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De Pablo-Moreno JA, Miguel-Batuecas A, Rodríguez-Merchán EC, Liras A. Treatment of congenital coagulopathies, from biologic to biotechnological drugs: The relevance of gene editing (CRISPR/Cas). Thromb Res 2023; 231:99-111. [PMID: 37839151 DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Congenital coagulopathies have, throughout the history of medicine, been a focus of scientific study and of great interest as they constitute an alteration of one of the most important and conserved pathways of evolution. The first therapeutic strategies developed to address them were aimed at restoring the blood components lost during hemorrhage by administering whole blood or plasma. Later on, the use of cryoprecipitates was a significant breakthrough as it made it possible to decrease the volumes of blood infused. In the 1970' and 80', clotting factor concentrates became the treatment and, from the 1990's to the present day, recombinant factors -with increasingly longer half-lives- have taken over as the treatment of choice for certain coagulopathies in a seamless yet momentous transition from biological to biotechnological drugs. The beginning of this century, however, saw the emergence of new advanced (gene and cell) treatments, which are currently transforming the therapeutic landscape. The possibility to use cells and viruses as well as specific or bispecific antibodies as medicines is likely to spark a revolution in the world of pharmacology where therapies will be individualized and have long-term effects. Specifically, attention is nowadays focused on the development of gene editing strategies, chiefly those based on CRISPR/Cas technology. Rare coagulopathies such as hemophilia A and B, or even ultra-rare ones such as factor V deficiency, could be among those deriving the greatest benefit from these new developments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan A De Pablo-Moreno
- Department of Genetic, Physiology and Microbiology, Biology School, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
| | - Andrea Miguel-Batuecas
- Department of Genetic, Physiology and Microbiology, Biology School, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain
| | - E Carlos Rodríguez-Merchán
- Osteoarticular Surgery Research, Hospital La Paz Institute for Health Research-IdiPAZ (La Paz University Hospital-Autonomous University of Madrid), Spain
| | - Antonio Liras
- Department of Genetic, Physiology and Microbiology, Biology School, Complutense University of Madrid, Spain.
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2
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Han W, Huang R, Li B, Liu L, Xu W, Zhang G. Characteristics of FXa-storing platelets in hemophilia B mice and the influence of alcohol on the platelets. Sci Rep 2023; 13:16488. [PMID: 37779119 PMCID: PMC10543635 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-43649-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Platelet-stored activated blood coagulation factor X (FXa) has great potential in the gene therapy of hemophilia B (HB). However, we still need to understand more about the properties of FXa-storing platelets and how dietary factors affect them. We created transgenic mice called 2bFXa-HB, which had stable expression and storage of FXa in their platelets, resulting in the alleviation of the bleeding disorder in these mice. Even after inducing anti-factor IX (FIX) inhibitors in 2bFXa-HB mice, the hemorrhage phenotype could still be rescued by the expression of FXa. The activation capacity of 2bFXa-HB platelets remained unchanged, and there were no signs of elevated thrombotic risk in these mice. In an acute alcohol exposure mouse model, a single administration of alcohol reduced both the number of platelets and their activation capacity, as well as impaired coagulation function. However, it did not increase the markers of thrombotic risk in either 2bFXa-HB or HB mice. These results suggest that FXa storage in platelets is safe and effective for treatment of HB, but alcohol could impair the therapeutic effect of FXa-containing platelets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Han
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, No. 2318, Yuhangtang Rd, Cangqian, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Rui Huang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, No. 2318, Yuhangtang Rd, Cangqian, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Binbin Li
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, No. 2318, Yuhangtang Rd, Cangqian, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Lu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, No. 2318, Yuhangtang Rd, Cangqian, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenjue Xu
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, No. 2318, Yuhangtang Rd, Cangqian, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Guowei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University, No. 2318, Yuhangtang Rd, Cangqian, Yuhang District, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China.
