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Li S, Xiong F, Zhang S, Liu J, Gao G, Xie J, Wang Y. Oligonucleotide therapies for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102184. [PMID: 38665220 PMCID: PMC11044058 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represents a severe disease subtype of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that is thought to be highly associated with systemic metabolic abnormalities. It is characterized by a series of substantial liver damage, including hepatocellular steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. The end stage of NASH, in some cases, may result in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nowadays a large number of investigations are actively under way to test various therapeutic strategies, including emerging oligonucleotide drugs (e.g., antisense oligonucleotide, small interfering RNA, microRNA, mimic/inhibitor RNA, and small activating RNA) that have shown high potential in treating this fatal liver disease. This article systematically reviews the pathogenesis of NASH/NAFLD, the promising druggable targets proven by current studies in chemical compounds or biological drug development, and the feasibility and limitations of oligonucleotide-based therapeutic approaches under clinical or pre-clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sixu Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China College of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Feng Xiong
- Department of Cardiology, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Songbo Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jinghua Liu
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China College of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610066, China
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Saleh LY, Ora M, Lönnberg T. Organomercury oligonucleotide conjugates as artificial ribonucleases. J Inorg Biochem 2023; 247:112331. [PMID: 37480764 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinorgbio.2023.112331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Two oligonucleotide conjugates sharing the same sequence but incorporating a different 5'-terminal organometallic moiety were synthesized, by either direct mercuration in solution or oximation with an organomercury aldehyde on solid support. The potential of these conjugates to serve as new type of artificial ribonucleases was tested with a complementary 2´-O-methyl-RNA target sequence featuring a single cleavable RNA phosphodiester linkage. Both organomercury oligonucleotides greatly outperformed their metal-free counterparts as well as the previously reported small molecule organomercury RNA cleaving agent in catalytic activity, providing an important proof-of-concept. Compared to state-of-the-art metal-dependent artificial ribonucleases, however, the observed activity was modest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lange Yakubu Saleh
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Mikko Ora
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland
| | - Tuomas Lönnberg
- Department of Chemistry, University of Turku, Henrikinkatu 2, 20500 Turku, Finland.
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Buthelezi LA, Pillay S, Ntuli NN, Gcanga L, Guler R. Antisense Therapy for Infectious Diseases. Cells 2023; 12:2119. [PMID: 37626929 PMCID: PMC10453568 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases, particularly Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, pose a significant global health challenge, with 1.6 million reported deaths in 2021, making it the most fatal disease caused by a single infectious agent. The rise of drug-resistant infectious diseases adds to the urgency of finding effective and safe intervention therapies. Antisense therapy uses antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that are short, chemically modified, single-stranded deoxyribonucleotide molecules complementary to their mRNA target. Due to their designed target specificity and inhibition of a disease-causing gene at the mRNA level, antisense therapy has gained interest as a potential therapeutic approach. This type of therapy is currently utilized in numerous diseases, such as cancer and genetic disorders. Currently, there are limited but steadily increasing studies available that report on the use of ASOs as treatment for infectious diseases. This review explores the sustainability of FDA-approved and preclinically tested ASOs as a treatment for infectious diseases and the adaptability of ASOs for chemical modifications resulting in reduced side effects with improved drug delivery; thus, highlighting the potential therapeutic uses of ASOs for treating infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lwanda Abonga Buthelezi
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town Component, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (L.A.B.); (S.P.); (N.N.N.); (L.G.)
- Department of Pathology, Division of Immunology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Shandre Pillay
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town Component, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (L.A.B.); (S.P.); (N.N.N.); (L.G.)
- Department of Pathology, Division of Immunology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Noxolo Nokukhanya Ntuli
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town Component, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (L.A.B.); (S.P.); (N.N.N.); (L.G.)
- Department of Pathology, Division of Immunology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Lorna Gcanga
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town Component, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (L.A.B.); (S.P.); (N.N.N.); (L.G.)
- Department of Pathology, Division of Immunology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
| | - Reto Guler
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Cape Town Component, Cape Town 7925, South Africa; (L.A.B.); (S.P.); (N.N.N.); (L.G.)
