1
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Li M, Liu Z, Wang D, Ye J, Shi Z, Pan C, Zhang Q, Ju R, Zheng Y, Liu Y. Intraocular mRNA delivery with endogenous MmPEG10-based virus-like particles. Exp Eye Res 2024; 243:109899. [PMID: 38636802 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2024] [Revised: 04/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Virus-like particles (VLP) are a promising tool for intracellular gene delivery, yet their potential in ocular gene therapy remains underexplored. In this study, we bridged this knowledge gap by demonstrating the successful generation and application of vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSVG)-pseudotyped mouse PEG10 (MmPEG10)-VLP for intraocular mRNA delivery. Our findings revealed that PEG10-VLP can efficiently deliver GFP mRNA to adult retinal pigment epithelial cell line-19 (ARPE-19) cells, leading to transient expression. Moreover, we showed that MmPEG10-VLP can transfer SMAD7 to inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in RPE cells effectively. In vivo experiments further substantiated the potential of these vectors, as subretinal delivery into adult mice resulted in efficient transduction of retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and GFP reporter gene expression without significant immune response. However, intravitreal injection did not yield efficient ocular expression. We also evaluated the transduction characteristics of MmPEG10-VLP following intracameral delivery, revealing transient GFP protein expression in corneal endothelial cells without significant immunotoxicities. In summary, our study established that VSVG pseudotyped MmPEG10-based VLP can transduce mitotically inactive RPE cells and corneal endothelial cells in vivo without triggering an inflammatory response, underscoring their potential utility in ocular gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengke Li
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China; Research Unit of Ocular Development and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China
| | - Zhong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Dongliang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Jinguo Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Zhuoxing Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Caineng Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Qikai Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Rong Ju
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Yingfeng Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China; Research Unit of Ocular Development and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China.
| | - Yizhi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China; Research Unit of Ocular Development and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China
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2
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Guedán A, Burley M, Caroe ER, Bishop KN. HIV-1 Capsid Rapidly Induces Long-Lived CPSF6 Puncta in Non-Dividing Cells, but Similar Puncta Already Exist in Uninfected T-Cells. Viruses 2024; 16:670. [PMID: 38793552 PMCID: PMC11125723 DOI: 10.3390/v16050670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The HIV-1 capsid (CA) protein forms the outer shell of the viral core that is released into the cytoplasm upon infection. CA binds various cellular proteins, including CPSF6, that direct HIV-1 integration into speckle-associated domains in host chromatin. Upon HIV-1 infection, CPSF6 forms puncta in the nucleus. Here, we characterised these CPSF6 puncta further in HeLa cells, T-cells and macrophages and confirmed that integration and reverse transcription are not required for puncta formation. Indeed, we found that puncta formed very rapidly after infection, correlating with the time that CA entered the nucleus. In aphidicolin-treated HeLa cells and macrophages, puncta were detected for the length of the experiment, suggesting that puncta are only lost upon cell division. CA still co-localised with CPSF6 puncta at the latest time points, considerably after the peak of reverse transcription and integration. Intriguingly, the number of puncta induced in macrophages did not correlate with the MOI or the total number of nuclear speckles present in each cell, suggesting that CA/CPSF6 is only directed to a few nuclear speckles. Furthermore, we found that CPSF6 already co-localised with nuclear speckles in uninfected T-cells, suggesting that HIV-1 promotes a natural behaviour of CPSF6.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kate N. Bishop
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK; (A.G.); (M.B.); (E.R.C.)
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3
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Cristante E, Liyanage SE, Smith AJ, Ali RR, Bainbridge JWB. Role of HIF1α and HIF2α in Cre Recombinase-Induced Retinal Pigment Epithelium Pathology and Its Secondary Effect on Choroidal Neovascularization. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2023; 193:1694-1705. [PMID: 37330004 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
CreTrp1 mice are widely used for conditional retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) gene function studies. Like other Cre/LoxP models, phenotypes in CreTrp1 mice can be affected by Cre-mediated cellular toxicity, leading to RPE dysfunction, altered morphology and atrophy, activation of innate immunity, and consequent impairment of photoreceptor function. These effects are common among the age-related alterations of RPE that feature in early/intermediate forms of age-related macular degeneration. This article characterizes Cre-mediated pathology in the CreTrp1 line to elucidate the impact of RPE degeneration on both developmental and pathologic choroidal neovascularization. Nonredundant roles of the two major components of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) family of transcription regulators, HIF1α and HIF2α, were identified. Genetic ablation of Hif1a protected against Cre-induced degeneration of RPE and choroid, whereas ablation of Hif2a exacerbated this degeneration. Furthermore, HIF1α deficiency protected CreTrp1 mice against laser-induced choroidal neovascularization, whereas HIF2α deficiency exacerbated the phenotype. Cre-mediated degeneration of the RPE in CreTrp1 mice offers an opportunity to investigate the impact of hypoxia signaling in the context of RPE degeneration. These findings indicate that HIF1α promotes Cre recombinase-mediated RPE degeneration and laser-induced choroidal neovascularization, whereas HIF2α is protective.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alexander J Smith
- Centre for Cell and Gene Therapy, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R Ali
- Centre for Cell and Gene Therapy, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
| | - James W B Bainbridge
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology London, United Kingdom; NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
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4
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Iqball S, Beck DK, Devarajan G, Khoo CP, O’Connor DM, Ellis S, Guzman E, Mitrophanous KA, Lad Y. Lentiviral delivered aflibercept OXB-203 for treatment of neovascular AMD. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 30:350-366. [PMID: 37637380 PMCID: PMC10448334 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) is a leading cause of blindness in the aging population, with vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) playing a key role. Treatment with recombinant anti-VEGFs is the current standard of care; however, it is only effective for 1-2 months at a time and requires re-administration. Gene therapy could pave the way for stable, long-term expression of therapeutic anti-VEGF with a single dose, reducing the frequency of treatment and potentially improving clinical outcomes. As such, we have developed OXB-203, a lentiviral-based gene therapy encoding the anti-VEGF protein aflibercept. Aflibercept derived from OXB-203 exhibited comparable in vitro binding characteristics to VEGF as recombinant aflibercept. Furthermore, its biological potency was demonstrated by the equivalent inhibition of VEGF-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation and tubule formation as recombinant aflibercept. In a rat choroidal neovascularization (CNV) model of nAMD, a single subretinal administration of OXB-203 reduced laser-induced CNV lesion areas analogous to an intravitreal bolus of recombinant aflibercept. Finally, in a head-to-head comparative study, aflibercept derived from OXB-203 was shown to be expressed at significantly higher levels in ocular tissues than from an AAV8-aflibercept vector following a single subretinal delivery to rats. These findings support the therapeutic potential of OXB-203 for the management of nAMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharifah Iqball
- Oxford Biomedica (UK) Ltd., Windrush Court, Transport Way, OX4 6LT Oxford, UK
| | - Daniel K. Beck
- Oxford Biomedica (UK) Ltd., Windrush Court, Transport Way, OX4 6LT Oxford, UK
| | - Gayathri Devarajan
- Oxford Biomedica (UK) Ltd., Windrush Court, Transport Way, OX4 6LT Oxford, UK
| | - Cheen P. Khoo
- Oxford Biomedica (UK) Ltd., Windrush Court, Transport Way, OX4 6LT Oxford, UK
| | - Deirdre M. O’Connor
- Oxford Biomedica (UK) Ltd., Windrush Court, Transport Way, OX4 6LT Oxford, UK
| | - Scott Ellis
- Oxford Biomedica (UK) Ltd., Windrush Court, Transport Way, OX4 6LT Oxford, UK
| | - Efrain Guzman
- Oxford Biomedica (UK) Ltd., Windrush Court, Transport Way, OX4 6LT Oxford, UK
| | | | - Yatish Lad
- Oxford Biomedica (UK) Ltd., Windrush Court, Transport Way, OX4 6LT Oxford, UK
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5
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Zihni C, Georgiadis A, Ramsden CM, Sanchez-Heras E, Haas AJ, Nommiste B, Semenyuk O, Bainbridge JWB, Coffey PJ, Smith AJ, Ali RR, Balda MS, Matter K. Spatiotemporal control of actomyosin contractility by MRCKβ signaling drives phagocytosis. J Biophys Biochem Cytol 2022; 221:213476. [PMID: 36121394 PMCID: PMC9485704 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202012042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Phagocytosis requires actin dynamics, but whether actomyosin contractility plays a role in this morphodynamic process is unclear. Here, we show that in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), particle binding to Mer Tyrosine Kinase (MerTK), a widely expressed phagocytic receptor, stimulates phosphorylation of the Cdc42 GEF Dbl3, triggering activation of MRCKβ/myosin-II and its coeffector N-WASP, membrane deformation, and cup formation. Continued MRCKβ/myosin-II activity then drives recruitment of a mechanosensing bridge, enabling cytoskeletal force transmission, cup closure, and particle internalization. In vivo, MRCKβ is essential for RPE phagocytosis and retinal integrity. MerTK-independent activation of MRCKβ signaling by a phosphomimetic Dbl3 mutant rescues phagocytosis in retinitis pigmentosa RPE cells lacking functional MerTK. MRCKβ is also required for efficient particle translocation from the cortex into the cell body in Fc receptor–mediated phagocytosis. Thus, conserved MRCKβ signaling at the cortex controls spatiotemporal regulation of actomyosin contractility to guide distinct phases of phagocytosis in the RPE and represents the principle phagocytic effector pathway downstream of MerTK.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceniz Zihni
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anastasios Georgiadis
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,Gene and Cell Therapy Group, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Conor M Ramsden
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Alexis J Haas
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Britta Nommiste
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Olha Semenyuk
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,Gene and Cell Therapy Group, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - James W B Bainbridge
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,Gene and Cell Therapy Group, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Peter J Coffey
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alexander J Smith
- Gene and Cell Therapy Group, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Robin R Ali
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,Gene and Cell Therapy Group, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK.,National Institute for Health and Care Research Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital National Health Service Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Maria S Balda
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Karl Matter
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
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6
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Abstract
Of the 13 known independent zoonoses of simian immunodeficiency viruses to humans, only one, leading to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) type 1(M) has become pandemic, causing over 80 million human infections. To understand the specific features associated with pandemic human-to-human HIV spread, we compared replication of HIV-1(M) with non-pandemic HIV-(O) and HIV-2 strains in myeloid cell models. We found that non-pandemic HIV lineages replicate less well than HIV-1(M) owing to activation of cGAS and TRIM5-mediated antiviral responses. We applied phylogenetic and X-ray crystallography structural analyses to identify differences between pandemic and non-pandemic HIV capsids. We found that genetic reversal of two specific amino acid adaptations in HIV-1(M) enables activation of TRIM5, cGAS and innate immune responses. We propose a model in which the parental lineage of pandemic HIV-1(M) evolved a capsid that prevents cGAS and TRIM5 triggering, thereby allowing silent replication in myeloid cells. We hypothesize that this capsid adaptation promotes human-to-human spread through avoidance of innate immune response activation.
