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Oved JH, Russell A, DeZern A, Prockop SE, Bonfim C, Sharma A, Purtill D, Lakkaraja M, Bidgoli A, Bhoopalan SV, Soni S, Boelens JJ, Abraham A. The role of the conditioning regimen for autologous and ex vivo genetically modified hematopoietic stem cell-based therapies: recommendations from the ISCT stem cell engineering committee. Cytotherapy 2024:S1465-3249(24)00838-7. [PMID: 39320295 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2024.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2024] [Revised: 08/28/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/26/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The advent of autologous gene modified cell therapies to treat monogenic disorders has been a major step forward for the field of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HCT) and cellular therapies. The need for disease-specific conditioning to enable these products to provide a potential cure has required extrapolation from experience in myeloablative and non-myeloablative HCT for these disorders. METHODS In this manuscript, we review the current datasets and clinical experience using different conditioning regimens for autologous gene therapies in hemoglobinopathies, metabolic and lysosomal disorders, inborn errors of immunity (IEI) and bone marrow failure (BMF) syndromes. RESULTS The disease specific and unique conditioning requirements of each disorder are considered in order to achieve maximal benefit while minimizing associated toxicities. CONCLUSIONS Standardized recommendations based on these data are made for each set of disorders to harmonize treatment. Future directions and the possibility of non-genotoxic conditioning regimens for autologous gene therapies are also discussed. Ethical Statement: The authors followed all relevant ethical considerations in writing this manuscript.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph H Oved
- Transplant and Cellular Therapies, MSK Kids, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, New York, USA.
| | - Athena Russell
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Amy DeZern
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Susan E Prockop
- Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Carmem Bonfim
- Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation Division and Pelé Pequeno Príncipe Research Institute, Hospital Pequeno Príncipe, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Akshay Sharma
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Duncan Purtill
- Department of Haematology, Fiona Stanley Hospital and PathWest Laboratory Medicine, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Madhavi Lakkaraja
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Alan Bidgoli
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Aflac Blood and Cancer Disorders Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Senthil Velan Bhoopalan
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Sandeep Soni
- Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA; Crispr Therapeutics AG, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; ISCT Immune-Gene Therapy Committee, ISCT, Vancouver, California, USA
| | - Jaap Jan Boelens
- Transplant and Cellular Therapies, MSK Kids, Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York, New York, USA
| | - Allistair Abraham
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, CETI, Children's National Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
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Ore A, Angelastro JM, Giulivi C. Integrating Mitochondrial Biology into Innovative Cell Therapies for Neurodegenerative Diseases. Brain Sci 2024; 14:899. [PMID: 39335395 PMCID: PMC11429837 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci14090899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2024] [Revised: 08/31/2024] [Accepted: 09/03/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The role of mitochondria in neurodegenerative diseases is crucial, and recent developments have highlighted its significance in cell therapy. Mitochondrial dysfunction has been implicated in various neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington's diseases. Understanding the impact of mitochondrial biology on these conditions can provide valuable insights for developing targeted cell therapies. This mini-review refocuses on mitochondria and emphasizes the potential of therapies leveraging mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, stem cell-derived secretions, and extracellular vesicles. Mesenchymal stem cell-mediated mitochondria transfer is highlighted for restoring mitochondrial health in cells with dysfunctional mitochondria. Additionally, attention is paid to gene-editing techniques such as mito-CRISPR, mitoTALENs, mito-ZNFs, and DdCBEs to ensure the safety and efficacy of stem cell treatments. Challenges and future directions are also discussed, including the possible tumorigenic effects of stem cells, off-target effects, disease targeting, immune rejection, and ethical issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adaleiz Ore
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (A.O.); (J.M.A.)
- Department of Chemical Engineering, School of Engineering, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - James M. Angelastro
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (A.O.); (J.M.A.)
| | - Cecilia Giulivi
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (A.O.); (J.M.A.)
- University of California Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders Institute (MIND Institute), University of California Health, Sacramento, CA 95817, USA
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3
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Nasri M, Ritter MU, Mir P, Dannenmann B, Kaufmann MM, Arreba-Tutusaus P, Xu Y, Borbaran-Bravo N, Klimiankou M, Lengerke C, Zeidler C, Cathomen T, Welte K, Skokowa J. CRISPR-Cas9n-mediated ELANE promoter editing for gene therapy of severe congenital neutropenia. Mol Ther 2024; 32:1628-1642. [PMID: 38556793 PMCID: PMC11184331 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.03.037] [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: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Severe congenital neutropenia (CN) is an inherited pre-leukemia bone marrow failure syndrome commonly caused by autosomal-dominant ELANE mutations (ELANE-CN). ELANE-CN patients are treated with daily injections of recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF). However, some patients do not respond to rhG-CSF, and approximately 15% of ELANE-CN patients develop myelodysplasia or acute myeloid leukemia. Here, we report the development of a curative therapy for ELANE-CN through inhibition of ELANE mRNA expression by introducing two single-strand DNA breaks at the opposing DNA strands of the ELANE promoter TATA box using CRISPR-Cas9D10A nickases-termed MILESTONE. This editing effectively restored defective neutrophil differentiation of ELANE-CN CD34+ hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) in vitro and in vivo, without affecting the functions of the edited neutrophils. CRISPResso analysis of the edited ELANE-CN CD34+ HSPCs revealed on-target efficiencies of over 90%. Simultaneously, GUIDE-seq, CAST-Seq, and rhAmpSeq indicated a safe off-target profile with no off-target sites or chromosomal translocations. Taken together, ex vivo gene editing of ELANE-CN HSPCs using MILESTONE in the setting of autologous stem cell transplantation could be a universal, safe, and efficient gene therapy approach for ELANE-CN patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Nasri
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Malte U Ritter
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany.
