1
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Annoni A, Cantore A. LSpECifying transgene expression. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102144. [PMID: 38384446 PMCID: PMC10879793 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Annoni
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessio Cantore
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-Tiget), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- "Vita-Salute San Raffaele" University, Milan, Italy
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2
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Valentino LA, Ozelo MC, Herzog RW, Key NS, Pishko AM, Ragni MV, Samelson-Jones BJ, Lillicrap D. A review of the rationale for gene therapy for hemophilia A with inhibitors: one-shot tolerance and treatment? J Thromb Haemost 2023; 21:3033-3044. [PMID: 37225021 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2023.05.011] [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: 03/02/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The therapeutic landscape for people living with hemophilia A (PwHA) has changed dramatically in recent years, but many clinical challenges remain, including the development of inhibitory antibodies directed against factor VIII (FVIII) that occur in approximately 30% of people with severe hemophilia A. Emicizumab, an FVIII mimetic bispecific monoclonal antibody, provides safe and effective bleeding prophylaxis for many PwHA, but clinicians still explore therapeutic strategies that result in immunologic tolerance to FVIII to enable effective treatment with FVIII for problematic bleeding events. This immune tolerance induction (ITI) to FVIII is typically accomplished through repeated long-term exposure to FVIII using a variety of protocols. Meanwhile, gene therapy has recently emerged as a novel ITI option that provides an intrinsic, consistent source of FVIII. As gene therapy and other therapies now expand therapeutic options for PwHA, we review the persistent unmet medical needs with respect to FVIII inhibitors and effective ITI in PwHA, the immunology of FVIII tolerization, the latest research on tolerization strategies, and the role of liver-directed gene therapy to mediate FVIII ITI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard A Valentino
- National Hemophilia Foundation, New York, New York, USA; Rush University, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
| | | | - Roland W Herzog
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Nigel S Key
- University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
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3
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Peng J, Zou WW, Wang XL, Zhang ZG, Huo R, Yang L. Viral-mediated gene therapy in pediatric neurological disorders. World J Pediatr 2023:10.1007/s12519-022-00669-4. [PMID: 36607547 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-022-00669-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Due to the broad application of next-generation sequencing, the molecular diagnosis of genetic disorders in pediatric neurology is no longer an unachievable goal. However, treatments for neurological genetic disorders in children remain primarily symptomatic. On the other hand, with the continuous evolution of therapeutic viral vectors, gene therapy is becoming a clinical reality. From this perspective, we wrote this review to illustrate the current state regarding viral-mediated gene therapy in childhood neurological disorders. DATA SOURCES We searched databases, including PubMed and Google Scholar, using the keywords "adenovirus vector," "lentivirus vector," and "AAV" for gene therapy, and "immunoreaction induced by gene therapy vectors," "administration routes of gene therapy vectors," and "gene therapy" with "NCL," "SMA," "DMD," "congenital myopathy," "MPS" "leukodystrophy," or "pediatric metabolic disorders". We also screened the database of ClinicalTrials.gov using the keywords "gene therapy for children" and then filtered the results with the ones aimed at neurological disorders. The time range of the search procedure was from the inception of the databases to the present. RESULTS We presented the characteristics of commonly used viral vectors for gene therapy for pediatric neurological disorders and summarized their merits and drawbacks, the administration routes of each vector, the research progress, and the clinical application status of viral-mediated gene therapy on pediatric neurological disorders. CONCLUSIONS Viral-mediated gene therapy is on the brink of broad clinical application. Viral-mediated gene therapy will dramatically change the treatment pattern of childhood neurological disorders, and many children with incurable diseases will meet the dawn of a cure. Nevertheless, the vectors must be optimized for better safety and efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Peng
- Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Research Center for Chidren Neurodevelopmental disablities of Hunan Province, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Wei-Wei Zou
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Xiao-Lei Wang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Zhi-Guo Zhang
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ran Huo
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Li Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Research Center for Chidren Neurodevelopmental disablities of Hunan Province, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
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4
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Ewaisha R, Anderson KS. Immunogenicity of CRISPR therapeutics-Critical considerations for clinical translation. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1138596. [PMID: 36873375 PMCID: PMC9978118 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1138596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
CRISPR offers new hope for many patients and promises to transform the way we think of future therapies. Ensuring safety of CRISPR therapeutics is a top priority for clinical translation and specific recommendations have been recently released by the FDA. Rapid progress in the preclinical and clinical development of CRISPR therapeutics leverages years of experience with gene therapy successes and failures. Adverse events due to immunogenicity have been a major setback that has impacted the field of gene therapy. As several in vivo CRISPR clinical trials make progress, the challenge of immunogenicity remains a significant roadblock to the clinical availability and utility of CRISPR therapeutics. In this review, we examine what is currently known about the immunogenicity of CRISPR therapeutics and discuss several considerations to mitigate immunogenicity for the design of safe and clinically translatable CRISPR therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radwa Ewaisha
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Pharmacy, Newgiza University, Newgiza, Egypt
| | - Karen S Anderson
- Center for Personalized Diagnostics, Biodesign Institute, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, United States
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5
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Qi Z, Wang S, Xuan A, Gu X, Deng J, Huang C, Zhang L, Yin X. MiR-142a-3p: A novel ACh receptor transcriptional regulator in association with peripheral nerve injury. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 30:325-336. [PMID: 36381585 PMCID: PMC9633872 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Long-term denervation leads to the disintegration of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) located at the endplate structure, which translates to deficits in functional activation despite nerve repair. Because of a lack of effective measures to protect AChR expression, we explored the effect of alterations in muscular miR-142a-3p on nAChR. In this study, we constructed a model of miR-142a-3p knockdown by transfecting a miR-142a-3p inhibitor short hairpin RNA (shRNA) into C2C12 myotubes, and we injected this miR-142a-3p inhibitor shRNA into the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle in uninjured mice and in denervated mice by transecting the sciatic nerve. Our results showed that miR-142a-3p knockdown led to an increased number and area of AChR clusters in myotubes in vitro and larger neuromuscular endplates in adult mice. Furthermore, miR-142a-3p knockdown delayed the disintegration of motor endplates after denervation. Last, upon miR-142a-3p knockdown in uninjured and denervated mice, we observed an increase in the mRNA levels of five AChR subunits as well as mRNAs of genes implicated in AChR transcription and AChR clustering. Together, these results suggest that miR-142a-3p may be a potential target for therapeutic intervention to prevent motor endplate degradation following peripheral nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhidan Qi
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shen Wang
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Ang Xuan
- Britton Chance Center for Biomedical Photonics, Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China,MoE Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics, School of Engineering Sciences, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Xinyi Gu
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jin Deng
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Huang
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Electron Microscopy Analysis Laboratory, Medical and Health Analysis Center, Peking University, Beijing, China,Department of Biophysics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Yin
- Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China,Pizhou People’s Hospital, Jiangsu, China,Corresponding author Xiaofeng Yin, Department of Orthopedics and Trauma, Peking University People’s Hospital, Beijing, China.
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6
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Russo F, Ruggiero E, Curto R, Passeri L, Sanvito F, Bortolomai I, Villa A, Gregori S, Annoni A. Editing T cell repertoire by thymic epithelial cell-directed gene transfer abrogates risk of type 1 diabetes development. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 25:508-519. [PMID: 35615710 PMCID: PMC9121074 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Insulin is the primary autoantigen (Ag) targeted by T cells in type 1 diabetes (T1D). Although biomarkers precisely identifying subjects at high risk of T1D are available, successful prophylaxis is still an unmet need. Leaky central tolerance to insulin may be partially ascribed to the instability of the MHC-InsB9-23 complex, which lowers TCR avidity, thus resulting in defective negative selection of autoreactive clones and inadequate insulin-specific T regulatory cell (Treg) induction. We developed a lentiviral vector (LV)-based strategy to engineer thymic epithelial cells (TECs) to correct diabetogenic T cell repertoire. Intrathymic (it) LV injection established stable transgene expression in EpCAM+ TECs, by virtue of transduction of TEC precursors. it-LV-driven presentation of the immunodominant portion of ovalbumin allowed persistent and complete negative selection of responsive T cells in OT-II chimeric mice. We successfully applied this strategy to correct the diabetogenic repertoire of young non-obese diabetic mice, imposing the presentation by TECs of the stronger agonist InsulinB9-23R22E and partially depleting the existing T cell compartment. We further circumscribed LV-driven presentation of InsulinB9-23R22E by micro-RNA regulation to CD45− TECs without loss of efficacy in protection from diabetes, associated with expanded insulin-specific Tregs. Overall, our gene transfer-based prophylaxis fine-tuned the central tolerance processes of negative selection and Treg induction, correcting an autoimmune prone T cell repertoire.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Russo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Eliana Ruggiero
- Experimental Hematology Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Rosalia Curto
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Passeri
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Sanvito
- Pathology Unit, Division of Experimental Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Ileana Bortolomai
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Villa
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy.,Milan Unit, Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica (IRGB), Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), 20090 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Gregori
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Annoni
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina 58, 20132 Milan, Italy
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7
