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Tessier N, Moawad F, Amri N, Brambilla D, Martel C. Focus on the Lymphatic Route to Optimize Drug Delivery in Cardiovascular Medicine. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1200. [PMID: 34452161 PMCID: PMC8398144 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13081200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
While oral agents have been the gold standard for cardiovascular disease therapy, the new generation of treatments is switching to other administration options that offer reduced dosing frequency and more efficacy. The lymphatic network is a unidirectional and low-pressure vascular system that is responsible for the absorption of interstitial fluids, molecules, and cells from the peripheral tissue, including the skin and the intestines. Targeting the lymphatic route for drug delivery employing traditional or new technologies and drug formulations is exponentially gaining attention in the quest to avoid the hepatic first-pass effect. The present review will give an overview of the current knowledge on the involvement of the lymphatic vessels in drug delivery in the context of cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nolwenn Tessier
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada; (N.T.); (N.A.)
- Montreal Heart Institute Research Center, Montreal, QC H1T 1C8, Canada
| | - Fatma Moawad
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada;
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef 62511, Egypt
| | - Nada Amri
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada; (N.T.); (N.A.)
- Montreal Heart Institute Research Center, Montreal, QC H1T 1C8, Canada
| | - Davide Brambilla
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada;
| | - Catherine Martel
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1J4, Canada; (N.T.); (N.A.)
- Montreal Heart Institute Research Center, Montreal, QC H1T 1C8, Canada
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Liu J, Ting JP, Al-Azzam S, Ding Y, Afshar S. Therapeutic Advances in Diabetes, Autoimmune, and Neurological Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22062805. [PMID: 33802091 PMCID: PMC8001105 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22062805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Since 2015, 170 small molecules, 60 antibody-based entities, 12 peptides, and 15 gene- or cell-therapies have been approved by FDA for diverse disease indications. Recent advancement in medicine is facilitated by identification of new targets and mechanisms of actions, advancement in discovery and development platforms, and the emergence of novel technologies. Early disease detection, precision intervention, and personalized treatments have revolutionized patient care in the last decade. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of current and emerging therapeutic modalities developed in the recent years. We focus on nine diseases in three major therapeutics areas, diabetes, autoimmune, and neurological disorders. The pathogenesis of each disease at physiological and molecular levels is discussed and recently approved drugs as well as drugs in the clinic are presented.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinsha Liu
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA 92121, USA; (J.L.); (J.P.T.); (Y.D.)
| | - Joey Paolo Ting
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA 92121, USA; (J.L.); (J.P.T.); (Y.D.)
| | - Shams Al-Azzam
- Professional Scientific Services, Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, Lancaster, PA 17605, USA;
| | - Yun Ding
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA 92121, USA; (J.L.); (J.P.T.); (Y.D.)
| | - Sepideh Afshar
- Protein Engineering, Lilly Biotechnology Center, Eli Lilly and Company, San Diego, CA 92121, USA; (J.L.); (J.P.T.); (Y.D.)
- Correspondence:
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Mazón MJ, Zanuy S, Muñoz I, Carrillo M, Gómez A. Luteinizing Hormone Plasmid Therapy Results in Long-Lasting High Circulating Lh and Increased Sperm Production in European Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)1. Biol Reprod 2013; 88:32. [DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.102640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
