1
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D'Alessio AM, Boffa I, De Stefano L, Soria LR, Brunetti-Pierri N. Liver gene transfer for metabolite detoxification in inherited metabolic diseases. FEBS Lett 2024. [PMID: 38884367 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024]
Abstract
Inherited metabolic disorders (IMDs) are a growing group of genetic diseases caused by defects in enzymes that mediate cellular metabolism, often resulting in the accumulation of toxic substrates. The liver is a highly metabolically active organ that hosts several thousands of chemical reactions. As such, it is an organ frequently affected in IMDs. In this article, we review current approaches for liver-directed gene-based therapy aimed at metabolite detoxification in a variety of IMDs. Moreover, we discuss current unresolved challenges in gene-based therapies for IMDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alfonso M D'Alessio
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale (SSM, School of Advanced Studies), Genomics and Experimental Medicine Program, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Iolanda Boffa
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Lucia De Stefano
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Leandro R Soria
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
- Scuola Superiore Meridionale (SSM, School of Advanced Studies), Genomics and Experimental Medicine Program, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
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2
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Jalil S, Keskinen T, Juutila J, Sartori Maldonado R, Euro L, Suomalainen A, Lapatto R, Kuuluvainen E, Hietakangas V, Otonkoski T, Hyvönen ME, Wartiovaara K. Genetic and functional correction of argininosuccinate lyase deficiency using CRISPR adenine base editors. Am J Hum Genet 2024; 111:714-728. [PMID: 38579669 PMCID: PMC11023919 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2024.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Argininosuccinate lyase deficiency (ASLD) is a recessive metabolic disorder caused by variants in ASL. In an essential step in urea synthesis, ASL breaks down argininosuccinate (ASA), a pathognomonic ASLD biomarker. The severe disease forms lead to hyperammonemia, neurological injury, and even early death. The current treatments are unsatisfactory, involving a strict low-protein diet, arginine supplementation, nitrogen scavenging, and in some cases, liver transplantation. An unmet need exists for improved, efficient therapies. Here, we show the potential of a lipid nanoparticle-mediated CRISPR approach using adenine base editors (ABEs) for ASLD treatment. To model ASLD, we first generated human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) from biopsies of individuals homozygous for the Finnish founder variant (c.1153C>T [p.Arg385Cys]) and edited this variant using the ABE. We then differentiated the hiPSCs into hepatocyte-like cells that showed a 1,000-fold decrease in ASA levels compared to those of isogenic non-edited cells. Lastly, we tested three different FDA-approved lipid nanoparticle formulations to deliver the ABE-encoding RNA and the sgRNA targeting the ASL variant. This approach efficiently edited the ASL variant in fibroblasts with no apparent cell toxicity and minimal off-target effects. Further, the treatment resulted in a significant decrease in ASA, to levels of healthy donors, indicating restoration of the urea cycle. Our work describes a highly efficient approach to editing the disease-causing ASL variant and restoring the function of the urea cycle. This method relies on RNA delivered by lipid nanoparticles, which is compatible with clinical applications, improves its safety profile, and allows for scalable production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Jalil
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Timo Keskinen
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juhana Juutila
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Rocio Sartori Maldonado
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Liliya Euro
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Anu Suomalainen
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Risto Lapatto
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Emilia Kuuluvainen
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Ville Hietakangas
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Institute of Biotechnology, Helsinki Institute of Life Science, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Timo Otonkoski
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mervi E Hyvönen
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; New Children's Hospital, Pediatric Research Center, University of Helsinki and Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kirmo Wartiovaara
- Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Clinical Genetics, Helsinki University Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
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3
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Gurung S, Timmermand OV, Perocheau D, Gil-Martinez AL, Minnion M, Touramanidou L, Fang S, Messina M, Khalil Y, Spiewak J, Barber AR, Edwards RS, Pinto PL, Finn PF, Cavedon A, Siddiqui S, Rice L, Martini PGV, Ridout D, Heywood W, Hargreaves I, Heales S, Mills PB, Waddington SN, Gissen P, Eaton S, Ryten M, Feelisch M, Frassetto A, Witney TH, Baruteau J. mRNA therapy corrects defective glutathione metabolism and restores ureagenesis in preclinical argininosuccinic aciduria. Sci Transl Med 2024; 16:eadh1334. [PMID: 38198573 PMCID: PMC7615535 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.adh1334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The urea cycle enzyme argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) enables the clearance of neurotoxic ammonia and the biosynthesis of arginine. Patients with ASL deficiency present with argininosuccinic aciduria, an inherited metabolic disease with hyperammonemia and a systemic phenotype coinciding with neurocognitive impairment and chronic liver disease. Here, we describe the dysregulation of glutathione biosynthesis and upstream cysteine utilization in ASL-deficient patients and mice using targeted metabolomics and in vivo positron emission tomography (PET) imaging using (S)-4-(3-18F-fluoropropyl)-l-glutamate ([18F]FSPG). Up-regulation of cysteine metabolism contrasted with glutathione depletion and down-regulated antioxidant pathways. To assess hepatic glutathione dysregulation and liver disease, we present [18F]FSPG PET as a noninvasive diagnostic tool to monitor therapeutic response in argininosuccinic aciduria. Human hASL mRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles improved glutathione metabolism and chronic liver disease. In addition, hASL mRNA therapy corrected and rescued the neonatal and adult Asl-deficient mouse phenotypes, respectively, enhancing ureagenesis. These findings provide mechanistic insights in liver glutathione metabolism and support clinical translation of mRNA therapy for argininosuccinic aciduria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonam Gurung
