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Chuecos MA, Lagor WR. Liver directed adeno-associated viral vectors to treat metabolic disease. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024; 47:22-40. [PMID: 37254440 PMCID: PMC10687323 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The liver is the metabolic center of the body and an ideal target for gene therapy of inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs). Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors can deliver transgenes to the liver with high efficiency and specificity and a favorable safety profile. Recombinant AAV vectors contain only the transgene cassette, and their payload is converted to non-integrating circular double-stranded DNA episomes, which can provide stable expression from months to years. Insights from cellular studies and preclinical animal models have provided valuable information about AAV capsid serotypes with a high liver tropism. These vectors have been applied successfully in the clinic, particularly in trials for hemophilia, resulting in the first approved liver-directed gene therapy. Lessons from ongoing clinical trials have identified key factors affecting efficacy and safety that were not readily apparent in animal models. Circumventing pre-existing neutralizing antibodies to the AAV capsid, and mitigating adaptive immune responses to transduced cells are critical to achieving therapeutic benefit. Combining the high efficiency of AAV delivery with genome editing is a promising path to achieve more precise control of gene expression. The primary safety concern for liver gene therapy with AAV continues to be the small risk of tumorigenesis from rare vector integrations. Hepatotoxicity is a key consideration in the safety of neuromuscular gene therapies which are applied at substantially higher doses. The current knowledge base and toolkit for AAV is well developed, and poised to correct some of the most severe IMDs with liver-directed gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcel A. Chuecos
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
- Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
| | - William R. Lagor
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX USA
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2
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Moore OM, Aguilar-Sanchez Y, Lahiri SK, Hulsurkar MM, Alberto Navarro-Garcia J, Word TA, Keefe JA, Barazi D, Munivez EM, Moore CT, Parthasarathy V, Davidson J, Lagor WR, Park SH, Bao G, Miyake CY, Wehrens XHT. Long-term efficacy and safety of cardiac genome editing for catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. J Cardiovasc Aging 2024; 4:8. [PMID: 38464671 PMCID: PMC10919902 DOI: 10.20517/jca.2023.42] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
Introduction Heterozygous autosomal-dominant single nucleotide variants in RYR2 account for 60% of cases of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT), an inherited arrhythmia disorder associated with high mortality rates. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing is a promising therapeutic approach that can permanently cure the disease by removing the mutant RYR2 allele. However, the safety and long-term efficacy of this strategy have not been established in a relevant disease model. Aim The purpose of this study was to assess whether adeno-associated virus type-9 (AAV9)-mediated somatic genome editing could prevent ventricular arrhythmias by removal of the mutant allele in mice that are heterozygous for Ryr2 variant p.Arg176Gln (R176Q/+). Methods and Results Guide RNA and SaCas9 were delivered using AAV9 vectors injected subcutaneously in 10-day-old mice. At 6 weeks after injection, R176Q/+ mice had a 100% reduction in ventricular arrhythmias compared to controls. When aged to 12 months, injected R176Q/+ mice maintained a 100% reduction in arrhythmia induction. Deep RNA sequencing revealed the formation of insertions/deletions at the target site with minimal off-target editing on the wild-type allele. Consequently, CRISPR/SaCas9 editing resulted in a 45% reduction of total Ryr2 mRNA and a 38% reduction in RyR2 protein. Genome editing was well tolerated based on serial echocardiography, revealing unaltered cardiac function and structure up to 12 months after AAV9 injection. Conclusion Taken together, AAV9-mediated CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing could efficiently disrupt the mutant Ryr2 allele, preventing lethal arrhythmias while preserving normal cardiac function in the R176Q/+ mouse model of CPVT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver M. Moore
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yuriana Aguilar-Sanchez
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Satadru K. Lahiri
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mohit M. Hulsurkar
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - J. Alberto Navarro-Garcia
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tarah A. Word
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Joshua A. Keefe
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dean Barazi
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Elda M. Munivez
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Charles T. Moore
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Vaidya Parthasarathy
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jaysón Davidson
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - William R. Lagor
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - So Hyun Park
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Christina Y. Miyake
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xander H. T. Wehrens
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Pediatrics (Cardiology), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Center for Space Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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3
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Assini JM, Clark JR, Youssef A, Xing C, Doerfler AM, Park SH, Saxena L, Yaseen AB, Børen J, Gros R, Bao G, Lagor WR, Boffa MB, Koschinsky ML. High levels of lipoprotein(a) in transgenic mice exacerbate atherosclerosis and promote vulnerable plaque features in a sex-specific manner. Atherosclerosis 2023; 384:117150. [PMID: 37290980 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2023.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Despite increased clinical interest in lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), many questions remain about the molecular mechanisms by which it contributes to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Existing murine transgenic (Tg) Lp(a) models are limited by low plasma levels of Lp(a) and have not consistently shown a pro-atherosclerotic effect of Lp(a). METHODS We generated Tg mice expressing both human apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)) and human apoB-100, with pathogenic levels of plasma Lp(a) (range 87-250 mg/dL). Female and male Lp(a) Tg mice (Tg(LPA+/0;APOB+/0)) and human apoB-100-only controls (Tg(APOB+/0)) (n = 10-13/group) were fed a high-fat, high-cholesterol diet for 12 weeks, with Ldlr knocked down using an antisense oligonucleotide. FPLC was used to characterize plasma lipoprotein profiles. Plaque area and necrotic core size were quantified and immunohistochemical assessment of lesions using a variety of cellular and protein markers was performed. RESULTS Male and female Tg(LPA+/0;APOB+/0) and Tg(APOB+/0) mice exhibited proatherogenic lipoprotein profiles with increased cholesterol-rich VLDL and LDL-sized particles and no difference in plasma total cholesterol between genotypes. Complex lesions developed in the aortic sinus of all mice. Plaque area (+22%), necrotic core size (+25%), and calcified area (+65%) were all significantly increased in female Tg(LPA+/0;APOB+/0) mice compared to female Tg(APOB+/0) mice. Immunohistochemistry of lesions demonstrated that apo(a) deposited in a similar pattern as apoB-100 in Tg(LPA+/0;APOB+/0) mice. Furthermore, female Tg(LPA+/0;APOB+/0) mice exhibited less organized collagen deposition as well as 42% higher staining for oxidized phospholipids (OxPL) compared to female Tg(APOB+/0) mice. Tg(LPA+/0;APOB+/0) mice had dramatically higher levels of plasma OxPL-apo(a) and OxPL-apoB compared to Tg(APOB+/0) mice, and female Tg(LPA+/0;APOB+/0) mice had higher plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokine MCP-1 (+3.1-fold) compared to female Tg(APOB+/0) mice. CONCLUSIONS These data suggest a pro-inflammatory phenotype exhibited by female Tg mice expressing Lp(a) that appears to contribute to the development of more severe lesions with greater vulnerable features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia M Assini
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada; Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Justin R Clark
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Amer Youssef
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Chuce Xing
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - Alexandria M Doerfler
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - So Hyun Park
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, USA
| | - Lavanya Saxena
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, USA
| | - Adam B Yaseen
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, USA
| | - Jan Børen
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Robert Gros
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada
| | - Gang Bao
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA; Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, USA
| | - Michael B Boffa
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada; Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Marlys L Koschinsky
- Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, London, Ontario, Canada; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, The University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, N6A 5B7, Canada.
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4
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Lee CS, Jung SY, Yee RSZ, Agha NH, Hong J, Chang T, Babcock LW, Fleischman JD, Clayton B, Hanna AD, Ward CS, Lanza D, Hurley AE, Zhang P, Wehrens XHT, Lagor WR, Rodney GG, Hamilton SL. Speg interactions that regulate the stability of excitation-contraction coupling protein complexes in triads and dyads. Commun Biol 2023; 6:942. [PMID: 37709832 PMCID: PMC10502019 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05330-y] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Here we show that striated muscle preferentially expressed protein kinase α (Spegα) maintains cardiac function in hearts with Spegβ deficiency. Speg is required for stability of excitation-contraction coupling (ECC) complexes and interacts with esterase D (Esd), Cardiomyopathy-Associated Protein 5 (Cmya5), and Fibronectin Type III and SPRY Domain Containing 2 (Fsd2) in cardiac and skeletal muscle. Mice with a sequence encoding a V5/HA tag inserted into the first exon of the Speg gene (HA-Speg mice) display a >90% decrease in Spegβ but Spegα is expressed at ~50% of normal levels. Mice deficient in both Spegα and Speg β (Speg KO mice) develop a severe dilated cardiomyopathy and muscle weakness and atrophy, but HA-Speg mice display mild muscle weakness with no cardiac involvement. Spegα in HA-Speg mice suppresses Ca2+ leak, proteolytic cleavage of Jph2, and disruption of transverse tubules. Despite it's low levels, HA-Spegβ immunoprecipitation identified Esd, Cmya5 and Fsd2 as Spegβ binding partners that localize to triads and dyads to stabilize ECC complexes. This study suggests that Spegα and Spegβ display functional redundancy, identifies Esd, Cmya5 and Fsd2 as components of both cardiac dyads and skeletal muscle triads and lays the groundwork for the identification of new therapeutic targets for centronuclear myopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Seok Lee
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Sung Yun Jung
- Department of Biochemistry, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Rachel Sue Zhen Yee
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Nadia H Agha
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Jin Hong
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Ting Chang
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Lyle W Babcock
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Jorie D Fleischman
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Benjamin Clayton
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Amy D Hanna
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Christopher S Ward
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Denise Lanza
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Ayrea E Hurley
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Pumin Zhang
- The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University Medical School, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xander H T Wehrens
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - George G Rodney
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA
| | - Susan L Hamilton
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77096, USA.
