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Nai A, Cordero-Sanchez C, Tanzi E, Pagani A, Silvestri L, Di Modica SM. Cellular and animal models for the investigation of β-thalassemia. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2024; 104:102761. [PMID: 37271682 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2023.102761] [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: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
β-Thalassemia is a genetic form of anemia due to mutations in the β-globin gene, that leads to ineffective and extramedullary erythropoiesis, abnormal red blood cells and secondary iron-overload. The severity of the disease ranges from mild to lethal anemia based on the residual levels of globins production. Despite being a monogenic disorder, the pathophysiology of β-thalassemia is multifactorial, with different players contributing to the severity of anemia and secondary complications. As a result, the identification of effective therapeutic strategies is complex, and the treatment of patients is still suboptimal. For these reasons, several models have been developed in the last decades to provide experimental tools for the study of the disease, including erythroid cell lines, cultures of primary erythroid cells and transgenic animals. Years of research enabled the optimization of these models and led to decipher the mechanisms responsible for globins deregulation and ineffective erythropoiesis in thalassemia, to unravel the role of iron homeostasis in the disease and to identify and validate novel therapeutic targets and agents. Examples of successful outcomes of these analyses include iron restricting agents, currently tested in the clinics, several gene therapy vectors, one of which was recently approved for the treatment of most severe patients, and a promising gene editing strategy, that has been shown to be effective in a clinical trial. This review provides an overview of the available models, discusses pros and cons, and the key findings obtained from their study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Nai
- Regulation of Iron Metabolism Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy.
| | - Celia Cordero-Sanchez
- Regulation of Iron Metabolism Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
| | - Emanuele Tanzi
- Regulation of Iron Metabolism Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessia Pagani
- Regulation of Iron Metabolism Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Silvestri
- Regulation of Iron Metabolism Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, via Olgettina 58, Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Maria Di Modica
- Regulation of Iron Metabolism Unit, Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, via Olgettina 60, Milan, Italy
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2
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Peslak SA, Demirci S, Chandra V, Ryu B, Bhardwaj SK, Jiang J, Rupon JW, Throm RE, Uchida N, Leonard A, Essawi K, Bonifacino AC, Krouse AE, Linde NS, Donahue RE, Ferrara F, Wielgosz M, Abdulmalik O, Hamagami N, Germino-Watnick P, Le A, Chu R, Hinds M, Weiss MJ, Tong W, Tisdale JF, Blobel GA. Forced enhancer-promoter rewiring to alter gene expression in animal models. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2023; 31:452-465. [PMID: 36852088 PMCID: PMC9958407 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Transcriptional enhancers can be in physical proximity of their target genes via chromatin looping. The enhancer at the β-globin locus (locus control region [LCR]) contacts the fetal-type (HBG) and adult-type (HBB) β-globin genes during corresponding developmental stages. We have demonstrated previously that forcing proximity between the LCR and HBG genes in cultured adult-stage erythroid cells can activate HBG transcription. Activation of HBG expression in erythroid cells is of benefit to patients with sickle cell disease. Here, using the β-globin locus as a model, we provide proof of concept at the organismal level that forced enhancer rewiring might present a strategy to alter gene expression for therapeutic purposes. Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) from mice bearing human β-globin genes were transduced with lentiviral vectors expressing a synthetic transcription factor (ZF-Ldb1) that fosters LCR-HBG contacts. When engrafted into host animals, HSPCs gave rise to adult-type erythroid cells with elevated HBG expression. Vectors containing ZF-Ldb1 were optimized for activity in cultured human and rhesus macaque erythroid cells. Upon transplantation into rhesus macaques, erythroid cells from HSPCs expressing ZF-Ldb1 displayed elevated HBG production. These findings in two animal models suggest that forced redirection of gene-regulatory elements may be used to alter gene expression to treat disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Peslak
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Selami Demirci
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Vemika Chandra
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Byoung Ryu
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Saurabh K. Bhardwaj
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jing Jiang
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- CAS Engineering Laboratory for Nanozyme, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jeremy W. Rupon
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Robert E. Throm
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Naoya Uchida
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Division of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Center for Gene and Cell Therapy, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Minato-ku, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Alexis Leonard
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Khaled Essawi
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Allen E. Krouse
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Nathaniel S. Linde
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, NHLBI, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Robert E. Donahue
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Francesca Ferrara
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Matthew Wielgosz
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Osheiza Abdulmalik
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Nicole Hamagami
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Paula Germino-Watnick
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Anh Le
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Rebecca Chu
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Malikiya Hinds
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mitchell J. Weiss
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Wei Tong
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - John F. Tisdale
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institutes (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Gerd A. Blobel
- Division of Hematology, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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Segura EER, Ayoub PG, Hart KL, Kohn DB. Gene Therapy for β-Hemoglobinopathies: From Discovery to Clinical Trials. Viruses 2023; 15:713. [PMID: 36992422 PMCID: PMC10054523 DOI: 10.3390/v15030713] [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: 12/10/2022] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Investigations to understand the function and control of the globin genes have led to some of the most exciting molecular discoveries and biomedical breakthroughs of the 20th and 21st centuries. Extensive characterization of the globin gene locus, accompanied by pioneering work on the utilization of viruses as human gene delivery tools in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HPSCs), has led to transformative and successful therapies via autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplant with gene therapy (HSCT-GT). Due to the advanced understanding of the β-globin gene cluster, the first diseases considered for autologous HSCT-GT were two prevalent β-hemoglobinopathies: sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia, both affecting functional β-globin chains and leading to substantial morbidity. Both conditions are suitable for allogeneic HSCT; however, this therapy comes with serious risks and is most effective using an HLA-matched family donor (which is not available for most patients) to obtain optimal therapeutic and safe benefits. Transplants from unrelated or haplo-identical donors carry higher risks, although they are progressively improving. Conversely, HSCT-GT utilizes the patient's own HSPCs, broadening access to more patients. Several gene therapy clinical trials have been reported to have achieved significant disease improvement, and more are underway. Based on the safety and the therapeutic success of autologous HSCT-GT, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2022 approved an HSCT-GT for β-thalassemia (Zynteglo™). This review illuminates the β-globin gene research journey, adversities faced, and achievements reached; it highlights important molecular and genetic findings of the β-globin locus, describes the predominant globin vectors, and concludes by describing promising results from clinical trials for both sickle cell disease and β-thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Eugenie Rose Segura
- Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Doctoral Program, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA;
| | - Paul George Ayoub
- Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Kevyn Lopez Hart
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Donald Barry Kohn
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology & Molecular Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Pediatrics (Hematology/Oncology), David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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4
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Leitão AD, Spencer B, Sarsoza F, Ngolab J, Amalraj J, Masliah E, Wu C, Rissman RA. Hippocampal Reduction of α-Synuclein via RNA Interference Improves Neuropathology in Alzheimer's Disease Mice. J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 95:349-361. [PMID: 37522208 PMCID: PMC10578232 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230232] [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] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Alzheimer's disease (AD) cases are often characterized by the pathological accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn) in addition to amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau hallmarks. The role of α-syn has been extensively studied in synucleinopathy disorders, but less so in AD. Recent studies have shown that α-syn may also play a role in AD and its downregulation may be protective against the toxic effects of Aβ accumulation. OBJECTIVE We hypothesized that selectively knocking down α-syn via RNA interference improves the neuropathological and biochemical findings in AD mice. METHODS Here we used amyloid precursor protein transgenic (APP-Tg) mice to model AD and explore pathologic and behavioral phenotypes with knockdown of α-syn using RNA interference. We selectively reduced α-syn levels by stereotaxic bilateral injection of either LV-shRNA α-syn or LV-shRNA-luc (control) into the hippocampus of AD mice. RESULTS We found that downregulation of α-syn results in significant reduction in the number of Aβ plaques. In addition, mice treated with LV-shRNA α-syn had amelioration of abnormal microglial activation (Iba1) and astrocytosis (GFAP) phenotypes in AD mice. CONCLUSION Our data suggests a novel link between Aβ and α-syn pathology as well as a new therapeutic angle for targeting AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- André D.G. Leitão
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Brian Spencer
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Floyd Sarsoza
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jennifer Ngolab
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Jessica Amalraj
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | | | - Chengbiao Wu
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Robert A. Rissman
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Department of Physiology and Neuroscience, Alzheimer’s Therapeutic Research Institute of the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, San Diego, CA, USA
- VA San Diego Healthcare System, La Jolla, CA, USA
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5
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Li C, Georgakopoulou A, Newby GA, Everette KA, Nizamis E, Paschoudi K, Vlachaki E, Gil S, Anderson AK, Koob T, Huang L, Wang H, Kiem HP, Liu DR, Yannaki E, Lieber A. In vivo base editing by a single i.v. vector injection for treatment of hemoglobinopathies. JCI Insight 2022; 7:e162939. [PMID: 36006707 PMCID: PMC9675455 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.162939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Individuals with β-thalassemia or sickle cell disease and hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin (HPFH) possessing 30% fetal hemoglobin (HbF) appear to be symptom free. Here, we used a nonintegrating HDAd5/35++ vector expressing a highly efficient and accurate version of an adenine base editor (ABE8e) to install, in vivo, a -113 A>G HPFH mutation in the γ-globin promoters in healthy CD46/β-YAC mice carrying the human β-globin locus. Our in vivo hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) editing/selection strategy involves only s.c. and i.v. injections and does not require myeloablation and HSC transplantation. In vivo HSC base editing in CD46/β-YAC mice resulted in > 60% -113 A>G conversion, with 30% γ-globin of β-globin expressed in 70% of erythrocytes. Importantly, no off-target editing at sites predicted by CIRCLE-Seq or in silico was detected. Furthermore, no critical alterations in the transcriptome of in vivo edited mice were found by RNA-Seq. In vitro, in HSCs from β-thalassemia and patients with sickle cell disease, transduction with the base editor vector mediated efficient -113 A>G conversion and reactivation of γ-globin expression with subsequent phenotypic correction of erythroid cells. Because our in vivo base editing strategy is safe and technically simple, it has the potential for clinical application in developing countries where hemoglobinopathies are prevalent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Li
