1
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Sabrina Haque U, Kohut M, Yokota T. Comprehensive review of adverse reactions and toxicology in ASO-based therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy: From FDA-approved drugs to peptide-conjugated ASO. Curr Res Toxicol 2024; 7:100182. [PMID: 38983605 PMCID: PMC11231654 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2024.100182] [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: 01/18/2024] [Revised: 06/16/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) is a devastating X-linked genetic disorder characterized by progressive muscle degeneration due to mutations in the dystrophin gene. This results in the absence or dysfunction of the dystrophin protein, leading to muscle weakness, loss of ambulation, respiratory issues, and cardiac complications, often leading to premature death. Recently, antisense oligonucleotide (ASO)-mediated exon skipping has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for DMD. Notably, the FDA has conditionally approved four ASO therapies for DMD, with numerous others in various stages of clinical development, indicating the growing interest and potential in this field. To enhance ASO-based therapies, researchers have explored the novel concept of conjugating peptides to the phosphorodiamidate morpholino backbone (PMO) of ASOs, leading to the development of peptide-conjugated PMOs (PPMOs). These PPMOs have demonstrated significantly improved pharmacokinetic profiles, potentially augmenting their therapeutic effectiveness. Despite the optimism surrounding ASOs and PPMOs, concerns persist regarding their efficacy and safety. To comprehensively evaluate these therapies, it is imperative to expand patient populations in clinical trials and conduct thorough investigations into the associated risks. This article provides a comprehensive review and discussion of the available data pertaining to adverse reactions and toxicology associated with FDA-approved ASO drugs for DMD. Furthermore, it offers insights into the emerging category of peptide-conjugated ASO drugs those are clinical and preclinical trials, shedding light on their potential benefits and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umme Sabrina Haque
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Melissa Kohut
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
- The Friends of Garrett Cumming Research & Muscular Dystrophy Canada HM Toupin Neurological Science Research, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
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2
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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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3
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González-Martínez I, Cerro-Herreros E, Moreno N, García-Rey A, Espinosa-Espinosa J, Carrascosa-Sàez M, Piqueras-Losilla D, Arzumanov A, Seoane-Miraz D, Jad Y, Raz R, Wood MJ, Varela MA, Llamusí B, Artero R. Peptide-conjugated antimiRs improve myotonic dystrophy type 1 phenotypes by promoting endogenous MBNL1 expression. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 34:102024. [PMID: 37744174 PMCID: PMC10514136 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a rare neuromuscular disease caused by a CTG repeat expansion in the DMPK gene that generates toxic RNA with a myriad of downstream alterations in RNA metabolism. A key consequence is the sequestration of alternative splicing regulatory proteins MBNL1/2 by expanded transcripts in the affected tissues. MBNL1/2 depletion interferes with a developmental alternative splicing switch that causes the expression of fetal isoforms in adults. Boosting the endogenous expression of MBNL proteins by inhibiting the natural translational repressors miR-23b and miR-218 has previously been shown to be a promising therapeutic approach. We designed antimiRs against both miRNAs with a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotide (PMO) chemistry conjugated to cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) to improve delivery to affected tissues. In DM1 cells, CPP-PMOs significantly increased MBNL1 levels. In some candidates, this was achieved using concentrations less than two orders of magnitude below the median toxic concentration, with up to 5.38-fold better therapeutic window than previous antagomiRs. In HSALR mice, intravenous injections of CPP-PMOs improve molecular, histopathological, and functional phenotypes, without signs of toxicity. Our findings place CPP-PMOs as promising antimiR candidates to overcome the treatment delivery challenge in DM1 therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene González-Martínez
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Estefanía Cerro-Herreros
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Nerea Moreno
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Andrea García-Rey
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Jorge Espinosa-Espinosa
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
- Group of Emerging and Neglected Diseases, Ecoepidemiology and Biodiversity, Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad Internacional SEK, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Marc Carrascosa-Sàez
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Diego Piqueras-Losilla
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Andrey Arzumanov
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David Seoane-Miraz
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yahya Jad
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Raz
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew J. Wood
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Miguel A. Varela
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Beatriz Llamusí
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rubén Artero
- University Research Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, Valencia, Spain
- Translational Genomics Group, INCLIVA Biomedical Research Institute, Avenue Menéndez Pelayo 4 acc, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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4
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Hu J, Shen X, Kheirabadi M, Streeter MD, Qian Z, Mootha VV, Corey DR. Targeting the Expanded TCF4/Fuchs' Endothelial Corneal Dystrophy CUG Repeat with Morpholino Peptide Conjugates. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:42797-42802. [PMID: 38024683 PMCID: PMC10652360 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c05634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 10/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Fuchs' corneal endothelial dystrophy (FECD) is a major cause of vision loss. Corneal transplantation is the only effective curative treatment, but this surgery has limitations. A pharmacological intervention would complement surgery and be beneficial for many patients. FECD is caused by an expanded CUG repeat within intron 2 of the TCF4 RNA. Agents that recognize the expanded repeat can reverse the splicing defects associated with the disease. Successful drug development will require diverse strategies for optimizing the efficacy of anti-CUG oligomers. In this study, we evaluate anti-CUG morpholinos conjugated to cyclic cell penetrating peptides. The morpholino domain of the conjugate is complementary to the repeat, while the peptide has been optimized for import across cell membranes. We show that morpholino conjugates can enter corneal endothelial cells and block the CUG RNA foci associated with the disease. These experiments support morpholino peptide conjugates as an approach for developing anti-CUG therapies for FECD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaxin Hu
- Department
of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, UT Southwestern
Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Road, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - Xiulong Shen
- Entrada
Therapeutics Inc., Boston, Massachusetts 02210, United States
| | | | | | - Ziqing Qian
- Entrada
Therapeutics Inc., Boston, Massachusetts 02210, United States
| | - V. Vinod Mootha
- Department
of Ophthalmology, UT Southwestern Medical
Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
- McDermott
Center for Human Growth and Development, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
| | - David R. Corey
- Department
of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, UT Southwestern
Medical Center, 6001 Forest Park Road, Dallas, Texas 75390, United States
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5
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Haque US, Yokota T. Enhancing Antisense Oligonucleotide-Based Therapeutic Delivery with DG9, a Versatile Cell-Penetrating Peptide. Cells 2023; 12:2395. [PMID: 37830609 PMCID: PMC10572411 DOI: 10.3390/cells12192395] [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: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide-based (ASO) therapeutics have emerged as a promising strategy for the treatment of human disorders. Charge-neutral PMOs have promising biological and pharmacological properties for antisense applications. Despite their great potential, the efficient delivery of these therapeutic agents to target cells remains a major obstacle to their widespread use. Cellular uptake of naked PMO is poor. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) appear as a possibility to increase the cellular uptake and intracellular delivery of oligonucleotide-based drugs. Among these, the DG9 peptide has been identified as a versatile CPP with remarkable potential for enhancing the delivery of ASO-based therapeutics due to its unique structural features. Notably, in the context of phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMOs), DG9 has shown promise in enhancing delivery while maintaining a favorable toxicity profile. A few studies have highlighted the potential of DG9-conjugated PMOs in DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) and SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), displaying significant exon skipping/inclusion and functional improvements in animal models. The article provides an overview of a detailed understanding of the challenges that ASOs face prior to reaching their targets and continued advances in methods to improve their delivery to target sites and cellular uptake, focusing on DG9, which aims to harness ASOs' full potential in precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umme Sabrina Haque
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
- The Friends of Garrett Cumming Research & Muscular Dystrophy Canada HM Toupin Neurological Science Research, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
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6
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Gupta D, Orehek S, Turunen J, O’Donovan L, Gait MJ, El-Andaloussi S, Wood MJA. Modulation of Pro-Inflammatory IL-6 Trans-Signaling Axis by Splice Switching Oligonucleotides as a Therapeutic Modality in Inflammation. Cells 2023; 12:2285. [PMID: 37759507 PMCID: PMC10526877 DOI: 10.3390/cells12182285] [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: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that plays a crucial role in maintaining normal homeostatic processes under the pathogenesis of various inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. This context-dependent effect from a cytokine is due to two distinctive forms of signaling: cis-signaling and trans-signaling. IL-6 cis-signaling involves binding IL-6 to the membrane-bound IL-6 receptor and Glycoprotein 130 (GP130) signal-transducing subunit. By contrast, in IL-6 trans-signaling, complexes of IL-6 and the soluble form of the IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) signal via membrane-bound GP130. Various strategies have been employed in the past decade to target the pro-inflammatory effect of IL-6 in numerous inflammatory disorders. However, their development has been hindered since these approaches generally target global IL-6 signaling, also affecting the anti-inflammatory effects of IL-6 signaling too. Therefore, novel strategies explicitly targeting the pro-inflammatory IL-6 trans-signaling without affecting the IL-6 cis-signaling are required and carry immense therapeutic potential. Here, we have developed a novel approach to specifically decoy IL-6-mediated trans-signaling by modulating alternative splicing in GP130, an IL-6 signal transducer, by employing splice switching oligonucleotides (SSO), to induce the expression of truncated soluble isoforms of the protein GP130. This isoform is devoid of signaling domains but allows for specifically sequestering the IL-6/sIL-6R receptor complex with high affinity in serum and thereby suppressing inflammation. Using the state-of-the-art Pip6a cell-penetrating peptide conjugated to PMO-based SSO targeting GP130 for efficient in vivo delivery, reduced disease phenotypes in two different inflammatory mouse models of systemic and intestinal inflammation were observed. Overall, this novel gene therapy platform holds great potential as a refined therapeutic intervention for chronic inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhanu Gupta
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- Biomolecular Medicine, Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 14151 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Sara Orehek
- Biomolecular Medicine, Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 14151 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Janne Turunen
- Biomolecular Medicine, Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 14151 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Liz O’Donovan
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Michael J. Gait
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Samir El-Andaloussi
- Biomolecular Medicine, Division of Biomolecular and Cellular Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, 14151 Huddinge, Sweden
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7
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Gasparello J, Papi C, Zurlo M, Volpi S, Gambari R, Corradini R, Casnati A, Sansone F, Finotti A. Cationic Calix[4]arene Vectors to Efficiently Deliver AntimiRNA Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs) and miRNA Mimics. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2121. [PMID: 37631335 PMCID: PMC10460053 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082121] [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: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most appealing approaches for regulating gene expression, named the "microRNA therapeutic" method, is based on the regulation of the activity of microRNAs (miRNAs), the intracellular levels of which are dysregulated in many diseases, including cancer. This can be achieved by miRNA inhibition with antimiRNA molecules in the case of overexpressed microRNAs, or by using miRNA-mimics to restore downregulated microRNAs that are associated with the target disease. The development of new efficient, low-toxic, and targeted vectors of such molecules represents a key topic in the field of the pharmacological modulation of microRNAs. We compared the delivery efficiency of a small library of cationic calix[4]arene vectors complexed with fluorescent antimiRNA molecules (Peptide Nucleic Acids, PNAs), pre-miRNA (microRNA precursors), and mature microRNAs, in glioma- and colon-cancer cellular models. The transfection was assayed by cytofluorimetry, cell imaging assays, and RT-qPCR. The calix[4]arene-based vectors were shown to be powerful tools to facilitate the uptake of both neutral (PNAs) and negatively charged (pre-miRNAs and mature microRNAs) molecules showing low toxicity in transfected cells and ability to compete with commercially available vectors in terms of delivery efficiency. These results could be of great interest to validate microRNA therapeutics approaches for future application in personalized treatment and precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Gasparello
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.G.); (C.P.); (M.Z.); (R.G.)
