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Feng T, Minevich G, Liu P, Qin HX, Wozniak G, Pham J, Pham K, Korgaonkar A, Kurnellas M, Defranoux NA, Long H, Mitra A, Hu F. AAV- GRN partially corrects motor deficits and ALS/FTLD-related pathology in Tmem106b-/-Grn-/- mice. iScience 2023; 26:107247. [PMID: 37519899 PMCID: PMC10371829 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107247] [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: 03/22/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of function of progranulin (PGRN), encoded by the granulin (GRN) gene, is implicated in several neurodegenerative diseases. Several therapeutics to boost PGRN levels are currently in clinical trials. However, it is difficult to test the efficacy of PGRN-enhancing drugs in mouse models due to the mild phenotypes of Grn-/- mice. Recently, mice deficient in both PGRN and TMEM106B were shown to develop severe motor deficits and pathology. Here, we show that intracerebral ventricle injection of PGRN-expressing AAV1/9 viruses partially rescues motor deficits, neuronal loss, glial activation, and lysosomal abnormalities in Tmem106b-/-Grn-/- mice. Widespread expression of PGRN is detected in both the brain and spinal cord for both AAV subtypes. However, AAV9 but not AAV1-mediated expression of PGRN results in high levels of PGRN in the serum. Together, these data support using the Tmem106b-/-Grn-/- mouse strain as a robust mouse model to determine the efficacy of PGRN-elevating therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuancheng Feng
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | | | - Pengan Liu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Henry Xin Qin
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | | | - Jenny Pham
- Alector Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Khanh Pham
- Alector Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | | | | | - Hua Long
- Alector Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Fenghua Hu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Weill Institute for Cell and Molecular Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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2
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McLachlan G, Alton EWFW, Boyd AC, Clarke NK, Davies JC, Gill DR, Griesenbach U, Hickmott JW, Hyde SC, Miah KM, Molina CJ. Progress in Respiratory Gene Therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:893-912. [PMID: 36074947 PMCID: PMC7615302 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2022.172] [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] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The prospect of gene therapy for inherited and acquired respiratory disease has energized the research community since the 1980s, with cystic fibrosis, as a monogenic disorder, driving early efforts to develop effective strategies. The fact that there are still no approved gene therapy products for the lung, despite many early phase clinical trials, illustrates the scale of the challenge: In the 1990s, first-generation non-viral and viral vector systems demonstrated proof-of-concept but low efficacy. Since then, there has been steady progress toward improved vectors with the capacity to overcome at least some of the formidable barriers presented by the lung. In addition, the inclusion of features such as codon optimization and promoters providing long-term expression have improved the expression characteristics of therapeutic transgenes. Early approaches were based on gene addition, where a new DNA copy of a gene is introduced to complement a genetic mutation: however, the advent of RNA-based products that can directly express a therapeutic protein or manipulate gene expression, together with the expanding range of tools for gene editing, has stimulated the development of alternative approaches. This review discusses the range of vector systems being evaluated for lung delivery; the variety of cargoes they deliver, including DNA, antisense oligonucleotides, messenger RNA (mRNA), small interfering RNA (siRNA), and peptide nucleic acids; and exemplifies progress in selected respiratory disease indications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerry McLachlan
- The Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eric W F W Alton
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - A Christopher Boyd
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nora K Clarke
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jane C Davies
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah R Gill
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Medicine Group, Radcliffe Department of Medicine (NDCLS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Uta Griesenbach
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jack W Hickmott
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen C Hyde
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Medicine Group, Radcliffe Department of Medicine (NDCLS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Kamran M Miah
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Medicine Group, Radcliffe Department of Medicine (NDCLS), University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Claudia Juarez Molina
- UK Respiratory Gene Therapy Consortium, London, United Kingdom
- Gene Therapy Group, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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3
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Ko W, Porter JJ, Sipple MT, Edwards KM, Lueck JD. Efficient suppression of endogenous CFTR nonsense mutations using anticodon-engineered transfer RNAs. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 28:685-701. [PMID: 35664697 PMCID: PMC9126842 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.04.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Nonsense mutations or premature termination codons (PTCs) comprise ∼11% of all genetic lesions, which result in over 7,000 distinct genetic diseases. Due to their outsized impact on human health, considerable effort has been made to find therapies for nonsense-associated diseases. Suppressor tRNAs have long been identified as a possible therapeutic for nonsense-associated diseases; however, their ability to inhibit nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) and support significant protein translation from endogenous transcripts has not been determined in mammalian cells. Here, we investigated the ability of anticodon edited (ACE)-tRNAs to suppress cystic fibrosis (CF) causing PTCs in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane regulator (CFTR) gene in gene-edited immortalized human bronchial epithelial (16HBEge) cells. Delivery of ACE-tRNAs to 16HBEge cells harboring three common CF mutations G542XUGA-, R1162XUGA-, and W1282XUGA-CFTR PTCs significantly inhibited NMD and rescued endogenous mRNA expression. Furthermore, delivery of our highly active leucine-encoding ACE-tRNA resulted in rescue of W1282X-CFTR channel function to levels that significantly exceed the necessary CFTR channel function for therapeutic relevance. This study establishes the ACE-tRNA approach as a potential standalone therapeutic for nonsense-associated diseases due to its ability to rescue both mRNA and full-length protein expression from PTC-containing endogenous genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wooree Ko
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Joseph J. Porter
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Matthew T. Sipple
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - Katherine M. Edwards
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - John D. Lueck
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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4
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Porter JJ, Heil CS, Lueck JD. Therapeutic promise of engineered nonsense suppressor tRNAs. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2021; 12:e1641. [PMID: 33567469 PMCID: PMC8244042 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Nonsense mutations change an amino acid codon to a premature termination codon (PTC) generally through a single-nucleotide substitution. The generation of a PTC results in a defective truncated protein and often in severe forms of disease. Because of the exceedingly high prevalence of nonsense-associated diseases and a unifying mechanism, there has been a concerted effort to identify PTC therapeutics. Most clinical trials for PTC therapeutics have been conducted with small molecules that promote PTC read through and incorporation of a near-cognate amino acid. However, there is a need for PTC suppression agents that recode PTCs with the correct amino acid while being applicable to PTC mutations in many different genomic landscapes. With these characteristics, a single therapeutic will be able to treat several disease-causing PTCs. In this review, we will focus on the use of nonsense suppression technologies, in particular, suppressor tRNAs (sup-tRNAs), as possible therapeutics for correcting PTCs. Sup-tRNAs have many attractive qualities as possible therapeutic agents although there are knowledge gaps on their function in mammalian cells and technical hurdles that need to be overcome before their promise is realized. This article is categorized under: RNA Processing > tRNA Processing Translation > Translation Regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph J. Porter
- Department of Pharmacology and PhysiologyUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterNew YorkUSA
| | - Christina S. Heil
- Department of Pharmacology and PhysiologyUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterNew YorkUSA
| | - John D. Lueck
- Department of Pharmacology and PhysiologyUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterNew YorkUSA
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterRochesterNew YorkUSA
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5
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Kaczmarek JC, Patel AK, Rhym LH, Palmiero UC, Bhat B, Heartlein MW, DeRosa F, Anderson DG. Systemic delivery of mRNA and DNA to the lung using polymer-lipid nanoparticles. Biomaterials 2021; 275:120966. [PMID: 34147715 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2021.120966] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Non-viral vectors offer the potential to deliver nucleic acids including mRNA and DNA into cells in vivo. However, designing materials that effectively deliver to target organs and then to desired compartments within the cell remains a challenge. Here we develop polymeric materials that can be optimized for either DNA transcription in the nucleus or mRNA translation in the cytosol. We synthesized poly(beta amino ester) terpolymers (PBAEs) with modular changes to monomer chemistry to investigate influence on nucleic acid delivery. We identified two PBAEs with a single monomer change as being effective for either DNA (D-90-C12-103) or mRNA (DD-90-C12-103) delivery to lung endothelium following intravenous injection in mice. Physical properties such as particle size or charge did not account for the difference in transfection efficacy. However, endosome co-localization studies revealed that D-90-C12-103 nanoparticles resided in late endosomes to a greater extent than DD-90-C12-103. We compared luciferase expression in vivo and observed that, even with nucleic acid optimized vectors, peak luminescence using mRNA was two orders of magnitude greater than pDNA in the lungs of mice following systemic delivery. This study indicates that different nucleic acids require tailored delivery vectors, and further support the potential of PBAEs as intracellular delivery materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C Kaczmarek
- Deparment of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Asha Kumari Patel
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; National Heart & Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Luke H Rhym
- Deparment of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Umberto Capasso Palmiero
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Department of Chemistry, Materials, And Chemical Engineering, Politecnico di Milano, Via Mancinelli 7, 20131, Milano, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Daniel G Anderson
- Deparment of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA; Harvard and MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA.