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Aphrodite Georgakopoulou
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematology Department, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Gregory A. Newby
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kelcee A. Everette
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Evangelos Nizamis
- Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece
| | - Kiriaki Paschoudi
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematology Department, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
- School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Efthymia Vlachaki
- Hematological Laboratory, Second Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Sucheol Gil
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Anna K. Anderson
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Theodore Koob
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Lishan Huang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hongjie Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Hans-Peter Kiem
- Stem and Gene Therapy Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - David R. Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Evangelia Yannaki
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Hematology Department, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - André Lieber
- Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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6
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Yadav M, Atala A, Lu B. Developing all-in-one virus-like particles for Cas9 mRNA/single guide RNA co-delivery and aptamer-containing lentiviral vectors for improved gene expression. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 209:1260-1270. [PMID: 35461863 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.04.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are widely used for delivering foreign genes for long-term expression. Recently, virus-like particles (VLPs) were developed for mRNA or ribonucleoprotein (RNP) delivery for short-term endonuclease expression. Generating large amount of LVs or VLPs is challenging. On the other hand, methods for using VLPs to co-deliver Cas9 mRNA and single guide RNA (sgRNA) are limited. Fusing aptamer-binding protein (ABP) to the N-terminus of HIV Gag protein is currently the successful way to develop hybrid particles for co-delivering Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA. The effects of modifying Gag protein this way on particle assembly are unknown. Previously we found that adding an ABP after the second zinc finger domain of nucleocapsid (NC) protein had minimal effects on particle assembly. Based on these observations, here we developed hybrid particles for Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA co-delivery with normal capsid assembly efficiency. We further improved LVs for integrated gene expression by including an aptamer sequence in lentiviral genomic RNA, which improved lentiviral particle production and enhanced LV genomic RNA packaging. In summary, here we describe the development of new all-in-one VLPs for co-delivery of Cas9 mRNA and sgRNA, and new LVs for enhanced vector production and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Yadav
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Anthony Atala
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Baisong Lu
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University Health Sciences, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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7
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Cabriolu A, Odak A, Zamparo L, Yuan H, Leslie CS, Sadelain M. Globin vector regulatory elements are active in early hematopoietic progenitor cells. Mol Ther 2022; 30:2199-2209. [PMID: 35247584 PMCID: PMC9171148 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.02.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The globin genes are archetypal tissue-specific genes that are silent in most tissues but for late-stage erythroblasts upon terminal erythroid differentiation. The transcriptional activation of the β-globin gene is under the control of proximal and distal regulatory elements located on chromosome 11p15.4, including the β-globin locus control region (LCR). The incorporation of selected LCR elements in lentiviral vectors encoding β and β-like globin genes has enabled successful genetic treatment of the β-thalassemias and sickle cell disease. However, recent occurrences of benign clonal expansions in thalassemic patients and myelodysplastic syndrome in patients with sickle cell disease call attention to the non-erythroid functions of these powerful vectors. Here we demonstrate that lentivirally encoded LCR elements, in particular HS1 and HS2, can be activated in early hematopoietic cells including hematopoietic stem cells and myeloid progenitors. This activity is position-dependent and results in the transcriptional activation of a nearby reporter gene in these progenitor cell populations. We further show that flanking a globin vector with an insulator can effectively restrain this non-erythroid activity without impairing therapeutic globin expression. Globin lentiviral vectors harboring powerful LCR HS elements may thus expose to the risk of trans-activating cancer-related genes, which can be mitigated by a suitable insulator.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Cabriolu
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1250 1st Ave., New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Ashlesha Odak
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1250 1st Ave., New York, NY 10065, USA; Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, 1300 York Ave., New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Lee Zamparo
- Computational and Systems Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1250 1st Ave., New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Han Yuan
- Computational and Systems Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1250 1st Ave., New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Christina S Leslie
- Computational and Systems Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1250 1st Ave., New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Michel Sadelain
- Center for Cell Engineering, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 1250 1st Ave., New York, NY 10065, USA.
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8
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Papanikolaou E, Bosio A. The Promise and the Hope of Gene Therapy. Front Genome Ed 2021; 3:618346. [PMID: 34713249 PMCID: PMC8525363 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2021.618346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
It has been over 30 years since visionary scientists came up with the term "Gene Therapy," suggesting that for certain indications, mostly monogenic diseases, substitution of the missing or mutated gene with the normal allele via gene addition could provide long-lasting therapeutic effect to the affected patients and consequently improve their quality of life. This notion has recently become a reality for certain diseases such as hemoglobinopathies and immunodeficiencies and other monogenic diseases. However, the therapeutic wave of gene therapies was not only applied in this context but was more broadly employed to treat cancer with the advent of CAR-T cell therapies. This review will summarize the gradual advent of gene therapies from bench to bedside with a main focus on hemopoietic stem cell gene therapy and genome editing and will provide some useful insights into the future of genetic therapies and their gradual integration in the everyday clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Papanikolaou
- Department of Molecular Technologies and Stem Cell Therapy, Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany.,Laboratory of Biology, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Bosio
- Department of Molecular Technologies and Stem Cell Therapy, Miltenyi Biotec, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
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9
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Bloomer H, Smith RH, Hakami W, Larochelle A. Genome editing in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells via CRISPR-Cas9-mediated homology-independent targeted integration. Mol Ther 2021; 29:1611-1624. [PMID: 33309880 PMCID: PMC8058434 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.12.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 12/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Ex vivo gene correction of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for treatment of inherited human blood disorders. Use of engineered nucleases to target therapeutic transgenes to their endogenous genetic loci addresses many of the limitations associated with viral vector-based gene replacement strategies, such as insertional mutagenesis, variable gene dosage, and ectopic expression. Common methods of nuclease-mediated site-specific integration utilize the homology-directed repair (HDR) pathway. However, these approaches are inefficient in HSPCs, where non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) is the primary DNA repair mechanism. Recently, a novel NHEJ-based approach to CRISPR-Cas9-mediated transgene knockin, known as homology-independent targeted integration (HITI), has demonstrated improved site-specific integration frequencies in non-dividing cells. Here we utilize a HITI-based approach to achieve robust site-specific transgene integration in human mobilized peripheral blood CD34+ HSPCs. As proof of concept, a reporter gene was targeted to a clinically relevant genetic locus using a recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 6 vector and single guide RNA/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein complexes. We demonstrate high levels of stable HITI-mediated genome editing (∼21%) in repopulating HSPCs after transplantation into immunodeficient mice. Our study demonstrates that HITI-mediated genome editing provides an effective alternative to HDR-based transgene integration in CD34+ HSPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Bloomer
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Richard H Smith
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Waleed Hakami
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Andre Larochelle
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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10
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Seymour BJ, Singh S, Certo HM, Sommer K, Sather BD, Khim S, Clough C, Hale M, Pangallo J, Ryu BY, Khan IF, Adair JE, Rawlings DJ. Effective, safe, and sustained correction of murine XLA using a UCOE-BTK promoter-based lentiviral vector. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2021; 20:635-651. [PMID: 33718514 PMCID: PMC7907679 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is an immune disorder caused by mutations in Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK). BTK is expressed in B and myeloid cells, and its deficiency results in a lack of mature B cells and protective antibodies. We previously reported a lentivirus (LV) BTK replacement therapy that restored B cell development and function in Btk and Tec double knockout mice (a phenocopy of human XLA). In this study, with the goal of optimizing both the level and lineage specificity of BTK expression, we generated LV incorporating the proximal human BTK promoter. Hematopoietic stem cells from Btk−/−Tec−/− mice transduced with this vector rescued lineage-specific expression and restored B cell function in Btk−/−Tec−/− recipients. Next, we tested addition of candidate enhancers and/or ubiquitous chromatin opening elements (UCOEs), as well as codon optimization to improve BTK expression. An Eμ enhancer improved B cell rescue, but increased immunoglobulin G (IgG) autoantibodies. Addition of the UCOE avoided autoantibody generation while improving B cell development and function and reducing vector silencing. An optimized vector containing a truncated UCOE upstream of the BTK promoter and codon-optimized BTK cDNA resulted in stable, lineage-regulated BTK expression that mirrored endogenous BTK, making it a strong candidate for XLA therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda J Seymour
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Swati Singh
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Hannah M Certo
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Karen Sommer
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Blythe D Sather
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Socheath Khim
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Courtnee Clough
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Malika Hale
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Joseph Pangallo
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Byoung Y Ryu
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Iram F Khan
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Jennifer E Adair
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.,Department of Medical Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - David J Rawlings
- Center for Immunity and Immunotherapies, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.,Departments of Pediatrics and Immunology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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11
