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Renna P, Ripoli C, Dagliyan O, Pastore F, Rinaudo M, Re A, Paciello F, Grassi C. Engineering a switchable single‐chain
TEV
protease to control protein maturation in living neurons. Bioeng Transl Med 2022; 7:e10292. [PMID: 35600650 PMCID: PMC9115699 DOI: 10.1002/btm2.10292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Revised: 11/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Engineered proteases are promising tools to address physiological and pathophysiological questions as well as to develop new therapeutic approaches. Here we introduce a new genetically encoded engineered single‐chain tobacco etch virus protease, allowing to control proprotein cleavage in different compartments of living mammalian cells. We demonstrated a set of controllable proteolytic effects, including cytosolic protein cleavage, inducible gene expression, and maturation of brain‐derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the secretory pathway thus showing the versatility of this technique. Of note, the secretory pathway exhibits different characteristics from the cytosol and it is difficult to target because inaccessible to some small molecules. We were able to induce ligand‐mediated BDNF maturation and monitor its effects on dendritic spines in hippocampal pyramidal cells and in the mouse brain. This strategy paves the way to dissect proteolytic cleavage product signaling in various processes as well as for future therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pietro Renna
- Department of Neuroscience Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome Italy
| | - Cristian Ripoli
- Department of Neuroscience Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome Italy
| | - Onur Dagliyan
- Department of Neurobiology Harvard Medical School Boston MA USA
| | - Francesco Pastore
- Department of Neuroscience Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome Italy
| | - Marco Rinaudo
- Department of Neuroscience Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome Italy
| | - Agnese Re
- Department of Neuroscience Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome Italy
| | - Fabiola Paciello
- Department of Neuroscience Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome Italy
| | - Claudio Grassi
- Department of Neuroscience Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 00168 Rome Italy
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome Italy
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Ingusci S, Verlengia G, Soukupova M, Zucchini S, Simonato M. Gene Therapy Tools for Brain Diseases. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:724. [PMID: 31312139 PMCID: PMC6613496 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurological disorders affecting the central nervous system (CNS) are still incompletely understood. Many of these disorders lack a cure and are seeking more specific and effective treatments. In fact, in spite of advancements in knowledge of the CNS function, the treatment of neurological disorders with modern medical and surgical approaches remains difficult for many reasons, such as the complexity of the CNS, the limited regenerative capacity of the tissue, and the difficulty in conveying conventional drugs to the organ due to the blood-brain barrier. Gene therapy, allowing the delivery of genetic materials that encodes potential therapeutic molecules, represents an attractive option. Gene therapy can result in a stable or inducible expression of transgene(s), and can allow a nearly specific expression in target cells. In this review, we will discuss the most commonly used tools for the delivery of genetic material in the CNS, including viral and non-viral vectors; their main applications; their advantages and disadvantages. We will discuss mechanisms of genetic regulation through cell-specific and inducible promoters, which allow to express gene products only in specific cells and to control their transcriptional activation. In addition, we will describe the applications to CNS diseases of post-transcriptional regulation systems (RNA interference); of systems allowing spatial or temporal control of expression [optogenetics and Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs)]; and of gene editing technologies (CRISPR/Cas9, Zinc finger proteins). Particular attention will be reserved to viral vectors derived from herpes simplex type 1, a potential tool for the delivery and expression of multiple transgene cassettes simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selene Ingusci
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Gianluca Verlengia
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Technopole of Ferrara, LTTA Laboratory for Advanced Therapies, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences and National Institute of Neuroscience, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.,Division of Neuroscience, University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
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Benazra M, Lecomte MJ, Colace C, Müller A, Machado C, Pechberty S, Bricout-Neveu E, Grenier-Godard M, Solimena M, Scharfmann R, Czernichow P, Ravassard P. A human beta cell line with drug inducible excision of immortalizing transgenes. Mol Metab 2015; 4:916-25. [PMID: 26909308 PMCID: PMC4731729 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmet.2015.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2015] [Revised: 09/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Access to immortalized human pancreatic beta cell lines that are phenotypically close to genuine adult beta cells, represent a major tool to better understand human beta cell physiology and develop new therapeutics for Diabetes. Here we derived a new conditionally immortalized human beta cell line, EndoC-βH3 in which immortalizing transgene can be efficiently removed by simple addition of tamoxifen. Methods We used lentiviral mediated gene transfer to stably integrate a tamoxifen inducible form of CRE (CRE-ERT2) into the recently developed conditionally immortalized EndoC βH2 line. The resulting EndoC-βH3 line was characterized before and after tamoxifen treatment for cell proliferation, insulin content and insulin secretion. Results We showed that EndoC-βH3 expressing CRE-ERT2 can be massively amplified in culture. We established an optimized tamoxifen treatment to efficiently excise the immortalizing transgenes resulting in proliferation arrest. In addition, insulin expression raised by 12 fold and insulin content increased by 23 fold reaching 2 μg of insulin per million cells. Such massive increase was accompanied by enhanced insulin secretion upon glucose stimulation. We further observed that tamoxifen treated cells maintained a stable function for 5 weeks in culture. Conclusions EndoC βH3 cell line represents a powerful tool that allows, using a simple and efficient procedure, the massive production of functional non-proliferative human beta cells. Such cells are close to genuine human beta cells and maintain a stable phenotype for 5 weeks in culture. EndoC-βH3: a conditionally immortalized human pancreatic beta cell line. Proliferation arrest upon removal of immortalizing transgenes with Tamoxifen. Enhancement of beta cell function upon removal of immortalizing transgenes. Tamoxifen-treated EndoC-βH3 maintain a stable phenotype for 5 weeks in culture. EndoC-βH3: a unique tool for large-scale drug discovery and proliferation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marion Benazra