| | - Perihan Mir
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Benjamin Dannenmann
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Masako M Kaufmann
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Patricia Arreba-Tutusaus
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Natalia Borbaran-Bravo
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maksim Klimiankou
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Lengerke
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Zeidler
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Toni Cathomen
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Gene Therapy, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany; Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Karl Welte
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Children`s Hospital, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Julia Skokowa
- Department of Oncology, Hematology, Clinical Immunology, and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany; Gene and RNA Therapy Center (GRTC), University Hospital Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
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Perez-Bermejo JA, Efagene O, Matern WM, Holden JK, Kabir S, Chew GM, Andreoletti G, Catton E, Ennis CL, Garcia A, Gerstenberg TL, Hill KA, Jain A, Krassovsky K, Lalisan CD, Lord D, Quejarro BJ, Sales-Lee J, Shah M, Silva BJ, Skowronski J, Strukov YG, Thomas J, Veraz M, Vijay T, Wallace KA, Yuan Y, Grogan JL, Wienert B, Lahiri P, Treusch S, Dever DP, Soros VB, Partridge JR, Seim KL. Functional screening in human HSPCs identifies optimized protein-based enhancers of Homology Directed Repair. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2625. [PMID: 38521763 PMCID: PMC10960832 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46816-5] [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: 08/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Homology Directed Repair (HDR) enables precise genome editing, but the implementation of HDR-based therapies is hindered by limited efficiency in comparison to methods that exploit alternative DNA repair routes, such as Non-Homologous End Joining (NHEJ). In this study, we develop a functional, pooled screening platform to identify protein-based reagents that improve HDR in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). We leverage this screening platform to explore sequence diversity at the binding interface of the NHEJ inhibitor i53 and its target, 53BP1, identifying optimized variants that enable new intermolecular bonds and robustly increase HDR. We show that these variants specifically reduce insertion-deletion outcomes without increasing off-target editing, synergize with a DNAPK inhibitor molecule, and can be applied at manufacturing scale to increase the fraction of cells bearing repaired alleles. This screening platform can enable the discovery of future gene editing reagents that improve HDR outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Meet Shah
- Graphite Bio, South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yue Yuan
- Graphite Bio, South San Francisco, CA, USA
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Kreissig S, Windisch R, Wichmann C. Deciphering Acute Myeloid Leukemia Associated Transcription Factors in Human Primary CD34+ Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells. Cells 2023; 13:78. [PMID: 38201282 PMCID: PMC10777941 DOI: 10.3390/cells13010078] [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: 11/10/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Hemato-oncological diseases account for nearly 10% of all malignancies and can be classified into leukemia, lymphoma, myeloproliferative diseases, and myelodysplastic syndromes. The causes and prognosis of these disease entities are highly variable. Most entities are not permanently controllable and ultimately lead to the patient's death. At the molecular level, recurrent mutations including chromosomal translocations initiate the transformation from normal stem-/progenitor cells into malignant blasts finally floating the patient's bone marrow and blood system. In acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the so-called master transcription factors such as RUNX1, KMT2A, and HOX are frequently disrupted by chromosomal translocations, resulting in neomorphic oncogenic fusion genes. Triggering ex vivo expansion of primary human CD34+ stem/progenitor cells represents a distinct characteristic of such chimeric AML transcription factors. Regarding oncogenic mechanisms of AML, most studies focus on murine models. However, due to biological differences between mice and humans, findings are only partly transferable. This review focuses on the genetic manipulation of human CD34+ primary hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells derived from healthy donors to model acute myeloid leukemia cell growth. Analysis of defined single- or multi-hit human cellular AML models will elucidate molecular mechanisms of the development, maintenance, and potential molecular intervention strategies to counteract malignant human AML blast cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Christian Wichmann
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Cell Therapeutics and Haemostaseology, LMU University Hospital, LMU Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany; (S.K.)