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Wang Y, Chen YS, Zaro JL, Shen WC. Receptor-mediated activation of a proinsulin-transferrin fusion protein in hepatoma cells. J Control Release 2011; 155:386-92. [PMID: 21756950 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2011.06.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2011] [Revised: 06/02/2011] [Accepted: 06/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A proinsulin-transferrin (ProINS-Tf) recombinant fusion protein was designed and characterized for the sustained release of an active form of insulin (INS) by hepatoma cells. During incubation with H4IIE hepatoma cells, a gradual decline of ProINS-Tf concentration, with a concomitant generation of the immuno-reactive insulin-transferrin (irINS-Tf), was detected in the culture medium by using INS- or proinsulin (ProINS)-specific radioimmunoassay (RIA) system. Further studies indicated that the conversion of ProINS-Tf to irINS-Tf was a transferrin receptor (TfR) mediated process that was pH-sensitive, and temperature- and microtubule-dependent. These results suggest that the conversion occurred during the slow recycling route of transferrin (Tf)-TfR pathway, possibly processed by proteases in the slow recycling compartments juxtaposed to the trans-Golgi network (TGN). ProINS-Tf exhibited little activity in the short-term promotion of glucose uptake in adipocytes, indicating that it was in an inactive form similar to ProINS. Stimulation of Akt phosphorylation by ProINS-Tf was detected only after prolonged incubation with H4IIE cells. On the other hand, ProINS-Tf pre-incubated with H4IIE cells for 24h acquired an immediate activity of stimulating Akt phosphorylation. Furthermore, ProINS-Tf elicited a strong activity in the inhibition of glucose production following 24h incubation with H4IIE cells. Based on these findings, we conclude that the Tf-TfR endocytosis and recycling pathway enables the conversion and release of ProINS-Tf in an active form of irINS-Tf. Results from this study suggest that the Tf-TfR pathway can be exploited for the design of prohormone-Tf fusion proteins as protein prodrugs for their sustained and targeted activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, United States
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5
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Remission of diabetes by insulin gene therapy using a hepatocyte-specific and glucose-responsive synthetic promoter. Mol Ther 2010; 19:470-8. [PMID: 21119621 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2010.255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficient production of insulin in response to changes in glucose levels has been a major issue for insulin gene therapy to treat diabetes. To express target genes in response to glucose specifically in hepatocytes, we generated a synthetic promoter library containing hepatocyte nuclear factor-1, CAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) response element, and glucose-response element. Combinations of these three cis-elements in 3-, 6-, or 9-element configurations were screened for transcriptional activity and then glucose responsiveness in vitro. The most effective promoter (SP23137) was selected for further study. Intravenous administration of a recombinant adenovirus expressing furin-cleavable rat insulin under control of the SP23137 promoter into streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice resulted in normoglycemia, which was maintained for >30 days. Glucose tolerance tests showed that treated mice produced insulin in response to glucose and cleared exogenous glucose from the blood in a manner similar to nondiabetic control mice, although the clearance was somewhat delayed. Insulin expression was seen specifically in the liver and not in other organs. These observations indicate the potential of this synthetic, artificial promoter to regulate glucose-responsive insulin production and remit hyperglycemia, thus providing a new method of liver-directed insulin gene therapy for type 1 diabetes.
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Shirneshan K, Binder S, Böhm D, Wolf S, Sancken U, Meinhardt A, Schmid M, Engel W, Adham IM. Directed overexpression of insulin in Leydig cells causes a progressive loss of germ cells. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2008; 295:79-86. [PMID: 18692115 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2008.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2008] [Revised: 07/03/2008] [Accepted: 07/05/2008] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The primary goal of this study was to determine the 5'region of the Insl3 gene that specifically targets the expression of human insulin to Leydig cells, and to explore whether the testicular proinsulin is efficiently processed to insulin that is able to rescue the diabetes in different mouse models of diabetes. We show here that the sequence between nucleotides -690 and +4 of mouse Insl3 promoter is sufficient to direct the Leydig cell-specific expression of the human insulin transgene (Insl3-hIns). We also found that the 3'untranslated region (3'UTR) of Insl3 was effective in enhancing transgene expression of the insulin in vivo. Expression analysis revealed that the temporal expression pattern of the hIns transgene in Leydig cells of transgenic testes is roughly the same as that of the endogenous Insl3. Despite the Leydig cells translate human proinsulin and secrete a significant level of free C-peptide into the serum, the Leydig cell-derived insulin is not able to overcome the diabetes in different mouse models of diabetes, suggesting a lack of glucose sensing mechanisms in the Leydig cells. A consequence of overexpression of the human proinsulin in Leydig cells was the decrease of fertility of transgenic males at older ages. Germ cells in transgenic males were able to initiate and complete spermatogenesis. However, there was a progressive and age-dependent degeneration of the germ cells that lead to male infertility with increasing age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katayoon Shirneshan
