117596, Singapore
- NUS Centre for Cancer Research (N2CR), Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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Ramirez A, Vyzas CA, Zhao H, Eng K, Degenhardt K, Astrof S. Buffering Mechanism in Aortic Arch Artery Formation and Congenital Heart Disease. Circ Res 2024; 134:e112-e132. [PMID: 38618720 PMCID: PMC11081845 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.322767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The resiliency of embryonic development to genetic and environmental perturbations has been long appreciated; however, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the robustness of developmental processes. Aberrations resulting in neonatal lethality are exemplified by congenital heart disease arising from defective morphogenesis of pharyngeal arch arteries (PAAs) and their derivatives. METHODS Mouse genetics, lineage tracing, confocal microscopy, and quantitative image analyses were used to investigate mechanisms of PAA formation and repair. RESULTS The second heart field (SHF) gives rise to the PAA endothelium. Here, we show that the number of SHF-derived endothelial cells (ECs) is regulated by VEGFR2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) and Tbx1. Remarkably, when the SHF-derived EC number is decreased, PAA development can be rescued by the compensatory endothelium. Blocking such compensatory response leads to embryonic demise. To determine the source of compensating ECs and mechanisms regulating their recruitment, we investigated 3-dimensional EC connectivity, EC fate, and gene expression. Our studies demonstrate that the expression of VEGFR2 by the SHF is required for the differentiation of SHF-derived cells into PAA ECs. The deletion of 1 VEGFR2 allele (VEGFR2SHF-HET) reduces SHF contribution to the PAA endothelium, while the deletion of both alleles (VEGFR2SHF-KO) abolishes it. The decrease in SHF-derived ECs in VEGFR2SHF-HET and VEGFR2SHF-KO embryos is complemented by the recruitment of ECs from the nearby veins. Compensatory ECs contribute to PAA derivatives, giving rise to the endothelium of the aortic arch and the ductus in VEGFR2SHF-KO mutants. Blocking the compensatory response in VEGFR2SHF-KO mutants results in embryonic lethality shortly after mid-gestation. The compensatory ECs are absent in Tbx1+/- embryos, a model for 22q11 deletion syndrome, leading to unpredictable arch artery morphogenesis and congenital heart disease. Tbx1 regulates the recruitment of the compensatory endothelium in an SHF-non-cell-autonomous manner. CONCLUSIONS Our studies uncover a novel buffering mechanism underlying the resiliency of PAA development and remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- AnnJosette Ramirez
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
- Multidisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Sciences: Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Physiology Track, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
| | - Christina A. Vyzas
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
- Multidisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Sciences: Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Physiology Track, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
| | - Huaning Zhao
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
| | - Kevin Eng
- Department of Statistics, Rutgers University, School of Arts and Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Karl Degenhardt
- Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19107
| | - Sophie Astrof
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
- Multidisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Sciences: Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Physiology Track, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
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Zhang Z, Zhang S, Wong HT, Li D, Feng B. Targeted Gene Insertion: The Cutting Edge of CRISPR Drug Development with Hemophilia as a Highlight. BioDrugs 2024; 38:369-385. [PMID: 38489061 PMCID: PMC11055778 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-024-00654-5] [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] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The remarkable advance in gene editing technology presents unparalleled opportunities for transforming medicine and finding cures for hereditary diseases. Human trials of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein-9 nuclease (Cas9)-based therapeutics have demonstrated promising results in disrupting or deleting target sequences to treat specific diseases. However, the potential of targeted gene insertion approaches, which offer distinct advantages over disruption/deletion methods, remains largely unexplored in human trials due to intricate technical obstacles and safety concerns. This paper reviews the recent advances in preclinical studies demonstrating in vivo targeted gene insertion for therapeutic benefits, targeting somatic solid tissues through systemic delivery. With a specific emphasis on hemophilia as a prominent disease model, we highlight advancements in insertion strategies, including considerations of DNA repair pathways, targeting site selection, and donor design. Furthermore, we discuss the complex challenges and recent breakthroughs that offer valuable insights for progressing towards clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjie Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK-GIBH CAS Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Room 105A, Lo Kwee-Seong Integrated Biomedical Sciences Building, Area 39, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Siqi Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK-GIBH CAS Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Room 105A, Lo Kwee-Seong Integrated Biomedical Sciences Building, Area 39, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Hoi Ting Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK-GIBH CAS Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Room 105A, Lo Kwee-Seong Integrated Biomedical Sciences Building, Area 39, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Dali Li
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Genome Editing and Cell Therapy, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences and School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Bo Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, CUHK-GIBH CAS Joint Research Laboratory on Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Room 105A, Lo Kwee-Seong Integrated Biomedical Sciences Building, Area 39, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science and Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, China.
- Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510530, China.
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Khaniya A, Rad SMAH, Halpin J, Tawinwung S, McLellan A, Suppipat K, Hirankarn N. Development of a compact bidirectional promoter-driven dual chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) construct targeting CD19 and CD20 in the Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system. J Immunother Cancer 2024; 12:e008555. [PMID: 38677881 PMCID: PMC11057265 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2023-008555] [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] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A bidirectional promoter-driven chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cassette provides the simultaneous expression of two CARs, which significantly enhances dual antigen-targeted CAR T-cell therapy. METHODS We developed a second-generation CAR directing CD19 and CD20 antigens, incorporating them in a head-to-head orientation from a bidirectional promoter using a single Sleeping Beauty transposon system. The efficacy of bidirectional promoter-driven dual CD19 and CD20 CAR T cells was determined in vitro against cell lines expressing either, or both, CD19 and CD20 antigens. In vivo antitumor activity was tested in Raji lymphoma-bearing immunodeficient NOD-scid IL2Rgammanull (NSG) mice. RESULTS Of all tested promoters, the bidirectional EF-1α promoter optimally expressed transcripts from both sense (CD19-CAR) and antisense (GFP.CD20-CAR) directions. Superior cytotoxicity, cytokine production and antigen-specific activation were observed in vitro in the bidirectional EF-1α promoter-driven CD19/CD20 CAR T cells. In contrast, a unidirectional construct driven by the EF-1α promoter, but using self-cleaving peptide-linked CD19 and CD20 CARs, showed inferior expression and in vitro function. Treatment of mice bearing advanced Raji lymphomas with bidirectional EF-1α promoter-driven CD19/CD20 CAR T cells effectively controlled tumor growth and extended the survival of mice compared with group treated with single antigen targeted CAR T cells. CONCLUSION The use of bidirectional promoters in a single vector offers advantages of size and robust CAR expression with the potential to expand use in other forms of gene therapies like CAR T cells.
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MESH Headings
- Antigens, CD19/immunology
- Antigens, CD19/genetics
- Humans
- Animals
- Antigens, CD20/genetics
- Antigens, CD20/metabolism
- Antigens, CD20/immunology
- Mice
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/metabolism
- Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology
- DNA Transposable Elements
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Mice, SCID
- Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays
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Affiliation(s)
- Asmita Khaniya
- Medical Microbiology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Cellular Immunotherapy Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Josh Halpin
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Supannikar Tawinwung
- Cellular Immunotherapy Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Pharmacology and Physiology, Chulalongkorn University Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Alexander McLellan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Koramit Suppipat
- Cellular Immunotherapy Research Unit, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Research Affairs, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nattiya Hirankarn
- Center of Excellence in Immunology and Immune-mediated Diseases, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
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47
