1
|
Guo QR, Cao YJ. Applications of genetic code expansion technology in eukaryotes. Protein Cell 2024; 15:331-363. [PMID: 37847216 PMCID: PMC11074999 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwad051] [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: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Unnatural amino acids (UAAs) have gained significant attention in protein engineering and drug development owing to their ability to introduce new chemical functionalities to proteins. In eukaryotes, genetic code expansion (GCE) enables the incorporation of UAAs and facilitates posttranscriptional modification (PTM), which is not feasible in prokaryotic systems. GCE is also a powerful tool for cell or animal imaging, the monitoring of protein interactions in target cells, drug development, and switch regulation. Therefore, there is keen interest in utilizing GCE in eukaryotic systems. This review provides an overview of the application of GCE in eukaryotic systems and discusses current challenges that need to be addressed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiao-ru Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomic, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yu J Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Oncogenomic, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Genomics, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China
- Institute of Chemical Biology, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518132, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked, muscle wasting disease that affects 1 in 5000 males. Affected individuals become wheelchair bound by the age of twelve and eventually die in their third decade due to respiratory and cardiac complications. The disease is caused by mutations in the DMD gene that codes for dystrophin. Dystrophin is a structural protein that maintains the integrity of muscle fibres and protects them from contraction-induced damage. The absence of dystrophin compromises the stability and function of the muscle fibres, eventually leading to muscle degeneration. So far, there is no effective treatment for deteriorating muscle function in DMD patients. A promising approach for treating this life-threatening disease is gene transfer to restore dystrophin expression using a safe, non-pathogenic viral vector called adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector. Whilst microdystrophin gene transfer using AAV vectors shows extremely impressive therapeutic success so far in large animal models of DMD, translating this advanced therapy medicinal product from bench to bedside still offers scope for many optimization steps. In this paper, the authors review the current progress of AAV-microdystrophin gene therapy for DMD and other treatment strategies that may apply to a subset of DMD patients depending on the mutations they carry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nertiyan Elangkovan
- Centres for Gene & Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Royal Holloway - University of London, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
| | - George Dickson
- Centres for Gene & Cell Therapy and Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Life & Environmental Sciences, Royal Holloway - University of London, Surrey, TW20 0EX, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Zamani G, Hosseini Bereshneh A, Azizi Malamiri R, Bagheri S, Moradi K, Ashrafi MR, Tavasoli AR, Mohammadi M, Badv RS, Ghahvechi Akbari M, Heidari M. The First Comprehensive Cohort of the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Iranian Population: Mutation Spectrum of 314 Patients and Identifying Two Novel Nonsense Mutations. J Mol Neurosci 2020; 70:1565-1573. [DOI: 10.1007/s12031-020-01594-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
|
4
|
Salmaninejad A, Jafari Abarghan Y, Bozorg Qomi S, Bayat H, Yousefi M, Azhdari S, Talebi S, Mojarrad M. Common therapeutic advances for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Int J Neurosci 2020; 131:370-389. [DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2020.1740218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arash Salmaninejad
- Halal Research Center of IRI, FDA, Tehran, Iran
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Yousef Jafari Abarghan
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Saeed Bozorg Qomi
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Hadi Bayat
- Medical Nano-Technology & Tissue Engineering Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Tissue Engineering and Applied Cell Sciences, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Meysam Yousefi
- Department of Medical Genetics Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Sara Azhdari
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, School of Medicine, Bam University of Medical Sciences, Bam, Iran
| | - Samaneh Talebi
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Majid Mojarrad
- Medical Genetics Research Center, Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The current knowledge of pathophysiological and molecular mechanisms responsible for the genesis and development of heart failure (HF) is absolutely vast. Nonetheless, the hiatus between experimental findings and therapeutic options remains too deep, while the available pharmacological treatments are mostly seasoned and display limited efficacy. The necessity to identify new, non-pharmacological strategies to target molecular alterations led investigators, already many years ago, to propose gene therapy for HF. Here, we will review some of the strategies proposed over the past years to target major pathogenic mechanisms/factors responsible for severe cardiac injury developing into HF and will provide arguments in favor of the necessity to keep alive research on this topic. RECENT FINDINGS After decades of preclinical research and phases of enthusiasm and disappointment, clinical trials were finally launched in recent years. The first one to reach phase II and testing gene delivery of sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase did not yield encouraging results; however, other trials are ongoing, more efficient viral vectors are being developed, and promising new potential targets have been identified. For instance, recent research is focused on gene repair, in vivo, to treat heritable forms of HF, while strong experimental evidence indicates that specific microRNAs can be delivered to post-ischemic hearts to induce regeneration, a result that was previously thought possible only by using stem cell therapy. Gene therapy for HF is aging, but exciting perspectives are still very open.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Khatia Gabisonia
- Institute of Life Sciences, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Liberta` 33, 56127, Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabio A Recchia
- Institute of Life Sciences, Fondazione Toscana Gabriele Monasterio, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Piazza Martiri della Liberta` 33, 56127, Pisa, Italy.
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dystrophin Cardiomyopathies: Clinical Management, Molecular Pathogenesis and Evolution towards Precision Medicine. J Clin Med 2018; 7:jcm7090291. [PMID: 30235804 PMCID: PMC6162458 DOI: 10.3390/jcm7090291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Revised: 09/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy is an X-linked neuromuscular disease that manifests as muscle atrophy and cardiomyopathy in young boys. However, a considerable percentage of carrier females are often diagnosed with cardiomyopathy at an advanced stage. Existing therapy is not disease-specific and has limited effect, thus many patients and symptomatic carrier females prematurely die due to heart failure. Early detection is one of the major challenges that muscular dystrophy patients, carrier females, family members and, research and medical teams face in the complex course of dystrophic cardiomyopathy management. Despite the widespread adoption of advanced imaging modalities such as cardiac magnetic resonance, there is much scope for refining the diagnosis and treatment of dystrophic cardiomyopathy. This comprehensive review will focus on the pertinent clinical aspects of cardiac disease in muscular dystrophy while also providing a detailed consideration of the known and developing concepts in the pathophysiology of muscular dystrophy and forthcoming therapeutic options.