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6
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Abstract
Delivery of genetic material to tissues in vivo is an important technique used in research settings and is the foundation upon which clinical gene therapy is built. The lung is a prime target for gene delivery due to a host of genetic, acquired, and infectious diseases that manifest themselves there, resulting in many pathologies. However, the in vivo delivery of genetic material to the lung remains a practical problem clinically and is considered the major obstacle needed to be overcome for gene therapy. Currently there are four main strategies for in vivo gene delivery to the lung: viral vectors, liposomes, nanoparticles, and electroporation. Viral delivery uses several different genetically modified viruses that enter the cell and express desired genes that have been inserted to the viral genome. Liposomes use combinations of charged and neutral lipids that can encapsulate genetic cargo and enter cells through endogenous mechanisms, thereby delivering their cargoes. Nanoparticles are defined by their size (typically less than 100 nm) and are made up of many different classes of building blocks, including biological and synthetic polymers, cell penetrant and other peptides, and dendrimers, that also enter cells through endogenous mechanisms. Electroporation uses mild to moderate electrical pulses to create pores in the cell membrane through which delivered genetic material can enter a cell. An emerging fifth category, exosomes and extracellular vesicles, may have advantages of both viral and non-viral approaches. These extracellular vesicles bud from cellular membranes containing receptors and ligands that may aid cell targeting and which can be loaded with genetic material for efficient transfer. Each of these vectors can be used for different gene delivery applications based on mechanisms of action, side-effects, and other factors, and their use in the lung and possible clinical considerations is the primary focus of this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uday K Baliga
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
| | - David A Dean
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY 14642, USA
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7
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Kim CH, Oliver C, Dar H, Drissi H, Presciutti SM. AAV6 as an effective gene delivery vector for prolonged transgene expression in intervertebral disc cells in vivo. Genes Dis 2020; 9:1074-1085. [PMID: 35685478 PMCID: PMC9170577 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2020.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Intervertebral disc degeneration is the main contributor to low back pain, now the leading cause of disability worldwide. Gene transfer, either in a therapeutic attempt or in basic research to understand the mechanisms of disc degeneration, is a fascinating and promising tool to manipulate the complex physiology of the disc. Viral vectors based on the adeno-associated virus (AAV) have emerged as powerful transgene delivery vehicles yet a systematic investigation into their respective tropism, transduction efficiency, and relative toxicity have not yet been performed in the disc in vivo. Herein, we used in vivo bioluminescence imaging to systematically compare multiple AAV serotypes, injection volumes, titers, promoters, and luciferase reporters to determine which result in high transduction efficiency of murine nucleus pulposus (NP) cells in vivo. We find that AAV6 using a CAG promoter to drive transgene expression, delivered into the NP of murine caudal discs at a titer of 1011 GC/mL, provides excellent transduction efficiency/kinetics and low toxicity in vivo. We also show, for the first time, that the transduction of NP cells can be significantly boosted in vivo by the use of small cell permeabilization peptides. Finally, to our knowledge, we are the first to demonstrate the use of optical tissue clearing and three-dimensional lightsheet microscopy in the disc, which was used to visualize fine details of tissue and cell architecture in whole intact discs following AAV6 delivery. Taken together, these data will contribute to the success of using AAV-mediated gene delivery for basic and translational studies of the IVD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Heon Kim
- Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Atlanta Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
| | - Colleen Oliver
- Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Atlanta Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
| | - Hamid Dar
- Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
| | - Hicham Drissi
- Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Atlanta Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
- Corresponding author. Emory Orthopaedics and Spine Center, 59 Executive Park S NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
| | - Steven M. Presciutti
- Department of Orthopaedics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
- Atlanta Veteran Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, GA 30030, USA
- Corresponding author. Emory Orthopaedics and Spine Center, 59 Executive Park S NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
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8
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Buck TM, Wijnholds J. Recombinant Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors (rAAV)-Vector Elements in Ocular Gene Therapy Clinical Trials and Transgene Expression and Bioactivity Assays. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E4197. [PMID: 32545533 PMCID: PMC7352801 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21124197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal dystrophies and optic neuropathies cause chronic disabling loss of visual function. The development of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV) gene therapies in all disease fields have been promising, but the translation to the clinic has been slow. The safety and efficacy profiles of rAAV are linked to the dose of applied vectors. DNA changes in the rAAV gene cassette affect potency, the expression pattern (cell-specificity), and the production yield. Here, we present a library of rAAV vectors and elements that provide a workflow to design novel vectors. We first performed a meta-analysis on recombinant rAAV elements in clinical trials (2007-2020) for ocular gene therapies. We analyzed 33 unique rAAV gene cassettes used in 57 ocular clinical trials. The rAAV gene therapy vectors used six unique capsid variants, 16 different promoters, and six unique polyadenylation sequences. Further, we compiled a list of promoters, enhancers, and other sequences used in current rAAV gene cassettes in preclinical studies. Then, we give an update on pro-viral plasmid backbones used to produce the gene therapy vectors, inverted terminal repeats, production yield, and rAAV safety considerations. Finally, we assess rAAV transgene and bioactivity assays applied to cells or organoids in vitro, explants ex vivo, and clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thilo M. Buck
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands;
| | - Jan Wijnholds
- Department of Ophthalmology, Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), 2333 ZC Leiden, The Netherlands;
- Netherlands Institute of Neuroscience, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), 1105 BA Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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9
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Xu ZJ, Jia YL, Wang M, Yi DD, Zhang WL, Wang XY, Zhang JH. Effect of promoter, promoter mutation and enhancer on transgene expression mediated by episomal vectors in transfected HEK293, Chang liver and primary cells. Bioengineered 2020; 10:548-560. [PMID: 31668126 PMCID: PMC6844389 DOI: 10.1080/21655979.2019.1684863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The episomal vector cannot integrate into the host cell chromosome, which has no potential risk in gene therapy. However, the low level of transgene expression driven by episomal vectors needs to be solved. In this study, we investigated the effects of enhancers, promoters and promoter variants on transgene expression levels driven by episomal vectors in HEK293, Chang liver and primary cells. Results showed that all eight cis-acting elements used could increase transfection efficiency and transient eGFP expression in transfected HEK293 and Chang liver cells. In stably transfected mammalian cells, the elongation factor-1 alpha (EF-1α) promoter and mutant-404 showed high and stable transgene expression. The mechanisms might be related to the type and quantity of transcription factor regulatory elements. Moreover, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that mRNA expression levels were not directly proportional to protein expression levels. Furthermore, the EF-1α promoter conferred high transgene expression levels in primary cells, and the plasmid was also present in the episomal state. Taken together, these results provided valuable information for improving transgene expression with episomal vectors in mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhong-Jie Xu
- Life Science and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Yan-Long Jia
- Pharmacy collage, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Meng Wang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombiant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Dan-Dan Yi
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombiant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Wei-Li Zhang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombiant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Xiao-Yin Wang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombiant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Jun-He Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
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Haery L, Deverman BE, Matho KS, Cetin A, Woodard K, Cepko C, Guerin KI, Rego MA, Ersing I, Bachle SM, Kamens J, Fan M. Adeno-Associated Virus Technologies and Methods for Targeted Neuronal Manipulation. Front Neuroanat 2019; 13:93. [PMID: 31849618 PMCID: PMC6902037 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2019.00093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-type-specific expression of molecular tools and sensors is critical to construct circuit diagrams and to investigate the activity and function of neurons within the nervous system. Strategies for targeted manipulation include combinations of classical genetic tools such as Cre/loxP and Flp/FRT, use of cis-regulatory elements, targeted knock-in transgenic mice, and gene delivery by AAV and other viral vectors. The combination of these complex technologies with the goal of precise neuronal targeting is a challenge in the lab. This report will discuss the theoretical and practical aspects of combining current technologies and establish best practices for achieving targeted manipulation of specific cell types. Novel applications and tools, as well as areas for development, will be envisioned and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Benjamin E. Deverman
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, United States
| | | | - Ali Cetin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Kenton Woodard
- Penn Vector Core, Gene Therapy Program, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Connie Cepko
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston, MA, United States
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11
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Maule G, Casini A, Montagna C, Ramalho AS, De Boeck K, Debyser Z, Carlon MS, Petris G, Cereseto A. Allele specific repair of splicing mutations in cystic fibrosis through AsCas12a genome editing. Nat Commun 2019; 10:3556. [PMID: 31391465 PMCID: PMC6685978 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11454-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive disease caused by mutations in the CFTR gene. The 3272-26A>G and 3849+10kbC>T CFTR mutations alter the correct splicing of the CFTR gene, generating new acceptor and donor splice sites respectively. Here we develop a genome editing approach to permanently correct these genetic defects, using a single crRNA and the Acidaminococcus sp. BV3L6, AsCas12a. This genetic repair strategy is highly precise, showing very strong discrimination between the wild-type and mutant sequence and a complete absence of detectable off-targets. The efficacy of this gene correction strategy is verified in intestinal organoids and airway epithelial cells derived from CF patients carrying the 3272-26A>G or 3849+10kbC>T mutations, showing efficient repair and complete functional recovery of the CFTR channel. These results demonstrate that allele-specific genome editing with AsCas12a can correct aberrant CFTR splicing mutations, paving the way for a permanent splicing correction in genetic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Maule
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Antonio Casini
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Claudia Montagna
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy
| | - Anabela S Ramalho
- Department of Development and Regeneration, CF Centre, Woman and Child, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Kris De Boeck
- Department of Development and Regeneration, CF Centre, Woman and Child, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
- Pediatric Pulmonology, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Zeger Debyser
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
| | - Marianne S Carlon
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Herestraat 49, Leuven, 3000, Belgium.
| | - Gianluca Petris
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy.
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
| | - Anna Cereseto
- Centre for Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123, Trento, Italy.
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12
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The murine lung as a factory to produce secreted intrapulmonary and circulatory proteins. Gene Ther 2018; 25:345-358. [PMID: 30022127 PMCID: PMC6119181 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-018-0025-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
We have shown that a lentiviral vector (rSIV.F/HN) pseudotyped with the F and HN proteins from Sendai virus generates high levels of intracellular proteins after lung transduction. Here, we evaluate the use of rSIV.F/HN for production of secreted proteins. We assessed whether rSIV.F/HN transduction of the lung generates therapeutically relevant levels of secreted proteins in the lung and systemic circulation using human α1-anti-trypsin (hAAT) and factor VIII (hFVIII) as exemplars. Sedated mice were transduced with rSIV.F/HN carrying either the secreted reporter gene Gaussia luciferase or the hAAT or hFVIII cDNAs by nasal sniffing. rSIV.F/HN-hAAT transduction lead to therapeutically relevant hAAT levels (70 μg/ml) in epithelial lining fluid, with stable expression persisting for at least 19 months from a single application. Secreted proteins produced in the lung were released into the circulation and stable expression was detectable in blood. The levels of hFVIII in murine blood approached therapeutically relevant targets. rSIV.F/HN was also able to produce secreted hAAT and hFVIII in transduced human primary airway cells. rSIV.F/HN transduction of the murine lungs leads to long-lasting and therapeutically relevant levels of secreted proteins in the lung and systemic circulation. These data broaden the use of this vector platform for a large range of disease indications.