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Du Y, Zhang S, Zhang Z, Miah KM, Wei P, Zhang L, Zhu Y, Li Z, Ye F, Gill DR, Hyde SC, Wang Y, Zhao J. Intranasal Lentiviral Vector-Mediated Antibody Delivery Confers Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Elderly and Immunocompromised Mice. Front Immunol 2022; 13:819058. [PMID: 35529866 PMCID: PMC9072863 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.819058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccines for COVID-19 are now a crucial public health need, but the degree of protection provided by conventional vaccinations for individuals with compromised immune systems is unclear. The use of viral vectors to express neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) in the lung is an alternative approach that does not wholly depend on individuals having intact immune systems and responses. Here, we identified an anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) monoclonal antibody, NC0321, which can efficiently neutralize a range of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including alpha, beta, delta, and eta. Both prophylactic and therapeutic NC0321 treatments effectively protected mice from SARS-CoV-2 infection. Notably, we adopted viral vector-mediated delivery of NC0321 IgG1 as an attractive approach to prevent SARS-CoV-2 infection. The NC0321 IgG1 expression in the proximal airway, expressed by a single direct in-vivo intranasal (I.N.) administration of a self-inactivating and recombinant lentiviral vector (rSIV.F/HN-NC0321), can protect young, elderly, and immunocompromised mice against mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 surrogate challenge. Long-term monitoring indicated that rSIV.F/HN-NC0321 mediated robust IgG expression throughout the airway of young and SCID mice, importantly, no statistical difference in the NC0321 expression between young and SCID mice was observed. A single I.N. dose of rSIV.F/HN-NC0321 30 or 180 days prior to SARS-CoV-2 challenge significantly reduced lung SARS-CoV-2 titers in an Ad5-hACE2-transduced mouse model, reconfirming that this vectored immunoprophylaxis strategy could be useful, especially for those individuals who cannot gain effective immunity from existing vaccines, and could potentially prevent clinical sequelae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Du
- Gene Medicine Research Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Shengnan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Centre for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhaoyong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Centre for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Kamran M. Miah
- Gene Medicine Research Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Peilan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Centre for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Health and Quarantine Laboratory, Guangzhou Customs District Technology Centre, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuhui Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Centre for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhengtu Li
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Centre for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feng Ye
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Centre for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Deborah R. Gill
- Gene Medicine Research Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen C. Hyde
- Gene Medicine Research Group, Nuffield Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Yanqun Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Centre for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jincun Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Respiratory Disease, National Clinical Research Centre for Respiratory Disease, Guangzhou Institute of Respiratory Health, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Institute of Infectious Disease, Guangzhou Eighth People’s Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangzhou Laboratory, Guangzhou International Bio-Island, Guangzhou, China
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8
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Zhao M, Sun YD, Yin M, Zhao JJ, Li SA, Li G, Zhang F, Xu J, Meng FY, Zhang B, Sun XY, Zhang JP, Cheng T, Zhang XB. Modulation of Immune Reaction in Hydrodynamic Gene Therapy for Hemophilia A. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 33:404-420. [PMID: 34555961 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2021.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemophilia A (HA) is a monogenic disease characterized by plasma clotting factor 8 (F8) deficiency due to F8 mutation. We have been attempting to cure HA permanently using a CRISPR-Cas9 gene-editing strategy. Here, we induced targeted integration of BDDF8 (B-domain-deleted F8) gene into the albumin locus of HA mice by hydrodynamic tail vein injection of editing plasmid vectors. One week after treatment, a high F8 activity ranging from 70% to 280% of normal serum levels was observed in all treated HA mice but dropped to background levels 3-5 weeks later. We found that the humoral immune reaction targeting F8 is the predominant cause of the decreased F8 activity. We hypothesized that hydrodynamic injection-induced liver damage triggered the release of large quantities of inflammatory cytokines. However, co-injection of plasmids expressing a dozen immunomodulatory factors failed to curtail the immune reaction and stabilize F8 activity. The spCas9 plasmid carrying a miR-142-3p target sequence alleviated the cellular immune response but was unable to deliver therapeutic efficacy. Strikingly, immunosuppressant cyclo-phosphamide virtually abolished the immune response, leading to a year-long stable F8 level. Our findings should have important implications in developing therapies in mouse models using the hydrodynamic gene delivery approach, highlighting the ne-cessity of modulating the innate immune response triggered by liver damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Zhao
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Yi-Dan Sun
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Mengdi Yin
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Juan-Juan Zhao
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China.,Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Si-Ang Li
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Guohua Li
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Feng Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Jing Xu
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Fei-Ying Meng
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Beldon Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Xin-Yu Sun
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Jian-Ping Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Tao Cheng
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
| | - Xiao-Bing Zhang
- Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences Institute of Hematology and Blood Diseases Hospital, 70585, Tianjin, Tianjin, China;
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9
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Meng CL, Zhao W, Zhong DN. Epigenetics and microRNAs in UGT1As. Hum Genomics 2021; 15:30. [PMID: 34034810 PMCID: PMC8147421 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-021-00331-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) are the main phase II drug-metabolizing enzymes mediating the most extensive glucuronidation-binding reaction in the human body. The UGT1A family is involved in more than half of glucuronidation reactions. However, significant differences exist in the distribution of UGT1As in vivo and the expression of UGT1As among individuals, and these differences are related to the occurrence of disease and differences in metabolism. In addition to genetic polymorphisms, there is now interest in the contribution of epigenetics and noncoding RNAs (especially miRNAs) to this differential change. Epigenetics regulates UGT1As pretranscriptionally through DNA methylation and histone modification, and miRNAs are considered the key mechanism of posttranscriptional regulation of UGT1As. Both epigenetic inheritance and miRNAs are involved in the differences in sex expression and in vivo distribution of UGT1As. Moreover, epigenetic changes early in life have been shown to affect gene expression throughout life. Here, we review and summarize the current regulatory role of epigenetics in the UGT1A family and discuss the relationship among epigenetics and UGT1A-related diseases and treatment, with references for future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cui-Lan Meng
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning City, Guangxi, China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning City, Guangxi, China
| | - Dan-Ni Zhong
- Department of Pediatrics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, No. 6 Shuangyong Road, Nanning City, Guangxi, China.
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10
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Muhuri M, Zhan W, Maeda Y, Li J, Lotun A, Chen J, Sylvia K, Dasgupta I, Arjomandnejad M, Nixon T, Keeler AM, Manokaran S, He R, Su Q, Tai PWL, Gao G. Novel Combinatorial MicroRNA-Binding Sites in AAV Vectors Synergistically Diminish Antigen Presentation and Transgene Immunity for Efficient and Stable Transduction. Front Immunol 2021; 12:674242. [PMID: 33995418 PMCID: PMC8113644 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.674242] [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: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) platforms hold promise for in vivo gene therapy but are undermined by the undesirable transduction of antigen presenting cells (APCs), which in turn can trigger host immunity towards rAAV-expressed transgene products. In light of recent adverse events in patients receiving high systemic AAV vector doses that were speculated to be related to host immune responses, development of strategies to mute innate and adaptive immunity is imperative. The use of miRNA binding sites (miR-BSs) to confer endogenous miRNA-mediated regulation to detarget transgene expression from APCs has shown promise for reducing transgene immunity. Studies have shown that designing miR-142BSs into rAAV1 vectors were able to repress costimulatory signals in dendritic cells (DCs), blunt the cytotoxic T cell response, and attenuate clearance of transduced muscle cells in mice to allow sustained transgene expression in myofibers with negligible anti-transgene IgG production. In this study, we screened individual and combinatorial miR-BS designs against 26 miRNAs that are abundantly expressed in APCs, but not in skeletal muscle. The highly immunogenic ovalbumin (OVA) transgene was used as a proxy for foreign antigens. In vitro screening in myoblasts, mouse DCs, and macrophages revealed that the combination of miR-142BS and miR-652-5pBS strongly mutes transgene expression in APCs but maintains high myoblast and myocyte expression. Importantly, rAAV1 vectors carrying this novel miR-142/652-5pBS cassette achieve higher transgene levels following intramuscular injections in mice than previous detargeting designs. The cassette strongly inhibits cytotoxic CTL activation and suppresses the Th17 response in vivo. Our approach, thus, advances the efficiency of miRNA-mediated detargeting to achieve synergistic reduction of transgene-specific immune responses and the development of safe and efficient delivery vehicles for gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Muhuri
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- VIDE Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Wei Zhan
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- VIDE Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Yukiko Maeda
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- VIDE Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Jia Li
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Anoushka Lotun
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Jennifer Chen
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Katelyn Sylvia
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Ishani Dasgupta
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Motahareh Arjomandnejad
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Thomas Nixon
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Allison M. Keeler
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Sangeetha Manokaran
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Ran He
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Qin Su
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Phillip W. L. Tai
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- VIDE Program, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, United States
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11
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Damo M, Wilson DS, Watkins EA, Hubbell JA. Soluble N-Acetylgalactosamine-Modified Antigens Enhance Hepatocyte-Dependent Antigen Cross-Presentation and Result in Antigen-Specific CD8 + T Cell Tolerance Development. Front Immunol 2021; 12:555095. [PMID: 33746941 PMCID: PMC7965950 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.555095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocytes compose up to 80% of the total liver and have been indicated as important players in the induction of immunologic tolerance in this organ. We show that hepatocytes possess the molecular machinery required for the cross-presentation of extracellular antigens. Using a derivative of the model antigen ovalbumin (OVA) covalently modified with a polymer containing multiple N-acetylgalactosamine residues (pGal-OVA) that enhance extracellular antigen uptake by mimicking the glycome of apoptotic debris, we show efficient hepatocyte-dependent induction of cross-tolerance of both adoptively transferred OT-I cells and endogenous OVA-specific CD8+ T lymphocytes, for example inducing tolerance to OVA-expressing skin transplants. Our study confirms that hepatocytes are capable of inducing peripheral tolerogenesis and provides proof of concept that they may be a valuable candidate for in vivo targeted tolerogenic treatments.
