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Hirch T, Brander N, Schenk F, Pöllmann SJ, Reichenbach J, Schubert R, Modlich U. Expression of a large coding sequence: Gene therapy vectors for Ataxia Telangiectasia. Sci Rep 2023; 13:19386. [PMID: 37938627 PMCID: PMC10632516 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-46332-4] [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: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Ataxia telangiectasia is a monogenetic disorder caused by mutations in the ATM gene. Its encoded protein kinase ATM plays a fundamental role in DNA repair of double strand breaks (DSBs). Impaired function of this kinase leads to a multisystemic disorder including immunodeficiency, progressive cerebellar degeneration, radiation sensitivity, dilated blood vessels, premature aging and a predisposition to cancer. Since allogenic hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation improved disease outcome, gene therapy based on autologous HSCs is an alternative promising concept. However, due to the large cDNA of ATM (9.2 kb), efficient packaging of retroviral particles and sufficient transduction of HSCs remains challenging.We generated lentiviral, gammaretroviral and foamy viral vectors with a GFP.F2A.Atm fusion or a GFP transgene and systematically compared transduction efficiencies. Vector titers dropped with increasing transgene size, but despite their described limited packaging capacity, we were able to produce lentiviral and gammaretroviral particles. The reduction in titers could not be explained by impaired packaging of the viral genomes, but the main differences occurred after transduction. Finally, after transduction of Atm-deficient (ATM-KO) murine fibroblasts with the lentiviral vector expressing Atm, we could show the expression of ATM protein which phosphorylated its downstream substrates (pKap1 and p-p53).
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Hirch
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, RG Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Nadine Brander
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, RG Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Franziska Schenk
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, RG Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Simon J Pöllmann
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, RG Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
- Department of Gene and Cell Therapy, Institute for Regenerative Medicine - IREM, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
| | - Janine Reichenbach
- Department of Gene and Cell Therapy, Institute for Regenerative Medicine - IREM, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland
- Deptartment of Somatic Gene Therapy, University Children's Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Competence Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine (CABMM), University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ralf Schubert
- Department for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, RG Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany.
- Department of Gene and Cell Therapy, Institute for Regenerative Medicine - IREM, University of Zurich, Schlieren, Switzerland.
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Martinez-Navajas G, Ceron-Hernandez J, Simon I, Lupiañez P, Diaz-McLynn S, Perales S, Modlich U, Guerrero JA, Martin F, Sevivas T, Lozano ML, Rivera J, Ramos-Mejia V, Tersteeg C, Real PJ. Lentiviral gene therapy reverts GPIX expression and phenotype in Bernard-Soulier syndrome type C. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2023; 33:75-92. [PMID: 37416759 PMCID: PMC10320622 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.06.008] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Bernard-Soulier syndrome (BSS) is a rare congenital disease characterized by macrothrombocytopenia and frequent bleeding. It is caused by pathogenic variants in three genes (GP1BA, GP1BB, or GP9) that encode for the GPIbα, GPIbβ, and GPIX subunits of the GPIb-V-IX complex, the main platelet surface receptor for von Willebrand factor, being essential for platelet adhesion and aggregation. According to the affected gene, we distinguish BSS type A1 (GP1BA), type B (GP1BB), or type C (GP9). Pathogenic variants in these genes cause absent, incomplete, or dysfunctional GPIb-V-IX receptor and, consequently, a hemorrhagic phenotype. Using gene-editing tools, we generated knockout (KO) human cellular models that helped us to better understand GPIb-V-IX complex assembly. Furthermore, we developed novel lentiviral vectors capable of correcting GPIX expression, localization, and functionality in human GP9-KO megakaryoblastic cell lines. Generated GP9-KO induced pluripotent stem cells produced platelets that recapitulated the BSS phenotype: absence of GPIX on the membrane surface and large size. Importantly, gene therapy tools reverted both characteristics. Finally, hematopoietic stem cells from two unrelated BSS type C patients were transduced with the gene therapy vectors and differentiated to produce GPIX-expressing megakaryocytes and platelets with a reduced size. These results demonstrate the potential of lentiviral-based gene therapy to rescue BSS type C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Martinez-Navajas
- GENyO, Pfizer-Universidad de Granada-Junta de Andalucia Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, PTS, Granada, Avenida de la Ilustracion 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
- University of Granada, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Science, Avenida Fuentenueva S/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Jorge Ceron-Hernandez
- GENyO, Pfizer-Universidad de Granada-Junta de Andalucia Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, PTS, Granada, Avenida de la Ilustracion 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
- University of Granada, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Science, Avenida Fuentenueva S/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Iris Simon
- GENyO, Pfizer-Universidad de Granada-Junta de Andalucia Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, PTS, Granada, Avenida de la Ilustracion 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
- University of Granada, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Science, Avenida Fuentenueva S/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Pablo Lupiañez
- GENyO, Pfizer-Universidad de Granada-Junta de Andalucia Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, PTS, Granada, Avenida de la Ilustracion 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
- University of Granada, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Science, Avenida Fuentenueva S/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Sofia Diaz-McLynn
- GENyO, Pfizer-Universidad de Granada-Junta de Andalucia Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, PTS, Granada, Avenida de la Ilustracion 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Sonia Perales
- GENyO, Pfizer-Universidad de Granada-Junta de Andalucia Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, PTS, Granada, Avenida de la Ilustracion 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
- University of Granada, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Science, Avenida Fuentenueva S/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Ute Modlich
- Department of Gene and Cell Therapy, Institute of Regenerative Medicine, University of Zürich, Wagistrasse 12, 8952 Schlieren-Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jose A. Guerrero
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- National Health Service Blood and Transplant, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - Francisco Martin
- GENyO, Pfizer-Universidad de Granada-Junta de Andalucia Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, PTS, Granada, Avenida de la Ilustracion 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
- University of Granada, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology III and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Avenida Ilustracion S/n, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Teresa Sevivas
- Serviço de Sangue, Medicina Transfusional e Imunohemoterapia Do Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria L. Lozano
- Servicio de Hematología y Oncología Médica, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, CIBERER-ISCIII, U765 Murcia, Spain
| | - Jose Rivera
- Servicio de Hematología y Oncología Médica, Hospital Universitario Morales Meseguer, Centro Regional de Hemodonación, Universidad de Murcia, IMIB-Pascual Parrilla, CIBERER-ISCIII, U765 Murcia, Spain
- Grupo Español de Alteraciones Plaquetarias Congénitas (GEAPC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Veronica Ramos-Mejia
- GENyO, Pfizer-Universidad de Granada-Junta de Andalucia Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, PTS, Granada, Avenida de la Ilustracion 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Claudia Tersteeg
- Laboratory for Thrombosis Research, IRF Life Sciences, KU Leuven Campus Kulak Kortrijk, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Pedro J. Real
- GENyO, Pfizer-Universidad de Granada-Junta de Andalucia Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, PTS, Granada, Avenida de la Ilustracion 114, 18016 Granada, Spain
- University of Granada, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology I, Faculty of Science, Avenida Fuentenueva S/n, 18071 Granada, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
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Rommel MG, Walz L, Fotopoulou F, Kohlscheen S, Schenk F, Miskey C, Botezatu L, Krebs Y, Voelker IM, Wittwer K, Holland-Letz T, Ivics Z, von Messling V, Essers MA, Milsom MD, Pfaller CK, Modlich U. Influenza A virus infection instructs hematopoiesis to megakaryocyte-lineage output. Cell Rep 2022; 41:111447. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111447] [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] [Received: 10/05/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
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Woods VM, Latorre-Rey LJ, Schenk F, Rommel MG, Moritz T, Modlich U. Targeting transgenic proteins to alpha granules for platelet-directed gene therapy. Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids 2022; 27:774-786. [PMID: 35116189 PMCID: PMC8783114 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.12.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Platelets are anucleate blood cells that are shed from megakaryocytes (MKs) into the bloodstream to maintain hemostasis and promote wound healing after vascular injury. To carry out their functions, platelets become activated and release bioactive substances from their secretory granules. As alpha granules (αGs) in resting platelets store proteins and release them only after activation, the packaging of proteins into αGs is an attractive strategy to deliver therapeutic proteins. Here, we propose an adjustable model for targeting transgenic proteins to platelet αGs using third-generation self-inactivating lentiviral vectors. The vectors express from the murine platelet factor 4 promoter (mPf4P), restricting transgene expression to the MK lineage. For the delivery and retention of expressed proteins in αGs, proteins are fused to short peptide sorting signals derived from the human cytokine RANTES or from the transmembrane protein P-selectin. We demonstrate effective targeting of GFP to αGs of murine and human in vitro-differentiated MKs and murine platelets in vivo. Furthermore, interferon-α (IFNα), as a potentially therapeutic cytokine, was successfully delivered to and stored in murine platelets in vivo, was released after activation, and inhibited virus replication in vitro. Our vectors create possibilities for numerous applications in cell therapy utilizing platelets as carriers of therapeutic proteins.
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Schwarzer A, Talbot SR, Selich A, Morgan M, Schott JW, Dittrich-Breiholz O, Bastone AL, Weigel B, Ha TC, Dziadek V, Gijsbers R, Thrasher AJ, Staal FJT, Gaspar HB, Modlich U, Schambach A, Rothe M. Predicting genotoxicity of viral vectors for stem cell gene therapy using gene expression-based machine learning. Mol Ther 2021; 29:3383-3397. [PMID: 34174440 PMCID: PMC8636173 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [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: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy is emerging as a promising therapeutic strategy for many diseases of the blood and immune system. However, several individuals who underwent gene therapy in different trials developed hematological malignancies caused by insertional mutagenesis. Preclinical assessment of vector safety remains challenging because there are few reliable assays to screen for potential insertional mutagenesis effects in vitro. Here we demonstrate that genotoxic vectors induce a unique gene expression signature linked to stemness and oncogenesis in transduced murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Based on this finding, we developed the surrogate assay for genotoxicity assessment (SAGA). SAGA classifies integrating retroviral vectors using machine learning to detect this gene expression signature during the course of in vitro immortalization. On a set of benchmark vectors with known genotoxic potential, SAGA achieved an accuracy of 90.9%. SAGA is more robust and sensitive and faster than previous assays and reliably predicts a mutagenic risk for vectors that led to leukemic severe adverse events in clinical trials. Our work provides a fast and robust tool for preclinical risk assessment of gene therapy vectors, potentially paving the way for safer gene therapy trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Schwarzer
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Steven R Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anton Selich
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Michael Morgan
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Juliane W Schott
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Antonella L Bastone
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Bettina Weigel
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Teng Cheong Ha
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Violetta Dziadek
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Rik Gijsbers
- Molecular Virology and Gene Therapy, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Adrian J Thrasher
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Frank J T Staal
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZA, the Netherlands
| | - Hubert B Gaspar
- Molecular and Cellular Immunology Section, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Ute Modlich
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael Rothe
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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van Heuvel Y, Berg K, Hirch T, Winn K, Modlich U, Stitz J. Establishment of a novel stable human suspension packaging cell line producing ecotropic retroviral MLV(PVC-211) vectors efficiently transducing murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. J Virol Methods 2021; 297:114243. [PMID: 34314749 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2021.114243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Retroviral vectors derived from murine leukemia virus (MLV) are amongst the most frequently utilized vectors in gene therapy approaches such as the genetic modification of hematopoietic cells. Currently, vector particles are mostly produced employing adherent viral packaging cell lines (VPCs) rendering the scale up of production laborious, and thus cost-intensive. Here, we describe the rapid establishment of a human suspension 293-F cell line derived ecotropic MLV VPC. Using transposon vector technology, a packaging and envelope expression cassette as well as a transfer vector facilitated the establishment of a stable VPC yielding high titers of up to 5.2 × 106 transducing units/mL (TU/mL). Vectors were concentrated using ultrafiltration devices and upon one freeze-thaw-cycle still routinely yielded titers of > 1 × 106 TU/mL. Formation of replication-competent retroviruses was not detected. However and as a first generation transfer vector was used in this proof-of-concept (POC) study, gag gene sequences were transduced into target cells within a range of 1-10 copies per 1000 genomes indicating the homologous recombination of packaging construct elements with the transfer vector. High yield VPC vector productivity was stable over a couple of months and unintended integration of the transposase gene was not observed. Ecotropic MLV vector particles were demonstrated to efficiently transduce primary murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. This novel concept should foster the future establishment of suspension VPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasemin van Heuvel
- Research Group Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, TH Köln - University of Applied Sciences, Chempark Leverkusen E28, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee, 51368, Leverkusen, Germany; Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Callinstraße, 530167, Hannover, Germany
| | - Karen Berg
- Research Group Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, TH Köln - University of Applied Sciences, Chempark Leverkusen E28, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee, 51368, Leverkusen, Germany; Research Group Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology, Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Tanja Hirch
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 51-59, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Kristina Winn
- Research Group Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, TH Köln - University of Applied Sciences, Chempark Leverkusen E28, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee, 51368, Leverkusen, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 51-59, 63225, Langen, Germany
| | - Jörn Stitz
- Research Group Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Applied Natural Sciences, TH Köln - University of Applied Sciences, Chempark Leverkusen E28, Kaiser-Wilhelm-Allee, 51368, Leverkusen, Germany.
