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Henriques C, Lopes MM, Silva AC, Lobo DD, Badin RA, Hantraye P, Pereira de Almeida L, Nobre RJ. Viral-based animal models in polyglutamine disorders. Brain 2024; 147:1166-1189. [PMID: 38284949 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awae012] [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: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyglutamine disorders are a complex group of incurable neurodegenerative disorders caused by an abnormal expansion in the trinucleotide cytosine-adenine-guanine tract of the affected gene. To better understand these disorders, our dependence on animal models persists, primarily relying on transgenic models. In an effort to complement and deepen our knowledge, researchers have also developed animal models of polyglutamine disorders employing viral vectors. Viral vectors have been extensively used to deliver genes to the brain, not only for therapeutic purposes but also for the development of animal models, given their remarkable flexibility. In a time- and cost-effective manner, it is possible to use different transgenes, at varying doses, in diverse targeted tissues, at different ages, and in different species, to recreate polyglutamine pathology. This paper aims to showcase the utility of viral vectors in disease modelling, share essential considerations for developing animal models with viral vectors, and provide a comprehensive review of existing viral-based animal models for polyglutamine disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carina Henriques
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Miguel M Lopes
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana C Silva
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Diana D Lobo
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Romina Aron Badin
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology François Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, Université Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Philippe Hantraye
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology François Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center (MIRCen), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, Université Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), 92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Luís Pereira de Almeida
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui Jorge Nobre
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), Gene and Stem Cell Therapies for the Brain Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Vectors, Gene and Cell Therapy Group, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- ViraVector-Viral Vector for Gene Transfer Core Facility, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research (III), University of Coimbra, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
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Wang Y, Liu X, Wang B, Sun H, Ren Y, Zhang H. Compounding engineered mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes: A potential rescue strategy for retinal degeneration. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116424. [PMID: 38471273 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116424] [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: 01/06/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
The prevalence of retinal degenerative diseases, including age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa, has been increasing globally and is linked to the aging population and improved life expectancy. These diseases are characterized by chronic, progressive neuronal damage or depletion of the photoreceptor cells in the retina, and limited effective treatment options are currently available. Mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes (MSC-EXOs) containing cytokines, growth factors, lipids, mRNA, and miRNA, which act as mediators of intercellular communication transferring bioactive molecules to recipient cells, offer an appealing, non-cellular nanotherapeutic approach for retinal degenerative diseases. However, treatment specificity is compromised due to their high heterogeneity in size, content, functional effects, and parental cellular source. To improve this, engineered MSC-EXOs with increased drug-loading capacity, targeting ability, and resistance to bodily degradation and elimination have been developed. This review summarizes the recent advances in miRNAs of MSC-EXOs as a treatment for retinal degeneration, discussing the strategies and methods for engineering therapeutic MSC-EXOs. Notably, to address the single functional role of engineered MSC-EXOs, we propose a novel concept called "Compound Engineered MSC-EXOs (Co-E-MSC-EXOs)" along with its derived potential therapeutic approaches. The advantages and challenges of employing Co-E-MSC-EXOs for retinal degeneration in clinical applications, as well as the strategies and issues related to them, are also highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wang
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an No.1 hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710002, China.
| | - Xianning Liu
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an No.1 hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710002, China
| | - Bei Wang
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Hanhan Sun
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710069, China
| | - Yiqian Ren
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an No.1 hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710002, China
| | - Hongbing Zhang
- Shaanxi Provincial Clinical Research Center for Ophthalmology Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Northwest University, Xi'an No.1 hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Shaanxi Institute of Ophthalmology, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710002, China.
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3
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Bettegazzi B, Cattaneo S, Simonato M, Zucchini S, Soukupova M. Viral Vector-Based Gene Therapy for Epilepsy: What Does the Future Hold? Mol Diagn Ther 2024; 28:5-13. [PMID: 38103141 PMCID: PMC10786988 DOI: 10.1007/s40291-023-00687-6] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, many pre-clinical studies have tested gene therapy approaches as possible treatments for epilepsy, following the idea that they may provide an alternative to conventional pharmacological and surgical options. Multiple gene therapy approaches have been developed, including those based on anti-sense oligonucleotides, RNA interference, and viral vectors. In this opinion article, we focus on translational issues related to viral vector-mediated gene therapy for epilepsy. Research has advanced dramatically in addressing issues like viral vector optimization, target identification, strategies of gene expression, editing or regulation, and safety. Some of these pre-clinically validated potential gene therapies are now being tested in clinical trials, in patients with genetic or focal forms of drug-resistant epilepsy. Here, we discuss the ongoing translational research and the advancements that are needed and expected in the near future. We then describe the clinical trials in the pipeline and the further challenges that will need to be addressed at the clinical and economic levels. Our optimistic view is that all these issues and challenges can be overcome, and that gene therapy approaches for epilepsy will soon become a clinical reality.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stefano Cattaneo
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Michele Simonato
- Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Zucchini
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy.