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5
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De Giorgi M, Park SH, Castoreno A, Cao M, Hurley A, Saxena L, Chuecos MA, Walkey CJ, Doerfler AM, Furgurson MN, Ljungberg MC, Patel KR, Hyde S, Chickering T, Lefebvre S, Wassarman K, Miller P, Qin J, Schlegel MK, Zlatev I, Li RG, Kim J, Martin JF, Bissig KD, Jadhav V, Bao G, Lagor WR. In vivo expansion of gene-targeted hepatocytes through transient inhibition of an essential gene. bioRxiv 2023:2023.07.26.550728. [PMID: 37546995 PMCID: PMC10402145 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.26.550728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Homology Directed Repair (HDR)-based genome editing is an approach that could permanently correct a broad range of genetic diseases. However, its utility is limited by inefficient and imprecise DNA repair mechanisms in terminally differentiated tissues. Here, we tested "Repair Drive", a novel method for improving targeted gene insertion in the liver by selectively expanding correctly repaired hepatocytes in vivo. Our system consists of transient conditioning of the liver by knocking down an essential gene, and delivery of an untargetable version of the essential gene in cis with a therapeutic transgene. We show that Repair Drive dramatically increases the percentage of correctly targeted hepatocytes, up to 25%. This resulted in a five-fold increased expression of a therapeutic transgene. Repair Drive was well-tolerated and did not induce toxicity or tumorigenesis in long term follow up. This approach will broaden the range of liver diseases that can be treated with somatic genome editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco De Giorgi
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - So Hyun Park
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Adam Castoreno
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc, 675 W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Mingming Cao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ayrea Hurley
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lavanya Saxena
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marcel A. Chuecos
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Christopher J. Walkey
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alexandria M. Doerfler
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mia N. Furgurson
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - M. Cecilia Ljungberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kalyani R. Patel
- Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Sarah Hyde
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc, 675 W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Tyler Chickering
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc, 675 W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Kelly Wassarman
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc, 675 W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Patrick Miller
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc, 675 W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - June Qin
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc, 675 W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Mark K. Schlegel
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc, 675 W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ivan Zlatev
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc, 675 W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Rich Gang Li
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jong Kim
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - James F. Martin
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Karl-Dimiter Bissig
- Department of Pediatrics, Alice and Y. T. Chen Center for Genetics and Genomics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Vasant Jadhav
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc, 675 W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - William R. Lagor
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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6
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Huang Q, Chen AT, Chan KY, Sorensen H, Barry AJ, Azari B, Zheng Q, Beddow T, Zhao B, Tobey IG, Moncada-Reid C, Eid FE, Walkey CJ, Ljungberg MC, Lagor WR, Heaney JD, Chan YA, Deverman BE. Targeting AAV vectors to the central nervous system by engineering capsid-receptor interactions that enable crossing of the blood-brain barrier. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002112. [PMID: 37467291 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Viruses have evolved the ability to bind and enter cells through interactions with a wide variety of cell macromolecules. We engineered peptide-modified adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsids that transduce the brain through the introduction of de novo interactions with 2 proteins expressed on the mouse blood-brain barrier (BBB), LY6A or LY6C1. The in vivo tropisms of these capsids are predictable as they are dependent on the cell- and strain-specific expression of their target protein. This approach generated hundreds of capsids with dramatically enhanced central nervous system (CNS) tropisms within a single round of screening in vitro and secondary validation in vivo thereby reducing the use of animals in comparison to conventional multi-round in vivo selections. The reproducible and quantitative data derived via this method enabled both saturation mutagenesis and machine learning (ML)-guided exploration of the capsid sequence space. Notably, during our validation process, we determined that nearly all published AAV capsids that were selected for their ability to cross the BBB in mice leverage either the LY6A or LY6C1 protein, which are not present in primates. This work demonstrates that AAV capsids can be directly targeted to specific proteins to generate potent gene delivery vectors with known mechanisms of action and predictable tropisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Huang
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Albert T Chen
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ken Y Chan
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hikari Sorensen
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Andrew J Barry
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Bahar Azari
- Electrical & Computer Engineering Department, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Qingxia Zheng
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Thomas Beddow
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Binhui Zhao
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Isabelle G Tobey
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Cynthia Moncada-Reid
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Fatma-Elzahraa Eid
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Systems and Computer Engineering, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Christopher J Walkey
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - M Cecilia Ljungberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
- Duncan Neurological Research Institute at Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jason D Heaney
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Yujia A Chan
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Benjamin E Deverman
- Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
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7
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Barzi M, Johnson CG, Chen T, Rodriguiz RM, Hemmingsen M, Gonzalez TJ, Rosales A, Beasley J, Peck CK, Ma Y, Stiles AR, Wood TC, Maeso-Diaz R, Diehl AM, Young SP, Everitt JI, Wetsel WC, Lagor WR, Bissig-Choisat B, Asokan A, El-Gharbawy A, Bissig KD. Rescue of glutaric aciduria type I in mice by liver-directed therapies. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eadf4086. [PMID: 37075130 PMCID: PMC10676743 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adf4086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023]
Abstract
Glutaric aciduria type I (GA-1) is an inborn error of metabolism with a severe neurological phenotype caused by the deficiency of glutaryl-coenzyme A dehydrogenase (GCDH), the last enzyme of lysine catabolism. Current literature suggests that toxic catabolites in the brain are produced locally and do not cross the blood-brain barrier. In a series of experiments using knockout mice of the lysine catabolic pathway and liver cell transplantation, we uncovered that toxic GA-1 catabolites in the brain originated from the liver. Moreover, the characteristic brain and lethal phenotype of the GA-1 mouse model was rescued by two different liver-directed gene therapy approaches: Using an adeno-associated virus, we replaced the defective Gcdh gene or we prevented flux through the lysine degradation pathway by CRISPR deletion of the aminoadipate-semialdehyde synthase (Aass) gene. Our findings question the current pathophysiological understanding of GA-1 and reveal a targeted therapy for this devastating disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mercedes Barzi
- Y.T. and Alice Chen Center for Genetics and Genomics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Collin G Johnson
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Tong Chen
- Y.T. and Alice Chen Center for Genetics and Genomics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Ramona M Rodriguiz
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Mouse Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Analysis Core Facility, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Madeline Hemmingsen
- Y.T. and Alice Chen Center for Genetics and Genomics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Trevor J Gonzalez
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Alan Rosales
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - James Beasley
- Y.T. and Alice Chen Center for Genetics and Genomics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Cheryl K Peck
- Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Yunhan Ma
- Y.T. and Alice Chen Center for Genetics and Genomics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Ashlee R Stiles
- Y.T. and Alice Chen Center for Genetics and Genomics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Timothy C Wood
- Biochemical Genetics Laboratory, Children's Hospital Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Raquel Maeso-Diaz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Anna Mae Diehl
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Sarah P Young
- Y.T. and Alice Chen Center for Genetics and Genomics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Jeffrey I Everitt
- Department of Pathology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - William C Wetsel
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Mouse Behavioral and Neuroendocrine Analysis Core Facility, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Beatrice Bissig-Choisat
- Y.T. and Alice Chen Center for Genetics and Genomics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Aravind Asokan
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at the Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Cancer Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Areeg El-Gharbawy
- Y.T. and Alice Chen Center for Genetics and Genomics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Karl-Dimiter Bissig
- Y.T. and Alice Chen Center for Genetics and Genomics, Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME) at the Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Duke Cancer Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
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8
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Wang Y, Hurley A, De Giorgi M, Tanner MR, Hu RC, Pennington MW, Lagor WR, Beeton C. Adeno-Associated virus 8 delivers an immunomodulatory peptide to mouse liver more efficiently than to rat liver. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0283996. [PMID: 37040361 PMCID: PMC10089316 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Targeting the Kv1.3 potassium channel has proven effective in reducing obesity and the severity of animal models of autoimmune disease. Stichodactyla toxin (ShK), isolated from the sea anemone Stichodactyla helianthus, is a potent blocker of Kv1.3. Several of its analogs are some of the most potent and selective blockers of this channel. However, like most biologics, ShK and its analogs require injections for their delivery, and repeated injections reduce patient compliance during the treatment of chronic diseases. We hypothesized that inducing the expression of an ShK analog by hepatocytes would remove the requirement for frequent injections and lead to a sustained level of Kv1.3 blocker in the circulation. To this goal, we tested the ability of Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)8 vectors to target hepatocytes for expressing the ShK analog, ShK-235 (AAV-ShK-235) in rodents. We designed AAV8 vectors expressing the target transgene, ShK-235, or Enhanced Green fluorescent protein (EGFP). Transduction of mouse livers led to the production of sufficient levels of functional ShK-235 in the serum from AAV-ShK-235 single-injected mice to block Kv1.3 channels. However, AAV-ShK-235 therapy was not effective in reducing high-fat diet-induced obesity in mice. In addition, injection of even high doses of AAV8-ShK-235 to rats resulted in a very low liver transduction efficiency and failed to reduce inflammation in a well-established rat model of delayed-type hypersensitivity. In conclusion, the AAV8-based delivery of ShK-235 was highly effective in inducing the secretion of functional Kv1.3-blocking peptide in mouse, but not rat, hepatocytes yet did not reduce obesity in mice fed a high-fat diet.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Wang
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Ayrea Hurley
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Marco De Giorgi
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Mark R. Tanner
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Rong-Chi Hu
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | | | - William R. Lagor
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
| | - Christine Beeton
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States of America
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9
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Lorincz R, Alvarez AB, Walkey CJ, Mendonça SA, Lu ZH, Martinez AE, Ljungberg C, Heaney JD, Lagor WR, Curiel DT. In vivo editing of the pan-endothelium by immunity evading simian adenoviral vector. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114189. [PMID: 36587560 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114189] [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: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Biological applications deriving from the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9 site-specific nuclease system continue to impact and accelerate gene therapy strategies. Safe and effective in vivo co-delivery of the CRISPR/Cas9 system to target somatic cells is essential in the clinical therapeutic context. Both non-viral and viral vector systems have been applied for this delivery matter. Despite elegant proof-of-principle studies, available vector technologies still face challenges that restrict the application of CRISPR/Cas9-facilitated gene therapy. Of note, the mandated co-delivery of the gene-editing components must be accomplished in the potential presence of pre-formed anti-vector immunity. Additionally, methods must be sought to limit the potential of off-target editing. To this end, we have exploited the molecular promiscuities of adenovirus (Ad) to address the key requirements of CRISPR/Cas9-facilitated gene therapy. In this regard, we have endeavored capsid engineering of a simian (chimpanzee) adenovirus isolate 36 (SAd36) to achieve targeted modifications of vector tropism. The SAd36 vector with the myeloid cell-binding peptide (MBP) incorporated in the capsid has allowed selective in vivo modifications of the vascular endothelium. Importantly, vascular endothelium can serve as an effective non-hepatic cellular source of deficient serum factors relevant to several inherited genetic disorders. In addition to allowing for re-directed tropism, capsid engineering of nonhuman primate Ads provide the means to circumvent pre-formed vector immunity. Herein we have generated a SAd36. MBP vector that can serve as a single intravenously administered agent allowing effective and selective in vivo editing for endothelial target cells of the mouse spleen, brain and kidney. DATA AVAILABILITY: The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reka Lorincz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Biologic Therapeutics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus box 8224, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Aluet Borrego Alvarez
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Biologic Therapeutics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus box 8224, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Christopher J Walkey
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Samir A Mendonça
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Biologic Therapeutics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus box 8224, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Zhi Hong Lu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Biologic Therapeutics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus box 8224, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
| | - Alexa E Martinez
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Cecilia Ljungberg
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jason D Heaney
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - David T Curiel
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Biologic Therapeutics Center, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 South Euclid Avenue, Campus box 8224, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
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10
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Walkey CJ, Lagor WR. CaMKIIδ gene editing- A base hit for the heart. J Cardiovasc Aging 2023; 3. [PMID: 37065676 PMCID: PMC10104458 DOI: 10.20517/jca.2023.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/24/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Walkey
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Integrative Physiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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11
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De Giorgi M, Doerfler AM, Hurley A, Walkey C, Lagor WR. Abstract 425: Genetic Inhibition Of Hepatic Dolichol Biosynthesis Results In Hypolipidemia. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2022. [DOI: 10.1161/atvb.42.suppl_1.425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Dolichol is a nonsterol isoprenoid derived from the mevalonate pathway. Dehydrodolichyl diphosphate synthase subunit (DHDDS) is a branch point enzyme that - in complex with Nogo-B receptor (NgBR) - catalyzes the first committed step of dolichol biosynthesis. Next, dolichol is phosphorylated, and used as carrier for oligosaccharides, which are transferred to nascent proteins in the N-linked glycosylation pathway. A growing body of evidence highlights the importance of N-linked glycosylation in regulating plasma lipid levels in humans. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are largely unexplored. Therefore, the goal of this project is to define the role of dolichol biosynthesis in lipid metabolism in the liver, the major organ for the biosynthesis and clearance of lipoproteins. We used Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)-mediated delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 (AAV-CRISPR) to delete
Dhdds
in mouse liver, to inhibit the hepatic biosynthesis of dolichol. Mice were injected with AAV-CRISPR or saline as control, and fed a high-fat diet for 4 to 12 weeks. Surprisingly,
Dhdds
liver-specific knockout (LSKO) mice gained less weight compared to control mice. Plasma total cholesterol and triglyceride levels were also reduced over time in
Dhdds
LSKO mice. Moreover, we observed less cholesterol content in the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) fractions as well as less triglycerides in very-low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). At the cellular level,
Dhdds
LSKO mice showed hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and decreased N-linked glycosylation. In addition, we observed significant downregulation of Sterol Regulatory Element-Binding Protein 1c (
Srebp-1c
) - a key regulator of
de novo
lipogenesis (DNL) - and downstream-regulated genes in the DNL pathway. Conversely, the expression of genes regulating cholesterol biosynthesis was unaffected. Taken together, our data show an important role for hepatic dolichol biosynthesis in regulating plasma lipids, potentially through modulation of
Srebp-1c
expression and DNL.