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Cullmann K, Jahn M, Spindler M, Schenk F, Manukjan G, Mucci A, Steinemann D, Boller K, Schulze H, Bender M, Moritz T, Modlich U. Forming megakaryocytes from murine-induced pluripotent stem cells by the inducible overexpression of supporting factors. Res Pract Thromb Haemost 2020; 5:111-124. [PMID: 33537535 PMCID: PMC7845061 DOI: 10.1002/rth2.12453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Platelets are small anucleate cells that circulate in the blood in a resting state but can be activated by external cues. In case of need, platelets from blood donors can be transfused. As an alternative source, platelets can be produced from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs); however, recovered numbers are low. Objectives To optimize megakaryocyte (MK) and platelet output from murine iPSCs, we investigated overexpression of the transcription factors GATA‐binding factor 1 (GATA1); nuclear factor, erythroid 2; and pre–B‐cell leukemia transcription factor 1 (Pbx1) and a hyperactive variant of the small guanosine triphosphatase RhoA (RhoAhc). Methods To avoid off‐target effects, we generated iPSCs carrying the reverse tetracycline‐responsive transactivator M2 (rtTA‐M2) in the Rosa26 locus and expressed the factors from Tet‐inducible gammaretroviral vectors. Differentiation of iPSCs was initiated by embryoid body (EB) formation. After EB dissociation, early hematopoietic progenitors were enriched and cocultivated on OP9 feeder cells with thrombopoietin and stem cell factor to induce megakaryocyte (MK) differentiation. Results Overexpression of GATA1 and Pbx1 increased MK output 2‐ to 2.5‐fold and allowed prolonged collection of MK. Cytologic and ultrastructural analyses identified typical MK with enlarged cells, multilobulated nuclei, granule structures, and an internal membrane system. However, GATA1 and Pbx1 expression did not improve MK maturation or platelet release, although in vitro–generated platelets were functional in spreading on fibrinogen or collagen‐related peptide. Conclusion We demonstrate that the use of rtTA‐M2 transgenic iPSCs transduced with Tet‐inducible retroviral vectors allowed for gene expression at later time points during differentiation. With this strategy we could identify factors that increased in vitro MK production. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Cullmann
- RG Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine Paul-Ehrlich-Institut Langen Germany
| | - Magdalena Jahn
- RG Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine Paul-Ehrlich-Institut Langen Germany
| | - Markus Spindler
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine I University Hospital and Rudolf Virchow Center University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Franziska Schenk
- RG Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine Paul-Ehrlich-Institut Langen Germany
| | - Georgi Manukjan
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine I University Hospital and Rudolf Virchow Center University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Adele Mucci
- RG Reprogramming and Gene Therapy, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School Hannover Germany.,Present address: San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy Milano Italy
| | - Doris Steinemann
- Department of Human Genetics Hannover Medical School Hannover Germany
| | - Klaus Boller
- Morphology, Division of Immunology Paul-Ehrlich-Institut Langen Germany
| | - Harald Schulze
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine I University Hospital and Rudolf Virchow Center University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Markus Bender
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine I University Hospital and Rudolf Virchow Center University of Würzburg Würzburg Germany
| | - Thomas Moritz
- RG Reprogramming and Gene Therapy, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School Hannover Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- RG Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine Paul-Ehrlich-Institut Langen Germany
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Rommel MGE, Hoerster K, Milde C, Schenk F, Roser L, Kohlscheen S, Heinz N, Modlich U. Signaling properties of murine MPL and MPL mutants after stimulation with thrombopoietin and romiplostim. Exp Hematol 2020; 85:33-46.e6. [PMID: 32417303 DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2020.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Thrombopoietin (THPO) and its receptor myeloproliferative leukemia virus oncogene (MPL) regulate hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) quiescence and maintenance, but also megakaryopoiesis. Thrombocytopenias or aplastic anemias can be treated today with THPO peptide mimetics (romiplostim) or small-molecule THPO receptor agonists (e.g., eltrombopag). These THPO mimetics were designed for human application; however, many preclinical studies are performed in murine models. We investigated the activation of wild-type murine MPL (mMPL) by romiplostim. Romiplostim stimulated AKT, ERK1/2, and STAT5 phosphorylation without preference for one of these pathways, however, with a four- to fivefold lower phosphorylation intensity at high concentration. Faster internalization of mMPL after romiplostim binding could be one explanation of reduced signaling. In vitro megakaryocyte differentiation, proliferation, and maturation by romiplostim was less efficient compared with stimulation with mTHPO. We further dissected mMPL signaling by lentiviral overexpression of mMPL mutants with tyrosine (Y)-to-phenylalanine (F) substitutions in the distal cytoplasmic tyrosines 582 (Y582F), 616 (Y616F), and 621 (Y621F) individually and in combination (Y616F_Y621F) and in truncated receptors lacking 53 (Δ53) or 69 (Δ69) C-terminal amino acids. Mutation at tyrosine residue Y582F caused a gain-of-function with baseline activation and increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation upon stimulation. In agreement with this, proliferation in Y582F-32D cells was increased, yet did not rescue in vitro megakaryopoiesis from Mpl-deficient cells. Y616F and Y621F mutated receptors exhibited strongly impaired ERK1/2 and decreased AKT signaling and conferred reduced proliferation to 32D cells upon mTHPO stimulation but a partial correction of immature megakaryopoiesis in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel G E Rommel
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Keven Hoerster
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany; Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Christian Milde
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Franziska Schenk
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Luise Roser
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Saskia Kohlscheen
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Niels Heinz
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany.
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Roth H, Schneider L, Eberle R, Lausen J, Modlich U, Blümel J, Baylis SA. Zika virus infection studies with CD34 + hematopoietic and megakaryocyte-erythroid progenitors, red blood cells and platelets. Transfusion 2020; 60:561-574. [PMID: 32086956 DOI: 10.1111/trf.15692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND To date, several cases of transfusion-transmitted ZIKV infections have been confirmed. Multiple studies detected prolonged occurrence of ZIKV viral RNA in whole blood as compared to plasma samples indicating potential ZIKV interaction with hematopoietic cells. Also, infection of cells from the granulocyte/macrophage lineage has been demonstrated. Patients may develop severe thrombocytopenia, microcytic anemia, and a fatal course of disease occurred in a patient with sickle cell anemia suggesting additional interference of ZIKV with erythroid and megakaryocytic cells. Therefore, we analyzed whether ZIKV propagates in or compartmentalizes with hematopoietic progenitor, erythroid, and megakaryocytic cells. METHODS ZIKV RNA replication, protein translation and infectious particle formation in hematopoietic cell lines as well as primary CD34+ HSPCs and ex vivo differentiated erythroid and megakaryocytic cells was monitored using qRT-PCR, FACS, immunofluorescence analysis and infectivity assays. Distribution of ZIKV RNA and infectious particles in spiked red blood cell (RBC) units or platelet concentrates (PCs) was evaluated. RESULTS While subsets of K562 and KU812Ep6EPO cells supported ZIKV propagation, primary CD34+ HSPCs, MEP cells, RBCs, and platelets were non-permissive for ZIKV infection. In spiking studies, ZIKV RNA was detectable for 7 days in all fractions of RBC units and PCs, however, ZIKV infectious particles were not associated with erythrocytes or platelets. CONCLUSION Viral particles from plasma or contaminating leukocytes, rather than purified CD34+ HSPCs or the cellular component of RBC units or PCs, present the greatest risk for transfusion-transmitted ZIKV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Roth
- Division of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Hessen, Germany
| | - Lucas Schneider
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe-University and German Red Cross Blood Service, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany
| | - Regina Eberle
- Division of Immunology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Hessen, Germany
| | - Jörn Lausen
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe-University and German Red Cross Blood Service, Frankfurt am Main, Hessen, Germany.,Department of Genetics of Eukaryotes, Institute of Industrial Genetics, Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Hessen, Germany
| | - Johannes Blümel
- Division of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Hessen, Germany
| | - Sally A Baylis
- Division of Virology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Hessen, Germany
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10
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Müller S, Bexte T, Gebel V, Kalensee F, Stolzenberg E, Hartmann J, Koehl U, Schambach A, Wels WS, Modlich U, Ullrich E. High Cytotoxic Efficiency of Lentivirally and Alpharetrovirally Engineered CD19-Specific Chimeric Antigen Receptor Natural Killer Cells Against Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Front Immunol 2020; 10:3123. [PMID: 32117200 PMCID: PMC7025537 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.03123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [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: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Autologous chimeric antigen receptor-modified (CAR) T cells with specificity for CD19 showed potent antitumor efficacy in clinical trials against relapsed and refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Contrary to T cells, natural killer (NK) cells kill their targets in a non-antigen-specific manner and do not carry the risk of inducing graft vs. host disease (GvHD), allowing application of donor-derived cells in an allogenic setting. Hence, unlike autologous CAR-T cells, therapeutic CD19-CAR-NK cells can be generated as an off-the-shelf product from healthy donors. Nevertheless, genetic engineering of peripheral blood (PB) derived NK cells remains challenging and optimized protocols are needed. In our study, we aimed to optimize the generation of CD19-CAR-NK cells by retroviral transduction to improve the high antileukemic capacity of NK cells. We compared two different retroviral vector platforms, the lentiviral and alpharetroviral, both in combination with two different transduction enhancers (Retronectin and Vectofusin-1). We further explored different NK cell isolation techniques (NK cell enrichment and CD3/CD19 depletion) to identify the most efficacious methods for genetic engineering of NK cells. Our results demonstrated that transduction of NK cells with RD114-TR pseudotyped retroviral vectors, in combination with Vectofusin-1 was the most efficient method to generate CD19-CAR-NK cells. Retronectin was potent in enhancing lentiviral/VSV-G gene delivery to NK cells but not alpharetroviral/RD114-TR. Furthermore, the Vectofusin-based transduction of NK cells with CD19-CARs delivered by alpharetroviral/RD114-TR and lentiviral/RD114-TR vectors outperformed lentiviral/VSV-G vectors. The final generated CD19-CAR-NK cells displayed superior cytotoxic activity against CD19-expressing target cells when compared to non-transduced NK cells achieving up to 90% specific killing activity. In summary, our findings present the use of RD114-TR pseudotyped retroviral particles in combination with Vectofusin-1 as a successful strategy to genetically modify PB-derived NK cells to achieve highly cytotoxic CD19-CAR-NK cells at high yield.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Müller
- Experimental Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Tobias Bexte
- Experimental Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Veronika Gebel
- Experimental Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Franziska Kalensee
- Experimental Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Eva Stolzenberg
- Experimental Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jessica Hartmann
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Koehl
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Leipzig, Germany.,Institute of Cellular Therapeutics, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hanover, Germany.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Winfried S Wels
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Georg-Speyer-Haus, Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Evelyn Ullrich
