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Requena MD, Yan A, Llanga T, Sullenger BA. Reversible Aptamer Staining, Sorting, and Cleaning of Cells (Clean FACS) with Antidote Oligonucleotide or Nuclease Yields Fully Responsive Cells. Nucleic Acid Ther 2024; 34:12-17. [PMID: 38285522 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2023.0050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
The ability to reverse the binding of aptamers to their target proteins has received considerable attention for developing controllable therapeutic agents. Recently, use of aptamers as reversible cell-sorting ligands has also sparked interest. Antibodies are currently utilized for isolating cells expressing a particular cell surface receptor. The inability to remove antibodies from isolated cells following sorting greatly limits their utility for many applications. Previously, we described how a particular aptamer-antidote oligonucleotide pair can isolate cells and clean them. Here, we demonstrate that this approach is generalizable; aptamers can simultaneously recognize more than one cell type during fluorescent activated cell sorting (FACS). Moreover, we describe a novel approach to reverse aptamer binding following cell sorting using a nuclease. This alternative strategy represents a cleaning approach that does not require the generation of antidote oligonucleotides for each aptamer and will greatly reduce the cost and expand the utility of Clean FACS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin D Requena
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- University Program in Genetics and Genomics, and Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Amy Yan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Telmo Llanga
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bruce A Sullenger
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- University Program in Genetics and Genomics, and Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
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Bush K, Corsi GI, Yan AC, Haynes K, Layzer JM, Zhou JH, Llanga T, Gorodkin J, Sullenger BA. Utilizing directed evolution to interrogate and optimize CRISPR/Cas guide RNA scaffolds. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:879-892.e5. [PMID: 37390831 PMCID: PMC10529641 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
CRISPR-based editing has revolutionized genome engineering despite the observation that many DNA sequences remain challenging to target. Unproductive interactions formed between the single guide RNA's (sgRNA) Cas9-binding scaffold domain and DNA-binding antisense domain are often responsible for such limited editing resolution. To bypass this limitation, we develop a functional SELEX (systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment) approach, termed BLADE (binding and ligand activated directed evolution), to identify numerous, diverse sgRNA variants that bind Streptococcus pyogenes Cas9 and support DNA cleavage. These variants demonstrate surprising malleability in sgRNA sequence. We also observe that particular variants partner more effectively with specific DNA-binding antisense domains, yielding combinations with enhanced editing efficiencies at various target sites. Using molecular evolution, CRISPR-based systems could be created to efficiently edit even challenging DNA sequences making the genome more tractable to engineering. This selection approach will be valuable for generating sgRNAs with a range of useful activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Korie Bush
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; University Program in Genetics and Genomics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Moderna Genomics, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Giulia I Corsi
- Center for non-Coding RNA in Technology and Health, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark; Tessera Therapeutics, Somerville, MA 02143, USA
| | - Amy C Yan
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Keith Haynes
- Department of Information Technology, Midlands Technical College, Columbia, SC 29202, USA
| | | | - Jonathan H Zhou
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; University Program in Genetics and Genomics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Telmo Llanga
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jan Gorodkin
- Center for non-Coding RNA in Technology and Health, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1871 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Bruce A Sullenger
- Department of Surgery, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; University Program in Genetics and Genomics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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3
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Naqvi I, Giroux N, Olson L, Morrison SA, Llanga T, Akinade TO, Zhu Y, Zhong Y, Bose S, Arvai S, Abramson K, Chen L, Que L, Kraft B, Shen X, Lee J, Leong KW, Nair SK, Sullenger B. DAMPs/PAMPs induce monocytic TLR activation and tolerance in COVID-19 patients; nucleic acid binding scavengers can counteract such TLR agonists. Biomaterials 2022; 283:121393. [PMID: 35349874 PMCID: PMC8797062 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2022.121393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Millions of COVID-19 patients have succumbed to respiratory and systemic inflammation. Hyperstimulation of toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling is a key driver of immunopathology following infection by viruses. We found that severely ill COVID-19 patients in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) display hallmarks of such hyper-stimulation with abundant agonists of nucleic acid-sensing TLRs present in their blood and lungs. These nucleic acid-containing