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MESH Headings
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2/genetics
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2/immunology
- ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 2/metabolism
- Acetylgalactosamine/immunology
- Adoptive Transfer/methods
- Animals
- Antigen Presentation/immunology
- Antigens/immunology
- CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology
- Cells, Cultured
- Cross-Priming/immunology
- Hepatocytes/cytology
- Hepatocytes/immunology
- Immune Tolerance/immunology
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, Transgenic
- Ovalbumin/immunology
- Skin Transplantation/methods
- Solubility
- Vesicular Transport Proteins/immunology
- Vesicular Transport Proteins/metabolism
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Damo
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - D. Scott Wilson
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Elyse A. Watkins
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Jeffrey A. Hubbell
- Institute for Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
- Institute for Bioengineering, School of Life Sciences and School of Engineering, Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland
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12
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Piguet F, de Saint Denis T, Audouard E, Beccaria K, André A, Wurtz G, Schatz R, Alves S, Sevin C, Zerah M, Cartier N. The Challenge of Gene Therapy for Neurological Diseases: Strategies and Tools to Achieve Efficient Delivery to the Central Nervous System. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:349-374. [PMID: 33167739 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
For more than 10 years, gene therapy for neurological diseases has experienced intensive research growth and more recently therapeutic interventions for multiple indications. Beneficial results in several phase 1/2 clinical studies, together with improved vector technology have advanced gene therapy for the central nervous system (CNS) in a new era of development. Although most initial strategies have focused on orphan genetic diseases, such as lysosomal storage diseases, more complex and widespread conditions like Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, or chronic pain are increasingly targeted for gene therapy. Increasing numbers of applications and patients to be treated will require improvement and simplification of gene therapy protocols to make them accessible to the largest number of affected people. Although vectors and manufacturing are a major field of academic research and industrial development, there is a growing need to improve, standardize, and simplify delivery methods. Delivery is the major issue for CNS therapies in general, and particularly for gene therapy. The blood-brain barrier restricts the passage of vectors; strategies to bypass this obstacle are a central focus of research. In this study, we present the different ways that can be used to deliver gene therapy products to the CNS. We focus on results obtained in large animals that have allowed the transfer of protocols to human patients and have resulted in the generation of clinical data. We discuss the different routes of administration, their advantages, and their limitations. We describe techniques, equipment, and protocols and how they should be selected for safe delivery and improved efficiency for the next generation of gene therapy trials for CNS diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Françoise Piguet
- NeuroGenCell, INSERM U1127, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne University, CNRS, AP-HP, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Timothée de Saint Denis
- NeuroGenCell, INSERM U1127, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne University, CNRS, AP-HP, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,APHP, Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, APHP Centre. Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Emilie Audouard
- NeuroGenCell, INSERM U1127, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne University, CNRS, AP-HP, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Kevin Beccaria
- NeuroGenCell, INSERM U1127, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne University, CNRS, AP-HP, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,APHP, Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, APHP Centre. Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Arthur André
- NeuroGenCell, INSERM U1127, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne University, CNRS, AP-HP, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,APHP, Department of Neurosurgery, Hôpitaux Universitaires La Pitié-Salpêtrière, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 6, Paris, France
| | - Guillaume Wurtz
- NeuroGenCell, INSERM U1127, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne University, CNRS, AP-HP, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Raphael Schatz
- NeuroGenCell, INSERM U1127, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne University, CNRS, AP-HP, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Sandro Alves
- BrainVectis-Askbio France, iPeps Paris Brain Institute, Paris, France
| | - Caroline Sevin
- NeuroGenCell, INSERM U1127, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne University, CNRS, AP-HP, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,BrainVectis-Askbio France, iPeps Paris Brain Institute, Paris, France.,APHP, Department of Neurology, Hopital le Kremlin Bicetre, Paris, France
| | - Michel Zerah
- NeuroGenCell, INSERM U1127, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne University, CNRS, AP-HP, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.,APHP, Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Hôpital Necker-Enfants Malades, APHP Centre. Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Nathalie Cartier
- NeuroGenCell, INSERM U1127, Paris Brain Institute (ICM), Sorbonne University, CNRS, AP-HP, University Hospital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
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13
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Russo F, Citro A, Squeri G, Sanvito F, Monti P, Gregori S, Roncarolo MG, Annoni A. InsB9-23 Gene Transfer to Hepatocyte-Based Combined Therapy Abrogates Recurrence of Type 1 Diabetes After Islet Transplantation. Diabetes 2021; 70:171-181. [PMID: 33122392 DOI: 10.2337/db19-1249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The induction of antigen (Ag)-specific tolerance represents a therapeutic option for autoimmune diabetes. We demonstrated that administration of a lentiviral vector enabling expression of insulin B chain 9-23 (InsB9-23) (LV.InsB) in hepatocytes arrests β-cell destruction in prediabetic NOD mice by generating InsB9-23-specific FoxP3+ T regulatory cells (Tregs). LV.InsB in combination with a suboptimal dose of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (combined therapy [CT], 1 × 5 μg [CT5]) reverts diabetes and prevents recurrence of autoimmunity after islet transplantation in ∼50% of NOD mice. We investigated whether CT optimization could lead to abrogation of recurrence of autoimmunity. Therefore, alloislets were transplanted after optimized CT tolerogenic conditioning (1 × 25 μg [CT25]). Diabetic NOD mice conditioned with CT25 when glycemia was <500 mg/dL remained normoglycemic for 100 days after alloislet transplantation and displayed reduced insulitis, but independently from the graft. Accordingly, cured mice showed T-cell unresponsiveness to InsB9-23 stimulation and increased Treg frequency in islet infiltration and pancreatic lymph nodes. Additional studies revealed a complex mechanism of Ag-specific immune regulation driven by CT25, in which both Tregs and PDL1 costimulation cooperate to control diabetogenic cells, while transplanted islets play a crucial role, although transient, recruiting diabetogenic cells. Therefore, CT25 before alloislet transplantation represents an Ag-specific immunotherapy to resolve autoimmune diabetes in the presence of residual endogenous β-cell mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabio Russo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Citro
- Diabetes Research Institute (DRI), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgia Squeri
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesca Sanvito
- Pathology Unit, Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Monti
- Diabetes Research Institute (DRI), Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Gregori
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Andrea Annoni
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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14
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Milani M, Annoni A, Moalli F, Liu T, Cesana D, Calabria A, Bartolaccini S, Biffi M, Russo F, Visigalli I, Raimondi A, Patarroyo-White S, Drager D, Cristofori P, Ayuso E, Montini E, Peters R, Iannacone M, Cantore A, Naldini L. Phagocytosis-shielded lentiviral vectors improve liver gene therapy in nonhuman primates. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/493/eaav7325. [PMID: 31118293 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aav7325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2018] [Revised: 01/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Liver-directed gene therapy for the coagulation disorder hemophilia showed safe and effective results in clinical trials using adeno-associated viral vectors to replace a functional coagulation factor, although some unmet needs remain. Lentiviral vectors (LVs) may address some of these hurdles because of their potential for stable expression and the low prevalence of preexisting viral immunity in humans. However, systemic LV administration to hemophilic dogs was associated to mild acute toxicity and low efficacy at the administered doses. Here, exploiting intravital microscopy and LV surface engineering, we report a major role of the human phagocytosis inhibitor CD47, incorporated into LV cell membrane, in protecting LVs from uptake by professional phagocytes and innate immune sensing, thus favoring biodistribution to hepatocytes after systemic administration. By enforcing high CD47 surface content, we generated phagocytosis-shielded LVs which, upon intravenous administration to nonhuman primates, showed selective liver and spleen targeting and enhanced hepatocyte gene transfer compared to parental LV, reaching supraphysiological activity of human coagulation factor IX, the protein encoded by the transgene, without signs of toxicity or clonal expansion of transduced cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Milani
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy.,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Annoni
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Daniela Cesana
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Calabria
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Sara Bartolaccini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Mauro Biffi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Fabio Russo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Visigalli
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Patrizia Cristofori
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy.,GlaxoSmithKline R&D UK, Ware SG12 0DP, UK
| | - Eduard Ayuso
- INSERM UMR1089, University of Nantes, CHU de Nantes, 44093 Nantes, France
| | - Eugenio Montini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | | | | | - Alessio Cantore
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy. .,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy. .,Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
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15
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Abstract
Several viral vector-based gene therapy drugs have now received marketing approval. A much larger number of additional viral vectors are in various stages of clinical trials for the treatment of genetic and acquired diseases, with many more in pre-clinical testing. Efficiency of gene transfer and ability to provide long-term therapy make these vector systems very attractive. In fact, viral vector gene therapy has been able to treat or even cure diseases for which there had been no or only suboptimal treatments. However, innate and adaptive immune responses to these vectors and their transgene products constitute substantial hurdles to clinical development and wider use in patients. This review provides an overview of the type of immune responses that have been documented in animal models and in humans who received gene transfer with one of three widely tested vector systems, namely adenoviral, lentiviral, or adeno-associated viral vectors. Particular emphasis is given to mechanisms leading to immune responses, efforts to reduce vector immunogenicity, and potential solutions to the problems. At the same time, we point out gaps in our knowledge that should to be filled and problems that need to be addressed going forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie L Shirley
- Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts, Worchester, MA, USA
| | - Ype P de Jong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cox Terhorst
- Division of Immunology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roland W Herzog
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
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16
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Munis AM, Mattiuzzo G, Bentley EM, Collins MK, Eyles JE, Takeuchi Y. Use of Heterologous Vesiculovirus G Proteins Circumvents the Humoral Anti-envelope Immunity in Lentivector-Based In Vivo Gene Delivery. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2019; 17:126-137. [PMID: 31254925 PMCID: PMC6599914 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2019.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Vesicular stomatitis virus Indiana strain glycoprotein (VSVind.G) mediates broad tissue tropism and efficient cellular uptake. Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are particularly promising, as they can efficiently transduce non-dividing cells and facilitate stable genomic transgene integration; therefore, LVs have an enormous untapped potential for gene therapy applications, but the development of humoral and cell-mediated anti-vector responses may restrict their efficacy. We hypothesized that G proteins from different members of the vesiculovirus genus might allow the generation of a panel of serotypically distinct LV pseudotypes with potential for repeated in vivo administration. We found that mice hyperimmunized with VSVind.G were not transduced to any significant degree following intravenous injection of LVs with VSVind.G envelopes, consistent with the thesis that multiple LV administrations would likely be blunted by an adaptive immune response. Excitingly, bioluminescence imaging studies demonstrated that the VSVind-neutralizing response could be evaded by LV pseudotyped with Piry and, to a lesser extent, Cocal virus glycoproteins. Heterologous dosing regimens using viral vectors and oncolytic viruses with Piry and Cocal envelopes could represent a novel strategy to achieve repeated vector-based interventions, unfettered by pre-existing anti-envelope antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Altar M Munis
- Division of Advanced Therapies, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK; Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK.