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Sato M, Nakamura S, Inada E, Takabayashi S. Recent Advances in the Production of Genome-Edited Rats. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052548. [PMID: 35269691 PMCID: PMC8910656 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The rat is an important animal model for understanding gene function and developing human disease models. Knocking out a gene function in rats was difficult until recently, when a series of genome editing (GE) technologies, including zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and the type II bacterial clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9) systems were successfully applied for gene modification (as exemplified by gene-specific knockout and knock-in) in the endogenous target genes of various organisms including rats. Owing to its simple application for gene modification and its ease of use, the CRISPR/Cas9 system is now commonly used worldwide. The most important aspect of this process is the selection of the method used to deliver GE components to rat embryos. In earlier stages, the microinjection (MI) of GE components into the cytoplasm and/or nuclei of a zygote was frequently employed. However, this method is associated with the use of an expensive manipulator system, the skills required to operate it, and the egg transfer (ET) of MI-treated embryos to recipient females for further development. In vitro electroporation (EP) of zygotes is next recognized as a simple and rapid method to introduce GE components to produce GE animals. Furthermore, in vitro transduction of rat embryos with adeno-associated viruses is potentially effective for obtaining GE rats. However, these two approaches also require ET. The use of gene-engineered embryonic stem cells or spermatogonial stem cells appears to be of interest to obtain GE rats; however, the procedure itself is difficult and laborious. Genome-editing via oviductal nucleic acids delivery (GONAD) (or improved GONAD (i-GONAD)) is a novel method allowing for the in situ production of GE zygotes existing within the oviductal lumen. This can be performed by the simple intraoviductal injection of GE components and subsequent in vivo EP toward the injected oviducts and does not require ET. In this review, we describe the development of various approaches for producing GE rats together with an assessment of their technical advantages and limitations, and present new GE-related technologies and current achievements using those rats in relation to human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Sato
- Department of Genome Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
- Correspondence: (M.S.); (S.T.); Tel.: +81-3-3416-0181 (M.S.); +81-53-435-2001 (S.T.)
| | - Shingo Nakamura
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, National Defense Medical College Research Institute, Saitama 359-8513, Japan;
| | - Emi Inada
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Kagoshima University, Kagoshima 890-8544, Japan;
| | - Shuji Takabayashi
- Laboratory Animal Facilities & Services, Preeminent Medical Photonics Education & Research Center, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Shizuoka 431-3192, Japan
- Correspondence: (M.S.); (S.T.); Tel.: +81-3-3416-0181 (M.S.); +81-53-435-2001 (S.T.)
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Jair Lara-Navarro I, Rebeca Jaloma-Cruz A. Current Therapies in Hemophilia: From Plasma-Derived Factor Modalities to CRISPR/Cas Alternatives. TOHOKU J EXP MED 2022; 256:197-207. [DOI: 10.1620/tjem.256.197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Irving Jair Lara-Navarro
- División de Genética, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social
| | - Ana Rebeca Jaloma-Cruz
- División de Genética, Centro de Investigación Biomédica de Occidente, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social
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5
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Schroeder JA, Kuether EA, Fang J, Jing W, Weiler H, Wilcox DA, Montgomery RR, Shi Q. Thromboelastometry assessment of hemostatic properties in various murine models with coagulopathy and the effect of factor VIII therapeutics. J Thromb Haemost 2021; 19:2417-2427. [PMID: 34245090 PMCID: PMC8865566 DOI: 10.1111/jth.15456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rotational thromboelastometry (ROTEM) has been commonly used to assess the viscoelastic properties of the blood clotting process in the clinic for patients with a hemostatic or prothrombotic disorder. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the capability of ROTEM in assessing hemostatic properties in whole blood from various mouse models with genetic bleeding or clotting disease and the effect of factor VIII (FVIII) therapeutics in FVIIInull mice. METHODS Mice with a genetic deficiency in either a coagulation factor or a platelet glycoprotein were used in this study. The properties of platelet- or plasma-FVIII were also assessed. Citrated blood from mice was recalcified and used for ROTEM analysis. RESULTS We found that blood collected from the vena cava could generate reliable results from ROTEM analysis, but not blood collected from the tail vein, retro-orbital plexus, or submandibular vein. Age and sex did not significantly affect the hemostatic properties determined by ROTEM analysis. Clotting time (CT) and clot formation time (CFT) were significantly prolonged in FVIIInull (5- and 9-fold, respectively) and FIXnull (4- and 5.7-fold, respectively) mice compared to wild-type (WT)-C57BL/6J mice. Platelet glycoprotein (GP)IIIanull mice had significantly prolonged CFT (8.4-fold) compared to WT-C57BL/6J mice. CT and CFT in factor V (FV) Leiden mice were significantly shortened with an increased α-angle compared to WT-C57BL/6J mice. Using ROTEM analysis, we showed that FVIII expressed in platelets or infused into whole blood restored hemostasis of FVIIInull mice in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSION ROTEM is a reliable and sensitive assay for assessing therapeutics on hemostatic properties in mouse models with a bleeding or clotting disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn A. Schroeder