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6
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Ott de Bruin LM, Lankester AC, Staal FJ. Advances in gene therapy for inborn errors of immunity. Curr Opin Allergy Clin Immunol 2023; 23:467-477. [PMID: 37846903 PMCID: PMC10621649 DOI: 10.1097/aci.0000000000000952] [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] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Provide an overview of the landmark accomplishments and state of the art of gene therapy for inborn errors of immunity (IEI). RECENT FINDINGS Three decades after the first clinical application of gene therapy for IEI, there is one market authorized product available, while for several others efficacy has been demonstrated or is currently being tested in ongoing clinical trials. Gene editing approaches using programmable nucleases are being explored preclinically and could be beneficial for genes requiring tightly regulated expression, gain-of-function mutations and dominant-negative mutations. SUMMARY Gene therapy by modifying autologous hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) offers an attractive alternative to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), the current standard of care to treat severe IEI. This approach does not require availability of a suitable allogeneic donor and eliminates the risk of graft versus host disease (GvHD). Gene therapy can be attempted by using a viral vector to add a copy of the therapeutic gene (viral gene addition) or by using programmable nucleases (gene editing) to precisely correct mutations, disrupt a gene or introduce an entire copy of a gene at a specific locus. However, gene therapy comes with its own challenges such as safety, therapeutic effectiveness and access. For viral gene addition, a major safety concern is vector-related insertional mutagenesis, although this has been greatly reduced with the introduction of safer vectors. For gene editing, the risk of off-site mutagenesis is a main driver behind the ongoing search for modified nucleases. For both approaches, HSCs have to be manipulated ex vivo, and doing this efficiently without losing stemness remains a challenge, especially for gene editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M. Ott de Bruin
- Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation Program and Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Arjan C. Lankester
- Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation Program and Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology
| | - Frank J.T. Staal
- Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation Program and Laboratory for Pediatric Immunology
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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7
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Canarutto D, Omer Javed A, Pedrazzani G, Ferrari S, Naldini L. Mobilization-based engraftment of haematopoietic stem cells: a new perspective for chemotherapy-free gene therapy and transplantation. Br Med Bull 2023; 147:108-120. [PMID: 37460391 PMCID: PMC10502445 DOI: 10.1093/bmb/ldad017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from a healthy donor replace the patient's ones. Ex vivo HSC gene therapy (HSC-GT) is a form of HSCT in which HSCs, usually from an autologous source, are genetically modified before infusion, to generate a progeny of gene-modified cells. In HSCT and HSC-GT, chemotherapy is administered before infusion to free space in the bone marrow (BM) niche, which is required for the engraftment of infused cells. Here, we review alternative chemotherapy-free approaches to niche voidance that could replace conventional regimens and alleviate the morbidity of the procedure. SOURCES OF DATA Literature was reviewed from PubMed-listed peer-reviewed articles. No new data are presented in this article. AREAS OF AGREEMENT Chemotherapy exerts short and long-term toxicity to haematopoietic and non-haematopoietic organs. Whenever chemotherapy is solely used to allow engraftment of donor HSCs, rather than eliminating malignant cells, as in the case of HSC-GT for inborn genetic diseases, non-genotoxic approaches sparing off-target tissues are highly desirable. AREAS OF CONTROVERSY In principle, HSCs can be temporarily moved from the BM niches using mobilizing drugs or selectively cleared with targeted antibodies or immunotoxins to make space for the infused cells. However, translation of these principles into clinically relevant settings is only at the beginning, and whether therapeutically meaningful levels of chimerism can be safely established with these approaches remains to be determined. GROWING POINTS In pre-clinical models, mobilization of HSCs from the niche can be tailored to accommodate the exchange and engraftment of infused cells. Infused cells can be further endowed with a transient engraftment advantage. AREAS TIMELY FOR DEVELOPING RESEARCH Inter-individual efficiency and kinetics of HSC mobilization need to be carefully assessed. Investigations in large animal models of emerging non-genotoxic approaches will further strengthen the rationale and encourage application to the treatment of selected diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniele Canarutto
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milano, MI, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milano, MI, Italy
- Pediatric Immunohematology Unit and BMT Program, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Attya Omer Javed
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Gabriele Pedrazzani
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milano, MI, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Samuele Ferrari
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milano, MI, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milano, MI, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milano, MI, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Via Olgettina, 60, 20132 Milano, MI, Italy
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Vavassori V, Ferrari S, Beretta S, Asperti C, Albano L, Annoni A, Gaddoni C, Varesi A, Soldi M, Cuomo A, Bonaldi T, Radrizzani M, Merelli I, Naldini L. Lipid nanoparticles allow efficient and harmless ex vivo gene editing of human hematopoietic cells. Blood 2023; 142:812-826. [PMID: 37294917 PMCID: PMC10644071 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022019333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Ex vivo gene editing in T cells and hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) holds promise for treating diseases. Gene editing encompasses the delivery of a programmable editor RNA or ribonucleoprotein, often achieved ex vivo via electroporation, and when aiming for homology-driven correction of a DNA template, often provided by viral vectors together with a nuclease editor. Although HSPCs activate a robust p53-dependent DNA damage response upon nuclease-based editing, the responses triggered in T cells remain poorly characterized. Here, we performed comprehensive multiomics analyses and found that electroporation is the main culprit of cytotoxicity in T cells, causing death and cell cycle delay, perturbing metabolism, and inducing an inflammatory response. Nuclease RNA delivery using lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) nearly abolished cell death and ameliorated cell growth, improving tolerance to the procedure and yielding a higher number of edited cells compared with using electroporation. Transient transcriptomic changes upon LNP treatment were mostly caused by cellular loading with exogenous cholesterol, whose potentially detrimental impact could be overcome by limiting exposure. Notably, LNP-based HSPC editing dampened p53 pathway induction and supported higher clonogenic activity and similar or higher reconstitution by long-term repopulating HSPCs compared with electroporation, reaching comparable editing efficiencies. Overall, LNPs may allow efficient and harmless ex vivo gene editing in hematopoietic cells for the treatment of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vavassori