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12
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Doerfler AM, Han J, Jarrett KE, Tang L, Jain A, Saltzman A, De Giorgi M, Chuecos M, Hurley AE, Li A, Morand P, Ayala C, Goodlett DR, Malovannaya A, Martin JF, de Aguiar Vallim TQ, Shroyer N, Lagor WR. Intestinal Deletion of 3-Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A Reductase Promotes Expansion of the Resident Stem Cell Compartment. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2022; 42:381-394. [PMID: 35172604 PMCID: PMC8957608 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.317320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The intestine occupies the critical interface between cholesterol absorption and excretion. Surprisingly little is known about the role of de novo cholesterol synthesis in this organ, and its relationship to whole body cholesterol homeostasis. Here, we investigate the physiological importance of this pathway through genetic deletion of the rate-limiting enzyme. METHODS Mice lacking 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (Hmgcr) in intestinal villus and crypt epithelial cells were generated using a Villin-Cre transgene. Plasma lipids, intestinal morphology, mevalonate pathway metabolites, and gene expression were analyzed. RESULTS Mice with intestine-specific loss of Hmgcr were markedly smaller at birth, but gain weight at a rate similar to wild-type littermates, and are viable and fertile into adulthood. Intestine lengths and weights were greater relative to body weight in both male and female Hmgcr intestinal knockout mice. Male intestinal knockout had decreased plasma cholesterol levels, whereas fasting triglycerides were lower in both sexes. Lipidomics revealed substantial reductions in numerous nonsterol isoprenoids and sterol intermediates within the epithelial layer, but cholesterol levels were preserved. Hmgcr intestinal knockout mice also showed robust activation of SREBP-2 (sterol-regulatory element binding protein-2) target genes in the epithelium, including the LDLR (low-density lipoprotein receptor). At the cellular level, loss of Hmgcr is compensated for quickly after birth through a dramatic expansion of the stem cell compartment, which persists into adulthood. CONCLUSIONS Loss of Hmgcr in the intestine is compatible with life through compensatory increases in intestinal absorptive surface area, LDLR expression, and expansion of the resident stem cell compartment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria M. Doerfler
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jun Han
- University of Victoria - Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.,Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Kelsey E. Jarrett
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Li Tang
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Hunan Provincial Key Lab on Bioinformatics, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
| | - Antrix Jain
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Alexander Saltzman
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Marco De Giorgi
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Marcel Chuecos
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ayrea E. Hurley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Pauline Morand
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Claudia Ayala
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - David R. Goodlett
- University of Victoria - Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.,Department of Biochemistry & Microbiology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Anna Malovannaya
- Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Verna and Marrs McLean Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - James F. Martin
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Cardiomyocyte Renewal Laboratory, Texas Heart Institute, Houston, Texas, USA.,Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas USA
| | - Thomas Q. de Aguiar Vallim
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.,Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.,Johnsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA
| | - Noah Shroyer
- Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Medicine, Section of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - William R. Lagor
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas, USA.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas USA
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13
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De Giorgi M, Jarrett KE, de Aguiar Vallim TQ, Lagor WR. In Vivo Gene Editing in Lipid and Atherosclerosis Research. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2419:673-713. [PMID: 35237996 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1924-7_42] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The low-density lipoprotein receptor (Ldlr) and apolipoprotein E (Apoe) germline knockout (KO) models have provided fundamental insights in lipid and atherosclerosis research for decades. However, testing new candidate genes in these models requires extensive breeding, which is highly time and resource consuming. In this chapter, we provide methods for rapidly modeling hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis as well as testing new genes in adult mice through somatic gene editing. Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors are exploited to deliver the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 genome editing system (AAV-CRISPR) to the liver. This tool enables rapid and efficient editing of lipid- and atherosclerosis-related genes in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco De Giorgi
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kelsey E Jarrett
- Department of Medicine, Cardiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Q de Aguiar Vallim
- Department of Medicine, Cardiology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Molecular Biology Institute, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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14
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Hurley A, Lagor WR. Treating Cardiovascular Disease with Liver Genome Engineering. Curr Atheroscler Rep 2022; 24:75-84. [PMID: 35230602 PMCID: PMC8886347 DOI: 10.1007/s11883-022-00986-z] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of Review This review examines recent progress in somatic genome editing for cardiovascular disease. We briefly highlight new gene editing approaches, delivery systems, and potential targets in the liver. Recent Findings In recent years, new editing and delivery systems have been applied successfully in model organisms to modify genes within hepatocytes. Disruption of several genes has been shown to dramatically lower plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels in mice as well as non-human primates. More precise modification of cardiovascular targets has also been achieved through homology-directed repair or base editing. Improved viral vectors and nanoparticle delivery systems are addressing important delivery challenges and helping to mitigate safety concerns. Summary Liver-directed genome editing has the potential to cure both rare and common forms of cardiovascular disease. Exciting progress is already being made, including promising results from preclinical studies and the initiation of human gene therapy trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayrea Hurley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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15
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Liang SQ, Walkey CJ, Martinez AE, Su Q, Dickinson ME, Wang D, Lagor WR, Heaney JD, Gao G, Xue W. AAV5 delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 supports effective genome editing in mouse lung airway. Mol Ther 2022; 30:238-243. [PMID: 34695545 PMCID: PMC8753568 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.10.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Genome editing in the lung has the potential to provide long-term expression of therapeutic protein to treat lung genetic diseases. Yet efficient delivery of CRISPR to the lung remains a challenge. The NIH Somatic Cell Genome Editing (SCGE) Consortium is developing safe and effective methods for genome editing in disease tissues. Methods developed by consortium members are independently validated by the SCGE small animal testing center to establish rigor and reproducibility. We have developed and validated a dual adeno-associated virus (AAV) CRISPR platform that supports effective editing of a lox-stop-lox-Tomato reporter in mouse lung airway. After intratracheal injection of the AAV serotype 5 (AAV5)-packaged S. pyogenes Cas9 (SpCas9) and single guide RNAs (sgRNAs), we observed ∼19%-26% Tomato-positive cells in both large and small airways, including club and ciliated epithelial cell types. This highly effective AAV delivery platform will facilitate the study of therapeutic genome editing in the lung and other tissue types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-Qing Liang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Christopher J Walkey
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alexa E Martinez
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Qin Su
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Mary E Dickinson
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Dan Wang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center and Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jason D Heaney
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center and Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
| | - Wen Xue
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA; Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA.
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16
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Lagor WR. Anti-Cas9 immunity: A formidable challenge for muscle genome editing. Mol Ther 2022; 30:10-12. [PMID: 34895501 PMCID: PMC8753515 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77581, USA.
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17
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Yamaguchi H, Kitami M, Uchima Koecklin KH, He L, Wang J, Lagor WR, Perrien DS, Komatsu Y. Temporospatial regulation of intraflagellar transport is required for the endochondral ossification in mice. Dev Biol 2021; 482:91-100. [PMID: 34929174 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.12.004] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
Ciliogenic components, such as the family of intraflagellar transport (IFT) proteins, are recognized to play key roles in endochondral ossification, a critical process to form most bones. However, the unique functions and roles of each IFT during endochondral ossification remain unclear. Here, we show that IFT20 is required for endochondral ossification in mice. Utilizing osteo-chondrocyte lineage-specific Cre mice (Prx1-Cre and Col2-Cre), we deleted Ift20 to examine its function. Although chondrocyte-specific Ift20 deletion with Col2-Cre mice did not cause any overt skeletal defects, mesoderm-specific Ift20 deletion using Prx1-Cre (Ift20:Prx1-Cre) mice resulted in shortened limb outgrowth. Primary cilia were absent on chondrocytes of Ift20:Prx1-Cre mice, and ciliary-mediated Hedgehog signaling was attenuated in Ift20:Prx1-Cre mice. Interestingly, loss of Ift20 also increased Fgf18 expression in the perichondrium that sustained Sox9 expression, thus preventing endochondral ossification. Inhibition of enhanced phospho-ERK1/2 activation partially rescued defective chondrogenesis in Ift20 mutant cells, supporting an important role for FGF signaling. Our findings demonstrate that IFT20 is a critical regulator of temporospatial FGF signaling that is required for endochondral ossification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroyuki Yamaguchi
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Megumi Kitami
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | | | - Li He
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jianbo Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Daniel S Perrien
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism, and Lipids, Department of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30232, USA
| | - Yoshihiro Komatsu
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth, Houston, TX, 77030, USA; Graduate Program in Genetics & Epigenetics, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, UTHealth, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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18
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Schneller JL, Lee CM, Venturoni LE, Chandler RJ, Li A, Myung S, Cradick TJ, Hurley AE, Lagor WR, Bao G, Venditti CP. In vivo genome editing at the albumin locus to treat methylmalonic acidemia. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 23:619-632. [PMID: 34901307 PMCID: PMC8634044 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a metabolic disorder most commonly caused by mutations in the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MMUT) gene. Although adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy has been effective at correcting the disease phenotype in MMA mouse models, clinical translation may be impaired by loss of episomal transgene expression and magnified by the need to treat patients early in life. To achieve permanent correction, we developed a dual AAV strategy to express a codon-optimized MMUT transgene from Alb and tested various CRISPR-Cas9 genome-editing vectors in newly developed knockin mouse models of MMA. For one target site in intron 1 of Alb, we designed rescue cassettes expressing MMUT behind a 2A-peptide or an internal ribosomal entry site sequence. A second guide RNA targeted the initiator codon, and the donor cassette encompassed the proximal albumin promoter in the 5' homology arm. Although all editing approaches were therapeutic, targeting the start codon of albumin allowed the use of a donor cassette that also functioned as an episome and after homologous recombination, even without the expression of Cas9, as an integrant. Targeting the albumin locus using these strategies would be effective for other metabolic disorders where early treatment and permanent long-term correction are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ciaran M. Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Leah E. Venturoni
- National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, 20892 MD, USA
| | - Randy J. Chandler
- National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, 20892 MD, USA
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Sangho Myung
- National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH, Bethesda, 20892 MD, USA
| | | | - Ayrea E. Hurley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - William R. Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
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19
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Doerfler AM, Han J, Tang L, De Giorgi M, Jarrett KE, Hurley A, Li A, Chuecos M, Morand P, Ayala C, Martin JF, Goodlett DR, Vallim TA, Shroyer N, Lagor WR. Abstract 123: Intestinal Deletion Of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A Reductase Promotes Expansion Of The Resident Stem Cell Compartment. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2021. [DOI: 10.1161/atvb.41.suppl_1.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
While the intestine is the critical interface between cholesterol absorption and excretion, surprisingly little is known about the role of
de novo
cholesterol synthesis in this organ and how it affects whole body cholesterol homeostasis. The mevalonate pathway is most well-known for the production of cholesterol, but it is also required for the production of essential non-sterol isoprenoids. 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, is regulated by a three-protein complex made up of INSIG, SCAP, and SREBP2. Intestine specific knockouts of
Scap
and
Srebp2
both result in severe enteropathy and reduced mouse survival. Here, we assessed the hypothesis that
Hmgcr
is required for enterocyte viability. Mice harboring floxed alleles for
Hmgcr
were bred with the
Villin-Cre
transgene to specifically knock out this enzyme in the villus and crypt epithelial cells of the small intestine (i-KO). The i-KO mice are viable through adulthood and fertile.
Hmgcr
is efficiently deleted based on analysis via drop digital PCR and qPCR. RNA sequencing shows reduction in all SREBP2 target genes throughout the mevalonate pathway in intestinal epithelial cells. Lipidomics confirms substantial reductions in abundance of all sterol and non-sterol isoprenoids, except 7-dehydrocholesterol and cholesterol. Cholesterol is likely maintained through reabsorption of biliary cholesterol or increased uptake from the circulation. Circulating cholesterol levels and cholesterol absorption are not altered in i-KO mice, but triglyceride absorption is increased through compensatory changes in bile acid composition and intestinal growth. At the cellular level, the intestine rapidly compensates for loss of
Hmgcr
via dramatic expansion of the stem cell compartment within the crypts. In conclusion, the mechanisms by which the intestine compensates for genetic loss of
Hmgcr
include altered triglyceride absorption, bile acid composition, increased absorptive surface area, and expansion of the resident stem cell compartment. Together these studies provide insight into the effects of HMGCR knockout in intestinal development and lipid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jun Han
- Univ of Victoria, Victoria, Canada
| | - Li Tang
- Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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20
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De Giorgi M, Li A, Hurley A, Barzi M, Doerfler AM, Cherayil NA, Smith HE, Brown JD, Lin CY, Bissig KD, Bao G, Lagor WR. Targeting the Apoa1 locus for liver-directed gene therapy. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 21:656-669. [PMID: 34141821 PMCID: PMC8166646 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Clinical application of somatic genome editing requires therapeutics that are generalizable to a broad range of patients. Targeted insertion of promoterless transgenes can ensure that edits are permanent and broadly applicable while minimizing risks of off-target integration. In the liver, the Albumin (Alb) locus is currently the only well-characterized site for promoterless transgene insertion. Here, we target the Apoa1 locus with adeno-associated viral (AAV) delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 and achieve rates of 6% to 16% of targeted hepatocytes, with no evidence of toxicity. We further show that the endogenous Apoa1 promoter can drive robust and sustained expression of therapeutic proteins, such as apolipoprotein E (APOE), dramatically reducing plasma lipids in a model of hypercholesterolemia. Finally, we demonstrate that Apoa1-targeted fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase (FAH) can correct and rescue the severe metabolic liver disease hereditary tyrosinemia type I. In summary, we identify and validate Apoa1 as a novel integration site that supports durable transgene expression in the liver for gene therapy applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco De Giorgi
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ayrea Hurley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mercedes Barzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Alexandria M. Doerfler
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Nikitha A. Cherayil
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Harrison E. Smith
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jonathan D. Brown
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Charles Y. Lin
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Therapeutic Innovation Center, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Karl-Dimiter Bissig
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - William R. Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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21
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Bissig-Choisat B, Alves-Bezerra M, Zorman B, Ochsner SA, Barzi M, Legras X, Yang D, Borowiak M, Dean AM, York RB, Galvan NTN, Goss J, Lagor WR, Moore DD, Cohen DE, McKenna NJ, Sumazin P, Bissig KD. A human liver chimeric mouse model for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. JHEP Rep 2021; 3:100281. [PMID: 34036256 PMCID: PMC8138774 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2021.100281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims The accumulation of neutral lipids within hepatocytes underlies non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which affects a quarter of the world's population and is associated with hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Despite insights gained from both human and animal studies, our understanding of NAFLD pathogenesis remains limited. To better study the molecular changes driving the condition we aimed to generate a humanised NAFLD mouse model. Methods We generated TIRF (transgene-free Il2rg -/-/Rag2 -/-/Fah -/-) mice, populated their livers with human hepatocytes, and fed them a Western-type diet for 12 weeks. Results Within the same chimeric liver, human hepatocytes developed pronounced steatosis whereas murine hepatocytes remained normal. Unbiased metabolomics and lipidomics revealed signatures of clinical NAFLD. Transcriptomic analyses showed that molecular responses diverged sharply between murine and human hepatocytes, demonstrating stark species differences in liver function. Regulatory network analysis indicated close agreement between our model and clinical NAFLD with respect to transcriptional control of cholesterol biosynthesis. Conclusions These NAFLD xenograft mice reveal an unexpected degree of evolutionary divergence in food metabolism and offer a physiologically relevant, experimentally tractable model for studying the pathogenic changes invoked by steatosis. Lay summary Fatty liver disease is an emerging health problem, and as there are no good experimental animal models, our understanding of the condition is poor. We here describe a novel humanised mouse system and compare it with clinical data. The results reveal that the human cells in the mouse liver develop fatty liver disease upon a Western-style fatty diet, whereas the mouse cells appear normal. The molecular signature (expression profiles) of the human cells are distinct from the mouse cells and metabolic analysis of the humanised livers mimic the ones observed in humans with fatty liver. This novel humanised mouse system can be used to study human fatty liver disease.