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | | | - Dany Perocheau
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Ana Luisa Gil-Martinez
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Magdalena Minnion
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Loukia Touramanidou
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Sherry Fang
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Martina Messina
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Youssef Khalil
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Justyna Spiewak
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Abigail R Barber
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Richard S Edwards
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Patricia Lipari Pinto
- Santa Maria's Hospital, Lisbon North University Hospital Center, 1649-028 Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | | | | | - Lisa Rice
- Moderna Inc., Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Deborah Ridout
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Wendy Heywood
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Ian Hargreaves
- Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moore University, Liverpool L3 5UG, UK
| | - Simon Heales
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
| | - Philippa B Mills
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Simon N Waddington
- EGA Institute for Women's Health, University College London, London WC1E 6HX, UK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witswatersrand, Braamfontein, 2000 Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Paul Gissen
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
- National Institute of Health Research Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Simon Eaton
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Mina Ryten
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Martin Feelisch
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
- Southampton NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | | | - Timothy H Witney
- School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Julien Baruteau
- Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London WC1N 3JH, UK
- National Institute of Health Research Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research Centre, London WC1N 1EH, UK
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4
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Duff C, Alexander IE, Baruteau J. Gene therapy for urea cycle defects: An update from historical perspectives to future prospects. J Inherit Metab Dis 2024; 47:50-62. [PMID: 37026568 PMCID: PMC10953416 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Urea cycle defects (UCDs) are severe inherited metabolic diseases with high unmet needs which present a permanent risk of hyperammonaemic decompensation and subsequent acute death or neurological sequelae, when treated with conventional dietetic and medical therapies. Liver transplantation is currently the only curative option, but has the potential to be supplanted by highly effective gene therapy interventions without the attendant need for life-long immunosuppression or limitations imposed by donor liver supply. Over the last three decades, pioneering genetic technologies have been explored to circumvent the consequences of UCDs, improve quality of life and long-term outcomes: adenoviral vectors, adeno-associated viral vectors, gene editing, genome integration and non-viral technology with messenger RNA. In this review, we present a summarised view of this historical path, which includes some seminal milestones of the gene therapy's epic. We provide an update about the state of the art of gene therapy technologies for UCDs and the current advantages and pitfalls driving future directions for research and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Duff
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Ian E. Alexander
- Gene Therapy Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Faculty of Medicine and HealthThe University of Sydney and Sydney Children's Hospitals NetworkWestmeadNew South WalesAustralia
- Discipline of Child and Adolescent HealthThe University of SydneyWestmeadNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Julien Baruteau
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Department, Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- National Institute of Health Research Great Ormond Street Biomedical Research CentreLondonUK
- Metabolic Medicine DepartmentGreat Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
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5
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Daly O, Mahiny AJ, Majeski S, McClintock K, Reichert J, Boros G, Szabó GT, Reinholz J, Schreiner P, Reid S, Lam K, Lepper M, Adler M, Meffen T, Heyes J, Karikó K, Lutwyche P, Vlatkovic I. ASL mRNA-LNP Therapeutic for the Treatment of Argininosuccinic Aciduria Enables Survival Benefit in a Mouse Model. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1735. [PMID: 37371829 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) is a metabolic disorder caused by a deficiency in argininosuccinate lyase (ASL), which cleaves argininosuccinic acid to arginine and fumarate in the urea cycle. ASL deficiency (ASLD) leads to hepatocyte dysfunction, hyperammonemia, encephalopathy, and respiratory alkalosis. Here we describe a novel therapeutic approach for treating ASA, based on nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA) formulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNP). To optimize ASL-encoding mRNA, we modified its cap, 5' and 3' untranslated regions, coding sequence, and the poly(A) tail. We tested multiple optimizations of the formulated mRNA in human cells and wild-type C57BL/6 mice. The ASL protein showed robust expression in vitro and in vivo and a favorable safety profile, with low cytokine and chemokine secretion even upon administration of increasing doses of ASL mRNA-LNP. In the ASLNeo/Neo mouse model of ASLD, intravenous administration of the lead therapeutic candidate LNP-ASL CDS2 drastically improved the survival of the mice. When administered twice a week lower doses partially protected and 3 mg/kg LNP-ASL CDS2 fully protected the mice. These results demonstrate the considerable potential of LNP-formulated, modified ASL-encoding mRNA as an effective alternative to AAV-based approaches for the treatment of ASA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Owen Daly
