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Li S, Xiong F, Zhang S, Liu J, Gao G, Xie J, Wang Y. Oligonucleotide therapies for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2024; 35:102184. [PMID: 38665220 PMCID: PMC11044058 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represents a severe disease subtype of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) that is thought to be highly associated with systemic metabolic abnormalities. It is characterized by a series of substantial liver damage, including hepatocellular steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis. The end stage of NASH, in some cases, may result in cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nowadays a large number of investigations are actively under way to test various therapeutic strategies, including emerging oligonucleotide drugs (e.g., antisense oligonucleotide, small interfering RNA, microRNA, mimic/inhibitor RNA, and small activating RNA) that have shown high potential in treating this fatal liver disease. This article systematically reviews the pathogenesis of NASH/NAFLD, the promising druggable targets proven by current studies in chemical compounds or biological drug development, and the feasibility and limitations of oligonucleotide-based therapeutic approaches under clinical or pre-clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sixu Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China College of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610066, China
| | - Feng Xiong
- Department of Cardiology, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu 610031, China
| | - Songbo Zhang
- Department of Breast Surgery, Sichuan Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Sichuan Cancer Hospital & Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu 610041, China
| | - Jinghua Liu
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jun Xie
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Viral Vector Core, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical, School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Pathophysiology, West China College of Basic Medical Sciences & Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610066, China
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Maturana CJ, Engel EA. Persistent transgene expression in peripheral tissues one year post intravenous and intramuscular administration of AAV vectors containing the alphaherpesvirus latency-associated promoter 2. Front Virol 2024; 4:1379991. [PMID: 38665693 PMCID: PMC11044866 DOI: 10.3389/fviro.2024.1379991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Significant progress has been made in enhancing recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) for clinical investigation. Despite its versatility as a gene delivery platform, the inherent packaging constraint of 4.7 kb imposes restrictions on the range of diseases it can address. In this context, we present findings of an exceptionally compact and long-term promoter that facilitates the expression of larger genes compared to conventional promoters. This compact promoter originated from the genome of the alphaherpesvirus pseudorabies virus, latency-associated promoter 2 (LAP2, 404 bp). Promoter driving an mCherry reporter was packaged into single strand (ss) AAV8 and AAV9 vectors and injected into adult C57BL/6 mice at a dose of 5 × 1011 vg/mouse by single intravenous or intramuscular administration. An ssAAV8 and ssAAV9 vector with elongation factor-1α promoter (EF1α, 1264 bp) was injected side-by-side for comparison. After 400 days, we sacrificed the mice and examined mCherry expression in liver, kidney, heart, lung, spleen, pancreas, skeletal muscle, and brain. We found that LAP2 exhibited robust transgene expression across a wide range of cells and tissues comparable to the larger EF1α, which is currently recognized as a rather potent and ubiquitous promoter. The AAV8-LAP2 and AAV9-LAP2 constructs displayed strong transduction and transcription in liver, kidney, and skeletal muscle on both route of administration. However, no expression was detected in the heart, lung, spleen, pancreas, and brain. The outcomes of our investigation propose the viability of LAP2 for gene therapy applications demanding the expression of large or multiple therapeutic genes following a single viralvector administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola J. Maturana
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Esteban A. Engel
- Princeton Neuroscience Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
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Blackwood M, Gruntman AM, Tang Q, Pires-Ferreira D, Reil D, Kondratov O, Marsic D, Zolotukhin S, Gernoux G, Keeler AM, Mueller C, Flotte TR. Biodistribution and safety of a single rAAV3B-AAT vector for silencing and replacement of alpha-1 antitrypsin in Cynomolgus macaques. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101200. [PMID: 38445045 PMCID: PMC10914479 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) is characterized by both chronic lung disease due to loss of wild-type AAT (M-AAT) antiprotease function and liver disease due to toxicity from delayed secretion, polymerization, and aggregation of misfolded mutant AAT (Z-AAT). The ideal gene therapy for AATD should therefore comprise both endogenous Z-AAT suppression and M-AAT overexpression. We designed a dual-function rAAV3B (df-rAAV3B) construct, which was effective at transducing hepatocytes, resulting in a considerable decrease of Z-AAT levels and safe M-AAT augmentation in mice. We optimized df-rAAV3B and created two variants, AAV3B-E12 and AAV3B-G3, to simultaneously enhance the concentration of M-AAT in the bloodstream to therapeutic levels and silence endogenous AAT liver expression in cynomolgus monkeys. Our results demonstrate that AAV3b-WT, AAV3B-E12, and AAV3B-G3 were able to transduce the monkey livers and achieve high M-AAT serum levels efficiently and safely. In this nondeficient model, we did not find downregulation of endogenous AAT. However, the dual-function vector did serve as a potentially "liver-sparing" alternative for high-dose liver-mediated AAT gene replacement in the context of underlying liver disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meghan Blackwood
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Alisha M. Gruntman
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, North Grafton, MA 01536, USA
| | - Qiushi Tang
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Debora Pires-Ferreira
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Darcy Reil
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Oleksandr Kondratov
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Damien Marsic
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
- MaiBo Biotech, Suzhou Industrial Park, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sergei Zolotukhin
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Gwladys Gernoux
- Nantes Université, CHU de Nantes, INSERM, TaRGeT–Translational Research in Gene Therapy, UMR 1089, 44200 Nantes, France
| | - Allison M. Keeler
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- NeuroNexus Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | | | - Terence R. Flotte
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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Zheng Y, Li Y, Zhou K, Li T, VanDusen NJ, Hua Y. Precise genome-editing in human diseases: mechanisms, strategies and applications. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:47. [PMID: 38409199 PMCID: PMC10897424 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01750-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Precise genome-editing platforms are versatile tools for generating specific, site-directed DNA insertions, deletions, and substitutions. The continuous enhancement of these tools has led to a revolution in the life sciences, which promises to deliver novel therapies for genetic disease. Precise genome-editing can be traced back to the 1950s with the discovery of DNA's double-helix and, after 70 years of development, has evolved from crude in vitro applications to a wide range of sophisticated capabilities, including in vivo applications. Nonetheless, precise genome-editing faces constraints such as modest efficiency, delivery challenges, and off-target effects. In this review, we explore precise genome-editing, with a focus on introduction of the landmark events in its history, various platforms, delivery systems, and applications. First, we discuss the landmark events in the history of precise genome-editing. Second, we describe the current state of precise genome-editing strategies and explain how these techniques offer unprecedented precision and versatility for modifying the human genome. Third, we introduce the current delivery systems used to deploy precise genome-editing components through DNA, RNA, and RNPs. Finally, we summarize the current applications of precise genome-editing in labeling endogenous genes, screening genetic variants, molecular recording, generating disease models, and gene therapy, including ex vivo therapy and in vivo therapy, and discuss potential future advances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanjiang Zheng
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Yifei Li
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Kaiyu Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Tiange Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China
| | - Nathan J VanDusen
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA.
| | - Yimin Hua
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children of MOE, Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
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Hadi M, Qutaiba B Allela O, Jabari M, Jasoor AM, Naderloo O, Yasamineh S, Gholizadeh O, Kalantari L. Recent advances in various adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) as gene therapy agents in hepatocellular carcinoma. Virol J 2024; 21:17. [PMID: 38216938 PMCID: PMC10785434 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-024-02286-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer, which is scientifically referred to as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is a significant concern in the field of global health. It has been demonstrated that conventional chemotherapy, chemo-hormonal therapy, and conformal radiotherapy are ineffective against HCC. New therapeutic approaches are thus urgently required. Identifying single or multiple mutations in genes associated with invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, and growth regulation has resulted in a more comprehensive comprehension of the molecular genetic underpinnings of malignant transformation, tumor advancement, and host interaction. This enhanced comprehension has notably propelled the development of novel therapeutic agents. Therefore, gene therapy (GT) holds great promise for addressing the urgent need for innovative treatments in HCC. However, the complexity of HCC demands precise and effective therapeutic approaches. The adeno-associated virus (AAV) distinctive life cycle and ability to persistently infect dividing and nondividing cells have rendered it an alluring vector. Another appealing characteristic of the wild-type virus is its evident absence of pathogenicity. As a result, AAV, a vector that lacks an envelope and can be modified to transport DNA to specific cells, has garnered considerable interest in the scientific community, particularly in experimental therapeutic strategies that are still in the clinical stage. AAV vectors emerge as promising tools for HCC therapy due to their non-immunogenic nature, efficient cell entry, and prolonged gene expression. While AAV-mediated GT demonstrates promise across diverse diseases, the current absence of ongoing clinical trials targeting HCC underscores untapped potential in this context. Furthermore, gene transfer through hepatic AAV vectors is frequently facilitated by GT research, which has been propelled by several congenital anomalies affecting the liver. Notwithstanding the enthusiasm associated with this notion, recent discoveries that expose the integration of the AAV vector genome at double-strand breaks give rise to apprehensions regarding their enduring safety and effectiveness. This review explores the potential of AAV vectors as versatile tools for targeted GT in HCC. In summation, we encapsulate the multifaceted exploration of AAV vectors in HCC GT, underlining their transformative potential within the landscape of oncology and human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meead Hadi
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Science, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Mansoureh Jabari
- Medical Campus, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, China
| | - Asna Mahyazadeh Jasoor
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology, College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Omid Naderloo
- Department of Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Gorgan Breanch, Gorgan, Iran
| | | | | | - Leila Kalantari
- School of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
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Wagner C, Fuchsberger FF, Innthaler B, Pachlinger R, Schrenk I, Lemmerer M, Birner-Gruenberger R. Automated Mass Photometry of Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors from Crude Cell Extracts. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:838. [PMID: 38255912 PMCID: PMC10815086 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Mass photometry (MP) is a fast and simple analysis method for the determination of the proportions of subpopulations in an AAV sample. It is label-free and requires minimal sample volumes between 5-10 µL, which makes it a promising candidate over orthogonal techniques such as analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), cryo-transmission electron microscopy (Cryo-TEM) or charge-detection mass spectrometry (CDMS). However, these methods are limited in their application to purified samples only. Here we developed a purification step based on single-domain monospecific antibody fragments immobilised on either a poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) resin or on magnetic beads prior to MP analysis that allows the quantification of empty, partially filled, full and overfull AAV vectors in crude cell extracts. This is aimed at identifying potentially promising harvest conditions that yield large numbers of filled AAV vectors during the early stages of the viral vector development platform, e.g., the type of transfection reagent used. Furthermore, we provide a direct comparison of the automated and manual handling of the mass photometer with respect to the quantities of AAV subspecies, molar mass of the capsid and payload, and highlight the differences between the "buffer-free" sample measurement and the "buffer-dilution" mode. In addition, we provide information on which candidates to use for calibration and demonstrate the limitations of the mass photometer with respect to the estimation of the capsid titer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Wagner
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baxalta Innovations (Part of Takeda), 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Felix F. Fuchsberger
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baxalta Innovations (Part of Takeda), 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernd Innthaler
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baxalta Innovations (Part of Takeda), 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Pachlinger
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baxalta Innovations (Part of Takeda), 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Irene Schrenk
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baxalta Innovations (Part of Takeda), 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Martin Lemmerer
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, Baxalta Innovations (Part of Takeda), 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ruth Birner-Gruenberger
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Technical University of Vienna, 1040 Vienna, Austria
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Zhang J, Wang TY, Zhang C, Mi C, Geng S, Tang Y, Wang X. CMV/AAT promoter of MAR-based episomal vector enhanced transgene expression in human hepatic cells. 3 Biotech 2023; 13:354. [PMID: 37810190 PMCID: PMC10558423 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-023-03774-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
