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Batistatou N, Kritzer JA. Comparing Cell Penetration of Biotherapeutics across Human Cell Lines. ACS Chem Biol 2024; 19:1351-1365. [PMID: 38836425 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.4c00211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
A major obstacle in biotherapeutics development is maximizing cell penetration. Ideally, assays would allow for optimization of cell penetration in the cell type of interest early in the drug development process. However, few assays exist to compare cell penetration across different cell types independent of drug function. In this work, we applied the chloroalkane penetration assay (CAPA) in seven mammalian cell lines as well as primary cells. Careful controls were used to ensure that data could be compared across cell lines. We compared the nuclear penetration of several peptides and drug-like oligonucleotides and saw significant differences among the cell lines. To help explain these differences, we quantified the relative activities of endocytosis pathways in these cell lines and correlated them with the penetration data. Based on these results, we knocked down clathrin in a cell line with an efficient permeability profile and observed reduced penetration of peptides but not oligonucleotides. Finally, we used small-molecule endosomal escape enhancers and observed enhancement of cell penetration of some oligonucleotides, but only in some of the cell lines tested. CAPA data provide valuable points of comparison among different cell lines, including primary cells, for evaluating the cell penetration of various classes of peptides and oligonucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nefeli Batistatou
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Joshua A Kritzer
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
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2
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Fedorovskiy AG, Antropov DN, Dome AS, Puchkov PA, Makarova DM, Konopleva MV, Matveeva AM, Panova EA, Shmendel EV, Maslov MA, Dmitriev SE, Stepanov GA, Markov OV. Novel Efficient Lipid-Based Delivery Systems Enable a Delayed Uptake and Sustained Expression of mRNA in Human Cells and Mouse Tissues. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:684. [PMID: 38794346 PMCID: PMC11125954 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050684] [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: 04/18/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, mRNA-based therapy has displayed significant promise in a wide range of clinical applications. The most striking example of the leap in the development of mRNA technologies was the mass vaccination against COVID-19 during the pandemic. The emergence of large-scale technology and positive experience of mRNA immunization sparked the development of antiviral and anti-cancer mRNA vaccines as well as therapeutic mRNA agents for genetic and other diseases. To facilitate mRNA delivery, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have been successfully employed. However, the diverse use of mRNA therapeutic approaches requires the development of adaptable LNP delivery systems that can control the kinetics of mRNA uptake and expression in target cells. Here, we report effective mRNA delivery into cultured mammalian cells (HEK293T, HeLa, DC2.4) and living mouse muscle tissues by liposomes containing either 1,26-bis(cholest-5-en-3β-yloxycarbonylamino)-7,11,16,20-tetraazahexacosane tetrahydrochloride (2X3) or the newly applied 1,30-bis(cholest-5-en-3β-yloxycarbonylamino)-9,13,18,22-tetraaza-3,6,25,28-tetraoxatriacontane tetrahydrochloride (2X7) cationic lipids. Using end-point and real-time monitoring of Fluc mRNA expression, we showed that these LNPs exhibited an unusually delayed (of over 10 h in the case of the 2X7-based system) but had highly efficient and prolonged reporter activity in cells. Accordingly, both LNP formulations decorated with 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[amino(polyethylene glycol)-2000] (DSPE-PEG2000) provided efficient luciferase production in mice, peaking on day 3 after intramuscular injection. Notably, the bioluminescence was observed only at the site of injection in caudal thigh muscles, thereby demonstrating local expression of the model gene of interest. The developed mRNA delivery systems hold promise for prophylactic applications, where sustained synthesis of defensive proteins is required, and open doors to new possibilities in mRNA-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artem G. Fedorovskiy
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (A.G.F.); (M.V.K.); (E.A.P.)
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Denis N. Antropov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (A.S.D.); (A.M.M.); (G.A.S.)
| | - Anton S. Dome
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (A.S.D.); (A.M.M.); (G.A.S.)
| | - Pavel A. Puchkov
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Daria M. Makarova
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Maria V. Konopleva
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (A.G.F.); (M.V.K.); (E.A.P.)
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
- Federal State Budget Institution “National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology Named after Honorary Academician N.F. Gamaleya” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasiya M. Matveeva
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (A.S.D.); (A.M.M.); (G.A.S.)
| | - Eugenia A. Panova
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (A.G.F.); (M.V.K.); (E.A.P.)
| | - Elena V. Shmendel
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Mikhail A. Maslov
- Lomonosov Institute of Fine Chemical Technologies, MIREA-Russian Technological University, 119571 Moscow, Russia; (P.A.P.); (D.M.M.); (E.V.S.); (M.A.M.)
| | - Sergey E. Dmitriev
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Department of Materials Science, Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, 119234 Moscow, Russia; (A.G.F.); (M.V.K.); (E.A.P.)
- Federal State Budget Institution “National Research Centre for Epidemiology and Microbiology Named after Honorary Academician N.F. Gamaleya” of the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, 123098 Moscow, Russia
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 141701 Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - Grigory A. Stepanov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (A.S.D.); (A.M.M.); (G.A.S.)
| | - Oleg V. Markov
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia; (D.N.A.); (A.S.D.); (A.M.M.); (G.A.S.)
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Ullas S, Sinclair C. Applications of Flow Cytometry in Drug Discovery and Translational Research. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3851. [PMID: 38612661 PMCID: PMC11011675 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073851] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Flow cytometry is a mainstay technique in cell biology research, where it is used for phenotypic analysis of mixed cell populations. Quantitative approaches have unlocked a deeper value of flow cytometry in drug discovery research. As the number of drug modalities and druggable mechanisms increases, there is an increasing drive to identify meaningful biomarkers, evaluate the relationship between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics (PK/PD), and translate these insights into the evaluation of patients enrolled in early clinical trials. In this review, we discuss emerging roles for flow cytometry in the translational setting that supports the transition and evaluation of novel compounds in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Charles Sinclair
- Flagship Pioneering, 140 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02141, USA;
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4
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Shi Y, Zhen X, Zhang Y, Li Y, Koo S, Saiding Q, Kong N, Liu G, Chen W, Tao W. Chemically Modified Platforms for Better RNA Therapeutics. Chem Rev 2024; 124:929-1033. [PMID: 38284616 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
RNA-based therapies have catalyzed a revolutionary transformation in the biomedical landscape, offering unprecedented potential in disease prevention and treatment. However, despite their remarkable achievements, these therapies encounter substantial challenges including low stability, susceptibility to degradation by nucleases, and a prominent negative charge, thereby hindering further development. Chemically modified platforms have emerged as a strategic innovation, focusing on precise alterations either on the RNA moieties or their associated delivery vectors. This comprehensive review delves into these platforms, underscoring their significance in augmenting the performance and translational prospects of RNA-based therapeutics. It encompasses an in-depth analysis of various chemically modified delivery platforms that have been instrumental in propelling RNA therapeutics toward clinical utility. Moreover, the review scrutinizes the rationale behind diverse chemical modification techniques aiming at optimizing the therapeutic efficacy of RNA molecules, thereby facilitating robust disease management. Recent empirical studies corroborating the efficacy enhancement of RNA therapeutics through chemical modifications are highlighted. Conclusively, we offer profound insights into the transformative impact of chemical modifications on RNA drugs and delineates prospective trajectories for their future development and clinical integration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yesi Shi
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Xueyan Zhen
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Yongjiang Li
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Seyoung Koo
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Qimanguli Saiding
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Na Kong
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Liangzhu Laboratory, Zhejiang University Medical Center, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Gang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Vaccines for Infectious Diseases, Xiang An Biomedicine Laboratory, National Innovation Platform for Industry-Education Integration in Vaccine Research, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Vaccinology and Molecular Diagnostics, Center for Molecular Imaging and Translational Medicine, School of Public Health, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Wei Tao
- Center for Nanomedicine and Department of Anesthesiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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5
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Zhang H, Kelly K, Lee J, Echeverria D, Cooper D, Panwala R, Amrani N, Chen Z, Gaston N, Wagh A, Newby G, Xie J, Liu DR, Gao G, Wolfe S, Khvorova A, Watts J, Sontheimer E. Self-delivering, chemically modified CRISPR RNAs for AAV co-delivery and genome editing in vivo. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:977-997. [PMID: 38033325 PMCID: PMC10810193 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1125] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Guide RNAs offer programmability for CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing but also add challenges for delivery. Chemical modification, which has been key to the success of oligonucleotide therapeutics, can enhance the stability, distribution, cellular uptake, and safety of nucleic acids. Previously, we engineered heavily and fully modified SpyCas9 crRNA and tracrRNA, which showed enhanced stability and retained activity when delivered to cultured cells in the form of the ribonucleoprotein complex. In this study, we report that a short, fully stabilized oligonucleotide (a 'protecting oligo'), which can be displaced by tracrRNA annealing, can significantly enhance the potency and stability of a heavily modified crRNA. Furthermore, protecting oligos allow various bioconjugates to be appended, thereby improving cellular uptake and biodistribution of crRNA in vivo. Finally, we achieved in vivo genome editing in adult mouse liver and central nervous system via co-delivery of unformulated, chemically modified crRNAs with protecting oligos and AAV vectors that express tracrRNA and either SpyCas9 or a base editor derivative. Our proof-of-concept establishment of AAV/crRNA co-delivery offers a route towards transient editing activity, target multiplexing, guide redosing, and vector inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Karen Kelly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan Lee
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - David Cooper
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Rebecca Panwala
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Nadia Amrani
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Zexiang Chen
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Nicholas Gaston
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Atish Wagh
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gregory A Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Scot A Wolfe
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan K Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Erik J Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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6
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Aggarwal G, Banerjee S, Jones SA, Benchaar Y, Bélanger J, Sévigny M, Smith DM, Niehoff ML, Pavlack M, de Vera IMS, Petkau TL, Leavitt BR, Ling K, Jafar-Nejad P, Rigo F, Morley JE, Farr SA, Dutchak PA, Sephton CF, Nguyen AD. Antisense oligonucleotides targeting the miR-29b binding site in the GRN mRNA increase progranulin translation. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:105475. [PMID: 37981208 PMCID: PMC10755782 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.105475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Revised: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterozygous GRN (progranulin) mutations cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD) due to haploinsufficiency, and increasing progranulin levels is a major therapeutic goal. Several microRNAs, including miR-29b, negatively regulate progranulin protein levels. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are emerging as a promising therapeutic modality for neurological diseases, but strategies for increasing target protein levels are limited. Here, we tested the efficacy of ASOs as enhancers of progranulin expression by sterically blocking the miR-29b binding site in the 3' UTR of the human GRN mRNA. We found 16 ASOs that increase progranulin protein in a dose-dependent manner in neuroglioma cells. A subset of these ASOs also increased progranulin protein in iPSC-derived neurons and in a humanized GRN mouse model. In FRET-based assays, the ASOs effectively competed for miR-29b from binding to the GRN 3' UTR RNA. The ASOs increased levels of newly synthesized progranulin protein by increasing its translation, as revealed by polysome profiling. Together, our results demonstrate that ASOs can be used to effectively increase target protein levels by partially blocking miR binding sites. This ASO strategy may be therapeutically feasible for progranulin-deficient FTD as well as other conditions of haploinsufficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geetika Aggarwal
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Subhashis Banerjee
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Spencer A Jones
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Yousri Benchaar
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jasmine Bélanger
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Myriam Sévigny
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Denise M Smith
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Michael L Niehoff
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Monica Pavlack
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Ian Mitchelle S de Vera
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Terri L Petkau
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, B.C. Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Blair R Leavitt
- Department of Medical Genetics, Centre for Molecular Medicine & Therapeutics, B.C. Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Center for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Karen Ling
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | | | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - John E Morley
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Susan A Farr
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Veterans Affairs Medical Center, St Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - Paul A Dutchak
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Chantelle F Sephton
- Department of Psychiatry and Neuroscience, CERVO Brain Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada
| | - Andrew D Nguyen
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St Louis, Missouri, USA; Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Saint Louis University, St Louis, Missouri, USA.