- Experimental Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Division of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents Medicine, University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Partner Site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.,Frankfurt Cancer Institute, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
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11
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Rommel MGE, Milde C, Eberle R, Schulze H, Modlich U. Endothelial-platelet interactions in influenza-induced pneumonia: A potential therapeutic target. Anat Histol Embryol 2019; 49:606-619. [PMID: 31793053 DOI: 10.1111/ahe.12521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 10/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Every year, influenza viruses spread around the world, infecting the respiratory systems of countless humans and animals, causing illness and even death. Severe influenza infection is associated with pulmonary epithelial damage and endothelial dysfunction leading to acute lung injury (ALI). There is evidence that an aggressive cytokine storm and cell damage in lung capillaries as well as endothelial/platelet interactions contribute to vascular leakage, pro-thrombotic milieu and infiltration of immune effector cells. To date, treatments for ALI caused by influenza are limited to antiviral drugs, active ventilation or further symptomatic treatments. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of influenza-mediated pathogenesis, permissive animal models and histopathological changes of lung tissue in both mice and men and compare it with histological and electron microscopic data from our own group. We highlight the molecular and cellular interactions between pulmonary endothelium and platelets in homeostasis and influenza-induced pathogenesis. Finally, we discuss novel therapeutic targets on platelets/endothelial interaction to reduce or resolve ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel G E Rommel
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Christian Milde
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Regina Eberle
- Department of Morphology, Division of Immunology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Harald Schulze
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
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12
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Duecker R, Baer PC, Buecker A, Huenecke S, Pfeffermann LM, Modlich U, Bakhtiar S, Bader P, Zielen S, Schubert R. Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Restores Naïve T-Cell Populations in Atm-Deficient Mice and in Preemptively Treated Patients With Ataxia-Telangiectasia. Front Immunol 2019; 10:2785. [PMID: 31849966 PMCID: PMC6892974 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2019.02785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is a multisystem disorder with progressive cerebellar ataxia, immunodeficiency, chromosomal instability, and increased cancer susceptibility. Cellular immunodeficiency is based on naïve CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell lymphopenia. Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers a potential to cure immunodeficiency and cancer due to restoration of the lymphopoietic system. The aim of this investigation was to analyze the effect of HSCT on naïve CD4+ as well as CD8+ T-cell numbers in A-T. Methods: We analyzed total numbers of peripheral naïve (CD45RA+CD62L+) and memory (CD45RO+CD62L−) CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells of 32 A-T patients. Naïve (CD62LhighCD44low) and memory (CD62LlowCD44high) T-cells were also measured in Atm-deficient mice before and after HSCT with GFP-expressing bone marrow derived hematopoietic stem cells. In addition, we analyzed T-cells in the peripheral blood of two A-T patients after HLA-identic allogeneic HSCT. Results: Like in humans, naïve CD4+ as well as naïve CD8+ lymphocytes were decreased in Atm-deficient mice. HSCT significantly inhibited thymic lymphomas and increased survival time in these animals. Donor cell chimerism increased up to more than 50% 6 months after HSCT accompanied by a significant increase of naïve CD4 and CD8 T-cell subpopulations, but not of memory T-cells. This finding was also identified in the blood of the A-T patients after HSCT. Conclusion: HSCT seems to be a feasible strategy to overcome immunodeficiency and might be a conceivable strategy to avoid T-cell driven cancer in A-T at higher risk for malignancy. Naïve CD4 and CD8 T-cells counts are suitable markers for monitoring immune reconstitution post-HSCT. However, risks and benefits of HSCT in A-T have to be properly weighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Duecker
- Division for Allergy, Pneumology and Cystic Fibrosis, Department for Children and Adolescence, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Patrick C Baer
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine III, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Aileen Buecker
- Division for Allergy, Pneumology and Cystic Fibrosis, Department for Children and Adolescence, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Sabine Huenecke
- Division for Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Lisa-Marie Pfeffermann
- Division for Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Division of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Shahrzad Bakhtiar
- Division for Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Peter Bader
- Division for Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Department for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Stefan Zielen
- Division for Allergy, Pneumology and Cystic Fibrosis, Department for Children and Adolescence, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Ralf Schubert
- Division for Allergy, Pneumology and Cystic Fibrosis, Department for Children and Adolescence, Goethe-University, Frankfurt, Germany
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13
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Cullmann K, Blokland KEC, Sebe A, Schenk F, Ivics Z, Heinz N, Modlich U. Sustained and regulated gene expression by Tet-inducible "all-in-one" retroviral vectors containing the HNRPA2B1-CBX3 UCOE ®. Biomaterials 2018; 192:486-499. [PMID: 30508767 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2018.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Genetic modification of induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells may be necessary for the generation of effector cells for cellular therapies. Hereby, it can be important to induce transgene expression at restricted and defined time windows, especially if it interferes with pluripotency or differentiation. To achieve this, inducible expression systems can be used such as the tetracycline-inducible retroviral vector system, however, retroviral expression can be subjected to epigenetic silencing or to position-effect variegation. One strategy to overcome this is the incorporation of ubiquitous chromatin opening elements (UCOE®'s) into retroviral vectors to maintain a transcriptionally permissive chromatin state at the integration site. In this study, we developed Tet-inducible all-in-one gammaretroviral vectors carrying different sized UCOE®'s derived from the A2UCOE. The ability to prevent vector silencing by preserving the Tet-regulatory potential was investigated in different cell lines, and in murine and human iPS cells. A 670-bp fragment spanning the CBX3 promoter region of A2UCOE (U670) was the most potent element in preventing silencing, and conferred the strongest expression from the vector in the induced state. While longer fragments of A2UCOEs also sustained expression, vector titers and induction efficiencies were impaired. Finally, we demonstrate that U670 can be used for constitutive expression of the transactivator in the all-in-one vector for faithful regulation of transgenes by doxycycline, including the thrombopoietin receptor Mpl conferring cytokine-dependent cell growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Cullmann
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Div. of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Kaj E C Blokland
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Div. of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Attila Sebe
- Div. of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Franziska Schenk
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Div. of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Zoltán Ivics
- Div. of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Niels Heinz
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Div. of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany; BioNTech Innovative Manufacturing Services GmbH, Idar-Oberstein, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Div. of Veterinary Medicine, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany.
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14
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Pfeiffer A, Thalheimer FB, Hartmann S, Frank AM, Bender RR, Danisch S, Costa C, Wels WS, Modlich U, Stripecke R, Verhoeyen E, Buchholz CJ. In vivo generation of human CD19-CAR T cells results in B-cell depletion and signs of cytokine release syndrome. EMBO Mol Med 2018; 10:e9158. [PMID: 30224381 PMCID: PMC6220327 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.201809158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells brought substantial benefit to patients with B-cell malignancies. Notwithstanding, CAR T-cell manufacturing requires complex procedures impeding the broad supply chain. Here, we provide evidence that human CD19-CAR T cells can be generated directly in vivo using the lentiviral vector CD8-LV specifically targeting human CD8+ cells. Administration into mice xenografted with Raji lymphoma cells and human peripheral blood mononuclear cells led to CAR expression solely in CD8+ T cells and efficacious elimination of CD19+ B cells. Further, upon injection of CD8-LV into mice transplanted with human CD34+ cells, induction of CAR T cells and CD19+ B-cell depletion was observed in 7 out of 10 treated animals. Notably, three mice showed elevated levels of human cytokines in plasma. Tissue-invading CAR T cells and complete elimination of the B-lymphocyte-rich zones in spleen were indicative of a cytokine release syndrome. Our data demonstrate the feasibility of in vivo reprogramming of human CD8+ CAR T cells active against CD19+ cells, yet with similar adverse effects currently notorious in the clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anett Pfeiffer
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | | | - Sylvia Hartmann
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Annika M Frank
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Ruben R Bender
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Simon Danisch
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Laboratory of Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, Excellence Cluster REBIRTH and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Caroline Costa
- CIRI - International Center for Infectiology Research, Team EVIR, Inserm, U1111, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Winfried S Wels
- Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy, Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Frankfurt/Mainz, Frankfurt, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Division of Veterinary Medicine, Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Renata Stripecke
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Laboratory of Regenerative Immune Therapies Applied, Excellence Cluster REBIRTH and German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Els Verhoeyen
- CIRI - International Center for Infectiology Research, Team EVIR, Inserm, U1111, CNRS, UMR5308, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- INSERM, C3M, Université Côte d'Azur, Nice, France
| | - Christian J Buchholz
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), partner site Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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15
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Brendel C, Rothe M, Santilli G, Charrier S, Stein S, Kunkel H, Abriss D, Müller-Kuller U, Gaspar B, Modlich U, Galy A, Schambach A, Thrasher AJ, Grez M. Non-Clinical Efficacy and Safety Studies on G1XCGD, a Lentiviral Vector for Ex Vivo Gene Therapy of X-Linked Chronic Granulomatous Disease. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2018; 29:69-79. [PMID: 29664709 DOI: 10.1089/humc.2017.245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [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: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a debilitating primary immunodeficiency affecting phagocyte function due to the absence of nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase activity. The vast majority of CGD patients in the Western world have mutations within the X-linked CYBB gene encoding for gp91phox (NOX2), the redox center of the NADPH oxidase complex (XCGD). Current treatments of XCGD are not entirely satisfactory, and prior attempts at autologous gene therapy using gammaretrovirus vectors did not provide long-term curative effects. A new strategy was developed based on the use of the lentiviral vector G1XCGD expressing high levels of the gp91phox transgene in myeloid cells. As a requisite for a clinical trial approval, standardized non-clinical studies were conducted in vitro and in mice in order to evaluate the pharmacodynamics and biosafety of the vector and the biodistribution of G1XCGD-transduced cells. Transduced CD34+ cells derived from XCGD patients engrafted and differentiated similarly to their non-transduced counterparts in xenograft mouse models and generated therapeutically relevant levels of NADPH activity in myeloid cells expressing gp91phox. Expression of functional gp91phox in hematopoietic cells did not affect their homing properties, which engrafted at high levels in mice. Extensive in vitro and in vivo genotoxicity studies found no evidence for adverse mutagenesis related to vector treatment. These studies paved the way for the approval of clinical trials in Europe and in the United States for the treatment of XCGD patients with G1XCGD gene-modified autologous hematopoietic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Brendel