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7
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Bonaventure B, Rebendenne A, Chaves Valadão AL, Arnaud‐Arnould M, Gracias S, Garcia de Gracia F, McKellar J, Labaronne E, Tauziet M, Vivet‐Boudou V, Bernard E, Briant L, Gros N, Djilli W, Courgnaud V, Parrinello H, Rialle S, Blaise M, Lacroix L, Lavigne M, Paillart J, Ricci EP, Schulz R, Jouvenet N, Moncorgé O, Goujon C. The
DEAD
box
RNA
helicase
DDX42
is an intrinsic inhibitor of positive‐strand
RNA
viruses. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e54061. [PMID: 36161446 PMCID: PMC9638865 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202154061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome‐wide screens are powerful approaches to unravel regulators of viral infections. Here, a CRISPR screen identifies the RNA helicase DDX42 as an intrinsic antiviral inhibitor of HIV‐1. Depletion of endogenous DDX42 increases HIV‐1 DNA accumulation and infection in cell lines and primary cells. DDX42 overexpression inhibits HIV‐1 infection, whereas expression of a dominant‐negative mutant increases infection. Importantly, DDX42 also restricts LINE‐1 retrotransposition and infection with other retroviruses and positive‐strand RNA viruses, including CHIKV and SARS‐CoV‐2. However, DDX42 does not impact the replication of several negative‐strand RNA viruses, arguing against an unspecific effect on target cells, which is confirmed by RNA‐seq analysis. Proximity ligation assays show DDX42 in the vicinity of viral elements, and cross‐linking RNA immunoprecipitation confirms a specific interaction of DDX42 with RNAs from sensitive viruses. Moreover, recombinant DDX42 inhibits HIV‐1 reverse transcription in vitro. Together, our data strongly suggest a direct mode of action of DDX42 on viral ribonucleoprotein complexes. Our results identify DDX42 as an intrinsic viral inhibitor, opening new perspectives to target the life cycle of numerous RNA viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ségolène Gracias
- Virus Sensing and Signaling Unit, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3569 Paris France
| | | | | | | | | | - Valérie Vivet‐Boudou
- Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Architecture et Réactivité de l'ARN, UPR 9002 Strasbourg France
| | | | | | - Nathalie Gros
- CEMIPAI, CNRS Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | | | | | - Hugues Parrinello
- Montpellier GenomiX (MGX), Biocampus, CNRS, INSERM Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | - Stéphanie Rialle
- Montpellier GenomiX (MGX), Biocampus, CNRS, INSERM Université de Montpellier Montpellier France
| | | | - Laurent Lacroix
- Institut de Biologie de l'Ecole Normale Supérieure (IBENS), Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, INSERM Université PSL Paris France
| | - Marc Lavigne
- Department of Virology Institut Pasteur Paris France
| | | | | | - Reiner Schulz
- Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics King's College London London UK
| | - Nolwenn Jouvenet
- Virus Sensing and Signaling Unit, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur Université de Paris Cité, CNRS UMR 3569 Paris France
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8
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Immune Responses to Gene Editing by Viral and Non-Viral Delivery Vectors Used in Retinal Gene Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14091973. [PMID: 36145721 PMCID: PMC9502120 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14091973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) are a leading cause of blindness in industrialized countries, and gene therapy is quickly becoming a viable option to treat this group of diseases. Gene replacement using a viral vector has been successfully applied and advanced to commercial use for a rare group of diseases. This, and the advances in gene editing, are paving the way for the emergence of a new generation of therapies that use CRISPR-Cas9 to edit mutated genes in situ. These CRISPR-based agents can be delivered to the retina as transgenes in a viral vector, unpackaged transgenes or as proteins or messenger RNA using non-viral vectors. Although the eye is considered to be an immune-privileged organ, studies in animals, as well as evidence from clinics, have concluded that ocular gene therapies elicit an immune response that can under certain circumstances result in inflammation. In this review, we evaluate studies that have reported on pre-existing immunity, and discuss both innate and adaptive immune responses with a specific focus on immune responses to gene editing, both with non-viral and viral delivery in the ocular space. Lastly, we discuss approaches to prevent and manage the immune responses to ensure safe and efficient gene editing in the retina.
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9
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Lewin AS, Smith WC. Gene Therapy for Rhodopsin Mutations. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Med 2022; 12:a041283. [PMID: 35940643 PMCID: PMC9435570 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in RHO, the gene for rhodopsin, account for a large fraction of autosomal-dominant retinitis pigmentosa (adRP). Patients fall into two clinical classes, those with early onset, pan retinal photoreceptor degeneration, and those who experience slowly progressive disease. The latter class of patients are candidates for photoreceptor-directed gene therapy, while former may be candidates for delivery of light-responsive proteins to interneurons or retinal ganglion cells. Gene therapy for RHO adRP may be targeted to the mutant gene at the DNA or RNA level, while other therapies preserve the viability of photoreceptors without addressing the underlying mutation. Correcting the RHO gene and replacing the mutant RNA show promise in animal models, while sustaining viable photoreceptors has the potential to delay the loss of central vision and may preserve photoreceptors for gene-directed treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfred S Lewin
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Ophthalmology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
| | - W Clay Smith
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology and Ophthalmology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
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10
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Hall R, Guedán A, Yap MW, Young GR, Harvey R, Stoye JP, Bishop KN. SARS-CoV-2 ORF6 disrupts innate immune signalling by inhibiting cellular mRNA export. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010349. [PMID: 36007063 PMCID: PMC9451085 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 is a betacoronavirus and the etiological agent of COVID-19, a devastating infectious disease. Due to its far-reaching effect on human health, there is an urgent and growing need to understand the viral molecular biology of SARS-CoV-2 and its interaction with the host cell. SARS-CoV-2 encodes 9 predicted accessory proteins, which are presumed to be dispensable for in vitro replication, most likely having a role in modulating the host cell environment to aid viral replication. Here we show that the ORF6 accessory protein interacts with cellular Rae1 to inhibit cellular protein production by blocking mRNA export. We utilised cell fractionation coupled with mRNAseq to explore which cellular mRNA species are affected by ORF6 expression and show that ORF6 can inhibit the export of many mRNA including those encoding antiviral factors such as IRF1 and RIG-I. We also show that export of these mRNA is blocked in the context of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Together, our studies identify a novel mechanism by which SARS-CoV-2 can manipulate the host cell environment to supress antiviral responses, providing further understanding to the replication strategies of a virus that has caused an unprecedented global health crisis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ross Hall
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anabel Guedán
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Melvyn W. Yap
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - George R. Young
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics STP, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ruth Harvey
- World Influenza Centre, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan P. Stoye
- Retrovirus-Host Interactions Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Kate N. Bishop
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
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11
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Wang Q, Dou S, Zhang B, Jiang H, Qi X, Duan H, Wang X, Dong C, Zhang BN, Xie L, Cao Y, Zhou Q, Shi W. Heterogeneity of human corneal endothelium implicates lncRNA NEAT1 in Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:880-893. [PMID: 35141048 PMCID: PMC8807987 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The corneal endothelium is critical for maintaining corneal clarity by mediating hydration through barrier and pump functions. Progressive loss of corneal endothelial cells during aging has been associated with the development of Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD), one of the main causes of cornea-related vision loss. The mechanisms underlying FECD development remain elusive. Single-cell RNA sequencing of isolated healthy human corneas discovered 4 subpopulations of corneal endothelial cells with distinctive signatures. Unsupervised clustering analysis uncovered nuclear enriched abundant transcript 1 (NEAT1), a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), as the top expressed gene in the C0-endothelial subpopulation, but markedly downregulated in FECD. Consistent with human corneas, a UVA-induced mouse FECD model validated the loss of NEAT1 expression. Loss of NEAT1 function by an in vivo genetic approach reproduced the exacerbated phenotype of FECD by ablating corneal endothelial cells. Conversely, gain of function by a CRISPR-activated adenoviral delivery system protected corneas from UVA-induced FECD. Our findings provide novel mechanistic insights into the development of FECD, and targeting NEAT1 offers an attractive approach for treating FECD.