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7
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Dewaele S, Delhaye L, De Paepe B, Bogaert B, Martinez R, Anckaert J, Yigit N, Nuytens J, Van Coster R, Eyckerman S, Raemdonck K, Mestdagh P. mTOR Inhibition Enhances Delivery and Activity of Antisense Oligonucleotides in Uveal Melanoma Cells. Nucleic Acid Ther 2023; 33:248-264. [PMID: 37389884 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2023.0008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults. Owing to a lack of effective treatments, patients with metastatic disease have a median survival time of 6-12 months. We recently demonstrated that the Survival Associated Mitochondrial Melanoma Specific Oncogenic Non-coding RNA (SAMMSON) is essential for UM cell survival and that antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated silencing of SAMMSON impaired cell viability and tumor growth in vitro and in vivo. By screening a library of 2911 clinical stage compounds, we identified the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitor GDC-0349 to synergize with SAMMSON inhibition in UM. Mechanistic studies revealed that mTOR inhibition enhanced uptake and reduced lysosomal accumulation of lipid complexed SAMMSON ASOs, improving SAMMSON knockdown and further decreasing UM cell viability. We found mTOR inhibition to also enhance target knockdown in other cancer cell lines as well as normal cells when combined with lipid nanoparticle complexed or encapsulated ASOs or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Our results are relevant to nucleic acid treatment in general and highlight the potential of mTOR inhibition to enhance ASO and siRNA-mediated target knockdown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanna Dewaele
- OncoRNALab, Center for Medical Genetics (CMGG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Louis Delhaye
- OncoRNALab, Center for Medical Genetics (CMGG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB-Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Boel De Paepe
- Division of Pediatric Neurology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Bram Bogaert
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ramiro Martinez
- OncoRNALab, Center for Medical Genetics (CMGG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jasper Anckaert
- OncoRNALab, Center for Medical Genetics (CMGG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Nurten Yigit
- OncoRNALab, Center for Medical Genetics (CMGG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Justine Nuytens
- OncoRNALab, Center for Medical Genetics (CMGG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Rudy Van Coster
- Division of Pediatric Neurology and Metabolism, Department of Pediatrics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Sven Eyckerman
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Center for Medical Biotechnology, VIB-Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Koen Raemdonck
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Laboratory for General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Pieter Mestdagh
- OncoRNALab, Center for Medical Genetics (CMGG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
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8
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Yang Q, Peng Y, Deng Z, Zhang D, Long CY, Zhang GR, Li J, Wang XQ, Tan W. Regulating the properties of XQ-2d for targeted delivery of therapeutic agents to pancreatic cancers. Natl Sci Rev 2023; 10:nwad113. [PMID: 37731726 PMCID: PMC10508320 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwad113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Enhanced recognition ability, cell uptake capacity, and biostability are characteristics attributed to aptamer-based targeted anticancer agents, and are possibly associated with increased accumulation at the tumor site, improved therapeutic efficacy and reduced negative side effects. Herein, a phosphorothioate backbone modification strategy was applied to regulate the biomedical properties of pancreatic cancer cell-targeting aptamer for efficient in vivo drug delivery. Specifically, the CD71- targeting aptamer XQ-2d was modified into a fully thio-substituted aptamer S-XQ-2d, improving the plasma stability of S-XQ-2d and mitomycin C (MMC)-functionalized S-XQ-2d (MFSX), thus considerably prolonging their half-life in mice. Moreover, the binding and uptake capacities of S-XQ-2d were significantly enhanced. MFSX showed the same level of cytotoxicity as that of MMC against targeted cancer cells, but lower toxicity to non-targeted cells, highlighting its specificity and biosafety. Brief mechanistic studies demonstrated that XQ-2d and S-XQ-2d had different interaction modes and internalization pathways with the targeted cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiuxia Yang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Yongbo Peng
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Zhengyu Deng
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Dailiang Zhang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Cheng-Yu Long
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Guo-Rong Zhang
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Juan Li
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
| | - Xue-Qiang Wang
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
| | - Weihong Tan
- Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine (HIM), Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310022, China
- Molecular Science and Biomedicine Laboratory (MBL), State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Biosensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, College of Biology, Aptamer Engineering Center of Hunan Province, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
- Institute of Molecular Medicine (IMM), Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200127, China
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9
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Fu J, Dong H, Wu J, Jin Y. Emerging Progress of RNA-Based Antitumor Therapeutics. Int J Biol Sci 2023; 19:3159-3183. [PMID: 37416764 PMCID: PMC10321292 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.83732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-based therapeutics (e.g., mRNAs, siRNAs, microRNAs, ASOs, and saRNAs) have considerable potential for tumor treatment. The development and optimization of RNA modifications and delivery systems enable the stable and efficient delivery of RNA cargos in vivo to elicit an antitumor response. Targeted RNA-based therapeutics with multiple specificities and high efficacies are now available. In this review, we discuss progress in RNA-based antitumor therapeutics, including mRNAs, siRNAs, miRNAs, ASOs, saRNAs, RNA aptamers, and CRISPR-based gene editing. We focus on the immunogenicity, stability, translation efficiency, and delivery of RNA drugs, and summarize their optimization and the development of delivery systems. In addition, we describe the mechanisms by which RNA-based therapeutics induce antitumor responses. Furthermore, we review the merits and limitations of RNA cargos and their therapeutic potential for cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayan Fu
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Haiyang Dong
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310006, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yongfeng Jin
- National Key Laboratory of Advanced Drug Delivery and Release Systems, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, China
- MOE Laboratory of Biosystems Homeostasis & Protection, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, 310006, Hangzhou, China
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10
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Zhang H, Kelly K, Lee J, Echeverria D, Cooper D, Panwala R, Chen Z, Gaston N, Newby GA, Xie J, Liu DR, Gao G, Wolfe SA, Khvorova A, Watts JK, Sontheimer EJ. Self-delivering CRISPR RNAs for AAV Co-delivery and Genome Editing in vivo. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.20.533459. [PMID: 36993169 PMCID: PMC10055305 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.20.533459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Guide RNAs offer programmability for CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing but also add challenges for delivery. Chemical modification, which has been key to the success of oligonucleotide therapeutics, can enhance the stability, distribution, cellular uptake, and safety of nucleic acids. Previously, we engineered heavily and fully modified SpyCas9 crRNA and tracrRNA, which showed enhanced stability and retained activity when delivered to cultured cells in the form of the ribonucleoprotein complex. In this study, we report that a short, fully stabilized oligonucleotide (a "protecting oligo"), which can be displaced by tracrRNA annealing, can significantly enhance the potency and stability of a heavily modified crRNA. Furthermore, protecting oligos allow various bioconjugates to be appended, thereby improving cellular uptake and biodistribution of crRNA in vivo. Finally, we achieved in vivo genome editing in adult mouse liver and central nervous system via co-delivery of unformulated, chemically modified crRNAs with protecting oligos and AAV vectors that express tracrRNA and either SpyCas9 or a base editor derivative. Our proof-of-concept establishment of AAV/crRNA co-delivery offers a route towards transient editing activity, target multiplexing, guide redosing, and vector inactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Zhang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Karen Kelly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan Lee
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - David Cooper
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Rebecca Panwala
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Zexiang Chen
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Nicholas Gaston
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Gregory A. Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - David R. Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02142, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Scot A. Wolfe
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, 01605, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan K. Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
| | - Erik J. Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, USA
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11
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Finicle B, Eckenstein K, Revenko A, Anderson B, Wan W, McCracken A, Gil D, Fruman D, Hanessian S, Seth P, Edinger A. Simultaneous inhibition of endocytic recycling and lysosomal fusion sensitizes cells and tissues to oligonucleotide therapeutics. Nucleic Acids Res 2023; 51:1583-1599. [PMID: 36727438 PMCID: PMC9976930 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Inefficient endosomal escape remains the primary barrier to the broad application of oligonucleotide therapeutics. Liver uptake after systemic administration is sufficiently robust that a therapeutic effect can be achieved but targeting extrahepatic tissues remains challenging. Prior attempts to improve oligonucleotide activity using small molecules that increase the leakiness of endosomes have failed due to unacceptable toxicity. Here, we show that the well-tolerated and orally bioavailable synthetic sphingolipid analog, SH-BC-893, increases the activity of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) up to 200-fold in vitro without permeabilizing endosomes. SH-BC-893 treatment trapped endocytosed oligonucleotides within extra-lysosomal compartments thought to be more permeable due to frequent membrane fission and fusion events. Simultaneous disruption of ARF6-dependent endocytic recycling and PIKfyve-dependent lysosomal fusion was necessary and sufficient for SH-BC-893 to increase non-lysosomal oligonucleotide levels and enhance their activity. In mice, oral administration of SH-BC-893 increased ASO potency in the liver by 15-fold without toxicity. More importantly, SH-BC-893 enabled target RNA knockdown in the CNS and lungs of mice treated subcutaneously with cholesterol-functionalized duplexed oligonucleotides or unmodified ASOs, respectively. Together, these results establish the feasibility of using a small molecule that disrupts endolysosomal trafficking to improve the activity of oligonucleotides in extrahepatic tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brendan T Finicle
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Kazumi H Eckenstein
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | | | - W Brad Wan
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | | | | | - David A Fruman
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Stephen Hanessian
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | | | - Aimee L Edinger
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
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12
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Nanomedicine based strategies for oligonucleotide traversion across the blood-brain barrier. J Control Release 2023; 354:554-571. [PMID: 36649742 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.01.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Neurological disorders are considered the most prominent cause of disability worldwide. The major hurdle in the management of neurological disorders is the existence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which hinders the entry of several therapeutic moieties. In recent years, oligonucleotides have gained tremendous attention for their target specificity, diminished dose and adverse effects, thereby halting disease progression. However, enzymatic degradation, rapid clearance, limited circulation and availability at the bio-active site, etc., limit its clinical translation. Nanomedicine has opened up a breadth of opportunities in the delivery of oligonucleotides across the BBB. This review addresses the pitfalls associated with oligonucleotide delivery in traversing the BBB via nanotherapeutics for the management of brain disorders. Regulatory perspectives pertaining to hastening the clinical translation of oligonucleotide-loaded nanocarriers for brain delivery have been highlighted.