- Institut du cerveau et de la moelle (ICM), Biotechnology & Biotherapy Team, 75013 Paris, France
- CNRS UMR7225, 75013 Paris, France
- INSERM U1127, 75013 Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Marie-José Lecomte
- Endocells, Pépinière d'entreprises Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, 75007 Paris, France
| | - Claire Colace
- Institut du cerveau et de la moelle (ICM), Biotechnology & Biotherapy Team, 75013 Paris, France
- CNRS UMR7225, 75013 Paris, France
- INSERM U1127, 75013 Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75013 Paris, France
| | - Andreas Müller
- Paul Langerhans Institute of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V), 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Cécile Machado
- Endocells, Pépinière d'entreprises Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, 75007 Paris, France
| | - Severine Pechberty
- Endocells, Pépinière d'entreprises Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, 75007 Paris, France
| | - Emilie Bricout-Neveu
- Endocells, Pépinière d'entreprises Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, 75007 Paris, France
| | - Maud Grenier-Godard
- Endocells, Pépinière d'entreprises Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, 75007 Paris, France
| | - Michele Solimena
- Paul Langerhans Institute of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University Hospital and Faculty of Medicine, TU Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD e.V), 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Raphaël Scharfmann
- INSERM, U1016, Institut Cochin, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Paul Czernichow
- Endocells, Pépinière d'entreprises Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle, 75007 Paris, France
| | - Philippe Ravassard
- Institut du cerveau et de la moelle (ICM), Biotechnology & Biotherapy Team, 75013 Paris, France
- CNRS UMR7225, 75013 Paris, France
- INSERM U1127, 75013 Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, 75013 Paris, France
- Corresponding author. ICM Biotechnology & Biotherapy Team, Hôpital Pitié Salpêtrière, 47 Bd. De l'Hôpital, 75013 Paris, France. Tel./fax: +33 157274575.
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Lim JYH, Gerber SA, Murphy SP, Lord EM. Type I interferons induced by radiation therapy mediate recruitment and effector function of CD8(+) T cells. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2013; 63:259-71. [PMID: 24357146 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-013-1506-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2013] [Accepted: 12/02/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The need for an intact immune system for cancer radiation therapy to be effective suggests that radiation not only acts directly on the tumor but also indirectly, through the activation of host immune components. Recent studies demonstrated that endogenous type I interferons (type I IFNs) play a role in radiation-mediated anti-tumor immunity by enhancing the ability of dendritic cells to cross-prime CD8(+) T cells. However, it is still unclear to what extent endogenous type I IFNs contribute to the recruitment and function of CD8(+) T cells. Little is also known about the effects of type I IFNs on myeloid cells. In the current study, we demonstrate that type I and type II IFNs (IFN-γ) are both required for the increased production of CXCL10 (IP-10) chemokine by myeloid cells within the tumor after radiation treatment. Radiation-induced intratumoral IP-10 levels in turn correlate with tumor-infiltrating CD8(+) T cell numbers. Moreover, type I IFNs promote potent tumor-reactive CD8(+) T cells by directly affecting the phenotype, effector molecule production, and enhancing cytolytic activity. Using a unique inducible expression system to increase local levels of IFN-α exogenously, we show here that the capacity of radiation therapy to result in tumor control can be enhanced. Our preclinical approach to study the effects of local increase in IFN-α levels can be used to further optimize the combination therapy strategy in terms of dosing and scheduling, which may lead to better clinical outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne Y H Lim
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Rochester, Rochester, 601 Elmwood Ave, Box 672, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA
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Mass spectrometry reveals changes in MHC I antigen presentation after lentivector expression of a gene regulation system. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2013; 2:e75. [PMID: 23403517 PMCID: PMC3586803 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2013.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The rapamycin-inducible gene regulation system was designed to minimize immune reactions in man and may thus be suited for gene therapy. We assessed whether this system indeed induces no immune responses. The protein components of the regulation system were produced in the human cell lines HEK 293T, D407, and HER 911 following lentiviral transfer of the corresponding genes. Stable cell lines were established, and the peptides presented by major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC I) molecules on transduced and wild-type (wt) cells were compared by differential mass spectrometry. In all cell lines examined, expression of the transgenes resulted in prominent changes in the repertoire of MHC I-presented self-peptides. No MHC I ligands originating from the transgenic proteins were detected. In vitro analysis of immunogenicity revealed that transduced D407 cells displayed slightly higher capacity than wt controls to promote proliferation of cytotoxic T cells. These results indicate that therapeutic manipulations within the genome of target cells may affect pathways involved in the processing of peptide antigens and their presentation by MHC I. This makes the genomic modifications visible to the immune system which may recognize these events and respond. Ultimately, the findings call attention to a possible immune risk.