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Göttingen, Heinrich-Düker-Weg 12, D-37073 Göttingen, Germany
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Xu J, Lu Y, Ding F, Zhan X, Zhu M, Wang Z. Reversal of diabetes in mice by intrahepatic injection of bone-derived GFP-murine mesenchymal stem cells infected with the recombinant retrovirus-carrying human insulin gene. World J Surg 2007; 31:1872-1882. [PMID: 17653584 DOI: 10.1007/s00268-007-9168-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study was to assess the effect of intrahepatic injection of bone-derived green fluorescent protein (GFP)-transgenic murine mesenchymal stem cells (GFP-mMSCs) containing the human insulin(ins) gene in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. METHODS GFP-mMSCs were isolated from the bone marrow of GFP transgenic mice, expanded, and transfected with a recombinant retrovirus MSCV carrying the human insulin gene. C57BL/6J mice were made diabetic by an intraperitoneal administration of 160 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ), followed by intrahepatic injection of transfected GFP-mMSCs. The variations in body weight and the blood glucose and serum insulin levels were determined after cell transplantation. GFP-mMSCs survival and human insulin expression in liver tissues were examined by fluorescent microscopy and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS The body weight in diabetic mice that received GFP-mMSCs harboring the human insulin gene was increased by 6% within 6 weeks after treatment, and the average blood glucose levels in these animals were 10.40 +/- 2.80 mmol/l (day 7) and 6.50 +/- 0.89 mmol/l (day 42), respectively, while the average values of blood glucose in diabetic animals without treatment were 26.80 +/- 2.49 mmol/l (day 7) and 25.40 +/- 4.10 mmol/l (day 42), showing a significant difference (p < 0.05). Moreover, secretion of human insulin of GFP-mMSCs in serum and animal liver was detected by radioimmunoassay (RIA) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). CONCLUSIONS Experimental diabetes could be relieved effectively for up to 6 weeks by intrahepatic transplantation of murine mesenchymal stem cells expressing human insulin. This study implies a novel approach of gene therapy for type I diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Xu
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, 226001
| | - Yuhua Lu
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, 226001
| | - Fei Ding
- Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, 226001
| | - Xi Zhan
- Greenebaum Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, USA
| | - Mingyan Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, 226001
| | - Zhiwei Wang
- Department of General Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, 226001.
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Yoo HS, Mazda O, Lee HY, Kim JC, Kwon SM, Lee JE, Kwon IC, Jeong H, Jeong YS, Jeong SY. In vivo gene therapy of type I diabetic mellitus using a cationic emulsion containing an Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) based plasmid vector. J Control Release 2006; 112:139-44. [PMID: 16530875 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2006.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2005] [Revised: 01/23/2006] [Accepted: 01/31/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
A cationic emulsion containing an insulin expression plasmid was prepared for the treatment of type 1 diabetic mellitus (DM) in vivo. A rat proinsulin-1 gene was inserted to EBV-based plasmid vectors containing CAG promoter. Cationic emulsion composed of DOTAP and squalene was complexed with the plasmid DNA. An intravenous injection of cationic emulsion containing proinsulin gene decreased blood glucose levels for 7 days within normal range. The cationic emulsion exerted more profound effect on blood glucose levels compared to naked DNA. RT-PCR results confirmed that the proinsulin was expressed in several organs containing liver, lung, spleen, and kidney. The refractory response was invoked by multiple injections of naked DNA or cationic emulsion/DNA complex, which was later proven to be an immune response against expressed proinsulin. Therefore, the cationic emulsion showed a promising result as a novel insulin gene therapy vehicle by decreasing blood glucose level for a month.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyuk Sang Yoo
- Department of Biomaterials Engineering, School of Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Kangwon National University, Chunchon, 200-701 South Korea.