- 1 Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy , Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt, Germany .,2 Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts.,3 Harvard Medical School , Boston, Massachusetts.,4 Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute , Boston, Massachusetts.,5 Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Harvard University , Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Michael Rothe
- 6 Hannover Medical School, Institute of Experimental Hematology , Hannover, Germany
| | - Giorgia Santilli
- 7 UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust London , United Kingdom
| | | | - Stefan Stein
- 1 Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy , Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Hana Kunkel
- 1 Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy , Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Daniela Abriss
- 1 Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy , Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Uta Müller-Kuller
- 1 Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy , Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Bobby Gaspar
- 7 UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust London , United Kingdom
| | - Ute Modlich
- 6 Hannover Medical School, Institute of Experimental Hematology , Hannover, Germany .,9 Research Group Gene Modification in Stem Cells , Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | | | - Axel Schambach
- 2 Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital , Boston, Massachusetts.,6 Hannover Medical School, Institute of Experimental Hematology , Hannover, Germany .,10 Hannover Medical School , Cluster of Excellence REBIRTH, Hannover, Germany
| | - Adrian J Thrasher
- 7 UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust London , United Kingdom
| | - Manuel Grez
- 1 Institute for Tumor Biology and Experimental Therapy , Georg-Speyer-Haus, Frankfurt, Germany
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16
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Kohlscheen
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Halvard Bonig
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany
- German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Institute Frankfurt, Germany
- Department of Medicine/Division of Hematology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington
| | - Ute Modlich
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
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17
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Dütting S, Gaits-Iacovoni F, Stegner D, Popp M, Antkowiak A, van Eeuwijk JMM, Nurden P, Stritt S, Heib T, Aurbach K, Angay O, Cherpokova D, Heinz N, Baig AA, Gorelashvili MG, Gerner F, Heinze KG, Ware J, Krohne G, Ruggeri ZM, Nurden AT, Schulze H, Modlich U, Pleines I, Brakebusch C, Nieswandt B. A Cdc42/RhoA regulatory circuit downstream of glycoprotein Ib guides transendothelial platelet biogenesis. Nat Commun 2017. [PMID: 28643773 PMCID: PMC5481742 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms15838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [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] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood platelets are produced by large bone marrow (BM) precursor cells, megakaryocytes (MKs), which extend cytoplasmic protrusions (proplatelets) into BM sinusoids. The molecular cues that control MK polarization towards sinusoids and limit transendothelial crossing to proplatelets remain unknown. Here, we show that the small GTPases Cdc42 and RhoA act as a regulatory circuit downstream of the MK-specific mechanoreceptor GPIb to coordinate polarized transendothelial platelet biogenesis. Functional deficiency of either GPIb or Cdc42 impairs transendothelial proplatelet formation. In the absence of RhoA, increased Cdc42 activity and MK hyperpolarization triggers GPIb-dependent transmigration of entire MKs into BM sinusoids. These findings position Cdc42 (go-signal) and RhoA (stop-signal) at the centre of a molecular checkpoint downstream of GPIb that controls transendothelial platelet biogenesis. Our results may open new avenues for the treatment of platelet production disorders and help to explain the thrombocytopenia in patients with Bernard-Soulier syndrome, a bleeding disorder caused by defects in GPIb-IX-V.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Dütting
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Frederique Gaits-Iacovoni
- INSERM UMR1048, Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires-I2MC, UMR1048, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Toulouse, 1 Avenue Jean Poulhès, BP 84225, 31432 Toulouse Cedex 4, France
| | - David Stegner
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Michael Popp
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Adrien Antkowiak
- INSERM UMR1048, Institut des Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires-I2MC, UMR1048, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Université de Toulouse, 1 Avenue Jean Poulhès, BP 84225, 31432 Toulouse Cedex 4, France
| | - Judith M M van Eeuwijk
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Paquita Nurden
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire LIRYC, Plateforme Technologique d'Innovation Biomédicale, Hôpital Xavier Arnozan, Avenue du Haut Lévêque, 33604 Pessac, France
| | - Simon Stritt
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Heib
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katja Aurbach
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Oguzhan Angay
- Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Deya Cherpokova
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Niels Heinz
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt/Main and the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 51-59, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Ayesha A Baig
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maximilian G Gorelashvili
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Frank Gerner
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Katrin G Heinze
- Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Jerry Ware
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, Arkansass 72205, USA
| | - Georg Krohne
- Biocenter, University of Würzburg, Am Hubland, 97074 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Zaverio M Ruggeri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N Torrey Pines Rd, La Jolla, California 92037, USA
| | - Alan T Nurden
- Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire LIRYC, Plateforme Technologique d'Innovation Biomédicale, Hôpital Xavier Arnozan, Avenue du Haut Lévêque, 33604 Pessac, France
| | - Harald Schulze
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt/Main and the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Paul-Ehrlich-Straße 51-59, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Irina Pleines
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
| | - Cord Brakebusch
- BRIC, Biomedical Institute, University of Copenhagen, Nørregade 10, 1165 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bernhard Nieswandt
- Institute of Experimental Biomedicine, University Hospital and University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany.,Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Josef-Schneider-Str. 2, 97080 Würzburg, Germany
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18
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El Ashkar S, Van Looveren D, Schenk F, Vranckx LS, Demeulemeester J, De Rijck J, Debyser Z, Modlich U, Gijsbers R. Engineering Next-Generation BET-Independent MLV Vectors for Safer Gene Therapy. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2017. [PMID: 28624199 PMCID: PMC5415309 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Retroviral vectors have shown their curative potential in clinical trials correcting monogenetic disorders. However, therapeutic benefits were compromised due to vector-induced dysregulation of cellular genes and leukemia development in a subset of patients. Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins act as cellular cofactors that tether the murine leukemia virus (MLV) pre-integration complex to host chromatin via interaction with the MLV integrase (IN) and thereby define the typical gammaretroviral integration distribution. We engineered next-generation BET-independent (Bin) MLV vectors to retarget their integration to regions where they are less likely to dysregulate nearby genes. We mutated MLV IN to uncouple BET protein interaction and fused it with chromatin-binding peptides. The addition of the CBX1 chromodomain to MLV INW390A efficiently targeted integration away from gene regulatory elements. The retargeted vector produced at high titers and efficiently transduced CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells, while fewer colonies were detected in a serial colony-forming assay, a surrogate test for genotoxicity. Our findings underscore the potential of the engineered vectors to reduce the risk of insertional mutagenesis without compromising transduction efficiency. Ultimately, combined with other safety features in vector design, next-generation BinMLV vectors can improve the safety of gammaretroviral vectors for gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara El Ashkar
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, 3000 Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Dominique Van Looveren
- Laboratory for Viral Vector Technology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Franziska Schenk
- RG Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Lenard S Vranckx
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, 3000 Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jonas Demeulemeester
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, 3000 Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jan De Rijck
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, 3000 Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Zeger Debyser
- Laboratory for Molecular Virology and Drug Discovery, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, 3000 Leuven, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ute Modlich
- RG Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Rik Gijsbers
- Laboratory for Viral Vector Technology and Gene Therapy, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium; Leuven Viral Vector Core, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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19
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Latorre-Rey LJ, Wintterle S, Dütting S, Kohlscheen S, Abel T, Schenk F, Wingert S, Rieger MA, Nieswandt B, Heinz N, Modlich U. Targeting expression to megakaryocytes and platelets by lineage-specific lentiviral vectors. J Thromb Haemost 2017; 15:341-355. [PMID: 27930847 DOI: 10.1111/jth.13582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Essentials Platelet phenotypes can be modified by lentiviral transduction of hematopoietic stem cells. Megakaryocyte-specific lentiviral vectors were tested in vitro and in vivo for restricted expression. The glycoprotein 6 vector expressed almost exclusively in megakaryocytes. The platelet factor 4 vector was the strongest but with activity in hematopoietic stem cells. SUMMARY Background Lentiviral transduction and transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can be utilized to modify the phenotype of megakaryocytes and platelets. As the genetic modification in HSCs is transmitted onto all hematopoietic progenies, transgene expression from the vector should be restricted to megakaryocytes to avoid un-physiologic effects by ectopic transgene expression. This can be achieved by lentiviral vectors that control expression by lineage-specific promoters. Methods In this study, we introduced promoters of megakaryocyte/platelet-specific genes, namely human glycoprotein 6 (hGP6) and hGP9, into third generation lentiviral vectors and analyzed their functionality in vitro and in vivo in bone marrow transplantation assays. Their specificity and efficiency of expression was compared with lentiviral vectors utilizing the promoters of murine platelet factor 4 (mPf4) and hGP1BA, both with strong activity in megakaryocytes (MKs) used in earlier studies, and the ubiquitously expressing phosphoglycerate kinase (hPGK) and spleen focus forming virus (SFFV) enhancer/promoters. Results Expression from the mPf4 vector in MKs and platelets was the strongest similar to expression from the viral SFFV promoter, however, the mPf4 vector, also exhibited considerable off-target expression in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. In contrast, the newly generated hGP6 vector was highly specific to megakaryocytes and platelets. The specificity was also retained when reducing the promoter size to 350 bp, making it a valuable new tool for lentiviral expression in MKs/platelets. Conclusion MK-specific vectors express preferentially in the megakaryocyte lineage. These vectors can be applied to develop murine models to study megakaryocyte and platelet function, or for gene therapy targeting proteins to platelets.