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Chambers CB, Gross J, Pratt K, Guo X, Byrnes C, Lee YT, Lavelle D, Dean A, Miller JL, Wilber A. The mRNA-Binding Protein IGF2BP1 Restores Fetal Hemoglobin in Cultured Erythroid Cells from Patients with β-Hemoglobin Disorders. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 17:429-440. [PMID: 32154328 PMCID: PMC7056608 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 01/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) and β-thalassemia are caused by structural abnormality or inadequate production of adult hemoglobin (HbA, α2β2), respectively. Individuals with either disorder are asymptomatic before birth because fetal hemoglobin (HbF, α2γ2) is unaffected. Thus, reversal of the switch from HbF to HbA could reduce or even prevent symptoms these disorders. In this study, we show that insulin-like growth factor 2 mRNA-binding protein 1 (IGF2BP1) is one factor that could accomplish this goal. IGF2BP1 is a fetal factor that undergoes a transcriptional switch consistent with the transition from HbF to HbA. Lentivirus delivery of IGF2BP1 to CD34+ cells of healthy adult donors reversed hemoglobin production toward the fetal type in culture-differentiated erythroid cells. Analogous studies using patient-derived CD34+ cells revealed that IGF2BP1-dependent HbF induction could ameliorate the chain imbalance in β-thalassemia or potently suppress expression of sickle β-globin in SCD. In all cases, fetal γ-globin mRNA increased and adult β-globin decreased due, in part, to formation of contacts between the locus control region (LCR) and γ-globin genes. We conclude that expression of IGF2BP1 in adult erythroid cells has the potential to maximize HbF expression in patients with severe β-hemoglobin disorders by reversing the developmental γ- to β-globin switch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher B Chambers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62702, USA
| | - Jeffrey Gross
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62702, USA
| | - Katherine Pratt
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62702, USA
| | - Xiang Guo
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Colleen Byrnes
- Genetics of Development and Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Y Terry Lee
- Genetics of Development and Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Donald Lavelle
- Section of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA.,Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Ann Dean
- Laboratory of Cellular and Developmental Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jeffery L Miller
- Genetics of Development and Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Andrew Wilber
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield, IL 62702, USA.,Simmons Cancer Institute, Springfield, IL 62702, USA
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12
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Gomez-Ospina N, Scharenberg SG, Mostrel N, Bak RO, Mantri S, Quadros RM, Gurumurthy CB, Lee C, Bao G, Suarez CJ, Khan S, Sawamoto K, Tomatsu S, Raj N, Attardi LD, Aurelian L, Porteus MH. Human genome-edited hematopoietic stem cells phenotypically correct Mucopolysaccharidosis type I. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4045. [PMID: 31492863 PMCID: PMC6731271 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11962-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Lysosomal enzyme deficiencies comprise a large group of genetic disorders that generally lack effective treatments. A potential treatment approach is to engineer the patient’s own hematopoietic system to express high levels of the deficient enzyme, thereby correcting the biochemical defect and halting disease progression. Here, we present an efficient ex vivo genome editing approach using CRISPR-Cas9 that targets the lysosomal enzyme iduronidase to the CCR5 safe harbor locus in human CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The modified cells secrete supra-endogenous enzyme levels, maintain long-term repopulation and multi-lineage differentiation potential, and can improve biochemical and phenotypic abnormalities in an immunocompromised mouse model of Mucopolysaccharidosis type I. These studies provide support for the development of genome-edited CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells as a potential treatment for Mucopolysaccharidosis type I. The safe harbor approach constitutes a flexible platform for the expression of lysosomal enzymes making it applicable to other lysosomal storage disorders. Mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPSI) is a lysosomal storage disease caused by insufficient iduronidase (IDUA) activity. Here, the authors use an ex vivo genome editing approach to overexpress IDUA in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and show it can phenotypically correct MSPI in mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Gomez-Ospina
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | | | - Nathalie Mostrel
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Rasmus O Bak
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, DK-8000, Aarhus C., Denmark.,Aarhus Institute of Advanced Studies (AIAS), Aarhus University, DK-8000, Aarhus C., Denmark
| | - Sruthi Mantri
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Rolen M Quadros
- Mouse Genome Engineering Core Facility, Vice Chancellor for Research Office, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Channabasavaiah B Gurumurthy
- Mouse Genome Engineering Core Facility, Vice Chancellor for Research Office, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Neuroscience, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, USA
| | - Ciaran Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Carlos J Suarez
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Shaukat Khan
- Nemours/ Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA
| | - Kazuki Sawamoto
- Nemours/ Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA
| | - Shunji Tomatsu
- Nemours/ Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, 19803, USA
| | - Nitin Raj
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Laura D Attardi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Laure Aurelian
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA
| | - Matthew H Porteus
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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13
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sickle cell anemia (SCA) is a hereditary blood disease caused by a single-gene mutation that affects millions of individuals world-wide. In this review, we focus on techniques to treat SCA by ex vivo genetic manipulation of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPC), emphasizing replacement gene therapy and gene editing. AREAS COVERED Viral transduction of an anti-sickling β-like globin gene has been tested in pre-clinical and early-phase clinical studies, and shows promising preliminary results. Targeted editing of endogenous genes by site-directed nucleases has been developed more recently, and several approaches also are nearing clinical translation. EXPERT OPINION The indications and timing of gene therapy for SCA in lieu of supportive care treatment and allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation are still undefined. In addition, ensuring access to the treatment where the disease is endemic will present important challenges that must be addressed. Nonetheless, gene therapy and gene editing techniques have transformative potential as a universal curative option in SCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulema Romero
- a Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics , University of California Los Angeles , Los Angeles , CA , USA
| | - Mark DeWitt
- b Innovative Genomics Initiative , University of California , Berkeley , CA , USA
| | - Mark C Walters
- c Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program , UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital , Oakland , CA , USA
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14
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Weber L, Poletti V, Magrin E, Antoniani C, Martin S, Bayard C, Sadek H, Felix T, Meneghini V, Antoniou MN, El-Nemer W, Mavilio F, Cavazzana M, Andre-Schmutz I, Miccio A. An Optimized Lentiviral Vector Efficiently Corrects the Human Sickle Cell Disease Phenotype. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2018; 10:268-280. [PMID: 30140714 PMCID: PMC6105766 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 07/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Autologous transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells transduced with a lentiviral vector (LV) expressing an anti-sickling HBB variant is a potential treatment for sickle cell disease (SCD). With a clinical trial as our ultimate goal, we generated LV constructs containing an anti-sickling HBB transgene (HBBAS3), a minimal HBB promoter, and different combinations of DNase I hypersensitive sites (HSs) from the locus control region (LCR). Hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) from SCD patients were transduced with LVs containing either HS2 and HS3 (β-AS3) or HS2, HS3, and HS4 (β-AS3 HS4). The inclusion of the HS4 element drastically reduced vector titer and infectivity in HSPCs, with negligible improvement of transgene expression. Conversely, the LV containing only HS2 and HS3 was able to efficiently transduce SCD bone marrow and Plerixafor-mobilized HSPCs, with anti-sickling HBB representing up to ∼60% of the total HBB-like chains. The expression of the anti-sickling HBB and the reduced incorporation of the βS-chain in hemoglobin tetramers allowed up to 50% reduction in the frequency of RBC sickling under hypoxic conditions. Together, these results demonstrate the ability of a high-titer LV to express elevated levels of a potent anti-sickling HBB transgene ameliorating the SCD cell phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Weber
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, INSERM UMR_S1163, 75015 Paris, France.,Paris Diderot University - Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75015 Paris, France
| | | | - Elisa Magrin
- Biotherapy Department, Necker Children's Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Chiara Antoniani
- Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Imagine Institute, 75015 Paris, France.,Laboratory of chromatin and gene regulation during development, INSERM UMR_S1163, 75015 Paris, France
| | | | - Charles Bayard
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, INSERM UMR_S1163, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Hanem Sadek
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, INSERM UMR_S1163, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Tristan Felix
- Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Imagine Institute, 75015 Paris, France.,Laboratory of chromatin and gene regulation during development, INSERM UMR_S1163, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Vasco Meneghini
- Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Imagine Institute, 75015 Paris, France.,Laboratory of chromatin and gene regulation during development, INSERM UMR_S1163, 75015 Paris, France
| | | | - Wassim El-Nemer
- Biologie Intégrée du Globule Rouge, INSERM UMR_S1134, Paris Diderot University, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Université de la Réunion, Université des Antilles, 75015 Paris, France.,Institut National de la Transfusion Sanguine, 75015 Paris, France.,Laboratoire d'Excellence GR-Ex, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Fulvio Mavilio
- Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Imagine Institute, 75015 Paris, France.,Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Marina Cavazzana
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, INSERM UMR_S1163, 75015 Paris, France.,Biotherapy Department, Necker Children's Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 75015 Paris, France.,Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Imagine Institute, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Andre-Schmutz
- Laboratory of Human Lymphohematopoiesis, INSERM UMR_S1163, 75015 Paris, France.,Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Imagine Institute, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Annarita Miccio
- Genethon, INSERM UMR951, 91000 Evry, France.,Paris Descartes-Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Imagine Institute, 75015 Paris, France.,Laboratory of chromatin and gene regulation during development, INSERM UMR_S1163, 75015 Paris, France
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15
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Demirci S, Uchida N, Tisdale JF. Gene therapy for sickle cell disease: An update. Cytotherapy 2018; 20:899-910. [PMID: 29859773 PMCID: PMC6123269 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 04/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most common life-threatening monogenic diseases affecting millions of people worldwide. Allogenic hematopietic stem cell transplantation is the only known cure for the disease with high success rates, but the limited availability of matched sibling donors and the high risk of transplantation-related side effects force the scientific community to envision additional therapies. Ex vivo gene therapy through globin gene addition has been investigated extensively and is currently being tested in clinical trials that have begun reporting encouraging data. Recent improvements in our understanding of the molecular pathways controlling mammalian erythropoiesis and globin switching offer new and exciting therapeutic options. Rapid and substantial advances in genome engineering tools, particularly CRISPR/Cas9, have raised the possibility of genetic correction in induced pluripotent stem cells as well as patient-derived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. However, these techniques are still in their infancy, and safety/efficacy issues remain that must be addressed before translating these promising techniques into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selami Demirci
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Naoya Uchida
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - John F Tisdale
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
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16
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Li C, Psatha N, Wang H, Singh M, Samal HB, Zhang W, Ehrhardt A, Izsvák Z, Papayannopoulou T, Lieber A. Integrating HDAd5/35++ Vectors as a New Platform for HSC Gene Therapy of Hemoglobinopathies. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2018; 9:142-152. [PMID: 29766024 PMCID: PMC5948227 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/08/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