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Oh TK, Li MZ, Kim ST. Gene therapy for diabetes mellitus in rats by intramuscular injection of lentivirus containing insulin gene. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2006; 71:233-40. [PMID: 16171885 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabres.2005.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2005] [Accepted: 08/01/2005] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
We assessed therapeutic potential of intramuscular insulin gene delivery in a diabetic murine model. The human proinsulin gene cDNA engineered with concensus furin cleavage sequences was inserted into an advanced lentiviral vector that contained CMV early promoter. After injection of concentrated lentiviral vector (3.5 microg p24 Gag antigen) carrying the insulin gene into the thigh muscle, treated rats demonstrated an increase in body weight, increased survivability, attenuated the hyperglycemic response as well as prevented the formation of ketoacidosis. For these reasons, the intraparenchymal injection of lentiviral vectors into the skeletal muscle to ectopically produce insulin may be an easy and therapeutic treatment modality for type 1 diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tae Keun Oh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Chungbuk National University College of Medicine, 62 Kaeshin-Dong, Hungdok-Gu, Cheongju, Chungbuk 361-711, South Korea
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Lu YC, Sternini C, Rozengurt E, Zhukova E. Release of transgenic human insulin from gastric g cells: a novel approach for the amelioration of diabetes. Endocrinology 2005; 146:2610-9. [PMID: 15731364 DOI: 10.1210/en.2004-1109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
We explored the hypothesis that meal-regulated release of insulin from gastric G cells can be used for gene therapy for diabetes. We generated transgenic mice in which the coding sequence of human insulin has been knocked into the mouse gastrin gene. Insulin was localized specifically to antral G cells of G-InsKi mice by double immunofluorescence staining using antibodies against insulin and gastrin. Insulin extracted from antral stomach of G-InsKi mice decreased blood glucose upon injection into streptozotocin-diabetic mice. Intragastric administration of peptone, a known potent luminal stimulant of gastrin secretion, induced an increase in circulating levels of transgenic human insulin from 10.7 +/- 2 to 23.3 +/- 4 pm in G-InsKi mice. Although G cell-produced insulin decreased blood glucose in G-InsKi mice, it did not cause toxic hypoglycemia. Proton pump inhibitors, pharmacological agents that increase gastrin output, caused a further increase in the circulating levels of gastric insulin (41.5 +/- 2 pm). G cell-produced insulin was released into circulation in response to the same meal-associated stimuli that control release of gastrin. The most striking aspect of the results presented here is that in the presence of the G-InsKi allele, Ins2(Akita/+) mice exhibited a marked prolongation of life span. These results imply that G cell-derived transgenic insulin is beneficial in the amelioration of diabetes. We suggest that an efficient G cells-based insulin gene therapy can relieve diabetic patients from daily insulin injections and protect them from complications of insulin insufficiency while avoiding episodes of toxic hypoglycemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Chun Lu
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive Diseases, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095-1786, USA
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Kwon H, Jun HS, Yang Y, Mora C, Mariathasan S, Ohashi PS, Flavell RA, Yoon JW. Development of autoreactive diabetogenic T cells in the thymus of NOD mice. J Autoimmun 2005; 24:11-23. [PMID: 15725572 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaut.2004.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2004] [Revised: 10/14/2004] [Accepted: 10/15/2004] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes results from destruction of pancreatic beta cells by beta cell-specific autoreactive T cells in the nonobese diabetic (NOD) mouse. Defects in thymic negative selection are thought to result in failure to delete potential beta cell-reactive T cells, contributing to the development of autoimmune diabetes. We investigated this possibility by comparing the deletion profile of double-positive (DP) thymocytes in NOD mice with diabetes-resistant strains of mice after anti-CD3 Ab treatment to trigger the TCR-mediated signaling pathway. We found that immature NOD CD4+CD8+ DP thymocytes have a lower activation threshold than C57BL/6 and Balb/c thymocytes. This was confirmed by showing that NOD DP thymocytes have a higher level of ERK and JNK phosphorylation. The low activation threshold of immature thymocytes resulted in rapid deletion of strongly activated immature DP thymocytes by negative selection, whereas weakly activated immature thymocytes differentiated more efficiently into CD69+CD3high DP thymocytes by positive selection. SP thymocytes, particularly CD4-CD8+ T cells that were efficiently generated from activated DP thymocytes, could induce severe insulitis and diabetes in NOD.scid mice. We conclude that the development of autoreactive diabetogenic T cells results from inordinate positive selection due to the low activation threshold of DP thymocytes in NOD mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyokjoon Kwon
- Julia McFarlane Diabetes Research Centre, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Calgary, 3330 Hospital Drive N.W., Calgary, Alberta T2N 4N1 Canada
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Lin C, Gokhale R, Trivedi JS, Ranade V. Recent strategies and methods for improving insulin delivery. Drug Dev Res 2005. [DOI: 10.1002/ddr.10426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Abstract