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13
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Patel NA, Anderson CR, Terkildsen SE, Davis RC, Pack LD, Bhargava S, Clarke HR. Antibody expression stability in CHO clonally derived cell lines and their subclones: Role of methylation in phenotypic and epigenetic heterogeneity. Biotechnol Prog 2018; 34:635-649. [DOI: 10.1002/btpr.2655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Neha A. Patel
- Dept. of Bioprocess Development; Seattle Genetics; Bothell WA 98021
| | | | | | - Ray C. Davis
- Dept. of Bioprocess Development; Seattle Genetics; Bothell WA 98021
| | - Laura D. Pack
- Dept. of CMC Statistics; Seattle Genetics; Bothell WA 98021
| | - Swapnil Bhargava
- Dept. of Bioprocess Development; Seattle Genetics; Bothell WA 98021
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14
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Analysis of the effect of promoter type and skin pretreatment on antigen expression and antibody response after gene gun-based immunization. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197962. [PMID: 29856790 PMCID: PMC5983433 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have enabled numerous basic research discoveries and therapeutic approaches for many protein classes. However, there still exist a number of target classes, such as multi-pass membrane proteins, for which antibody discovery is difficult, due in part to lack of high quality, recombinant protein. Here we describe the impact of several parameters on antigen expression and the development of mAbs against human claudin 4 (CLDN4), a potential multi-indication cancer target. Using gene gun-based DNA delivery and bioluminescence imaging, we optimize promoter type by comparing expression profiles of four robust in vivo promoters. In addition, we observe that most vectors rapidly lose expression, ultimately reaching almost background levels by three days post-delivery. Recognizing this limitation, we next explored skin pretreatment strategies as an orthogonal method to further boost the efficiency of mAb generation. We show that SDS pretreatment can boost antigen expression, but fails to significantly increase mAb discovery efficiency. In contrast, we find that sandpaper pretreatment yields 5-fold more FACS+ anti-CLDN4 hybridomas, without impacting antigen expression. Our findings coupled with other strategies to improve DNA immunizations should improve the success of mAb discovery against other challenging targets and enable the generation of critical research tools and therapeutic candidates.
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15
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Poliner E, Pulman JA, Zienkiewicz K, Childs K, Benning C, Farré EM. A toolkit for Nannochloropsis oceanica CCMP1779 enables gene stacking and genetic engineering of the eicosapentaenoic acid pathway for enhanced long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid production. PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL 2018; 16:298-309. [PMID: 28605577 PMCID: PMC5785352 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.12772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2017] [Revised: 05/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Nannochloropsis oceanica is an oleaginous microalga rich in ω3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFAs) content, in the form of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). We identified the enzymes involved in LC-PUFA biosynthesis in N. oceanica CCMP1779 and generated multigene expression vectors aiming at increasing LC-PUFA content in vivo. We isolated the cDNAs encoding four fatty acid desaturases (FAD) and determined their function by heterologous expression in S. cerevisiae. To increase the expression of multiple fatty acid desaturases in N. oceanica CCMP1779, we developed a genetic engineering toolkit that includes an endogenous bidirectional promoter and optimized peptide bond skipping 2A peptides. The toolkit also includes multiple epitopes for tagged fusion protein production and two antibiotic resistance genes. We applied this toolkit, towards building a gene stacking system for N. oceanica that consists of two vector series, pNOC-OX and pNOC-stacked. These tools for genetic engineering were employed to test the effects of the overproduction of one, two or three desaturase-encoding cDNAs in N. oceanica CCMP1779 and prove the feasibility of gene stacking in this genetically tractable oleaginous microalga. All FAD overexpressing lines had considerable increases in the proportion of LC-PUFAs, with the overexpression of Δ12 and Δ5 FAD encoding sequences leading to an increase in the final ω3 product, EPA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric Poliner
- MSU‐DOE Plant Research LaboratoryMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
- Cell and Molecular Biology ProgramMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
| | - Jane A. Pulman
- Department of Plant BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
| | - Krzysztof Zienkiewicz
- MSU‐DOE Plant Research LaboratoryMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
- Department of Plant BiochemistryAlbrecht‐von‐Haller‐Institute for Plant SciencesGeorg‐August‐UniversityGottingenGermany
| | - Kevin Childs
- Department of Plant BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
| | - Christoph Benning
- MSU‐DOE Plant Research LaboratoryMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
- Department of Plant BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
| | - Eva M. Farré
- Department of Plant BiologyMichigan State UniversityEast LansingMIUSA
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16
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Nickells RW, Schmitt HM, Maes ME, Schlamp CL. AAV2-Mediated Transduction of the Mouse Retina After Optic Nerve Injury. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2017; 58:6091-6104. [PMID: 29204649 PMCID: PMC5716181 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.17-22634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Gene therapy of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) has promise as a powerful therapeutic for the rescue and regeneration of these cells after optic nerve damage. However, early after damage, RGCs undergo atrophic changes, including gene silencing. It is not known if these changes will deleteriously affect transduction and transgene expression, or if the therapeutic protein can influence reactivation of the endogenous genome. Methods Double-transgenic mice carrying a Rosa26-(LoxP)-tdTomato reporter, and a mutant allele for the proapoptotic Bax gene were reared. The Bax mutant blocks apoptosis, but RGCs still exhibit nuclear atrophy and gene silencing. At times ranging from 1 hour to 4 weeks after optic nerve crush (ONC), eyes received an intravitreal injection of AAV2 virus carrying the Cre recombinase. Successful transduction was monitored by expression of the tdTomato reporter. Immunostaining was used to localize tdTomato expression in select cell types. Results Successful transduction of RGCs was achieved at all time points after ONC using AAV2 expressing Cre from the phosphoglycerate kinase (Pgk) promoter, but not the CMV promoter. ONC promoted an increase in the transduction of cell types in the inner nuclear layer, including Müller cells and rod bipolar neurons. There was minimal evidence of transduction of amacrine cells and astrocytes in the inner retina or optic nerve. Conclusions Damaged RGCs can be transduced and at least some endogenous genes can be subsequently activated. Optic nerve damage may change retinal architecture to allow greater penetration of an AAV2 virus to transduce several additional cell types in the inner nuclear layer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Nickells
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Heather M Schmitt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States.,Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Program, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
| | - Margaret E Maes
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States.,Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Klosterneurberg, Austria
| | - Cassandra L Schlamp
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, United States
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17
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Salabert AS, Vaysse L, Beaurain M, Alonso M, Arribarat G, Lotterie JA, Loubinoux I, Tafani M, Payoux P. Imaging grafted cells with [18F]FHBG using an optimized HSV1-TK mammalian expression vector in a brain injury rodent model. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0184630. [PMID: 28926581 PMCID: PMC5604981 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0184630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cell transplantation is an innovative therapeutic approach after brain injury to compensate for tissue damage. To have real-time longitudinal monitoring of intracerebrally grafted cells, we explored the feasibility of a molecular imaging approach using thymidine kinase HSV1-TK gene encoding and [18F]FHBG as a reporter probe to image enzyme expression. METHODS A stable neuronal cell line expressing HSV1-TK was developed with an optimised mammalian expression vector to ensure long-term transgene expression. After [18F]FHBG incubation under defined parameters, calibration ranges from 1 X 104 to 3 X 106 Neuro2A-TK cells were analysed by gamma counter or by PET-camera. In parallel, grafting with different quantities of [18F]FHBG prelabelled Neuro2A-TK cells was carried out in a rat brain injury model induced by stereotaxic injection of malonate toxin. Image acquisition of the rats was then performed with PET/CT camera to study the [18F]FHBG signal of transplanted cells in vivo. RESULTS Under the optimised incubation conditions, [18F]FHBG cell uptake rate was around 2.52%. In-vitro calibration range analysis shows a clear linear correlation between the number of cells and the signal intensity. The PET signal emitted into rat brain correlated well with the number of cells injected and the number of surviving grafted cells was recorded via the in-vitro calibration range. PET/CT acquisitions also allowed validation of the stereotaxic injection procedure. Technique sensitivity was evaluated under 5 X 104 grafted cells in vivo. No [18F]FHBG or [18F]metabolite release was observed showing a stable cell uptake even 2 h post-graft. CONCLUSION The development of this kind of approach will allow grafting to be controlled and ensure longitudinal follow-up of cell viability and biodistribution after intracerebral injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Sophie Salabert
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Centre UMR1214, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France
- University hospital, Radiopharmacy Unit, Toulouse, France
| | - Laurence Vaysse
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Centre UMR1214, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France
| | - Marie Beaurain
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Centre UMR1214, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France
| | - Mathieu Alonso
- University hospital, Radiopharmacy Unit, Toulouse, France
| | - Germain Arribarat
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Centre UMR1214, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France
| | - Jean-Albert Lotterie
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Centre UMR1214, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France
- University hospital, Nuclear medecine Unit, Toulouse, France
| | - Isabelle Loubinoux
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Centre UMR1214, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France
| | - Mathieu Tafani
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Centre UMR1214, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France
- University hospital, Radiopharmacy Unit, Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre Payoux
- ToNIC, Toulouse NeuroImaging Centre UMR1214, Université de Toulouse, Inserm, UPS, France
- University hospital, Nuclear medecine Unit, Toulouse, France
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18
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Barnett RC, Lin X, Barravecchia M, Norman RA, de Mesy Bentley KL, Fazal F, Young JL, Dean DA. Featured Article: Electroporation-mediated gene delivery of surfactant protein B (SP-B) restores expression and improves survival in mouse model of SP-B deficiency. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2017; 242:1345-1354. [PMID: 28581337 PMCID: PMC5529004 DOI: 10.1177/1535370217713000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Surfactant Protein B Deficiency is a rare but lethal monogenetic, congenital lung disease of the neonate that is unresponsive to any treatment except lung transplantation. Based on the potential that gene therapy offers to treat such intractable diseases, our objective was to test whether an electroporation-based gene delivery approach could restore surfactant protein B expression and improve survival in a compound knockout mouse model of surfactant protein B deficiency. Surfactant protein B expression can be shut off in these mice upon withdrawl of doxycycline, resulting in decreased levels of surfactant protein B within four days and death due to lung dysfunction within four to seven days. Control or one of several different human surfactant protein B-expressing plasmids was delivered to the lung by aspiration and electroporation at the time of doxycycline removal or four days later. Plasmids expressing human surfactant protein B from either the UbC or CMV promoter expressed surfactant protein B in these transgenic mice at times when endogenous surfactant protein B expression was silenced. Mean survival was increased 2- to 5-fold following treatment with the UbC or CMV promoter-driven plasmids, respectively. Histology of all surfactant protein B treated groups exhibited fewer neutrophils and less alveolar wall thickening compared to the control groups, and electron microscopy revealed that gene transfer of surfactant protein B resulted in lamellar bodies that were similar in the presence of electron-dense, concentric material to those in surfactant protein B-expressing mice. Taken together, our results show that electroporation-mediated gene delivery of surfactant protein B-expressing plasmids improves survival, lung function, and lung histology in a mouse model of surfactant protein B deficiency and suggest that this may be a useful approach for the treatment of this otherwise deadly disease. Impact statement Surfactant protein B (SP-B) deficiency is a rare but lethal genetic disease of neonates that results in severe respiratory distress with no available treatments other than lung transplantation. The present study describes a novel treatment for this disease by transferring the SP-B gene to the lungs using electric fields in a mouse model. The procedure is safe and results in enough expression of exogenous SP-B to improve lung histology, lamellar body structure, and survival. If extended to humans, this approach could be used to bridge the time between diagnosis and lung transplantation and could greatly increase the likelihood of affected neonates surviving to transplantation and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca C Barnett
- Division of Neonatology, University of
Rochester, Rochester, New York, NY 14642, USA
| | - Xin Lin
- Division of Neonatology, University of
Rochester, Rochester, New York, NY 14642, USA
| | - Michael Barravecchia
- Division of Neonatology, University of
Rochester, Rochester, New York, NY 14642, USA
| | - Rosemary A Norman
- Division of Neonatology, University of
Rochester, Rochester, New York, NY 14642, USA
| | - Karen L de Mesy Bentley
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York, NY 14642, USA
| | - Fabeha Fazal
- Division of Neonatology, University of
Rochester, Rochester, New York, NY 14642, USA
| | - Jennifer L Young
- Division of Neonatology, University of