Collapse
|
7
|
Massetti T, Fávero FM, Menezes LDCD, Alvarez MPB, Crocetta TB, Guarnieri R, Nunes FLS, Monteiro CBDM, Silva TDD. Achievement of Virtual and Real Objects Using a Short-Term Motor Learning Protocol in People with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: A Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial. Games Health J 2018; 7:107-115. [PMID: 29608336 DOI: 10.1089/g4h.2016.0088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate whether people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) practicing a task in a virtual environment could improve performance given a similar task in a real environment, as well as distinguishing whether there is transference between performing the practice in virtual environment and then a real environment and vice versa. METHODS Twenty-two people with DMD were evaluated and divided into two groups. The goal was to reach out and touch a red cube. Group A began with the real task and had to touch a real object, and Group B began with the virtual task and had to reach a virtual object using the Kinect system. RESULTS ANOVA showed that all participants decreased the movement time from the first (M = 973 ms) to the last block of acquisition (M = 783 ms) in both virtual and real tasks and motor learning could be inferred by the short-term retention and transfer task (with increasing distance of the target). However, the evaluation of task performance demonstrated that the virtual task provided an inferior performance when compared to the real task in all phases of the study, and there was no effect for sequence. CONCLUSIONS Both virtual and real tasks promoted improvement of performance in the acquisition phase, short-term retention, and transfer. However, there was no transference of learning between environments. In conclusion, it is recommended that the use of virtual environments for individuals with DMD needs to be considered carefully.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thais Massetti
- 1 Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francis Meire Fávero
- 2 Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo , UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Fátima L S Nunes
- 4 School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo , EACH-USP, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Talita Dias da Silva
- 2 Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo , UNIFESP, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Wang DW, Mokhonova EI, Kendall GC, Becerra D, Naeini YB, Cantor RM, Spencer MJ, Nelson SF, Miceli MC. Repurposing Dantrolene for Long-Term Combination Therapy to Potentiate Antisense-Mediated DMD Exon Skipping in the mdx Mouse. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2018; 11:180-191. [PMID: 29858053 PMCID: PMC5992346 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in DMD, resulting in loss of dystrophin, which is essential to muscle health. DMD “exon skipping” uses anti-sense oligo-nucleotides (AONs) to force specific exon exclusion during mRNA processing to restore reading frame and rescue of partially functional dystrophin protein. Although exon-skipping drugs in humans show promise, levels of rescued dystrophin protein remain suboptimal. We previously identified dantrolene as a skip booster when combined with AON in human DMD cultures and short-term mdx dystrophic mouse studies. Here, we assess the effect of dantrolene/AON combination on DMD exon-23 skipping over long-term mdx treatment under conditions that better approximate potential human dosing. To evaluate the dantrolene/AON combination treatment effect on dystrophin induction, we assayed three AON doses, with and without oral dantrolene, to assess multiple outcomes across different muscles. Meta-analyses of the results of statistical tests from both the quadriceps and diaphragm assessing contributions of dantrolene beyond AON, across all AON treatment groups, provide strong evidence that dantrolene modestly boosts exon skipping and dystrophin rescue while reducing muscle pathology in mdx mice (p < 0.0087). These findings support a trial of combination dantrolene/AON to increase exon-skipping efficacy and highlight the value of combinatorial approaches and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drug re-purposing for discovery of unsuspected therapeutic application and rapid translation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Derek W Wang
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine and College of Letters and Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Ekaterina I Mokhonova
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine and College of Letters and Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Genevieve C Kendall
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Diana Becerra
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yalda B Naeini
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Rita M Cantor
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Melissa J Spencer
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stanley F Nelson
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - M Carrie Miceli
- Center for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine and College of Letters and Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Salmaninejad A, Valilou SF, Bayat H, Ebadi N, Daraei A, Yousefi M, Nesaei A, Mojarrad M. Duchenne muscular dystrophy: an updated review of common available therapies. Int J Neurosci 2018; 128:854-864. [PMID: 29351004 DOI: 10.1080/00207454.2018.1430694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal progressive pediatric muscle disorder and genetically inherited as an X-linked disease that caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene. DMD leads to progressive muscle weakness, degeneration, and wasting; finally, follows with the premature demise in affected individuals due to respiratory and/or cardiac failure typically by age of 30. For decades, scientists tried massively to find an effective therapy method, but there is no absolute cure currently for patients with DMD, nevertheless, recent advanced progressions on the treatment of DMD will be hopeful in the future. Several promising gene therapies are currently under investigation. These include gene replacement, exon skipping, suppression of stop codons. More recently, a promising gene editing tool referred to as CRISPR/Cas9 offers exciting perspectives for restoring dystrophin expression in patients with DMD. This review intents to briefly describe these methods and comment on their advances. Since DMD is a genetic disorder, it should be treated by replacing the deficient DMD copy with a functional one. However, there are different types of mutations in this gene, so such therapeutic approaches are highly mutation specific and thus are personalized. Therefore, DMD has arisen as a model of genetic disorder for understanding and overcoming of the challenges of developing personalized genetic medicines, consequently, the lessons learned from these approaches will be applicable to many other disorders. CONCLUSIONS This review provides an update on the recent gene therapies for DMD that aim to compensate for dystrophin deficiency and the related clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Arash Salmaninejad
- a Drug Applied Research Center , Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,b Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.,c Medical Genetics Research Center, Faculty of Medicine , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran
| | - Saeed Farajzadeh Valilou
- d Medical Genetics Network (MeGeNe) , Universal Scientific Education and Research Network (USERN) , Tehran , Iran
| | - Hadi Bayat
- e Department of Tissue Engineering, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine , Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Nader Ebadi
- f Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine , Tehran University of Medical Science , Tehran , Iran
| | - Abdolreza Daraei
- g Genetic Department, Faculty of Medicine , Babol University of Medical Sciences , Babol , Iran
| | - Meysam Yousefi
- b Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.,c Medical Genetics Research Center, Faculty of Medicine , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran
| | - Abolfazl Nesaei
- h Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine , Gonabad University of Medical Sciences , Gonabad , Iran
| | - Majid Mojarrad
- b Student Research Committee, Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran.,c Medical Genetics Research Center, Faculty of Medicine , Mashhad University of Medical Sciences , Mashhad , Iran
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Benedetti S, Uno N, Hoshiya H, Ragazzi M, Ferrari G, Kazuki Y, Moyle LA, Tonlorenzi R, Lombardo A, Chaouch S, Mouly V, Moore M, Popplewell L, Kazuki K, Katoh M, Naldini L, Dickson G, Messina G, Oshimura M, Cossu G, Tedesco FS. Reversible immortalisation enables genetic correction of human muscle progenitors and engineering of next-generation human artificial chromosomes for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. EMBO Mol Med 2018; 10:254-275. [PMID: 29242210 PMCID: PMC5801502 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201607284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 11/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Transferring large or multiple genes into primary human stem/progenitor cells is challenged by restrictions in vector capacity, and this hurdle limits the success of gene therapy. A paradigm is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an incurable disorder caused by mutations in the largest human gene: dystrophin. The combination of large-capacity vectors, such as human artificial chromosomes (HACs), with stem/progenitor cells may overcome this limitation. We previously reported amelioration of the dystrophic phenotype in mice transplanted with murine muscle progenitors containing a HAC with the entire dystrophin locus (DYS-HAC). However, translation of this strategy to human muscle progenitors requires extension of their proliferative potential to withstand clonal cell expansion after HAC transfer. Here, we show that reversible cell immortalisation mediated by lentivirally delivered excisable hTERT and Bmi1 transgenes extended cell proliferation, enabling transfer of a novel DYS-HAC into DMD satellite cell-derived myoblasts and perivascular cell-derived mesoangioblasts. Genetically corrected cells maintained a stable karyotype, did not undergo tumorigenic transformation and retained their migration ability. Cells remained myogenic in vitro (spontaneously or upon MyoD induction) and engrafted murine skeletal muscle upon transplantation. Finally, we combined the aforementioned functions into a next-generation HAC capable of delivering reversible immortalisation, complete genetic correction, additional dystrophin expression, inducible differentiation and controllable cell death. This work establishes a novel platform for complex gene transfer into clinically relevant human muscle progenitors for DMD gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Benedetti
