1
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Lyu P, Yadav MK, Yoo KW, Jiang C, Li Q, Atala A, Lu B. Gene therapy of Dent disease type 1 in newborn ClC-5 null mice for sustained transgene expression and gene therapy effects. Gene Ther 2024:10.1038/s41434-024-00490-w. [PMID: 39322766 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-024-00490-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 09/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/20/2024] [Indexed: 09/27/2024]
Abstract
Dent disease type 1 is caused by changes in the chloride voltage-gated channel 5 (CLCN5) gene on chromosome X, resulting in the lack or dysfunction of chloride channel ClC-5. Individuals affected by Dent disease type 1 show proteinuria and hypercalciuria. Previously we found that lentiviral vector-mediated hCLCN5 cDNA supplementary therapy in ClC-5 null mice was effective only for three months following gene delivery, and the therapeutic effects disappeared four months after treatment, most likely due to immune responses to the ClC-5 proteins expressed in the treated cells. Here we tried two strategies to reduce possible immune responses: 1) confining the expression of ClC-5 expression to the tubular cells with tubule-specific Npt2a and Sglt2 promoters, and 2) performing gene therapy in newborn mutant mice whose immune system has not fully developed. We found that although Npt2a and Sglt2 promoters successfully drove ClC-5 expression in the kidneys of the mutant mice, the treatment did not ameliorate the phenotypes. However, gene delivery to the kidneys of newborn Clcn5 mutant mice enabled long-term transgene expression and phenotype improvement. Our data suggest that performing gene therapy on Dent disease affected subjects soon after birth could be a promising strategy to attenuate immune responses in Dent disease type 1 gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pin Lyu
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Manish Kumar Yadav
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Kyung Whan Yoo
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Cuili Jiang
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Qingqi Li
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Anthony Atala
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Baisong Lu
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
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2
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Kontogiannis T, Braybrook J, McElroy C, Foy C, Whale AS, Quaglia M, Smales CM. Characterization of AAV vectors: A review of analytical techniques and critical quality attributes. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101309. [PMID: 39234444 PMCID: PMC11372808 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Standardized evaluation of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector products for biotherapeutic application is essential to ensure the safety and efficacy of gene therapies. This includes analyzing the critical quality attributes of the product. However, many of the current analytical techniques used to assess these attributes have limitations, including low throughput, large sample requirements, poorly understood measurement variability, and lack of comparability between methods. To address these challenges, it is essential to establish higher-order reference methods that can be used for comparability measurements, optimization of current assays, and development of reference materials. Highly precise methods are necessary for measuring the empty/partial/full capsid ratios and the titer of AAV vectors. Additionally, it is important to develop methods for the measurement of less-established critical quality attributes, including post-translational modifications, capsid stoichiometry, and methylation profiles. By doing so, we can gain a better understanding of the influence of these attributes on the quality of the product. Moreover, quantification of impurities, such as host-cell proteins and DNA contaminants, is crucial for obtaining regulatory approval. The development and application of refined methodologies will be essential to thoroughly characterize AAV vectors by informing process development and facilitating the generation of reference materials for assay validation and calibration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodoros Kontogiannis
- School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NJ, UK
- National Measurement Laboratory at LGC, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY, UK
| | - Julian Braybrook
- National Measurement Laboratory at LGC, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY, UK
| | | | - Carole Foy
- National Measurement Laboratory at LGC, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY, UK
| | - Alexandra S Whale
- National Measurement Laboratory at LGC, Teddington, Middlesex TW11 0LY, UK
| | - Milena Quaglia
- Reading Scientific Services Ltd, Reading Science Centre, Whiteknights Campus, Pepper Lane, Reading Berkshire RG6 6LA, UK
| | - C Mark Smales
- School of Biosciences, Division of Natural Sciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent CT2 7NJ, UK
- National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Blackrock, Co, Foster Avenue, A94 X099 Mount Merrion, Dublin, Ireland
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3
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Sripada SA, Barbieri E, Shastry S, Wuestenhagen E, Aldinger A, Rammo O, Schulte MM, Daniele M, Menegatti S. Multiangle Light Scattering as a Lentivirus Purification Process Analytical Technology. Anal Chem 2024; 96:9593-9600. [PMID: 38804040 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
The limited biomolecular and functional stability of lentiviral vectors (LVVs) for cell therapy poses the need for analytical tools that can monitor their titers and activity throughout the various steps of expression and purification. In this study, we describe a rapid (25 min) and reproducible (coefficient of variance ∼0.5-2%) method that leverages size exclusion chromatography coupled with multiangle light scattering detection (SEC-MALS) to determine size, purity, and particle count of LVVs purified from bioreactor harvests. The SEC-MALS data were corroborated by orthogonal methods, namely, dynamic light scattering (DLS) and transmission electron microscopy. The method was also evaluated for robustness in the range of 2.78 × 105-2.67 × 107 particles per sample. Notably, MALS-based particle counts correlated with the titer of infectious LVVs measured via transduction assays (R2 = 0.77). Using a combination of SEC-MALS and DLS, we discerned the effects of purification parameters on LVV quality, such as the separation between heterogeneous LV, which can facilitate critical decision-making in the biomanufacturing of gene and cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sobhana A Sripada
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State University, 911 Partners Way, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
- NC-VVIRAL, NC State University, 1840 Entrepreneur Dr, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Eduardo Barbieri
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State University, 911 Partners Way, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
- LigaTrap Technologies LLC, 1791 Varsity Drive, Suite #150, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Shriarjun Shastry
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State University, 911 Partners Way, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
- Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, NC State University, 850 Oval Dr, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
- NC-VVIRAL, NC State University, 1840 Entrepreneur Dr, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | | | | | | | | | - Michael Daniele
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, NC State University, 890 Oval Dr, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
- Joint Department of Biomedical Engineering, NC State University and UNC Chapel Hill, 1840 Entrepreneur Dr, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
- NC-VVIRAL, NC State University, 1840 Entrepreneur Dr, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Stefano Menegatti
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State University, 911 Partners Way, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
- LigaTrap Technologies LLC, 1791 Varsity Drive, Suite #150, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
- Biomanufacturing Training and Education Center, NC State University, 850 Oval Dr, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
- NC-VVIRAL, NC State University, 1840 Entrepreneur Dr, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
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4
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Mier NC, Roper DK. Effects of an indole derivative on cell proliferation, transfection, and alternative splicing in production of lentiviral vectors by transient co-transfection. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297817. [PMID: 38833479 PMCID: PMC11149887 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors derived from human immunodeficiency virus type I are widely used to deliver functional gene copies to mammalian cells for research and gene therapies. Post-transcriptional splicing of lentiviral vector transgene in transduced host and transfected producer cells presents barriers to widespread application of lentiviral vector-based therapies. The present study examined effects of indole derivative compound IDC16 on splicing of lentiviral vector transcripts in producer cells and corresponding yield of infectious lentiviral vectors. Indole IDC16 was shown previously to modify alternative splicing in human immunodeficiency virus type I. Human embryonic kidney 293T cells were transiently transfected by 3rd generation backbone and packaging plasmids using polyethyleneimine. Reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction of the fraction of unspliced genomes in human embryonic kidney 293T cells increased up to 31% upon the indole's treatment at 2.5 uM. Corresponding yield of infectious lentiviral vectors decreased up to 4.5-fold in a cell transduction assay. Adjusting timing and duration of IDC16 treatment indicated that the indole's disruption of early stages of transfection and cell cycle had a greater effect on exponential time course of lentiviral vector production than its reduction of post-transcriptional splicing. Decrease in transfected human embryonic kidney 293T proliferation by IDC16 became significant at 10 uM. These findings indicated contributions by early-stage transfection, cell proliferation, and post-transcriptional splicing in transient transfection of human embryonic kidney 293T cells for lentiviral vector production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nataly Carolina Mier
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America
| | - Donald Keith Roper
- Department of Biological Engineering, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, United States of America
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5
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Phuphanitcharoenkun S, Bhukhai K, Phanthong P, Prasongtanakij S, Linn AK, Sutjarit N, Anurathapan U, Leboulch P, Payen E, Hongeng S, Borwornpinyo S. Droplet digital polymerase chain reaction-based quantitation of therapeutic lentiviral vector copies in transduced hematopoietic stem cells. Cytotherapy 2024; 26:586-591. [PMID: 38551525 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.02.018] [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: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Gene therapy using lentiviral vectors (LVs) that harbor a functional β-globin gene provides a curative treatment for hemoglobinopathies including beta-thalassemia and sickle cell disease. Accurate quantification of the vector copy number (VCN) and/or the proportion of transduced cells is critical to evaluate the efficacy of transduction and stability of the transgene during treatment. Moreover, commonly used techniques for LV quantification, including real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or fluorescence-activated cell sorting, require either a standard curve or expression of a reporter protein for the detection of transduced cells. In the present study, we describe a digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) technique to measure the lentiviral VCN in transduced hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). METHODS After HSPCs were transduced with an LV encoding the therapeutic β-globin (βA-T87Q) gene, the integrated lentiviral sequence in the host genome was amplified with primers that targeted a sequence within the vector and the human RPP30 gene. The dynamic range of ddPCR was between 5 × 10-3 ng and 5 × 10-6 ng of target copy per reaction. RESULTS We found that the ddPCR-based approach was able to estimate VCN with high sensitivity and a low standard deviation. Furthermore, ddPCR-mediated quantitation of lentiviral copy numbers in differentiated erythroblasts correlated with the level of βA-T87Q protein detected by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, the ddPCR technique has the potential to precisely detect LV copy numbers in the host genome, which can be used for VCN estimation, calculation of infectious titer and multiplicity of infection for HSPC transduction in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kanit Bhukhai
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Phetcharat Phanthong
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Somsak Prasongtanakij
- Research Center, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Aung Khine Linn
- Excellent Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nareerat Sutjarit
- Graduate Program in Nutrition, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Usanarat Anurathapan
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Philippe Leboulch
- Harvard Medical School and Genetics Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Emmanuel Payen
- Paris-Saclay University, CEA, INSERM, Center for Immunology of Viral, Auto - immune, Hematological and Bacterial Diseases, Fontenay aux Roses, France
| | - Suradej Hongeng
- Excellent Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
| | - Suparerk Borwornpinyo
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand; Excellent Center for Drug Discovery, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand.