Rochester, Rochester, New York, NY 14642, USA
| | - David A Dean
- Division of Neonatology, University of
Rochester, Rochester, New York, NY 14642, USA
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19
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Wang X, Xu Z, Tian Z, Zhang X, Xu D, Li Q, Zhang J, Wang T. The EF-1α promoter maintains high-level transgene expression from episomal vectors in transfected CHO-K1 cells. J Cell Mol Med 2017; 21:3044-3054. [PMID: 28557288 PMCID: PMC5661254 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2017] [Accepted: 04/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In our previous study, we demonstrated that episomal vectors based on the characteristic sequence of matrix attachment regions (MARs) and containing the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter allow transgenes to be maintained episomally in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells. However, the transgene expression was unstable and the number of copies was low. In this study, we focused on enhancers, various promoters and promoter variants that could improve the transgene expression stability, expression magnitude (level) and the copy number of a MAR‐based episomal vector in CHO‐K1 cells. In comparison with the CMV promoter, the eukaryotic translation elongation factor 1 α (EF‐1α, gene symbol EEF1A1) promoter increased the transfection efficiency, the transgene expression, the proportion of expression‐positive clones and the copy number of the episomal vector in long‐term culture. By contrast, no significant positive effects were observed with an enhancer, CMV promoter variants or CAG promoter in the episomal vector in long‐term culture. Moreover, the high‐expression clones harbouring the EF‐1α promoter tended to be more stable in long‐term culture, even in the absence of selection pressure. According to these findings, we concluded that the EF‐1α promoter is a potent regulatory sequence for episomal vectors because it maintains high transgene expression, transgene stability and copy number. These results provide valuable information on improvement of transgene stability and the copy number of episomal vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyin Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China.,Henan Collaborative Innovation Center of Molecular Diagnosis and Laboratory Medicine, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Zhongjie Xu
- Life Science and Technology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Zhengwei Tian
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Danhua Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Qin Li
- Test Laboratory, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Junhe Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
| | - Tianyun Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, Henan, China
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20
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Chinnapaiyan S, Parira T, Dutta R, Agudelo M, Morris A, Nair M, Unwalla HJ. HIV Infects Bronchial Epithelium and Suppresses Components of the Mucociliary Clearance Apparatus. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0169161. [PMID: 28060951 PMCID: PMC5217953 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0169161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Recurrent lung infections and pneumonia are emerging as significant comorbidities in the HIV-infected population in the era of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). HIV infection has been reported to suppress nasal mucociliary clearance (MCC). Since the primary components driving nasal MCC and bronchial MCC are identical, it is possible that bronchial MCC is affected as well. Effective MCC requires optimal ciliary beating which depends on the maintenance of the airway surface liquid (ASL), a function of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) activity and the integrity of the signaling mechanism that regulates ciliary beating and fluid secretion. Impairment of either component of the MCC apparatus can compromise its efficacy and promote microbial colonization. We demonstrate that primary bronchial epithelium expresses HIV receptor CD4 and co-receptors CCR5 and CXCR4 and can be infected by both R5 and X4 tropic strains of HIV. We show that HIV Tat suppresses CFTR biogenesis and function in primary bronchial epithelial cells by a pathway involving TGF-β signaling. HIV infection also interferes with bronchial epithelial cell differentiation and suppresses ciliogenesis. These findings suggest that HIV infection suppresses tracheobronchial mucociliary clearance and this may predispose HIV-infected patients to recurrent lung infections, pneumonia and chronic bronchitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Chinnapaiyan
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University. Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - T. Parira
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University. Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - R. Dutta
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University. Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - M. Agudelo
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University. Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - A. Morris
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - M. Nair
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University. Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - H. J. Unwalla
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Neuroimmune Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University. Miami, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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21
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Alton EWFW, Beekman JM, Boyd AC, Brand J, Carlon MS, Connolly MM, Chan M, Conlon S, Davidson HE, Davies JC, Davies LA, Dekkers JF, Doherty A, Gea-Sorli S, Gill DR, Griesenbach U, Hasegawa M, Higgins TE, Hironaka T, Hyndman L, McLachlan G, Inoue M, Hyde SC, Innes JA, Maher TM, Moran C, Meng C, Paul-Smith MC, Pringle IA, Pytel KM, Rodriguez-Martinez A, Schmidt AC, Stevenson BJ, Sumner-Jones SG, Toshner R, Tsugumine S, Wasowicz MW, Zhu J. Preparation for a first-in-man lentivirus trial in patients with cystic fibrosis. Thorax 2016; 72:137-147. [PMID: 27852956 PMCID: PMC5284333 DOI: 10.1136/thoraxjnl-2016-208406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2016] [Revised: 06/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
We have recently shown that non-viral gene therapy can stabilise the decline of lung function in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, the effect was modest, and more potent gene transfer agents are still required. Fuson protein (F)/Hemagglutinin/Neuraminidase protein (HN)-pseudotyped lentiviral vectors are more efficient for lung gene transfer than non-viral vectors in preclinical models. In preparation for a first-in-man CF trial using the lentiviral vector, we have undertaken key translational preclinical studies. Regulatory-compliant vectors carrying a range of promoter/enhancer elements were assessed in mice and human air–liquid interface (ALI) cultures to select the lead candidate; cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance receptor (CFTR) expression and function were assessed in CF models using this lead candidate vector. Toxicity was assessed and ‘benchmarked’ against the leading non-viral formulation recently used in a Phase IIb clinical trial. Integration site profiles were mapped and transduction efficiency determined to inform clinical trial dose-ranging. The impact of pre-existing and acquired immunity against the vector and vector stability in several clinically relevant delivery devices was assessed. A hybrid promoter hybrid cytosine guanine dinucleotide (CpG)- free CMV enhancer/elongation factor 1 alpha promoter (hCEF) consisting of the elongation factor 1α promoter and the cytomegalovirus enhancer was most efficacious in both murine lungs and human ALI cultures (both at least 2-log orders above background). The efficacy (at least 14% of airway cells transduced), toxicity and integration site profile supports further progression towards clinical trial and pre-existing and acquired immune responses do not interfere with vector efficacy. The lead rSIV.F/HN candidate expresses functional CFTR and the vector retains 90–100% transduction efficiency in clinically relevant delivery devices. The data support the progression of the F/HN-pseudotyped lentiviral vector into a first-in-man CF trial in 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric W F W Alton
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Jeffery M Beekman
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A Christopher Boyd
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - June Brand
- Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.,Lung Pathology Unit, Department of Airway Disease Infection, NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Marianne S Carlon
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mary M Connolly
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Mario Chan
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Sinead Conlon
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Heather E Davidson
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Jane C Davies
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Lee A Davies
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Johanna F Dekkers
- Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Laboratory of Translational Immunology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ann Doherty
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Sabrina Gea-Sorli
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Deborah R Gill
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Uta Griesenbach
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Tracy E Higgins
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Laura Hyndman
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Gerry McLachlan
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Roslin Institute & R(D)SVS, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian, UK
| | - Makoto Inoue
- ID Pharme Co. Ltd. (DNAVEC Center), Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Stephen C Hyde
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - J Alastair Innes
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Toby M Maher
- Fibrosis Research Group, Inflammation, Repair & Development Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College, London, UK
| | - Caroline Moran
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Cuixiang Meng
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Michael C Paul-Smith
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Ian A Pringle
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Kamila M Pytel
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea Rodriguez-Martinez
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Barbara J Stevenson
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Centre for Genomic and Experimental Medicine, IGMM, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Stephanie G Sumner-Jones
- UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK.,Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Toshner
- Fibrosis Research Group, Inflammation, Repair & Development Section, National Heart and Lung Institute, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College, London, UK
| | | | - Marguerite W Wasowicz
- Department of Gene Therapy, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK.,UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, Oxford, UK
| | - Jie Zhu
- Lung Pathology Unit, Department of Airway Disease Infection, NHLI, Imperial College London, London, UK
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22
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Alton EWFW, Boyd AC, Porteous DJ, Davies G, Davies JC, Griesenbach U, Higgins TE, Gill DR, Hyde SC, Innes JA. A Phase I/IIa Safety and Efficacy Study of Nebulized Liposome-mediated Gene Therapy for Cystic Fibrosis Supports a Multidose Trial. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2016; 192:1389-92. [PMID: 26623687 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201506-1193le] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Eric W F W Alton
- 1 Imperial College London London, United Kingdom.,3 Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Gwyneth Davies
- 1 Imperial College London London, United Kingdom.,3 Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust London, United Kingdom
| | - Jane C Davies
- 1 Imperial College London London, United Kingdom.,3 Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust London, United Kingdom
| | - Uta Griesenbach
- 1 Imperial College London London, United Kingdom.,3 Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust London, United Kingdom
| | - Tracy E Higgins
- 1 Imperial College London London, United Kingdom.,3 Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust London, United Kingdom
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23
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Bazzani RP, Pringle IA, Connolly MM, Davies LA, Sumner-Jones SG, Schleef M, Hyde SC, Gill DR. Transgene sequences free of CG dinucleotides lead to high level, long-term expression in the lung independent of plasmid backbone design. Biomaterials 2016; 93:20-26. [PMID: 27061267 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2016.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Non-viral aerosol gene therapy offers great potential for treating chronic lung diseases of the airways such as cystic fibrosis (CF). Early clinical trials showed that transgene expression in the airways was transient whereas maximal duration of transgene expression is essential in order to minimise the frequency of aerosol treatments. Improved vector design, such as careful selection of the promoter/enhancer, can lead to more persistent levels of transgene expression, but multiple factors affect expression in vivo. Following aerosol delivery to the lungs of mice, we measured reporter gene expression from a CpG-free luciferase transgene cassette in the context of both a plasmid and minicircle vector configuration and showed that the vector backbone had no effect on expression. Transgene activity was affected by the vector backbone however, when a similar, but sub-optimal CpG-containing transgene was used, suggesting that aspects of the plasmid backbone had a negative impact on transgene expression. Similar studies were performed in Toll-like receptor-9 (TLR9) knockout mice to investigate a potential role for the TLR9 signalling pathway in detecting CpGs in the vector sequence. Even in the absence of TLR9, persistent expression could only be achieved with a CpG-free transgene. Together, these data indicate that in order to achieve high levels of persistent expression in vivo, a CpG-free transgene cassette is required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reto P Bazzani
- Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK; The UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, UK
| | - Ian A Pringle
- Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK; The UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, UK
| | - Mary M Connolly
- Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK; The UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, UK
| | - Lee A Davies
- Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK; The UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, UK
| | - Stephanie G Sumner-Jones
- Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK; The UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, UK
| | - Martin Schleef
- PlasmidFactory, Meisenstraße 96, D-33607 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Stephen C Hyde
- Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK; The UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, UK
| | - Deborah R Gill
- Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU, UK; The UK Cystic Fibrosis Gene Therapy Consortium, UK.