We have previously developed a non-viral episomal vector based on matrix attachment region (MAR) that can facilitate plasmid replication episomally in mammal cells. In this study, we have focused on the development of an alternative tissue specific episomal vector by incorporating into cis-acting elements. We found that AAT promoter demonstrated the highest eGFP expression level in HepG2, Huh-7 and HL-7702 hepatic cells. Furthermore, hCMV enhancer when combined with AAT promoter significantly improved the eGFP expression level in the transfected HepG2 cells. The mean fluorescence intensity of eGFP in hCMV2 group was 1.33 fold, which was higher than that of the control (p < 0.01), followed by the hCMV1 group (1.21 fold). In addition, the percentages of eGFP-expressing cells in hCMV1 and hCMV2 groups were observed to be 49.3% and 57.2%, which were significantly higher than that of the enhancer-devoid control vector (44.3%) (p < 0.05). Moreover, the eGFP protein were up to 3.5 fold and 5.1 fold (p < 0.05), respectively. This observation could be related with the activities of some specific transcription factors (TFs) during the transcriptional process, such as SRF, REL and CREB1. The composite CMV/AAT promoter can be thus used for efficient transgene expression of MAR-based episomal vector in liver cells and as a potential gene transfer tools for the management of liver diseases. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-023-03774-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihong Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang, 453003 China
| | - Tian-Yun Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang, 453003 China
| | - Chunbo Zhang
- College of Life Science, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453000 China
| | - Chunliu Mi
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang, 453003 China
| | - Shaolei Geng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang, 453003 China
| | - Yuanyuan Tang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
| | - Xiaoyin Wang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xinxiang Medical University, No. 601 Jinsui Road, Xinxiang, 453003 Henan Province China
- International Joint Research Laboratory for Recombinant Pharmaceutical Protein Expression System of Henan, Xinxiang, 453003 China
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Jiang J, van Ertvelde J, Ertaylan G, Peeters R, Jennen D, de Kok TM, Vinken M. Unraveling the mechanisms underlying drug-induced cholestatic liver injury: identifying key genes using machine learning techniques on human in vitro data sets. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:2969-2981. [PMID: 37603094 PMCID: PMC10504391 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03583-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023]
Abstract
Drug-induced intrahepatic cholestasis (DIC) is a main type of hepatic toxicity that is challenging to predict in early drug development stages. Preclinical animal studies often fail to detect DIC in humans. In vitro toxicogenomics assays using human liver cells have become a practical approach to predict human-relevant DIC. The present study was set up to identify transcriptomic signatures of DIC by applying machine learning algorithms to the Open TG-GATEs database. A total of nine DIC compounds and nine non-DIC compounds were selected, and supervised classification algorithms were applied to develop prediction models using differentially expressed features. Feature selection techniques identified 13 genes that achieved optimal prediction performance using logistic regression combined with a sequential backward selection method. The internal validation of the best-performing model showed accuracy of 0.958, sensitivity of 0.941, specificity of 0.978, and F1-score of 0.956. Applying the model to an external validation set resulted in an average prediction accuracy of 0.71. The identified genes were mechanistically linked to the adverse outcome pathway network of DIC, providing insights into cellular and molecular processes during response to chemical toxicity. Our findings provide valuable insights into toxicological responses and enhance the predictive accuracy of DIC prediction, thereby advancing the application of transcriptome profiling in designing new approach methodologies for hazard identification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Jiang
- Entity of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato‑Cosmetology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - Jonas van Ertvelde
- Entity of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato‑Cosmetology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gökhan Ertaylan
- Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO) NV, Health, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium
| | - Ralf Peeters
- Maastricht Centre for Systems Biology (MaCSBio), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Advanced Computing Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Danyel Jennen
- Department of Toxicogenomics, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Theo M de Kok
- Maastricht Centre for Systems Biology (MaCSBio), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Department of Toxicogenomics, GROW School for Oncology and Reproduction, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Mathieu Vinken
- Entity of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato‑Cosmetology, Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Laarbeeklaan 103, 1090, Brussels, Belgium.
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Zhang Y, Peng C, Wang L, Chen S, Wang J, Tian Z, Wang C, Chen X, Zhu S, Zhang GF, Wang Y. Prevalence of propionic acidemia in China. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2023; 18:281. [PMID: 37689673 PMCID: PMC10493020 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-023-02898-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Propionic acidemia (PA) is a rare autosomal recessive congenital disease caused by mutations in the PCCA or PCCB genes. Elevated propionylcarnitine, 2-methylcitric acid (2MCA), propionylglycine, glycine and 3-hydroxypropionate can be used to diagnose PA. Early-onset PA can lead to acute deterioration, metabolic acidosis, and hyperammonemia shortly after birth, which can result in high mortality and disability. Late-onset cases of PA have a more heterogeneous clinical spectra, including growth retardation, intellectual disability, seizures, basal ganglia lesions, pancreatitis, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, adaptive immune defects, rhabdomyolysis, optic atrophy, hearing loss, premature ovarian failure, and chronic kidney disease. Timely and accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to saving patients' lives and improving their prognosis. Recently, the number of reported PA cases in China has increased due to advanced diagnostic techniques and increased research attention. However, an overview of PA prevalence in China is lacking. Therefore, this review provides an overview of recent advances in the pathogenesis, diagnostic strategies, and treatment of PA, including epidemiological data on PA in China. The most frequent variants among Chinese PA patients are c.2002G > A in PCCA and c.1301C > T in PCCB, which are often associated with severe clinical symptoms. At present, liver transplantation from a living (heterozygous parental) donor is a better option for treating PA in China, especially for those exhibiting a severe metabolic phenotype and/or end-organ dysfunction. However, a comprehensive risk-benefit analysis should be conducted as an integral part of the decision-making process. This review will provide valuable information for the medical care of Chinese patients with PA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yixing Zhang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Jining Medical University, Shandong, 272067, China
| | - Chuwen Peng
- School of Clinical Medicine, Jining Medical University, Shandong, 272067, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Jining Medical University, Shandong, 272067, China
| | - Sitong Chen
- School of Clinical Medicine, Jining Medical University, Shandong, 272067, China
| | - Junwei Wang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Jining Medical University, Shandong, 272067, China
| | - Ziheng Tian
- School of Clinical Medicine, Jining Medical University, Shandong, 272067, China
| | - Chuangong Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, 133 Hehua Road, Shandong, 272067, China
- Jining Key Laboratory of Pharmacology, Jining Medical University, Shandong, 272067, China
| | - Xiaoxin Chen
- Surgical Research Lab, Department of Surgery, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
- Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
- MD Anderson Cancer Center at Cooper, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
- Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
| | - Suhong Zhu
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, 133 Hehua Road, Shandong, 272067, China.
- Jining Key Laboratory of Pharmacology, Jining Medical University, Shandong, 272067, China.
| | - Guo-Fang Zhang
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute and Sarah W. Stedman Nutrition and Metabolism Center, Duke University Medical Center, Carmichael Building 48-203, 300 North Duke Street, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism Nutrition, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27701, USA.
| | - You Wang
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, 133 Hehua Road, Shandong, 272067, China.
- Jining Key Laboratory of Pharmacology, Jining Medical University, Shandong, 272067, China.
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Khalil A, Quaglia A, Gélat P, Saffari N, Rashidi H, Davidson B. New Developments and Challenges in Liver Transplantation. J Clin Med 2023; 12:5586. [PMID: 37685652 PMCID: PMC10488676 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12175586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver disease is increasing in incidence and is the third most common cause of premature death in the United Kingdom and fourth in the United States. Liver disease accounts for 2 million deaths globally each year. Three-quarters of patients with liver disease are diagnosed at a late stage, with liver transplantation as the only definitive treatment. Thomas E. Starzl performed the first human liver transplant 60 years ago. It has since become an established treatment for end-stage liver disease, both acute and chronic, including metabolic diseases and primary and, at present piloting, secondary liver cancer. Advances in surgical and anaesthetic techniques, refined indications and contra-indications to transplantation, improved donor selection, immunosuppression and prognostic scoring have allowed the outcomes of liver transplantation to improve year on year. However, there are many limitations to liver transplantation. This review describes the milestones that have occurred in the development of liver transplantation, the current limitations and the ongoing research aimed at overcoming these challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amjad Khalil
- Liver Unit, Wellington Hospital, London NW8 9TA, UK
- Centre for Surgical Innovation, Organ Regeneration and Transplantation, University College London, London NW3 2PS, UK
- Clinical Service of HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG, UK
| | - Alberto Quaglia
- Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Pierre Gélat
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London NW3 2PS, UK
| | - Nader Saffari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Hassan Rashidi
- Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, UK;
| | - Brian Davidson
- Liver Unit, Wellington Hospital, London NW8 9TA, UK
- Centre for Surgical Innovation, Organ Regeneration and Transplantation, University College London, London NW3 2PS, UK
- Clinical Service of HPB Surgery and Liver Transplantation, Royal Free Hospital, London NW3 2QG, UK
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11
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Wagner C, Fuchsberger FF, Innthaler B, Lemmerer M, Birner-Gruenberger R. Quantification of Empty, Partially Filled and Full Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors Using Mass Photometry. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11033. [PMID: 37446211 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241311033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are one of the most commonly used vehicles in gene therapies for the treatment of rare diseases. During the AAV manufacturing process, particles with little or no genetic material are co-produced alongside the desired AAV capsid containing the transgene of interest. Because of the potential adverse health effects of these byproducts, they are considered impurities and need to be monitored carefully. To date, analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and charge-detection mass spectrometry (CDMS) are used to quantify these subspecies. However, they are associated with long turnaround times, low sample throughput and complex data analysis. Mass photometry (MP) is a fast and label-free orthogonal technique which is applicable to multiple serotypes without the adaption of method parameters. Furthermore, it can be operated with capsid titers as low as 8 × 1010 cp mL-1 with a CV < 5% using just 10 µL total sample volume. Here we demonstrate that mass photometry can be used as an orthogonal method to AUC to accurately quantify the proportions of empty, partially filled, full and overfull particles in AAV samples, especially in cases where ion-exchange chromatography yields no separation of the populations. In addition, it can be used to confirm the molar mass of the packaged genomic material in filled AAV particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Wagner
- Analytical Development Europe, Takeda Vienna, 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Felix F Fuchsberger
- Gene Therapy Process Development Europe, Takeda Orth an der Donau, 2304 Orth an der Donau, Austria
| | - Bernd Innthaler
- Gene Therapy Process Development Europe, Takeda Orth an der Donau, 2304 Orth an der Donau, Austria
| | - Martin Lemmerer
- Analytical Development Europe, Takeda Vienna, 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Ruth Birner-Gruenberger
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Technische Universität Wien, 1040 Vienna, Austria
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12
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Srivastava RAK. A Review of Progress on Targeting LDL Receptor-Dependent and -Independent Pathways for the Treatment of Hypercholesterolemia, a Major Risk Factor of ASCVD. Cells 2023; 12:1648. [PMID: 37371118 DOI: 10.3390/cells12121648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of the LDL receptor in 1973 by Brown and Goldstein as a causative protein in hypercholesterolemia, tremendous amounts of effort have gone into finding ways to manage high LDL cholesterol in familial hypercholesterolemic (HoFH and HeFH) individuals with loss-of-function mutations in the LDL receptor (LDLR) gene. Statins proved to be the first blockbuster drug, helping both HoFH and HeFH individuals by inhibiting the cholesterol synthesis pathway rate-limiting enzyme HMG-CoA reductase and inducing the LDL receptor. However, statins could not achieve the therapeutic goal of LDL. Other therapies targeting LDLR include PCSK9, which lowers LDLR by promoting LDLR degradation. Inducible degrader of LDLR (IDOL) also controls the LDLR protein, but an IDOL-based therapy is yet to be developed. Among the LDLR-independent pathways, such as angiopoietin-like 3 (ANGPTL3), apolipoprotein (apo) B, apoC-III and CETP, only ANGPTL3 offers the advantage of treating both HoFH and HeFH patients and showing relatively better preclinical and clinical efficacy in animal models and hypercholesterolemic individuals, respectively. While loss-of-LDLR-function mutations have been known for decades, gain-of-LDLR-function mutations have recently been identified in some individuals. The new information on gain of LDLR function, together with CRISPR-Cas9 genome/base editing technology to target LDLR and ANGPTL3, offers promise to HoFH and HeFH individuals who are at a higher risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).