| | - Giada Mattiuzzo
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Emma M Bentley
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Mary K Collins
- Division of Advanced Therapies, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK; Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa 904-0412, Japan
| | - James E Eyles
- Division of Advanced Therapies, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK
| | - Yasuhiro Takeuchi
- Division of Advanced Therapies, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK; Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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17
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Merlin S, Follenzi A. Transcriptional Targeting and MicroRNA Regulation of Lentiviral Vectors. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2019; 12:223-232. [PMID: 30775404 PMCID: PMC6365353 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Gene expression regulation is the result of complex interactions between transcriptional and post-transcriptional controls, resulting in cell-type-specific gene expression patterns that are determined by the developmental and differentiation stage of pathophysiological conditions. Understanding the complexity of gene expression regulatory networks is fundamental to gene therapy, an approach which has the potential to treat and cure inherited disorders by delivering the correct gene to patient specific cells or tissues by means of both viral and non-viral vectors. Besides the issues of biosafety, in recent years efforts have focused on achieving a robust and sustained transgene expression, which attains a phenotypic correction in several diseases, while avoiding transgene-related adverse effects, such as overexpression-associated cytotoxicity and/or immune responses to the transgene. In this sense, the use of cell-type-specific promoters and microRNA target sequences (miRTs) in gene transfer expression cassettes have allowed for a restricted expression after gene transfer in several studies. This review will focus on the use of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation to achieve a highly specific and safe transgene expression, as well as their application in ex vivo and in vivo gene therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Merlin
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Antonia Follenzi
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
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18
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Borsotti C, Follenzi A. New technologies in gene therapy for inducing immune tolerance in hemophilia A. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2018; 14:1013-1019. [PMID: 30345839 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2018.1539667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Conventional hemophilia treatment is based on repeated infusion of the missing clotting factor. This therapy is lifelong, expensive and can result in the formation of neutralizing antibodies, thus causing failure of the treatment and requiring higher doses of the replacement drug. Areas covered: Gene and cell therapies offer the advantage of providing a definitive and long-lasting correction of the mutated gene, promoting its physiological expression and preventing neutralizing antibody development. This review focuses on the most recent approaches that have been shown to prevent and even eradicate immune response toward the replaced factor. Expert commentary: Despite the encouraging data demonstrated by ongoing clinical trials and pre-clinical studies, more extensive investigations are necessary to establish the long-term safety and efficacy of gene therapy treatments in maintaining immune tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Borsotti
- a Department of Health Sciences , Università del Piemonte Orientale , Novara , Italy
| | - Antonia Follenzi
- a Department of Health Sciences , Università del Piemonte Orientale , Novara , Italy
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19
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Yang S, Zhang W, Cai M, Zhang Y, Jin F, Yan S, Baloch Z, Fang Z, Xue S, Tang R, Xiao J, Huang Q, Sun Y, Wang X. Suppression of Bone Resorption by miR-141 in Aged Rhesus Monkeys. J Bone Miner Res 2018; 33:1799-1812. [PMID: 29852535 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.3479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Aging-related osteoporosis (OP) is considered a serious public health concern. Approximately 30% of postmenopausal women suffer from OP; more than 40% of them risk fragility fractures. Multiple drugs have been prescribed to treat OP, but they are not ideal because of low cure rates and adverse side effects. miRNA-based gene therapy is a rapidly developing strategy in disease treatment that presents certain advantages, such as large-scale production capability, genetic safety, and rapid effects. miRNA drugs have been used primarily in cancer treatments; they have not yet been reported as candidates for osteoclast-targeted-OP treatment in primates. Their therapeutic efficacy has been limited by several shortcomings, such as low efficiency of selective delivery, insufficient expression levels in targeting cells, and unexpected side effects. Here, we identify miR-141 as a critical suppressor of osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption. The expression levels of miR-141 are positively correlated with BMD and negatively correlated with the aging of bones in both aged rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and osteoporotic patients. Selective delivery of miR-141 into the osteoclasts of aged rhesus monkeys via a nucleic acid delivery system allowed for a gradual increase in bone mass without significant effects on the health and function of primary organs. Furthermore, we found that the functional mechanism of miR-141 resides in its targeting of two osteoclast differentiation players, Calcr (calcitonin receptors) and EphA2 (ephrin type-A receptor 2 precursor). Our study suggests that miRNAs, such as miR-141, could play a crucial role in suppressing bone resorption in primates and provide reliable experimental evidence for the clinical application of miRNA in OP treatment. © 2018 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihua Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mingxiang Cai
- School & Hospital of Stomatology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanxu Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fujun Jin
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Sen Yan
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zulqurain Baloch
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhihao Fang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Senren Xue
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongping Tang
- WinconTheraCells Biotechnologies Co. Ltd, Nanning, China
| | - Jia Xiao
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qunshan Huang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China.,Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Prevention and Control for Severe Clinical Animal Diseases of Guangdong Province, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yao Sun
- School & Hospital of Stomatology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaogang Wang
- Department of Cell Biology & Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China.,Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, Beihang University, Beijing, 100083, China
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20
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Han B, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Bai Y, Chen X, Huang R, Wu F, Leng S, Chao J, Zhang JH, Hu G, Yao H. Novel insight into circular RNA HECTD1 in astrocyte activation via autophagy by targeting MIR142-TIPARP: implications for cerebral ischemic stroke. Autophagy 2018; 14:1164-1184. [PMID: 29938598 DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2018.1458173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 260] [Impact Index Per Article: 43.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are highly expressed in the central nervous system and are involved in the regulation of physiological and pathophysiological processes. However, the potential role of circRNAs in stroke remains largely unknown. Here, using a circRNA microarray, we showed that circular RNA Hectd1 (circHectd1) levels were significantly increased in ischemic brain tissues in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) mouse stroke models and further validated this finding in plasma samples from acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients. Knockdown of circHectd1 expression significantly decreased infarct areas, attenuated neuronal deficits, and ameliorated astrocyte activation in tMCAO mice. Mechanistically, circHECTD1 functions as an endogenous MIR142 (microRNA 142) sponge to inhibit MIR142 activity, resulting in the inhibition of TIPARP (TCDD inducible poly[ADP-ribose] polymerase) expression with subsequent inhibition of astrocyte activation via macroautophagy/autophagy. Taken together, the results of our study indicate that circHECTD1 and its coupling mechanism are involved in cerebral ischemia, thus providing translational evidence that circHECTD1 can serve as a novel biomarker of and therapeutic target for stroke. ABBREVIATIONS 3-MA: 3-methyladenine; ACTB: actin beta; AIS: acute ischemic stroke; AS: primary mouse astrocytes; BECN1: beclin 1, autophagy related; BMI: body mass index; circHECTD1: circRNA HECTD1; circRNAs: circular RNAs; CBF: cerebral blood flow; Con: control; DAPI: 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole; ECA: external carotid artery; FISH: fluorescence in situ hybridization; GAPDH: glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase; Gdna: genomic DNA; GFAP: glial fibrillary acidic protein; GO: gene ontology; HDL: high-density lipoprotein; IOD: integrated optical density; LDL: low-density lipoprotein; LPA: lipoprotein(a); MAP1LC3B: microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; MIR142: microRNA 142; mNSS: modified neurological severity scores; MRI: magnetic resonance imaging; NIHSS: National Institute of Health Stoke Scale; OGD-R: oxygen glucose deprivation-reperfusion; PCR: polymerase chain reaction; PFA: paraformaldehyde; SQSTM1: sequestosome 1; TIPARP: TCDD inducible poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase; tMCAO: transient middle cerebral artery occlusion; TTC: 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride; UTR: untranslated region; WT: wild type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Han
- a Department of Pharmacology , School of Medicine, Southeast University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- a Department of Pharmacology , School of Medicine, Southeast University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - Yanhong Zhang
- a Department of Pharmacology , School of Medicine, Southeast University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - Ying Bai
- a Department of Pharmacology , School of Medicine, Southeast University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - Xufeng Chen
- b Department of Emergency , Jiangsu Province Hospital and The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - Rongrong Huang
- a Department of Pharmacology , School of Medicine, Southeast University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - Fangfang Wu
- a Department of Pharmacology , School of Medicine, Southeast University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - Shuo Leng
- c Department of Radiology , School of Medicine, Southeast University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - Jie Chao
- d Department of Physiology , School of Medicine, Southeast University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - John H Zhang
- e Department of Physiology and Pharmacology , School of Medicine, Loma Linda University , Loma Linda , California , USA
| | - Gang Hu
- f Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neurodegeneration, Department of Pharmacology , Nanjing Medical University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
| | - Honghong Yao
- a Department of Pharmacology , School of Medicine, Southeast University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China.,g Institute of Life Sciences, Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease , Southeast University , Nanjing , Jiangsu , China
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21
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Dhungel B, Ramlogan-Steel CA, Steel JC. MicroRNA-Regulated Gene Delivery Systems for Research and Therapeutic Purposes. Molecules 2018; 23:E1500. [PMID: 29933586 PMCID: PMC6099389 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23071500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted gene delivery relies on the ability to limit the expression of a transgene within a defined cell/tissue population. MicroRNAs represent a class of highly powerful and effective regulators of gene expression that act by binding to a specific sequence present in the corresponding messenger RNA. Involved in almost every aspect of cellular function, many miRNAs have been discovered with expression patterns specific to developmental stage, lineage, cell-type, or disease stage. Exploiting the binding sites of these miRNAs allows for construction of targeted gene delivery platforms with a diverse range of applications. Here, we summarize studies that have utilized miRNA-regulated systems to achieve targeted gene delivery for both research and therapeutic purposes. Additionally, we identify criteria that are important for the effectiveness of a particular miRNA for such applications and we also discuss factors that have to be taken into consideration when designing miRNA-regulated expression cassettes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijay Dhungel
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, 102 Newdegate Street, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Charmaine A Ramlogan-Steel
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
- Layton Vision Foundation, Translational Research Institute, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Jason C Steel
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
- OcuGene, Translational Research Institute, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
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22
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Evens H, Chuah MK, VandenDriessche T. Haemophilia gene therapy: From trailblazer to gamechanger. Haemophilia 2018; 24 Suppl 6:50-59. [DOI: 10.1111/hae.13494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. Evens
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Brussels Belgium
| | - M. K. Chuah
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Brussels Belgium
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences Center for Molecular & Vascular Biology University of Leuven Leuven Belgium
| | - T. VandenDriessche
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) Brussels Belgium
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences Center for Molecular & Vascular Biology University of Leuven Leuven Belgium
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23
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Modulation of immune responses in lentiviral vector-mediated gene transfer. Cell Immunol 2018; 342:103802. [PMID: 29735164 PMCID: PMC6695505 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellimm.2018.04.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors (LV) are widely used vehicles for gene transfer and therapy in pre-clinical animal models and clinical trials with promising safety and efficacy results. However, host immune responses against vector- and/or transgene-derived antigens remain a major obstacle to the success and broad applicability of gene therapy. Here we review the innate and adaptive immunological barriers to successful gene therapy, both in the context of ex vivo and in vivo LV gene therapy, mostly concerning systemic LV delivery and discuss possible means to overcome them, including vector design and production and immune modulatory strategies.
