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Penaud-Budloo M, Lecomte E, Lecomte Q, Pacouret S, Broucque F, Guy-Duché A, Dupont JB, Jeanson-Leh L, Robin C, Blouin V, Ayuso E, Adjali O. Characterization of residual microRNAs in AAV vector batches produced in HEK293 mammalian cells and Sf9 insect cells. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101305. [PMID: 39220637 PMCID: PMC11365364 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
With more than 130 clinical trials and 8 approved gene therapy products, adeno-associated virus (AAV) stands as one of the most popular vehicles to deliver therapeutic DNA in vivo. One critical quality attribute analyzed in AAV batches is the presence of residual DNA, as it could pose genotoxic risks or induce immune responses. Surprisingly, the presence of small cell-derived RNAs, such as microRNAs (miRNAs), has not been investigated previously. In this study, we examined the presence of miRNAs in purified AAV batches produced in mammalian or in insect cells. Our findings revealed that miRNAs were present in all batches, regardless of the production cell line or capsid serotype (2 and 8). Quantitative assays indicated that miRNAs were co-purified with the recombinant AAV particles in a proportion correlated with their abundance in the production cells. The level of residual miRNAs was reduced via an immunoaffinity chromatography purification process including a tangential flow filtration step or by RNase treatment, suggesting that most miRNA contaminants are likely non-encapsidated. In summary, we demonstrate, for the first time, that miRNAs are co-purified with AAV particles. Further investigations are required to determine whether these miRNAs could interfere with the safety or efficacy of AAV-mediated gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emilie Lecomte
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TARGET, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Quentin Lecomte
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TARGET, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Simon Pacouret
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TARGET, 44000 Nantes, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Cécile Robin
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TARGET, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Véronique Blouin
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TARGET, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Eduard Ayuso
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TARGET, 44000 Nantes, France
| | - Oumeya Adjali
- Nantes Université, CHU Nantes, INSERM, TARGET, 44000 Nantes, France
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Alakhras NS, Moreland CA, Wong LC, Raut P, Kamalakaran S, Wen Y, Siegel RW, Malherbe LP. Essential role of pre-existing humoral immunity in TLR9-mediated type I IFN response to recombinant AAV vectors in human whole blood. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1354055. [PMID: 39007143 PMCID: PMC11240241 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1354055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have emerged as the preferred platform for gene therapy of rare human diseases. Despite the clinical promise, host immune responses to AAV vectors and transgene remain a major barrier to the development of successful AAV-based human gene therapies. Here, we assessed the human innate immune response to AAV9, the preferred serotype for AAV-mediated gene therapy of the CNS. We showed that AAV9 induced type I interferon (IFN) and IL-6 responses in human blood from healthy donors. This innate response was replicated with AAV6, required full viral particles, but was not observed in every donor. Depleting CpG motifs from the AAV transgene or inhibiting TLR9 signaling reduced type I IFN response to AAV9 in responding donors, highlighting the importance of TLR9-mediated DNA sensing for the innate response to AAV9. Remarkably, we further demonstrated that only seropositive donors with preexisting antibodies to AAV9 capsid mounted an innate immune response to AAV9 in human whole blood and that anti-AAV9 antibodies were necessary and sufficient to promote type I IFN release and plasmacytoid dendritic (pDC) cell activation in response to AAV9. Thus, our study reveals a previously unidentified requirement for AAV preexisting antibodies for TLR9-mediated type I IFN response to AAV9 in human blood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nada S. Alakhras
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | | | - Li Chin Wong
- Prevail Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly, New York, NY, United States
| | - Priyam Raut
- Prevail Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sid Kamalakaran
- Prevail Therapeutics, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eli Lilly, New York, NY, United States
| | - Yi Wen
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Robert W. Siegel
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Laurent P. Malherbe
- Lilly Research Laboratories, Eli Lilly and Company, Indianapolis, IN, United States
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Boffa I, Brunetti-Pierri N. Vision on gyrate atrophy: why treat the liver? EMBO Mol Med 2024; 16:8-9. [PMID: 38177527 PMCID: PMC10883274 DOI: 10.1038/s44321-023-00002-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Iolanda Boffa
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy.
- Department of Translational Medicine, "Federico II" University, Naples, Italy.
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale (SSM, School of Advanced Studies), Genomics and Experimental Medicine Program, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
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Baruteau J, Brunetti-Pierri N, Gissen P. Liver-directed gene therapy for inherited metabolic diseases. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024; 47:9-21. [PMID: 38171926 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Gene therapy clinical trials are rapidly expanding for inherited metabolic liver diseases whilst two gene therapy products have now been approved for liver based monogenic disorders. Liver-directed gene therapy has recently become an option for treatment of haemophilias and is likely to become one of the favoured therapeutic strategies for inherited metabolic liver diseases in the near future. In this review, we present the different gene therapy vectors and strategies for liver-targeting, including gene editing. We highlight the current development of viral and nonviral gene therapy for a number of inherited metabolic liver diseases including urea cycle defects, organic acidaemias, Crigler-Najjar disease, Wilson disease, glycogen storage disease Type Ia, phenylketonuria and maple syrup urine disease. We describe the main limitations and open questions for further gene therapy development: immunogenicity, inflammatory response, genotoxicity, gene therapy administration in a fibrotic liver. The follow-up of a constantly growing number of gene therapy treated patients allows better understanding of its benefits and limitations and provides strategies to design safer and more efficacious treatments. Undoubtedly, liver-targeting gene therapy offers a promising avenue for innovative therapies with an unprecedented potential to address the unmet needs of patients suffering from inherited metabolic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Baruteau
- Department of Paediatric Metabolic Medicine, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- National Institute of Health Research Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University, Naples, Italy
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale (SSM, School of Advanced Studies), Genomics and Experimental Medicine Program, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Paul Gissen
- Department of Paediatric Metabolic Medicine, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust, London, UK
- University College London Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- National Institute of Health Research Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
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