Naked plasmid DNA can be used to introduce genetic material into a variety of cell types in vivo. However, such gene transfer and expression is generally very low compared with that achieved with viral vectors and so is unsuitable for clinical therapeutic application in most cases. This difference in efficiency has been substantially reduced by the introduction of in vivo electroporation to enhance plasmid delivery to a wide range of tissues including muscle, skin, liver, lung, artery, kidney, retina, cornea, spinal cord, brain, synovium, and tumors. The precise mechanism of in vivo electroporation is uncertain, but appears to involve both electropore formation and an electrophoretic movement of the plasmid DNA. Skeletal muscle is a favored target tissue for three reasons: there is a pressing need to develop effective therapies for muscular dystrophies; skeletal muscle can act as an effective platform for the long-term secretion of therapeutic proteins for systemic distribution; and introduction of DNA vaccines into skeletal muscle promotes strong humoral and cellular immune responses. All of these applications are significantly improved by the application of in vivo electroporation. Importantly, the increased efficiency of plasmid delivery following electroporation is seen in larger species as well as rodents, in contrast to the decreasing efficiencies with increasing body size for simple intramuscular injection of naked plasmid DNA. As this electroporation-enhanced non-viral gene delivery system works well in larger species and avoids the vector-specific immune responses associated with recombinant viruses, the prospects for clinical application are promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jillian M McMahon
- Gene Targeting Unit, Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Division of Neuroscience and Psychological Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Charing Cross Hospital, London, UK
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Zhu YL, Abdo A, Gesmonde JF, Zawalich KC, Zawalich W, Dannies PS. Aggregation and lack of secretion of most newly synthesized proinsulin in non-beta-cell lines. Endocrinology 2004; 145:3840-9. [PMID: 15117881 DOI: 10.1210/en.2003-1512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Myoblasts transfected with HB10D insulin secrete more hormone than those transfected with wild-type insulin, as published previously, indicating that production of wild-type insulin is not efficient in these cells. The ability of non-beta-cells to produce insulin was examined in several cell lines. In clones of neuroendocrine GH(4)C(1) cells stably transfected with proinsulin, two thirds of (35)S-proinsulin was degraded within 3 h of synthesis, whereas (35)S-prolactin was stable. In transiently transfected neuroendocrine AtT20 cells, half of (35)S-proinsulin was degraded within 3 h after synthesis, whereas (35)S-GH was stable. In transiently transfected fibroblast COS cells, (35)S-proinsulin was stable for longer, but less than 10% was secreted 8 h after synthesis. Proinsulin formed a concentrated patch detected by immunofluorescence in transfected cells that did not colocalize with calreticulin or BiP, markers for the endoplasmic reticulum, but did colocalize with membrin, a marker for the cis-medial Golgi complex. Proinsulin formed a Lubrol-insoluble aggregate within 30 min after synthesis in non-beta-cells but not in INS-1E cells, a beta-cell line that normally produces insulin. More than 45% of (35)S-HB10D proinsulin was secreted from COS cells 3 h after synthesis, and this mutant formed less Lubrol-insoluble aggregate in the cells than did wild-type hormone. These results indicate that proinsulin production from these non-beta-cells is not efficient and that proinsulin aggregates in their secretory pathways. Factors in the environment of the secretory pathway of beta-cells may prevent aggregation of proinsulin to allow efficient production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Lian Zhu
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06520-8066, USA
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15
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Yasutomi K, Itokawa Y, Asada H, Kishida T, Cui FD, Ohashi S, Gojo S, Ueda Y, Kubo T, Yamagishi H, Imanishi J, Takeuchi T, Mazda O. Intravascular insulin gene delivery as potential therapeutic intervention in diabetes mellitus. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003; 310:897-903. [PMID: 14550289 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.09.103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
We assessed therapeutic potential of intravascular insulin gene delivery in a diabetic murine model. The rat proinsulin-1 gene cDNA engineered to harbor furin consensus cleavage sequences was inserted into EBV-based plasmid vectors that contained CAG promoter or multimerized rat insulin promoter (RIP). Normal or streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice were given an injection of the plasmids via the tail vein under high pressure. Transfection of the CAG-proinsulin construct markedly improved hyperglycemia of diabetic mice, accompanied by a considerable increase in serum insulin concentrations. Although the RIP-plasmid failed to reduce fasting blood glucose, the glucose tolerance test and RT-PCR analysis revealed that insulin production was regulated in the liver in a blood glucose level-dependent manner. The present results suggest a potential therapeutic means of controlling DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kakei Yasutomi
- Department of Microbiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Japan
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16