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, UK
| | - Narumi Uno
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biofunction, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
- Chromosome Engineering Research Center (CERC), Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Hoshiya
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Martina Ragazzi
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Giulia Ferrari
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Yasuhiro Kazuki
- Department of Biomedical Science, Institute of Regenerative Medicine and Biofunction, Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
- Chromosome Engineering Research Center (CERC), Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
| | - Louise Anne Moyle
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - Rossana Tonlorenzi
- Division of Neuroscience, Institute of Experimental Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Lombardo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (TIGET), San Raffaele Scientific Institute and Vita Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Soraya Chaouch
- AIM/AFM Center for Research in Myology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, INSERM UMRS974, CNRS FRE3617, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Mouly
- AIM/AFM Center for Research in Myology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ. Paris 06, INSERM UMRS974, CNRS FRE3617, Paris, France
| | - Marc Moore
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway-University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
| | - Linda Popplewell
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway-University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
| | - Kanako Kazuki
- Chromosome Engineering Research Center (CERC), Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
| | - Motonobu Katoh
- Chromosome Engineering Research Center (CERC), Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
| | - Luigi Naldini
- Department of Biosciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - George Dickson
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway-University of London, Egham, Surrey, UK
| | | | - Mitsuo Oshimura
- Chromosome Engineering Research Center (CERC), Tottori University, Yonago, Tottori, Japan
| | - Giulio Cossu
- Division of Cell Matrix Biology and Regenerative Medicine, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Aslesh T, Maruyama R, Yokota T. Skipping Multiple Exons to Treat DMD-Promises and Challenges. Biomedicines 2018; 6:E1. [PMID: 29301272 PMCID: PMC5874658 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines6010001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a lethal disorder caused by mutations in the DMD gene. Antisense-mediated exon-skipping is a promising therapeutic strategy that makes use of synthetic nucleic acids to skip frame-disrupting exon(s) and allows for short but functional protein expression by restoring the reading frame. In 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved eteplirsen, which skips DMD exon 51 and is applicable to approximately 13% of DMD patients. Multiple exon skipping, which is theoretically applicable to 80-90% of DMD patients in total, have been demonstrated in animal models, including dystrophic mice and dogs, using cocktail antisense oligonucleotides (AOs). Although promising, current drug approval systems pose challenges for the use of a cocktail AO. For example, both exons 6 and 8 need to be skipped to restore the reading frame in dystrophic dogs. Therefore, the cocktail of AOs targeting these exons has a combined therapeutic effect and each AO does not have a therapeutic effect by itself. The current drug approval system is not designed to evaluate such circumstances, which are completely different from cocktail drug approaches in other fields. Significant changes are needed in the drug approval process to promote the cocktail AO approach.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tejal Aslesh
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 8812-112 St. Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
| | - Rika Maruyama
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 8812-112 St. Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, 8812-112 St. Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
- The Friends of Garrett Cumming Research and Muscular Dystrophy Canada HM Toupin Neurological Science Research Chair, 8812-112 St. Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Validation and Detection of Exon Skipping Boosters in DMD Patient Cell Models and mdx Mouse. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1828:309-326. [PMID: 30171550 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8651-4_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by mutations in the DMD gene. Most deletions, duplications, or indels lead to shift of mRNA reading frame, which prevent the production of dystrophin protein. DMD is the leading fatal genetic disorder in childhood. One therapeutic strategy aims to skip one or more exons to restore reading frame to enable the production of internally truncated proteins with partial functionality. However, to date the efficiency of this strategy is suboptimal. Here we present methods for assessing exon skipping using AON alone or in combination with skip booster in the context of human DMD patient fibroblast derived myotubes and in the mdx mouse model of DMD.
Collapse
|
13
|
Nelson CE, Robinson-Hamm JN, Gersbach CA. Genome engineering: a new approach to gene therapy for neuromuscular disorders. Nat Rev Neurol 2017; 13:647-661. [DOI: 10.1038/nrneurol.2017.126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
14
|
Johnstone VPA, Viola HM, Hool LC. Dystrophic Cardiomyopathy-Potential Role of Calcium in Pathogenesis, Treatment and Novel Therapies. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8040108. [PMID: 28338606 PMCID: PMC5406855 DOI: 10.3390/genes8040108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 03/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is caused by defects in the DMD gene and results in progressive wasting of skeletal and cardiac muscle due to an absence of functional dystrophin. Cardiomyopathy is prominent in DMD patients, and contributes significantly to mortality. This is particularly true following respiratory interventions that reduce death rate and increase ambulation and consequently cardiac load. Cardiomyopathy shows an increasing prevalence with age and disease progression, and over 95% of patients exhibit dilated cardiomyopathy by the time they reach adulthood. Development of the myopathy is complex, and elevations in intracellular calcium, functional muscle ischemia, and mitochondrial dysfunction characterise the pathophysiology. Current therapies are limited to treating symptoms of the disease and there is therefore an urgent need to treat the underlying genetic defect. Several novel therapies are outlined here, and the unprecedented success of phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) in preclinical and clinical studies is overviewed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victoria P A Johnstone
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Helena M Viola
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
| | - Livia C Hool
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
The lack of the Celf2a splicing factor converts a Duchenne genotype into a Becker phenotype. Nat Commun 2016; 7:10488. [PMID: 26796035 PMCID: PMC4736020 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Substitutions, deletions and duplications in the dystrophin gene lead to either the severe Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) or mild Becker muscular dystrophy depending on whether out-of-frame or in-frame transcripts are produced. We identified a DMD case (GSΔ44) where the correlation between genotype and phenotype is not respected, even if carrying a typical Duchenne mutation (exon 44 deletion) a Becker-like phenotype was observed. Here we report that in this patient, partial restoration of an in-frame transcript occurs by natural skipping of exon 45 and that this is due to the lack of Celf2a, a splicing factor that interacts with exon 45 in the dystrophin pre-mRNA. Several experiments are presented that demonstrate the central role of Celf2a in controlling exon 45 splicing; our data point to this factor as a potential target for the improvement of those DMD therapeutic treatments, which requires exon 45 skipping. Muscular Dystrophy can be caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, causing the severe Duchenne form or the mild Becker form depending on if the transcript is in or out-of-frame. Here the authors identify a Duchenne-type mutation that gives a Becker-like phenotype due to skipping of exon 45.