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Key Words
- ALP, alkaline phosphatase
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- AST, aspartate aminotransferase
- CBPEGs, cholesterol biosynthesis pathway enzyme genes
- CE, cholesteryl ester
- CER, ceramide
- CHHs, chimeric human hepatocytes
- CMHs, chimeric mouse hepatocytes
- CT, confidence transcript
- DAG, diacylglycerol
- DCER, dihydroceramide
- DEG, differentially expressed gene
- FA, fatty acid
- FAH, fumarylacetoacetate hydrolase
- FFA, free fatty acid
- GGT, gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase
- HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma
- HCER, hexosylceramide
- HCT, high confidence transcriptional target
- Human disease modelling
- Humanised mice
- LCER, lactosylceramide
- LPC, lysophosphatidylcholine
- LPE, lysophosphatidylethanolamine
- Lipid metabolism
- MAG, monoacylglycerol
- MUFA, monounsaturated fatty acid
- NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- NASH, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis
- NC, normal chow
- NTBC, nitisinone
- Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
- PC, phosphatidylcholine
- PE, phosphatidylethanolamine
- PI, phosphatidylinositol
- PNPLA3, patatin-like-phospholipase domain-containing protein 3
- PUFA, polyunsaturated free FA
- SM, sphingomyelin
- SREBP, sterol regulatory element-binding protein
- Steatosis
- TAG, triacylglycerol
- TIRF, transgene-free Il2rg-/-/Rag2-/-/Fah-/-
- WD, Western-type diet
- hALB, human albumin
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michele Alves-Bezerra
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Barry Zorman
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Scott A. Ochsner
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mercedes Barzi
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Xavier Legras
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Diane Yang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Malgorzata Borowiak
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Institute for Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, Adam Mickiewicz Universtiy, Poznan, Poland
| | - Adam M. Dean
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robert B. York
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - John Goss
- Department of Surgery, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William R. Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David D. Moore
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David E. Cohen
- Joan & Sanford I. Weill Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Neil J. McKenna
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Pavel Sumazin
- Texas Children’s Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karl-Dimiter Bissig
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Medical Genetics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Y.T. and Alice Chen Pediatric Genetics and Genomics Research Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
- Corresponding author. Address: Duke University, Division of Medical Genetics, 905 South LaSalle street, Durham, NC-27708, USA. Tel.: +1 919 660 0761; fax: +1 919 660 0762.
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22
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De Giorgi M, Jarrett KE, Burton JC, Doerfler AM, Hurley A, Li A, Hsu RH, Furgurson M, Patel KR, Han J, Borchers CH, Lagor WR. Depletion of essential isoprenoids and ER stress induction following acute liver-specific deletion of HMG-CoA reductase. J Lipid Res 2020; 61:1675-1686. [PMID: 33109681 PMCID: PMC7707164 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.ra120001006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [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] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
HMG-CoA reductase (Hmgcr) is the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway and is inhibited by statins. In addition to cholesterol, Hmgcr activity is also required for synthesizing nonsterol isoprenoids, such as dolichol, ubiquinone, and farnesylated and geranylgeranylated proteins. Here, we investigated the effects of Hmgcr inhibition on nonsterol isoprenoids in the liver. We have generated new genetic models to acutely delete genes in the mevalonate pathway in the liver using AAV-mediated delivery of Cre-recombinase (AAV-Cre) or CRISPR/Cas9 (AAV-CRISPR). The genetic deletion of Hmgcr by AAV-Cre resulted in extensive hepatocyte apoptosis and compensatory liver regeneration. At the biochemical level, we observed decreased levels of sterols and depletion of the nonsterol isoprenoids, dolichol and ubiquinone. At the cellular level, Hmgcr-null hepatocytes showed ER stress and impaired N-glycosylation. We further hypothesized that the depletion of dolichol, essential for N-glycosylation, could be responsible for ER stress. Using AAV-CRISPR, we somatically disrupted dehydrodolichyl diphosphate synthase subunit (Dhdds), encoding a branch point enzyme required for dolichol biosynthesis. Dhdds-null livers showed ER stress and impaired N-glycosylation, along with apoptosis and regeneration. Finally, the combined deletion of Hmgcr and Dhdds synergistically exacerbated hepatocyte ER stress. Our data show a critical role for mevalonate-derived dolichol in the liver and suggest that dolichol depletion is at least partially responsible for ER stress and apoptosis upon potent Hmgcr inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco De Giorgi
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kelsey E. Jarrett
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jason C. Burton
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Alexandria M. Doerfler
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ayrea Hurley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rachel H. Hsu
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mia Furgurson
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kalyani R. Patel
- Department of Pathology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jun Han
- Genome British Columbia Proteomics Centre, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christoph H. Borchers
- Proteomics Centre, Segal Cancer Centre, Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada,Department of Data Intensive Science and Engineering, Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo Innovation Center, Moscow, Russia
| | - William R. Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,For correspondence: William R. Lagor,
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23
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Li A, Tanner MR, Lee CM, Hurley AE, De Giorgi M, Jarrett KE, Davis TH, Doerfler AM, Bao G, Beeton C, Lagor WR. AAV-CRISPR Gene Editing Is Negated by Pre-existing Immunity to Cas9. Mol Ther 2020; 28:1432-1441. [PMID: 32348718 PMCID: PMC7264438 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2020.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors are a leading candidate for the delivery of CRISPR-Cas9 for therapeutic genome editing in vivo. However, AAV-based delivery involves persistent expression of the Cas9 nuclease, a bacterial protein. Recent studies indicate a high prevalence of neutralizing antibodies and T cells specific to the commonly used Cas9 orthologs from Streptococcus pyogenes (SpCas9) and Staphylococcus aureus (SaCas9) in humans. We tested in a mouse model whether pre-existing immunity to SaCas9 would pose a barrier to liver genome editing with AAV packaging CRISPR-Cas9. Although efficient genome editing occurred in mouse liver with pre-existing SaCas9 immunity, this was accompanied by an increased proportion of CD8+ T cells in the liver. This cytotoxic T cell response was characterized by hepatocyte apoptosis, loss of recombinant AAV genomes, and complete elimination of genome-edited cells, and was followed by compensatory liver regeneration. Our results raise important efficacy and safety concerns for CRISPR-Cas9-based in vivo genome editing in the liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mark R Tanner
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ciaran M Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ayrea E Hurley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marco De Giorgi
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kelsey E Jarrett
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Timothy H Davis
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alexandria M Doerfler
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Christine Beeton
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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24
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Pastore N, Huynh T, Herz NJ, Calcagni' A, Klisch TJ, Brunetti L, Kim KH, De Giorgi M, Hurley A, Carissimo A, Mutarelli M, Aleksieva N, D'Orsi L, Lagor WR, Moore DD, Settembre C, Finegold MJ, Forbes SJ, Ballabio A. TFEB regulates murine liver cell fate during development and regeneration. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2461. [PMID: 32424153 PMCID: PMC7235048 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16300-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
It is well established that pluripotent stem cells in fetal and postnatal liver (LPCs) can differentiate into both hepatocytes and cholangiocytes. However, the signaling pathways implicated in the differentiation of LPCs are still incompletely understood. Transcription Factor EB (TFEB), a master regulator of lysosomal biogenesis and autophagy, is known to be involved in osteoblast and myeloid differentiation, but its role in lineage commitment in the liver has not been investigated. Here we show that during development and upon regeneration TFEB drives the differentiation status of murine LPCs into the progenitor/cholangiocyte lineage while inhibiting hepatocyte differentiation. Genetic interaction studies show that Sox9, a marker of precursor and biliary cells, is a direct transcriptional target of TFEB and a primary mediator of its effects on liver cell fate. In summary, our findings identify an unexplored pathway that controls liver cell lineage commitment and whose dysregulation may play a role in biliary cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nunzia Pastore
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
| | - Tuong Huynh
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Niculin J Herz
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Alessia Calcagni'
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Tiemo J Klisch
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Lorenzo Brunetti
- Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kangho Ho Kim
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Marco De Giorgi
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Ayrea Hurley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Annamaria Carissimo
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, NA, 80078, Italy
| | | | - Niya Aleksieva
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Luca D'Orsi
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, NA, 80078, Italy
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - David D Moore
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Carmine Settembre
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, NA, 80078, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, Medical Genetics, Federico II University, Naples, 80131, Italy
| | - Milton J Finegold
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Stuart J Forbes
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Andrea Ballabio
- Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children Hospital, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, NA, 80078, Italy.
- Department of Translational Medicine, Medical Genetics, Federico II University, Naples, 80131, Italy.
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Lian Z, Perrard XYD, Peng X, Raya JL, Hernandez AA, Johnson CG, Lagor WR, Pownall HJ, Hoogeveen RC, Simon SI, Sacks FM, Ballantyne CM, Wu H. Replacing Saturated Fat With Unsaturated Fat in Western Diet Reduces Foamy Monocytes and Atherosclerosis in Male Ldlr-/- Mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2020; 40:72-85. [PMID: 31619061 PMCID: PMC6991890 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.119.313078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE A Mediterranean diet supplemented with olive oil and nuts prevents cardiovascular disease in clinical studies, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. We investigated whether the preventive effect of the diet could be due to inhibition of atherosclerosis and foamy monocyte formation in Ldlr-/- mice fed with a diet in which milkfat in a Western diet (WD) was replaced with extra-virgin olive oil and nuts (EVOND). Approach and Results: Ldlr-/- mice were fed EVOND or a Western diet for 3 (or 6) months. Compared with the Western diet, EVOND decreased triglyceride and cholesterol levels but increased unsaturated fatty acid concentrations in plasma. EVOND also lowered intracellular lipid accumulation in circulating monocytes, indicating less formation of foamy monocytes, compared with the Western diet. In addition, compared with the Western diet, EVOND reduced monocyte expression of inflammatory cytokines, CD36, and CD11c, with decreased monocyte uptake of oxLDL (oxidized LDL [low-density lipoprotein]) ex vivo and reduced CD11c+ foamy monocyte firm arrest on vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin-coated slides in an ex vivo shear flow assay. Along with these changes, EVOND compared with the Western diet reduced the number of CD11c+ macrophages in atherosclerotic lesions and lowered atherosclerotic lesion area of the whole aorta and aortic sinus. CONCLUSIONS A diet enriched in extra-virgin olive oil and nuts, compared with a Western diet high in saturated fat, lowered plasma cholesterol and triglyceride levels, inhibited foamy monocyte formation, inflammation, and adhesion, and reduced atherosclerosis in Ldlr-/- mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeqin Lian
- From the Department of Medicine (Z.L., X.D.P., X.P., J.L.R., C.G.J., R.C.H., C.M.B., H.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Xiao-Yuan Dai Perrard
- From the Department of Medicine (Z.L., X.D.P., X.P., J.L.R., C.G.J., R.C.H., C.M.B., H.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Xueying Peng
- From the Department of Medicine (Z.L., X.D.P., X.P., J.L.R., C.G.J., R.C.H., C.M.B., H.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- State Key Laboratory for Bioactive Substances and Functions of Natural Medicines, Beijing Key Laboratory of New Drug Mechanisms and Pharmacological Evaluation Study, Institute of Materia Medica, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China (X.P)
| | - Joe L Raya
- From the Department of Medicine (Z.L., X.D.P., X.P., J.L.R., C.G.J., R.C.H., C.M.B., H.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Alfredo A Hernandez
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis (A.A.H, S.I.S.)
| | - Collin G Johnson
- From the Department of Medicine (Z.L., X.D.P., X.P., J.L.R., C.G.J., R.C.H., C.M.B., H.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (W.R.L.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Henry J Pownall
- Center for Bioenergetics, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX (H.J.P.)
| | - Ron C Hoogeveen
- From the Department of Medicine (Z.L., X.D.P., X.P., J.L.R., C.G.J., R.C.H., C.M.B., H.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Scott I Simon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California, Davis (A.A.H, S.I.S.)
