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Broussau S, Lytvyn V, Simoneau M, Guilbault C, Leclerc M, Nazemi-Moghaddam N, Coulombe N, Elahi SM, McComb S, Gilbert R. Packaging cells for lentiviral vectors generated using the cumate and coumermycin gene induction systems and nanowell single-cell cloning. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 29:40-57. [PMID: 36936448 PMCID: PMC10018046 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are important for cell therapy because of their capacity to stably modify the genome after integration. This study describes a novel and relatively simple approach to generate packaging cells and producer clones for self-inactivating (SIN) LVs pseudotyped with the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G). A novel gene regulation system, based on the combination of the cumate and coumermycin induction systems, was developed to ensure tight control for the expression of cytotoxic packaging elements. To accelerate clone isolation and ensure monoclonality, the packaging genes were transfected simultaneously into human embryonic kidney cells (293SF-3F6) previously engineered with the induction system, and clones were isolated after limiting dilution into nanowell arrays using a robotic cell picking instrument with scanning capability. The method's effectiveness to isolate colonies derived from single cells was demonstrated using mixed populations of cells labeled with two different fluorescent markers. Because the recipient cell line grew in suspension culture, and all the procedures were performed without serum, the resulting clones were readily adaptable to serum-free suspension culture. The best producer clone produced LVs expressing GFP at a titer of 2.3 × 108 transduction units (TU)/mL in the culture medium under batch mode without concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Broussau
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Viktoria Lytvyn
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Mélanie Simoneau
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Claire Guilbault
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Mélanie Leclerc
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Nazila Nazemi-Moghaddam
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Nathalie Coulombe
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Seyyed Mehdy Elahi
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Scott McComb
- Department of Immunology, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Rénald Gilbert
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0E9, Canada
- Département de Génie chimique, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Corresponding author: Rénald Gilbert, National Research Council Canada, Building Montreal, 6100 Avenue Royalmount, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada.
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Robert MA, Nassoury N, Chahal PS, Venne MH, Racine T, Qiu X, Kobinger G, Kamen A, Gilbert R, Gaillet B. Gene Transfer of ZMapp Antibodies Mediated by Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Protects Against Ebola Infections. Hum Gene Ther 2018; 29:452-466. [PMID: 29179602 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2017.101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Vectored delivery of the ZMapp antibody cocktail (c2G4, c4G7, and c13C6) by using recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) could be useful for preventive immunization against Ebola virus infections because rAAVs can generate long-term antibody expression. Three rAAVs (serotype 9) encoding chimeric ZMapp antibodies were produced by triple-plasmid transfection up to 10 L-scale in WAVE bioreactors using HEK293 cells grown in suspension/serum-free conditions. Efficacy of AAV-c2G4 via intravenous (i.v.), intramuscular (i.m.), and intranasal (i.n.) routes of administration was evaluated in mice with two different doses of 2.7 × 1010 and 13.0 × 1010 vector genomes (vg). The best protective efficacies after Ebola challenge were obtained with the i.v. and i.m. routes. Serum concentrations of ZMapp antibodies positively correlated with survivability. Efficacy of the rAAV-ZMapp cocktail was then evaluated at a higher dose of 30.0 × 1010 vg. It conferred a more robust protection (90% i.v. and 60% i.m.) than rAAV-c4G7 (30%) and rAAV-c13C6 (70%), both administered separately at the same dose. Delivery of rAAV-c2G4 alone achieved up to 100% protection (100% i.v. and 90% i.m.) at the same dose. In conclusion, the preventive treatment was effective in mice. However, no advantage was observed for using the rAAV-ZMapp cocktail in comparison to the utilization of the single rAAV-c2G4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-André Robert
- 1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Université Laval , Quebec, Canada .,2 National Research Council Canada , Montreal, Canada
| | | | | | | | - Trina Racine
- 3 Infectious Disease Research Center, Université Laval , Quebec, Canada .,4 Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Xiangguo Qiu
- 4 Special Pathogens Program, National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Canada .,5 Department of Medical Microbiology, McGill University , Montreal, Canada
| | - Gary Kobinger
- 3 Infectious Disease Research Center, Université Laval , Quebec, Canada .,6 Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,7 Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba , Winnipeg, Canada
| | - Amine Kamen
- 8 Department of Bioengineering, McGill University , Montreal, Canada
| | | | - Bruno Gaillet
- 1 Department of Chemical Engineering, Université Laval , Quebec, Canada
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Prolonged in vivo expression and anti-tumor response of DNA-based anti-HER2 antibodies. Oncotarget 2018; 9:13623-13636. [PMID: 29568382 PMCID: PMC5862603 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Antibody gene transfer presents an appealing alternative to conventional antibody protein therapy. This pre-clinical study evaluates the impact of various parameters on the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of in vivo expressed DNA-based anti-HER2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), newly engineered and delivered via intramuscular electrotransfer in mice. Plasma concentrations of trastuzumab and 4D5, its murine IgG1 equivalent, peaked on average between 1–15 µg/ml, depending on the administration and configuration of the encoding plasmid DNA (pDNA). A dual expression cassette system outperformed a single 2A-based cassette, and the CAG promoter was superior to a muscle-specific ΔUSE-based promoter. A ‘gene therapy-compatible’ Gene Transport Unit (gtGTU, FIT Biotech), a plasmid backbone that co-encodes viral elements, failed to improve in vivo reporter and mAb expression compared to a conventional plasmid. In BALB/c mice, trastuzumab detection was lost within two weeks after pDNA administration due to anti-drug antibodies. This host immune response was addressed by expressing trastuzumab in immune-compromised mice, or by gene transfer of murine 4D5 in BALB/c mice. Both approaches maintained single-digit µg/ml mAb concentrations for at least six to nine months, and allowed to boost mAb expression over time by pDNA re-dosing. In a breast cancer mouse model, prophylactic and therapeutic DNA-based trastuzumab or 4D5 led to complete tumor regressions, thereby rivalling with the administration of milligrams of mAb protein. In conclusion, our study demonstrates proof of concept for antibody gene transfer in cancer, provides critical insights in the engineering and application of DNA-based antibodies, and serves to advance this modality in oncology and beyond.