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12
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Guedán A, Donaldson CD, Caroe ER, Cosnefroy O, Taylor IA, Bishop KN. HIV-1 requires capsid remodelling at the nuclear pore for nuclear entry and integration. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009484. [PMID: 34543344 PMCID: PMC8483370 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The capsid (CA) lattice of the HIV-1 core plays a key role during infection. From the moment the core is released into the cytoplasm, it interacts with a range of cellular factors that, ultimately, direct the pre-integration complex to the integration site. For integration to occur, the CA lattice must disassemble. Early uncoating or a failure to do so has detrimental effects on virus infectivity, indicating that an optimal stability of the viral core is crucial for infection. Here, we introduced cysteine residues into HIV-1 CA in order to induce disulphide bond formation and engineer hyper-stable mutants that are slower or unable to uncoat, and then followed their replication. From a panel of mutants, we identified three with increased capsid stability in cells and found that, whilst the M68C/E212C mutant had a 5-fold reduction in reverse transcription, two mutants, A14C/E45C and E180C, were able to reverse transcribe to approximately WT levels in cycling cells. Moreover, these mutants only had a 5-fold reduction in 2-LTR circle production, suggesting that not only could reverse transcription complete in hyper-stable cores, but that the nascent viral cDNA could enter the nuclear compartment. Furthermore, we observed A14C/E45C mutant capsid in nuclear and chromatin-associated fractions implying that the hyper-stable cores themselves entered the nucleus. Immunofluorescence studies revealed that although the A14C/E45C mutant capsid reached the nuclear pore with the same kinetics as wild type capsid, it was then retained at the pore in association with Nup153. Crucially, infection with the hyper-stable mutants did not promote CPSF6 re-localisation to nuclear speckles, despite the mutant capsids being competent for CPSF6 binding. These observations suggest that hyper-stable cores are not able to uncoat, or remodel, enough to pass through or dissociate from the nuclear pore and integrate successfully. This, is turn, highlights the importance of capsid lattice flexibility for nuclear entry. In conclusion, we hypothesise that during a productive infection, a capsid remodelling step takes place at the nuclear pore that releases the core complex from Nup153, and relays it to CPSF6, which then localises it to chromatin ready for integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anabel Guedán
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Callum D. Donaldson
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eve R. Caroe
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ophélie Cosnefroy
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian A. Taylor
- Macromolecular Structure Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kate N. Bishop
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
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13
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Martin SA, Cane PA, Pillay D, Mbisa JL. Coevolved Multidrug-Resistant HIV-1 Protease and Reverse Transcriptase Influences Integrase Drug Susceptibility and Replication Fitness. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10091070. [PMID: 34578103 PMCID: PMC8470981 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10091070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (InSTIs) are recommended agents in first-line combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). We examined the evolution of drug resistance mutations throughout HIV-1 pol and the effects on InSTI susceptibility and viral fitness. We performed single-genome sequencing of full-length HIV-1 pol in a highly treatment-experienced patient, and determined drug susceptibility of patient-derived HIV-1 genomes using a phenotypic assay encompassing full-length pol gene. We show the genetic linkage of multiple InSTI-resistant haplotypes containing major resistance mutations at Y143, Q148 and N155 to protease inhibitor (PI) and reverse transcriptase inhibitor (RTI) resistance mutations. Phenotypic analysis of viruses expressing patient-derived IN genes with eight different InSTI-resistant haplotypes alone or in combination with coevolved protease (PR) and RT genes exhibited similar levels of InSTI susceptibility, except for three haplotypes that showed up to 3-fold increases in InSTI susceptibility (p ≤ 0.032). The replicative fitness of most viruses expressing patient-derived IN only significantly decreased, ranging from 8% to 56% (p ≤ 0.01). Interestingly, the addition of coevolved PR + RT significantly increased the replicative fitness of some haplotypes by up to 73% (p ≤ 0.024). Coevolved PR + RT contributes to the susceptibility and viral fitness of patient-derived IN viruses. Maintaining patients on failing cART promotes the selection of fitter resistant strains, and thereby limits future therapy options.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supang A. Martin
- Antiviral Unit, Virus Reference Department, Public Health England, London NW9 5EQ, UK; (S.A.M.); (P.A.C.)
| | - Patricia A. Cane
- Antiviral Unit, Virus Reference Department, Public Health England, London NW9 5EQ, UK; (S.A.M.); (P.A.C.)
| | - Deenan Pillay
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK;
| | - Jean L. Mbisa
- Antiviral Unit, Virus Reference Department, Public Health England, London NW9 5EQ, UK; (S.A.M.); (P.A.C.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Challenges and strategies for the delivery of biologics to the cornea. J Control Release 2021; 333:560-578. [PMID: 33857565 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Biologics, like peptides, proteins and nucleic acids, have proven to be promising drugs for the treatment of numerous diseases. However, besides the off label use of the monoclonal antibody bevacizumab for the treatment of corneal neovascularization, to date no other biologics for corneal diseases have reached the market. Indeed, delivering biologics in the eye remains a challenge, especially at the level of the cornea. While it appears to be a rather accessible tissue for the administration of drugs, the cornea in fact presents several anatomical barriers to delivery. In addition, also intracellular delivery barriers need to be overcome to achieve a promising therapeutic outcome with biologics. This review outlines efforts that have been reported to successfully deliver biologics into the cornea. Biochemical and physical methods for achieving delivery of biologics in the cornea are discussed, with a critical view on their efficacy in overcoming corneal barriers.
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15
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Miller BS, Bezinge L, Gliddon HD, Huang D, Dold G, Gray ER, Heaney J, Dobson PJ, Nastouli E, Morton JJL, McKendry RA. Spin-enhanced nanodiamond biosensing for ultrasensitive diagnostics. Nature 2020; 587:588-593. [PMID: 33239800 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2917-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 109] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The quantum spin properties of nitrogen-vacancy defects in diamond enable diverse applications in quantum computing and communications1. However, fluorescent nanodiamonds also have attractive properties for in vitro biosensing, including brightness2, low cost3 and selective manipulation of their emission4. Nanoparticle-based biosensors are essential for the early detection of disease, but they often lack the required sensitivity. Here we investigate fluorescent nanodiamonds as an ultrasensitive label for in vitro diagnostics, using a microwave field to modulate emission intensity5 and frequency-domain analysis6 to separate the signal from background autofluorescence7, which typically limits sensitivity. Focusing on the widely used, low-cost lateral flow format as an exemplar, we achieve a detection limit of 8.2 × 10-19 molar for a biotin-avidin model, 105 times more sensitive than that obtained using gold nanoparticles. Single-copy detection of HIV-1 RNA can be achieved with the addition of a 10-minute isothermal amplification step, and is further demonstrated using a clinical plasma sample with an extraction step. This ultrasensitive quantum diagnostics platform is applicable to numerous diagnostic test formats and diseases, and has the potential to transform early diagnosis of disease for the benefit of patients and populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin S Miller
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK. .,Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
| | - Léonard Bezinge
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Harriet D Gliddon
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Da Huang
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gavin Dold
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Eleanor R Gray
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Judith Heaney
- Advanced Pathogens Diagnostic Unit, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
| | | | - Eleni Nastouli
- Department of Virology, University College London Hospitals, London, UK
| | - John J L Morton
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK.,Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rachel A McKendry
- London Centre for Nanotechnology, University College London, London, UK. .,Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK.
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16
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Mohan RR, Martin LM, Sinha NR. Novel insights into gene therapy in the cornea. Exp Eye Res 2020; 202:108361. [PMID: 33212142 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2020.108361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Corneal disease remains a leading cause of impaired vision world-wide, and advancements in gene therapy continue to develop with promising success to prevent, treat and cure blindness. Ideally, gene therapy requires a vector and gene delivery method that targets treatment of specific cells or tissues and results in a safe and non-immunogenic response. The cornea is a model tissue for gene therapy due to its ease of clinician access and immune-privileged state. Improvements in the past 5-10 years have begun to revolutionize the approach to gene therapy in the cornea with a focus on adeno-associated virus and nanoparticle delivery of single and combination gene therapies. In addition, the potential applications of gene editing (zinc finger nucleases [ZNFs], transcription activator-like effector nucleases [TALENs], Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/Associated Systems [CRISPR/Cas9]) are rapidly expanding. This review focuses on recent developments in gene therapy for corneal diseases, including promising multiple gene therapy, while outlining a practical approach to the development of such therapies and potential impediments to successful delivery of genes to the cornea.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajiv R Mohan
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States; One-health Vision Research Center, Departments of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States; Mason Eye Institute, School of Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States.
| | - Lynn M Martin
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States; One-health Vision Research Center, Departments of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Nishant R Sinha
- Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans' Hospital, Columbia, MO, United States; One-health Vision Research Center, Departments of Veterinary Medicine & Surgery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, United States
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17
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Schmidt F, Weisblum Y, Muecksch F, Hoffmann HH, Michailidis E, Lorenzi JC, Mendoza P, Rutkowska M, Bednarski E, Gaebler C, Agudelo M, Cho A, Wang Z, Gazumyan A, Cipolla M, Caskey M, Robbiani DF, Nussenzweig MC, Rice CM, Hatziioannou T, Bieniasz PD. Measuring SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing antibody activity using pseudotyped and chimeric viruses. J Exp Med 2020; 217:e20201181. [PMID: 32692348 PMCID: PMC7372514 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20201181] [Citation(s) in RCA: 408] [Impact Index Per Article: 102.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 and the ensuing explosive epidemic of COVID-19 disease has generated a need for assays to rapidly and conveniently measure the antiviral activity of SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies. Here, we describe a collection of approaches based on SARS-CoV-2 spike-pseudotyped, single-cycle, replication-defective human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1), and vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), as well as a replication-competent VSV/SARS-CoV-2 chimeric virus. While each surrogate virus exhibited subtle differences in the sensitivity with which neutralizing activity was detected, the neutralizing activity of both convalescent plasma and human monoclonal antibodies measured using each virus correlated quantitatively with neutralizing activity measured using an authentic SARS-CoV-2 neutralization assay. The assays described herein are adaptable to high throughput and are useful tools in the evaluation of serologic immunity conferred by vaccination or prior SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as the potency of convalescent plasma or human monoclonal antibodies.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antibodies, Monoclonal/immunology
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/analysis
- Antibodies, Neutralizing/blood
- Antibodies, Viral/analysis
- Antibodies, Viral/blood
- Betacoronavirus/genetics
- Betacoronavirus/immunology
- COVID-19
- Cell Line
- Chimera/genetics
- Chimera/immunology
- Chlorocebus aethiops
- Coronavirus Infections/immunology
- Coronavirus Infections/virology
- HEK293 Cells
- HIV-1/genetics
- HIV-1/immunology
- Humans
- Immunoassay/methods
- Neutralization Tests/methods
- Pandemics
- Pneumonia, Viral/immunology
- Pneumonia, Viral/virology
- Recombination, Genetic
- SARS-CoV-2
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/genetics
- Spike Glycoprotein, Coronavirus/immunology
- Vero Cells
- Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus/genetics
- Vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus/immunology
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Schmidt
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Yiska Weisblum
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Frauke Muecksch
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | | | | | - Julio C.C. Lorenzi
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Pilar Mendoza
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | | | - Eva Bednarski
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Christian Gaebler
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Marianna Agudelo
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Alice Cho
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Zijun Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Anna Gazumyan
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Melissa Cipolla
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Marina Caskey
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Davide F. Robbiani
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine, Università della Svizzera italiana, Bellinzona, Switzerland
| | - Michel C. Nussenzweig
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | - Charles M. Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
| | | | - Paul D. Bieniasz
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY
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18
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Hagag IT, Wight DJ, Bartsch D, Sid H, Jordan I, Bertzbach LD, Schusser B, Kaufer BB. Abrogation of Marek's disease virus replication using CRISPR/Cas9. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10919. [PMID: 32616820 PMCID: PMC7331644 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67951-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Marek's disease virus (MDV) is a highly cell-associated alphaherpesvirus that causes deadly lymphomas in chickens. While vaccination protects against clinical symptoms, MDV field strains can still circulate in vaccinated flocks and continuously evolve towards greater virulence. MDV vaccines do not provide sterilizing immunity, allowing the virus to overcome vaccine protection, and has increased the need for more potent vaccines or alternative interventions. In this study, we addressed if the CRISPR/Cas9 system can protect cells from MDV replication. We first screened a number of guide RNAs (gRNAs) targeting essential MDV genes for their ability to prevent virus replication. Single gRNAs significantly inhibited virus replication, but could result in the emergence of escape mutants. Strikingly, combining two or more gRNAs completely abrogated virus replication and no escape mutants were observed upon serial passaging. Our study provides the first proof-of-concept, demonstrating that the CRISPR/Cas9 system can be efficiently used to block MDV replication. The presented findings lay the foundation for future research to completely protect chickens from this deadly pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim T Hagag
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, El-Tagneed St. 114, Zagazig, 44511, Egypt
| | - Darren J Wight
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Denise Bartsch
- Reproductive Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 1, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Hicham Sid
- Reproductive Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 1, 85354, Freising, Germany
| | - Ingo Jordan
- ProBioGen AG, Herbert-Bayer-Straße 8, 13086, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luca D Bertzbach
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Schusser
- Reproductive Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, Liesel-Beckmann-Str. 1, 85354, Freising, Germany.
