1
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Chhabra A, Bashirians G, Petropoulos CJ, Wrin T, Paliwal Y, Henstock PV, Somanathan S, da Fonseca Pereira C, Winburn I, Rasko JE. Global seroprevalence of neutralizing antibodies against adeno-associated virus serotypes used for human gene therapies. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101273. [PMID: 39022744 PMCID: PMC11253686 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are promising gene therapy candidates, but pre-existing anti-AAV neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) pose a significant challenge to successful gene delivery. Knowledge of NAb seroprevalence remains limited and inconsistent. We measured activity of NAbs against six clinically relevant AAV serotypes across 10 countries in adults (n = 502) and children (n = 50) using a highly sensitive transduction inhibition assay. NAb prevalence was generally highest for AAV1 and lowest for AAV5. There was considerable variability across countries and geographical regions. NAb prevalence increased with age and was higher in females, participants of Asian ethnicity, and participants in cancer trials. Co-prevalence was most frequently observed between AAV1 and AAV6 and less frequently between AAV5 and other AAVs. Machine learning analyses revealed a unique clustering of AAVs that differed from previous phylogenetic classifications. These results offer insights into the biological relationships between the immunogenicity of AAVs in humans beyond that observed previously using standard clades, which are based on linear capsid sequences. Our findings may inform improved vector design and facilitate the development of AAV vector-mediated clinical gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Terri Wrin
- Labcorp-Monogram Biosciences, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John E.J. Rasko
- University of Sydney, Central Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine & Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Cell and Molecular Therapies, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Gene and Stem Cell Therapy Program, Centenary Institute University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
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2
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Shih FH, Chang HH, Wang YC. Utilizing adeno-associated virus as a vector in treating genetic disorders or human cancers. IUBMB Life 2024. [PMID: 38970351 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024]
Abstract
Clinical data from over two decades, involving more than 3000 treated patients, demonstrate that adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy is a safe, effective, and well-tolerated therapeutic method. Clinical trials using AAV-mediated gene delivery to accessible tissues have led to successful treatments for numerous monogenic disorders and advancements in tissue engineering. Although the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved AAV for clinical use, systemic administration remains a significant challenge. In this review, we delve into AAV biology, focusing on current manufacturing technologies and transgene engineering strategies. We examine the use of AAVs in ongoing clinical trials for ocular, neurological, and hematological disorders, as well as cancers. By discussing recent advancements and current challenges in the field, we aim to provide valuable insights for researchers and clinicians navigating the evolving landscape of AAV-based gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu-Hsuan Shih
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hsiung-Hao Chang
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Yi-Ching Wang
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan, ROC
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3
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Tang M, Zhong L, Rong H, Li K, Ye M, Peng J, Ge J. Efficient retinal ganglion cells transduction by retro-orbital venous sinus injection of AAV-PHP.eB in mature mice. Exp Eye Res 2024; 244:109931. [PMID: 38763353 DOI: 10.1016/j.exer.2024.109931] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/04/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapy is one of the strategies that may reduce or reverse progressive neurodegeneration in retinal neurodegenerative diseases. However, efficiently delivering transgenes to retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) remains hard to achieve. In this study, we innovatively investigated transduction efficiency of adeno-associated virus (AAV)-PHP.eB in murine RGCs by retro-orbital venous sinus injection. Five doses of AAV-PHP.eB-EGFP were retro-orbitally injected in venous sinus in adult C57/BL6J mice. Two weeks after administration, RGCs transduction efficiency was quantified by retinal flat-mounts and frozen section co-labeling with RGCs marker Rbpms. In addition, safety of this method was evaluated by RGCs survival rate and retinal morphology. To conform efficacy of this new method, AAV-PHP.eB-CNTF was administrated into mature mice through single retro-orbital venous injection after optic nerve crush injury to evaluate axonal elongation. Results indicated that AAV- PHP.eB readily crossed the blood-retina barrier and was able to transduce more than 90% of RGCs when total dose of virus reached 5 × 1010 vector genomes (vg). Moreover, this technique did not affect RGCs survival rate and retinal morphology. Furthermore, retro-orbital venous delivery of AAV-PHP.eB-CNTF effectively transduced RGCs, robustly promoted axonal regeneration after optic nerve crush injury. Thus, novel AAV-PHP.eB retro-orbital injection provides a minimally invasive and efficient route for transgene delivery in treatment of retinal neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingjun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Liuxueying Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Huifeng Rong
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Kaijing 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
| | - Meifang 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
| | - Jingyi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Jian Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou, 510060, China.
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4
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Li L, Qin R, Liu Y, Tseng YS, Zhang W, Yu L, Mietzsch M, Zou X, Liu H, Lu G, Hu H, Mckenna R, Yang J, Wei Y, Agbandje-Mckenna M, Hu J, Yang L. Dissecting positive selection events and immunological drives during the evolution of adeno-associated virus lineages. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012260. [PMID: 38885242 PMCID: PMC11182496 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes from primates are being developed and clinically used as vectors for human gene therapy. However, the evolutionary mechanism of AAV variants is far from being understood, except that genetic recombination plays an important role. Furthermore, little is known about the interaction between AAV and its natural hosts, human and nonhuman primates. In this study, natural AAV capsid genes were subjected to systemic evolutionary analysis with a focus on selection drives during the diversification of AAV lineages. A number of positively selected sites were identified from these AAV lineages with functional relevance implied by their localization on the AAV structures. The selection drives of the two AAV2 capsid sites were further investigated in a series of biological experiments. These observations did not support the evolution of the site 410 of the AAV2 capsid driven by selection pressure from the human CD4+ T-cell response. However, positive selection on site 548 of the AAV2 capsid was directly related to host humoral immunity because of the profound effects of mutations at this site on the immune evasion of AAV variants from human neutralizing antibodies at both the individual and population levels. Overall, this work provides a novel interpretation of the genetic diversity and evolution of AAV lineages in their natural hosts, which may contribute to their further engineering and application in human gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lirong Li
- Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Gene Therapy for Heart Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Runkuan Qin
- Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Gene Therapy for Heart Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yunbo Liu
- Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Gene Therapy for Heart Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yu-Shan Tseng
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, The McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Weihan Zhang
- General Surgery Department, Gastric Cancer Center and Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mario Mietzsch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, The McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Xinkai Zou
- Center for Immunology and Hematology, Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Haizhou Liu
- Computational Virology Group, Center for Bacteria and Viruses Resources and Bioinformation, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Guangwen Lu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongbo Hu
- Center for Immunology and Hematology, Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Robert Mckenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, The McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jinliang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuquan Wei
- Laboratory of Aging Research and Cancer Drug Target, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatrics, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mavis Agbandje-Mckenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, The McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
| | - Jiankun Hu
- General Surgery Department, Gastric Cancer Center and Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Lin Yang
- Department of Cardiology and Laboratory of Gene Therapy for Heart Diseases, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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5
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Willimann M, Tiyaboonchai A, Adachi K, Li B, Waldburger L, Nakai H, Grompe M, Thöny B. AAV Capsid Screening for Translational Pig Research Using a Mouse Xenograft Liver Model. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.29.596409. [PMID: 38853940 PMCID: PMC11160762 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.29.596409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
In gene therapy, delivery vectors are a key component for successful gene delivery and safety, based on which adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) gained popularity in particular for the liver, but also for other organs. Traditionally, rodents have been used as animal models to develop and optimize treatments, but species and organ specific tropism of AAV desire large animal models more closely related to humans for preclinical in-depth studies. Relevant AAV variants with the potential for clinical translation in liver gene therapy were previously evolved in vivo in a xenogeneic mouse model transplanted with human hepatocytes. Here, we selected and evaluated efficient AAV capsids using chimeric mice with a >90% xenografted pig hepatocytes. The pig is a valuable preclinical model for therapy studies due to its anatomic and immunological similarities to humans. Using a DNA-barcoded recombinant AAV library containing 47 different capsids and subsequent Illumina sequencing of barcodes in the AAV vector genome DNA and transcripts in the porcine hepatocytes, we found the AAVLK03 and AAVrh20 capsid to be the most efficient delivery vectors regarding transgene expression in porcine hepatocytes. In attempting to validate these findings with primary porcine hepatocytes, we observed capsid-specific differences in cell entry and transgene expression efficiency where the AAV2, AAVAnc80, and AAVDJ capsids showed superior efficiency to AAVLK03 and AAVrh20. This work highlights intricacies of in vitro testing with primary hepatocytes and the requirements for suitable pre-clinical animal models but suggests the chimeric mouse to be a valuable model to predict AAV capsids to transduce porcine hepatocytes efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Willimann
- University Children's Hospital Zurich, Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Amita Tiyaboonchai
- Oregon Health & Science University, Stem Cell Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Kei Adachi
- Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Bin Li
- Oregon Health & Science University, Stem Cell Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Lea Waldburger
- University Children's Hospital Zurich, Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Hiroyuki Nakai
- Oregon Health & Science University, Department of Molecular & Medical Genetics, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Markus Grompe
- Oregon Health & Science University, Stem Cell Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Beat Thöny
- University Children's Hospital Zurich, Division of Metabolism and Children's Research Center, Zurich, Switzerland
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6
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Owusu-Yaw BS, Zhang Y, Garrett L, Yao A, Shing K, Batista AR, Sena-Esteves M, Upadhyay J, Kegel-Gleason K, Todd N. Focused Ultrasound-Mediated Disruption of the Blood-Brain Barrier for AAV9 Delivery in a Mouse Model of Huntington's Disease. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:710. [PMID: 38931834 PMCID: PMC11206648 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a monogenic neurodegenerative disorder caused by a cytosine-adenine-guanine (CAG) trinucleotide repeat expansion in the HTT gene. There are no cures for HD, but the genetic basis of this disorder makes gene therapy a viable approach. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-miRNA-based therapies have been demonstrated to be effective in lowering HTT mRNA; however, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) poses a significant challenge for gene delivery to the brain. Delivery strategies include direct injections into the central nervous system, which are invasive and can result in poor diffusion of viral particles through the brain parenchyma. Focused ultrasound (FUS) is an alternative approach that can be used to non-invasively deliver AAVs by temporarily disrupting the BBB. Here, we investigate FUS-mediated delivery of a single-stranded AAV9 bearing a cDNA for GFP in 2-month-old wild-type mice and the zQ175 HD mouse model at 2-, 6-, and 12-months. FUS treatment improved AAV9 delivery for all mouse groups. The delivery efficacy was similar for all WT and HD groups, with the exception of the zQ175 12-month cohort, where we observed decreased GFP expression. Astrocytosis did not increase after FUS treatment, even within the zQ175 12-month group exhibiting higher baseline levels of GFAP expression. These findings demonstrate that FUS can be used to non-invasively deliver an AAV9-based gene therapy to targeted brain regions in a mouse model of Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernie S. Owusu-Yaw
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (Y.Z.); (N.T.)
| | - Yongzhi Zhang
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (Y.Z.); (N.T.)
| | - Lilyan Garrett
- College of Science, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Alvin Yao
- Department of Engineering, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA;
| | - Kai Shing
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (K.S.); (K.K.-G.)
| | - Ana Rita Batista
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (A.R.B.); (M.S.-E.)
| | - Miguel Sena-Esteves
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA; (A.R.B.); (M.S.-E.)
| | - Jaymin Upadhyay
- Department of Anesthesiology, Critical Care and Pain Medicine, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA;
| | - Kimberly Kegel-Gleason
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; (K.S.); (K.K.-G.)
| | - Nick Todd
- Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (Y.Z.); (N.T.)
