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Banik P, Ray K, Kamps J, Chen QY, Luesch H, Winklhofer KF, Tatzelt J. VCP/p97 mediates nuclear targeting of non-ER-imported prion protein to maintain proteostasis. Life Sci Alliance 2024; 7:e202302456. [PMID: 38570188 PMCID: PMC10992997 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202302456] [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: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Mistargeting of secretory proteins in the cytosol can trigger their aggregation and subsequent proteostasis decline. We have identified a VCP/p97-dependent pathway that directs non-ER-imported prion protein (PrP) into the nucleus to prevent the formation of toxic aggregates in the cytosol. Upon impaired translocation into the ER, PrP interacts with VCP/p97, which facilitates nuclear import mediated by importin-ß. Notably, the cytosolic interaction of PrP with VCP/p97 and its nuclear import are independent of ubiquitination. In vitro experiments revealed that VCP/p97 binds non-ubiquitinated PrP and prevents its aggregation. Inhibiting binding of PrP to VCP/p97, or transient proteotoxic stress, promotes the formation of self-perpetuating and partially proteinase resistant PrP aggregates in the cytosol, which compromised cellular proteostasis and disrupted further nuclear targeting of PrP. In the nucleus, RNAs keep PrP in a soluble and non-toxic conformation. Our study revealed a novel ubiquitin-independent role of VCP/p97 in the nuclear targeting of non-imported secretory proteins and highlights the impact of the chemical milieu in triggering protein misfolding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Papiya Banik
- https://ror.org/04tsk2644 Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Koustav Ray
- https://ror.org/04tsk2644 Department Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Janine Kamps
- https://ror.org/04tsk2644 Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Bochum, Germany
| | - Qi-Yin Chen
- https://ror.org/02y3ad647 Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hendrik Luesch
- https://ror.org/02y3ad647 Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Center for Natural Products, Drug Discovery and Development (CNPD3), University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Konstanze F Winklhofer
- https://ror.org/04tsk2644 Department Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- https://ror.org/04tsk2644 Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence RESOLV, Bochum, Germany
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2
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Lazaris VM, Simantirakis E, Stavrou EF, Verras M, Sgourou A, Keramida MK, Vassilopoulos G, Athanassiadou A. Non-Viral Episomal Vector Mediates Efficient Gene Transfer of the β-Globin Gene into K562 and Human Haematopoietic Progenitor Cells. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1774. [PMID: 37761914 PMCID: PMC10530965 DOI: 10.3390/genes14091774] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
β-Thalassemia is a subgroup of inherited blood disorders associated with mild to severe anemia with few and limited conventional therapy options. Lately, lentiviral vector-based gene therapy has been successfully applied for disease treatment. However, the current development of non-viral episomal vectors (EV), non-integrating and non-coding for viral proteins, may be helpful in generating valid alternatives to viral vectors. We constructed a non-viral, episomal vector pEPβ-globin for the physiological β-globin gene based on two human chromosomal elements: the scaffold or matrix attachment region (S/MAR), allowing for long nuclear retention and non-integration and the β-globin replication initiation region (IR), allowing for enhancement of replication and establishment. After nucleofections into K562 cells with a transfection efficiency of 24.62 ± 7.7%, the vector induces stable transfection and is detected in long-term cultures as a non-integrating, circular episome expressing the β-globin gene efficiently. Transfections into CD34+ cells demonstrate an average efficiency of 15.57 ± 11.64%. In the colony-forming cell assay, fluorescent colonies are 92.21%, which is comparable to those transfected with vector pEP-IR at 92.68%. Additionally, fluorescent colonies produce β-globin mRNA at a physiologically 3-fold higher level than the corresponding non-transfected cells. Vector pEPβ-globin provides the basis for the development of therapeutic EV for gene therapy of β-thalassemias.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vassileios M. Lazaris
- Department of General Biology, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (V.M.L.); (E.F.S.); (M.V.)
| | - Emmanouil Simantirakis
- Centre of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), 11527 Athens, Greece; (E.S.); (G.V.)
| | - Eleana F. Stavrou
- Department of General Biology, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (V.M.L.); (E.F.S.); (M.V.)
| | - Meletios Verras
- Department of General Biology, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (V.M.L.); (E.F.S.); (M.V.)
| | - Argyro Sgourou
- Biology Laboratory, School of Science and Technology, Hellenic Open University, 26335 Patras, Greece;
| | - Maria K. Keramida
- IVF and Andrology Labs, IVF Unit, General University Hospital of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece;
| | - George Vassilopoulos
- Centre of Basic Research, Biomedical Research Foundation of the Academy of Athens (BRFAA), 11527 Athens, Greece; (E.S.); (G.V.)
| | - Aglaia Athanassiadou
- Department of General Biology, Medical School, University of Patras, 26504 Patras, Greece; (V.M.L.); (E.F.S.); (M.V.)
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Khan SU, Khan MU, Khan MI, Kalsoom F, Zahra A. Current Landscape and Emerging Opportunities of Gene Therapy with Non-viral Episomal Vectors. Curr Gene Ther 2023; 23:135-147. [PMID: 36200188 DOI: 10.2174/1566523222666221004100858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Gene therapy has proven to be extremely beneficial in the management of a wide range of genetic disorders for which there are currently no or few effective treatments. Gene transfer vectors are very significant in the field of gene therapy. It is possible to attach a non-viral attachment vector to the donor cell chromosome instead of integrating it, eliminating the negative consequences of both viral and integrated vectors. It is a safe and optimal express vector for gene therapy because it does not cause any adverse effects. However, the modest cloning rate, low expression, and low clone number make it unsuitable for use in gene therapy. Since the first generation of non-viral attachment episomal vectors was constructed, various steps have been taken to regulate their expression and stability, such as truncating the MAR element, lowering the amount of CpG motifs, choosing appropriate promoters and utilizing regulatory elements. This increases the transfection effectiveness of the non-viral attachment vector while also causing it to express at a high level and maintain a high level of stability. A vector is a genetic construct commonly employed in gene therapy to treat various systemic disorders. This article examines the progress made in the development of various optimization tactics for nonviral attachment vectors and the future applications of these vectors in gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safir Ullah Khan
- Hefei National Laboratory for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230027, People's Republic of China
| | - Munir Ullah Khan
- MOE Key Laboratory of Macromolecular Synthesis and Functionalization, International Research Center for X Polymers, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027 China
| | - Muhammad Imran Khan
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China,Hefei 230027,People's Republic of China
- Department of Pathology, District Headquarters Hospital Jhang 35200, Punjab Province, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
| | - Fadia Kalsoom
- Department of Pathology, District Headquarters Hospital Jhang 35200, Punjab Province, Islamic Republic of Pakistan
| | - Aqeela Zahra
- Department of Family and Community Medicine. College of Medicine, University of Ha'il, Ha'il 81451, Saudi Arabia
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4
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Tsai HC, Pietrobon V, Peng M, Wang S, Zhao L, Marincola FM, Cai Q. Current strategies employed in the manipulation of gene expression for clinical purposes. J Transl Med 2022; 20:535. [PMID: 36401279 PMCID: PMC9673226 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03747-3] [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: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Abnormal gene expression level or expression of genes containing deleterious mutations are two of the main determinants which lead to genetic disease. To obtain a therapeutic effect and thus to cure genetic diseases, it is crucial to regulate the host's gene expression and restore it to physiological conditions. With this purpose, several molecular tools have been developed and are currently tested in clinical trials. Genome editing nucleases are a class of molecular tools routinely used in laboratories to rewire host's gene expression. Genome editing nucleases include different categories of enzymes: meganucleses (MNs), zinc finger nucleases (ZFNs), clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)- CRISPR associated protein (Cas) and transcription activator-like effector nuclease (TALENs). Transposable elements are also a category of molecular tools which includes different members, for example Sleeping Beauty (SB), PiggyBac (PB), Tol2 and TcBuster. Transposons have been used for genetic studies and can serve as gene delivery tools. Molecular tools to rewire host's gene expression also include episomes, which are divided into different categories depending on their molecular structure. Finally, RNA interference is commonly used to regulate gene expression through the administration of small interfering RNA (siRNA), short hairpin RNA (shRNA) and bi-functional shRNA molecules. In this review, we will describe the different molecular tools that can be used to regulate gene expression and discuss their potential for clinical applications. These molecular tools are delivered into the host's cells in the form of DNA, RNA or protein using vectors that can be grouped into physical or biochemical categories. In this review we will also illustrate the different types of payloads that can be used, and we will discuss recent developments in viral and non-viral vector technology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maoyu Peng
- Kite Pharma Inc, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA
| | - Suning Wang
- Kite Pharma Inc, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA
| | - Lihong Zhao
- Kite Pharma Inc, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA
| | | | - Qi Cai
- Kite Pharma Inc, Santa Monica, CA, 90404, USA.
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5
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Episomes and Transposases-Utilities to Maintain Transgene Expression from Nonviral Vectors. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13101872. [PMID: 36292757 PMCID: PMC9601623 DOI: 10.3390/genes13101872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Revised: 10/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The efficient delivery and stable transgene expression are critical for applications in gene therapy. While carefully selected and engineered viral vectors allowed for remarkable clinical successes, they still bear significant safety risks. Thus, nonviral vectors are a sound alternative and avoid genotoxicity and adverse immunological reactions. Nonviral vector systems have been extensively studied and refined during the last decades. Emerging knowledge of the epigenetic regulation of replication and spatial chromatin organisation, as well as new technologies, such as Crispr/Cas, were employed to enhance the performance of different nonviral vector systems. Thus, nonviral vectors are in focus and hold some promising perspectives for future applications in gene therapy. This review addresses three prominent nonviral vector systems: the Sleeping Beauty transposase, S/MAR-based episomes, and viral plasmid replicon-based EBV vectors. Exemplarily, we review different utilities, modifications, and new concepts that were pursued to overcome limitations regarding stable transgene expression and mitotic stability. New insights into the nuclear localisation of nonviral vector molecules and the potential consequences thereof are highlighted. Finally, we discuss the remaining limitations and provide an outlook on possible future developments in nonviral vector technology.
