1
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Alary B, Cintas P, Claude C, Dellis O, Thèze C, Van Goethem C, Cossée M, Krahn M, Delague V, Bartoli M. Store-operated calcium entry dysfunction in CRAC channelopathy: Insights from a novel STIM1 mutation. Clin Immunol 2024; 265:110306. [PMID: 38977117 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2024.110306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular calcium homeostasis. This mechanism involves proteins, such as stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1) and ORAI1. Mutations in the genes encoding these proteins, especially STIM1, can lead to various diseases, including CRAC channelopathies associated with severe combined immunodeficiency. Herein, we describe a novel homozygous mutation, NM_003156 c.792-3C > G, in STIM1 in a patient with a clinical profile of CRAC channelopathy, including immune system deficiencies and muscle weakness. Functional analyses revealed three distinct spliced forms in the patient cells: wild-type, exon 7 skipping, and intronic retention. Calcium influx analysis revealed impaired SOCE in the patient cells, indicating a loss of STIM1 function. We developed an antisense oligonucleotide treatment that improves STIM1 splicing and highlighted its potential as a therapeutic approach. Our findings provide insights into the complex effects of STIM1 mutations and shed light on the multifaceted clinical presentation of the patient.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pascal Cintas
- Centre de Référence Maladies Rares Neuromusculaire, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Corinne Thèze
- Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | | | - Mireille Cossée
- Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France; PhyMedExp (Physiologie et Médecine Expérimentale du Cœur et des Muscles), Université de Montpellier, Inserm U1046, CNRS UMR9214, Montpellier, France
| | - Martin Krahn
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, MMG, U1251 Marseille, France; Département de Génétique Médicale, Hôpital Timone Enfants, APHM, Marseille, France
| | | | - Marc Bartoli
- Aix Marseille Univ, INSERM, MMG, U1251 Marseille, France; CNRS, Marseille, France
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2
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Zengin Kurt B, Dhara D, El-Sagheer AH, Brown T. Synthesis and Properties of Oligonucleotides Containing LNA-Sulfamate and Sulfamide Backbone Linkages. Org Lett 2024; 26:4137-4141. [PMID: 38717429 PMCID: PMC11110047 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.4c01232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
Oligonucleotides hold great promise as therapeutic agents but poor bioavailability limits their utility. Hence, new analogues with improved cell uptake are urgently needed. Here, we report the synthesis and physical study of reduced-charge oligonucleotides containing artificial LNA-sulfamate and sulfamide linkages combined with 2'-O-methyl sugars and phosphorothioate backbones. These oligonucleotides have high affinity for RNA and excellent nuclease resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belma Zengin Kurt
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
- Department
of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bezmialem Vakif University, 34093 Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Debashis Dhara
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
| | - Afaf H. El-Sagheer
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
- School
of Chemistry, University of Southampton, Highfield, Southampton SO17 1BJ, U.K.
| | - Tom Brown
- Department
of Chemistry, Chemistry Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3TA, U.K.
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3
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Osório C, White JJ, Lu H, Beekhof GC, Fiocchi FR, Andriessen CA, Dijkhuizen S, Post L, Schonewille M. Pre-ataxic loss of intrinsic plasticity and motor learning in a mouse model of SCA1. Brain 2023; 146:2332-2345. [PMID: 36352508 PMCID: PMC10232256 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Spinocerebellar ataxias are neurodegenerative diseases, the hallmark symptom of which is the development of ataxia due to cerebellar dysfunction. Purkinje cells, the principal neurons of the cerebellar cortex, are the main cells affected in these disorders, but the sequence of pathological events leading to their dysfunction is poorly understood. Understanding the origins of Purkinje cells dysfunction before it manifests is imperative to interpret the functional and behavioural consequences of cerebellar-related disorders, providing an optimal timeline for therapeutic interventions. Here, we report the cascade of events leading to Purkinje cells dysfunction before the onset of ataxia in a mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia 1 (SCA1). Spatiotemporal characterization of the ATXN1[82Q] SCA1 mouse model revealed high levels of the mutant ATXN1[82Q] weeks before the onset of ataxia. The expression of the toxic protein first caused a reduction of Purkinje cells intrinsic excitability, which was followed by atrophy of Purkinje cells dendrite arborization and aberrant glutamatergic signalling, finally leading to disruption of Purkinje cells innervation of climbing fibres and loss of intrinsic plasticity of Purkinje cells. Functionally, we found that deficits in eyeblink conditioning, a form of cerebellum-dependent motor learning, precede the onset of ataxia, matching the timeline of climbing fibre degeneration and reduced intrinsic plasticity. Together, our results suggest that abnormal synaptic signalling and intrinsic plasticity during the pre-ataxia stage of spinocerebellar ataxias underlie an aberrant cerebellar circuitry that anticipates the full extent of the disease severity. Furthermore, our work indicates the potential for eyeblink conditioning to be used as a sensitive tool to detect early cerebellar dysfunction as a sign of future disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina Osório
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015CN, The Netherlands
| | - Joshua J White
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015CN, The Netherlands
| | - Heiling Lu
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015CN, The Netherlands
| | - Gerrit C Beekhof
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015CN, The Netherlands
| | | | | | - Stephanie Dijkhuizen
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015CN, The Netherlands
| | - Laura Post
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015CN, The Netherlands
| | - Martijn Schonewille
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam 3015CN, The Netherlands
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4
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Stirmlinger N, Delling JP, Pfänder S, Boeckers TM. Elevation of SHANK3 Levels by Antisense Oligonucleotides Directed Against the 3'-UTR of the Human SHANK3 mRNA. Nucleic Acid Ther 2023; 33:58-71. [PMID: 36355061 PMCID: PMC9940809 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2022.0048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
SHANK3 is a member of the SHANK family of scaffolding proteins that localize to the postsynaptic density of excitatory synapses. Mutations within the SHANK3 gene or SHANK3 haploinsufficiency is thought to be one of the major causes for Phelan-McDermid Syndrome (PMDS) that is characterized by a broad spectrum of autism-related behavioral alterations. Several approaches have already been proposed to elevate SHANK3 protein levels in PMDS patients like transcriptional activation or inhibition of SHANK3 degradation. We undertook a systematic screening approach and tested whether defined antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) directed against the 3' untranslated region (3'-UTR) of the human SHANK3 mRNA are suitable to elevate SHANK3 protein levels. Using human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) and hiPSCs-derived motoneurons from controls and PMDS patients we eventually identified two 18 nucleotide ASOs (ASO 4-5.2-4 and 4-5.2-6) that were able to increase SHANK3 protein levels in vitro by about 1.3- to 1.6-fold. These findings were confirmed by co-transfection of the identified ASOs with a GFP-SHANK3-3'-UTR construct in HEK293T cells using GFP protein expression as read-out. Based on these results we propose a novel approach to elevate SHANK3 protein concentrations by 3'-UTR specific ASOs. Further research is needed to test the suitability of SHANK3-specific ASOs as pharmacological compounds also in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Stirmlinger
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,International Graduate School for Molecular Medicine, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Stefanie Pfänder
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Tobias M. Boeckers
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology and Ulm University, Ulm, Germany.,DZNE, Ulm Site, Ulm, Germany.,Address correspondence to: Tobias Boeckers, MD, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081 Ulm, Germany
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5
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Amanat M, Nemeth CL, Fine AS, Leung DG, Fatemi A. Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy for the Nervous System: From Bench to Bedside with Emphasis on Pediatric Neurology. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:2389. [PMID: 36365206 PMCID: PMC9695718 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112389] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are disease-modifying agents affecting protein-coding and noncoding ribonucleic acids. Depending on the chemical modification and the location of hybridization, ASOs are able to reduce the level of toxic proteins, increase the level of functional protein, or modify the structure of impaired protein to improve function. There are multiple challenges in delivering ASOs to their site of action. Chemical modifications in the phosphodiester bond, nucleotide sugar, and nucleobase can increase structural thermodynamic stability and prevent ASO degradation. Furthermore, different particles, including viral vectors, conjugated peptides, conjugated antibodies, and nanocarriers, may improve ASO delivery. To date, six ASOs have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in three neurological disorders: spinal muscular atrophy, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, and polyneuropathy caused by hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis. Ongoing preclinical and clinical studies are assessing the safety and efficacy of ASOs in multiple genetic and acquired neurological conditions. The current review provides an update on underlying mechanisms, design, chemical modifications, and delivery of ASOs. The administration of FDA-approved ASOs in neurological disorders is described, and current evidence on the safety and efficacy of ASOs in other neurological conditions, including pediatric neurological disorders, is reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Amanat
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Christina L. Nemeth
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Amena Smith Fine
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Doris G. Leung
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Center for Genetic Muscle Disorders, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Ali Fatemi
- Moser Center for Leukodystrophies, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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6
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Sherazi SAM, Abbasi A, Jamil A, Uzair M, Ikram A, Qamar S, Olamide AA, Arshad M, Fried PJ, Ljubisavljevic M, Wang R, Bashir S. Molecular hallmarks of long non-coding RNAs in aging and its significant effect on aging-associated diseases. Neural Regen Res 2022; 18:959-968. [PMID: 36254975 PMCID: PMC9827784 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.355751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Aging is linked to the deterioration of many physical and cognitive abilities and is the leading risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. The growing aging population is a significant healthcare problem globally that researchers must investigate to better understand the underlying aging processes. Advances in microarrays and sequencing techniques have resulted in deeper analyses of diverse essential genomes (e.g., mouse, human, and rat) and their corresponding cell types, their organ-specific transcriptomes, and the tissue involved in aging. Traditional gene controllers such as DNA- and RNA-binding proteins significantly influence such programs, causing the need to sort out long non-coding RNAs, a new class of powerful gene regulatory elements. However, their functional significance in the aging process and senescence has yet to be investigated and identified. Several recent researchers have associated the initiation and development of senescence and aging in mammals with several well-reported and novel long non-coding RNAs. In this review article, we identified and analyzed the evolving functions of long non-coding RNAs in cellular processes, including cellular senescence, aging, and age-related pathogenesis, which are the major hallmarks of long non-coding RNAs in aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syed Aoun Mehmood Sherazi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Basic & Applied Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Asim Abbasi
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, USA
| | - Abdullah Jamil
- Department of Pharmacology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Mohammad Uzair
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Basic & Applied Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Ikram
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | - Shanzay Qamar
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, Government College University, Faisalabad, Pakistan
| | | | - Muhammad Arshad
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Basic & Applied Sciences, International Islamic University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Peter J. Fried
- Department of Neurology, Berenson-Allen Center for Noninvasive Brain Stimulation and Division of Cognitive Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (KS 158), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Milos Ljubisavljevic
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ran Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, The First Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China,Mental Health Institute of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China
| | - Shahid Bashir
- Neuroscience Center, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Dammam, Saudi Arabia,Correspondence to: Shahid Bashir, .