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Affiliation(s)
- L J Latorre-Rey
- Research Groups for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt/Main, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - S Wintterle
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - S Dütting
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine-Vascular Medicine, University Hospital and Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - S Kohlscheen
- Research Groups for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt/Main, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - T Abel
- Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - F Schenk
- Research Groups for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt/Main, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - S Wingert
- LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - M A Rieger
- LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and Department of Medicine, Hematology/Oncology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - B Nieswandt
- Department of Experimental Biomedicine-Vascular Medicine, University Hospital and Rudolf Virchow Center, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - N Heinz
- Research Groups for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt/Main, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - U Modlich
- Research Groups for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt/Main, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
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20
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Friedel T, Jung-Klawitter S, Sebe A, Schenk F, Modlich U, Ivics Z, Schumann GG, Buchholz CJ, Schneider IC. CD30 Receptor-Targeted Lentiviral Vectors for Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Specific Gene Modification. Stem Cells Dev 2016; 25:729-39. [PMID: 26956718 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2015.0386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cultures of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) often contain cells of varying grades of pluripotency. We present novel lentiviral vectors targeted to the surface receptor CD30 (CD30-LV) to transfer genes into iPSCs that are truly pluripotent as demonstrated by marker gene expression. We demonstrate that CD30 expression is restricted to SSEA4(high) cells of human iPSC cultures and a human embryonic stem cell line. When CD30-LV was added to iPSCs during routine cultivation, efficient and exclusive transduction of cells positive for the pluripotency marker Oct-4 was achieved, while retaining their pluripotency. When added during the reprogramming process, CD30-LV solely transduced cells that became fully reprogrammed iPSCs as confirmed by co-expression of endogenous Nanog and the reporter gene. Thus, CD30-LV may serve as novel tool for the selective gene transfer into PSCs with broad applications in basic and therapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorsten Friedel
- 1 Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut , Langen, Germany
| | | | - Attila Sebe
- 2 Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut , Langen, Germany
| | - Franziska Schenk
- 3 Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center of Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt , Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- 3 Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center of Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt , Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany
| | - Zoltán Ivics
- 2 Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut , Langen, Germany
| | | | - Christian J Buchholz
- 1 Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut , Langen, Germany
| | - Irene C Schneider
- 1 Molecular Biotechnology and Gene Therapy, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut , Langen, Germany
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21
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Ripperger T, Manukjan G, Meyer J, Wolter S, Schambach A, Bohne J, Modlich U, Li Z, Skawran B, Schlegelberger B, Steinemann D. The heteromeric transcription factor GABP activates the ITGAM/CD11b promoter and induces myeloid differentiation. Biochim Biophys Acta 2015; 1849:1145-54. [PMID: 26170143 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2015.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2015] [Revised: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 07/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The heteromeric transcription factor GA-binding protein (GABP) consists of two subunits, the alpha subunit (GABPA) carrying the DNA-binding ETS domain, and the beta subunit (GABPB1) harbouring the transcriptional activation domain. GABP is involved in haematopoietic stem cell maintenance and differentiation of myeloid and lymphoid lineages in mice. To elucidate the molecular function of GABP in human haematopoiesis, the present study addressed effects of ectopic overexpression of GABP focussing on the myeloid compartment. Combined overexpression of GABPA and GABPB1 caused a proliferation block in cell lines and drastically reduced the colony-forming capacity of murine lineage-negative cells. Impaired proliferation resulted from perturbed cellular cycling and induction of myeloid differentiation shown by surface markers and myelomonocytic morphology of U937 cells. Depending on the dosage and functional integrity of GABP, ITGAM expression was induced. ITGAM encodes CD11b, the alpha subunit of integrin Mac-1, whose beta subunit, ITGB2/CD18, was already described to be regulated by GABP. Finally, Shield1-dependent proteotuning, luciferase reporter assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that GABP activates the ITGAM/CD11b promoter via three binding sites close to the translational start site. In conclusion, the present study supports the crucial role of GABP in myeloid cell differentiation and identified ITGAM/CD11b as a novel GABP target gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Ripperger
- Institute of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Georgi Manukjan
- Institute of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Johann Meyer
- Institute of Experimental Haematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Sabine Wolter
- Institute of Pharmacology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Haematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Jens Bohne
- Institute of Virology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Ute Modlich
- Institute of Experimental Haematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Zhixiong Li
- Institute of Experimental Haematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Britta Skawran
- Institute of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Brigitte Schlegelberger
- Institute of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Doris Steinemann
- Institute of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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22
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Heinz N, Ehrnström B, Schambach A, Schwarzer A, Modlich U, Schiedlmeier B. Comparison of Different Cytokine Conditions Reveals Resveratrol as a New Molecule for Ex Vivo Cultivation of Cord Blood-Derived Hematopoietic Stem Cells. Stem Cells Transl Med 2015; 4:1064-72. [PMID: 26160960 DOI: 10.5966/sctm.2014-0284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
UNLABELLED Human cord blood (CB)-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are an interesting source for HSC transplantation. However, the number of collected CB-HSCs is often too low for one transplantation; therefore, ex vivo expansion of CB-HSCs is desirable. Current expansion protocols are based on the use of cytokine combinations, including insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) and angiopoietin-like proteins, or combinations with "small molecules" such as stemregenin-1. The aim of our project was to compare the potential of different CB-HSC expansion strategies side-by-side by phenotypical analysis in vitro and serial engraftment properties in NOD/SCID/IL2rg-/- (NSG) immunodeficient mice. We further identified resveratrol, a naturally occurring polyphenol, as a new, alternative small molecule combined with cytokines to facilitate serum-free ex vivo expansion of human CB-HSCs. The cultivation in resveratrol preserved the CB-HSC phenotype in vitro most efficiently and was ∼2 times more potent than commonly used cytokine conditions (including stem cell factor, thrombopoietin, Fms-related tyrosine kinase 3 ligand, interleukin-6) and the recently established serum-free culture, including IGFBP2 and angiopoietin-like 5. Serial transplantation studies further confirmed resveratrol to support robust multilineage engraftment in primary and secondary NSG recipients. Therefore, our work proposes resveratrol as a new small molecule for improved ex vivo culture and modification of human HSCs based on an efficient ex vivo propagation of the HSC fate. SIGNIFICANCE Human cord blood (CB)-derived hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are an important source for HSC transplantations but restricted in their usage because of their low numbers. In gene therapy, modifications of HSCs relies on their ex vivo modification without losing their stemness properties. Therefore, ex vivo cultivation and expansion of CB-HSCs is important for their effective application in HSC transplantation and gene therapy. Several promising protocols for serum-free cultivation of HSCs using different combinations of cytokines or so-called small molecules are described. A direct comparison was performed of three described serum-free cytokine conditions, demonstrating that the natural occurring polyphenol resveratrol is able to support ex vivo cultivation of CB-HSCs. The results show that resveratrol is an additional candidate for improving ex vivo cultures of HSCs for transplantation and gene therapeutic applications in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niels Heinz
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany; Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Birgitta Ehrnström
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany; Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany; Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Adrian Schwarzer
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany; Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany; Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Bernhard Schiedlmeier
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt, Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Langen, Germany; Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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23
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Kohlscheen S, Wintterle S, Schwarzer A, Kamp C, Brugman MH, Breuer DC, Büsche G, Baum C, Modlich U. Inhibition of Thrombopoietin/Mpl Signaling in Adult Hematopoiesis Identifies New Candidates for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Maintenance. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0131866. [PMID: 26147434 PMCID: PMC4493002 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0131866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2015] [Accepted: 05/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Thrombopoietin (Thpo) signals via its receptor Mpl and regulates megakaryopoiesis, hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance and post-transplant expansion. Mpl expression is tightly controlled and deregulation of Thpo/Mpl-signaling is linked to hematological disorders. Here, we constructed an intracellular-truncated, signaling-deficient Mpl protein which is presented on the cell surface (dnMpl). The transplantation of bone marrow cells retrovirally transduced to express dnMpl into wildtype mice induced thrombocytopenia, and a progressive loss of HSC. The aplastic BM allowed the engraftment of a second BM transplant without further conditioning. Functional analysis of the truncated Mpl in vitro and in vivo demonstrated no internalization after Thpo binding and the inhibition of Thpo/Mpl-signaling in wildtype cells due to dominant-negative (dn) effects by receptor competition with wildtype Mpl for Thpo binding. Intracellular inhibition of Mpl could be excluded as the major mechanism by the use of a constitutive-dimerized dnMpl. To further elucidate the molecular changes induced by Thpo/Mpl-inhibition on the HSC-enriched cell population in the BM, we performed gene expression analysis of Lin-Sca1+cKit+ (LSK) cells isolated from mice transplanted with dnMpl transduced BM cells. The gene expression profile supported the exhaustion of HSC due to increased cell cycle progression and identified new and known downstream effectors of Thpo/Mpl-signaling in HSC (namely TIE2, ESAM1 and EPCR detected on the HSC-enriched LSK cell population). We further compared gene expression profiles in LSK cells of dnMpl mice with human CD34+ cells of aplastic anemia patients and identified similar deregulations of important stemness genes in both cell populations. In summary, we established a novel way of Thpo/Mpl inhibition in the adult mouse and performed in depth analysis of the phenotype including gene expression profiling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Kohlscheen
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt/Main and the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Hematology; Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Sabine Wintterle
- Institute of Experimental Hematology; Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Adrian Schwarzer
- Institute of Experimental Hematology; Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christel Kamp
- Department of Biostatistik, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
| | - Martijn H. Brugman
- Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Leiden University Medical Center, ZA Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel C. Breuer
- Institute of Experimental Hematology; Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Guntram Büsche
- Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Christopher Baum
- Institute of Experimental Hematology; Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, LOEWE Center for Cell and Gene Therapy Frankfurt/Main and the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, Langen, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Hematology; Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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24
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Dahl M, Doyle A, Olsson K, Månsson JE, Marques ARA, Mirzaian M, Aerts JM, Ehinger M, Rothe M, Modlich U, Schambach A, Karlsson S. Lentiviral gene therapy using cellular promoters cures type 1 Gaucher disease in mice. Mol Ther 2015; 23:835-844. [PMID: 25655314 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2014] [Accepted: 01/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Gaucher disease is caused by an inherited deficiency of the enzyme glucosylceramidase. Due to the lack of a fully functional enzyme, there is progressive build-up of the lipid component glucosylceramide. Insufficient glucosylceramidase activity results in hepatosplenomegaly, cytopenias, and bone disease in patients. Gene therapy represents a future therapeutic option for patients unresponsive to enzyme replacement therapy and lacking a suitable bone marrow donor. By proof-of-principle experiments, we have previously demonstrated a reversal of symptoms in a murine disease model of type 1 Gaucher disease, using gammaretroviral vectors harboring strong viral promoters to drive glucosidase β-acid (GBA) gene expression. To investigate whether safer vectors can correct the enzyme deficiency, we utilized self-inactivating lentiviral vectors (SIN LVs) with the GBA gene under the control of human phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) and CD68 promoter, respectively. Here, we report prevention of, as well as reversal of, manifest disease symptoms after lentiviral gene transfer. Glucosylceramidase activity above levels required for clearance of glucosylceramide from tissues resulted in reversal of splenomegaly, reduced Gaucher cell infiltration and a restoration of hematological parameters. These findings support the use of SIN-LVs with cellular promoters in future clinical gene therapy protocols for type 1 Gaucher disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dahl
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Lund Strategic Center for Stem Cell Biology and Cell Therapy, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Alexander Doyle
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Lund Strategic Center for Stem Cell Biology and Cell Therapy, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Karin Olsson
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Lund Strategic Center for Stem Cell Biology and Cell Therapy, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Jan-Eric Månsson
- Department of Clinical Chemistry, Institute of Biomedicine, the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - André R A Marques
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mina Mirzaian
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Johannes M Aerts
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mats Ehinger
- Department of Pathology, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden
| | - Michael Rothe
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Ute Modlich
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Karlsson
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund University, Lund, Sweden; Lund Strategic Center for Stem Cell Biology and Cell Therapy, Lund University Hospital, Lund, Sweden.
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25
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Braun CJ, Boztug K, Paruzynski A, Witzel M, Schwarzer A, Rothe M, Modlich U, Beier R, Göhring G, Steinemann D, Fronza R, Ball CR, Haemmerle R, Naundorf S, Kühlcke K, Rose M, Fraser C, Mathias L, Ferrari R, Abboud MR, Al-Herz W, Kondratenko I, Maródi L, Glimm H, Schlegelberger B, Schambach A, Albert MH, Schmidt M, von Kalle C, Klein C. Gene therapy for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome--long-term efficacy and genotoxicity. Sci Transl Med 2014; 6:227ra33. [PMID: 24622513 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3007280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 388] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is characterized by microthrombocytopenia, immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, and susceptibility to malignancies. In our hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy (GT) trial using a γ-retroviral vector, 9 of 10 patients showed sustained engraftment and correction of WAS protein (WASP) expression in lymphoid and myeloid cells and platelets. GT resulted in partial or complete resolution of immunodeficiency, autoimmunity, and bleeding diathesis. Analysis of retroviral insertion sites revealed >140,000 unambiguous integration sites and a polyclonal pattern of hematopoiesis in all patients early after GT. Seven patients developed acute leukemia [one acute myeloid leukemia (AML), four T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), and two primary T-ALL with secondary AML associated with a dominant clone with vector integration at the LMO2 (six T-ALL), MDS1 (two AML), or MN1 (one AML) locus]. Cytogenetic analysis revealed additional genetic alterations such as chromosomal translocations. This study shows that hematopoietic stem cell GT for WAS is feasible and effective, but the use of γ-retroviral vectors is associated with a substantial risk of leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Jörg Braun
- Dr. von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, 80337 Munich, Germany
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26
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Rothe M, Modlich U, Schambach A. Biosafety challenges for use of lentiviral vectors in gene therapy. Curr Gene Ther 2014; 13:453-68. [PMID: 24195603 DOI: 10.2174/15665232113136660006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Revised: 10/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/25/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors are promising tools for the genetic modification of cells in biomedical research and gene therapy. Their use in recent clinical trials for the treatment of adrenoleukodystrophy, β-thalassemia, Wiskott-Aldrich- Syndrome and metachromatic leukodystrophy underlined their efficacy for therapies especially in case of hereditary diseases. In comparison to gammaretroviral LTR-driven vectors, which were employed in the first clinical trials, lentiviral vectors present with some favorable features like the ability to transduce also non-dividing cells and a potentially safer insertion profile. However, genetic modification with viral vectors in general and stable integration of the therapeutic gene into the host cell genome bear concerns with respect to different levels of personal or environmental safety. Among them, insertional mutagenesis by enhancer mediated dysregulation of neighboring genes or aberrant splicing is still the biggest concern. However, also risks like immunogenicity of vector particles, the phenotoxicity of the transgene and potential vertical or horizontal transmission by replication competent retroviruses need to be taken into account. This review will give an overview on biosafety aspects that are relevant to the use of lentiviral vectors for genetic modification and gene therapy. Furthermore, assay systems aiming at evaluating biosafety in preclinical settings and recent promising clinical trials including efforts of monitoring of patients after gene therapy will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-StraBe 1 D-30625 Hannover, Germany.