| | - Chiara Papi
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.G.); (C.P.); (M.Z.); (R.G.)
| | - Matteo Zurlo
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.G.); (C.P.); (M.Z.); (R.G.)
| | - Stefano Volpi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (S.V.); (R.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Roberto Gambari
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.G.); (C.P.); (M.Z.); (R.G.)
| | - Roberto Corradini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (S.V.); (R.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Alessandro Casnati
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (S.V.); (R.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Francesco Sansone
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (S.V.); (R.C.); (A.C.)
| | - Alessia Finotti
- Section of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (J.G.); (C.P.); (M.Z.); (R.G.)
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8
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Almeida CF, Robriquet F, Vetter TA, Huang N, Neinast R, Hernandez-Rosario L, Rajakumar D, Arnold WD, McBride KL, Flanigan KM, Weiss RB, Wein N. Promising AAV.U7snRNAs vectors targeting DMPK improve DM1 hallmarks in patient-derived cell lines. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1181040. [PMID: 37397246 PMCID: PMC10309041 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1181040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common form of muscular dystrophy in adults and affects mainly the skeletal muscle, heart, and brain. DM1 is caused by a CTG repeat expansion in the 3'UTR region of the DMPK gene that sequesters muscleblind-like proteins, blocking their splicing activity and forming nuclear RNA foci. Consequently, many genes have their splicing reversed to a fetal pattern. There is no treatment for DM1, but several approaches have been explored, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) aiming to knock down DMPK expression or bind to the CTGs expansion. ASOs were shown to reduce RNA foci and restore the splicing pattern. However, ASOs have several limitations and although being safe treated DM1 patients did not demonstrate improvement in a human clinical trial. AAV-based gene therapies have the potential to overcome such limitations, providing longer and more stable expression of antisense sequences. In the present study, we designed different antisense sequences targeting exons 5 or 8 of DMPK and the CTG repeat tract aiming to knock down DMPK expression or promote steric hindrance, respectively. The antisense sequences were inserted in U7snRNAs, which were then vectorized in AAV8 particles. Patient-derived myoblasts treated with AAV8. U7snRNAs showed a significant reduction in the number of RNA foci and re-localization of muscle-blind protein. RNA-seq analysis revealed a global splicing correction in different patient-cell lines, without alteration in DMPK expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila F. Almeida
- Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Florence Robriquet
- Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Tatyana A. Vetter
- Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Nianyuan Huang
- Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Reid Neinast
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | | | - Dhanarajan Rajakumar
- Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - W. David Arnold
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, United States
| | - Kim L. McBride
- Center for Cardiovascular Research, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Kevin M. Flanigan
- Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Neurology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
| | - Robert B. Weiss
- Department of Human Genetics, The University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | - Nicolas Wein
- Center for Gene Therapy, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States
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9
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Porquet F, Weidong L, Jehasse K, Gazon H, Kondili M, Blacher S, Massotte L, Di Valentin E, Furling D, Gillet NA, Klein AF, Seutin V, Willems L. Specific DMPK-promoter targeting by CRISPRi reverses myotonic dystrophy type 1-associated defects in patient muscle cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 32:857-871. [PMID: 37273786 PMCID: PMC10238591 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a neuromuscular disease that originates from an expansion of CTG microsatellites in the 3' untranslated region of the DMPK gene, thus leading to the expression of transcripts containing expanded CUG repeats (CUGexp). The pathophysiology is explained by a toxic RNA gain of function where CUGexp RNAs form nuclear aggregates that sequester and alter the function of MBNL splicing factors, triggering splicing misregulation linked to the DM1 symptoms. There is currently no cure for DM1, and most therapeutic strategies aim at eliminating CUGexp-DMPK transcripts. Here, we investigate a DMPK-promoter silencing strategy using CRISPR interference as a new alternative approach. Different sgRNAs targeting the DMPK promoter are evaluated in DM1 patient muscle cells. The most effective guides allowed us to reduce the level of DMPK transcripts and CUGexp-RNA aggregates up to 80%. The CUGexp-DMPK repression corrects the overall transcriptome, including spliceopathy, and reverses a physiological parameter in DM1 muscle cells. Its action is specific and restricted to the DMPK gene, as confirmed by genome-wide expression analysis. Altogether, our findings highlight DMPK-promoter silencing by CRISPRi as a promising therapeutic approach for DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florent Porquet
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Epigenetics, GIGA-Cancer, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, GIGA-Neurosciences, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Lin Weidong
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Epigenetics, GIGA-Cancer, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Kévin Jehasse
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, GIGA-Neurosciences, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Hélène Gazon
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Epigenetics, GIGA-Cancer, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Maria Kondili
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Silvia Blacher
- Laboratory of Biology of Tumor and Development, GIGA-Cancer, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Laurent Massotte
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, GIGA-Neurosciences, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | | | - Denis Furling
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Albert Gillet
- Namur Research Institute for Life Sciences (NARILIS), Integrated Veterinary Research Unit (URVI), University of Namur, 5000 Namur, Belgium
| | - Arnaud François Klein
- Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Vincent Seutin
- Laboratory of Neurophysiology, GIGA-Neurosciences, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - Luc Willems
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Epigenetics, GIGA-Cancer, ULiège, 4000 Liège, Belgium
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10
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El Boujnouni N, van der Bent ML, Willemse M, ’t Hoen PA, Brock R, Wansink DG. Block or degrade? Balancing on- and off-target effects of antisense strategies against transcripts with expanded triplet repeats in DM1. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 32:622-636. [PMID: 37200862 PMCID: PMC10185704 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies for myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) are based on elimination of transcripts containing an expanded repeat or inhibition of sequestration of RNA-binding proteins. This activity is achievable by both degradation of expanded transcripts and steric hindrance, although it is unknown which approach is superior. We compared blocking ASOs with RNase H-recruiting gapmers of equivalent chemistries. Two DMPK target sequences were selected: the triplet repeat and a unique sequence upstream thereof. We assessed ASO effects on transcript levels, ribonucleoprotein foci and disease-associated missplicing, and performed RNA sequencing to investigate on- and off-target effects. Both gapmers and the repeat blocker led to significant DMPK knockdown and a reduction in (CUG)exp foci. However, the repeat blocker was more effective in MBNL1 protein displacement and had superior efficiency in splicing correction at the tested dose of 100 nM. By comparison, on a transcriptome level, the blocking ASO had the fewest off-target effects. In particular, the off-target profile of the repeat gapmer asks for cautious consideration in further therapeutic development. Altogether, our study demonstrates the importance of evaluating both on-target and downstream effects of ASOs in a DM1 context, and provides guiding principles for safe and effective targeting of toxic transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Najoua El Boujnouni
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - M. Leontien van der Bent
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Marieke Willemse
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Peter A.C. ’t Hoen
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 293, Bahrain
- Corresponding author Roland Brock, Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Derick G. Wansink
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Corresponding author Derick G. Wansink, Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
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11
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Lim WF, Rinaldi C. RNA Transcript Diversity in Neuromuscular Research. J Neuromuscul Dis 2023:JND221601. [PMID: 37182892 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-221601] [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: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Three decades since the Human Genome Project began, scientists have now identified more then 25,000 protein coding genes in the human genome. The vast majority of the protein coding genes (> 90%) are multi-exonic, with the coding DNA being interrupted by intronic sequences, which are removed from the pre-mRNA transcripts before being translated into proteins, a process called splicing maturation. Variations in this process, i.e. by exon skipping, intron retention, alternative 5' splice site (5'ss), 3' splice site (3'ss), or polyadenylation usage, lead to remarkable transcriptome and proteome diversity in human tissues. Given its critical biological importance, alternative splicing is tightly regulated in a tissue- and developmental stage-specific manner. The central nervous system and skeletal muscle are amongst the tissues with the highest number of differentially expressed alternative exons, revealing a remarkable degree of transcriptome complexity. It is therefore not surprising that splicing mis-regulation is causally associated with a myriad of neuromuscular diseases, including but not limited to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), and myotonic dystrophy type 1 and 2 (DM1, DM2). A gene's transcript diversity has since become an integral and an important consideration for drug design, development and therapy. In this review, we will discuss transcript diversity in the context of neuromuscular diseases and current approaches to address splicing mis-regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wooi Fang Lim
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Carlo Rinaldi
- Department of Paediatrics and Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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12