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Samuele Ferrari
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Beretta
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Asperti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luisa Albano
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Annoni
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Chiara Gaddoni
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Angelica Varesi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Soldi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Alessandro Cuomo
- Department of Molecular Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Tiziana Bonaldi
- Department of Molecular Oncology, IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan, Italy
- Department of Oncology and Haematology-Oncology, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Marina Radrizzani
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Ivan Merelli
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Institute for Biomedical Technologies, National Research Council, Segrate, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
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Qureshi A, Connolly JB. Bioinformatic and literature assessment of toxicity and allergenicity of a CRISPR-Cas9 engineered gene drive to control Anopheles gambiae the mosquito vector of human malaria. Malar J 2023; 22:234. [PMID: 37580703 PMCID: PMC10426224 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-023-04665-5] [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: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Population suppression gene drive is currently being evaluated, including via environmental risk assessment (ERA), for malaria vector control. One such gene drive involves the dsxFCRISPRh transgene encoding (i) hCas9 endonuclease, (ii) T1 guide RNA (gRNA) targeting the doublesex locus, and (iii) DsRed fluorescent marker protein, in genetically-modified mosquitoes (GMMs). Problem formulation, the first stage of ERA, for environmental releases of dsxFCRISPRh previously identified nine potential harms to the environment or health that could occur, should expressed products of the transgene cause allergenicity or toxicity. METHODS Amino acid sequences of hCas9 and DsRed were interrogated against those of toxins or allergens from NCBI, UniProt, COMPARE and AllergenOnline bioinformatic databases and the gRNA was compared with microRNAs from the miRBase database for potential impacts on gene expression associated with toxicity or allergenicity. PubMed was also searched for any evidence of toxicity or allergenicity of Cas9 or DsRed, or of the donor organisms from which these products were originally derived. RESULTS While Cas9 nuclease activity can be toxic to some cell types in vitro and hCas9 was found to share homology with the prokaryotic toxin VapC, there was no evidence from previous studies of a risk of toxicity to humans and other animals from hCas9. Although hCas9 did contain an 8-mer epitope found in the latex allergen Hev b 9, the full amino acid sequence of hCas9 was not homologous to any known allergens. Combined with a lack of evidence in the literature of Cas9 allergenicity, this indicated negligible risk to humans of allergenicity from hCas9. No matches were found between the gRNA and microRNAs from either Anopheles or humans. Moreover, potential exposure to dsxFCRISPRh transgenic proteins from environmental releases was assessed as negligible. CONCLUSIONS Bioinformatic and literature assessments found no convincing evidence to suggest that transgenic products expressed from dsxFCRISPRh were allergens or toxins, indicating that environmental releases of this population suppression gene drive for malaria vector control should not result in any increased allergenicity or toxicity in humans or animals. These results should also inform evaluations of other GMMs being developed for vector control and in vivo clinical applications of CRISPR-Cas9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alima Qureshi
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Sunninghill, Ascot, UK
| | - John B Connolly
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Sunninghill, Ascot, UK.
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10
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Rai R, Naseem A, Vetharoy W, Steinberg Z, Thrasher AJ, Santilli G, Cavazza A. An improved medium formulation for efficient ex vivo gene editing, expansion and engraftment of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 29:58-69. [PMID: 36950452 PMCID: PMC10025975 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Gene editing has emerged as a powerful tool for the therapeutic correction of monogenic diseases. CRISPR-Cas9 applied to hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) has shown great promise in proof-of-principle preclinical studies to treat hematological disorders, and clinical trials using these tools are now under way. Nonetheless, there remain important challenges that need to be addressed, such as the efficiency of targeting primitive, long-term repopulating HSPCs and their in vitro expansion for clinical application. In this study, we assessed the effect of different culture medium compositions on the ability of HSPCs to proliferate and undergo homology-directed repair-mediated knock-in of a reporter gene, while preserving their stemness features during ex vivo culture. We demonstrated that by supplementing the culture medium with stem cell agonists and by fine-tuning its cytokine composition it is possible to achieve high levels of gene targeting in long-term repopulating HSPCs both in vitro and in vivo, with a beneficial balance between preservation of stemness and cell expansion. Overall, the implementation of this optimized ex vivo HSPC culture protocol can improve the efficacy, feasibility, and applicability of gene editing as a key step to unlocking the full therapeutic potential of this powerful technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeev Rai
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Asma Naseem
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Winston Vetharoy
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Zohar Steinberg
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Adrian J. Thrasher
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Giorgia Santilli
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Alessia Cavazza
- Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Research and Teaching Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, UK
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11
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Kyriakopoulou E, Monnikhof T, van Rooij E. Gene editing innovations and their applications in cardiomyopathy research. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050088. [PMID: 37222281 PMCID: PMC10233723 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050088] [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: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Cardiomyopathies are among the major triggers of heart failure, but their clinical and genetic complexity have hampered our understanding of these disorders and delayed the development of effective treatments. Alongside the recent identification of multiple cardiomyopathy-associated genetic variants, advances in genome editing are providing new opportunities for cardiac disease modeling and therapeutic intervention, both in vitro and in vivo. Two recent innovations in this field, prime and base editors, have improved editing precision and efficiency, and are opening up new possibilities for gene editing of postmitotic tissues, such as the heart. Here, we review recent advances in prime and base editors, the methods to optimize their delivery and targeting efficiency, their strengths and limitations, and the challenges that remain to be addressed to improve the application of these tools to the heart and their translation to the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eirini Kyriakopoulou