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7
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Abstract
Targeting of pre-mRNA splicing has yielded a rich variety of strategies for altering gene expression as a treatment for disease. The search for therapeutics that can modulate splicing has been dominated by antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small molecule compounds, with each platform achieving remarkably effective results in the clinic. The success of RNA-targeting drugs has led to the exploration of new strategies to expand the repertoire of this type of therapeutic. Here, we discuss some of the more common causes of faulty gene expression and provide examples of approaches that have been developed to target and correct these defects for therapeutic value.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Centa
- Center for Genetic Diseases, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Michelle L Hastings
- Center for Genetic Diseases, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL, USA.
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8
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Himič V, Davies KE. Evaluating the potential of novel genetic approaches for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Eur J Hum Genet 2021; 29:1369-1376. [PMID: 33564172 PMCID: PMC8440545 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-021-00811-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked progressive muscle-wasting disorder that is caused by a lack of functional dystrophin, a cytoplasmic protein necessary for the structural integrity of muscle. As variants in the dystrophin gene lead to a disruption of the reading frame, pharmacological treatments have only limited efficacy; there is currently no effective therapy and consequently, a significant unmet clinical need for DMD. Recently, novel genetic approaches have shown real promise in treating DMD, with advancements in the efficacy and tropism of exon skipping and surrogate gene therapy. CRISPR-Cas9 has the potential to be a 'one-hit' curative treatment in the coming decade. The current limitations of gene editing, such as off-target effects and immunogenicity, are in fact partly constraints of the delivery method itself, and thus research focus has shifted to improving the viral vector. In order to halt the loss of ambulation, early diagnosis and treatment will be pivotal. In an era where genetic sequencing is increasingly utilised in the clinic, genetic therapies will play a progressively central role in DMD therapy. This review delineates the relative merits of cutting-edge genetic approaches, as well as the challenges that still need to be overcome before they become clinically viable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vratko Himič
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Kay E Davies
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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9
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Lesman D, Rodriguez Y, Rajakumar D, Wein N. U7 snRNA, a Small RNA with a Big Impact in Gene Therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:1317-1329. [PMID: 34139889 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The uridine-rich 7 (U7) small nuclear RNA (snRNA) is a component of a small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) complex. U7 snRNA naturally contains an antisense sequence that identifies histone premessenger RNAs (pre-mRNAs) and is involved in their 3' end processing. By altering this antisense sequence, researchers have turned U7 snRNA into a versatile tool for targeting pre-mRNAs and modifying splicing. Encapsulating a modified U7 snRNA into a viral vector such as adeno-associated virus (also referred as vectorized exon skipping/inclusion, or VES/VEI) enables the delivery of this highly efficacious splicing modulator into a range of cell lines, primary cells, and tissues. In addition, and in contrast to antisense oligonucleotides, viral delivery of U7 snRNA enables long-term expression of antisense sequences in the nucleus as part of a stable snRNP complex. As a result, VES/VEI has emerged as a promising therapeutic platform for treating a large variety of human diseases caused by errors in pre-mRNA splicing or its regulation. Here we provide an overview of U7 snRNA's natural function and its applications in gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Lesman
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Yacidzohara Rodriguez
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Dhanarajan Rajakumar
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Nicolas Wein
- Center for Gene Therapy, The Research Institute, Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatric, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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10
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Abstract
Recent advances in gene editing technologies are enabling the potential correction of devastating monogenic disorders through elimination of underlying genetic mutations. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an especially severe genetic disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding dystrophin, a membrane-associated protein required for maintenance of muscle structure and function. Patients with DMD succumb to loss of mobility early in life, culminating in premature death from cardiac and respiratory failure. The disease has thus far defied all curative strategies. CRISPR gene editing has provided new opportunities to ameliorate the disease by eliminating DMD mutations and thereby restore dystrophin expression throughout skeletal and cardiac muscle. Proof-of-concept studies in rodents, large mammals, and human cells have validated the potential of this approach, but numerous challenges remain to be addressed, including optimization of gene editing, delivery of gene editing components throughout the musculature, and mitigation of possible immune responses. This paper provides an overview of recent work from our laboratory and others toward the genetic correction of DMD and considers the opportunities and challenges in the path to clinical translation. Lessons learned from these studies will undoubtedly enable further applications of gene editing to numerous other diseases of muscle and other tissues.
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11
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Chemello F, Bassel-Duby R, Olson EN. Correction of muscular dystrophies by CRISPR gene editing. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:2766-2776. [PMID: 32478678 PMCID: PMC7259998 DOI: 10.1172/jci136873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscular dystrophies are debilitating disorders that result in progressive weakness and degeneration of skeletal muscle. Although the genetic mutations and clinical abnormalities of a variety of neuromuscular diseases are well known, no curative therapies have been developed to date. The advent of genome editing technology provides new opportunities to correct the underlying mutations responsible for many monogenic neuromuscular diseases. For example, Duchenne muscular dystrophy, which is caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, has been successfully corrected in mice, dogs, and human cells through CRISPR/Cas9 editing. In this Review, we focus on the potential for, and challenges of, correcting muscular dystrophies by editing disease-causing mutations at the genomic level. Ideally, because muscle tissues are extremely long-lived, CRISPR technology could offer a one-time treatment for muscular dystrophies by correcting the culprit genomic mutations and enabling normal expression of the repaired gene.
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12
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Wang M, Wu B, Tucker JD, Shah SN, Lu P, Lu Q. Triazine-cored polymeric vectors for antisense oligonucleotide delivery in vitro and in vivo. J Nanobiotechnology 2020; 18:34. [PMID: 32070342 PMCID: PMC7029474 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-020-0586-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The polymer-based drug/gene delivery is promising for the treatment of inherent or acquire disease, because of the polymer's structural flexibility, larger capacity for therapeutic agent, low host immunogenicity and less cost. Antisense therapy is an approach to fighting genetic disorders or infections using antisense oligonucleotides (AOs). Unfortunately, the naked AOs showed low therapeutic efficacy in vivo and in clinical trial due to their poor cellular uptake and fast clearance in bloodstream. In this study, a series of triazine-cored amphiphilic polymers (TAPs) were investigated for their potential to enhance delivery of AOs, 2'-O-methyl phosphorothioate RNA (2'-OMePS) and phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) both in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS TAPs significantly enhanced AO-induced exon-skipping in a GFP reporter-based myoblast and myotube culture system, and observed cytotoxicity of the TAPs were lower than Endoporter, Lipofectamine-2000 or PEI 25K. Application of optimized formulations of TAPs with AO targeted to dystrophin exon 23 demonstrated a significant increase in exon-skipping efficiency in dystrophic mdx mice. The best ones for PMO and 2'-OMePS delivery have reached to 11-, 15-fold compared with the AO only in mdx mice, respectively. CONCLUSION The study of triazine-cored amphiphilic polymers for AO delivery in vitro and in mdx mice indicated that the carrier's performances are related to the molecular size, compositions and hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) of the polymers, as well as the AO's structure. Improved exon-skipping efficiency of AOs observed in vitro and in mdx mice accompanied with low cytotoxicity demonstrated TAP polymers are potentials as safe and effective delivery carrier for gene/drug delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Wang
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28231, USA.