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24
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Biswas M, Kumar SRP, Terhorst C, Herzog RW. Gene Therapy With Regulatory T Cells: A Beneficial Alliance. Front Immunol 2018; 9:554. [PMID: 29616042 PMCID: PMC5868074 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.00554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy aims to replace a defective or a deficient protein at therapeutic or curative levels. Improved vector designs have enhanced safety, efficacy, and delivery, with potential for lasting treatment. However, innate and adaptive immune responses to the viral vector and transgene product remain obstacles to the establishment of therapeutic efficacy. It is widely accepted that endogenous regulatory T cells (Tregs) are critical for tolerance induction to the transgene product and in some cases the viral vector. There are two basic strategies to harness the suppressive ability of Tregs: in vivo induction of adaptive Tregs specific to the introduced gene product and concurrent administration of autologous, ex vivo expanded Tregs. The latter may be polyclonal or engineered to direct specificity to the therapeutic antigen. Recent clinical trials have advanced adoptive immunotherapy with Tregs for the treatment of autoimmune disease and in patients receiving cell transplants. Here, we highlight the potential benefit of combining gene therapy with Treg adoptive transfer to achieve a sustained transgene expression. Furthermore, techniques to engineer antigen-specific Treg cell populations, either through reprogramming conventional CD4+ T cells or transferring T cell receptors with known specificity into polyclonal Tregs, are promising in preclinical studies. Thus, based upon these observations and the successful use of chimeric (IgG-based) antigen receptors (CARs) in antigen-specific effector T cells, different types of CAR-Tregs could be added to the repertoire of inhibitory modalities to suppress immune responses to therapeutic cargos of gene therapy vectors. The diverse approaches to harness the ability of Tregs to suppress unwanted immune responses to gene therapy and their perspectives are reviewed in this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moanaro Biswas
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Sandeep R P Kumar
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Cox Terhorst
- Division of Immunology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Roland W Herzog
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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25
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Sherman A, Biswas M, Herzog RW. Innovative Approaches for Immune Tolerance to Factor VIII in the Treatment of Hemophilia A. Front Immunol 2017; 8:1604. [PMID: 29225598 PMCID: PMC5705551 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.01604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 11/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemophilia A (coagulation factor VIII deficiency) is a debilitating genetic disorder that is primarily treated with intravenous replacement therapy. Despite a variety of factor VIII protein formulations available, the risk of developing anti-dug antibodies (“inhibitors”) remains. Overall, 20–30% of patients with severe disease develop inhibitors. Current clinical immune tolerance induction protocols to eliminate inhibitors are not effective in all patients, and there are no prophylactic protocols to prevent the immune response. New experimental therapies, such as gene and cell therapies, show promising results in pre-clinical studies in animal models of hemophilia. Examples include hepatic gene transfer with viral vectors, genetically engineered regulatory T cells (Treg), in vivo Treg induction using immune modulatory drugs, and maternal antigen transfer. Furthermore, an oral tolerance protocol is being developed based on transgenic lettuce plants, which suppressed inhibitor formation in hemophilic mice and dogs. Hopefully, some of these innovative approaches will reduce the risk of and/or more effectively eliminate inhibitor formation in future treatment of hemophilia A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Sherman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Moanaro Biswas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Roland W Herzog
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
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26
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VandenDriessche T, Chuah MK. Hemophilia Gene Therapy: Ready for Prime Time? Hum Gene Ther 2017; 28:1013-1023. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2017.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Thierry VandenDriessche
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Free University of Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Center for Molecular & Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marinee K. Chuah
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Free University of Brussels (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
- Center for Molecular & Vascular Biology, Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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27
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Lochhead RB, Strle K, Kim ND, Kohler MJ, Arvikar SL, Aversa JM, Steere AC. MicroRNA Expression Shows Inflammatory Dysregulation and Tumor-Like Proliferative Responses in Joints of Patients With Postinfectious Lyme Arthritis. Arthritis Rheumatol 2017; 69:1100-1110. [PMID: 28076897 DOI: 10.1002/art.40039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Lyme arthritis (LA) is caused by infection with Borrelia burgdorferi and usually resolves following spirochetal killing with antibiotics. However, in some patients, arthritis persists after antibiotic therapy. To provide insights into underlying pathogenic processes associated with antibiotic-refractory LA (postinfectious LA), we analyzed differences in microRNA (miRNA) expression between LA patients with active infection and those with postinfectious LA. METHODS MicroRNA expression was assayed in synovial fluid (SF) from LA patients before and after oral and intravenous antibiotic therapy, and in synovial tissue obtained months after antibiotic therapy from patients with postinfectious LA. SF and tissue from patients with other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis, were used for comparison. RESULTS SF from LA patients during active infection had marked elevations of white blood cells, particularly polymorphonuclear leukocytes, accompanied by elevated levels of microRNA-223 (miR-223). In contrast, SF from postantibiotic LA patients contained greater percentages of lymphocytes and mononuclear cells. SF from postantibiotic LA patients also exhibited marked inflammatory (miR-146a, miR-155), wound repair (miR-142), and proliferative (miR-17-92) miRNA signatures, and higher levels of these miRNAs correlated with longer arthritis duration. Levels of miR-146a, miR-155, miR-142, miR-223, and miR-17-92 were also elevated in synovial tissue in late postinfectious LA, and levels of let-7a were reduced, similar to RA. CONCLUSION During active infection, miRNA expression in SF reflected an immune response associated with bacterial killing, while in postinfectious LA, miRNA expression in SF and synovial tissue reflected chronic inflammation, synovial proliferation, and breakdown of wound repair processes, showing that the nature of the arthritis was altered after spirochetal killing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert B Lochhead
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Klemen Strle
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Nancy D Kim
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Minna J Kohler
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sheila L Arvikar
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - John M Aversa
- Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Allen C Steere
- Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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28
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Repeated AAV-mediated gene transfer by serotype switching enables long-lasting therapeutic levels of hUgt1a1 enzyme in a mouse model of Crigler-Najjar Syndrome Type I. Gene Ther 2017; 24:649-660. [PMID: 28805798 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2017.75] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) -mediated gene therapy is a promising strategy to treat liver-based monogenic diseases. However, two major obstacles limit its success: first, vector dilution in actively dividing cells, such as hepatocytes in neonates/children, due to the non-integrating nature of the vector; second, development of an immune response against the transgene and/or viral vector. Crigler-Najjar Syndrome Type I is a rare monogenic disease with neonatal onset, caused by mutations in the liver-specific UGT1 gene, with toxic accumulation of unconjugated bilirubin in plasma, tissues and brain. To establish an effective and long lasting cure, we applied AAV-mediated liver gene therapy to a relevant mouse model of the disease. Repeated gene transfer to adults by AAV-serotype switching, upon neonatal administration, resulted in lifelong correction of total bilirubin (TB) levels in both genders. In contrast, vector loss over time was observed after a single neonatal administration. Adult administration resulted in lifelong TB levels correction in male, but not female Ugt1-/- mice. Our findings demonstrate that neonatal AAV-mediated gene transfer to the liver supports a second transfer of the therapeutic vector, by preventing the induction of an immune response and supporting the possibility to improve AAV-therapeutic efficacy by repeated administration.
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29
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Merlin S, Cannizzo ES, Borroni E, Bruscaggin V, Schinco P, Tulalamba W, Chuah MK, Arruda VR, VandenDriessche T, Prat M, Valente G, Follenzi A. A Novel Platform for Immune Tolerance Induction in Hemophilia A Mice. Mol Ther 2017; 25:1815-1830. [PMID: 28552407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2017.04.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Revised: 04/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Hemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked bleeding disease caused by factor VIII (FVIII) deficiency. We previously demonstrated that FVIII is produced specifically in liver sinusoid endothelial cells (LSECs) and to some degree in myeloid cells, and thus, in the present work, we seek to restrict the expression of FVIII transgene to these cells using cell-specific promoters. With this approach, we aim to limit immune response in a mouse model by lentiviral vector (LV)-mediated gene therapy encoding FVIII. To increase the target specificity of FVIII expression, we included miRNA target sequences (miRTs) (i.e., miRT-142.3p, miRT-126, and miRT-122) to silence expression in hematopoietic cells, endothelial cells, and hepatocytes, respectively. Notably, we report, for the first time, therapeutic levels of FVIII transgene expression at its natural site of production, which occurred without the formation of neutralizing antibodies (inhibitors). Moreover, inhibitors were eradicated in FVIII pre-immune mice through a regulatory T cell-dependent mechanism. In conclusion, targeting FVIII expression to LSECs and myeloid cells by using LVs with cell-specific promoter minimized off-target expression and immune responses. Therefore, at least for some transgenes, expression at the physiologic site of synthesis can enhance efficacy and safety, resulting in long-term correction of genetic diseases such as HA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Merlin
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Elvira Stefania Cannizzo
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Ester Borroni
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Valentina Bruscaggin
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Piercarla Schinco
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Warut Tulalamba
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Free University of Brussels, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marinee K Chuah
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Free University of Brussels, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Valder R Arruda
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Thierry VandenDriessche
- Department of Gene Therapy & Regenerative Medicine, Free University of Brussels, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Maria Prat
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Guido Valente
- Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy
| | - Antonia Follenzi
- Department of Health Sciences, Università del Piemonte Orientale "A. Avogadro", 28100 Novara, Italy.