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7
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Wang JH, Gessler DJ, Zhan W, Gallagher TL, Gao G. Adeno-associated virus as a delivery vector for gene therapy of human diseases. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:78. [PMID: 38565561 PMCID: PMC10987683 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01780-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) has emerged as a pivotal delivery tool in clinical gene therapy owing to its minimal pathogenicity and ability to establish long-term gene expression in different tissues. Recombinant AAV (rAAV) has been engineered for enhanced specificity and developed as a tool for treating various diseases. However, as rAAV is being more widely used as a therapy, the increased demand has created challenges for the existing manufacturing methods. Seven rAAV-based gene therapy products have received regulatory approval, but there continue to be concerns about safely using high-dose viral therapies in humans, including immune responses and adverse effects such as genotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, thrombotic microangiopathy, and neurotoxicity. In this review, we explore AAV biology with an emphasis on current vector engineering strategies and manufacturing technologies. We discuss how rAAVs are being employed in ongoing clinical trials for ocular, neurological, metabolic, hematological, neuromuscular, and cardiovascular diseases as well as cancers. We outline immune responses triggered by rAAV, address associated side effects, and discuss strategies to mitigate these reactions. We hope that discussing recent advancements and current challenges in the field will be a helpful guide for researchers and clinicians navigating the ever-evolving landscape of rAAV-based gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Hui Wang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, VIC, 3002, Australia
| | - Dominic J Gessler
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, 55455, USA
| | - Wei Zhan
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Thomas L Gallagher
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA.
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8
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Daci R, Flotte TR. Delivery of Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors to the Central Nervous System for Correction of Single Gene Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1050. [PMID: 38256124 PMCID: PMC10816966 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25021050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Genetic disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) comprise a significant portion of disability in both children and adults. Several preclinical animal models have shown effective adeno-associated virus (AAV) mediated gene transfer for either treatment or prevention of autosomal recessive genetic disorders. Owing to the intricacy of the human CNS and the blood-brain barrier, it is difficult to deliver genes, particularly since the expression of any given gene may be required in a particular CNS structure or cell type at a specific time during development. In this review, we analyzed delivery methods for AAV-mediated gene therapy in past and current clinical trials. The delivery routes analyzed were direct intraparenchymal (IP), intracerebroventricular (ICV), intra-cisterna magna (CM), lumbar intrathecal (IT), and intravenous (IV). The results demonstrated that the dose used in these routes varies dramatically. The average total doses used were calculated and were 1.03 × 1013 for IP, 5.00 × 1013 for ICV, 1.26 × 1014 for CM, and 3.14 × 1014 for IT delivery. The dose for IV delivery varies by patient weight and is 1.13 × 1015 IV for a 10 kg infant. Ultimately, the choice of intervention must weigh the risk of an invasive surgical procedure to the toxicity and immune response associated with a high dose vector.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rrita Daci
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 N Lake Ave, Worcester, MA 01655, USA;
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Terence R. Flotte
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 368 Plantation Street, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 N Lake Ave, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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9
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Yu DL, van Lieshout LP, Stevens BAY, Near KJ(J, Stodola JK, Stinson KJ, Slavic D, Wootton SK. AAV Vectors Pseudotyped with Capsids from Porcine and Bovine Species Mediate In Vitro and In Vivo Gene Delivery. Viruses 2023; 16:57. [PMID: 38257756 PMCID: PMC10820940 DOI: 10.3390/v16010057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are among the most widely used delivery vehicles for in vivo gene therapy as they mediate robust and sustained transgene expression with limited toxicity. However, a significant impediment to the broad clinical success of AAV-based therapies is the widespread presence of pre-existing humoral immunity to AAVs in the human population. This immunity arises from the circulation of non-pathogenic endemic human AAV serotypes. One possible solution is to use non-human AAV capsids to pseudotype transgene-containing AAV vector genomes of interest. Due to the low probability of human exposure to animal AAVs, pre-existing immunity to animal-derived AAV capsids should be low. Here, we characterize two novel AAV capsid sequences: one derived from porcine colon tissue and the other from a caprine adenovirus stock. Both AAV capsids proved to be effective transducers of HeLa and HEK293T cells in vitro. In vivo, both capsids were able to transduce the murine nose, lung, and liver after either intranasal or intraperitoneal administration. In addition, we demonstrate that the porcine AAV capsid likely arose from multiple recombination events involving human- and animal-derived AAV sequences. We hypothesize that recurrent recombination events with similar and distantly related AAV sequences represent an effective mechanism for enhancing the fitness of wildtype AAV populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darrick L. Yu
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Jenny K. Stodola
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Kevin J. Stinson
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Durda Slavic
- Animal Health Laboratory, Laboratory Services Division, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Sarah K. Wootton
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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10
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Sasaki N, Kok CY, Westhaus A, Alexander IE, Lisowski L, Kizana E. In Search of Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors With Enhanced Cardiac Tropism for Gene Therapy. Heart Lung Circ 2023; 32:816-824. [PMID: 37451880 DOI: 10.1016/j.hlc.2023.06.704] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Globally, adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have been increasingly used for clinical gene therapy trials. In Australia, AAV-based gene therapy is available for hereditary diseases such as retinal dystrophy or spinal muscular atrophy 1 (SMA1). Many preclinical studies have used AAV vectors for gene therapy in models of cardiac disease with outcomes of varying translational potential. However, major barriers to effective and safe therapeutic gene delivery to the human heart remain to be overcome. These include tropism, efficient gene transfer, mitigating off-target gene delivery and avoidance of the host immune response. Developing such an enhanced AAV vector for cardiac gene therapy is of great interest to the field of advanced cardiac therapeutics. In this review, we provide an overview of the approaches currently being employed in the search for cardiac cell-specific AAV capsids, ranging from natural AAVs selected as a result of infection and latency in the heart, to the use of cutting-edge molecular techniques to engineer and select AAVs specific for cardiac cells with the use of high-throughput methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natsuki Sasaki
- The Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Cindy Y Kok
- The Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Adrian Westhaus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Ian E Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Eddy Kizana
- The Centre for Heart Research, The Westmead Institute for Medical Research, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Westmead Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Cardiology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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11
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Servellita V, Sotomayor Gonzalez A, Lamson DM, Foresythe A, Huh HJ, Bazinet AL, Bergman NH, Bull RL, Garcia KY, Goodrich JS, Lovett SP, Parker K, Radune D, Hatada A, Pan CY, Rizzo K, Bertumen JB, Morales C, Oluniyi PE, Nguyen J, Tan J, Stryke D, Jaber R, Leslie MT, Lyons Z, Hedman HD, Parashar U, Sullivan M, Wroblewski K, Oberste MS, Tate JE, Baker JM, Sugerman D, Potts C, Lu X, Chhabra P, Ingram LA, Shiau H, Britt W, Gutierrez Sanchez LH, Ciric C, Rostad CA, Vinjé J, Kirking HL, Wadford DA, Raborn RT, St George K, Chiu CY. Adeno-associated virus type 2 in US children with acute severe hepatitis. Nature 2023; 617:574-580. [PMID: 36996871 PMCID: PMC10170441 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05949-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
As of August 2022, clusters of acute severe hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children have been reported from 35 countries, including the USA1,2. Previous studies have found human adenoviruses (HAdVs) in the blood from patients in Europe and the USA3-7, although it is unclear whether this virus is causative. Here we used PCR testing, viral enrichment-based sequencing and agnostic metagenomic sequencing to analyse samples from 16 HAdV-positive cases from 1 October 2021 to 22 May 2022, in parallel with 113 controls. In blood from 14 cases, adeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV2) sequences were detected in 93% (13 of 14), compared to 4 (3.5%) of 113 controls (P < 0.001) and to 0 of 30 patients with hepatitis of defined aetiology (P < 0.001). In controls, HAdV type 41 was detected in blood from 9 (39.1%) of the 23 patients with acute gastroenteritis (without hepatitis), including 8 of 9 patients with positive stool HAdV testing, but co-infection with AAV2 was observed in only 3 (13.0%) of these 23 patients versus 93% of cases (P < 0.001). Co-infections by Epstein-Barr virus, human herpesvirus 6 and/or enterovirus A71 were also detected in 12 (85.7%) of 14 cases, with higher herpesvirus detection in cases versus controls (P < 0.001). Our findings suggest that the severity of the disease is related to co-infections involving AAV2 and one or more helper viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Venice Servellita
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Daryl M Lamson
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, David Axelrod Institute, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Abiodun Foresythe
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Hee Jae Huh
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Genetics, Samsung Medical Center, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Adam L Bazinet
- National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Nicholas H Bergman
- National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Robert L Bull
- Federal Bureau of Investigation Laboratory Division/Scientific Response and Analysis Unit, Quantico, VA, USA
| | - Karla Y Garcia
- National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Jennifer S Goodrich
- National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Sean P Lovett
- National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Kisha Parker
- National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Diana Radune
- National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - April Hatada
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Chao-Yang Pan
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - Kyle Rizzo
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA
| | - J Bradford Bertumen
- California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA, USA
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, CA, USA
| | | | - Paul E Oluniyi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jenny Nguyen
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Tan
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Doug Stryke
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Rayah Jaber
- Florida Department of Health, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | | | - Zin Lyons
- North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Hayden D Hedman
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, CA, USA
- South Dakota Department of Health, Pierre, SD, USA
| | - Umesh Parashar
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, CA, USA
| | - Maureen Sullivan
- Association for Public Health Laboratories, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Kelly Wroblewski
- Association for Public Health Laboratories, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | | | | | - Julia M Baker
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, CA, USA
| | - David Sugerman
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, CA, USA
| | - Caelin Potts
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, CA, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Lu
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, CA, USA
| | - Preeti Chhabra
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, CA, USA
| | | | - Henry Shiau
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - William Britt
- University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | | | - Caroline Ciric
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Christina A Rostad
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine and Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jan Vinjé
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, CA, USA
| | | | | | - R Taylor Raborn
- National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center (NBACC), Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Kirsten St George
- Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, David Axelrod Institute, Albany, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Science, University at Albany, SUNY, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Charles Y Chiu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Chan-Zuckerberg Biohub, San Francisco, CA, USA.
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12
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Nambiar K, Wang Q, Yan H, Wilson JM. Characterizing Complex Populations of Endogenous Adeno-Associated Viruses by Single-Genome Amplification. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:1164-1173. [PMID: 35906801 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2022.099] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The isolation of adeno-associated virus (AAV) genomes from biomaterials at the molecular level has traditionally relied on polymerase chain reaction-based and cloning-based techniques. However, when applied to samples containing multiple species, traditional techniques for isolating viral genomes can amplify artificial recombinants and introduce polymerase misincorporation errors. In this study, we describe AAV single-genome amplification (AAV-SGA): a powerful technique to isolate, amplify, and sequence single AAV genomes from mammalian genomic DNA, which can then be used to construct vectors for gene therapy. We used AAV-SGA to precisely isolate 15 novel AAV genomes belonging to AAV clades A, D, and E and the Fringe outgroup. This technique also enables investigations of AAV population dynamics and recombination events to provide insights into virus-host interactions and virus biology. Using AAV-SGA, we identified regional heterogeneity within AAV populations from different lobes of the liver of a rhesus macaque and found evidence of frequent genomic recombination between AAV populations. This study highlights the strengths of AAV-SGA and demonstrates its capability to provide valuable insights into the biology and diversity of AAVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kalyani Nambiar
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Qiang Wang
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hanying Yan
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - James M Wilson
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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13
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Danaeifar M. Recent advances in gene therapy: genetic bullets to the root of the problem. Clin Exp Med 2022:10.1007/s10238-022-00925-x. [PMID: 36284069 DOI: 10.1007/s10238-022-00925-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Genetics and molecular genetic techniques have changed many perspectives and paradigms in medicine. Using genetic methods, many diseases have been cured or alleviated. Gene therapy, in its simplest definition, is application of genetic materials and related techniques to treat various human diseases. Evaluation of the trends in the field of medicine and therapeutics clarifies that gene therapy has attracted a lot of attention due to its powerful potential to treat a number of diseases. There are various genetic materials that can be used in gene therapy such as DNA, single- and double-stranded RNA, siRNA and shRNA. The main gene editing techniques used for in vitro and in vivo gene modification are ZNF, TALEN and CRISPR-Cas9. The latter has increased hopes for more precise and efficient gene targeting as it requires two separate recognition sites which makes it more specific and can also cause rapid and sufficient cleavage within the target sequence. There must be carriers for delivering genes to the target tissue. The most commonly used carriers for this purpose are viral vectors such as adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses and lentiviruses. Non-viral vectors consist of bacterial vectors, liposomes, dendrimers and nanoparticles.