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24
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Munye MM, Tagalakis AD, Barnes JL, Brown RE, McAnulty RJ, Howe SJ, Hart SL. Minicircle DNA Provides Enhanced and Prolonged Transgene Expression Following Airway Gene Transfer. Sci Rep 2016; 6:23125. [PMID: 26975732 PMCID: PMC4792149 DOI: 10.1038/srep23125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy for cystic fibrosis using non-viral, plasmid-based formulations has been the subject of intensive research for over two decades but a clinically viable product has yet to materialise in large part due to inefficient transgene expression. Minicircle DNA give enhanced and more persistent transgene expression compared to plasmid DNA in a number of organ systems but has not been assessed in the lung. In this study we compared minicircle DNA with plasmid DNA in transfections of airway epithelial cells. In vitro, luciferase gene expression from minicircles was 5–10-fold higher than with plasmid DNA. In eGFP transfections in vitro both the mean fluorescence intensity and percentage of cells transfected was 2–4-fold higher with minicircle DNA. Administration of equimolar amounts of DNA to mouse lungs resulted in a reduced inflammatory response and more persistent transgene expression, with luciferase activity persisting for 2 weeks from minicircle DNA compared to plasmid formulations. Transfection of equal mass amounts of DNA in mouse lungs resulted in a 6-fold increase in transgene expression in addition to more persistent transgene expression. Our findings have clear implications for gene therapy of airway disorders where plasmid DNA transfections have so far proven inefficient in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mustafa M Munye
- UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | | | - Josephine L Barnes
- UCL Respiratory Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Repair, 5 University Street, London, WC1E 6JF, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel E Brown
- UCL MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Robin J McAnulty
- UCL Respiratory Centre for Inflammation and Tissue Repair, 5 University Street, London, WC1E 6JF, United Kingdom
| | - Steven J Howe
- UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen L Hart
- UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
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25
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Garcia Diaz AI, Moyon B, Coan PM, Alfazema N, Venda L, Woollard K, Aitman T. New Wistar Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rat transgenic models with ubiquitous expression of green fluorescent protein. Dis Model Mech 2016; 9:463-71. [PMID: 26769799 PMCID: PMC4852507 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.024208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rat and the spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rat inbred strains are well-established models for human crescentic glomerulonephritis (CRGN) and metabolic syndrome, respectively. Novel transgenic (Tg) strains add research opportunities and increase scientific value to well-established rat models. We have created two novel Tg strains using Sleeping Beauty transposon germline transgenesis, ubiquitously expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the rat elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1a) promoter on the WKY and SHR genetic backgrounds. The Sleeping Beauty system functioned with high transgenesis efficiency; 75% of new rats born after embryo microinjections were transgene positive. By ligation-mediated PCR, we located the genome integration sites, confirming no exonic disruption and defining a single or low copy number of the transgenes in the new WKY-GFP and SHR-GFP Tg lines. We report GFP-bright expression in embryos, tissues and organs in both lines and show preliminaryin vitroandin vivoimaging data that demonstrate the utility of the new GFP-expressing lines for adoptive transfer, transplantation and fate mapping studies of CRGN, metabolic syndrome and other traits for which these strains have been extensively studied over the past four decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Isabel Garcia Diaz
- Division of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK MRC Clinical Sciences Centre and Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Ben Moyon
- Embryonic Stem Cell and Transgenics Facility, MRC Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Philip M Coan
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Neza Alfazema
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Lara Venda
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre and Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Kevin Woollard
- Division of Immunology and Inflammation, Imperial College London, London W2 1PG, UK
| | - Tim Aitman
- MRC Clinical Sciences Centre and Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
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26
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Krinner S, Heitzer A, Asbach B, Wagner R. Interplay of Promoter Usage and Intragenic CpG Content: Impact on GFP Reporter Gene Expression. Hum Gene Ther 2015; 26:826-40. [PMID: 26414116 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful therapeutic protein production in vitro and in vivo requires efficient and long-term transgene expression supported by optimized vector and transgene cis-regulatory sequence elements. This study provides a comparative analysis of CpG-rich, highly expressed, versus CpG-depleted, poorly expressed green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter transgenes, transcribed by various promoters in two different cell systems. Long-term GFP expression from a defined locus in stable Chinese hamster ovary cells was clearly influenced by the combination of transgene CpG content and promoter usage, as shown by differential silencing effects on selection pressure removal among the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter and elongation factor (EF)-1α promoter. Whereas a high intragenic CpG content promoted local DNA methylation, CpG depletion rather accelerated transgene loss and increased the local chromatin density. On lentiviral transfer of various expression modules into epigenetically sensitive P19 embryonic pluripotent carcinoma cells, CMV promoter usage led to rapid gene silencing irrespective of the intragenic CpG content. In contrast, EF-1α promoter-controlled constructs showed delayed silencing activity and high-level transgene expression, in particular when the CpG-rich GFP reporter was used. Notably, GFP silencing in P19 cells could be prevented completely by the bidirectional, dual divergently transcribed A2UCOE (ubiquitously acting chromatin-opening element derived from the human HNRPA2B1-CBX3 locus) promoter. Because the level of GFP expression by the A2UCOE promoter was entirely unaffected by the intragenic CpG level, we suggest that A2UCOE can overcome chromatin compaction resulting from intragenic CpG depletion due to its ascribed chromatin-opening abilities. Our analyses provide insights into the interplay of the intragenic CpG content with promoter sequences and regulatory sequence elements, thus contributing toward the design of therapeutic transgene expression cassettes for future gene therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Krinner
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Molecular Microbiology and Gene Therapy Unit, University of Regensburg , Regensburg, Germany
| | - Asli Heitzer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Molecular Microbiology and Gene Therapy Unit, University of Regensburg , Regensburg, Germany
| | - Benedikt Asbach
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Molecular Microbiology and Gene Therapy Unit, University of Regensburg , Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ralf Wagner
- Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Molecular Microbiology and Gene Therapy Unit, University of Regensburg , Regensburg, Germany
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27
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Zhao N, Liu Y, Chang Z, Li K, Zhang R, Zhou Y, Qiu F, Han X, Xu Y. Identification of Biomarker and Co-Regulatory Motifs in Lung Adenocarcinoma Based on Differential Interactions. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139165. [PMID: 26402252 PMCID: PMC4581687 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Changes in intermolecular interactions (differential interactions) may influence the progression of cancer. Specific genes and their regulatory networks may be more closely associated with cancer when taking their transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels and dynamic and static interactions into account simultaneously. In this paper, a differential interaction analysis was performed to detect lung adenocarcinoma-related genes. Furthermore, a miRNA-TF (transcription factor) synergistic regulation network was constructed to identify three kinds of co-regulated motifs, namely, triplet, crosstalk and joint. Not only were the known cancer-related miRNAs and TFs (let-7, miR-15a, miR-17, TP53, ETS1, and so on) were detected in the motifs, but also the miR-15, let-7 and miR-17 families showed a tendency to regulate the triplet, crosstalk and joint motifs, respectively. Moreover, several biological functions (i.e., cell cycle, signaling pathways and hemopoiesis) associated with the three motifs were found to be frequently targeted by the drugs for lung adenocarcinoma. Specifically, the two 4-node motifs (crosstalk and joint) based on co-expression and interaction had a closer relationship to lung adenocarcinoma, and so further research was performed on them. A 10-gene biomarker (UBC, SRC, SP1, MYC, STAT3, JUN, NR3C1, RB1, GRB2 and MAPK1) was selected from the joint motif, and a survival analysis indicated its significant association with survival. Among the ten genes, JUN, NR3C1 and GRB2 are our newly detected candidate lung adenocarcinoma-related genes. The genes, regulators and regulatory motifs detected in this work will provide potential drug targets and new strategies for individual therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zhao
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yongjing Liu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Zhiqiang Chang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Kening Li
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Rui Zhang
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yuanshuai Zhou
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Fujun Qiu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Xiaole Han
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
| | - Yan Xu
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China
- * E-mail:
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28
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Lindberg MF, Le Gall T, Carmoy N, Berchel M, Hyde SC, Gill DR, Jaffrès PA, Lehn P, Montier T. Efficient in vivo transfection and safety profile of a CpG-free and codon optimized luciferase plasmid using a cationic lipophosphoramidate in a multiple intravenous administration procedure. Biomaterials 2015; 59:1-11. [PMID: 25941996 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Revised: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
As any drug, the success of gene therapy is largely dependent on the vehicle that has to selectively and efficiently deliver therapeutic nucleic acids into targeted cells with minimal side-effects. In the case of chronic diseases that require a life-long treatment, non-viral gene delivery vehicles are less likely to induce an immune response, thereby allowing for repeated administration. Beyond the gene delivery efficiency of a given vector, the nature of nucleic acid constructs also has a central importance in gene therapy protocols. Herein, we investigated the impact of two firefly luciferase encoding plasmids on the transgene expression profile following systemic delivery of lipoplexes in mice, as well as their potential to be safely and efficiently readministered. Whereas pTG11033 plasmid is driven by a strong ubiquitous cytomegalovirus promoter, pGM144 plasmid, which has been designed to avoid inflammation and provide sustained transgene expression in lungs, is CpG-free and is under control of the human elongation factor-1 alpha promoter. Combined to the efficient cationic lipophosphoramidate BSV4, bioluminescence data showed that both plasmids were mostly expressed in the lungs of mice following a primary injection of lipoplexes. However, mice transfected with pGM144 exhibited a higher and more sustained transgene expression than those treated with pTG11033. Repeated administration studies revealed that several injections of lipoplexes could lead to similar transgene expression profiles if an interval of several weeks between subsequent injections was respected. A transient hepatotoxicity and a partial inflammatory response were caused by lipoplex injection, irrespective of the plasmid used. Altogether, these results indicate that repeated systemic administration of lipophosphoramidate-based lipoplexes in mice conducts to an effective lung transfection without serious side effects, and highlight the need to use long-lasting expressing and well tolerated plasmids in order to efficiently renew transgene expression by the successive doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias F Lindberg
- Unité INSERM 1078, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest Cedex 2, France.