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30
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Antigen-presenting cell-targeted lentiviral vectors do not support the development of productive T-cell effector responses: implications for in vivo targeted vaccine delivery. Gene Ther 2017; 24:370-375. [PMID: 28540936 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2017.30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Targeting transgene expression specifically to antigen-presenting cells (APCs) has been put forward as a promising strategy to direct the immune system towards immunity. We developed the nanobody-display technology to restrict the tropism of lentiviral vectors (LVs) to APCs. However, we observed that immunization with APC-targeted LVs (DC2.1-LVs) did not evoke strong antigen-specific T-cell immunity when compared to immunization with broad tropism LVs (VSV.G-LVs). In this study, we report that VSV.G-LVs are more immunogenic than DC2.1-LVs because they transduce stromal cells, which has a role in activating antigen-specific T cells. Moreover, VSV.G-LVs trigger a pro-inflammatory innate immune response through transduction of APCs and stromal cells, while DC2.1-LVs trigger a type I interferon response with anti-viral capacity. These findings question the rationale of targeting LVs to APCs and argue for the development of VSV.G-LVs with an improved safety profile.
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31
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Endothelial transcription factor KLF2 negatively regulates liver regeneration via induction of activin A. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2017; 114:3993-3998. [PMID: 28348240 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1613392114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cells (ECs) not only are important for oxygen delivery but also act as a paracrine source for signals that determine the balance between tissue regeneration and fibrosis. Here we show that genetic inactivation of flow-induced transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) in ECs results in reduced liver damage and augmentation of hepatocyte proliferation after chronic liver injury by treatment with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). Serum levels of GLDH3 and ALT were significantly reduced in CCl4-treated EC-specific KLF2-deficient mice. In contrast, transgenic overexpression of KLF2 in liver sinusoidal ECs reduced hepatocyte proliferation. KLF2 induced activin A expression and secretion from endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo, which inhibited hepatocyte proliferation. However, loss or gain of KLF2 expression did not change capillary density and liver fibrosis, but significantly affected hepatocyte proliferation. Taken together, the data demonstrate that KLF2 induces an antiproliferative secretome, including activin A, which attenuates liver regeneration.
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32
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Shrestha A, Mukhametshina RT, Taghizadeh S, Vásquez-Pacheco E, Cabrera-Fuentes H, Rizvanov A, Mari B, Carraro G, Bellusci S. MicroRNA-142 is a multifaceted regulator in organogenesis, homeostasis, and disease. Dev Dyn 2017; 246:285-290. [PMID: 27884048 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, microRNA-142 (miR-142) is emerging as a major regulator of cell fate decision in the hematopoietic system. However, miR-142 is expressed in many other tissues, and recent evidence suggests that it may play a more pleiotropic role during embryonic development. In addition, miR-142 has been shown to play important functions in disease. miR-142 displays a functional role in cancer, virus infection, inflammation, and immune tolerance. Both a guide strand (miR-142-3p) and passenger strand (miR-142-5p) are generated from the miR-142 hairpin. miR-142-3p and -5p display overlapping but also independent target genes. Loss of function mouse models (genetrap, global knock out [KO], and conditional KO) have been reported and support the important role of miR-142 in different biological processes. This review will summarize the abundant literature already available for miR-142 and will lay the foundation for future works on this important microRNA. Developmental Dynamics 246:285-290, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Shrestha
- German Center for Lung Research, Excellence Cluster Cardio-Pulmonary System, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
| | - Regina T Mukhametshina
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology. Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation
| | - Sara Taghizadeh
- German Center for Lung Research, Excellence Cluster Cardio-Pulmonary System, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
| | | | - Hector Cabrera-Fuentes
- Cardiovascular & Metabolic Diseases Program, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, Singapore.,Institute of Biochemistry, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Germany
| | - Albert Rizvanov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology. Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation
| | - Bernard Mari
- Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IPMC), Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CNRS, UMR 7275, Sophia Antipolis, France.,Université Côte d'Azur, France
| | - Gianni Carraro
- Lung and Regenerative Medicine Institutes, Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
| | - Saverio Bellusci
- German Center for Lung Research, Excellence Cluster Cardio-Pulmonary System, Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center, Giessen, Hessen, Germany.,Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology. Kazan (Volga Region) Federal University, Kazan, Russian Federation
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33
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Perrin GQ, Zolotukhin I, Sherman A, Biswas M, de Jong YP, Terhorst C, Davidoff AM, Herzog RW. Dynamics of antigen presentation to transgene product-specific CD4 + T cells and of Treg induction upon hepatic AAV gene transfer. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2016; 3:16083. [PMID: 27933310 PMCID: PMC5142511 DOI: 10.1038/mtm.2016.83] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The tolerogenic hepatic microenvironment impedes clearance of viral infections but is an advantage in viral vector gene transfer, which often results in immune tolerance induction to transgene products. Although the underlying tolerance mechanism has been extensively studied, our understanding of antigen presentation to transgene product-specific CD4+ T cells remains limited. To address this, we administered hepatotropic adeno-associated virus (AAV8) vector expressing cytoplasmic ovalbumin (OVA) into wt mice followed by adoptive transfer of transgenic OVA-specific T cells. We find that that the liver-draining lymph nodes (celiac and portal) are the major sites of MHC II presentation of the virally encoded antigen, as judged by in vivo proliferation of DO11.10 CD4+ T cells (requiring professional antigen-presenting cells, e.g., macrophages) and CD4+CD25+FoxP3+ Treg induction. Antigen presentation in the liver itself contributes to activation of CD4+ T cells egressing from the liver. Hepatic-induced Treg rapidly disseminate through the systemic circulation. By contrast, a secreted OVA transgene product is presented in multiple organs, and OVA-specific Treg emerge in both the thymus and periphery. In summary, liver draining lymph nodes play an integral role in hepatic antigen presentation and peripheral Treg induction, which results in systemic regulation of the response to viral gene products.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Q Perrin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Irene Zolotukhin
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Alexandra Sherman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Moanaro Biswas
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ype P de Jong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine , New York, New York, USA
| | - Cox Terhorst
- Division of Immunology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Andrew M Davidoff
- Department of Surgery, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Roland W Herzog
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida , Gainesville, Florida, USA
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Bhadra U, Patra P, Chhatai J, Pal-Bhadra M. Pigmy MicroRNA: surveillance cops in Therapies kingdom. Mol Med 2016; 22:759-775. [PMID: 27704139 PMCID: PMC5193465 DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2016.00136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are well preserved in every animal. These pigmy sized non-coding RNAs (21-23 nt), scattered in genome, are responsible for micromanaging the versatile gene regulations. Involvement of miRNAs was surveillance cops in all human diseases including cardiovascular defects, tumor formation, reproductive pathways, and neurological and autoimmune disorders. The effective functional role of miRNA can be reduced by chemical entities of antisense oligonucleotides and versatile small molecules that support the views of novel therapy of different human diseases. In this study, we have updated our current understanding for designing and synthesizing miRNA-controlling therapeutic chemicals. We have also proposed various in-vivo delivery strategies and their ongoing challenges to combat the incorporation hurdles in live cells and animals. Lastly, we have demonstrated the current progress of miRNA modulation in the treatment of different human diseases that provides an alternative approach of gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Utpal Bhadra
- Functional Genomics and Gene Silencing Group, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, India
| | - Pradipta Patra
- Functional Genomics and Gene Silencing Group, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, India
| | - Jagamohan Chhatai
- Functional Genomics and Gene Silencing Group, Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, India
| | - Manika Pal-Bhadra
- Centre for Chemical Biology, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Uppal Road, Hyderabad, India
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Ciré S, Da Rocha S, Ferrand M, Collins MK, Galy A. In Vivo Gene Delivery to Lymph Node Stromal Cells Leads to Transgene-specific CD8+ T Cell Anergy in Mice. Mol Ther 2016; 24:1965-1973. [PMID: 27562586 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2016.168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Lymph node stromal cells play a role in self-tolerance by presenting tissue antigens to T cells. Yet, immunomodulatory properties of lymphoid tissue stroma, particularly toward CD4+ T cells, remain insufficiently characterized by lack of tools to target antigens for presentation by stromal cells. A lentiviral vector was therefore designed for antigen delivery to MHC class II+ cells of nonhematopoietic origin. Following intravenous vector delivery, the transgene was detected in lymph node gp38+ stromal cells which were CD45- MHCII+ and partly positive for CD86 and CTLA4 or B7-H4. The transgene was not detected in classical dendritic cells of lymph nodes or spleen. Transgene-specific CD4+ and CD8+ T cell responses were primed and regulatory T cells were also induced but effector T cell response did not develop, even after a peptide boost. Antigen-specific CD8+ T cells were not cytolytic in vivo. Thus, expressing a neo-antigen in MHC-II+ lymph node stroma seems to trigger blunt CD4 T cell responses leading to antigen-specific CD8+ T cell anergy. These results open up new perspectives to further characterize lymph node stromal cell functional properties and to develop gene transfer protocols targeting lymph node stroma to induce peripheral tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Séverine Ciré
- Research unit UMR_S951, Genethon, Inserm, Univ Evry, EPHE, Evry, France
| | - Sylvie Da Rocha
- Research unit UMR_S951, Genethon, Inserm, Univ Evry, EPHE, Evry, France
| | - Maxime Ferrand
- Research unit UMR_S951, Genethon, Inserm, Univ Evry, EPHE, Evry, France
| | - Mary K Collins
- Infection and Immunity Department, University College London, London, UK; National Institute of Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, UK
| | - Anne Galy
- Research unit UMR_S951, Genethon, Inserm, Univ Evry, EPHE, Evry, France.