Damage and Pathogen Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs/PAMPs) can be depleted using nucleic acid-binding microfibers to limit the patient samples' ability to hyperactivate such innate immune receptors. Single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed that CD16+ monocytes from deceased but not recovered ICU patients exhibit a TLR-tolerant phenotype and a deficient anti-viral response after ex vivo TLR stimulation. Plasma proteomics confirmed such myeloid hyperactivation and revealed DAMP/PAMP carrier consumption in deceased patients. Treatment of these COVID-19 patient samples with MnO nanoparticles effectively neutralizes TLR activation by the abundant nucleic acid-containing DAMPs/PAMPs present in their lungs and blood. Finally, MnO nanoscavenger treatment limits the ability of DAMPs/PAMPs to induce TLR tolerance in monocytes. Thus, treatment with microfiber- or nanoparticle-based DAMP/PAMP scavengers may prove useful for limiting SARS-CoV-2 induced hyperinflammation, preventing monocytic TLR tolerance, and improving outcomes in severely ill COVID-19 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibtehaj Naqvi
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, USA
| | - Nicholas Giroux
- Duke University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, USA; Duke University, Graduate School, USA
| | - Lyra Olson
- Duke University, Graduate School, USA; Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, USA
| | - Sarah Ahn Morrison
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, USA
| | | | - Tolu O Akinade
- Columbia University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, USA
| | - Yuefei Zhu
- Columbia University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, USA
| | - Yiling Zhong
- Columbia University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, USA
| | - Shree Bose
- Duke University, Graduate School, USA; Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, USA
| | - Stephanie Arvai
- Duke University Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, RNA Sequencing Core, USA
| | - Karen Abramson
- Duke University Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, RNA Sequencing Core, USA
| | - Lingye Chen
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, USA
| | - Loretta Que
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, USA
| | - Bryan Kraft
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, USA
| | - Xiling Shen
- Duke University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, USA
| | - Jaewoo Lee
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, USA
| | - Kam W Leong
- Columbia University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, USA
| | - Smita K Nair
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, USA; Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Pathology, USA; Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, USA.
| | - Bruce Sullenger
- Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Sciences, USA; Duke University, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Pratt School of Engineering, USA; Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, USA; Duke University School of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, USA.
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Song L, Bower JJ, Llanga T, Salmon JH, Hirsch ML, Gilger BC. Ocular Tolerability and Immune Response to Corneal Intrastromal AAV- IDUA Gene Therapy in New Zealand White Rabbits. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2020; 18:24-32. [PMID: 32542182 PMCID: PMC7284066 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2020.05.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The chronic ocular toxicity, tolerability, and inflammation following corneal intrastromal injection of saline or escalating doses of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) containing a codon-optimized α-l-iduronidase (AAV-opt-IDUA) expression cassette were evaluated in New Zealand White rabbits. Corneal opacity following corneal intrastromal injection resolved by 24 h. Mild elevation of clinical ocular inflammation was observed 24 h after injection, but it returned to baseline by day 7 and no abnormalities were noted through 6 months of observation after injection. Vector genomes and IDUA cDNA were detected in the injected corneas in a dose-dependent manner. Both the lowest administered AAV-opt-IDUA dose, shown to be effective in mucopolysaccharidosis type I (MPS I) dogs, and a 10-fold higher dose of AAV-opt-IDUA resulted in no detectable immunologic response or adverse effect in rabbits. Vector genomes outside of the eye were rarely detected following corneal intrastromal injection of AAV-opt-IDUA, and neutralizing antibodies to the AAV capsid were not present at the experimental conclusion. This study, combined with our previous studies in MPS I dogs, suggests that AAV-opt-IDUA corneal gene therapy following corneal intrastromal injection of AAV-opt-IDUA has the potential to prevent and reverse blindness in MPS I patients in a safe and effective manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liujiang Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Hunan Normal University Medical College, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jacquelyn J. Bower
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Telmo Llanga
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jacklyn H. Salmon
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 28607, USA
| | - Matthew L. Hirsch
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Brian C. Gilger
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Clinical Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 28607, USA