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center, 3584CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Monnikhof
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center, 3584CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Eva van Rooij
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) and University Medical Center, 3584CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
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12
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Allen D, Kalter N, Rosenberg M, Hendel A. Homology-Directed-Repair-Based Genome Editing in HSPCs for the Treatment of Inborn Errors of Immunity and Blood Disorders. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1329. [PMID: 37242571 PMCID: PMC10220672 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15051329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome engineering via targeted nucleases, specifically CRISPR-Cas9, has revolutionized the field of gene therapy research, providing a potential treatment for diseases of the blood and immune system. While numerous genome editing techniques have been used, CRISPR-Cas9 homology-directed repair (HDR)-mediated editing represents a promising method for the site-specific insertion of large transgenes for gene knock-in or gene correction. Alternative methods, such as lentiviral/gammaretroviral gene addition, gene knock-out via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ)-mediated editing, and base or prime editing, have shown great promise for clinical applications, yet all possess significant drawbacks when applied in the treatment of patients suffering from inborn errors of immunity or blood system disorders. This review aims to highlight the transformational benefits of HDR-mediated gene therapy and possible solutions for the existing problems holding the methodology back. Together, we aim to help bring HDR-based gene therapy in CD34+ hematopoietic stem progenitor cells (HSPCs) from the lab bench to the bedside.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ayal Hendel
- Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan 52900, Israel; (D.A.); (N.K.); (M.R.)
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13
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Castiello MC, Ferrari S, Villa A. Correcting inborn errors of immunity: From viral mediated gene addition to gene editing. Semin Immunol 2023; 66:101731. [PMID: 36863140 PMCID: PMC10109147 DOI: 10.1016/j.smim.2023.101731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is an effective treatment to cure inborn errors of immunity. Remarkable progress has been achieved thanks to the development and optimization of effective combination of advanced conditioning regimens and use of immunoablative/suppressive agents preventing rejection as well as graft versus host disease. Despite these tremendous advances, autologous hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell therapy based on ex vivo gene addition exploiting integrating γ-retro- or lenti-viral vectors, has demonstrated to be an innovative and safe therapeutic strategy providing proof of correction without the complications of the allogeneic approach. The recent advent of targeted gene editing able to precisely correct genomic variants in an intended locus of the genome, by introducing deletions, insertions, nucleotide substitutions or introducing a corrective cassette, is emerging in the clinical setting, further extending the therapeutic armamentarium and offering a cure to inherited immune defects not approachable by conventional gene addition. In this review, we will analyze the current state-of-the art of conventional gene therapy and innovative protocols of genome editing in various primary immunodeficiencies, describing preclinical models and clinical data obtained from different trials, highlighting potential advantages and limits of gene correction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Carmina Castiello
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy; Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IRGB-CNR), Milan, Italy
| | - Samuele Ferrari
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Anna Villa
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy; Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (IRGB-CNR), Milan, Italy.
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14
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Brooks PJ, Urv TK, Parisi MA. Gene-targeted therapies: Overview and implications. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS. PART C, SEMINARS IN MEDICAL GENETICS 2023; 193:13-18. [PMID: 36864710 PMCID: PMC11331404 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.32033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Gene-targeted therapies (GTTs) are therapeutic platforms that are in principle applicable to large numbers of monogenic diseases. The rapid development and implementation of GTTs have profound implications for rare monogenic disease therapy development. This article provides a brief summary of the primary types of GTTs and a brief overview of the current state of the science. It also serves as a primer for the articles in this special issue.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Brooks
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Tiina K Urv
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Melissa A Parisi
- Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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15
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Buffa V, Alvarez Vargas JR, Galy A, Spinozzi S, Rocca CJ. Hematopoietic stem and progenitors cells gene editing: Beyond blood disorders. Front Genome Ed 2023; 4:997142. [PMID: 36698790 PMCID: PMC9868335 DOI: 10.3389/fgeed.2022.997142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Lessons learned from decades-long practice in the transplantation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) to treat severe inherited disorders or cancer, have set the stage for the current ex vivo gene therapies using autologous gene-modified hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells that have treated so far, hundreds of patients with monogenic disorders. With increased knowledge of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell biology, improved modalities for patient conditioning and with the emergence of new gene editing technologies, a new era of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell-based gene therapies is poised to emerge. Gene editing has the potential to restore physiological expression of a mutated gene, or to insert a functional gene in a precise locus with reduced off-target activity and toxicity. Advances in patient conditioning has reduced treatment toxicities and may improve the engraftment of gene-modified cells and specific progeny. Thanks to these improvements, new potential treatments of various blood- or immune disorders as well as other inherited diseases will continue to emerge. In the present review, the most recent advances in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell gene editing will be reported, with a focus on how this approach could be a promising solution to treat non-blood-related inherited disorders and the mechanisms behind the therapeutic actions discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Buffa