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Robert MA, Lin Y, Bendjelloul M, Zeng Y, Dessolin S, Broussau S, Larochelle N, Nalbantoglu J, Massie B, Gilbert R. Strength and muscle specificity of a compact promoter derived from the slow troponin I gene in the context of episomal (gutless adenovirus) and integrating (lentiviral) vectors. J Gene Med 2013; 14:746-60. [PMID: 23071006 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.2675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2012] [Revised: 08/16/2012] [Accepted: 10/12/2012] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gutless adenovirus (helper-dependent adenoviral vector; HDAd) and lentiviral vectors (LV) are attractive vectors for the gene therapy of muscle diseases. Because the organization of their DNA (episomal versus integrated) differs, we investigated whether the strength and specificity of ΔUSEx3, a novel muscle-specific promoter previously tested with plasmid, were maintained in the context of these vectors. METHODS Two HDAds expressing β-galactosidase regulated by ΔUSEx3 or CAG [cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer/β-actin promoter], and three LV expressing green fluorescent protein regulated by ΔUSEx3, CMV or a modified skeletal α-actin promoter (SPcΔ5-12), were constructed. Gene expression was compared in cell culture and after intravenous (HDAd only) and intramuscular injection of mice. RESULTS Irrespective of the vector used, ΔUSEx3 remained poorly active in nonmuscle cells and tissues. In myotubes, ΔUSEx3 was as strong as CMV and SPcΔ5-12, although it was ten-fold weaker than CAG, a proven powerful promoter in muscle. In cell culture, ΔUSEx3 activity in the context of LV was more stable than CMV, indicating it is less prone to silencing. In the context of HDAd, the behavior of ΔUSEx3 in skeletal muscle mirrored that of cell culture (10% of the CAG activity and half the number of transduced fibers). Surprisingly, in muscles treated with LV, ΔUSEx3 activity was five-fold lower than SPcΔ5-12. CONCLUSIONS The data obtained in the present study confirm that ΔUSEx3 is a strong and robust muscle-specific promoter in the context of HDAd (cell culture and in vivo) and LV (cell culture). However, it was less efficient in vivo in the context of LV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc-André Robert
- Biotechnology Research Institute, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, Québec, Canada. renald
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Haase R, Magnusson T, Su B, Kopp F, Wagner E, Lipps H, Baiker A, Ogris M. Generation of a tumor- and tissue-specific episomal non-viral vector system. BMC Biotechnol 2013; 13:49. [PMID: 23734827 PMCID: PMC3728224 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6750-13-49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A key issue for safe and reproducible gene therapy approaches is the autologous and tissue-specific expression of transgenes. Tissue-specific expression in vivo is either achieved by transfer vectors that deliver the gene of interest into a distinct cell type or by use of tissue-specific expression cassettes. Here we present the generation of non-viral, episomally replicating vectors that are able to replicate in a tissue specific manner thus allowing tissue specific transgene expression in combination with episomal replication. The episomal replication of the prototype vector pEPI-1 and its derivatives depends exclusively on a transcription unit starting from a constitutively active promoter extending into the scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR). Results Here, we exchanged the constitutive promoter in the pEPI derivative pEPito by the tumor specific alpha fetoprotein (AFP) or the muscle specific smooth muscle 22 (SM22) promoter leading to specific transgene expression in AFP positive human hepatocellular carcinoma (HUH7) and in a SM22 positive cell line, respectively. The incorporation of the hCMV enhancer element into the expression cassette further boosted the expression levels with both promoters. Tissue specific-replication could be exemplary proven for the smooth muscle protein 22 (SM22) promoter in vitro. With the AFP promoter-driven pEPito vector hepatocellular carcinoma-specific expression could be achieved in vivo after systemic vector application together with polyethylenimine as transfection enhancer. Conclusions In this study we present an episomal plasmid system designed for tissue specific transgene expression and replication. The human AFP-promoter in combination with the hCMV enhancer element was demonstrated to be a valuable tissue-specific promoter for targeting hepatocellular carcinomas with non-viral gene delivery system, and tissue specific replication could be shown in vitro with the muscle specific SM22 promoter. In combination with appropriate delivery systems, the tissue specific pEPito vector system will allow higher tissue-specificity with less undesired side effects and is suitable for long term transgene expression in vivo within gene therapeutical approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Haase
