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Nykänen AI, Keshavjee S, Liu M. Creating superior lungs for transplantation with next-generation gene therapy during ex vivo lung perfusion. J Heart Lung Transplant 2024; 43:838-848. [PMID: 38310996 DOI: 10.1016/j.healun.2024.01.016] [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: 09/17/2023] [Revised: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Engineering donor organs to better tolerate the harmful non-immunological and immunological responses inherently related to solid organ transplantation would improve transplant outcomes. Our enhanced knowledge of ischemia-reperfusion injury, alloimmune responses and pathological fibroproliferation after organ transplantation, and the advanced toolkit available for gene therapies, have brought this goal closer to clinical reality. Ex vivo organ perfusion has evolved rapidly especially in the field of lung transplantation, where clinicians routinely use ex vivo lung perfusion (EVLP) to confirm the quality of marginal donor lungs before transplantation, enabling safe transplantation of organs originally considered unusable. EVLP would also be an attractive platform to deliver gene therapies, as treatments could be administered to an isolated organ before transplantation, thereby providing a window for sophisticated organ engineering while minimizing off-target effects to the recipient. Here, we review the status of lung transplant first-generation gene therapies that focus on inducing transgene expression in the target cells. We also highlight recent advances in next-generation gene therapies, that enable gene editing and epigenetic engineering, that could be used to permanently change the donor organ genome and to induce widespread transcriptional gene expression modulation in the donor lung. In a future vision, dedicated organ repair and engineering centers will use gene editing and epigenetic engineering, to not only increase the donor organ pool, but to create superior organs that will function better and longer in the recipient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antti I Nykänen
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Helsinki University Hospital and University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Shaf Keshavjee
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Division of Thoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mingyao Liu
- Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Institute of Medical Science, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
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Gao Q, DeLaura IF, Anwar IJ, Kesseli SJ, Kahan R, Abraham N, Asokan A, Barbas AS, Hartwig MG. Gene Therapy: Will the Promise of Optimizing Lung Allografts Become Reality? Front Immunol 2022; 13:931524. [PMID: 35844566 PMCID: PMC9283701 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.931524] [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: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung transplantation is the definitive therapy for patients living with end-stage lung disease. Despite significant progress made in the field, graft survival remains the lowest of all solid organ transplants. Additionally, the lung has among the lowest of organ utilization rates-among eligible donors, only 22% of lungs from multi-organ donors were transplanted in 2019. Novel strategies are needed to rehabilitate marginal organs and improve graft survival. Gene therapy is one promising strategy in optimizing donor allografts. Over-expression or inhibition of specific genes can be achieved to target various pathways of graft injury, including ischemic-reperfusion injuries, humoral or cellular rejection, and chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Experiments in animal models have historically utilized adenovirus-based vectors and the majority of literature in lung transplantation has focused on overexpression of IL-10. Although several strategies were shown to prevent rejection and prolong graft survival in preclinical models, none have led to clinical translation. The past decade has seen a renaissance in the field of gene therapy and two AAV-based in vivo gene therapies are now FDA-approved for clinical use. Concurrently, normothermic ex vivo machine perfusion technology has emerged as an alternative to traditional static cold storage. This preservation method keeps organs physiologically active during storage and thus potentially offers a platform for gene therapy. This review will explore the advantages and disadvantages of various gene therapy modalities, review various candidate genes implicated in various stages of allograft injury and summarize the recent efforts in optimizing donor lungs using gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qimeng Gao
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Isabel F. DeLaura
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Imran J. Anwar
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Samuel J. Kesseli
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Riley Kahan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Nader Abraham
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Aravind Asokan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Andrew S. Barbas
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Matthew G. Hartwig
- Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
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Krenn K, Gmeiner M, Paulus P, Sela N, Torres L, Zins K, Dekan G, Aharinejad S. Effects of azithromycin and tanomastat on experimental bronchiolitis obliterans. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2014; 149:1194-202. [PMID: 25595376 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2014.11.