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6
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Staurenghi F, McClements ME, Salman A, MacLaren RE. Minicircle Delivery to the Neural Retina as a Gene Therapy Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:11673. [PMID: 36232975 PMCID: PMC9569440 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-viral gene therapy has the potential to overcome several shortcomings in viral vector-based therapeutics. Methods of in vivo plasmid delivery have developed over recent years to increase the efficiency of non-viral gene transfer, yet further improvements still need to be made to improve their translational capacity. Gene therapy advances for inherited retinal disease have been particularly prominent over the recent decade but overcoming physical and physiological barriers present in the eye remains a key obstacle in the field of non-viral ocular drug delivery. Minicircles are circular double-stranded DNA vectors that contain expression cassettes devoid of bacterial DNA, thereby limiting the risks of innate immune responses induced by such elements. To date, they have not been extensively used in pre-clinical studies yet remain a viable vector option for the treatment of inherited retinal disease. Here, we explore the potential of minicircle DNA delivery to the neural retina as a gene therapy approach. We consider the advantages of minicircles as gene therapy vectors as well as review the challenges involved in optimising their delivery to the neural retina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federica Staurenghi
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Michelle E. McClements
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Ahmed Salman
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Robert E. MacLaren
- Nuffield Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Oxford University Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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7
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Schmeer M, Schleef M, Shankar R, Kobelt D, Walther W. Capillary Gel Electrophoresis (CGE) for Quality Control of Plasmid DNA in Gene Therapy: Quality Control of 20 Years Stored GMP-Grade Plasmid DNA. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2521:317-328. [PMID: 35733006 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2441-8_17] [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] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Plasmid DNA in any form (plasmid DNA, minicircle, miniplasmid) does experience renewed and increasing attention for use in gene therapy and DNA vaccination. For such applications, stability analyses and quality control are essential prerequisites for clinical use. In this context we analyzed the stability of good manufacturing practice (GMP)-grade pCMVβ reporter plasmid DNA by capillary gel electrophoresis. The plasmid DNA was produced for a clinical gene transfer study for treatment of malignant melanoma. The pCMVβ plasmid DNA was stored at -20 °C for 20 years under continuous, controlled monitoring. Another plasmid., pCMV-Luc, stored for 15 years, served as reference. The stability of plasmid DNA was analyzed by capillary gel electrophoresis (CGE) and functionally tested in vitro by LacZ functional assay. In this chapter we provide the detailed description of CGE and functional analysis of the GMP-grade pCMVβ and also pCMV-Luc plasmid DNA. By this the proportion of open circular and supercoiled or covalently closed circular forms of plasmid DNA is analyzed. Functionality of the plasmid was tested by in vitro transfection and LacZ functional assay. In result of this, the 20-year-old plasmid DNA showed topology and expression performance, which revealed significant alterations in topology while maintaining functionality regarding transgene expression. Therefore, stable storage conditions are effective to mainly preserve the integrity of the plasmid DNA as important parameter for long-term storage of, for example, reference samples.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ram Shankar
- PlasmidFactory GmbH & Co. KG, Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Dennis Kobelt
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Walther
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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8
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Roig-Merino A, Urban M, Bozza M, Peterson JD, Bullen L, Büchler-Schäff M, Stäble S, van der Hoeven F, Müller-Decker K, McKay TR, Milsom MD, Harbottle RP. An episomal DNA vector platform for the persistent genetic modification of pluripotent stem cells and their differentiated progeny. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 17:143-158. [PMID: 34942088 PMCID: PMC8758943 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The genetic modification of stem cells (SCs) is typically achieved using integrating vectors, whose potential integrative genotoxicity and propensity for epigenetic silencing during differentiation limit their application. The genetic modification of cells should provide sustainable levels of transgene expression, without compromising the viability of a cell or its progeny. We developed nonviral, nonintegrating, and autonomously replicating minimally sized DNA nanovectors to persistently genetically modify SCs and their differentiated progeny without causing any molecular or genetic damage. These DNA vectors are capable of efficiently modifying murine and human pluripotent SCs with minimal impact and without differentiation-mediated transgene silencing or vector loss. We demonstrate that these vectors remain episomal and provide robust and sustained transgene expression during self-renewal and targeted differentiation of SCs both in vitro and in vivo through embryogenesis and differentiation into adult tissues, without damaging their phenotypic characteristics. Nanovectors are used to engineer SCs efficiently, safely, and persistently Isogenic SC lines retain their capacity for self-renewal and pluripotency Nanovectors survive reprogramming and differentiation without loss or silencing Nanovectors are a universal genetic tool for the modification of any cell
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia Roig-Merino
- DNA Vectors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Manuela Urban
- DNA Vectors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Matthias Bozza
- DNA Vectors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Julia D Peterson
- DNA Vectors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Louise Bullen
- Stem Cell Biology, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), Manchester M1 5GD, UK
| | - Marleen Büchler-Schäff
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (Hi-STEM), Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Division of Experimental Hematology, DKFZ, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Sina Stäble
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (Hi-STEM), Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Translational Cancer Epigenomics, Division of Translational Medical Oncology, DKFZ, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | | | | | - Tristan R McKay
- Stem Cell Biology, Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU), Manchester M1 5GD, UK
| | - Michael D Milsom
- Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine (Hi-STEM), Heidelberg 69120, Germany; Division of Experimental Hematology, DKFZ, Heidelberg 69120, Germany
| | - Richard P Harbottle
- DNA Vectors, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg 69120, Germany.
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9
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Satake T. Epstein-Barr virus-based plasmid enables inheritable transgene expression in mouse cerebral cortex. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0258026. [PMID: 34591902 PMCID: PMC8483300 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Continuous development of the cerebral cortex from the prenatal to postnatal period depends on neurons and glial cells, both of which are generated from neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Owing to technical limitations regarding the transfer of genes into mouse brain, the mechanisms behind the long-term development of the cerebral cortex have not been well studied. Plasmid transfection into NPCs in embryonic mouse brains by in utero electroporation (IUE) is a widely used technique aimed at expressing transgenes in NPCs and their recent progeny neurons. Because the plasmids in NPCs are attenuated with each cell division, the transgene is not expressed in their descendants, including glial cells. The present study shows that an Epstein–Barr virus-based plasmid (EB-oriP plasmid) is helpful for studying long-term cerebral cortex development. The use of the EB-oriP plasmid for IUE allowed transgene expression even in the descendant progeny cells of adult mouse brains. Combining the EB-oriP plasmid with the shRNA expression cassette allowed examination of the genes of interest in the continuous development of the cerebral cortex. Furthermore, preferential transgene expression was achieved in combination with cell type-specific promoter-driven transgene expression. Meanwhile, introducing the EB-oriP plasmid twice into the same individual embryos during separate embryonic development stages suggested heterogeneity of NPCs. In summary, IUE using the EB-oriP plasmid is a novel option to study the long-term development of the cerebral cortex in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoko Satake
- Molecular Cellular Biology Laboratory, Graduate School of Medical Life Science, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan
- * E-mail:
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10
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Mulia GE, Picanço-Castro V, Stavrou EF, Athanassiadou A, Figueiredo ML. Advances in the Development and the Applications of Non-viral, Episomal Vectors for Gene Therapy. Hum Gene Ther 2021; 32:1076-1095. [PMID: 34348480 PMCID: PMC8819515 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2020.310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Nonviral and nonintegrating episomal vectors are reemerging as a valid, alternative technology to integrating viral vectors for gene therapy, due to their more favorable safety profile, significantly lower risk for insertional mutagenesis, and a lesser potential for innate immune reactions, in addition to their low production cost. Over the past few years, attempts have been made to generate highly functional nonviral vectors that display long-term maintenance within cells and promote more sustained gene expression relative to conventional plasmids. Extensive research into the parameters that stabilize the episomal DNA within dividing and nondividing cells has shed light into the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms that govern replication and transcription of episomal DNA within a mammalian nucleus in long-term cell culture. Episomal vectors based on scaffold/matrix attachment regions (S/MARs) do not integrate into the genomic DNA and address the serious problem of plasmid loss during mitosis by providing mitotic stability to established plasmids, which results in long-term transfection and transgene expression. The inclusion, in such vectors, of an origin of replication—initiation region—from the human genome has greatly enhanced their performance in primary cell culture. A number of vectors that function as episomes have arisen, which are either devoid or depleted of harmful CpG sequences and bacterial genes, and their effectiveness, as well as that of nonintegrating viral episomes, is enhanced when combined with S/MAR elements. As a result of these advances, an “S/MAR technology” has emerged for the production of efficient episomal vectors. Significant research continues in this field and innovations, in combination with promising systems based on nanoparticles and potentially combined with physical delivery methods, will enable the generation of optimized systems with scale-up and clinical application suitability utilizing episomal vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace E Mulia
- Purdue University, Basic Medical Sciences, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States;
| | - Virginia Picanço-Castro
- University of Sao Paulo Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirao Preto, 54539, Center for Cell-based Therapy, Ribeirao Preto, São Paulo, Brazil;
| | - Eleana F Stavrou
- University of Patras, Department of General Biology, Patras, Greece;
| | - Aglaia- Athanassiadou
- University of Patras Medical School, General Biology, Asklepiou str, University Campus, Rion Patras, Greece, 26504;
| | - Marxa L Figueiredo
- Purdue University, Basic Medical Sciences, 625 Harrison St., LYNN 2177, West Lafayette, Indiana, United States, 47907;
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11
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Araújo RS, Bitoque DB, Silva GA. Dual-Acting Antiangiogenic Gene Therapy Reduces Inflammation and Regresses Neovascularization in Diabetic Mouse Retina. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2020; 22:329-339. [PMID: 33230438 PMCID: PMC7527613 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2020.08.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs have become the gold standard treatment for diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, several patients are classified as non-responders or poor responders to treatment. Therefore, it is essential to study alternative target molecules. We have previously shown that the progression of DR in the Ins2Akita mouse reflects the imbalance between pro- and anti-angiogenic molecules found in the human retina. We report, for the first time, the therapeutic potential of a dual-acting antiangiogenic non-viral gene therapy. We have used an expressing vector encoding both the pigment epithelium-derived factor gene and a short hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeted to the placental growth factor to restore the balance between these factors in the retina. Twenty-one days after a single subretinal injection, we observed a marked decrease in the inflammatory response in the neural retina and in the retinal pigment epithelium, together with reduced vascular retinal permeability in the treated diabetic mouse. These results were accompanied by the restoration of the retinal capillary network and regression of neovascularization, with significant improvement of DR hallmarks. Concomitant with the favorable therapeutic effects, this approach did not affect retinal ganglion cells. Hence our results provide evidence toward the use of this approach in DR treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rute S Araújo