| | - Bo Wu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28231, USA
| | - Jason D Tucker
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28231, USA
| | - Sapana N Shah
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28231, USA
| | - Peijuan Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28231, USA
| | - Qilong Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28231, USA
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13
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Antisense Oligonucleotides: A Unique Treatment Approach. Indian Pediatr 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s13312-020-1736-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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14
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Annalora AJ, Marcus CB, Iversen PL. Alternative Splicing in the Nuclear Receptor Superfamily Expands Gene Function to Refine Endo-Xenobiotic Metabolism. Drug Metab Dispos 2020; 48:272-287. [DOI: 10.1124/dmd.119.089102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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15
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Liang L, Wu S, Lin C, Chang YJ, Tao YX. Alternative Splicing of Nrcam Gene in Dorsal Root Ganglion Contributes to Neuropathic Pain. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2020; 21:892-904. [PMID: 31917219 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 11/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
NrCAM, a neuronal cell adhesion molecule in the L1 family of the immunoglobulin superfamily, is subjected to extensively alternative splicing and involved in neural development and some disorders. The aim of this study was to explore the role of Nrcam mRNA alternative splicing in neuropathic pain. A next generation RNA sequencing analysis of dorsal root ganglions (DRGs) showed the differential expression of two splicing variants of Nrcam, Nrcam+10 and Nrcam-10, in the injured DRG after the fourth lumbar spinal nerve ligation (SNL) in mice. SNL increased the exon 10 insertion, resulting in an increase in the amount of Nrcam+10 and a corresponding decrease in the level of Nrcam-10 in the injured DRG. An antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that specifically targeted exon 10 of Nrcam gene (Nrcam ASO) repressed RNA expression of Nrcam+10 and increased RNA expression of Nrcam-10 in in vitro DRG cell culture. Either DRG microinjection or intrathecal injection of Nrcam ASO attenuated SNL-induced the development of mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, or cold allodynia. Nrcam ASO also relieved SNL- or chronic compression of DRG (CCD)-induced the maintenance of pain hypersensitivities in male and female mice. PERSPECTIVE: We conclude that the relative levels of alternatively spliced Nrcam variants are critical for neuropathic pain genesis. Targeting Nrcam alternative splicing via the antisense oligonucleotides may be a new potential avenue in neuropathic pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingli Liang
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Shaogen Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Corinna Lin
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Yun-Juan Chang
- Office of advanced research computing, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey
| | - Yuan-Xiang Tao
- Department of Anesthesiology, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey; Department of Cell Biology & Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey; Department of Physiology, Pharmacology & Neuroscience, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey.
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16
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Naghizadeh S, Mansoori B, Mohammadi A, Sakhinia E, Baradaran B. Gene Silencing Strategies in Cancer Therapy: An Update for Drug Resistance. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:6282-6303. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180403141554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2018] [Revised: 03/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
RNAi, post-transcriptional gene silencing mechanism, could be considered as one of the
most important breakthroughs and rapidly growing fields in science. Researchers are trying to use this
discovery in the treatment of various diseases and cancer is one of them although there are multiple
treatment procedures for treatment-resistant cancers, eradication of resistance remain as an unsolvable
problem yet. The current review summarizes both transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene silencing
mechanisms, and highlights mechanisms leading to drug-resistance such as, drug efflux, drug inactivation,
drug target alteration, DNA damages repair, and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, as
well as the role of tumor cell heterogeneity and tumor microenvironment, involving genes in these
processes. It ultimately points out the obstacles of RNAi application for in vivo treatment of diseases
and progressions that have been achieved in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaz Naghizadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Mansoori
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Mohammadi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ebrahim Sakhinia
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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17
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Abstract
Muscle stem cells, or satellite cells, are required for skeletal muscle maintenance, growth, and repair. Following satellite cell activation, several factors drive asymmetric cell division to generate a stem cell and a proliferative progenitor that forms new muscle. The balance between symmetric self-renewal and asymmetric division significantly impacts the efficiency of regeneration. In this Review, we discuss the relationship of satellite cell heterogeneity and the establishment of polarity to asymmetric division, as well as how these processes are impacted in homeostasis, aging, and disease. We also highlight therapeutic opportunities for targeting satellite cell polarity and self-renewal to stimulate muscle regeneration.
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18
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Sun Y, Yan L, Guo J, Shao J, Jia R. Downregulation of SRSF3 by antisense oligonucleotides sensitizes oral squamous cell carcinoma and breast cancer cells to paclitaxel treatment. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2019; 84:1133-1143. [PMID: 31515668 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-019-03945-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Paclitaxel (PTX) is widely used in the chemotherapy of many cancers, including breast cancer and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, many patients respond poorly to PTX treatment. The SRSF3 oncogene and several splicing factors play important roles in OSCC tumorigenesis. This study aimed to understand the function of splicing factors in PTX treatment and improve the therapeutic effects of PTX treatment. METHODS Splicing factors regulated by PTX treatment were screened in CAL 27 cell by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. The function of SRSF3 in PTX treatment was analyzed by gain-of-function or loss-of-function assay in OSCC cell lines CAL 27 and SCC-9 and breast cancer cell line MCF-7. Alternative splicing of SRSF3 exon 4 in cancer tissues or cells was analyzed by RT-PCR and online program TSVdb. SRSF3-specific antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) SR-3 was used to downregulate SRSF3 expression and enhance the effect of PTX treatment. RESULTS PTX treatment decreased SRSF3 expression, and SRSF3 overexpression rescued the growth inhibition caused by PTX in both OSCC and breast cancer cells. Moreover, we found that PTX treatment could repress SRSF3 exon 4 (containing an in-frame stop codon) exclusion and then decrease the SRSF3 protein expression. Increased exclusion of SRSF3 exon 4 is correlated with poor survival in OSCC and breast cancer patients. SR-3 downregulated SRSF3 protein expression and significantly increased the sensitivity of cancer cells to PTX treatment. CONCLUSIONS SRSF3 downregulation by ASO sensitizes cancer cells to PTX treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanan Sun
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 237 Luoyu Road, 430079, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Lingyan Yan
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 237 Luoyu Road, 430079, Wuhan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jihua Guo
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 237 Luoyu Road, 430079, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jun Shao
- Hubei Cancer Hospital, 116 Zhuodaoquan South Load, 430079, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Rong Jia
- The State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Basic Science of Stomatology (Hubei-MOST) and Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedicine Ministry of Education, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 237 Luoyu Road, 430079, Wuhan, People's Republic of China.
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19
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Thorpe C, Epple S, Woods B, El-Sagheer AH, Brown T. Synthesis and biophysical properties of carbamate-locked nucleic acid (LNA) oligonucleotides with potential antisense applications. Org Biomol Chem 2019; 17:5341-5348. [PMID: 31099373 PMCID: PMC6686644 DOI: 10.1039/c9ob00691e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are becoming important drugs for hard to treat diseases. Modifications to their DNA backbones are essential to inhibit degradation in vivo, but they can reduce binding affinity to RNA targets. To address this problem we have combined the enzymatic resistance of carbamate (CBM) DNA backbone analogues with the thermodynamic stability conferred by locked nucleic acid sugars (LNA). Using a dinucleotide phosphoramidite strategy and automated solid phase synthesis, we have synthesised a set of oligonucleotides modified with multiple LNA-CBM units. The LNA sugars restore binding affinity to RNA targets, and in this respect LNA position with respect to the CBM linkage is important. Oligonucleotides containing carbamate flanked on its 5'and 3'-sides by LNA form stable duplexes with RNA and unstable duplexes with DNA, which is desirable for antisense applications. Carbamate-LNA modified oligonucleotides also show increased stability in the presence of snake venom and foetal bovine serum compared to LNA or CBM backbones alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron Thorpe
- Department of Chemistry
, University of Oxford
,
12 Mansfield Road
, Oxford OX1 3TA
, UK
.
| | - Sven Epple
- Department of Chemistry
, University of Oxford
,
12 Mansfield Road
, Oxford OX1 3TA
, UK
.
| | - Benjamin Woods
- Department of Chemistry
, University of Oxford
,
12 Mansfield Road
, Oxford OX1 3TA
, UK
.
| | - Afaf H. El-Sagheer
- Department of Chemistry
, University of Oxford
,
12 Mansfield Road
, Oxford OX1 3TA
, UK
.
- Chemistry Branch
, Department of Science and Mathematics
, Faculty of Petroleum and Mining Engineering
, Suez University
,
Suez 43721
, Egypt
| | - Tom Brown
- Department of Chemistry
, University of Oxford
,
12 Mansfield Road
, Oxford OX1 3TA
, UK
.