We generated an integrating, CD46-targeted, helper-dependent adenovirus HDAd5/35++ vector system for hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy. The ∼12-kb transgene cassette included a β-globin locus control region (LCR)/promoter driven human γ-globin gene and an elongation factor alpha-1 (EF1α)-mgmtP140K expression cassette, which allows for drug-controlled increase of γ-globin-expressing erythrocytes. We transduced bone marrow lineage-depleted cells from human CD46-transgenic mice and transplanted them into lethally irradiated recipients. The percentage of γ-globin-positive cells in peripheral blood erythrocytes in primary and secondary transplant recipients was stable and greater than 90%. The γ-globin level was 10%-20% of adult mouse globin. Transgene integration, mediated by a hyperactive Sleeping Beauty SB100x transposase, was random, without a preference for genes. A second set of studies was performed with peripheral blood CD34+ cells from mobilized donors. 10 weeks after transplantation of transduced cells, human cells were harvested from the bone marrow and differentiated ex vivo into erythroid cells. Erythroid cells expressed γ-globin at a level of 20% of adult α-globin. Our studies suggest that HDAd35++ vectors allow for efficient transduction of long-term repopulating HSCs and high-level, almost pancellular γ-globin expression in erythrocytes. Furthermore, our HDAd5/35++ vectors have a larger insert capacity and a safer integration pattern than currently used lentivirus vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Li
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Box 357720, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Nikoletta Psatha
- Division of Hematology Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Hongjie Wang
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Box 357720, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Manvendra Singh
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, 13092 Germany
| | | | - Wenli Zhang
- Witten/Herdecke University, Witten, 58448, Germany
| | | | - Zsuzsanna Izsvák
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, 13092 Germany
| | - Thalia Papayannopoulou
- Division of Hematology Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - André Lieber
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Box 357720, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
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17
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Dighe NM, Tan KW, Tan LG, Shaw SSW, Buckley SMK, Sandikin D, Johana N, Tan YW, Biswas A, Choolani M, Waddington SN, Antoniou MN, Chan JKY, Mattar CNZ. A comparison of intrauterine hemopoietic cell transplantation and lentiviral gene transfer for the correction of severe β-thalassemia in a HbbTh3/+ murine model. Exp Hematol 2018; 62:45-55. [PMID: 29605545 PMCID: PMC5965454 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2018.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2017] [Revised: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Major hemoglobinopathies place tremendous strain on global resources. Intrauterine hemopoietic cell transplantation (IUHCT) and gene transfer (IUGT) can potentially reduce perinatal morbidities with greater efficacy than postnatal therapy alone. We performed both procedures in the thalassemic HbbTh3/+ mouse. Intraperitoneal delivery of co-isogenic cells at embryonic days13-14 produced dose-dependent chimerism. High-dose adult bone marrow (BM) cells maintained 0.2-3.1% chimerism over ~24 weeks and treated heterozygotes (HET) demonstrated higher chimerism than wild-type (WT) pups (1.6% vs. 0.7%). Fetalliver (FL) cells produced higher chimerism than BM when transplanted at thesame doses, maintaining 1.8-2.4% chimerism over ~32 weeks. We boosted transplanted mice postnatally with BM cells after busulfan conditioning. Engraftment was maintained at >1% only in chimeras. IUHCT-treated nonchimeras and non-IUHCT mice showed microchimerism or no chimerism. Improved engraftment was observed with a higher initial chimerism, in HET mice and with the addition of fludarabine. Chimeric HET mice expressed 2.2-15.1% engraftment with eventual decline at 24 weeks (vs. <1% in nonchimeras) and demonstrated improved hematological indices and smaller spleens compared with untreated HETmice. Intravenous delivery of GLOBE lentiviral-vector expressing human β-globin (HBB) resulted in a vector concentration of 0.001-0.6 copies/cell. Most hematological indices were higher in treated than untreated HET mice, including hemoglobin and mean corpuscular volume, but were still lower than in WT. Therefore, direct IUGT and IUHCT strategies can be used to achieve hematological improvement but require further dose optimization. IUHCT will be useful combined with postnatal transplantation to further enhance engraftment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niraja M Dighe
- Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kang Wei Tan
- Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lay Geok Tan
- Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Steven S W Shaw
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, 33302 Taoyuan, Taiwan, China; Prenatal Cell and Gene Therapy Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, WC1E 6AU London, United Kingdom
| | - Suzanne M K Buckley
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, WC1E 6AU London, United Kingdom
| | - Dedy Sandikin
- Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Nuryanti Johana
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 229899 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yi-Wan Tan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 229899 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Arijit Biswas
- Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Mahesh Choolani
- Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Simon N Waddington
- Gene Transfer Technology Group, Institute for Women's Health, University College London, WC1E 6AU London, United Kingdom; MRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Michael N Antoniou
- Gene Expression and Therapy Group, King's College London, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Guy's Hospital, SE1 9RT London, United Kingdom
| | - Jerry K Y Chan
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, 229899 Singapore, Singapore; Cancer and Stem Cell Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, 169857 Singapore, Singapore
| | - Citra N Z Mattar
- Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 119228 Singapore, Singapore.
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18
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Lidonnici MR, Ferrari G. Gene therapy and gene editing strategies for hemoglobinopathies. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2018; 70:87-101. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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19
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Zivot A, Lipton JM, Narla A, Blanc L. Erythropoiesis: insights into pathophysiology and treatments in 2017. Mol Med 2018; 24:11. [PMID: 30134792 PMCID: PMC6016880 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-018-0011-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/02/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Erythropoiesis is a tightly-regulated and complex process originating in the bone marrow from a multipotent stem cell and terminating in a mature, enucleated erythrocyte.Altered red cell production can result from the direct impairment of medullary erythropoiesis, as seen in the thalassemia syndromes, inherited bone marrow failure as well as in the anemia of chronic disease. Alternatively, in disorders such as sickle cell disease (SCD) as well as enzymopathies and membrane defects, medullary erythropoiesis is not, or only minimally, directly impaired. Despite these differences in pathophysiology, therapies have traditionally been non-specific, limited to symptomatic control of anemia via packed red blood cell (pRBC) transfusion, resulting in iron overload and the eventual need for iron chelation or splenectomy to reduce defective red cell destruction. Likewise, in polycythemia vera overproduction of red cells has historically been dealt with by non-specific myelosuppression or phlebotomy. With a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying disease pathophysiology, new therapeutic targets have been identified including induction of fetal hemoglobin, interference with aberrant signaling pathways and gene therapy for definitive cure. This review, utilizing some representative disorders of erythropoiesis, will highlight novel therapeutic modalities currently in development for treatment of red cell disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Zivot
- Laboratory of Developmental Erythropoiesis, Center for Autoimmune, Musculoskeletal, and Hematopoietic Diseases, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
- Division of Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY, 11040, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Lipton
- Laboratory of Developmental Erythropoiesis, Center for Autoimmune, Musculoskeletal, and Hematopoietic Diseases, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA
- Division of Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY, 11040, USA
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Anupama Narla
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Pediatrics, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra Northwell, Hempstead, NY, 11549, USA
| | - Lionel Blanc
- Laboratory of Developmental Erythropoiesis, Center for Autoimmune, Musculoskeletal, and Hematopoietic Diseases, The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, 350 Community Drive, Manhasset, NY, 11030, USA.
- Division of Pediatrics Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Cohen Children's Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY, 11040, USA.
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA.
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Long J, Hoban MD, Cooper AR, Kaufman ML, Kuo CY, Campo-Fernandez B, Lumaquin D, Hollis RP, Wang X, Kohn DB, Romero Z. Characterization of Gene Alterations following Editing of the β-Globin Gene Locus in Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells. Mol Ther 2017; 26:468-479. [PMID: 29221806 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Revised: 10/27/2017] [Accepted: 11/02/2017] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The use of engineered nucleases combined with a homologous DNA donor template can result in targeted gene correction of the sickle cell disease mutation in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. However, because of the high homology between the adjacent human β- and δ-globin genes, off-target cleavage is observed at δ-globin when using some endonucleases targeted to the sickle mutation in β-globin. Introduction of multiple double-stranded breaks by endonucleases has the potential to induce intergenic alterations. Using a novel droplet digital PCR assay and high-throughput sequencing, we characterized the frequency of rearrangements between the β- and δ-globin paralogs when delivering these nucleases. Pooled CD34+ cells and colony-forming units from sickle bone marrow were treated with nuclease only or including a donor template and then analyzed for potential gene rearrangements. It was observed that, in pooled CD34+ cells and colony-forming units, the intergenic β-δ-globin deletion was the most frequent rearrangement, followed by inversion of the intergenic fragment, with the inter-chromosomal translocation as the least frequent. No rearrangements were observed when endonuclease activity was restricted to on-target β-globin cleavage. These findings demonstrate the need to develop site-specific endonucleases with high specificity to avoid unwanted gene alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Long
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Biology Department, California State University, Northridge, Northridge, CA 91330, USA
| | - Megan D Hoban
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Aaron R Cooper
- Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Michael L Kaufman
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Caroline Y Kuo
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Beatriz Campo-Fernandez
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Dianne Lumaquin
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Roger P Hollis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine and Health Services Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Donald B Kohn
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA; Eli & Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine & Stem Cell Research, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Zulema Romero
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
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Vascular Permeability Drives Susceptibility to Influenza Infection in a Murine Model of Sickle Cell Disease. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43308. [PMID: 28256526 PMCID: PMC5335717 DOI: 10.1038/srep43308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a major global health concern. Patients with SCD experience disproportionately greater morbidity and mortality in response to influenza infection than do others. Viral infection is one contributing factor for the development of Acute Chest Syndrome (ACS), a major cause of morbidity and mortality in SCD patients. We determined whether the heightened sensitivity to influenza infection could be reproduced in the two different SCD murine models to ascertain the underlying mechanisms of increased disease severity. In agreement with clinical observations, we found that both genetic and bone marrow-transplanted SCD mice had greater mortality in response to influenza infection than did wild-type animals. Despite similar initial viral titers and inflammatory responses between wild-type and SCD animals during infection, SCD mice continued to deteriorate and failed to resolve the infection, resulting in increased mortality. Histopathology of the lung tissues revealed extensive pulmonary edema and vascular damage following infection, a finding confirmed by heightened vascular permeability following virus challenge. These findings implicate the development of exacerbated pulmonary permeability following influenza challenge as the primary factor underlying heightened mortality. These studies highlight the need to focus on prevention and control strategies against influenza infection in the SCD population.