- Laboratory of Technologies for Advanced Therapy (LTTA), Technopole of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
| | - Marie Soukupova
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, via Fossato di Mortara 70, 44121, Ferrara, Italy
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Chen X, Wolfe DA, Bindu DS, Zhang M, Taskin N, Goertsen D, Shay TF, Sullivan EE, Huang SF, Ravindra Kumar S, Arokiaraj CM, Plattner VM, Campos LJ, Mich JK, Monet D, Ngo V, Ding X, Omstead V, Weed N, Bishaw Y, Gore BB, Lein ES, Akrami A, Miller C, Levi BP, Keller A, Ting JT, Fox AS, Eroglu C, Gradinaru V. Functional gene delivery to and across brain vasculature of systemic AAVs with endothelial-specific tropism in rodents and broad tropism in primates. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3345. [PMID: 37291094 PMCID: PMC10250345 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38582-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Delivering genes to and across the brain vasculature efficiently and specifically across species remains a critical challenge for addressing neurological diseases. We have evolved adeno-associated virus (AAV9) capsids into vectors that transduce brain endothelial cells specifically and efficiently following systemic administration in wild-type mice with diverse genetic backgrounds, and in rats. These AAVs also exhibit superior transduction of the CNS across non-human primates (marmosets and rhesus macaques), and in ex vivo human brain slices, although the endothelial tropism is not conserved across species. The capsid modifications translate from AAV9 to other serotypes such as AAV1 and AAV-DJ, enabling serotype switching for sequential AAV administration in mice. We demonstrate that the endothelial-specific mouse capsids can be used to genetically engineer the blood-brain barrier by transforming the mouse brain vasculature into a functional biofactory. We apply this approach to Hevin knockout mice, where AAV-X1-mediated ectopic expression of the synaptogenic protein Sparcl1/Hevin in brain endothelial cells rescued synaptic deficits.
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Grants
- DP1 DA048931 NIDA NIH HHS
- P51 OD011107 NIH HHS
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- UG3 MH120095 NIMH NIH HHS
- DP1 NS111369 NINDS NIH HHS
- OT2 OD024899 NIH HHS
- DP1 MH104069 NIMH NIH HHS
- UF1 MH128336 NIMH NIH HHS
- DP1 EB016986 NIBIB NIH HHS
- DP1 OD000616 NIH HHS
- DP2 NS087949 NINDS NIH HHS
- NIH Director’s New Innovator DP2NS087949 and PECASE, NIH BRAIN Armamentarium 1UF1MH128336-01, NIH Pioneer 5DP1NS111369-04 and SPARC 1OT2OD024899. Additional funding includes the Vallee Foundation, the Moore Foundation, the CZI Neurodegeneration Challenge Network, and the NSF NeuroNex Technology Hub grant 1707316, the Heritage Medical Research Institute and the Beckman Institute for CLARITY, Optogenetics and Vector Engineering Research (CLOVER) for technology development and dissemination, NIH BRAIN UG3MH120095.
- The Swiss National Science Foundation (310030_188952, A.K), the Synapsis (grant 2019-PI02, A.K.), the Swiss Multiple Sclerosis Society (A.K.).
- CNPRC base grant (NIH P51 OD011107)
- The CZI Neurodegeneration Challenge Network. C.E. is an investigator of the Howard Hughes Medical Institute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhong Chen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Damien A Wolfe
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | | | - Mengying Zhang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Naz Taskin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David Goertsen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Timothy F Shay
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Erin E Sullivan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Sheng-Fu Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Center, Zürich University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sripriya Ravindra Kumar
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Cynthia M Arokiaraj
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | | | - Lillian J Campos
- Department of Psychology and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - John K Mich
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Deja Monet
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Victoria Ngo
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Lab, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92039, USA
| | - Xiaozhe Ding
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | | | - Natalie Weed
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yeme Bishaw
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bryan B Gore
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ed S Lein
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Athena Akrami
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Cory Miller
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Lab, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92039, USA
| | - Boaz P Levi
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Annika Keller
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Center, Zürich University Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zürich, University of Zürich and ETH Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan T Ting
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew S Fox
- Department of Psychology and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Cagla Eroglu
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Viviana Gradinaru
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA.
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Stone D, Aubert M, Jerome KR. Adeno-associated virus vectors and neurotoxicity-lessons from preclinical and human studies. Gene Ther 2023:10.1038/s41434-023-00405-1. [PMID: 37165032 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-023-00405-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Over 15 years after hepatotoxicity was first observed following administration of an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector during a hemophilia B clinical trial, recent reports of treatment-associated neurotoxicity in animals and humans have brought the potential impact of AAV-associated toxicity back to prominence. In both pre-clinical studies and clinical trials, systemic AAV administration has been associated with neurotoxicity in peripheral nerve ganglia and spinal cord. Neurological signs have also been seen following direct AAV injection into the brain, both in non-human primates and in a clinical trial for late infantile Batten disease. Neurotoxic events appear variable across species, and preclinical animal studies do not fully predict clinical observations. Accumulating data suggest that AAV-associated neurotoxicity may be underdiagnosed and may differ between species in terms of frequency and/or severity. In this review, we discuss the different animal models that have been used to demonstrate AAV-associated neurotoxicity, its potential causes and consequences, and potential approaches to blunt AAV-associated neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Stone
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Martine Aubert
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Keith R Jerome
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
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Major L, McClements ME, MacLaren RE. A Review of CRISPR Tools for Treating Usher Syndrome: Applicability, Safety, Efficiency, and In Vivo Delivery. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087603. [PMID: 37108761 PMCID: PMC10146473 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087603] [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: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