| | - Frank M Sacks
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, and Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA (F.M.S.)
| | - Christie M Ballantyne
- From the Department of Medicine (Z.L., X.D.P., X.P., J.L.R., C.G.J., R.C.H., C.M.B., H.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Pediatrics (C.M.B., H.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Center for Cardiometabolic Disease Prevention (C.M.B.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Huaizhu Wu
- From the Department of Medicine (Z.L., X.D.P., X.P., J.L.R., C.G.J., R.C.H., C.M.B., H.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Pediatrics (C.M.B., H.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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Ni L, Scott L, Campbell HM, Pan X, Alsina KM, Reynolds J, Philippen LE, Hulsurkar M, Lagor WR, Li N, Wehrens XHT. Atrial-Specific Gene Delivery Using an Adeno-Associated Viral Vector. Circ Res 2019; 124:256-262. [PMID: 30582449 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.118.313811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Somatic overexpression in mice using an adeno-associated virus (AAV) as gene transfer vectors has become a valuable tool to analyze the roles of specific genes in cardiac diseases. The lack of atrial-specific AAV vector has been a major obstacle for studies into the pathogenesis of atrial diseases. Moreover, gene therapy studies for atrial fibrillation would benefit from atrial-specific vectors. Atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) promoter drives gene expression specifically in atrial cardiomyocytes. OBJECTIVE To establish the platform of atrial specific in vivo gene delivery by AAV-ANF. METHODS AND RESULTS We constructed AAV vectors based on serotype 9 (AAV9) that are driven by the atrial-specific ANF promoter. Hearts from mice injected with AAV9-ANF-GFP (green fluorescent protein) exhibited strong and atrial-specific GFP expression without notable GFP in ventricular tissue. In contrast, similar vectors containing a cardiac troponin T promoter (AAV9-TNT4-GFP) showed GFP expression in all 4 chambers of the heart, while AAV9 with an enhanced chicken β-actin promoter (AAV-enCB-GFP) caused ubiquitous GFP expression. Next, we used Rosa26mT/mG (membrane-targeted tandem dimer Tomato/membrane-targeted GFP), a double-fluorescent Cre reporter mouse that expresses membrane-targeted tandem dimer Tomato before Cre-mediated excision, and membrane-targeted GFP after excision. AAV9-ANF-Cre led to highly efficient LoxP recombination in membrane-targeted tandem dimer Tomato/membrane-targeted green fluorescent protein mice with high specificity for the atria. We measured the frequency of transduced cardiomyocytes in atria by detecting Cre-dependent GFP expression from the Rosa26mT/mG allele. AAV9 dose was positively correlated with the number of GFP-positive atrial cardiomyocytes. Finally, we assessed whether the AAV9-ANF-Cre vector could be used to induce atrial-specific gene knockdown in proof-of-principle experiments using conditional JPH2 (junctophilin-2) knockdown mice. Four weeks after AAV9-ANF-Cre injection, a strong reduction in atrial expression of JPH2 protein was observed. Furthermore, there was evidence for abnormal Ca2+ handling in atrial myocytes isolated from mice with atrial-restricted JPH2 deficiency. CONCLUSIONS AAV9-ANF vectors produce efficient, dose-dependent, and atrial-specific gene expression following a single-dose systemic delivery in mice. This vector is a novel reagent for both mechanistic and gene therapy studies on atrial diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Ni
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China (L.N.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan, China (L.N.)
| | - Larry Scott
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Hannah M Campbell
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Xiaolu Pan
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Katherina M Alsina
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Julia Reynolds
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Leonne E Philippen
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Mohit Hulsurkar
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - William R Lagor
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Na Li
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Medicine (Section of Cardiovascular Research) (N.L.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Xander H T Wehrens
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (L.N., L.S., H.M.C., X.P., K.M.A., J.R., L.E.P., M.H., W.R.L., N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology) (X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Pediatrics (X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Neuroscience (X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Center for Space Medicine (X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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Fan Q, Mao H, Angelini A, Coarfa C, Robertson MJ, Lagor WR, Wehrens XHT, Martin JF, Pi X, Xie L. Depletion of Endothelial Prolyl Hydroxylase Domain Protein 2 and 3 Promotes Cardiomyocyte Proliferation and Prevents Ventricular Failure Induced by Myocardial Infarction. Circulation 2019; 140:440-442. [PMID: 31356139 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.118.039276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Qiying Fan
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine (Q.F., H.M., A.A., X.H.T.W., X.P., L.X.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Hua Mao
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine (Q.F., H.M., A.A., X.H.T.W., X.P., L.X.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Aude Angelini
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine (Q.F., H.M., A.A., X.H.T.W., X.P., L.X.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology (C.C., M.J.R.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Center for Precision Environmental Health (C.C., M.J.R.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Matthew J Robertson
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology (C.C., M.J.R.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Center for Precision Environmental Health (C.C., M.J.R.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (W.R.L., X.H.T.W., J.F.M.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Xander H T Wehrens
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine (Q.F., H.M., A.A., X.H.T.W., X.P., L.X.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (W.R.L., X.H.T.W., J.F.M.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine (X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Department of Pediatrics (X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Center for Space Medicine (X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - James F Martin
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (W.R.L., X.H.T.W., J.F.M.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,Cardiovascular Research Institute, Program in Developmental Biology (J.F.M.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX.,The Texas Heart Institute, Houston (J.F.M.)
| | - Xinchun Pi
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine (Q.F., H.M., A.A., X.H.T.W., X.P., L.X.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Liang Xie
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Department of Medicine (Q.F., H.M., A.A., X.H.T.W., X.P., L.X.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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Jarrett KE, Lee C, De Giorgi M, Hurley A, Gillard BK, Doerfler AM, Li A, Pownall HJ, Bao G, Lagor WR. Somatic Editing of Ldlr With Adeno-Associated Viral-CRISPR Is an Efficient Tool for Atherosclerosis Research. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2019; 38:1997-2006. [PMID: 30026278 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.118.311221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [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: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Objective- Atherosclerosis studies in Ldlr knockout mice require breeding to homozygosity and congenic status on C57BL6/J background, a process that is both time and resource intensive. We aimed to develop a new method for generating atherosclerosis through somatic deletion of Ldlr in livers of adult mice. Approach and Results- Overexpression of PCSK9 (proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9) is currently used to study atherosclerosis, which promotes degradation of LDLR (low-density lipoprotein receptor) in the liver. We sought to determine whether CRISPR/Cas9 (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated 9) could also be used to generate atherosclerosis through genetic disruption of Ldlr in adult mice. We engineered adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors expressing Staphylococcus aureus Cas9 and a guide RNA targeting the Ldlr gene (AAV-CRISPR). Both male and female mice received either (1) saline, (2) AAV-CRISPR, or (3) AAV-hPCSK9 (human PCSK9)-D374Y. A fourth group of germline Ldlr-KO mice was included for comparison. Mice were placed on a Western diet and followed for 20 weeks to assess plasma lipids, PCSK9 protein levels, atherosclerosis, and editing efficiency. Disruption of Ldlr with AAV-CRISPR was robust, resulting in severe hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerotic lesions in the aorta. AAV-hPCSK9 also produced hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis as expected. Notable sexual dimorphism was observed, wherein AAV-CRISPR was superior for Ldlr removal in male mice, while AAV-hPCSK9 was more effective in female mice. Conclusions- This all-in-one AAV-CRISPR vector targeting Ldlr is an effective and versatile tool to model atherosclerosis with a single injection and provides a useful alternative to the use of germline Ldlr-KO mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey E Jarrett
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (K.E.J., M.D.G., A.H., A.M.D., W.R.L.).,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program (K.E.J.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Ciaran Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX (C.L., A.L., G.B.)
| | - Marco De Giorgi
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (K.E.J., M.D.G., A.H., A.M.D., W.R.L.)
| | - Ayrea Hurley
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (K.E.J., M.D.G., A.H., A.M.D., W.R.L.)
| | - Baiba K Gillard
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, TX (B.K.G., H.J.P.).,Weill Cornell Medicine, New York (B.K.G., H.J.P.)
| | - Alexandria M Doerfler
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (K.E.J., M.D.G., A.H., A.M.D., W.R.L.)
| | - Ang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX (C.L., A.L., G.B.)
| | - Henry J Pownall
- Houston Methodist Research Institute, TX (B.K.G., H.J.P.).,Weill Cornell Medicine, New York (B.K.G., H.J.P.)
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX (C.L., A.L., G.B.)
| | - William R Lagor
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (K.E.J., M.D.G., A.H., A.M.D., W.R.L.)
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Musunuru K, Lagor WR, Miano JM. What Do We Really Think About Human Germline Genome Editing, and What Does It Mean for Medicine? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 10:CIRCGENETICS.117.001910. [PMID: 28974517 DOI: 10.1161/circgenetics.117.001910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kiran Musunuru
- From the Cardiovascular Institute, Department of Medicine, and Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (K.M.); Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (W.R.L.); and Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY (J.M.M.).
| | - William R Lagor
- From the Cardiovascular Institute, Department of Medicine, and Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (K.M.); Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (W.R.L.); and Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY (J.M.M.)
| | - Joseph M Miano
- From the Cardiovascular Institute, Department of Medicine, and Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (K.M.); Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX (W.R.L.); and Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, NY (J.M.M.)
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Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death worldwide, and elevated lipid levels is a major contributor. Gene delivery, which involves controlled transfer of nucleic acids into cells and tissues, has been widely used in research to study lipid metabolism and physiology. Several technologies have been developed to somatically overexpress, silence, or disrupt genes in animal models and have greatly advanced our knowledge of metabolism. This is particularly true with regard to the liver, which plays a central role in lipoprotein metabolism and is amenable to many delivery approaches. In addition to basic science applications, many of these delivery technologies have potential as gene therapies for both common and rare lipid disorders. This review discusses three major gene delivery technologies used in lipid research-including adeno-associated viral vector overexpression, antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNAs, and the Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 genome editing system-and examines their potential therapeutic applications.