- CEDOC-Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo Mártires da Pátria 130, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal.,Bioengineering-Cell Therapies and Regenerative Medicine PhD Program, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Diogo B Bitoque
- CEDOC-Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo Mártires da Pátria 130, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal.,NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo Mártires da Pátria 130, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Gabriela A Silva
- CEDOC-Chronic Diseases Research Center, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo Mártires da Pátria 130, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal.,NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo Mártires da Pátria 130, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal
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12
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Bruter AV, Kalashnikova MV, Prytyko AP, Belyavsky AV. Maintenance of Plasmid Expression in vivo Depends Primarily on the CpG Contents of the Vector and Transgene. Mol Biol 2020. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893320030048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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13
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Abstract
TelN and tos are a unique DNA linearization unit isolated from bacteriophage N15. While being transferable, the TelN cleaving-rejoining activities remained stable to function on tos in both bacterial and mammalian environments. However, TelN contribution in linear plasmid replication in mammalian cells remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the association of TelN in linear tos-containing DNA (tos-DNA) replication in mammalian cells. Additionally, the mammalian origin of replication (ori) that is well-known to initiate the replication event of plasmid vectors was also studied. In doing so, we identified that both TelN and mammalian initiation sites were essential for the replication of linear tos-DNA, determined by using methylation sensitive DpnI/MboI digestion and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification approaches. Furthermore, we engineered the linear tos-DNA to be able to retain in mammalian cells using S/MAR technology. The resulting S/MAR containing tos-DNA was robust for at least 15 days, with (1) continuous tos-DNA replication, (2) correct splicing of gene transcripts, and (3) stable exogenous gene expression that was statistically comparable to the endogenous gene expression level. Understanding the activities of TelN and tos in mammalian cells can potentially provide insights for adapting this simple DNA linearization unit in developing novel genetic engineering tools, especially to the eukaryotic telomere/telomerase study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Sheng Liew
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Tze Hao Tan
- Faculty of Science, Kyushu University, Ito campus, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Yin Cheng Wong
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
| | - Edmund Ui Hang Sim
- Faculty of Resource Sciences and Technology, University Malaysia Sarawak, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Malaysia
| | - Choon Weng Lee
- Institute of Biological Science, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Kumaran Narayanan
- School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia
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14
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Picanço-Castro V, Pereira CG, Covas DT, Porto GS, Athanassiadou A, Figueiredo ML. Emerging patent landscape for non-viral vectors used for gene therapy. Nat Biotechnol 2020; 38:151-157. [PMID: 32034383 PMCID: PMC7308177 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-019-0402-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
An analysis of the emerging patent landscape of gene therapies under development, focusing on non-viral vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia Picanço-Castro
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
- Center for Cell-based Therapy (CTC), Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Cristiano Gonçalves Pereira
- Strategic Partnerships and Business Development Office, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
- School of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Dimas Tadeu Covas
- Center for Cell-based Therapy (CTC), Regional Blood Center of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Strategic Partnerships and Business Development Office, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Geciane Silveira Porto
- School of Economics, Business Administration and Accounting, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Institute of Advanced Studies of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Aglaia Athanassiadou
- Department of General Biology, Medical School, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
| | - Marxa Leão Figueiredo
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
- Purdue Institute for Drug Discovery & Purdue Center for Cancer Research, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA.
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15
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Wang XY, Zhang X, Wang TY, Jia YL, Xu DH, Yi DD. Shortened nuclear matrix attachment regions are sufficient for replication and maintenance of episomes in mammalian cells. Mol Biol Cell 2019; 30:2761-2770. [PMID: 31509492 PMCID: PMC6789156 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e19-02-0108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Matrix attachment regions (MARs) can mediate the replication of vector episomes in mammalian cells; however, the molecular mode of action remains unclear. Here, we assessed the characteristics of MARs and the mechanism that mediates episomal vector replication in mammalian cells. Five shortened subfragments of β-interferon MAR fragments were cloned and transferred into CHO cells, and transgene expression levels, presence of the gene, and the episomal maintenance mechanism were determined. Three shortened MAR derivatives (position 781–1320, 1201–1740, and 1621–2201) retained full MAR activity and mediated episomal vector replication. Moreover, the three shortened MARs showed higher transgene expression levels, greater efficiency in colony formation, and more persistent transgene expression compared with those of the original pEPI-1 plasmid, and three functional truncated MARs can bind to SAF-A MAR-binding protein. These results suggest that shortened MARs are sufficient for replication and maintenance of episomes in CHO cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Yin Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombiant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombiant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China
| | - Tian-Yun Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombiant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China
| | - Yan-Long Jia
- Pharmacy Collage, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China
| | - Dan-Hua Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombiant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China
| | - Dan-Dan Yi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China.,International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombiant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang 453003, Henan, China
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16
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Wagner S, McCracken J, Bruszies S, Broadhurst R, Wells DN, Oback B, Bode J, Laible G. Episomal minicircles persist in periods of transcriptional inactivity and can be transmitted through somatic cell nuclear transfer into bovine embryos. Mol Biol Rep 2019; 46:1737-1746. [PMID: 30694456 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-04624-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Episomal plasmids based on a scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR) are extrachromosomal DNA entities that replicate once per cell cycle and are stably maintained in cells or tissue. We generated minicircles, episomal plasmids devoid of bacterial sequences, and show that they are stably transmitted in clonal primary bovine fibroblasts without selection pressure over more than two months. Total DNA, plasmid extraction and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses suggest that the minicircles remained episomal and were not integrated into the genome. Minicircles survived extended periods in serum-starved cells, which indicates that ongoing transcription in non-proliferating cells is not necessary for the maintenance of S/MAR-episomes. To test whether minicircles endure the process of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), we used cell-cycle synchronized, serum-starved, minicircle-containing cells. Analysis of cells outgrown from SCNT-derived blastocysts shows that the minicircles are maintained through SCNT and early embryonic development, which raises the prospect of using cell lines with episomal minicircles for the generation of transgenic animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Wagner
- AgResearch Limited, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand. .,Rowett Institute, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK.
| | - Judi McCracken
- AgResearch Limited, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Sabine Bruszies
- AgResearch Limited, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Ric Broadhurst
- AgResearch Limited, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - David N Wells
- AgResearch Limited, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Björn Oback
- AgResearch Limited, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
| | - Jürgen Bode
- Hannover Medical School (MHH), Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Götz Laible
- AgResearch Limited, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, 3240, New Zealand
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17
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Molecular biology tools for the study and therapy of PDE6β mutations. J Biotechnol 2018; 284:1-5. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2018.07.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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18
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Bitoque DB, Rosa da Costa AM, Silva GA. Insights on the intracellular trafficking of PDMAEMA gene therapy vectors. MATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING. C, MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS 2018; 93:277-288. [PMID: 30274059 DOI: 10.1016/j.msec.2018.07.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Revised: 07/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
It is known that an efficient gene therapy vector must overcome several steps to be able to express the gene of interest: (I) enter the cell by crossing the cell membrane; (II) escape the endo-lysosomal degradation pathway; (III) release the genetic material; (IV) traffic through the cytoplasm and enter the nucleus; and last (V), enable gene expression to synthetize the protein of interest. In recent years, we and others have demonstrated the potential of poly(2‑(N,N'‑dimethylamino)ethylmethacrylate) (PDMAEMA) as a gene therapy vehicle. Further optimization of gene transfer efficiency requires the understanding of the intracellular pathway of PDMAEMA. Therefore the goal of this study was to determine the cellular entry and intracellular trafficking mechanisms of our PDMAEMA vectors and determine the gene transfer bottleneck. For this, we have produced rhodamine-labeled PDMAEMA polyplexes that were used to transfect retinal cells and the cellular localization determined by co-localization with cellular markers. Our vectors quickly and efficiently cross the cell membrane, and escape the endo-lysosomal system by 24 h. We have observed the PDMAEMA vectors to concentrate around the nucleus, and the DNA load to be released in the first 24 h after transfection. These results allow us to conclude that although the endo-lysosomal system is an important obstacle, PDMAEMA gene vectors can overcome it. The nuclear membrane, however, constitutes the bottleneck to PDMAEMA gene transfer ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diogo B Bitoque
- ProRegeM PhD Program, NOVA Medical School
- Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo Mártires da Pátria 130, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal; Algarve Chemistry Research Centre (CIQA), University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal; CEDOC - Chronic Diseases Research Centre, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo Mártires da Pátria 130, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana M Rosa da Costa
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Algarve, Faro, Portugal; Algarve Chemistry Research Centre (CIQA), University of Algarve, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
| | - Gabriela A Silva
- CEDOC - Chronic Diseases Research Centre, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Campo Mártires da Pátria 130, 1169-056 Lisboa, Portugal.