| | - Benedikt B Kaufer
- Institut für Virologie, Freie Universität Berlin, Robert-von-Ostertag-Str. 7-13, 14163, Berlin, Germany.
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19
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Kane M, Mele V, Liberatore RA, Bieniasz PD. Inhibition of spumavirus gene expression by PHF11. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008644. [PMID: 32678836 PMCID: PMC7390438 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The foamy viruses (FV) or spumaviruses are an ancient subfamily of retroviruses that infect a variety of vertebrates. FVs are endemic, but apparently apathogenic, in modern non-human primates. Like other retroviruses, FV replication is inhibited by type-I interferon (IFN). In a previously described screen of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs), we identified the macaque PHD finger domain protein-11 (PHF11) as an inhibitor of prototype foamy virus (PFV) replication. Here, we show that human and macaque PHF11 inhibit the replication of multiple spumaviruses, but are inactive against several orthoretroviruses. Analysis of other mammalian PHF11 proteins revealed that antiviral activity is host species dependent. Using multiple reporter viruses and cell lines, we determined that PHF11 specifically inhibits a step in the replication cycle that is unique to FVs, namely basal transcription from the FV internal promoter (IP). In so doing, PHF11 prevents expression of the viral transactivator Tas and subsequent activation of the viral LTR promoter. These studies reveal a previously unreported inhibitory mechanism in mammalian cells, that targets a family of ancient viruses and may promote viral latency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Kane
- Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases Division, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Vincent Mele
- Department of Pediatrics, Infectious Diseases Division, UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Center for Microbial Pathogenesis, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Rachel A. Liberatore
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Paul D. Bieniasz
- Laboratory of Retrovirology, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
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20
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Kampik D, Basche M, Georgiadis A, Luhmann UFO, Larkin DF, Smith AJ, Ali RR. Modulation of Contact Inhibition by ZO-1/ZONAB Gene Transfer-A New Strategy to Increase the Endothelial Cell Density of Corneal Grafts. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:3170-3177. [PMID: 31335954 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-26260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Endothelial cell density (ECD) is the principal factor determining the success of corneal transplants. Here we explored a strategy to increase corneal ECD in human explants via modulation of the ZO-1/ZONAB pathway. In multiple cell types, ZO-1 maintains G1 cell cycle arrest via cytoplasmic sequestration of the mitosis-inducing transcription factor ZONAB. In this study, we assessed the effects of lentiviral vector-mediated downregulation of ZO-1 or overexpression of ZONAB upon ECD and the integrity of the endothelial monolayer. Methods HIV-based lentiviral vectors were used to deliver either constitutively expressed ZONAB (LNT-ZONAB), or a small hairpin RNA targeting ZO-1 (LNT-shZO1). Human corneal specimens were bisected and each half was exposed to either treatment or control vector. After 1 week in ex vivo culture, effects were assessed by quantitative RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry, and ECD assessment. Results LNT-shZO1 achieved an ∼45% knockdown of ZO-1 mRNA in corneal endothelial cells cultured ex vivo, reduced ZO-1 staining, and did not affect morphologic endothelial monolayer integrity. The proliferative effect of LNT-shZO1 correlated with control ECD but not with donor age. Within a low-ECD cohort an ∼30% increase in ECD was observed. LNT-ZONAB achieved a >200-fold overexpression of ZONAB mRNA, which led to an ∼25% increase in ECD. Conclusions ZO-1 downregulation or ZONAB upregulation increases corneal ECD via interference with contact inhibition and cell cycle control. With further development, such approaches might provide a means for improving ECD in donor corneas before transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kampik
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom.,University Hospital of Würzburg, Department of Ophthalmology, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mark Basche
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Ulrich F O Luhmann
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Alexander J Smith
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robin R Ali
- Department of Genetics, UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom.,NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
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21
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Monit C, Morris ER, Ruis C, Szafran B, Thiltgen G, Tsai MHC, Mitchison NA, Bishop KN, Stoye JP, Taylor IA, Fassati A, Goldstein RA. Positive selection in dNTPase SAMHD1 throughout mammalian evolution. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:18647-18654. [PMID: 31451672 PMCID: PMC6744909 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1908755116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate protein SAMHD1 is highly unusual in having roles in cellular metabolic regulation, antiviral restriction, and regulation of innate immunity. Its deoxynucleoside triphosphohydrolase activity regulates cellular dNTP concentration, reducing levels below those required by lentiviruses and other viruses to replicate. To counter this threat, some primate lentiviruses encode accessory proteins that bind SAMHD1 and induce its degradation; in turn, positive diversifying selection has been observed in regions bound by these lentiviral proteins, suggesting that primate SAMHD1 has coevolved to evade these countermeasures. Moreover, deleterious polymorphisms in human SAMHD1 are associated with autoimmune disease linked to uncontrolled DNA synthesis of endogenous retroelements. Little is known about how evolutionary pressures affect these different SAMHD1 functions. Here, we examine the deeper history of these interactions by testing whether evolutionary signatures in SAMHD1 extend to other mammalian groups and exploring the molecular basis of this coevolution. Using codon-based likelihood models, we find positive selection in SAMHD1 within each mammal lineage for which sequence data are available. We observe positive selection at sites clustered around T592, a residue that is phosphorylated to regulate SAMHD1 activity. We verify experimentally that mutations within this cluster affect catalytic rate and lentiviral restriction, suggesting that virus-host coevolution has required adaptations of enzymatic function. Thus, persistent positive selection may have involved the adaptation of SAMHD1 regulation to balance antiviral, metabolic, and innate immunity functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Monit
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - Elizabeth R Morris
- Macromolecular Structure Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Ruis
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - Bart Szafran
- Retrovirus-Host Interactions Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London, United Kingdom
| | - Grant Thiltgen
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - Ming-Han Chloe Tsai
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London, United Kingdom
| | - N Avrion Mitchison
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom
| | - Kate N Bishop
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan P Stoye
- Retrovirus-Host Interactions Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London, United Kingdom
| | - Ian A Taylor
- Macromolecular Structure Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, NW1 1AT London, United Kingdom
| | - Ariberto Fassati
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom;
| | - Richard A Goldstein
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, WC1E 6BT London, United Kingdom;
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22
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Korntner S, Lehner C, Gehwolf R, Wagner A, Grütz M, Kunkel N, Tempfer H, Traweger A. Limiting angiogenesis to modulate scar formation. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2019; 146:170-189. [PMID: 29501628 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2017] [Revised: 01/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation from existing blood vessels, is a key aspect of virtually every repair process. During wound healing an extensive, but immature and leaky vascular plexus forms which is subsequently reduced by regression of non-functional vessels. More recent studies indicate that uncontrolled vessel growth or impaired vessel regression as a consequence of an excessive inflammatory response can impair wound healing, resulting in scarring and dysfunction. However, in order to elucidate targetable factors to promote functional tissue regeneration we need to understand the molecular and cellular underpinnings of physiological angiogenesis, ranging from induction to resolution of blood vessels. Especially for avascular tissues (e.g. cornea, tendon, ligament, cartilage, etc.), limiting rather than boosting vessel growth during wound repair potentially is beneficial to restore full tissue function and may result in favourable long-term healing outcomes.
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23
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Cavalieri V, Baiamonte E, Lo Iacono M. Non-Primate Lentiviral Vectors and Their Applications in Gene Therapy for Ocular Disorders. Viruses 2018; 10:E316. [PMID: 29890733 PMCID: PMC6024700 DOI: 10.3390/v10060316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Lentiviruses have a number of molecular features in common, starting with the ability to integrate their genetic material into the genome of non-dividing infected cells. A peculiar property of non-primate lentiviruses consists in their incapability to infect and induce diseases in humans, thus providing the main rationale for deriving biologically safe lentiviral vectors for gene therapy applications. In this review, we first give an overview of non-primate lentiviruses, highlighting their common and distinctive molecular characteristics together with key concepts in the molecular biology of lentiviruses. We next examine the bioengineering strategies leading to the conversion of lentiviruses into recombinant lentiviral vectors, discussing their potential clinical applications in ophthalmological research. Finally, we highlight the invaluable role of animal organisms, including the emerging zebrafish model, in ocular gene therapy based on non-primate lentiviral vectors and in ophthalmology research and vision science in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Cavalieri
- Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies (STEBICEF), University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Edificio 16, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
- Advanced Technologies Network (ATeN) Center, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze Edificio 18, 90128 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Elena Baiamonte
- Campus of Haematology Franco e Piera Cutino, Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
| | - Melania Lo Iacono
- Campus of Haematology Franco e Piera Cutino, Villa Sofia-Cervello Hospital, 90146 Palermo, Italy.