Collapse
|
16
|
Smythe G. Role of Growth Factors in Modulation of the Microvasculature in Adult Skeletal Muscle. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 900:161-83. [PMID: 27003400 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-27511-6_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Post-natal skeletal muscle is a highly plastic tissue that has the capacity to regenerate rapidly following injury, and to undergo significant modification in tissue mass (i.e. atrophy/hypertrophy) in response to global metabolic changes. These processes are reliant largely on soluble factors that directly modulate muscle regeneration and mass. However, skeletal muscle function also depends on an adequate blood supply. Thus muscle regeneration and changes in muscle mass, particularly hypertrophy, also demand rapid changes in the microvasculature. Recent evidence clearly demonstrates a critical role for soluble growth factors in the tight regulation of angiogenic expansion of the muscle microvasculature. Furthermore, exogenous modulation of these factors has the capacity to impact directly on angiogenesis and thus, indirectly, on muscle regeneration, growth and performance. This chapter reviews recent developments in understanding the role of growth factors in modulating the skeletal muscle microvasculature, and the potential therapeutic applications of exogenous angiogenic and anti-angiogenic mediators in promoting effective growth and regeneration, and ameliorating certain diseases, of skeletal muscle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gayle Smythe
- Faculty of Science, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, 789, 2640, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Malheiros SRP, da Silva TD, Favero FM, de Abreu LC, Fregni F, Ribeiro DC, de Mello Monteiro CB. Computer task performance by subjects with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Neuropsychiatr Dis Treat 2016; 12:41-8. [PMID: 26766911 PMCID: PMC4699593 DOI: 10.2147/ndt.s87735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS Two specific objectives were established to quantify computer task performance among people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). First, we compared simple computational task performance between subjects with DMD and age-matched typically developing (TD) subjects. Second, we examined correlations between the ability of subjects with DMD to learn the computational task and their motor functionality, age, and initial task performance. METHOD The study included 84 individuals (42 with DMD, mean age of 18±5.5 years, and 42 age-matched controls). They executed a computer maze task; all participants performed the acquisition (20 attempts) and retention (five attempts) phases, repeating the same maze. A different maze was used to verify transfer performance (five attempts). The Motor Function Measure Scale was applied, and the results were compared with maze task performance. RESULTS In the acquisition phase, a significant decrease was found in movement time (MT) between the first and last acquisition block, but only for the DMD group. For the DMD group, MT during transfer was shorter than during the first acquisition block, indicating improvement from the first acquisition block to transfer. In addition, the TD group showed shorter MT than the DMD group across the study. CONCLUSION DMD participants improved their performance after practicing a computational task; however, the difference in MT was present in all attempts among DMD and control subjects. Computational task improvement was positively influenced by the initial performance of individuals with DMD. In turn, the initial performance was influenced by their distal functionality but not their age or overall functionality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Talita Dias da Silva
- Department of Medicine, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Francis Meire Favero
- Department of Medicine, Paulista School of Medicine, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Felipe Fregni
- Center for Neurosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Denise Cardoso Ribeiro
- Post-graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Carlos Bandeira de Mello Monteiro
- School of Medicine of ABC, Santo Andre, Brazil; Post-graduate Program in Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Agrelo R, Sutz MA, Setien F, Aldunate F, Esteller M, Da Costa V, Achenbach R. A novel Werner Syndrome mutation: pharmacological treatment by read-through of nonsense mutations and epigenetic therapies. Epigenetics 2015; 10:329-41. [PMID: 25830902 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2015.1027853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Werner Syndrome (WS) is a rare inherited disease characterized by premature aging and increased propensity for cancer. Mutations in the WRN gene can be of several types, including nonsense mutations, leading to a truncated protein form. WRN is a RecQ family member with both helicase and exonuclease activities, and it participates in several cell metabolic pathways, including DNA replication, DNA repair, and telomere maintenance. Here, we reported a novel homozygous WS mutation (c.3767 C > G) in 2 Argentinian brothers, which resulted in a stop codon and a truncated protein (p.S1256X). We also observed increased WRN promoter methylation in the cells of patients and decreased messenger WRN RNA (WRN mRNA) expression. Finally, we showed that the read-through of nonsense mutation pharmacologic treatment with both aminoglycosides (AGs) and ataluren (PTC-124) in these cells restores full-length protein expression and WRN functionality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ruben Agrelo
- a Epigenetics of Cancer and Aging Laboratory Institut Pasteur de Montevideo (IPMON) ; Montevideo , Uruguay
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
19
|
Massouridès E, Polentes J, Mangeot PE, Mournetas V, Nectoux J, Deburgrave N, Nusbaum P, Leturcq F, Popplewell L, Dickson G, Wein N, Flanigan KM, Peschanski M, Chelly J, Pinset C. Dp412e: a novel human embryonic dystrophin isoform induced by BMP4 in early differentiated cells. Skelet Muscle 2015; 5:40. [PMID: 26568816 PMCID: PMC4644319 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-015-0062-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 10/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating X-linked recessive genetic myopathy. DMD physiopathology is still not fully understood and a prenatal onset is suspected but difficult to address. Methods The bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4) is a critical signaling molecule involved in mesoderm commitment. Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from DMD and healthy individuals and human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) treated with BMP4 allowed us to model the early steps of myogenesis in normal and DMD contexts. Results Unexpectedly, 72h following BMP4 treatment, a new long DMD transcript was detected in all tested hiPSCs and hESCs, at levels similar to that found in adult skeletal muscle. This novel transcript named “Dp412e” has a specific untranslated first exon which is conserved only in a sub-group of anthropoids including human. The corresponding novel dystrophin protein of 412-kiloDalton (kDa), characterized by an N-terminal-truncated actin-binding domain, was detected in normal BMP4-treated hiPSCs/hESCs and in embryoid bodies. Finally, using a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) targeting the DMD exon 53, we demonstrated the feasibility of exon skipping validation with this BMP4-inducible hiPSCs model. Conclusions In this study, the use of hiPSCs to analyze early phases of human development in normal and DMD contexts has led to the discovery of an embryonic 412 kDa dystrophin isoform. Deciphering the regulation process(es) and the function(s) associated to this new isoform can contribute to a better understanding of the DMD physiopathology and potential developmental defects. Moreover, the simple and robust BMP4-inducible model highlighted here, providing large amount of a long DMD transcript and the corresponding protein in only 3 days, is already well-adapted to high-throughput and high-content screening approaches. Therefore, availability of this powerful cell platform can accelerate the development, validation and improvement of DMD genetic therapies. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13395-015-0062-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jérôme Polentes