| | - Tony Le Gall
- Unité INSERM 1078, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest Cedex 2, France
| | - Nathalie Carmoy
- Unité INSERM 1078, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest Cedex 2, France; Plateforme SynNanoVect, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Biogenouest, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France
| | - Mathieu Berchel
- Plateforme SynNanoVect, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Biogenouest, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France; UMR CNRS 6521, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France
| | - Stephen C Hyde
- Gene Medicine Group, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Deborah R Gill
- Gene Medicine Group, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul-Alain Jaffrès
- Plateforme SynNanoVect, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Biogenouest, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France; UMR CNRS 6521, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France
| | - Pierre Lehn
- Unité INSERM 1078, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest Cedex 2, France; Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire et d'histocompatibilité, Hôpital Morvan, CHRU de Brest, 2 Avenue du maréchal Foch, 29609 Brest Cedex, France; DUMG, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest, France
| | - Tristan Montier
- Unité INSERM 1078, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest Cedex 2, France; Plateforme SynNanoVect, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Biogenouest, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France; Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire et d'histocompatibilité, Hôpital Morvan, CHRU de Brest, 2 Avenue du maréchal Foch, 29609 Brest Cedex, France; DUMG, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest, France.
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29
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30
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Wong SP, Argyros O, Harbottle RP. Sustained expression from DNA vectors. ADVANCES IN GENETICS 2014; 89:113-152. [PMID: 25620010 DOI: 10.1016/bs.adgen.2014.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
DNA vectors have the potential to become powerful medical tools for treatment of human disease. The human body has, however, developed a range of defensive strategies to detect and silence foreign or misplaced DNA, which is more typically encountered during infection or chromosomal damage. A clinically relevant human gene therapy vector must overcome or avoid these protections whilst delivering sustained levels of therapeutic gene product without compromising the vitality of the recipient host. Many non-viral DNA vectors trigger these defense mechanisms and are subsequently destroyed or rendered silent. Thus, without modification or considered design, the clinical utility of a typical DNA vector is fundamentally limited due to the transient nature of its transgene expression. The development of safe and persistently expressing DNA vectors is a crucial prerequisite for its successful clinical application and subsequently remains, therefore, one of the main strategic tasks of non-viral gene therapy research. In this chapter we will describe our current understanding of the mechanisms that can destroy or silence DNA vectors and discuss strategies, which have been utilized to improve their sustenance and the level and duration of their transgene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suet Ping Wong
- Leukocyte Biology Section, National Heart & Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Orestis Argyros
- Division of Pharmacology-Pharmacotechnology, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Richard P Harbottle
- DNA Vector Research, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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31
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Impact of Using Different Promoters and Matrix Attachment Regions on Recombinant Protein Expression Level and Stability in Stably Transfected CHO Cells. Mol Biotechnol 2014; 57:138-44. [DOI: 10.1007/s12033-014-9809-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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32
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Damdindorj L, Karnan S, Ota A, Hossain E, Konishi Y, Hosokawa Y, Konishi H. A comparative analysis of constitutive promoters located in adeno-associated viral vectors. PLoS One 2014; 9:e106472. [PMID: 25170953 PMCID: PMC4149579 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2013] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The properties of constitutive promoters within adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors have not yet been fully characterized. In this study, AAV vectors, in which enhanced GFP expression was directed by one of the six constitutive promoters (human β-actin, human elongation factor-1α, chicken β-actin combined with cytomegalovirus early enhancer, cytomegalovirus (CMV), simian virus 40, and herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase), were constructed and introduced into the HCT116, DLD-1, HT-1080, and MCF-10A cell lines. Quantification of GFP signals in infected cells demonstrated that the CMV promoter produced the highest GFP expression in the six promoters and maintained relatively high GFP expression for up to eight weeks after infection of HCT116, DLD-1, and HT-1080. Exogenous human CDKN2A gene expression was also introduced into DLD-1 and MCF-10A in a similar pattern by using AAV vectors bearing the human β-actin and the CMV promoters. The six constitutive promoters were subsequently placed upstream of the neomycin resistance gene within AAV vectors, and HCT116, DLD-1, and HT-1080 were infected with the resulting vectors. Of the six promoters, the CMV promoter produced the largest number of G418-resistant colonies in all three cell lines. Because AAV vectors have been frequently used as a platform to construct targeting vectors that permit gene editing in human cell lines, we lastly infected the three cell lines with AAV-based targeting vectors against the human PIGA gene in which one of the six promoters regulate the neomycin resistance gene. This assay revealed that the CMV promoter led to the lowest PIGA gene targeting efficiency in the investigated promoters. These results provide a clue to the identification of constitutive promoters suitable to express exogenous genes with AAV vectors, as well as those helpful to conduct efficient gene targeting using AAV-based targeting vectors in human cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lkhagvasuren Damdindorj
- Department of Biochemistry, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Sivasundaram Karnan
- Department of Biochemistry, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Akinobu Ota
- Department of Biochemistry, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Ekhtear Hossain
- Department of Biochemistry, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yuko Konishi
- Department of Biochemistry, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka Hosokawa
- Department of Biochemistry, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Konishi
- Department of Biochemistry, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
- * E-mail:
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33
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Gene delivery potential of biofunctional carbonate apatite nanoparticles in lungs. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:646787. [PMID: 25143941 PMCID: PMC4131073 DOI: 10.1155/2014/646787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2014] [Accepted: 06/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Existing nonviral gene delivery systems to lungs are inefficient and associated with dose limiting toxicity in mammalian cells. Therefore, carbonate apatite (CO3Ap) nanoparticles were examined as an alternative strategy for effective gene delivery to the lungs. This study aimed to (1) assess the gene delivery efficiency of CO3Ap in vitro and in mouse lungs, (2) evaluate the cytotoxicity effect of CO3Ap/pDNA in vitro, and (3) characterize the CO3Ap/pDNA complex formulations. A significantly high level of reporter gene expression was detected from the lung cell line transfected with CO3Ap/pDNA complex prepared in both serum and serum-free medium. Cytotoxicity analysis revealed that the percentage of the viable cells treated with CO3Ap to be almost similar to the untreated cells. Characterization analyses showed that the CO3Ap/pDNA complexes are in a nanometer range with aggregated spherical structures and tended to be more negatively charged. In the lung of mice, highest level of transgene expression was observed when CO3Ap (8 μL) was complexed with 40 μg of pDNA at day 1 after administration. Although massive reduction of gene expression was seen beyond day 1 post administration, the level of expression remained significant throughout the study period.
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Abstract
Gene-based therapy is the intentional modulation of gene expression in specific cells to treat pathological conditions. This modulation is accomplished by introducing exogenous nucleic acids such as DNA, mRNA, small interfering RNA (siRNA), microRNA (miRNA) or antisense oligonucleotides. Given the large size and the negative charge of these macromolecules, their delivery is typically mediated by carriers or vectors. In this Review, we introduce the biological barriers to gene delivery in vivo and discuss recent advances in material sciences, nanotechnology and nucleic acid chemistry that have yielded promising non-viral delivery systems, some of which are currently undergoing testing in clinical trials. The diversity of these systems highlights the recent progress of gene-based therapy using non-viral approaches.