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24
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Fu X, Huu VAN, Duan Y, Kermany DS, Valentim CCS, Zhang R, Zhu J, Zhang CL, Sun X, Zhang K. Clinical applications of retinal gene therapies. PRECISION CLINICAL MEDICINE 2018; 1:5-20. [PMID: 35694125 PMCID: PMC8982485 DOI: 10.1093/pcmedi/pby004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Revised: 03/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Retinal degenerative diseases are a major cause of blindness. Retinal gene therapy is a
trail-blazer in the human gene therapy field, leading to the first FDA approved gene
therapy product for a human genetic disease. The application of Clustered Regularly
Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat/Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9)-mediated gene editing technology
is transforming the delivery of gene therapy. We review the history, present, and future
prospects of retinal gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Fu
- Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Viet Anh Nguyen Huu
- Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Yaou Duan
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Daniel S Kermany
- Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Carolina C S Valentim
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Runze Zhang
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jie Zhu
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Charlotte L Zhang
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Xiaodong Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiaodong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Kang Zhang
- Guangzhou Women and Children’s Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Shiley Eye Institute, Institute for Engineering in Medicine, Institute for Genomic Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
- Molecular Medicine Research Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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25
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Liu S, Romano V, Steger B, Kaye SB, Hamill KJ, Willoughby CE. Gene-based antiangiogenic applications for corneal neovascularization. Surv Ophthalmol 2018; 63:193-213. [DOI: 10.1016/j.survophthal.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2017] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 10/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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26
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Khan AA, Paget JT, McLaughlin M, Kyula JN, Wilkinson MJ, Pencavel T, Mansfield D, Roulstone V, Seth R, Halle M, Somaiah N, Boult JKR, Robinson SP, Pandha HS, Vile RG, Melcher AA, Harris PA, Harrington KJ. Genetically modified lentiviruses that preserve microvascular function protect against late radiation damage in normal tissues. Sci Transl Med 2018; 10:eaar2041. [PMID: 29367346 PMCID: PMC6020074 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aar2041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2016] [Revised: 10/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Improvements in cancer survival mean that long-term toxicities, which contribute to the morbidity of cancer survivorship, are being increasingly recognized. Late adverse effects (LAEs) in normal tissues after radiotherapy (RT) are characterized by vascular dysfunction and fibrosis causing volume loss and tissue contracture, for example, in the free flaps used for immediate breast reconstruction after mastectomy. We evaluated the efficacy of lentivirally delivered superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2) overexpression and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) knockdown by short hairpin RNA in reducing the severity of LAEs in an animal model of free flap LAEs. Vectors were delivered by intra-arterial injection, ex vivo, to target the vascular compartment. LVSOD2 and LVshCTGF monotherapy before irradiation resulted in preservation of flap volume or reduction in skin contracture, respectively. Flaps transduced with combination therapy experienced improvements in both volume loss and skin contracture. Both therapies reduced the fibrotic burden after irradiation. LAEs were associated with impaired vascular perfusion, loss of endothelial permeability, and stromal hypoxia, which were all reversed in the treatment model. Using a tumor recurrence model, we showed that SOD2 overexpression in normal tissues did not compromise the efficacy of RT against tumor cells but appeared to enhance it. LVSOD2 and LVshCTGF combination therapy by targeted, intravascular delivery reduced LAE severities in normal tissues without compromising the efficacy of RT and warrants translational evaluation as a free flap-targeted gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aadil A Khan
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - James T Paget
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Martin McLaughlin
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Joan N Kyula
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Michelle J Wilkinson
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Timothy Pencavel
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - David Mansfield
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Victoria Roulstone
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Rohit Seth
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Martin Halle
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Section of Plastic Surgery, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm 17176, Sweden
- Department of Reconstructive Plastic Surgery, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm 17176, Sweden
| | - Navita Somaiah
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Jessica K R Boult
- Magnetic Resonance Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Simon P Robinson
- Magnetic Resonance Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SM2 5NG, UK
| | - Hardev S Pandha
- Postgraduate Medical School, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK
| | - Richard G Vile
- Molecular Medicine Program, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Alan A Melcher
- Translational Immunotherapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London, SW3 6JB, UK
| | - Paul A Harris
- Department of Plastic Surgery, The Royal Marsden Hospital, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Kevin J Harrington
- Targeted Therapy Team, Division of Radiotherapy and Imaging, The Institute of Cancer Research, London SW3 6JB, UK.
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27
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Askou AL, Benckendorff JNE, Holmgaard A, Storm T, Aagaard L, Bek T, Mikkelsen JG, Corydon TJ. Suppression of Choroidal Neovascularization in Mice by Subretinal Delivery of Multigenic Lentiviral Vectors Encoding Anti-Angiogenic MicroRNAs. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2018; 28:222-233. [PMID: 28817343 DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2017.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Lentivirus-based vectors have been used for the development of potent gene therapies. Here, application of a multigenic lentiviral vector (LV) producing multiple anti-angiogenic microRNAs following subretinal delivery in a laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) mouse model is presented. This versatile LV, carrying back-to-back RNApolII-driven expression cassettes, enables combined expression of microRNAs targeting vascular endothelial growth factor A (Vegfa) mRNA and fluorescent reporters. In addition, by including a vitelliform macular dystrophy 2 (VMD2) promoter, expression of microRNAs is restricted to the retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Six days post injection (PI), robust and widespread fluorescent signals of eGFP are already observed in the retina by funduscopy. The eGFP expression peaks at day 21 PI and persists with stable expression for at least 9 months. In parallel, prominent AsRED co-expression, encoded from the VMD2-driven microRNA expression cassette, is evident in retinal sections and flat-mounts, revealing RPE-specific expression of microRNAs. Furthermore, LV-delivered microRNAs targeting the Vegfa gene in RPE cells reduced the size of laser-induced CNV in mice 28 days PI, as a consequence of diminished VEGF levels, suggesting that LVs delivered locally are powerful tools in the development of gene therapy-based strategies for treatment of age-related macular degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tina Storm
- 1 Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Lars Aagaard
- 1 Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Toke Bek
- 2 Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital , Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas Juhl Corydon
- 1 Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark .,2 Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus University Hospital , Aarhus, Denmark
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28
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In situ regeneration of retinal pigment epithelium by gene transfer of E2F2: a potential strategy for treatment of macular degenerations. Gene Ther 2017; 24:810-818. [PMID: 29188796 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2017.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2016] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) interacts closely with photoreceptors to maintain visual function. In degenerative diseases such as Stargardt disease and age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in the developed world, RPE cell loss is followed by photoreceptor cell death. RPE cells can proliferate under certain conditions, suggesting an intrinsic regenerative potential, but so far this has not been utilised therapeutically. Here, we used E2F2 to induce RPE cell replication and thereby regeneration. In both young and old (2 and 18 month) wildtype mice, subretinal injection of non-integrating lentiviral vector expressing E2F2 resulted in 47% of examined RPE cells becoming BrdU positive. E2F2 induced an increase in RPE cell density of 17% compared with control vector-treated and 14% compared with untreated eyes. We also tested this approach in an inducible transgenic mouse model of RPE loss, generated through activation of diphtheria toxin-A gene. E2F2 expression resulted in a 10-fold increase in BrdU uptake and a 34% increase in central RPE cell density. Although in mice this localised rescue is insufficiently large to be demonstrable by electroretinography, a measure of massed retinal function, these results provide proof-of-concept for a strategy to induce in situ regeneration of RPE for the treatment of RPE degeneration.
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29
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Evaluation of tolerance to lentiviral LV-RPE65 gene therapy vector after subretinal delivery in non-human primates. Transl Res 2017; 188:40-57.e4. [PMID: 28754419 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2017.06.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2017] [Revised: 04/30/2017] [Accepted: 06/30/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Several approaches have been developed for gene therapy in RPE65-related Leber congenital amaurosis. To date, strategies that have reached the clinical stages rely on adeno-associated viral vectors and two of them documented limited long-term effect. We have developed a lentiviral-based strategy of RPE65 gene transfer that efficiently restored protein expression and cone function in RPE65-deficient mice. In this study, we evaluated the ocular and systemic tolerances of this lentiviral-based therapy (LV-RPE65) on healthy nonhuman primates (NHPs), without adjuvant systemic anti-inflammatory prophylaxis. For the first time, we describe the early kinetics of retinal detachment at 2, 4, and 7 days after subretinal injection using multimodal imaging in 5 NHPs. We revealed prolonged reattachment times in LV-RPE65-injected eyes compared to vehicle-injected eyes. Low- (n = 2) and high-dose (n = 2) LV-RPE65-injected eyes presented a reduction of the outer nuclear and photoreceptor outer segment layer thickness in the macula, that was more pronounced than in vehicle-injected eyes (n = 4). All LV-RPE65-injected eyes showed an initial perivascular reaction that resolved spontaneously within 14 days. Despite foveal structural changes, full-field electroretinography indicated that the overall retinal function was preserved over time and immunohistochemistry identified no difference in glial, microglial, or leucocyte ocular activation between low-dose, high-dose, and vehicle-injected eyes. Moreover, LV-RPE65-injected animals did not show signs of vector shedding or extraocular targeting, confirming the safe ocular restriction of the vector. Our results evidence a limited ocular tolerance to LV-RPE65 after subretinal injection without adjuvant anti-inflammatory prophylaxis, with complications linked to this route of administration necessitating to block this transient inflammatory event.
