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Moghimi SM, Parhamifar L, Ahmadvand D, Wibroe PP, Andresen TL, Farhangrazi ZS, Hunter AC. Particulate systems for targeting of macrophages: basic and therapeutic concepts. J Innate Immun 2012; 4:509-28. [PMID: 22722900 DOI: 10.1159/000339153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2011] [Accepted: 04/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Particulate systems in the form of liposomes, polymeric micelles, polymeric nano- and microparticles, and many others offer a rational approach for selective delivery of therapeutic agents to the macrophage from different physiological portals of entry. Particulate targeting of macrophages and intracellular drug release processes can be optimized through modifications of the drug carrier physicochemical properties, which include hydrodynamic size, shape, composition and surface characteristics. Through such modifications together with understanding of macrophage cell biology, targeting may be aimed at a particular subset of macrophages. Advances in basic and therapeutic concepts of particulate targeting of macrophages and related nanotechnology approaches for immune cell modifications are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S M Moghimi
- Nanomedicine Laboratory, Centre for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology and Nanotoxicology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Lengsfeld CS, Munson L, Lentz YK, Anchordoquy TJ. DNA hydrodynamic degradation controlled by Kolomogorov length scales in pipe flow. J Pharm Sci 2011; 100:3088-3095. [PMID: 21523785 DOI: 10.1002/jps.22582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2010] [Revised: 03/29/2011] [Accepted: 03/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Strict US Food and Drug Administration regulations on contamination levels for DNA therapeutics acceptable for human use complicate the manufacturing process. This study aims to improve therapeutic production through the investigation of the molecular effects of hydrodynamic forces encountered during processing. Results suggest that the strain rate and residence time were not solely responsible for degradation within the system. Instead, turbulent flows at the entrance or developing flow regions dominate especially when the Kolmogorov length scale approaches the stretched molecular length scale. We specifically suggest this for linear genomic DNA and supercoiled plasmid DNA when the ratio of the molecular length to the Kolmogorov length scale must remain smaller than unity to minimize loss of the desired structure. These findings suggest that bioprocessing systems should design expansions and contractions to minimize recirculation and turbulent mixing zones, although, not always possible, careful attention should be paid to pipe surface roughness to ensure that turbulent eddies are not generated in low Reynolds number flows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corinne S Lengsfeld
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208.
| | - Leslie Munson
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, University of Denver, Denver, Colorado 80208
| | - Yvonne K Lentz
- School of Pharmacy, University of Colorado Denver, Aurora, Colorado 80045
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Hwang DS, Kim KR, Lim S, Choi YS, Cha HJ. Recombinant mussel adhesive protein as a gene delivery material. Biotechnol Bioeng 2009; 102:616-23. [DOI: 10.1002/bit.22086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Kwon YJ, Peng CA. Differential interaction of retroviral vector with target cell: quantitative effect of cellular receptor, soluble proteoglycan, and cell type on gene delivery efficiency. Tissue Eng Part A 2008; 14:1497-506. [PMID: 18620488 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2007.0436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Retroviral vectors are powerful tools for gene therapy and stem cell engineering. To improve efficiency of retroviral gene delivery, quantitative understanding of interactions of a retroviral vector and a cell is crucial. Effects of nonspecific adsorption of retrovirus on a cell via proteoglycans and receptor-mediated binding of retrovirus to a cell on overall transduction efficiency were quantified by combining a mathematical model and experimental data. Results represented by transduction rate constant, a lumped parameter of overall transduction efficiency, delineated that chondroitin sulfate C (CSC) plays dual roles as either enhancer or inhibitor of retroviral transduction, depending on its concentrations in the retroviral supernatant. At the concentration of 20 microg/mL, CSC enhanced the transduction efficiency up to threefold but inhibited more than sevenfold at the concentration of 100 microg/mL. Transduction rate constants for amphotropic retroviral infection of NIH 3T3 cells under phosphate-depleted culture condition showed a proportional relationship between cellular receptor density on a cell and transduction efficiency. It was finally shown that amphotropic retrovirus transduced human fibroblast HT1080 cells more efficiently than NIH 3T3 cells. On the contrary, the transduction efficiency of NIH 3T3 cells by vesicular stomatitis virus G protein pseudotyped retroviruses was eightfold higher than that of HT1080 cells. This study implies usefulness of using quantitative analysis of retroviral transduction in understanding and optimizing retroviral gene delivery systems for therapeutic approaches to tissue engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Jik Kwon
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 92697, USA.