This review considers research into the treatment of Usher syndrome, a deaf-blindness syndrome inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. Usher syndrome mutations are markedly heterogeneous, involving many different genes, and research grants are limited due to minimal patient populations. Furthermore, gene augmentation therapies are impossible in all but three Usher syndromes as the cDNA sequence exceeds the 4.7 kb AAV packaging limit. It is, therefore, vital to focus research efforts on alternative tools with the broadest applicability. The CRISPR field took off in recent years following the discovery of the DNA editing activity of Cas9 in 2012. New generations of CRISPR tools have succeeded the original CRISPR/Cas9 model to enable more sophisticated genomic amendments such as epigenetic modification and precise sequence alterations. This review will evaluate the most popular CRISPR tools to date: CRISPR/Cas9, base editing, and prime editing. It will consider these tools in terms of applicability (in relation to the ten most prevalent USH2A mutations), safety, efficiency, and in vivo delivery potential with the intention of guiding future research investment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Major
- Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences & NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Michelle E McClements
- Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences & NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Robert E MacLaren
- Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences & NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
- Oxford Eye Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
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Alshahrani SH, Alameri AA, Kahar F, Alexis Ramírez-Coronel A, Fadhel Obaid R, Alsaikhan F, Zabibah RS, Qasim QA, Altalbawy FMA, Fakri Mustafa Y, Mirzaei R, Karampoor S. Overview of the role and action mechanism of microRNA-128 in viral infections. Microb Pathog 2023; 176:106020. [PMID: 36746316 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2023.106020] [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: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Recently in vivo and in vitro studies have provided evidence establishing the significance of microRNAs (miRNAs) in both physiological and pathological conditions. In this regard, the role of miRNA-128 (miR-128) in health and diseases has been found, and its critical regulatory role in the context of some viral diseases has been recently identified. For instance, it has been found that miR-128 can serve as an antiviral mediator and significantly limit the replication and dissemination of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1). Besides, it has been noted that poliovirus receptor-related 4 (PVRL4) is post-transcriptionally regulated by miR-128, representing possible miRNA targets that can modulate measles virus infection. Of note, the downregulation of seminal exosomes eca-miR-128 is associated with the long-term persistence of Equine arteritis virus (EAV) in the reproductive tract, and this particular miRNA is a putative regulator of chemokine ligand 16 (C-X-C motif) as determined by target prediction analysis. In this review, the latest information on the role and action mechanism of miR-128 in viral infections will be summarized and discussed in detail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shadia Hamoud Alshahrani
- Medical Surgical Nursing Department, King Khalid University, Almahala, Khamis Mushate, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ameer A Alameri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Babylon, Babylon, Iraq
| | - Fitriani Kahar
- Medic Technology Laboratory, Poltekkes Kemenkes Semarang, Indonesia
| | - Andrés Alexis Ramírez-Coronel
- National University of Education, Azogues, Ecuador; Catholic University of Cuenca, Azogues Campus, Ecuador; University of Palermo, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CES University, Colombia, Azogues, Ecuador
| | - Rasha Fadhel Obaid
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Iraq
| | - Fahad Alsaikhan
- College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Rahman S Zabibah
- Medical Laboratory Technology Department, College of Medical Technology, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq
| | | | - Farag M A Altalbawy
- National Institute of Laser Enhanced Sciences (NILES), Cairo University, Giza 12613, Egypt; Department of Chemistry, University College of Duba, Tabuk University, Duba 71911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yasser Fakri Mustafa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Mosul, Mosul 41001, Iraq
| | - Rasoul Mirzaei
- Venom and Biotherapeutics Molecules Lab, Medical Biotechnology Department, Biotechnology Research Center, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sajad Karampoor
- Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Stanton AC, Lagerborg KA, Tellez L, Krunnfusz A, King EM, Ye S, Solomon IH, Tabebordbar M, Sabeti PC. Systemic administration of novel engineered AAV capsids facilitates enhanced transgene expression in the macaque CNS. Med (N Y) 2023; 4:31-50.e8. [PMID: 36417917 PMCID: PMC9840684 DOI: 10.1016/j.medj.2022.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [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: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors are a promising vehicle for noninvasive gene delivery to the central nervous system via intravenous infusion. However, naturally occurring serotypes have a limited ability to transduce the brain, and translating engineered capsids from mice to nonhuman primates has proved challenging. METHODS In this study, we use an mRNA-based directed-evolution strategy in multiple strains of mice as well as a de novo selection in cynomolgus macaques to identify families of engineered vectors with increased potency in the brain and decreased tropism for the liver. FINDINGS We compare the transgene expression capabilities of several engineered vectors and show that while some of our novel macaque-derived variants significantly outperform AAV9 in transducing the macaque brain following systemic administration, mouse-derived variants-both those identified in this study and those reported by other groups-universally do not. CONCLUSIONS Together, the results of this work introduce a class of primate-derived engineered AAV capsids with increased therapeutic potential and highlight the critical need for using appropriate animal models to both identify and evaluate novel AAVs intended for delivery to the human central nervous system. FUNDING This work was funded primarily through an anonymous philanthropic gift to the P.C.S. lab at the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard and by a grant from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute to P.C.S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra C. Stanton
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA 02142,Harvard Program in Virology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA 02115,Lead Contact,Correspondence: (A.C.S); (P.C.S.)
| | - Kim A. Lagerborg
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA 02142,Harvard Program in Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA 02115
| | - Liana Tellez
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA 02142
| | | | - Emily M. King
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA 02142
| | - Simon Ye
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA 02142,Harvard-MIT Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA 02142
| | - Isaac H. Solomon
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA 02115,Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA 02115
| | | | - Pardis C. Sabeti
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA 02142,Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology, FAS Center for Systems Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA 02138,Correspondence: (A.C.S); (P.C.S.)