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13
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Goto A, Yamamoto S, Iwasaki S. Biodistribution and delivery of oligonucleotide therapeutics to the central nervous system: Advances, challenges, and future perspectives. Biopharm Drug Dispos 2023; 44:26-47. [PMID: 36336817 DOI: 10.1002/bdd.2338] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Considerable advances have been made in the research and development of oligonucleotide therapeutics (OTs) for treating central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, because of their promising mode of action. However, due to the tight barrier function and complex physiological structure of the CNS, the efficient delivery of OTs to target the brain has been a major challenge, and intensive efforts have been made to overcome this limitation. In this review, we summarize the representative methodologies and current knowledge of biodistribution, along with the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship of OTs in the CNS, which are critical elements for the successful development of OTs for CNS diseases. First, quantitative bioanalysis methods and imaging-based approaches for the evaluation of OT biodistribution are summarized. Next, information available on the biodistribution profile, distribution pathways, quantitative PK/PD modeling, and simulation of OTs following intrathecal or intracerebroventricular administration are reviewed. Finally, the latest knowledge on the drug delivery systems to the brain via intranasal or systemic administration as noninvasive routes for improved patient quality of life is reviewed. The aim of this review is to enrich research on the successful development of OTs by clarifying OT distribution profiles and pathways to the target brain regions or cells, and by identifying points that need further investigation for a mechanistic approach to generate efficient OTs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akihiko Goto
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Research Laboratories, Preclinical and Translational Sciences, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Syunsuke Yamamoto
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Research Laboratories, Preclinical and Translational Sciences, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Shinji Iwasaki
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics Research Laboratories, Preclinical and Translational Sciences, Research, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
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14
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Terada C, Kawamoto S, Yamayoshi A, Yamamoto T. Chemistry of Therapeutic Oligonucleotides That Drives Interactions with Biomolecules. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14122647. [PMID: 36559141 PMCID: PMC9781680 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14122647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligonucleotide therapeutics that can modulate gene expression have been gradually developed for clinical applications over several decades. However, rapid advances have been made in recent years. Artificial nucleic acid technology has overcome many challenges, such as (1) poor target affinity and selectivity, (2) low in vivo stability, and (3) classical side effects, such as immune responses; thus, its application in a wide range of disorders has been extensively examined. However, even highly optimized oligonucleotides exhibit side effects, which limits the general use of this class of agents. In this review, we discuss the physicochemical characteristics that aid interactions between drugs and molecules that belong to living organisms. By systematically organizing the related data, we hope to explore avenues for symbiotic engineering of oligonucleotide therapeutics that will result in more effective and safer drugs.
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15
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Suvarna V, Deshmukh K, Murahari M. miRNA and antisense oligonucleotide-based α-synuclein targeting as disease-modifying therapeutics in Parkinson's disease. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1034072. [PMID: 36506536 PMCID: PMC9728483 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1034072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
α-synuclein is the synaptic protein majorly involved in neuronal dysfunction and death and it is well known for the last two decades as a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. Alpha-synuclein is involved in neurodegeneration mediated through various neurotoxic pathways, majorly including autophagy or lysosomal dysregulation, mitochondrial disruption, synaptic dysfunction, and oxidative stress. Moreover, the alpha-synuclein aggregation has been associated with the development of several neurodegenerative conditions such as various forms of Parkinson's disease. The recent discovery in oligonucleotide chemistry has developed potential alpha-synuclein targeting molecules for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. The present review article focuses on recent advances in the applications of oligonucleotides acting via alpha-synuclein targeting mechanisms and their implication in combating Parkinson's disease. Moreover, the article emphasizes the potential of miRNAs, and antisense oligonucleotides and the challenges associated with their use in the therapeutical management of Parkinson's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasanti Suvarna
- Department of Quality Assurance, SVKM’s Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India
| | - Kajal Deshmukh
- Department of Quality Assurance, SVKM’s Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, Mumbai, India
| | - Manikanta Murahari
- Department of Pharmacy, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation, Vaddeswaram, AP, India,*Correspondence: Manikanta Murahari,
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16
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Mittal S, Tang I, Gleeson JG. Evaluating human mutation databases for “treatability” using patient-customized therapy. MED 2022; 3:740-759. [DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2022.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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17
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Rose RH, Sepp A, Stader F, Gill KL, Liu C, Gardner I. Application of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic models for therapeutic proteins and other novel modalities. Xenobiotica 2022; 52:840-854. [PMID: 36214113 DOI: 10.1080/00498254.2022.2133649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The past two decades have seen diversification of drug development pipelines and approvals from traditional small molecule therapies to alternative modalities including monoclonal antibodies, engineered proteins, antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), oligonucleotides and gene therapies. At the same time, physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models for small molecules have seen increased industry and regulatory acceptance.This review focusses on the current status of the application of PBPK models to these newer modalities and give a perspective on the successes, challenges and future directions of this field.There is greatest experience in the development of PBPK models for therapeutic proteins, and PBPK models for ADCs benefit from prior experience for both therapeutic proteins and small molecules. For other modalities, the application of PBPK models is in its infancy.Challenges are discussed and a common theme is lack of availability of physiological and experimental data to characterise systems and drug parameters to enable a priori prediction of pharmacokinetics. Furthermore, sufficient clinical data are required to build confidence in developed models.The PBPK modelling approach provides a quantitative framework for integrating knowledge and data from multiple sources and can be built on as more data becomes available.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel H Rose
- Certara UK Limited, Simcyp Division, Level 2-Acero, 1 Concourse Way, Sheffield, S1 2BJ, UK
| | - Armin Sepp
- Certara UK Limited, Simcyp Division, Level 2-Acero, 1 Concourse Way, Sheffield, S1 2BJ, UK
| | - Felix Stader
- Certara UK Limited, Simcyp Division, Level 2-Acero, 1 Concourse Way, Sheffield, S1 2BJ, UK
| | - Katherine L Gill
- Certara UK Limited, Simcyp Division, Level 2-Acero, 1 Concourse Way, Sheffield, S1 2BJ, UK
| | - Cong Liu
- Certara UK Limited, Simcyp Division, Level 2-Acero, 1 Concourse Way, Sheffield, S1 2BJ, UK
| | - Iain Gardner
- Certara UK Limited, Simcyp Division, Level 2-Acero, 1 Concourse Way, Sheffield, S1 2BJ, UK
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18
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Huang S, Hao XY, Li YJ, Wu JY, Xiang DX, Luo S. Nonviral delivery systems for antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics. Biomater Res 2022; 26:49. [PMID: 36180936 PMCID: PMC9523189 DOI: 10.1186/s40824-022-00292-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are an important tool for the treatment of many genetic disorders. However, similar to other gene drugs, vectors are often required to protect them from degradation and clearance, and to accomplish their transport in vivo. Compared with viral vectors, artificial nonviral nanoparticles have a variety of design, synthesis, and formulation possibilities that can be selected to accomplish protection and delivery for specific applications, and they have served critical therapeutic purposes in animal model research and clinical applications, allowing safe and efficient gene delivery processes into the target cells. We believe that as new ASO drugs develop, the exploration for corresponding nonviral vectors is inevitable. Intensive development of nonviral vectors with improved delivery strategies based on specific targets can continue to expand the value of ASO therapeutic approaches. Here, we provide an overview of current nonviral delivery strategies, including ASOs modifications, action mechanisms, and multi-carrier methods, which aim to address the irreplaceable role of nonviral vectors in the progressive development of ASOs delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Si Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.,Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Xin-Yan Hao
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.,Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yong-Jiang Li
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.,Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Jun-Yong Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.,Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Da-Xiong Xiang
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.,Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China.,Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Shilin Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China. .,Hunan Provincial Engineering Research Centre of Translational Medicine and Innovative Drug, Changsha, 410011, People's Republic of China. .,Institute of Clinical Pharmacy, Central South University, Changsha, China.
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19
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Luo M, Lee LKC, Peng B, Choi CHJ, Tong WY, Voelcker NH. Delivering the Promise of Gene Therapy with Nanomedicines in Treating Central Nervous System Diseases. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2022; 9:e2201740. [PMID: 35851766 PMCID: PMC9475540 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202201740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Central Nervous System (CNS) diseases, such as Alzheimer's diseases (AD), Parkinson's Diseases (PD), brain tumors, Huntington's disease (HD), and stroke, still remain difficult to treat by the conventional molecular drugs. In recent years, various gene therapies have come into the spotlight as versatile therapeutics providing the potential to prevent and treat these diseases. Despite the significant progress that has undoubtedly been achieved in terms of the design and modification of genetic modulators with desired potency and minimized unwanted immune responses, the efficient and safe in vivo delivery of gene therapies still poses major translational challenges. Various non-viral nanomedicines have been recently explored to circumvent this limitation. In this review, an overview of gene therapies for CNS diseases is provided and describes recent advances in the development of nanomedicines, including their unique characteristics, chemical modifications, bioconjugations, and the specific applications that those nanomedicines are harnessed to deliver gene therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meihua Luo
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutics ScienceMonash UniversityParkville Campus, 381 Royal ParadeParkvilleVIC3052Australia
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnologythe University of QueenslandSt LuciaQLD4072Australia
| | - Leo Kit Cheung Lee
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Chinese University of Hong KongShatinNew TerritoriesHong Kong
| | - Bo Peng
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutics ScienceMonash UniversityParkville Campus, 381 Royal ParadeParkvilleVIC3052Australia
- Frontiers Science Center for Flexible ElectronicsXi'an Institute of Flexible Electronics (IFE) and Xi'an Institute of Biomedical materials & EngineeringNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityXi'an710072China
| | - Chung Hang Jonathan Choi
- Department of Biomedical EngineeringThe Chinese University of Hong KongShatinNew TerritoriesHong Kong
| | - Wing Yin Tong
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutics ScienceMonash UniversityParkville Campus, 381 Royal ParadeParkvilleVIC3052Australia
| | - Nicolas H. Voelcker
- Monash Institute of Pharmaceutics ScienceMonash UniversityParkville Campus, 381 Royal ParadeParkvilleVIC3052Australia
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO)ClaytonVIC3168Australia
- Melbourne Centre for NanofabricationVictorian Node of the Australian National Fabrication Facility151 Wellington RoadClaytonVIC3168Australia
- Materials Science and EngineeringMonash University14 Alliance LaneClaytonVIC3800Australia
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20
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Barresi V, Musmeci C, Rinaldi A, Condorelli DF. Transcript-Targeted Therapy Based on RNA Interference and Antisense Oligonucleotides: Current Applications and Novel Molecular Targets. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23168875. [PMID: 36012138 PMCID: PMC9408055 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23168875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The development of novel target therapies based on the use of RNA interference (RNAi) and antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) is growing in an exponential way, challenging the chance for the treatment of the genetic diseases and cancer by hitting selectively targeted RNA in a sequence-dependent manner. Multiple opportunities are taking shape, able to remove defective protein by silencing RNA (e.g., Inclisiran targets mRNA of protein PCSK9, permitting a longer half-life of LDL receptors in heterozygous familial hypercholesteremia), by arresting mRNA translation (i.e., Fomivirsen that binds to UL123-RNA and blocks the translation into IE2 protein in CMV-retinitis), or by reactivating modified functional protein (e.g., Eteplirsen able to restore a functional shorter dystrophin by skipping the exon 51 in Duchenne muscular dystrophy) or a not very functional protein. In this last case, the use of ASOs permits modifying the expression of specific proteins by modulating splicing of specific pre-RNAs (e.g., Nusinersen acts on the splicing of exon 7 in SMN2 mRNA normally not expressed; it is used for spinal muscular atrophy) or by downregulation of transcript levels (e.g., Inotersen acts on the transthryretin mRNA to reduce its expression; it is prescribed for the treatment of hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis) in order to restore the biochemical/physiological condition and ameliorate quality of life. In the era of precision medicine, recently, an experimental splice-modulating antisense oligonucleotide, Milasen, was designed and used to treat an 8-year-old girl affected by a rare, fatal, progressive form of neurodegenerative disease leading to death during adolescence. In this review, we summarize the main transcriptional therapeutic drugs approved to date for the treatment of genetic diseases by principal regulatory government agencies and recent clinical trials aimed at the treatment of cancer. Their mechanism of action, chemical structure, administration, and biomedical performance are predominantly discussed.