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20
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Piga D, Salani S, Magri F, Brusa R, Mauri E, Comi GP, Bresolin N, Corti S. Human induced pluripotent stem cell models for the study and treatment of Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies. Ther Adv Neurol Disord 2019; 12:1756286419833478. [PMID: 31105767 PMCID: PMC6501480 DOI: 10.1177/1756286419833478] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2018] [Accepted: 11/27/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophies are the most common muscle diseases and are both currently incurable. They are caused by mutations in the dystrophin gene, which lead to the absence or reduction/truncation of the encoded protein, with progressive muscle degeneration that clinically manifests in muscle weakness, cardiac and respiratory involvement and early death. The limits of animal models to exactly reproduce human muscle disease and to predict clinically relevant treatment effects has prompted the development of more accurate in vitro skeletal muscle models. However, the challenge of effectively obtaining mature skeletal muscle cells or satellite stem cells as primary cultures has hampered the development of in vitro models. Here, we discuss the recently developed technologies that enable the differentiation of skeletal muscle from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of Duchenne and Becker patients. These systems recapitulate key disease features including inflammation and scarce regenerative myogenic capacity that are partially rescued by genetic and pharmacological therapies and can provide a useful platform to study and realize future therapeutic treatments. Implementation of this model also takes advantage of the developing genome editing field, which is a promising approach not only for correcting dystrophin, but also for modulating the underlying mechanisms of skeletal muscle development, regeneration and disease. These data prove the possibility of creating an accurate Duchenne and Becker in vitro model starting from iPSCs, to be used for pathogenetic studies and for drug screening to identify strategies capable of stopping or reversing muscular dystrophinopathies and other muscle diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Piga
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sabrina Salani
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Magri
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Roberta Brusa
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Eleonora Mauri
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Giacomo P. Comi
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nereo Bresolin
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Corti
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation (DEPT), Neurology Unit, IRCCS Foundation Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Via Francesco Sforza 35, 20122, Milan, Italy
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21
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Xiao Y, Shi K, Qu Y, Chu B, Qian Z. Engineering Nanoparticles for Targeted Delivery of Nucleic Acid Therapeutics in Tumor. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2019; 12:1-18. [PMID: 30364598 PMCID: PMC6197778 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In the past 10 years, with the increase of investment in clinical nano-gene therapy, there are many trials that have been discontinued due to poor efficacy and serious side effects. Therefore, it is particularly important to design a suitable gene delivery system. In this paper, we introduce the application of liposomes, polymers, and inorganics in gene delivery; also, different modifications with some stimuli-responsive systems can effectively improve the efficiency of gene delivery and reduce cytotoxicity and other side effects. Besides, the co-delivery of chemotherapy drugs with a drug tolerance-related gene or oncogene provides a better theoretical basis for clinical cancer gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Kun Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Bingyang Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhiyong Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, West China Medical School, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Chengdu, China
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Sousa‐Franco A, Rebelo K, da Rocha ST, Bernardes de Jesus B. LncRNAs regulating stemness in aging. Aging Cell 2019; 18:e12870. [PMID: 30456884 PMCID: PMC6351848 DOI: 10.1111/acel.12870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [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: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the most outstanding observations from next-generation sequencing approaches was that only 1.5% of our genes code for proteins. The biggest part is transcribed but give rise to different families of RNAs without coding potential. The functional relevance of these abundant transcripts remains far from elucidated. Among them are the long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a relatively large and heterogeneous group of RNAs shown to be highly tissue-specific, indicating a prominent role in processes controlling cellular identity. In particular, lncRNAs have been linked to both stemness properties and detrimental pathways regulating the aging process, being novel players in the intricate network guiding tissue homeostasis. Here, we summarize the up-to-date information on the role of lncRNAs that affect stemness and hence impact upon aging, highlighting the likelihood that lncRNAs may represent an unexploited reservoir of potential therapeutic targets for reprogramming applications and aging-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- António Sousa‐Franco
- Instituto de Medicina MolecularFaculdade de Medicina da Universidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - Kenny Rebelo
- Instituto de Medicina MolecularFaculdade de Medicina da Universidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - Simão Teixeira da Rocha
- Instituto de Medicina MolecularFaculdade de Medicina da Universidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - Bruno Bernardes de Jesus
- Instituto de Medicina MolecularFaculdade de Medicina da Universidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
- Department of Medical Sciences and Institute of Biomedicine—iBiMEDUniversity of AveiroAveiroPortugal
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23
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Annalora AJ, Jozic M, Marcus CB, Iversen PL. Alternative splicing of the vitamin D receptor modulates target gene expression and promotes ligand-independent functions. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2018; 364:55-67. [PMID: 30552932 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2018.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Revised: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/10/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing modulates gene function by creating splice variants with alternate functions or non-coding RNA activity. Naturally occurring variants of nuclear receptor (NR) genes with dominant negative or gain-of-function phenotypes have been documented, but their cellular roles, regulation, and responsiveness to environmental stress or disease remain unevaluated. Informed by observations that class I androgen and estrogen receptor variants display ligand-independent signaling in human cancer tissues, we questioned whether the function of class II NRs, like the vitamin D receptor (VDR), would also respond to alternative splicing regulation. Artificial VDR constructs lacking exon 3 (Dex3-VDR), encoding part of the DNA binding domain (DBD), and exon 8 (Dex8-VDR), encoding part of the ligand binding domain (LBD), were transiently transfected into DU-145 cells and stably-integrated into Caco-2 cells to study their effect on gene expression and cell viability. Changes in VDR promoter signaling were monitored by the expression of target genes (e.g. CYP24A1, CYP3A4 and CYP3A5). Ligand-independent VDR signaling was observed in variants lacking exon 8, and a significant loss of gene suppressor function was documented for variants lacking exon 3. The gain-of-function behavior of the Dex8-VDR variant was recapitulated in vitro using antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) that induce the skipping of exon 8 in wild-type VDR. ASO targeting the splice acceptor site of exon 8 significantly stimulated ligand-independent VDR reporter activity and the induction of CYP24A1 above controls. These results demonstrate how alternative splicing can re-program NR gene function, highlighting novel mechanisms of toxicity and new opportunities for the use of splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSO) in precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew J Annalora
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331; USA.
| | - Marija Jozic
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331; USA
| | - Craig B Marcus
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331; USA
| | - Patrick L Iversen
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, 1007 Agriculture & Life Sciences Building, Corvallis, OR 97331; USA; LS Pharma, 884 Park St., Lebanon, OR 97355; USA
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24
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Wang M, Wu B, Shah SN, Lu P, Lu Q. Saponins enhance exon skipping of 2'-O-methyl phosphorothioate oligonucleotide in vitro and in vivo. Drug Des Devel Ther 2018; 12:3705-3715. [PMID: 30464402 PMCID: PMC6217006 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s179008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated exon skipping has been feasible and promising approach for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) in preclinical and clinical trials, but its therapeutic applications remain challenges due to inefficient delivery. METHODS We investigated a few Saponins for their potential to improve delivery performance of an antisense 2'-Omethyl phosphorothioate RNA (2'-OMePS) in muscle cells and in dystrophic mdx mice. This study was carried out by evaluating these Saponins' toxicity, cellular uptake, transduction efficiency in vitro, and local delivery in vivo for 2'-OMePS, as well as affinity study between Saponin and 2'-OMePS. RESULTS The results showed that these Saponins, especially Digitonin and Tomatine, enhance the delivery of 2'-OMePS with comparable efficiency to Lipofectamine 2k (LF-2k) -mediated delivery in vitro. Significant performance was further observed in mdx mice, up to 10-fold with the Digitonin as compared to 2'-OMePS alone. Cytotoxicity of the Digitonin and Glycyrrhizin was much lower than LF-2k in vitro and not clearly detected in vivo under the tested concentrations. CONCLUSION This study potentiates Saponins as delivery vehicle for 2'-OMePS in vivo for treating DMD or other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Wang
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA,
| | - Bo Wu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA,
| | - Sapana N Shah
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA,
| | - Peijuan Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA,
| | - Qilong Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA,
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25
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Correction of a Splicing Mutation Affecting an Unverricht-Lundborg Disease Patient by Antisense Therapy. Genes (Basel) 2018; 9:genes9090455. [PMID: 30208654 PMCID: PMC6162617 DOI: 10.3390/genes9090455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Unverricht-Lundborg disease (ULD) is a common form of progressive myoclonic epilepsy caused by mutations in the cystatin B gene (CSTB) that encodes an inhibitor of several lysosomal cathepsins. Presently, only pharmacological treatment and psychosocial support are available for ULD patients. To overcome the pathogenic effect of the ULD splicing mutation c.66G>A (exon 1), we investigated whether an antisense oligonucleotide therapeutic strategy could correct the defect in patient cells. A specific locked nucleic acid (LNA) antisense oligonucleotide was designed to block a cryptic 5′ss in intron 1. Overall, this approach allowed the restoration of the normal splicing pattern. Furthermore, the recovery was both sequence and dose-specific. In general, this work provides a proof of principle on the correction of a CSTB gene defect causing ULD through a mutation-specific antisense therapy. It adds evidence to the feasibility of this approach, joining the many studies that are paving the way for translating antisense technology into the clinical practice. The insights detailed herein make mutation-based therapy a clear candidate for personalized treatment of ULD patients, encouraging similar investigations into other genetic diseases.