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Arruda VR, Samelson-Jones BJ. Gene therapy for immune tolerance induction in hemophilia with inhibitors. J Thromb Haemost 2016; 14:1121-34. [PMID: 27061380 PMCID: PMC4907803 DOI: 10.1111/jth.13331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The development of inhibitors, i.e. neutralizing alloantibodies against factor (F) VIII or FIX, is the most significant complication of protein replacement therapy for patients with hemophilia, and is associated with both increased mortality and substantial physical, psychosocial and financial morbidity. Current management, including bypassing agents to treat and prevent bleeding, and immune tolerance induction for inhibitor eradication, is suboptimal for many patients. Fortunately, there are several emerging gene therapy approaches aimed at addressing these unmet clinical needs of patients with hemophilia and inhibitors. Herein, we review the mounting evidence from preclinical hemophilia models that the continuous uninterrupted expression of FVIII or FIX delivered as gene therapy can bias the immune system towards tolerance induction, and even promote the eradication of pre-existing inhibitors. We also discuss several gene transfer approaches that directly target immune cells in order to promote immune tolerance. These preclinical findings also shed light on the immunologic mechanisms that underlie tolerance induction.
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Affiliation(s)
- V R Arruda
- The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman Center for Cell and Molecular Therapeutics, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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Geisler A, Fechner H. MicroRNA-regulated viral vectors for gene therapy. World J Exp Med 2016; 6:37-54. [PMID: 27226955 PMCID: PMC4873559 DOI: 10.5493/wjem.v6.i2.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2015] [Revised: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Safe and effective gene therapy approaches require targeted tissue-specific transfer of a therapeutic transgene. Besides traditional approaches, such as transcriptional and transductional targeting, microRNA-dependent post-transcriptional suppression of transgene expression has been emerging as powerful new technology to increase the specificity of vector-mediated transgene expression. MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs and often expressed in a tissue-, lineage-, activation- or differentiation-specific pattern. They typically regulate gene expression by binding to imperfectly complementary sequences in the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the mRNA. To control exogenous transgene expression, tandem repeats of artificial microRNA target sites are usually incorporated into the 3' UTR of the transgene expression cassette, leading to subsequent degradation of transgene mRNA in cells expressing the corresponding microRNA. This targeting strategy, first shown for lentiviral vectors in antigen presenting cells, has now been used for tissue-specific expression of vector-encoded therapeutic transgenes, to reduce immune response against the transgene, to control virus tropism for oncolytic virotherapy, to increase safety of live attenuated virus vaccines and to identify and select cell subsets for pluripotent stem cell therapies, respectively. This review provides an introduction into the technical mechanism underlying microRNA-regulation, highlights new developments in this field and gives an overview of applications of microRNA-regulated viral vectors for cardiac, suicide gene cancer and hematopoietic stem cell therapy, as well as for treatment of neurological and eye diseases.
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Meneghini V, Lattanzi A, Tiradani L, Bravo G, Morena F, Sanvito F, Calabria A, Bringas J, Fisher-Perkins JM, Dufour JP, Baker KC, Doglioni C, Montini E, Bunnell BA, Bankiewicz K, Martino S, Naldini L, Gritti A. Pervasive supply of therapeutic lysosomal enzymes in the CNS of normal and Krabbe-affected non-human primates by intracerebral lentiviral gene therapy. EMBO Mol Med 2016; 8:489-510. [PMID: 27025653 PMCID: PMC5128736 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201505850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) and globoid cell leukodystrophy (GLD or Krabbe disease) are severe neurodegenerative lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) caused by arylsulfatase A (ARSA) and galactosylceramidase (GALC) deficiency, respectively. Our previous studies established lentiviral gene therapy (GT) as a rapid and effective intervention to provide pervasive supply of therapeutic lysosomal enzymes in CNS tissues of MLD and GLD mice. Here, we investigated whether this strategy is similarly effective in juvenile non-human primates (NHP). To provide proof of principle for tolerability and biological efficacy of the strategy, we established a comprehensive study in normal NHP delivering a clinically relevant lentiviral vector encoding for the human ARSA transgene. Then, we injected a lentiviral vector coding for the human GALC transgene in Krabbe-affected rhesus macaques, evaluating for the first time the therapeutic potential of lentiviral GT in this unique LSD model. We showed favorable safety profile and consistent pattern of LV transduction and enzyme biodistribution in the two models, supporting the robustness of the proposed GT platform. We documented moderate inflammation at the injection sites, mild immune response to vector particles in few treated animals, no indication of immune response against transgenic products, and no molecular evidence of insertional genotoxicity. Efficient gene transfer in neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes close to the injection sites resulted in robust production and extensive spreading of transgenic enzymes in the whole CNS and in CSF, leading to supraphysiological ARSA activity in normal NHP and close to physiological GALC activity in the Krabbe NHP, in which biological efficacy was associated with preliminary indication of therapeutic benefit. These results support the rationale for the clinical translation of intracerebral lentiviral GT to address CNS pathology in MLD, GLD, and other neurodegenerative LSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasco Meneghini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Annalisa Lattanzi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Tiradani
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriele Bravo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Morena
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Francesca Sanvito
- Anatomy and Histopathology Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy
| | - Andrea Calabria
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - John Bringas
- University of California San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Jeanne M Fisher-Perkins
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - Jason P Dufour
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - Kate C Baker
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | - Claudio Doglioni
- Anatomy and Histopathology Department, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milano, Italy Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Eugenio Montini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Bruce A Bunnell
- Division of Regenerative Medicine, Tulane National Primate Research Center, Covington, LA, USA
| | | | - Sabata Martino
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnologies, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Unit, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Angela Gritti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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Akbarpour M, Goudy KS, Cantore A, Russo F, Sanvito F, Naldini L, Annoni A, Roncarolo MG. Insulin B chain 9-23 gene transfer to hepatocytes protects from type 1 diabetes by inducing Ag-specific FoxP3+ Tregs. Sci Transl Med 2016; 7:289ra81. [PMID: 26019217 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaa3032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Antigen (Ag)-specific tolerance in type 1 diabetes (T1D) in human has not been achieved yet. Targeting lentiviral vector (LV)-mediated gene expression to hepatocytes induces active tolerance toward the encoded Ag. The insulin B chain 9-23 (InsB9-23) is an immunodominant T cell epitope in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. To determine whether auto-Ag gene transfer to hepatocytes induces tolerance and control of T1D, NOD mice were treated with integrase-competent LVs (ICLVs) that selectively target the expression of InsB9-23 to hepatocytes. ICLV treatment induced InsB9-23-specific effector T cells but also FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells (Tregs), which halted islet immune cell infiltration, and protected from T1D. Moreover, ICLV treatment combined with a single suboptimal dose of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody (mAb) is effective in T1D reversal. Splenocytes from LV.InsB9-23-treated mice, but not from LV.OVA (ovalbumin)-treated control mice, stopped diabetes development, demonstrating that protection is Ag-specific. Depletion of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) T cells led to diabetes progression, indicating that Ag-specific FoxP3(+) Tregs mediate protection. Integrase-defective LVs (IDLVs).InsB9-23, which alleviate the concerns for insertional mutagenesis and support transient transgene expression in hepatocytes, were also efficient in protecting from T1D. These data demonstrate that hepatocyte-targeted auto-Ag gene expression prevents and resolves T1D and that stable integration of the transgene is not required for this protection. Gene transfer to hepatocytes can be used to induce Ag-specific tolerance in autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahzad Akbarpour
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Kevin S Goudy
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Alessio Cantore
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Fabio Russo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Francesca Sanvito
- Pathology Unit, Department of Oncology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Andrea Annoni
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Maria Grazia Roncarolo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Division of Regenerative Medicine, Stem Cells and Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy. Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy. Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.
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40
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KARAGIANNIS P, FUJITA Y, SAITO H. RNA-based gene circuits for cell regulation. PROCEEDINGS OF THE JAPAN ACADEMY. SERIES B, PHYSICAL AND BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2016; 92:412-422. [PMID: 27840389 PMCID: PMC5328788 DOI: 10.2183/pjab.92.412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2016] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
A major goal of synthetic biology is to control cell behavior. RNA-mediated genetic switches (RNA switches) are devices that serve this purpose, as they can control gene expressions in response to input signals. In general, RNA switches consist of two domains: an aptamer domain, which binds to an input molecule, and an actuator domain, which controls the gene expression. An input binding to the aptamer can cause the actuator to alter the RNA structure, thus changing access to translation machinery. The assembly of multiple RNA switches has led to complex gene circuits for cell therapies, including the selective killing of pathological cells and purification of cell populations. The inclusion of RNA binding proteins, such as L7Ae, increases the repertoire and precision of the circuit. In this short review, we discuss synthetic RNA switches for gene regulation and their potential therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter KARAGIANNIS
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko FUJITA
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hirohide SAITO
- Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan
- Correspondence should be addressed: H. Saito, Department of Life Science Frontiers, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, 53 Kawahara-cho, Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan (e-mail: )
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Dobrin A, Saxena P, Fussenegger M. Synthetic biology: applying biological circuits beyond novel therapies. Integr Biol (Camb) 2015; 8:409-30. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ib00263j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Anton Dobrin
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pratik Saxena
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Martin Fussenegger
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering, ETH Zurich, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
- Faculty of Science, University of Basel, Mattenstrasse 26, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
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Subang MC, Fatah R, Wu Y, Hannaman D, Rice J, Evans CF, Chernajovsky Y, Gould D. Effects of APC De-targeting and GAr modification on the duration of luciferase expression from plasmid DNA delivered to skeletal muscle. Curr Gene Ther 2015; 15:3-14. [PMID: 25545919 PMCID: PMC4443798 DOI: 10.2174/1566523214666141114204943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2014] [Revised: 07/16/2014] [Accepted: 10/31/2014] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Immune responses to expressed foreign transgenes continue to hamper progress of gene therapy development. Translated foreign proteins with intracellular location are generally less accessible to the immune system, nevertheless they can be presented to the immune system through both MHC Class I and Class II pathways. When the foreign protein luciferase was expressed following intramuscular delivery of plasmid DNA in outbred mice, expression rapidly declined over 4 weeks. Through modifications to the expression plasmid and the luciferase transgene we examined the effect of detargeting expression away from antigen-presenting cells (APCs), targeting expression to skeletal muscle and fusion with glycine-alanine repeats (GAr) that block MHC-Class I presentation on the duration of luciferase expression. De-targeting expression from APCs with miR142-3p target sequences incorporated into the luciferase 3'UTR reduced the humoral immune response to both native and luciferase modified with a short GAr sequence but did not prolong the duration of expression. When a skeletal muscle specific promoter was combined with the miR target sequences the humoral immune response was dampened and luciferase expression persisted at higher levels for longer. Interestingly, fusion of luciferase with a longer GAr sequence promoted the decline in luciferase expression and increased the humoral immune response to luciferase. These studies demonstrate that expression elements and transgene modifications can alter the duration of transgene expression but other factors will need to overcome before foreign transgenes expressed in skeletal muscle are immunologically silent.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David Gould
- Bone & Joint Research Unit, Queen Mary University of London, William Harvey Research Institute, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK.