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Soltész D, Szabó I, Bánóczi Z. The Balance between Hydrophobicity/Aromaticity and Positively Charged Residues May Influence the Cell Penetration Ability. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:pharmaceutics15041267. [PMID: 37111751 PMCID: PMC10146604 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15041267] [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: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are commonly modified to increase their cellular uptake, alter the mechanism of penetration or enhance their endosomal release. Earlier, we described the internalization enhancement ability of the 4-((4-(dimethylamino)phenyl)azo)benzoyl (Dabcyl) group. We proved that this modification on the N-terminus of tetra- and hexaarginine enhanced their cellular uptake. The introduction of an aromatic ring 4-(aminomethyl) benzoic acid, AMBA) into the peptide backbone has a synergistic effect with Dabcyl, and the tetraarginine derivatives had outstanding cellular uptake. Based on these results, the effect of Dabcyl or Dabcyl-AMBA modification on the internalization of oligoarginines was studied. Oligoarginines were modified with these groups and their internalization was measured using flow cytometry. The concentration dependence of the cellular uptake of selected constructs was compared too. Their internalization mechanism was also examined by using different endocytosis inhibitors. While the effect of the Dabcyl group was optimal for hexaarginine, the Dabcyl-AMBA group increased the cellular uptake in the case of all oligoarginines. All derivatives, with the exception of only tetraarginine, were more effective than the octaarginine control. The internalization mechanism was dependent on the size of the oligoarginine and was independent of the modification. Our findings suggest that these modifications enhanced the internalization of oligoarginines and resulted in novel, very effective CPPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dóra Soltész
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Eötvös L. University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Ildikó Szabó
- ELKH-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Bánóczi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Eötvös L. University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
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13
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Hu N, Kim E, Antoury L, Wheeler TM. Correction of Clcn1 alternative splicing reverses muscle fiber type transition in mice with myotonic dystrophy. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1956. [PMID: 37029100 PMCID: PMC10082032 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37619-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
In myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1), deregulated alternative splicing of the muscle chloride channel Clcn1 causes myotonia, a delayed relaxation of muscles due to repetitive action potentials. The degree of weakness in adult DM1 is associated with increased frequency of oxidative muscle fibers. However, the mechanism for glycolytic-to-oxidative fiber type transition in DM1 and its relationship to myotonia are uncertain. Here we cross two mouse models of DM1 to create a double homozygous model that features progressive functional impairment, severe myotonia, and near absence of type 2B glycolytic fibers. Intramuscular injection of an antisense oligonucleotide for targeted skipping of Clcn1 exon 7a corrects Clcn1 alternative splicing, increases glycolytic 2B levels to ≥ 40% frequency, reduces muscle injury, and improves fiber hypertrophy relative to treatment with a control oligo. Our results demonstrate that fiber type transitions in DM1 result from myotonia and are reversible, and support the development of Clcn1-targeting therapies for DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningyan Hu
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eunjoo Kim
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Layal Antoury
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Thurman M Wheeler
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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14
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Stoodley J, Vallejo-Bedia F, Seone-Miraz D, Debasa-Mouce M, Wood MJA, Varela MA. Application of Antisense Conjugates for the Treatment of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032697. [PMID: 36769018 PMCID: PMC9916419 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032697] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is one of the most common muscular dystrophies and can be potentially treated with antisense therapy decreasing mutant DMPK, targeting miRNAs or their binding sites or via a blocking mechanism for MBNL1 displacement from the repeats. Unconjugated antisense molecules are able to correct the disease phenotype in mouse models, but they show poor muscle penetration upon systemic delivery in DM1 patients. In order to overcome this challenge, research has focused on the improvement of the therapeutic window and biodistribution of antisense therapy using bioconjugation to lipids, cell penetrating peptides or antibodies. Antisense conjugates are able to induce the long-lasting correction of DM1 pathology at both molecular and functional levels and also efficiently penetrate hard-to-reach tissues such as cardiac muscle. Delivery to the CNS at clinically relevant levels remains challenging and the use of alternative administration routes may be necessary to ameliorate some of the symptoms experienced by DM1 patients. With several antisense therapies currently in clinical trials, the outlook for achieving a clinically approved treatment for patients has never looked more promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Stoodley
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Francisco Vallejo-Bedia
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
| | - David Seone-Miraz
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Manuel Debasa-Mouce
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Matthew J A Wood
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
| | - Miguel A Varela
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Roosevelt Dr, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
- MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford OX3 7TY, UK
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15
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Stoodley J, Miraz DS, Jad Y, Fischer M, Wood MJA, Varela MA. Peptide-Conjugated PMOs for the Treatment of Myotonic Dystrophy. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2587:209-237. [PMID: 36401033 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2772-3_13] [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: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have shown great therapeutic potential in the treatment of many neuromuscular diseases including myotonic dystrophy 1 (DM1). However, systemically delivered ASOs display poor biodistribution and display limited penetration into skeletal muscle. The conjugation of cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) to phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotides (PMOs), a class of ASOs with a modified backbone, can be used to enhance ASO skeletal muscle penetration. Peptide-PMOs (P-PMOs) have been shown to be highly effective in correcting the DM1 skeletal muscle phenotype in both murine and cellular models of DM1 and at a molecular and functional level. Here we describe the synthesis and conjugation of P-PMOs and methods for analyzing their biodistribution and toxicity in the HSA-LR DM1 mouse model and their efficacy both in vitro and in vivo using FISH and RT-PCR splicing analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Stoodley
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - David Seoane Miraz
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Yahya Jad
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Mathieu Fischer
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Matthew J A Wood
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford, UK
| | - Miguel A Varela
- Department of Paediatrics, Institute of Developmental and Regenerative Medicine (IDRM), University of Oxford, Oxford, UK. .,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, Oxford, UK.
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16
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De Serres-Bérard T, Ait Benichou S, Jauvin D, Boutjdir M, Puymirat J, Chahine M. Recent Progress and Challenges in the Development of Antisense Therapies for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13359. [PMID: 36362145 PMCID: PMC9657934 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a dominant genetic disease in which the expansion of long CTG trinucleotides in the 3' UTR of the myotonic dystrophy protein kinase (DMPK) gene results in toxic RNA gain-of-function and gene mis-splicing affecting mainly the muscles, the heart, and the brain. The CUG-expanded transcripts are a suitable target for the development of antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) therapies. Various chemical modifications of the sugar-phosphate backbone have been reported to significantly enhance the affinity of ASOs for RNA and their resistance to nucleases, making it possible to reverse DM1-like symptoms following systemic administration in different transgenic mouse models. However, specific tissue delivery remains to be improved to achieve significant clinical outcomes in humans. Several strategies, including ASO conjugation to cell-penetrating peptides, fatty acids, or monoclonal antibodies, have recently been shown to improve potency in muscle and cardiac tissues in mice. Moreover, intrathecal administration of ASOs may be an advantageous complementary administration route to bypass the blood-brain barrier and correct defects of the central nervous system in DM1. This review describes the evolution of the chemical design of antisense oligonucleotides targeting CUG-expanded mRNAs and how recent advances in the field may be game-changing by forwarding laboratory findings into clinical research and treatments for DM1 and other microsatellite diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thiéry De Serres-Bérard
- CERVO Research Center, Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Siham Ait Benichou
- LOEX, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, QC G1J 1Z4, Canada
| | - Dominic Jauvin
- CERVO Research Center, Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada
| | - Mohamed Boutjdir
- Cardiovascular Research Program, VA New York Harbor Healthcare System, New York, NY 11209, USA
- Department of Medicine, Cell Biology and Pharmacology, State University of New York Downstate Health Science University, New York, NY 11203, USA
- Department of Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Jack Puymirat
- LOEX, CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, QC G1J 1Z4, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Mohamed Chahine
- CERVO Research Center, Institut Universitaire en Santé Mentale de Québec, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
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17
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Development of Therapeutic Approaches for Myotonic Dystrophies Type 1 and Type 2. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810491. [PMID: 36142405 PMCID: PMC9499601 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Revised: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic Dystrophies type 1 (DM1) and type 2 (DM2) are complex multisystem diseases without disease-based therapies. These disorders are caused by the expansions of unstable CTG (DM1) and CCTG (DM2) repeats outside of the coding regions of the disease genes: DMPK in DM1 and CNBP in DM2. Multiple clinical and molecular studies provided a consensus for DM1 pathogenesis, showing that the molecular pathophysiology of DM1 is associated with the toxicity of RNA CUG repeats, which cause multiple disturbances in RNA metabolism in patients' cells. As a result, splicing, translation, RNA stability and transcription of multiple genes are misregulated in DM1 cells. While mutant CCUG repeats are the main cause of DM2, additional factors might play a role in DM2 pathogenesis. This review describes current progress in the translation of mechanistic knowledge in DM1 and DM2 to clinical trials, with a focus on the development of disease-specific therapies for patients with adult forms of DM1 and congenital DM1 (CDM1).