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19
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Bruter AV, Kandarakov OF, Belyavsky AV. Persistence of plasmid-mediated expression of transgenes in human mesenchymal stem cells depends primarily on CpG levels of both vector and transgene. J Gene Med 2018; 20:e3009. [DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Revised: 01/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra V. Bruter
- Russian Academy of Sciences; Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology; Moscow Russia
| | - Oleg F. Kandarakov
- Russian Academy of Sciences; Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology; Moscow Russia
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20
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Hagedorn C, Gogol-Döring A, Schreiber S, Epplen JT, Lipps HJ. Genome-wide profiling of S/MAR-based replicon contact sites. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:7841-7854. [PMID: 28609784 PMCID: PMC5570033 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2017] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Autonomously replicating vectors represent a simple and versatile model system for genetic modifications, but their localization in the nucleus and effect on endogenous gene expression is largely unknown. Using circular chromosome conformation capture we mapped genomic contact sites of S/MAR-based replicons in HeLa cells. The influence of cis-active sequences on genomic localization was assessed using replicons containing either an insulator sequence or an intron. While the original and the insulator-containing replicons displayed distinct contact sites, the intron-containing replicon showed a rather broad genomic contact pattern. Our results indicate a preference for certain chromatin structures and a rather non-dynamic behaviour during mitosis. Independent of inserted cis-active elements established vector molecules reside preferentially within actively transcribed regions, especially within promoter sequences and transcription start sites. However, transcriptome analyses revealed that established S/MAR-based replicons do not alter gene expression profiles of host genome. Knowledge of preferred contact sites of exogenous DNA, e.g. viral or non-viral episomes, contribute to our understanding of episome behaviour in the nucleus and can be used for vector improvement and guiding of DNA sequences to specific subnuclear sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hagedorn
- University of Witten/Herdecke, ZBAF, Institute of Cell Biology, Stockumer Strasse 10, 58453 Witten, Germany
| | - Andreas Gogol-Döring
- Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (University of Applied Sciences), Department of Bioinformatics, Wiesenstrasse 14, 35390 Gießen, Germany
| | - Sabrina Schreiber
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Jörg T Epplen
- University of Witten/Herdecke, ZBAF, Institute of Cell Biology, Stockumer Strasse 10, 58453 Witten, Germany.,Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr-University, Universitätsstraße 150, 44801 Bochum, Germany
| | - Hans J Lipps
- University of Witten/Herdecke, ZBAF, Institute of Cell Biology, Stockumer Strasse 10, 58453 Witten, Germany
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21
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Hagedorn C, Schnödt-Fuchs M, Boehme P, Abdelrazik H, Lipps HJ, Büning H. S/MAR Element Facilitates Episomal Long-Term Persistence of Adeno-Associated Virus Vector Genomes in Proliferating Cells. Hum Gene Ther 2017; 28:1169-1179. [PMID: 28665147 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2017.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are one of the most frequently applied gene transfer systems in research and human clinical trials. Since AAV vectors do not possess an integrase activity, application is restricted to terminally differentiated tissues if transgene expression is required long term. To overcome this limitation and to generate AAV vectors that persist episomally in dividing cells, AAV vector genomes were equipped with a scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR). After a mild antibiotic selection, cells transduced with AAV-S/MAR established colonies that maintained long-term transgene expression (>50 population doublings) from replicating AAV vector episomes in the absence of further selection. Unexpectedly, with a lesser but still significant efficiency, the control vector (AAV-ΔS/MAR), a standard single-stranded AAV vector, also established stable transgene-expressing colonies, most of which were maintained as replicating episomes rather than integrated vector genomes. Thus, based on the result in HeLa cells, it is concluded that AAV vector genomes per se possess the ability to establish episomal maintenance in proliferating cells, a feature that can be enhanced by incorporation of a foreign genomic element such as an S/MAR element.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hagedorn
- 1 Institute of Cell Biology, ZBAF, University of Witten/Herdecke , Witten, Germany
| | - Maria Schnödt-Fuchs
- 2 Laboratory for AAV Vector Development, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany .,3 Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne , Cologne, Germany .,4 German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) , partner sites Bonn-Cologne and Hannover-Braunschweig
| | - Philip Boehme
- 1 Institute of Cell Biology, ZBAF, University of Witten/Herdecke , Witten, Germany .,5 Institute of Virology and Microbiology, ZBAF, University of Witten/Herdecke , Witten, Germany
| | - Heba Abdelrazik
- 2 Laboratory for AAV Vector Development, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany .,6 Clinical Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University , Cairo, Egypt
| | - Hans J Lipps
- 1 Institute of Cell Biology, ZBAF, University of Witten/Herdecke , Witten, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- 2 Laboratory for AAV Vector Development, Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), University of Cologne , Cologne, Germany .,3 Department I of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Cologne , Cologne, Germany .,4 German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) , partner sites Bonn-Cologne and Hannover-Braunschweig.,7 Laboratory for Infection Biology and Gene Transfer, Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School , Hannover, Germany
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22
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Stavrou EF, Lazaris VM, Giannakopoulos A, Papapetrou E, Spyridonidis A, Zoumbos NC, Gkountis A, Athanassiadou A. The β-globin Replicator greatly enhances the potential of S/MAR based episomal vectors for gene transfer into human haematopoietic progenitor cells. Sci Rep 2017; 7:40673. [PMID: 28106085 PMCID: PMC5247744 DOI: 10.1038/srep40673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Specific human chromosomal elements enhance the performance of episomal gene-transfer vectors. S/MAR-based episomal vector pEPI-eGFP transfects CD34+ haematopoietic cells, but only transiently. To address this issue we reinforced (1) transgene transcription by replacing the CMV promoter driving eGFP with the EF1/HTLV or SFFV promoters to produce vectors pEPI-EF1/HTLV and pEPI-SFFV, respectively; and (2) plasmid replication by inserting the replication-Initiation Region (IR) from the β-globin locus into vector pEPI-SFFV to produce vector pEP-IR. All vectors supported stable transfections in K562 cells. Transfections of CD34+ cells from peripheral blood of healthy donors reached 30% efficiency. Upon evaluation of CD34+/eGFP+ cells in colony-forming cell (CFC) assays, vector pEP-IR showed superior performance after 14 days, by fluorescent microscopy: 100% eGFP+-colonies against 0% for pEPI-eGFP, 56.9% for pEPI-SFFV and 49.8% for pEPI-EF1/HTLV; 50% more plasmid copies per cell and 3-fold eGFP expression compared to the latter two constructs, by quantitative (q)PCR and RT-qPCR, respectively. Importantly, the establishment rate in CFC assays was 15% for pEP-IR against 5.5% for pEPI-SFFV and 5% for pEPI-EF1/HTLV. Vector pEP-IR shows extremely low delivery rate but supports eGFP expression in thalassaemic mouse haematopoietic progenitor cells. The IR is a novel human control element for improved episomal gene transfer into progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eleana F. Stavrou
- Department of General Biology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Greece
| | | | | | - Eirini Papapetrou
- Department of General Biology, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Greece
| | - Alexandros Spyridonidis
- Haematology Unit Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Greece
| | - Nikolas C. Zoumbos
- Haematology Unit Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Greece
| | - Antonis Gkountis
- Gene and Cell Therapy Center, Haematology Department-BMT Unit, George Papanicolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece
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23
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Šimčíková M, Prather KLJ, Prazeres DMF, Monteiro GA. Towards effective non-viral gene delivery vector. Biotechnol Genet Eng Rev 2017; 31:82-107. [PMID: 27160661 DOI: 10.1080/02648725.2016.1178011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Despite very good safety records, clinical trials using plasmid DNA failed due to low transfection efficiency and brief transgene expression. Although this failure is both due to poor plasmid design and to inefficient delivery methods, here we will focus on the former. The DNA elements like CpG motifs, selection markers, origins of replication, cryptic eukaryotic signals or nuclease-susceptible regions and inverted repeats showed detrimental effects on plasmids' performance as biopharmaceuticals. On the other hand, careful selection of promoter, polyadenylation signal, codon optimization and/or insertion of introns or nuclear-targeting sequences for therapeutic protein expression can enhance the clinical efficacy. Minimal vectors, which are devoid of the bacterial backbone and consist exclusively of the eukaryotic expression cassette, demonstrate better performance in terms of expression levels, bioavailability, transfection rates and increased therapeutic effects. Although the results are promising, minimal vectors have not taken over the conventional plasmids in clinical trials due to challenging manufacturing issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Šimčíková
- a MIT-Portugal Program.,b iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Kristala L J Prather
- a MIT-Portugal Program.,c Department of Chemical Engineering , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , MA , USA
| | - Duarte M F Prazeres
- a MIT-Portugal Program.,c Department of Chemical Engineering , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , MA , USA.,d Department of Bioengineering , Instituto Superior Técnico , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Gabriel A Monteiro
- a MIT-Portugal Program.,c Department of Chemical Engineering , Massachusetts Institute of Technology , Cambridge , MA , USA.,d Department of Bioengineering , Instituto Superior Técnico , Lisbon , Portugal
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Abstract
The enabling technologies of synthetic biology are opening up new opportunities for engineering and enhancement of mammalian cells. This will stimulate diverse applications in many life science sectors such as regenerative medicine, development of biosensing cell lines, therapeutic protein production, and generation of new synthetic genetic regulatory circuits. Harnessing the full potential of these new engineering-based approaches requires the design and assembly of large DNA constructs-potentially up to chromosome scale-and the effective delivery of these large DNA payloads to the host cell. Random integration of large transgenes, encoding therapeutic proteins or genetic circuits into host chromosomes, has several drawbacks such as risks of insertional mutagenesis, lack of control over transgene copy-number and position-specific effects; these can compromise the intended functioning of genetic circuits. The development of a system orthogonal to the endogenous genome is therefore beneficial. Mammalian artificial chromosomes (MACs) are functional, add-on chromosomal elements, which behave as normal chromosomes-being replicating and portioned to daughter cells at each cell division. They are deployed as useful gene expression vectors as they remain independent from the host genome. MACs are maintained as a single-copy and can accommodate multiple gene expression cassettes of, in theory, unlimited DNA size (MACs up to 10 megabases have been constructed). MACs therefore enabled control over ectopic gene expression and represent an excellent platform to rapidly prototype and characterize novel synthetic gene circuits without recourse to engineering the host genome. This review describes the obstacles synthetic biologists face when working with mammalian systems and how the development of improved MACs can overcome these-particularly given the spectacular advances in DNA synthesis and assembly that are fuelling this research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Martella
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh , The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, U.K
| | - Steven M Pollard
- MRC Centre for Regenerative Medicine, The University of Edinburgh , Edinburgh bioQuarter, 5 Little France Drive, Edinburgh, EH16 4UU, U.K
| | - Junbiao Dai
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Biocatalysis (Ministry of Education), Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yizhi Cai
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Edinburgh , The King's Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3BF, U.K
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25
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Dormiani K, Mir Mohammad Sadeghi H, Sadeghi-Aliabadi H, Forouzanfar M, Baharvand H, Ghaedi K, Nasr-Esfahani MH. Rational Development of A Polycistronic Plasmid with A CpG-Free Bacterial Backbone as A Potential Tool for Direct Reprogramming. CELL JOURNAL 2016; 18:565-581. [PMID: 28042541 PMCID: PMC5086335 DOI: 10.22074/cellj.2016.4723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Objective Induced pluripotent stem cells are generated from somatic cells by direct reprogramming. These reprogrammed pluripotent cells have different applications in biomedical fields such as regenerative medicine. Although viral vectors are widely used for
efficient reprogramming, they have limited applications in the clinic due to the risk for
immunogenicity and insertional mutagenesis. Accordingly, we designed and developed a
small, non-integrating plasmid named pLENSO/Zeo as a 2A-mediated polycistronic expression vector.