- I-STEM, CECS, Génopôle-Campus 1, 5 rue Henri Desbruères, 91030 Evry, Cedex France
| | - Philippe-Emmanuel Mangeot
- CIRI, International Center for Infectiology Research, Université de Lyon, Lyon, France ; Inserm, U1111, Lyon, France ; CNRS, UMR5308, Lyon, France ; Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Lyon, France ; Université Lyon 1, Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie, Lyon, France
| | | | - Juliette Nectoux
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique Moléculaire, HUPC Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Deburgrave
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique Moléculaire, HUPC Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Patrick Nusbaum
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique Moléculaire, HUPC Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - France Leturcq
- Service de Biochimie et Génétique Moléculaire, HUPC Hôpital Cochin, Paris, France
| | - Linda Popplewell
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway-University of London, Surrey, TW20 0EX UK
| | - George Dickson
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway-University of London, Surrey, TW20 0EX UK
| | - Nicolas Wein
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205 USA
| | - Kevin M Flanigan
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH 43205 USA
| | - Marc Peschanski
- UEVE U861, 91030 Evry, France ; Inserm U861, 91030 Evry, France
| | - Jamel Chelly
- IGBMC-CNRS UMR7104/Inserm U964, 67404 Illkirch, Cedex France
| | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a severe genetic disorder caused by loss of function of the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome. Gene augmentation of dystrophin is challenging due to the large size of the dystrophin cDNA. Emerging genome editing technologies, such as TALEN and CRISPR-Cas9 systems, open a new erain the restoration of functional dystrophin and are a hallmark of bona fide gene therapy. In this review, we summarize current genome editing approaches, properties of target cell types for ex vivo gene therapy, and perspectives of in vivo gene therapy including genome editing in human zygotes. Although technical challenges, such as efficacy, accuracy, and delivery of the genome editing components, remain to be further improved, yet genome editing technologies offer a new avenue for the gene therapy of DMD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Akitsu Hotta
- Center for iPS Cell Research & Application (CiRA), Kyoto University, Japan.,Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (iCeMS), Kyoto University, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
van Westering TLE, Betts CA, Wood MJA. Current understanding of molecular pathology and treatment of cardiomyopathy in duchenne muscular dystrophy. Molecules 2015; 20:8823-55. [PMID: 25988613 PMCID: PMC6272314 DOI: 10.3390/molecules20058823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2015] [Revised: 05/08/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a genetic muscle disorder caused by mutations in the Dmd gene resulting in the loss of the protein dystrophin. Patients do not only experience skeletal muscle degeneration, but also develop severe cardiomyopathy by their second decade, one of the main causes of death. The absence of dystrophin in the heart renders cardiomyocytes more sensitive to stretch-induced damage. Moreover, it pathologically alters intracellular calcium (Ca2+) concentration, neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) localization and mitochondrial function and leads to inflammation and necrosis, all contributing to the development of cardiomyopathy. Current therapies only treat symptoms and therefore the need for targeting the genetic defect is immense. Several preclinical therapies are undergoing development, including utrophin up-regulation, stop codon read-through therapy, viral gene therapy, cell-based therapy and exon skipping. Some of these therapies are undergoing clinical trials, but these have predominantly focused on skeletal muscle correction. However, improving skeletal muscle function without addressing cardiac aspects of the disease may aggravate cardiomyopathy and therefore it is essential that preclinical and clinical focus include improving heart function. This review consolidates what is known regarding molecular pathology of the DMD heart, specifically focusing on intracellular Ca2+, nNOS and mitochondrial dysregulation. It briefly discusses the current treatment options and then elaborates on the preclinical therapeutic approaches currently under development to restore dystrophin thereby improving pathology, with a focus on the heart.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tirsa L E van Westering
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Corinne A Betts
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK.
| | - Matthew J A Wood
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Duan D. Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene therapy in the canine model. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2015; 26:57-69. [PMID: 25710459 PMCID: PMC4442571 DOI: 10.1089/humc.2015.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked lethal muscle disease caused by dystrophin deficiency. Gene therapy has significantly improved the outcome of dystrophin-deficient mice. Yet, clinical translation has not resulted in the expected benefits in human patients. This translational gap is largely because of the insufficient modeling of DMD in mice. Specifically, mice lacking dystrophin show minimum dystrophic symptoms, and they do not respond to the gene therapy vector in the same way as human patients do. Further, the size of a mouse is hundredfolds smaller than a boy, making it impossible to scale-up gene therapy in a mouse model. None of these limitations exist in the canine DMD (cDMD) model. For this reason, cDMD dogs have been considered a highly valuable platform to test experimental DMD gene therapy. Over the last three decades, a variety of gene therapy approaches have been evaluated in cDMD dogs using a number of nonviral and viral vectors. These studies have provided critical insight for the development of an effective gene therapy protocol in human patients. This review discusses the history, current status, and future directions of the DMD gene therapy in the canine model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Neurology School of Medicine, University of Missouri , Columbia, MO 65212
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Kornegay JN, Spurney CF, Nghiem PP, Brinkmeyer-Langford CL, Hoffman EP, Nagaraju K. Pharmacologic management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy: target identification and preclinical trials. ILAR J 2015; 55:119-49. [PMID: 24936034 DOI: 10.1093/ilar/ilu011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked human disorder in which absence of the protein dystrophin causes degeneration of skeletal and cardiac muscle. For the sake of treatment development, over and above definitive genetic and cell-based therapies, there is considerable interest in drugs that target downstream disease mechanisms. Drug candidates have typically been chosen based on the nature of pathologic lesions and presumed underlying mechanisms and then tested in animal models. Mammalian dystrophinopathies have been characterized in mice (mdx mouse) and dogs (golden retriever muscular dystrophy [GRMD]). Despite promising results in the mdx mouse, some therapies have not shown efficacy in DMD. Although the GRMD model offers a higher hurdle for translation, dogs have primarily been used to test genetic and cellular therapies where there is greater risk. Failed translation of animal studies to DMD raises questions about the propriety of methods and models used to identify drug targets and test efficacy of pharmacologic intervention. The mdx mouse and GRMD dog are genetically homologous to DMD but not necessarily analogous. Subcellular species differences are undoubtedly magnified at the whole-body level in clinical trials. This problem is compounded by disparate cultures in clinical trials and preclinical studies, pointing to a need for greater rigor and transparency in animal experiments. Molecular assays such as mRNA arrays and genome-wide association studies allow identification of genetic drug targets more closely tied to disease pathogenesis. Genes in which polymorphisms have been directly linked to DMD disease progression, as with osteopontin, are particularly attractive targets.