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | | | - Sara Majeski
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | | | | | - Gábor Boros
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | | | | | - Petra Schreiner
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - Steve Reid
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - Kieu Lam
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - Marlen Lepper
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Melanie Adler
- BioNTech SE, An der Goldgrube 12, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Tracy Meffen
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | - James Heyes
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
| | | | - Pete Lutwyche
- Genevant Sciences Corporation, Vancouver, BC V5T 4T5, Canada
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6
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Bazo A, Lantero A, Mauleón I, Neri L, Poms M, Häberle J, Ricobaraza A, Bénichou B, Combal JP, Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza G, Aldabe R. Gene Therapy in Combination with Nitrogen Scavenger Pretreatment Corrects Biochemical and Behavioral Abnormalities of Infant Citrullinemia Type 1 Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:14940. [PMID: 36499263 PMCID: PMC9736988 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Citrullinemia type I (CTLN1) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) that catalyzes the third step of the urea cycle. CTLN1 patients suffer from impaired elimination of nitrogen, which leads to neurotoxic levels of circulating ammonia and urea cycle byproducts that may cause severe metabolic encephalopathy, death or irreversible brain damage. Standard of care (SOC) of CTLN1 consists of daily nitrogen-scavenger administration, but patients remain at risk of life-threatening decompensations. We evaluated the therapeutic efficacy of a recombinant adeno-associated viral vector carrying the ASS1 gene under the control of a liver-specific promoter (VTX-804). When administered to three-week-old CTLN1 mice, all the animals receiving VTX-804 in combination with SOC gained body weight normally, presented with a normalization of ammonia and reduction of citrulline levels in circulation, and 100% survived for 7 months. Similar to what has been observed in CTLN1 patients, CTLN1 mice showed several behavioral abnormalities such as anxiety, reduced welfare and impairment of innate behavior. Importantly, all clinical alterations were notably improved after treatment with VTX-804. This study demonstrates the potential of VTX-804 gene therapy for future clinical translation to CTLN1 patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bazo
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Itsaso Mauleón
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Leire Neri
- Vivet Therapeutics, S.L., 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Martin Poms
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Johannes Häberle
- Division of Metabolism, Children’s Research Centre (CRC), University Children’s Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Ana Ricobaraza
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | | | | | - Gloria Gonzalez-Aseguinolaza
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Vivet Therapeutics, S.L., 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Rafael Aldabe
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, CIMA, University of Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain
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7
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Ribas GS, Lopes FF, Deon M, Vargas CR. Hyperammonemia in Inherited Metabolic Diseases. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2021; 42:2593-2610. [PMID: 34665389 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-021-01156-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ammonia is a neurotoxic compound which is detoxified through liver enzymes from urea cycle. Several inherited or acquired conditions can elevate ammonia concentrations in blood, causing severe damage to the central nervous system due to the toxic effects exerted by ammonia on the astrocytes. Therefore, hyperammonemic patients present potentially life-threatening neuropsychiatric symptoms, whose severity is related with the hyperammonemia magnitude and duration, as well as the brain maturation stage. Inherited metabolic diseases caused by enzymatic defects that compromise directly or indirectly the urea cycle activity are the main cause of hyperammonemia in the neonatal period. These diseases are mainly represented by the congenital defects of urea cycle, classical organic acidurias, and the defects of mitochondrial fatty acids oxidation, with hyperammonemia being more severe and frequent in the first two groups mentioned. An effective and rapid treatment of hyperammonemia is crucial to prevent irreversible neurological damage and it depends on the understanding of the pathophysiology of the diseases, as well as of the available therapeutic approaches. In this review, the mechanisms underlying the hyperammonemia and neurological dysfunction in urea cycle disorders, organic acidurias, and fatty acids oxidation defects, as well as the therapeutic strategies for the ammonia control will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graziela Schmitt Ribas
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. .,Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clíınicas de Porto Alegre, Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90035-003, Brazil.