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Zhao HF, Abraham A, Kim YS, Wang YD, Pestina T, Zhan J, Humphries K, Nienhuis AW, Persons DA. Lentiviral Transfer of γ-Globin with Fusion Gene NUP98-HOXA10HD Expands Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Ameliorates Murine β-Thalassemia. Mol Ther 2017; 25:593-605. [PMID: 28190779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2016] [Revised: 12/19/2016] [Accepted: 01/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, an engineered Homeobox-nucleoporin fusion gene, NUP98-HOXA10HD or NA10HD, was reported to expand and maintain murine hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). We postulated that NA10HD would increase the number of human γ-globin-expressing cells to therapeutic levels. We developed a double gene lentiviral vector encoding both human γ-globin and NA10HD, which was used to transduce human peripheral blood CD34+ cells and increased engraftment 2- to 2.5-fold at 15 weeks post-transplantation in immunodeficient mice. In β-thalassemic mice transplanted with β-thalassemic HSCs transduced with the γ-globin/NA10HD vector, the number of fetal hemoglobin (HbF)-expressing cells was significantly increased after 3 months, leading to resolution of the anemia. Furthermore, the increases in HbF were maintained at 6 months and persisted after secondary transplantation. In addition, NA10HD enrichment of transduced HSCs led to HbF increases without affecting homeostasis of the white blood cell lineages. Our results suggest that NA10HD increases the number of γ-globin-transduced HSCs that engraft, leading to an elevated number of fetal hemoglobin-containing red cells. These effects of NA10HD provide an improved platform for testing of the therapeutic efficacy of novel globin vectors and provide further impetus to develop safe and effective methods for selective expansion of genetically modified cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Fen Zhao
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Allistair Abraham
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yoon-Sang Kim
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yong-Dong Wang
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Tamara Pestina
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jun Zhan
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Keith Humphries
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1L3, Canada
| | - Arthur W Nienhuis
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
| | - Derek A Persons
- Division of Experimental Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
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Dong AC, Rivella S. Gene Addition Strategies for β-Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Anemia. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2017; 1013:155-176. [PMID: 29127680 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7299-9_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Beta-thalassemia and sickle cell anemia are two of the most common diseases related to the hemoglobin protein. In these diseases, the beta-globin gene is mutated, causing severe anemia and ineffective erythropoiesis. Patients can additionally present with a number of life-threatening co-morbidities, such as stroke or spontaneous fractures. Current treatment involves transfusion and iron chelation; allogeneic bone marrow transplant is the only curative option, but is limited by the availability of matching donors and graft-versus-host disease. As these two diseases are monogenic diseases, they make an attractive setting for gene therapy. Gene therapy aims to correct the mutated beta-globin gene or add back a functional copy of beta- or gamma-globin. Initial gene therapy work was done with oncoretroviral vectors, but has since shifted to lentiviral vectors. Currently, there are a few clinical trials underway to test the curative potential of some of these lentiviral vectors. This review will highlight the work done thus far, and present the challenges still facing gene therapy, such as genome toxicity concerns and achieving sufficient transgene expression to cure those with the most severe forms of thalassemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa C Dong
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, 515 E. 71st St., Room S-709, New York, NY, 10021, USA
| | - Stefano Rivella
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Weill Cornell Medical College, 515 E. 71st St., S702, Box 284, New York, NY, 10021, USA.
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24
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Malik P. Gene Therapy for Hemoglobinopathies: Tremendous Successes and Remaining Caveats. Mol Ther 2016; 24:668-70. [PMID: 27081721 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2016.57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Punam Malik
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
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25
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Forced chromatin looping raises fetal hemoglobin in adult sickle cells to higher levels than pharmacologic inducers. Blood 2016; 128:1139-43. [PMID: 27405777 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2016-01-691089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 06/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Overcoming the silencing of the fetal γ-globin gene has been a long-standing goal in the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). The major transcriptional enhancer of the β-globin locus, called the locus control region (LCR), dynamically interacts with the developmental stage-appropriate β-type globin genes via chromatin looping, a process requiring the protein Ldb1. In adult erythroid cells, the LCR can be redirected from the adult β- to the fetal γ-globin promoter by tethering Ldb1 to the human γ-globin promoter with custom-designed zinc finger (ZF) proteins (ZF-Ldb1), leading to reactivation of γ-globin gene expression. To compare this approach to pharmacologic reactivation of fetal hemoglobin (HbF), hematopoietic cells from patients with SCD were treated with a lentivirus expressing the ZF-Ldb1 or with chemical HbF inducers. The HbF increase in cells treated with ZF-Ldb1 was more than double that observed with decitabine and pomalidomide; butyrate had an intermediate effect whereas tranylcypromine and hydroxyurea showed relatively low HbF reactivation. ZF-Ldb1 showed comparatively little toxicity, and reduced sickle hemoglobin (HbS) synthesis as well as sickling of SCD erythroid cells under hypoxic conditions. The efficacy and low cytotoxicity of lentiviral-mediated ZF-Ldb1 gene transfer compared with the drug regimens support its therapeutic potential for the treatment of SCD.
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26
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Treating hemoglobinopathies using gene-correction approaches: promises and challenges. Hum Genet 2016; 135:993-1010. [PMID: 27314256 DOI: 10.1007/s00439-016-1696-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 06/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Hemoglobinopathies are genetic disorders caused by aberrant hemoglobin expression or structure changes, resulting in severe mortality and health disparities worldwide. Sickle cell disease (SCD) and β-thalassemia, the most common forms of hemoglobinopathies, are typically treated using transfusions and pharmacological agents. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the only curative therapy, but has limited clinical applicability. Although gene therapy approaches have been proposed based on the insertion and forced expression of wild-type or anti-sickling β-globin variants, safety concerns may impede their clinical application. A novel curative approach is nuclease-based gene correction, which involves the application of precision genome-editing tools to correct the disease-causing mutation. This review describes the development and potential application of gene therapy and precision genome-editing approaches for treating SCD and β-thalassemia. The opportunities and challenges in advancing a curative therapy for hemoglobinopathies are also discussed.
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de Dreuzy E, Bhukhai K, Leboulch P, Payen E. Current and future alternative therapies for beta-thalassemia major. Biomed J 2016; 39:24-38. [PMID: 27105596 PMCID: PMC6138429 DOI: 10.1016/j.bj.2015.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/12/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Beta-thalassemia is a group of frequent genetic disorders resulting in the synthesis of little or no β-globin chains. Novel approaches are being developed to correct the resulting α/β-globin chain imbalance, in an effort to move beyond the palliative management of this disease and the complications of its treatment (e.g. life-long red blood cell transfusion, iron chelation, splenectomy), which impose high costs on healthcare systems. Three approaches are envisaged: fetal globin gene reactivation by pharmacological compounds injected into patients throughout their lives, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), and gene therapy. HSCT is currently the only treatment shown to provide an effective, definitive cure for β-thalassemia. However, this procedure remains risky and histocompatible donors are identified for only a small fraction of patients. New pharmacological compounds are being tested, but none has yet made it into common clinical practice for the treatment of beta-thalassemia major. Gene therapy is in the experimental phase. It is emerging as a powerful approach without the immunological complications of HSCT, but with other possible drawbacks. Rapid progress is being made in this field, and long-term efficacy and safety studies are underway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edouard de Dreuzy
- CEA, Institute of Emerging Diseases and Innovative Therapies, Fontenay aux Roses, France; University of Paris 11, CEA-iMETI, 92260 Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Kanit Bhukhai
- CEA, Institute of Emerging Diseases and Innovative Therapies, Fontenay aux Roses, France; University of Paris 11, CEA-iMETI, 92260 Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Philippe Leboulch
- CEA, Institute of Emerging Diseases and Innovative Therapies, Fontenay aux Roses, France; University of Paris 11, CEA-iMETI, 92260 Fontenay aux Roses, France; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Genetics Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston MA, USA; Mahidol University and Ramathibodi Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Emmanuel Payen
- CEA, Institute of Emerging Diseases and Innovative Therapies, Fontenay aux Roses, France; University of Paris 11, CEA-iMETI, 92260 Fontenay aux Roses, France; INSERM, Paris, France.
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28
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Genetic treatment of a molecular disorder: gene therapy approaches to sickle cell disease. Blood 2016; 127:839-48. [PMID: 26758916 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2015-09-618587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2015] [Accepted: 10/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Effective medical management for sickle cell disease (SCD) remains elusive. As a prevalent and severe monogenic disorder, SCD has been long considered a logical candidate for gene therapy. Significant progress has been made in moving toward this goal. These efforts have provided substantial insight into the natural regulation of the globin genes and illuminated challenges for genetic manipulation of the hematopoietic system. The initial γ-retroviral vectors, next-generation lentiviral vectors, and novel genome engineering and gene regulation approaches each share the goal of preventing erythrocyte sickling. After years of preclinical studies, several clinical trials for SCD gene therapies are now open. This review focuses on progress made toward achieving gene therapy, the current state of the field, consideration of factors that may determine clinical success, and prospects for future development.