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9
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Chen X, Wolfe DA, Bindu DS, Zhang M, Taskin N, Goertsen D, Shay TF, Sullivan E, Huang SF, Kumar SR, Arokiaraj CM, Plattner V, Campos LJ, Mich J, Monet D, Ngo V, Ding X, Omstead V, Weed N, Bishaw Y, Gore B, Lein ES, Akrami A, Miller C, Levi BP, Keller A, Ting JT, Fox AS, Eroglu C, Gradinaru V. Functional gene delivery to and across brain vasculature of systemic AAVs with endothelial-specific tropism in rodents and broad tropism in primates. bioRxiv 2023:2023.01.12.523844. [PMID: 36711773 PMCID: PMC9882234 DOI: 10.1101/2023.01.12.523844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Delivering genes to and across the brain vasculature efficiently and specifically across species remains a critical challenge for addressing neurological diseases. We have evolved adeno-associated virus (AAV9) capsids into vectors that transduce brain endothelial cells specifically and efficiently following systemic administration in wild-type mice with diverse genetic backgrounds and rats. These AAVs also exhibit superior transduction of the CNS across non-human primates (marmosets and rhesus macaques), and ex vivo human brain slices although the endothelial tropism is not conserved across species. The capsid modifications translate from AAV9 to other serotypes such as AAV1 and AAV-DJ, enabling serotype switching for sequential AAV administration in mice. We demonstrate that the endothelial specific mouse capsids can be used to genetically engineer the blood-brain barrier by transforming the mouse brain vasculature into a functional biofactory. Vasculature-secreted Hevin (a synaptogenic protein) rescued synaptic deficits in a mouse model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhong Chen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Damien A. Wolfe
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | | | - Mengying Zhang
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Naz Taskin
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David Goertsen
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Timothy F. Shay
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Erin Sullivan
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Sheng-Fu Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Center, Zurich University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sripriya Ravindra Kumar
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Cynthia M. Arokiaraj
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | - Viktor Plattner
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Lillian J. Campos
- Department of Psychology and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - John Mich
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Deja Monet
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Victoria Ngo
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Lab, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92039, USA
| | - Xiaozhe Ding
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
| | | | - Natalie Weed
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Yeme Bishaw
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Bryan Gore
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Ed S Lein
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Athena Akrami
- Sainsbury Wellcome Centre, University College London, London, UK
| | - Cory Miller
- Cortical Systems and Behavior Lab, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92039, USA
| | - Boaz P. Levi
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Annika Keller
- Department of Neurosurgery, Clinical Neuroscience Center, Zurich University Hospital, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jonathan T. Ting
- Allen Institute for Brain Science, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew S. Fox
- Department of Psychology and California National Primate Research Center, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, 95616, USA
| | - Cagla Eroglu
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Viviana Gradinaru
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA
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10
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Gadenstaetter AJ, Schmutzler L, Grimm D, Landegger LD. Intranasal application of adeno-associated viruses: a systematic review. Transl Res 2022; 248:87-110. [PMID: 35597541 DOI: 10.1016/j.trsl.2022.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) represent some of the most commonly employed vectors for targeted gene delivery and their extensive study has resulted in the approval of multiple gene therapies to treat human diseases. The intranasal route of vector application in gene therapy offers several advantages over traditional ways of administration. In addition to targeting local tissue like the olfactory epithelium, it provides minimally invasive access to various organ systems, including the central nervous system and the respiratory tract. Through a systematic literature review, a total of 53 articles that investigated the intranasal application of AAVs were identified, included, and summarized in this manuscript. Within these studies, AAV-based gene therapy was mainly investigated for its application in various infectious, pulmonary, or neurologic and/or psychiatric diseases. This review gives a comprehensive overview of the current technological state of the art regarding the intranasal application of AAVs for gene transfer and discusses remaining hurdles, which still have to be resolved before this approach can effectively be implemented in the routine clinical setting.
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11
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Toutounchian S, Ahmadbeigi N, Mansouri V. Retinal and Choroidal Neovascularization Antivascular Endothelial Growth Factor Treatments: The Role of Gene Therapy. J Ocul Pharmacol Ther 2022; 38:529-548. [PMID: 36125411 DOI: 10.1089/jop.2022.0022] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Neovascularization in ocular vessels causes a major disease burden. The most common causes of choroidal neovascularization (CNV) are age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, which are the leading causes of irreversible vision loss in the adult population. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is critical for the formation of new vessels and is the main regulator in ocular angiogenesis and vascular permeability through its receptors. Laser therapy and antiangiogenic factors have been used for CNV treatment. Bevacizumab, ranibizumab, and aflibercept are commonly used anti-VEGF agents; however, high costs and the need for frequent intraocular injections are major drawbacks of anti-VEGF drugs. Gene therapy, given the potency of one-time treatment and no need for frequent injections offers the real possibility of such a lasting treatment, with fewer adverse effects and higher patient quality of life. Herein, we reviewed the role of gene therapy in the CNV treatment. In addition, we discuss the advantages and challenges of current treatments compared with gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samaneh Toutounchian
- Gene Therapy Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Naser Ahmadbeigi
- Gene Therapy Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Vahid Mansouri
- Gene Therapy Research Center, Digestive Diseases Research Institute, Shariati Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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12
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Böldicke T. Therapeutic Potential of Intrabodies for Cancer Immunotherapy: Current Status and Future Directions. Antibodies (Basel) 2022; 11:antib11030049. [PMID: 35892709 PMCID: PMC9326752 DOI: 10.3390/antib11030049] [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: 05/24/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells are characterized by overexpressed tumor-associated antigens or mutated neoantigens, which are expressed on the cell surface or intracellularly. One strategy of cancer immunotherapy is to target cell-surface-expressed tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) with therapeutic antibodies. For targeting TAAs or neoantigens, adoptive T-cell therapies with activated autologous T cells from cancer patients transduced with novel recombinant TCRs or chimeric antigen receptors have been successfully applied. Many TAAs and most neoantigens are expressed in the cytoplasm or nucleus of tumor cells. As alternative to adoptive T-cell therapy, the mRNA of intracellular tumor antigens can be depleted by RNAi, the corresponding genes or proteins deleted by CRISPR-Cas or inactivated by kinase inhibitors or by intrabodies, respectively. Intrabodies are suitable to knockdown TAAs and neoantigens without off-target effects. RNA sequencing and proteome analysis of single tumor cells combined with computational methods is bringing forward the identification of new neoantigens for the selection of anti-cancer intrabodies, which can be easily performed using phage display antibody repertoires. For specifically delivering intrabodies into tumor cells, the usage of new capsid-modified adeno-associated viruses and lipid nanoparticles coupled with specific ligands to cell surface receptors can be used and might bring cancer intrabodies into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Böldicke
- Department Structure and Function of Proteins, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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13
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Silva J, da Costa Martins PA. Non-Coding RNAs in the Therapeutic Landscape of Pathological Cardiac Hypertrophy. Cells 2022; 11:1805. [PMID: 35681500 PMCID: PMC9180404 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases are a major health problem, and long-term survival for people diagnosed with heart failure is, still, unrealistic. Pathological cardiac hypertrophy largely contributes to morbidity and mortality, as effective therapeutic approaches are lacking. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) arise as active regulators of the signaling pathways and mechanisms that govern this pathology, and their therapeutic potential has received great attention in the last decades. Preclinical studies in large animal models have been successful in ameliorating cardiac hypertrophy, and an antisense drug for the treatment of heart failure has, already, entered clinical trials. In this review, we provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying cardiac hypertrophy, the involvement of ncRNAs, and the current therapeutic landscape of oligonucleotides targeting these regulators. Strategies to improve the delivery of such therapeutics and overcome the actual challenges are, also, defined and discussed. With the fast advance in the improvement of oligonucleotide drug delivery, the inclusion of ncRNAs-targeting therapies for cardiac hypertrophy seems, increasingly, a closer reality.