Collapse
|
24
|
Li X, Zhao L, Zhou S, Hu C, Shi Y, Shi W, Li H, Liu F, Wu B, Wang Y. A comprehensive database of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy patients (0-18 years old) in East China. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2015; 10:5. [PMID: 25612904 PMCID: PMC4323212 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-014-0220-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Currently, there is no cure for Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies (DMD/BMD). However, clinical trials with new therapeutic strategies are being conducted or considered. A comprehensive database is critical for patient recruitment and efficacy evaluation. China has the largest population, yet, no comprehensive database for DMD/BMD is available. Our study registered the data of the DMD/BMD patients in East China. Methods A modified registry form of Remudy (http://www.remudy.jp/) was applied to Chinese DMD/BMD patients through the outpatient clinic at Children’s Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai during the period of August 2011 to December 2013. The data included geographic distribution of patients, age at diagnosis, clinical manifestation, genetic analysis and treatment status. Results 194 DMD and 35 BMD patients were registered. Most patients lived in East China, namely Jiangsu province, Anhui province, Zhejiang province, Jiangxi province, Shanghai, Fujian province and Shandong province. All individuals aged less than 18 years (age limit to a children’s hospital). Diagnosis was made for a majority of patients during the age of 3–4 (16.6%) and 7–8 (14.8%) years old. Exon deletion was the most frequent genetic mutations (65.5% and 74.3%) followed by point mutations (14.4% and 11.4%), duplications (9.8% and 8.6%) and small insertion/deletion (9.3% and 2.9%) for DMD and BMD, respectively. 82.5% of DMD registrants were ambulatory, and all the BMD registrants were able to walk. 26.3% of DMD registrants have been treated with steroids. Cardiac functions were examined for 46.4% DMD boys and 45.7% BMD boys and respiratory functions were examined for 18.6% DMD boys and 14.3% BMD boys. Four boys with abnormal cardiac function were prescribed for treatment with cardiac medicine. 33.2% of DMD patients are eligible for exon skipping therapy, and among them 9.2% and 4.3% patients are eligible for skipping exon 51 and 53, respectively. Conclusions The database is the first linking accurate genetic diagnosis with clinical manifestation and treatment status of dystrophinopathy patients in East China. It provides comprehensive information essential for further patient management, especially for promotion of international cooperation in developing experimental therapies such as exon skipping and read-through of nonsense mutations targeting a subgroup of DMD patient population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xihua Li
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, No.399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 201102, China.
| | - Lei Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, No.399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 201102, China.
| | - Shuizhen Zhou
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, No.399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 201102, China.
| | - Chaoping Hu
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, No.399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 201102, China.
| | - Yiyun Shi
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, No.399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 201102, China.
| | - Wei Shi
- Rehabilitation Department, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Hui Li
- Rehabilitation Department, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Fang Liu
- Cardiac Center, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Bingbing Wu
- Translational Research Center for Development and Disease, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, No.399, Wanyuan Road, Minhang District, Shanghai, 201102, China.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Arechavala-Gomeza V, Khoo B, Aartsma-Rus A. Splicing modulation therapy in the treatment of genetic diseases. Appl Clin Genet 2014; 7:245-52. [PMID: 25506237 PMCID: PMC4259397 DOI: 10.2147/tacg.s71506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense-mediated splicing modulation is a tool that can be exploited in several ways to provide a potential therapy for rare genetic diseases. This approach is currently being tested in clinical trials for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy. The present review outlines the versatility of the approach to correct cryptic splicing, modulate alternative splicing, restore the open reading frame, and induce protein knockdown, providing examples of each. Finally, we outline a possible path forward toward the clinical application of this approach for a wide variety of inherited rare diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Bernard Khoo
- Endocrinology, Division of Medicine, University College London, London, UK
| | - Annemieke Aartsma-Rus
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Nicolas A, Raguénès-Nicol C, Ben Yaou R, Ameziane-Le Hir S, Chéron A, Vié V, Claustres M, Leturcq F, Delalande O, Hubert JF, Tuffery-Giraud S, Giudice E, Le Rumeur E. Becker muscular dystrophy severity is linked to the structure of dystrophin. Hum Mol Genet 2014; 24:1267-79. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddu537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
|
27
|
The need to more precisely define aspects of skeletal muscle regeneration. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2014; 56:56-65. [PMID: 25242742 DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2014.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2014] [Revised: 09/04/2014] [Accepted: 09/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A more precise definition of the term 'skeletal muscle regeneration' is required to reduce confusion and misconceptions. In this paper the term is used only for events that follow myofibre necrosis, to result in myogenesis and new muscle formation: other key events include early inflammation and revascularisation, and later fibrosis and re-innervation. The term 'muscle regeneration' is sometimes used casually for situations that do not involve myonecrosis; such as restoration of muscle mass by hypertrophy after atrophy, and other forms of damage to muscle tissue components. These situations are excluded from the definition in this paper which is focussed on mammalian muscles with the long-term aim of clinical translation to enhance new muscle formation after acute or chronic injury or during surgery to replace whole muscles. The paper briefly outlines the cellular events involved in myogenesis during development and post-natal muscle growth, discusses the role of satellite cells in mature normal muscles, and the likely incidence of myofibre necrosis/regeneration in healthy ageing mammals (even when subjected to exercise). The importance of the various components of regeneration is outlined to emphasise that problems in each of these aspects can influence overall new muscle formation; thus care is needed for correct interpretation of altered kinetics. Various markers used to identify regenerating myofibres are critically discussed and, since these can all occur in other conditions, caution is required for accurate interpretation of these cellular events. Finally, clinical situations are outlined where there is a need to enhance skeletal muscle regeneration: these include acute and chronic injuries or transplantation with bioengineering to form new muscles, therapeutic approaches to muscular dystrophies, and comment on proposed stem cell therapies to reduce age-related loss of muscle mass and function. This article is part of a directed issue entitled: Regenerative Medicine: the challenge of translation.