| | - Franciele Fátima Lopes
- Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clíınicas de Porto Alegre, Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Marion Deon
- Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clíınicas de Porto Alegre, Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90035-003, Brazil
| | - Carmen Regla Vargas
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. .,Serviço de Genética Médica, Hospital de Clíınicas de Porto Alegre, Ramiro Barcelos, 2350, Porto Alegre, RS, CEP 90035-003, Brazil.
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8
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Soria LR, Gurung S, De Sabbata G, Perocheau DP, De Angelis A, Bruno G, Polishchuk E, Paris D, Cuomo P, Motta A, Orford M, Khalil Y, Eaton S, Mills PB, Waddington SN, Settembre C, Muro AF, Baruteau J, Brunetti‐Pierri N. Beclin-1-mediated activation of autophagy improves proximal and distal urea cycle disorders. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e13158. [PMID: 33369168 PMCID: PMC7863400 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202013158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Urea cycle disorders (UCD) are inherited defects in clearance of waste nitrogen with high morbidity and mortality. Novel and more effective therapies for UCD are needed. Studies in mice with constitutive activation of autophagy unravelled Beclin-1 as druggable candidate for therapy of hyperammonemia. Next, we investigated efficacy of cell-penetrating autophagy-inducing Tat-Beclin-1 (TB-1) peptide for therapy of the two most common UCD, namely ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC) and argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) deficiencies. TB-1 reduced urinary orotic acid and improved survival under protein-rich diet in spf-ash mice, a model of OTC deficiency (proximal UCD). In AslNeo/Neo mice, a model of ASL deficiency (distal UCD), TB-1 increased ureagenesis, reduced argininosuccinate, and improved survival. Moreover, it alleviated hepatocellular injury and decreased both cytoplasmic and nuclear glycogen accumulation in AslNeo/Neo mice. In conclusion, Beclin-1-dependent activation of autophagy improved biochemical and clinical phenotypes of proximal and distal defects of the urea cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sonam Gurung
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | - Giulia De Sabbata
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyTriesteItaly
| | | | | | - Gemma Bruno
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and MedicinePozzuoliItaly
| | | | - Debora Paris
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research CouncilPozzuoliItaly
| | - Paola Cuomo
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research CouncilPozzuoliItaly
| | - Andrea Motta
- Institute of Biomolecular Chemistry, National Research CouncilPozzuoliItaly
| | - Michael Orford
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | - Youssef Khalil
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | - Simon Eaton
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
| | | | - Simon N Waddington
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
- Wits/SAMRC Antiviral Gene Therapy Research UnitFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of the WitwatersrandJohannesburgSouth Africa
| | | | - Andrés F Muro
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and BiotechnologyTriesteItaly
| | - Julien Baruteau
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child HealthLondonUK
- Metabolic Medicine DepartmentGreat Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation TrustLondonUK
| | - Nicola Brunetti‐Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and MedicinePozzuoliItaly
- Department of Translational MedicineFederico II UniversityNaplesItaly
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9
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Soria LR, Ah Mew N, Brunetti-Pierri N. Progress and challenges in development of new therapies for urea cycle disorders. Hum Mol Genet 2020; 28:R42-R48. [PMID: 31227828 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Urea cycle disorders (UCD) are inborn errors of metabolism caused by deficiency of enzymes required to transfer nitrogen from ammonia into urea. Current paradigms of treatment focus on dietary manipulations, ammonia scavenger drugs, and orthotopic liver transplantation. In the last years, there has been intense preclinical research aiming at developing more effective treatments for UCD, and as a result, several novel approaches based on new knowledge of the disease pathogenesis, cell and gene therapies are currently under clinical investigation. We provide an overview of the latest advances for the development of novel therapies for UCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro R Soria
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Nicholas Ah Mew
- Rare Disease Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Nicola Brunetti-Pierri
- Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy.,Department of Translational Medicine, Federico II University of Naples, Naples, Italy
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10