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Children’s Research Institute, Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- MACC Fund Research Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Erin A. Kuether
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Children’s Research Institute, Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- MACC Fund Research Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Juan Fang
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- MACC Fund Research Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Weiqing Jing
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Hartmut Weiler
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - David A. Wilcox
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Children’s Research Institute, Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- MACC Fund Research Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Robert R. Montgomery
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Children’s Research Institute, Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- MACC Fund Research Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Qizhen Shi
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- Children’s Research Institute, Children’s Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
- MACC Fund Research Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
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6
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Leung J, Cau MF, Kastrup CJ. Emerging gene therapies for enhancing the hemostatic potential of platelets. Transfusion 2021; 61 Suppl 1:S275-S285. [PMID: 34269451 DOI: 10.1111/trf.16519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Platelet transfusions are an integral component of balanced hemostatic resuscitation protocols used to manage severe hemorrhage following trauma. Enhancing the hemostatic potential of platelets could lead to further increases in the efficacy of transfusions, particularly for non-compressible torso hemorrhage or severe hemorrhage with coagulopathy, by decreasing blood loss and improving overall patient outcomes. Advances in gene therapies, including RNA therapies, are leading to new strategies to enhance platelets for better control of hemorrhage. This review will highlight three approaches for creating modified platelets using gene therapies: (i) direct transfection of transfusable platelets ex vivo, (ii) in vitro production of engineered platelets from platelet-precursor cells, and (iii) modifying the bone marrow for in vivo production of modified platelets. In summary, modifying platelets to enhance their hemostatic potential is an exciting new frontier in transfusion medicine, but more preclinical development as well as studies testing the safety and efficacy of these agents are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Leung
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Massimo F Cau
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christian J Kastrup
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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7
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Li B, Wu Z, Xu W, Han W, Liu J, Wang D, Zhang G. Treatment of a Hemophilia B Mouse Model with Platelet-Targeted Expression of Factor IX Padua. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:506-516. [PMID: 33764159 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeting the coagulation factor IX (FIX) expression in platelets has been shown to be effective in ameliorating bleeding in hemophilia B (HB) mice. To improve the therapeutic effects and evaluate the safety of this gene therapy strategy, we generated a transgenic mouse model on an HB background with FIX Padua target expressed in platelets. The transgenic mice exhibited stable expression and storage of FIX Padua in platelets. The platelet-stored FIX Padua could be released with the activation of platelets, and the proportion of platelet-stored FIX Padua in whole blood was the same as that of platelet-stored wild-type human FIX. The platelet-derived FIX Padua showed substantially increased specific activity compared with wild-type FIX. Reduced bleeding volume in the FIX Padua transgenic mice demonstrated that bleeding in the mice was improved. Levels of thrombin-antithrombin complex, fibrinogen, D-Dimer, and blood cell counts were normal in the transgenic mice, suggesting that thrombotic risk was not increased in this mouse model. However, the leakage and failure to overcome the presence of inhibitor to wild-type FIX is also observed with FIX Padua, as expected. Taken together, our results support the conclusion that targeting FIX Padua expression in platelets may be an effective and safe gene therapy strategy for HB, and could provide an ideal model to evaluate the safety of platelet-targeted gene therapy for treating hemophilia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binbin Li
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhihan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenjue Xu
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wenwen Han
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiayu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Dawei Wang