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Schmidt S, Mengistu M, Daffis S, Ahmadi-Erber S, Deutschmann D, Grigoriev T, Chu R, Leung C, Tomkinson A, Uddin MN, Moshkani S, Robek MD, Perry J, Lauterbach H, Orlinger K, Fletcher SP, Balsitis S. Alternating Arenavirus Vector Immunization Generates Robust Polyfunctional Genotype Cross-Reactive Hepatitis B Virus-Specific CD8 T-Cell Responses and High Anti-Hepatitis B Surface Antigen Titers. J Infect Dis 2024; 229:1077-1087. [PMID: 37602681 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiad340] [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: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) is a major driver of infectious disease mortality. Curative therapies are needed and ideally should induce CD8 T cell-mediated clearance of infected hepatocytes plus anti-hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) antibodies (anti-HBs) to neutralize residual virus. We developed a novel therapeutic vaccine using non-replicating arenavirus vectors. Antigens were screened for genotype conservation and magnitude and genotype reactivity of T cell response, then cloned into Pichinde virus (PICV) vectors (recombinant PICV, GS-2829) and lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) vectors (replication-incompetent, GS-6779). Alternating immunizations with GS-2829 and GS-6779 induced high-magnitude HBV T cell responses, and high anti-HBs titers. Dose schedule optimization in macaques achieved strong polyfunctional CD8 T cell responses against core, HBsAg, and polymerase and high titer anti-HBs. In AAV-HBV mice, GS-2829 and GS-6779 were efficacious in animals with low pre-treatment serum HBsAg. Based on these results, GS-2829 and GS-6779 could become a central component of cure regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ruth Chu
- Gilead Sciences, Foster City, California, USA
| | - Cleo Leung
- Gilead Sciences, Foster City, California, USA
| | | | - Mohammad Nizam Uddin
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Safiehkhatoon Moshkani
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Michael D Robek
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, New York, USA
| | - Jason Perry
- Gilead Sciences, Foster City, California, USA
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48
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Sanchez-Martinez ZV, Alpuche-Lazcano SP, Stuible M, Durocher Y. CHO cells for virus-like particle and subunit vaccine manufacturing. Vaccine 2024; 42:2530-2542. [PMID: 38503664 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.03.034] [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: 01/14/2024] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024]
Abstract
Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells, employed primarily for manufacturing monoclonal antibodies and other recombinant protein (r-protein) therapeutics, are emerging as a promising host for vaccine antigen production. This is exemplified by the recently approved CHO cell-derived subunit vaccines (SUV) against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and varicella-zoster virus (VZV), as well as the enveloped virus-like particle (eVLP) vaccine against hepatitis B virus (HBV). Here, we summarize the design, production, and immunogenicity features of these vaccine and review the most recent progress of other CHO-derived vaccines in pre-clinical and clinical development. We also discuss the challenges associated with vaccine production in CHO cells, with a focus on ensuring viral clearance for eVLP products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zalma V Sanchez-Martinez
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Sergio P Alpuche-Lazcano
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Matthew Stuible
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Yves Durocher
- Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council of Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada; PROTEO: The Quebec Network for Research on Protein Function, Structure, and Engineering, Université du Québec à Montréal, 201 Avenue du Président Kennedy, Montréal, QC H2X 3Y7, Canada.