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Affiliation(s)
- Rai Ajit K Srivastava
- Integrated Pharma Solutions LLC, Boston, MA 02101-02117, USA
- College of Professional Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02101-02117, USA
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13
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Gong J, Yang R, Zhou M, Chang LJ. Improved intravenous lentiviral gene therapy based on endothelial-specific promoter-driven factor VIII expression for hemophilia A. Mol Med 2023; 29:74. [PMID: 37308845 DOI: 10.1186/s10020-023-00680-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hemophilia A (HA) is an X-linked monogenic disorder caused by deficiency of the factor VIII (FVIII) gene in the intrinsic coagulation cascade. The current protein replacement therapy (PRT) of HA has many limitations including short term effectiveness, high cost, and life-time treatment requirement. Gene therapy has become a promising treatment for HA. Orthotopic functional FVIII biosynthesis is critical to its coagulation activities. METHODS To investigate targeted FVIII expression, we developed a series of advanced lentiviral vectors (LVs) carrying either a universal promoter (EF1α) or a variety of tissue-specific promoters, including endothelial-specific (VEC), endothelial and epithelial-specific (KDR), and megakaryocyte-specific (Gp and ITGA) promoters. RESULTS To examine tissue specificity, the expression of a B-domain deleted human F8 (F8BDD) gene was tested in human endothelial and megakaryocytic cell lines. Functional assays demonstrated FVIII activities of LV-VEC-F8BDD and LV-ITGA-F8BDD in the therapeutic range in transduced endothelial and megakaryocytic cells, respectively. In F8 knockout mice (F8 KO mice, F8null mice), intravenous (iv) injection of LVs illustrated different degrees of phenotypic correction as well as anti-FVIII immune response for the different vectors. The iv delivery of LV-VEC-F8BDD and LV-Gp-F8BDD achieved 80% and 15% therapeutic FVIII activities over 180 days, respectively. Different from the other LV constructs, the LV-VEC-F8BDD displayed a low FVIII inhibitory response in the treated F8null mice. CONCLUSIONS The LV-VEC-F8BDD exhibited high LV packaging and delivery efficiencies, with endothelial specificity and low immunogenicity in the F8null mice, thus has a great potential for clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Gong
- Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, China
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Rui Yang
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China
| | - Min Zhou
- Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 611731, China
| | - Lung-Ji Chang
- School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610054, China.
- Shenzhen Geno-Immune Medical Institute, 6 Yuexing 2nd Rd., 2nd Floor, Nanshan Dist., Shenzhen, 518057, Guangdong Province, China.
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14
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Broussau S, Lytvyn V, Simoneau M, Guilbault C, Leclerc M, Nazemi-Moghaddam N, Coulombe N, Elahi SM, McComb S, Gilbert R. Packaging cells for lentiviral vectors generated using the cumate and coumermycin gene induction systems and nanowell single-cell cloning. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2023; 29:40-57. [PMID: 36936448 PMCID: PMC10018046 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2023.02.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/27/2023]
Abstract
Lentiviral vectors (LVs) are important for cell therapy because of their capacity to stably modify the genome after integration. This study describes a novel and relatively simple approach to generate packaging cells and producer clones for self-inactivating (SIN) LVs pseudotyped with the vesicular stomatitis virus glycoprotein (VSV-G). A novel gene regulation system, based on the combination of the cumate and coumermycin induction systems, was developed to ensure tight control for the expression of cytotoxic packaging elements. To accelerate clone isolation and ensure monoclonality, the packaging genes were transfected simultaneously into human embryonic kidney cells (293SF-3F6) previously engineered with the induction system, and clones were isolated after limiting dilution into nanowell arrays using a robotic cell picking instrument with scanning capability. The method's effectiveness to isolate colonies derived from single cells was demonstrated using mixed populations of cells labeled with two different fluorescent markers. Because the recipient cell line grew in suspension culture, and all the procedures were performed without serum, the resulting clones were readily adaptable to serum-free suspension culture. The best producer clone produced LVs expressing GFP at a titer of 2.3 × 108 transduction units (TU)/mL in the culture medium under batch mode without concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Broussau
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Viktoria Lytvyn
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Mélanie Simoneau
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Claire Guilbault
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Mélanie Leclerc
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Nazila Nazemi-Moghaddam
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Nathalie Coulombe
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Seyyed Mehdy Elahi
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Scott McComb
- Department of Immunology, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council, Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0R6, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1H 8M5, Canada
| | - Rénald Gilbert
- Department of Production Platforms & Analytics, Human Health Therapeutics Research Centre, National Research Council Canada, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0E9, Canada
- Département de Génie chimique, Université Laval, Québec, QC G1V 0A6, Canada
- Corresponding author: Rénald Gilbert, National Research Council Canada, Building Montreal, 6100 Avenue Royalmount, Montreal, QC H4P 2R2, Canada.
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15
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Harmening N, Johnen S, Izsvák Z, Ivics Z, Kropp M, Bascuas T, Walter P, Kreis A, Pajic B, Thumann G. Enhanced Biosafety of the Sleeping Beauty Transposon System by Using mRNA as Source of Transposase to Efficiently and Stably Transfect Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells. Biomolecules 2023; 13:biom13040658. [PMID: 37189405 DOI: 10.3390/biom13040658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nvAMD) is characterized by choroidal neovascularization (CNV), which leads to retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cell and photoreceptor degeneration and blindness if untreated. Since blood vessel growth is mediated by endothelial cell growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), treatment consists of repeated, often monthly, intravitreal injections of anti-angiogenic biopharmaceuticals. Frequent injections are costly and present logistic difficulties; therefore, our laboratories are developing a cell-based gene therapy based on autologous RPE cells transfected ex vivo with the pigment epithelium derived factor (PEDF), which is the most potent natural antagonist of VEGF. Gene delivery and long-term expression of the transgene are enabled by the use of the non-viral Sleeping Beauty (SB100X) transposon system that is introduced into the cells by electroporation. The transposase may have a cytotoxic effect and a low risk of remobilization of the transposon if supplied in the form of DNA. Here, we investigated the use of the SB100X transposase delivered as mRNA and showed that ARPE-19 cells as well as primary human RPE cells were successfully transfected with the Venus or the PEDF gene, followed by stable transgene expression. In human RPE cells, secretion of recombinant PEDF could be detected in cell culture up to one year. Non-viral ex vivo transfection using SB100X-mRNA in combination with electroporation increases the biosafety of our gene therapeutic approach to treat nvAMD while ensuring high transfection efficiency and long-term transgene expression in RPE cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Harmening
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sandra Johnen
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Zsuzsanna Izsvák
- Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Zoltan Ivics
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Martina Kropp
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Thais Bascuas
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Peter Walter
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074 Aachen, Germany
| | - Andreas Kreis
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Bojan Pajic
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Eye Clinic ORASIS, Swiss Eye Research Foundation, 5734 Reinach, Switzerland
- Faculty of Sciences, Department of Physics, University of Novi Sad, Trg Dositeja Obradovica 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia
- Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, University of Defense, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Gabriele Thumann
- Experimental Ophthalmology, University of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Ophthalmology, University Hospitals of Geneva, 1205 Geneva, Switzerland
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16
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Rana J, Marsic D, Zou C, Muñoz-Melero M, Li X, Kondratov O, Li N, de Jong YP, Zolotukhin S, Biswas M. Characterization of a Bioengineered AAV3B Capsid Variant with Enhanced Hepatocyte Tropism and Immune Evasion. Hum Gene Ther 2023; 34:289-302. [PMID: 36950804 PMCID: PMC10125406 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2022.176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Capsid engineering of adeno-associated virus (AAV) can surmount current limitations to gene therapy such as broad tissue tropism, low transduction efficiency, or pre-existing neutralizing antibodies (NAb) that restrict patient eligibility. We previously generated an AAV3B combinatorial capsid library by integrating rational design and directed evolution with the aim of improving hepatotropism. A potential isolate, AAV3B-DE5, gained a selective proliferative advantage over five rounds of iterative selection in hepatocyte spheroid cultures. In this study, we reanalyzed our original dataset derived from the AAV3B combinatorial library and isolated variants from earlier (one to three) rounds of selection, with the assumption that variants with faster replication kinetics are not necessarily the most efficient transducers. We identified a potential candidate, AAV3B-V04, which demonstrated significantly enhanced transduction in mouse-passaged primary human hepatocytes as well as in humanized liver chimeric mice, compared to the parental AAV3B or the previously described isolate, AAV3B-DE5. Interestingly, the AAV3B-V04 capsid variant exhibited significantly reduced seroreactivity to pooled or individual human serum samples. Forty-four percent of serum samples with pre-existing NAbs to AAV3B had 5- to 20-fold lower reciprocal NAb titers to AAV3B-V04. AAV3B-V04 has only nine amino acid substitutions, clustered in variable region IV compared to AAV3B, indicating the importance of the loops at the top of the three-fold protrusions in determining both transduction efficiency and immunogenicity. This study highlights the effectiveness of rational design combined with targeted selection for enhanced AAV transduction via molecular evolution approaches. Our findings support the concept of limiting selection rounds to isolate the best transducing AAV3B variant without outgrowth of faster replicating candidates. We conclude that AAV3B-V04 provides advantages such as improved human hepatocyte tropism and immune evasion and propose its utility as a superior candidate for liver gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jyoti Rana
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Damien Marsic
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
- Porton Biologics, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chenhui Zou
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Maite Muñoz-Melero
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Oleksandr Kondratov
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Ning Li
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Ype P. de Jong
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York, USA
- Laboratory of Virology and Infectious Disease, The Rockefeller University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Sergei Zolotukhin
- Division of Cellular and Molecular Therapy, Department of Pediatrics, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Moanaro Biswas
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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17