- Department of Pathology, Division of Immunology, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine (IDM), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Wellcome Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Africa, Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
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Lee SH, Ng CX, Wong SR, Chong PP. MiRNAs Overexpression and Their Role in Breast Cancer: Implications for Cancer Therapeutics. Curr Drug Targets 2023; 24:484-508. [PMID: 36999414 DOI: 10.2174/1389450124666230329123409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs have a plethora of roles in various biological processes in the cells and most human cancers have been shown to be associated with dysregulation of the expression of miRNA genes. MiRNA biogenesis involves two alternative pathways, the canonical pathway which requires the successful cooperation of various proteins forming the miRNA-inducing silencing complex (miRISC), and the non-canonical pathway, such as the mirtrons, simtrons, or agotrons pathway, which bypasses and deviates from specific steps in the canonical pathway. Mature miRNAs are secreted from cells and circulated in the body bound to argonaute 2 (AGO2) and miRISC or transported in vesicles. These miRNAs may regulate their downstream target genes via positive or negative regulation through different molecular mechanisms. This review focuses on the role and mechanisms of miRNAs in different stages of breast cancer progression, including breast cancer stem cell formation, breast cancer initiation, invasion, and metastasis as well as angiogenesis. The design, chemical modifications, and therapeutic applications of synthetic anti-sense miRNA oligonucleotides and RNA mimics are also discussed in detail. The strategies for systemic delivery and local targeted delivery of the antisense miRNAs encompass the use of polymeric and liposomal nanoparticles, inorganic nanoparticles, extracellular vesicles, as well as viral vectors and viruslike particles (VLPs). Although several miRNAs have been identified as good candidates for the design of antisense and other synthetic modified oligonucleotides in targeting breast cancer, further efforts are still needed to study the most optimal delivery method in order to drive the research beyond preclinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sau Har Lee
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
- Centre for Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology (CDDMP), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Chu Xin Ng
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Sharon Rachel Wong
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Pei Pei Chong
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia
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Advanced Gene-Targeting Therapies for Motor Neuron Diseases and Muscular Dystrophies. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094824. [PMID: 35563214 PMCID: PMC9101723 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene therapy is a revolutionary, cutting-edge approach to permanently ameliorate or amend many neuromuscular diseases by targeting their genetic origins. Motor neuron diseases and muscular dystrophies, whose genetic causes are well known, are the frontiers of this research revolution. Several genetic treatments, with diverse mechanisms of action and delivery methods, have been approved during the past decade and have demonstrated remarkable results. However, despite the high number of genetic treatments studied preclinically, those that have been advanced to clinical trials are significantly fewer. The most clinically advanced treatments include adeno-associated virus gene replacement therapy, antisense oligonucleotides, and RNA interference. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the advanced gene therapies for motor neuron diseases (i.e., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and spinal muscular atrophy) and muscular dystrophies (i.e., Duchenne muscular dystrophy, limb-girdle muscular dystrophy, and myotonic dystrophy) tested in clinical trials. Emphasis has been placed on those methods that are a few steps away from their authoritative approval.
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Internalisation and Biological Activity of Nucleic Acids Delivering Cell-Penetrating Peptide Nanoparticles Is Controlled by the Biomolecular Corona. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14070667. [PMID: 34358093 PMCID: PMC8308718 DOI: 10.3390/ph14070667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid molecules can be transferred into cells to alter gene expression and, thus, alleviate certain pathological conditions. Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are vectors that can be used for transfecting nucleic acids as well as many other compounds. CPPs associate nucleic acids non-covalently, forming stable nanoparticles and providing efficient transfection of cells in vitro. However, in vivo, expected efficiency is achieved only in rare cases. One of the reasons for this discrepancy is the formation of protein corona around nanoparticles, once they are exposed to a biological environment, e.g., blood stream. In this study, we compared protein corona of CPP-nucleic acid nanoparticles formed in the presence of bovine, murine and human serum. We used Western blot and mass-spectrometry to identify the major constituents of protein corona forming around nanoparticles, showing that proteins involved in transport, haemostasis and complement system are its major components. We investigated physical features of nanoparticles and measured their biological efficiency in splice-correction assay. We showed that protein corona constituents might alter the fate of nanoparticles in vivo, e.g., by subjecting them to phagocytosis. We demonstrated that composition of protein corona of nanoparticles is species-specific that leads to dissimilar transfection efficiency and should be considered while developing delivery systems for nucleic acids.