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
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Magnusson T, Haase R, Schleef M, Wagner E, Ogris M. Sustained, high transgene expression in liver with plasmid vectors using optimized promoter-enhancer combinations. J Gene Med 2011; 13:382-91. [PMID: 21721074 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmid-based gene therapy approaches often lack long-term transgene expression in vivo as a result of silencing or loss of the vector. One way to overcome these limitations is to combine nonsilenced promoters with strong enhancers. METHODS In the present study, we combine murine or human cytomegalovirus (CMV)-derived enhancer elements with the human elongation factor 1α (EF1α) promoter in a plasmid backbone devoid of potentially immunostimulating cytosine-guanine repeat sequences. Luciferase transgene activity was monitored in mouse liver after hydrodynamic plasmid delivery. RESULTS Luciferase activity of a CMV-promoter driven plasmid rapidly declined within days, whereas the activity of the EF1α driven plasmid remained high for 2 weeks (murine enhancer) and detectable for > 80 days (human enhancer). Expression levels clearly correlated with higher plasmid copy number found in the liver at 2 months after gene delivery. Furthermore, we developed a novel synthetic CMV-EF1α hybrid promoter (SCEP) combining the high activity of CMV and sustained activity of EF1α promoter. The SCEP led to a constitutive three-fold increase in expression levels compared to the EF1α promoter in vivo. CONCLUSIONS This novel combination of enhancer and promoter element with optimized plasmid backbones will pave the way for more efficient nonviral approaches in gene therapy.
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Meng J, Muntoni F, Morgan JE. Stem cells to treat muscular dystrophies – Where are we? Neuromuscul Disord 2011; 21:4-12. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2010.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2010] [Revised: 09/13/2010] [Accepted: 10/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Goettel W, Messing J. Divergence of gene regulation through chromosomal rearrangements. BMC Genomics 2010; 11:678. [PMID: 21118519 PMCID: PMC3014980 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-11-678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2010] [Accepted: 11/30/2010] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The molecular mechanisms that modify genome structures to give birth and death to alleles are still not well understood. To investigate the causative chromosomal rearrangements, we took advantage of the allelic diversity of the duplicated p1 and p2 genes in maize. Both genes encode a transcription factor involved in maysin synthesis, which confers resistance to corn earworm. However, p1 also controls accumulation of reddish pigments in floral tissues and has therefore acquired a new function after gene duplication. p1 alleles vary in their tissue-specific expression, which is indicated in their allele designation: the first suffix refers to red or white pericarp pigmentation and the second to red or white glume pigmentation. RESULTS Comparing chromosomal regions comprising p1-ww[4Co63], P1-rw1077 and P1-rr4B2 alleles with that of the reference genome, P1-wr[B73], enabled us to reconstruct additive events of transposition, chromosome breaks and repairs, and recombination that resulted in phenotypic variation and chimeric regulatory signals. The p1-ww[4Co63] null allele is probably derived from P1-wr[B73] by unequal crossover between large flanking sequences. A transposon insertion in a P1-wr-like allele and NHEJ (non-homologous end-joining) could have resulted in the formation of the P1-rw1077 allele. A second NHEJ event, followed by unequal crossover, probably led to the duplication of an enhancer region, creating the P1-rr4B2 allele. Moreover, a rather dynamic picture emerged in the use of polyadenylation signals by different p1 alleles. Interestingly, p1 alleles can be placed on both sides of a large retrotransposon cluster through recombination, while functional p2 alleles have only been found proximal to the cluster. CONCLUSIONS Allelic diversity of the p locus exemplifies how gene duplications promote phenotypic variability through composite regulatory signals. Transposition events increase the level of genomic complexity based not only on insertions but also on excisions that cause DNA double-strand breaks and trigger illegitimate recombination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Goettel
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University, 190 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | - Joachim Messing
- Waksman Institute of Microbiology, Rutgers University, 190 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
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