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18
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Kreda SM. Oligonucleotide-based therapies for cystic fibrosis. Curr Opin Pharmacol 2022; 66:102271. [PMID: 35988291 DOI: 10.1016/j.coph.2022.102271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
In the clinically successful era of CFTR modulators and Theratyping, 10-20% of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF) may develop disease due to CFTR mutations that remain undruggable. These individuals produce low levels of CFTR mRNA and/or not enough protein to be rescued with modulator drugs. Alternative therapeutic approaches to correct the CFTR defect at the mRNA level using nucleic acid technologies are currently feasible; e.g., oligonucleotides platforms, which are being rapidly developed to correct genetic disorders. Drug-like properties, great specificity, and predictable off-target effects by design make oligonucleotides a valuable approach with fewer clinical and ethical challenges than genomic editing strategies. Together with personalized and precision medicine approaches, oligonucleotides are ideal therapeutics to target CF-causing mutations that affect only a few individuals resilient to modulator therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia M Kreda
- Marsico Lung Institute / Cystic Fibrosis Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 6009 Thurston Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7248, USA; Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7248, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 27599-7248, USA.
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19
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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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20
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Molecular Therapies for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1: From Small Drugs to Gene Editing. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094622. [PMID: 35563013 PMCID: PMC9101876 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common muscular dystrophy affecting many different body tissues, predominantly skeletal and cardiac muscles and the central nervous system. The expansion of CTG repeats in the DM1 protein-kinase (DMPK) gene is the genetic cause of the disease. The pathogenetic mechanisms are mainly mediated by the production of a toxic expanded CUG transcript from the DMPK gene. With the availability of new knowledge, disease models, and technical tools, much progress has been made in the discovery of altered pathways and in the potential of therapeutic intervention, making the path to the clinic a closer reality. In this review, we describe and discuss the molecular therapeutic strategies for DM1, which are designed to directly target the CTG genomic tract, the expanded CUG transcript or downstream signaling molecules.
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21
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Szabó I, Yousef M, Soltész D, Bató C, Mező G, Bánóczi Z. Redesigning of Cell-Penetrating Peptides to Improve Their Efficacy as a Drug Delivery System. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14050907. [PMID: 35631493 PMCID: PMC9146218 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14050907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 04/11/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) are promising tools for the transport of a broad range of compounds into cells. Since the discovery of the first members of this peptide family, many other peptides have been identified; nowadays, dozens of these peptides are known. These peptides sometimes have very different chemical–physical properties, but they have similar drawbacks; e.g., non-specific internalization, fast elimination from the body, intracellular/vesicular entrapment. Although our knowledge regarding the mechanism and structure–activity relationship of internalization is growing, the prediction and design of the cell-penetrating properties are challenging. In this review, we focus on the different modifications of well-known CPPs to avoid their drawbacks, as well as how these modifications may increase their internalization and/or change the mechanism of penetration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ildikó Szabó
- MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary;
- Correspondence: (I.S.); (Z.B.)
| | - Mo’ath Yousef
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Dóra Soltész
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Csaba Bató
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Gábor Mező
- MTA-ELTE Research Group of Peptide Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd Research Network (ELKH), Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary;
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (C.B.)
| | - Zoltán Bánóczi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, Eötvös Loránd University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (M.Y.); (D.S.); (C.B.)
- Correspondence: (I.S.); (Z.B.)
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22
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Overby SJ, Cerro-Herreros E, González-Martínez I, Varela MA, Seoane-Miraz D, Jad Y, Raz R, Møller T, Pérez-Alonso M, Wood MJ, Llamusí B, Artero R. Proof of concept of peptide-linked blockmiR-induced MBNL functional rescue in myotonic dystrophy type 1 mouse model. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:1146-1155. [PMID: 35282418 PMCID: PMC8888893 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is a debilitating neuromuscular disease causing muscle weakness, myotonia, and cardiac dysfunction. The phenotypes are caused by muscleblind-like (MBNL) protein sequestration by toxic RNA in the DM1 protein kinase (DMPK) gene. DM1 patients exhibit a pathogenic number of repetitions in DMPK, which leads to downstream symptoms. Another disease characteristic is altered microRNA (miRNA) expression. It was previously shown that miR-23b regulates the translation of MBNL1 into protein. Antisense oligonucleotide (AON) treatment targeting this miRNA can improve disease symptoms. Here, we present a refinement of this strategy targeting a miR-23b binding site on the MBNL1 3' UTR in DM1 model cells and mice by using AONs called blockmiRs. BlockmiRs linked to novel cell-penetrating peptide chemistry showed an increase in MBNL1 protein in DM1 model cells and HSALR mice. They also showed an increase in muscle strength and significant rescue of downstream splicing and histological phenotypes in mice without disturbing the endogenous levels of other miR-23b target transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah J Overby
- University Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Estefanía Cerro-Herreros
- University Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Irene González-Martínez
- University Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Miguel A Varela
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - David Seoane-Miraz
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yahya Jad
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Richard Raz
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Manuel Pérez-Alonso
- University Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Matthew J Wood
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK.,MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Beatriz Llamusí
- University Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain
| | - Rubén Artero
- University Institute of Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), Universidad de Valencia, 46100 Burjassot, Spain.,Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Biomedical Research Institute, 46010 Valencia, Spain
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23
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Kobayashi Y, Chhoeu C, Li J, Price KS, Kiedrowski LA, Hutchins JL, Hardin AI, Wei Z, Hong F, Bahcall M, Gokhale PC, Jänne PA. Silent mutations reveal therapeutic vulnerability in RAS Q61 cancers. Nature 2022; 603:335-342. [PMID: 35236983 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-022-04451-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
RAS family members are the most frequently mutated oncogenes in human cancers. Although KRAS(G12C)-specific inhibitors show clinical activity in patients with cancer1-3, there are no direct inhibitors of NRAS, HRAS or non-G12C KRAS variants. Here we uncover the requirement of the silent KRASG60G mutation for cells to produce a functional KRAS(Q61K). In the absence of this G60G mutation in KRASQ61K, a cryptic splice donor site is formed, promoting alternative splicing and premature protein termination. A G60G silent mutation eliminates the splice donor site, yielding a functional KRAS(Q61K) variant. We detected a concordance of KRASQ61K and a G60G/A59A silent mutation in three independent pan-cancer cohorts. The region around RAS Q61 is enriched in exonic splicing enhancer (ESE) motifs and we designed mutant-specific oligonucleotides to interfere with ESE-mediated splicing, rendering the RAS(Q61) protein non-functional in a mutant-selective manner. The induction of aberrant splicing by antisense oligonucleotides demonstrated therapeutic effects in vitro and in vivo. By studying the splicing necessary for a functional KRAS(Q61K), we uncover a mutant-selective treatment strategy for RASQ61 cancer and expose a mutant-specific vulnerability, which could potentially be exploited for therapy in other genetic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshihisa Kobayashi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Division of Molecular Pathology, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Chhayheng Chhoeu
- Experimental Therapeutics Core, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiaqi Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristin S Price
- Department of Medical Affairs, Guardant Health, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | | | - Jamie L Hutchins
- Department of Medical Affairs, Guardant Health, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Aaron I Hardin
- Department of Medical Affairs, Guardant Health, Redwood City, CA, USA
| | - Zihan Wei
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Fangxin Hong
- Department of Data Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Magda Bahcall
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Prafulla C Gokhale
- Experimental Therapeutics Core, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.,Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pasi A Jänne
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. .,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. .,Belfer Center for Applied Cancer Science, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. .,Lowe Center for Thoracic Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA.