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Restoring Protein Expression in Neuromuscular Conditions: A Review Assessing the Current State of Exon Skipping/Inclusion and Gene Therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and Spinal Muscular Atrophy. BioDrugs 2021; 35:389-399. [PMID: 34097287 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-021-00486-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The debilitating neuromuscular disorders Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), which harm 1 in 5000 newborn males and 1 in 11,000 newborns, respectively, are marked by progressive muscle wasting among other complications. While DMD causes generalized muscle weakness due to the absence of the dystrophin protein, SMA patients generally face motor neuron degeneration because of the lack of the survival motor neuron (SMN) protein. Many of the most promising therapies for both conditions restore the absent proteins dystrophin and SMN. Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated exon skipping and inclusion therapies are advancing clinically with the approved DMD therapies casimersen, eteplirsen, golodirsen, and viltolarsen, and the SMA therapy nusinersen. Existing antisense therapies focus on skeletal muscle for DMD and motor neurons for SMA, respectively. Through innovative techniques, such as peptide conjugation and multi-exon skipping, these therapies could be optimized for efficacy and applicability. By contrast, gene replacement therapy is administered only once to patients during treatment. Currently, only onasemnogene abeparvovec for SMA has been approved. Safety shortcomings remain a major challenge for gene therapy. Nevertheless, gene therapy for DMD has strong potential to restore dystrophin expression in patients. In light of promising functional improvements, antisense and gene therapies stand poised to elevate the lives of patients with DMD and SMA.
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Metelev VG, Oretskaya TS. Modified Oligonucleotides: New Structures, New Properties, and New Spheres of Application. RUSSIAN JOURNAL OF BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY 2021; 47:339-343. [PMID: 33935479 PMCID: PMC8074280 DOI: 10.1134/s1068162021020175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/10/2020] [Accepted: 10/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acids have made a long and arduous journey "from the bench to the bedside." At present, it can be assumed that drugs based on modified oligonucleotides will find a worthy application in personalized medicine of the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. G. Metelev
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Department of Chemistry and Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, 119991 Moscow, Russia
| | - T. S. Oretskaya
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Department of Chemistry and Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, 119991 Moscow, Russia
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Hajaj E, Zisman E, Tzaban S, Merims S, Cohen J, Klein S, Frankenburg S, Sade-Feldman M, Tabach Y, Yizhak K, Navon A, Stepensky P, Hacohen N, Peretz T, Veillette A, Karni R, Eisenberg G, Lotem M. Alternative Splicing of the Inhibitory Immune Checkpoint Receptor SLAMF6 Generates a Dominant Positive Form, Boosting T-cell Effector Functions. Cancer Immunol Res 2021; 9:637-650. [PMID: 33762352 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-20-0800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
SLAMF6 is a homotypic receptor of the Ig-superfamily associated with progenitor-exhausted T cells. Here we show that in humans, SLAMF6 has three splice isoforms involving its V-domain. Although the canonical receptor inhibited T-cell activation through SAP recruitment, the short isoform SLAMF6Δ17-65 had a strong agonistic effect. The costimulatory action depended on protein phosphatase SHP1 and led to a cytotoxic molecular profile mediated by the expression of TBX21 and RUNX3. Patients treated with immune checkpoint blockade showed a shift toward SLAMF6Δ17-65 in peripheral blood T cells. We developed splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) designed to target the relevant SLAMF6 splice junction. Our ASOs enhanced SLAMF6Δ17-65 expression in human tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and improved their capacity to inhibit human melanoma in mice. The yin-yang relationship of SLAMF6 splice isoforms may represent a balancing mechanism that could be exploited to improve cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Hajaj
- Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.,Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Elad Zisman
- Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.,Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shay Tzaban
- Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.,Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Sharon Merims
- Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jonathan Cohen
- Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.,Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shiri Klein
- Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.,Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Shoshana Frankenburg
- Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Moshe Sade-Feldman
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Yuval Tabach
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Keren Yizhak
- Department of Cell Biology and Cancer Science, Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Ami Navon
- Department of Biological Regulation, Faculty of Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Polina Stepensky
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nir Hacohen
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.,Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Tamar Peretz
- Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - André Veillette