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Burrage LC, Madan S, Li X, Ali S, Mohammad M, Stroup BM, Jiang MM, Cela R, Bertin T, Jin Z, Dai J, Guffey D, Finegold M, Nagamani S, Minard CG, Marini J, Masand P, Schady D, Shneider BL, Leung DH, Bali D, Lee B. Chronic liver disease and impaired hepatic glycogen metabolism in argininosuccinate lyase deficiency. JCI Insight 2020; 5:132342. [PMID: 31990680 PMCID: PMC7101134 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.132342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDLiver disease in urea cycle disorders (UCDs) ranges from hepatomegaly and chronic hepatocellular injury to cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. However, the prevalence and underlying mechanisms are unclear.METHODSWe estimated the prevalence of chronic hepatocellular injury in UCDs using data from a multicenter, longitudinal, natural history study. We also used ultrasound with shear wave elastography and FibroTest to evaluate liver stiffness and markers of fibrosis in individuals with argininosuccinate lyase deficiency (ASLD), a disorder with high prevalence of elevated serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT). To understand the human observations, we evaluated the hepatic phenotype of the AslNeo/Neo mouse model of ASLD.RESULTSWe demonstrate a high prevalence of elevated ALT in ASLD (37%). Hyperammonemia and use of nitrogen-scavenging agents, 2 markers of disease severity, were significantly (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively) associated with elevated ALT in ASLD. In addition, ultrasound with shear wave elastography and FibroTest revealed increased echogenicity and liver stiffness, even in individuals with ASLD and normal aminotransferases. The AslNeo/Neo mice mimic the human disorder with hepatomegaly, elevated aminotransferases, and excessive hepatic glycogen noted before death (3-5 weeks of age). This excessive hepatic glycogen is associated with impaired hepatic glycogenolysis and decreased glycogen phosphorylase and is rescued with helper-dependent adenovirus expressing Asl using a liver-specific (ApoE) promoter.CONCLUSIONOur results link urea cycle dysfunction and impaired hepatic glucose metabolism and identify a mouse model of liver disease in the setting of urea cycle dysfunction.TRIAL REGISTRATIONThis study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT03721367, NCT00237315).FUNDINGFunding was provided by NIH, Burroughs Wellcome Fund, NUCDF, Genzyme/ACMG Foundation, and CPRIT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay C. Burrage
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Simran Madan
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Interdepartmental Program in Translational Biology and Molecular Medicine and
| | - Xiaohui Li
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Saima Ali
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Mahmoud Mohammad
- USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Department of Food Science and Nutrition, National Research Centre, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Bridget M. Stroup
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Ming-Ming Jiang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Racel Cela
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Terry Bertin
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Zixue Jin
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jian Dai
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Danielle Guffey
- Dan L. Duncan Institute for Clinical and Translational Research and
| | - Milton Finegold
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Sandesh Nagamani
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Juan Marini
- USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Prakash Masand
- Edward B. Singleton Department of Pediatric Radiology, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Deborah Schady
- Department of Pathology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin L. Shneider
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Daniel H. Leung
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
- Section of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Deeksha Bali
- Department of Pediatrics, Duke Health, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Brendan Lee
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
- Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
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Zielonka M, Garbade SF, Gleich F, Okun JG, Nagamani SCS, Gropman AL, Hoffmann GF, Kölker S, Posset R. From genotype to phenotype: Early prediction of disease severity in argininosuccinic aciduria. Hum Mutat 2020; 41:946-960. [PMID: 31943503 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) is an inherited urea cycle disorder and has a highly variable phenotypic spectrum ranging from individuals with lethal hyperammonemic encephalopathy, liver dysfunction, and cognitive deterioration, to individuals with a mild disease course. As it is difficult to predict the phenotypic severity, we aimed at identifying a reliable disease prediction model. We applied a biallelic expression system to assess the functional impact of pathogenic argininosuccinate lyase (ASL) variants and to determine the enzymatic activity of ASL in 58 individuals with ASA. This cohort represented 42 ASL gene variants and 42 combinations in total. Enzymatic ASL activity was compared with biochemical and clinical endpoints from the UCDC and E-IMD databases. Enzymatic ASL activity correlated with peak plasma ammonium concentration at initial presentation and with the number of hyperammonemic events (HAEs) per year of observation. Individuals with ≤9% of enzymatic activity had more severe initial decompensations and a higher annual frequency of HAEs than individuals above this threshold. Enzymatic ASL activity also correlated with the cognitive outcome and the severity of the liver disease, enabling a reliable severity prediction for individuals with ASA. Thus, enzymatic activity measured by this novel expression system can serve as an important marker of phenotypic severity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Zielonka
- Division of Pediatric Neurology and Metabolic Medicine, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg Research Center for Molecular Medicine (HRCMM), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sven F Garbade
- Division of Pediatric Neurology and Metabolic Medicine, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian Gleich