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Vijay A, Santhanam R, Katusic ZS. Genetic modification of cerebral arterial wall: implications for prevention and treatment of cerebral vasospasm. Neurol Res 2007; 28:759-68. [PMID: 17164039 DOI: 10.1179/016164106x152034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
Genetic modification of cerebral vessels represents a promising and novel approach for prevention and/or treatment of various cerebral vascular disorders, including cerebral vasospasm. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of the use of gene transfer to the cerebral arteries for prevention and/or treatment of cerebral vasospasm following subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). We also discuss the recent developments in vascular therapeutics, involving the autologous use of progenitor cells for repair of damaged vessels, as well as a cell-based gene delivery approach for the prevention and treatment of cerebral vasospasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anantha Vijay
- Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Kaouass M, Beaulieu R, Balicki D. Histonefection: Novel and potent non-viral gene delivery. J Control Release 2006; 113:245-54. [PMID: 16806557 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2006.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2005] [Accepted: 04/26/2006] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Protein/peptide-mediated gene delivery has recently emerged as a powerful approach in non-viral gene transfer. In previous studies, we and other groups found that histones efficiently mediate gene transfer (histonefection). Histonefection has been demonstrated to be effective with various members of the histone family. The DNA binding domains and natural nuclear localisation signal sequences make histones excellent candidates for effective gene transfer. In addition, their positive charge promotes binding to anionic molecules and helps them to overcome the negative charge of cells that is an important barrier to cellular penetration. Histonefection appears to have particular promise in cancer gene transfer and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammadi Kaouass
- Research Centre and Department of Medicine, Centre hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal, Canada
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Louie KA, Weiner LP, Du J, Kochounian HH, Fling SP, Wei W, McMillan M. Cell-based gene therapy experiments in murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Gene Ther 2005; 12:1145-53. [PMID: 15772685 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3302503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
With the ultimate goal of developing a novel treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS), we have developed a cell-based gene therapy protocol for the treatment of murine experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a powerful animal model for MS. We have determined that transduced fibroblasts secreting encephalogenic epitopes, when injected into mice with EAE, cause a striking abrogation of disease. Both myelin basic protein (MBP) and proteolipid protein mini-gene constructs expressed in syngeneic fibroblast cells were capable of ameliorating ongoing EAE induced by MBP protein. These experiments are crucial since they suggest that not all encephalogenic epitopes need be secreted for the control of disease. We also demonstrate the success of this protocol when transduced syngeneic, and most importantly, allogeneic cells are sequestered within an implantable chamber. Furthermore, we find that through modifying antigen expression by changing the signal sequence of the mini-gene construct, we were able to significantly reduce the dose of cells required for treatment. These improvements to the mini-gene delivery system are critical for the eventual translation of our protocol to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- K A Louie
- Department of Neurology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
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Arkin LM, Sondhi D, Worgall S, Suh LHK, Hackett NR, Kaminsky SM, Hosain SA, Souweidane MM, Kaplitt MG, Dyke JP, Heier LA, Ballon DJ, Shungu DC, Wisniewski KE, Greenwald BM, Hollmann C, Crystal RG. Confronting the Issues of Therapeutic Misconception, Enrollment Decisions, and Personal Motives in Genetic Medicine-Based Clinical Research Studies for Fatal Disorders. Hum Gene Ther 2005; 16:1028-36. [PMID: 16149901 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2005.16.1028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic medicine-based therapies have unlocked the potential for ameliorating diseases previously considered inevitably fatal. Inherent in the clinical trials of genetic medicines are ethical issues of therapeutic misconception, enrollment decisions as they relate to the risks and benefits of research, and the complex relationships among funding sources, investigators, and the families of affected individuals. The purpose of this paper is to help define these complex issues relevant to the use of genetic medicines and to describe the strategy we have used to confront these issues in a phase I trial of adeno-associated virus-mediated gene transfer to the central nervous system of children with late infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (LINCL), a fatal lysosomal storage disease associated with progressive neurodegeneration and death by mid-childhood. Our approach to these challenges should provide a useful paradigm for investigators initiating other genetic medicine- based studies to treat inevitably fatal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Arkin
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York, NY 10021, USA
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11
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Arkin LM, Sondhi D, Worgall S, Suh LHK, Hackett NR, Kaminsky SM, Hosain SA, Souweidane MM, Kaplitt MG, Dyke JP, Heier LA, Ballon DJ, Shungu DC, Wisniewski KE, Greenwald BM, Hollmann C, Crystal RG. Confronting the Issues of Therapeutic Misconception, Enrollment Decisions, and Personal Motives in Genetic Medicine-Based Clinical Research Studies for Fatal Disorders. Hum Gene Ther 2005. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2005.16.ft-111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Trent RJA. Oversight and monitoring of clinical research with gene therapy in Australia. Med J Aust 2005; 182:441-2. [PMID: 15865585 DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2005.tb06781.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2005] [Accepted: 03/15/2005] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The NHMRC has set up the Gene and related Therapies Research Advisory Panel (GTRAP) to oversee gene therapy research.