- IRCM, Montreal Clinical Research Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Rotem Karni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Galit Eisenberg
- Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel.,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.,Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Michal Lotem
- Sharett Institute of Oncology, Hadassah Hebrew University Hospital, Jerusalem, Israel. .,Wohl Institute for Translational Medicine, Hadassah Medical Organization, Jerusalem, Israel.,Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
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Sheikh O, Yokota T. Developing DMD therapeutics: a review of the effectiveness of small molecules, stop-codon readthrough, dystrophin gene replacement, and exon-skipping therapies. Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2021; 30:167-176. [PMID: 33393390 DOI: 10.1080/13543784.2021.1868434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disorder caused by mutations in the dystrophin (DMD) gene. Most patients die from respiratory failure or cardiomyopathy. There are significant unmet needs for treatments for DMD as the standard of care is principally limited to symptom relief through treatments including steroids. AREAS COVERED This review summarizes safety and efficacy in promising areas of DMD therapeutics - small molecules, stop codon readthrough, gene replacement, and exon skipping - under clinical examination from 2015-2020 as demonstrated in the NIH Clinical Trials and PubMed search engines. EXPERT OPINION Currently, steroids persist as the most accessible medicine for DMD. Stop-codon readthrough, gene replacement, and exon-skipping therapies all aim to restore dystrophin expression. Of these strategies, gene replacement therapy has recently gained momentum while exon-skipping retains great traction. The FDA approval of three exon-skipping antisense oligonucleotides illustrate this regulatory momentum, though the effectiveness and sequence design of eteplirsen remain controversial. Cell-penetrating peptides promise to more efficaciously treat DMD-related cardiomyopathy.The recent success of antisense therapies, however, poses major regulatory challenges. To fully realize the benefits of exon-skipping, including cocktail oligonucleotide-mediated multiple exon-skipping and oligonucleotide drugs for very rare mutations, regulatory challenges need to be addressed in coordination with scientific advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omar Sheikh
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Canada
| | - Toshifumi Yokota
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta , Edmonton, Canada
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Catani M, De Luca C, Medeiros Garcia Alcântara J, Manfredini N, Perrone D, Marchesi E, Weldon R, Müller-Späth T, Cavazzini A, Morbidelli M, Sponchioni M. Oligonucleotides: Current Trends and Innovative Applications in the Synthesis, Characterization, and Purification. Biotechnol J 2020; 15:e1900226. [PMID: 32298041 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201900226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2020] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Oligonucleotides (ONs) are gaining increasing importance as a promising novel class of biopharmaceuticals. Thanks to their fundamental role in gene regulation, they can be used to develop custom-made drugs (also called N-to-1) able to act on the gene expression at pre-translational level. With recent approvals of ON-based therapeutics by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a growing demand for high-quality chemically modified ONs is emerging and their market is expected to impressively prosper in the near future. To satisfy this growing market demand, a scalable and economically sustainable ON production is needed. In this paper, the state of the art of the whole ON production process is illustrated with the aim of highlighting the most promising routes toward the auspicated market-size production. In particular, the most recent advancements in both the upstream stage, mainly based on solid-phase synthesis and recombinant technology, and the downstream one, focusing on chromatographic techniques, are reviewed. Since ON production is projected to expand to the large scale, automatized multicolumn countercurrent technologies will reasonably be required soon to replace the current ones based on batch single-column operations. This consideration is supported by a recent cutting-edge application of continuous chromatography for the ON purification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Catani
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, Ferrara, 44121, Italy
| | - Chiara De Luca
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, Ferrara, 44121, Italy
| | - João Medeiros Garcia Alcântara
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta,", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, Milano, 20131, Italy
| | - Nicolò Manfredini
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta,", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, Milano, 20131, Italy
| | - Daniela Perrone
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, Ferrara, 44121, Italy
| | - Elena Marchesi
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, Ferrara, 44121, Italy
| | - Richard Weldon
- ChromaCon AG, Technoparkstrasse 1, Zürich, 8005, Switzerland
| | | | - Alberto Cavazzini
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Ferrara, via L. Borsari 46, Ferrara, 44121, Italy
| | - Massimo Morbidelli
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta,", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, Milano, 20131, Italy
| | - Mattia Sponchioni
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta,", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, Milano, 20131, Italy
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