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The purpose is to review recent progress in applying the CRISPR/Cas9 system to lipid metabolism and therapeutics. RECENT FINDINGS The CRISPR/Cas9 system has been used to generate knockout animals for lipid genes in multiple species. Somatic genome editing with CRISPR/Cas9 can efficiently disrupt genes in adult animals, including a new strategy for generating atherosclerosis. Refinements to the CRISPR/Cas9 system including epigenetic modulators and base editors offer new avenues to manipulate gene expression. The recent report of germline genome editing in humans highlights the promise as well as perils of this technology. SUMMARY CRISPR/Cas9 is a transformative technology that will help advance on our understanding of lipid metabolism and physiology. Somatic genome editing is a particularly promising approach for editing genes in tissues of live organisms, and represents a new means of addressing unmet therapeutic challenges in humans. Educational outreach, public debate, and consideration of ethics and safety must guide the use of genome editing in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mia Furgurson
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
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Li A, Lee CM, Hurley AE, Jarrett KE, De Giorgi M, Lu W, Balderrama KS, Doerfler AM, Deshmukh H, Ray A, Bao G, Lagor WR. A Self-Deleting AAV-CRISPR System for In Vivo Genome Editing. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2018; 12:111-122. [PMID: 30619914 PMCID: PMC6313841 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [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: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors packaging the CRISPR-Cas9 system (AAV-CRISPR) can efficiently modify disease-relevant genes in somatic tissues with high efficiency. AAV vectors are a preferred delivery vehicle for tissue-directed gene therapy because of their ability to achieve sustained expression from largely non-integrating episomal genomes. However, for genome editizng applications, permanent expression of non-human proteins such as the bacterially derived Cas9 nuclease is undesirable. Methods are needed to achieve efficient genome editing in vivo, with controlled transient expression of CRISPR-Cas9. Here, we report a self-deleting AAV-CRISPR system that introduces insertion and deletion mutations into AAV episomes. We demonstrate that this system dramatically reduces the level of Staphylococcus aureus Cas9 protein, often greater than 79%, while achieving high rates of on-target editing in the liver. Off-target mutagenesis was not observed for the self-deleting Cas9 guide RNA at any of the predicted potential off-target sites examined. This system is efficient and versatile, as demonstrated by robust knockdown of liver-expressed proteins in vivo. This self-deleting AAV-CRISPR system is an important proof of concept that will help enable translation of liver-directed genome editing in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ang Li
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ciaran M Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ayrea E Hurley
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Kelsey E Jarrett
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marco De Giorgi
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Weiqi Lu
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Karol S Balderrama
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alexandria M Doerfler
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Anirban Ray
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Pankowicz FP, Barzi M, Kim KH, Legras X, Martins CS, Wooton-Kee CR, Lagor WR, Marini JC, Elsea SH, Bissig-Choisat B, Moore DD, Bissig KD. Rapid Disruption of Genes Specifically in Livers of Mice Using Multiplex CRISPR/Cas9 Editing. Gastroenterology 2018; 155:1967-1970.e6. [PMID: 30170115 PMCID: PMC6420307 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.08.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Despite advances in gene editing technologies, generation of tissue-specific knockout mice is time-consuming. We used CRISPR/Cas9-mediated genome editing to disrupt genes in livers of adult mice in just a few months, which we refer to as somatic liver knockouts. METHODS In this system, Fah-/- mice are given hydrodynamic tail vein injections of plasmids carrying CRISPR/Cas9 designed to excise exons in Hpd; the Hpd-edited hepatocytes have a survival advantage in these mice. Plasmids that target Hpd and a separate gene of interest can therefore be used to rapidly generate mice with liver-specific deletion of nearly any gene product. RESULTS We used this system to create mice with liver-specific knockout of argininosuccinate lyase, which develop hyperammonemia, observed in humans with mutations in this gene. We also created mice with liver-specific knockout of ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 11, which encodes the bile salt export pump. We found that these mice have a biochemical phenotype similar to that of Abcb11-/- mice. We then used this system to knock out expression of 5 different enzymes involved in drug metabolism within the same mouse. CONCLUSIONS This approach might be used to develop new models of liver diseases and study liver functions of genes that are required during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis P Pankowicz
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mercedes Barzi
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Kang Ho Kim
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xavier Legras
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Celeste Santos Martins
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Clavia Ruth Wooton-Kee
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - William R. Lagor
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Juan C Marini
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Sarah H Elsea
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston
| | - Beatrice Bissig-Choisat
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - David D Moore
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karl-Dimiter Bissig
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas; Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
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34
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Pan X, Philippen L, Lahiri SK, Lee C, Park SH, Word TA, Li N, Jarrett KE, Gupta R, Reynolds JO, Lin J, Bao G, Lagor WR, Wehrens XHT. In Vivo Ryr2 Editing Corrects Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia. Circ Res 2018; 123:953-963. [PMID: 30355031 PMCID: PMC6206886 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.118.313369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Autosomal-dominant mutations in ryanodine receptor type 2 ( RYR2) are responsible for ≈60% of all catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. Dysfunctional RyR2 subunits trigger inappropriate calcium leak from the tetrameric channel resulting in potentially lethal ventricular tachycardia. In vivo CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing is a promising strategy that could be used to eliminate the disease-causing Ryr2 allele and hence rescue catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. OBJECTIVE To determine if somatic in vivo genome editing using the CRISPR/Cas9 system delivered by adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors could correct catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia arrhythmias in mice heterozygous for RyR2 mutation R176Q (R176Q/+). METHODS AND RESULTS Guide RNAs were designed to specifically disrupt the R176Q allele in the R176Q/+ mice using the SaCas9 ( Staphylococcus aureus Cas9) genome editing system. AAV serotype 9 was used to deliver Cas9 and guide RNA to neonatal mice by single subcutaneous injection at postnatal day 10. Strikingly, none of the R176Q/+ mice treated with AAV-CRISPR developed arrhythmias, compared with 71% of R176Q/+ mice receiving control AAV serotype 9. Total Ryr2 mRNA and protein levels were significantly reduced in R176Q/+ mice, but not in wild-type littermates. Targeted deep sequencing confirmed successful and highly specific editing of the disease-causing R176Q allele. No detectable off-target mutagenesis was observed in the wild-type Ryr2 allele or the predicted putative off-target site, confirming high specificity for SaCas9 in vivo. In addition, confocal imaging revealed that gene editing normalized the enhanced Ca2+ spark frequency observed in untreated R176Q/+ mice without affecting systolic Ca2+ transients. CONCLUSIONS AAV serotype 9-based delivery of the SaCas9 system can efficiently disrupt a disease-causing allele in cardiomyocytes in vivo. This work highlights the potential of somatic genome editing approaches for the treatment of lethal autosomal-dominant inherited cardiac disorders, such as catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolu Pan
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., J.O.R., J.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., K.E.J., R.G., J.O.R., W.R.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Leonne Philippen
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., J.O.R., J.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., K.E.J., R.G., J.O.R., W.R.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Satadru K Lahiri
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., J.O.R., J.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., K.E.J., R.G., J.O.R., W.R.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Ciaran Lee
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX (C.L., S.H.P., G.B.)
| | - So Hyun Park
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX (C.L., S.H.P., G.B.)
| | - Tarah A Word
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., J.O.R., J.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., K.E.J., R.G., J.O.R., W.R.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Na Li
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., J.O.R., J.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., K.E.J., R.G., J.O.R., W.R.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Medicine/Cardiology (N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Kelsey E Jarrett
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., K.E.J., R.G., J.O.R., W.R.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Rajat Gupta
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., K.E.J., R.G., J.O.R., W.R.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Julia O Reynolds
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., J.O.R., J.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., K.E.J., R.G., J.O.R., W.R.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Jean Lin
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., J.O.R., J.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Gang Bao
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX (C.L., S.H.P., G.B.)
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., K.E.J., R.G., J.O.R., W.R.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Xander H T Wehrens
- From the Cardiovascular Research Institute (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., J.O.R., J.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics (X.P., L.P., S.K.L., T.A.W., N.L., K.E.J., R.G., J.O.R., W.R.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Medicine/Cardiology (N.L., X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Department of Pediatrics (X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
- Center for Space Medicine (X.H.T.W.), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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35
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Jarrett KE, Doerfler AM, Hurley A, Hsu RH, De Giorgi M, Li A, Pownall HJ, Lee C, Bao G, Lagor WR. Abstract 032: Somatic Editing of
Ldlr
with AAV-CRISPR for Atherosclerosis Studies. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1161/atvb.38.suppl_1.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Current methods to study genetic contributions to atherosclerosis are time-consuming and expensive. The
Ldlr
and
Apoe
knockout (KO) models are currently the gold-standard, but require extensive backcrossing to homozygosity and congenic status on the C57BL6/J background. More rapid and efficient methods are needed to investigate the ever-growing list of candidate genes identified through human genetics.The
C
lustered
R
egularly-
I
nterspaced
S
hort
P
alindromic
R
epeats/Cas9 (CRISPR/Cas9) genome editing system is a powerful new tool for gene disruption.
Hypothesis:
Liver-directed somatic disruption of
Ldlr
using an all-in-one AAV-CRISPR vector can generate atherosclerotic lesions in adult mice, thereby avoiding the need to cross to
Ldlr
KO mice.
Methods:
An Adeno-Associated Viral (AAV) vector based on serotype 8 was used to deliver
Staphylococcus aureus
Cas9 (SaCas9) and small guide RNA (gRNA) targeting the
Ldlr
gene (AAV-CRISPR). This vector was compared head-to-head with AAV-mediated overexpression of a human gain-of-function variant of
PCSK9
, a recent model that mimics
Ldlr
KO through promoting degradation of the Ldlr protein. Adult C57BL6/J mice received either:
1
) saline,
2
) AAV-CRISPR, or
3
) AAV-hPCSK9, versus
4
) germline
Ldlr
KO mice. Animals were placed on a Western diet for twenty weeks and followed for changes in plasma lipids, atherosclerotic lesion burden, and editing efficiency.
Results and Conclusion:
Disruption of
Ldlr
with AAV-CRISPR vector was robust, resulting in severe hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis on a standard western diet. AAV-hPCSK9 also produced atherosclerotic lesions as expected from previous reports. Lesion burden was slightly lower with AAV-CRISPR and AAV-hPCSK9 relative to germline
Ldlr
KO mice. Unexpected sexual dimorphism was also observed with AAV-CRISPR, with the greatest effects seen in male mice. In summary, our all-in-one AAV-CRISPR vector is a rapid and efficient alternative to the use of
Ldlr
KO mice to study atherosclerosis.
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36
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De Giorgi M, Jarrett KE, Burton JC, Doerfler AM, Hurley A, Hsu RH, Lagor WR. Abstract 216: Modeling Statin Hepatotoxicity with Acute Liver Specific Deletion of HmgCoA Reductase. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2018. [DOI: 10.1161/atvb.38.suppl_1.216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hmg-CoA Reductase (Hmgcr) catalyzes the conversion of Hmg-CoA to mevalonate, which is the rate-limiting step in the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway. Hmgcr is the target of statins, which are the front line therapy for hypercholesterolemia. Statin-responsiveness varies greatly between individuals, and liver toxicity and transaminase elevations are observed in 1-3% of patients. In addition to cholesterol,
Hmgcr
activity is also required for the synthesis of heme A, dolichol, ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q), farnesylated and geranylgeranylated proteins, isopentenyl tRNA, and vitamin K2. Surprisingly, very little is known about the effects of statins on these non-sterol isoprenoids
in vivo
, which may be essential for hepatocyte viability and function. The goal of this project is to investigate the effects of
Hmgcr
inhibition in the liver, in order to better understand the physiological regulation and function of the mevalonate pathway. We have developed a new inducible genetic model of
Hmgcr
deletion, which enables us acutely inhibit the mevalonate pathway in the liver, thus avoiding well-known compensatory responses to statins in rodents.
Hmgcr
floxed mice were injected with liver-specific AAV-Cre recombinase (AAV-Cre) and followed for 1, 2, 4 and 8 weeks. We observed massive apoptosis followed by a burst of hepatocyte proliferation at 2 weeks post-injection. We also observed compensatory upregulation of genes in the mevalonate pathway, likely a response to sterol depletion. Hepatocytes from AAV-Cre mice had expanded and swollen endoplasmic reticulum (ER), and upregulation of Chop and Bax, suggesting ER stress-induced apoptosis. Genetic analysis of AAV-Cre treated livers showed progressive loss of the null allele over time, indicating a selective advantage for hepatocytes that escaped complete
Hmgcr
deletion. The injection of a five-fold higher dose of AAV-Cre was acutely lethal in less than 2 weeks, confirming that liver Hmgcr activity is essential for survival. This new model will be used to identify the essential mevalonate-derived products in the liver, and the molecular pathways underlying statin hepatotoxicity and responsiveness.
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37
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Wang C, He Y, Xu P, Yang Y, Saito K, Xia Y, Yan X, Hinton A, Yan C, Ding H, Yu L, Shu G, Gupta R, Wu Q, Tong Q, Lagor WR, Flores ER, Xu Y. TAp63 contributes to sexual dimorphism in POMC neuron functions and energy homeostasis. Nat Commun 2018; 9:1544. [PMID: 29670083 PMCID: PMC5906443 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03796-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism exists in energy balance, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here we show that the female mice have more pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) neurons in the arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus than males, and female POMC neurons display higher neural activities, compared to male counterparts. Strikingly, deletion of the transcription factor, TAp63, in POMC neurons confers "male-like" diet-induced obesity (DIO) in female mice associated with decreased POMC neural activities; but the same deletion does not affect male mice. Our results indicate that TAp63 in female POMC neurons contributes to the enhanced POMC neuron functions and resistance to obesity in females. Thus, TAp63 in POMC neurons is one key molecular driver for the sexual dimorphism in energy homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunmei Wang
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yanlin He
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Pingwen Xu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yongjie Yang
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Kenji Saito
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Yan Xia
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Xiaofeng Yan
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Antentor Hinton
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Chunling Yan
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Hongfang Ding
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Likai Yu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Gang Shu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Rajat Gupta
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Qi Wu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Qingchun Tong
- Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Elsa R Flores
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Biology and Evolution Program, Department of Cutaneous Oncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Yong Xu
- Children's Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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38
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Abstract
Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 genome engineering has revolutionised biomedical science and we are standing on the cusp of medical transformation. The therapeutic potential of this technology is tremendous, however, its translation to the clinic will be challenging. In this article, we review recent progress using this genome editing technology and explore its potential uses in studying and treating diseases of the liver. We discuss the development of new research tools and animal models as well as potential clinical applications, strategies and challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francis P Pankowicz
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Center for Stem Cells and
Regenerative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,Graduate Program Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology,
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Kelsey E Jarrett
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of
Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program,
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Center for Stem Cells and
Regenerative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of
Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program,
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,Texas Medical Center Digestive Diseases Center, Baylor College of
Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Karl-Dimiter Bissig
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Center for Stem Cells and
Regenerative Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,Graduate Program Department of Molecular & Cellular Biology,
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,Texas Medical Center Digestive Diseases Center, Baylor College of
Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,Graduate Program in Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine,
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of
Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA,Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine,
Houston, Texas, USA,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston,
Texas, USA
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39
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Kuwano T, Bi X, Cipollari E, Yasuda T, Lagor WR, Szapary HJ, Tohyama J, Millar JS, Billheimer JT, Lyssenko NN, Rader DJ. Overexpression and deletion of phospholipid transfer protein reduce HDL mass and cholesterol efflux capacity but not macrophage reverse cholesterol transport. J Lipid Res 2017; 58:731-741. [PMID: 28137768 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m074625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [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: 01/06/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP) may affect macrophage reverse cholesterol transport (mRCT) through its role in the metabolism of HDL. Ex vivo cholesterol efflux capacity and in vivo mRCT were assessed in PLTP deletion and PLTP overexpression mice. PLTP deletion mice had reduced HDL mass and cholesterol efflux capacity, but unchanged in vivo mRCT. To directly compare the effects of PLTP overexpression and deletion on mRCT, human PLTP was overexpressed in the liver of wild-type animals using an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector, and control and PLTP deletion animals were injected with AAV-null. PLTP overexpression and deletion reduced plasma HDL mass and cholesterol efflux capacity. Both substantially decreased ABCA1-independent cholesterol efflux, whereas ABCA1-dependent cholesterol efflux remained the same or increased, even though preβ HDL levels were lower. Neither PLTP overexpression nor deletion affected excretion of macrophage-derived radiocholesterol in the in vivo mRCT assay. The ex vivo and in vivo assays were modified to gauge the rate of cholesterol efflux from macrophages to plasma. PLTP activity did not affect this metric. Thus, deviations in PLTP activity from the wild-type level reduce HDL mass and ex vivo cholesterol efflux capacity, but not the rate of macrophage cholesterol efflux to plasma or in vivo mRCT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Kuwano
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Xin Bi
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Eleonora Cipollari
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Tomoyuki Yasuda
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - William R Lagor
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Hannah J Szapary
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Junichiro Tohyama
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - John S Millar
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Jeffrey T Billheimer
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Nicholas N Lyssenko
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104.