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Croze F, Prud'homme GJ. Gene therapy of streptozotocin-induced diabetes by intramuscular delivery of modified preproinsulin genes. J Gene Med 2003; 5:425-37. [PMID: 12731091 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite improvements in insulin preparation and delivery, physiological normoglycemia is not easily achieved in diabetics. Therefore, there has been considerable interest in developing gene therapy approaches to supply insulin. We studied a nonviral muscle-based method of gene therapy and demonstrated that it could prevent hyperglycemia in murine streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes. METHODS A plasmid encoding mouse furin-cleavable preproinsulin II cDNA (FI), or its B10-analogue (B10FI), and a plasmid encoding furin were coinjected into muscle of CD-1 mice, who were treated a day later with STZ to induce diabetes. Electroporation was applied to increase gene transfer. Blood glucose was measured in fed and fasting mice, and fasting plasma insulin was measured by radioimmunoassay. The form of insulin produced and the presence of C-peptide were analyzed by gel filtration chromatography. RESULTS A B10FI plasmid codelivered with a furin plasmid reduced fed and fasting blood glucose levels in STZ-treated diabetic mice. The (pro)insulin levels in plasma were increased by up to 70-fold versus blank plasmid-treated diabetic mice. The administration of FI with furin was less effective. (Pro)insulin levels were greatly increased by using two plasmids carrying different promoter elements (CMV and SV40). Insulin was identified in muscle cells by immunohistochemistry. In plasma, 40-70% of the (pro)insulin was processed to the mature form and free C-peptide was identified. Insulin gene-treated mice had improved growth rates and appeared healthier. A single injection of B10FI with SV40Furin DNA increased plasma (pro)insulin for at least 8 weeks and reduced fed blood glucose levels for 5 weeks and fasting levels for 8 weeks. CONCLUSIONS This is the first report that electroporation-enhanced intramuscular gene therapy with B10FI can prevent hyperglycemia in murine STZ-induced diabetes. Gene therapy using various routes and methods of furin-cleavable insulin gene delivery has been previously explored but, in muscle, results comparable to ours have not been reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- France Croze
- Department of Pathology, McGill University, 3775 University St., Room B13, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2B4
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Scougall KT, Shaw JAM. Tetracycline-regulated secretion of human insulin in transfected primary myoblasts. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003; 304:167-75. [PMID: 12705902 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-291x(03)00553-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
A mechanism for safely regulating transgene expression will be necessary for gene therapy approaches to endocrine disorders. In this study, a two-plasmid tetracycline-inducible system was used to regulate expression of human proinsulin (hppI1) and a mutated proinsulin construct (hppI4, allowing cleavage by furin) in primary rat soleus myoblasts. In hppI1 and hppI4 transient transfections, the presence of 0.01 and 0.1 microg/ml tetracycline for 48 h inhibited pro/insulin secretion to 19-27% and 7-12%, respectively, compared to tetracycline untreated myoblasts. Following a 48 h tetracycline incubation (1.0 microg/ml), pro/insulin secretion in hppI1 and hppI4 transfected myoblasts was reduced to <4% of that in cells incubated without tetracycline. Pro/insulin secretion equivalent to that of untreated cells was restored following tetracycline withdrawal and incubation for a further 72 h. Conversion of proinsulin to insulin in transfected myoblasts was <1% for hppI1 and >45% for hppI4. In conclusion, regulated insulin secretion has been achieved in a dose-dependent and reversible manner in primary myoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathleen T Scougall
- Diabetes Research Group, School of Clinical Medical Sciences, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, Framlington Place, NE2 4HH, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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18
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Martinenghi S, Cusella De Angelis G, Biressi S, Amadio S, Bifari F, Roncarolo MG, Bordignon C, Falqui L. Human insulin production and amelioration of diabetes in mice by electrotransfer-enhanced plasmid DNA gene transfer to the skeletal muscle. Gene Ther 2002; 9:1429-37. [PMID: 12378405 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2002] [Accepted: 05/11/2002] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
A first-line gene therapy for type 1 diabetes should be based on a safe procedure to engineer an accessible tissue for insulin release. We evaluated the ability of the skeletal muscle to release human insulin after electrotransfer (ET)-enhanced plasmid DNA injection in mice. A furin-cleavable proinsulin cDNA under the CMV or the MFG promoter was electrotransferred to immune-incompetent mice with STZ-induced severe diabetes. At 1 week, mature human insulin was detected in the serum of 17/20 mice. After an initial peak of 68.5 +/- 34.9 microU/ml, insulin was consistently detected at significant levels up to 6 weeks after gene transfer. Importantly, untreated diabetic animals died within 3 weeks after STZ, whereas treated mice survived up to 10 weeks. Fed blood glucose (BG) was reduced in correspondence with the insulin peak. Fasting BG was near-normalized when insulin levels were 12.9 +/- 5.3 (CMV group, 2 weeks) and 7.7 +/- 2.6 microU/ml (MFG group, 4 weeks), without frank hypoglycemia. These data indicate that ET-enhanced DNA injection in muscle leads to the release of biologically active insulin, with restoration of basal insulin levels, and lowering of fasting BG with increased survival in severe diabetes. Therefore the skeletal muscle can be considered as a platform for basal insulin secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Martinenghi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET), Milan, Italy