Materials and Methods In this experimental study, we developed a single plasmid which
includes a single expression cassette containing open reading frames of human LIN28,
NANOG, SOX2 and OCT4 along with an EGFP reporter gene. Each reprogramming factor is separated by an intervening sequence that encodes a 2A self-processing peptide.
The reprogramming cassette is located downstream of a CMV promoter. The vector is
easily propagated in the E. coli GT115 strain through a CpG-depleted vector backbone.
We evaluated the stability of the constructed vector bioinformatically, and its ability to stoichiometric expression of the reprogramming factors using quantitative molecular methods
analysis after transient transfection into HEK293 cells.
Results In the present study, we developed a nonviral episomal vector named pLENSO/
Zeo. Our results demonstrated the general structural stability of the plasmid DNA. This
relatively small vector showed concomitant, high-level expression of the four reprogramming factors with similar titers, which are considered as the critical parameters for efficient
and consistent reprogramming.
Conclusion According to our experimental results, this stable extrachromosomal plasmid expresses reliable amounts of four reprogramming factors simultaneously. Consequently, these promising results encouraged us to evaluate the capability of pLENSO/Zeo
as a simple and feasible tool for generation of induced pluripotent stem cells from primary
cells in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kianoush Dormiani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hamid Mir Mohammad Sadeghi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hojjat Sadeghi-Aliabadi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology and Isfahan Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mahboobeh Forouzanfar
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hossein Baharvand
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Science and Culture, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kamran Ghaedi
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran; Department of Biology, School of Sciences, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Nasr-Esfahani
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Biotechnology, ACECR, Isfahan, Iran
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A High-Capacity Adenoviral Hybrid Vector System Utilizing the Hyperactive Sleeping Beauty Transposase SB100X for Enhanced Integration. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2016; 5:e337. [PMID: 27434682 PMCID: PMC5330939 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2016.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
For efficient delivery of required genetic elements we utilized high-capacity adenoviral vectors in the past allowing high transgene capacities of up to 36 kb. Previously we explored the hyperactive Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposase (HSB5) for somatic integration from the high-capacity adenoviral vectors genome. To further improve this hybrid vector system we hypothesized that the previously described hyperactive SB transposase SB100X will result in significantly improved efficacies after transduction of target cells. Plasmid based delivery of the SB100X system revealed significantly increased integration efficiencies compared with the previously published hyperactive SB transposase HSB5. After optimizing experimental setups for high-capacity adenoviral vectors-based delivery of the SB100X system we observed up to eightfold and 100-fold increased integration efficiencies compared with the previously published hyperactive SB transposase HSB5 and the inactive transposase mSB, respectively. Furthermore, transposon copy numbers per cell were doubled with SB100X compared with HSB5 when using the identical multiplicity of infection. We believe that this improved hybrid vector system represents a valuable tool for achieving stabilized transgene expression in cycling cells and for treatment of numerous genetic disorders. Especially for in vivo approaches this improved adenoviral hybrid vector system will be advantageous because it may potentially allow reduction of the applied viral dose.
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Calado SM, Diaz-Corrales F, Silva GA. pEPito-driven PEDF Expression Ameliorates Diabetic Retinopathy Hallmarks. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2016; 27:79-86. [PMID: 26942449 DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2015.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus. It is characterized by retinal microvascular changes caused by chronic exposure to hyperglycemia, leading to low tissue oxygenation and ultimately to neovascularization. Laser photocoagulation and vitrectomy are the most efficient treatments for DR, but display severe side effects such as the destruction of the healthy retina. Another clinical approach uses antiangiogenic agents to prevent and delay progression of neovascularization, but these require recurrent local administrations that increase the possibility of retinal detachment, vitreous hemorrhage, and cataract formation. Studies in human diabetic retinas have revealed an imbalance between proangiogenic factors such as the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and antiangiogenic factors, such as pigment epithelial-derived factor (PEDF). This imbalance favors pathological angiogenesis contributing to DR, and can constitute a therapeutic target. Gene therapy was recently shown to be an adequate intervention for long-term treatment of several retinal pathologies. We have previously shown the newly engineered episomal vector pEPito to be able of sustained gene expression in the mouse retina. We here show that pEPito was able to overexpress PEDF for up to three months, both in in vitro cultures of human retinal pigment epithelial cells and in the retina of diabetic mice after a single subretinal injection. In vivo, in parallel with the increase in PEDF we observed a decrease in VEGF levels in injected compared with noninjected eyes and a significant effect on two hallmarks of DR: reduction of glucose transport (by glucose transporter GLUT1), and reduction of inflammation by decreased reactivity of microglia. Jointly, these results point to a significant therapeutic potential of gene therapy with pEPito-PEDF for the treatment of DR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia M Calado
- 1 Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve , Faro, Portugal .,2 CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa , Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Francisco Diaz-Corrales
- 3 Department of Cell Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, Andalusian Molecular Biology and Regenerative Medicine Centre (CABIMER) , Seville, Spain
| | - Gabriela A Silva
- 2 CEDOC, NOVA Medical School, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, Universidade Nova de Lisboa , Lisboa, Portugal
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Rizwani W, Chellappan SP. In vitro replication assay with mammalian cell extracts. Methods Mol Biol 2015; 1288:349-62. [PMID: 25827890 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-2474-5_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Regulatory mechanisms are crucial to control DNA replication during cell cycle in eukaryotic cells. Cell-free in vitro replication assay (IVRA) is one of the widely used assays to understand the complex mammalian replication system. IVRA can provide a snapshot of the regulatory mechanisms controlling replication in higher eukaryotes by using a single plasmid, pEPI-1. This chapter outlines the general strategies and protocols used to perform IVRA to study the differential recruitment of replication factors either independently or in combination, based on the experience in studying the role of prohibitin in replication as well as other published protocols. This method can be employed to identify not only proteins that assist replication but also proteins that inhibit replication of mammalian genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasia Rizwani
- Department of Biochemistry, Osmania University, Hyderabad, Telangana, 500 007, India,
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29
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Zulliger R, Conley SM, Naash MI. Non-viral therapeutic approaches to ocular diseases: An overview and future directions. J Control Release 2015; 219:471-487. [PMID: 26439665 PMCID: PMC4699668 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2015.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2015] [Revised: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 10/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Currently there are no viable treatment options for patients with debilitating inherited retinal degeneration. The vast variability in disease-inducing mutations and resulting phenotypes has hampered the development of therapeutic interventions. Gene therapy is a logical approach, and recent work has focused on ways to optimize vector design and packaging to promote optimized expression and phenotypic rescue after intraocular delivery. In this review, we discuss ongoing ocular clinical trials, which currently use viral gene delivery, but focus primarily on new advancements in optimizing the efficacy of non-viral gene delivery for ocular diseases. Non-viral delivery systems are highly customizable, allowing functionalization to improve cellular and nuclear uptake, bypassing cellular degradative machinery, and improving gene expression in the nucleus. Non-viral vectors often yield transgene expression levels lower than viral counterparts, however their favorable safety/immune profiles and large DNA capacity (critical for the delivery of large ocular disease genes) make their further development a research priority. Recent work on particle coating and vector engineering presents exciting ways to overcome limitations of transient/low gene expression levels, but also highlights the fact that further refinements are needed before use in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahel Zulliger
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5060, United States
| | - Shannon M Conley
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK 73104, United States
| | - Muna I Naash
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204-5060, United States.