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26
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Catuogno S, Esposito CL, Condorelli G, de Franciscis V. Nucleic acids delivering nucleic acids. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2018; 134:79-93. [PMID: 29630917 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2018.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 04/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid therapeutics, including siRNAs, miRNAs/antimiRs, gRNAs and ASO, represent innovative and highly promising molecules for the safe treatment of a wide range of pathologies. The efficiency of systemic treatments is impeded by 1) the need to overcome physical and functional barriers in the organism, and 2) to accumulate in the intracellular active site at therapeutic concentrations. Although oligonucleotides either as modified naked molecules or complexed with delivery carriers have revealed to be effectively delivered to the affected target cells, this is restricted to topic treatments or to a few highly vascularized tissues. Therefore, the development of effective strategies for therapeutic nucleic acid selective delivery to target tissues is of primary importance in order to reduce the occurrence of undesired effects on non-target healthy tissues and to permit their translation to clinic. Due to their high affinity for specific ligands, high tissue penetration and chemical flexibility, short single-stranded nucleic acid aptamers are emerging as very attractive carriers for various therapeutic oligonucleotides. Yet, different aptamer-based bioconjugates, able to provide accumulation into target tissues, as well as efficient processing of therapeutic oligonucleotides, have been developed. In this respect, nucleic acid aptamer-mediated delivery strategies represent a powerful approach able to increase the therapeutic efficacy also highly reducing the overall toxicity. In this review, we will summarize recent progress in the field and discuss achieved objectives and optimization of aptamers as delivery carriers of short oligonucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Catuogno
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Carla Lucia Esposito
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Naples, Italy
| | - Gerolama Condorelli
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Naples, Italy; Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, "Federico II" University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Vittorio de Franciscis
- Istituto di Endocrinologia ed Oncologia Sperimentale, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Naples, Italy.
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27
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Garanto A, Collin RWJ. Design and In Vitro Use of Antisense Oligonucleotides to Correct Pre-mRNA Splicing Defects in Inherited Retinal Dystrophies. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1715:61-78. [PMID: 29188506 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7522-8_5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) are small molecules able to bind to the pre-mRNA and modulate splicing. The increasing amount of intronic mutations leading to pseudoexon insertion in genes underlying inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) has highlighted the potential of AONs as a therapeutic tool for these disorders. Here we describe how to design and test AON molecules in vitro in order to correct pre-mRNA splicing defects involved in IRDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Garanto
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
| | - Rob W J Collin
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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28
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Alternative splicing and cancer metastasis: prognostic and therapeutic applications. Clin Exp Metastasis 2018; 35:393-402. [PMID: 29845349 DOI: 10.1007/s10585-018-9905-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Metastatic cells exhibit an extraordinary phenotypic plasticity, not only in adapting to unfamiliar microenvironments but also in surviving aggressive treatments and immune responses. A major source of phenotypic variability is alternative splicing (AS) of the pre-messenger RNA. This process is catalyzed by one of the most complex pieces of cellular molecular regulatory events, the spliceosome, which is composed of ribonucleoproteins and polypeptides termed spliceosome factors. With strong evidence indicating that AS affects nearly all genes encoded by the human genome, aberrant AS programs have a significant impact on cancer cell development and progression. In this review, we present insights about the genomic and epigenomic factors affecting AS, summarize the most recent findings linking aberrant AS to metastatic progression, and highlight potential prognostic and therapeutic applications.
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29
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Wang M, Wu B, Tucker JD, Shah SN, Lu P, Bollinger LE, Lu Q. Tween 85-Modified Low Molecular Weight PEI Enhances Exon-Skipping of Antisense Morpholino Oligomer In Vitro and in mdx Mice. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2017; 9:120-131. [PMID: 29246291 PMCID: PMC5633364 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2017] [Revised: 09/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
We investigated a series of Tween 85 modified low molecular weight polyethylenimine (LPEI, 0.8k/1.2k/2.0k)-copolymers (Zs) through simple formulation and covalent conjugation with phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) for their potential to enhance delivery in vitro and in dystrophic mdx mice. Z polymers significantly enhanced PMO-induced exon-skipping in a GFP reporter-based cell culture system. Application of optimized formulations of Zs with PMO targeted to dystrophin exon 23 demonstrated a significant increase in exon-skipping efficiency in mdx mice. Consistent with our observations in vitro, optimization of molecular size and hydropholic-lipopholic balance (HLB) of polymers are important factors to achieve enhanced PMO delivery in vivo. The best formulation of Zs enhanced PMO delivery with 20- and 6-fold over PMO alone in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Further, chemical conjugation of the polymer and PMO exhibits greater benefit than polymer/PMO simple formulation in PMO delivery efficiency. Observed cytotoxicity of the Zs was lower than Endo-porter and PEI 25k in vitro, and no tissue toxicity was clearly detected with the Zs at the dosage tested. These results indicate the potential of the Zs as effective and safe PMO delivery carriers for treating diseases such as muscular dystrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Wang
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Bo Wu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28231, USA
| | - Jason D Tucker
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28231, USA
| | - Sapana N Shah
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28231, USA
| | - Peijuan Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28231, USA
| | - Lauren E Bollinger
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28231, USA
| | - Qilong Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd., Charlotte, NC 28231, USA
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30
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Métris A, Sudhakar P, Fazekas D, Demeter A, Ari E, Olbei M, Branchu P, Kingsley RA, Baranyi J, Korcsmáros T. SalmoNet, an integrated network of ten Salmonella enterica strains reveals common and distinct pathways to host adaptation. NPJ Syst Biol Appl 2017; 3:31. [PMID: 29057095 PMCID: PMC5647365 DOI: 10.1038/s41540-017-0034-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 09/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Salmonella enterica is a prominent bacterial pathogen with implications on human and animal health. Salmonella serovars could be classified as gastro-intestinal or extra-intestinal. Genome-wide comparisons revealed that extra-intestinal strains are closer relatives of gastro-intestinal strains than to each other indicating a parallel evolution of this trait. Given the complexity of the differences, a systems-level comparison could reveal key mechanisms enabling extra-intestinal serovars to cause systemic infections. Accordingly, in this work, we introduce a unique resource, SalmoNet, which combines manual curation, high-throughput data and computational predictions to provide an integrated network for Salmonella at the metabolic, transcriptional regulatory and protein-protein interaction levels. SalmoNet provides the networks separately for five gastro-intestinal and five extra-intestinal strains. As a multi-layered, multi-strain database containing experimental data, SalmoNet is the first dedicated network resource for Salmonella. It comprehensively contains interactions between proteins encoded in Salmonella pathogenicity islands, as well as regulatory mechanisms of metabolic processes with the option to zoom-in and analyze the interactions at specific loci in more detail. Application of SalmoNet is not limited to strain comparisons as it also provides a Salmonella resource for biochemical network modeling, host-pathogen interaction studies, drug discovery, experimental validation of novel interactions, uncovering new pathological mechanisms from emergent properties and epidemiological studies. SalmoNet is available at http://salmonet.org.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Métris
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA UK.,Present Address: Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire UK
| | - Padhmanand Sudhakar
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA UK.,Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ UK
| | - David Fazekas
- Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ UK.,Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. s. 1C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Amanda Demeter
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA UK.,Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ UK.,Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. s. 1C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Eszter Ari
- Department of Genetics, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány P. s. 1C, H-1117 Budapest, Hungary.,Synthetic and Systems Biology Unit, Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Marton Olbei
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA UK.,Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ UK
| | - Priscilla Branchu
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA UK.,IRSD, Université de Toulouse, INSERM, INRA, ENVT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Rob A Kingsley
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA UK
| | - Jozsef Baranyi
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA UK
| | - Tamas Korcsmáros
- Quadram Institute Bioscience, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UA UK.,Earlham Institute, Norwich Research Park, Norwich, NR4 7UZ UK
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31
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Goina E, Peruzzo P, Bembi B, Dardis A, Buratti E. Glycogen Reduction in Myotubes of Late-Onset Pompe Disease Patients Using Antisense Technology. Mol Ther 2017. [PMID: 28629821 PMCID: PMC5589062 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Glycogen storage disease type II (GSDII) is a lysosomal disorder caused by the deficient activity of acid alpha-glucosidase (GAA) enzyme, leading to the accumulation of glycogen within the lysosomes. The disease has been classified in infantile and late-onset forms. Most late-onset patients share a splicing mutation c.-32-13T > G in intron 1 of the GAA gene that prevents efficient recognition of exon 2 by the spliceosome. In this study, we have mapped the splicing silencers of GAA exon 2 and developed antisense morpholino oligonucleotides (AMOs) to inhibit those regions and rescue normal splicing in the presence of the c.-32-13T > G mutation. Using a minigene approach and patient fibroblasts, we successfully increased inclusion of exon 2 in the mRNA and GAA enzyme production by targeting a specific silencer with a combination of AMOs. Most importantly, the use of these AMOs in patient myotubes results in a decreased accumulation of glycogen. To our knowledge, this is the only therapeutic approach resulting in a decrease of glycogen accumulation in patient tissues beside enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) and TFEB overexpression. As a result, it may represent a highly novel and promising therapeutic line for GSDII.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Goina
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Area Science Park, Padriciano, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Paolo Peruzzo
- Regional Coordinator Centre for Rare Diseases, Academic Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Bruno Bembi
- Regional Coordinator Centre for Rare Diseases, Academic Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, 33100 Udine, Italy
| | - Andrea Dardis
- Regional Coordinator Centre for Rare Diseases, Academic Hospital Santa Maria della Misericordia, 33100 Udine, Italy.