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49
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Trotter TN, Wilson A, McBane J, Dagotto CE, Yang XY, Wei JP, Lei G, Thrash H, Snyder JC, Lyerly HK, Hartman ZC. Overcoming Xenoantigen Immunity to Enable Cellular Tracking and Gene Regulation with Immune-competent "NoGlow" Mice. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2024; 4:1050-1062. [PMID: 38592453 PMCID: PMC11003454 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-24-0062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
The ability to temporally regulate gene expression and track labeled cells makes animal models powerful biomedical tools. However, sudden expression of xenobiotic genes [e.g., GFP, luciferase (Luc), or rtTA3] can trigger inadvertent immunity that suppresses foreign protein expression or results in complete rejection of transplanted cells. Germline exposure to foreign antigens somewhat addresses these challenges; however, native fluorescence and bioluminescence abrogates the utility of reporter proteins and highly spatiotemporally restricted expression can lead to suboptimal xenoantigen tolerance. To overcome these unwanted immune responses and enable reliable cell tracking/gene regulation, we developed a novel mouse model that selectively expresses antigen-intact but nonfunctional forms of GFP and Luc, as well as rtTA3, after CRE-mediated recombination. Using tissue-specific CREs, we observed model and sex-based differences in immune tolerance to the encoded xenoantigens, illustrating the obstacles of tolerizing animals to foreign genes and validating the utility of these "NoGlow" mice to dissect mechanisms of central and peripheral tolerance. Critically, tissue unrestricted NoGlow mice possess no detectable background fluorescence or luminescence and exhibit limited adaptive immunity against encoded transgenic xenoantigens after vaccination. Moreover, we demonstrate that NoGlow mice allow tracking and tetracycline-inducible gene regulation of triple-transgenic cells expressing GFP/Luc/rtTA3, in contrast to transgene-negative immune-competent mice that eliminate these cells or prohibit metastatic seeding. Notably, this model enables de novo metastasis from orthotopically implanted, triple-transgenic tumor cells, despite high xenoantigen expression. Altogether, the NoGlow model provides a critical resource for in vivo studies across disciplines, including oncology, developmental biology, infectious disease, autoimmunity, and transplantation. SIGNIFICANCE Multitolerant NoGlow mice enable tracking and gene manipulation of transplanted tumor cells without immune-mediated rejection, thus providing a platform to investigate novel mechanisms of adaptive immunity related to metastasis, immunotherapy, and tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Wilson
- Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jason McBane
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | - Xiao-Yi Yang
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jun-Ping Wei
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Gangjun Lei
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Hannah Thrash
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Joshua C. Snyder
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Herbert Kim Lyerly
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Zachary C. Hartman
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
- Department of Integrative Immunobiology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
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50
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Co M, O'Brien GK, Wright KM, O'Roak BJ. Detailed phenotyping of Tbr1-2A-CreER knock-in mice demonstrates significant impacts on TBR1 protein levels and axon development. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.04.588147. [PMID: 38617321 PMCID: PMC11014564 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.04.588147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Spatiotemporal control of Cre-mediated recombination has been an invaluable tool for understanding key developmental processes. For example, knock-in of Cre into cell type marker gene loci drives Cre expression under endogenous promoter and enhancer sequences, greatly facilitating the study of diverse neuronal subtypes in the cerebral cortex. However, insertion of exogenous DNA into the genome can have unintended effects on local gene regulation or protein function that must be carefully considered. Here, we analyze a recently generated Tbr1-2A-CreER knock-in mouse line, where a 2A-CreER cassette was inserted in-frame just before the stop codon of the transcription factor gene Tbr1 . Heterozygous TBR1 mutations in humans and mice are known to cause autism or autism-like behavioral phenotypes accompanied by structural brain malformations, most frequently a reduction of the anterior commissure. Thus, it is critical for modified versions of Tbr1 to exhibit true wild-type-like activity. We evaluated the Tbr1-2A-CreER allele for its potential impact on Tbr1 function and complementation to Tbr1 loss-of-function alleles. In mice with one copy of the Tbr1-2A-CreER allele, we identified reduction of TBR1 protein in early postnatal cortex along with thinning of the anterior commissure, suggesting hypersensitivity of this structure to TBR1 dosage. Comparing Tbr1-2A-CreER and Tbr1 -null heterozygous and homozygous mice to Tbr1 -null complementation crosses showed reductions of TBR1 dosage ranging from 28.4% to 95.9%. Using these combinatorial genotypes, we found that low levels of TBR1 protein (∼16%) are sufficient to establish cortical layer positioning, while greater levels (>50%) are required for normal suppression of layer 5 identity. In total, these results strongly support the conclusion that Tbr1-2A-CreER is a hypomorphic allele. We advise caution when interpreting experiments using this allele, such as transcriptomic studies, considering the sensitivity of various corticogenic processes to TBR1 dosage and the association of heterozygous TBR1 mutations with complex neurodevelopmental disorders.
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