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14
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Xu J, Zheng Y, Wang L, Liu Y, Wang X, Li Y, Chi G. miR-124: A Promising Therapeutic Target for Central Nervous System Injuries and Diseases. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2022; 42:2031-2053. [PMID: 33886036 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-021-01091-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Central nervous system injuries and diseases, such as ischemic stroke, spinal cord injury, neurodegenerative diseases, glioblastoma, multiple sclerosis, and the resulting neuroinflammation often lead to death or long-term disability. MicroRNAs are small, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs that regulate posttranscriptional gene expression in both physiological and pathological cellular processes, including central nervous system injuries and disorders. Studies on miR-124, one of the most abundant microRNAs in the central nervous system, have shown that its dysregulation is related to the occurrence and development of pathology within the central nervous system. Herein, we review the molecular regulatory functions, underlying mechanisms, and effective delivery methods of miR-124 in the central nervous system, where it is involved in pathological conditions. The review also provides novel insights into the therapeutic target potential of miR-124 in the treatment of human central nervous system injuries or diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinying Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yangyang Zheng
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Liangjia Wang
- Clinical Medical College, Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yining Liu
- Clinical Medical College, Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xishu Wang
- Clinical Medical College, Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yulin Li
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, People's Republic of China.
| | - Guangfan Chi
- The Key Laboratory of Pathobiology, Ministry of Education, College of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun, 130000, People's Republic of China.
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15
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Hasyim AA, Iyori M, Mizuno T, Abe YI, Yamagoshi I, Yusuf Y, Syafira I, Sakamoto A, Yamamoto Y, Mizukami H, Shida H, Yoshida S. Adeno-associated virus-based malaria booster vaccine following attenuated replication-competent vaccinia virus LC16m8Δ priming. Parasitol Int 2022; 92:102652. [PMID: 36007703 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
We previously demonstrated that boosting with adeno-associated virus (AAV) type 1 (AAV1) can induce highly effective and long-lasting protective immune responses against malaria parasites when combined with replication-deficient adenovirus priming in a rodent model. In the present study, we compared the efficacy of two different AAV serotypes, AAV1 and AAV5, as malaria booster vaccines following priming with the attenuated replication-competent vaccinia virus strain LC16m8Δ (m8Δ), which harbors the fusion gene encoding both the pre-erythrocytic stage protein, Plasmodium falciparum circumsporozoite (PfCSP) and the sexual stage protein (Pfs25) in a two-dose heterologous prime-boost immunization regimen. Both regimens, m8Δ/AAV1 and m8Δ/AAV5, induced robust anti-PfCSP and anti-Pfs25 antibodies. To evaluate the protective efficacy, the mice were challenged with sporozoites twice after immunization. At the first sporozoite challenge, m8Δ/AAV5 achieved 100% sterile protection whereas m8Δ/AAV1 achieved 70% protection. However, at the second challenge, 100% of the surviving mice from the first challenge were protected in the m8Δ/AAV1 group whereas only 55.6% of those in the m8Δ/AAV5 group were protected. Regarding the transmission-blocking efficacy, we found that both immunization regimens induced high levels of transmission-reducing activity (>99%) and transmission-blocking activity (>95%). Our data indicate that the AAV5-based multistage malaria vaccine is as effective as the AAV1-based vaccine when administered following an m8Δ-based vaccine. These results suggest that AAV5 could be a viable alternate vaccine vector as a malaria booster vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammar A Hasyim
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Iyori
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Tetsushi Mizuno
- Department of Global Infectious Diseases, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-0934, Japan
| | - Yu-Ichi Abe
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Iroha Yamagoshi
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Yenni Yusuf
- Department of Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Sulawesi Selatan 90245, Indonesia
| | - Intan Syafira
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Akihiko Sakamoto
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Yutaro Yamamoto
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Mizukami
- Division of Gene Therapy, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Tochigi 329-0498, Japan
| | - Hisatoshi Shida
- Institute for Genetic Medicine, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0815, Japan
| | - Shigeto Yoshida
- Laboratory of Vaccinology and Applied Immunology, Kanazawa University School of Pharmacy, Kanazawa, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan.
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16
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Chupradit K, Thongsin N, Tayapiwatana C, Wattanapanitch M. A precise gene delivery approach for human induced pluripotent stem cells using Cas9 RNP complex and recombinant AAV6 donor vectors. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0270963. [PMID: 35797389 PMCID: PMC9262223 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Genome editing in human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) offers a potential tool for studying gene functions in disease models and correcting genetic mutations for cell-based therapy. Precise transgene insertion in hiPSCs represents a significant challenge. In the past decade, viral transduction has been widely used due to its high transduction efficiency; however, it can result in random transgene integration and variable transgene copy numbers. Non-viral-based strategies are generally safer but limited by their low transfection efficiency in hiPSCs. Recently, genome engineering using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors has emerged as a promising gene delivery approach due to AAVs’ low immunogenicity, toxicity, and ability to infect a broad range of cells. The following protocol describes the workflow for genome editing in hiPSCs using the CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex combined with the recombinant AAV serotype 6 (AAV6) donor vectors to introduce a gene of interest (GOI) fused with mCherry fluorescent reporter gene into the AAVS1 safe harbor site. This approach leads to efficient transgene insertion and is applicable to precise genome editing of hiPSCs or other types of stem cells for research purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koollawat Chupradit
- Research Department, Siriraj Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Center of Biomolecular Therapy and Diagnostic, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Nontaphat Thongsin
- Research Department, Siriraj Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Chatchai Tayapiwatana
- Center of Biomolecular Therapy and Diagnostic, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Division of Clinical Immunology, Department of Medical Technology, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
- Center of Innovative Immunodiagnostic Development, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand
| | - Methichit Wattanapanitch
- Research Department, Siriraj Center for Regenerative Medicine, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- * E-mail:
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17
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Becker J, Fakhiri J, Grimm D. Fantastic AAV Gene Therapy Vectors and How to Find Them—Random Diversification, Rational Design and Machine Learning. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11070756. [PMID: 35890005 PMCID: PMC9318892 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11070756] [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: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Parvoviruses are a diverse family of small, non-enveloped DNA viruses that infect a wide variety of species, tissues and cell types. For over half a century, their intriguing biology and pathophysiology has fueled intensive research aimed at dissecting the underlying viral and cellular mechanisms. Concurrently, their broad host specificity (tropism) has motivated efforts to develop parvoviruses as gene delivery vectors for human cancer or gene therapy applications. While the sum of preclinical and clinical data consistently demonstrates the great potential of these vectors, these findings also illustrate the importance of enhancing and restricting in vivo transgene expression in desired cell types. To this end, major progress has been made especially with vectors based on Adeno-associated virus (AAV), whose capsid is highly amenable to bioengineering, repurposing and expansion of its natural tropism. Here, we provide an overview of the state-of-the-art approaches to create new AAV variants with higher specificity and efficiency of gene transfer in on-target cells. We first review traditional and novel directed evolution approaches, including high-throughput screening of AAV capsid libraries. Next, we discuss programmable receptor-mediated targeting with a focus on two recent technologies that utilize high-affinity binders. Finally, we highlight one of the latest stratagems for rational AAV vector characterization and optimization, namely, machine learning, which promises to facilitate and accelerate the identification of next-generation, safe and precise gene delivery vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Becker
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases Research (CIID), BioQuant, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- Faculty of Biosciences, University of Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Julia Fakhiri
- Roche Pharma Research and Early Development, Therapeutic Modalities, Roche Innovation Center Munich, Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Nonnenwald 2, 82377 Penzberg, Germany
- Correspondence: (J.F.); (D.G.); Tel.: +49-174-3486203 (J.F.); +49-6221-5451331 (D.G.)
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Medical Faculty, University of Heidelberg, Center for Integrative Infectious Diseases Research (CIID), BioQuant, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Correspondence: (J.F.); (D.G.); Tel.: +49-174-3486203 (J.F.); +49-6221-5451331 (D.G.)
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18
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Zhao X, Liu H, Liu H, Cai R, Wu H. Gene Therapy Restores Auditory Functions in an Adult Vglut3 Knockout Mouse Model. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:729-739. [PMID: 35726398 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2022.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy has been demonstrated to be extremely effective for treating genetic hearing loss over the past several years. However, successful gene therapies for hereditary deafness have not been well-studied in adult mice. To explore the possibility of gene therapy after peripheral auditory maturity, we used AAV8 to express Vglut3 in the cochleae of 5 w, 8 w, and 20 w Vglut3KO mice. Results indicated that AAV8-Vglut3 could mediate the exogenous expression of Vglut3 in all inner hair cells (IHCs). Auditory function was successfully restored, and the hearing threshold remained stable for at least 12 weeks after rescue. Moreover, the results revealed that the number of synaptic ribbons, as well as their morphology, were significantly recovered after gene therapy, potentially indicating the glutamate-dependent plasticity of IHCs. Taken together, our data introduces the possibility of gene therapy in adult mice and advances our knowledge of the role of Vglut3 in presynaptic plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingle Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai, China.,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, Shanghai, China;
| | - Huihui Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, Shanghai, China;
| | - Hongchao Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, Shanghai, China;
| | - Ruijie Cai
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, Shanghai, China;
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, Shanghai, China;
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19
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Gene Therapy for Mitochondrial Diseases: Current Status and Future Perspective. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14061287. [PMID: 35745859 PMCID: PMC9231068 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14061287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial diseases (MDs) are a group of severe genetic disorders caused by mutations in the nuclear or mitochondrial genome encoding proteins involved in the oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) system. MDs have a wide range of symptoms, ranging from organ-specific to multisystemic dysfunctions, with different clinical outcomes. The lack of natural history information, the limits of currently available preclinical models, and the wide range of phenotypic presentations seen in MD patients have all hampered the development of effective therapies. The growing number of pre-clinical and clinical trials over the last decade has shown that gene therapy is a viable precision medicine option for treating MD. However, several obstacles must be overcome, including vector design, targeted tissue tropism and efficient delivery, transgene expression, and immunotoxicity. This manuscript offers a comprehensive overview of the state of the art of gene therapy in MD, addressing the main challenges, the most feasible solutions, and the future perspectives of the field.