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19
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Tarner IH, Fathman CG. The potential for gene therapy in the treatment of autoimmune disease. Clin Immunol 2002; 104:204-16. [PMID: 12217329 DOI: 10.1006/clim.2002.5235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ingo H Tarner
- Department of Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305-5166, USA
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20
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Huang CY, Ma SS, Lee S, Radhakrishnan R, Braun CS, Choosakoonkriang S, Wiethoff CM, Lobo BA, Middaugh CR. Enhancements in gene expression by the choice of plasmid DNA formulations containing neutral polymeric excipients. J Pharm Sci 2002; 91:1371-81. [PMID: 11977113 DOI: 10.1002/jps.10130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Formulations containing maltodextrin (2% w/v) were identified to facilitate intramuscular (im) delivery of plasmid DNA in mice using the reporter genes luciferase and chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) and the therapeutic gene of erythropoietin (EPO) as monitors of transfection efficiency. Even though considerable variability in gene expression was observed in animals, a 5-8-fold enhancement of reporter gene expression was observed with this excipient compared with saline formulations of DNA. In a therapeutically significant experiment, a single im injection of an EPO plasmid formulation containing 2% (w/v) maltodextrin resulted in a significant and prolonged elevation of the hematocrit levels of mice compared with control DNA in saline. Biophysical studies with Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, isothermal titration, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) suggested a weak interaction between DNA and maltodextrin as well as a thermal stabilizing effect on the DNA. These in vivo and biophysical results with maltodextrin are comparable to those reported previously with other nonionic polymers, such as poly(vinyl pyrrolidone) and poloxamers, and indicate that maltodextrin is an additional nonionic excipient that displays the property of gene expression enhancement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Yi Huang
- Department of Formulation Development, Chiron Corporation, 4560 Horton Street, Emeryville, CA 94608, USA.
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21
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Zhukova E, Afshar A, Ko J, Popper P, Pham T, Sternini C, Walsh JH. Expression of the human insulin gene in the gastric G cells of transgenic mice. Transgenic Res 2001; 10:329-41. [PMID: 11592712 DOI: 10.1023/a:1016641530206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The goal of this study was to engineer gastrin-producing G cells of the gastric antrum to produce insulin. A pGas-Ins chimeric gene in which the gastrin promoter drives expression of the human insulin gene was constructed and was validated by transient transfection of GH4 and AGS cells. RT-PCR analysis and sequencing revealed three forms of differentially spliced insulin mRNA in GH4 cells transiently transfected by pGas-Ins. Gas-Ins transgenic mice were generated utilizing this chimeric gene. Northern blot analysis, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry demonstrated expression of the human insulin gene specifically in antral G cells. Northern blot analysis demonstrated that the shortest of the insulin mRNA three forms is predominantly expressed in stomach tissue. RT-PCR analysis also showed expression of the transgene in colon, pancreas, and brain tissues that was undetectable by northern analysis. We conclude that gastrin promoter can be used for targeting expression of human insulin to antral G cells and that antral G cells can express human insulin. Further refining of the chimeric gene design is required to enhance expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Zhukova
- CURE: Digestive Diseases Research Center, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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22
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Vilalta A, Wu D, Margalith M, Hobart P. Rabbit EPO gene and cDNA: expression of rabbit EPO after intramuscular injection of pDNA. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2001; 284:823-7. [PMID: 11396976 DOI: 10.1006/bbrc.2001.5028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Erythropoietin (EPO) cDNA was cloned from kidney total RNA of a NZW rabbit. The cDNA comprises a 588-bp open reading frame encoding a 195 amino acid protein with distinguishable regions of high of homology to other mammalian EPOs. Intramuscular injection of mice with a rabbit EPO expression plasmid resulted in a significant hematocrit increase. A rabbit genomic DNA fragment was also cloned using the rabbit EPO cDNA. This 4312-bp genomic DNA fragment contains sequences homologous to the mouse EPO promoter and hypoxia-responsive enhancer. In addition, the genomic DNA also presents a high degree of conservation to other regions involved in hypoxia response. Sequence divergence in the 3' UTR may indicate differences in regulation of mRNA stability or response to low oxygen tension.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Vilalta
- Department of Molecular Biology, Vical Incorporated, San Diego, California, 92121, USA.