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24
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Arandel L, Matloka M, Klein AF, Rau F, Sureau A, Ney M, Cordier A, Kondili M, Polay-Espinoza M, Naouar N, Ferry A, Lemaitre M, Begard S, Colin M, Lamarre C, Tran H, Buée L, Marie J, Sergeant N, Furling D. Reversal of RNA toxicity in myotonic dystrophy via a decoy RNA-binding protein with high affinity for expanded CUG repeats. Nat Biomed Eng 2022; 6:207-220. [PMID: 35145256 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00838-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is an RNA-dominant disease whose pathogenesis stems from the functional loss of muscleblind-like RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), which causes the formation of alternative-splicing defects. The loss of functional muscleblind-like protein 1 (MBNL1) results from its nuclear sequestration by mutant transcripts containing pathogenic expanded CUG repeats (CUGexp). Here we show that an RBP engineered to act as a decoy for CUGexp reverses the toxicity of the mutant transcripts. In vitro, the binding of the RBP decoy to CUGexp in immortalized muscle cells derived from a patient with DM1 released sequestered endogenous MBNL1 from nuclear RNA foci, restored MBNL1 activity, and corrected the transcriptomic signature of DM1. In mice with DM1, the local or systemic delivery of the RBP decoy via an adeno-associated virus into the animals' skeletal muscle led to the long-lasting correction of the splicing defects and to ameliorated disease pathology. Our findings support the development of decoy RBPs with high binding affinities for expanded RNA repeats as a therapeutic strategy for myotonic dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ludovic Arandel
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Magdalena Matloka
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Arnaud F Klein
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Frédérique Rau
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Alain Sureau
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Michel Ney
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Aurélien Cordier
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Maria Kondili
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Micaela Polay-Espinoza
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Naira Naouar
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Arnaud Ferry
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université Paris Descartes, Paris, France
| | - Mégane Lemaitre
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France.,Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Phénotypage du petit animal, Paris, France
| | - Séverine Begard
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Morvane Colin
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Chloé Lamarre
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Hélène Tran
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Luc Buée
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France
| | - Joëlle Marie
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France
| | - Nicolas Sergeant
- Université de Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Lille Neuroscience and Cognition, Lille, France.
| | - Denis Furling
- Sorbonne Université, Inserm, Institut de Myologie, Centre de Recherche en Myologie, Paris, France.
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25
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van Hees M, Slott S, Hansen AH, Kim HS, Ji HP, Astakhova K. New approaches to moderate CRISPR-Cas9 activity: Addressing issues of cellular uptake and endosomal escape. Mol Ther 2022; 30:32-46. [PMID: 34091053 PMCID: PMC8753288 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9 is rapidly entering molecular biology and biomedicine as a promising gene-editing tool. A unique feature of CRISPR-Cas9 is a single-guide RNA directing a Cas9 nuclease toward its genomic target. Herein, we highlight new approaches for improving cellular uptake and endosomal escape of CRISPR-Cas9. As opposed to other recently published works, this review is focused on non-viral carriers as a means to facilitate the cellular uptake of CRISPR-Cas9 through endocytosis. The majority of non-viral carriers, such as gold nanoparticles, polymer nanoparticles, lipid nanoparticles, and nanoscale zeolitic imidazole frameworks, is developed with a focus toward optimizing the endosomal escape of CRISPR-Cas9 by taking advantage of the acidic environment in the late endosomes. Among the most broadly used methods for in vitro and ex vivo ribonucleotide protein transfection are electroporation and microinjection. Thus, other delivery formats are warranted for in vivo delivery of CRISPR-Cas9. Herein, we specifically revise the use of peptide and nanoparticle-based systems as platforms for CRISPR-Cas9 delivery in vivo. Finally, we highlight future perspectives of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing tool and the prospects of using non-viral vectors to improve its bioavailability and therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja van Hees
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Sofie Slott
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Heon Seok Kim
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94350, USA
| | - Hanlee P. Ji
- School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94350, USA
| | - Kira Astakhova
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark,Corresponding author: Kira Astakhova, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark.
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26
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Narayanaswami P, Živković S. Molecular and Genetic Therapies. Neuromuscul Disord 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-323-71317-7.00011-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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27
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Geng J, Xia X, Teng L, Wang L, Chen L, Guo X, Belingon B, Li J, Feng X, Li X, Shang W, Wan Y, Wang H. Emerging landscape of cell-penetrating peptide-mediated nucleic acid delivery and their utility in imaging, gene-editing, and RNA-sequencing. J Control Release 2022; 341:166-183. [PMID: 34822907 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.11.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The safety issues like immunogenicity and unacceptable cancer risk of viral vectors for DNA/mRNA vaccine delivery necessitate the development of non-viral vectors with no toxicity. Among the non-viral strategies, cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been a topic of interest recently because of their ability to cross plasma membranes and facilitate nucleic acids delivery both in vivo and in vitro. In addition to the application in the field of gene vaccine and gene therapy, CPPs based nucleic acids delivery have been proved by its potential application like gene editing, RNA-sequencing, and imaging. Here, we focus on summarizing the recent applications and progress of CPPs-mediated nucleic acids delivery and discuss the current problems and solutions in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingping Geng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Xuan Xia
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Lin Teng
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The First Clinical Medical College of China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Lidan Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Linlin Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Affiliated Ren He Hospital of China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Xiangli Guo
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Bonn Belingon
- Institute of Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21210, USA
| | - Jason Li
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21210, USA
| | - Xuemei Feng
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Xianghui Li
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Wendou Shang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Yingying Wan
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immunotherapy, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China
| | - Hu Wang
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Medical School, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443002, China.
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28
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Introduction and History of the Chemistry of Nucleic Acids Therapeutics. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2434:3-31. [PMID: 35213007 PMCID: PMC7612508 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2010-6_1] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
This introduction charts the history of the development of the major chemical modifications that have influenced the development of nucleic acids therapeutics focusing in particular on antisense oligonucleotide analogues carrying modifications in the backbone and sugar. Brief mention is made of siRNA development and other applications that have by and large utilized the same modifications. We also point out the pitfalls of the use of nucleic acids as drugs, such as their unwanted interactions with pattern recognition receptors, which can be mitigated by chemical modification or used as immunotherapeutic agents.
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29
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Liu J, Guo ZN, Yan XL, Yang Y, Huang S. Brain Pathogenesis and Potential Therapeutic Strategies in Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Front Aging Neurosci 2021; 13:755392. [PMID: 34867280 PMCID: PMC8634727 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2021.755392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is the most common muscular dystrophy that affects multiple systems including the muscle and heart. The mutant CTG expansion at the 3′-UTR of the DMPK gene causes the expression of toxic RNA that aggregate as nuclear foci. The foci then interfere with RNA-binding proteins, affecting hundreds of mis-spliced effector genes, leading to aberrant alternative splicing and loss of effector gene product functions, ultimately resulting in systemic disorders. In recent years, increasing clinical, imaging, and pathological evidence have indicated that DM1, though to a lesser extent, could also be recognized as true brain diseases, with more and more researchers dedicating to develop novel therapeutic tools dealing with it. In this review, we summarize the current advances in the pathogenesis and pathology of central nervous system (CNS) deficits in DM1, intervention measures currently being investigated are also highlighted, aiming to promote novel and cutting-edge therapeutic investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Liu
- Department of Neurology, Stroke Center & Clinical Trial and Research Center for Stroke, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- China National Comprehensive Stroke Center, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Disease, Changchun, China
| | - Zhen-Ni Guo
- Department of Neurology, Stroke Center & Clinical Trial and Research Center for Stroke, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- China National Comprehensive Stroke Center, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Disease, Changchun, China
| | - Xiu-Li Yan
- Department of Neurology, Stroke Center & Clinical Trial and Research Center for Stroke, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Neurology, Stroke Center & Clinical Trial and Research Center for Stroke, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- China National Comprehensive Stroke Center, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Disease, Changchun, China
| | - Shuo Huang
- Department of Neurology, Stroke Center & Clinical Trial and Research Center for Stroke, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- China National Comprehensive Stroke Center, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebrovascular Disease, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Shuo Huang,
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30
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Yu AM, Tu MJ. Deliver the promise: RNAs as a new class of molecular entities for therapy and vaccination. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 230:107967. [PMID: 34403681 PMCID: PMC9477512 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The concepts of developing RNAs as new molecular entities for therapies have arisen again and again since the discoveries of antisense RNAs, direct RNA-protein interactions, functional noncoding RNAs, and RNA-directed gene editing. The feasibility was demonstrated with the development and utilization of synthetic RNA agents to selectively control target gene expression, modulate protein functions or alter the genome to manage diseases. Rather, RNAs are labile to degradation and cannot cross cell membrane barriers, making it hard to develop RNA medications. With the development of viable RNA technologies, such as chemistry and pharmaceutics, eight antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) (fomivirsen, mipomersen, eteplirsen, nusinersen, inotersen, golodirsen, viltolarsen and casimersen), one aptamer (pegaptanib), and three small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) (patisiran, givosiran and lumasiran) have been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for therapies, and two mRNA vaccines (BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273) under Emergency Use Authorization for the prevention of COVID-19. Therefore, RNAs have become a great addition to small molecules, proteins/antibodies, and cell-based modalities to improve the public health. In this article, we first summarize the general characteristics of therapeutic RNA agents, including chemistry, common delivery strategies, mechanisms of actions, and safety. By overviewing individual RNA medications and vaccines approved by the FDA and some agents under development, we illustrate the unique compositions and pharmacological actions of RNA products. A new era of RNA research and development will likely lead to commercialization of more RNA agents for medical use, expanding the range of therapeutic targets and increasing the diversity of molecular modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ai-Ming Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA.
| | - Mei-Juan Tu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, UC Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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31
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Sharma D, Arora S, Singh J, Layek B. A review of the tortuous path of nonviral gene delivery and recent progress. Int J Biol Macromol 2021; 183:2055-2073. [PMID: 34087309 PMCID: PMC8266766 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2021.05.192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy encompasses the transfer of exogenous genetic materials into the patient's target cells to treat or prevent diseases. Nevertheless, the transfer of genetic material into desired cells is challenging and often requires specialized tools or delivery systems. For the past 40 years, scientists are mainly pursuing various viruses as gene delivery vectors, and the overall progress has been slow and far from the expectation. As an alternative, nonviral vectors have gained substantial attention due to their several advantages, including superior safety profile, enhanced payload capacity, and stealth abilities. Since nonviral vectors encounter multiple extra- and intra-cellular barriers limiting the transfer of genetic payload into the target cell nucleus, we have discussed these barriers in detail for this review. A direct approach, utilizing physical methods like electroporation, sonoporation, gene gun, eliminate the requirement for a specific carrier for gene delivery. In contrast, chemical methods of gene transfer exploit natural or synthetic compounds as carriers to increase cellular targeting and gene therapy effectiveness. We have also emphasized the recent advancements aimed at enhancing the current nonviral approaches. Therefore, in this review, we have focused on discussing the current evolving state of nonviral gene delivery systems and their future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Professions, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105, ND, USA
| | - Sanjay Arora
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Professions, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105, ND, USA
| | - Jagdish Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Professions, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105, ND, USA
| | - Buddhadev Layek
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Professions, North Dakota State University, Fargo 58105, ND, USA.