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Area Science Park, Padriciano, 34149 Trieste, Italy.
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32
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Shinkai Y, Kashihara S, Minematsu G, Fujii H, Naemura M, Kotake Y, Morita Y, Ohnuki K, Fokina AA, Stetsenko DA, Filichev VV, Fujii M. Silencing ofBCR/ABLChimeric Gene in Human Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Cell Line K562 by siRNA-Nuclear Export Signal Peptide Conjugates. Nucleic Acid Ther 2017; 27:168-175. [DOI: 10.1089/nat.2016.0647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Shinkai
- Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Shinichi Kashihara
- Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Go Minematsu
- Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Fujii
- Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Madoka Naemura
- Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Yojiro Kotake
- Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Yasutaka Morita
- Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Koichiro Ohnuki
- Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
| | - Alesya A. Fokina
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | - Dmitry A. Stetsenko
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
- Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk, Russia
| | | | - Masayuki Fujii
- Department of Biological and Environmental Chemistry, School of Humanity Oriented Science and Technology, Kindai University, Iizuka, Japan
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33
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Wang M, Wu B, Lu P, Shah SN, Tucker JD, Bollinger LE, Lu Q. Evaluation of Amphiphilic Peptide Modified Antisense Morpholino Oligonucleotides In Vitro and in Dystrophic mdx Mice. Polymers (Basel) 2017; 9:E177. [PMID: 30970855 PMCID: PMC6432210 DOI: 10.3390/polym9050177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
A series of amphiphilic peptides modified PMO (Pt-PMO) were prepared, and their antisense effect and toxicity were evaluated both in vitro and in mdx mice. The results showed that the exon-skipping performance of Pt-PMO are relative to the structure of the conjugated peptide: the Pt3/Pt4 composed of six/seven arginines and one myristoylation modified PMO showed more efficacy and with less toxicity as compared to others, confirming that appropriate hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and cationic sequence numbers play a crucial role in improving cell uptake and corresponding exon-skipping efficiency. This was observed particularly in enhanced delivery efficiency of PMO comparable to B-PMO in vitro, while 6-fold improved exon-skipping was achieved against naked PMO in vivo. The multi-PMO modified Pt8-PMO also showed improved exon-skipping both in vitro and in vivo, though there is lower efficiency in systemic delivery as compared to Pt4-PMO. These data suggest that with optimization of peptide in component, charge density has clear potential for exploration towards achieving higher efficiency of antisense oligonucleotide systemic delivery, and thus is more applicable for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Wang
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Bo Wu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Peijuan Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Sapana N Shah
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Jason D Tucker
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Lauren E Bollinger
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Qilong Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
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34
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Wang L, Chen M, He R, Sun Y, Yang J, Xiao L, Cao J, Zhang H, Zhang C. Serum Creatinine Distinguishes Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy from Becker Muscular Dystrophy in Patients Aged ≤3 Years: A Retrospective Study. Front Neurol 2017; 8:196. [PMID: 28533764 PMCID: PMC5421192 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2017.00196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Here, we investigated correlations between serum creatinine (SCRN) levels and clinical phenotypes of dystrophinopathy in young patients. Sixty-eight patients with dystrophinopathy at the Neuromuscular Clinic, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, were selected for this study. The diagnosis of dystrophinopathy was based on clinical manifestation, biochemical changes, and molecular analysis. Some patients underwent muscle biopsies; SCRN levels were tested when patients were ≤3 years old, and reading frame changes were analyzed. Each patient was followed up, and motor function and clinical phenotype were assessed when the same patients were ≥4 years old. Our findings indicated that in young patients, lower SCRN levels were associated with increased disease severity (p < 0.01) and that SCRN levels were the highest in patients exhibiting mild Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD) (p < 0.001) and the lowest in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) (p < 0.01) and were significantly higher in patients carrying in-frame mutations than in patients carrying out-of-frame mutations (p < 0.001). SCRN level cutoff values for identifying mild BMD [18 µmol/L; area under the curve (AUC): 0.947; p < 0.001] and DMD (17 µmol/L; AUC: 0.837; p < 0.001) were established. These results suggest that SCRN might be a valuable biomarker for distinguishing DMD from BMD in patients aged ≤3 years and could assist in the selection of appropriate treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Wang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Menglong Chen
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Ruojie He
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yiming Sun
- Department of Health Care, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Juan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lulu Xiao
- The Department of Tissue Typing Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiqing Cao
- Department of Neurology, Wuhan Central Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Huili Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Guangzhou First People's Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
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35
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van de Steeg E, Läppchen T, Aguilera B, Jansen HT, Muilwijk D, Vermue R, van der Hoorn JW, Donato K, Rossin R, de Visser PC, Vlaming MLH. Feasibility of SPECT-CT Imaging to Study the Pharmacokinetics of Antisense Oligonucleotides in a Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Nucleic Acid Ther 2017; 27:221-231. [PMID: 28418733 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2016.0649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) are promising candidates for treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a severe and progressive disease resulting in premature death. However, more knowledge on the pharmacokinetics of new AON drug candidates is desired for effective application in the clinic. We assessed the feasibility of using noninvasive single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography (SPECT-CT) imaging to determine AON pharmacokinetics in vivo. To this end, a 2'-O-methyl phosphorothioate AON was radiolabeled with 123I or 111In, and administered to mdx mice, a rodent model of DMD. SPECT-CT imaging was performed to determine AON tissue levels, and the results were compared to data obtained with invasive analysis methods (scintillation counting and a ligation-hybridization assay). We found that SPECT-CT data obtained with 123I-AON and 111In-AON were qualitatively comparable to data derived from invasive analytical methods, confirming the feasibility of using SPECT-CT analysis to study AON pharmacokinetics. Notably, also AON uptake in skeletal muscle, the target tissue in DMD, could be readily quantified using SPECT-CT imaging, which was considered a particular challenge in mice, due to their small size. In conclusion, our results demonstrate that SPECT-CT imaging allows for noninvasive characterization of biodistribution and pharmacokinetics of AONs, thereby enabling quantitative comparisons between different radiolabeled AON drug candidates and qualitative conclusions about the corresponding unmodified parent AONs. This technology may contribute to improved (pre)clinical drug development, leading to drug candidates with optimized characteristics in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tilman Läppchen
- 2 Department Minimally Invasive Healthcare, Philips Research , Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - Rick Vermue
- 3 BioMarin Nederland BV , Leiden, the Netherlands
| | | | - Katia Donato
- 2 Department Minimally Invasive Healthcare, Philips Research , Eindhoven, the Netherlands
| | - Raffaella Rossin
- 2 Department Minimally Invasive Healthcare, Philips Research , Eindhoven, the Netherlands
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36
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Shabanpoor F, Hammond SM, Abendroth F, Hazell G, Wood MJA, Gait MJ. Identification of a Peptide for Systemic Brain Delivery of a Morpholino Oligonucleotide in Mouse Models of Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Nucleic Acid Ther 2017; 27:130-143. [PMID: 28118087 PMCID: PMC5467147 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2016.0652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides are emerging treatments for neuromuscular diseases, with several splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) currently undergoing clinical trials such as for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). However, the development of systemically delivered antisense therapeutics has been hampered by poor tissue penetration and cellular uptake, including crossing of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) to reach targets in the central nervous system (CNS). For SMA application, we have investigated the ability of various BBB-crossing peptides for CNS delivery of a splice-switching phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotide (PMO) targeting survival motor neuron 2 (SMN2) exon 7 inclusion. We identified a branched derivative of the well-known ApoE (141–150) peptide, which as a PMO conjugate was capable of exon inclusion in the CNS following systemic administration, leading to an increase in the level of full-length SMN2 transcript. Treatment of newborn SMA mice with this peptide-PMO (P-PMO) conjugate resulted in a significant increase in the average lifespan and gains in weight, muscle strength, and righting reflexes. Systemic treatment of adult SMA mice with this newly identified P-PMO also resulted in small but significant increases in the levels of SMN2 pre-messenger RNA (mRNA) exon inclusion in the CNS and peripheral tissues. This work provides proof of principle for the ability to select new peptide paradigms to enhance CNS delivery and activity of a PMO SSO through use of a peptide-based delivery platform for the treatment of SMA potentially extending to other neuromuscular and neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fazel Shabanpoor