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30
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Askou AL, Benckendorff JNE, Holmgaard A, Storm T, Aagaard L, Bek T, Mikkelsen JG, Corydon TJ. Suppression of choroidal neovascularization in mice by subretinal delivery of multigenic lentiviral vectors encoding anti-angiogenic microRNAs. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2017. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2017.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tina Storm
- Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Lars Aagaard
- Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Toke Bek
- Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Ophthalmology, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas Juhl Corydon
- Aarhus University, Department of Biomedicine, Wilhelm Meyers Alle, Aarhus C, Denmark, 8000
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31
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Cyclophilins and nucleoporins are required for infection mediated by capsids from circulating HIV-2 primary isolates. Sci Rep 2017; 7:45214. [PMID: 28345672 PMCID: PMC5366920 DOI: 10.1038/srep45214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/20/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-2 groups have emerged from sooty mangabey SIV and entered the human population in Africa on several separate occasions. Compared to world pandemic HIV-1 that arose from the chimpanzee SIVcpz virus, the SIVsm-derived HIV-2, largely confined to West Africa, is less replicative, less transmissible and less pathogenic. Here, we evaluated the interactions between host cellular factors, which control HIV-1 infection and target the capsid, and HIV-2 capsids obtained from primary isolates from patients with different disease progression status. We showed that, like HIV-1, all HIV-2 CA we tested exhibited a dependence on cyclophilin A. However, we observed no correlation between HIV-2 viremia and susceptibility to hu-TRIM5alpha or dependence to CypA. Finally, we found that all CA from HIV-2 primary isolates exploit Nup358 and Nup153 for nucleus transposition. Altogether, these findings indicate that the ability to use the two latter nucleoporins is essential to infection of human cells for both HIV-1 and HIV-2. This dependence provides another molecular target that could be used for antiviral strategies against both HIV-1 and 2, based on both nucleoporins.
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32
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SAMHD1 enhances nucleoside-analogue efficacy against HIV-1 in myeloid cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:42824. [PMID: 28220857 PMCID: PMC5318888 DOI: 10.1038/srep42824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
SAMHD1 is an intracellular enzyme that specifically degrades deoxynucleoside triphosphates into component nucleoside and inorganic triphosphate. In myeloid-derived dendritic cells and macrophages as well as resting T-cells, SAMHD1 blocks HIV-1 infection through this dNTP triphosphohydrolase activity by reducing the cellular dNTP pool to a level that cannot support productive reverse transcription. We now show that, in addition to this direct effect on virus replication, manipulating cellular SAMHD1 activity can significantly enhance or decrease the anti-HIV-1 efficacy of nucleotide analogue reverse transcription inhibitors presumably as a result of modulating dNTP pools that compete for recruitment by viral polymerases. Further, a variety of other nucleotide-based analogues, not normally considered antiretrovirals, such as the anti-herpes drugs Aciclovir and Ganciclovir and the anti-cancer drug Clofarabine are now revealed as potent anti-HIV-1 agents, under conditions of low dNTPs. This in turn suggests novel uses for nucleotide analogues to inhibit HIV-1 in differentiated cells low in dNTPs.
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33
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Cosnefroy O, Murray PJ, Bishop KN. HIV-1 capsid uncoating initiates after the first strand transfer of reverse transcription. Retrovirology 2016; 13:58. [PMID: 27549239 PMCID: PMC4994286 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-016-0292-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Correct disassembly of the HIV-1 capsid shell, called uncoating, is increasingly recognised as central for multiple steps during retroviral replication. However, the timing, localisation and mechanism of uncoating are poorly understood and progress in this area is hampered by difficulties in measuring the process. Previous work suggested that uncoating occurs soon after entry of the viral core into the cell, but recent studies report later uncoating, at or in the nucleus. Furthermore, inhibiting reverse transcription delays uncoating, linking these processes.
Results Here, we have used a combined approach of experimental interrogation of viral mutants and mathematical modelling to investigate the timing of uncoating with respect to reverse transcription. By developing a minimal, testable, model and employing multiple uncoating assays to overcome the disadvantages of each single assay, we find that uncoating is not concomitant with the initiation of reverse transcription. Instead, uncoating appears to be triggered once reverse transcription reaches a certain stage, namely shortly after first strand transfer. Conclusions Using multiple approaches, we have identified a point during reverse transcription that induces uncoating of the HIV-1 CA shell. We propose that uncoating initiates after the first strand transfer of reverse transcription. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12977-016-0292-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ophélie Cosnefroy
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Philip J Murray
- Division of Mathematics, University of Dundee, Dundee, DD1 4HN, UK
| | - Kate N Bishop
- Retroviral Replication Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, NW7 1AA, UK.
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34
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Yu-Wai-Man P. Genetic manipulation for inherited neurodegenerative diseases: myth or reality? Br J Ophthalmol 2016; 100:1322-31. [PMID: 27002113 PMCID: PMC5050284 DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2015-308329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Rare genetic diseases affect about 7% of the general population and over 7000 distinct clinical syndromes have been described with the majority being due to single gene defects. This review will provide a critical overview of genetic strategies that are being pioneered to halt or reverse disease progression in inherited neurodegenerative diseases. This field of research covers a vast area and only the most promising treatment paradigms will be discussed with a particular focus on inherited eye diseases, which have paved the way for innovative gene therapy paradigms, and mitochondrial diseases, which are currently generating a lot of debate centred on the bioethics of germline manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Yu-Wai-Man
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK Newcastle Eye Centre, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK NIHR Biomedical Research Centre at Moorfields Eye Hospital and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UK
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35
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Warne J, Pryce G, Hill JM, Shi X, Lennerås F, Puentes F, Kip M, Hilditch L, Walker P, Simone MI, Chan AWE, Towers GJ, Coker AR, Duchen MR, Szabadkai G, Baker D, Selwood DL. Selective Inhibition of the Mitochondrial Permeability Transition Pore Protects against Neurodegeneration in Experimental Multiple Sclerosis. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:4356-73. [PMID: 26679998 PMCID: PMC4813465 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.700385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2015] [Revised: 12/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial permeability transition pore is a recognized drug target for neurodegenerative conditions such as multiple sclerosis and for ischemia-reperfusion injury in the brain and heart. The peptidylprolyl isomerase, cyclophilin D (CypD, PPIF), is a positive regulator of the pore, and genetic down-regulation or knock-out improves outcomes in disease models. Current inhibitors of peptidylprolyl isomerases show no selectivity between the tightly conserved cyclophilin paralogs and exhibit significant off-target effects, immunosuppression, and toxicity. We therefore designed and synthesized a new mitochondrially targeted CypD inhibitor, JW47, using a quinolinium cation tethered to cyclosporine. X-ray analysis was used to validate the design concept, and biological evaluation revealed selective cellular inhibition of CypD and the permeability transition pore with reduced cellular toxicity compared with cyclosporine. In an experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis disease model of neurodegeneration in multiple sclerosis, JW47 demonstrated significant protection of axons and improved motor assessments with minimal immunosuppression. These findings suggest that selective CypD inhibition may represent a viable therapeutic strategy for MS and identify quinolinium as a mitochondrial targeting group for in vivo use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Warne
- From the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth Pryce
- From the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom, the Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom
| | - Julia M Hill
- the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Xiao Shi
- From the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Felicia Lennerås
- the Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom
| | - Fabiola Puentes
- the Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom
| | - Maarten Kip
- From the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Laura Hilditch
- the Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Molecular Biology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Walker
- Cyprotex Discovery Ltd., 100 Barbirolli Square, Manchester M2 3AB, United Kingdom, and
| | - Michela I Simone
- From the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - A W Edith Chan
- From the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Greg J Towers
- the Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Molecular Biology, Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Alun R Coker
- From the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Michael R Duchen
- the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
| | - Gyorgy Szabadkai
- the Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom, the Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Padua, Padua 35122, Italy
| | - David Baker
- the Neuroimmunology Unit, Blizard Institute, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, United Kingdom,
| | - David L Selwood
- From the Wolfson Institute for Biomedical Research, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom,
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36
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Trapani I, Banfi S, Simonelli F, Surace EM, Auricchio A. Gene therapy of inherited retinal degenerations: prospects and challenges. Hum Gene Ther 2016; 26:193-200. [PMID: 25762209 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of its favorable anatomical and immunological characteristics, the eye has been at the forefront of translational gene therapy. Dozens of promising proofs of concept have been obtained in animal models of inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs), and some of them have been relayed to the clinic. The results from the first clinical trials for a congenital form of blindness have generated great interest and have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of intraocular administrations of viral vectors in humans. However, this progress has also generated new questions and posed challenges that need to be addressed to further expand the applicability of gene therapy in the eye, including safe delivery of viral vectors to the outer retina, treatment of dominant IRDs as well as of IRDs caused by mutations in large genes, and, finally, selection of the appropriate IRDs and patients to maximize the efficacy of gene transfer. This review summarizes the strategies that are currently being exploited to overcome these challenges and drive the clinical development of retinal gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Trapani
- 1 Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM) , Pozzuoli, Naples 80078, Italy
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37
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Arnold LH, Groom HCT, Kunzelmann S, Schwefel D, Caswell SJ, Ordonez P, Mann MC, Rueschenbaum S, Goldstone DC, Pennell S, Howell SA, Stoye JP, Webb M, Taylor IA, Bishop KN. Phospho-dependent Regulation of SAMHD1 Oligomerisation Couples Catalysis and Restriction. PLoS Pathog 2015; 11:e1005194. [PMID: 26431200 PMCID: PMC4592219 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1005194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Accepted: 09/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