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Roby JA, Bielefeldt-Ohmann H, Prow NA, Chang DC, Hall RA, Khromykh AA. Increased expression of capsid protein in trans enhances production of single-round infectious particles by West Nile virus DNA vaccine candidate. J Gen Virol 2014; 95:2176-2191. [PMID: 24958626 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.064121-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV; genus Flavivirus, family Flaviviridae) is an emerging pathogenic arbovirus responsible for outbreaks of encephalitis around the world. Whilst no vaccines are currently available to prevent WNV infection of humans, the use of cDNA copies of flavivirus RNA genomes with large internal deletions within the capsid (C) appears promising. C-deleted vaccines are able to replicate and secrete large amounts of non-infectious immunogenic subviral particles (SVPs) from transfected cells. We have previously generated a WNV DNA vaccine candidate pKUNdC/C where C-deleted WNV cDNA was placed under the control of one copy of the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter and the C gene was placed under the control of a second copy of the CMV promoter in the same plasmid DNA. This DNA was shown to generate single-round infectious particles (SRIPs) capable of delivering self-replicating C-deleted RNA producing SVPs to surrounding cells, thus enhancing the vaccine potential. However, the amounts of both SRIPs and SVPs produced from pKUNdC/C DNA were relatively low. In this investigation, we aimed at increasing SRIP production by optimizing trans-C expression via incorporating different forms of C and the use of a more powerful promoter. The construct containing an elongation factor EF1α promoter encoding an extended form of C was demonstrated to produce the highest titres of SRIPs and was immunogenic in mice. Additionally, SRIP and SVP titres were further improved via incorporation of a glycosylation motif in the envelope protein. The optimized DNA yielded ~100-fold greater titres of SRIPs than the original construct, thus providing a promising candidate for further vaccine evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin A Roby
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Helle Bielefeldt-Ohmann
- School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Natalie A Prow
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Australia
| | - David C Chang
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Roy A Hall
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Alexander A Khromykh
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Australia.,Australian Infectious Diseases Research Centre, University of Queensland, Australia
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Davies LA, Nunez-Alonso GA, McLachlan G, Hyde SC, Gill DR. Aerosol delivery of DNA/liposomes to the lung for cystic fibrosis gene therapy. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2014; 25:97-107. [PMID: 24865497 DOI: 10.1089/humc.2014.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract Lung gene therapy is being evaluated for a range of acute and chronic diseases, including cystic fibrosis (CF). As these therapies approach clinical realization, it is becoming increasingly clear that the ability to efficiently deliver gene transfer agents (GTAs) to target cell populations within the lung may prove just as critical as the gene therapy formulation itself in terms of generating positive clinical outcomes. Key to the success of any aerosol gene therapy is the interaction between the GTA and nebulization device. We evaluated the effects of aerosolization on our preferred formulation, plasmid DNA (pDNA) complexed with the cationic liposome GL67A (pDNA/GL67A) using commercially available nebulizer devices. The relatively high viscosity (6.3±0.1 cP) and particulate nature of pDNA/GL67A formulations hindered stable aerosol generation in ultrasonic and vibrating mesh nebulizers but was not problematic in the jet nebulizers tested. Aerosol size characteristics varied significantly between devices, but the AeroEclipse II nebulizer operating at 50 psi generated stable pDNA/GL67A aerosols suitable for delivery to the CF lung (mass median aerodynamic diameter 3.4±0.1 μm). Importantly, biological function of pDNA/GL67A formulations was retained after nebulization, and although aerosol delivery rate was lower than that of other devices (0.17±0.01 ml/min), the breath-actuated AeroEclipse II nebulizer generated aerosol only during the inspiratory phase and as such was more efficient than other devices with 83±3% of generated aerosol available for patient inhalation. On the basis of these results, we have selected the AeroEclipse II nebulizer for the delivery of pDNA/GL67A formulations to the lungs of CF patients as part of phase IIa/b clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee A Davies
- 1 Gene Medicine Research Group, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Oxford , John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
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Mariati, Yeo JHM, Koh EYC, Ho SCL, Yang Y. Insertion of core CpG island element into human CMV promoter for enhancing recombinant protein expression stability in CHO cells. Biotechnol Prog 2014; 30:523-34. [DOI: 10.1002/btpr.1919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 04/02/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mariati
- Bioprocessing Technology Inst., Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR); Singapore 138668 Singapore
| | - Jessna H. M. Yeo
- Bioprocessing Technology Inst., Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR); Singapore 138668 Singapore
| | - Esther Y. C. Koh
- Bioprocessing Technology Inst., Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR); Singapore 138668 Singapore
| | - Steven C. L. Ho
- Bioprocessing Technology Inst., Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR); Singapore 138668 Singapore
| | - Yuansheng Yang
- Bioprocessing Technology Inst., Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR); Singapore 138668 Singapore
- School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University; Singapore 637459 Singapore
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Davies LA, Nunez-Alonso GA, McLachlan G, Hyde SC, Gill DR. Aerosol delivery of DNA/liposomes to the lung for cystic fibrosis gene therapy. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2014. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2014.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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39
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Daniel C, Vogelbacher R, Stief A, Grigo C, Hugo C. Long-term gene therapy with thrombospondin 2 inhibits TGF-β activation, inflammation and angiogenesis in chronic allograft nephropathy. PLoS One 2013; 8:e83846. [PMID: 24376766 PMCID: PMC3871554 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 11/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently identified Thrombospondin-2 (TSP-2) as a regulator of matrix remodelling and inflammation in experimental kidney disease by using TSP-2 null mice and successfully proved TSP-2 overexpression as a therapeutic concept in a short term glomerulonephritis model in the rat. In this current study, we investigated if long-term TSP-2 overexpression is also capable to ameliorate the progression of chronic kidney disease in the setting of the chronic allograft nephropathy F344-Lewis model in the rat. Two weeks after renal transplantation, two rat thigh muscles were transfected once only with either a TSP-2 overexpressing plasmid (n = 8) or a luciferase-expressing plasmid as control (n = 8). Rats were monitored for renal function, histological changes and gene expression in the graft for up to 30 weeks after transplantation. Unexpectedly, only in the TSP-2 treated group 2 rats died before the end of the experiment and renal function tended to be worsened in the TSP-2 group compared to the luciferase-treated controls. In addition, glomerular sclerosis and tubular interstitial injury as well as cortical fibronectin deposition was significantly increased in the TSP-2 treated kidneys despite reduced TGF-β activation and marked anti-inflammatory (macrophages, T-cells and B-cells) effects in this group. Long-term TSP-2 therapy impaired repair of renal endothelium, as demonstrated by significant higher glomerular and peritubular endothelial rarefaction and reduced endothelial cell proliferation in the transplanted kidneys from TSP-2 treated rats compared to controls. This TSP-2 effect was associated with decreased levels of renal VEGF but not VEGF1 receptor. In conclusion, despite its anti-inflammatory and TGF-β activation blocking effects, TSP-2 gene therapy did not ameliorate but rather worsened experimental chronic allograft nephropathy most likely via its anti-angiogenic properties on the renal microvasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Daniel
- Department of Pathology, Nephropathology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
- * E-mail:
| | - Regina Vogelbacher
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andrea Stief
- Department of Pathology, Nephropathology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christina Grigo
- Department of Pathology, Nephropathology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Christian Hugo
- Division of Nephrology, Medical Clinic III, University of Dresden, Germany
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Manunta MDI, McAnulty RJ, McDowell A, Jin J, Ridout D, Fleming J, Bottoms SE, Tossici-Bolt L, Laurent GJ, Biassoni L, O'Callaghan C, Hart SL. Airway deposition of nebulized gene delivery nanocomplexes monitored by radioimaging agents. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2013; 49:471-80. [PMID: 23614789 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2013-0030oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Receptor-targeted nanocomplexes are nonviral vectors developed for gene delivery to the airway epithelium for the treatment of pulmonary disease associated with cystic fibrosis. The present study aimed to optimize the delivery of the nanocomplex by nebulization, and to monitor the in vivo deposition of radiolabeled vector in the airways of a large animal model by γ-camera scintigraphy. Large White weaner pigs were nebulized with nanocomplexes mixed with technetium-99m radiopharmaceuticals. The aerosol deposition scans suggested that the nebulized radiovectors were deposited mainly in the trachea-main bronchi and in the midregion of the lungs. The plasmid biodistribution, assessed by real-time PCR, correlated with the scintigraphy images. The highest plasmid copy numbers were found in the bronchial areas and in the tissues proximal to the main bronchi bifurcation. Immunohistochemistry detected transgene expression in the tracheal and bronchial ciliated epithelium. Histological analysis of lung tissue showed no evidence of inflammation, and no increase in inflammatory cytokines or inflammatory cells was detected in the bronchoalveolar lavage. The deposition of nebulized nanocomplexes coassociated with technetium-99m can be monitored by nuclear medicine techniques. The use of a noninvasive strategy to follow the delivery of the vector could improve the clinical management of patients undergoing cystic fibrosis gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria D I Manunta
- Wolfson Centre for Gene Therapy of Childhood Disease, UCL-Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford St., London, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Since cloning of the CFTR gene more than 20 years ago a large number of pre-clinical and clinical CF gene therapy studies have been performed and a vast amount of information and know-how has been generated. Here, we will review key studies with a particular emphasis on clinical findings. We have learnt that the lung is a more difficult target than originally anticipated, and we describe the strength and weaknesses of the most commonly used airway gene transfer agents (GTAs). In our view, one of the most significant developments in recent years is the generation of lentiviral vectors, which efficiently transduce lung tissue. However, focused and co-ordinated efforts assessing lentiviral vector safety and scaling up of production will be required to move this vector into clinical lung gene therapy studies.
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Bianchi M, Crinelli R, Giacomini E, Carloni E, Radici L, Magnani M. Yin Yang 1 intronic binding sequences and splicing elicit intron-mediated enhancement of ubiquitin C gene expression. PLoS One 2013; 8:e65932. [PMID: 23776572 PMCID: PMC3680475 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0065932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2012] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
In a number of organisms, introns affect expression of the gene in which they are contained. Our previous studies revealed that the 5′-UTR intron of human ubiquitin C (UbC) gene is responsible for the boost of reporter gene expression and is able to bind, in vitro, Yin Yang 1 (YY1) trans-acting factor. In this work, we demonstrate that intact YY1 binding sequences are required for maximal promoter activity and YY1 silencing causes downregulation of luciferase mRNA levels. However, YY1 motifs fail to enhance gene expression when the intron is moved upstream of the proximal promoter, excluding the typical enhancer hypothesis and supporting a context-dependent action, like intron-mediated enhancement (IME). Yet, almost no expression is seen in the construct containing an unspliceable version of UbC intron, indicating that splicing is essential for promoter activity. Moreover, mutagenesis of YY1 binding sites and YY1 knockdown negatively affect UbC intron removal from both endogenous and reporter transcripts. Modulation of splicing efficiency by YY1 cis-elements and protein factor may thus be part of the mechanism(s) by which YY1 controls UbC promoter activity. Our data highlight the first evidence of the involvement of a sequence-specific DNA binding factor in IME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marzia Bianchi
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Section, University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Urbino, Italy.
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43
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Griesenbach U, Alton EWFW. Expert opinion in biological therapy: update on developments in lung gene transfer. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2013; 13:345-60. [DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2013.735656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Assessment of the long-term transcriptional activity of a 550-bp-long human β-actin promoter region. Plasmid 2012; 68:195-200. [PMID: 22846724 DOI: 10.1016/j.plasmid.2012.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2012] [Accepted: 07/18/2012] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
β-actin (ACTB) is one of the genes expressed most abundantly and ubiquitously in human non-muscular tissues. Here, we investigated the long-term activity of a 550-bp-long human ACTB promoter region in human cells in comparison with other commonly used constitutive promoters. We first constructed plasmid vectors expressing enhanced green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by one of the 5 promoters, human ACTB, human elongation factor-1α (EF1α), cytomegalovirus early enhancer/chicken β-actin (CAG), cytomegalovirus (CMV), and herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase, and transfected them into multiple human somatic cell lines. Stable transfectants were maintained for 45 days, and GFP signals from the cells were quantified by fluorescence flow cytometry. GFP signals driven by the human ACTB and the CMV promoters were also compared over time for up to 60 days following transfection. We observed robust, prolonged transcriptional activity with the human ACTB promoter that is comparable to the human EF1α and the CAG promoters and significantly more stable than the CMV promoter.