- 1 Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology , Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Suzan M Hammond
- 2 Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford , Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Frank Abendroth
- 1 Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology , Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Gareth Hazell
- 2 Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford , Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J A Wood
- 2 Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford , Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Michael J Gait
- 1 Medical Research Council, Laboratory of Molecular Biology , Cambridge, United Kingdom
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37
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Bornert O, Peking P, Bremer J, Koller U, van den Akker PC, Aartsma-Rus A, Pasmooij AMG, Murauer EM, Nyström A. RNA-based therapies for genodermatoses. Exp Dermatol 2017; 26:3-10. [PMID: 27376675 PMCID: PMC5593095 DOI: 10.1111/exd.13141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Genetic disorders affecting the skin, genodermatoses, constitute a large and heterogeneous group of diseases, for which treatment is generally limited to management of symptoms. RNA-based therapies are emerging as a powerful tool to treat genodermatoses. In this review, we discuss in detail RNA splicing modulation by antisense oligonucleotides and RNA trans-splicing, transcript replacement and genome editing by in vitro-transcribed mRNAs, and gene knockdown by small interfering RNA and antisense oligonucleotides. We present the current state of these therapeutic approaches and critically discuss their opportunities, limitations and the challenges that remain to be solved. The aim of this review was to set the stage for the development of new and better therapies to improve the lives of patients and families affected by a genodermatosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Bornert
- Department of Dermatology, Medical Center – University of
Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Patricia Peking
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of
Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus
Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Jeroen Bremer
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen,
University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ulrich Koller
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of
Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus
Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Peter C. van den Akker
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen,
University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
- Department of Genetics, University Medical Center Groningen,
University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Annemieke Aartsma-Rus
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center,
Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Anna M. G. Pasmooij
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center Groningen,
University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Eva M. Murauer
- EB House Austria, Research Program for Molecular Therapy of
Genodermatoses, Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of the Paracelsus
Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Alexander Nyström
- Department of Dermatology, Medical Center – University of
Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
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38
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Uniform low-level dystrophin expression in the heart partially preserved cardiac function in an aged mouse model of Duchenne cardiomyopathy. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2016; 102:45-52. [PMID: 27908661 DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2016.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2016] [Revised: 11/17/2016] [Accepted: 11/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Dystrophin deficiency results in Duchenne cardiomyopathy, a primary cause of death in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Gene therapy has shown great promise in ameliorating the cardiac phenotype in mouse models of DMD. However, it is not completely clear how much dystrophin is required to treat dystrophic heart disease. We and others have shown that mosaic dystrophin expression at the wild-type level, depending on the percentage of dystrophin positive cardiomyocytes, can either delay the onset of or fully prevent cardiomyopathy in dystrophin-null mdx mice. Many gene therapy strategies will unlikely restore dystrophin to the wild-type level in a cardiomyocyte. To determine whether low-level dystrophin expression can reduce the cardiac manifestations in DMD, we examined heart histology, ECG and hemodynamics in 21-m-old normal BL6 and two strains of BL6-background dystrophin-deficient mice. Mdx3cv mice show uniform low-level expression of a near full-length dystrophin protein in every myofiber while mdx4cv mice have no dystrophin expression. Immunostaining and western blot confirmed marginal level dystrophin expression in the heart of mdx3cv mice. Although low-level expression did not reduce myocardial histopathology, it significantly ameliorated QRS prolongation and normalized diastolic hemodynamic deficiencies. Our study demonstrates for the first time that low-level dystrophin can partially preserve heart function.
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39
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Lehto T, Ezzat K, Wood MJA, El Andaloussi S. Peptides for nucleic acid delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2016; 106:172-182. [PMID: 27349594 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Revised: 06/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acids and their synthetic oligonucleotide (ON) analogs are a group of gene therapeutic compounds which hold enormous clinical potential. Despite their undoubted potential, clinical translation of these molecules, however, has been largely held back by their limited bioavailability in the target tissues/cells. To overcome this, many different drug delivery systems have been devised. Among others, short delivery peptides, called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), have been demonstrated to allow for efficient delivery of nucleic acids and their ON analogs, in both cell culture and animal models. In this review, we provide brief overview of the latest advances in nucleic acid delivery with CPPs, covering the two main vectorization strategies, covalent conjugation and nanoparticle formation-based approach. In conclusion, CPP-based drug delivery systems have the capacity to overcome the hurdle of delivery and thus have the potential to facilitate the clinical translation of nucleic acid-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taavi Lehto
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden; Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Kariem Ezzat
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
| | - Matthew J A Wood
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX13QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Samir El Andaloussi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden; Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX13QX Oxford, United Kingdom
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40
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Ghidini A, Murtola M, Strömberg R. Influence of conjugation and other structural changes on the activity of Cu²⁺ based PNAzymes. Org Biomol Chem 2016; 14:2768-73. [PMID: 26856621 DOI: 10.1039/c5ob02394g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
We have previously shown that PNA-neocuproine conjugates can act as artificial RNA restriction enzymes. In the present study we have additionally conjugated the PNA with different entities, such as oligoethers, peptides etc. and also constructed systems where the PNA is designed to clamp the target RNA forming a triplex. Some conjugations are detrimental for the activity while most are silent which means that conjugation can be done to alter physical properties without losing activity. Conjugation with a single oligoether close to the neocuproine does enhance the rate almost twofold compared to the system without the oligoether. The systems designed to clamp the RNA target by forming a triplex retain the activity if the added oligoT sequence is 5 PNA units or shorter and extends the arsenal of artificial RNA restriction enzymes. Changing the direction of a closing base pair, where the target RNA forms a bulge, from a GC to a CG pair enhances the rate of cleavage somewhat without compromising the selectivity, leading to the so far most efficient artificial nuclease reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ghidini
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Novum, Hälsovägen 7, S-14183 Huddinge, Sweden.
| | - M Murtola
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Novum, Hälsovägen 7, S-14183 Huddinge, Sweden. and Turku University, Department of Chemistry, Turku 20014, Finland
| | - R Strömberg
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Novum, Hälsovägen 7, S-14183 Huddinge, Sweden.
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Antisense Oligonucleotide-based Splice Correction for USH2A-associated Retinal Degeneration Caused by a Frequent Deep-intronic Mutation. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2016; 5:e381. [PMID: 27802265 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2016.89] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 09/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common cause of combined deaf-blindness in man. The hearing loss can be partly compensated by providing patients with hearing aids or cochlear implants, but the loss of vision is currently untreatable. In general, mutations in the USH2A gene are the most frequent cause of USH explaining up to 50% of all patients worldwide. The first deep-intronic mutation in the USH2A gene (c.7595-2144A>G) was reported in 2012, leading to the insertion of a pseudoexon (PE40) into the mature USH2A transcript. When translated, this PE40-containing transcript is predicted to result in a truncated non-functional USH2A protein. In this study, we explored the potential of antisense oligonucleotides (AONs) to prevent aberrant splicing of USH2A pre-mRNA as a consequence of the c.7595-2144A>G mutation. Engineered 2'-O-methylphosphorothioate AONs targeting the PE40 splice acceptor site and/or exonic splice enhancer regions displayed significant splice correction potential in both patient derived fibroblasts and a minigene splice assay for USH2A c.7595-2144A>G, whereas a non-binding sense oligonucleotide had no effect on splicing. Altogether, AON-based splice correction could be a promising approach for the development of a future treatment for USH2A-associated retinitis pigmentosa caused by the deep-intronic c.7595-2144A>G mutation.