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21
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Shin M, Chan IL, Cao Y, Gruntman AM, Lee J, Sousa J, Rodríguez TC, Echeverria D, Devi G, Debacker AJ, Moazami MP, Krishnamurthy PM, Rembetsy-Brown JM, Kelly K, Yukselen O, Donnard E, Parsons TJ, Khvorova A, Sontheimer EJ, Maehr R, Garber M, Watts JK. Intratracheally administered LNA gapmer antisense oligonucleotides induce robust gene silencing in mouse lung fibroblasts. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:8418-8430. [PMID: 35920332 PMCID: PMC9410908 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac630] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The lung is a complex organ with various cell types having distinct roles. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have been studied in the lung, but it has been challenging to determine their effectiveness in each cell type due to the lack of appropriate analytical methods. We employed three distinct approaches to study silencing efficacy within different cell types. First, we used lineage markers to identify cell types in flow cytometry, and simultaneously measured ASO-induced silencing of cell-surface proteins CD47 or CD98. Second, we applied single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) to measure silencing efficacy in distinct cell types; to the best of our knowledge, this is the first time scRNA-seq has been applied to measure the efficacy of oligonucleotide therapeutics. In both approaches, fibroblasts were the most susceptible to locally delivered ASOs, with significant silencing also in endothelial cells. Third, we confirmed that the robust silencing in fibroblasts is broadly applicable by silencing two targets expressed mainly in fibroblasts, Mfap4 and Adam33. Across independent approaches, we demonstrate that intratracheally administered LNA gapmer ASOs robustly induce gene silencing in lung fibroblasts. ASO-induced gene silencing in fibroblasts was durable, lasting 4-8 weeks after a single dose. Thus, lung fibroblasts are well aligned with ASOs as therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minwook Shin
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Io Long Chan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Yuming Cao
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Alisha M Gruntman
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, N. Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Jonathan Lee
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Sousa
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Tomás C Rodríguez
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Gitali Devi
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Alexandre J Debacker
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Michael P Moazami
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | | | - Julia M Rembetsy-Brown
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Karen Kelly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Onur Yukselen
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Elisa Donnard
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Teagan J Parsons
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Erik J Sontheimer
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - René Maehr
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Manuel Garber
- Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jonathan K Watts
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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22
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Coaxial Synthesis of PEI-Based Nanocarriers of Encapsulated RNA-Therapeutics to Specifically Target Muscle Cells. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12081012. [PMID: 35892322 PMCID: PMC9332584 DOI: 10.3390/biom12081012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In this work, we performed a methodological comparative analysis to synthesize polyethyleneimine (PEI) nanoparticles using (i) conventional nanoprecipitation (NP), (ii) electrospraying (ES), and (iii) coaxial electrospraying (CA). The nanoparticles transported antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), either encapsulated (CA nanocomplexes) or electrostatically bound externally (NP and ES nanocomplexes). After synthesis, the PEI/ASO nanoconjugates were functionalized with a muscle-specific RNA aptamer. Using this combinatorial formulation methodology, we obtained nanocomplexes that were further used as nanocarriers for the delivery of RNA therapeutics (ASO), specifically into muscle cells. In particular, we performed a detailed confocal microscopy-based comparative study to analyze the overall transfection efficiency, the cell-to-cell homogeneity, and the mean fluorescence intensity per cell of micron-sized domains enriched with the nanocomplexes. Furthermore, using high-magnification electron microscopy, we were able to describe, in detail, the ultrastructural basis of the cellular uptake and intracellular trafficking of nanocomplexes by the clathrin-independent endocytic pathway. Our results are a clear demonstration that coaxial electrospraying is a promising methodology for the synthesis of therapeutic nanoparticle-based carriers. Some of the principal features that the nanoparticles synthesized by coaxial electrospraying exhibit are efficient RNA-based drug encapsulation, increased nanoparticle surface availability for aptamer functionalization, a high transfection efficiency, and hyperactivation of the endocytosis and early/late endosome route as the main intracellular uptake mechanism.
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23
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Targeting oncogenic KRAS with molecular brush-conjugated antisense oligonucleotides. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2022; 119:e2113180119. [PMID: 35858356 PMCID: PMC9304022 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2113180119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The mutant form of the guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase) KRAS is a key driver in human tumors but remains a challenging therapeutic target, making KRASMUT cancers a highly unmet clinical need. Here, we report a class of bottlebrush polyethylene glycol (PEG)-conjugated antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) for potent in vivo KRAS depletion. Owing to their highly branched architecture, these molecular nanoconstructs suppress nearly all side effects associated with DNA-protein interactions and substantially enhance the pharmacological properties of the ASO, such as plasma pharmacokinetics and tumor uptake. Systemic delivery to mice bearing human non-small-cell lung carcinoma xenografts results in a significant reduction in both KRAS levels and tumor growth, and the antitumor performance well exceeds that of current popular ASO paradigms, such as chemically modified oligonucleotides and PEGylation using linear or slightly branched PEG. Importantly, these conjugates relax the requirement on the ASO chemistry, allowing unmodified, natural phosphodiester ASOs to achieve efficacy comparable to that of chemically modified ones. Both the bottlebrush polymer and its ASO conjugates appear to be safe and well tolerated in mice. Together, these data indicate that the molecular brush-ASO conjugate is a promising therapeutic platform for the treatment of KRAS-driven human cancers and warrant further preclinical and clinical development.
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24
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Linnane E, Haddad S, Melle F, Mei Z, Fairen-Jimenez D. The uptake of metal-organic frameworks: a journey into the cell. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:6065-6086. [PMID: 35770998 PMCID: PMC9289890 DOI: 10.1039/d0cs01414a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The application of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) in drug delivery has advanced rapidly over the past decade, showing huge progress in the development of novel systems. Although a large number of versatile MOFs that can carry and release multiple compounds have been designed and tested, one of the main limitations to their translation to the clinic is the limited biological understanding of their interaction with cells and the way they penetrate them. This is a crucial aspect of drug delivery, as MOFs need to be able not only to enter into cells but also to release their cargo in the correct intracellular location. While small molecules can enter cells by passive diffusion, nanoparticles (NPs) usually require an energy-dependent process known as endocytosis. Importantly, the fate of NPs after being taken up by cells is dependent on the endocytic pathways they enter through. However, no general guidelines for MOF particle internalization have been established due to the inherent complexity of endocytosis as a mechanism, with several factors affecting cellular uptake, namely NP size and surface chemistry. In this review, we cover recent advances regarding the understanding of the mechanisms of uptake of nano-sized MOFs (nanoMOFs)s, their journey inside the cell, and the importance of biological context in their final fate. We examine critically the impact of MOF physicochemical properties on intracellular trafficking and successful cargo delivery. Finally, we highlight key unanswered questions on the topic and discuss the future of the field and the next steps for nanoMOFs as drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Linnane
- The Adsorption & Advanced Materials Laboratory (A2ML), Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, CB3 0AS, UK.
| | - Salame Haddad
- The Adsorption & Advanced Materials Laboratory (A2ML), Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, CB3 0AS, UK.
| | - Francesca Melle
- The Adsorption & Advanced Materials Laboratory (A2ML), Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, CB3 0AS, UK.
| | - Zihan Mei
- The Adsorption & Advanced Materials Laboratory (A2ML), Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, CB3 0AS, UK.
| | - David Fairen-Jimenez
- The Adsorption & Advanced Materials Laboratory (A2ML), Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Phillipa Fawcett Drive, CB3 0AS, UK.
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25
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Becquart C, Stulz R, Thomen A, Dost M, Najafinobar N, Dahlén A, Andersson S, Ewing AG, Kurczy ME. Intracellular Absolute Quantification of Oligonucleotide Therapeutics by NanoSIMS. Anal Chem 2022; 94:10549-10556. [PMID: 35830231 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c02111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-based therapeutics hold great potential for the treatment of a variety of diseases. Therefore, a better understanding of cellular delivery, uptake, and trafficking mechanisms of ASOs is highly important for early-stage drug discovery. In particular, understanding the biodistribution and quantifying the abundance of ASOs at the subcellular level are needed to fully characterize their activity. Here, we used a combination of electron microscopy and NanoSIMS to assess the subcellular concentrations of a 34S-labeled GalNAc-ASO and a naked ASO in the organelles of primary human hepatocytes. We first cross-validated the method by including a 127I-labeled ASO, finding that the absolute concentration of the lysosomal ASO using two independent labeling strategies gave matching results, demonstrating the strength of our approach. This work also describes the preparation of external standards for absolute quantification by NanoSIMS. For both the 34S and 127I approaches used for our quantification methodology, we established the limit of detection (5 and 2 μM, respectively) and the lower limit of quantification (14 and 5 μM, respectively).
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Affiliation(s)
- Cécile Becquart
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism CVRM, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Gothenburg, Sweden.,Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Rouven Stulz
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43138 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | | | - Maryam Dost
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism CVRM, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Neda Najafinobar
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology (R&I), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anders Dahlén
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43138 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Shalini Andersson
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43138 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Andrew G Ewing
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, 41296 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Michael E Kurczy
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism CVRM, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, 43183 Gothenburg, Sweden
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26
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Ait Benichou S, Jauvin D, De-Serres-Berard T, Bennett F, Rigo F, Gourdon G, Boutjdir M, Chahine M, Puymirat J. Enhanced Delivery of Ligand-Conjugated Antisense Oligonucleotides (C16-HA-ASO) Targeting DMPK Transcripts for the Treatment of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Hum Gene Ther 2022; 33:810-820. [PMID: 35794764 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2022.069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a neuromuscular disorder that affects many organs. It is caused by the expansion of a cytosine-thymine-guanine (CTG) triplet repeat in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the human myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (hDMPK) gene, which results in a toxic gain-of-function of mutant hDMPK RNA transcripts. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have emerged in recent years as a potential gene therapy to treat DM1. However, the clinical efficacy of the systemic administration of ASOs is limited by a combination of insufficient potency and poor tissue distribution. In the present study, we assessed the potential of a new ligand-conjugated ASO (IONIS-877864; C16-HA-ASO) to target mutant hDMPK mRNA transcripts in the DMSXL mouse model of DM1. DMSXL mice were treated subcutaneously for 9 weeks with either IONIS-877864 (12.5, or 25 mg/kg) or with IONIS-486178 (12.5 or 25 mg/kg), an unconjugated ASO with the same sequence. At 25 mg/kg, IONIS-877864 significantly enhanced ASO delivery into the striated muscles of DMSXL mice following systemic administration compared to the unconjugated control. IONIS-877864 was also more efficacious than IONIS-486178, reducing mutant hDMPK transcripts by up to 92% in the skeletal muscles and 78% in the hearts of DMSXL mice. The decrease in mutant hDMPK transcripts in the skeletal muscles caused by IONIS-877864 was associated with a significant improvement in skeletal muscle strength. IONIS-877864 was non-toxic in the DMSXL mouse model. The present study showed that the C16-HA-conjugated ASO is a powerful tool for the development of a gene therapy for DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Frank Bennett
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc, 448132, Carlsbad, California, United States;
| | - Frank Rigo
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc, 448132, Carlsbad, California, United States;
| | - Geneiviève Gourdon
- Sorbonne Université Faculté de Médecine, 517733, Paris, Île-de-France, France;
| | - Mohamed Boutjdir
- State University of New York , VA New York Harbor Healthcare System , New York, United States;
| | - Mohamed Chahine
- Laval University, 4440, Medecine, 2325 Rue de l'Université,, Québec, QC, Quebec, Quebec, Canada, G1V 0A6;
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27
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Fernández-Delgado M, Sendra L, Herrero MJ, Olivera-Pasquini GG, Batista-Duharte A, Aliño SF. Study of Oligonucleotides Access and Distribution in Human Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5839. [PMID: 35628649 PMCID: PMC9143973 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic oligonucleotides have achieved great clinical interest since their approval as drug agents by regulatory agencies but their access and distribution in blood cells are not completely known. We evaluated by flow cytometry the ability of short fluorescent scramble oligonucleotides (ON*) to access human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) after incubating with ON* during 1 h and 7 days of culture follow-up 'in vitro'. Blood samples were treated with chemically modified oligonucleotides (phosphorothioate backbone and 2' O-Me ends) to resist nuclease digestion under culture conditions. The ON* internalization was determined after discarding the membrane-associated fluorescence by trypan blue quenching. Whereas the oligonucleotide accessed neutrophils and monocytes rapidly, achieving their maximum in 1 h and 24 h, respectively, lymphocytes required 7 days to achieve the maximum (80% of cells) transfection. The ON*ability to access lymphocyte types (T, B, and NK) and T cell subtypes (CD4+, CD8+, and CD4-CD8-) were similar, with T cells being more accessible. Regulatory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were classified in low and high Foxp3 expressers, whose expression proved not to alter the ON* internalization during the first hour, achieving 53% of CD4+Foxp3+ and 40% of CD8+Foxp3+ cells. Our results contribute to understanding and improving the management of therapeutic ONs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Fernández-Delgado
- Service of Hematology and Hemotherapy, Hospital General Universitario de Castellón, 12004 Castelló de la Plana, Spain;
| | - Luis Sendra
- Farmacogenetics and Gene Therapy Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Av. Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (M.J.H.); (G.G.O.-P.); (S.F.A.)