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14
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Marino M, Holt MG. AAV Vector-Mediated Antibody Delivery (A-MAD) in the Central Nervous System. Front Neurol 2022; 13:870799. [PMID: 35493843 PMCID: PMC9039256 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.870799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last four decades, monoclonal antibodies and their derivatives have emerged as a powerful class of therapeutics, largely due to their exquisite targeting specificity. Several clinical areas, most notably oncology and autoimmune disorders, have seen the successful introduction of monoclonal-based therapeutics. However, their adoption for treatment of Central Nervous System diseases has been comparatively slow, largely due to issues of efficient delivery resulting from limited permeability of the Blood Brain Barrier. Nevertheless, CNS diseases are becoming increasingly prevalent as societies age, accounting for ~6.5 million fatalities worldwide per year. Therefore, harnessing the full therapeutic potential of monoclonal antibodies (and their derivatives) in this clinical area has become a priority. Adeno-associated virus-based vectors (AAVs) are a potential solution to this problem. Preclinical studies have shown that AAV vector-mediated antibody delivery provides protection against a broad range of peripheral diseases, such as the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza and malaria. The parallel identification and optimization of AAV vector platforms which cross the Blood Brain Barrier with high efficiency, widely transducing the Central Nervous System and allowing high levels of local transgene production, has now opened a number of interesting scenarios for the development of AAV vector-mediated antibody delivery strategies to target Central Nervous System proteinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marika Marino
- Laboratory of Glia Biology, VIB-KU Leuven, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthew G. Holt
- Laboratory of Glia Biology, VIB-KU Leuven, Center for Brain & Disease Research, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Leuven Brain Institute, Leuven, Belgium
- Synapse Biology Group, Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde (i3S), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- *Correspondence: Matthew G. Holt
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15
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Mead B, Tomarev S. The role of miRNA in retinal ganglion cell health and disease. Neural Regen Res 2022; 17:516-522. [PMID: 34380881 PMCID: PMC8504366 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.320974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
miRNA are short non-coding RNA responsible for the knockdown of proteins through their targeting and silencing of complimentary mRNA sequences. The miRNA landscape of a cell thus affects the levels of its proteins and has significant consequences to its health. Deviations in this miRNA landscape have been implicated in a variety of neurodegenerative diseases and have also garnered interest as targets for treatment. Retinal ganglion cells are the sole projection neuron of the retina with their axons making up the optic nerve. They are a focus of study not only for their importance in vision and the myriad of blinding diseases characterized by their dysfunction and loss, but also as a model of other central nervous system diseases such as spinal cord injury and traumatic brain injury. This review summarizes current knowledge on the role of miRNA in retinal ganglion cell function, highlighting how perturbations can result in disease, and how modulating their abundance may provide a novel avenue of therapeutic research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben Mead
- School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Stanislav Tomarev
- Section of Retinal Ganglion Cell Biology, Laboratory of Retinal Cell and Molecular Biology, National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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16
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Muhuri M, Levy DI, Schulz M, McCarty D, Gao G. Durability of transgene expression after rAAV gene therapy. Mol Ther 2022; 30:1364-1380. [PMID: 35283274 PMCID: PMC9077371 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.03.004] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) gene therapy has the potential to transform the lives of patients with certain genetic disorders by increasing or restoring function to affected tissues. Following the initial establishment of transgene expression, it is unknown how long the therapeutic effect will last, although animal and emerging human data show that expression can be maintained for more than 10 years. The durability of therapeutic response is key to long-term treatment success, especially since immune responses to rAAV vectors may prevent re-dosing with the same therapy. This review explores the non-immunological and immunological processes that may limit or improve durability and the strategies that can be used to increase the duration of the therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manish Muhuri
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Guangping Gao
- Horae Gene Therapy Center, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; Department of Microbiology and Physiological Systems, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA; Li Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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17
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Kremer LP, Cerrizuela S, Dehler S, Stiehl T, Weinmann J, Abendroth H, Kleber S, Laure A, El Andari J, Anders S, Marciniak-Czochra A, Grimm D, Martin-Villalba A. High throughput screening of novel AAV capsids identifies variants for transduction of adult NSCs within the subventricular zone. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 23:33-50. [PMID: 34553001 PMCID: PMC8427210 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 07/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The adult mammalian brain entails a reservoir of neural stem cells (NSCs) generating glial cells and neurons. However, NSCs become increasingly quiescent with age, which hampers their regenerative capacity. New means are therefore required to genetically modify adult NSCs for re-enabling endogenous brain repair. Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are ideal gene-therapy vectors due to an excellent safety profile and high transduction efficiency. We thus conducted a high-throughput screening of 177 intraventricularly injected barcoded AAV variants profiled by RNA sequencing. Quantification of barcoded AAV mRNAs identified two synthetic capsids, peptide-modified derivative of wild-type AAV9 (AAV9_A2) and peptide-modified derivative of wild-type AAV1 (AAV1_P5), both of which transduce active and quiescent NSCs. Further optimization of AAV1_P5 by judicious selection of the promoter and dose of injected viral genomes enabled labeling of 30%–60% of the NSC compartment, which was validated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analyses and single-cell RNA sequencing. Importantly, transduced NSCs readily produced neurons. The present study identifies AAV variants with a high regional tropism toward the ventricular-subventricular zone (v-SVZ) with high efficiency in targeting adult NSCs, thereby paving the way for preclinical testing of regenerative gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas P.M. Kremer
- Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Santiago Cerrizuela
- Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sascha Dehler
- Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Thomas Stiehl