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23
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24
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Abstract
Effective and safe insulin gene therapy will require regulation of transgenic insulin secretion. We have created a liver-targeted insulin transgene by engineering glucose responsive elements into a hepatic promoter containing an inhibitory insulin response sequence. In this work, we demonstrate application of this transgene for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in vivo, by administering a recombinant adenovirus vector, Ad/(GIRE)3BP-1 2xfur, to rats made diabetic with streptozotocin. We verified hepatic expression of transgenic insulin by RT-PCR, and confirmed glucose responsive stimulation of transgenic insulin secretion in vivo by serum RIA. Following a portal system injection of either Ad/(GIRE)3BP-1 2xfur, or an empty adenoviral vector, animals made diabetic with either low (120 mg/kg), or high (290 mg/kg) dose streptozotocin (STZ) were monitored for changes in body weight, and blood glucose. Without subcutaneous insulin injections, blood glucose values of sham-treated animals (n = 8) remained elevated, and animals failed to gain weight (n = 4), or died (n = 4). In contrast, body weight of Ad/(GIRE)3BP-1 2xfur-treated animals (n = 13) increased, and blood glucose remained at near normal levels from one to 12 weeks. Glucose values <50 mg/dl were infrequently observed, and no Ad/(GIRE)3BP-1 2xfur-treated animal succumbed to hypoglycemia. Treatment with the insulin transgene enabled diabetic animals to reduce blood sugars following a glucose load, and to maintain blood sugar levels during a 10-h fast. Hepatic production of human insulin produced near normal glycemia, and weight gain, without exogenous insulin, and without lethal hypoglycemia. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing transcription to control transgenic insulin production in a rodent model of diabetes mellitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Thulé
- Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, and Atlanta VA Medical Center, GA 30033, USA
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Hartikka J, Bozoukova V, Jones D, Mahajan R, Wloch MK, Sawdey M, Buchner C, Sukhu L, Barnhart KM, Abai AM, Meek J, Shen N, Manthorpe M. Sodium phosphate enhances plasmid DNA expression in vivo. Gene Ther 2000; 7:1171-82. [PMID: 10918485 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3301226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Intramuscular injection of plasmid DNA results in myofiber cell expression of proteins encoded by the DNA. The preferred vehicle for plasmid DNA injections has been saline (154 mM sodium chloride) or PBS (154 mM NaCl plus 10 mM sodium phosphate). Here, it is shown that injection of luciferase or beta-galactosidase encoding plasmid DNA in a 150 mM sodium phosphate vehicle into murine muscle resulted in a two- to seven-fold increase in transgene expression compared with DNA injected in saline or PBS. When the DNA encoded secreted alkaline phosphatase, preproinsulin or interferon, sodium phosphate vehicle increased their serum levels by two- to four-fold. When the DNA encoded mouse erythropoietin, sodium phosphate vehicle increased hematocrits by two-fold compared with DNA injected in saline. When the DNA encoded influenza nucleoprotein, sodium phosphate increased anti-nucleoprotein antibody titers by two-fold. The expression of luciferase from plasmid DNA instilled into lung was increased five-fold compared with that in vehicle without sodium phosphate. Incubation of plasmid DNA with muscle extract or serum showed that sodium phosphate protected the DNA from degradation. Thus, a change from sodium chloride to sodium phosphate vehicle can enhance the expression of plasmid DNA in a tissue, possibly by inhibiting DNA degradation. Gene Therapy (2000) 7, 1171-1182.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Hartikka
- Department of Cell Biology, Vical Incorporated, 9373 Towne Centre Drive, San Diego, California 92121, USA
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