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20
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Chen R, Lin S, Chen X. The promising novel therapies for familial hypercholesterolemia. J Clin Lab Anal 2022; 36:e24552. [PMID: 35712827 PMCID: PMC9279988 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.24552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The incidence of premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is high. In recent years, novel therapeutic modalities have shown significant lipid‐lowering ability. In this paper, we summarize the recent developments in novel therapies for FH via the treatment of different targets and discuss the characteristics of each targeted therapy. Based on the process of protein synthesis, we attempt to summarize the direct‐effect targets including protein, RNA, and DNA. Methods For this systematic review, relevant studies are assessed by searching in several databases including PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The publications of original researches are considered for screening. Results Most drugs are protein‐targeted such as molecule‐based and monoclonal antibodies, including statins, ezetimibe, alirocumab, evolocumab, and evinacumab. Both antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) approaches, such as mipomersen, vupanorsen, inclisiran, and ARO‐ANG3, are designed to reduce the number of mRNA transcripts and then degrade proteins. DNA‐targeted therapies such as adeno‐associated virus or CRISPR–Cas9 modification could be used to deliver or edit genes to address a genetic deficiency and improve the related phenotype. Conclusion While the therapies based on different targets including protein, RNA, and DNA are on different stages of development, the mechanisms of these novel therapies may provide new ideas for precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Chen
- School of Medicine of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Shaoyi Lin
- The Affiliated Ningbo First Hospital, School of Medicine of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Xiaomin Chen
- The Affiliated Ningbo First Hospital, School of Medicine of Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.,Ningbo First Hospital Affiliated to School of Medicine of Zhejiang University, Ningbo, China
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21
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Robust AAV Genotyping Based on Genetic Distances in Rep Gene That Are Maintained by Ubiquitous Recombination. Viruses 2022; 14:v14051038. [PMID: 35632781 PMCID: PMC9143360 DOI: 10.3390/v14051038] [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: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are a convenient tool for gene therapy delivery. According to the current classification, they are divided into the species AAV A and AAV B within the genus Dependoparvovirus. Historically AAVs were also subdivided on the intraspecies level into 13 serotypes, which differ in tissue tropism and targeted gene delivery capacity. Serotype, however, is not a universal taxonomic category, and their assignment is not always robust. Cross-reactivity has been shown, indicating that classification could not rely on the results of serological tests alone. Moreover, since the isolation of AAV4, all subsequent AAVs were subdivided into serotypes based primarily on genetic differences and phylogenetic reconstructions. An increased interest in the use of AAV as a gene delivery tool justifies the need to improve the existing classification. Here, we suggest genotype-based AAV classification below the species level based on the rep gene. A robust threshold was established as 10% nt differences within the 1248 nt genome fragment, with 4 distinct AAV genotypes identified. This distinct sub-species structure is maintained by ubiquitous recombination within, but not between, rep genes of the suggested genotypes.
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22
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Gross DA, Tedesco N, Leborgne C, Ronzitti G. Overcoming the Challenges Imposed by Humoral Immunity to AAV Vectors to Achieve Safe and Efficient Gene Transfer in Seropositive Patients. Front Immunol 2022; 13:857276. [PMID: 35464422 PMCID: PMC9022790 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.857276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the major goals of in vivo gene transfer is to achieve long-term expression of therapeutic transgenes in terminally differentiated cells. The extensive clinical experience and the recent approval of Luxturna® (Spark Therapeutics, now Roche) and Zolgensma® (AveXis, now Novartis) place vectors derived from adeno-associated viruses (AAV) among the best options for gene transfer in multiple tissues. Despite these successes, limitations remain to the application of this therapeutic modality in a wider population. AAV was originally identified as a promising virus to derive gene therapy vectors because, despite infecting humans, it was not associated with any evident disease. Thee large proportion of AAV infections in the human population is now revealing as a limitation because after exposure to wild-type AAV, anti-AAV antibodies develops and may neutralize the vectors derived from the virus. Injection of AAV in humans is generally well-tolerated although the immune system can activate after the recognition of AAV vectors capsid and genome. The formation of high-titer neutralizing antibodies to AAV after the first injection precludes vector re-administration. Thus, both pre-existing and post-treatment humoral responses to AAV vectors greatly limit a wider application of this gene transfer modality. Different methods were suggested to overcome this limitation. The extensive preclinical data available and the large clinical experience in the control of AAV vectors immunogenicity are key to clinical translation and to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of these methods and ultimately bring a curative treatment to patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- David-Alexandre Gross
- Genethon, Evry, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, Evry, France
| | - Novella Tedesco
- Genethon, Evry, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, Evry, France
| | - Christian Leborgne
- Genethon, Evry, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, Evry, France
| | - Giuseppe Ronzitti
- Genethon, Evry, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, Univ Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Integrare research unit UMR_S951, Evry, France
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23
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Lin WC, Tang HC, Wang HY, Kao CY, Chang YC, Li AH, Yang SB, Mou KY. Fragment-Directed Random Mutagenesis by the Reverse Kunkel Method. ACS Synth Biol 2022; 11:1658-1668. [PMID: 35324156 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.2c00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Two fundamentally different approaches are routinely used for protein engineering: user-defined mutagenesis and random mutagenesis, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. Here, we invent a unique mutagenesis protocol, which combines the advantages of user-defined mutagenesis and random mutagenesis. The new method, termed the reverse Kunkel method, allows the user to create random mutations at multiple specified regions in a one-pot reaction. We demonstrated the reverse Kunkel method by mimicking the somatic hypermutation in antibodies that introduces random mutations concentrated in complementarity-determining regions. Coupling with the phage display and yeast display selections, we successfully generated dramatically improved antibodies against a model protein and a neurotransmitter peptide in terms of affinity and immunostaining performance. The reverse Kunkel method is especially suitable for engineering proteins whose activities are determined by multiple variable regions, such as antibodies and adeno-associated virus capsids, or whose functional domains are composed of several discontinuous sequences, such as Cas9 and Cas12a.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Ching Lin
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Hao-Cheng Tang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Han Ying Wang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Yi Kao
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - You-Chiun Chang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics, National Taiwan University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Athena Hsu Li
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
- Taiwan International Graduate Program in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Shi-Bing Yang
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Kurt Yun Mou
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
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24
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Sung YL, Wang TW, Lin TT, Lin SF. Optogenetics in cardiology: methodology and future applications. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ARRHYTHMIA 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s42444-022-00060-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractOptogenetics is an emerging biological approach with the unique capability of specific targeting due to the precise light control with high spatial and temporal resolution. It uses selected light wavelengths to control and modulate the biological functions of cells, tissues, and organ levels. Optogenetics has been instrumental in different biomedical applications, including neuroscience, diabetes, and mitochondria, based on distinctive optical biomedical effects with light modulation. Nowadays, optogenetics in cardiology is rapidly evolving for the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Several in vitro and in vivo research for cardiac optogenetics demonstrated visible progress. The optogenetics technique can be applied to address critical cardiovascular problems such as heart failure and arrhythmia. To this end, this paper reviews cardiac electrophysiology and the technical progress about experimental and clinical cardiac optogenetics and provides the background and evolution of cardiac optogenetics. We reviewed the literature to demonstrate the servo type, transfection efficiency, signal recording, and heart disease targets in optogenetic applications. Such literature review would hopefully expedite the progress of optogenetics in cardiology and further expect to translate into the clinical terminal in the future.
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25
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Zolotukhin S, Vandenberghe L. AAV capsid design: A Goldilocks challenge. Trends Mol Med 2022; 28:183-193. [DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2022.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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26
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Hutt JA, Assaf BT, Bolon B, Cavagnaro J, Galbreath E, Grubor B, Kattenhorn LM, Romeike A, Whiteley LO. Scientific and Regulatory Policy Committee Points to Consider: Nonclinical Research and Development of In Vivo Gene Therapy Products, Emphasizing Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors. Toxicol Pathol 2021; 50:118-146. [PMID: 34657529 DOI: 10.1177/01926233211041962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Sequencing of the human genome and numerous advances in molecular techniques have launched the era of genetic medicine. Increasingly precise technologies for genetic modification, manufacturing, and administration of pharmaceutical-grade biologics have proved the viability of in vivo gene therapy (GTx) as a therapeutic modality as shown in several thousand clinical trials and recent approval of several GTx products for treating rare diseases and cancers. In recognition of the rapidly advancing knowledge in this field, the regulatory landscape has evolved considerably to maintain appropriate monitoring of safety concerns associated with this modality. Nonetheless, GTx safety assessment remains complex and is designed on a case-by-case basis that is determined by the disease indication and product attributes. This article describes our current understanding of fundamental biological principles and possible procedures (emphasizing those related to toxicology and toxicologic pathology) needed to support research and development of in vivo GTx products. This article is not intended to provide comprehensive guidance on all GTx modalities but instead provides an overview relevant to in vivo GTx generally by utilizing recombinant adeno-associated virus-based GTx-the most common in vivo GTx platform-to exemplify the main points to be considered in nonclinical research and development of GTx products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Hutt
- Greenfield Pathology Services, Inc, Greenfield, IN, USA
| | - Basel T Assaf
- Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Branka Grubor
- Biogen, Preclinical Safety/Comparative Pathology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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27
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Chatterjee S, Sivanandam V, Wong KKM. Adeno-Associated Virus and Hematopoietic Stem Cells: The Potential of Adeno-Associated Virus Hematopoietic Stem Cells in Genetic Medicines. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 31:542-552. [PMID: 32253938 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based vectors have transformed into powerful elements of genetic medicine with proven therapeutic efficacy and a good safety profile. Over the years, efforts to transduce hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) with AAV2 vectors have, however, been challenging. While there was evidence that AAV2 delivered vector genomes to primitive, quiescent, multipotential, self-renewing, in vivo engrafting HSCs, transgene expression was elusive. In this study, we review the evolution of AAV transduction of HSC, starting with AAV2 vectors leading to the isolation of a family of naturally occurring AAVs from human CD34+ HSC, the AAVHSC. The stem cell-derived AAVHSCs have turned out to have remarkable potentials for genetic therapies well beyond the hematopoietic system. AAVHSCs have tropism for a wide variety of peripheral tissues, including the liver, muscle, and the retina. They cross the blood-brain barrier and transduce cells of the central nervous system. Preclinical gene therapy studies underway using AAVHSC vectors are discussed. We review the notable ability of AAVHSCs to mediate efficient, seamless homologous recombination in the absence of exogenous nuclease activity and discuss the therapeutic implications. We also discuss early results from an AAVHSC-based clinical gene therapy trial that is underway for the treatment of phenylketonuria. Thus, the stem cell-derived AAVHSC, offer a multifaceted platform for in vivo gene therapy and genome editing for the treatment of inherited diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saswati Chatterjee
- Department of Surgery, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Venkatesh Sivanandam
- Department of Surgery, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Kamehameha Kai-Min Wong
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, California, USA
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28
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Yin L, Keeler GD, Zhang Y, Hoffman BE, Ling C, Qing K, Srivastava A. AAV3-miRNA vectors for growth suppression of human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and human liver tumors in a murine xenograft model in vivo. Gene Ther 2021; 28:422-434. [PMID: 32152434 PMCID: PMC7784898 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-020-0140-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
We have previously reported that recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 3 (AAV3) vectors transduce human liver tumors more efficiently in a mouse xenograft model following systemic administration. Others have utilized AAV8 vectors expressing miR-26a and miR-122 to achieve near total inhibition of growth of mouse liver tumors. Since AAV3 vectors transduce human hepatic cells more efficiently than AAV8 vectors, in the present studies, we wished to evaluate the efficacy of AAV3-miR-26a/122 vectors in suppressing the growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in vitro, and human liver tumors in a mouse model in vivo. To this end, a human HCC cell line, Huh7, was transduced with various multiplicities of infection (MOIs) of AAV3-miR-26a or scAAV3-miR-122 vectors, or both, which also co-expressed a Gaussia luciferase (GLuc) reporter gene. Only a modest level of dose-dependent growth inhibition of Huh7 cells (~12-13%) was observed at the highest MOI (1 × 105 vgs/cell) with each vector. When Huh7 cells were co-transduced with both vectors, the extent of growth inhibition was additive (~26%). However, AAV3-miR-26a and scAAV3-miR-122 vectors led to ~70% inhibition of growth of Huh-derived human liver tumors in a mouse xenograft model in vivo. Thus, the combined use of miR-26a and scAAV3-miR-122 delivered by AAV3 vectors offers a potentially useful approach to target human liver tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Geoffrey D Keeler
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yuanhui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Oncology, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Brad E Hoffman
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Chen Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Keyun Qing
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Arun Srivastava
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Powell Gene Therapy Center, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA.