Collapse
|
28
|
Chauveau C, Rowell J, Ferreiro A. A rising titan: TTN review and mutation update. Hum Mutat 2014; 35:1046-59. [PMID: 24980681 DOI: 10.1002/humu.22611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/20/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
The 364 exon TTN gene encodes titin (TTN), the largest known protein, which plays key structural, developmental, mechanical, and regulatory roles in cardiac and skeletal muscles. Prior to next-generation sequencing (NGS), routine analysis of the whole TTN gene was impossible due to its giant size and complexity. Thus, only a few TTN mutations had been reported and the general incidence and spectrum of titinopathies was significantly underestimated. In the last months, due to the widespread use of NGS, TTN is emerging as a major gene in human-inherited disease. So far, 127 TTN disease-causing mutations have been reported in patients with at least 10 different conditions, including isolated cardiomyopathies, purely skeletal muscle phenotypes, or infantile diseases affecting both types of striated muscles. However, the identification of TTN variants in virtually every individual from control populations, as well as the multiplicity of TTN isoforms and reference sequences used, stress the difficulties in assessing the relevance, inheritance, and correlation with the phenotype of TTN sequence changes. In this review, we provide the first comprehensive update of the TTN mutations reported and discuss their distribution, molecular mechanisms, associated phenotypes, transmission pattern, and phenotype-genotype correlations, alongside with their implications for basic research and for human health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claire Chauveau
- Inserm, U787 Myology Group, Institut de Myologie, Groupe Hospitalier Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France; UPMC, UMR787, Paris, France
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
29
|
Larsen CA, Howard MT. Conserved regions of the DMD 3' UTR regulate translation and mRNA abundance in cultured myotubes. Neuromuscul Disord 2014; 24:693-706. [PMID: 24928536 DOI: 10.1016/j.nmd.2014.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 05/13/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe muscle-wasting disease, is caused by mutations in the DMD gene, which encodes for the protein dystrophin. Its regulation is of therapeutic interest as even small changes in expression of functional dystrophin can significantly impact the severity of DMD. While tissue-specific distribution and transcriptional regulation of several DMD mRNA isoforms has been well characterized, the post-transcriptional regulation of dystrophin synthesis is not well understood. Here, we utilize qRTPCR and a quantitative dual-luciferase reporter assay to examine the effects of isoform specific DMD 5' UTRs and the highly conserved DMD 3' UTR on mRNA abundance and translational control of gene expression in C2C12 cells. The 5' UTRs were shown to initiate translation with low efficiency in both myoblasts and myotubes. Whereas, two large highly conserved elements in the 3' UTR, which overlap the previously described Lemaire A and D regions, increase mRNA levels and enhance translation upon differentiation of myoblasts into myotubes. The results presented here implicate an important role for DMD UTRs in dystrophin expression and delineate the cis-acting elements required for the myotube-specific regulation of steady-state mRNA levels and translational enhancer activity found in the DMD 3' UTR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Aaron Larsen
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Michael T Howard
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Pane M, Mazzone ES, Sormani MP, Messina S, Vita GL, Fanelli L, Berardinelli A, Torrente Y, D'Amico A, Lanzillotta V, Viggiano E, D'Ambrosio P, Cavallaro F, Frosini S, Bello L, Bonfiglio S, Scalise R, De Sanctis R, Rolle E, Bianco F, Van der Haawue M, Magri F, Palermo C, Rossi F, Donati MA, Alfonsi C, Sacchini M, Arnoldi MT, Baranello G, Mongini T, Pini A, Battini R, Pegoraro E, Previtali SC, Napolitano S, Bruno C, Politano L, Comi GP, Bertini E, Morandi L, Gualandi F, Ferlini A, Goemans N, Mercuri E. 6 Minute walk test in Duchenne MD patients with different mutations: 12 month changes. PLoS One 2014; 9:e83400. [PMID: 24421885 PMCID: PMC3885414 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0083400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2013] [Accepted: 11/13/2013] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE In the last few years some of the therapeutical approaches for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) are specifically targeting distinct groups of mutations, such as deletions eligible for skipping of individual exons. The aim of this observational study was to establish whether patients with distinct groups of mutations have different profiles of changes on the 6 minute walk test (6MWT) over a 12 month period. METHODS The 6MWT was performed in 191 ambulant DMD boys at baseline and 12 months later. The results were analysed using a test for heterogeneity in order to establish possible differences among different types of mutations (deletions, duplications, point mutations) and among subgroups of deletions eligible to skip individual exons. RESULTS At baseline the 6MWD ranged between 180 and 560,80 metres (mean 378,06, SD 74,13). The 12 month changes ranged between -325 and 175 (mean -10.8 meters, SD 69.2). Although boys with duplications had better results than those with the other types of mutations, the difference was not significant. Similarly, boys eligible for skipping of the exon 44 had better baseline results and less drastic changes than those eligible for skipping exon 45 or 53, but the difference was not significant. CONCLUSIONS even if there are some differences among subgroups, the mean 12 month changes in each subgroup were all within a narrow Range: from the mean of the whole DMD cohort. This information will be of help at the time of designing clinical trials with small numbers of eligible patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marika Pane
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Elena S. Mazzone
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Pia Sormani
- Biostatistics Unit, Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Sonia Messina
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Gian Luca Vita
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Lavinia Fanelli
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Yvan Torrente
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Neurology Unit, Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Adele D'Amico
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Emanuela Viggiano
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Seconda Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Paola D'Ambrosio
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Seconda Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Filippo Cavallaro
- Department of Neurosciences, Psychiatry and Anaesthesiology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy
| | - Silvia Frosini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Stella Maris Institute, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Luca Bello
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Serena Bonfiglio
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberta Scalise
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Enrica Rolle
- Neuromuscular Center, SG. Battista Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Flaviana Bianco
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Francesca Magri
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Neurology Unit, Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Concetta Palermo
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Chiara Alfonsi
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| | - Michele Sacchini
- Metabolic and Neuromuscular Unit, Meyer Hospital, Florence, Italy
| | | | - Giovanni Baranello
- Developmental Neurology Unit, Istituto Neurologico “Besta”, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Mongini
- Neuromuscular Center, SG. Battista Hospital, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Antonella Pini
- Child Neurology and Psychiatry Unit, IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche, Bologna, Italy
| | - Roberta Battini
- Department of Developmental Neuroscience, Stella Maris Institute, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Elena Pegoraro
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | | | - Sara Napolitano
- Department of Neurology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Bruno
- Neuromuscular Disease Unit, G. Gaslini Institute, Genoa, Italy
| | - Luisa Politano
- Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale, Seconda Università di Napoli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Giacomo P. Comi