| | - Daniel J Rader
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104; Department of Medicine and Department of Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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40
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Palmer EE, Jarrett KE, Sachdev RK, Al Zahrani F, Hashem MO, Ibrahim N, Sampaio H, Kandula T, Macintosh R, Gupta R, Conlon DM, Billheimer JT, Rader DJ, Funato K, Walkey CJ, Lee CS, Loo C, Brammah S, Elakis G, Zhu Y, Buckley M, Kirk EP, Bye A, Alkuraya FS, Roscioli T, Lagor WR. Neuronal deficiency of ARV1 causes an autosomal recessive epileptic encephalopathy. Hum Mol Genet 2016; 25:3042-3054. [PMID: 27270415 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddw157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Revised: 04/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/18/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We report an individual who presented with severe neurodevelopmental delay and an intractable infantile-onset seizure disorder. Exome sequencing identified a homozygous single nucleotide change that abolishes a splice donor site in the ARV1 gene (c.294 + 1G > A homozygous). This variant completely prevented splicing in minigene assays, and resulted in exon skipping and an in-frame deletion of 40 amino acids in primary human fibroblasts (NP_073623.1: p.(Lys59_Asn98del). The p.(Lys59_Asn98del) and previously reported p.(Gly189Arg) ARV1 variants were evaluated for protein expression and function. The p.(Gly189Arg) variant partially rescued the temperature-dependent growth defect in arv1Δ yeast, while p.(Lys59-Asn98del) completely failed to rescue at restrictive temperature. In contrast to wild type human ARV1, neither variant expressed detectable levels of protein in mammalian cells. Mice with a neuronal deletion of Arv1 recapitulated the human phenotype, exhibiting seizures and a severe survival defect in adulthood. Our data support ARV1 deficiency as a cause of autosomal recessive epileptic encephalopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth E Palmer
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Randwick Campus, University of New South Wales, NSW 2031, Australia.,Genetics of Learning Disability Service, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia
| | - Kelsey E Jarrett
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics.,Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rani K Sachdev
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Randwick Campus, University of New South Wales, NSW 2031, Australia.,Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Fatema Al Zahrani
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mais Omar Hashem
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Niema Ibrahim
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hugo Sampaio
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Randwick Campus, University of New South Wales, NSW 2031, Australia.,Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Tejaswi Kandula
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Randwick Campus, University of New South Wales, NSW 2031, Australia.,Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | | | - Rajat Gupta
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics
| | - Donna M Conlon
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jeffrey T Billheimer
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Daniel J Rader
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kouichi Funato
- Department of Biofunctional Science and Technology, Graduate School of Biosphere Science, Hiroshima University, 1-4-4 Kagamiyam, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8528, Japan
| | - Christopher J Walkey
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Christine Loo
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Randwick Campus, University of New South Wales, NSW 2031, Australia.,SEALS pathology, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Susan Brammah
- Electron Microscope Unit, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Concord, NSW 2139, Australia
| | | | - Ying Zhu
- Genetics of Learning Disability Service, Waratah, NSW 2298, Australia.,SEALS pathology, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | | | - Edwin P Kirk
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Randwick Campus, University of New South Wales, NSW 2031, Australia.,Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.,SEALS pathology, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Ann Bye
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Randwick Campus, University of New South Wales, NSW 2031, Australia.,Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia
| | - Fowzan S Alkuraya
- Department of Genetics, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tony Roscioli
- Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2031, Australia.,Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, Garvan Institute, 370 Victoria St Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia.,St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
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41
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Gillard BK, Rodriguez PJ, Fields DW, Raya JL, Lagor WR, Rosales C, Courtney HS, Gotto AM, Pownall HJ. Streptococcal serum opacity factor promotes cholesterol ester metabolism and bile acid secretion in vitro and in vivo. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2015; 1861:196-204. [PMID: 26709142 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2015.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 07/30/2015] [Revised: 11/16/2015] [Accepted: 12/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Plasma high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations negatively correlate with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. HDL is thought to have several atheroprotective functions, which are likely distinct from the epidemiological inverse relationship between HDL-C levels and risk. Specifically, strategies that reduce HDL-C while promoting reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) may have therapeutic value. The major product of the serum opacity factor (SOF) reaction versus HDL is a cholesteryl ester (CE)-rich microemulsion (CERM), which contains apo E and the CE of ~400,000 HDL particles. Huh7 hepatocytes take up CE faster when delivered as CERM than as HDL, in part via the LDL-receptor (LDLR). Here we compared the final RCT step, hepatic uptake and subsequent intracellular processing to cholesterol and bile salts for radiolabeled HDL-, CERM- and LDL-CE by Huh7 cells and in vivo in C57BL/6J mice. In Huh7 cells, uptake from LDL was greater than from CERM (2-4X) and HDL (5-10X). Halftimes for [(14)C]CE hydrolysis were 3.0±0.2, 4.4±0.6 and 5.4±0.7h respectively for HDL, CERM and LDL-CE. The fraction of sterols secreted as bile acids was ~50% by 8h for all three particles. HDL, CERM and LDL-CE metabolism in mice showed efficient plasma clearance of CERM-CE, liver uptake and metabolism, and secretion as bile acids into the gall bladder. This work supports the therapeutic potential of the SOF reaction, which diverts HDL-CE to the LDLR, thereby increasing hepatic CE uptake, and sterol disposal as bile acids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Baiba K Gillard
- The Laboratory of Atherosclerosis and Lipoprotein Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner St., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Perla J Rodriguez
- The Laboratory of Atherosclerosis and Lipoprotein Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner St., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - David W Fields
- The Laboratory of Atherosclerosis and Lipoprotein Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner St., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Joe L Raya
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Corina Rosales
- The Laboratory of Atherosclerosis and Lipoprotein Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner St., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Harry S Courtney
- University of Tennessee Health Science Center, 956 Court Avenue Room H300A, Memphis, TN 38163 USA.
| | - Antonio M Gotto
- The Laboratory of Atherosclerosis and Lipoprotein Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner St., Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1305 York Ave., New York, NY 10021, USA.
| | - Henry J Pownall
- The Laboratory of Atherosclerosis and Lipoprotein Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, 6670 Bertner St., Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, 1305 York Ave., New York, NY 10021, USA.
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42
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Georgiou DK, Dagnino-Acosta A, Lee CS, Griffin DM, Wang H, Lagor WR, Pautler RG, Dirksen RT, Hamilton SL. Ca2+ Binding/Permeation via Calcium Channel, CaV1.1, Regulates the Intracellular Distribution of the Fatty Acid Transport Protein, CD36, and Fatty Acid Metabolism. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:23751-65. [PMID: 26245899 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.643544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [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: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Ca(2+) permeation and/or binding to the skeletal muscle L-type Ca(2+) channel (CaV1.1) facilitates activation of Ca(2+)/calmodulin kinase type II (CaMKII) and Ca(2+) store refilling to reduce muscle fatigue and atrophy (Lee, C. S., Dagnino-Acosta, A., Yarotskyy, V., Hanna, A., Lyfenko, A., Knoblauch, M., Georgiou, D. K., Poché, R. A., Swank, M. W., Long, C., Ismailov, I. I., Lanner, J., Tran, T., Dong, K., Rodney, G. G., Dickinson, M. E., Beeton, C., Zhang, P., Dirksen, R. T., and Hamilton, S. L. (2015) Skelet. Muscle 5, 4). Mice with a mutation (E1014K) in the Cacna1s (α1 subunit of CaV1.1) gene that abolishes Ca(2+) binding within the CaV1.1 pore gain more body weight and fat on a chow diet than control mice, without changes in food intake or activity, suggesting that CaV1.1-mediated CaMKII activation impacts muscle energy expenditure. We delineate a pathway (Cav1.1→ CaMKII→ NOS) in normal skeletal muscle that regulates the intracellular distribution of the fatty acid transport protein, CD36, altering fatty acid metabolism. The consequences of blocking this pathway are decreased mitochondrial β-oxidation and decreased energy expenditure. This study delineates a previously uncharacterized CaV1.1-mediated pathway that regulates energy utilization in skeletal muscle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimitra K Georgiou
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - Adan Dagnino-Acosta
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - Chang Seok Lee
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - Deric M Griffin
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - Hui Wang
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - William R Lagor
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - Robia G Pautler
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030 and
| | - Robert T Dirksen
- the Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York 14642
| | - Susan L Hamilton
- From the Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030 and
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43
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Bissig-Choisat B, Wang L, Legras X, Saha PK, Chen L, Bell P, Pankowicz FP, Hill MC, Barzi M, Leyton CK, Leung HCE, Kruse RL, Himes RW, Goss JA, Wilson JM, Chan L, Lagor WR, Bissig KD. Development and rescue of human familial hypercholesterolaemia in a xenograft mouse model. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7339. [PMID: 26081744 PMCID: PMC4557302 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases of lipid metabolism are a major cause of human morbidity, but no animal model entirely recapitulates human lipoprotein metabolism. Here we develop a xenograft mouse model using hepatocytes from a patient with familial hypercholesterolaemia caused by loss-of-function mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR). Like familial hypercholesterolaemia patients, our familial hypercholesterolaemia liver chimeric mice develop hypercholesterolaemia and a 'humanized‘ serum profile, including expression of the emerging drug targets cholesteryl ester transfer protein and apolipoprotein (a), for which no genes exist in mice. We go on to replace the missing LDLR in familial hypercholesterolaemia liver chimeric mice using an adeno-associated virus 9-based gene therapy and restore normal lipoprotein profiles after administration of a single dose. Our study marks the first time a human metabolic disease is induced in an experimental animal model by human hepatocyte transplantation and treated by gene therapy. Such xenograft platforms offer the ability to validate human experimental therapies and may foster their rapid translation into the clinic. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a congenital disease associated with high plasma cholesterol levels. Here, the authors recapitulate FH in chimeric mice, in which livers are repopulated with hepatocytes from an FH patient, and successfully correct the disease using adenovirus-mediated gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Bissig-Choisat
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Lili Wang
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Xavier Legras
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Pradip K Saha
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Leon Chen
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Peter Bell
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Francis P Pankowicz
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.,Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Matthew C Hill
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.,Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Mercedes Barzi
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Claudia Kettlun Leyton
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Hon-Chiu Eastwood Leung
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, and Alkek Center for Molecular Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Robert L Kruse
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.,Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Ryan W Himes
- Department of Pediatrics, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - John A Goss
- Department of Surgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - James M Wilson
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA
| | - Lawrence Chan
- Division of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Diabetes and Endocrinology Research Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - William R Lagor
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Karl-Dimiter Bissig
- Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.,Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center, and Alkek Center for Molecular Discovery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
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44
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Gupta R, Schindler C, Wu H, Ballantyne C, Lagor WR. Abstract 148:
Stat2
Deficiency Does Not Protect From Atherosclerosis in
Ldlr
Knockout Mice Fed a Western Diet. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1161/atvb.35.suppl_1.148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (
Stat2
) is a transcription factor that plays a critical role in type I interferon (IFN) signaling. Recent evidence supports a role for the type I IFN pathway in atherosclerosis, since recombinant IFN alpha and IFN beta both promote atherosclerosis in mice. We tested the hypothesis that constitutive type I IFN signaling through
STAT2
may promote atherosclerotic lesion formation. Male
Ldlr
KO and
Stat2/Ldlr
DKO mice on a C57BL6/J background were fed a western diet for 16 weeks. Total cholesterol levels were indistinguishable at baseline (
Ldlr
KO: 232 ± 24 vs.