- Institute of Applied Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing and BioQuant, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Weinmann
- Virus-Host Interaction Group, Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence Cell Networks, BioQuant, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Heike Abendroth
- Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Susanne Kleber
- Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexander Laure
- Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jihad El Andari
- Virus-Host Interaction Group, Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence Cell Networks, BioQuant, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simon Anders
- Center for Molecular Biology of Heidelberg University (ZMBH), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Anna Marciniak-Czochra
- Institute of Applied Mathematics, Interdisciplinary Center for Scientific Computing and BioQuant, Heidelberg University, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dirk Grimm
- Virus-Host Interaction Group, Department of Infectious Diseases/Virology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Cluster of Excellence Cell Networks, BioQuant, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ana Martin-Villalba
- Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Corresponding author: Ana Martin-Villalba, Molecular Neurobiology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany.
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18
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Rallabandi R, Sharp B, Cruz C, Wang Q, Locsin A, Driscoll CB, Lee E, Nelson T, Devaux P. miRNA-mediated control of exogenous OCT4 during mesenchymal-epithelial transition increases measles vector reprogramming efficiency. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2021; 24:48-61. [PMID: 34977272 PMCID: PMC8683617 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2021.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
OCT4 is a key mediator of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) reprogramming, but the mechanistic insights into the role of exogenous OCT4 and timelines that initiate pluripotency remain to be resolved. Here, using measles reprogramming vectors, we present microRNA (miRNA) targeting of exogenous OCT4 to shut down its expression during the mesenchymal to the epithelial transition phase of reprogramming. We showed that exogenous OCT4 is required only for the initiation of reprogramming and is dispensable for the maturation stage. However, the continuous expression of SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC is necessary for the maturation stage of the iPSC. Additionally, we demonstrate a novel application of miRNA targeting in a viral vector to contextually control the vector/transgene, ultimately leading to an improved reprogramming efficiency. This novel approach could be applied to other systems for improving the efficiency of vector-induced processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramya Rallabandi
- Virology and Gene Therapy Graduate Track, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA,Regenerative Sciences PhD Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Brenna Sharp
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Conrad Cruz
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Alexis Locsin
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Christopher B. Driscoll
- Virology and Gene Therapy Graduate Track, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Ella Lee
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Tim Nelson
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester MN 55905, USA
| | - Patricia Devaux
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA,Virology and Gene Therapy Graduate Track, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA,Regenerative Sciences PhD Program, Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA,Corresponding author Patricia Devaux, Department of Molecular Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
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19
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Yusof KM, Groen K, Rosli R, Avery-Kiejda KA. Crosstalk Between microRNAs and the Pathological Features of Secondary Lymphedema. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:732415. [PMID: 34733847 PMCID: PMC8558478 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.732415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Secondary lymphedema is characterized by lymphatic fluid retention and subsequent tissue swelling in one or both limbs that can lead to decreased quality of life. It often arises after loss, obstruction, or blockage of lymphatic vessels due to multifactorial modalities, such as lymphatic insults after surgery, immune system dysfunction, deposition of fat that compresses the lymphatic capillaries, fibrosis, and inflammation. Although secondary lymphedema is often associated with breast cancer, the condition can occur in patients with any type of cancer that requires lymphadenectomy such as gynecological, genitourinary, or head and neck cancers. MicroRNAs demonstrate pivotal roles in regulating gene expression in biological processes such as lymphangiogenesis, angiogenesis, modulation of the immune system, and oxidative stress. MicroRNA profiling has led to the discovery of the molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of auto-immune, inflammation-related, and metabolic diseases. Although the role of microRNAs in regulating secondary lymphedema is yet to be elucidated, the crosstalk between microRNAs and molecular factors involved in the pathological features of lymphedema, such as skin fibrosis, inflammation, immune dysregulation, and aberrant lipid metabolism have been demonstrated in several studies. MicroRNAs have the potential to serve as biomarkers for diseases and elucidation of their roles in lymphedema can provide a better understanding or new insights of the mechanisms underlying this debilitating condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khairunnisa' Md Yusof
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Kira Groen
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
| | - Rozita Rosli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia.,UPM-MAKNA Cancer Research Laboratory, Institute of Bioscience, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Malaysia
| | - Kelly A Avery-Kiejda
- Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, NSW, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW, Australia
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20
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Bezzerides VJ, Prondzynski M, Carrier L, Pu WT. Gene therapy for inherited arrhythmias. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 116:1635-1650. [PMID: 32321160 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvaa107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Inherited arrhythmias are disorders caused by one or more genetic mutations that increase the risk of arrhythmia, which result in life-long risk of sudden death. These mutations either primarily perturb electrophysiological homeostasis (e.g. long QT syndrome and catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia), cause structural disease that is closely associated with severe arrhythmias (e.g. hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), or cause a high propensity for arrhythmia in combination with altered myocardial structure and function (e.g. arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy). Currently available therapies offer incomplete protection from arrhythmia and fail to alter disease progression. Recent studies suggest that gene therapies may provide potent, molecularly targeted options for at least a subset of inherited arrhythmias. Here, we provide an overview of gene therapy strategies, and review recent studies on gene therapies for catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy caused by MYBPC3 mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vassilios J Bezzerides