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Parsamanesh N, Kooshkaki O, Siami H, Santos RD, Jamialahmadi T, Sahebkar A. Gene and cell therapy approaches for familial hypercholesterolemia: An update. Drug Discov Today 2023; 28:103470. [PMID: 36572377 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2022.103470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2022] [Revised: 12/06/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal codominant hereditary illness marked by the heightened risk of early atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and high blood levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). FH patients can have homozygous or heterozygous variants. This condition has been linked to variations in the genes for the LDL receptor (LDLR), apolipoprotein B, proprotein convertase subtilisin/Kexin 9 (PCSK9), and LDLR adaptor protein 1. Drugs such as statins, ezetimibe, and PCSK9 inhibitors are currently widely available, allowing for the theoretical normalization of plasma LDL-C levels mostly in patients with heterozygous FH. However, homozygous FH patients usually have a poor response to traditional lipid-lowering therapy and may have a poor prognosis at a young age. LDL apheresis and novel pharmacological therapies such as microsomal transfer protein inhibitors or anti-angiopoietin-like protein 3 monoclonal antibodies are extremely expensive and unavailable in most regions of the world. Therefore, the unmet need persists for these patients. In this review, we discuss the numerous gene delivery, gene editing, and stem cell manipulation techniques used in this study to correct FH-causing LDLR gene variations in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo. Finally, we looked at a variety of studies that corrected genetic defects that caused FH using the ground-breaking clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9) gene editing technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Negin Parsamanesh
- Zanjan Metabolic Diseases Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran
| | - Omid Kooshkaki
- Student Research Committee, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Haleh Siami
- School of Medicine, Islamic Azad University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Raul D Santos
- Lipid Clinic Heart Institute (Incor), University of São Paulo, Medical School Hospital, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tannaz Jamialahmadi
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Surgical Oncology Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Amirhossein Sahebkar
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; Biotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran; School of Medicine, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia; Department of Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
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18
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Lim SW, Fang X, Cui S, Lee H, Shin YJ, Ko EJ, Lee KI, Lee JY, Chung BH, Yang CW. CRISPR-Cas9-Mediated Correction of SLC12A3 Gene Mutation Rescues the Gitelman's Disease Phenotype in a Patient-Derived Kidney Organoid System. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24033019. [PMID: 36769335 PMCID: PMC9917614 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24033019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/01/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study is to explore the possibility of modeling Gitelman's disease (GIT) with human-induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived kidney organoids and to test whether gene correction using CRISPR/Cas9 can rescue the disease phenotype of GIT. To model GIT, we used the hiPSC line CMCi002 (CMC-GIT-001), generated using PBMCs from GIT patients with SLC12A3 gene mutation. Using the CRISPR-Cas9 system, we corrected CMC-GIT-001 mutations and hence generated CMC-GIT-001corr. Both hiPSCs were differentiated into kidney organoids, and we analyzed the GIT phenotype. The number of matured kidney organoids from the CMC-GIT-001corr group was significantly higher, 3.3-fold, than that of the CMC-GIT-001 group (12.2 ± 0.7/cm2 vs. 3.7 ± 0.2/cm2, p < 0.05). In qRT-PCR, performed using harvested kidney organoids, relative sodium chloride cotransporter (NCCT) mRNA levels (normalized to each iPSC) were increased in the CMC-GIT-001corr group compared with the CMC-GIT-001 group (4.1 ± 0.8 vs. 2.5 ± 0.2, p < 0.05). Consistently, immunoblot analysis revealed increased levels of NCCT protein, in addition to other tubular proteins markers, such as LTL and ECAD, in the CMC-GIT-001corr group compared to the CMC-GIT-001 group. Furthermore, we found that increased immunoreactivity of NCCT in the CMC-GIT-001corr group was colocalized with ECAD (a distal tubule marker) using confocal microscopy. Kidney organoids from GIT patient-derived iPSC recapitulated the Gitelman's disease phenotype, and correction of SLC12A3 mutation utilizing CRISPR-Cas9 technology provided therapeutic insight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sun Woo Lim
- Transplantation Research Centre College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Xianying Fang
- Transplantation Research Centre College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Sheng Cui
- Transplantation Research Centre College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Hanbi Lee
- Transplantation Research Centre College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoo Jin Shin
- Transplantation Research Centre College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Jeong Ko
- Transplantation Research Centre College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Kang In Lee
- R&D Center, ToolGen, Inc., Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Jae Young Lee
- R&D Center, ToolGen, Inc., Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung Ha Chung
- Transplantation Research Centre College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (B.H.C.); (C.W.Y.); Tel.: +82-2-2258-6066 (B.H.C.); +82-2-2258-6851 (C.W.Y.); Fax: +82-2-2258-6917 (B.H.C.); +82-2-2258-6917 (C.W.Y.)
| | - Chul Woo Yang
- Transplantation Research Centre College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Seoul St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Republic of Korea
- Correspondence: (B.H.C.); (C.W.Y.); Tel.: +82-2-2258-6066 (B.H.C.); +82-2-2258-6851 (C.W.Y.); Fax: +82-2-2258-6917 (B.H.C.); +82-2-2258-6917 (C.W.Y.)
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19
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Hyttinen JMT, Blasiak J, Kaarniranta K. Non-Coding RNAs Regulating Mitochondrial Functions and the Oxidative Stress Response as Putative Targets against Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032636. [PMID: 36768958 PMCID: PMC9917342 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an ever-increasing, insidious disease which reduces the quality of life of millions of elderly people around the world. AMD is characterised by damage to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) in the macula region of the retina. The origins of this multi-factorial disease are complex and still not fully understood. Oxidative stress and mitochondrial imbalance in the RPE are believed to be important factors in the development of AMD. In this review, the regulation of the mitochondrial function and antioxidant stress response by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), newly emerged epigenetic factors, is discussed. These molecules include microRNAs, long non-coding RNAs, and circular non-coding RNAs. They act mainly as mRNA suppressors, controllers of other ncRNAs, or by interacting with proteins. We include here examples of these RNA molecules which affect various mitochondrial processes and antioxidant signaling of the cell. As a future prospect, the possibility to manipulate these ncRNAs to strengthen mitochondrial and antioxidant response functions is discussed. Non-coding RNAs could be used as potential diagnostic markers for AMD, and in the future, also as therapeutic targets, either by suppressing or increasing their expression. In addition to AMD, it is possible that non-coding RNAs could be regulators in other oxidative stress-related degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juha M. T. Hyttinen
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Correspondence:
| | - Janusz Blasiak
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Lodz, Pomorska 141/143, 90-236 Lodz, Poland
| | - Kai Kaarniranta
- Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland
- Department of Ophthalmology, Kuopio University Hospital, P.O. Box 100, FI-70029 Kuopio, Finland
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20
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Infante-Menéndez J, González-López P, Huertas-Lárez R, Gómez-Hernández A, Escribano Ó. Oxidative Stress Modulation by ncRNAs and Their Emerging Role as Therapeutic Targets in Atherosclerosis and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12. [PMID: 36829822 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12020262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) are pathologies related to ectopic fat accumulation, both of which are continuously increasing in prevalence. These threats are prompting researchers to develop effective therapies for their clinical management. One of the common pathophysiological alterations that underlies both diseases is oxidative stress (OxS), which appears as a result of lipid deposition in affected tissues. However, the molecular mechanisms that lead to OxS generation are different in each disease. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are RNA transcripts that do not encode proteins and function by regulating gene expression. In recent years, the involvement of ncRNAs in OxS modulation has become more recognized. This review summarizes the most recent advances regarding ncRNA-mediated regulation of OxS in atherosclerosis and NAFLD. In both diseases, ncRNAs can exert pro-oxidant or antioxidant functions by regulating gene targets and even other ncRNAs, positioning them as potential therapeutic targets. Interestingly, both diseases have common altered ncRNAs, suggesting that the same molecule can be targeted simultaneously when both diseases coexist. Finally, since some ncRNAs have already been used as therapeutic agents, their roles as potential drugs for the clinical management of atherosclerosis and NAFLD are analyzed.
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Abstract
Gene therapy is poised to revolutionize modern medicine, with seemingly unlimited potential for treating and curing genetic disorders. For otherwise incurable indications, including most inherited metabolic liver disorders, gene therapy provides a realistic therapeutic option. In this Review, we discuss gene supplementation and gene editing involving the use of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors for the treatment of inherited liver diseases, including updates on several ongoing clinical trials that are producing promising results. Clinical testing has been essential in highlighting many key translational challenges associated with this transformative therapy. In particular, the interaction of a patient's immune system with the vector raises issues of safety and the duration of treatment efficacy. Furthermore, several serious adverse events after the administration of high doses of rAAVs suggest greater involvement of innate immune responses and pre-existing hepatic conditions than initially anticipated. Finally, permanent modification of the host genome associated with rAAV genome integration and gene editing raises concerns about the risk of oncogenicity that require careful evaluation. We summarize the main progress, challenges and pathways forward for gene therapy for liver diseases.
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22
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Campesi I, Ruoppolo M, Franconi F, Caterino M, Costanzo M. Sex-Gender-Based Differences in Metabolic Diseases. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2023; 282:241-257. [PMID: 37528324 DOI: 10.1007/164_2023_683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
Sexual dimorphism creates different biological and cellular activities and selective regulation mechanisms in males and females, thus generating differential responses in health and disease. In this scenario, the sex itself is a source of physiologic metabolic disparities that depend on constitutive genetic and epigenetic features that characterize in a specific manner one sex or the other. This has as a direct consequence a huge impact on the metabolic routes that drive the phenotype of an individual. The impact of sex is being clearly recognized also in disease, whereas male and females are more prone to the development of some disorders, or have selective responses to drugs and therapeutic treatments. Actually, very less is known regarding the probable differences guided by sex in the context of inherited metabolic disorders, owing to the scarce consideration of sex in such restricted field, accompanied by an intrinsic bias connected with the rarity of such diseases. Metabolomics technologies have been ultimately developed and adopted for being excellent tools for the investigation of metabolic mechanisms, for marker discovery or monitoring, and for supporting diagnostic procedures of metabolic disorders. Hence, metabolomic approaches can excellently embrace the discovery of sex differences, especially when associated to the outcome or the management of certain inborn errors of the metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Campesi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Laboratory of Sex-Gender Medicine, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Sassari, Italy
| | - Margherita Ruoppolo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore s.c.ar.l., Naples, Italy
| | - Flavia Franconi
- Laboratory of Sex-Gender Medicine, National Institute of Biostructures and Biosystems, Sassari, Italy
| | - Marianna Caterino
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
- CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore s.c.ar.l., Naples, Italy
| | - Michele Costanzo
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Medical Biotechnology, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy.