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Uchida N, Green R, Ballantine J, Skala LP, Hsieh MM, Tisdale JF. Kinetics of lentiviral vector transduction in human CD34(+) cells. Exp Hematol 2015; 44:106-15. [PMID: 26499040 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2015.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2015] [Revised: 10/05/2015] [Accepted: 10/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Unlike cell lines, human hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are less efficiently transduced with HIV-1 vectors, potentially limiting this approach. To investigate which step (internalization, reverse transcription, nuclear transport, and integration) limits lentiviral transduction, we evaluated the kinetics of lentiviral transduction in human CD34(+) cells. We transduced HeLa and CD34(+) cells with self-inactivating HIV-1 vector at low and tenfold higher multiplicity of infection (MOI) and evaluated vector amounts at various time points based on the rationale that if a given step was not limiting, tenfold greater vector amounts would be obtained at the tenfold higher MOI. We observed slower internalization (>60 min), a peak in reverse transcription at 24 hours, and completion of integration at 3 days in CD34(+) cells. In HeLa cells, there were approximately tenfold greater amounts at high MOI at all time points. When compared with HeLa cells, CD34(+) cells exhibited larger differences in vector amounts between high and low MOIs at 2-6 hours and a smaller difference at 12 hours to 10 days, revealing a limitation in human CD34(+) cell transduction around 12 hours, which corresponds to reverse transcription. In serial measurements of reverse transcription at 24 hours, vector amounts did not decrease once detected among CD34(+) cells. When using an HSC expansion medium, we observed less limitation for starting reverse transcription and more efficient transduction among CD34(+) cells in vitro and in xenografted mice. These data suggest that it is the initiation of reverse transcription that limits lentiviral transduction of human CD34(+) cells. Our findings provide an avenue for optimizing human CD34(+) cell transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Uchida
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD.
| | - Rashidah Green
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD
| | - Josiah Ballantine
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD
| | - Luke P Skala
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD
| | - Matthew M Hsieh
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD
| | - John F Tisdale
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD
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Saliba AN, Alameddine RS, Harb AR, Taher AT. Globin gene regulation for treating β-thalassemias: progress, obstacles and future. Expert Opin Orphan Drugs 2015. [DOI: 10.1517/21678707.2015.1074071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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31
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Yannaki E, Karponi G. Current Status and Developments in Gene Therapy for Thalassemia and Sickle Cell Disease. THALASSEMIA REPORTS 2014. [DOI: 10.4081/thal.2014.4876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
β-thalassemias and sickle cell anemia (SCA) are the most common monogenic diseases worldwide for which curative treatments remain a desired goal. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HCT), - the only curative treatment currently available for hemoglobinopaties-, has a narrow application window whereas it incurs several immunological risks. Gene therapy (GT), that is the autologous transplantation of genetically modified hematopoietic stem cells (CD34+), represents a promising new therapeutic strategy which is anticipated to reestablish effective hemoglobin production and render patients transfusion- and drug- independent without the immunological complications that normally accompany allo-HCT. Prior to the application of GT for hemoglobinopathies in the clinic, many years of extensive preclinical research were spent for the optimization of the gene transfer tools and conditions. To date, three GT clinical trials for β-thalassemia and sickle cell disease (SCD) have been conducted or are in progress and 3 cases of transfusion independence in thalassemic β0/βΕ patients have been reported. In the present review, the prerequisites for successful implementation of GT, the tough pathway of GT for hemoglobinopathies towards the clinic and the knowledge gained from the first clinical trials as well as the remaining questions and challenges, will be discussed. Overall, after decades of research including achievements but pitfalls as well, the path to GT of human patients with hemoglobinopathies is currently open and highly promising...
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Chandrakasan S, Malik P. Gene therapy for hemoglobinopathies: the state of the field and the future. Hematol Oncol Clin North Am 2014; 28:199-216. [PMID: 24589262 DOI: 10.1016/j.hoc.2013.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
After nearly two decades of struggle, gene therapy for hemoglobinopathies using vectors carrying β or γ-globin gene has finally reached the clinical doorsteps. This was made possible by advances made in our understanding of critical regulatory elements required for high level of globin gene expression and improved gene transfer vectors and methodologies. Development of gene editing technologies and reprogramming somatic cells for regenerative medicine holds the promise of genetic correction of hemoglobinopathies in the future. This article will review the state of the field and the upcoming technologies that will allow genetic therapeutic correction of hemoglobinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanmuganathan Chandrakasan
- Division of Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, Cancer and Blood Disease Institute (CBDI), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Punam Malik
- Division of Experimental Hematology/Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cancer and Blood Institute (CBDI), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA; Division of Hematology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cancer and Blood Institute (CBDI), Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
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Acuto S, Baiamonte E, Di Stefano R, Spina B, Barone R, Maggio A. Development and Recent Progresses of Gene Therapy for β-Thalassemia. THALASSEMIA REPORTS 2014. [DOI: 10.4081/thal.2014.2925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
β-thalassemias are among the most common inherited monogenic disorders worldwide due to mutations in the β-globin gene that reduce or abolish the production of the β-globin chain resulting in transfusion-dependent chronic anemia. Currently, the only curative treatment is allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) transplantation, but this option is limited by the a vailability of HLA-matched donor. Gene therapy, based on autologous transplantation of genetically corrected HSCs, holds the promise to treat patients lacking a compati ble bone marrow donor. I nit ial attempts of gene transfer have been unsuccessful due to limitations of available vectors to stably transfer a globin gene in HSCs and reach high and regulated expression in the erythroid progeny. With the advent of lentiviral vectors (LVs), based on human immunodeficiency virus, many of the initial limitations have been overcome. Since 2000 when Sadelain and co-workers first demonstrated successful globin gene transfer in murine thalassemia models with improvement of the phenotype using a recombinant β globin/LV, several other groups have developed different vectors encoding either β, γ or mutated globin genes and confirmed these results in both murine models and erythroid progeny derived from patient’s HSCs. In light of these encouraging results, research has recently moved into clinical trials that are ongoing or soon to begin. One participant in an ongoing gene transfer trial for β-thalassemia has achieved clinical benefit with elimination of his transfusi on re quirement. Here , dev elopmen t and recent progress of gene therapy for β-thalassemia is reviewed.
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Finotti A, Gambari R. Recent trends for novel options in experimental biological therapy of β-thalassemia. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2014; 14:1443-54. [PMID: 24934764 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2014.927434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION β-thalassemias are caused by nearly 300 mutations of the β-globin gene, leading to low or absent production of adult hemoglobin. Achievements have been recently obtained on innovative therapeutic strategies for β-thalassemias, based on studies focusing on the transcriptional regulation of the γ-globin genes, epigenetic mechanisms governing erythroid differentiation, gene therapy and genetic correction of the mutations. AREAS COVERED The objective of this review is to describe recently published approaches (the review covers the years 2011 - 2014) useful for the development of novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of β-thalassemia. EXPERT OPINION Modification of β-globin gene expression in β-thalassemia cells was achieved by gene therapy (eventually in combination with induction of fetal hemoglobin [HbF]) and correction of the mutated β-globin gene. Based on recent areas of progress in understanding the control of γ-globin gene expression, novel strategies for inducing HbF have been proposed. Furthermore, the identification of microRNAs involved in erythroid differentiation and HbF production opens novel options for developing therapeutic approaches for β-thalassemia and sickle-cell anemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Finotti
- Biotechnology Centre of Ferrara University, Laboratory for the Development of Gene and Pharmacogenomic Therapy of Thalassaemia , Ferrara , Italy
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35
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Breda L, Rivella S, Zuccato C, Gambari R. Combining gene therapy and fetal hemoglobin induction for treatment of β-thalassemia. Expert Rev Hematol 2013; 6:255-64. [PMID: 23782080 DOI: 10.1586/ehm.13.24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
β-thalassemias are caused by nearly 300 mutations of the β-globin gene, leading to a low or absent production of adult hemoglobin (HbA). Two major therapeutic approaches have recently been proposed: gene therapy and induction of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) with the objective of achieving clinically relevant levels of Hbs. The objective of this article is to describe the development of therapeutic strategies based on a combination of gene therapy and induction of HbFs. An increase of β-globin gene expression in β-thalassemia cells can be achieved by gene therapy, although de novo production of clinically relevant levels of adult Hb may be difficult to obtain. On the other hand, an increased production of HbF is beneficial in β-thalassemia. The combination of gene therapy and HbF induction appears to be a pertinent strategy to achieve clinically relevant results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Breda
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.
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36
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TRIM5α variations influence transduction efficiency with lentiviral vectors in both human and rhesus CD34(+) cells in vitro and in vivo. Mol Ther 2013; 22:348-358. [PMID: 24153115 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2013.256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2013] [Accepted: 10/17/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) vectors can transduce human hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), but transduction efficiency varies among individuals. The innate immune factor tripartite motif-containing protein 5α (TRIM5α) plays an important role for restriction of retroviral infection. In this study, we examined whether TRIM5α could account for variations in transduction efficiency using both an established rhesus gene therapy model and human CD34(+) cell culture. Evaluation of TRIM5α genotypes (Mamu-1, -2, -3, -4, -5, and TrimCyp) in 16 rhesus macaques that were transplanted with transduced CD34(+) cells showed a significant correlation between TRIM5α Mamu-4 and high gene marking in both lymphocytes and granulocytes 6 months after transplantation. Since significant human TRIM5α coding polymorphisms were not known, we evaluated TRIM5α expression levels in human CD34(+) cells from 14 donors. Three days after HIV-1 vector transduction, measured transduction efficiency varied significantly among donors and was negatively correlated with TRIM5α expression levels. In summary, transduction efficiency in both rhesus and human CD34(+) cells was influenced by TRIM5α variations (genotypes and expression levels). Our findings are important for both understanding and mitigating the variability of transduction efficiency for rhesus and human CD34(+) cells.
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37
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Romero Z, Urbinati F, Geiger S, Cooper AR, Wherley J, Kaufman ML, Hollis RP, Ruiz de Assin R, Senadheera S, Sahagian A, Jin X, Gellis A, Wang X, Gjertson D, DeOliveira S, Kempert P, Shupien S, Abdel-Azim H, Walters MC, Meiselman HJ, Wenby RB, Gruber T, Marder V, Coates TD, Kohn DB. β-globin gene transfer to human bone marrow for sickle cell disease. J Clin Invest 2013; 123:67930. [PMID: 23863630 PMCID: PMC4011030 DOI: 10.1172/jci67930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2012] [Accepted: 05/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Autologous hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy is an approach to treating sickle cell disease (SCD) patients that may result in lower morbidity than allogeneic transplantation. We examined the potential of a lentiviral vector (LV) (CCL-βAS3-FB) encoding a human hemoglobin (HBB) gene engineered to impede sickle hemoglobin polymerization (HBBAS3) to transduce human BM CD34+ cells from SCD donors and prevent sickling of red blood cells produced by in vitro differentiation. The CCL-βAS3-FB LV transduced BM CD34+ cells from either healthy or SCD donors at similar levels, based on quantitative PCR and colony-forming unit progenitor analysis. Consistent expression of HBBAS3 mRNA and HbAS3 protein compromised a fourth of the total β-globin-like transcripts and hemoglobin (Hb) tetramers. Upon deoxygenation, a lower percentage of HBBAS3-transduced red blood cells exhibited sickling compared with mock-transduced cells from sickle donors. Transduced BM CD34+ cells were transplanted into immunodeficient mice, and the human cells recovered after 2-3 months were cultured for erythroid differentiation, which showed levels of HBBAS3 mRNA similar to those seen in the CD34+ cells that were directly differentiated in vitro. These results demonstrate that the CCL-βAS3-FB LV is capable of efficient transfer and consistent expression of an effective anti-sickling β-globin gene in human SCD BM CD34+ progenitor cells, improving physiologic parameters of the resulting red blood cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zulema Romero
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Fabrizia Urbinati
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sabine Geiger
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Aaron R. Cooper
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jennifer Wherley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Michael L. Kaufman
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Roger P. Hollis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rafael Ruiz de Assin
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Shantha Senadheera
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Arineh Sahagian
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xiangyang Jin
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Alyse Gellis
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David Gjertson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Satiro DeOliveira
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Pamela Kempert
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Sally Shupien
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Hisham Abdel-Azim
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Mark C. Walters
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Herbert J. Meiselman
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rosalinda B. Wenby
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Theresa Gruber
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Victor Marder
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Thomas D. Coates
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Donald B. Kohn
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics,
Molecular Biology Interdepartmental Ph.D. Program,
Department of Medicine Statistics Core,
Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, and
Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Research Immunology/Bone Marrow Transplantation, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Children’s Hospital and Research Center, Oakland, California, USA.
Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA.
Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
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38
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Dong A, Rivella S, Breda L. Gene therapy for hemoglobinopathies: progress and challenges. Transl Res 2013; 161:293-306. [PMID: 23337292 PMCID: PMC3716457 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2012.12.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2012] [Revised: 12/17/2012] [Accepted: 12/20/2012] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Hemoglobinopathies are genetic inherited conditions that originate from the lack or malfunction of the hemoglobin (Hb) protein. Sickle cell disease (SCD) and thalassemia are the most common forms of these conditions. The severe anemia combined with complications that arise in the most affected patients raises the necessity for a cure to restore hemoglobin function. The current routine therapies for these conditions, namely transfusion and iron chelation, have significantly improved the quality of life in patients over the years, but still fail to address the underlying cause of the diseases. A curative option, allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is available, but limited by the availability of suitable donors and graft-vs-host disease. Gene therapy offers an alternative approach to cure patients with hemoglobinopathies and aims at the direct recovery of the hemoglobin function via globin gene transfer. In the last 2 decades, gene transfer tools based on lentiviral vector development have been significantly improved and proven curative in several animal models for SCD and thalassemia. As a result, clinical trials are in progress and 1 patient has been successfully treated with this approach. However, there are still frontiers to explore that might improve this approach: the stoichiometry between the transgenic hemoglobin and endogenous hemoglobin with respect to the different globin genetic mutations; donor cell sourcing, such as the use of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs); and the use of safer gene insertion methods to prevent oncogenesis. With this review we will provide insights about (1) the different lentiviral gene therapy approaches in mouse models and human cells; (2) current and planned clinical trials; (3) hurdles to overcome for clinical trials, such as myeloablation toxicity, insertional oncogenesis, and high vector expression; and (4) future perspectives for gene therapy, including safe harbors and iPSCs technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alisa Dong
- Weill Cornell Medical College, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, New York, NY 10021, USA
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Abstract
Retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer into hematopoietic stem cells provides a potentially curative therapy for severe β-thalassemia. Lentiviral vectors based on human immunodeficiency virus have been developed for this purpose and have been shown to be effective in curing thalassemia in mouse models. One participant in an ongoing clinical trial has achieved transfusion independence after gene transfer into bone marrow stem cells owing, in part, to a genetically modified, dominant clone. Ongoing efforts are focused on improving the efficiency of lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer into stem cells so that the curative potential of gene transfer can be consistently achieved.
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Sharma N, Hollensen AK, Bak RO, Staunstrup NH, Schrøder LD, Mikkelsen JG. The impact of cHS4 insulators on DNA transposon vector mobilization and silencing in retinal pigment epithelium cells. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48421. [PMID: 23110238 PMCID: PMC3482222 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2012] [Accepted: 09/25/2012] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
DNA transposons have become important vectors for efficient non-viral integration of transgenes into genomic DNA. The Sleeping Beauty (SB), piggyBac (PB), and Tol2 transposable elements have distinct biological properties and currently represent the most promising transposon systems for animal transgenesis and gene therapy. A potential obstacle, however, for persistent function of integrating vectors is transcriptional repression of the element and its genetic cargo. In this study we analyze the insulating effect of the 1.2-kb 5'-HS4 chicken β-globin (cHS4) insulator element in the context of SB, PB, and Tol2 transposon vectors. By examining transgene expression from genomically inserted transposon vectors encoding a marker gene driven by a silencing-prone promoter, we detect variable levels of transcriptional silencing for the three transposon systems in retinal pigment epithelium cells. Notably, the PB system seems less vulnerable to silencing. Incorporation of cHS4 insulator sequences into the transposon vectors results in 2.2-fold and 1.5-fold increased transgene expression levels for insulated SB and PB vectors, respectively, but an improved persistency of expression was not obtained for insulated transgenes. Colony formation assays and quantitative excision assays unveil enhanced SB transposition efficiencies by the inclusion of the cHS4 element, resulting in a significant increase in the stable transfection rate for insulated SB transposon vectors in human cell lines. Our findings reveal a positive impact of cHS4 insulator inclusion for SB and PB vectors in terms of increased transgene expression levels and improved SB stable transfection rates, but also the lack of a long-term protective effect of the cHS4 insulator against progressive transgene silencing in retinal pigment epithelium cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nynne Sharma
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Rasmus O. Bak
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
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Zhang J, Loyd MR, Randall MS, Waddell MB, Kriwacki RW, Ney PA. A short linear motif in BNIP3L (NIX) mediates mitochondrial clearance in reticulocytes. Autophagy 2012; 8:1325-32. [PMID: 22906961 DOI: 10.4161/auto.20764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Elimination of defective mitochondria is essential for the health of long-lived, postmitotic cells. To gain insight into this process, we examined programmed mitochondrial clearance in reticulocytes. BNIP3L is a mitochondrial outer membrane protein that is required for clearance. It has been suggested that BNIP3L functions by causing mitochondrial depolarization, activating autophagy, or engaging the autophagy machinery. Here we showed in mice that BNIP3L activity localizes to a small region in its cytoplasmic domain, the minimal essential region (MER). The MER is a novel sequence, which comprises three contiguous hydrophobic amino acid residues, and flanking charged residues. Mutation of the central leucine residue causes complete loss of BNIP3L activity, and prevents rescue of mitochondrial clearance. Structural bioinformatics analysis predicts that the BNIP3L cytoplasmic domain lacks stable tertiary structure, but that the MER forms an α-helix upon binding to another protein. These findings support an adaptor model of BNIP3L, centered on the MER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
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Chemoselection of allogeneic HSC after murine neonatal transplantation without myeloablation or post-transplant immunosuppression. Mol Ther 2012; 20:2180-9. [PMID: 22871662 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2012.136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The feasibility of allogeneic transplantation, without myeloablation or post-transplant immunosuppression, was tested using in vivo chemoselection of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) after transduction with a novel tricistronic lentiviral vector (MGMT(P140K)-2A-GFP-IRES-TK (MAGIT)). This vector contains P140K-O(6)-methylguanine-methyltransferase (MGMT(P140K)), HSV-thymidine kinase (TK(HSV)), and enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) enabling (i) in vivo chemoselection of HSC by conferring resistance to benzylguanine (BG), an inhibitor of endogenous MGMT, and to chloroethylating agents such as 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)nitrosourea (BCNU) and, (ii) depletion of proliferating cells such as malignant clones or transduced donor T cells mediating graft versus host disease (GVHD), by expression of the suicide gene TK(HSV) and Ganciclovir (GCV) administration. Non-myeloablative transplantation of transduced, syngeneic, lineage-depleted (Lin(-)) BM in neonates resulted in 0.67% GFP(+) mononuclear cells in peripheral blood. BG/BCNU chemoselection, 4 and 8 weeks post-transplant, produced 50-fold donor cell enrichment. Transplantation and chemoselection of major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-mismatched MAGIT-transduced Lin(-) BM also produced similar expansion for >40 weeks. The efficacy of this allotransplant approach was validated in Hbb(th3) heterozygous mice by correction of β-thalassemia intermedia, without toxicity or GVHD. Negative selection, by administration of GCV resulted in donor cell depletion without graft ablation, as re-expansion of donor cells was achieved with BG/BCNU treatment. These studies show promise for developing non-ablative allotransplant approaches using in vivo positive/negative selection.