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6
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Köppke J, Keller LE, Stuck M, Arnow ND, Bannert N, Doellinger J, Cingöz O. Direct translation of incoming retroviral genomes. Nat Commun 2024; 15:299. [PMID: 38182622 PMCID: PMC10770327 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44501-7] [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: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Viruses that carry a positive-sense, single-stranded (+ssRNA) RNA translate their genomes soon after entering the host cell to produce viral proteins, with the exception of retroviruses. A distinguishing feature of retroviruses is reverse transcription, where the +ssRNA genome serves as a template to synthesize a double-stranded DNA copy that subsequently integrates into the host genome. As retroviral RNAs are produced by the host cell transcriptional machinery and are largely indistinguishable from cellular mRNAs, we investigated the potential of incoming retroviral genomes to directly express proteins. Here we show through multiple, complementary methods that retroviral genomes are translated after entry. Our findings challenge the notion that retroviruses require reverse transcription to produce viral proteins. Synthesis of retroviral proteins in the absence of productive infection has significant implications for basic retrovirology, immune responses and gene therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Köppke
- Robert Koch Institute, Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18), Berlin, Germany
| | - Luise-Elektra Keller
- Robert Koch Institute, Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18), Berlin, Germany
- Institute of Cardiovascular Regeneration, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Michelle Stuck
- Robert Koch Institute, Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Chemistry, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nicolas D Arnow
- Robert Koch Institute, Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18), Berlin, Germany
| | - Norbert Bannert
- Robert Koch Institute, Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18), Berlin, Germany
| | - Joerg Doellinger
- Robert Koch Institute, Centre for Biological Threats and Special Pathogens, Proteomics and Spectroscopy (ZBS6), Berlin, Germany
| | - Oya Cingöz
- Robert Koch Institute, Department of Infectious Diseases, Unit of Sexually Transmitted Bacterial Pathogens and HIV (FG18), Berlin, Germany.
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7
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Kandell J, Milian S, Snyder R, Lakshmipathy U. Universal ddPCR-based assay for the determination of lentivirus infectious titer and lenti-modified cell vector copy number. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 31:101120. [PMID: 37841416 PMCID: PMC10568280 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.101120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The translation of cell-based therapies from research to clinical setting requires robust analytical methods that successfully adhere to current good manufacturing practices and regulatory guidelines. Lentiviral vectors are commonly used for gene delivery to generate genetically modified therapeutic cell products. For some cell therapy products, standardized characterization assays for potency and safety have gained momentum. Translational applications benefit from assays that can be deployed broadly, such as for lentiviral vectors with various transgenes of interest. Development of a universal method to determine lentivirus infectious titer and vector copy number (VCN) of lenti-modified cells was performed using droplet digital PCR (ddPCR). Established methods relied on a ubiquitous lenti-specific target and a housekeeping gene that demonstrated comparability among flow cytometry-based methods. A linearized plasmid control was used to determine assay linearity/range, sensitivity, accuracy, and limits of quantification. Implementing this assay, infectious titer was assessed for various production runs that demonstrated comparability to the flow cytometry titer. The ddPCR assay described here also indicates suitability in the determination of VCN for genetically modified CAR-T cell products. Overall, the development of these universal assays supports the implementation of standardized characterization methods for quality control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Kandell
- Science and Technology, Pharma Services Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
| | - Steven Milian
- Science and Technology, Pharma Services Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Richard Snyder
- Science and Technology, Pharma Services Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Alachua, FL 32615, USA
| | - Uma Lakshmipathy
- Science and Technology, Pharma Services Group, Thermo Fisher Scientific, San Diego, CA 92121, USA
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8
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Molina MA, Vink M, Berkhout B, Herrera-Carrillo E. In-house ELISA protocols for capsid p24 detection of diverse HIV isolates. Virol J 2023; 20:269. [PMID: 37978551 PMCID: PMC10656996 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-023-02242-5] [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: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The capsid p24 (CA-p24) antigen is a component of the viral capsid of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that has been commonly used for clinical diagnosis and monitoring of HIV infections in Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs). Commercial CA-p24 ELISAs are widely used in research settings, but these kits are costly and have limited breadth for detecting diverse HIV isolates. METHODS Commercial CA-p24 antibodies were used as capture and detection antibodies. Specific CA-p24 ELISAs were established with these antibodies and tested for the detection of HIV-1 isolates with the aim of developing in-house protocols to recognize HIV-1 infections in vitro for research purposes. RESULTS Here we present four protocols for in-house ELISAs to detect HIV CA-p24 using commercial antibodies. The assays were able to detect the CA-p24 antigen of different HIV-1 isolates tested. Comparison between the protocols showed that these in-house ELISAs exhibit high specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility for CA-p24 quantitation but their reactivity varied per HIV-1 isolate and subtype. CONCLUSIONS These optimized ELISA protocols represent valuable tools to investigate HIV-1 infections in research facilities at a lower price than commercial CA-p24 kits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano A Molina
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Amsterdam UMC, AMC Location, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Monique Vink
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Amsterdam UMC, AMC Location, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Amsterdam UMC, AMC Location, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elena Herrera-Carrillo
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Laboratory of Experimental Virology, Amsterdam UMC, AMC Location, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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9
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Georgiou E, Kagiava A, Sargiannidou I, Schiza N, Stavrou M, Richter J, Tryfonos C, Heslegrave A, Zetterberg H, Christodoulou C, Kleopa KA. AAV9-mediated SH3TC2 gene replacement therapy targeted to Schwann cells for the treatment of CMT4C. Mol Ther 2023; 31:3290-3307. [PMID: 37641403 PMCID: PMC10638072 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.08.020] [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: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 4C Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT4C) demyelinating neuropathy is caused by autosomal recessive SH3TC2 gene mutations. SH3TC2 is highly expressed in myelinating Schwann cells. CMT4C is a childhood-onset progressive disease without effective treatment. Here, we generated a gene therapy for CMT4C mediated by an adeno-associated viral 9 vector (AAV9) to deliver the human SH3TC2 gene in the Sh3tc2-/- mouse model of CMT4C. We used a minimal fragment of the myelin protein zero (Mpz) promoter (miniMpz), which was cloned and validated to achieve Schwann cell-targeted expression of SH3TC2. Following the demonstration of AAV9-miniMpz.SH3TC2myc vector efficacy to re-establish SH3TC2 expression in the peripheral nervous system, we performed an early as well as a delayed treatment trial in Sh3tc2-/- mice. We demonstrate both after early as well as following late treatment improvements in multiple motor performance tests and nerve conduction velocities. Moreover, treatment led to normalization of the organization of the nodes of Ranvier, which is typically deficient in CMT4C patients and Sh3tc2-/- mice, along with reduced ratios of demyelinated fibers, increased myelin thickness and reduced g-ratios at both time points of intervention. Taken together, our results provide a proof of concept for an effective and potentially translatable gene replacement therapy for CMT4C treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Georgiou
- Neuroscience Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Alexia Kagiava
- Neuroscience Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Irene Sargiannidou
- Neuroscience Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Natasa Schiza
- Neuroscience Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Marina Stavrou
- Neuroscience Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Jan Richter
- Molecular Virology Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Christina Tryfonos
- Molecular Virology Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Amanda Heslegrave
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
| | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK; UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK; Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden; Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden; Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China; Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Christina Christodoulou
- Molecular Virology Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Kleopas A Kleopa
- Neuroscience Department, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus; Center for Neuromuscular Disorders, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia, Cyprus.
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10
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Hein MD, Kazenmaier D, van Heuvel Y, Dogra T, Cattaneo M, Kupke SY, Stitz J, Genzel Y, Reichl U. Production of retroviral vectors in continuous high cell density culture. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2023; 107:5947-5961. [PMID: 37542575 PMCID: PMC10485120 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12689-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
Retroviral vectors derived from murine leukemia virus (MLV) are used in somatic gene therapy applications e.g. for genetic modification of hematopoietic stem cells. Recently, we reported on the establishment of a suspension viral packaging cell line (VPC) for the production of MLV vectors. Human embryonic kidney 293-F (HEK293-F) cells were genetically modified for this purpose using transposon vector technology. Here, we demonstrate the establishment of a continuous high cell density (HCD) process using this cell line. First, we compared different media regarding the maximum achievable viable cell concentration (VCC) in small scale. Next, we transferred this process to a stirred tank bioreactor before we applied intensification strategies. Specifically, we established a perfusion process using an alternating tangential flow filtration system. Here, VCCs up to 27.4E + 06 cells/mL and MLV vector titers up to 8.6E + 06 transducing units/mL were achieved. Finally, we established a continuous HCD process using a tubular membrane for cell retention and continuous viral vector harvesting. Here, the space-time yield was 18-fold higher compared to the respective batch cultivations. Overall, our results clearly demonstrate the feasibility of HCD cultivations for high yield production of viral vectors, especially when combined with continuous viral vector harvesting. KEY POINTS: • A continuous high cell density process for MLV vector production was established • The tubular cell retention membrane allowed for continuous vector harvesting • The established process had a 18-fold higher space time yield compared to a batch.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc D Hein
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Kazenmaier
- Bioprocess Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Yasemin van Heuvel
- Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Cologne, Leverkusen, Germany
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tanya Dogra
- Bioprocess Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg, Germany
| | | | - Sascha Y Kupke
- Bioprocess Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jörn Stitz
- Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Cologne, Leverkusen, Germany
| | - Yvonne Genzel
- Bioprocess Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg, Germany.
| | - Udo Reichl
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Bioprocess Engineering, Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Magdeburg, Germany
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11
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He Z, Kwee EJ, Cleveland MH, Cole KD, Lin-Gibson S, He HJ. Quantitation and integrity evaluation of RNA genome in lentiviral vectors by direct reverse transcription-droplet digital PCR (direct RT-ddPCR). Sci Rep 2023; 13:14470. [PMID: 37660227 PMCID: PMC10475045 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-41644-x] [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: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors (LV) have proven to be powerful tools for stable gene delivery in both dividing and non-dividing cells. Approval of these LVs for use in clinical applications has been achieved by improvements in LV design. Critically important characteristics concerning quality control are LV titer quantification and the detection of impurities. However, increasing evidence concerning high variability in titration assays indicates poor harmonization of the methods undertaken to date. In this study, we developed a direct reverse transcription droplet digital PCR (Direct RT-ddPCR) approach without RNA extraction and purification for estimation of LV titer and RNA genome integrity. The RNA genome integrity was assessed by RT-ddPCR assays targeted to four distant regions of the LV genome. Results of the analyses showed that direct RT-ddPCR without RNA extraction and purification performs similarly to RT-ddPCR on purified RNA from 3 different LV samples, in terms of robustness and assay variance. Interestingly, these RNA titer results were comparable to physical titers by p24 antigen ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). Moreover, we confirmed the partial degradation or the incomplete RNA genomes in the prepared 3 LV samples. These results may partially explain the discrepancy of the LV particle titers to functional titers. This work not only demonstrates the feasibility of direct RT-ddPCR in determining LV titers, but also provides a method that can be easily adapted for RNA integrity assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong He
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8312, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA.
| | - Edward J Kwee
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8312, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Megan H Cleveland
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8312, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Kenneth D Cole
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8312, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Sheng Lin-Gibson
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8312, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Hua-Jun He
- Material Measurement Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, MS 8312, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA.