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29
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AAV9 Structural Rearrangements Induced by Endosomal Trafficking pH and Glycan Attachment. J Virol 2021; 95:e0084321. [PMID: 34260280 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00843-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are small non-enveloped ssDNA viruses, that are currently being developed as gene therapy biologics. After cell entry, AAVs traffic to the nucleus using the endo-lysosomal pathway. The subsequent decrease in pH triggers conformational changes to the capsid that enables the externalization of the capsid protein (VP) N-termini, including the unique domain of the minor capsid protein VP1 (VP1u), which permits phospholipase activity required for the capsid lysosomal egress. Here, we report the AAV9 capsid structure, determined at the endosomal pHs (7.4, 6.0, 5.5, and 4.0) and terminal galactose-bound AAV9 capsids at pHs 7.4 and 5.5 using cryo-electron microscopy and three-dimensional image reconstruction. Taken together these studies provide insight into AAV9 capsid conformational changes at the 5-fold pore during endosomal trafficking, both in the presence and absence of its cellular glycan receptor. We visualized, for the first time, that acidification induces the externalization of the VP3 and possibly VP2 N-termini, presumably in prelude to the externalization of VP1u at pH 4.0, that is essential for lysosomal membrane disruption. In addition, the structural study of AAV9-galactose interactions demonstrates AAV9 remains attached to its glycan receptor at the late endosome pH 5.5. This interaction significantly alters the conformational stability of the variable region I of the VPs, as well as the dynamics associated with VP N-terminus externalization. Importance There are 13 distinct Adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotypes that are structurally homologous and whose capsid proteins (VP1-3) are similar in amino acid sequence. However, AAV9 is one of the most commonly studied and used as gene therapy vector. This is part because, AAV9 is capable of crossing the blood brain barrier as well as readily transduces a wide array of tissues, including the central nervous system. In this study we provide AAV9 capsid structural insight during intracellular trafficking. Although the AAV capsid has been shown to externalize the N-termini of its VPs, to enzymatically disrupt the lysosome membrane at low pH, there was no structural evidence to confirm this. By utilizing AAV9 as our model, we provide the first structural evidence that the externalization process occurs at the protein interface at the icosahedral 5-fold symmetry axis and can be triggered by lowering pH.
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30
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Large EE, Silveria MA, Zane GM, Weerakoon O, Chapman MS. Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Gene Delivery: Dissecting Molecular Interactions upon Cell Entry. Viruses 2021; 13:1336. [PMID: 34372542 PMCID: PMC8310307 DOI: 10.3390/v13071336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Human gene therapy has advanced from twentieth-century conception to twenty-first-century reality. The recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus (rAAV) is a major gene therapy vector. Research continues to improve rAAV safety and efficacy using a variety of AAV capsid modification strategies. Significant factors influencing rAAV transduction efficiency include neutralizing antibodies, attachment factor interactions and receptor binding. Advances in understanding the molecular interactions during rAAV cell entry combined with improved capsid modulation strategies will help guide the design and engineering of safer and more efficient rAAV gene therapy vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Michael S. Chapman
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65201, USA; (E.E.L.); (M.A.S.); (G.M.Z.); (O.W.)
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31
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Mehta N, Robbins DA, Yiu G. Ocular Inflammation and Treatment Emergent Adverse Events in Retinal Gene Therapy. Int Ophthalmol Clin 2021; 61:151-177. [PMID: 34196322 PMCID: PMC8259781 DOI: 10.1097/iio.0000000000000366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Neesurg Mehta
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA
| | - Deborah Ahn Robbins
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA
| | - Glenn Yiu
- Department of Ophthalmology & Vision Science, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA
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32
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Cabanes-Creus M, Hallwirth CV, Westhaus A, Ng BH, Liao SHY, Zhu E, Navarro RG, Baltazar G, Drouyer M, Scott S, Logan GJ, Santilli G, Bennett A, Ginn SL, McCaughan G, Thrasher AJ, Agbandje-McKenna M, Alexander IE, Lisowski L. Restoring the natural tropism of AAV2 vectors for human liver. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/560/eaba3312. [PMID: 32908003 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aba3312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Recent clinical successes in gene therapy applications have intensified interest in using adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) as vectors for therapeutic gene delivery. Although prototypical AAV2 shows robust in vitro transduction of human hepatocyte-derived cell lines, it has not translated into an effective vector for liver-directed gene therapy in vivo. This is consistent with observations made in Fah-/-/Rag2-/-/Il2rg-/- (FRG) mice with humanized livers, showing that AAV2 functions poorly in this xenograft model. Here, we derived naturally hepatotropic AAV capsid sequences from primary human liver samples. We demonstrated that capsid mutations, likely acquired as an unintentional consequence of tissue culture propagation, attenuated the intrinsic human hepatic tropism of natural AAV2 and related human liver AAV isolates. These mutations resulted in amino acid changes that increased binding to heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), which has been regarded as the primary cellular receptor mediating AAV2 infection of human hepatocytes. Propagation of natural AAV variants in vitro showed tissue culture adaptation with resulting loss of tropism for human hepatocytes. In vivo readaptation of the prototypical AAV2 in FRG mice with a humanized liver resulted in restoration of the intrinsic hepatic tropism of AAV2 through decreased binding to HSPG. Our results challenge the notion that high affinity for HSPG is essential for AAV2 entry into human hepatocytes and suggest that natural AAV capsids of human liver origin are likely to be more effective for liver-targeted gene therapy applications than culture-adapted AAV2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marti Cabanes-Creus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Claus V Hallwirth
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Adrian Westhaus
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Great Ormond Institute of Child Health, University College London, WC1N 1EH London, UK
| | - Boaz H Ng
- Vector and Genome Engineering Facility, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Sophia H Y Liao
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Erhua Zhu
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Renina Gale Navarro
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Grober Baltazar
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Matthieu Drouyer
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Suzanne Scott
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), North Ryde, NSW 2113, Australia
| | - Grant J Logan
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Giorgia Santilli
- Great Ormond Institute of Child Health, University College London, WC1N 1EH London, UK
| | - Antonette Bennett
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Samantha L Ginn
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Geoff McCaughan
- Liver Injury and Cancer Program, Centenary Research Institute, A.W Morrow Gastroenterology and Liver Centre, Australian National Liver Transplant Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Adrian J Thrasher
- Great Ormond Institute of Child Health, University College London, WC1N 1EH London, UK
| | - Mavis Agbandje-McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Ian E Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute and Children's Hospital at Westmead, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia. .,Vector and Genome Engineering Facility, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia.,Military Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, Biological Threats Identification and Countermeasure Centre, 24-100 Puławy, Poland
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33
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Colón-Thillet R, Jerome KR, Stone D. Optimization of AAV vectors to target persistent viral reservoirs. Virol J 2021; 18:85. [PMID: 33892762 PMCID: PMC8067653 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-021-01555-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene delivery of antiviral therapeutics to anatomical sites where viruses accumulate and persist is a promising approach for the next generation of antiviral therapies. Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are one of the leading vectors for gene therapy applications that deliver gene-editing enzymes, antibodies, and RNA interference molecules to eliminate viral reservoirs that fuel persistent infections. As long-lived viral DNA within specific cellular reservoirs is responsible for persistent hepatitis B virus, Herpes simplex virus, and human immunodeficiency virus infections, the discovery of AAV vectors with strong tropism for hepatocytes, sensory neurons and T cells, respectively, is of particular interest. Identification of natural isolates from various tissues in humans and non-human primates has generated an extensive catalog of AAV vectors with diverse tropisms and transduction efficiencies, which has been further expanded through molecular genetic approaches. The AAV capsid protein, which forms the virions' outer shell, is the primary determinant of tissue tropism, transduction efficiency, and immunogenicity. Thus, over the past few decades, extensive efforts to optimize AAV vectors for gene therapy applications have focused on capsid engineering with approaches such as directed evolution and rational design. These approaches are being used to identify variants with improved transduction efficiencies, alternate tropisms, reduced sequestration in non-target organs, and reduced immunogenicity, and have produced AAV capsids that are currently under evaluation in pre-clinical and clinical trials. This review will summarize the most recent strategies to identify AAV vectors with enhanced tropism and transduction in cell types that harbor viral reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rossana Colón-Thillet
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Keith R Jerome
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Daniel Stone
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, 1100 Fairview Ave N, Seattle, WA, USA.
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34
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Chung SH, Mollhoff IN, Mishra A, Sin TN, Ngo T, Ciulla T, Sieving P, Thomasy SM, Yiu G. Host Immune Responses after Suprachoroidal Delivery of AAV8 in Nonhuman Primate Eyes. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:682-693. [PMID: 33446041 PMCID: PMC8312020 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The suprachoroid is a potential space located between the sclera and choroid of the eye, which provides a novel route for ocular drug or viral vector delivery. Suprachoroidal injection of adeno-associated virus (AAV)8 using transscleral microneedles enables widespread transgene expression in eyes of nonhuman primates, but may cause intraocular inflammation. We characterized the host humoral and cellular immune responses after suprachoroidal delivery of AAV8 expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) in rhesus macaques, and found that it can induce mild chorioretinitis that resolves after systemic corticosteroid administration, with recovery of photoreceptor morphology, but persistent immune cell infiltration after 3 months, corresponding to a loss of GFP expression from retinal pigment epithelial cells, but persistent expression in scleral fibroblasts. Suprachoroidal AAV8 triggered B cell and T cell responses against GFP, but only mild antibody responses to the viral capsid compared to intravitreal injections of the same vector and dose. Systemic biodistribution studies showed lower AAV8 levels in liver and spleen after suprachoroidal injection compared with intravitreal delivery. Our findings suggest that suprachoroidal AAV8 primarily triggers host immune responses to GFP, likely due to sustained transgene expression in scleral fibroblasts outside the blood-retinal barrier, but elicits less humoral immune reactivity to the viral capsid than intravitreal delivery due to lower egress into systemic circulation. As GFP is not native to primates and not a clinically relevant transgene, suprachoroidal AAV delivery of human transgenes may have significant translational potential for retinal gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sook Hyun Chung
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Iris Natalie Mollhoff
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Alaknanda Mishra
- Department of Cell Biology and Human Anatomy, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Tzu-Ni Sin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Taylor Ngo
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Thomas Ciulla
- Department of Clearside Biomedical, Inc., Alpharetta, Georgia, USA
| | - Paul Sieving
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Sara M Thomasy
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA.,Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Glenn Yiu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, University of California Davis, Davis, California, USA
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35
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Qin W, Xu G, Tai PWL, Wang C, Luo L, Li C, Hu X, Xue J, Lu Y, Zhou Q, Wei Q, Wen T, Hu J, Xiao Y, Yang L, Li W, Flotte TR, Wei Y, Gao G. Large-scale molecular epidemiological analysis of AAV in a cancer patient population. Oncogene 2021; 40:3060-3071. [PMID: 33782545 PMCID: PMC8087635 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01725-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) are well-established vectors for delivering therapeutic genes. However, previous reports have suggested that wild-type AAV is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma, raising concern with the safety of rAAVs. In addition, a recent long-term follow-up study in canines, which received rAAVs for factor VIII gene therapy, demonstrated vector integration into the genome of liver cells, reviving the uncertainty between AAV and cancer. To further explore this relationship, we performed large-scale molecular epidemiology of AAV in resected tumor samples and non-lesion tissues collected from 413 patients, reflecting nine carcinoma types: breast carcinoma, rectal cancer, pancreas carcinoma, brain tumor, hepatoid adenocarcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric carcinoma, lung squamous, and adenocarcinoma. We found that over 80% of patients were AAV-positive among all nine types of carcinoma examined. Importantly, the AAV sequences detected in patient-matched tumor and adjacent non-lesion tissues showed no significant difference in incidence, abundance, and variation. In addition, no specific AAV sequences predominated in tumor samples. Our data shows that AAV genomes are equally abundant in tumors and adjacent normal tissues, but lack clonality. The finding critically adds to the epidemiological profile of AAV in humans, and provides insights that may assist rAAV-based clinical studies and gene therapy strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanru Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Guangchao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Phillip W L Tai
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Chunmei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Xun Hu
- Biobank, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jianxin Xue
- Department of Thoracic Oncology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - You Lu
- Department of Thoracic Oncology and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiao Zhou
- Pathology Department and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiang Wei
- Department of Urology, Institute of Urology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tianfu Wen
- Department of Liver Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jiankun Hu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery and Laboratory of Gastric Cancer, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuanyuan Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Li Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Weimin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Terence R Flotte
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Yuquan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts, Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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36
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Strategies for delivering therapeutics across the blood-brain barrier. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2021; 20:362-383. [PMID: 33649582 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-021-00139-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 378] [Impact Index Per Article: 126.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Achieving sufficient delivery across the blood-brain barrier is a key challenge in the development of drugs to treat central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This is particularly the case for biopharmaceuticals such as monoclonal antibodies and enzyme replacement therapies, which are largely excluded from the brain following systemic administration. In recent years, increasing research efforts by pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, academic institutions and public-private consortia have resulted in the evaluation of various technologies developed to deliver therapeutics to the CNS, some of which have entered clinical testing. Here we review recent developments and challenges related to selected blood-brain barrier-crossing strategies - with a focus on non-invasive approaches such as receptor-mediated transcytosis and the use of neurotropic viruses, nanoparticles and exosomes - and analyse their potential in the treatment of CNS disorders.