- Genethon, Evry, France,Integrare Research Unit UMR_S951, Université Paris-Saclay, University Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Evry, France
| | - José Roberto Alvarez Vargas
- Genethon, Evry, France,Integrare Research Unit UMR_S951, Université Paris-Saclay, University Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Evry, France
| | - Anne Galy
- Genethon, Evry, France,Integrare Research Unit UMR_S951, Université Paris-Saclay, University Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Evry, France
| | - Simone Spinozzi
- Genethon, Evry, France,Integrare Research Unit UMR_S951, Université Paris-Saclay, University Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Evry, France
| | - Céline J. Rocca
- Genethon, Evry, France,Integrare Research Unit UMR_S951, Université Paris-Saclay, University Evry, Inserm, Genethon, Evry, France,*Correspondence: Céline J. Rocca,
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16
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Crippa S, Conti A, Vavassori V, Ferrari S, Beretta S, Rivis S, Bosotti R, Scala S, Pirroni S, Jofra-Hernandez R, Santi L, Basso-Ricci L, Merelli I, Genovese P, Aiuti A, Naldini L, Di Micco R, Bernardo ME. Mesenchymal stromal cells improve the transplantation outcome of CRISPR-Cas9 gene-edited human HSPCs. Mol Ther 2023; 31:230-248. [PMID: 35982622 PMCID: PMC9840125 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have been employed in vitro to support hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) expansion and in vivo to promote HSPC engraftment. Based on these studies, we developed an MSC-based co-culture system to optimize the transplantation outcome of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 gene-edited (GE) human HSPCs. We show that bone marrow (BM)-MSCs produce several hematopoietic supportive and anti-inflammatory factors capable of alleviating the proliferation arrest and mitigating the apoptotic and inflammatory programs activated in GE-HSPCs, improving their expansion and clonogenic potential in vitro. The use of BM-MSCs resulted in superior human engraftment and increased clonal output of GE-HSPCs contributing to the early phase of hematological reconstitution in the peripheral blood of transplanted mice. In conclusion, our work poses the biological bases for a novel clinical use of BM-MSCs to promote engraftment of GE-HSPCs and improve their transplantation outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Crippa
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy.
| | - Anastasia Conti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Valentina Vavassori
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Samuele Ferrari
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefano Beretta
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Silvia Rivis
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, VIB-KULeuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Roberto Bosotti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Serena Scala
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Raisa Jofra-Hernandez
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Ludovica Santi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Basso-Ricci
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Ivan Merelli
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; National Research Council, Institute for Biomedical Technologies, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Pietro Genovese
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Alessandro Aiuti
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; Pediatric Immunohematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (")Vita Salute" San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (")Vita Salute" San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Di Micco
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Maria Ester Bernardo
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; Pediatric Immunohematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (")Vita Salute" San Raffaele University, 20132 Milan, Italy.
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17
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Comprehensive UHPLC- and CE-based methods for engineered Cas9 characterization. Talanta 2023; 252:123780. [DOI: 10.1016/j.talanta.2022.123780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/18/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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18
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Bhalla N, Bhargav A, Yadav SK, Singh AK. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to cure sickle cell disease: A review. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1036939. [PMID: 36910492 PMCID: PMC9995916 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1036939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) had first been mentioned in the literature a century ago. Advancement in the molecular basis of the pathophysiology of the disease opens the door for various therapeutic options. Though life-extending treatments are available for treating patients with SCD, allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only option as of yet. A major obstacle before HSCT to cure patients with SCD is the availability of donors. Matched sibling donors are available only for a small percentage of patients. To expand the donor pool, different contrasting approaches of allogeneic HSCT like T-cell replete and deplete have been tested. None of those tested approaches have been without the risk of GvHD and graft rejection. Other limitations such as transplantation-related infections and organ dysfunction caused by the harsh conditioning regimen need to be addressed on a priority basis. In this review, we will discuss available allogeneic HSCT approaches to cure SCD, as well as recent advancements to make the approach safer. The center of interest is using megadose T-cell-depleted bone marrow in conjugation with donor-derived CD8 veto T cells to achieve engraftment and tolerance across MHC barriers, under reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). This approach is in phase I/II clinical trial at the MD Anderson Cancer Centre and is open to patients with hemoglobinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishka Bhalla
- Centre for Stem Cell Research, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Anjali Bhargav
- Centre for Stem Cell Research, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India
| | | | - Aloukick Kumar Singh
- Centre for Stem Cell Research, Christian Medical College, Vellore, Tamilnadu, India
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19
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Naseem A, Steinberg Z, Cavazza A. Genome editing for primary immunodeficiencies: A therapeutic perspective on Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome. Front Immunol 2022; 13:966084. [PMID: 36059471 PMCID: PMC9433875 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.966084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs) are a group of rare inherited disorders affecting the immune system that can be conventionally treated with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and with experimental autologous gene therapy. With both approaches still facing important challenges, gene editing has recently emerged as a potential valuable alternative for the treatment of genetic disorders and within a relatively short period from its initial development, has already entered some landmark clinical trials aimed at tackling several life-threatening diseases. In this review, we discuss the progress made towards the development of gene editing-based therapeutic strategies for PIDs with a special focus on Wiskott - Aldrich syndrome and outline their main challenges as well as future directions with respect to already established treatments.