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32
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Alternative splicing of mRNA in colorectal cancer: new strategies for tumor diagnosis and treatment. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:752. [PMID: 34330892 PMCID: PMC8324868 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04031-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is an important event that contributes to posttranscriptional gene regulation. This process leads to several mature transcript variants with diverse physiological functions. Indeed, disruption of various aspects of this multistep process, such as cis- or trans- factor alteration, promotes the progression of colorectal cancer. Therefore, targeting some specific processes of AS may be an effective therapeutic strategy for treating cancer. Here, we provide an overview of the AS events related to colorectal cancer based on research done in the past 5 years. We focus on the mechanisms and functions of variant products of AS that are relevant to malignant hallmarks, with an emphasis on variants with clinical significance. In addition, novel strategies for exploiting the therapeutic value of AS events are discussed.
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Dang Y, van Heusden C, Nickerson V, Chung F, Wang Y, Quinney NL, Gentzsch M, Randell SH, Moulton HM, Kole R, Ni A, Juliano RL, Kreda SM. Enhanced delivery of peptide-morpholino oligonucleotides with a small molecule to correct splicing defects in the lung. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:6100-6113. [PMID: 34107015 PMCID: PMC8216463 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Pulmonary diseases offer many targets for oligonucleotide therapeutics. However, effective delivery of oligonucleotides to the lung is challenging. For example, splicing mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) affect a significant cohort of Cystic Fibrosis (CF) patients. These individuals could potentially benefit from treatment with splice switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) that can modulate splicing of CFTR and restore its activity. However, previous studies in cell culture used oligonucleotide transfection methods that cannot be safely translated in vivo. In this report, we demonstrate effective correction of a splicing mutation in the lung of a mouse model using SSOs. Moreover, we also demonstrate effective correction of a CFTR splicing mutation in a pre-clinical CF patient-derived cell model. We utilized a highly effective delivery strategy for oligonucleotides by combining peptide-morpholino (PPMO) SSOs with small molecules termed OECs. PPMOs distribute broadly into the lung and other tissues while OECs potentiate the effects of oligonucleotides by releasing them from endosomal entrapment. The combined PPMO plus OEC approach proved to be effective both in CF patient cells and in vivo in the mouse lung and thus may offer a path to the development of novel therapeutics for splicing mutations in CF and other lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Dang
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 6009 Thurston Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill NC 27599-7248, USA
| | - Catharina van Heusden
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 6009 Thurston Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill NC 27599-7248, USA
| | - Veronica Nickerson
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 6009 Thurston Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill NC 27599-7248, USA
| | - Felicity Chung
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 6009 Thurston Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill NC 27599-7248, USA
| | - Yang Wang
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 6009 Thurston Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill NC 27599-7248, USA
| | - Nancy L Quinney
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 6009 Thurston Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill NC 27599-7248, USA
| | - Martina Gentzsch
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 6009 Thurston Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill NC 27599-7248, USA
| | - Scott H Randell
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 6009 Thurston Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill NC 27599-7248, USA
| | - Hong M Moulton
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Ryszard Kole
- Department of Pharmacology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 4010 Genetic Medicine Bldg, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Aiguo Ni
- Initos Pharmaceuticals, LLC, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | | | - Silvia M Kreda
- Marsico Lung Institute/Cystic Fibrosis Center, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 6009 Thurston Bowles Bldg, Chapel Hill NC 27599-7248, USA
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Bizot F, Vulin A, Goyenvalle A. Current Status of Antisense Oligonucleotide-Based Therapy in Neuromuscular Disorders. Drugs 2021; 80:1397-1415. [PMID: 32696107 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-020-01363-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Neuromuscular disorders include a wide range of diseases affecting the peripheral nervous system, which are primarily characterized by progressive muscle weakness and wasting. While there were no effective therapies until recently, several therapeutic approaches have advanced to clinical trials in the past few years. Among these, the antisense technology aiming at modifying RNA processing and function has remarkably progressed and a few antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have now been approved. Despite these recent clinical successes, several ASOs have also failed and clinical programs have been suspended, in most cases when the route of administration was systemic, highlighting the existing challenges notably with respect to effective ASO delivery. In this review we summarize the recent advances and current status of antisense based-therapies for neuromuscular disorders, using successful as well as unsuccessful examples to highlight the variability of outcomes depending on the target tissue and route of administration. We describe the different ASO-mediated therapeutic approaches, including splice-switching applications, steric-blocking strategies and targeted gene knock-down mediated by ribonuclease H recruitment. In this overview, we discuss the merits and challenges of the current ASO technology, and discuss the future of ASO development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavien Bizot
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, END-ICAP, 78000, Versailles, France
| | - Adeline Vulin
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, END-ICAP, 78000, Versailles, France.,SQY Therapeutics, Université de Versailles St-Quentin, Montigny le Bretonneux, France
| | - Aurélie Goyenvalle
- Université Paris-Saclay, UVSQ, Inserm, END-ICAP, 78000, Versailles, France. .,LIA BAHN, Centre scientifique de Monaco, Monaco, Monaco.
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35
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Overcoming the challenges of tissue delivery for oligonucleotide therapeutics. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2021; 42:588-604. [PMID: 34020790 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Synthetic therapeutic oligonucleotides (STO) represent the third bonafide platform for drug discovery in the pharmaceutical industry after small molecule and protein therapeutics. So far, thirteen STOs have been approved by regulatory agencies and over one hundred of them are in different stages of clinical trials. STOs hybridize to their target RNA or DNA in cells via Watson-Crick base pairing to exert their pharmacological effects. This unique class of therapeutic agents has the potential to target genes and gene products that are considered undruggable by other therapeutic platforms. However, STOs must overcome several extracellular and intracellular obstacles to interact with their biological RNA targets inside cells. These obstacles include degradation by extracellular nucleases, scavenging by the reticuloendothelial system, filtration by the kidney, traversing the capillary endothelium to access the tissue interstitium, cell-surface receptor-mediated endocytic uptake, and escape from endolysosomal compartments to access the nuclear and/or cytoplasmic compartments where their targets reside. In this review, we present the recent advances in this field with a specific focus on antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and siRNA therapeutics.