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37
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Bulcha JT, Wang Y, Ma H, Tai PWL, Gao G. Viral vector platforms within the gene therapy landscape. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2021; 6:53. [PMID: 33558455 PMCID: PMC7868676 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-021-00487-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 511] [Impact Index Per Article: 170.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Throughout its 40-year history, the field of gene therapy has been marked by many transitions. It has seen great strides in combating human disease, has given hope to patients and families with limited treatment options, but has also been subject to many setbacks. Treatment of patients with this class of investigational drugs has resulted in severe adverse effects and, even in rare cases, death. At the heart of this dichotomous field are the viral-based vectors, the delivery vehicles that have allowed researchers and clinicians to develop powerful drug platforms, and have radically changed the face of medicine. Within the past 5 years, the gene therapy field has seen a wave of drugs based on viral vectors that have gained regulatory approval that come in a variety of designs and purposes. These modalities range from vector-based cancer therapies, to treating monogenic diseases with life-altering outcomes. At present, the three key vector strategies are based on adenoviruses, adeno-associated viruses, and lentiviruses. They have led the way in preclinical and clinical successes in the past two decades. However, despite these successes, many challenges still limit these approaches from attaining their full potential. To review the viral vector-based gene therapy landscape, we focus on these three highly regarded vector platforms and describe mechanisms of action and their roles in treating human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jote T Bulcha
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China College of Basic medical sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Hong Ma
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Phillip W L Tai
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- VIDE Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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38
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Liver targeting with rAAV7: balancing tropism with immune profiles. Gene Ther 2021; 28:115-116. [PMID: 33547423 PMCID: PMC8087538 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-021-00230-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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39
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Perrier S, Michell-Robinson MA, Bernard G. POLR3-Related Leukodystrophy: Exploring Potential Therapeutic Approaches. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 14:631802. [PMID: 33633543 PMCID: PMC7902007 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2020.631802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Leukodystrophies are a class of rare inherited central nervous system (CNS) disorders that affect the white matter of the brain, typically leading to progressive neurodegeneration and early death. Hypomyelinating leukodystrophies are characterized by the abnormal formation of the myelin sheath during development. POLR3-related or 4H (hypomyelination, hypodontia, and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism) leukodystrophy is one of the most common types of hypomyelinating leukodystrophy for which no curative treatment or disease-modifying therapy is available. This review aims to describe potential therapies that could be further studied for effectiveness in pre-clinical studies, for an eventual translation to the clinic to treat the neurological manifestations associated with POLR3-related leukodystrophy. Here, we discuss the therapeutic approaches that have shown promise in other leukodystrophies, as well as other genetic diseases, and consider their use in treating POLR3-related leukodystrophy. More specifically, we explore the approaches of using stem cell transplantation, gene replacement therapy, and gene editing as potential treatment options, and discuss their possible benefits and limitations as future therapeutic directions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefanie Perrier
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Child Health and Human Development Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Mackenzie A. Michell-Robinson
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Child Health and Human Development Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Geneviève Bernard
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Child Health and Human Development Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Specialized Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, Montréal Children’s Hospital and McGill University Health Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada
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40
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Complexity and diversity of bioanalytical support for gene therapy modalities. Bioanalysis 2021; 13:65-68. [PMID: 33496630 DOI: 10.4155/bio-2020-0295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
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41
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Liu D, Zhu M, Zhang Y, Diao Y. Crossing the blood-brain barrier with AAV vectors. Metab Brain Dis 2021; 36:45-52. [PMID: 33201426 DOI: 10.1007/s11011-020-00630-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) diseases are some of the most difficult to treat because the blood-brain barrier (BBB) almost entirely limits the passage of many therapeutic drugs into the CNS. Gene therapy based on the adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector has the potential to overcome this problem. For example, an AAV serotype AAV9 has been widely studied for its ability to cross the BBB to transduce astrocytes, but its efficiency is limited. The emergence of AAV directed evolution technology provides a solution, and the variants derived from AAV9 directed evolution have been shown to have significantly higher crossing efficiency than AAV9. However, the mechanisms by which AAV crosses the BBB are still unclear. In this review, we focus on recent advances in crossing the blood-brain barrier with AAV vectors. We first review the AAV serotypes that can be applied to treating CNS diseases. Recent progress in possible AAV crossing the BBB and transduction mechanisms are then summarized. Finally, the methods to improve the AAV transduction efficiency are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Liu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, Hunan University, Changsha, China.
| | - Mingyang Zhu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yuqian Zhang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Yong Diao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Chemical Engineering, Huaqiao University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
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42
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Thadani NN, Zhou Q, Reyes Gamas K, Butler S, Bueno C, Schafer NP, Morcos F, Wolynes PG, Suh J. Frustration and Direct-Coupling Analyses to Predict Formation and Function of Adeno-Associated Virus. Biophys J 2020; 120:489-503. [PMID: 33359833 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2020.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a promising gene therapy vector because of its efficient gene delivery and relatively mild immunogenicity. To improve delivery target specificity, researchers use combinatorial and rational library design strategies to generate novel AAV capsid variants. These approaches frequently propose high proportions of nonforming or noninfective capsid protein sequences that reduce the effective depth of synthesized vector DNA libraries, thereby raising the discovery cost of novel vectors. We evaluated two computational techniques for their ability to estimate the impact of residue mutations on AAV capsid protein-protein interactions and thus predict changes in vector fitness, reasoning that these approaches might inform the design of functionally enriched AAV libraries and accelerate therapeutic candidate identification. The Frustratometer computes an energy function derived from the energy landscape theory of protein folding. Direct-coupling analysis (DCA) is a statistical framework that captures residue coevolution within proteins. We applied the Frustratometer to select candidate protein residues predicted to favor assembled or disassembled capsid states, then predicted mutation effects at these sites using the Frustratometer and DCA. Capsid mutants were experimentally assessed for changes in virus formation, stability, and transduction ability. The Frustratometer-based metric showed a counterintuitive correlation with viral stability, whereas a DCA-derived metric was highly correlated with virus transduction ability in the small population of residues studied. Our results suggest that coevolutionary models may be able to elucidate complex capsid residue-residue interaction networks essential for viral function, but further study is needed to understand the relationship between protein energy simulations and viral capsid metastability.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Qin Zhou
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | | | - Susan Butler
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - Carlos Bueno
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - Nicholas P Schafer
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - Faruck Morcos
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas; Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas; Department of Bioengineering, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, Texas
| | - Peter G Wolynes
- Center for Theoretical Biological Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Department of Physics, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - Junghae Suh
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas; Systems, Synthetic, and Physical Biology Program, Rice University, Houston, Texas.