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12
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Liu Y, Potts JL, Bloch D, Nian K, McCormick CA, Fanari O, Rouhanifard SH. Paired Capture and FISH Detection of Individual Virions Enable Cell-Free Determination of Infectious Titers. ACS Sens 2023; 8:2563-2571. [PMID: 37368999 PMCID: PMC10621038 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.3c00239] [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: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Early detection of viruses can prevent the uncontrolled spread of viral infections. Determination of viral infectivity is also critical for determining the dosage of gene therapies, including vector-based vaccines, CAR T-cell therapies, and CRISPR therapeutics. In both cases, for viral pathogens and viral vector delivery vehicles, fast and accurate measurement of infectious titers is desirable. The most common methods for virus detection are antigen-based (rapid but not sensitive) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based (sensitive but not rapid). Current viral titration methods heavily rely on cultured cells, which introduces variability within labs and between labs. Thus, it is highly desirable to directly determine the infectious titer without using cells. Here, we report the development of a direct, fast, and sensitive assay for virus detection (dubbed rapid capture fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) or rapture FISH) and cell-free determination of infectious titers. Importantly, we demonstrate that the virions captured are "infectious," thus serving as a more consistent proxy of infectious titers. This assay is unique because it first captures viruses bearing an intact coat protein using an aptamer and then detects genomes directly in individual virions using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH); thus, it is selective for infectious particles (i.e., positive for coat proteins and positive for genomes).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yifang Liu
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Jacob L. Potts
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Dylan Bloch
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Keqing Nian
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Caroline A. McCormick
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Oleksandra Fanari
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
| | - Sara H. Rouhanifard
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
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13
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Abdelaziz MO, Raftery MJ, Weihs J, Bielawski O, Edel R, Köppke J, Vladimirova D, Adler JM, Firsching T, Voß A, Gruber AD, Hummel LV, Fernandez Munoz I, Müller-Marquardt F, Willimsky G, Elleboudy NS, Trimpert J, Schönrich G. Early protective effect of a ("pan") coronavirus vaccine (PanCoVac) in Roborovski dwarf hamsters after single-low dose intranasal administration. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1166765. [PMID: 37520530 PMCID: PMC10372429 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1166765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has highlighted the danger posed by human coronaviruses. Rapid emergence of immunoevasive variants and waning antiviral immunity decrease the effect of the currently available vaccines, which aim at induction of neutralizing antibodies. In contrast, T cells are marginally affected by antigen evolution although they represent the major mediators of virus control and vaccine protection against virus-induced disease. Materials and methods We generated a multi-epitope vaccine (PanCoVac) that encodes the conserved T cell epitopes from all structural proteins of coronaviruses. PanCoVac contains elements that facilitate efficient processing and presentation of PanCoVac-encoded T cell epitopes and can be uploaded to any available vaccine platform. For proof of principle, we cloned PanCoVac into a non-integrating lentivirus vector (NILV-PanCoVac). We chose Roborovski dwarf hamsters for a first step in evaluating PanCoVac in vivo. Unlike mice, they are naturally susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, Roborovski dwarf hamsters develop COVID-19-like disease after infection with SARS-CoV-2 enabling us to look at pathology and clinical symptoms. Results Using HLA-A*0201-restricted reporter T cells and U251 cells expressing a tagged version of PanCoVac, we confirmed in vitro that PanCoVac is processed and presented by HLA-A*0201. As mucosal immunity in the respiratory tract is crucial for protection against respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2, we tested the protective effect of single-low dose of NILV-PanCoVac administered via the intranasal (i.n.) route in the Roborovski dwarf hamster model of COVID-19. After infection with ancestral SARS-CoV-2, animals immunized with a single-low dose of NILV-PanCoVac i.n. did not show symptoms and had significantly decreased viral loads in the lung tissue. This protective effect was observed in the early phase (2 days post infection) after challenge and was not dependent on neutralizing antibodies. Conclusion PanCoVac, a multi-epitope vaccine covering conserved T cell epitopes from all structural proteins of coronaviruses, might protect from severe disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 variants and future pathogenic coronaviruses. The use of (HLA-) humanized animal models will allow for further efficacy studies of PanCoVac-based vaccines in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed O. Abdelaziz
- Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin J. Raftery
- Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Berlin Institute of Health, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julian Weihs
- Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Gastroenterology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Olivia Bielawski
- Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Richard Edel
- Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Köppke
- Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Julia M. Adler
- Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Theresa Firsching
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anne Voß
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Achim D. Gruber
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luca V. Hummel
- Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ivan Fernandez Munoz
- Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Francesca Müller-Marquardt
- Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerald Willimsky
- Institute of Immunology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium, Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nooran S. Elleboudy
- Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Jakob Trimpert
- Institute of Virology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Günther Schönrich
- Institute of Virology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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14
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Sun T, Rosenberg BR, Chung H, Rice CM. Identification of ADAR1 p150 and p110 Associated Edit Sites. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2651:285-294. [PMID: 36892775 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3084-6_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1) catalyzes adenosine-to-inosine editing on double-stranded RNA molecules and is involved in regulating cellular responses to endogenous and exogenous RNA. ADAR1 is the primary A-to-I editor of RNA in humans, and the majority of edit sites are found in a class of short interspersed nuclear elements called Alu elements, many of which are located in introns and 3' untranslated regions. Two ADAR1 protein isoforms, p110 (110 kDa) and p150 (150 kDa), are known to be coupled in expression, and decoupling the expression of these isoforms has revealed that the p150 isoform edits a broader range of targets compared to p110. Numerous methods for identification of ADAR1-associated edits have been developed, and we present here a specific method for identification of edit sites associated with individual ADAR1 isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Sun
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Brad R Rosenberg
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hachung Chung
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Charles M Rice
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
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15
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van Heuvel Y, Schatz S, Hein M, Dogra T, Kazenmaier D, Tschorn N, Genzel Y, Stitz J. Novel suspension retroviral packaging cells generated by transposition using transposase encoding mRNA advance vector yields and enable production in bioreactors. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2023; 11:1076524. [PMID: 37082212 PMCID: PMC10112512 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2023.1076524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, the establishment of high-titer stable viral packaging cells (VPCs) at large scale for gene therapeutic applications is very time- and cost-intensive. Here we report the establishment of three human suspension 293-F-derived ecotropic MLV-based VPCs. The classic stable transfection of an EGFP-expressing transfer vector resulted in a polyclonal VPC pool that facilitated cultivation in shake flasks of 100 mL volumes and yielded high functional titers of more than 1 × 106 transducing units/mL (TU/mL). When the transfer vector was flanked by transposon terminal inverted repeats (TIRs) and upon co-transfection of a plasmid encoding for the transposase, productivities could be slightly elevated to more than 3 × 106 TU/mL. In contrast and using mRNA encoding for the transposase, as a proof of concept, productivities were drastically improved by more than ten-fold exceeding 5 × 107 TU/mL. In addition, these VPC pools were generated within only 3 weeks. The production volume was successfully scaled up to 500 mL employing a stirred-tank bioreactor (STR). We anticipate that the stable transposition of transfer vectors employing transposase transcripts will be of utility for the future establishment of high-yield VPCs producing pseudotype vector particles with a broader host tropism on a large scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasemin van Heuvel
- Research Group Medical Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Cologne, Campus Leverkusen, Cologne, Germany
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Stefanie Schatz
- Research Group Medical Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Cologne, Campus Leverkusen, Cologne, Germany
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Marc Hein
- Chair of Bioprocess Engineering, Otto-Von-Guericke-University Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Bioprocess Engineering, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Tanya Dogra
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Bioprocess Engineering, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Kazenmaier
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Bioprocess Engineering, Magdeburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences Mannheim, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Natalie Tschorn
- Research Group Medical Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Cologne, Campus Leverkusen, Cologne, Germany
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz University Hannover, Hanover, Germany
| | - Yvonne Genzel
- Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems, Bioprocess Engineering, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Jörn Stitz
- Research Group Medical Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, University of Applied Sciences Cologne, Campus Leverkusen, Cologne, Germany
- *Correspondence: Jörn Stitz,
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16
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Jin R, Niu C, Wu F, Zhou S, Han T, Zhang Z, Li E, Zhang X, Xu S, Wang J, Tian S, Chen W, Ye Q, Cao C, Cheng L. DNA damage contributes to age-associated differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Aging Cell 2022; 21:e13729. [PMID: 36254583 PMCID: PMC9741512 DOI: 10.1111/acel.13729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is known to disproportionately affect older individuals. How aging processes affect SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease progression remains largely unknown. Here, we found that DNA damage, one of the hallmarks of aging, promoted SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro and in vivo. SARS-CoV-2 entry was facilitated by DNA damage caused by extrinsic genotoxic stress or telomere dysfunction and hampered by inhibition of the DNA damage response (DDR). Mechanistic analysis revealed that DDR increased expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the primary receptor of SARS-CoV-2, by activation of transcription factor c-Jun. Importantly, in vivo experiment using a mouse-adapted viral strain also verified the significant roles of DNA damage in viral entry and severity of infection. Expression of ACE2 was elevated in the older human and mice tissues and positively correlated with γH2AX, a DNA damage biomarker, and phosphorylated c-Jun (p-c-Jun). Finally, nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) and MDL-800, which promote DNA repair, alleviated SARS-CoV-2 infection and disease severity in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our data provide insights into the age-associated differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection and a novel approach for antiviral intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Jin
- Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Chang Niu
- College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Fengyun Wu
- College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Sixin Zhou
- Department of SurgeryChinese PLA General HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Tao Han
- BaYi Children's Hospital, the Seventh Medical CenterChinese PLA General HospitalBeijingChina
| | - Zhe Zhang
- Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Entao Li
- Key Laboratory of Jilin Province for Zoonosis Prevention and Control, Changchun Veterinary Research InstituteChinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesChangchunChina
| | - Xiaona Zhang
- College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Shanrong Xu
- School of Life ScienceAnqing Normal UniversityAnqingChina
| | - Jiadong Wang
- Department of Radiation Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Institute of Systems BiomedicinePeking University Health Science CenterBeijingChina
| | - Shen Tian
- College of Life SciencesCapital Normal UniversityBeijingChina
| | - Wei Chen
- Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Qinong Ye
- Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Cheng Cao
- Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyBeijingChina
| | - Long Cheng
- Beijing Institute of BiotechnologyBeijingChina
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17
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Vandghanooni S, Eskandani M, Sanaat Z, Omidi Y. Recent advances in the production, reprogramming, and application of CAR-T cells for treating hematological malignancies. Life Sci 2022; 309:121016. [PMID: 36179813 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2022.121016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
As genetically engineered cells, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells express specific receptors on their surface to target and eliminate malignant cells. CAR proteins are equipped with elements that enhance the activity and survival of T cells. Once injected, CAR-T cells act as a "living drug" against tumor cells in the body. Up to now, CAR-T cell therapy has been demonstrated as a robust adoptive cell transfer (ACT) immunotherapeutic modality for eliminating tumor cells in refractory hematological malignancies. CAR-T cell therapy modality involves several steps, including the collecting of the blood from patients, the isolation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), the enrichment of CD4+/CD8+ T cell, the genetic reprogramming, the expansion of modified T cells, and the injection of genetically engineered T cells. The production of CAR-T cells is a multi-step procedure, which needs precise and safety management systems, including good manufacturing practice (GMP), and in-line quality control and assurance. The current study describes the structure of CARs and concentrates on the next generations of CARs that are engaged in enhancing the anti-tumor responses and safety of the engineered T cells. This paper also highlights the important concerns in quality control and nonclinical research of CAR-T cells, as well as general insights into the manufacture, reprogramming, and application of CAR-T cells based on new and enhanced techniques for treating hematological malignancies. Besides, the application of the CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology and nanocarrier-based delivery systems containing CAR coding sequences to overcome the limitations of CAR-T cell therapy has also been explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Vandghanooni
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
| | - Morteza Eskandani
- Research Center for Pharmaceutical Nanotechnology, Biomedicine Institute, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Zohreh Sanaat
- Hematology and Oncology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Yadollah Omidi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA
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18
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Oscillatory calcium release and sustained store-operated oscillatory calcium signaling prevents differentiation of human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6160. [PMID: 35418597 PMCID: PMC9007940 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10095-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous remyelination in demyelinating diseases such as multiple sclerosis is contingent upon the successful differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs). Signaling via the Gαq-coupled muscarinic receptor (M1/3R) inhibits human OPC differentiation and impairs endogenous remyelination in experimental models. We hypothesized that calcium release following Gαq-coupled receptor (GqR) activation directly regulates human OPC (hOPC) cell fate. In this study, we show that specific GqR agonists activating muscarinic and metabotropic glutamate receptors induce characteristic oscillatory calcium release in hOPCs and that these agonists similarly block hOPC maturation in vitro. Both agonists induce calcium release from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stores and store operated calcium entry (SOCE) likely via STIM/ORAI-based channels. siRNA mediated knockdown (KD) of obligate calcium sensors STIM1 and STIM2 decreased the magnitude of muscarinic agonist induced oscillatory calcium release and attenuated SOCE in hOPCs. In addition, STIM2 expression was necessary to maintain the frequency of calcium oscillations and STIM2 KD reduced spontaneous OPC differentiation. Furthermore, STIM2 siRNA prevented the effects of muscarinic agonist treatment on OPC differentiation suggesting that SOCE is necessary for the anti-differentiative action of muscarinic receptor-dependent signaling. Finally, using a gain-of-function approach with an optogenetic STIM lentivirus, we demonstrate that independent activation of SOCE was sufficient to significantly block hOPC differentiation and this occurred in a frequency dependent manner while increasing hOPC proliferation. These findings suggest that intracellular calcium oscillations directly regulate hOPC fate and that modulation of calcium oscillation frequency may overcome inhibitory Gαq-coupled signaling that impairs myelin repair.
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19
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Quach ABV, Little SR, Shih SCC. Viral Generation, Packaging, and Transduction on a Digital Microfluidic Platform. Anal Chem 2022; 94:4039-4047. [PMID: 35192339 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c05227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Viral-based systems are a popular delivery method for introducing exogenous genetic material into mammalian cells. Unfortunately, the preparation of lentiviruses containing the machinery to edit the cells is labor-intensive, with steps requiring optimization and sensitive handling. To mitigate these challenges, we introduce the first microfluidic method that integrates lentiviral generation, packaging, and transduction. The new method allows the production of viral titers between 106 and 107 (similar to macroscale production) and high transduction efficiency for hard-to-transfect cell lines. We extend the technique for gene editing applications and show how this technique can be used to knock out and knock down estrogen receptor gene─a gene prominently responsible for 70% of breast cancer cases. This new technique is automated with multiplexing capabilities, which have the potential to standardize the methods for viral-based genome engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela B V Quach
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H4B 1R6, Canada.,Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H4B 1R6, Canada
| | - Samuel R Little
- Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H4B 1R6, Canada.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montréal, Québec H3G 1M8, Canada
| | - Steve C C Shih
- Department of Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H4B 1R6, Canada.,Centre for Applied Synthetic Biology, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke Street West, Montréal, Québec H4B 1R6, Canada.,Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Concordia University, 1455 de Maisonneuve Blvd. West, Montréal, Québec H3G 1M8, Canada
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20
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Shi R, Jia S, Liu H, Nie H. Clinical grade lentiviral vector purification and quality control requirements. J Sep Sci 2022; 45:2093-2101. [PMID: 35247228 DOI: 10.1002/jssc.202100937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 02/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors have been proven to be a powerful tool in gene therapies that includes the ability to perform long-term gene editing in both dividing and non-dividing cells. In order to meet the rising demand of clinical grade lentiviral vectors for future clinical trials and requirements by regulatory agencies, new methods and technologies were developed, including the rapid optimization of production and purification processes. However, gaps still exist in achieving ideal yields and recovery rates in large-scale manufacturing process steps. The downstream purification process is a critical step required to obtain sufficient quantity and high-quality lentiviral vectors products, which is challenged by the low stability of the LV particles and large production volumes associated with the manufacturing process. This review summarizes the most recent and promising technologies and enhancements used in the large-scale purification process step of LV manufacturing and aims to provide a significant contribution towards the achievement of providing sufficient quantity and quality of LVs in scalable processes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruina Shi
- Immunochina Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Shenghua Jia
- Immunochina Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Huwei Liu
- College of Life Sciences, Wuchang University of Technology, Wuhan, China.,Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Honggang Nie
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.,Analytical Instrumental Center, Peking University, Beijing, China
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21
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Palameta S, Manrique-Rincón AJ, Toscaro JM, Semionatto IF, Fonseca MC, Rosa RS, Ruas LP, Oliveira PS, Bajgelman MC. Boosting antitumor response with PSMA-targeted immunomodulatory VLPs, harboring costimulatory TNFSF ligands and GM-CSF cytokine. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2022; 24:650-662. [PMID: 35284623 PMCID: PMC8898762 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2022.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic strategies based on immunomodulation have improved cancer therapy. Most approaches target co-stimulatory pathways or the inhibition of immunosuppressive mechanisms, to enhance immune response and overcome the immune tolerance of tumors. Here, we propose a novel platform to deliver targeted immunomodulatory signaling, enhancing antitumor response. The platform is based on virus-like particles derived from lentiviral capsids. These particles may be engineered to harbor multifunctional ligands on the surface that drive tropism to the tumor site and deliver immunomodulatory signaling, boosting the antitumor response. We generated virus-like particles harboring a PSMA-ligand, TNFSF co-stimulatory ligands 4-1BBL or OX40L, and a membrane-anchored GM-CSF cytokine. The virus-like particles are driven to PSMA-expressing tumors and deliver immunomodulatory signaling from the TNFSF surface ligands and the anchored GM-CSF, inducing T cell proliferation, inhibition of regulatory T cells, and potentiating elimination of tumor cells. The PSMA-targeted particles harboring immunomodulators enhanced antitumor activity in immunocompetent challenged mice and may be explored as a potential tool for cancer immunotherapy.