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20
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Raguram A, Banskota S, Liu DR. Therapeutic in vivo delivery of gene editing agents. Cell 2022; 185:2806-2827. [PMID: 35798006 PMCID: PMC9454337 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.03.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 91.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
In vivo gene editing therapies offer the potential to treat the root causes of many genetic diseases. Realizing the promise of therapeutic in vivo gene editing requires the ability to safely and efficiently deliver gene editing agents to relevant organs and tissues in vivo. Here, we review current delivery technologies that have been used to enable therapeutic in vivo gene editing, including viral vectors, lipid nanoparticles, and virus-like particles. Since no single delivery modality is likely to be appropriate for every possible application, we compare the benefits and drawbacks of each method and highlight opportunities for future improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Raguram
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Samagya Banskota
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - David R Liu
- Merkin Institute of Transformative Technologies in Healthcare, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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21
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Vuelta E, Ordoñez JL, Sanz DJ, Ballesteros S, Hernández-Rivas JM, Méndez-Sánchez L, Sánchez-Martín M, García-Tuñón I. CRISPR/Cas9-Directed Gene Trap Constitutes a Selection System for Corrected BCR/ABL Leukemic Cells in CML. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23126386. [PMID: 35742831 PMCID: PMC9224210 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23126386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML) is a haematological neoplasm driven by the BCR/ABL fusion oncogene. The monogenic aspect of the disease and the feasibility of ex vivo therapies in haematological disorders make CML an excellent candidate for gene therapy strategies. The ability to abolish any coding sequence by CRISPR-Cas9 nucleases offers a powerful therapeutic opportunity to CML patients. However, a definitive cure can only be achieved when only CRISPR-edited cells are selected. A gene-trapping approach combined with CRISPR technology would be an ideal approach to ensure this. Here, we developed a CRISPR-Trap strategy that efficiently inserts a donor gene trap (SA-CMV-Venus) cassette into the BCR/ABL-specific fusion point in the CML K562 human cell line. The trapping cassette interrupts the oncogene coding sequence and expresses a reporter gene that enables the selection of edited cells. Quantitative mRNA expression analyses showed significantly higher level of expression of the BCR/Venus allele coupled with a drastically lower level of BCR/ABL expression in Venus+ cell fractions. Functional in vitro experiments showed cell proliferation arrest and apoptosis in selected Venus+ cells. Finally, xenograft experiments with the selected Venus+ cells showed a large reduction in tumour growth, thereby demonstrating a therapeutic benefit in vivo. This study represents proof of concept for the therapeutic potential of a CRISPR-Trap system as a novel strategy for gene elimination in haematological neoplasms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Vuelta
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (E.V.); (S.B.); (J.M.H.-R.)
- Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Instituto Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (USAL/CSIC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Servicio de Transgénesis, NUCLEUS, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - José L. Ordoñez
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - David J. Sanz
- Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Instituto Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (USAL/CSIC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Sandra Ballesteros
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (E.V.); (S.B.); (J.M.H.-R.)
- Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Instituto Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (USAL/CSIC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Jesús M. Hernández-Rivas
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (E.V.); (S.B.); (J.M.H.-R.)
- Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Instituto Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (USAL/CSIC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Servicio de Hematología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Lucía Méndez-Sánchez
- Servicio de Transgénesis, NUCLEUS, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
| | - Manuel Sánchez-Martín
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (E.V.); (S.B.); (J.M.H.-R.)
- Servicio de Transgénesis, NUCLEUS, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.S.-M.); (I.G.-T.)
| | - Ignacio García-Tuñón
- Departamento de Medicina, Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain; (E.V.); (S.B.); (J.M.H.-R.)
- Unidad de Diagnóstico Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Instituto Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer (USAL/CSIC), 37007 Salamanca, Spain;
- Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), 37007 Salamanca, Spain
- Correspondence: (M.S.-M.); (I.G.-T.)