- CEINGE - Biotecnologie Avanzate Franco Salvatore s.c.ar.l., Naples, Italy.
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23
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Florentino RM, Morita K, Haep N, Motomura T, Diaz-Aragon R, Faccioli LA, Collin de l’Hortet A, Cetin Z, Frau C, Vernetti L, Amler AK, Thomas A, Lam T, Kloke L, Takeishi K, Taylor DL, Fox IJ, Soto-Gutierrez A. Biofabrication of synthetic human liver tissue with advanced programmable functions. iScience 2022; 25:105503. [PMID: 36404924 PMCID: PMC9672940 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in cellular engineering, as well as gene, and cell therapy, may be used to produce human tissues with programmable genetically enhanced functions designed to model and/or treat specific diseases. Fabrication of synthetic human liver tissue with these programmable functions has not been described. By generating human iPSCs with target gene expression controlled by a guide RNA-directed CRISPR-Cas9 synergistic-activation-mediator, we produced synthetic human liver tissues with programmable functions. Such iPSCs were guide-RNA-treated to enhance expression of the clinically relevant CYP3A4 and UGT1A1 genes, and after hepatocyte-directed differentiation, cells demonstrated enhanced functions compared to those found in primary human hepatocytes. We then generated human liver tissue with these synthetic human iPSC-derived hepatocytes (iHeps) and other non-parenchymal cells demonstrating advanced programmable functions. Fabrication of synthetic human liver tissue with modifiable functional genetic programs may be a useful tool for drug discovery, investigating biology, and potentially creating bioengineered organs with specialized functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo M. Florentino
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kazutoyo Morita
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Nils Haep
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Takashi Motomura
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Zeliha Cetin
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Carla Frau
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Lawrence Vernetti
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | | | | | - Tobias Lam
- Cellbricks GmbH, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lutz Kloke
- Cellbricks GmbH, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355 Berlin, Germany
| | - Kazuki Takeishi
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Surgery and Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - D. Lansing Taylor
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ira J. Fox
- Department of Computational and Systems Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Department of Surgery, Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Alejandro Soto-Gutierrez
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- University of Pittsburgh Drug Discovery Institute, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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24
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Zhang L, Liang Y, Liang G, Tian Z, Zhang Y, Liu Z, Ji X. The therapeutic prospects of N-acetylgalactosamine-siRNA conjugates. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1090237. [PMID: 36588695 PMCID: PMC9794871 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1090237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference has become increasingly used for genetic therapy following the rapid development of oligonucleotide drugs. Significant progress has been made in its delivery system and implementation in the treatment of target organs. After a brief introduction of RNA interference technology and siRNA, the efficiency and stability of GalNAc-siRNA conjugates are highlighted since several oligonucleotide drugs of GalNAc have been approved for clinical use in recent years. The structure and features of GalNAc-siRNA conjugates are studied and the clinical efficiency and limitations of oligonucleotide-based drugs are summarized and investigated. Furthermore, another delivery system, lipid nanoparticles, that confer many advantages, is concluded, includ-ing stability and mass production, compared with GalNAc-siRNA conjugates. Importantly, developing new approaches for the use of oligonucleotide drugs brings hope to genetic therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Zhang
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yayu Liang
- School of Stomatology, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Guohui Liang
- School of Clinical Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Zhili Tian
- School of Clinical Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Zhihui Liu
- Department of General Practice, Henan Provincial People’s Hospital, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China,*Correspondence: Zhihui Liu, ; Xinying Ji,
| | - Xinying Ji
- Henan International Joint Laboratory of Nuclear Protein Regulation, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, China,*Correspondence: Zhihui Liu, ; Xinying Ji,
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25
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Soldatov VO, Kubekina MV, Skorkina MY, Belykh AE, Egorova TV, Korokin MV, Pokrovskiy MV, Deykin AV, Angelova PR. Current advances in gene therapy of mitochondrial diseases. J Transl Med 2022; 20:562. [PMID: 36471396 PMCID: PMC9724384 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-022-03685-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial diseases (MD) are a heterogeneous group of multisystem disorders involving metabolic errors. MD are characterized by extremely heterogeneous symptoms, ranging from organ-specific to multisystem dysfunction with different clinical courses. Most primary MD are autosomal recessive but maternal inheritance (from mtDNA), autosomal dominant, and X-linked inheritance is also known. Mitochondria are unique energy-generating cellular organelles designed to survive and contain their own unique genetic coding material, a circular mtDNA fragment of approximately 16,000 base pairs. The mitochondrial genetic system incorporates closely interacting bi-genomic factors encoded by the nuclear and mitochondrial genomes. Understanding the dynamics of mitochondrial genetics supporting mitochondrial biogenesis is especially important for the development of strategies for the treatment of rare and difficult-to-diagnose diseases. Gene therapy is one of the methods for correcting mitochondrial disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vladislav O. Soldatov
- grid.4886.20000 0001 2192 9124Core Facility Centre, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia ,grid.445984.00000 0001 2224 0652Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia ,grid.445984.00000 0001 2224 0652Laboratory of Genome Editing for Biomedicine and Animal Health, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia ,grid.465470.4Laboratory of Biophysics of Cell Membranes under Critical State, V.A. Negovsky Scientific Research Institute of General Reanimatology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina V. Kubekina
- grid.4886.20000 0001 2192 9124Core Facility Centre, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Marina Yu. Skorkina
- grid.445984.00000 0001 2224 0652Department of Biochemistry, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia ,grid.445984.00000 0001 2224 0652Laboratory of Genome Editing for Biomedicine and Animal Health, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - Andrei E. Belykh
- grid.419305.a0000 0001 1943 2944Dioscuri Centre for Metabolic Diseases, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Tatiana V. Egorova
- grid.4886.20000 0001 2192 9124Laboratory of Modeling and Gene Therapy of Hereditary Diseases, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia
| | - Mikhail V. Korokin
- grid.445984.00000 0001 2224 0652Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - Mikhail V. Pokrovskiy
- grid.445984.00000 0001 2224 0652Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - Alexey V. Deykin
- grid.445984.00000 0001 2224 0652Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia ,grid.445984.00000 0001 2224 0652Laboratory of Genome Editing for Biomedicine and Animal Health, Belgorod State National Research University, Belgorod, Russia
| | - Plamena R. Angelova
- grid.83440.3b0000000121901201Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
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26
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Wang D, Fan X, Li M, Liu T, Lu P, Wang G, Li Y, Han J, Zhao J. Prime Editing in Mammals: The Next Generation of Precision Genome Editing. CRISPR J 2022; 5:746-768. [PMID: 36512351 DOI: 10.1089/crispr.2022.0084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The recently established prime editor (PE) system is regarded as next-generation gene-editing technology. This methodology can install any base-to-base change as well as insertions and deletions without the requirement for double-stranded break formation or donor DNA templates; thus, it offers more targeting flexibility and greater editing precision than conventional CRISPR-Cas systems or base editors. In this study, we introduce the basic principles of PE and then review its most recent progress in terms of editing versatility, specificity, and efficiency in mammals. Next, we summarize key considerations regarding the selection of PE variants, prime editing guide RNA (pegRNA) design rules, and the efficiency and accuracy evaluation of PE. Finally, we highlight and discuss how PE can assist in a wide range of biological studies and how it can be applied to make precise genomic corrections in animal models, which paves the way for curing human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawei Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell and Gene Therapy for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China; and Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Xiude Fan
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell and Gene Therapy for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China; and Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Mengzhu Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell and Gene Therapy for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China; and Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Tianbo Liu
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell and Gene Therapy for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China; and Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Peng Lu
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell and Gene Therapy for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China; and Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Guangxin Wang
- Shandong Innovation Center of Intelligent Diagnosis, Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yuan Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell and Gene Therapy for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China; and Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - JunMing Han
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell and Gene Therapy for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China; and Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - JiaJun Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Engineering Research Center of Stem Cell and Gene Therapy for Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China; Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China; and Central Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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27
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Brannagan TH, Berk JL, Gillmore JD, Maurer MS, Waddington‐Cruz M, Fontana M, Masri A, Obici L, Brambatti M, Baker BF, Hannan LA, Buchele G, Viney NJ, Coelho T, Nativi‐Nicolau J. Liver-directed drugs for transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis. J Peripher Nerv Syst 2022; 27:228-237. [PMID: 36345805 PMCID: PMC10100204 DOI: 10.1111/jns.12519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (ATTR) is a rare, under-recognized, progressively debilitating, fatal disease caused by the aggregation and extracellular deposition of amyloid transthyretin (TTR) fibrils in multiple organs and tissues throughout the body. TTR is predominantly synthesized by the liver and normally circulates as a homotetramer, while misfolded monomers aggregate to form amyloid fibrils. One strategy to treat ATTR amyloidosis is to reduce the amount of TTR produced by the liver using drugs that directly target the TTR mRNA or gene. This narrative review focuses on how TTR gene silencing tools act to reduce TTR production, describing strategies for improved targeted delivery of these agents to hepatocytes where TTR is preferentially expressed. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), termed RNA silencers, cause selective degradation of TTR mRNA, while a TTR gene editing tool reduces TTR expression by introducing nonsense mutations into the TTR gene. Two strategies to facilitate tissue-specific delivery of these nucleic acid-based drugs employ endogenous receptors expressed by hepatocytes. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) that recruit apolipoprotein E support low-density lipoprotein receptor-mediated uptake of unconjugated siRNA and are now used for CRISPR gene editing tools. Additionally, conjugating N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) moieties to ASOs or siRNAs facilitates receptor-mediated uptake by the asialoglycoprotein receptor. In summary, ATTR is a progressive disease with various clinical manifestations due to TTR aggregation, deposition, and amyloid formation. Receptor-targeted ligands (eg, GalNAc) and nanoparticle encapsulation (eg, LNPs) are technologies to deliver ASOs, siRNAs, and gene editing tools to hepatocytes, the primary location of TTR synthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas H. Brannagan
- Peripheral Neuropathy CenterColumbia University, Vagelos College of Physicians and SurgeonsNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - John L. Berk
- Amyloidosis CenterBoston University School of MedicineBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Julian D. Gillmore
- National Amyloidosis CentreUniversity College London, Royal Free HospitalLondonUK
| | - Mathew S. Maurer
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Program, Division of CardiologyColumbia College of Physicians and SurgeonsNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Márcia Waddington‐Cruz
- National Amyloidosis Referral Center‐CEPARMUniversity HospitalFederal University of Rio de JaneiroRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Marianna Fontana
- National Amyloidosis CentreUniversity College London, Royal Free HospitalLondonUK
| | - Ahmad Masri
- Cardiac Amyloidosis Program, Knight Cardiovascular InstituteOregon Health & Science UniversityPortlandOregonUSA
| | - Laura Obici
- Amyloidosis Research and Treatment CenterIRCCS Fondazione Policlinico San MatteoPaviaItaly
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Teresa Coelho
- Department of NeurosciencesCentro Hospitalar Universitário do PortoPortoPortugal
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28
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Deplazes S, Schlegel A, Song Z, Allegri G, Rimann N, Scherer T, Willimann M, Opitz L, Cunningham SC, Alexander IE, Kipar A, Häberle J, Thöny B, Grisch-chan HM. Intrabiliary infusion of naked DNA vectors targets periportal hepatocytes in mice. Molecular Therapy - Methods & Clinical Development 2022; 27:352-367. [DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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29
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Fu Q, Hu L, Shen T, Yang R, Jiang L. Recent Advances in Gene Therapy for Familial Hypercholesterolemia: An Update Review. J Clin Med 2022; 11. [PMID: 36431249 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11226773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Existing lipid-lowering therapies have difficulty in achieving lipid target levels in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), especially in the treatment of patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia. (2) Method: All of the literature data containing "Familial hypercholesterolemia" and "Gene Therapy" in PubMed and Clinical Trials from 2018 to 2022 were selected. (3) Results: The rapid development of gene therapy technology in recent years is expected to change the treatment status of FH patients. As emerging gene therapy vectors, the optimized adeno-associated viruses, exosomes, and lipid nanoparticles have demonstrated an improved safety and higher transfection efficiency. Various RNA-targeted therapies are in phase 1-3 clinical trials, such as small interfering RNA-based drugs inclisiran, ARO-ANG3, ARO-APOC3, olpasiran, SLN360, and antisense oligonucleotide-based drugs AZD8233, vupanorsen, volanesorsen, IONIS-APO(a)Rx, etc., all of which have demonstrated excellent lipid-lowering effects. With gene editing technologies, such as CRISPR-Cas 9 and meganuclease, completing animal experiments in mice or cynomolgus monkeys and demonstrating lasting lipid-lowering effects, patients with FH are expected to reach a permanent cure in the future. (4) Conclusion: Gene therapy is being widely used for the lipid-lowering treatment of FH patients and has shown excellent therapeutic promise, but the current delivery efficiency, economic burden, immunogenicity and the precision of gene therapy can be further optimized.