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Boehme P, Stellberger T, Solanki M, Zhang W, Schulz E, Bergmann T, Liu J, Doerner J, Baiker AE, Ehrhardt A. Standard free droplet digital polymerase chain reaction as a new tool for the quality control of high-capacity adenoviral vectors in small-scale preparations. Hum Gene Ther Methods 2015; 26:25-34. [PMID: 25640117 DOI: 10.1089/hgtb.2014.138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
High-capacity adenoviral vectors (HCAdVs) are promising tools for gene therapy as well as for genetic engineering. However, one limitation of the HCAdV vector system is the complex, time-consuming, and labor-intensive production process and the following quality control procedure. Since HCAdVs are deleted for all viral coding sequences, a helper virus (HV) is needed in the production process to provide the sequences for all viral proteins in trans. For the purification procedure of HCAdV, cesium chloride density gradient centrifugation is usually performed followed by buffer exchange using dialysis or comparable methods. However, performing these steps is technically difficult, potentially error-prone, and not scalable. Here, we establish a new protocol for small-scale production of HCAdV based on commercially available adenovirus purification systems and a standard method for the quality control of final HCAdV preparations. For titration of final vector preparations, we established a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) that uses a standard free-end-point PCR in small droplets of defined volume. By using different probes, this method is capable of detecting and quantifying HCAdV and HV in one reaction independent of reference material, rendering this method attractive for accurately comparing viral titers between different laboratories. In summary, we demonstrate that it is possible to produce HCAdV in a small scale of sufficient quality and quantity to perform experiments in cell culture, and we established a reliable protocol for vector titration based on ddPCR. Our method significantly reduces time and required equipment to perform HCAdV production. In the future the ddPCR technology could be advantageous for titration of other viral vectors commonly used in gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Boehme
- 1 Institute of Virology and Microbiology, Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), Department of Human Medicine, Faculty of Health, University Witten/Herdecke , Witten 58453, Germany
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31
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Sonodelivery Facilitates Sustained Luciferase Expression from an Episomal Vector in Skeletal Muscle. MATERIALS 2015; 8:4608-4617. [PMID: 26834950 PMCID: PMC4730882 DOI: 10.3390/ma8074608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Successful gene delivery to skeletal muscle is a desirable goal, not only for treating muscle diseases, but also for immunization, treatment of metabolic disorders, and/or delivering gene expression that can treat systemic conditions, such as bone metastatic cancer, for example. Although naked DNA uptake into skeletal muscle is possible, it is largely inefficient in the absence of additional chemical or physical delivery methods. We describe a system for delivery of non-viral or plasmid DNA to skeletal muscle using ultrasound-assisted sonoporation of a nanoplex combining plasmid DNA and a branched polymer based on poly(cyclooctene-graft-oligopeptide). The materials and methods described herein promise to advance the field of sonodelivery and of gene delivery to muscle for therapeutic applications since a simple system is presented that enables long-term gene expression in vivo with the promise of a minimal inflammatory gene expression profile.
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32
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Lindberg MF, Le Gall T, Carmoy N, Berchel M, Hyde SC, Gill DR, Jaffrès PA, Lehn P, Montier T. Efficient in vivo transfection and safety profile of a CpG-free and codon optimized luciferase plasmid using a cationic lipophosphoramidate in a multiple intravenous administration procedure. Biomaterials 2015; 59:1-11. [PMID: 25941996 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2015.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2014] [Revised: 04/03/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
As any drug, the success of gene therapy is largely dependent on the vehicle that has to selectively and efficiently deliver therapeutic nucleic acids into targeted cells with minimal side-effects. In the case of chronic diseases that require a life-long treatment, non-viral gene delivery vehicles are less likely to induce an immune response, thereby allowing for repeated administration. Beyond the gene delivery efficiency of a given vector, the nature of nucleic acid constructs also has a central importance in gene therapy protocols. Herein, we investigated the impact of two firefly luciferase encoding plasmids on the transgene expression profile following systemic delivery of lipoplexes in mice, as well as their potential to be safely and efficiently readministered. Whereas pTG11033 plasmid is driven by a strong ubiquitous cytomegalovirus promoter, pGM144 plasmid, which has been designed to avoid inflammation and provide sustained transgene expression in lungs, is CpG-free and is under control of the human elongation factor-1 alpha promoter. Combined to the efficient cationic lipophosphoramidate BSV4, bioluminescence data showed that both plasmids were mostly expressed in the lungs of mice following a primary injection of lipoplexes. However, mice transfected with pGM144 exhibited a higher and more sustained transgene expression than those treated with pTG11033. Repeated administration studies revealed that several injections of lipoplexes could lead to similar transgene expression profiles if an interval of several weeks between subsequent injections was respected. A transient hepatotoxicity and a partial inflammatory response were caused by lipoplex injection, irrespective of the plasmid used. Altogether, these results indicate that repeated systemic administration of lipophosphoramidate-based lipoplexes in mice conducts to an effective lung transfection without serious side effects, and highlight the need to use long-lasting expressing and well tolerated plasmids in order to efficiently renew transgene expression by the successive doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mattias F Lindberg
- Unité INSERM 1078, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest Cedex 2, France.
| | - Tony Le Gall
- Unité INSERM 1078, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest Cedex 2, France
| | - Nathalie Carmoy
- Unité INSERM 1078, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest Cedex 2, France; Plateforme SynNanoVect, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Biogenouest, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France
| | - Mathieu Berchel
- Plateforme SynNanoVect, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Biogenouest, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France; UMR CNRS 6521, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France
| | - Stephen C Hyde
- Gene Medicine Group, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Deborah R Gill
- Gene Medicine Group, Nuffield Division of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Oxford John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
| | - Paul-Alain Jaffrès
- Plateforme SynNanoVect, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Biogenouest, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France; UMR CNRS 6521, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France
| | - Pierre Lehn
- Unité INSERM 1078, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest Cedex 2, France; Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire et d'histocompatibilité, Hôpital Morvan, CHRU de Brest, 2 Avenue du maréchal Foch, 29609 Brest Cedex, France; DUMG, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest, France
| | - Tristan Montier
- Unité INSERM 1078, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest Cedex 2, France; Plateforme SynNanoVect, SFR 148 ScInBioS, Biogenouest, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, Université Européenne de Bretagne, Brest, France; Laboratoire de génétique moléculaire et d'histocompatibilité, Hôpital Morvan, CHRU de Brest, 2 Avenue du maréchal Foch, 29609 Brest Cedex, France; DUMG, Faculté de Médecine et des Sciences de la Santé, 22 Avenue Camille Desmoulins, 29238 Brest, France.
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33
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Lin Y, Li Z, Wang T, Wang X, Wang L, Dong W, Jing C, Yang X. MAR characteristic motifs mediate episomal vector in CHO cells. Gene 2015; 559:137-43. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.01.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2014] [Revised: 01/05/2015] [Accepted: 01/13/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
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34
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Valta M, Fagerlund K, Suominen M, Halleen J, Tuomela J. Importance of microenvironment in preclinical models of breast and prostate cancer. World J Pharmacol 2015; 4:47-57. [DOI: 10.5497/wjp.v4.i1.47] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2014] [Revised: 11/18/2014] [Accepted: 01/19/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of cancer drugs entering clinical trials fail to reach the market due to poor efficacy. Preclinical efficacy has been traditionally tested using subcutaneous xenograft models that are cheap, fast and easy to perform. However, these models lack the correct tumor microenvironment, leading to poor clinical predictivity. Selecting compounds for clinical trials based on efficacy results obtained from subcutaneous xenograft models may therefore be one important reason for the high failure rates. In this review we concentrate in describing the role and importance of the tumor microenvironment in progression of breast and prostate cancer, and describe some breast and prostate cancer cell lines that are widely used in preclinical studies. We go through different preclinical efficacy models that incorporate the tissue microenvironment and should therefore be clinically more predictive than subcutaneous xenografts. These include three-dimensional cell culture models, orthotopic and metastasis models, humanized and transgenic mouse models, and patient-derived xenografts. Different endpoint measurements and applicable imaging techniques are also discussed. We conclude that models that incorporate the tissue microenvironment should be increasingly used in preclinical efficacy studies to reduce the current high attrition rates of cancer drugs in clinical trials.
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35
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Nanoparticle-based technologies for retinal gene therapy. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2015; 95:353-67. [PMID: 25592325 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2014.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2014] [Revised: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/22/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
For patients with hereditary retinal diseases, retinal gene therapy offers significant promise for the prevention of retinal degeneration. While adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based systems remain the most popular gene delivery method due to their high efficiency and successful clinical results, other delivery systems, such as non-viral nanoparticles (NPs) are being developed as additional therapeutic options. NP technologies come in several categories (e.g., polymer, liposomes, peptide compacted DNA), several of which have been tested in mouse models of retinal disease. Here, we discuss the key biochemical features of the different NPs that influence how they are internalized into cells, escape from endosomes, and are delivered into the nucleus. We review the primary mechanism of NP uptake by retinal cells and highlight various NPs that have been successfully used for in vivo gene delivery to the retina and RPE. Finally, we consider the various strategies that can be implemented in the plasmid DNA to generate persistent, high levels of gene expression.