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Omer-Javed A, Pedrazzani G, Albano L, Ghaus S, Latroche C, Manzi M, Ferrari S, Fiumara M, Jacob A, Vavassori V, Nonis A, Canarutto D, Naldini L. Mobilization-based chemotherapy-free engraftment of gene-edited human hematopoietic stem cells. Cell 2022; 185:2248-2264.e21. [PMID: 35617958 PMCID: PMC9240327 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell gene therapy (HSPC-GT) is proving successful to treat several genetic diseases. HSPCs are mobilized, harvested, genetically corrected ex vivo, and infused, after the administration of toxic myeloablative conditioning to deplete the bone marrow (BM) for the modified cells. We show that mobilizers create an opportunity for seamless engraftment of exogenous cells, which effectively outcompete those mobilized, to repopulate the depleted BM. The competitive advantage results from the rescue during ex vivo culture of a detrimental impact of mobilization on HSPCs and can be further enhanced by the transient overexpression of engraftment effectors exploiting optimized mRNA-based delivery. We show the therapeutic efficacy in a mouse model of hyper IgM syndrome and further developed it in human hematochimeric mice, showing its applicability and versatility when coupled with gene transfer and editing strategies. Overall, our findings provide a potentially valuable strategy paving the way to broader and safer use of HSPC-GT. HSPC mobilizers create an opportunity to engraft exogenous cells in depleted niches Ex vivo culture endows HSPCs with migration advantage by rescuing CXCR4 expression Cultured HSPCs outcompete mobilized HSPCs for engraftment in depleted BM niches Transient engraftment enhancers coupled with gene editing confer a competitive advantage
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Affiliation(s)
- Attya Omer-Javed
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Gabriele Pedrazzani
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Luisa Albano
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Sherash Ghaus
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Claire Latroche
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Maura Manzi
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Samuele Ferrari
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Martina Fiumara
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Aurelien Jacob
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Valentina Vavassori
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy
| | - Alessandro Nonis
- CUSSB-University Center for Statistics in the Biomedical Sciences, Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniele Canarutto
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy; Pediatric Immunohematology Unit and BMT Program, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan 20132, Italy; Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan 20132, Italy.
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23
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Bloomer H, Khirallah J, Li Y, Xu Q. CRISPR/Cas9 ribonucleoprotein-mediated genome and epigenome editing in mammalian cells. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2022; 181:114087. [PMID: 34942274 PMCID: PMC8844242 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.114087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein (Cas) system has revolutionized the ability to edit the mammalian genome, providing a platform for the correction of pathogenic mutations and further investigation into gene function. CRISPR reagents can be delivered into the cell as DNA, RNA, or pre-formed ribonucleoproteins (RNPs). RNPs offer numerous advantages over other delivery approaches due to their ability to rapidly target genomic sites and quickly degrade thereafter. Here, we review the production steps and delivery methods for Cas9 RNPs. Additionally, we discuss how RNPs enhance genome and epigenome editing efficiencies, reduce off-target editing activity, and minimize cellular toxicity in clinically relevant mammalian cell types. We include details on a broad range of editing approaches, including novel base and prime editing techniques. Finally, we summarize key challenges for the use of RNPs, and propose future perspectives on the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanan Bloomer
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, US,School of Medicine and Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Tufts University, Boston, MA 02111, US
| | - Jennifer Khirallah
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, US
| | - Yamin Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, US,Corresponding Authors: (Y. Li) and (Q. Xu)
| | - Qiaobing Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, US,Corresponding Authors: (Y. Li) and (Q. Xu)
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24
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Boardman DA, Levings MK. Emerging strategies for treating autoimmune disorders with genetically modified Treg cells. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2022; 149:1-11. [PMID: 34998473 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2021.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Gene editing of living cells is a cornerstone of present-day medical research that has enabled scientists to address fundamental biologic questions and identify novel strategies to treat diseases. The ability to manipulate adoptive cell therapy products has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy and promises similar results for the treatment of autoimmune diseases, inflammatory disorders, and transplant rejection. Clinical trials have recently deemed polyclonal regulatory T (Treg) cell therapy to be a safe therapeutic option, but questions remain regarding the efficacy of this approach. In this review, we discuss how gene editing technologies are being applied to transform the future of Treg cell therapy, focusing on the preclinical strategies that are currently being investigated to enhance the efficacy, function, and survival of human Treg cells. We explore approaches that may be used to generate immunoregulatory cells ex vivo, detail emerging strategies that are being used to modify these cells (such as using chimeric antigen receptors to confer antigen specificity), and outline concepts that have been explored to repurpose conventional T cells to target and destroy autoreactive and alloreactive lymphocytes. We also describe the key hurdles that currently hinder the clinical adoption of Treg cell therapy and propose potential future avenues of research for this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic A Boardman
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Megan K Levings
- Department of Surgery, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; School of Biomedical Engineering, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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25
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Lee BC, Lozano RJ, Dunbar CE. Understanding and overcoming adverse consequences of genome editing on hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Mol Ther 2021; 29:3205-3218. [PMID: 34509667 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSPC) gene therapies have recently moved beyond gene-addition approaches to encompass targeted genome modification or correction, based on the development of zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and CRISPR-Cas technologies. Advances in ex vivo HSPC manipulation techniques have greatly improved HSPC susceptibility to genetic modification. Targeted gene-editing techniques enable precise modifications at desired genomic sites. Numerous preclinical studies have already demonstrated the therapeutic potential of gene therapies based on targeted editing. However, several significant hurdles related to adverse consequences of gene editing on HSPC function and genomic integrity remain before broad clinical potential can be realized. This review summarizes the status of HSPC gene editing, focusing on efficiency, genomic integrity, and long-term engraftment ability related to available genetic editing platforms and HSPC delivery methods. The response of long-term engrafting HSPCs to nuclease-mediated DNA breaks, with activation of p53, is a significant challenge, as are activation of innate and adaptive immune responses to editing components. Lastly, we propose alternative strategies that can overcome current hurdles to HSPC editing at various stages from cell collection to transplantation to facilitate successful clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byung-Chul Lee
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Richard J Lozano
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Cynthia E Dunbar
- Translational Stem Cell Biology Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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