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Hassan M, Elzallat M, Aboushousha T, Elhusseny Y, El-ahwany E. MicroRNA-122 mimic/microRNA-221 inhibitor combination as a novel therapeutic tool against hepatocellular carcinoma. Noncoding RNA Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2022.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 11/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
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Wagner C, Innthaler B, Lemmerer M, Pletzenauer R, Birner-Gruenberger R. Biophysical Characterization of Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors Using Ion-Exchange Chromatography Coupled to Light Scattering Detectors. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:12715. [PMID: 36361506 PMCID: PMC9655919 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232112715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 09/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Ion-exchange chromatography coupled to light scattering detectors represents a fast and simple analytical method for the assessment of multiple critical quality attributes (CQA) in one single measurement. The determination of CQAs play a crucial role in Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)-based gene therapies and their applications in humans. Today, several different analytical techniques, including size-exclusion chromatography (SEC), analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC), qPCR or ELISA, are commonly used to characterize the gene therapy product regarding capsid titer, packaging efficiency, vector genome integrity, aggregation content and other process-related impurities. However, no universal method for the simultaneous determination of multiple CQAs is currently available. Here, we present a novel robust ion-exchange chromatography method coupled to multi-angle light scattering detectors (IEC-MALS) for the comprehensive characterization of empty and filled AAVs concerning capsid titer, full-to-total ratio, absolute molar mass of the protein and nucleic acid, and the size and polydispersity without baseline-separation of both species prior to data analysis. We demonstrate that the developed IEC-MALS assay is applicable to different serotypes and can be used as an orthogonal method to other established analytical techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Wagner
- Analytical Development Europe, Takeda Vienna, 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bernd Innthaler
- Gene Therapy Process Development, Takeda Orth an der Donau, 2304 Orth an der Donau, Austria
| | - Martin Lemmerer
- Analytical Development Europe, Takeda Vienna, 1220 Vienna, Austria
| | - Robert Pletzenauer
- Gene Therapy Process Development, Takeda Orth an der Donau, 2304 Orth an der Donau, Austria
| | - Ruth Birner-Gruenberger
- Institute of Chemical Technologies and Analytics, Technische Universität Wien, 1060 Vienna, Austria
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Cacicedo ML, Limeres MJ, Gehring S. mRNA-Based Approaches to Treating Liver Diseases. Cells 2022; 11:3328. [PMID: 36291194 PMCID: PMC9601253 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases that affect the liver account for approximately 2 million deaths worldwide each year. The increasing prevalence of these diseases and the limited efficacy of current treatments are expected to stimulate substantial growth in the global market for therapeutics that target the liver. Currently, liver transplantation is the only curative option available for many liver diseases. Gene therapy represents a valuable approach to treatment. The liver plays a central role in a myriad of essential metabolic functions, making it an attractive organ for gene therapy; hepatocytes comprise the most relevant target. To date, viral vectors constitute the preferred approach to targeting hepatocytes with genes of therapeutic interest. Alternatively, mRNA-based therapy offers a number of comparative advantages. Clinical and preclinical studies undertaken to treat inherited metabolic diseases affecting the liver, cirrhosis and fibrosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, hepatitis B, and cytomegalovirus using lipid nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNAs that encode the therapeutic or antigenic protein of interest are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximiliano L. Cacicedo
- Children’s Hospital, University Medical Center Mainz of the Johannes-Gutenberg University, Langenbeckstr. 1, 55131 Mainz, Germany
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Araújo NM, Rubio IGS, Toneto NPA, Morale MG, Tamura RE. The use of adenoviral vectors in gene therapy and vaccine approaches. Genet Mol Biol 2022; 45:e20220079. [PMID: 36206378 PMCID: PMC9543183 DOI: 10.1590/1678-4685-gmb-2022-0079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenovirus was first identified in the 1950s and since then this pathogenic group
of viruses has been explored and transformed into a genetic transfer vehicle.
Modification or deletion of few genes are necessary to transform it into a
conditionally or non-replicative vector, creating a versatile tool capable of
transducing different tissues and inducing high levels of transgene expression.
In the early years of vector development, the application in monogenic diseases
faced several hurdles, including short-term gene expression and even a fatality.
On the other hand, an adenoviral delivery strategy for treatment of cancer was
the first approved gene therapy product. There is an increasing interest in
expressing transgenes with therapeutic potential targeting the cancer hallmarks,
inhibiting metastasis, inducing cancer cell death or modulating the immune
system to attack the tumor cells. Replicative adenovirus as vaccines may be even
older and date to a few years of its discovery, application of non-replicative
adenovirus for vaccination against different microorganisms has been
investigated, but only recently, it demonstrated its full potential being one of
the leading vaccination tools for COVID-19. This is not a new vector nor a new
technology, but the result of decades of careful and intense work in this
field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Meneses Araújo
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular
do Câncer, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Ileana Gabriela Sanchez Rubio
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular
do Câncer, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. ,Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Ciências
Biológicas, Diadema, SP, Brazil. ,Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Laboratório de Ciências
Moleculares da Tireóide, Diadema, SP, Brazil.
| | | | - Mirian Galliote Morale
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular
do Câncer, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. ,Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Ciências
Biológicas, Diadema, SP, Brazil. ,Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Laboratório de Ciências
Moleculares da Tireóide, Diadema, SP, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo Esaki Tamura
- Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Laboratório de Biologia Molecular
do Câncer, São Paulo, SP, Brazil. ,Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Ciências
Biológicas, Diadema, SP, Brazil.
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Dugo K, Bruno F, Sturiale V, Brancato D, Saccone S, Federico C. Hereditary Transthyretin-Related Amyloidosis: Genetic Heterogeneity and Early Personalized Gene Therapy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:2394. [PMID: 36289657 PMCID: PMC9598525 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Point mutations of the transthyretin (TTR) gene are related with hereditary amyloidosis (hATTR). The number of people affected by this rare disease is only partially estimated. The real impact of somatic mosaicism and other genetic factors on expressivity, complexity, progression, and transmission of the disease should be better investigated. The relevance of this rare disease is increasing and many efforts have been made to improve the time to diagnosis and to estimate the real number of cases in endemic and non-endemic areas. In this context, somatic mosaicism should be better investigated to explain the complexity of the heterogeneity of the hATTR clinical features, to better estimate the number of new cases, and to focus on early and personalized gene therapy. Gene therapy can potentially improve the living conditions of affected individuals and is one of the central goals in research on amyloidosis related to the TTR gene, with the advantage of overcoming liver transplantation as the sole treatment for hATTR disease.