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27
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Navarro S, Moleiro V, Molina-Estevez FJ, Lozano ML, Chinchon R, Almarza E, Quintana-Bustamante O, Mostoslavsky G, Maetzig T, Galla M, Heinz N, Schiedlmeier B, Torres Y, Modlich U, Samper E, Río P, Segovia JC, Raya A, Güenechea G, Izpisua-Belmonte JC, Bueren JA. Generation of iPSCs from genetically corrected Brca2 hypomorphic cells: implications in cell reprogramming and stem cell therapy. Stem Cells 2014; 32:436-46. [PMID: 24420904 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [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] [Received: 03/09/2013] [Revised: 09/02/2013] [Accepted: 09/05/2013] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Fanconi anemia (FA) is a complex genetic disease associated with a defective DNA repair pathway known as the FA pathway. In contrast to many other FA proteins, BRCA2 participates downstream in this pathway and has a critical role in homology-directed recombination (HDR). In our current studies, we have observed an extremely low reprogramming efficiency in cells with a hypomorphic mutation in Brca2 (Brca2(Δ) (27/) (Δ27)), that was associated with increased apoptosis and defective generation of nuclear RAD51 foci during the reprogramming process. Gene complementation facilitated the generation of Brca2(Δ) (27/) (Δ27) induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) with a disease-free FA phenotype. Karyotype analyses and comparative genome hybridization arrays of complemented Brca2(Δ) (27/) (Δ27) iPSCs showed, however, the presence of different genetic alterations in these cells, most of which were not evident in their parental Brca2(Δ) (27/) (Δ27) mouse embryonic fibroblasts. Gene-corrected Brca2(Δ) (27/) (Δ27) iPSCs could be differentiated in vitro toward the hematopoietic lineage, although with a more limited efficacy than WT iPSCs or mouse embryonic stem cells, and did not engraft in irradiated Brca2(Δ) (27/) (Δ27) recipients. Our results are consistent with previous studies proposing that HDR is critical for cell reprogramming and demonstrate that reprogramming defects characteristic of Brca2 mutant cells can be efficiently overcome by gene complementation. Finally, based on analysis of the phenotype, genetic stability, and hematopoietic differentiation potential of gene-corrected Brca2(Δ) (27/) (Δ) (27) iPSCs, achievements and limitations in the application of current reprogramming approaches in hematopoietic stem cell therapy are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Navarro
- Hematopoietic Innovative Therapies Division, Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas (CIEMAT), Madrid, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBER-ER), Madrid, Spain
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28
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Jaako P, Debnath S, Olsson K, Modlich U, Rothe M, Schambach A, Flygare J, Karlsson S. Gene therapy cures the anemia and lethal bone marrow failure in a mouse model of RPS19-deficient Diamond-Blackfan anemia. Haematologica 2014; 99:1792-8. [PMID: 25216681 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2014.111195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Diamond-Blackfan anemia is a congenital erythroid hypoplasia caused by functional haploinsufficiency of genes encoding ribosomal proteins. Mutations involving the ribosomal protein S19 gene are detected in 25% of patients. Enforced expression of ribosomal protein S19 improves the overall proliferative capacity, erythroid colony-forming potential and erythroid differentiation of hematopoietic progenitors from ribosomal protein S19-deficient patients in vitro and in vivo following xenotransplantation. However, studies using animal models are needed to assess the therapeutic efficacy and safety of the viral vectors. In the present study we have validated the therapeutic potential of gene therapy using mouse models of ribosomal protein S19-deficient Diamond-Blackfan anemia. Using lentiviral gene transfer we demonstrated that enforced expression of ribosomal protein S19 cures the anemia and lethal bone marrow failure in recipients transplanted with ribosomal protein S19-deficient cells. Furthermore, gene-corrected ribosomal protein S19-deficient cells showed an increased pan-hematopoietic contribution over time compared to untransduced cells without signs of vector-mediated toxicity. Our study provides a proof of principle for the development of clinical gene therapy to cure ribosomal protein 19-deficient Diamond-Blackfan anemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pekka Jaako
- Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Strategic Center for Stem Cell Biology, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Shubhranshu Debnath
- Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Strategic Center for Stem Cell Biology, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Karin Olsson
- Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Strategic Center for Stem Cell Biology, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Ute Modlich
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Germany; LOEWE Research Group for Gene Modification in Stem Cells, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Michael Rothe
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Axel Schambach
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
| | - Johan Flygare
- Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Strategic Center for Stem Cell Biology, Lund University, Sweden
| | - Stefan Karlsson
- Molecular Medicine and Gene Therapy, Lund Strategic Center for Stem Cell Biology, Lund University, Sweden;
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Phaltane R, Haemmerle R, Rothe M, Modlich U, Moritz T. Efficiency and safety of O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT(P140K))-mediated in vivo selection in a humanized mouse model. Hum Gene Ther 2014; 25:144-55. [PMID: 24218991 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2013.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Efficient O⁶-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT(P140K))-mediated myeloprotection and in vivo selection have been demonstrated in numerous animal models and most recently in a phase I clinical study in glioblastoma patients. However, this strategy may augment the genotoxic risk of integrating vectors because of chemotherapy-induced DNA damage and the proliferative stress exerted during the in vivo selection. Thus, to improve the safety of the procedure, we evaluated a self-inactivating lentiviral MGMT(P140K) vector for transduction of human cord blood-derived CD34⁺ cells followed by transplantation of the cells into NOD/LtSz-scid/Il2rγ⁻/⁻ mice. These experiments demonstrated significant and stable enrichment of MGMT(P140K) transgenic human cells in the murine peripheral blood and bone marrow. Clonal inventory analysis utilizing linear amplification-mediated polymerase chain reaction and high-throughput sequencing revealed a characteristic lentiviral integration profile. Among the bone marrow insertions retrieved, we observed considerable overlap to previous MGMT(P140K) preclinical models or the clinical study. However, no significant differences between our chemotherapy-treated and nontreated cohorts were observed. This also hold true when specific cancer gene databases and a functional annotation of hit genes by the Panther Database with respect to molecular function, biological process, or cellular component were assessed. Thus, in summary, our data demonstrate efficient and long-term in vivo selection without overt hematological abnormalities using the lentiviral MGMT(P140K) vector. Furthermore, the study introduces humanized mouse models as a novel tool for the pre-clinical assessment of human gene therapy related toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruhi Phaltane
- 1 REBIRTH Research Group Reprogramming and Gene Therapy, Hannover Medical School , 30625 Hannover, Germany
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30
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Thomay K, Schienke A, Vajen B, Modlich U, Schambach A, Hofmann W, Schlegelberger B, Göhring G. Chromosomal Instability and Telomere Shortening in Long-Term Culture of Hematopoietic Stem Cells: Insights from a Cell Culture Model of RPS14 Haploinsufficiency. Cytogenet Genome Res 2014; 142:14-20. [DOI: 10.1159/000356096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
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31
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Stein S, Scholz S, Schwäble J, Sadat MA, Modlich U, Schultze-Strasser S, Diaz M, Chen-Wichmann L, Müller-Kuller U, Brendel C, Fronza R, Kaufmann KB, Naundorf S, Pech NK, Travers JB, Matute JD, Presson RG, Sandusky GE, Kunkel H, Rudolf E, Dillmann A, von Kalle C, Kühlcke K, Baum C, Schambach A, Dinauer MC, Schmidt M, Grez M. From bench to bedside: preclinical evaluation of a self-inactivating gammaretroviral vector for the gene therapy of X-linked chronic granulomatous disease. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2013; 24:86-98. [PMID: 23845071 DOI: 10.1089/humc.2013.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a primary immunodeficiency characterized by impaired antimicrobial activity in phagocytic cells. As a monogenic disease affecting the hematopoietic system, CGD is amenable to gene therapy. Indeed in a phase I/II clinical trial, we demonstrated a transient resolution of bacterial and fungal infections. However, the therapeutic benefit was compromised by the occurrence of clonal dominance and malignant transformation demanding alternative vectors with equal efficacy but safety-improved features. In this work we have developed and tested a self-inactivating (SIN) gammaretroviral vector (SINfes.gp91s) containing a codon-optimized transgene (gp91(phox)) under the transcriptional control of a myeloid promoter for the gene therapy of the X-linked form of CGD (X-CGD). Gene-corrected cells protected X-CGD mice from Aspergillus fumigatus challenge at low vector copy numbers. Moreover, the SINfes.gp91s vector generates substantial amounts of superoxide in human cells transplanted into immunodeficient mice. In vitro genotoxicity assays and longitudinal high-throughput integration site analysis in transplanted mice comprising primary and secondary animals for 11 months revealed a safe integration site profile with no signs of clonal dominance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Stein
- Institute for Biomedical Research, Georg-Speyer-Haus, 60596 Frankfurt, Germany
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32
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Rittelmeyer I, Rothe M, Brugman MH, Iken M, Schambach A, Manns MP, Baum C, Modlich U, Ott M. Hepatic lentiviral gene transfer is associated with clonal selection, but not with tumor formation in serially transplanted rodents. Hepatology 2013; 58:397-408. [PMID: 23258554 DOI: 10.1002/hep.26204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2012] [Accepted: 12/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Lentiviral (LV) vectors are promising tools for long-term genetic correction of hereditary diseases. In hematopoietic stem cell gene therapies adverse events in patients due to vector integration-associated genotoxicity have been observed. Only a few studies have explored the potential risks of LV gene therapy targeting the liver. To analyze hepatic genotoxicity in vivo, we transferred the fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) gene by LV vectors into FAH((-/-)) mice (n = 97) and performed serial hepatocyte transplantations (four generations). The integration profile (4,349 mapped insertions) of the LV vectors was assessed by ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction and deep sequencing. We tested whether the polyclonality of vector insertions was maintained in serially transplanted mice, linked the integration sites to global hepatocyte gene expression, and investigated the effects of LV liver gene therapy on the survival of the animals. The lifespan of in vivo gene-corrected mice was increased compared to 2-(2-nitro-4-trifluoromethylbenzoyl)-1,3-cyclohexanedione (NTBC) control animals and unchanged in serially transplanted animals. The integration profile (4,349 mapped insertions) remained polyclonal through all mouse generations with only mild clonal expansion. Genes close to the integration sites of expanding clones may be associated with enhanced hepatocyte proliferation capacity. CONCLUSION We did not find evidence for vector-induced tumors. LV hepatic gene therapy showed a favorable risk profile for stable and long-term therapeutic gene expression. Polyclonality of hepatocyte regeneration was maintained even in an environment of enforced proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ina Rittelmeyer
- Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, Germany
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33
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Brugman MH, Suerth JD, Rothe M, Suerbaum S, Schambach A, Modlich U, Kustikova O, Baum C. Evaluating a ligation-mediated PCR and pyrosequencing method for the detection of clonal contribution in polyclonal retrovirally transduced samples. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2013; 24:68-79. [PMID: 23384086 DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2012.175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Retroviral gene transfer has proven therapeutic potential in clinical gene therapy trials but may also cause abnormal cell growth via perturbation of gene expression in the locus surrounding the insertion site. By establishing clonal marks, retroviral insertions are also used to describe the regenerative potential of individual cells. Deep sequencing approaches have become the method of choice to study insertion profiles in preclinical models and clinical trials. We used a protocol combining ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction (LM-PCR) and pyrosequencing for insertion profiling and quantification in cells of various tissues transduced with various retroviral vectors. The presented method allows simultaneous analysis of a multitude of DNA-barcoded samples per pyrosequencing run, thereby allowing cost-effective insertion screening in studies with multiple samples. In addition, we investigated whether the number of pyrosequencing reads can be used to quantify clonal abundance. By comparing pyrosequencing reads against site-specific quantitative PCR and by performing spike-in experiments, we show that considerable variation exists in the quantification of insertion sites even when present in the same clone. Our results suggest that the protocol used here and similar approaches might misinterpret abundance clones defined by insertion sites, unless careful calibration measures are taken. The crucial variables causing this variation need to be defined and methodological improvements are required to establish pyrosequencing reads as a quantification measure in polyclonal situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martijn H Brugman