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22
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DeLuca S, Bursac N. CRISPR Library Screening in Cultured Cardiomyocytes. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2485:1-13. [PMID: 35618895 PMCID: PMC9274507 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2261-2_1] [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] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-Cas9-based screening technologies enable precise, high-throughput genetic and epigenetic manipulation to study mechanisms of development and disease and identify new therapeutic targets. Here, we describe a general protocol for the generation of custom, pooled CRISPR sgRNA libraries for screening in cardiomyocyte cultures. This methodology can address a variety of lab-specific research questions in cardiomyocytes and other cell types, as the genes to be modified can be curated or whole genomes can be investigated. The use of lentiviral sgRNA delivery followed by high-throughput sequencing allows for rapid comparison and identification of candidate genes and epigenetic modifiers, which can be further validated individually or in sub-pooled libraries following screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia DeLuca
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nenad Bursac
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
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23
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Hu J, Wei XY, Xiang J, Peng P, Xu FL, Wu K, Luo FY, Jin AS, Fang L, Liu BZ, Wang K, Tang N, Huang AL. Reduced neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 variant by convalescent and vaccinated sera. Genes Dis 2021; 9:1290-1300. [PMID: 34877393 PMCID: PMC8639289 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 09/26/2021] [Accepted: 11/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The Spike protein that mediates coronavirus entry into host cells is a major target for COVID-19 vaccines and antibody therapeutics. However, multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 have emerged, which may potentially compromise vaccine effectiveness. Using a pseudovirus-based assay, we evaluated SARS-CoV-2 cell entry mediated by the viral Spike B.1.617 and B.1.1.7 variants. We also compared the neutralization ability of monoclonal antibodies from convalescent sera and neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) elicited by CoronaVac (inactivated vaccine) and ZF2001 (RBD-subunit vaccine) against B.1.617 and B.1.1.7 variants. Our results showed that, compared to D614G and B.1.1.7 variants, B.1.617 shows enhanced viral entry and membrane fusion, as well as more resistant to antibody neutralization. These findings have important implications for understanding viral infectivity and for immunization policy against SARS-CoV-2 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Hu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, PR China
| | - Xiao-Yu Wei
- Yong-Chuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 402177, PR China
| | - Jin Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, PR China
| | - Pai Peng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, PR China
| | - Feng-Li Xu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, PR China
| | - Kang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, PR China
| | - Fei-Yang Luo
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Ai-Shun Jin
- Department of Immunology, College of Basic Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, PR China
| | - Liang Fang
- Yong-Chuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 402177, PR China
| | - Bei-Zhong Liu
- Yong-Chuan Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 402177, PR China
| | - Kai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, PR China
| | - Ni Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, PR China
| | - Ai-Long Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400010, PR China
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24
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Satta S, Lai A, Cavallero S, Williamson C, Chen J, Blázquez‐Medela AM, Roustaei M, Dillon BJ, Ashammakhi N, Carlo DD, Li Z, Sun R, Hsiai TK. Rapid Detection and Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2-Spike Mutation-Mediated Microthrombosis. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2021; 8:e2103266. [PMID: 34687279 PMCID: PMC8646611 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202103266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Activation of endothelial cells following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is thought to be the primary driver for the increasingly recognized thrombotic complications in coronavirus disease 2019 patients, potentially due to the SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein binding to the human angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (hACE2). Vaccination therapies use the same Spike sequence or protein to boost host immune response as a protective mechanism against SARS-CoV-2 infection. As a result, cases of thrombotic events are reported following vaccination. Although vaccines are generally considered safe, due to genetic heterogeneity, age, or the presence of comorbidities in the population worldwide, the prediction of severe adverse outcome in patients remains a challenge. To elucidate Spike proteins underlying patient-specific-vascular thrombosis, the human microcirculation environment is recapitulated using a novel microfluidic platform coated with human endothelial cells and exposed to patient specific whole blood. Here, the blood coagulation effect is tested after exposure to Spike protein in nanoparticles and Spike variant D614G in viral vectors and the results are corroborated using live SARS-CoV-2. Of note, two potential strategies are also examined to reduce blood clot formation, by using nanoliposome-hACE2 and anti-Interleukin (IL) 6 antibodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandro Satta
- Division of CardiologyDepartment of MedicineDavid Geffen School of Medicine at University of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Angela Lai
- Division of CardiologyDepartment of MedicineDavid Geffen School of Medicine at University of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Susana Cavallero
- Division of CardiologyDepartment of MedicineDavid Geffen School of Medicine at University of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
- Department of MedicineVeterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare SystemLos AngelesCA90073USA
| | - Cayden Williamson
- Department of BioengineeringHenry Samueli School of Engineering & Applied ScienceUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Justin Chen
- Department of BioengineeringHenry Samueli School of Engineering & Applied ScienceUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Ana M. Blázquez‐Medela
- Division of CardiologyDepartment of MedicineDavid Geffen School of Medicine at University of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Mehrdad Roustaei
- Department of BioengineeringHenry Samueli School of Engineering & Applied ScienceUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Barbara J. Dillon
- Division of CardiologyDepartment of MedicineDavid Geffen School of Medicine at University of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Nureddin Ashammakhi
- Department of BioengineeringHenry Samueli School of Engineering & Applied ScienceUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Dino Di Carlo
- Department of BioengineeringHenry Samueli School of Engineering & Applied ScienceUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Zhaoping Li
- Department of MedicineVeterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare SystemLos AngelesCA90073USA
- Division of Clinical NutritionDepartment of MedicineDavid Geffen School of Medicine at University of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
| | - Ren Sun
- Department of Molecular and Medical PharmacologyDavid Geffen School of Medicine at University of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
- School of Biomedical SciencesLi Ka Shing Faculty of MedicineThe University of Hong KongHong KongChina
| | - Tzung K. Hsiai
- Division of CardiologyDepartment of MedicineDavid Geffen School of Medicine at University of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
- Department of MedicineVeterans Affairs Greater Los Angeles Healthcare SystemLos AngelesCA90073USA
- Department of BioengineeringHenry Samueli School of Engineering & Applied ScienceUniversity of CaliforniaLos AngelesCA90095USA
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25
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Associação Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular Consensus on genetically modified cells. VIII: CAR-T cells: preclinical development - Safety and efficacy evaluation. Hematol Transfus Cell Ther 2021; 43 Suppl 2:S54-S63. [PMID: 34794798 PMCID: PMC8606693 DOI: 10.1016/j.htct.2021.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, there are four CAR-T products commercially available on the market. CAR-T cells have shown high remission rates and they represent an effective treatment option for patients with resistant or refractory B cell malignancies. Approval of these cell therapy products came after an extended period of preclinical evaluation that demonstrated unprecedented efficacy in this difficult-to-treat patient population. This review article outlines the main preclinical evaluations needed for CAR T cell product development.
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26
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Baker AN, Richards SJ, Pandey S, Guy CS, Ahmad A, Hasan M, Biggs CI, Georgiou PG, Zwetsloot AJ, Straube A, Dedola S, Field RA, Anderson NR, Walker M, Grammatopoulos D, Gibson MI. Glycan-Based Flow-Through Device for the Detection of SARS-COV-2. ACS Sens 2021; 6:3696-3705. [PMID: 34634204 PMCID: PMC8525701 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.1c01470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, and future pandemics, require diagnostic tools to track disease spread and guide the isolation of (a)symptomatic individuals. Lateral-flow diagnostics (LFDs) are rapid and of lower cost than molecular (genetic) tests, with current LFDs using antibodies as their recognition units. Herein, we develop a prototype flow-through device (related, but distinct to LFDs), utilizing N-acetyl neuraminic acid-functionalized, polymer-coated, gold nanoparticles as the detection/capture unit for SARS-COV-2, by targeting the sialic acid-binding site of the spike protein. The prototype device can give rapid results, with higher viral loads being faster than lower viral loads. The prototype's effectiveness is demonstrated using spike protein, lentiviral models, and a panel of heat-inactivated primary patient nasal swabs. The device was also shown to retain detection capability toward recombinant spike proteins from several variants (mutants) of concern. This study provides the proof of principle that glyco-lateral-flow devices could be developed to be used in the tracking monitoring of infectious agents, to complement, or as alternatives to antibody-based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Sarojini Pandey
- Institute of Precision Diagnostics and Translational
Medicine, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS
Trust, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX,
U.K.
| | - Collette S. Guy
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- School of Life Sciences, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Ashfaq Ahmad
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Warwick Medical School, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Muhammad Hasan
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Warwick Medical School, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Caroline I. Biggs
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | | | | | - Anne Straube
- Warwick Medical School, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Simone Dedola
- Iceni Diagnostics Ltd., Norwich
Research Park, Norwich NR4 7GJ, U.K.
| | - Robert A. Field
- Iceni Diagnostics Ltd., Norwich
Research Park, Norwich NR4 7GJ, U.K.
- Department of Chemistry and Manchester Institute of
Biotechnology, University of Manchester, Manchester M1 7DN,
U.K.
| | - Neil R. Anderson
- Institute of Precision Diagnostics and Translational
Medicine, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS
Trust, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX,
U.K.
| | - Marc Walker
- Department of Physics, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
| | - Dimitris Grammatopoulos
- Warwick Medical School, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Institute of Precision Diagnostics and Translational
Medicine, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire NHS
Trust, Clifford Bridge Road, Coventry CV2 2DX,
U.K.
| | - Matthew I. Gibson
- Department of Chemistry, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
- Warwick Medical School, University of
Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, U.K.
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27
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Kalidasan V, Ng WH, Ishola OA, Ravichantar N, Tan JJ, Das KT. A guide in lentiviral vector production for hard-to-transfect cells, using cardiac-derived c-kit expressing cells as a model system. Sci Rep 2021; 11:19265. [PMID: 34584147 PMCID: PMC8478948 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-98657-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy revolves around modifying genetic makeup by inserting foreign nucleic acids into targeted cells via gene delivery methods to treat a particular disease. While the genes targeted play a key role in gene therapy, the gene delivery system used is also of utmost importance as it determines the success of gene therapy. As primary cells and stem cells are often the target cells for gene therapy in clinical trials, the delivery system would need to be robust, and viral-based entries such as lentiviral vectors work best at transporting the transgene into the cells. However, even within lentiviral vectors, several parameters can affect the functionality of the delivery system. Using cardiac-derived c-kit expressing cells (CCs) as a model system, this study aims to optimize lentiviral production by investigating various experimental factors such as the generation of the lentiviral system, concentration method, and type of selection marker. Our findings showed that the 2nd generation system with pCMV-dR8.2 dvpr as the packaging plasmid produced a 7.3-fold higher yield of lentiviral production compared to psPAX2. Concentrating the virus with ultracentrifuge produced a higher viral titer at greater than 5 × 105 infectious unit values/ml (IFU/ml). And lastly, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of puromycin selection marker was 10 μg/mL and 7 μg/mL for HEK293T and CCs, demonstrating the suitability of antibiotic selection for all cell types. This encouraging data can be extrapolated and applied to other difficult-to-transfect cells, such as different types of stem cells or primary cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. Kalidasan
- grid.11875.3a0000 0001 2294 3534Infectomics Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia
| | - Wai Hoe Ng
- grid.11875.3a0000 0001 2294 3534Regenerative Medicine Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia
| | - Oluwaseun Ayodeji Ishola
- grid.11875.3a0000 0001 2294 3534Infectomics Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia ,Helmholtz Research Zentrum, Munich, Germany
| | - Nithya Ravichantar
- grid.11875.3a0000 0001 2294 3534Infectomics Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia
| | - Jun Jie Tan
- grid.11875.3a0000 0001 2294 3534Regenerative Medicine Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia
| | - Kumitaa Theva Das
- grid.11875.3a0000 0001 2294 3534Infectomics Cluster, Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kepala Batas, Malaysia
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28
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Wang K, Long QX, Deng HJ, Hu J, Gao QZ, Zhang GJ, He CL, Huang LY, Hu JL, Chen J, Tang N, Huang AL. Longitudinal Dynamics of the Neutralizing Antibody Response to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection. Clin Infect Dis 2021; 73:e531-e539. [PMID: 32745196 PMCID: PMC7454328 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciaa1143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 45.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic with no licensed vaccine or specific antiviral agents for therapy. Little is known about the longitudinal dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-specific neutralizing antibodies (NAbs) in patients with COVID-19. METHODS Blood samples (n = 173) were collected from 30 patients with COVID-19 over a 3-month period after symptom onset and analyzed for SARS-CoV-2-specific NAbs using the lentiviral pseudotype assay, coincident with the levels of IgG and proinflammatory cytokines. RESULTS SARS-CoV-2-specific NAb titers were low for the first 7-10 days after symptom onset and increased after 2-3 weeks. The median peak time for NAbs was 33 days (interquartile range [IQR], 24-59 days) after symptom onset. NAb titers in 93.3% (28/30) of the patients declined gradually over the 3-month study period, with a median decrease of 34.8% (IQR, 19.6-42.4%). NAb titers increased over time in parallel with the rise in immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels, correlating well at week 3 (r = 0.41, P < .05). The NAb titers also demonstrated a significant positive correlation with levels of plasma proinflammatory cytokines, including stem cell factor (SCF), TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF). CONCLUSIONS These data provide useful information regarding dynamic changes in NAbs in patients with COVID-19 during the acute and convalescent phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Quan-Xin Long