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36
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Calado SM, Oliveira AV, Machado S, Haase R, Silva GA. Sustained gene expression in the retina by improved episomal vectors. Tissue Eng Part A 2014; 20:2692-8. [PMID: 24684370 DOI: 10.1089/ten.tea.2013.0672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene and cellular therapies are nowadays part of therapeutic strategies for the treatment of diverse pathologies. The drawbacks associated with gene therapy-low levels of transgene expression, vector loss during mitosis, and gene silencing-need to be addressed. The pEPI-1 and pEPito family of vectors was developed to overcome these limitations. It contains a scaffold/matrix attachment region, which anchors its replication to cell division in eukaryotic cells while in an extrachromosomal state and is less prone to silencing, due to a lower number of CpG motifs. Recent success showed that ocular gene therapy is an important tool for the treatment of several diseases, pending the overcome of the aforementioned limitations. To achieve sustained gene delivery in the retina, we evaluated several vectors based on pEPito and pEPI-1 for their ability to sustain transgene expression in retinal cells. These vectors stably transfected and replicated in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. Expression levels were promoter dependent with constitutive promoters cytomegalovirus immediate early promoter (CMV) and human CMV enhancer/human elongation factor 1 alpha promoter yielding the highest levels of transgene expression compared with the retina-specific RPE65 promoter. When injected in C57Bl6 mice, transgene expression was sustained for at least 32 days. Furthermore, the retina-specific RPE65 promoter showed higher efficiency in vivo compared to in vitro. In this study, we demonstrate that by combining tissue-specific promoters with a mitotic stable system, less susceptible to epigenetic silencing such as pEPito-based plasmids, we can achieve prolonged gene expression and a sustained therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia M Calado
- 1 Doctoral Program in Biomedical Sciences, Department of Biomedical Sciences and Medicine, University of Algarve , Faro, Portugal
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37
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Walther W, Schmeer M, Kobelt D, Baier R, Harder A, Walhorn V, Anselmetti D, Aumann J, Fichtner I, Schleef M. A Seven-Year Storage Report of Good Manufacturing Practice–Grade Naked Plasmid DNA: Stability, Topology, and In Vitro/In Vivo Functional Analysis. HUM GENE THER CL DEV 2013; 24:147-53. [DOI: 10.1089/humc.2013.067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang Walther
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Marco Schmeer
- PlasmidFactory GmbH & Co. KG, 33607 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Dennis Kobelt
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ruth Baier
- PlasmidFactory GmbH & Co. KG, 33607 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Alexander Harder
- Experimental Biophysics & Applied Nanoscience, Faculty of Physics, and Bielefeld Institute of Biophysics and Nanoscience, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Volker Walhorn
- Experimental Biophysics & Applied Nanoscience, Faculty of Physics, and Bielefeld Institute of Biophysics and Nanoscience, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Dario Anselmetti
- Experimental Biophysics & Applied Nanoscience, Faculty of Physics, and Bielefeld Institute of Biophysics and Nanoscience, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Jutta Aumann
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité University Medicine Berlin, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Iduna Fichtner
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, 13125 Berlin, Germany
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Extended duration of transgene expression from pegylated POD nanoparticles enables attenuation of photoreceptor degeneration. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82295. [PMID: 24278479 PMCID: PMC3838409 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2013] [Accepted: 10/30/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most genetically heterogeneous disorder known to cause blindness, involving over 50 different genes. Previously, we have described nanoparticles (NPs) 150 nm in size, comprised of a 3.5 kD peptide (POD) complexed to PEG and DNA (PEGPOD DNA). These NPs expressing GDNF enabled rescue of photoreceptor degeneration in mice up to 11 days post injection. In the current study we examine use of scaffold/ matrix attachment regions (S/MARs), CpG depletion and titration of DNA content of PEGPOD DNA NPs to extend the duration of transgene expression. S/MARs and CpGs did not significantly influence the duration of transgene expression, but did influence its stability. These parameters enabled us to extend transgene expression from 48 hours to 10 weeks. At 77 days post injection, we observed a 76% rescue of the thickness of the retinal outer nuclear layer (ONL) and at 37 days post injection we observed 53% and 55% rescue of the A and B wave ERG amplitudes respectively and 60% rescue of the ONL. Our studies suggest that PEGPOD DNA NPs have potential as gene delivery vectors for the retina.
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Kopp F, Schnoedt M, Haase R, Wagner E, Roidl A, Ogris M. De-targeting by miR-143 decreases unwanted transgene expression in non-tumorigenic cells. Gene Ther 2013; 20:1104-9. [PMID: 23804075 DOI: 10.1038/gt.2013.37] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Revised: 05/02/2013] [Accepted: 05/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNA dysregulation often results in the development and progression of cancer. miR-143 is ubiquitously expressed in most human and murine tissues but downregulated in many cancer types. This differential miRNA expression can be utilized for targeted cancer gene therapies. Multiple copies of the miR-143 complementary target sequence were inserted into the 3'UTR of plasmid vectors encoding either for different reporter genes or for the therapeutic gene TNFα. With these transgenes, we analyzed the miR-143-dependent gene expression in cancer cells and normal cells. Moreover, we investigated miR-143-regulated luciferase expression in an NMRI nude/HUH7 xenograft mouse model using a nonviral carrier system for in vivo transfections. We showed low and high levels of miR-143 in cancer cells and normal cells, respectively, leading to a differential gene expression of the reporters and the therapeutic TNFα. According to the miR-143 levels, the luciferase reporter gene expression was silenced in the mouse lungs but not in HUH7 tumors. Thus, we utilized the differential miR-143 expression in healthy and cancerous tissues to de-target the lung by specifically targeting the tumor in an in vivo HUH7 xenograft mouse model. The use of an miR-143-regulated therapeutic transgene may present a promising approach for cancer gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Kopp
- Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
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40
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Modified S/MAR episomal vectors for stably expressing fluorescent protein-tagged transgenes with small cell-to-cell fluctuations. Anal Biochem 2013; 443:113-6. [PMID: 23969013 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2013.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2013] [Accepted: 08/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
We modified and tested scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR) episomal vectors. The new vectors would be useful in obtaining cells stably expressing fluorescent protein-tagged transgenes with small, mostly within 10-fold cell-to-cell fluctuations. In the vectors, the same transcript directs episomal replication and expression of transgene/antibiotic marker, and only antibiotic selection without any other extra steps was sufficient to obtain desired stable cells, including those expressing two different proteins simultaneously. Furthermore, the two test cases (expression of human growth hormone in AtT20 and four protein kinase C isoforms in HEK293) would prove to be useful in visualizing and analyzing regulatory processes involving these proteins.
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41
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Haase R, Magnusson T, Su B, Kopp F, Wagner E, Lipps H, Baiker A, Ogris M. Generation of a tumor- and tissue-specific episomal non-viral vector system. BMC Biotechnol 2013; 13:49. [PMID: 23734827 PMCID: PMC3728224 DOI: 10.1186/1472-6750-13-49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 05/28/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background A key issue for safe and reproducible gene therapy approaches is the autologous and tissue-specific expression of transgenes. Tissue-specific expression in vivo is either achieved by transfer vectors that deliver the gene of interest into a distinct cell type or by use of tissue-specific expression cassettes. Here we present the generation of non-viral, episomally replicating vectors that are able to replicate in a tissue specific manner thus allowing tissue specific transgene expression in combination with episomal replication. The episomal replication of the prototype vector pEPI-1 and its derivatives depends exclusively on a transcription unit starting from a constitutively active promoter extending into the scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR). Results Here, we exchanged the constitutive promoter in the pEPI derivative pEPito by the tumor specific alpha fetoprotein (AFP) or the muscle specific smooth muscle 22 (SM22) promoter leading to specific transgene expression in AFP positive human hepatocellular carcinoma (HUH7) and in a SM22 positive cell line, respectively. The incorporation of the hCMV enhancer element into the expression cassette further boosted the expression levels with both promoters. Tissue specific-replication could be exemplary proven for the smooth muscle protein 22 (SM22) promoter in vitro. With the AFP promoter-driven pEPito vector hepatocellular carcinoma-specific expression could be achieved in vivo after systemic vector application together with polyethylenimine as transfection enhancer. Conclusions In this study we present an episomal plasmid system designed for tissue specific transgene expression and replication. The human AFP-promoter in combination with the hCMV enhancer element was demonstrated to be a valuable tissue-specific promoter for targeting hepatocellular carcinomas with non-viral gene delivery system, and tissue specific replication could be shown in vitro with the muscle specific SM22 promoter. In combination with appropriate delivery systems, the tissue specific pEPito vector system will allow higher tissue-specificity with less undesired side effects and is suitable for long term transgene expression in vivo within gene therapeutical approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rudolf Haase
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
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Zheng Y, Chen H, Zeng X, Liu Z, Xiao X, Zhu Y, Gu D, Mei L. Surface modification of TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticles with polyethyleneimine as a co-delivery system of TRAIL and endostatin for cervical cancer gene therapy. NANOSCALE RESEARCH LETTERS 2013; 8:161. [PMID: 23570619 PMCID: PMC3639870 DOI: 10.1186/1556-276x-8-161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2012] [Accepted: 01/17/2013] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The efficient delivery of therapeutic genes into cells of interest is a critical challenge to broad application of non-viral vector systems. In this research, a novel TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticle modified with polyethyleneimine was applied to be a vector of tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) and endostatin for cervical cancer gene therapy. Firstly, a novel biodegradable copolymer, TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA), was synthesized and characterized. The nanoparticles were fabricated by an emulsion/solvent evaporation method and then further modified with polyethyleneimine (PEI) carrying TRAIL and/or endostatin genes. The uptake of pIRES2-EGFP and/or pDsRED nanoparticles by HeLa cells were observed by fluorescence microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy. The cell viability of TRAIL/endostatin-loaded nanoparticles in HeLa cells was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide assay. Severe combined immunodeficient mice carrying HeLa tumor xenografts were treated in groups of six including phosphate-buffered saline control, blank TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA) nanoparticles, blank TPGS-b-(PCL-ran-PGA)/PEI nanoparticles, and three types of gene nanoparticles. The activity was assessed using average increase in survival time, body weight, and solid tumor volume. All the specimens were then prepared as formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections for hematoxylin-eosin staining. The data showed that the nanoparticles could efficiently deliver plasmids into HeLa cells. The cytotoxicity of the HeLa cells was significantly increased by TRAIL/endostatin-loaded nanoparticles when compared with control groups. The use of TPGS in combination with TRAIL and endostatin had synergistic antitumor effects. In conclusion, the TRAIL/endostatin-loaded nanoparticles offer considerable potential as an ideal candidate for in vivo cancer gene delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Zheng
- The Shenzhen Key Lab of Gene and Antibody Therapy, Center for Biotechnology and BioMedicine and Division of Life Science and Health, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, L401, Tsinghua Campus, Xili University Town, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongbo Chen
- The Shenzhen Key Lab of Gene and Antibody Therapy, Center for Biotechnology and BioMedicine and Division of Life Science and Health, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, L401, Tsinghua Campus, Xili University Town, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowei Zeng