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45
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Pringle IA, Gill DR, Connolly MM, Lawton AE, Hewitt AM, Nunez-Alonso G, Cheng SH, Scheule RK, Davies LA, Hyde SC. Rapid identification of novel functional promoters for gene therapy. J Mol Med (Berl) 2012; 90:1487-96. [PMID: 22767241 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-012-0928-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2012] [Revised: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 06/05/2012] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional control of transgene expression is crucial to successful gene therapy, yet few promoter/enhancer combinations have been tested in clinical trials. We created a simple, desktop computer database and populated it with promoter sequences from publicly available sources. From this database, we rapidly identified novel CpG-free promoter sequences suitable for use in non-inflammatory, non-viral in vivo gene transfer. In a simple model of lung gene transfer, five of the six promoter elements selected, chosen without prior knowledge of their transcriptional activities, directed significant transgene expression. Each of the five novel promoters directed transgene expression for at least 14 days post-delivery, greatly exceeding the duration achieved with the commonly used CpG-rich viral enhancer/promoters. Novel promoter activity was also evaluated in a more clinically relevant model of aerosol-mediated lung gene transfer and in the liver following delivery via high-pressure tail vein injection. In each case, the novel CpG-free promoters exhibited higher and/or more sustained transgene expression than commonly used CpG-rich enhancer/promoter sequences. This study demonstrates that novel CpG-free promoters can be readily identified and that they can direct significant levels of transgene expression. Furthermore, the database search criteria can be quickly adjusted to identify other novel promoter elements for a variety of transgene expression applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Pringle
- GeneMedicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK
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46
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Pringle IA, Hyde SC, Connolly MM, Lawton AE, Xu B, Nunez-Alonso G, Davies LA, Sumner-Jones SG, Gill DR. CpG-free plasmid expression cassettes for cystic fibrosis gene therapy. Biomaterials 2012; 33:6833-42. [PMID: 22727465 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2012] [Accepted: 06/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Clinical studies are underway for the aerosol delivery of plasmid DNA complexed with Genzyme Lipid GL67A to the lungs of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Plasmid vectors contain several functional elements all of which play a role in determining the efficacy of the final clinical product. To optimise the final plasmid, variations of CpG-free 5' enhancer elements and 3'UTR regions were inserted into a common CpG-free, plasmid backbone containing Luciferase or CFTR transgenes. Plasmids were compared in immortalised cell culture, human airway liquid interface primary cell cultures, and mouse lung models to determine which design directed optimal transgene expression. Following aerosol delivery to mouse lung, plasmids containing the murine CMV enhancer showed higher peak Luciferase activity than the human CMV enhancer, but the human version resulted in persistent expression. In cell culture, the SV40 3'UTR and a novel BGH2 3'UTR exhibited up to 20-fold higher Luciferase activity than the commonly used BGH 3'UTR, but in mouse lung aerosol studies the activity and duration was greater for BGH 3'UTR. Systematic evaluation of each functional component of the plasmid has resulted in an improved design, exhibiting superior levels and duration of lung gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian A Pringle
- Gene Medicine Research Group, NDCLS, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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47
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Davies LA, Hyde SC, Nunez-Alonso G, Bazzani RP, Harding-Smith R, Pringle IA, Lawton AE, Abdullah S, Roberts TC, McCormick D, Sumner-Jones SG, Gill DR. The use of CpG-free plasmids to mediate persistent gene expression following repeated aerosol delivery of pDNA/PEI complexes. Biomaterials 2012; 33:5618-27. [PMID: 22575838 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2012.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Accepted: 04/07/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Aerosol gene therapy offers great potential for treating acquired and inherited lung diseases. For treatment of chronic lung diseases such as cystic fibrosis, asthma and emphysema, non-viral gene therapy will likely require repeated administration to maintain transgene expression in slowly dividing, or terminally differentiated, lung epithelial cells. When complexed with plasmid DNA (pDNA), the synthetic polymer, 25 kDa branched Polyethylenimine (PEI), can be formulated for aerosol delivery to the lungs. We show that pDNA/PEI aerosol formulations can be repeatedly administered to airways of mice on at least 10 occasions with no detectable toxicity. Interestingly, peak reporter gene activity upon repeated delivery was significantly reduced by up to 75% compared with a single administration, despite similar pDNA lung deposition at each subsequent aerosol exposure. Although the precise mechanism of inhibition is unknown, it is independent of mouse strain, does not involve an immune response, and is mediated by PEI. Importantly, using a dosing interval of 56 days, delivery of a fourth-generation, CpG-free plasmid generated high-level, sustained transgene expression, which was further boosted at subsequent administrations. Together these data indicate that pDNA/PEI aerosol formulations offer a versatile platform for gene delivery to the lung resulting in sustained transgene expression suitable for treatment of chronic lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee A Davies
- Gene Medicine Research Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Lv X, Tan J, Liu D, Wu P, Cui X. Intratracheal administration of p38α short-hairpin RNA plasmid ameliorates lung ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. J Heart Lung Transplant 2012; 31:655-62. [PMID: 22503847 DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2012.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2011] [Revised: 02/09/2012] [Accepted: 03/13/2012] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lung ischemia-reperfusion injury (LIRI) remains a significant problem after lung transplantation. A crucial signaling enzyme involved in inflammation and apoptosis during LIRI is p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK). Gene silencing of p38α by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) can downregulate p38α expression. The lungs have an extremely large surface area, which makes the absorption of shRNA highly effective. Therefore, we evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of p38α shRNA plasmids in a rat model of lung transplantation. METHODS The delivery of p38α shRNA plasmid was performed by intratracheal administration 48 hours before transplantation into donor rats. Control animals received scrambled shRNA plasmids. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blots were used to assess gene silencing efficacy. The therapeutic effects of shRNA plasmids were evaluated by lung function tests. We determined the levels of inflammatory cytokines, the level of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), c-Myc mRNA expression, and ICAM-1 protein expression, and the presence of cell apoptosis. RESULTS Rats administered p38α shRNA plasmids showed a significant downregulation in lung expression of p38α transcripts and protein levels. Compared with the control group, the p38α shRNA group showed a higher pulmonary vein oxygen level, lower wet weight-to-dry weight ratio, lower lung injury score, and lower serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, and interleukin-8. Messenger RNA levels of ICAM-1 and c-Myc in the p38α shRNA group were dramatically lower than in the control group. Levels of ICAM-1 protein expression exhibited a similar trend. Cell apoptosis decreased in the p38α shRNA group vs the control group. CONCLUSION Intratracheal administration of p38α shRNA plasmids provided therapeutic effects in a rat model of lung transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangqi Lv
- Department of Anesthesiology, Hei Long Jiang Province Key Lab of Research on Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, and Second Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Lentivirus vector driven by polybiquitin C promoter without woodchuck posttranscriptional regulatory element and central polypurine tract generates low level and short-lived reporter gene expression. Gene 2012; 498:231-6. [PMID: 22366305 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2012.01.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2011] [Revised: 12/21/2011] [Accepted: 01/26/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Lentivirus (LV) encoding woodchuck posttranscriptional regulatory element (WPRE) and central polypurine tract (cPPT) driven by CMV promoter have been proven to act synergistically to increase both transduction efficiency and gene expression. However, the inclusion of WPRE and cPPT in a lentiviral construct may pose safety risks when administered to human. A simple lentiviral construct driven by an alternative promoter with proven extended duration of gene expression without the two regulatory elements would be free from the risks. In a non-viral gene delivery context, gene expression driven by human polybiquitin C (UbC) promoter resulted in higher and more persistent expression in mouse as compared to cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. In this study, we measured the efficiency and persistency of green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene expression in cells transduced with LV driven by UbC (LV/UbC/GFP) devoid of the WPRE and cPPT in comparison to the established LV construct encoding WPRE and cPPT, driven by CMV promoter (LV/CMV/GFP). However, we found that LV/UbC/GFP was inferior to LV/CMV/GFP in many aspects: (i) the titer of virus produced; (ii) the levels of reporter gene expression when MOI value was standardized; and (iii) the transduction efficiency in different cell types. The duration of reporter gene expression in selected cell lines was also determined. While the GFP expression in cells transduced with LV/CMV/GFP persisted throughout the experimental period of 14 days, expression in cells transduced with LV/UbC/GFP declined by day 2 post-transduction. In summary, the LV driven by the UbC promoter without the WPRE and cPPT does not exhibit enhanced or durable transgene expression.
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50
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Hsu CYM, Uludağ H. Nucleic-acid based gene therapeutics: delivery challenges and modular design of nonviral gene carriers and expression cassettes to overcome intracellular barriers for sustained targeted expression. J Drug Target 2012; 20:301-28. [PMID: 22303844 DOI: 10.3109/1061186x.2012.655247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The delivery of nucleic acid molecules into cells to alter physiological functions at the genetic level is a powerful approach to treat a wide range of inherited and acquired disorders. Biocompatible materials such as cationic polymers, lipids, and peptides are being explored as safer alternatives to viral gene carriers. However, the comparatively low efficiency of nonviral carriers currently hampers their translation into clinical settings. Controlling the size and stability of carrier/nucleic acid complexes is one of the primary hurdles as the physicochemical properties of the complexes can define the uptake pathways, which dictate intracellular routing, endosomal processing, and nucleocytoplasmic transport. In addition to nuclear import, subnuclear trafficking, posttranscriptional events, and immune responses can further limit transfection efficiency. Chemical moieties, reactive linkers or signal peptide have been conjugated to carriers to prevent aggregation, induce membrane destabilization and localize to subcellular compartments. Genetic elements can be inserted into the expression cassette to facilitate nuclear targeting, delimit expression to targeted tissue, and modulate transgene expression. The modular option afforded by both gene carriers and expression cassettes provides a two-tier multicomponent delivery system that can be optimized for targeted gene delivery in a variety of settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie Yu Ming Hsu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Cananda
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