SAMHD1 restricts HIV-1 infection of myeloid-lineage and resting CD4+ T-cells. Most likely this occurs through deoxynucleoside triphosphate triphosphohydrolase activity that reduces cellular dNTP to a level where reverse transcriptase cannot function, although alternative mechanisms have been proposed recently. Here, we present combined structural and virological data demonstrating that in addition to allosteric activation and triphosphohydrolase activity, restriction correlates with the capacity of SAMHD1 to form “long-lived” enzymatically competent tetramers. Tetramer disruption invariably abolishes restriction but has varied effects on in vitro triphosphohydrolase activity. SAMHD1 phosphorylation also ablates restriction and tetramer formation but without affecting triphosphohydrolase steady-state kinetics. However phospho-SAMHD1 is unable to catalyse dNTP turnover under conditions of nucleotide depletion. Based on our findings we propose a model for phosphorylation-dependent regulation of SAMHD1 activity where dephosphorylation switches housekeeping SAMHD1 found in cycling cells to a high-activity stable tetrameric form that depletes and maintains low levels of dNTPs in differentiated cells. SAMHD1 is a restriction factor that blocks infection of certain immune cells by HIV-1. It was discovered to be an enzyme that catalyses the breakdown of dNTPs, suggesting that it inhibits HIV-1 replication by reducing cellular dNTP pools to such low levels that reverse transcriptase cannot function. However, recently, alternative mechanisms have been proposed. SAMHD1 is also regulated by phosphorylation, although the effects of phosphorylation on protein function are unclear. In order to address these issues, we carried out combined structural and virological studies and have demonstrated that in addition to allosteric activation and triphosphohydrolase activity, restriction correlates with the capacity of SAMHD1 to form “long-lived” enzymatically competent tetramers. Disrupting the tetramer in various ways always abolished restriction but had differing effects on enzyme activity in vitro. SAMHD1 phosphorylation also prevented restriction and tetramer formation but without affecting enzyme catalysis under steady-state dNTP conditions. However phosphorylated SAMHD1 was unable to catalyse dNTP turnover at very low nucleotide levels that more accurately represent conditions in the cells in which restriction takes place. Based on our findings we propose a model for phosphorylation-dependent regulation of SAMHD1 activity and substantiate that degradation of dNTPs by SAMHD1 is sufficient to restrict HIV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laurence H. Arnold
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Harriet C. T. Groom
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simone Kunzelmann
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Schwefel
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J. Caswell
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paula Ordonez
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Melanie C. Mann
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sabrina Rueschenbaum
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - David C. Goldstone
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simon Pennell
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Steven A. Howell
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan P. Stoye
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
- Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Michelle Webb
- Centre for Genomic Medicine, Institute for Human Development, Faculty of Medicine and Human Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ian A. Taylor
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (IAT); (KNB)
| | - Kate N. Bishop
- The Francis Crick Institute, Mill Hill Laboratory, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (IAT); (KNB)
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Abstract
The field of gene therapy for retinal blinding disorders is experiencing incredible momentum, justified by hopeful results in early stage clinical trials for inherited retinal degenerations. The premise of the use of the gene as a drug has come a long way, and may have found its niche in the treatment of retinal disease. Indeed, with only limited treatment options available for retinal indications, gene therapy has been proven feasible, safe, and effective and may lead to durable effects following a single injection. Here, we aim at putting into context the promise and potential, the technical, clinical, and economic boundaries limiting its application and development, and speculate on a future in which gene therapy is an integral component of ophthalmic clinical care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luk H Vandenberghe
- Ocular Genomics Institute, Grousbeck Gene Therapy Center, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02114
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39
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Abstract
Clinical trials treating inherited retinal dystrophy caused by RPE65 mutations had put retinal gene therapy at the forefront of gene therapy. Both successes and limitations in these clinical trials have fueled developments in gene vectors, which continue to further advance the field. These novel gene vectors aim to more safely and efficiently transduce retinal cells, expand the gene packaging capacity of AAV, and utilize new strategies to correct the varying mechanisms of dysfunction found with inherited retinal dystrophies. With recent clinical trials and numerous pre-clinical studies utilizing these novel vectors, the future of ocular gene therapy continues to hold vast potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristy A Ku
- Center for Neuroscience, Robert C. Byrd Health Sciences Center, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26505, USA
| | - Mark E Pennesi
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, 97239, USA
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40
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Gene Therapy with Endogenous Inhibitors of Angiogenesis for Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration: Beyond Anti-VEGF Therapy. J Ophthalmol 2015; 2015:201726. [PMID: 25821585 PMCID: PMC4363820 DOI: 10.1155/2015/201726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of substantial and irreversible vision loss amongst elderly populations in industrialized countries. The advanced neovascular (or “wet”) form of the disease is responsible for severe and aggressive loss of central vision. Current treatments aim to seal off leaky blood vessels via laser therapy or to suppress vessel leakage and neovascular growth through intraocular injections of antibodies that target vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, the long-term success of anti-VEGF therapy can be hampered by limitations such as low or variable efficacy, high frequency of administration (usually monthly), potentially serious side effects, and, most importantly, loss of efficacy with prolonged treatment. Gene transfer of endogenous antiangiogenic proteins is an alternative approach that has the potential to provide long-term suppression of neovascularization and/or excessive vascular leakage in the eye. Preclinical studies of gene transfer in a large animal model have provided impressive preliminary results with a number of transgenes. In addition, a clinical trial in patients suffering from advanced neovascular AMD has provided proof-of-concept for successful gene transfer. In this mini review, we summarize current theories pertaining to the application of gene therapy for neovascular AMD and the potential benefits when used in conjunction with endogenous antiangiogenic proteins.
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Trapani I, Puppo A, Auricchio A. Vector platforms for gene therapy of inherited retinopathies. Prog Retin Eye Res 2014; 43:108-28. [PMID: 25124745 PMCID: PMC4241499 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2014.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2014] [Revised: 07/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinopathies (IR) are common untreatable blinding conditions. Most of them are inherited as monogenic disorders, due to mutations in genes expressed in retinal photoreceptors (PR) and in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The retina's compatibility with gene transfer has made transduction of different retinal cell layers in small and large animal models via viral and non-viral vectors possible. The ongoing identification of novel viruses as well as modifications of existing ones based either on rational design or directed evolution have generated vector variants with improved transduction properties. Dozens of promising proofs of concept have been obtained in IR animal models with both viral and non-viral vectors, and some of them have been relayed to clinical trials. To date, recombinant vectors based on the adeno-associated virus (AAV) represent the most promising tool for retinal gene therapy, given their ability to efficiently deliver therapeutic genes to both PR and RPE and their excellent safety and efficacy profiles in humans. However, AAVs' limited cargo capacity has prevented application of the viral vector to treatments requiring transfer of genes with a coding sequence larger than 5 kb. Vectors with larger capacity, i.e. nanoparticles, adenoviral and lentiviral vectors are being exploited for gene transfer to the retina in animal models and, more recently, in humans. This review focuses on the available platforms for retinal gene therapy to fight inherited blindness, highlights their main strengths and examines the efforts to overcome some of their limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Trapani
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - Agostina Puppo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - Alberto Auricchio
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy; Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
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42
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Abstract
Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) is a clinically and genetically heterogeneous group of diseases that account for the most severe form of early-onset retinal dystrophy. Mutations in retinal guanylate cyclase-1 (GUCY2D) are associated with LCA1, a prevalent form. GUCY2D encodes guanylate cyclase-1 (GC1), a protein expressed in rod and cone photoreceptors that regulates cGMP and Ca(2+) levels within these cells. LCA1 patients present with severely impaired vision, reduced, or ablated electroretinogram and nystagmus. Despite a high degree of visual disturbance, LCA1 patients retain normal photoreceptor laminar architecture, except for foveal cone outer segment abnormalities and, in some patients, foveal cone loss. This article will summarize clinical characterization of patients and proof of concept gene replacement studies in several animal models of GC1 deficiency, both of which have laid the groundwork for clinical application of a gene therapy for treatment of LCA1.
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Carvalho LS, Vandenberghe LH. Promising and delivering gene therapies for vision loss. Vision Res 2014; 111:124-33. [PMID: 25094052 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2014.07.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Revised: 07/25/2014] [Accepted: 07/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The maturity in our understanding of the genetics and the pathogenesis of disease in degenerative retinal disorders has intersected in past years with a novel treatment paradigm in which a genetic intervention may lead to sustained therapeutic benefit, and in some cases even restoration of vision. Here, we review this prospect of retinal gene therapy, discuss the enabling technologies that have led to first-in-human demonstrations of efficacy and safety, and the road that led to this exciting point in time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia S Carvalho
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Luk H Vandenberghe
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, 20 Staniford Street, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Puppo A, Cesi G, Marrocco E, Piccolo P, Jacca S, Shayakhmetov DM, Parks RJ, Davidson BL, Colloca S, Brunetti-Pierri N, Ng P, Donofrio G, Auricchio A. Retinal transduction profiles by high-capacity viral vectors. Gene Ther 2014; 21:855-65. [PMID: 24989814 PMCID: PMC4193889 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2014.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Retinal gene therapy with adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors is safe and effective in humans. However, the limited cargo capacity of AAV prevents their use for therapy of those inherited retinopathies (IRs) due to mutations in large (>5kb) genes. Viral vectors derived from Adenovirus (Ad), Lentivirus (LV) and Herpesvirus (HV) can package large DNA sequences but do not target efficiently retinal photoreceptors (PRs) where the majority of genes responsible for IRs are expressed. Here, we have evaluated the mouse retinal transduction profiles of vectors derived from 16 different Ad serotypes, 7 LV pseudotypes, and from a bovine HV. Most of the vectors tested transduced efficiently the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). We found that LV-GP64 tends to transduce more PRs than the canonical LV-VSVG albeit this was restricted to a narrow region. We observed more extensive PR transduction with HdAd1, 2 and 5/F35++ than with LV, although none of them outperformed the canonical HdAd5 or matched the extension of PR transduction achieved with AAV2/8.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Puppo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - G Cesi
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - E Marrocco
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - P Piccolo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - S Jacca
- Department of Medical Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - D M Shayakhmetov
- Lowance Center for Human Immunology, Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - R J Parks
- Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - B L Davidson
- Departments of Internal Medicine, Neurology and Molecular Physiology & Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| | | | | | - P Ng
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - G Donofrio
- Department of Medical Veterinary Science, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - A Auricchio
- 1] Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy [2] Medical Genetics, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
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45