- The Shenzhen Key Lab of Gene and Antibody Therapy, Center for Biotechnology and BioMedicine and Division of Life Science and Health, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, L401, Tsinghua Campus, Xili University Town, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhigang Liu
- School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaojun Xiao
- School of Medicine, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, People's Republic of China
| | - Yongqiang Zhu
- The Shenzhen Key Lab of Gene and Antibody Therapy, Center for Biotechnology and BioMedicine and Division of Life Science and Health, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, L401, Tsinghua Campus, Xili University Town, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
| | - Dayong Gu
- The Shenzhen Key Lab of Gene and Antibody Therapy, Center for Biotechnology and BioMedicine and Division of Life Science and Health, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, L401, Tsinghua Campus, Xili University Town, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, People's Republic of China
- Institute of Disease Control and Prevention, Shenzhen Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Bureau, Shenzhen, 518045, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin Mei
- The Shenzhen Key Lab of Gene and Antibody Therapy, Center for Biotechnology and BioMedicine and Division of Life Science and Health, Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, L401, Tsinghua Campus, Xili University Town, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, 518055, People's Republic of China
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, People's Republic of China
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Wang Z, Wu L, Cheng X, Liu S, Li B, Li H, Kang F, Wang J, Xia H, Ping C, Nassal M, Sun D. Replication-competent infectious hepatitis B virus vectors carrying substantially sized transgenes by redesigned viral polymerase translation. PLoS One 2013; 8:e60306. [PMID: 23589756 PMCID: PMC3615001 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2012] [Accepted: 02/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Viral vectors are engineered virus variants able to deliver nonviral genetic information into cells, usually by the same routes as the parental viruses. For several virus families, replication-competent vectors carrying reporter genes have become invaluable tools for easy and quantitative monitoring of replication and infection, and thus also for identifying antivirals and virus susceptible cells. For hepatitis B virus (HBV), a small enveloped DNA virus causing B-type hepatitis, such vectors are not available because insertions into its tiny 3.2 kb genome almost inevitably affect essential replication elements. HBV replicates by reverse transcription of the pregenomic (pg) RNA which is also required as bicistronic mRNA for the capsid (core) protein and the reverse transcriptase (Pol); their open reading frames (ORFs) overlap by some 150 basepairs. Translation of the downstream Pol ORF does not involve a conventional internal ribosome entry site (IRES). We reasoned that duplicating the overlap region and providing artificial IRES control for translation of both Pol and an in-between inserted transgene might yield a functional tricistronic pgRNA, without interfering with envelope protein expression. As IRESs we used a 22 nucleotide element termed Rbm3 IRES to minimize genome size increase. Model plasmids confirmed its activity even in tricistronic arrangements. Analogous plasmids for complete HBV genomes carrying 399 bp and 720 bp transgenes for blasticidin resistance (BsdR) and humanized Renilla green fluorescent protein (hrGFP) produced core and envelope proteins like wild-type HBV; while the hrGFP vector replicated poorly, the BsdR vector generated around 40% as much replicative DNA as wild-type HBV. Both vectors, however, formed enveloped virions which were infectious for HBV-susceptible HepaRG cells. Because numerous reporter and effector genes with sizes of around 500 bp or less are available, the new HBV vectors should become highly useful tools to better understand, and combat, this important pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zihua Wang
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, PR China
- The Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, PR China
| | - Li Wu
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Xin Cheng
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Shizhu Liu
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Baosheng Li
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Haijun Li
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Fubiao Kang
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Junping Wang
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Huan Xia
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Caiyan Ping
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, PR China
| | - Michael Nassal
- University Hospital Freiburg, Internal Medicine II/Molecular Biology, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail: (DS); (MN)
| | - Dianxing Sun
- The Liver Disease Diagnosis and Treatment Center of PLA, Bethune International Peace Hospital, Shijiazhuang, PR China
- * E-mail: (DS); (MN)
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Voigtlander R, Haase R, Mück-Hausl M, Zhang W, Boehme P, Lipps HJ, Schulz E, Baiker A, Ehrhardt A. A Novel Adenoviral Hybrid-vector System Carrying a Plasmid Replicon for Safe and Efficient Cell and Gene Therapeutic Applications. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2013; 2:e83. [PMID: 23549553 PMCID: PMC3650243 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2013.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
In dividing cells, the two aims a gene therapeutic approach should accomplish are efficient nuclear delivery and retention of therapeutic DNA. For stable transgene expression, therapeutic DNA can either be maintained by somatic integration or episomal persistence of which the latter approach would diminish the risk of insertional mutagenesis. As most monosystems fail to fulfill both tasks with equal efficiency, hybrid-vector systems represent promising alternatives. Our hybrid-vector system synergizes high-capacity adenoviral vectors (HCAdV) for efficient delivery and the scaffold/matrix attachment region (S/MAR)–based pEPito plasmid replicon for episomal persistence. After proving that this plasmid replicon can be excised from adenovirus in vitro, colony forming assays were performed. We found an increased number of colonies of up to sevenfold in cells that received the functional plasmid replicon proving that the hybrid-vector system is functional. Transgene expression could be maintained for 6 weeks and the extrachromosomal plasmid replicon was rescued. To show efficacy in vivo, the adenoviral hybrid-vector system was injected into C57Bl/6 mice. We found that the plasmid replicon can be released from adenoviral DNA in murine liver resulting in long-term transgene expression. In conclusion, we demonstrate the efficacy of our novel HCAdV-pEPito hybrid-vector system in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Voigtlander
- 1] Virology, Max von Pettenkofer-Institute, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Munich, Germany [2] Current address: Research Laboratory Endocrinology, University Hospital Essen, Essen, Germany
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Lanza AM, Cheng JK, Alper HS. Emerging synthetic biology tools for engineering mammalian cell systems and expediting cell line development. Curr Opin Chem Eng 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.coche.2012.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
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Hagedorn C, Baiker A, Postberg J, Ehrhardt A, Lipps HJ. A colony-forming assay for determining the establishment efficiency of S/MAR-containing nonviral episomal expression vectors. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2012; 2012:706-8. [PMID: 22661431 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.prot069500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
As with all eukaryotic replicons, the stable establishment of S/MAR (scaffold/matrix attached region) vectors is a stochastic event that depends on poorly understood epigenetic factors such as chromatin structure and nuclear localization. Establishment efficiency describes the percentage of cells in which a particular S/MAR vector is stably retained as an episome after an initial selection period. Expected establishment efficiency for S/MAR vectors is 1-5%. This article describes a colony-forming assay that may be used either to determine establishment efficiency or to generate single cell clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hagedorn
- Centre for Biomedical Education and Research, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Witten/Herdecke, 58453 Witten, Germany
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Hagedorn C, Baiker A, Postberg J, Ehrhardt A, Lipps HJ. Handling S/MAR vectors. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2012; 2012:657-63. [PMID: 22661441 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top068262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Nonviral episomal vectors represent attractive alternatives to currently used virus-based expression systems. In the late 1990s, it was shown that a plasmid containing an expression cassette linked to a scaffold/matrix attached region (S/MAR) replicates as a low copy number episome in all cell lines tested, as well as primary cells, and can be used for the genetic modification of higher animals. Once established in the cell, the S/MAR vector replicates early during S-phase and, in the absence of selection, is stably retained in the cells for an unlimited period of time. This vector can therefore be regarded as a minimal model system for studying the epigenetic regulation of replication and functional nuclear architecture. In theory, this construct represents an almost "ideal" expression system for gene therapy. In practice, S/MAR-based vectors stably modify mammalian cells with efficiencies far below those of virus-based constructs. Consequently, they have not yet found application in gene therapy trials. Furthermore, S/MAR vector systems are not trivial to handle and several critical technical issues have to be considered when modifying these vectors for various applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hagedorn
- Centre for Biomedical Education and Research, Institute of Cell Biology, University of Witten/Herdecke, 58453 Witten, Germany
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Abstract
Producing recombinant mammalian proteins in native or near-native conformation is fundamental to many aspects of biology. Unfortunately, it is also a task whose outcome is extremely unpredictable. A protein that has been shaped over millions of generations of evolution for expression at a level appropriate to a specific cell type or in a particular developmental stage, may be toxic to a new host cell, or become insoluble (among many possible obstacles) when overexpressed in vitro. The object of this volume, "Protein Expression in Mammalian Cells," is to offer guidance for those who wish (or who have been forced by circumstance) to overexpress a mammalian protein in mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- James L Hartley
- Protein Expression Laboratory, SAIC-Frederick, Inc., National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
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Magnusson T, Haase R, Schleef M, Wagner E, Ogris M. Sustained, high transgene expression in liver with plasmid vectors using optimized promoter-enhancer combinations. J Gene Med 2011; 13:382-91. [PMID: 21721074 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.1585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plasmid-based gene therapy approaches often lack long-term transgene expression in vivo as a result of silencing or loss of the vector. One way to overcome these limitations is to combine nonsilenced promoters with strong enhancers. METHODS In the present study, we combine murine or human cytomegalovirus (CMV)-derived enhancer elements with the human elongation factor 1α (EF1α) promoter in a plasmid backbone devoid of potentially immunostimulating cytosine-guanine repeat sequences. Luciferase transgene activity was monitored in mouse liver after hydrodynamic plasmid delivery. RESULTS Luciferase activity of a CMV-promoter driven plasmid rapidly declined within days, whereas the activity of the EF1α driven plasmid remained high for 2 weeks (murine enhancer) and detectable for > 80 days (human enhancer). Expression levels clearly correlated with higher plasmid copy number found in the liver at 2 months after gene delivery. Furthermore, we developed a novel synthetic CMV-EF1α hybrid promoter (SCEP) combining the high activity of CMV and sustained activity of EF1α promoter. The SCEP led to a constitutive three-fold increase in expression levels compared to the EF1α promoter in vivo. CONCLUSIONS This novel combination of enhancer and promoter element with optimized plasmid backbones will pave the way for more efficient nonviral approaches in gene therapy.
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Hagedorn C, Wong SP, Harbottle R, Lipps HJ. Scaffold/Matrix Attached Region-Based Nonviral Episomal Vectors. Hum Gene Ther 2011; 22:915-23. [DOI: 10.1089/hum.2011.084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Hagedorn
- Centre for Biomedical Education and Research, Institute of Cell Biology, University Witten/Herdecke, 58453 Witten, Germany
| | - Suet-Ping Wong
- Gene Therapy Research Group, Section of Molecular Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Harbottle
- Gene Therapy Research Group, Section of Molecular Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Hans J. Lipps
- Centre for Biomedical Education and Research, Institute of Cell Biology, University Witten/Herdecke, 58453 Witten, Germany
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