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Abstract
Gene therapy was originally conceived as an approach to the treatment of genetic disease, to repair or replace a faulty gene. Subsequently, gene therapy clinical trials have been undertaken for a wide range of conditions, particularly cancer and AIDS. Overall, the results from gene therapy have been disappointing. The reasons include the following: (i) low gene transfer efficiencies and (ii) shortcomings in the identification and manipulation of appropriate target cells, including progenitor cell populations required for the maintenance of long-term effects. Today, the immense potential of gene therapy remains, but more basic research is required to improve technical aspects of this form of cellular therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- R J A Trent
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Genetics, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
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Trent RJ. GENETIC AND CELLULAR THERAPIES. Mol Med 2005. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-012699057-7/50006-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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You JO, Peng CA. Phagocytosis-mediated retroviral transduction: co-internalization of deactivated retrovirus and calcium-alginate microspheres by macrophages. J Gene Med 2005; 7:398-406. [PMID: 15619287 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Efficiency of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer has been hampered by short retroviral half-life due to shedding of retroviral envelope proteins which is of utmost importance to the interaction between retrovirus and cell. METHODS Calcium-alginate microspheres with average size of 780 nm were prepared by reverse emulsification and characterized by scanning electron microscopy and microelectrophoresis. To obtain deactivated retroviruses produced from 293 packaging cells, retrovirus-containing media were pre-incubated at 37 degrees C for 6, 12, 18, and 24 h, respectively. Murine J774A.1 macrophages were co-treated with Ca-alginate microspheres and deactivated retroviruses encoding the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) gene. Through phagocytosis, deactivated retroviruses and Ca-alginate microspheres were co-internalized into macrophages. After retroviral transduction for 24 and 48 h, the percentages of macrophages with eGFP expression were determined by bright-field and fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS After 48-h incubation with Ca-alginate microspheres and deactivated retroviruses, phagosomes turned into large vacuoles occupied almost half of the cytoplasmic space. This was probably attributed to the erosion of Ca-alginate microspheres by destructive agents within vacuolar compartments and concomitant osmotic swelling. It was reasoned that deactivated retroviruses escaped such enlarged vesicles easily and underwent reverse transcription in the cytosol. The expression of eGFP in macrophages infected by retroviruses pre-incubated for 24 h in the presence of Ca-alginate microspheres was thereby augmented up to tenfold in comparison with the cells treated with 24-h deactivated retroviruses only. CONCLUSIONS Ca-alginate microspheres performed as auxiliary agents for the enhancement of retrovirus-mediated gene transfer efficiency even though retroviruses had been deactivated due to the loss of envelope proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Oh You
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089-1211, USA
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Weng L, Liu D, Li Y, Cao S, Feng Y. An archaeal histone-like protein as an efficient DNA carrier in gene transfer. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-PROTEINS AND PROTEOMICS 2004; 1702:209-16. [PMID: 15488773 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbapap.2004.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2004] [Revised: 08/12/2004] [Accepted: 08/30/2004] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