- Gene Therapy and Pharmacogenomics Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibáñez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - María José Herrero
- Farmacogenetics and Gene Therapy Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Av. Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (M.J.H.); (G.G.O.-P.); (S.F.A.)
- Gene Therapy and Pharmacogenomics Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibáñez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Gladys G. Olivera-Pasquini
- Farmacogenetics and Gene Therapy Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Av. Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (M.J.H.); (G.G.O.-P.); (S.F.A.)
| | - Alexander Batista-Duharte
- GC01 Immunology and Allergy Group, Maimonides Biomedical Research Institute of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Av. Menéndez Pidal, s/n, 14004 Córdoba, Spain;
- Laboratório de Imunología Clínica, Dpto Analises Clinicas, Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Rod. Araraquara-Jaú—Km 1, Campus Ville, 14800 Araraquara, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Salvador F. Aliño
- Farmacogenetics and Gene Therapy Group, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria La Fe, Av. Fernando Abril Martorell, 106, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (M.J.H.); (G.G.O.-P.); (S.F.A.)
- Gene Therapy and Pharmacogenomics Group, Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, Av. Blasco Ibáñez 15, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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28
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Bertarello A, Berruyer P, Artelsmair M, Elmore CS, Heydarkhan-Hagvall S, Schade M, Chiarparin E, Schantz S, Emsley L. In-Cell Quantification of Drugs by Magic-Angle Spinning Dynamic Nuclear Polarization NMR. J Am Chem Soc 2022; 144:6734-6741. [PMID: 35385274 PMCID: PMC9026252 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c12442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The determination of intracellular drug concentrations can provide a better understanding of the drug function and efficacy. Ideally, this should be performed nondestructively, with no modification of either the drug or the target, and with the capability to detect low amounts of the molecule of interest, in many cases in the μM to nM range (pmol to fmol per million cells). Unfortunately, it is currently challenging to have an experimental technique that provides direct quantitative measurements of intracellular drug concentrations that simultaneously satisfies these requirements. Here, we show that magic-angle spinning dynamic nuclear polarization (MAS DNP) can be used to fulfill these requirements. We apply a quantitative 15N MAS DNP approach in combination with 15N labeling to quantify the intracellular amount of the drug [15N]CHIR-98014, an activator of the Wingless and Int-1 signaling pathway, determining intracellular drug amounts in the range of tens to hundreds of picomoles per million cells. This is, to our knowledge, the first time that MAS DNP has been used to successfully estimate intracellular drug amounts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bertarello
- Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pierrick Berruyer
- Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Markus Artelsmair
- Early Chemical Development, Pharmaceutical Science, R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Charles S Elmore
- Early Chemical Development, Pharmaceutical Science, R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Sepideh Heydarkhan-Hagvall
- Bioscience, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceutical R&D AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Markus Schade
- Chemistry, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge CB4 0WG, U.K
| | | | - Staffan Schantz
- Oral Product Development, Pharmaceutical Technology & Development, Operations, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Mölndal, Sweden
| | - Lyndon Emsley
- Institut des Sciences et Ingénierie Chimiques, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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29
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Kay E, Stulz R, Becquart C, Lovric J, Tängemo C, Thomen A, Baždarević D, Najafinobar N, Dahlén A, Pielach A, Fernandez-Rodriguez J, Strömberg R, Ämmälä C, Andersson S, Kurczy M. NanoSIMS Imaging Reveals the Impact of Ligand-ASO Conjugate Stability on ASO Subcellular Distribution. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14020463. [PMID: 35214195 PMCID: PMC8876276 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14020463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The delivery of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to specific cell types via targeted endocytosis is challenging due to the low cell surface expression of target receptors and inefficient escape of ASOs from the endosomal pathway. Conjugating ASOs to glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1) leads to efficient target knockdown, specifically in pancreatic β-cells. It is presumed that ASOs dissociate from GLP1 intracellularly to enable an ASO interaction with its target RNA. It is unknown where or when this happens following GLP1-ASO binding to GLP1R and endocytosis. Here, we use correlative nanoscale secondary ion mass spectroscopy (NanoSIMS) and transmission electron microscopy to explore GLP1-ASO subcellular trafficking in GLP1R overexpressing HEK293 cells. We isotopically label both eGLP1 and ASO, which do not affect the eGLP1-ASO conjugate function. We found that the eGLP1 peptide and ASO are not detected at the same level in the same endosomes, within 30 min of GLP1R-HEK293 cell exposure to eGLP1-ASO. When we utilized different linker chemistry to stabilize the GLP1-ASO conjugate, we observed more ASO located with GLP1 compared to cell incubation with the less stable conjugate. Overall, our work suggests that the ASO separates from GLP1 relatively early in the endocytic pathway, and that linker chemistry might impact the GLP1-ASO function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Kay
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Rouven Stulz
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; (R.S.); (R.S.)
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.D.); (S.A.)
- DMPK, Early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden; (C.B.); (J.L.)
| | - Cécile Becquart
- DMPK, Early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden; (C.B.); (J.L.)
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, SE 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Jelena Lovric
- DMPK, Early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden; (C.B.); (J.L.)
| | - Carolina Tängemo
- Discovery Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Aurélien Thomen
- Department of Chemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Gothenburg, SE 412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Dženita Baždarević
- Bioscience, Early Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Neda Najafinobar
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology (R&I), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Anders Dahlén
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Anna Pielach
- Centre for Cellular Imaging, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.P.); (J.F.-R.)
| | - Julia Fernandez-Rodriguez
- Centre for Cellular Imaging, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg, SE-405 30 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.P.); (J.F.-R.)
| | - Roger Strömberg
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, SE-141 83 Huddinge, Sweden; (R.S.); (R.S.)
| | - Carina Ämmälä
- Bioscience, Early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden;
| | - Shalini Andersson
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden; (A.D.); (S.A.)
| | - Michael Kurczy
- DMPK, Early Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, SE-431 83 Gothenburg, Sweden; (C.B.); (J.L.)
- Correspondence:
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30
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Halloy F, Biscans A, Bujold KE, Debacker A, Hill AC, Lacroix A, Luige O, Strömberg R, Sundstrom L, Vogel J, Ghidini A. Innovative developments and emerging technologies in RNA therapeutics. RNA Biol 2022; 19:313-332. [PMID: 35188077 PMCID: PMC8865321 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2022.2027150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA-based therapeutics are emerging as a powerful platform for the treatment of multiple diseases. Currently, the two main categories of nucleic acid therapeutics, antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), achieve their therapeutic effect through either gene silencing, splicing modulation or microRNA binding, giving rise to versatile options to target pathogenic gene expression patterns. Moreover, ongoing research seeks to expand the scope of RNA-based drugs to include more complex nucleic acid templates, such as messenger RNA, as exemplified by the first approved mRNA-based vaccine in 2020. The increasing number of approved sequences and ongoing clinical trials has attracted considerable interest in the chemical development of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids as drugs, especially since the FDA approval of the first siRNA drug in 2018. As a result, a variety of innovative approaches is emerging, highlighting the potential of RNA as one of the most prominent therapeutic tools in the drug design and development pipeline. This review seeks to provide a comprehensive summary of current efforts in academia and industry aimed at fully realizing the potential of RNA-based therapeutics. Towards this, we introduce established and emerging RNA-based technologies, with a focus on their potential as biosensors and therapeutics. We then describe their mechanisms of action and their application in different disease contexts, along with the strengths and limitations of each strategy. Since the nucleic acid toolbox is rapidly expanding, we also introduce RNA minimal architectures, RNA/protein cleavers and viral RNA as promising modalities for new therapeutics and discuss future directions for the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- François Halloy
- Department of Paediatrics, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Annabelle Biscans
- Oligonucleotide Chemistry, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&d, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Katherine E. Bujold
- Department of Chemistry & Chemical Biology, McMaster University, (Ontario), Canada
| | | | - Alyssa C. Hill
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Eth Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Aurélie Lacroix
- Sixfold Bioscience, Translation & Innovation Hub, London, UK
| | - Olivia Luige
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Roger Strömberg
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Linda Sundstrom
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&d, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jörg Vogel
- Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (Hiri), Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (Hzi), Würzburg, Germany
- RNA Biology Group, Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alice Ghidini
- Mechanistic and Structural Biology, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&d, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
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31
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Hui RWH, Mak LY, Seto WK, Yuen MF. RNA interference as a novel treatment strategy for chronic hepatitis B infection. Clin Mol Hepatol 2022; 28:408-424. [PMID: 35172540 PMCID: PMC9293617 DOI: 10.3350/cmh.2022.0012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a major cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. Functional cure of CHB, defined as sustainable hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) seroclearance, is associated with improved clinical outcomes. However, functional cure is rarely attainable by current treatment modalities. RNA interference (RNAi) by small-interfering RNA (siRNA) and anti-sense oligonucleotide (ASO) has been studied as a novel treatment strategy for CHB. RNAi targets post-transcriptional messenger RNAs and pregenomic RNAs to reduce hepatitis B virus (HBV) antigen production and viral replication. By reducing viral antigens, host immune reconstitution against HBV may also be attained. Phase I/II trials on siRNAs have demonstrated them to be safe and well-tolerated. siRNA is effective when given in monthly doses with different total number of doses according to different trial design, and can lead to sustainable dose-dependent mean HBsAg reduction by 2–2.5 log. Incidences of HBsAg seroclearance after siRNA therapy have also been reported. ASOs have also been studied in early phase trials, and a phase Ib study using frequent dosing regimen within 4 weeks could achieve similar HBsAg reduction of 2 log from baseline. Given the established efficacy and safety of nucleos(t) ide analogues (NAs), future RNAi regimens will likely include NA backbone. While the current evidence on RNAi appears promising, it remains undetermined whether the potent HBsAg reduction by RNAi can result in a high rate of HBsAg seroclearance with durability. Data on RNAi from phase IIb/III trials are keenly anticipated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rex Wan-Hin Hui
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lung-Yi Mak
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Wai-Kay Seto
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Man-Fung Yuen
- Department of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.,State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
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32
