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Medaer L, Veys K, Gijsbers R. Current Status and Prospects of Viral Vector-Based Gene Therapy to Treat Kidney Diseases. Hum Gene Ther 2024; 35:139-150. [PMID: 38386502 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2023.184] [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] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Inherited kidney diseases are among the leading causes of chronic kidney disease, reducing the quality of life and resulting in substantial socioeconomic impact. The advent of early genetic testing and the growing understanding of the molecular basis and pathophysiology of these disorders have opened avenues for novel treatment strategies. Viral vector-based gene therapies have evolved from experimental treatments for rare diseases to potent platforms that carry the intrinsic potential to provide a cure with a single application. Several gene therapy products have reached the market, and the numbers are only expected to increase. Still, none target inherited kidney diseases. Gene transfer to the kidney has lagged when compared to other tissue-directed therapies such as hepatic, neuromuscular, and ocular tissues. Systemic delivery of genetic information to tackle kidney disease is challenging. The pharma industry is taking steps to take on kidney disease and to translate the current research into the therapeutic arena. In this review, we provide an overview of the current viral vector-based approaches and their potential. We discuss advances in platforms and injection routes that have been explored to enhance gene delivery toward kidney cells in animal models, and how these can fuel the development of viable gene therapy products for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Medaer
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
| | - Koenraad Veys
- Laboratory of Paediatric Nephrology, Department of Development and Regeneration, Faculty of Medicine
| | - Rik Gijsbers
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmacological and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine
- Leuven Viral Vector Core, Faculty of Medicine; KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Formanski JP, Ngo HD, Grunwald V, Pöhlking C, Jonas JS, Wohlers D, Schwalbe B, Schreiber M. Transduction Efficiency of Zika Virus E Protein Pseudotyped HIV-1 gfp and Its Oncolytic Activity Tested in Primary Glioblastoma Cell Cultures. Cancers (Basel) 2024; 16:814. [PMID: 38398205 PMCID: PMC10887055 DOI: 10.3390/cancers16040814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The development of new tools against glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the most aggressive and common cancer originating in the brain, remains of utmost importance. Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are among the tools of future concepts, and pseudotyping offers the possibility of tailoring LVs to efficiently transduce and inactivate GBM tumor cells. Zika virus (ZIKV) has a specificity for GBM cells, leaving healthy brain cells unharmed, which makes it a prime candidate for the development of LVs with a ZIKV coat. Here, primary GBM cell cultures were transduced with different LVs encased with ZIKV envelope variants. LVs were generated by using the pNLgfpAM plasmid, which produces the lentiviral, HIV-1-based, core particle with GFP (green fluorescent protein) as a reporter (HIVgfp). Using five different GBM primary cell cultures and three laboratory-adapted GBM cell lines, we showed that ZIKV/HIVgfp achieved a 4-6 times higher transduction efficiency compared to the commonly used VSV/HIVgfp. Transduced GBM cell cultures were monitored over a period of 9 days to identify GFP+ cells to study the oncolytic effect due to ZIKV/HIVgfp entry. Tests of GBM tumor specificity by transduction of GBM tumor and normal brain cells showed a high specificity for GBM cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan Patrick Formanski
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany (H.D.N.); (V.G.); (C.P.); (J.S.J.); (D.W.)
| | - Hai Dang Ngo
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany (H.D.N.); (V.G.); (C.P.); (J.S.J.); (D.W.)
| | - Vivien Grunwald
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany (H.D.N.); (V.G.); (C.P.); (J.S.J.); (D.W.)
| | - Celine Pöhlking
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany (H.D.N.); (V.G.); (C.P.); (J.S.J.); (D.W.)
| | - Jana Sue Jonas
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany (H.D.N.); (V.G.); (C.P.); (J.S.J.); (D.W.)
| | - Dominik Wohlers
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany (H.D.N.); (V.G.); (C.P.); (J.S.J.); (D.W.)
| | - Birco Schwalbe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Asklepios Klinik Nord, Standort Heidberg, 22417 Hamburg, Germany;
| | - Michael Schreiber
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany (H.D.N.); (V.G.); (C.P.); (J.S.J.); (D.W.)