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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34
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Vajen B, Modlich U, Schienke A, Wolf S, Skawran B, Hofmann W, Büsche G, Kreipe H, Baum C, Santos-Barriopedro I, Vaquero A, Schlegelberger B, Rudolph C. Histone methyltransferaseSuv39h1deficiency preventsMyc-induced chromosomal instability in murine myeloid leukemias. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2013; 52:423-30. [DOI: 10.1002/gcc.22040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2012] [Accepted: 11/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
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35
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Pincha M, Sundarasetty BS, Salguero G, Gutzmer R, Garritsen H, Macke L, Schneider A, Lenz D, Figueiredo C, Blasczyk R, Ruggiero E, Schmidt M, von Kalle C, Puff C, Modlich U, von der Leyen H, Wicke DC, Ganser A, Stripecke R. Identity, potency, in vivo viability, and scaling up production of lentiviral vector-induced dendritic cells for melanoma immunotherapy. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2013; 23:38-55. [PMID: 22428979 DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2011.170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
SmartDCs (Self-differentiated Myeloid-derived Antigen-presenting-cells Reactive against Tumors) consist of highly viable dendritic cells (DCs) induced to differentiate with lentiviral vectors (LVs) after an overnight ex vivo transduction. Tricistronic vectors co-expressing cytokines (granulocyte-macrophage-colony stimulating factor [GM-CSF], interleukin [IL]-4) and a melanoma antigen (tyrosine related protein 2 [TRP2]) were used to transduce mouse bone marrow cells or human monocytes. Sixteen hours after transduction, the cells were dispensed in aliquots and cryopreserved for identity, potency, and safety analyses. Thawed SmartDCs readily differentiated into highly viable cells with a DC immunophenotype. Prime/boost subcutaneous administration of 1×10(6) thawed murine SmartDCs into C57BL/6 mice resulted into TRP2-specific CD8(+) T-cell responses and protection against lethal melanoma challenge. Human SmartDC-TRP2 generated with monocytes obtained from melanoma patients secreted endogenous cytokines associated with DC activation and stimulated TRP2-specific autologous T-cell expansion in vitro. Thawed human SmartDCs injected subcutaneously in NOD.Rag1(-/-).IL2rγ(-/-) mice maintained DC characteristics and viability for 1 month in vivo and did not cause any signs of pathology. For development of good manufacturing practices, CD14(+) monocytes selected by magnetic-activated cell separation were transduced in a closed bag system (multiplicity of infection of 5), washed, and cryopreserved. Fifty percent of the monocytes used for transduction were recovered for cryopreservation. Thawed SmartDCs produced in two independent runs expressed the endogenous cytokines GM-CSF and IL-4, and the resulting homogeneous SmartDCs that self-differentiated in vitro contained approximately 1.5-3.0 copies of integrated LVs per cell. Thus, this method facilitates logistics, standardization, and high recovery for the generation of viable genetically reprogrammed DCs for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mudita Pincha
- Department of Hematology, Hemostasis, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, 30625, Germany
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36
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Wolf S, Rudolph C, Morgan M, Büsche G, Salguero G, Stripecke R, Schlegelberger B, Baum C, Modlich U. Selection for Evi1 activation in myelomonocytic leukemia induced by hyperactive signaling through wild-type NRas. Oncogene 2012; 32:3028-38. [PMID: 22847614 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2012.329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Activation of NRas signaling is frequently found in human myeloid leukemia and can be induced by activating mutations as well as by mutations in receptors or signaling molecules upstream of NRas. To study NRas-induced leukemogenesis, we retrovirally overexpressed wild-type NRas in a murine bone marrow transplantation (BMT) model in C57BL/6J mice. Overexpression of wild-type NRas caused myelomonocytic leukemias ∼3 months after BMT in the majority of mice. A subset of mice (30%) developed malignant histiocytosis similar to mice that received mutationally activated NRas(G12D)-expressing bone marrow. Aberrant Ras signaling was demonstrated in cells expressing mutationally active or wild-type NRas, as increased activation of Erk and Akt was observed in both models. However, more NRas(G12D) were found to be in the activated, GTP-bound state in comparison with wild-type NRas. Consistent with observations reported for primary human myelomonocytic leukemia cells, Stat5 activation was also detected in murine leukemic cells. Furthermore, clonal evolution was detected in NRas wild-type-induced leukemias, including expansion of clones containing activating vector insertions in known oncogenes, such as Evi1 and Prdm16. In vitro cooperation of NRas and Evi1 improved long-term expansion of primary murine bone marrow cells. Evi1-positive cells upregulated Bcl-2 and may, therefore, provide anti-apoptotic signals that collaborate with the NRas-induced proliferative effects. As activation of Evi1 has been shown to coincide with NRAS mutations in human acute myeloid leukemia, our murine model recapitulates crucial events in human leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Wolf
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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37
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Lachmann N, Brennig S, Pfaff N, Schermeier H, Dahlmann J, Phaltane R, Gruh I, Modlich U, Schambach A, Baum C, Moritz T. Efficient in vivo regulation of cytidine deaminase expression in the haematopoietic system using a doxycycline-inducible lentiviral vector system. Gene Ther 2012; 20:298-307. [PMID: 22592598 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2012.40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Regulated transgene expression may reduce transgene-specific and genotoxic risks associated with gene therapy. To prove this concept, we have investigated the suitability of doxycycline (Dox)-inducible human cytidine deaminase (hCDD) overexpression from lentiviral vectors to mediate effective myeloprotection while circumventing the lymphotoxicity observed with constitutive CDD activity. Rapid Dox-mediated transgene induction associated with a 6-17-fold increase in drug resistance was observed in 32D and primary murine bone marrow (BM) cells. Moreover, robust Dox-regulated transgene expression in the entire haematopoietic system was demonstrated for primary and secondary recipients of hCDD-transduced R26-M2rtTA transgenic BM cells. Furthermore, mice were significantly protected from myelosuppressive chemotherapy as evidenced by accelerated recovery of granulocytes (1.9±0.6 vs 1.3±0.3, P=0.034) and platelets (883±194 vs 584±160 10(3) per μl, P=0.011). Minimal transgene expression in the non-induced state and no overt cellular toxicities including lymphotoxicity were detected. Thus, using a relevant murine transplant model our data provide conclusive evidence that drug-resistance transgenes can be expressed in a regulated fashion in the lymphohaematopoietic system, and that Dox-inducible systems may be used to reduce myelotoxic side effect of anticancer chemotherapy or to avoid side effects of high constitutive transgene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Lachmann
- REBIRTH Cluster-of-Excellence, Research Group Reprogramming, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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38
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Heckl D, Schwarzer A, Haemmerle R, Steinemann D, Rudolph C, Skawran B, Knoess S, Krause J, Li Z, Schlegelberger B, Baum C, Modlich U. Lentiviral vector induced insertional haploinsufficiency of Ebf1 causes murine leukemia. Mol Ther 2012; 20:1187-95. [PMID: 22472950 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2012.59] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Integrating vectors developed on the basis of various retroviruses have demonstrated therapeutic potential following genetic modification of long-lived hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Lentiviral vectors (LV) are assumed to circumvent genotoxic events previously observed with γ-retroviral vectors, due to their integration bias to transcription units in comparison to the γ-retroviral preference for promoter regions and CpG islands. However, recently several studies have revealed the potential for gene activation by LV insertions. Here, we report a murine acute B-lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) triggered by insertional gene inactivation. LV integration occurred into the 8th intron of Ebf1, a major regulator of B-lymphopoiesis. Various aberrant splice variants could be detected that involved splice donor and acceptor sites of the lentiviral construct, inducing downregulation of Ebf1 full-length message. The transcriptome signature was compatible with loss of this major determinant of B-cell differentiation, with partial acquisition of myeloid markers, including Csf1r (macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) receptor). This was accompanied by receptor phosphorylation and STAT5 activation, both most likely contributing to leukemic progression. Our results highlight the risk of intragenic vector integration to initiate leukemia by inducing haploinsufficiency of a tumor suppressor gene. We propose to address this risk in future vector design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Heckl
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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39
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Baum C, Modlich U, Göhring G, Schlegelberger B. Concise review: managing genotoxicity in the therapeutic modification of stem cells. Stem Cells 2012; 29:1479-84. [PMID: 21898683 DOI: 10.1002/stem.716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The therapeutic use of procedures for genetic stem cell modification is limited by potential adverse events related to uncontrolled mutagenesis. Prominent findings have been made in hematopoietic gene therapy, demonstrating the risk of clonal, potentially malignant outgrowth on the basis of mutations acquired during or after therapeutic genome modification. The incidence and the growth rate of insertional mutants have been linked to the "stemness" of the target cells and vector-related features such as the integration pattern, the architecture, and the exact content of transgene cassettes. Milieu factors supporting the survival and expansion of mutants may eventually allow oncogenic progression. Similar concerns apply for medicinal products based on pluripotent stem cells. Focusing on the genetic stress induced by insertional mutagenesis and culture adaptation, we propose four conclusions. (a) Mutations occurring in the production of stem cell-based medicines may be unavoidable and need to be classified according to their risk to trigger the formation of clones that are sufficiently long-lived and mitotically active to acquire secondary transforming mutations. (b) The development of rational prevention strategies depends upon the identification of the specific mutations forming such "dominant clones" (which can also be addressed as cancer stem cell precursors) and a better knowledge of the mechanisms underlying their creation, expansion, and homeostatic control. (c) Quantitative assay systems are required to assess the practical value of preventive actions. (d) Improved approaches for the genetic modification of stem cells can address all critical steps in the origin and growth control of mutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Baum
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
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Avedillo Díez I, Zychlinski D, Coci EG, Galla M, Modlich U, Dewey RA, Schwarzer A, Maetzig T, Mpofu N, Jaeckel E, Boztug K, Baum C, Klein C, Schambach A. Development of novel efficient SIN vectors with improved safety features for Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome stem cell based gene therapy. Mol Pharm 2011; 8:1525-37. [PMID: 21851067 DOI: 10.1021/mp200132u] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy is a promising therapeutic approach to treat primary immunodeficiencies. Indeed, the clinical trial for the Wiskott-Aldrich Syndrome (WAS) that is currently ongoing at the Hannover Medical School (Germany) has recently reported the correction of all affected cell lineages of the hematopoietic system in the first treated patients. However, an extensive study of the clonal inventory of those patients reveals that LMO2, CCND2 and MDS1/EVI1 were preferentially prevalent. Moreover, a first leukemia case was observed in this study, thus reinforcing the need of developing safer vectors for gene transfer into HSC in general. Here we present a novel self-inactivating (SIN) vector for the gene therapy of WAS that combines improved safety features. We used the elongation factor 1 alpha (EFS) promoter, which has been extensively evaluated in terms of safety profile, to drive a codon-optimized human WASP cDNA. To test vector performance in a more clinically relevant setting, we transduced murine HSPC as well as human CD34+ cells and also analyzed vector efficacy in their differentiated myeloid progeny. Our results show that our novel vector generates comparable WAS protein levels and is as effective as the clinically used LTR-driven vector. Therefore, the described SIN vectors appear to be good candidates for potential use in a safer new gene therapy protocol for WAS, with decreased risk of insertional mutagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inés Avedillo Díez