Stat2/Ldlr
DKO: 239 ± 36 mg/dl, p=0.39), but significantly higher in the
Stat2/Ldlr
DKO mice after 16 weeks of western diet (
Ldlr
KO: 856 ± 203 Vs
Stat2/Ldlr
DKO: 1015 ± 176 mg/dl, p=0.004). Despite consuming less food than
Ldlr
KO controls, the
Stat2/Ldlr
DKO animals weighed significantly more than controls and had greater fat mass in the inguinal subcutaneous and perigonadal depots respectively (
Ldlr
KO: 0.45±0.23 Vs
Stat2/Ldlr
DKO: 0.69 ± 0.27 g, p=0.003 and
Ldlr
KO: 0.89 ± 0.50 Vs
Stat2/Ldlr
DKO: 1.39 ± 0.56 g, p=0.003). Surprisingly, no significant differences were observed in percent lesional area of aortae (
Ldlr
KO: 9.7% ± 5.6% Vs
Stat2/Ldlr
DKO: 12.5% ± 6.8%, p=0.156). In conclusion, STAT2 does not appear to have a major impact on atherosclerosis in the absence of exogenous type I IFNs or other agonism of the pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajat Gupta
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | | | - Huaizhu Wu
- Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | | | - William R Lagor
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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45
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Gillard BK, Rodriguez PJ, Fields DW, Raya JL, Lagor WR, Courtney HS, Gotto AM, Pownall HJ. Abstract 326: Streptococcal Serum Opacity Factor Product, Cholesteryl Ester Rich Particles, Induce Cholesterol Ester Metabolism and Bile Acid Secretion after Uptake by Human Huh7 Hepatocytes. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1161/atvb.35.suppl_1.326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Plasma concentrations of HDL-cholesterol (C) negatively correlate with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, current evidence suggests that this correlation is not axiomatic and that some forms of HDL are dysfunctional and atherogenic. Interventions that raise HDL-C have not been uniformly successful suggesting that mechanisms by which HDL-C is increased determine its anti atherogenic potency. Additionally, mice overexpressing the HDL receptor, SR-BI, have lower plasma HDL-C levels and
less
atherosclerosis. Thus, new strategies that reduce HDL-C while promoting reverse cholesterol transport (RCT) may have therapeutic value. Serum opacity factor (SOF) disrupts HDL and forms three products, including a cholesteryl ester-rich microemulsion (CERM) containing apo E and the CE of ~400,000 HDL particles. Hepatic CE uptake in Huh7 cells is faster when delivered by CERM than by HDL, and cleared both
in vitro
and
in vivo,
in part, via the LDL-receptor (LDLR). We investigated the therapeutic potential of SOF in promoting RCT by comparing the final RCT steps, hepatic uptake, CE metabolism to cholesterol and bile salts, and secretion, of [
14
C]-CE-HDL, -CERM and [[Unable to Display Character: –]]LDL. Cells were pulse-labeled for 2 h with 20-50 ug/mL HDL protein (6-17 ug/mL [
14
C]-CE), or the CE-equivalent as CERM or LDL, and chased for 0, 2 or 6 h. Cells, pulse media and chase media were analyzed for sterols by beta-counting, TLC and solvent partitioning. [
14
C]CE uptake from LDL was greater than from CERM (2-4X) and HDL (5-10X). Halftimes for [
14
C]CE hydrolysis were 3.0 ± 0.2, 4.4 ± 0.6 and 5.4 ± 0.7 h respectively for HDL, CERM and LDL-CE. Bile acids in cells after uptake from HDL or CERM were low, <0.2% of total sterol but higher in cells after uptake from LDL, 4.2 ± 2.2 % of total sterol (
p = 0.03
) at the 2 h chase time. The fraction of sterols secreted as bile acids was comparable for all three donor particles. After the 2 h chase, ~40% of the secreted sterols were bile acids, and after 6 h, ~ 50% were bile acids. These ratios were the same for cells treated with
14
C-CE-HDL, CERM or LDL. Thus, the rates of hepatic metabolism of CERM-CE to free cholesterol, to bile acids and secretion are intermediate between those for HDL- and LDL-CE, supporting the therapeutic potential of SOF as a promoter of RCT.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David W Fields
- Cardiology, Houston Methodist Rsch Institute, Houston, TX
| | - Joe L Raya
- Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - William R Lagor
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
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46
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Jarrett KE, Gupta R, Billheimer JT, Lagor WR, Rader DJ. Abstract 691:
Arv1
Deletion Alters Fat Storage via Adipose-Extrinsic Mechanisms. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1161/atvb.35.suppl_1.691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
ARE2 Required for Viability 1 (ARV1) is a transmembrane protein of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that is believed to promote intracellular sterol transport in yeast. Deletion of
ARV1
in yeast causes lipid accumulation in the ER, altered membrane structure, and constitutive activation of the unfolded protein response. This protein is conserved in mammals, and human ARV1 is known to rescue the growth and viability defects in
ARV1
deficient yeast. In previous work, we found that germline deletion of Arv1 in mice results in a 25% reduction in body weight, greatly reduced fat mass, increased energy expenditure, andimproved glucose tolerance. In the present work, we sought to test the hypothesis that loss of ARV1 activity in white and brown fat is responsible for the metabolic changes we observed. To test this, we utilized two different adipose-selective Cre drivers:
Adiponectin-Cre
and
Ap2-Cre
.
Adiponectin-Cre
mediated deletion was robust and highly specific to the white and brown fat, and had no impact on fat storage or blood glucose. In contrast,
Ap2-Cre
resulted in a substantial 53% decrease in
Arv1
mRNA in the brain (p < 0.05), accompanied by reduced fat mass and markedly improved glucose tolerance. The data suggest that mammalian ARV1 controls metabolic rate and fat storage through non-adipocyte tissues, most likely involving the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelsey E Jarrett
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Rajat Gupta
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Jeffrey T Billheimer
- Div of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Univ of Pennsylvania, Perlman Sch of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - William R Lagor
- Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
| | - Daniel J Rader
- Div of Translational Medicine and Genetics, Univ of Pennsylvania, Perlman Sch of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
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47
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O'Neill SM, Hinkle C, Chen SJ, Sandhu A, Hovhannisyan R, Stephan S, Lagor WR, Ahima RS, Johnston JC, Reilly MP. Targeting adipose tissue via systemic gene therapy. Gene Ther 2014; 21:653-61. [PMID: 24830434 PMCID: PMC4342115 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2014.38] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2013] [Revised: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/18/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Adipose tissue has a critical role in energy and metabolic homeostasis, but it is challenging to adapt techniques to modulate adipose function in vivo. Here we develop an in vivo, systemic method of gene transfer specifically targeting adipose tissue using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. We constructed AAV vectors containing cytomegalovirus promoter-regulated reporter genes, intravenously injected adult mice with vectors using multiple AAV serotypes, and determined that AAV2/8 best targeted adipose tissue. Altering vectors to contain adiponectin promoter/enhancer elements and liver-specific microRNA-122 target sites restricted reporter gene expression to adipose tissue. As proof of efficacy, the leptin gene was incorporated into the adipose-targeted expression vector, package into AAV2/8 and administered intravenously to 9- to 10-week-old ob/ob mice. Phenotypic changes were measured over an 8-week period. Leptin mRNA and protein were expressed in adipose and leptin protein was secreted into plasma. Mice responded with reversal of weight gain, decreased hyperinsulinemia and improved glucose tolerance. AAV2/8-mediated systemic delivery of an adipose-targeted expression vector can replace a gene lacking in adipose tissue and correct a mouse model of human disease, demonstrating experimental application and therapeutic potential in disorders of adipose.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean M. O'Neill
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Christine Hinkle
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Shu-Jen Chen
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Arbansjit Sandhu
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ruben Hovhannisyan
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Stephen Stephan
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William R. Lagor
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Rexford S. Ahima
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Institute for Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Julie C. Johnston
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Muredach P. Reilly
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Correspondence should be addressed to Muredach P. Reilly Cardiovascular Institute Translational Research Center 3400 Civic Center Blvd, Bldg 421 11th floor, Room 11-136 Philadelphia, PA 19104 Tel: (215) 573-1214 Fax: (215) 746-7415
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48
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Yang Y, Kuwano T, Lagor WR, Albert CJ, Brenton S, Rader DJ, Ford DA, Brown RJ. Lipidomic analyses of female mice lacking hepatic lipase and endothelial lipase indicate selective modulation of plasma lipid species. Lipids 2014; 49:505-15. [PMID: 24777581 DOI: 10.1007/s11745-014-3907-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [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: 10/31/2013] [Accepted: 04/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Hepatic lipase (HL) and endothelial lipase (EL) share overlapping and complementary roles in lipoprotein metabolism. The deletion of HL and EL alleles in mice raises plasma total cholesterol and phospholipid concentrations. However, the influence of HL and EL in vivo on individual molecular species from each class of lipid is not known. We hypothesized that the loss of HL, EL, or both in vivo may affect select molecular species from each class of lipids. To test this hypothesis, we performed lipidomic analyses on plasma and livers from fasted female wild-type, HL-knockout, EL-knockout, and HL/EL-double knockout mice. Overall, the loss of HL, EL, or both resulted in minimal changes to hepatic lipids; however, select species of CE were surprisingly reduced in the livers of mice only lacking EL. The loss of HL, EL, or both reduced the plasma concentrations for select molecular species of triacylglycerol, diacylglycerol, and free fatty acid. On the other hand, the loss of HL, EL, or both raised the plasma concentrations for select molecular species of phosphatidylcholine, cholesteryl ester, diacylglycerol, sphingomyelin, ceramide, plasmanylcholine, and plasmenylcholine. The increased plasma concentration of select ether phospholipids was evident in the absence of EL, thus suggesting that EL might exhibit a phospholipase A2 activity. Using recombinant EL, we showed that it could hydrolyse the artificial phospholipase A2 substrate 4-nitro-3-(octanoyloxy)benzoic acid. In summary, our study shows for the first time the influence of HL and EL on individual molecular species of several classes of lipids in vivo using lipidomic methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanbo Yang
- Department of Biochemistry, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada
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49
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Lagor WR, Johnston JC, Lock M, Vandenberghe LH, Rader DJ. Adeno-associated viruses as liver-directed gene delivery vehicles: focus on lipoprotein metabolism. Methods Mol Biol 2014; 1027:273-307. [PMID: 23912992 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-60327-369-5_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Adeno-associated viral vectors have proven to be excellent gene delivery vehicles for somatic overexpression. These viral vectors can efficiently and selectively target the liver, which plays a central role in lipoprotein metabolism. Both liver-expressed as well as non-hepatic secreted proteins can be easily examined in different mouse models using this approach. The dosability of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors, as well as their potential for long-term expression, makes them an excellent choice for assessing gene function in vivo. This section will cover the use of AAV to study lipoprotein metabolism-including vector design, virus production and purification, and viral delivery, as well as monitoring of transgene expression and resulting phenotypic changes. Practical information is provided to assist the investigator in designing, interpreting, and troubleshooting experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Lagor
- Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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50
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Lagor WR, Fields DW, Bauer RC, Crawford A, Abt MC, Artis D, Wherry EJ, Rader DJ. Genetic manipulation of the ApoF/Stat2 locus supports an important role for type I interferon signaling in atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis 2014; 233:234-41. [PMID: 24529150 DOI: 10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2013.12.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2013] [Revised: 12/11/2013] [Accepted: 12/18/2013] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Apolipoprotein F (ApoF) is a sialoglycoprotein that is a component of the HDL and LDL fractions of human serum. We sought to test the hypothesis that ApoF plays an important role in atherosclerosis in mice by modulating lipoprotein function. Atherosclerosis was assessed in male low density lipoprotein receptor knockout (Ldlr KO) and ApoF/Ldlr double knockout (DKO) mice fed a Western diet for 16 weeks. ApoF/Ldlr DKO mice showed a 39% reduction in lesional area by en face analysis of aortas (p < 0.05), despite no significant differences in plasma lipid parameters. ApoF KO mice had reduced expression of Interferon alpha (IFNα) responsive genes in liver and spleen, as well as impaired macrophage activation. Interferon alpha induced gene 27 like 2a (Ifi27l2a), Oligoadenylate synthetases 2 and 3 (Oas2 and Oas3) were significantly reduced in the ApoF KO mice relative to wild type controls. These effects were attributable to hypomorphic expression of Stat2 in the ApoF KO mice, a critical gene in the Type I IFN pathway that is situated just 425 base pairs downstream of ApoF. These studies implicate STAT2 as a potentially important player in atherosclerosis, and support the growing evidence that the Type I IFN pathway may contribute to this complex disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- William R Lagor
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - David W Fields
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert C Bauer
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alison Crawford
- Department of Microbiology and Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Michael C Abt
- Department of Microbiology and Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - David Artis
- Department of Microbiology and Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - E John Wherry
- Department of Microbiology and Institute for Immunology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Daniel J Rader
- Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Institute for Translational Medicine and Therapeutics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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