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Tai K, Quintino L, Isaksson C, Gussing F, Lundberg C. Destabilizing domains mediate reversible transgene expression in the brain. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46269. [PMID: 23029456 PMCID: PMC3460874 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2012] [Accepted: 08/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulating transgene expression in vivo by delivering oral drugs has been a long-time goal for the gene therapy field. A novel gene regulating system based on targeted proteasomal degradation has been recently developed. The system is based on a destabilizing domain (DD) of the Escherichia coli dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) that directs fused proteins to proteasomal destruction. Creating YFP proteins fused to destabilizing domains enabled TMP based induction of YFP expression in the brain, whereas omission of TMP resulted in loss of YFP expression. Moreover, induction of YFP expression was dose dependent and at higher TMP dosages, induced YFP reached levels comparable to expression of unregulated transgene., Transgene expression could be reversibly regulated using the DD system. Importantly, no adverse effects of TMP treatment or expression of DD-fusion proteins in the brain were observed. To show proof of concept that destabilizing domains derived from DHFR could be used with a biologically active molecule, DD were fused to GDNF, which is a potent neurotrophic factor of dopamine neurons. N-terminal placement of the DD resulted in TMP-regulated release of biologically active GDNF. Our findings suggest that TMP-regulated destabilizing domains can afford transgene regulation in the brain. The fact that GDNF could be regulated is very promising for developing future gene therapies (e.g. for Parkinson's disease) and should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Cecilia Lundberg
- CNS Gene Therapy Unit, Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Department of Experimental Medical Science, Lund University, Lund, Sweden
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Gene regulation systems for gene therapy applications in the central nervous system. Neurol Res Int 2012; 2012:595410. [PMID: 22272373 PMCID: PMC3261487 DOI: 10.1155/2012/595410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 09/23/2011] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Substantial progress has been made in the development of novel gene therapy strategies for central nervous system (CNS) disorders in recent years. However, unregulated transgene expression is a significant issue limiting human applications due to the potential side effects from excessive levels of transgenic protein that indiscriminately affect both diseased and nondiseased cells. Gene regulation systems are a tool by which tight tissue-specific and temporal regulation of transgene expression may be achieved. This review covers the features of ideal regulatory systems and summarises the mechanics of current exogenous and endogenous gene regulation systems and their utility in the CNS.
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Engineered allosteric activation of kinases in living cells. Nat Biotechnol 2010; 28:743-7. [PMID: 20581846 PMCID: PMC2902629 DOI: 10.1038/nbt.1639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 159] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2010] [Accepted: 04/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Studies of cellular and tissue dynamics benefit greatly from tools that can control protein activity with specificity and precise timing in living systems. We describe here a new approach to confer allosteric regulation specifically on the catalytic activity of kinases. A highly conserved portion of the kinase catalytic domain is modified with a small protein insert that inactivates catalytic activity, but does not affect other protein interactions. Catalytic activity is restored by addition of rapamycin or non-immunosuppresive analogs (Fig. 1A). We demonstrate the approach by specifically activating focal adhesion kinase (FAK) within minutes in living cells, thereby demonstrating a novel role for FAK in regulation of membrane dynamics. Molecular modeling and mutagenesis indicate that the protein insert reduces activity by increasing the flexibility of the catalytic domain. Drug binding restores activity by increasing rigidity. Successful regulation of Src and p38 suggest that modification of this highly conserved site will be applicable to other kinases.
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Guo ZS, Li Q, Bartlett DL, Yang JY, Fang B. Gene transfer: the challenge of regulated gene expression. Trends Mol Med 2008; 14:410-8. [PMID: 18692441 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2008.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2008] [Revised: 07/04/2008] [Accepted: 07/04/2008] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Gene therapy is expected to have a major impact on human healthcare in the future. However, precise regulation of therapeutic gene expression in vivo is still a challenge. Natural and synthetic enhancer-promoters (EPs) can be utilized to drive gene transcription in a temporal, spatial or environmental signal-inducible manner in response to heat shock, hypoxia, radiation, chemotherapy, epigenetic agents or viral infection. To allow tightly regulated expression, a regulatable gene-expression system can also be implemented. Most of these systems are based on small molecule (drug)-responsive artificial transactivators. In this review, we aim to provide a brief overview of the classes of EPs and regulatable systems, along with lessons learned from these studies. We highlight the potential applications in gene transfer, gene therapy for cancer and genetic disease and the future challenges for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Sheng Guo
- Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
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