HPhA, a recombinant histone-like protein from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 strain, has compacting activity with DNA as previously reported. The extreme stability and DNA packaging activity of the HPhA make it a candidate as a DNA carrier. Here, the plasmid DNA-HPhA complexes were fully characterized by gel retardation assay and DNase resistance assay. It was further proved that HPhA has in vitro DNA transfection activity. HPhA-mediated transfection efficiency was dependent on the mass ratio of HPhA to DNA, the incubation time and the presence of calcium. A protocol for HPhA-mediated transfection in vitro was established to improve transfection efficiency. The optimal mass ratio of HPhA to DNA was 6:1, and the incubation time required for the DNA-HPhA complex to be in contact with the cell was 4 h. In addition, the presence of 2 mM CaCl2 in the cell culture medium was required for efficient transfection. Serum did not show inhibition of HPhA-mediated transfection. Most importantly, the cytotoxicity of HPhA is lower than that of commonly used cationic liposome-based gene delivery systems, and HPhA-mediated transfection in NIH 3T3, HEK 293, HL-7702, HepG2 and Cos 7 cell lines in vitro has a higher efficiency and reproducibility. These results demonstrate that the HPhA is a new, potentially widely applicable and highly efficient gene carrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Weng
- Key Laboratory for Molecular Enzymology and Engineering, Ministry of Education, Jilin University, Changchun, 130023, PR China
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18
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Abstract
The auditory sensory epithelium is a mosaic composed of sensory (hair) cells and several types of non-sensory (supporting) cells. All these cells are highly differentiated in their structure and function. Mosaic epithelia (and other complex tissues) are generally formed by differentiation of distinct and specialized cell types from common progenitors. Most types of epithelial tissues maintain a population of undifferentiated (basal) cells which facilitate turnover (renewal) and repair, but this is not the case for the organ of Corti in the cochlea. Therefore, when cochlear hair cells are lost they cannot be replaced. Consequently, sensorineural hearing loss is permanent. In designing therapy for sensorineural deafness, the most important task is to find a way to generate new cochlear hair cells to replace lost cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryosei Minoda
- Kresge Hearing Research Institute, The University of Michigan Medical School, MSRB III Room-9303, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0648, USA
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Wilcox
- Division of Medical Genetics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California 90048, USA.
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Hormann RE, Dinan L, Whiting P. Superimposition evaluation of ecdysteroid agonist chemotypes through multidimensional QSAR. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2004; 17:135-53. [PMID: 13677482 DOI: 10.1023/a:1025365722403] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
The EC50 values for a training set of 66 ecdysteroids and 97 diacylhydrazines were measured in the ecdysteroid-responsive Drosophila melanogaster BII cell line, a prototypical homologous inducible gene expression system. Each of eight superimposition hypotheses for the folded diacylhydrazine conformation was evaluated and ranked on the basis of CoMFA and 4D-QSAR Q2 values for the training set and R2 values for a 52-member test set comprising randomly-chosen diacylhydrazines and chronologically-chosen ecdysteroids for which data became available after model construction. Both 4D-QSAR and CoMFA rate a common superimposition as the preferred one. Two additional superimpositions, with somewhat weaker 4D-QSAR and CoMFA consensus, nonetheless share several important topological features. The resultant QSAR models address the question of relative binding orientation of the two ligand families and can be useful as a virtual screen for new chemotypes.