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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41
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Gaussin A, Modlich U, Bauche C, Niederländer NJ, Schambach A, Duros C, Artus A, Baum C, Cohen-Haguenauer O, Mermod N. CTF/NF1 transcription factors act as potent genetic insulators for integrating gene transfer vectors. Gene Ther 2011; 19:15-24. [DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.70] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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42
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Stocking C, Grez M, Fehse B, von Laer D, Itoh K, Prassolov V, Nowock J, Kühlcke K, Just U, Schröder T, Klump H, Schiedlmeier B, Grassman E, Meyer J, Li Z, Schambach A, Modlich U, Kustikova O, Galla M, Bode J, Zander A, Baum C. Cell and virus genetics at the roots of gene therapy, retrovirology, and hematopoietic stem cell biology: Wolfram Ostertag (1937-2010). Hum Gene Ther 2010; 21:1501-3. [PMID: 21091034 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2010.1901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Arumugam PI, Higashimoto T, Urbinati F, Modlich U, Nestheide S, Xia P, Fox C, Corsinotti A, Baum C, Malik P. Genotoxic potential of lineage-specific lentivirus vectors carrying the beta-globin locus control region. Mol Ther 2009; 17:1929-37. [PMID: 19707188 PMCID: PMC2835044 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2009] [Accepted: 07/15/2009] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Insertional mutagenesis by long terminal repeat (LTR) enhancers in gamma-retrovirus-based vectors (GVs) in clinical trials has prompted deeper investigations into vector genotoxicity. Experimentally, self-inactivating (SIN) lentivirus vectors (LVs) and GV containing internal promoters/enhancers show reduced genotoxicity, although strong ubiquitously-active enhancers dysregulate genes independent of vector type/design. Herein, we explored the genotoxicity of beta-globin (BG) locus control region (LCR), a strong long-range lineage-specific-enhancer, with/without insulator (Ins) elements in LV using primary hematopoietic progenitors to generate in vitro immortalization (IVIM) assay mutants. LCR-containing LV had approximately 200-fold lower transforming potential, compared to the conventional GV. The LCR perturbed expression of few genes in a 300 kilobase (kb) proviral vicinity but no upregulation of genes associated with cancer, including an erythroid-specific transcription factor occurred. A further twofold reduction in transforming activity was observed with insulated LCR-containing LV. Our data indicate that toxicology studies of LCR-containing LV in mice will likely not yield any insertional oncogenesis with the numbers of animals that can be practically studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paritha I Arumugam
- Division of Experimental Hematology/Cancer Biology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229, USA
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44
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Wicke DC, Meyer J, Buesche G, Heckl D, Kreipe H, Li Z, Welte KH, Ballmaier M, Baum C, Modlich U. Gene therapy of MPL deficiency: challenging balance between leukemia and pancytopenia. Mol Ther 2009; 18:343-52. [PMID: 19844195 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Signaling of the thrombopoietin (THPO) receptor MPL is critical for the maintenance of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) and megakaryocytic differentiation. Inherited loss-of-function mutations of MPL cause severe thrombocytopenia and aplastic anemia, a syndrome called congenital amegakaryocytic thrombocytopenia (CAMT). With the aim to assess the toxicity of retroviral expression of Mpl as a basis for further development of a gene therapy for this disorder, we expressed Mpl in a murine bone marrow transplantation (BMT) model. Treated mice developed a profound yet transient elevation of multilineage hematopoiesis, which showed morphologic features of a chronic myeloproliferative disorder (CMPD) with progressive pancytopenia. Ten percent of mice (3/27) developed erythroleukemia, associated with insertional activation of Sfpi1 and Fli1. The majority of transplanted mice developed a progressive pancytopenia with histopathological features of a myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS)-like disorder. To avoid these adverse reactions, improved retroviral vectors were designed that mediate reduced and more physiological Mpl expression. Self-inactivating gamma-retroviral vectors were constructed that expressed Mpl from the phosphoglycerate kinase (PGK) or the murine Mpl promoter. Mice that received BM cells expressing Mpl from the Mpl promoter were free of any previously observed adverse reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel C Wicke
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Modlich U, Navarro S, Zychlinski D, Maetzig T, Knoess S, Brugman MH, Schambach A, Charrier S, Galy A, Thrasher AJ, Bueren J, Baum C. Insertional transformation of hematopoietic cells by self-inactivating lentiviral and gammaretroviral vectors. Mol Ther 2009; 17:1919-28. [PMID: 19672245 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 300] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene transfer vectors may cause clonal imbalance and even malignant cell transformation by insertional upregulation of proto-oncogenes. Lentiviral vectors (LV) with their preferred integration in transcribed genes are considered less genotoxic than gammaretroviral vectors (GV) with their preference for integration next to transcriptional start sites and regulatory gene regions. Using a sensitive cell culture assay and a series of self-inactivating (SIN) vectors, we found that the lentiviral insertion pattern was approximately threefold less likely than the gammaretroviral to trigger transformation of primary hematopoietic cells. However, lentivirally induced mutants also showed robust replating, in line with the selection for common insertion sites (CIS) in the first intron of the Evi1 proto-oncogene. This potent proto-oncogene thus represents a CIS for both GV and LV, despite major differences in their integration mechanisms. Altering the vectors' enhancer-promoter elements had a greater effect on safety than the retroviral insertion pattern. Clinical grade LV expressing the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) protein under control of its own promoter had no transforming potential. Mechanistic studies support the conclusion that enhancer-mediated gene activation is the major cause for insertional transformation of hematopoietic cells, opening rational strategies for risk prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Modlich
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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46
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Abstract
Gene therapy requires efficient gene delivery to cure or prevent disease by modifying the genome of somatic cells. However, gene vectors, which insert themselves into the host genome in order to achieve persistent protein expression, can trigger oncogenesis by upregulating cellular protooncogenes. This adverse event, known as insertional mutagenesis, has become a major hurdle in the field. Vectors developed on the basis of lentiviruses are considered to be less genotoxic than the hitherto used gamma-retroviral vectors. For their report in this issue of the JCI, Montini et al. utilized a tumor-prone mouse model to identify the genetic determinants of insertional mutagenesis (see the related article beginning on page 964). They report that the lentiviral integration pattern and additional improvements in vector design reduce the genotoxic risk. These findings will inform future vector design with the goal of limiting genotoxicity for gene therapy or increasing genotoxicity for protooncogene discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Modlich
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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Abstract
The mouse is the most commonly used experimental animal, and a wide range of tumor types can arise in their hematopoietic system. Therefore, for research scientists and graduate students working in the field of experimental hematology, immunology, and cancer research, there is an urgent need for well-established protocols for the preparation of histology and cytology for leukemia diagnosis. Moreover, the criteria for the classification of hematopoietic neoplasms often vary between different laboratories. In this chapter, we describe diagnosis and analysis of leukemia in murine bone marrow transplantation models based primarily on the findings of the histology and cytology of hematopoietic and infiltrated tissues, peripheral blood smear, and immunophenotyping by FACS analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixiong Li
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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48
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Abstract
Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) represent an important target cell population in bone marrow transplantation and gene therapy applications. Their progeny cells carry the genetic information of the HSCs and replenish the blood and immune system. Therefore, in the setting of inherited diseases, transduction of HSCs with retroviral vectors (including gammaretro- and lentiviral vectors) offers the possibility to correct the phenotype in all blood lineages as demonstrated in clinical trials for immunodeficiencies (e.g., X-SCID). In the process of developing gene therapy strategies for patient applications, suitable mouse models for the human gene therapy are important to validate the concept. Stem-cell-enriched populations such as lineage negative cells as the functional equivalent of human CD34(+) cells can be isolated from murine bone marrow and efficiently transduced using retroviral vectors. This chapter provides a step-by-step protocol for retroviral transduction of murine lineage negative cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ute Modlich
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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49
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Abstract
Identification of retroviral vector insertion sites in single, dominating cell clones has become an important tool for the investigation of cellular signalling pathways involved in clonal expansion and malignant transformation. Also, recent severe adverse events in clinical trials resulting from retroviral vector-mediated insertional mutagenesis underline the need of well-designed safety studies including integration site analyses to estimate cost/benefit ratios in gene therapy. We have recently described a modified ligation-mediated PCR (LM PCR) method allowing preferential retrieval of insertion sites causally linked to clonal dominance of an affected clone. In the first part of the given work we focus on particularities of the LM PCR procedure to be taken into account when working with self-inactivating as compared to 'classical' retrovectors. In the following sections we focus on data acquisition, processing, organisation, and analysis. Thus the protocol presented here should be helpful in establishing and utilising databases of retroviral integration sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga S Kustikova
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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50
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Modlich U, Schambach A, Brugman MH, Wicke DC, Knoess S, Li Z, Maetzig T, Rudolph C, Schlegelberger B, Baum C. Leukemia induction after a single retroviral vector insertion in Evi1 or Prdm16. Leukemia 2008; 22:1519-28. [PMID: 18496560 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2008.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Insertional activation of cellular proto-oncogenes by replication-defective retroviral vectors can trigger clonal dominance and leukemogenesis in animal models and clinical trials. Here, we addressed the leukemogenic potential of vectors expressing interleukin-2 receptor common gamma-chain (IL2RG), the coding sequence required for correction of X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency. Similar to conventional gamma-retroviral vectors, self-inactivating (SIN) vectors with strong internal enhancers also triggered profound clonal imbalance, yet with a characteristic insertion preference for a window located downstream of the transcriptional start site. Controls including lentivirally transduced cells revealed that ectopic IL2RG expression was not sufficient to trigger leukemia. After serial bone marrow transplantation involving 106 C57Bl6/J mice monitored for up to 18 months, we observed leukemic progression of six distinct clones harboring gamma-retroviral long terminal repeat (LTR) or SIN vector insertions in Evi1 or Prdm16, two functionally related genes. Three leukemic clones had single vector integrations, and identical clones manifested with a remarkably similar latency and phenotype in independent recipients. We conclude that upregulation of Evi1 or Prdm16 was sufficient to initiate a leukemogenic cascade with consistent intrinsic dynamics. Our study also shows that insertional mutagenesis is required for leukemia induction by IL2RG vectors, a risk to be addressed by improved vector design.
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Affiliation(s)
- U Modlich
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
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