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2014] [Revised: 11/16/2014] [Accepted: 11/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Azithromycin has become a standard of care in therapy of bronchiolitis obliterans following lung transplantation. Matrix metalloprotease-9 broncho-alveolar lavage levels increase in airway neutrophilia and bronchiolitis obliterans. Interleukin-17 may play a role in lung allograft rejection, and interleukin-12 is downregulated in bronchiolitis obliterans. Whether these mechanisms can be targeted by azithromycin remains unclear. METHODS Bronchiolitis obliterans was induced by transplantation of Fischer F344 rat left lungs to Wistar Kyoto rats. Allografts with azithromycin therapy from day 1 to 28 or 56 and mono- or combination therapy with the broad-spectrum matrix metalloprotease inhibitor tanomastat from day 1 to 56 were compared to control allografts and isografts. Graft histology was assessed, and tissue cytokine expression studied using Western blotting and immunofluorescence. RESULTS The chronic airway rejection score in the azithromycin group did not change between 4 and 8 weeks after transplantation, whereas it significantly worsened in control allografts (P = .041). Azithromycin+tanomastat prevented complete allograft fibrosis, which occurred in 40% of control allografts. Azithromycin reduced interleukin-17 expression (P = .049) and the number of IL-17(+)/CD8(+) lymphocytes at 4 weeks, and active matrix metalloprotease-9 at 8 weeks (P = .017), and increased interleukin-12 expression (P = .025) at 8 weeks following transplantation versus control allografts. CONCLUSIONS The expression of interleukin-17 and matrix metalloprotease-9 in bronchiolitis obliterans may be attenuated by azithromycin, and the decrease in interleukin-12 expression was prevented by azithromycin. Combination of azithromycin with a matrix metalloprotease inhibitor is worth studying further because it prevented complete allograft fibrosis in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Krenn
- Department of Anesthesia and General Intensive Care, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Matthias Gmeiner
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Patrick Paulus
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Anesthesiology, Intensive Care Medicine and Pain Therapy, Goethe University Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Nezir Sela
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Linda Torres
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Karin Zins
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Dekan
- Department of Pathology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Seyedhossein Aharinejad
- Department of Cardiovascular Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Cardiac Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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Bohana-Kashtan O, Civin CI. Fas Ligand as a Tool for Immunosuppression and Generation of Immune Tolerance. Stem Cells 2004; 22:908-24. [PMID: 15536183 DOI: 10.1634/stemcells.22-6-908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The role of Fas ligand (FasL) in physiologically limiting immune responses and maintaining immune-privileged sites has led to a body of research aiming to confer protection to allogeneic grafts by expressing FasL on the allogeneic tissue or by administrating FasL-transduced donor dendritic cells. In addition, several studies have used FasL to abrogate autoimmune responses. This review presents the results of these studies and discusses the problems associated with FasL usage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osnat Bohana-Kashtan
- Department of Oncology, Immunology and Hematopoiesis Division, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer at Johns Hopkins, 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
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Whartenby KA, Straley EE, Kim H, Racke F, Tanavde V, Gorski KS, Cheng L, Pardoll DM, Civin CI. Transduction of donor hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells with Fas ligand enhanced short-term engraftment in a murine model of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation. Blood 2002; 100:3147-54. [PMID: 12384412 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2002-01-0118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fas-mediated apoptosis is a major physiologic mechanism by which activated T cells are eliminated after antigen-stimulated clonal expansion generates a specific cellular immune response. Because activated T cells are the major effectors of allograft rejection, we hypothesized that genetically modifying allogeneic bone marrow (BM) cells prior to transplantation could provide some protection from host T-cell attack, thus enhancing donor cell engraftment in bone marrow transplantation (BMT). We undertook studies to determine the outcome of lentiviral vector-mediated transduction of Fas ligand (FasL) into lineage antigen-negative (lin(-)) mouse BM cells (lin(-) BMs), in an allogeneic BMT model. FasL-modified lin(-) BMs killed Fas-expressing T cells in vitro. Mice that received transplants of allogeneic FasL(+) lin(-) BMs had enhanced short-term engraftment, after nonmyeloablative conditioning, as compared to controls. We observed no major hepatic toxicity or hematopoietic or immune impairment in recipient mice at these time points. These results suggest potential therapeutic approaches by manipulating lymphohematopoietic stem-progenitor cells to express FasL or other immune-modulating genes in the context of BMT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharine A Whartenby
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at JHU, School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University, Bunting-Blaustein Cancer Research Building, Room 2M44, 1650 Orleans Street, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA.
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Abstract
The host response to pathogens involves complex inflammatory responses and immune reactions. While these are central to host defense and vital to clearing infections, they are often accompanied by injury to surrounding tissue. Most organ systems can tolerate these responses without permanent consequences. However, there are sites that limit the spread of inflammation because it can threaten organ function. The most prominent examples of these are the eye, brain, and reproductive organs (testis, ovary), where even minor bouts of inflammation can have long-term consequences for the survival of the organism. In these organs immune responses either do not proceed, or proceed in a manner different from other areas; thus, they are called "immunologically privileged." Here a functioning immune response can be the culprit that leads to disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A Ferguson
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Department of Pathology, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S. Euclid, Box 8096, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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Abstract
Immune privilege is a property of some sites in the body, whereby immune responses are limited or prevented. One explanation that has been proposed for this phenomenon is engagement of the pro-apoptotic molecule Fas by its ligand (FasL), which leads to apoptosis, and consequently limits an inflammatory response. This idea has recently been challenged, and here we review the evidence for and against a role for FasL in immune privilege.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Green
- La Jolla Institute for Allergy and Immunology, San Diego, California 92121, USA.
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