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Kunzelmann K, Mall M. Pharmacotherapy of the ion transport defect in cystic fibrosis: role of purinergic receptor agonists and other potential therapeutics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 2:299-309. [PMID: 14719996 DOI: 10.1007/bf03256658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Cystic fibrosis (CF), is an autosomal recessive disease frequently seen in the Caucasian population. It is caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene. CF is characterized by enhanced airway Na(+) absorption, mediated by epithelial Na(+) channels (ENaC), and deficient Cl(-) transport. In addition, other mechanisms may contribute to the pathophysiological changes in the CF lung, such as defective regulation of HCO(3)(-) secretion. In other epithelial tissues, epithelial Na(+) conductance is either increased (intestine) or decreased (sweat duct) in CF. CFTR is a cyclic AMP-regulated epithelial Cl(-) channel, and appears to control the activity of several other transport proteins. Accordingly, defective epithelial ion transport in CF is likely to be a combination of defective Cl(-) channel function and impaired regulator function of CFTR, which in turn is linked to impaired mucociliary clearance and development of chronic lung disease. As the clinical course of CF is determined primarily by progressive lung disease, novel pharmacological strategies for the treatment of CF focus on correction of the ion transport defect in the airways. In recent years, it has been demonstrated that activation of purinergic receptors in airway epithelia by extracellular nucleotides (adenosine triphosphate/uridine triphosphate) has beneficial effects on mucus clearance in CF. Activation of the dominant class of metabotropic purinergic receptors, P2Y(2) receptors, appears to have a 2-fold benefit on ion transport in CF airways; excessive Na(+) absorption is attenuated, most likely by inhibition of the ENaC and, simultaneously, an alternative Ca(2+)-dependent Cl(-) channel is activated that may compensate for the CFTR Cl(-) channel defect. Thus activation of P2Y(2) receptors is expected to lead to improved hydration of the airway surface liquid in CF. Furthermore, purinergic activation has been shown to promote other components of mucociliary clearance such as ciliary beat frequency and mucus secretion. Clinical trials are under way to test the effect of synthetic purinergic compounds, such as the P2Y(2) receptor agonist INS37217, on the progression of lung disease in patients with CF. Administration of these compounds alone, or in combination with other drugs that inhibit accelerated Na(+) transport and help recover or increase residual activity of mutant CFTR, is most promising as successful therapy to counteract the ion transport defect in the airways of CF patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Kunzelmann
- Physiologisches Institut, Universitäts Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany.
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Abstract
Gene transfer involves the use of an engineered biologic vehicle known as a vector to introduce a gene encoding a protein of interest into a particular tissue. In diseases with known defects at a genetic level, gene transfer offers a potential means of restoring a normal molecular environment via vector-mediated entry (transduction) and expression of genes encoding potentially therapeutic proteins selectively in diseased tissues. The technology of gene transfer therefore underlies the concept of gene therapy and falls under the umbrella of the current genomics revolution. Particularly since 1995, numerous attempts have been made to introduce genes into intracranial blood vessels to demonstrate and characterize viable transduction. More recently, in attempting to translate cerebrovascular gene transfer technology closer to the clinical arena, successful transductions of normal human cerebral arteries ex vivo and diseased animal cerebral arteries in vivo have been reported using vasomodulatory vectors. Considering the emerging importance of gene-based strategies for the treatment of the spectrum of human disease, the goals of the present report are to overview the fundamentals of gene transfer and review experimental studies germane to the clinical translation of a technology that can facilitate genetic modification of cerebral blood vessels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vini G Khurana
- Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
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Tarner IH, Slavin AJ, McBride J, Levicnik A, Smith R, Nolan GP, Contag CH, Fathman CG. Treatment of Autoimmune Disease by Adoptive Cellular Gene Therapy. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2003; 998:512-9. [PMID: 14592922 DOI: 10.1196/annals.1254.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Autoimmune disorders represent inappropriate immune responses directed at self-tissue. Antigen-specific CD4+ T cells and antigen-presenting dendritic cells (DCs) are important mediators in the pathogenesis of auto-immune disease and thus are ideal candidates for adoptive cellular gene therapy, an ex vivo approach to therapeutic gene transfer. Using retrovirally transduced cells and luciferase bioluminescence, we have demonstrated that primary T cells, T cell hybridomas, and DCs rapidly and preferentially home to the sites of inflammation in animal models of multiple sclerosis, arthritis, and diabetes. These cells, transduced with retroviral vectors to drive expression of various "regulatory proteins" such as IL-4, IL-10, IL-12p40, and anti-TNF scFv, deliver these immunoregulatory proteins to the inflamed lesions, providing therapy for experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE), collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), and nonobese diabetic mice (NOD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingo H Tarner
- Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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Melman A, Zhao W, Davies KP, Bakal R, Christ GJ. The successful long-term treatment of age related erectile dysfunction with hSlo cDNA in rats in vivo. J Urol 2003; 170:285-90. [PMID: 12796707 DOI: 10.1097/01.ju.0000063375.12512.6e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE We have previously reported that 1 intracorporeal injection of 100 microg hSlo/pcDNA reversed the effect of aging on erectile function in a rat model in vivo for at least 2 months. We report our further investigations of the amplitude, duration and physiological relevance of this novel gene transfer approach. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 191 retired breeder Sprague-Dawley rats were given a single intracavernous injection of phosphate buffered saline, 1,000 microg pcDNA, or 10, 100 or 1,000 microg pcDNA/hSlo. The animals were studied 1 to 6 months after injection. The intracorporeal pressure (ICP) response to cavernous nerve stimulation and immunostaining as well as hematoxylin and eosin staining were done to evaluate effector nerve integrity and tissue histology, respectively. RESULTS Gene transfer prevented an age related decrease in resting ICP and a physiologically relevant, significant effect on normalizing erection in vivo, as determined by submaximal (0.5 mA) and maximal (4.0 mA) cavernous nerve stimulation. The effects were observed 1 month after transfection and sustained for 6 months at the 100 and 1,000 microg doses of pcDNA/hSlo (p <0.026). CONCLUSIONS The physiological manifestations of gene transfer were detected as an amelioration of the age related decrease in resting ICP, and parallel increase in the magnitude of the cavernous nerve stimulated an ICP response to a level at which visible erections were again observed in this rat model of aging in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Melman
- Department of Urology, Institute for Smooth Muscle Biology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 3400 Bainbridge Avenue, Bronx, NY, USA
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Abstract
A placebo-controlled, double-blind, randomized study found that subjects randomized to the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene-receiving treatment group showed a greater level of angina reduction in comparison to control subjects who received saline as a placebo. These data provide hope for a new treatment option for those who are not candidates for invasive therapeutic procedures and are refractory to medical therapy for angina. Furthermore, the findings are important to the areas of therapeutic angiogenesis and gene therapy as a whole. This article discusses VEGF and its brief history as a form of gene therapy in the context of the VEGF gene therapy trial that the American Heart Association has recognized as one of the top 10 scientific advances of 2001.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carrie J Merkle
- College of Nursing, The University of Arizona, and Southern Arizona VA Medical Center, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Abstract
This article will provide an overview on the status of cancer gene therapy, focussed specifically on its potential application in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The concepts and strategies behind the design of therapeutic targets such as p53, p16, and death genes will be described. One of the major challenges in cancer gene therapy is tumor-specific expression of therapeutic genes, and a transcriptional targeting approach will be reviewed, in reference to NPC. Specifically, the ability to exploit the presence of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) will be emphasized. The currently available preclinical data on genetic therapeutic approaches for NPC will be reviewed, and an outline for its future role in management of NPC, in conjunction with existing cytotoxic modalities of ionizing radiation and chemotherapy will be provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-Fei Liu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Margaret Hospital/University Health Networks, University of Toronto, 610 University Avenue, Toronto, Ont, Canada M5G 2M9.
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27
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Tarner IH, Fathman CG. The potential for gene therapy in the treatment of autoimmune disease. Clin Immunol 2002; 104:204-16. [PMID: 12217329 DOI: 10.1006/clim.2002.5235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ingo H Tarner
- Department of Rheumatology, Stanford University School of Medicine, California 94305-5166, USA
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Balicki D, Putnam CD, Scaria PV, Beutler E. Structure and function correlation in histone H2A peptide-mediated gene transfer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2002; 99:7467-71. [PMID: 12032306 PMCID: PMC124254 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.102168299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone H2A has been found to be efficient in DNA delivery into a number of cell lines. We have reasoned that this DNA-delivery activity is mediated by two mechanisms: (i) electrostatically driven DNA binding and condensation by histone and (ii) nuclear import of these histone H2A.DNA polyplexes via nuclear localization signals in the protein. We have identified a 37-aa N-terminal peptide of histone H2A that is active in in vitro gene transfer. This peptide can function as a nuclear localization signal and can bind DNA. Amino acid substitutions that replace positively charged residues and/or DNA-binding residues of this peptide obliterate transfection activity. The introduction of a proline in the first turn of an alpha-helix of this 37-mer obliterates transfection activity, suggesting that the integrity of the alpha-helical structure of the N-terminal region of histone H2A is related to its transfection activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danuta Balicki
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, MEM 215, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
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