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Maksymilian Prondzynski
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lucie Carrier
- Institute of Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Center, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), partner site, Hamburg/Kiel/Lübeck, Hamburg, Germany
| | - William T Pu
- Department of Cardiology, Boston Children's Hospital, 300 Longwood Ave, Boston, MA 02115, USA.,Harvard Stem Cell Institute, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
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21
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Rastgar Rezaei Y, Zarezadeh R, Nikanfar S, Oghbaei H, Nazdikbin N, Bahrami-Asl Z, Zarghami N, Ahmadi Y, Fattahi A, Nouri M, Dittrich R. microRNAs in the pathogenesis of non-obstructive azoospermia: the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic potentials. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2021; 67:337-353. [PMID: 34355990 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2021.1951890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
miRNAs are involved in different biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Interestingly, 38% of the X chromosome-linked miRNAs are testis-specific and have crucial roles in regulating the renewal and cell cycle of spermatogonial stem cells. Previous studies demonstrated that abnormal expression of spermatogenesis-related miRNAs could lead to nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Moreover, differential miRNAs expression in seminal plasma of NOA patients has been reported compared to normozoospermic men. However, the role of miRNAs in NOA pathogenesis and the underlying mechanisms have not been comprehensively studied. Therefore, the aim of this review is to mechanistically describe the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of NOA and discuss the possibility of using the miRNAs as therapeutic targets.Abbreviations: AMO: anti-miRNA antisense oligonucleotide; AZF: azoospermia factor region; CDK: cyclin-dependent kinase; DAZ: deleted in azoospermia; ESCs: embryonic stem cells; FSH: follicle-stimulating hormone; ICSI: intracytoplasmic sperm injection; JAK/STAT: Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription; miRNA: micro-RNA; MLH1: Human mutL homolog l; NF-κB: Nuclear factor-kappa B; NOA: nonobstructive azoospermia; OA: obstructive azoospermia; PGCs: primordial germ cells; PI3K/AKT: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B; Rb: retinoblastoma tumor suppressor; ROS: Reactive Oxygen Species; SCOS: Sertoli cell-only syndrome; SIRT: sirtuin; SNPs: single nucleotide polymorphisms; SSCs: spermatogonial stem cells; TESE: testicular sperm extraction; TGF-β: transforming growth factor-beta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeganeh Rastgar Rezaei
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reza Zarezadeh
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saba Nikanfar
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hajar Oghbaei
- Department of Physiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Zahra Bahrami-Asl
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nosratollah Zarghami
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Yadollah Ahmadi
- Department of Urology, Sina Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir Fattahi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mohammad Nouri
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ralf Dittrich
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
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22
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Hordeaux J, Buza EL, Jeffrey B, Song C, Jahan T, Yuan Y, Zhu Y, Bell P, Li M, Chichester JA, Calcedo R, Wilson JM. MicroRNA-mediated inhibition of transgene expression reduces dorsal root ganglion toxicity by AAV vectors in primates. Sci Transl Med 2021; 12:12/569/eaba9188. [PMID: 33177182 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aba9188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Delivering adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors into the central nervous system of nonhuman primates (NHPs) via the blood or cerebral spinal fluid is associated with dorsal root ganglion (DRG) toxicity. Conventional immune-suppression regimens do not prevent this toxicity, possibly because it may be caused by high transduction rates, which can, in turn, cause cellular stress due to an overabundance of the transgene product in target cells. To test this hypothesis and develop an approach to eliminate DRG toxicity, we exploited endogenous expression of microRNA (miR) 183 complex, which is largely restricted to DRG neurons, to specifically down-regulate transgene expression in these cells. We introduced sequence targets for miR183 into the vector genome within the 3' untranslated region of the corresponding transgene messenger RNA and injected vectors into the cisterna magna of NHPs. Administration of unmodified AAV vectors resulted in robust transduction of target tissues and toxicity in DRG neurons. Consistent with the proposal that immune system activity does not mediate this neuronal toxicity, we found that steroid administration was ineffective in alleviating this pathology. However, including miR183 targets in the vectors reduced transgene expression in, and toxicity of, DRG neurons without affecting transduction elsewhere in the primate's brain. This approach might be useful in reducing DRG toxicity and the associated morbidity and should facilitate the development of AAV-based gene therapies for many central nervous system diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliette Hordeaux
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Elizabeth L Buza
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Brianne Jeffrey
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Chunjuan Song
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Tahsin Jahan
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yanqing Zhu
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Peter Bell
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Mingyao Li
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jessica A Chichester
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Roberto Calcedo
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - James M Wilson
- Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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23
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Abstract
Designer Receptors Exclusively Activated by Designer Drugs (DREADDs) are genetically modified G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), that can be activated by a synthetic ligand which is otherwise inert at endogenous receptors. DREADDs can be expressed in cells in the central nervous system (CNS) and subsequently offer the opportunity for remote and reversible silencing or activation of the target cells when the synthetic ligand is systemically administered. In neuroscience, DREADDs have thus far shown to be useful tools for several areas of research and offer considerable potential for the development of gene therapy strategies for neurological disorders. However, in order to design a DREADD-based gene therapy, it is necessary to first evaluate the viral vector delivery methods utilised in the literature to deliver these chemogenetic tools. This review evaluates each of the prominent strategies currently utilised for DREADD delivery, discussing their respective advantages and limitations. We focus on adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based and lentivirus-based systems, and the manipulation of these through cell-type specific promoters and pseudotyping. Furthermore, we address how virally mediated DREADD delivery could be improved in order to make it a viable gene therapy strategy and thus expand its translational potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ceri A Pickering