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Gernoux G, Guilbaud M, Dubreil L, Larcher T, Babarit C, Ledevin M, Jaulin N, Planel P, Moullier P, Adjali O. Early interaction of adeno-associated virus serotype 8 vector with the host immune system following intramuscular delivery results in weak but detectable lymphocyte and dendritic cell transduction. Hum Gene Ther 2015; 26:1-13. [PMID: 25333770 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2014.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Following in vivo recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based gene transfer, adaptive immune responses specific to the vector or the transgene product have emerged as a potential roadblock to successful clinical translation. The occurrence of such responses depends on several parameters, including the route of vector administration as well as the viral serotype and the genome configuration, either self-complementary (sc) or single-stranded (ss). These parameters influence rAAV vector-associated immunity by modulating the crosstalk between the vector and the host immune system, including vector ability to interact or even transduce lymphoid tissues in general and antigen-presenting cells (APCs) in particular. Little is known about immune cell populations that are targeted in vivo by rAAV vectors. Moreover, the transduction of dendritic cells is still controversial and not directly demonstrated. Here, we show that intramuscular administration of an sc rAAV8 vector in the mouse leads to a rapid distribution of viral genomes in the lymphoid tissues that is associated with transgene expression. Transduced cells were detected in follicular areas of the spleen and the draining lymph nodes. In addition to B and T lymphocytes, transduced professional APCs were detected although at very low frequency. In addition, viral genomes and transgene transcripts were also detected in these cell populations after ss rAAV8 vector administration. Although the functional significance of those observations needs further explorations, our results highlight an early and intricate interaction between the rAAV vector upon its in vivo delivery and the host immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gwladys Gernoux
- 1 INSERM UMR 1089, Nantes University Hospital , 44007 Nantes, France
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44
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Synthetic Biology--Toward Therapeutic Solutions. J Mol Biol 2015; 428:945-62. [PMID: 26334368 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2015.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Revised: 08/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Higher multicellular organisms have evolved sophisticated intracellular and intercellular biological networks that enable cell growth and survival to fulfill an organism's needs. Although such networks allow the assembly of complex tissues and even provide healing and protective capabilities, malfunctioning cells can have severe consequences for an organism's survival. In humans, such events can result in severe disorders and diseases, including metabolic and immunological disorders, as well as cancer. Dominating the therapeutic frontier for these potentially lethal disorders, cell and gene therapies aim to relieve or eliminate patient suffering by restoring the function of damaged, diseased, and aging cells and tissues via the introduction of healthy cells or alternative genes. However, despite recent success, these efforts have yet to achieve sufficient therapeutic effects, and further work is needed to ensure the safe and precise control of transgene expression and cellular processes. In this review, we describe the biological tools and devices that are at the forefront of synthetic biology and discuss their potential to advance the specificity, efficiency, and safety of the current generation of cell and gene therapies, including how they can be used to confer curative effects that far surpass those of conventional therapeutics. We also highlight the current therapeutic delivery tools and the current limitations that hamper their use in human applications.
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Laakkonen JP, Ylä-Herttuala S. Recent Advancements in Cardiovascular Gene Therapy and Vascular Biology. Hum Gene Ther 2015; 26:518-24. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2015.095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Johanna P. Laakkonen
- Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Seppo Ylä-Herttuala
- Department of Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine, A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
- Gene Therapy Unit, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
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Aravalli RN, Belcher JD, Steer CJ. Liver-targeted gene therapy: Approaches and challenges. Liver Transpl 2015; 21:718-37. [PMID: 25824605 PMCID: PMC9353592 DOI: 10.1002/lt.24122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2014] [Revised: 03/06/2015] [Accepted: 03/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The liver plays a major role in many inherited and acquired genetic disorders. It is also the site for the treatment of certain inborn errors of metabolism that do not directly cause injury to the liver. The advancement of nucleic acid-based therapies for liver maladies has been severely limited because of the myriad untoward side effects and methodological limitations. To address these issues, research efforts in recent years have been intensified toward the development of targeted gene approaches using novel genetic tools, such as zinc-finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats as well as various nonviral vectors such as Sleeping Beauty transposons, PiggyBac transposons, and PhiC31 integrase. Although each of these methods uses a distinct mechanism of gene modification, all of them are dependent on the efficient delivery of DNA and RNA molecules into the cell. This review provides an overview of current and emerging therapeutic strategies for liver-targeted gene therapy and gene repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajagopal N. Aravalli
- Department of Radiology, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 54455
| | - John D. Belcher
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 54455
| | - Clifford J. Steer
- Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 54455,Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN 54455
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Abstract
Hemophilia is an X-linked inherited bleeding disorder consisting of two classifications, hemophilia A and hemophilia B, depending on the underlying mutation. Although the disease is currently treatable with intravenous delivery of replacement recombinant clotting factor, this approach represents a significant cost both monetarily and in terms of quality of life. Gene therapy is an attractive alternative approach to the treatment of hemophilia that would ideally provide life-long correction of clotting activity with a single injection. In this review, we will discuss the multitude of approaches that have been explored for the treatment of both hemophilia A and B, including both in vivo and ex vivo approaches with viral and nonviral delivery vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey L Rogers
- University of Florida, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Gainesville, FL 32610
| | - Roland W Herzog
- University of Florida, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Gainesville, FL 32610
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Scott DW. Inhibitors - cellular aspects and novel approaches for tolerance. Haemophilia 2014; 20 Suppl 4:80-6. [PMID: 24762281 DOI: 10.1111/hae.12407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/24/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The immune response against therapeutic clotting factors VIII and IX (FVIII and FIX) is a major adverse event that can effectively thwart their effectiveness in correcting bleeding disorders. Thus, a significant number of haemophilia patients form antibodies, called inhibitors, which neutralize the procoagulant functions of therapeutic cofactors FVIII (haemophilia A) or FIX (haemophilia B). Understanding the cellular and molecular aspects of inhibitor formation is critical to designing tolerogenic therapies for clinical use. This review will focus on the basis of the immune response to FVIII, in particular, and will discuss emerging efforts to not only reduce immunogenicity but also to prevent and/or reverse inhibitor formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- D W Scott
- Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services, University for the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Abstract
Recent advances in our understanding of the pathophysiology of myocardial dysfunction in the setting of congestive heart failure have created a new opportunity in developing nonpharmacological approaches to treatment. Gene therapy has emerged as a powerful tool in targeting the molecular mechanisms of disease by preventing the ventricular remodeling and improving bioenergetics in heart failure. Refinements in vector technology, including the creation of recombinant adeno-associated viruses, have allowed for safe and efficient gene transfer. These advancements have been coupled with evolving delivery methods that include vascular, pericardial, and direct myocardial approaches. One of the most promising targets, SERCA2a, is currently being used in clinical trials. The recent success of the Calcium Upregulation by Percutaneous Administration of Gene Therapy in Cardiac Disease phase 2 trials using adeno-associated virus 1-SERCA2a in improving outcomes highlights the importance of gene therapy as a future tool in treating congestive heart failure.
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Maguire CA, Ramirez SH, Merkel SF, Sena-Esteves M, Breakefield XO. Gene therapy for the nervous system: challenges and new strategies. Neurotherapeutics 2014; 11:817-39. [PMID: 25159276 PMCID: PMC4391389 DOI: 10.1007/s13311-014-0299-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Current clinical treatments for central nervous system (CNS) diseases, such as Parkinson's disease and glioblastoma do not halt disease progression and have significant treatment morbidities. Gene therapy has the potential to "permanently" correct disease by bringing in a normal gene to correct a mutant gene deficiency, knocking down mRNA of mutant alleles, and inducing cell-death in cancer cells using transgenes encoding apoptosis-inducing proteins. Promising results in clinical trials of eye disease (Leber's congenital aumorosis) and Parkinson's disease have shown that gene-based neurotherapeutics have great potential. The recent development of genome editing technology, such as zinc finger nucleases, TALENS, and CRISPR, has made the ultimate goal of gene correction a step closer. This review summarizes the challenges faced by gene-based neurotherapeutics and the current and recent strategies designed to overcome these barriers. We have chosen the following challenges to focus on in this review: (1) delivery vehicles (both virus and nonviral), (2) use of promoters for vector-mediated gene expression in CNS, and (3) delivery across the blood-brain barrier. The final section (4) focuses on promising pre-clinical/clinical studies of neurotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey A Maguire
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Neuroscience Program, Harvard Medical School, Molecular Neurogenetics Unit, 13th Street, Building 149, Charlestown, MA, 02129, USA,
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