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Crabtree E, Song L, Llanga T, Bower JJ, Cullen M, Salmon JH, Hirsch ML, Gilger BC. AAV-mediated expression of HLA-G1/5 reduces severity of experimental autoimmune uveitis. Sci Rep 2019; 9:19864. [PMID: 31882729 PMCID: PMC6934797 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56462-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-infectious uveitis (NIU) is an intractable, recurrent, and painful disease that is a common cause of vision loss. Available treatments of NIU, such as the use of topical corticosteroids, are non-specific and have serious side effects which limits them to short-term use; however, NIU requires long-term treatment to prevent vision loss. Therefore, a single dose therapeutic that mediates long-term immunosuppression with minimal side effects is desirable. In order to develop an effective long-term therapy for NIU, an adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapy approach was used to exploit a natural immune tolerance mechanism induced by the human leukocyte antigen G (HLA-G). To mimic the prevention of NIU, naïve Lewis rats received a single intravitreal injection of AAV particles harboring codon-optimized cDNAs encoding HLA-G1 and HLA-G5 isoforms one week prior to the induction of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU). AAV-mediated expression of the HLA-G-1 and -5 transgenes in the targeted ocular tissues following a single intravitreal injection of AAV-HLA-G1/5 significantly decreased clinical and histopathological inflammation scores compared to untreated EAU eyes (p < 0.04). Thus, localized ocular gene delivery of AAV-HLA-G1/5 may reduce the off-target risks and establish a long-term immunosuppressive effect that would serve as an effective and novel therapeutic strategy for NIU, with the potential for applications to additional ocular immune-mediated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth Crabtree
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Liujiang Song
- Department of Pediatrics, Hunan Normal University Medical College, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Telmo Llanga
- Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jacquelyn J Bower
- Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Megan Cullen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Jacklyn H Salmon
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Matthew L Hirsch
- Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Brian C Gilger
- College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA.
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Song L, Song Z, Fry NJ, Conatser L, Llanga T, Mei H, Kafri T, Hirsch ML. Gene Delivery to Human Limbal Stem Cells Using Viral Vectors. Hum Gene Ther 2019; 30:1336-1348. [PMID: 31392914 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2019.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Limbal stem cell (LSC) transplantation is a promising treatment for ocular surface diseases especially LSC deficiency. Genetic engineering represents an attractive strategy to increase the potential for success in LSC transplantations either by correcting autologous diseased LSCs or by decreasing the immunogenicity of allogeneic LSCs. Therefore, two popular viral vectors, adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector and lentiviral (LV) vector, were compared for gene delivery in human LSCs. Transduction efficiency was evaluated by flow cytometry, quantitation of viral genomes, and fluorescence microscopy after introducing eight self-complementary AAV serotypes or LV carrying a green fluorescent protein (GFP) cassette to fresh limbal epithelial cells, cultivated LSC colonies, or after corneal intrastromal injection into human explant tissue. For fresh limbal epithelial cells, AAV6 showed the highest transduction efficiency, followed by LV and AAV4 at 24 h after vector incubation, which did not directly correlate with internalized genome copy number. The colony formation efficiency, as well as colony size over time, showed no significant differences among AAV serotypes, LV, and nontreated controls. The percentage of GFP+ colonies at 14 days post-seeding was significantly higher in the LV group, which plateaued at 50% GFP+ upon serial passages. Interestingly, AAV6-treated colonies initially showed a variegated transduction phenotype with no GFP+ colonies in serial passages. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction and AAV6 capsid staining revealed that transduction was restricted to differentiated cells of LSC colonies at a post-entry step. Following central intrastromal injection of human corneas, both LV and AAV6 transduced the stroma and endothelial cells, and AAV6 also transduced cells of the epithelia. However, no transduction was observed in derived LSC colonies. The collective results demonstrate the effectiveness of LV for stable human LSC genetic engineering and an unreported phenomenon of AAV6 transduction restriction in multipotent cells derived from the human limbus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liujiang Song
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Zhenwei Song
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Nathaniel J Fry
- Department of Microbiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Laura Conatser
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Telmo Llanga
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Hua Mei
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Tal Kafri
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Microbiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Matthew L Hirsch