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Bu FT, Jia PC, Zhu Y, Yang YR, Meng HW, Bi YH, Huang C, Li J. Emerging therapeutic potential of adeno-associated virus-mediated gene therapy in liver fibrosis. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 26:191-206. [PMID: 35859692 PMCID: PMC9271983 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Liver fibrosis is a wound-healing response that results from various chronic damages. If the causes of damage are not removed or effective treatments are not given in a timely manner, it will progress to cirrhosis, even liver cancer. Currently, there are no specific medical therapies for liver fibrosis. Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene therapy, one of the frontiers of modern medicine, has gained more attention in many fields due to its high safety profile, low immunogenicity, long-term efficacy in mediating gene expression, and increasingly known tropism. Notably, increasing evidence suggests a promising therapeutic potential for AAV-mediated gene therapy in different liver fibrosis models, which helps to correct abnormally changed target genes in the process of fibrosis and improve liver fibrosis at the molecular level. Moreover, the addition of cell-specific promoters to the genome of recombinant AAV helps to limit gene expression in specific cells, thereby producing better therapeutic efficacy in liver fibrosis. However, animal models are considered to be powerless predictive of tissue tropism, immunogenicity, and genotoxic risks in humans. Thus, AAV-mediated gene therapy will face many challenges. This review systemically summarizes the recent advances of AAV-mediated gene therapy in liver fibrosis, especially focusing on cellular and molecular mechanisms of transferred genes, and presents prospective challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang-Tian Bu
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, 81 Mei Shan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China.,Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Peng-Cheng Jia
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, 81 Mei Shan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China.,Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Zhu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ya-Ru Yang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hong-Wu Meng
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, 81 Mei Shan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China.,Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yi-Hui Bi
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Cheng Huang
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, 81 Mei Shan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China.,Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jun Li
- Inflammation and Immune Mediated Diseases Laboratory of Anhui Province, Anhui Institute of Innovative Drugs, School of Pharmacy, Anhui Medical University, 81 Mei Shan Road, Hefei, Anhui Province 230032, China.,Institute for Liver Diseases of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Castaman G, Di Minno G, De Cristofaro R, Peyvandi F. The Arrival of Gene Therapy for Patients with Hemophilia A. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:10228. [PMID: 36142153 PMCID: PMC9499514 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Historically, the standard of care for hemophilia A has been intravenous administration of exogenous factor VIII (FVIII), either as prophylaxis or episodically. The development of emicizumab, a humanized bispecific monoclonal antibody mimicking activated FVIII, was a subsequent advance in treatment. However, both exogenous FVIII and emicizumab require repeated and lifelong administration, negatively impacting patient quality of life. A recent breakthrough has been the development of gene therapy. This allows a single intravenous treatment that could result in long-term expression of FVIII, maintenance of steady-state plasma concentrations, and minimization (or possibly elimination) of bleeding episodes for the recipient's lifetime. Several gene therapies have been assessed in clinical trials, with positive outcomes. Valoctocogene roxaparvovec (an adeno-associated viral 5-based therapy encoding human B domain-deleted FVIII) is expected to be the first approved gene therapy in European countries, including Italy, in 2022. Some novel challenges exist including refining patient selection criteria, managing patient expectations, further elucidation of the durability and variability of transgene expression and long-term safety, and the development of standardized 'hub and spoke' centers to optimize and monitor this innovative treatment. Gene therapy represents a paradigm shift, and may become a new reference standard for treating patients with hemophilia A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giancarlo Castaman
- Center for Bleeding Disorders, Department of Oncology, Careggi University Hospital, Largo Brambilla 3, 50134 Firenze, Italy
| | - Giovanni Di Minno
- Regional Reference Centre for Hemo-Coagulation Diseases, Federico II University, Via S. Pansini 5, 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Raimondo De Cristofaro
- Servizio Malattie Emorragiche e Trombotiche, Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Traslazionale, Fondazione Policlinico Universitraio “A. Gemelli” IRCCS, Università Cattolica S. Cuore Roma, Largo Francesco Vito, 1, 00168 Rome, Italy
| | - Flora Peyvandi
- Angelo Bianchi Bonomi Hemophilia and Thrombosis Center, Fondazione Luigi Villa, Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, 20122 Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Pace 9, 20122 Milan, Italy
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Lee JH, Oh HK, Choi BS, Lee HH, Lee KJ, Kim UG, Lee J, Lee H, Lee GS, Ahn SJ, Han JP, Kim S, Yeom SC, Song DW. Genome editing-mediated knock-in of therapeutic genes ameliorates the disease phenotype in a model of hemophilia. Molecular Therapy - Nucleic Acids 2022; 29:551-562. [PMID: 36090746 PMCID: PMC9403902 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Recently, clinical trials of adeno-associated virus-mediated replacement therapy have suggested long-term therapeutic effects for several genetic diseases of the liver, including hemophilia. However, there remain concerns regarding decreased therapeutic effects when the liver is regenerated or when physiological proliferation occurs. Although genome editing using the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/Cas9 system provides an opportunity to solve this problem, low knock-in efficiency may limit its application for therapeutically relevant expression. Here, we identified a novel gene, APOC3, in which a strong promoter facilitated the expression of knocked-in genes in hepatocytes. We also investigated the effects of APOC3 editing using a small Cas9 protein derived from Campylobacter jejuni (CjCas9) in a hemophilic model. We demonstrated that adeno-associated virus-mediated delivery of CjCas9 and donor led to moderate levels of human factor 9 expression in APOC3-humanized mice. Moreover, knock-in-driven expression induced substantial recovery of clotting function in mice with hemophilia B. There was no evidence of off-target editing in vitro or in vivo. Collectively, our findings demonstrated therapeutically relevant expression using a precise and efficient APOC3-editing platform, providing insights into the development of further long-term therapeutics for diverse monogenic liver diseases.
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Zabaleta N, Torella L, Weber ND, Gonzalez‐Aseguinolaza G. mRNA and gene editing: Late breaking therapies in liver diseases. Hepatology 2022; 76:869-887. [PMID: 35243655 PMCID: PMC9546265 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The efficient delivery of RNA molecules to restore the expression of a missing or inadequately functioning protein in a target cell and the intentional specific modification of the host genome using engineered nucleases represent therapeutic concepts that are revolutionizing modern medicine. The initiation of several clinical trials using these approaches to treat metabolic liver disorders as well as the recently reported remarkable results obtained by patients with transthyretin amyloidosis highlight the advances in this field and show the potential of these therapies to treat these diseases safely and efficaciously. These advances have been possible due, firstly, to significant improvements made in RNA chemistry that increase its stability and prevent activation of the innate immune response and, secondly, to the development of very efficient liver-targeted RNA delivery systems. In parallel, the breakout of CRISPR/CRISPR-associated 9-based technology in the gene editing field has marked a turning point in in vivo modification of the cellular genome with therapeutic purposes, which can be based on gene supplementation, correction, or silencing. In the coming years we are likely to witness the therapeutic potential of these two strategies both separately and in combination. In this review we summarize the preclinical data obtained in animal models treated with mRNA as a therapeutic agent and discuss the different gene editing strategies applied to the treatment of liver diseases, highlighting both their therapeutic efficacy as well as safety concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nerea Zabaleta
- Grousbeck Gene Therapy CenterSchepens Eye Research InstituteMass Eye and EarBostonMassachusettsUSA
| | - Laura Torella
- Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene expression Program, Foundation for Applied Medical ResearchUniversity of NavarraIdisNAPamplonaSpain
| | | | - Gloria Gonzalez‐Aseguinolaza
- Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene expression Program, Foundation for Applied Medical ResearchUniversity of NavarraIdisNAPamplonaSpain,Vivet TherapeuticsPamplonaSpain
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Ghasemzad M, Hashemi M, Lavasani ZM, Hossein-khannazer N, Bakhshandeh H, Gramignoli R, Keshavarz Alikhani H, Najimi M, Nikeghbalian S, Vosough M. Novel Gene-Correction-Based Therapeutic Modalities for Monogenic Liver Disorders. Bioengineering (Basel) 2022; 9:392. [PMID: 36004917 PMCID: PMC9404740 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering9080392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The majority of monogenic liver diseases are autosomal recessive disorders, with few being sex-related or co-dominant. Although orthotopic liver transplantation (LT) is currently the sole therapeutic option for end-stage patients, such an invasive surgical approach is severely restricted by the lack of donors and post-transplant complications, mainly associated with life-long immunosuppressive regimens. Therefore, the last decade has witnessed efforts for innovative cellular or gene-based therapeutic strategies. Gene therapy is a promising approach for treatment of many hereditary disorders, such as monogenic inborn errors. The liver is an organ characterized by unique features, making it an attractive target for in vivo and ex vivo gene transfer. The current genetic approaches for hereditary liver diseases are mediated by viral or non-viral vectors, with promising results generated by gene-editing tools, such as CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Despite massive progress in experimental gene-correction technologies, limitations in validated approaches for monogenic liver disorders have encouraged researchers to refine promising gene therapy protocols. Herein, we highlighted the most common monogenetic liver disorders, followed by proposed genetic engineering approaches, offered as promising therapeutic modalities.
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Gholami L, Mahmoudi A, Kazemi Oskuee R, Malaekeh-Nikouei B. An overview of polyallylamine applications in gene delivery. Pharm Dev Technol 2022; 27:714-724. [PMID: 35880621 DOI: 10.1080/10837450.2022.2107014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
A chief objective of gene transportation studies is to manipulate clinically accepted carriers that can be utilized to combat incurable diseases. Despite various strategies, efficiency and application of these vectors have been hindered, owing to different obstacles. Polyallylamine (PAA) is a synthetic water-soluble, weak base cationic polymer with different properties that could be administrated as an ideal candidate for biomedical applications such as gene delivery, drug delivery, or even tissue engineering. However, some intrinsic properties of this polymer limit its application. The two associated problems with the use of PAA in gene delivery are low transfection efficiency (because of low buffering capacity) and cytotoxic effects attributed to intense cationic character. Most of the strategies for structural modification of the PAA structure have focused on introducing hydrophobic groups to the polymeric backbone that target both cytotoxicity and transfection. In this perspective, we concentrate on PAA as a gene delivery vehicle and the existing approaches for modification of this cationic polymer to give insight to researchers for exploitation of PAA as an efficient carrier in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Gholami
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Asma Mahmoudi
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Reza Kazemi Oskuee
- Applied Biomedical Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Bizhan Malaekeh-Nikouei
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Pharmaceutical Technology Institute, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION Gene therapy is becoming increasingly common in clinical practice, giving hope for the correction of a wide range of human diseases and defects. The CRISPR/Cas9 system, consisting of the Cas9 nuclease and single-guide RNA (sgRNA), has revolutionized the field of gene editing. However, efficiently delivering the CRISPR-Cas9 to the target organ or cell remains a significant challenge. In recent years, with rapid advances in nanoscience, materials science, and medicine, researchers have developed various technologies that can deliver CRISPR-Cas9 in different forms for in vitro and in vivo gene editing. Here, we review the development of the CRISPR-Cas9 and describe the delivery forms and the vectors that have emerged in CRISPR-Cas9 delivery, summarizing the key barriers and the promising strategies that vectors currently face in delivering the CRISPR-Cas9. AREAS COVERED With the rapid development of CRISPR-Cas9, delivery methods are becoming increasingly important in the in vivo delivery of CRISPR-Cas9. EXPERT OPINION CRISPR-Cas9 is becoming increasingly common in clinical trials. However, the complex nuclease and protease environment is a tremendous challenge for in vivo clinical applications. Therefore, the development of delivery methods is highly likely to take the application of CRISPR-Cas9 technology to another level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu Yang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, PR China.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland.,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Jiaqi Yan
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, PR China.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland.,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Pengzhen Zhuang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, PR China.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland.,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Tao Ding
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
| | - Yu Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, PR China.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland.,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, PR China.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland.,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Hongbo Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, PR China.,Pharmaceutical Sciences Laboratory, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland.,Turku Bioscience Centre, University of Turku and Åbo Akademi University, Turku, 20520, Finland
| | - Wenguo Cui
- Department of Orthopaedics, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Prevention and Treatment of Bone and Joint Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Traumatology and Orthopaedics, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, 197 Ruijin 2nd Road, Shanghai, 200025, PR China
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Li ZF, Wu NQ. The Progression of Treatment for Refractory Hypercholesterolemia: Focus on the Prospect of Gene Therapy. Front Genet 2022; 13:911429. [PMID: 35754818 PMCID: PMC9218664 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.911429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Refractory hypercholesterolemia (RH), including homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) and compound heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia, is characterized by high levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) despite existing cholesterol-lowering methods at maximal tolerable doses. Patients with RH have early onset and higher risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) under insufficient treatment. Therefore, it is urgent to seek new therapies to maintain the blood lipids in refractory hyperlipidemia at normal levels. Currently, new cholesterol-lowering strategies are on the market, not only at the protein level [i.e., bempedoic acid (inhibiting ATP-citrate lyase), alirocumab and evolocumab (monoclonal antibodies against PCSK9), evinacumab (monoclonal antibody against ANGPTL3)] but also at the transcript level [i.e., mipomersen (antisense oligonucleotide inhibiting ApoB), inclisiran (siRNA targeting PCSK9)], providing more options for RH patients to achieve their lipid-lowering targets. More RNA-based therapies targeting RH-related genes have been designed for the treatment. However, for a proportion of patients, especially those with LDLR deficiency, the available treatments are still insufficient. More recently, emerging genome engineering based on CRISPR/Cas9 techniques, and advanced delivery technologies such as lentiviral vectors, adenoviral vectors, adeno-associated viral vectors, lipid nanoparticles, and exosomes are being rapidly developed and implemented as novel therapies for RH. Gene therapy targeting RH-related genes has been successfully conducted in cells, mice, and non-human primates with high efficacy in lipid lowering and good tolerability. Especially the new generation of genome editing technique, base editing, performed in vivo with ideal lipid-lowering effect and limited occurrence of unwanted results. Excitingly, a phase I/II clinical study of LDLR gene replacement has been recently completed in RH patients, likely to be employed in clinical practice in the future. Furthermore, new targets for cholesterol reduction such as REV-ERB, G protein-coupled receptor, Ubiquitin specific peptidase 20 are continually being developed. This narrative review updates recent advances in treatment for RH, summarizes related clinical trials and preclinical studies, especially on the prospect of gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Fan Li
- Cardiometabolic Center, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Na-Qiong Wu
- Cardiometabolic Center, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Science, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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Jin X, Su J, Zhao Q, Li R, Xiao J, Zhong X, Song L, Liu Y, She K, Deng H, Wei Y, Yang Y. Liver-directed gene therapy corrects neurologic disease in a murine model of mucopolysaccharidosis type I-Hurler. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 25:370-381. [PMID: 35573046 PMCID: PMC9065053 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Mucopolysaccharidosis type I-Hurler (MPS I-H) is a neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder (LSD) caused by inherited defects of the α-L-iduronidase (IDUA) gene. Current treatments are ineffective for treating central nervous system (CNS) manifestations because lysosomal enzymes do not effectively cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To enable BBB transport of the enzyme, we engineered a modified IDUA protein by adding a brain-targeting peptide from melanotransferrin. We demonstrated that fusion of melanotransferrin peptide (MTfp) at the N terminus of human IDUA (hIDUA) was enzymatically active and could efficiently cross the BBB in vitro. Then, liver-directed gene therapy using the adeno-associated virus 8 (AAV8) vector, which encoded the modified hIDUA cDNA driven by a liver-specific expression cassette was evaluated in an adult MPS I-H mouse model. The results showed that intravenous (i.v.) infusion of AAV8 resulted in sustained supraphysiological levels of IDUA activity and normalized glycosaminoglycan (GAG) accumulation in peripheral tissues. Addition of MTfp to the hIDUA N terminus allowed efficient BBB transcytosis and IDUA activity restoration in the brain, resulting in significant improvements in brain pathology and neurobehavioral deficits. Our results provide a novel strategy to develop minimally invasive therapies for treatment of MPS I-H and other neurodegenerative LSDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiu Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qinyu Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ruiting Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Jianlu Xiao
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiaomei Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Li Song
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Kaiqin She
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Hongxin Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yuquan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Yang Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
- Corresponding author Yang Yang, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center, Ke-yuan Road 4, No. 1, Gao-peng Street, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China.