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Bergsma AJ, in ‘t Groen SLM, Verheijen FW, van der Ploeg AT, Pijnappel WWMP. From Cryptic Toward Canonical Pre-mRNA Splicing in Pompe Disease: a Pipeline for the Development of Antisense Oligonucleotides. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2016; 5:e361. [PMID: 27623443 PMCID: PMC5056997 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2016.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 07/27/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
While 9% of human pathogenic variants have an established effect on pre-mRNA splicing, it is suspected that an additional 20% of otherwise classified variants also affect splicing. Aberrant splicing includes disruption of splice sites or regulatory elements, or creation or strengthening of cryptic splice sites. For the majority of variants, it is poorly understood to what extent and how these may affect splicing. We have identified cryptic splicing in an unbiased manner. Three types of cryptic splicing were analyzed in the context of pathogenic variants in the acid α-glucosidase gene causing Pompe disease. These involved newly formed deep intronic or exonic cryptic splice sites, and a natural cryptic splice that was utilized due to weakening of a canonical splice site. Antisense oligonucleotides that targeted the identified cryptic splice sites repressed cryptic splicing at the expense of canonical splicing in all three cases, as shown by reverse-transcriptase-quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis and by enhancement of acid α-glucosidase enzymatic activity. This argues for a competition model for available splice sites, including intact or weakened canonical sites and natural or newly formed cryptic sites. The pipeline described here can detect cryptic splicing and correct canonical splicing using antisense oligonucleotides to restore the gene defect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atze J Bergsma
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Molecular Stem Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stijn LM in ‘t Groen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Molecular Stem Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Frans W Verheijen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Molecular Diagnostics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ans T van der Ploeg
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - WWM Pim Pijnappel
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Molecular Stem Cell Biology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Center for Lysosomal and Metabolic Diseases, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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43
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Miyatake S, Shimizu-Motohashi Y, Takeda S, Aoki Y. Anti-inflammatory drugs for Duchenne muscular dystrophy: focus on skeletal muscle-releasing factors. DRUG DESIGN DEVELOPMENT AND THERAPY 2016; 10:2745-58. [PMID: 27621596 PMCID: PMC5012616 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s110163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), an incurable and a progressive muscle wasting disease, is caused by the absence of dystrophin protein, leading to recurrent muscle fiber damage during contraction. The inflammatory response to fiber damage is a compelling candidate mechanism for disease exacerbation. The only established pharmacological treatment for DMD is corticosteroids to suppress muscle inflammation, however this treatment is limited by its insufficient therapeutic efficacy and considerable side effects. Recent reports show the therapeutic potential of inhibiting or enhancing pro- or anti-inflammatory factors released from DMD skeletal muscles, resulting in significant recovery from muscle atrophy and dysfunction. We discuss and review the recent findings of DMD inflammation and opportunities for drug development targeting specific releasing factors from skeletal muscles. It has been speculated that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs targeting specific inflammatory factors are more effective and have less side effects for DMD compared with steroidal drugs. For example, calcium channels, reactive oxygen species, and nuclear factor-κB signaling factors are the most promising targets as master regulators of inflammatory response in DMD skeletal muscles. If they are combined with an oligonucleotide-based exon skipping therapy to restore dystrophin expression, the anti-inflammatory drug therapies may address the present therapeutic limitation of low efficiency for DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouta Miyatake
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuko Shimizu-Motohashi
- Department of Child Neurology, National Center Hospital, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shin'ichi Takeda
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Aoki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira, Tokyo, Japan
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Abstract
The rapid development of programmable nuclease-based genome editing technologies has enabled targeted gene disruption and correction both in vitro and in vivo This revolution opens up the possibility of precise genome editing at target genomic sites to modulate gene function in animals and plants. Among several programmable nucleases, the type II clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-CRISPR-associated nuclease 9 (Cas9) system has progressed remarkably in recent years, leading to its widespread use in research, medicine and biotechnology. In particular, CRISPR-Cas9 shows highly efficient gene editing activity for therapeutic purposes in systems ranging from patient stem cells to animal models. However, the development of therapeutic approaches and delivery methods remains a great challenge for biomedical applications. Herein, we review therapeutic applications that use the CRISPR-Cas9 system and discuss the possibilities and challenges ahead.
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Wang M, Wu B, Tucker JD, Bollinger LE, Lu P, Lu Q. Poly(ester amine) Composed of Polyethylenimine and Pluronic Enhance Delivery of Antisense Oligonucleotides In Vitro and in Dystrophic mdx Mice. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2016; 5:e341. [PMID: 27483024 PMCID: PMC5023397 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2016.51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
A series of poly(esteramine)s (PEAs) constructed from low molecular weight polyethyleneimine (LPEI) and Pluronic were evaluated for the delivery of antisense oligonuclotides (AOs), 2'-O-methyl phosphorothioate RNA (2'-OMePS) and phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) in cell culture and dystrophic mdx mice. Improved exon-skipping efficiency of both 2'-OMePS and PMO was observed in the C2C12E50 cell line with all PEA polymers compared with PEI 25k or LF-2k. The degree of efficiency was found in the order of PEA 01, PEA 04 > PEA 05 > others. The in vivo study in mdx mice demonstrated enhanced exon-skipping of 2'-OMePS with the order of PEA 06 > PEA 04, PEA 07 > PEA 03 > PEA 01 > others, and much higher than PEI 25k formulated 2'-OMePS. Exon-skipping efficiency of PMO in formulation with the PEAs were significantly enhanced in the order of PEA 02 > PEA 10 > PEA 01, PEA 03 > PEA 05, PEA 07, PEA 08 > others, with PEA 02 reaching fourfold of Endo-porter formulated PMO. PEAs improve PMO delivery more effectively than 2'-OMePS delivery in vivo, and the systemic delivery evaluation further highlight the efficiency of PEA for PMO delivery in all skeletal muscle. The results suggest that the flexibility of PEA polymers could be explored for delivery of different AO chemistries, especially for antisense therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Wang
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bo Wu
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jason D Tucker
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren E Bollinger
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Peijuan Lu
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Qilong Lu
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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Matos P, Gonçalves V, Jordan P. Targeting the serrated pathway of colorectal cancer with mutation in BRAF. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2016; 1866:51-63. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2016.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2016] [Revised: 06/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/19/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Havens MA, Hastings ML. Splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides as therapeutic drugs. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 44:6549-63. [PMID: 27288447 PMCID: PMC5001604 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 290] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) are short, synthetic, antisense, modified nucleic acids that base-pair with a pre-mRNA and disrupt the normal splicing repertoire of the transcript by blocking the RNA–RNA base-pairing or protein–RNA binding interactions that occur between components of the splicing machinery and the pre-mRNA. Splicing of pre-mRNA is required for the proper expression of the vast majority of protein-coding genes, and thus, targeting the process offers a means to manipulate protein production from a gene. Splicing modulation is particularly valuable in cases of disease caused by mutations that lead to disruption of normal splicing or when interfering with the normal splicing process of a gene transcript may be therapeutic. SSOs offer an effective and specific way to target and alter splicing in a therapeutic manner. Here, we discuss the different approaches used to target and alter pre-mRNA splicing with SSOs. We detail the modifications to the nucleic acids that make them promising therapeutics and discuss the challenges to creating effective SSO drugs. We highlight the development of SSOs designed to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy, which are currently being tested in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mallory A Havens
- Department of Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL 60446, USA
| | - Michelle L Hastings
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
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48
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Chang NC, Chevalier FP, Rudnicki MA. Satellite Cells in Muscular Dystrophy - Lost in Polarity. Trends Mol Med 2016; 22:479-496. [PMID: 27161598 PMCID: PMC4885782 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2016.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 113] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Revised: 04/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Recent findings employing the mdx mouse model for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) have revealed that muscle satellite stem cells play a direct role in contributing to disease etiology and progression of DMD, the most common and severe form of muscular dystrophy. Lack of dystrophin expression in DMD has critical consequences in satellite cells including an inability to establish cell polarity, abrogation of asymmetric satellite stem-cell divisions, and failure to enter the myogenic program. Thus, muscle wasting in dystrophic mice is not only caused by myofiber fragility but is exacerbated by intrinsic satellite cell dysfunction leading to impaired regeneration. Despite intense research and clinical efforts, there is still no effective cure for DMD. In this review we highlight recent research advances in DMD and discuss the current state of treatment and, importantly, how we can incorporate satellite cell-targeted therapeutic strategies to correct satellite cell dysfunction in DMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha C Chang
- Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Fabien P Chevalier
- Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Michael A Rudnicki
- Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research, Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8L6, Canada; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1H 8M5, Canada.
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49
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Pokharel D, Fueangfung S, Zhang M, Fang S. Peptide and peptide nucleic acid syntheses using a DNA/RNA synthesizer. Biopolymers 2016; 102:487-93. [PMID: 25298082 DOI: 10.1002/bip.22574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2014] [Revised: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The use of an ABI 394 DNA/RNA synthesizer for peptide and peptide nucleic acid (PNA) syntheses is described. No additional physical part or software is needed for the application. A commercially available large DNA synthesis column was used, and only about half of its volume was filled with resin when the resin was fully swollen. With additional space in the top portion of the column, agitation of reaction mixture was achieved by bubbling argon from the bottom without losing solution. Removing solutions from column was achieved by flushing argon from top to bottom. Two peptide and two PNA sequences were synthesized. Good yields were obtained in all the cases. The method is easy to follow by researchers who are familiar with DNA/RNA synthesizer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durga Pokharel
- Department of Chemistry, Michigan Technological University, 1400 Townsend Drive, Houghton, MI, 49931
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Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy for Inherited Retinal Dystrophies. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 854:517-24. [PMID: 26427454 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-17121-0_69] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are an extremely heterogeneous group of genetic diseases for which currently no effective treatment strategies exist. Over the last decade, significant progress has been made utilizing gene augmentation therapy for a few genetic subtypes of IRD, although several technical challenges so far prevent a broad clinical application of this approach for other forms of IRD. Many of the mutations leading to these retinal diseases affect pre-mRNA splicing of the mutated genes . Antisense oligonucleotide (AON)-mediated splice modulation appears to be a powerful approach to correct the consequences of such mutations at the pre-mRNA level , as demonstrated by promising results in clinical trials for several inherited disorders like Duchenne muscular dystrophy, hypercholesterolemia and various types of cancer. In this mini-review, we summarize ongoing pre-clinical research on AON-based therapy for a few genetic subtypes of IRD , speculate on other potential therapeutic targets, and discuss the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead to translate splice modulation therapy for retinal disorders to the clinic.
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