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hai-Jun Deng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie Hu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Qing-Zhu Gao
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Gui-Ji Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chang-Long He
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lu-Yi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jie-Li Hu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ni Tang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Ai-Long Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Infectious Diseases (Ministry of Education), Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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29
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Labisch JJ, Wiese GP, Barnes K, Bollmann F, Pflanz K. Infectious titer determination of lentiviral vectors using a temporal immunological real-time imaging approach. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254739. [PMID: 34265014 PMCID: PMC8281989 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The analysis of the infectious titer of the lentiviral vector samples obtained during upstream and downstream processing is of major importance, however, also the most challenging method to be performed. Currently established methods like flow cytometry or qPCR lack the capability of enabling high throughput sample processing while they require a lot of manual handling. To address this limitation, we developed an immunological real-time imaging method to quantify the infectious titer of anti-CD19 CAR lentiviral vectors with a temporal readout using the Incucyte® S3 live-cell analysis system. The infective titers determined with the Incucyte® approach when compared with the flow cytometry-based assay had a lower standard deviation between replicates and a broader linear range. A major advantage of the method is the ability to obtain titer results in real-time, enabling an optimal readout time. The presented protocol significantly decreased labor and increased throughput. The ability of the assay to process high numbers of lentiviral samples in a high throughput manner was proven by performing a virus stability study, demonstrating the effects of temperature, salt, and shear stress on LV infectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer J. Labisch
- Lab Essentials Applications Development, Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - G. Philip Wiese
- Lab Essentials Applications Development, Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
- Faculty of Mathematics, Computer Science and Natural Sciences, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Kalpana Barnes
- BioAnalytics Applications, Essen BioScience, Royston, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
| | - Franziska Bollmann
- Segment Marketing Viral-based Therapeutics, Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
| | - Karl Pflanz
- Lab Essentials Applications Development, Sartorius Stedim Biotech GmbH, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
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30
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Gopal S, Osborne AE, Hock L, Zemianek J, Fang K, Gee G, Ghosh R, McNally D, Cramer SM, Dordick JS. Advancing a rapid, high throughput screening platform for optimization of lentivirus production. Biotechnol J 2021; 16:e2000621. [PMID: 34260824 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202000621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2020] [Revised: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lentiviral vectors (LVVs) hold great promise as delivery tools for gene therapy and chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy. Their ability to target difficult to transfect cells and deliver genetic payloads that integrate into the host genome makes them ideal delivery candidates. However, several challenges remain to be addressed before LVVs are more widely used as therapeutics including low viral vector concentrations and the absence of suitable scale-up methods for large-scale production. To address these challenges, we have developed a high throughput microscale HEK293 suspension culture platform that enables rapid screening of conditions for improving LVV productivity. KEY RESULTS High density culture (40 million cells mL-1 ) of HEK293 suspension cells in commercially available media was achieved in microscale 96-deep well plate platform at liquid volumes of 200 μL. Comparable transfection and LVV production efficiencies were observed at the microscale, in conventional shake flasks and a 1-L bioreactor, indicating that significant scale-down does not affect LVV concentrations and predictivity of scale-up. Optimization of production step allowed for final yields of LVVs to reach 1.5 × 107 TU mL-1 . CONCLUSIONS The ability to test a large number of conditions simultaneously with minimal reagent use allows for the rapid optimization of LVV production in HEK293 suspension cells. Therefore, such a system may serve as a valuable tool in early stage process development and can be used as a screening tool to improve LVV concentrations for both batch and perfusion based systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Gopal
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | - Adam E Osborne
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Mattapan, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lindsay Hock
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Mattapan, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jill Zemianek
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Mattapan, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Kun Fang
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Mattapan, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Gretchen Gee
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Mattapan, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ronit Ghosh
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | - David McNally
- MassBiologics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Mattapan, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Steven M Cramer
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA.,Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Jonathan S Dordick
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology & Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA.,Departments of Biomedical Engineering and Biological Sciences, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
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31
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Postnikova OA, Uppal S, Huang W, Kane MA, Villasmil R, Rogozin IB, Poliakov E, Redmond TM. The Functional Consequences of the Novel Ribosomal Pausing Site in SARS-CoV-2 Spike Glycoprotein RNA. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:6490. [PMID: 34204305 PMCID: PMC8235447 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22126490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Spike glycoprotein (S protein) acquired a unique new 4 amino acid -PRRA- insertion sequence at amino acid residues (aa) 681-684 that forms a new furin cleavage site in S protein as well as several new glycosylation sites. We studied various statistical properties of the -PRRA- insertion at the RNA level (CCUCGGCGGGCA). The nucleotide composition and codon usage of this sequence are different from the rest of the SARS-CoV-2 genome. One of such features is two tandem CGG codons, although the CGG codon is the rarest codon in the SARS-CoV-2 genome. This suggests that the insertion sequence could cause ribosome pausing as the result of these rare codons. Due to population variants, the Nextstrain divergence measure of the CCU codon is extremely large. We cannot exclude that this divergence might affect host immune responses/effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, possibilities awaiting further investigation. Our experimental studies show that the expression level of original RNA sequence "wildtype" spike protein is much lower than for codon-optimized spike protein in all studied cell lines. Interestingly, the original spike sequence produces a higher titer of pseudoviral particles and a higher level of infection. Further mutagenesis experiments suggest that this dual-effect insert, comprised of a combination of overlapping translation pausing and furin sites, has allowed SARS-CoV-2 to infect its new host (human) more readily. This underlines the importance of ribosome pausing to allow efficient regulation of protein expression and also of cotranslational subdomain folding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A. Postnikova
- Laboratory of Retinal Cell & Molecular Biology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.A.P.); (S.U.)
| | - Sheetal Uppal
- Laboratory of Retinal Cell & Molecular Biology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.A.P.); (S.U.)
| | - Weiliang Huang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy Mass Spectrometry Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (W.H.); (M.A.K.)
| | - Maureen A. Kane
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy Mass Spectrometry Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; (W.H.); (M.A.K.)
| | - Rafael Villasmil
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Igor B. Rogozin
- National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20894, USA
| | - Eugenia Poliakov
- Laboratory of Retinal Cell & Molecular Biology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.A.P.); (S.U.)
| | - T. Michael Redmond
- Laboratory of Retinal Cell & Molecular Biology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (O.A.P.); (S.U.)
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Experimental Evaluation of an Interferometric Light Microscopy Particle Counter for Titering and Characterization of Virus Preparations. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050939. [PMID: 34069520 PMCID: PMC8160961 DOI: 10.3390/v13050939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Virus particle concentration is a critical piece of information for virology, viral vaccines and gene therapy research. We tested a novel nanoparticle counting device, “Videodrop”, for its efficacy in titering and characterization of virus particles. The Videodrop nanoparticle counter is based on interferometric light microscopy (ILM). The method allows the detection of particles under the diffraction limit capabilities of conventional light microscopy. We analyzed lenti-, adeno-, and baculovirus samples in different concentrations and compared the readings against traditional titering and characterization methods. The tested Videodrop particle counter is especially useful when measuring high-concentration purified virus preparations. Certain non-purified sample types or small viruses may be impossible to characterize or may require the use of standard curve or background subtraction methods, which increases the duration of the analysis. Together, our testing shows that Videodrop is a reasonable option for virus particle counting in situations where a moderate number of samples need to be analyzed quickly.
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33
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Comisel RM, Kara B, Fiesser FH, Farid SS. Lentiviral vector bioprocess economics for cell and gene therapy commercialization. Biochem Eng J 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2020.107868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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34
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Toon K, Bentley EM, Mattiuzzo G. More Than Just Gene Therapy Vectors: Lentiviral Vector Pseudotypes for Serological Investigation. Viruses 2021; 13:217. [PMID: 33572589 PMCID: PMC7911487 DOI: 10.3390/v13020217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Serological assays detecting neutralising antibodies are important for determining the immune responses following infection or vaccination and are also often considered a correlate of protection. The target of neutralising antibodies is usually located in the Envelope protein on the viral surface, which mediates cell entry. As such, presentation of the Envelope protein on a lentiviral particle represents a convenient alternative to handling of a potentially high containment virus or for those viruses with no established cell culture system. The flexibility, relative safety and, in most cases, ease of production of lentiviral pseudotypes, have led to their use in serological assays for many applications such as the evaluation of candidate vaccines, screening and characterization of anti-viral therapeutics, and sero-surveillance. Above all, the speed of production of the lentiviral pseudotypes, once the envelope sequence is published, makes them important tools in the response to viral outbreaks, as shown during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In this review, we provide an overview of the landscape of the serological applications of pseudotyped lentiviral vectors, with a brief discussion on their production and batch quality analysis. Finally, we evaluate their role as surrogates for the real virus and possible alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamilla Toon
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control-MHRA, Blanche Lane, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK;
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Emma M. Bentley
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control-MHRA, Blanche Lane, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK;
| | - Giada Mattiuzzo
- Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control-MHRA, Blanche Lane, South Mimms EN6 3QG, UK;
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35
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AAV9-mediated Schwann cell-targeted gene therapy rescues a model of demyelinating neuropathy. Gene Ther 2021; 28:659-675. [PMID: 33692503 PMCID: PMC8599011 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-021-00250-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the GJB1 gene, encoding the gap junction (GJ) protein connexin32 (Cx32), cause X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT1X), an inherited demyelinating neuropathy. We developed a gene therapy approach for CMT1X using an AAV9 vector to deliver the GJB1/Cx32 gene under the myelin protein zero (Mpz) promoter for targeted expression in Schwann cells. Lumbar intrathecal injection of the AAV9-Mpz.GJB1 resulted in widespread biodistribution in the peripheral nervous system including lumbar roots, sciatic and femoral nerves, as well as in Cx32 expression in the paranodal non-compact myelin areas of myelinated fibers. A pre-, as well as post-onset treatment trial in Gjb1-null mice, demonstrated improved motor performance and sciatic nerve conduction velocities along with improved myelination and reduced inflammation in peripheral nerve tissues. Blood biomarker levels were also significantly ameliorated in treated mice. This study provides evidence that a clinically translatable AAV9-mediated gene therapy approach targeting Schwann cells could potentially treat CMT1X.
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36
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Recent Developments in SARS-CoV-2 Neutralizing Antibody Detection Methods. Curr Med Sci 2021; 41:1052-1064. [PMID: 34935114 PMCID: PMC8692081 DOI: 10.1007/s11596-021-2470-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The ongoing Coronavirus disease 19 pandemic has likely changed the world in ways not seen in the past. Neutralizing antibody (NAb) assays play an important role in the management of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) outbreak. Using these tools, we can assess the presence and duration of antibody-mediated protection in naturally infected individuals, screen convalescent plasma preparations for donation, test the efficacy of immunotherapy, and analyze NAb titers and persistence after vaccination to predict vaccine-induced protective effects. This review briefly summarizes the various methods used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 NAbs and compares their advantages and disadvantages to facilitate their development and clinical application.