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Nagy N, Nonneman RJ, Llanga T, Dial CF, Riddick NV, Hampton T, Moy SS, Lehtimäki KK, Ahtoniemi T, Puoliväli J, Windish H, Albrecht D, Richard I, Hirsch ML. Hip region muscular dystrophy and emergence of motor deficits in dysferlin-deficient Bla/J mice. Physiol Rep 2017; 5:5/6/e13173. [PMID: 28320887 PMCID: PMC5371557 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.13173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Revised: 01/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of a dysferlin‐deficient animal model that accurately displays both the physiological and behavior aspects of human dysferlinopathy is critical for the evaluation of potential therapeutics. Disease progression in dysferlin‐deficient mice is relatively mild, compared to the debilitating human disease which manifests in impairment of particular motor functions. Since there are no other known models of dysferlinopathy in other species, locomotor proficiency and muscular anatomy through MRI (both lower leg and hip region) were evaluated in dysferlin‐deficient B6.A‐Dysfprmd/GeneJ (Bla/J) mice to define disease parameters for therapeutic assessment. Despite the early and progressive gluteal muscle dystrophy and significant fatty acid accumulation, the emergence of significant motor function deficits was apparent at approximately 1 year of age for standard motor challenges including the rotarod, a marble bury test, grip strength, and swimming speed. Earlier observations of decreased performance for Bla/J mice were evident during extended monitoring of overall exploration and rearing activity. Comprehensive treadmill gait analyses of the Bla/J model indicated significant differences in paw placement angles and stance in relation to speed and platform slope. At 18 months of age, there was no significant difference in the life expectancy of Bla/J mice compared to wild type. Consistent with progressive volume loss and fatty acid accumulation in the hip region observed by MRI, mass measurement of individual muscles confirmed gluteal and psoas muscles were the only muscles demonstrating a significant decrease in muscle mass, which is analogous to hip‐girdle weakness observed in human dysferlin‐deficient patients. Collectively, this longitudinal analysis identifies consistent disease parameters that can be indicators of efficacy in studies developing treatments for human dysferlin deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadia Nagy
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Randal J Nonneman
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Telmo Llanga
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Catherine F Dial
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Natallia V Riddick
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | - Sheryl S Moy
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Isabelle Richard
- Généthon [IR1] INSERM, U951, INTEGRARE Research Unit, Evry, France
| | - Matthew L Hirsch
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina .,Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
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Llanga T, Sutton B, Nagy N, Hirsch M. 630. AAV Transduction of a Truncated Dysferlin Improves Dysferlinopathy. Mol Ther 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/s1525-0016(16)33438-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
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Vance M, Llanga T, Bennett W, Woodard K, Murlidharan G, Chungfat N, Asokan A, Gilger B, Kurtzberg J, Samulski RJ, Hirsch ML. AAV Gene Therapy for MPS1-associated Corneal Blindness. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22131. [PMID: 26899286 PMCID: PMC4761992 DOI: 10.1038/srep22131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/01/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although cord blood transplantation has significantly extended the lifespan of mucopolysaccharidosis type 1 (MPS1) patients, over 95% manifest cornea clouding with about 50% progressing to blindness. As corneal transplants are met with high rejection rates in MPS1 children, there remains no treatment to prevent blindness or restore vision in MPS1 children. Since MPS1 is caused by mutations in idua, which encodes alpha-L-iduronidase, a gene addition strategy to prevent, and potentially reverse, MPS1-associated corneal blindness was investigated. Initially, a codon optimized idua cDNA expression cassette (opt-IDUA) was validated for IDUA production and function following adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector transduction of MPS1 patient fibroblasts. Then, an AAV serotype evaluation in human cornea explants identified an AAV8 and 9 chimeric capsid (8G9) as most efficient for transduction. AAV8G9-opt-IDUA administered to human corneas via intrastromal injection demonstrated widespread transduction, which included cells that naturally produce IDUA, and resulted in a >10-fold supraphysiological increase in IDUA activity. No significant apoptosis related to AAV vectors or IDUA was observed under any conditions in both human corneas and MPS1 patient fibroblasts. The collective preclinical data demonstrate safe and efficient IDUA delivery to human corneas, which may prevent and potentially reverse MPS1-associated cornea blindness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melisa Vance
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Telmo Llanga
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Will Bennett
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Kenton Woodard
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Giridhar Murlidharan
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Neil Chungfat
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Aravind Asokan
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Brian Gilger
- College of Veterinary Medicine, NCSU-CVM, Clinical Sciences, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Joanne Kurtzberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - R Jude Samulski
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Matthew L Hirsch
- Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
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