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Boye SE. Insights gained from gene therapy in animal models of retGC1 deficiency. Front Mol Neurosci 2014; 7:43. [PMID: 24860425 PMCID: PMC4030156 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2014.00043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2014] [Accepted: 04/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Vertebrate species possess two retinal guanylate cyclases (retGC1 and retGC2) and at least two guanylate cyclase activating proteins (GCAPs), GCAP1 and GCAP2. GCAPs function as Ca2+ sensors that regulate the activity of guanylate cyclases. Together, these proteins regulate cGMP and Ca2+ levels within the outer segments of rod and cone photoreceptors. Mutations in GUCY2D, the gene that encodes retGC1, are a leading cause of the most severe form of early onset retinal dystrophy, Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA1). These mutations, which reduce or abolish the ability of retGC1 to replenish cGMP in photoreceptors, are thought to lead to the biochemical equivalent of chronic light exposure in these cells. In spite of this, the majority of LCA1 patients retain normal photoreceptor laminar architecture aside from foveal cone outer segment abnormalities, suggesting they may be good candidates for gene replacement therapy. Work began in the 1980s to characterize multiple animal models of retGC1 deficiency. 34 years later, all models have been used in proof of concept gene replacement studies toward the goal of developing a therapy to treat GUCY2D-LCA1. Here we use the results of these studies as well as those of recent clinical studies to address specific questions relating to clinical application of a gene therapy for treatment of LCA1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E Boye
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Florida Gainesville, FL, USA
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46
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Boye SE, Huang WC, Roman AJ, Sumaroka A, Boye SL, Ryals RC, Olivares MB, Ruan Q, Tucker BA, Stone EM, Swaroop A, Cideciyan AV, Hauswirth WW, Jacobson SG. Natural history of cone disease in the murine model of Leber congenital amaurosis due to CEP290 mutation: determining the timing and expectation of therapy. PLoS One 2014; 9:e92928. [PMID: 24671090 PMCID: PMC3966841 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0092928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2014] [Accepted: 02/26/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mutations in the CEP290 (cilia-centrosomal protein 290 kDa) gene in Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) cause early onset visual loss but retained cone photoreceptors in the fovea, which is the potential therapeutic target. A cone-only mouse model carrying a Cep290 gene mutation, rd16;Nrl−/−, was engineered to mimic the human disease. In the current study, we determined the natural history of retinal structure and function in this murine model to permit design of pre-clinical proof-of-concept studies and allow progress to be made toward human therapy. Analyses of retinal structure and visual function in CEP290-LCA patients were also performed for comparison with the results in the model. Methods Rd16;Nrl−/− mice were studied in the first 90 days of life with optical coherence tomography (OCT), electroretinography (ERG), retinal histopathology and immunocytochemistry. Structure and function data from a cohort of patients with CEP290-LCA (n = 15; ages 7–48) were compared with those of the model. Results CEP290-LCA patients retain a central island of photoreceptors with normal thickness at the fovea (despite severe visual loss); the extent of this island declined slowly with age. The rd16;Nrl−/− model also showed a relatively slow photoreceptor layer decline in thickness with ∼80% remaining at 3 months. The number of pseudorosettes also became reduced. By comparison to single mutant Nrl−/− mice, UV- and M-cone ERGs of rd16;Nrl−/− were at least 1 log unit reduced at 1 month of age and declined further over the 3 months of monitoring. Expression of GNAT2 and S-opsin also decreased with age. Conclusions The natural history of early loss of photoreceptor function with retained cone cell nuclei is common to both CEP290-LCA patients and the rd16;Nrl−/− murine model. Pre-clinical proof-of-concept studies for uniocular therapies would seem most appropriate to begin with intervention at P35–40 and re-study after one month by assaying interocular difference in the UV-cone ERG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon E. Boye
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SGJ); (SEB)
| | - Wei-Chieh Huang
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Alejandro J. Roman
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Alexander Sumaroka
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Sanford L. Boye
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Renee C. Ryals
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Melani B. Olivares
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Qing Ruan
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Budd A. Tucker
- Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Edwin M. Stone
- Stephen A. Wynn Institute for Vision Research, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, United States of America
| | - Anand Swaroop
- Neurobiology-Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Artur V. Cideciyan
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - William W. Hauswirth
- Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Samuel G. Jacobson
- Scheie Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (SGJ); (SEB)
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47
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Ferrari S, Barbaro V, Di Iorio E, Fasolo A, Ponzin D. Advances in corneal surgery and cell therapy: challenges and perspectives for eye banks. EXPERT REVIEW OF OPHTHALMOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1586/eop.09.19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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48
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Schwefel D, Groom HCT, Boucherit VC, Christodoulou E, Walker PA, Stoye JP, Bishop KN, Taylor IA. Structural basis of lentiviral subversion of a cellular protein degradation pathway. Nature 2014; 505:234-8. [PMID: 24336198 PMCID: PMC3886899 DOI: 10.1038/nature12815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2013] [Accepted: 10/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Lentiviruses contain accessory genes that have evolved to counteract the effects of host cellular defence proteins that inhibit productive infection. One such restriction factor, SAMHD1, inhibits human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 infection of myeloid-lineage cells as well as resting CD4(+) T cells by reducing the cellular deoxynucleoside 5'-triphosphate (dNTP) concentration to a level at which the viral reverse transcriptase cannot function. In other lentiviruses, including HIV-2 and related simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIVs), SAMHD1 restriction is overcome by the action of viral accessory protein x (Vpx) or the related viral protein r (Vpr) that target and recruit SAMHD1 for proteasomal degradation. The molecular mechanism by which these viral proteins are able to usurp the host cell's ubiquitination machinery to destroy the cell's protection against these viruses has not been defined. Here we present the crystal structure of a ternary complex of Vpx with the human E3 ligase substrate adaptor DCAF1 and the carboxy-terminal region of human SAMHD1. Vpx is made up of a three-helical bundle stabilized by a zinc finger motif, and wraps tightly around the disc-shaped DCAF1 molecule to present a new molecular surface. This adapted surface is then able to recruit SAMHD1 via its C terminus, making it a competent substrate for the E3 ligase to mark for proteasomal degradation. The structure reported here provides a molecular description of how a lentiviral accessory protein is able to subvert the cell's normal protein degradation pathway to inactivate the cellular viral defence system.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Schwefel
- Division of Molecular Structure, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Harriet C. T. Groom
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Virginie C. Boucherit
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Evangelos Christodoulou
- Division of Molecular Structure, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Philip A. Walker
- Division of Molecular Structure, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Jonathan P. Stoye
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Kate N. Bishop
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
| | - Ian A. Taylor
- Division of Molecular Structure, National Institute for Medical Research, The Ridgeway, Mill Hill, London NW7 1AA, UK
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49
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MX2 is an interferon-induced inhibitor of HIV-1 infection. Nature 2013; 502:563-6. [PMID: 24121441 DOI: 10.1038/nature12653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 379] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 09/12/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
HIV-1 replication can be inhibited by type I interferon (IFN), and the expression of a number of gene products with anti-HIV-1 activity is induced by type I IFN. However, none of the known antiretroviral proteins can account for the ability of type I IFN to inhibit early, preintegration phases of the HIV-1 replication cycle in human cells. Here, by comparing gene expression profiles in cell lines that differ in their ability to support the inhibitory action of IFN-α at early steps of the HIV-1 replication cycle, we identify myxovirus resistance 2 (MX2) as an interferon-induced inhibitor of HIV-1 infection. Expression of MX2 reduces permissiveness to a variety of lentiviruses, whereas depletion of MX2 using RNA interference reduces the anti-HIV-1 potency of IFN-α. HIV-1 reverse transcription proceeds normally in MX2-expressing cells, but 2-long terminal repeat circular forms of HIV-1 DNA are less abundant, suggesting that MX2 inhibits HIV-1 nuclear import, or destabilizes nuclear HIV-1 DNA. Consistent with this notion, mutations in the HIV-1 capsid protein that are known, or suspected, to alter the nuclear import pathways used by HIV-1 confer resistance to MX2, whereas preventing cell division increases MX2 potency. Overall, these findings indicate that MX2 is an effector of the anti-HIV-1 activity of type-I IFN, and suggest that MX2 inhibits HIV-1 infection by inhibiting capsid-dependent nuclear import of subviral complexes.
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50
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Assisted evolution enables HIV-1 to overcome a high TRIM5α-imposed genetic barrier to rhesus macaque tropism. PLoS Pathog 2013; 9:e1003667. [PMID: 24086139 PMCID: PMC3784476 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1003667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2013] [Accepted: 08/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Diversification of antiretroviral factors during host evolution has erected formidable barriers to cross-species retrovirus transmission. This phenomenon likely protects humans from infection by many modern retroviruses, but it has also impaired the development of primate models of HIV-1 infection. Indeed, rhesus macaques are resistant to HIV-1, in part due to restriction imposed by the TRIM5α protein (rhTRIM5α). Initially, we attempted to derive rhTRIM5α-resistant HIV-1 strains using two strategies. First, HIV-1 was passaged in engineered human cells expressing rhTRIM5α. Second, a library of randomly mutagenized capsid protein (CA) sequences was screened for mutations that reduced rhTRIM5α sensitivity. Both approaches identified several individual mutations in CA that reduced rhTRIM5α sensitivity. However, neither approach yielded mutants that were fully resistant, perhaps because the locations of the mutations suggested that TRIM5α recognizes multiple determinants on the capsid surface. Moreover, even though additive effects of various CA mutations on HIV-1 resistance to rhTRIM5α were observed, combinations that gave full resistance were highly detrimental to fitness. Therefore, we employed an ‘assisted evolution’ approach in which individual CA mutations that reduced rhTRIM5α sensitivity without fitness penalties were randomly assorted in a library of viral clones containing synthetic CA sequences. Subsequent passage of the viral library in rhTRIM5α-expressing cells resulted in the selection of individual viral species that were fully fit and resistant to rhTRIM5α. These viruses encoded combinations of five mutations in CA that conferred complete or near complete resistance to the disruptive effects of rhTRIM5α on incoming viral cores, by abolishing recognition of the viral capsid. Importantly, HIV-1 variants encoding these CA substitutions and SIVmac239 Vif replicated efficiently in primary rhesus macaque lymphocytes. These findings demonstrate that rhTRIM5α is difficult to but not impossible to evade, and doing so should facilitate the development of primate models of HIV-1 infection. Retroviruses such as HIV-1 often exhibit limited capacity to infect species other than their natural hosts. This phenomenon is partly due to the existence of antiviral proteins that protect against infection by viruses that have not adapted to a particular species. For example, the resistance of rhesus macaques, the monkey species most commonly used in medical research, to HIV-1 infection is partly attributable to the vulnerability of HIV-1 to TRIM5α. Rhesus macaque TRIM5α (rhTRIM5α) blocks HIV-1 infection by recognition of the viral capsid following its entry into the cell, and it has proven difficult to derive HIV-1 strains that are resistant to rhTRIM5α. However, by devising an ‘assisted evolution’ approach, we identified particular combinations of mutations that render HIV-1 resistant to rhTRIM5α. These mutations enable HIV-1 to evade rhTRIM5α by abolishing recognition of the capsid. Notably, introduction of rhTRIM5α-resistant capsids into an HIV-1 that was also engineered to avoid the rhesus macaque APOBEC3 antiviral proteins, allowed efficient HIV-1 replication in rhesus macaque lymphocytes. These discoveries have the potential to advance the development of rhesus macaque models of HIV-1 infection.
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