- National Research Center for Translational Medicine, Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Shanghai Institute of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guowei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Aging and Cancer Biology of Zhejiang Province, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Hangzhou Normal University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Chenouard V, Remy S, Tesson L, Ménoret S, Ouisse LH, Cherifi Y, Anegon I. Advances in Genome Editing and Application to the Generation of Genetically Modified Rat Models. Front Genet 2021; 12:615491. [PMID: 33959146 PMCID: PMC8093876 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.615491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The rat has been extensively used as a small animal model. Many genetically engineered rat models have emerged in the last two decades, and the advent of gene-specific nucleases has accelerated their generation in recent years. This review covers the techniques and advances used to generate genetically engineered rat lines and their application to the development of rat models more broadly, such as conditional knockouts and reporter gene strains. In addition, genome-editing techniques that remain to be explored in the rat are discussed. The review also focuses more particularly on two areas in which extensive work has been done: human genetic diseases and immune system analysis. Models are thoroughly described in these two areas and highlight the competitive advantages of rat models over available corresponding mouse versions. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive description of the advantages and potential of rat models for addressing specific scientific questions and to characterize the best genome-engineering tools for developing new projects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Chenouard
- CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
- genOway, Lyon, France
| | - Séverine Remy
- CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Laurent Tesson
- CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | - Séverine Ménoret
- CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
- CHU Nantes, Inserm, CNRS, SFR Santé, Inserm UMS 016, CNRS UMS 3556, Nantes Université, Nantes, France
| | - Laure-Hélène Ouisse
- CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
| | | | - Ignacio Anegon
- CHU Nantes, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Transplantation et Immunologie, UMR 1064, ITUN, Université de Nantes, Nantes, France
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Szpirer C. Rat models of human diseases and related phenotypes: a systematic inventory of the causative genes. J Biomed Sci 2020; 27:84. [PMID: 32741357 PMCID: PMC7395987 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-020-00673-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The laboratory rat has been used for a long time as the model of choice in several biomedical disciplines. Numerous inbred strains have been isolated, displaying a wide range of phenotypes and providing many models of human traits and diseases. Rat genome mapping and genomics was considerably developed in the last decades. The availability of these resources has stimulated numerous studies aimed at discovering causal disease genes by positional identification. Numerous rat genes have now been identified that underlie monogenic or complex diseases and remarkably, these results have been translated to the human in a significant proportion of cases, leading to the identification of novel human disease susceptibility genes, helping in studying the mechanisms underlying the pathological abnormalities and also suggesting new therapeutic approaches. In addition, reverse genetic tools have been developed. Several genome-editing methods were introduced to generate targeted mutations in genes the function of which could be clarified in this manner [generally these are knockout mutations]. Furthermore, even when the human gene causing a disease had been identified without resorting to a rat model, mutated rat strains (in particular KO strains) were created to analyze the gene function and the disease pathogenesis. Today, over 350 rat genes have been identified as underlying diseases or playing a key role in critical biological processes that are altered in diseases, thereby providing a rich resource of disease models. This article is an update of the progress made in this research and provides the reader with an inventory of these disease genes, a significant number of which have similar effects in rat and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claude Szpirer
- Université Libre de Bruxelles, B-6041, Gosselies, Belgium.
- , Waterloo, Belgium.
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Cai Y, Shi Q. Platelet-Targeted FVIII Gene Therapy Restores Hemostasis and Induces Immune Tolerance for Hemophilia A. Front Immunol 2020; 11:964. [PMID: 32595633 PMCID: PMC7303294 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Platelets are small anucleated blood components primarily described as playing a fundamental role in hemostasis and thrombosis. Over the last decades, increasing evidence has demonstrated the role of platelets in modulating inflammatory reactions and immune responses. Platelets harbor several specialized organelles: granules, endosomes, lysosomes, and mitochondria that can synthesize proteins with pre-stored mRNAs when needed. While the functions of platelets in the immune response are well-recognized, little is known about the potential role of platelets in immune tolerance. Recent studies demonstrate that platelet-specific FVIII gene therapy can restore hemostasis and induce immune tolerance in hemophilia A mice, even mice with preexisting anti-FVIII immunity. Here, we review the potential mechanisms by which platelet-targeted FVIII gene therapy restores hemostasis in the presence of anti-FVIII inhibitory antibodies and induces immune tolerance in hemophilia A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanhua Cai
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States
| | - Qizhen Shi
- Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,Children's Research Institute, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States.,MACC Fund Research Center, Milwaukee, WI, United States
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