- Division of Pediatric Neurology and Metabolic Medicine, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen G Okun
- Division of Pediatric Neurology and Metabolic Medicine, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sandesh C S Nagamani
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Andrea L Gropman
- Division of Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics and Neurogenetics, Children's National Health System and The George Washington School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Georg F Hoffmann
- Division of Pediatric Neurology and Metabolic Medicine, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan Kölker
- Division of Pediatric Neurology and Metabolic Medicine, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Roland Posset
- Division of Pediatric Neurology and Metabolic Medicine, Center for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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12
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Baruteau J, Diez-Fernandez C, Lerner S, Ranucci G, Gissen P, Dionisi-Vici C, Nagamani S, Erez A, Häberle J. Argininosuccinic aciduria: Recent pathophysiological insights and therapeutic prospects. J Inherit Metab Dis 2019; 42:1147-1161. [PMID: 30723942 DOI: 10.1002/jimd.12047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2018] [Accepted: 12/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The first patients affected by argininosuccinic aciduria (ASA) were reported 60 years ago. The clinical presentation was initially described as similar to other urea cycle defects, but increasing evidence has shown overtime an atypical systemic phenotype with a paradoxical observation, that is, a higher rate of neurological complications contrasting with a lower rate of hyperammonaemic episodes. The disappointing long-term clinical outcomes of many of the patients have challenged the current standard of care and therapeutic strategy, which aims to normalize plasma ammonia and arginine levels. Interrogations have raised about the benefit of newborn screening or liver transplantation on the neurological phenotype. Over the last decade, novel discoveries enabled by the generation of new transgenic argininosuccinate lyase (ASL)-deficient mouse models have been achieved, such as, a better understanding of ASL and its close interaction with nitric oxide metabolism, ASL physiological role outside the liver, and the pathophysiological role of oxidative/nitrosative stress or excessive arginine treatment. Here, we present a collaborative review, which highlights these recent discoveries and novel emerging concepts about ASL role in human physiology, ASA clinical phenotype and geographic prevalence, limits of current standard of care and newborn screening, pathophysiology of the disease, and emerging novel therapies. We propose recommendations for monitoring of ASA patients. Ongoing research aims to better understand the underlying pathogenic mechanisms of the systemic disease to design novel therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julien Baruteau
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
- Metabolic Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Carmen Diez-Fernandez
- Division of Metabolism and Children Research Centre (CRC), University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Shaul Lerner
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israël
| | - Giusy Ranucci
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Paul Gissen
- UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, NIHR Great Ormond Street Hospital Biomedical Research Centre, London, UK
- Metabolic Department, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Carlo Dionisi-Vici
- Division of Metabolism, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Sandesh Nagamani
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Ayelet Erez
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israël
| | - Johannes Häberle
- Division of Metabolism and Children Research Centre (CRC), University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology (ZIHP) and Neuroscience Center Zurich (ZNZ), Zurich, Switzerland
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13
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Urea cycle disorders-update. J Hum Genet 2019; 64:833-847. [PMID: 31110235 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-019-0614-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Revised: 04/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The urea cycle is a metabolic pathway for the disposal of excess nitrogen, which arises primarily as ammonia. Nitrogen is essential for growth and life-maintenance, but excessive ammonia leads to life-threatening conditions. The urea cycle disorders (UCDs) comprise diseases presenting with hyperammonemia that arise in either the neonatal period (about 50% of cases) or later. Congenital defects of the enzymes or transporters of the urea cycle cause the disease. This cycle utilizes five enzymes, two of which, carbamoylphosphate synthetase 1 and ornithine transcarbamylase are present in the mitochondrial matrix, whereas the others (argininosuccinate synthetase, argininosuccinate lyase and arginase 1) are present in the cytoplasm. In addition, N-acetylglutamate synthase and at least two transporter proteins are essential to urea cycle function. Severity and age of onset depend on residual enzyme or transporter function and are related to the respective gene mutations. The strategy for therapy is to prevent the irreversible toxicity of high-ammonia exposure to the brain. The pathogenesis and natural course are poorly understood because of the rarity of the disease, so an international registry system and novel clinical trials are much needed. We review here the current concepts of the pathogenesis, diagnostics, including genetics and treatment of UCDs.
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