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Van de Vyver T, De Smedt SC, Raemdonck K. Modulating intracellular pathways to improve non-viral delivery of RNA therapeutics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 181:114041. [PMID: 34763002 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RNA therapeutics (e.g. siRNA, oligonucleotides, mRNA, etc.) show great potential for the treatment of a myriad of diseases. However, to reach their site of action in the cytosol or nucleus of target cells, multiple intra- and extracellular barriers have to be surmounted. Several non-viral delivery systems, such as nanoparticles and conjugates, have been successfully developed to meet this requirement. Unfortunately, despite these clear advances, state-of-the-art delivery agents still suffer from relatively low intracellular delivery efficiencies. Notably, our current understanding of the intracellular delivery process is largely oversimplified. Gaining mechanistic insight into how RNA formulations are processed by cells will fuel rational design of the next generation of delivery carriers. In addition, identifying which intracellular pathways contribute to productive RNA delivery could provide opportunities to boost the delivery performance of existing nanoformulations. In this review, we discuss both established as well as emerging techniques that can be used to assess the impact of different intracellular barriers on RNA transfection performance. Next, we highlight how several modulators, including small molecules but also genetic perturbation technologies, can boost RNA delivery by intervening at differing stages of the intracellular delivery process, such as cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking, endosomal escape, autophagy and exocytosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thijs Van de Vyver
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Koen Raemdonck
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
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33
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Sasaki T, Hirakawa Y, Yamairi F, Kurita T, Murahashi K, Nishimura H, Iwazaki N, Yasuhara H, Tateoka T, Ohta T, Obika S, Kotera J. Altered Biodistribution and Hepatic Safety Profile of a Gapmer Antisense Oligonucleotide Bearing Guanidine-Bridged Nucleic Acids. Nucleic Acid Ther 2022; 32:177-184. [PMID: 35073217 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2021.0034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Guanidine-bridged nucleic acid (GuNA) is a novel 2',4'-bridged nucleic acid/locked nucleic acid (2',4'-BNA/LNA) analog containing cations that exhibit strong affinity for target RNA and superior nuclease resistance. In this study, Malat1 antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) bearing GuNA was evaluated for target knockdown (KD) activity and tolerability. The GuNA ASO did not interfere with RNase H recruitment on the target RNA/ASO heteroduplex and did show potent target KD activity in a skeletal muscle-derived cell line equivalent to that of the LNA ASO under gymnotic conditions, whereas almost no KD activity was observed in a hepatocyte-derived cell line. The GuNA ASO exhibited potent KD activity in various tissues; the KD activity in the skeletal muscle was equivalent with that of the LNA ASO, but the KD activities in the liver and kidney were clearly lower compared with the LNA ASO. In addition, despite the higher accumulation of the GuNA ASO in the liver, levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase with the GuNA ASO administration were not elevated compared with those induced by the LNA ASO. Our data indicate that the GuNA ASO is tolerable and exhibits unique altered pharmacological activities in comparison with the LNA ASO in terms of the relative effect between liver and skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Sasaki
- Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoko Hirakawa
- Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Fumiko Yamairi
- Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takashi Kurita
- Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Karin Murahashi
- Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hirokazu Nishimura
- Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Norihiko Iwazaki
- Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hidenori Yasuhara
- Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Takashi Tateoka
- Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Ohta
- Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Satoshi Obika
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jun Kotera
- Sohyaku, Innovative Research Division, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Fujisawa, Kanagawa, Japan
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34
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Wu L, Zhou W, Lin L, Chen A, Feng J, Qu X, Zhang H, Yue J. Delivery of therapeutic oligonucleotides in nanoscale. Bioact Mater 2022; 7:292-323. [PMID: 34466734 PMCID: PMC8379367 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2021.05.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/22/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic oligonucleotides (TOs) represent one of the most promising drug candidates in the targeted cancer treatment due to their high specificity and capability of modulating cellular pathways that are not readily druggable. However, efficiently delivering of TOs to cancer cellular targets is still the biggest challenge in promoting their clinical translations. Emerging as a significant drug delivery vector, nanoparticles (NPs) can not only protect TOs from nuclease degradation and enhance their tumor accumulation, but also can improve the cell uptake efficiency of TOs as well as the following endosomal escape to increase the therapeutic index. Furthermore, targeted and on-demand drug release of TOs can also be approached to minimize the risk of toxicity towards normal tissues using stimuli-responsive NPs. In the past decades, remarkable progresses have been made on the TOs delivery based on various NPs with specific purposes. In this review, we will first give a brief introduction on the basis of TOs as well as the action mechanisms of several typical TOs, and then describe the obstacles that prevent the clinical translation of TOs, followed by a comprehensive overview of the recent progresses on TOs delivery based on several various types of nanocarriers containing lipid-based nanoparticles, polymeric nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, porous nanoparticles, DNA/RNA nanoassembly, extracellular vesicles, and imaging-guided drug delivery nanoparticles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenhui Zhou
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory and Turku Bioscience Centre, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
- Southern Medical University Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, Shanghai, 201499, China
| | - Lihua Lin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Anhong Chen
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Feng
- Southern Medical University Affiliated Fengxian Hospital, Shanghai, 201499, China
| | - Xiangmeng Qu
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory and Turku Bioscience Centre, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Jun Yue
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510006, Guangdong, China
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35
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Liang XH, Nichols JG, Tejera D, Crooke ST. Perinuclear positioning of endosomes can affect PS-ASO activities. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:12970-12985. [PMID: 34878127 PMCID: PMC8682747 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorothioate (PS) modified antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drugs that act on cellular RNAs must enter cells and be released from endocytic organelles to elicit antisense activity. It has been shown that PS-ASOs are mainly released by late endosomes. However, it is unclear how endosome movement in cells contributes to PS-ASO activity. Here, we show that PS-ASOs in early endosomes display Brownian type motion and migrate only short distances, whereas PS-ASOs in late endosomes (LEs) move linearly along microtubules with substantial distances. In cells with normal microtubules and LE movement, PS-ASO-loaded LEs tend to congregate perinuclearly. Disruption of perinuclear positioning of LEs by reduction of dynein 1 decreased PS-ASO activity, without affecting PS-ASO cellular uptake. Similarly, disruption of perinuclear positioning of PS-ASO-LE foci by reduction of ER tethering proteins RNF26, SQSTM1 and UBE2J1, or by overexpression of P50 all decreased PS-ASO activity. However, enhancing perinuclear positioning through reduction of USP15 or over-expression of RNF26 modestly increased PS-ASO activity, indicating that LE perinuclear positioning is required for ensuring efficient PS-ASO release. Together, these observations suggest that LE movement along microtubules and perinuclear positioning affect PS-ASO productive release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Hai Liang
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Joshua G Nichols
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Dario Tejera
- Neurology, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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36
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Sacco A, Federico C, Todoerti K, Ziccheddu B, Palermo V, Giacomini A, Ravelli C, Maccarinelli F, Bianchi G, Belotti A, Ribolla R, Favasuli V, Revenko AS, Macleod AR, Willis B, Cai H, Hauser J, Rooney C, Willis SE, Martin PL, Staniszewska A, Ambrose H, Hanson L, Cattaneo C, Tucci A, Rossi G, Ronca R, Neri A, Mitola S, Bolli N, Presta M, Moschetta M, Ross S, Roccaro AM. Specific targeting of the KRAS mutational landscape in myeloma as a tool to unveil the elicited antitumor activity. Blood 2021; 138:1705-1720. [PMID: 34077955 PMCID: PMC9710471 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2020010572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Alterations in KRAS have been identified as the most recurring somatic variants in the multiple myeloma (MM) mutational landscape. Combining DNA and RNA sequencing, we studied 756 patients and observed KRAS as the most frequently mutated gene in patients at diagnosis; in addition, we demonstrated the persistence or de novo occurrence of the KRAS aberration at disease relapse. Small-molecule inhibitors targeting KRAS have been developed; however, they are selective for tumors carrying the KRASG12C mutation. Therefore, there is still a need to develop novel therapeutic approaches to target the KRAS mutational events found in other tumor types, including MM. We used AZD4785, a potent and selective antisense oligonucleotide that selectively targets and downregulates all KRAS isoforms, as a tool to dissect the functional sequelae secondary to KRAS silencing in MM within the context of the bone marrow niche and demonstrated its ability to significantly silence KRAS, leading to inhibition of MM tumor growth, both in vitro and in vivo, and confirming KRAS as a driver and therapeutic target in MM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonio Sacco
- Clinical Research Development and Phase I Unit, CREA Laboratory, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Federico
- Clinical Research Development and Phase I Unit, CREA Laboratory, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Katia Todoerti
- Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Bachisio Ziccheddu
- Department of Molecular Biotechnologies and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Valentina Palermo
- Clinical Research Development and Phase I Unit, CREA Laboratory, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Arianna Giacomini
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cosetta Ravelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Federica Maccarinelli
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Giada Bianchi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Angelo Belotti
- Hematology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Vanessa Favasuli
- Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Joana Hauser
- Oncology R &D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and
| | - Claire Rooney
- Oncology R &D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and
| | | | | | | | - Helen Ambrose
- Oncology R &D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and
| | - Lyndsey Hanson
- Oncology R &D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and
| | | | | | - Giuseppe Rossi
- Hematology, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Roberto Ronca
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonino Neri
- Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Mitola
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Niccolò Bolli
- Hematology, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Hemato-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Presta
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Sarah Ross
- Oncology R &D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom; and
| | - Aldo M. Roccaro
- Clinical Research Development and Phase I Unit, CREA Laboratory, ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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37
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Kapustin AN, Davey P, Longmire D, Matthews C, Linnane E, Rustogi N, Stavrou M, Devine PWA, Bond NJ, Hanson L, Sonzini S, Revenko A, MacLeod AR, Ross S, Chiarparin E, Puri S. Antisense oligonucleotide activity in tumour cells is influenced by intracellular LBPA distribution and extracellular vesicle recycling. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1241. [PMID: 34725463 PMCID: PMC8560811 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02772-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Next generation modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are commercially approved new therapeutic modalities, yet poor productive uptake and endosomal entrapment in tumour cells limit their broad application. Here we compare intracellular traffic of anti KRAS antisense oligonucleotide (AZD4785) in tumour cell lines PC9 and LK2, with good and poor productive uptake, respectively. We find that the majority of AZD4785 is rapidly delivered to CD63+late endosomes (LE) in both cell lines. Importantly, lysobisphosphatidic acid (LBPA) that triggers ASO LE escape is presented in CD63+LE in PC9 but not in LK2 cells. Moreover, both cell lines recycle AZD4785 in extracellular vesicles (EVs); however, AZD4785 quantification by advanced mass spectrometry and proteomic analysis reveals that LK2 recycles more AZD4785 and RNA-binding proteins. Finally, stimulating LBPA intracellular production or blocking EV recycling enhances AZD4785 activity in LK2 but not in PC9 cells thus offering a possible strategy to enhance ASO potency in tumour cells with poor productive uptake of ASOs. Kapustin et al. investigate the intracellular trafficking of anti-KRAS antisense oligonucleotides. They show that the oligonucleotide AZD4785 is recycled via late endosomes in extracellular vesicles in both cells with poor and good oligo productive uptake, and that inducing lysobisphosphatidic acid in late endosomes or blocking EV recycling enhance AZD4785 activity in cells with poor productive uptake, potentially offering improved treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander N Kapustin
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Paul Davey
- Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - David Longmire
- Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carl Matthews
- Antibody Discovery & Protein Engineering, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Emily Linnane
- Bioscience, Research and Early Development, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nitin Rustogi
- Analytical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Maria Stavrou
- Analytical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Paul W A Devine
- Analytical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicholas J Bond
- Analytical Sciences, Biopharmaceutical Development, R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Lyndsey Hanson
- Bioscience, Research and Early Development, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Alderley Park, UK
| | - Silvia Sonzini
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | - Sarah Ross
- Bioscience, Research and Early Development, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Sanyogitta Puri
- Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
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38
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Winkler C, King M, Berthe J, Ferraioli D, Garuti A, Grillo F, Rodriguez-Canales J, Ferrando L, Chopin N, Ray-Coquard I, Delpuech O, Rinchai D, Bedognetti D, Ballestrero A, Leo E, Zoppoli G. SLFN11 captures cancer-immunity interactions associated with platinum sensitivity in high-grade serous ovarian cancer. JCI Insight 2021; 6:146098. [PMID: 34549724 PMCID: PMC8492341 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.146098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Large independent analyses on cancer cell lines followed by functional studies have identified Schlafen 11 (SLFN11), a putative helicase, as the strongest predictor of sensitivity to DNA-damaging agents (DDAs), including platinum. However, its role as a prognostic biomarker is undefined, partially due to the lack of validated methods to score SLFN11 in human tissues. Here, we implemented a pipeline to quantify SLFN11 in human cancer samples. By analyzing a cohort of high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) specimens before platinum-based chemotherapy treatment, we show, for the first time to our knowledge, that SLFN11 density in both the neoplastic and microenvironmental components was independently associated with favorable outcome. We observed SLFN11 expression in both infiltrating innate and adaptive immune cells, and analyses in a second, independent, cohort revealed that SLFN11 was associated with immune activation in HGSOC. We found that platinum treatments activated immune-related pathways in ovarian cancer cells in an SLFN11-dependent manner, representative of tumor-immune transactivation. Moreover, SLFN11 expression was induced in activated, isolated immune cell subpopulations, hinting that SLFN11 in the immune compartment may be an indicator of immune transactivation. In summary, we propose SLFN11 is a dual biomarker capturing simultaneously interconnected immunological and cancer cell–intrinsic functional dispositions associated with sensitivity to DDA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Julie Berthe
- Translational Medicine, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anna Garuti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties and
| | - Federica Grillo
- Department of Integrated Surgical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Genova, Genova, Italy.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Davide Bedognetti
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties and.,Cancer Research Department, Sidra Medicine, Doha, Qatar.,Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Alberto Ballestrero
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties and.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
| | | | - Gabriele Zoppoli
- Department of Internal Medicine and Medical Specialties and.,IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genova, Italy
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39
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Hybrid-Type SELEX for the Selection of Artificial Nucleic Acid Aptamers Exhibiting Cell Internalization Activity. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13060888. [PMID: 34204006 PMCID: PMC8232673 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13060888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid aptamers have attracted considerable attention as next-generation pharmaceutical agents and delivery vehicles for small molecule drugs and therapeutic oligonucleotides. Chemical modification is an effective approach for improving the functionality of aptamers. However, the process of selecting appropriately modified aptamers is laborious because of many possible modification patterns. Here, we describe a hybrid-type systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) approach for the generation of the artificial nucleic acid aptamers effective against human TROP2, a cell surface protein identified by drug discovery as a promising target for cancer therapy. Capillary electrophoresis SELEX was used for the pre-screening of multiple modified nucleic acid libraries and enrichment of TROP2 binding aptamers in the first step, followed by functional screening using cell-SELEX in the second step for the generation of cell-internalizing aptamers. One representative aptamer, Tac-B1, had a nanomolar-level affinity to human TROP2 and exhibited elevated capacity for internalization by cells. Because of the growing interest in the application of aptamers for drug delivery, our hybrid selection approach has great potential for the generation of functional artificial nucleic acid aptamers with ideal modification patterns in vitro.
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40
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Nilsson JR, Baladi T, Gallud A, Baždarević D, Lemurell M, Esbjörner EK, Wilhelmsson LM, Dahlén A. Fluorescent base analogues in gapmers enable stealth labeling of antisense oligonucleotide therapeutics. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11365. [PMID: 34059711 PMCID: PMC8166847 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90629-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
To expand the antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) fluorescence labeling toolbox beyond covalent conjugation of external dyes (e.g. ATTO-, Alexa Fluor-, or cyanine dyes), we herein explore fluorescent base analogues (FBAs) as a novel approach to endow fluorescent properties to ASOs. Both cytosine and adenine analogues (tC, tCO, 2CNqA, and pA) were incorporated into a 16mer ASO sequence with a 3-10-3 cEt-DNA-cEt (cEt = constrained ethyl) gapmer design. In addition to a comprehensive photophysical characterization, we assess the label-induced effects on the gapmers' RNA affinities, RNA-hybridized secondary structures, and knockdown efficiencies. Importantly, we find practically no perturbing effects for gapmers with single FBA incorporations in the biologically critical gap region and, except for pA, the FBAs do not affect the knockdown efficiencies. Incorporating two cytosine FBAs in the gap is equally well tolerated, while two adenine analogues give rise to slightly reduced knockdown efficiencies and what could be perturbed secondary structures. We furthermore show that the FBAs can be used to visualize gapmers inside live cells using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry, enabling comparative assessment of their uptake. This altogether shows that FBAs are functional ASO probes that provide a minimally perturbing in-sequence labeling option for this highly relevant drug modality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesper R Nilsson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tom Baladi
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Audrey Gallud
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden.,Advanced Drug Delivery, Pharmaceutical Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Dženita Baždarević
- Bioscience, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Malin Lemurell
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Elin K Esbjörner
- Department of Biology and Biological Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 41296, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - L Marcus Wilhelmsson
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chalmers University of Technology, 412 96, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Anders Dahlén
- Oligonucleotide Discovery, Discovery Sciences, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
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41
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Flynn LL, Mitrpant C, Adams A, Pitout IL, Stirnweiss A, Fletcher S, Wilton SD. Targeted SMN Exon Skipping: A Useful Control to Assess In Vitro and In Vivo Splice-Switching Studies. Biomedicines 2021; 9:552. [PMID: 34069072 PMCID: PMC8156830 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9050552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The literature surrounding the use of antisense oligonucleotides continues to grow, with new disease and mechanistic applications constantly evolving. Furthermore, the discovery and advancement of novel chemistries continues to improve antisense delivery, stability and effectiveness. For each new application, a rational sequence design is recommended for each oligomer, as is chemistry and delivery optimization. To confirm oligomer delivery and antisense activity, a positive control AO sequence with well characterized target-specific effects is recommended. Here, we describe splice-switching antisense oligomer sequences targeting the ubiquitously expressed human and mouse SMN and Smn genes for use as control AOs for this purpose. We report two AO sequences that induce targeted skipping of SMN1/SMN2 exon 7 and two sequences targeting the Smn gene, that induce skipping of exon 5 and exon 7. These antisense sequences proved effective in inducing alternative splicing in both in vitro and in vivo models and are therefore broadly applicable as controls. Not surprisingly, we discovered a number of differences in efficiency of exon removal between the two species, further highlighting the differences in splice regulation between species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Loren L. Flynn
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; (L.L.F.); (A.A.); (I.L.P.); (S.F.)
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;
- Centre for Neuromuscular & Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
- Black Swan Pharmaceuticals, Wake Forest, NC 27587, USA
| | - Chalermchai Mitrpant
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10700, Thailand
| | - Abbie Adams
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; (L.L.F.); (A.A.); (I.L.P.); (S.F.)
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;
- Centre for Neuromuscular & Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Ianthe L. Pitout
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; (L.L.F.); (A.A.); (I.L.P.); (S.F.)
- PYC Therapeutics, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;
| | | | - Sue Fletcher
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; (L.L.F.); (A.A.); (I.L.P.); (S.F.)
- Centre for Neuromuscular & Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
- PYC Therapeutics, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;
| | - Steve D. Wilton
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia; (L.L.F.); (A.A.); (I.L.P.); (S.F.)
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia;
- Centre for Neuromuscular & Neurological Disorders, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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42
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Chemical Manipulation of the Endosome Trafficking Machinery: Implications for Oligonucleotide Delivery. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9050512. [PMID: 34063104 PMCID: PMC8148136 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9050512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), siRNA and splice switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) all have immense potential as therapeutic agents, potential that is now being validated as oligonucleotides enter the clinic. However, progress in oligonucleotide-based therapeutics has been limited by the difficulty in delivering these complex molecules to their sites of action in the cytosol or nucleus of cells within specific tissues. There are two aspects to the delivery problem. The first is that most types of oligonucleotides have poor uptake into non-hepatic tissues. The second is that much of the oligonucleotide that is taken up by cells is entrapped in endosomes where it is pharmacologically inert. It has become increasingly recognized that endosomal trapping is a key constraint on oligonucleotide therapeutics. Thus, many approaches have been devised to address this problem, primarily ones based on various nanoparticle technologies. However, recently an alternative approach has emerged that employs small molecules to manipulate intracellular trafficking processes so as to enhance oligonucleotide actions. This review presents the current status of this chemical biology approach to oligonucleotide delivery and seeks to point out possible paths for future development.
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43
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Targeting Smyd3 by next-generation antisense oligonucleotides suppresses liver tumor growth. iScience 2021; 24:102473. [PMID: 34113819 PMCID: PMC8169948 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The oncogenic function of suppressor of variegation, enhancer of zeste and MYeloid-Nervy-DEAF1-domain family methyltransferase Smyd3 has been implicated in various malignancies, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we show that targeting Smyd3 by next-generation antisense oligonucleotides (Smyd3-ASO) is an efficient approach to modulate its mRNA levels in vivo and to halt the growth of already initiated liver tumors. Smyd3-ASO treatment dramatically decreased tumor burden in a mouse model of chemically induced HCC and negatively affected the growth rates, migration, oncosphere formation, and xenograft growth capacity of a panel of human hepatic cancer cell lines. Smyd3-ASOs prevented the activation of oncofetal genes and the development of cancer-specific gene expression program. The results point to a mechanism by which Smyd3-ASO treatment blocks cellular de-differentiation, a hallmark feature of HCC development, and, as a result, it inhibits the expansion of hepatic cancer stem cells, a population that has been presumed to resist chemotherapy.