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43
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Tremblay S, Acker L, Afraz A, Albaugh DL, Amita H, Andrei AR, Angelucci A, Aschner A, Balan PF, Basso MA, Benvenuti G, Bohlen MO, Caiola MJ, Calcedo R, Cavanaugh J, Chen Y, Chen S, Chernov MM, Clark AM, Dai J, Debes SR, Deisseroth K, Desimone R, Dragoi V, Egger SW, Eldridge MAG, El-Nahal HG, Fabbrini F, Federer F, Fetsch CR, Fortuna MG, Friedman RM, Fujii N, Gail A, Galvan A, Ghosh S, Gieselmann MA, Gulli RA, Hikosaka O, Hosseini EA, Hu X, Hüer J, Inoue KI, Janz R, Jazayeri M, Jiang R, Ju N, Kar K, Klein C, Kohn A, Komatsu M, Maeda K, Martinez-Trujillo JC, Matsumoto M, Maunsell JHR, Mendoza-Halliday D, Monosov IE, Muers RS, Nurminen L, Ortiz-Rios M, O'Shea DJ, Palfi S, Petkov CI, Pojoga S, Rajalingham R, Ramakrishnan C, Remington ED, Revsine C, Roe AW, Sabes PN, Saunders RC, Scherberger H, Schmid MC, Schultz W, Seidemann E, Senova YS, Shadlen MN, Sheinberg DL, Siu C, Smith Y, Solomon SS, Sommer MA, Spudich JL, Stauffer WR, Takada M, Tang S, Thiele A, Treue S, Vanduffel W, Vogels R, Whitmire MP, Wichmann T, Wurtz RH, Xu H, Yazdan-Shahmorad A, Shenoy KV, DiCarlo JJ, Platt ML. An Open Resource for Non-human Primate Optogenetics. Neuron 2020; 108:1075-1090.e6. [PMID: 33080229 PMCID: PMC7962465 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2020.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Optogenetics has revolutionized neuroscience in small laboratory animals, but its effect on animal models more closely related to humans, such as non-human primates (NHPs), has been mixed. To make evidence-based decisions in primate optogenetics, the scientific community would benefit from a centralized database listing all attempts, successful and unsuccessful, of using optogenetics in the primate brain. We contacted members of the community to ask for their contributions to an open science initiative. As of this writing, 45 laboratories around the world contributed more than 1,000 injection experiments, including precise details regarding their methods and outcomes. Of those entries, more than half had not been published. The resource is free for everyone to consult and contribute to on the Open Science Framework website. Here we review some of the insights from this initial release of the database and discuss methodological considerations to improve the success of optogenetic experiments in NHPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Tremblay
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
| | - Leah Acker
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Arash Afraz
- National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Daniel L Albaugh
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Hidetoshi Amita
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ariana R Andrei
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alessandra Angelucci
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Amir Aschner
- Dominik P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Puiu F Balan
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Michele A Basso
- Departments of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences and Neurobiology, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Giacomo Benvenuti
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Martin O Bohlen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Michael J Caiola
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Roberto Calcedo
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19014, USA
| | - James Cavanaugh
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20982, USA
| | - Yuzhi Chen
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Spencer Chen
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Mykyta M Chernov
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Resource Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Andrew M Clark
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Ji Dai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Brain Connectome and Manipulation, The Brain Cognition and Brain Disease Institute, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Samantha R Debes
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Karl Deisseroth
- Neuroscience Program, Departments of Bioengineering, Psychiatry, and Behavioral Science, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Robert Desimone
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Valentin Dragoi
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Seth W Egger
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Mark A G Eldridge
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hala G El-Nahal
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - Francesco Fabbrini
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frederick Federer
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Christopher R Fetsch
- The Solomon H. Snyder Department of Neuroscience & Zanvyl Krieger Mind/Brain Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA
| | - Michal G Fortuna
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Robert M Friedman
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Resource Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA
| | - Naotaka Fujii
- Laboratory for Adaptive Intelligence, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Alexander Gail
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen, Germany; Faculty for Biology and Psychology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Leibniz Science Campus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Adriana Galvan
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Supriya Ghosh
- Department of Neurobiology and Grossman Institute for Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Marc Alwin Gieselmann
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Roberto A Gulli
- Zuckerman Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA; Center for Theoretical Neuroscience, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Okihide Hikosaka
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Eghbal A Hosseini
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Xing Hu
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Janina Hüer
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Ken-Ichi Inoue
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan; PRESTO, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Kawaguchi, Saitama 332-0012, Japan
| | - Roger Janz
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mehrdad Jazayeri
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Rundong Jiang
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Niansheng Ju
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Kohitij Kar
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Carsten Klein
- Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Adam Kohn
- Dominik P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA; Department of Systems and Computational Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Misako Komatsu
- Laboratory for Adaptive Intelligence, RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kazutaka Maeda
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Julio C Martinez-Trujillo
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada; Brain and Mind Institute, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Masayuki Matsumoto
- Division of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8575, Japan; Transborder Medical Research Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8577, Japan
| | - John H R Maunsell
- Department of Neurobiology and Grossman Institute for Neuroscience, Quantitative Biology and Human Behavior, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Diego Mendoza-Halliday
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Ilya E Monosov
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Neurosurgery and Pain Center, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Ross S Muers
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Lauri Nurminen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Michael Ortiz-Rios
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Leibniz Science Campus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany; Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Daniel J O'Shea
- Department of Electrical Engineering, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, and Bio-X Institute, and Neuroscience Graduate Program, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Stéphane Palfi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris (APHP), U955 INSERM IMRB eq.15, University of Paris 12 UPEC, Faculté de Médecine, Créteil 94010, France
| | - Christopher I Petkov
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Sorin Pojoga
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rishi Rajalingham
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Charu Ramakrishnan
- Department of Bioengineering, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Evan D Remington
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Cambria Revsine
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Laboratory of Brain and Cognition, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Anna W Roe
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Resource Center, Oregon Health and Science University, Beaverton, OR 97006, USA; Interdisciplinary Institute of Neuroscience and Technology, Second Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China; Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China
| | - Philip N Sabes
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Richard C Saunders
- Laboratory of Neuropsychology, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hansjörg Scherberger
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen, Germany; Faculty for Biology and Psychology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Leibniz Science Campus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Michael C Schmid
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK; Department of Neurosciences and Movement Sciences, Faculty of Science and Medicine, University of Fribourg, 1700 Fribourg, Switzerland
| | - Wolfram Schultz
- Department of Physiology, Development of Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0LT, UK
| | - Eyal Seidemann
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Yann-Suhan Senova
- Department of Neurosurgery, Assistance Publique-Hopitaux de Paris (APHP), U955 INSERM IMRB eq.15, University of Paris 12 UPEC, Faculté de Médecine, Créteil 94010, France
| | - Michael N Shadlen
- Department of Neuroscience, Mortimer B. Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, The Kavli Institute for Brain Science & Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Columbia University, NY 10027, USA
| | - David L Sheinberg
- Department of Neuroscience and Carney Institute for Brain Science, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Caitlin Siu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Moran Eye Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84132, USA
| | - Yoland Smith
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Selina S Solomon
- Dominik P. Purpura Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Marc A Sommer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
| | - John L Spudich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - William R Stauffer
- Systems Neuroscience Institute, Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Masahiko Takada
- Systems Neuroscience Section, Primate Research Institute, Kyoto University, Inuyama, Aichi 484-8506, Japan
| | - Shiming Tang
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Alexander Thiele
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle NE2 4HH, UK
| | - Stefan Treue
- German Primate Center - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; Bernstein Center for Computational Neuroscience, Göttingen, Germany; Faculty for Biology and Psychology, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany; Leibniz Science Campus Primate Cognition, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wim Vanduffel
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; MGH Martinos Center, Charlestown, MA 02129, USA; Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02144, USA
| | - Rufin Vogels
- Laboratory of Neuro- and Psychophysiology, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew P Whitmire
- Departments of Psychology and Neuroscience, Center for Perceptual Systems, University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Thomas Wichmann
- Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease, Department of Neurology, Emory University, GA 30329, USA
| | - Robert H Wurtz
- Laboratory of Sensorimotor Research, National Eye Institute, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20982, USA
| | - Haoran Xu
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Azadeh Yazdan-Shahmorad
- Center for Integrative Neuroscience, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Departments of Bioengineering and Electrical and Computer Engineering, Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98105, USA
| | - Krishna V Shenoy
- Departments of Electrical Engineering, Bioengineering, and Neurobiology, Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute and Bio-X Institute, Neuroscience Graduate Program, and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - James J DiCarlo
- McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Michael L Platt
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Psychology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Marketing, Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Liu Z, Klose K, Neuber S, Jiang M, Gossen M, Stamm C. Comparative analysis of adeno-associated virus serotypes for gene transfer in organotypic heart slices. J Transl Med 2020; 18:437. [PMID: 33208161 PMCID: PMC7673099 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-020-02605-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Vectors derived from adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are widely used for gene transfer both in vitro and in vivo and have gained increasing interest as shuttle systems to deliver therapeutic genes to the heart. However, there is little information on their tissue penetration and cytotoxicity, as well as the optimal AAV serotype for transferring genes to diseased hearts. Therefore, we aimed to establish an organotypic heart slice culture system for mouse left ventricular (LV) myocardium and use this platform to analyze gene transfer efficiency, cell tropism, and toxicity of different AAV serotypes. Methods LV tissue slices, 300 µm thick, were prepared from 15- to 17-day-old transgenic alpha-myosin heavy-chain-mCherry mice using a vibrating microtome. Tissue slice viability in air-liquid culture was evaluated by calcein-acetoxymethyl ester staining, mCherry fluorescence intensity, and the tetrazolium assay. Four recombinant AAV serotypes (1, 2, 6, 8) expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP) under the CAG promoter were added to the slice surface. Gene transfer efficiency was quantified as the number of GFP-positive cells per slice. AAV cell tropism was examined by comparing the number of GFP-positive cardiomyocytes (CMs) and fibroblasts within heart slices. Results Slices retained viability in in vitro culture for at least 5 days. After adding AAV particles, AAV6-infected slices showed the highest number of GFP-expressing cells, almost exclusively CMs. Slice incubation with AAV1, 2, and 8 resulted in fewer GFP-positive cells, with AAV2 having the lowest gene transfer efficiency. None of the AAV serotypes tested caused significant cytotoxicity when compared to non-infected control slices. Conclusions We have established a readily available mouse organotypic heart slice culture model and provided evidence that AAV6 may be a promising gene therapy vector for heart failure and other cardiac diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihou Liu
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kristin Klose
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Neuber
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Meng Jiang
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Manfred Gossen
- Berlin-Brandenburg Center for Regenerative Therapies, Berlin, Germany.,Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Biomaterial Science, Teltow, Germany
| | - Christof Stamm
- Berlin Institute of Health Center for Regenerative Therapies, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, German Heart Center Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,German Centre for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany. .,Helmholtz-Zentrum Geesthacht, Institute of Biomaterial Science, Teltow, Germany.
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45
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Stone D, Kenkel EJ, Loprieno MA, Tanaka M, De Silva Feelixge HS, Kumar AJ, Stensland L, Obenza WM, Wangari S, Ahrens CY, Murnane RD, Peterson CW, Kiem HP, Huang ML, Aubert M, Hu SL, Jerome KR. Gene Transfer in Adeno-Associated Virus Seropositive Rhesus Macaques Following Rapamycin Treatment and Subcutaneous Delivery of AAV6, but Not Retargeted AAV6 Vectors. Hum Gene Ther 2020; 32:96-112. [PMID: 32998579 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors such as AAV6, which shows tropism for primary human CD4+ T cells in vitro, are being explored for delivery of anti-HIV therapeutic modalities in vivo. However, pre-existing immunity and sequestration in nontarget organs can significantly hinder their performance. To overcome these challenges, we investigated whether immunosuppression would allow gene delivery by AAV6 or targeted AAV6 derivatives in seropositive rhesus macaques. Animals were immune suppressed with rapamycin before intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) delivery of AAV, and we monitored vector biodistribution, gene transfer, and safety. Macaques received phosphate-buffered saline, AAV6 alone, or an equal dose of AAV6 and an AAV6-55.2 vector retargeted to CD4 through a direct ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin). AAV6 and AAV6-55.2 vector genomes were found in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and most organs up to 28 days postadministration, with the highest levels seen in liver, spleen, lymph nodes (LNs), and muscle, suggesting that retargeting did not prevent vector sequestration. Despite vector genome detection, gene expression from AAV6-55.2 was not detected in any tissue. SC injection of AAV6 facilitated efficient gene expression in muscle adjacent to the injection site, plus low-level gene expression in spleen, LNs, and liver, whereas gene expression following IV injection of AAV6 was predominantly seen in the spleen. AAV vectors were well tolerated, although elevated liver enzymes were detected in three of four AAV-treated animals 14 days after rapamycin withdrawal. One SC-injected animal had muscle inflammation proximal to the injection site, plus detectable T cell responses against transgene and AAV6 capsid at study finish. Overall, our data suggest that rapamycin treatment may offer a possible strategy to express anti-HIV therapeutics such as broadly neutralizing antibodies from muscle. This study provides important safety and efficacy data that will aid study design for future anti-HIV gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Stone
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Elizabeth J Kenkel
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Michelle A Loprieno
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Motoko Tanaka
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | | | - Arjun J Kumar
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Laurence Stensland
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Willimark M Obenza
- Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Solomon Wangari
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Chul Y Ahrens
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Robert D Murnane
- Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Christopher W Peterson
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hans-Peter Kiem
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Meei-Li Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Martine Aubert
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Shiu-Lok Hu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Washington National Primate Research Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Keith R Jerome
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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46
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Havlik LP, Simon KE, Smith JK, Klinc KA, Tse LV, Oh DK, Fanous MM, Meganck RM, Mietzsch M, Kleinschmidt J, Agbandje-McKenna M, Asokan A. Coevolution of Adeno-associated Virus Capsid Antigenicity and Tropism through a Structure-Guided Approach. J Virol 2020; 94:e00976-20. [PMID: 32669336 PMCID: PMC7495376 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00976-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are composed of nonenveloped, icosahedral protein shells that can be adapted to package and deliver recombinant therapeutic DNA. Approaches to engineer recombinant capsids for gene therapy applications have focused on rational design or library-based approaches that can address one or two desirable attributes; however, there is an unmet need to comprehensively improve AAV vector properties. Such cannot be achieved by utilizing sequence data alone but requires harnessing the three-dimensional (3D) structural properties of AAV capsids. Here, we solve the structures of a natural AAV isolate complexed with antibodies using cryo-electron microscopy and harness this structural information to engineer AAV capsid libraries through saturation mutagenesis of different antigenic footprints. Each surface loop was evolved by infectious cycling in the presence of a helper adenovirus to yield a new AAV variant that then serves as a template for evolving the next surface loop. This stepwise process yielded a humanized AAV8 capsid (AAVhum.8) displaying nonnatural surface loops that simultaneously display tropism for human hepatocytes, increased gene transfer efficiency, and neutralizing antibody evasion. Specifically, AAVhum.8 can better evade neutralizing antisera from multiple species than AAV8. Further, AAVhum.8 displays robust transduction in a human liver xenograft mouse model with expanded tropism for both murine and human hepatocytes. This work supports the hypothesis that critical properties, such as AAV capsid antibody evasion and tropism, can be coevolved by combining rational design and library-based evolution for clinical gene therapy.IMPORTANCE Clinical gene therapy with recombinant AAV vectors has largely relied on natural capsid isolates. There is an unmet need to comprehensively improve AAV tissue tropism, transduction efficiency, and antibody evasion. Such cannot be achieved by utilizing capsid sequence data alone but requires harnessing the 3D structural properties of AAV capsids. Here, we combine rational design and library-based evolution to coevolve multiple, desirable properties onto AAV by harnessing 3D structural information.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Patrick Havlik
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Katherine E Simon
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - J Kennon Smith
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Kelli A Klinc
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Longping V Tse
- School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel K Oh
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marco M Fanous
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rita M Meganck
- Curriculum in Genetics and Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Mario Mietzsch
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Jürgen Kleinschmidt
- German Cancer Research Center, Research Program Infection and Cancer, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mavis Agbandje-McKenna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Center for Structural Biology, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Aravind Asokan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Regeneration Next, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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47
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Chen W, Hu Y, Ju D. Gene therapy for neurodegenerative disorders: advances, insights and prospects. Acta Pharm Sin B 2020; 10:1347-1359. [PMID: 32963936 PMCID: PMC7488363 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2020.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 11/09/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is rapidly emerging as a powerful therapeutic strategy for a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD). Some early clinical trials have failed to achieve satisfactory therapeutic effects. Efforts to enhance effectiveness are now concentrating on three major fields: identification of new vectors, novel therapeutic targets, and reliable of delivery routes for transgenes. These approaches are being assessed closely in preclinical and clinical trials, which may ultimately provide powerful treatments for patients. Here, we discuss advances and challenges of gene therapy for neurodegenerative disorders, highlighting promising technologies, targets, and future prospects.