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37
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Moreira AS, Cavaco DG, Faria TQ, Alves PM, Carrondo MJT, Peixoto C. Advances in Lentivirus Purification. Biotechnol J 2020; 16:e2000019. [PMID: 33089626 DOI: 10.1002/biot.202000019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors (LVs) have been increasingly used as a tool for gene and cell therapies since they can stably integrate the genome in dividing and nondividing cells. LV production and purification processes have evolved substantially over the last decades. However, the increasing demands for higher quantities with more restrictive purity requirements are stimulating the development of novel materials and strategies to supply the market with LV in a cost-effective manner. A detailed review of each downstream process unit operation is performed, limitations, strengths, and potential outcomes being covered. Currently, the majority of large-scale LV manufacturing processes are still based on adherent cell culture, although it is known that the industry is migrating fast to suspension cultures. Regarding the purification strategy, it consists of batch chromatography and membrane technology. Nevertheless, new solutions are being created to improve the current production schemes and expand its clinical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Sofia Moreira
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, Oeiras, Portugal.,Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - David Guia Cavaco
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, Oeiras, Portugal.,Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Tiago Q Faria
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, Oeiras, Portugal.,Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Paula M Alves
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, Oeiras, Portugal.,Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Manuel J T Carrondo
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, Oeiras, Portugal
| | - Cristina Peixoto
- iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, Oeiras, Portugal
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38
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Mo Q, Xu Z, Deng F, Wang H, Ning YJ. Host restriction of emerging high-pathogenic bunyaviruses via MOV10 by targeting viral nucleoprotein and blocking ribonucleoprotein assembly. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1009129. [PMID: 33284835 PMCID: PMC7746268 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Bunyavirus ribonucleoprotein (RNP) that is assembled by polymerized nucleoproteins (N) coating a viral RNA and associating with a viral polymerase can be both the RNA synthesis machinery and the structural core of virions. Bunyaviral N and RNP thus could be assailable targets for host antiviral defense; however, it remains unclear which and how host factors target N/RNP to restrict bunyaviral infection. By mass spectrometry and protein-interaction analyses, we here show that host protein MOV10 targets the N proteins encoded by a group of emerging high-pathogenic representatives of bunyaviruses including severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), one of the most dangerous pathogens listed by World Health Organization, in RNA-independent manner. MOV10 that was further shown to be induced specifically by SFTSV and related bunyaviruses in turn inhibits the bunyaviral replication in infected cells in series of loss/gain-of-function assays. Moreover, animal infection experiments with MOV10 knockdown corroborated the role of MOV10 in restricting SFTSV infection and pathogenicity in vivo. Minigenome assays and additional functional and mechanistic investigations demonstrate that the anti-bunyavirus activity of MOV10 is likely achieved by direct impact on viral RNP machinery but independent of its helicase activity and the cellular interferon pathway. Indeed, by its N-terminus, MOV10 binds to a protruding N-arm domain of N consisting of only 34 amino acids but proving important for N function and blocks N polymerization, N-RNA binding, and N-polymerase interaction, disabling RNP assembly. This study not only advances the understanding of bunyaviral replication and host restriction mechanisms but also presents novel paradigms for both direct antiviral action of MOV10 and host targeting of viral RNP machinery. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) is an emerging high-pathogenic bunyavirus listed by the World Health Organization as a top priority pathogen for research and development. Although SFTSV and related bunyaviruses emerging globally have raised serious public health concerns, specific antivirals or vaccines are currently unavailable and little is known on the virus-host interactions and viral replication mechanism. The nucleoprotein (N) is essential for bunyavirus replication by driving assembly of ribonucleoprotein (RNP), the RNA synthesis machinery and structural core of virions. Here we show that N proteins of SFTSV and related bunyaviruses can be targeted by host factor MOV10 in RNA-independent manner. Further, MOV10 can be induced specifically by the bunyaviruses and in turn restrict the viral replication and pathogenicity in vitro and in vivo. The anti-bunyavirus activity of MOV10 is independent of its helicase region and cellular interferon pathway. Instead, by its N-terminus, MOV10 binds to a protruding N-arm domain of N and blocks N polymerization, N-RNA binding, and N-polymerase interaction, disabling RNP assembly. This study provides a delicate model for host targeting of viral RNP machinery and sheds light on bunyaviral replication and host restriction mechanisms, which may promote specific antiviral therapy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiong Mo
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
| | - Hualin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- * E-mail: (HW); (Y-JN)
| | - Yun-Jia Ning
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, Wuhan Institute of Virology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- Center for Biosafety Mega-Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, China
- * E-mail: (HW); (Y-JN)
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39
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Hyseni I, Molesti E, Benincasa L, Piu P, Casa E, Temperton NJ, Manenti A, Montomoli E. Characterisation of SARS-CoV-2 Lentiviral Pseudotypes and Correlation between Pseudotype-Based Neutralisation Assays and Live Virus-Based Micro Neutralisation Assays. Viruses 2020; 12:E1011. [PMID: 32927639 PMCID: PMC7551040 DOI: 10.3390/v12091011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent outbreak of a novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) and its rapid spread across the continents has generated an urgent need for assays to detect the neutralising activity of human sera or human monoclonal antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and to evaluate the serological immunity in humans. Since the accessibility of live virus microneutralisation (MN) assays with SARS-CoV-2 is limited and requires enhanced bio-containment, the approach based on "pseudotyping" can be considered a useful complement to other serological assays. After fully characterising lentiviral pseudotypes bearing the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, we employed them in pseudotype-based neutralisation assays in order to profile the neutralising activity of human serum samples from an Italian sero-epidemiological study. The results obtained with pseudotype-based neutralisation assays mirrored those obtained when the same panel of sera was tested against the wild type virus, showing an evident convergence of the pseudotype-based neutralisation and MN results. The overall results lead to the conclusion that the pseudotype-based neutralisation assay is a valid alternative to using the wild-type strain, and although this system needs to be optimised and standardised, it can not only complement the classical serological methods, but also allows serological assessments to be made when other methods cannot be employed, especially in a human pandemic context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inesa Hyseni
- VisMederi Research s.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (I.H.); (L.B.); (E.C.); (A.M.); (E.M.)
| | - Eleonora Molesti
- VisMederi Research s.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (I.H.); (L.B.); (E.C.); (A.M.); (E.M.)
| | - Linda Benincasa
- VisMederi Research s.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (I.H.); (L.B.); (E.C.); (A.M.); (E.M.)
| | | | - Elisa Casa
- VisMederi Research s.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (I.H.); (L.B.); (E.C.); (A.M.); (E.M.)
- VisMederi s.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Nigel J Temperton
- Viral Pseudotype Unit, Medway School of Pharmacy, The Universities of Kent and Greenwich at Medway, Chatham ME7 4TB, UK;
| | - Alessandro Manenti
- VisMederi Research s.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (I.H.); (L.B.); (E.C.); (A.M.); (E.M.)
- VisMederi s.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy;
| | - Emanuele Montomoli
- VisMederi Research s.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy; (I.H.); (L.B.); (E.C.); (A.M.); (E.M.)
- VisMederi s.r.l., 53100 Siena, Italy;
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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40
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Transfiguracion J, Tran MY, Lanthier S, Tremblay S, Coulombe N, Acchione M, Kamen AA. Rapid In-Process Monitoring of Lentiviral Vector Particles by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2020; 18:803-810. [PMID: 32953931 PMCID: PMC7479275 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are a popular gene delivery tool in cell and gene therapy and they are a primary tool for ex vivo transduction of T cells for expression of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) in CAR-T cell therapies. Extensive process and product characterization are required in manufacturing virus-based gene vectors to better control batch-to-batch variability. However, it has been an ongoing challenge to make quantitative assessments of LV product because current analytical tools often are low throughput and lack robustness and standardization is still required. This paper presents a high-throughput and robust physico-chemical characterization method that directly assesses total LV particles. With simple sample preparation and fast elution time (6.24 min) of the LV peak in 440 mM NaCl (in 20 mM Tris-HCl [pH 7.5]), this ion exchange high-performance liquid chromatography (IEX-HPLC) method is ideal for routine in-process monitoring to facilitate the development of scalable and robust LV manufacturing processes. Furthermore, this HPLC method is suitable for the analysis of all in-process samples, from crude samples such as LV supernatants to final purified products. The linearity range of the standard curve is 3.13 × 108 to 1.0 × 1010 total particles/mL, and both the intra- and inter-assay variabilities are less than 5%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Transfiguracion
- National Research Council, Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Michelle Yen Tran
- Viral Vectors and Vaccine Bioprocessing Group, Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, 817 Sherbrooke West #270, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
| | - Stéphane Lanthier
- National Research Council, Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Sonia Tremblay
- National Research Council, Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Nathalie Coulombe
- National Research Council, Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Mauro Acchione
- National Research Council, Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Amine A Kamen
- National Research Council, Human Health Therapeutics Research Center, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada.,Viral Vectors and Vaccine Bioprocessing Group, Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, 817 Sherbrooke West #270, Montreal, QC H3A 0C3, Canada
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41
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Ozono S, Zhang Y, Tobiume M, Kishigami S, Tokunaga K. Super-rapid quantitation of the production of HIV-1 harboring a luminescent peptide tag. J Biol Chem 2020; 295:13023-13030. [PMID: 32719008 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra120.013887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In studies of HIV-1, virus production is normally monitored by either a reverse transcriptase assay or a p24 antigen capture ELISA. However, these assays are costly and time-consuming for routine handling of a large number of HIV-1 samples. For example, sample dilution is always required in the ELISA procedure to determine p24 protein levels because of the very narrow range of detectable concentrations in this assay. Here, we establish a novel HIV-1 production assay system to solve the aforementioned problems by using a recently developed small peptide tag called HiBiT. This peptide is a fragment of NanoLuc luciferase and generates a strong luminescent signal when complemented with the remaining subunit. To employ this technology, we constructed a novel full-length proviral HIV-1 DNA clone and a lentiviral packaging vector in which the HiBiT tag was added to the C terminus of the integrase. Tagging the integrase with the HiBiT sequence did not impede the resultant virus production, infectivity, or susceptibility to an integrase inhibitor. EM revealed normal morphology of the virus particles. Most importantly, by comparing between ELISA and the HiBiT luciferase assay, we successfully obtained an excellent linear correlation between p24 concentrations and HiBiT-based luciferase activity. Overall, we conclude that HiBiT-tagged viruses can replace the parental HIV-1 and lentiviral vectors, which enables us to perform a super-rapid, inexpensive, convenient, simple, and highly accurate quantitative assay for HIV-1/lentivirus production. This system can be widely applied to a variety of virological studies, along with screening for candidates of future antiviral drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seiya Ozono
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan; Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Yanzhao Zhang
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minoru Tobiume
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoshi Kishigami
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Kenzo Tokunaga
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan.