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44
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Gagliardi M, Ashizawa AT. The Challenges and Strategies of Antisense Oligonucleotide Drug Delivery. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9040433. [PMID: 33923688 PMCID: PMC8072990 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9040433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are used to selectively inhibit the translation of disease-associated genes via Ribonuclease H (RNaseH)-mediated cleavage or steric hindrance. They are being developed as a novel and promising class of drugs targeting a wide range of diseases. Despite the great potential and numerous ASO drugs in preclinical research and clinical trials, there are many limitations to this technology. In this review we will focus on the challenges of ASO delivery and the strategies adopted to improve their stability in the bloodstream, delivery to target sites, and cellular uptake. Focusing on liposomal delivery, we will specifically describe liposome-incorporated growth factor receptor-bound protein-2 (Grb2) antisense oligodeoxynucleotide BP1001. BP1001 is unique because it is uncharged and is essentially non-toxic, as demonstrated in preclinical and clinical studies. Additionally, its enhanced biodistribution makes it an attractive therapeutic modality for hematologic malignancies as well as solid tumors. A detailed understanding of the obstacles that ASOs face prior to reaching their targets and continued advances in methods to overcome them will allow us to harness ASOs’ full potential in precision medicine.
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45
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Liang XH, Nichols JG, Hsu CW, Crooke ST. Hsc70 Facilitates Mannose-6-Phosphate Receptor-Mediated Intracellular Trafficking and Enhances Endosomal Release of Phosphorothioate-Modified Antisense Oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acid Ther 2021; 31:284-297. [PMID: 33567234 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2020.0920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotide (PS-ASO) drugs are commonly used to modulate gene expression through RNase H1-mediated cleavage of target RNAs. Upon internalization through endocytic pathways into cells, PS-ASOs must be released from membraned endosomal organelles to act on target RNAs, a limiting step of PS-ASO activity. Here we report that Hsc70 protein mediates productive release of PS-ASOs from endosomes. Hsc70 protein was enriched in endosome fractions shortly after PS-ASO incubation with cells. Reduction of Hsc70 significantly decreased the activities of PS-ASOs in reducing target RNAs. PS-ASO uptake and transport from early endosomes to late endosomes (LEs) were not affected upon Hsc70 reduction; however, endosomal release of PS-ASOs was impaired. Reduction of Hsc70 led to more scattered mannose-6-phosphate receptor (M6PR) localization at LEs in the cytoplasm, in contrast to the perinuclear localization at trans-Golgi network (TGN) in control cells, suggesting that retrograde transport of M6PR from LEs to TGN was affected. Consistently, reduction of Hsc70 increased colocalization of M6PR and PS-ASOs at LEs, and also delayed M6PR antibody transport from LE to TGN. Together, these results suggest that Hsc70 protein is involved in M6PR vesicle escape from LEs and may thus enhance PS-ASO release from LEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Joshua G Nichols
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Chih-Wei Hsu
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
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46
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Usman S, Jamal A, Teh MT, Waseem A. Major Molecular Signaling Pathways in Oral Cancer Associated With Therapeutic Resistance. FRONTIERS IN ORAL HEALTH 2021; 1:603160. [PMID: 35047986 PMCID: PMC8757854 DOI: 10.3389/froh.2020.603160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Oral cancer is a sub-category of head and neck cancers that primarily initiates in the oral cavity. The primary treatment option for oral cancer remains surgery but it is associated with massive disfigurement, inability to carry out normal oral functions, psycho-social stress and exhaustive rehabilitation. Other treatment options such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy have their own limitations in terms of toxicity, intolerance and therapeutic resistance. Immunological treatments to enhance the body's ability to recognize cancer tissue as a foreign entity are also being used but they are new and underdeveloped. Although substantial progress has been made in the treatment of oral cancer, its complex heterogeneous nature still needs to be explored, to elucidate the molecular basis for developing resistance to therapeutic agents and how to overcome it, with the aim of improving the chances of patients' survival and their quality of life. This review provides an overview of up-to-date information on the complex role of the major molecules and associated signaling, epigenetic changes, DNA damage repair systems, cancer stem cells and micro RNAs in the development of therapeutic resistance and treatment failure in oral cancer. We have also summarized the current strategies being developed to overcome these therapeutic challenges. This review will help not only researchers but also oral oncologists in the management of the disease and in developing new therapeutic modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ahmad Waseem
- Centre for Oral Immunobiology and Regenerative Medicine, Institute of Dentistry, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, United Kingdom
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47
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Ono D, Asada K, Yui D, Sakaue F, Yoshioka K, Nagata T, Yokota T. Separation-related rapid nuclear transport of DNA/RNA heteroduplex oligonucleotide: unveiling distinctive intracellular trafficking. MOLECULAR THERAPY-NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 23:1360-1370. [PMID: 33738132 PMCID: PMC7933600 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.11.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
DNA/RNA heteroduplex oligonucleotide (HDO), composed of DNA/locked nucleic acid (LNA) antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) and complementary RNA, is a next-generation antisense therapeutic agent. HDO is superior to the parental ASO in delivering to target tissues, and it exerts a more potent gene-silencing effect. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the intracellular trafficking mechanism of HDO-dependent gene silencing. HDO was more preferably transferred to the nucleus after transfection compared to the parental ASO. To determine when and where HDO is separated into the antisense strand (AS) and complementary strand (CS), we performed live-cell time-lapse imaging and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assays. These assays demonstrated that HDO had a different intracellular trafficking mechanism than ASO. After endocytosis, HDO was separated in the early endosomes, and both AS and CS were released into the cytosol. AS was more efficiently transported to the nucleus than CS. Separation, endosomal release, and initiation of nuclear transport were a series of time-locked events occurring at a median of 30 s. CS cleavage was associated with efficient nuclear distribution and gene silencing in the nucleus. Understanding the unique intracellular silencing mechanisms of HDO will help us design more efficient drugs and might also provide insight into innate DNA/RNA cellular biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daisuke Ono
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences and Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Ken Asada
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences and Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Daishi Yui
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences and Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Fumika Sakaue
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences and Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Kotaro Yoshioka
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences and Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Nagata
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences and Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
| | - Takanori Yokota
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences and Center for Brain Integration Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-Ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
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48
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Adihou H, Gopalakrishnan R, Förster T, Guéret SM, Gasper R, Geschwindner S, Carrillo García C, Karatas H, Pobbati AV, Vazquez-Chantada M, Davey P, Wassvik CM, Pang JKS, Soh BS, Hong W, Chiarparin E, Schade D, Plowright AT, Valeur E, Lemurell M, Grossmann TN, Waldmann H. A protein tertiary structure mimetic modulator of the Hippo signalling pathway. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5425. [PMID: 33110077 PMCID: PMC7591920 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19224-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors are key protein effectors in the regulation of gene transcription, and in many cases their activity is regulated via a complex network of protein–protein interactions (PPI). The chemical modulation of transcription factor activity is a long-standing goal in drug discovery but hampered by the difficulties associated with the targeting of PPIs, in particular when extended and flat protein interfaces are involved. Peptidomimetics have been applied to inhibit PPIs, however with variable success, as for certain interfaces the mimicry of a single secondary structure element is insufficient to obtain high binding affinities. Here, we describe the design and characterization of a stabilized protein tertiary structure that acts as an inhibitor of the interaction between the transcription factor TEAD and its co-repressor VGL4, both playing a central role in the Hippo signalling pathway. Modification of the inhibitor with a cell-penetrating entity yielded a cell-permeable proteomimetic that activates cell proliferation via regulation of the Hippo pathway, highlighting the potential of protein tertiary structure mimetics as an emerging class of PPI modulators. Targeting the interaction between transcription factor TEAD and its co-repressor VGL4 is an attractive strategy to chemically modulate Hippo signaling. Here, the authors develop a proteomimetic with stabilized tertiary structure that inhibits the TEAD:VGL4 interaction in vitro and in cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Adihou
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.,AstraZeneca-MPI Satellite Unit, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Ranganath Gopalakrishnan
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.,AstraZeneca-MPI Satellite Unit, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Tim Förster
- AstraZeneca-MPI Satellite Unit, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Stéphanie M Guéret
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.,AstraZeneca-MPI Satellite Unit, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Raphael Gasper
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Stefan Geschwindner
- Structure & Biophysics, Discovery Sciences, R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Carmen Carrillo García
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Hacer Karatas
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Ajaybabu V Pobbati
- Department of Multi-Modal Molecular (M3) Biology, A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Paul Davey
- Medicinal Chemistry, Oncology R&D, AstraZeneca, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carola M Wassvik
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Jeremy Kah Sheng Pang
- Disease Modelling and Therapeutics Laboratory, A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Boon Seng Soh
- Disease Modelling and Therapeutics Laboratory, A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Key Laboratory for Major Obstetric Diseases of Guangdong Province, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanjin Hong
- Department of Multi-Modal Molecular (M3) Biology, A*STAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Dennis Schade
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Alleyn T Plowright
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Eric Valeur
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Malin Lemurell
- Medicinal Chemistry, Research and Early Development Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tom N Grossmann
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands. .,Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Max Planck Institute for Molecular Physiology, Dortmund, Germany. .,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Technical University Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany.
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49
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Deprey K, Batistatou N, Kritzer JA. A critical analysis of methods used to investigate the cellular uptake and subcellular localization of RNA therapeutics. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:7623-7639. [PMID: 32644123 PMCID: PMC7430645 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Revised: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA therapeutics are a promising strategy to treat genetic diseases caused by the overexpression or aberrant splicing of a specific protein. The field has seen major strides in the clinical efficacy of this class of molecules, largely due to chemical modifications and delivery strategies that improve nuclease resistance and enhance cell penetration. However, a major obstacle in the development of RNA therapeutics continues to be the imprecise, difficult, and often problematic nature of most methods used to measure cell penetration. Here, we review these methods and clearly distinguish between those that measure total cellular uptake of RNA therapeutics, which includes both productive and non-productive uptake, and those that measure cytosolic/nuclear penetration, which represents only productive uptake. We critically analyze the benefits and drawbacks of each method. Finally, we use key examples to illustrate how, despite rigorous experimentation and proper controls, our understanding of the mechanism of gymnotic uptake of RNA therapeutics remains limited by the methods commonly used to analyze RNA delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirsten Deprey
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 62 Talbot Ave, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Nefeli Batistatou
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 62 Talbot Ave, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Joshua A Kritzer
- Department of Chemistry, Tufts University, 62 Talbot Ave, Medford, MA 02155, USA
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50
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Ly S, Echeverria D, Sousa J, Khvorova A. Single-Stranded Phosphorothioated Regions Enhance Cellular Uptake of Cholesterol-Conjugated siRNA but Not Silencing Efficacy. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 21:991-1005. [PMID: 32818923 PMCID: PMC7452107 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.07.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have potential to silence virtually any disease-causing gene but require chemical modifications for delivery to the tissue and cell of interest. Previously, we demonstrated that asymmetric, phosphorothioate (PS)-modified, chemically stabilized, cholesterol-conjugated siRNAs, called hsiRNAs, support rapid cellular uptake and efficient mRNA silencing both in cultured cells and in vivo. Here, we systematically evaluated the impact of number, structure, and sequence context of PS-modified backbones on cellular uptake and RNAi-mediated silencing efficacy. We find that PS enhances cellular internalization in a sequence-dependent manner but only when present in a single-stranded but not double-stranded region. Furthermore, the observed increase in cellular internalization did not correlate with functional silencing improvement, indicating that PS-mediated uptake may drive compounds to non-productive sinks. Thus, the primary contributing factor of PS modifications to functional efficacy is likely stabilization rather than enhanced cellular uptake. A better understanding of the relative impact of different chemistries on productive versus non-productive uptake will assist in improved design of therapeutic RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Socheata Ly
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jacquelyn Sousa
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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