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Ngo HD, Formanski JP, Grunwald V, Schwalbe B, Schreiber M. Generation of Viral Particles with Brain Cell-Specific Tropism by Pseudotyping HIV-1 with the Zika Virus E Protein. Methods Protoc 2023; 7:3. [PMID: 38251196 PMCID: PMC10801502 DOI: 10.3390/mps7010003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Flaviviruses are a family of RNA viruses that includes many known pathogens, such as Zika virus (ZIKV), West Nile virus (WNV), dengue virus (DENV), and yellow fever virus (YFV). A pseudotype is an artificial virus particle created in vitro by incorporating the flavivirus envelope proteins into the structure of, for example, a retrovirus such as human immunodeficiency virus type-1 (HIV-1). They can be a useful tool in virology for understanding the biology of flaviviruses, evaluating immune responses, developing antiviral strategies but can also be used as vectors for gene transfer experiments. This protocol describes the generation of a ZIKV/HIV-1 pseudotype developed as a new tool for infecting cells derived from a highly malignant brain tumor: glioblastoma multiforme grade 4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai Dang Ngo
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Patrick Formanski
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vivien Grunwald
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Birco Schwalbe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Asklepios Kliniken Hamburg GmbH, Asklepios Klinik Nord, Standort Heidberg, 22417 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Schreiber
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
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Grunwald V, Ngo HD, Formanski JP, Jonas JS, Pöhlking C, Schwalbe B, Schreiber M. Development of Zika Virus E Variants for Pseudotyping Retroviral Vectors Targeting Glioblastoma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:14487. [PMID: 37833934 PMCID: PMC10572498 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241914487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
A fundamental idea for targeting glioblastoma cells is to exploit the neurotropic properties of Zika virus (ZIKV) through its two outer envelope proteins, prM and E. This study aimed to develop envelope glycoproteins for pseudotyping retroviral vectors that can be used for efficient tumor cell infection. Firstly, the retroviral vector pNLlucAM was packaged using wild-type ZIKV E to generate an E-HIVluc pseudotype. E-HIVluc infection rates for tumor cells were higher than those of normal prME pseudotyped particles and the traditionally used vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSV-G) pseudotypes, indicating that protein E alone was sufficient for the formation of infectious pseudotyped particles. Secondly, two envelope chimeras, E41.1 and E41.2, with the E wild-type transmembrane domain replaced by the gp41 transmembrane and cytoplasmic domains, were constructed; pNLlucAM or pNLgfpAM packaged with E41.1 or E41.2 constructs showed infectivity for tumor cells, with the highest rates observed for E41.2. This envelope construct can be used not only as a tool to further develop oncolytic pseudotyped viruses for therapy, but also as a new research tool to study changes in tumor cells after the transfer of genes that might have therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Grunwald
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Hai Dang Ngo
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jan Patrick Formanski
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Jana Sue Jonas
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Celine Pöhlking
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Birco Schwalbe
- Department of Neurosurgery, Asklepios Kliniken Hamburg GmbH, Asklepios Klinik Nord, Standort Heidberg, 22417 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Michael Schreiber
- Department of Virology, LG Schreiber, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
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Peek JL, Wilson MH. Cell and gene therapy for kidney disease. Nat Rev Nephrol 2023:10.1038/s41581-023-00702-3. [PMID: 36973494 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-023-00702-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Kidney disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality across the globe. Current interventions for kidney disease include dialysis and renal transplantation, which have limited efficacy or availability and are often associated with complications such as cardiovascular disease and immunosuppression. There is therefore a pressing need for novel therapies for kidney disease. Notably, as many as 30% of kidney disease cases are caused by monogenic disease and are thus potentially amenable to genetic medicine, such as cell and gene therapy. Systemic disease that affects the kidney, such as diabetes and hypertension, might also be targetable by cell and gene therapy. However, although there are now several approved gene and cell therapies for inherited diseases that affect other organs, none targets the kidney. Promising recent advances in cell and gene therapy have been made, including in the kidney research field, suggesting that this form of therapy might represent a potential solution for kidney disease in the future. In this Review, we describe the potential for cell and gene therapy in treating kidney disease, focusing on recent genetic studies, key advances and emerging technologies, and we describe several crucial considerations for renal genetic and cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L Peek
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Matthew H Wilson
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA.
- Department of Veterans Affairs, Tennessee Valley Health Services, Nashville, TN, USA.
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