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42
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Toran PT, Wohlfahrt M, Foye J, Kiem HP, Wojchowski DM. Assessment and streamlined preparation of low-cytotoxicity lentiviral vectors for mobilized human hematopoietic stem cell transduction. Exp Hematol 2020; 86:28-42.e3. [PMID: 32473295 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2020.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
As important vectors for ectopic protein expression, gene silencing, and progenitor cell barcoding, lentiviruses continue to emerge as versatile research and clinical tools. For studies employing cell types that are relatively resistant to transduction, high-titer lentivirus preparations with low cytotoxicity are required. During lentivirus production, carryover plasmid DNA endotoxins, transfection reagents, damaged packaging cells, and virus concentration procedures are potential sources of cytotoxicity. As an often unevaluated property of lentivirus preparations, cytotoxicity can unwittingly skew estimates of functional titers and complicate interpretations of transduced cell phenotypes. By employing hematopoietic UT7epo cells cultured in erythropoietin (EPO) below maximal dosing, we first define a sensitive flow cytometric bioassay for critically assessing the cytotoxicity (and titers) of lentivirus preparations. Bioassay of custom preparations of research-grade lentiviruses from six commercial sources unexpectedly revealed substantial cytotoxicity (with certain preparations additionally registering titers several log below designated values). To overcome such limiting properties, we further report on unique, efficient workflows for reproducibly preparing and processing high-titer, low-cytotoxicity (HTLC) lentiviruses at research scale. These HTLC lentiviruses reliably transduce peripheral blood hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (PB-HSPCs) at frequencies ≥40%, with low cytotoxicity. In addition, by employing cyclosporin H (to inhibit IFITM3), PB-HSPCs can be transduced at heightened efficiency with nominal cytotoxicity. Overall, this work provides straightforward approaches to (1) critical assessment of the cytotoxicity of lentivirus preparations; (2) reproducible generation (and concentration) of high-quality lentiviruses via a streamlined workflow; and (3) transduction of PB-HSPCs at benchmark levels with nominal cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul T Toran
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
| | | | - Julia Foye
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
| | | | - Don M Wojchowski
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH.
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43
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Development of a laboratory scalable process for enhancing lentivirus production by transient transfection of HEK293 adherent cultures. Gene Ther 2020; 27:482-494. [DOI: 10.1038/s41434-020-0152-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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44
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Origel Marmolejo CA, Bachhav B, Patibandla SD, Yang AL, Segatori L. A gene signal amplifier platform for monitoring the unfolded protein response. Nat Chem Biol 2020; 16:520-528. [DOI: 10.1038/s41589-020-0497-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
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45
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Abstract
One of the most versatile gene transfer methods involves the use of recombinant lentiviral vectors since they can transduce both dividing and nondividing cells, are considered to be safe and provide long-term transgene expression since the integrated viral genome, the provirus, is passed on to daughter cells. These characteristics are highly desirable when a modified cell must continue to express the transgene even after multiple cell divisions. Lentiviral vectors are often used to introduce protein encoding cDNAs, such as reporter genes, or for noncoding sequences, such as mediators of RNA interference or genome editing, including shRNA or gRNA, respectively. In the gene therapy setting, lentiviral vectors have been used successfully for the modification of hematopoietic stem cells, resulting in restored immune function or correction of defects in hemoglobin, to name but a few examples. The success of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells for the treatment of B cell leukemias and lymphomas has been particularly striking and this approach has relied heavily on lentivirus-mediated gene transfer. Here we present a typical protocol for the production of lentivirus, concentration by ultracentrifugation and determination of virus titer. The resulting virus can then be used in laboratory assays of gene transfer, including the establishment of CAR T cells.
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46
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Wang J, Saraswat D, Sinha AK, Polanco J, Dietz K, O'Bara MA, Pol SU, Shayya HJ, Sim FJ. Paired Related Homeobox Protein 1 Regulates Quiescence in Human Oligodendrocyte Progenitors. Cell Rep 2019; 25:3435-3450.e6. [PMID: 30566868 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.11.068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2017] [Revised: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 11/16/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Human oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (hOPCs) persist into adulthood as an abundant precursor population capable of division and differentiation. The transcriptional mechanisms that regulate hOPC homeostasis remain poorly defined. Herein, we identify paired related homeobox protein 1 (PRRX1) in primary PDGFαR+ hOPCs. We show that enforced PRRX1 expression results in reversible G1/0 arrest. While both PRRX1 splice variants reduce hOPC proliferation, only PRRX1a abrogates migration. hOPC engraftment into hypomyelinated shiverer/rag2 mouse brain is severely impaired by PRRX1a, characterized by reduced cell proliferation and migration. PRRX1 induces a gene expression signature characteristic of stem cell quiescence. Both IFN-γ and BMP signaling upregulate PRRX1 and induce quiescence. PRRX1 knockdown modulates IFN-γ-induced quiescence. In mouse brain, PRRX1 mRNA was detected in non-dividing OPCs and is upregulated in OPCs following demyelination. Together, these data identify PRRX1 as a regulator of quiescence in hOPCs and as a potential regulator of pathological quiescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Darpan Saraswat
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Anjali K Sinha
- Neuroscience Program, Jacob's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jessie Polanco
- Neuroscience Program, Jacob's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Karen Dietz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Melanie A O'Bara
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Suyog U Pol
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Jacob's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Hani J Shayya
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Fraser J Sim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Jacob's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA; Neuroscience Program, Jacob's School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
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47
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TRIM44 is indispensable for glioma cell proliferation and cell cycle progression through AKT/p21/p27 signaling pathway. J Neurooncol 2019; 145:211-222. [DOI: 10.1007/s11060-019-03301-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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48
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Timmins LM, Patel RS, Teryek MS, Parekkadan B. Real-time transfer of lentiviral particles by producer cells using an engineered coculture system. Cytotechnology 2019; 71:1019-1031. [PMID: 31515650 PMCID: PMC6787137 DOI: 10.1007/s10616-019-00343-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Lentiviruses are quite effective gene delivery systems for stable production of genetically engineered human cells. However, prior to using lentivirus to deliver genetic materials to cells of interest, the normal course of production of these lentiviruses involves a lengthy collection, purification, preservation, and quantification process. In this report, we demonstrate the ability for producer HEK293T cells to simultaneously produce lentiviral particles and transduce (i.e., infect) target cells through a membrane-based coculture system in a continuous, real-time mode which negates the need for a separate viral collection and quantification process. The coculture system was evaluated for major design features such as variations in HEK293T seeding density, target cell type densities, as well as membrane porosities to identify key relationships between lentiviral particle production rate and infection kinetics for adherent and suspension cell types. As a proof-of-concept for the creation of an engineered cell immunotherapy, we describe the ability to engineer human T cells isolated from PBMCs under the control of this coculture system in under 6 days with a GFP construct. These studies suggest the capability to combine and more closely automate the transfection/transduction process in order to facilitate well-timed and cost-effective transduction of target cell types. These experiments provide novel insight into the forthcoming transition into improved manufacturing systems for viral production and subsequent cell engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Timmins
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08902, USA
| | - Riya S Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08902, USA
| | - Matthew S Teryek
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08902, USA
| | - Biju Parekkadan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, 08902, USA.
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49
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A first experience of transduction for differentiated HepaRG cells using lentiviral technology. Sci Rep 2019; 9:12910. [PMID: 31501487 PMCID: PMC6733867 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-49402-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2018] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently, there is a lack of systems for studying the role of hepatitis B viral proteins, such as HBeAg and HBcAg, on liver injury. It is necessary to develop an original tool in order to clarify the role of these viral proteins in hepatic stellate cell activation, and to understand the molecular mechanisms of liver injury. HepaRG are the most reliable hepatocyte-like cells for studying liver functions or disorders. In this paper, we demonstrate that the transduction of differentiated HepaRG (dHepaRG) cells can be performed successfully using lentiviral particles. The production of a functional Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) assessed by Fluorescence Activated Cell Sorting and fluorescence microscopy is up to 16% of GFP positive cells using a multiplicity of infection (MOI) of 2.4. We demonstrate that this technology can allow the stable expression of GFP during the long lifecycle of the cell (up to four weeks after the cell’s passage). With this innovative tool, we aim to express viral proteins such as HBeAg or HBcAg in dHepaRG cells. The preliminary results of this work shows that HBeAg can be efficiently produced in dHepaRG cells and that increased MOI allows a better production of this protein. Our future objective will be to study the role of HBc and HBe proteins on the induction of hepatic fibrosis.
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50
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Poorebrahim M, Sadeghi S, Fakhr E, Abazari MF, Poortahmasebi V, Kheirollahi A, Askari H, Rajabzadeh A, Rastegarpanah M, Linē A, Cid-Arregui A. Production of CAR T-cells by GMP-grade lentiviral vectors: latest advances and future prospects. Crit Rev Clin Lab Sci 2019; 56:393-419. [PMID: 31314617 DOI: 10.1080/10408363.2019.1633512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells represent a paradigm shift in cancer immunotherapy and a new milestone in the history of oncology. In 2017, the Food and Drug Administration approved two CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapies (Kymriah™, Novartis, and Yescarta™, Kite Pharma/Gilead Sciences) that have remarkable efficacy in some B-cell malignancies. The CAR approach is currently being evaluated in multiple pivotal trials designed for the immunotherapy of hematological malignancies as well as solid tumors. To generate CAR T-cells ex vivo, lentiviral vectors (LVs) are particularly appealing due to their ability to stably integrate relatively large DNA inserts, and to efficiently transduce both dividing and nondividing cells. This review discusses the latest advances and challenges in the design and production of CAR T-cells, and the good manufacturing practices (GMP)-grade production process of LVs used as a gene transfer vehicle. New developments in the application of CAR T-cell therapy are also outlined with particular emphasis on next-generation allogeneic CAR T-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansour Poorebrahim
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Solmaz Sadeghi
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR , Tehran , Iran
| | - Elham Fakhr
- Department of Translational Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) , Heidelberg , Germany
| | - Mohammad Foad Abazari
- Research Center for Clinical Virology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Vahdat Poortahmasebi
- Liver and Gastrointestinal Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,Infectious and Tropical Disease Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran.,Faculty of Medicine, Department of Bacteriology and Virology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , Tabriz , Iran
| | - Asma Kheirollahi
- Department of Comparative Biosciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran , Tehran , Iran
| | - Hassan Askari
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Alireza Rajabzadeh
- Applied Cell Sciences and Tissue Engineering Department, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Malihe Rastegarpanah
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences , Tehran , Iran
| | - Aija Linē
- Latvian Biomedical Research and Study Centre , Riga , Latvia
| | - Angel Cid-Arregui
- Recombinant Proteins Department, Breast Cancer Research Center, Motamed Cancer Institute, ACECR , Tehran , Iran.,Targeted Tumor Vaccines Group, Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) , Heidelberg , Germany
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