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Shao X, Hu Z, Zhan Y, Ma W, Quan L, Lin Y. MiR‐26a‐tetrahedral
framework nucleic acids mediated osteogenesis of adipose‐derived mesenchymal stem cells. Cell Prolif 2022; 55:e13272. [PMID: 35661456 PMCID: PMC9251048 DOI: 10.1111/cpr.13272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives Delivery systems that provide time and space control have a good application prospect in tissue regeneration applications, as they can effectively improve the process of wound healing and tissue repair. In our experiments, we constructed a novel micro‐RNA delivery system by linking framework nucleic acid nanomaterials to micro‐RNAs to promote osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells. Materials and Methods To verify the successful preparation of tFNAs–miR‐26a, the size of tFNAs–miR‐26a were observed by non‐denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and dynamic light scattering techniques. The expression of osteogenic differentiation‐related genes and proteins was investigated by confocal microscope, PCR and western blot to detect the impact of tFNAs–miR‐26a on ADSCs. And finally, Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway related proteins and genes were detected by confocal microscope, PCR and western blot to study the relevant mechanism. Results By adding this novel complex, the osteogenic differentiation ability of mesenchymal stem cells was significantly improved, and the expression of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) on the surface of the cell membrane and the formation of calcium nodules in mesenchymal stem cells were significantly increased on days 7 and 14 of induction of osteogenic differentiation, respectively. Gene and protein expression levels of ALP (an early marker associated with osteogenic differentiation), RUNX2 (a metaphase marker), and OPN (a late marker) were significantly increased. We also studied the relevant mechanism of action and found that the novel nucleic acid complex promoted osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells by activating the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. Conclusions This study may provide a new research direction for the application of novel nucleic acid nanomaterials in bone tissue regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoru Shao
- Department of Stomatology Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University Jining Shandong China
- College of TCM, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Jinan Shandong China
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Zhong Hu
- Department of Stomatology Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University Jining Shandong China
| | - Yuxi Zhan
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Wenjuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
| | - Li Quan
- Business College China West Normal University Nanchong Sichuan China
- Sichuan Inspection and Testing Center for Dental Devices and Materials Ziyang Sichuan China
| | - Yunfeng Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases, West China Hospital of Stomatology Sichuan University Chengdu Sichuan China
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Martínez-García J, Molina A, González-Aseguinolaza G, Weber ND, Smerdou C. Gene Therapy for Acquired and Genetic Cholestasis. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10061238. [PMID: 35740260 PMCID: PMC9220166 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10061238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cholestatic diseases can be caused by the dysfunction of transporters involved in hepatobiliary circulation. Although pharmacological treatments constitute the current standard of care for these diseases, none are curative, with liver transplantation being the only long-term solution for severe cholestasis, albeit with many disadvantages. Liver-directed gene therapy has shown promising results in clinical trials for genetic diseases, and it could constitute a potential new therapeutic approach for cholestatic diseases. Many preclinical gene therapy studies have shown positive results in animal models of both acquired and genetic cholestasis. The delivery of genes that reduce apoptosis or fibrosis or improve bile flow has shown therapeutic effects in rodents in which cholestasis was induced by drugs or bile duct ligation. Most studies targeting inherited cholestasis, such as progressive familial intrahepatic cholestasis (PFIC), have focused on supplementing a correct version of a mutated gene to the liver using viral or non-viral vectors in order to achieve expression of the therapeutic protein. These strategies have generated promising results in treating PFIC3 in mouse models of the disease. However, important challenges remain in translating this therapy to the clinic, as well as in developing gene therapy strategies for other types of acquired and genetic cholestasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Martínez-García
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, Cima Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.M.-G.); (A.M.); (G.G.-A.)
| | - Angie Molina
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, Cima Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.M.-G.); (A.M.); (G.G.-A.)
| | - Gloria González-Aseguinolaza
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, Cima Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.M.-G.); (A.M.); (G.G.-A.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Vivet Therapeutics S.L., 31008 Pamplona, Spain
| | - Nicholas D. Weber
- Vivet Therapeutics S.L., 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Correspondence: (N.D.W.); (C.S.); Tel.: +34-948194700 (N.D.W. & C.S.)
| | - Cristian Smerdou
- Division of Gene Therapy and Regulation of Gene Expression, Cima Universidad de Navarra, 31008 Pamplona, Spain; (J.M.-G.); (A.M.); (G.G.-A.)
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra (IdISNA), 31008 Pamplona, Spain
- Correspondence: (N.D.W.); (C.S.); Tel.: +34-948194700 (N.D.W. & C.S.)
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Luiz MT, Dutra JAP, Tofani LB, de Araújo JTC, Di Filippo LD, Marchetti JM, Chorilli M. Targeted Liposomes: A Nonviral Gene Delivery System for Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14040821. [PMID: 35456655 PMCID: PMC9030342 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is the second most frequent cause of death worldwide, with 28.4 million new cases expected for 2040. Despite de advances in the treatment, it remains a challenge because of the tumor heterogenicity and the increase in multidrug resistance mechanisms. Thus, gene therapy has been a potential therapeutic approach owing to its ability to introduce, silence, or change the content of the human genetic code for inhibiting tumor progression, angiogenesis, and metastasis. For the proper delivery of genes to tumor cells, it requires the use of gene vectors for protecting the therapeutic gene and transporting it into cells. Among these vectors, liposomes have been the nonviral vector most used because of their low immunogenicity and low toxicity. Furthermore, this nanosystem can have its surface modified with ligands (e.g., antibodies, peptides, aptamers, folic acid, carbohydrates, and others) that can be recognized with high specificity and affinity by receptor overexpressed in tumor cells, increasing the selective delivery of genes to tumors. In this context, the present review address and discuss the main targeting ligands used to functionalize liposomes for improving gene delivery with potential application in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Tavares Luiz
- School of Pharmaceutical Science of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirao Preto 14040-900, Brazil; (M.T.L.); (J.M.M.)
| | - Jessyca Aparecida Paes Dutra
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (J.A.P.D.); (L.B.T.); (J.T.C.d.A.); (L.D.D.F.)
| | - Larissa Bueno Tofani
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (J.A.P.D.); (L.B.T.); (J.T.C.d.A.); (L.D.D.F.)
| | | | - Leonardo Delello Di Filippo
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (J.A.P.D.); (L.B.T.); (J.T.C.d.A.); (L.D.D.F.)
| | - Juliana Maldonado Marchetti
- School of Pharmaceutical Science of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirao Preto 14040-900, Brazil; (M.T.L.); (J.M.M.)
| | - Marlus Chorilli
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Araraquara 14800-903, Brazil; (J.A.P.D.); (L.B.T.); (J.T.C.d.A.); (L.D.D.F.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel./Fax: +55-16-3301-6998
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Nikforouz B, Allafchian A, Jalali SAH, Shakeripour H, Mohammadinezhad R. Quince seed mucilage coated iron oxide nanoparticles for plasmid DNA delivery. Nanotechnology 2021; 33:075102. [PMID: 34727534 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ac3576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
This study investigates the potential of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4) and quince seed mucilage as combined genetic carriers to deliver plasmid DNA (pDNA) through the gastrointestinal system. The samples are characterized by x-ray diffraction (XRD), zeta potential, dynamic light scattering, FT-IR spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and vibrating sample magnetometry. The stability of pDNA loading on the nanocarriers and their release pattern are evaluated in simulated gastrointestinal environments by electrophoresis. The XRD patterns reveal that the nanocarriers could preserve their structure during various synthesis levels. The saturation magnetization (Ms) of the Fe3O4cores are 56.48 emu g-1without any magnetic hysteresis. Not only does the loaded pDNA contents experience a remarkable stability in the simulated gastric environment, but also, they could be released up to 99% when exposed to an alkaline environment similar to the intestinal fluid of fish. The results indicate that the synthesized nanoparticles could be employed as efficient low-cost pDNA carriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahar Nikforouz
- Department of Physics, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
| | - Alireza Allafchian
- Research Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
- Research Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
| | - Seyed Amir Hossein Jalali
- Research Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
- Department of Natural Resources, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
| | - Hamideh Shakeripour
- Department of Physics, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
| | - Rezvan Mohammadinezhad
- Research Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan 84156-83111, Iran
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