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Uchida N, Hargrove PW, Lap CJ, Evans ME, Phang O, Bonifacino AC, Krouse AE, Metzger ME, Nguyen AD, Hsieh MM, Wolfsberg TG, Donahue RE, Persons DA, Tisdale JF. High-efficiency transduction of rhesus hematopoietic repopulating cells by a modified HIV1-based lentiviral vector. Mol Ther 2012; 20:1882-92. [PMID: 22871664 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2012.159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV1) vectors poorly transduce rhesus hematopoietic cells due to species-specific restriction factors, including the tripartite motif-containing 5 isoformα (TRIM5α) which targets the HIV1 capsid. We previously developed a chimeric HIV1 (χHIV) vector system wherein the vector genome is packaged with the simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) capsid for efficient transduction of both rhesus and human CD34(+) cells. To evaluate whether χHIV vectors could efficiently transduce rhesus hematopoietic repopulating cells, we performed a competitive repopulation assay in rhesus macaques, in which half of the CD34(+) cells were transduced with standard SIV vectors and the other half with χHIV vectors. As compared with SIV vectors, χHIV vectors achieved higher vector integration, and the transgene expression rates were two- to threefold higher in granulocytes and red blood cells and equivalent in lymphocytes and platelets for 2 years. A recipient of χHIV vector-only transduced cells reached up to 40% of transgene expression rates in granulocytes and lymphocytes and 20% in red blood cells. Similar to HIV1 and SIV vectors, χHIV vector frequently integrated into gene regions, especially into introns. In summary, our χHIV vector demonstrated efficient transduction for rhesus long-term repopulating cells, comparable with SIV vectors. This χHIV vector should allow preclinical testing of HIV1-based therapeutic vectors in large animal models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoya Uchida
- Molecular and Clinical Hematology Branch, National Heart Lung and Blood Institutes (NHLBI)/National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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Gambari R. Alternative options for DNA-based experimental therapy of β-thalassemia. Expert Opin Biol Ther 2012; 12:443-62. [PMID: 22413823 DOI: 10.1517/14712598.2012.665047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Beta-thalassemias are caused by more than 200 mutations of the β-globin gene, leading to low or absent production of adult hemoglobin. Achievements have been made with innovative therapeutic strategies for β-thalassemias, based on research conducted at the levels of gene structure, transcription, mRNA processing and protein synthesis. AREAS COVERED The objective of this review is to describe the development of therapeutic strategies employing viral and non-viral DNA-based approaches for treatment of β-thalassemia. EXPERT OPINION Modification of β-globin gene expression in β-thalassemia cells has been achieved by gene therapy, correction of the mutated β-globin gene and RNA repair. In addition, cellular therapy has been proposed for β-thalassemia, including reprogramming of somatic cells to generate induced pluripotent stem cells to be genetically corrected. Based on the concept that increased production of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) is beneficial in β-thalassemia, DNA-based approaches to increase HbF production have been optimized, including treatment of target cells with lentiviral vectors carrying γ-globin genes. Finally, DNA-based targeting of α-globin gene expression has been applied to reduce the excess of α-globin production by β-thalassemia cells, one of the major causes of the clinical phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberto Gambari
- University of Ferrara, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, BioPharmaNet and Laboratory for the Development of Gene and Pharmacogenomic Therapy of Thalassaemia, Ferrara, Italy.
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Mattar CN, Biswas A, Choolani M, Chan JKY. The case for intrauterine stem cell transplantation. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol 2012; 26:683-95. [PMID: 22809469 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2012.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2012] [Accepted: 06/08/2012] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The clinical burden imposed by the collective group of monogenic disorders demands novel therapies that are effective at achieving phenotypic cure early in the disease process before the development of permanent organ damage. This is important for lethal diseases and also for non-perinatally lethal conditions that are characterised by severe disability with little prospect of postnatal cure. Where postnatal treatments are limited to palliative options, intrauterine stem-cell therapies may offer the potential to arrest pathogenesis in the early undamaged fetus. Intrauterine stem-cell transplantation has been attempted for a variety of diseases, but has only been successful in immune deficiency states in the presence of a competitive advantage for donor cells. This disappointing clinical record requires preclinical investigations into strategies that improve donor cell engraftment, including optimising the donor cell source and manipulating the microenvironment to facilitate homing. This chapter aims to outline the current challenges of intrauterine stem-cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Citra N Mattar
- Experimental Fetal Medicine Group, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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Abstract
Thalassaemia is one of the most common genetic diseases worldwide, with at least 60,000 severely affected individuals born every year. Individuals originating from tropical and subtropical regions are most at risk. Disorders of haemoglobin synthesis (thalassaemia) and structure (eg, sickle-cell disease) were among the first molecular diseases to be identified, and have been investigated and characterised in detail over the past 40 years. Nevertheless, treatment of thalassaemia is still largely dependent on supportive care with blood transfusion and iron chelation. Since 1978, scientists and clinicians in this specialty have met regularly in an international effort to improve the management of thalassaemia, with the aim of increasing the expression of unaffected fetal genes to improve the deficiency in adult β-globin synthesis. In this Seminar we discuss important advances in the understanding of the molecular and cellular basis of normal and abnormal expression of globin genes. We will summarise new approaches to the development of tailored pharmacological agents to alter regulation of globin genes, the first trial of gene therapy for thalassaemia, and future prospects of cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas R Higgs
- Medical Research Council Molecular Haematology Unit, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK.
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Papanikolaou E, Georgomanoli M, Stamateris E, Panetsos F, Karagiorga M, Tsaftaridis P, Graphakos S, Anagnou NP. The new self-inactivating lentiviral vector for thalassemia gene therapy combining two HPFH activating elements corrects human thalassemic hematopoietic stem cells. Hum Gene Ther 2011; 23:15-31. [PMID: 21875313 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
To address how low titer, variable expression, and gene silencing affect gene therapy vectors for hemoglobinopathies, in a previous study we successfully used the HPFH (hereditary persistence of fetal hemoglobin)-2 enhancer in a series of oncoretroviral vectors. On the basis of these data, we generated a novel insulated self-inactivating (SIN) lentiviral vector, termed GGHI, carrying the (A)γ-globin gene with the -117 HPFH point mutation and the HPFH-2 enhancer and exhibiting a pancellular pattern of (A)γ-globin gene expression in MEL-585 clones. To assess the eventual clinical feasibility of this vector, GGHI was tested on CD34(+) hematopoietic stem cells from nonmobilized peripheral blood or bone marrow from 20 patients with β-thalassemia. Our results show that GGHI increased the production of γ-globin by 32.9% as measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (p=0.001), with a mean vector copy number per cell of 1.1 and a mean transduction efficiency of 40.3%. Transduced populations also exhibited a lower rate of apoptosis and resulted in improvement of erythropoiesis with a higher percentage of orthochromatic erythroblasts. This is the first report of a locus control region (LCR)-free SIN insulated lentiviral vector that can be used to efficiently produce the anticipated therapeutic levels of γ-globin protein in the erythroid progeny of primary human thalassemic hematopoietic stem cells in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleni Papanikolaou
- Laboratory of Cell and Gene Therapy, Center for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA) , 11527 Athens, Greece
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Miccio A, Poletti V, Tiboni F, Rossi C, Antonelli A, Mavilio F, Ferrari G. The GATA1-HS2 enhancer allows persistent and position-independent expression of a β-globin transgene. PLoS One 2011; 6:e27955. [PMID: 22164220 PMCID: PMC3229501 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2011] [Accepted: 10/28/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy of genetic diseases requires persistent and position-independent expression of a therapeutic transgene. Transcriptional enhancers binding chromatin-remodeling and modifying complexes may play a role in shielding transgenes from repressive chromatin effects. We tested the activity of the HS2 enhancer of the GATA1 gene in protecting the expression of a β-globin minigene delivered by a lentiviral vector in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. Gene expression from proviruses carrying GATA1-HS2 in both LTRs was persistent and resistant to silencing at most integration sites in the in vivo progeny of human hematopoietic progenitors and murine long-term repopulating stem cells. The GATA1-HS2-modified vector allowed correction of murine β-thalassemia at low copy number without inducing clonal selection of erythroblastic progenitors. Chromatin immunoprecipitation studies showed that GATA1 and the CBP acetyltransferase bind to GATA1-HS2, significantly increasing CBP-specific histone acetylations at the LTRs and β-globin promoter. Recruitment of CBP by the LTRs thus establishes an open chromatin domain encompassing the entire provirus, and increases the therapeutic efficacy of β-globin gene transfer by reducing expression variegation and epigenetic silencing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annarita Miccio
- H. San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET), Istituto Scientifico H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Valentina Poletti
- Laboratory of Gene Expression, Istituto Scientifico H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Tiboni
- H. San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET), Istituto Scientifico H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Rossi
- H. San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET), Istituto Scientifico H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Antonelli
- H. San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET), Istituto Scientifico H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Fulvio Mavilio
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
- Laboratory of Gene Expression, Istituto Scientifico H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuliana Ferrari
- H. San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (HSR-TIGET), Istituto Scientifico H. San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Hydroxyurea therapy of a murine model of sickle cell anemia inhibits the progression of pneumococcal disease by down-modulating E-selectin. Blood 2011; 119:1915-21. [PMID: 22130804 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2011-08-374447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell anemia is characterized by chronic hemolysis coupled with extensive vascular inflammation. This inflammatory state also mechanistically promotes a high risk of lethal, invasive pneumococcal infection. Current treatments to reduce vaso-occlusive complications include chronic hydroxyurea therapy to induce fetal hemoglobin. Because hydroxyurea also reduces leukocytosis, an understanding of the impact of this treatment on pneumococcal pathogenesis is needed. Using a sickle cell mouse model of pneumococcal pneumonia and sepsis, administration of hydroxyurea was found to significantly improve survival. Hydroxyurea treatment decreased neutrophil extravasation into the infected lung coincident with significantly reduced levels of E-selectin in serum and on pulmonary epithelia. The protective effect of hydroxyurea was abrogated in mice deficient in E-selectin. The decrease in E-selectin levels was also evident in human sickle cell patients receiving hydroxyurea therapy. These data indicate that in addition to induction of fetal hemoglobin, hydroxyurea attenuates leukocyte-endothelial interactions in sickle cell anemia, resulting in protection against lethal pneumococcal sepsis.
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Drakopoulou E, Papanikolaou E, Anagnou NP. The Ongoing Challenge of Hematopoietic Stem Cell-Based Gene Therapy for β-Thalassemia. Stem Cells Int 2011; 2011:987980. [PMID: 22190966 PMCID: PMC3236367 DOI: 10.4061/2011/987980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2011] [Accepted: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
β-thalassemia is characterized by reduced or absence of β-globin production, resulting in anemia. Current therapies include blood transfusion combined with iron chelation. BM transplantation, although curative, is restricted by the matched donor limitation. Gene therapy, on the other hand, is promising, and its success lies primarily on designing efficient globin vectors that can effectively and stably transduce HSCs. The major breakthrough in β-thalassemia gene therapy occurred a decade ago with the development of globin LVs. Since then, researchers focused on designing efficient and safe vectors, which can successfully deliver the therapeutic transgene, demonstrating no insertional mutagenesis. Furthermore, as human HSCs have intrinsic barriers to HIV-1 infection, attention is drawn towards their ex vivo manipulation, aiming to achieve higher yield of genetically modified HSCs. This paper presents the current status of gene therapy for β-thalassemia, its success and limitations, and the novel promising strategies available involving the therapeutic role of HSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekati Drakopoulou
- Laboratory of Cell and Gene Therapy, Centre for Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), 115 27 Athens, Greece
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