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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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Hammond SM, Aartsma‐Rus A, Alves S, Borgos SE, Buijsen RAM, Collin RWJ, Covello G, Denti MA, Desviat LR, Echevarría L, Foged C, Gaina G, Garanto A, Goyenvalle AT, Guzowska M, Holodnuka I, Jones DR, Krause S, Lehto T, Montolio M, Van Roon‐Mom W, Arechavala‐Gomeza V. Delivery of oligonucleotide-based therapeutics: challenges and opportunities. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e13243. [PMID: 33821570 PMCID: PMC8033518 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202013243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapeutics that regulate gene expression have been developed towards clinical use at a steady pace for several decades, but in recent years the field has been accelerating. To date, there are 11 marketed products based on antisense oligonucleotides, aptamers and small interfering RNAs, and many others are in the pipeline for both academia and industry. A major technology trigger for this development has been progress in oligonucleotide chemistry to improve the drug properties and reduce cost of goods, but the main hurdle for the application to a wider range of disorders is delivery to target tissues. The adoption of delivery technologies, such as conjugates or nanoparticles, has been a game changer for many therapeutic indications, but many others are still awaiting their eureka moment. Here, we cover the variety of methods developed to deliver nucleic acid-based therapeutics across biological barriers and the model systems used to test them. We discuss important safety considerations and regulatory requirements for synthetic oligonucleotide chemistries and the hurdles for translating laboratory breakthroughs to the clinic. Recent advances in the delivery of nucleic acid-based therapeutics and in the development of model systems, as well as safety considerations and regulatory requirements for synthetic oligonucleotide chemistries are discussed in this review on oligonucleotide-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sandra Alves
- Department of Human Genetics, Research and Development UnitNational Health Institute Doutor Ricardo JorgePortoPortugal
| | - Sven E Borgos
- Department of Biotechnology and NanomedicineSINTEF ASTrondheimNorway
| | - Ronald A M Buijsen
- Department of Human GeneticsLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Rob W J Collin
- Department of Human Genetics and Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - Giuseppina Covello
- Department of BiologyUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology ‐ CIBIOUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Michela A Denti
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology ‐ CIBIOUniversity of TrentoTrentoItaly
| | - Lourdes R Desviat
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa UAM‐CSICCIBERER, IdiPazUniversidad Autónoma de MadridMadridSpain
| | | | - Camilla Foged
- Department of PharmacyFaculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of CopenhagenCopenhagen ØDenmark
| | - Gisela Gaina
- Victor Babes National Institute of PathologyBucharestRomania
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyUniversity of BucharestBucharestRomania
| | - Alejandro Garanto
- Department of Human Genetics and Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and BehaviourRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenThe Netherlands
- Department of PediatricsRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | | | - Magdalena Guzowska
- Department of Physiological SciencesFaculty of Veterinary MedicineWarsaw University of Life Sciences – SGGWWarsawPoland
| | - Irina Holodnuka
- Institute of Microbiology and VirologyRiga Stradins UniversityRigaLatvia
| | | | - Sabine Krause
- Department of NeurologyFriedrich‐Baur‐InstituteLudwig‐Maximilians‐University of MunichMunichGermany
| | - Taavi Lehto
- Institute of TechnologyUniversity of TartuTartuEstonia
- Division of Biomolecular and Cellular MedicineDepartment of Laboratory MedicineKarolinska InstitutetHuddingeSweden
| | - Marisol Montolio
- Duchenne Parent Project EspañaMadridSpain
- Department of Cell Biology, Fisiology and ImmunologyFaculty of BiologyUniversity of BarcelonaBarcelonaSpain
| | - Willeke Van Roon‐Mom
- Department of Human GeneticsLeiden University Medical CenterLeidenThe Netherlands
| | - Virginia Arechavala‐Gomeza
- Neuromuscular Disorders GroupBiocruces Bizkaia Health Research InstituteBarakaldoSpain
- Ikerbasque, Basque Foundation for ScienceBilbaoSpain
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Pascual-Gilabert M, López-Castel A, Artero R. Myotonic dystrophy type 1 drug development: A pipeline toward the market. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:1765-1772. [PMID: 33798646 PMCID: PMC8372527 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a multisystemic neuromuscular genetic disease with an estimated prevalence of approximately at least half a million individuals based on its vast ethnic variation. Building upon a well-known physiopathology and several proof-of-concept therapeutic approaches, herein we compile a comprehensive overview of the most recent drug development programs under preclinical and clinical evaluation. Specifically, close to two dozen drug developments, eight of which are already in clinical trials, explore a diversity of new chemical entities, drug repurposing, oligonucleotide, and gene therapy-based approaches. Of these, repurposing of tideglusib, mexiletine, or metformin appear to be therapies with the most potential to receive marketing authorization for DM1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arturo López-Castel
- University Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Ruben Artero
- University Institute for Biotechnology and Biomedicine (BIOTECMED), University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain; Translational Genomics Group, Incliva Health Research Institute, Valencia, Spain; Joint Unit Incliva-CIPF, Valencia, Spain
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Dastpeyman M, Karas JA, Amin A, Turner BJ, Shabanpoor F. Modular Synthesis of Trifunctional Peptide-oligonucleotide Conjugates via Native Chemical Ligation. Front Chem 2021; 9:627329. [PMID: 33738276 PMCID: PMC7962911 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2021.627329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are being increasingly used as efficient vectors for intracellular delivery of biologically active agents, such as therapeutic antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). Unfortunately, ASOs have poor cell membrane permeability. The conjugation of ASOs to CPPs have been shown to significantly improve their cellular permeability and therapeutic efficacy. CPPs are often covalently conjugated to ASOs through a variety of chemical linkages. Most of the reported approaches for ligation of CPPs to ASOs relies on methodologies that forms non-native bond due to incompatibility with in-solution phase conjugation. These approaches have low efficiency and poor yields. Therefore, in this study, we have exploited native chemical ligation (NCL) as an efficient strategy for synthesizing CPP-ASO conjugates. A previously characterized CPP [ApoE(133-150)] was used to conjugate to a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) sequence targeting human survival motor neuron-2 (SMN2) mRNA which has been approved by the FDA for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy. The synthesis of ApoE(133-150)-PNA conjugate using chemo-selective NCL was highly efficient and the conjugate was obtained in high yield. Toward synthesizing trifunctional CPP-ASO conjugates, we subsequently conjugated different functional moieties including a phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligonucleotide (PMO), an additional functional peptide or a fluorescent dye (Cy5) to the thiol that was generated after NCL. The in vitro analysis of the bifunctional CPP-PNA and trifunctional CPP-(PMO)-PNA, CPP-(peptide)-PNA and CPP-(Cy5)-PNA showed that all conjugates are cell-permeable and biologically active. Here we demonstrated chemo-selective NCL as a highly efficient and superior conjugation strategy to previously published methods for facile solution-phase synthesis of bi-/trifunctional CPP-ASO conjugates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohadeseh Dastpeyman
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - John A Karas
- School of Chemistry, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.,The Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Azin Amin
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Bradley J Turner
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Fazel Shabanpoor
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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40
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Cas9 targeting of toxic foci of RNA repeats. Nat Biomed Eng 2021; 5:130-131. [PMID: 33580228 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-021-00688-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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41
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Targeting the 5' untranslated region of SMN2 as a therapeutic strategy for spinal muscular atrophy. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2021; 23:731-742. [PMID: 33575118 PMCID: PMC7851419 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.12.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. All patients have at least one copy of a paralog, SMN2, but a C-to-T transition in this gene results in exon 7 skipping in a majority of transcripts. Approved treatment for SMA involves promoting exon 7 inclusion in the SMN2 transcript or increasing the amount of full-length SMN by gene replacement with a viral vector. Increasing the pool of SMN2 transcripts and increasing their translational efficiency can be used to enhance splice correction. We sought to determine whether the 5' untranslated region (5' UTR) of SMN2 contains a repressive feature that can be targeted to increase SMN levels. We found that antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) complementary to the 5' end of SMN2 increase SMN mRNA and protein levels and that this effect is due to inhibition of SMN2 mRNA decay. Moreover, use of the 5' UTR ASO in combination with a splice-switching oligonucleotide (SSO) increases SMN levels above those attained with the SSO alone. Our results add to the current understanding of SMN regulation and point toward a new therapeutic target for SMA.
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42
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Andreana I, Repellin M, Carton F, Kryza D, Briançon S, Chazaud B, Mounier R, Arpicco S, Malatesta M, Stella B, Lollo G. Nanomedicine for Gene Delivery and Drug Repurposing in the Treatment of Muscular Dystrophies. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:278. [PMID: 33669654 PMCID: PMC7922331 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13020278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 02/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Muscular Dystrophies (MDs) are a group of rare inherited genetic muscular pathologies encompassing a variety of clinical phenotypes, gene mutations and mechanisms of disease. MDs undergo progressive skeletal muscle degeneration causing severe health problems that lead to poor life quality, disability and premature death. There are no available therapies to counteract the causes of these diseases and conventional treatments are administered only to mitigate symptoms. Recent understanding on the pathogenetic mechanisms allowed the development of novel therapeutic strategies based on gene therapy, genome editing CRISPR/Cas9 and drug repurposing approaches. Despite the therapeutic potential of these treatments, once the actives are administered, their instability, susceptibility to degradation and toxicity limit their applications. In this frame, the design of delivery strategies based on nanomedicines holds great promise for MD treatments. This review focuses on nanomedicine approaches able to encapsulate therapeutic agents such as small chemical molecules and oligonucleotides to target the most common MDs such as Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and the Myotonic Dystrophies. The challenge related to in vitro and in vivo testing of nanosystems in appropriate animal models is also addressed. Finally, the most promising nanomedicine-based strategies are highlighted and a critical view in future developments of nanomedicine for neuromuscular diseases is provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Andreana
- Laboratoire d’Automatique, de Génie des Procédés et de Génie Pharmaceutique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (I.A.); (M.R.); (D.K.); (S.B.)
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy;
| | - Mathieu Repellin
- Laboratoire d’Automatique, de Génie des Procédés et de Génie Pharmaceutique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (I.A.); (M.R.); (D.K.); (S.B.)
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy; (F.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Flavia Carton
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy; (F.C.); (M.M.)
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Eastern Piedmont, Via Solaroli 17, 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - David Kryza
- Laboratoire d’Automatique, de Génie des Procédés et de Génie Pharmaceutique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (I.A.); (M.R.); (D.K.); (S.B.)
- Hospices Civils de Lyon, 69437 Lyon, France
| | - Stéphanie Briançon
- Laboratoire d’Automatique, de Génie des Procédés et de Génie Pharmaceutique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (I.A.); (M.R.); (D.K.); (S.B.)
| | - Bénédicte Chazaud
- Institut NeuroMyoGène, University of Lyon, INSERM U1217, CNRS UMR 5310, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France; (B.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Rémi Mounier
- Institut NeuroMyoGène, University of Lyon, INSERM U1217, CNRS UMR 5310, 8 Avenue Rockefeller, 69008 Lyon, France; (B.C.); (R.M.)
| | - Silvia Arpicco
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy;
| | - Manuela Malatesta
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement Sciences, Anatomy and Histology Section, University of Verona, Strada Le Grazie 8, 37134 Verona, Italy; (F.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Barbara Stella
- Department of Drug Science and Technology, University of Turin, Via P. Giuria 9, 10125 Torino, Italy;
| | - Giovanna Lollo
- Laboratoire d’Automatique, de Génie des Procédés et de Génie Pharmaceutique, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS UMR 5007, 43 bd 11 Novembre 1918, 69622 Villeurbanne, France; (I.A.); (M.R.); (D.K.); (S.B.)