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), University of Milan, Neurology Unit, Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Enrico Bertini
- Unit of Neuromuscular and Neurodegenerative Diseases, Department of Neurosciences, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Morandi
- Neuromuscular Disease and Immunology Unit, Istituto Neurologico “Besta”, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Gualandi
- Section of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessandra Ferlini
- Section of Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental and Diagnostic Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Eugenio Mercuri
- Department of Paediatric Neurology, Catholic University, Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Lehto T, Castillo Alvarez A, Gauck S, Gait MJ, Coursindel T, Wood MJA, Lebleu B, Boisguerin P. Cellular trafficking determines the exon skipping activity of Pip6a-PMO in mdx skeletal and cardiac muscle cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2013; 42:3207-17. [PMID: 24366877 PMCID: PMC3950666 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkt1220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptide-mediated delivery of phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs) has shown great promise for exon-skipping therapy of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). Pip6a-PMO, a recently developed conjugate, is particularly efficient in a murine DMD model, although mechanisms responsible for its increased biological activity have not been studied. Here, we evaluate the cellular trafficking and the biological activity of Pip6a-PMO in skeletal muscle cells and primary cardiomyocytes. Our results indicate that Pip6a-PMO is taken up in the skeletal muscle cells by an energy- and caveolae-mediated endocytosis. Interestingly, its cellular distribution is different in undifferentiated and differentiated skeletal muscle cells (vesicular versus nuclear). Likewise, Pip6a-PMO mainly accumulates in cytoplasmic vesicles in primary cardiomyocytes, in which clathrin-mediated endocytosis seems to be the pre-dominant uptake pathway. These differences in cellular trafficking correspond well with the exon-skipping data, with higher activity in myotubes than in myoblasts or cardiomyocytes. These differences in cellular trafficking thus provide a possible mechanistic explanation for the variations in exon-skipping activity and restoration of dystrophin protein in heart muscle compared with skeletal muscle tissues in DMD models. Overall, Pip6a-PMO appears as the most efficient conjugate to date (low nanomolar EC50), even if limitations remain from endosomal escape.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taavi Lehto
- UMR 5235 CNRS, Université Montpellier 2, Place Eugene Bataillon, Montpellier 34095, France, Centre de Recherche de Biochimie Macromoléculaire, UMR 5237 CNRS, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier, France, Universität Potsdam, Institut für Biochemie und Biologie, Maulbeerallee 2, 14469 Potsdam, Germany, Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK and Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QX, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Li HL, Nakano T, Hotta A. Genetic correction using engineered nucleases for gene therapy applications. Dev Growth Differ 2013; 56:63-77. [PMID: 24329887 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Revised: 10/20/2013] [Accepted: 10/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Genetic mutations in humans are associated with congenital disorders and phenotypic traits. Gene therapy holds the promise to cure such genetic disorders, although it has suffered from several technical limitations for decades. Recent progress in gene editing technology using tailor-made nucleases, such as meganucleases (MNs), zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), TAL effector nucleases (TALENs) and, more recently, CRISPR/Cas9, has significantly broadened our ability to precisely modify target sites in the human genome. In this review, we summarize recent progress in gene correction approaches of the human genome, with a particular emphasis on the clinical applications of gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hongmei Lisa Li
- Department of Reprogramming Science, Center for iPS cell Research and Applications (CiRA), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan; Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Mimuro J, Mizukami H, Shima M, Matsushita T, Taki M, Muto S, Higasa S, Sakai M, Ohmori T, Madoiwa S, Ozawa K, Sakata Y. The prevalence of neutralizing antibodies against adeno-associated virus capsids is reduced in young Japanese individuals. J Med Virol 2013; 86:1990-7. [PMID: 24136735 DOI: 10.1002/jmv.23818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/20/2013] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Pre-existing antibodies against adeno-associated virus (AAV), caused by natural AAV infections, interfere with recombinant AAV vector-mediated gene transfer. We studied the prevalence of neutralizing antibodies against AAV serotypes 1, 2, 5, 8, and 9 in healthy subjects (n = 85) and hemophilia patients (n = 59) in a Japanese population. For healthy subjects, the prevalence of neutralizing antibodies against AAV serotypes 1, 2, 5, 8, and 9 was 36.5%, 35.3%, 37.6%, 32.9%, and 36.5%, respectively, while that in hemophilia patients was 39.7%, 28.8%, 35.6%, 32.9%, and 27.4%, respectively. There was no difference in the prevalence of neutralizing antibody against each AAV serotype between the healthy subjects and the hemophilia patients. The prevalence of neutralizing antibodies against all AAV serotypes increased with age in both healthy subjects and hemophilia patients. High titers of neutralizing antibodies against AAV2 (≥1:224) and AAV8 (≥1:224) were more evident in older individuals (≥42 years old). Approximately 50% of all screened individuals were seronegative for neutralizing antibodies against each AAV tested, while approximately 25% of individuals were seropositive for each AAV serotype tested. The prevalence of seronegativity for all AAV serotypes was 67.0% (healthy subjects, 68.6%; hemophilia patients, 65.0%) and 18.6% (healthy subjects, 20.5%; hemophilia patients, 15.7%) in young (<42 years old) and older subjects (≥42 years old), respectively. The findings from this study suggested that young subjects are more likely to be eligible for gene therapy based on AAV vectors delivered via an intravascular route because of the low prevalence of antibodies to AAV capsids.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Mimuro
- Division of Cell and Molecular Medicine, Center for Molecular Medicine, Jichi Medical University, Shimotsuke, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Amirouche A, Tadesse H, Lunde JA, Bélanger G, Côté J, Jasmin BJ. Activation of p38 signaling increases utrophin A expression in skeletal muscle via the RNA-binding protein KSRP and inhibition of AU-rich element-mediated mRNA decay: implications for novel DMD therapeutics. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 22:3093-111. [PMID: 23575223 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Several therapeutic approaches are currently being developed for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) including upregulating the levels of endogenous utrophin A in dystrophic fibers. Here, we examined the role of post-transcriptional mechanisms in controlling utrophin A expression in skeletal muscle. We show that activation of p38 leads to an increase in utrophin A independently of a transcriptional induction. Rather, p38 controls the levels of utrophin A mRNA by extending the half-life of transcripts via AU-rich elements (AREs). This mechanism critically depends on a decrease in the functional availability of KSRP, an RNA-binding protein known to promote decay of ARE-containing transcripts. In vitro and in vivo binding studies revealed that KSRP interacts with specific AREs located within the utrophin A 3' UTR. Electroporation experiments to knockdown KSRP led to an increase in utrophin A in wild-type and mdx mouse muscles. In pre-clinical studies, treatment of mdx mice with heparin, an activator of p38, causes a pronounced increase in utrophin A in diaphragm muscle fibers. Together, these studies identify a pathway that culminates in the post-transcriptional regulation of utrophin A through increases in mRNA stability. Furthermore, our results constitute proof-of-principle showing that pharmacological activation of p38 may prove beneficial as a novel therapeutic approach for DMD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adel Amirouche
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine and Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, ON, Canada K1H 8M5
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|