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Key Words
- AADC, aromatic-l-amino-acid
- AAVs, adeno-associated viruses
- AD, Alzheimer's disease
- ARSA, arylsulfatase A
- ASOs, antisense oligonucleotides
- ASPA, aspartoacylase
- Adeno-associated viruses
- Adv, adenovirus
- BBB, blood–brain barrier
- BCSFB, blood–cerebrospinal fluid barrier
- BRB, blood–retina barrier
- Bip, glucose regulated protein 78
- CHOP, CCAAT/enhancer binding homologous protein
- CLN6, ceroidlipofuscinosis neuronal protein 6
- CNS, central nervous system
- CSF, cerebrospinal fluid
- Central nervous system
- Delivery routes
- ER, endoplasmic reticulum
- FDA, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- GAA, lysosomal acid α-glucosidase
- GAD, glutamic acid decarboxylase
- GDNF, glial derived neurotrophic factor
- Gene therapy
- HD, Huntington's disease
- HSPGs, heparin sulfate proteoglycans
- HTT, mutant huntingtin
- IDS, iduronate 2-sulfatase
- LVs, retrovirus/lentivirus
- Lamp2a, lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2a
- NGF, nerve growth factor
- Neurodegenerative disorders
- PD, Parkinson's disease
- PGRN, Progranulin
- PINK1, putative kinase 1
- PTEN, phosphatase and tensin homolog
- RGCs, retinal ganglion cells
- RNAi, RNA interference
- RPE, retinal pigmented epithelial
- SGSH, lysosomal heparan-N-sulfamidase gene
- SMN, survival motor neuron
- SOD, superoxide dismutase
- SUMF, sulfatase-modifying factor
- TFEB, transcription factor EB
- TPP1, tripeptidyl peptidase 1
- TREM2, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2
- UPR, unfolded protein response
- ZFPs, zinc finger proteins
- mTOR, mammalian target of rapamycin
- siRNA, small interfering RNA
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Chen
- Department of Biological Medicines, Fudan University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai 201203, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Yang Hu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA
| | - Dianwen Ju
- Department of Biological Medicines, Fudan University School of Pharmacy, Shanghai 201203, China
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48
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Zhao X, Jin C, Dong T, Sun Z, Zheng X, Feng B, Cheng Z, Li X, Tao Y, Wu H. Characterization of promoters for adeno-associated virus mediated efficient Cas9 activation in adult Cas9 knock-in murine cochleae. Hear Res 2020; 394:107999. [PMID: 32611519 DOI: 10.1016/j.heares.2020.107999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2019] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing enables the treatment of hearing loss in congenitally deaf neonatal mice via both viral and non-viral delivery. While adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene delivery systems have been shown to be effective tools for gene replacement in the inner ear, application of the AAV-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing approach for this purpose is yet to be documented. Based on our previous findings, we focused on the effects of several AAVs delivered via canalostomy injection in adult mice. Among the AAVs examined, AAV8 showed the greatest efficiency and specificity in transducing inner hair cells (IHC). The ability of Cre-expressing AAV8 to activate Cas9 in floxed-Cas9 knock-in (Cas9 KI) mice was further evaluated. We compared the effects of six different promoters (CMV, CAG, hSyn, CaMKIIa, GFAP, and ALB) of AAV8 delivered to the inner ear of adult Cas9 KI mice. Our findings showed that three AAV groups (CMV, CAG and hSyn promoters) infected the inner ear efficiently with different tropisms. Notably, AAVs with CMV, CAG, and hSyn promoters infected diverse cell types in mature murine cochleae, including IHCs. In particular, AAV8-hSyn showed high affinity to IHCs and spiral ganglion neurons (SGN). Neither the AAV8 virus itself (except AAV8-CAG) nor the surgical procedures used caused damage to HCs or impaired normal hearing. Our findings indicated that injection of AAV-Cre into mature inner ear efficiently induces Cas9 activation to achieve safe and efficient gene editing and different constituent promoters confer diverse infection patterns in cochlea, expanding the repertoire of gene-editing tools for regulating gene expression in target cells of the inner ear as part of the collective effort to rescue genetic hearing loss and develop effective gene therapy techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingle Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China
| | - Chenxi Jin
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China
| | - Tingting Dong
- Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Biobank of Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China
| | - Zhuoer Sun
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China
| | - Xiaofei Zheng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China
| | - Baoyi Feng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China
| | - Zhenzhe Cheng
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China
| | - Yong Tao
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China.
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.639, Zhizaoju Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Ear Institute, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Translation Medicine on Ear and Nose Disease, No.115, Jinzun Road, Shanghai, 200011, PR China.
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Aronson SJ, Veron P, Collaud F, Hubert A, Delahais V, Honnet G, de Knegt RJ, Junge N, Baumann U, Di Giorgio A, D'Antiga L, Ginocchio VM, Brunetti-Pierri N, Labrune P, Beuers U, Bosma PJ, Mingozzi F. Prevalence and Relevance of Pre-Existing Anti-Adeno-Associated Virus Immunity in the Context of Gene Therapy for Crigler-Najjar Syndrome. Hum Gene Ther 2020; 30:1297-1305. [PMID: 31502485 PMCID: PMC6763963 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2019.143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector-mediated gene therapy is currently evaluated as a potential treatment for Crigler–Najjar syndrome (CN) (NCT03466463). Pre-existing immunity to AAV is known to hinder gene transfer efficacy, restricting enrollment of seropositive subjects in ongoing clinical trials. We assessed the prevalence of anti-AAV serotype 8 (AAV8) neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in subjects affected by CN and investigated the impact of low NAb titers (<1:5) on liver gene transfer efficacy in an in vivo passive immunization model. A total of 49 subjects with a confirmed molecular diagnosis of CN were included in an international multicenter study (NCT02302690). Pre-existing NAbs against AAV8 were detected in 30.6% (15/49) of screened patients and, in the majority of positive cases, cross-reactivity to AAV2 and AAV5 was detected. To investigate the impact of low NAbs on AAV vector-mediated liver transduction efficiency, adult wild-type C57BL/6 mice were passively immunized with pooled human donor-derived immunoglobulins to achieve titers of up to 1:3.16. After immunization, animals were injected with different AAV8 vector preparations. Hepatic vector gene copy number was unaffected by low anti-AAV8 NAb titers when column-purified AAV vector batches containing both full and empty capsids were used. In summary, although pre-existing anti-AAV8 immunity can be found in about a third of subjects affected by CN, low anti-AAV8 NAb titers are less likely to affect liver transduction efficiency when using AAV vector preparations manufactured to contain both full and empty capsids. These findings have implications for the design of liver gene transfer clinical trials and for the definition of inclusion criteria related to seropositivity of potential participants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sem J Aronson
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Aurélie Hubert
- Department of Hereditary Diseases of Hepatic Metabolism, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | | | | | - Robert J de Knegt
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Norman Junge
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ulrich Baumann
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Angelo Di Giorgio
- Department of Paediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Transplantation, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Lorenzo D'Antiga
- Department of Paediatric Hepatology, Gastroenterology and Transplantation, Papa Giovanni XXIII Hospital, Bergamo, Italy
| | - Virginia M Ginocchio
- Telethon Institute of Genetics & Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy.,Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics & Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy.,Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Philippe Labrune
- Department of Hereditary Diseases of Hepatic Metabolism, Hôpital Antoine Béclère, Clamart, France
| | - Ulrich Beuers
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Piter J Bosma
- Tytgat Institute for Liver and Intestinal Research, Amsterdam Gastroenterology and Metabolism, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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50
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Comparative Analysis of the Capsid Structures of AAVrh.10, AAVrh.39, and AAV8. J Virol 2020; 94:JVI.01769-19. [PMID: 31826994 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01769-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) from clade E are often used as vectors in gene delivery applications. This clade includes rhesus isolate 10 (AAVrh.10) and 39 (AAVrh.39) which, unlike representative AAV8, are capable of crossing the blood-brain barrier (BBB), thereby enabling the delivery of therapeutic genes to the central nervous system. Here, the capsid structures of AAV8, AAVrh.10 and AAVrh.39 have been determined by cryo-electron microscopy and three-dimensional image reconstruction to 3.08-, 2.75-, and 3.39-Å resolution, respectively, to enable a direct structural comparison. AAVrh.10 and AAVrh.39 are 98% identical in amino acid sequence but only ∼93.5% identical to AAV8. However, the capsid structures of all three viruses are similar, with only minor differences observed in the previously described surface variable regions, suggesting that specific residues S269 and N472, absent in AAV8, may confer the ability to cross the BBB in AAVrh.10 and AAVrh.39. Head-to-head comparison of empty and genome-containing particles showed DNA ordered in the previously described nucleotide-binding pocket, supporting the suggested role of this pocket in DNA packaging for the Dependoparvovirus The structural characterization of these viruses provides a platform for future vector engineering efforts toward improved gene delivery success with respect to specific tissue targeting, transduction efficiency, antigenicity, or receptor retargeting.IMPORTANCE Recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors (rAAVs), based on AAV8 and AAVrh.10, have been utilized in multiple clinical trials to treat different monogenetic diseases. The closely related AAVrh.39 has also shown promise in vivo As recently attained for other AAV biologics, e.g., Luxturna and Zolgensma, based on AAV2 and AAV9, respectively, the vectors in this study will likely gain U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval for commercialization in the near future. This study characterized the capsid structures of these clinical vectors at atomic resolution using cryo-electron microscopy and image reconstruction for comparative analysis. The analysis suggested two key residues, S269 and N472, as determinants of BBB crossing for AAVrh.10 and AAVrh.39, a feature utilized for central nervous system delivery of therapeutic genes. The structure information thus provides a platform for engineering to improve receptor retargeting or tissue specificity. These are important challenges in the field that need attention. Capsid structure information also provides knowledge potentially applicable for regulatory product approval.
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