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Warman-Chardon J, Jasmin BJ, Kothary R, Parks RJ. Report on the 5th Ottawa International Conference on Neuromuscular Disease & Biology -October 17-19, 2019, Ottawa, Canada. J Neuromuscul Dis 2021; 8:323-334. [PMID: 33492242 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-219001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jodi Warman-Chardon
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Genetics, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Canada.,Neuroscience Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada.,Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Bernard J Jasmin
- Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Rashmi Kothary
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Canada.,Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Canada
| | - Robin J Parks
- Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa, Canada.,Centre for Neuromuscular Disease, University of Ottawa, Canada.,Regenerative Medicine Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Canada
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Abstract
Research and drug development concerning rare diseases are at the cutting edge of scientific technology. To date, over 7,000 rare diseases have been identified. Despite their individual rarity, 1 in 10 individuals worldwide is affected by a rare condition. For the majority of these diseases, there is no treatment, much less cure; therefore, there is an urgent need for new therapies to extend and improve quality of life for persons who suffer from them. Here we focus specifically on rare neuromuscular diseases. Currently, genetic medicines using short antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) or small interfering ribonucleic acids that target RNA transcripts are achieving spectacular success in treating these diseases. For Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the state-of-the-art is an exon skipping therapy using an antisense oligonucleotide, which is prototypical of advanced precision medicines. Very recently, golodirsen and viltolarsen, for treatment of DMD patients amenable to skipping exon 53, have been approved by regulatory agencies in the USA and Japan, respectively. Here, we review scientific and clinical progress in developing new oligonucleotide therapeutics for selected rare neuromuscular diseases, discussing their efficacy and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitsugu Aoki
- Department of Molecular Therapy, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Centre of Neurology and Psychiatry, Kodaira-shi, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Matthew J.A. Wood
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Harrington Rare Disease Centre, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
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Marsh S, Hanson B, Wood MJA, Varela MA, Roberts TC. Application of CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated Genome Editing for the Treatment of Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1. Mol Ther 2020; 28:2527-2539. [PMID: 33171139 PMCID: PMC7704741 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) is a debilitating multisystemic disorder, caused by expansion of a CTG microsatellite repeat in the 3' untranslated region of the DMPK (dystrophia myotonica protein kinase) gene. To date, novel therapeutic approaches have focused on transient suppression of the mutant, repeat-expanded RNA. However, recent developments in the field of genome editing have raised the exciting possibility of inducing permanent correction of the DM1 genetic defect. Specifically, repurposing of the prokaryotic CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats)-Cas9 (CRISPR-associated protein 9) system has enabled programmable, site-specific, and multiplex genome editing. CRISPR-based strategies for the treatment of DM1 can be applied either directly to patients, or indirectly through the ex vivo modification of patient-derived cells, and they include excision of the repeat expansion, insertion of synthetic polyadenylation signals upstream of the repeat, steric interference with RNA polymerase II procession through the repeat leading to transcriptional downregulation of DMPK, and direct RNA targeting of the mutant RNA species. Potential obstacles to such therapies are discussed, including the major challenge of Cas9 and guide RNA transgene/ribonuclear protein delivery, off-target gene editing, vector genome insertion at cut sites, on-target unintended mutagenesis (e.g., repeat inversion), pre-existing immunity to Cas9 or AAV antigens, immunogenicity, and Cas9 persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seren Marsh
- University of Oxford Medical School, Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Britt Hanson
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK; Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Matthew J A Wood
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK; MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, UK
| | - Miguel A Varela
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK
| | - Thomas C Roberts
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QX, UK; MDUK Oxford Neuromuscular Centre, UK.
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Kurrikoff K, Vunk B, Langel Ü. Status update in the use of cell-penetrating peptides for the delivery of macromolecular therapeutics. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2020; 21:361-370. [PMID: 32938243 DOI: 10.1080/14712598.2021.1823368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In this review, recent developments and applications with cell-penetrating peptides (CPP) are discussed. CPPs are widely used tools for the delivery of various macromolecular therapeutics, such as proteins and nucleic acids. AREAS COVERED The current review focuses on recent important advances and reports that demonstrate high clinical and translational potential. Most important clinical developments have occurred with the CPP-drug conjugate approaches that target various protein-protein interactions, and these have been highlighted subsequently. Most of the applications are targeting cancer, but recently, noteworthy advances have taken place in the field of antisense oligonucleotides and muscular dystrophies, lung targeting, and trans-BBB targeting. EXPERT OPINION Successful applications and clinical development with the drug conjugate approaches are discussed. On the other hand, the reasons of why the nanoparticle approaches are not as far in development are analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaido Kurrikoff
- University of Tartu, Institute of Technology, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Birgit Vunk
- University of Tartu, Institute of Technology, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Ülo Langel
- University of Tartu, Institute of Technology, Tartu, Estonia.,Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
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Chu Y, Hu J, Liang H, Kanchwala M, Xing C, Beebe W, Bowman CB, Gong X, Corey DR, Mootha VV. Analyzing pre-symptomatic tissue to gain insights into the molecular and mechanistic origins of late-onset degenerative trinucleotide repeat disease. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:6740-6758. [PMID: 32463444 PMCID: PMC7337964 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
How genetic defects trigger the molecular changes that cause late-onset disease is important for understanding disease progression and therapeutic development. Fuchs' endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is an RNA-mediated disease caused by a trinucleotide CTG expansion in an intron within the TCF4 gene. The mutant intronic CUG RNA is present at one-two copies per cell, posing a challenge to understand how a rare RNA can cause disease. Late-onset FECD is a uniquely advantageous model for studying how RNA triggers disease because: (i) Affected tissue is routinely removed during surgery; (ii) The expanded CTG mutation is one of the most prevalent disease-causing mutations, making it possible to obtain pre-symptomatic tissue from eye bank donors to probe how gene expression changes precede disease; and (iii) The affected tissue is a homogeneous single cell monolayer, facilitating accurate transcriptome analysis. Here, we use RNA sequencing (RNAseq) to compare tissue from individuals who are pre-symptomatic (Pre_S) to tissue from patients with late stage FECD (FECD_REP). The abundance of mutant repeat intronic RNA in Pre_S and FECD_REP tissue is elevated due to increased half-life in a corneal cells. In Pre_S tissue, changes in splicing and extracellular matrix gene expression foreshadow the changes observed in advanced disease and predict the activation of the fibrosis pathway and immune system seen in late-stage patients. The absolute magnitude of splicing changes is similar in pre-symptomatic and late stage tissue. Our data identify gene candidates for early drivers of disease and biomarkers that may represent diagnostic and therapeutic targets for FECD. We conclude that changes in alternative splicing and gene expression are observable decades prior to the diagnosis of late-onset trinucleotide repeat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongjun Chu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Jiaxin Hu
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Hanquan Liang
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Mohammed Kanchwala
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Chao Xing
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Bioinformatics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Population and Data Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Xin Gong
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9057, USA
| | - David R Corey
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - V Vinod Mootha
- Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9057, USA
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Abstract
Oligonucleotides can be used to modulate gene expression via a range of processes including RNAi, target degradation by RNase H-mediated cleavage, splicing modulation, non-coding RNA inhibition, gene activation and programmed gene editing. As such, these molecules have potential therapeutic applications for myriad indications, with several oligonucleotide drugs recently gaining approval. However, despite recent technological advances, achieving efficient oligonucleotide delivery, particularly to extrahepatic tissues, remains a major translational limitation. Here, we provide an overview of oligonucleotide-based drug platforms, focusing on key approaches - including chemical modification, bioconjugation and the use of nanocarriers - which aim to address the delivery challenge.
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50
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Advances in the diagnosis of inherited neuromuscular diseases and implications for therapy development. Lancet Neurol 2020; 19:522-532. [PMID: 32470424 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(20)30028-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Advances in DNA sequencing technologies have resulted in a near doubling, in under 10 years, of the number of causal genes identified for inherited neuromuscular disorders. However, around half of patients, whether children or adults, do not receive a molecular diagnosis after initial diagnostic workup. Massively parallel technologies targeting RNA, proteins, and metabolites are being increasingly used to diagnose these unsolved cases. The use of these technologies to delineate pathways, biomarkers, and therapeutic targets has led to new approaches entering the drug development pipeline. However, these technologies might give rise to misleading conclusions if used in isolation, and traditional techniques including comprehensive neurological evaluation, histopathology, and biochemistry continue to have a crucial role in diagnostics. For optimal diagnosis, prognosis, and precision medicine, no single ruling technology exists. Instead, an interdisciplinary approach combining novel and traditional neurological techniques with computer-aided analysis and international data sharing is needed to advance the diagnosis and treatment of neuromuscular disorders.
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