1
|
Xie YL, Wang JY, He Y, Yu XM, Zheng QY, Ling C, Feng XL, Zhu LQ. The use of melittin to enhance transgene expression mediated by recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 vectors both in vitro and in vivo. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE 2023; 21:106-115. [PMID: 36333178 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2022.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Melittin, a cell-penetrating peptide, improves the efficiency of many non-viral gene delivery vectors, yet its application in viral vectors has not been well studied. The non-pathogenic recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector is an ideal in vivo gene delivery vector. However, its full potential will only be achieved after improvement of its transduction efficiency. To improve the transduction efficiency of rAAV2 vectors, we attempted to develop a melittin-based rAAV2 vector delivery strategy. METHODS The melittin peptide was inserted into the rAAV2 capsid either in the loop VIII of all viral proteins (VPs) or at the N terminus of VP2. Various rAAV2-gfp or -fluc vectors were subjected to quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays to determine their titers and integrity of capsid proteins, respectively. Alternatively, the vectors based on wild-type capsid were pre-incubated with melittin, followed by transduction of cultured cells or tail vein administration of the mixture to C57BL/6 and BALB/c nude mice. In vivo bioluminescence imaging was performed to evaluate the transgene expression. RESULTS rAAV2 vectors with melittin peptide inserted in the loop VIII of VPs had low transduction efficiency, probably due to dramatically reduced ability to bind to the target cells. Fusing the melittin peptide at the N-terminus of VP2 produced vectors without the VP2 subunit. Interestingly, among the commonly used rAAV vectors, pre-incubation of rAAV2 and rAAV6 vectors with melittin significantly enhanced their transduction efficiency in HEK293 and Huh7 cells in vitro. Melittin also had the ability to increase the rAAV2-mediated transgene expression in mouse liver in vivo. Mechanistically, melittin did not change the vector-receptor interaction. Moreover, cell counting kit-8 assays of cultured cells and serum transaminase levels indicated melittin had little cytotoxicity. CONCLUSION Pre-incubation with melittin, but not insertion of melittin into the rAAV2 capsid, significantly enhanced rAAV2-mediated transgene expression. Although further in vivo evaluations are required, this research not only expands the pharmacological potential of melittin, but also provides a new strategy to improve gene therapy mediated by rAAV vectors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Lin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Ji-Yao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China; Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yun He
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Xiao-Min Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China; Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Qing-Yun Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China
| | - Chen Ling
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Department of Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China; Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xi-Lin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering and Engineering Research Center of Gene Technology (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China; Yantai Fuheng Biological Technology Co., Ltd., Yantai 264006, Shandong Province, China.
| | - Li-Qing Zhu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, the First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China; Key Laboratory of Clinical Laboratory Diagnosis and Translational Research of Zhejiang Province, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Macdonald J, Marx J, Büning H. Capsid-Engineering for Central Nervous System-Directed Gene Therapy with Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:1096-1119. [PMID: 34662226 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Closing the gap in knowledge on the cause of neurodegenerative disorders is paving the way toward innovative treatment strategies, among which gene therapy has emerged as a top candidate. Both conventional gene therapy and genome editing approaches are being developed, and a great number of human clinical trials are ongoing. Already 2 years ago, the first gene therapy for a neurodegenerative disease, spinal muscular atrophy type 1 (SMA1), obtained market approval. To realize such innovative strategies, gene therapy delivery tools are key assets. Here, we focus on recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors and report on strategies to improve first-generation vectors. Current efforts focus on the viral capsid to modify the host-vector interaction aiming at increasing the efficacy of target cell transduction, at simplifying vector administration, and at reducing the risk of vector dose-related side effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Josephine Macdonald
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jennifer Marx
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| |
Collapse
|