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas D Mazarakis
- Division of Neuroscience, Department of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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24
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Geisler A, Hazini A, Heimann L, Kurreck J, Fechner H. Coxsackievirus B3-Its Potential as an Oncolytic Virus. Viruses 2021; 13:v13050718. [PMID: 33919076 PMCID: PMC8143167 DOI: 10.3390/v13050718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [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: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 04/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Oncolytic virotherapy represents one of the most advanced strategies to treat otherwise untreatable types of cancer. Despite encouraging developments in recent years, the limited fraction of patients responding to therapy has demonstrated the need to search for new suitable viruses. Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a promising novel candidate with particularly valuable features. Its entry receptor, the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), and heparan sulfate, which is used for cellular entry by some CVB3 variants, are highly expressed on various cancer types. Consequently, CVB3 has broad anti-tumor activity, as shown in various xenograft and syngeneic mouse tumor models. In addition to direct tumor cell killing the virus induces a strong immune response against the tumor, which contributes to a substantial increase in the efficiency of the treatment. The toxicity of oncolytic CVB3 in healthy tissues is variable and depends on the virus strain. It can be abrogated by genetic engineering the virus with target sites of microRNAs. In this review, we present an overview of the current status of the development of CVB3 as an oncolytic virus and outline which steps still need to be accomplished to develop CVB3 as a therapeutic agent for clinical use in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anja Geisler
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, 13355 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); (L.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Ahmet Hazini
- Department of Oncology, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK;
| | - Lisanne Heimann
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, 13355 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); (L.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Jens Kurreck
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, 13355 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); (L.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Henry Fechner
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, 13355 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); (L.H.); (J.K.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-30-31-47-21-81
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25
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Lai Q, Kovzel N, Konovalov R, Vinnikov IA. MicroRNAs Regulating Autophagy in Neurodegeneration. Adv Exp Med Biol 2021; 1208:191-264. [PMID: 34260028 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-16-2830-6_11] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Social and economic impacts of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) become more prominent in our constantly aging population. Currently, due to the lack of knowledge about the aetiology of most NDs, only symptomatic treatment is available for patients. Hence, researchers and clinicians are in need of solid studies on pathological mechanisms of NDs. Autophagy promotes degradation of pathogenic proteins in NDs, while microRNAs post-transcriptionally regulate multiple signalling networks including autophagy. This chapter will critically discuss current research advancements in the area of microRNAs regulating autophagy in NDs. Moreover, we will introduce basic strategies and techniques used in microRNA research. Delineation of the mechanisms contributing to NDs will result in development of better approaches for their early diagnosis and effective treatment.
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26
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Abstract
Many genetic diseases that are responsible for muscular disorders have been described to date. Gene replacement therapy is a state-of-the-art strategy used to treat such diseases. In this approach, the functional copy of a gene is delivered to the affected tissues using viral vectors. There is an urgent need for the design of short, regulatory sequences that would drive a high and robust expression of a therapeutic transgene in skeletal muscles, the diaphragm, and the heart, while exhibiting limited activity in non-target tissues. This review focuses on the development and improvement of muscle-specific promoters based on skeletal muscle α-actin, muscle creatine kinase, and desmin genes, as well as other genes expressed in muscles. The current approaches used to engineer synthetic muscle-specific promoters are described. Other elements of the viral vectors that contribute to tissue-specific expression are also discussed. A special feature of this review is the presence of up-to-date information on the clinical and preclinical trials of gene therapy drug candidates that utilize muscle-specific promoters.
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Affiliation(s)
- V. V. Skopenkova
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334 Russia
- Marlin Biotech LLC, Moscow, 121205 Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334 Russia
| | - T. V. Egorova
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334 Russia
- Marlin Biotech LLC, Moscow, 121205 Russia
| | - M. V. Bardina
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334 Russia
- Marlin Biotech LLC, Moscow, 121205 Russia
- Center for Precision Genome Editing and Genetic Technologies for Biomedicine, Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, 119334 Russia
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27
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Alexandri C, Daniel A, Bruylants G, Demeestere I. The role of microRNAs in ovarian function and the transition toward novel therapeutic strategies in fertility preservation: from bench to future clinical application. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 26:174-196. [PMID: 32074269 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmz039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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: 05/17/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND New therapeutic approaches in oncology have converted cancer from a certain death sentence to a chronic disease. However, there are still challenges to be overcome regarding the off-target toxicity of many of these treatments. Oncological therapies can lead to future infertility in women. Given this negative impact on long-term quality of life, fertility preservation is highly recommended. While gamete and ovarian tissue cryopreservation are the usual methods offered, new pharmacological-based options aiming to reduce ovarian damage during oncological treatment are very attractive. In this vein, advances in the field of transcriptomics and epigenomics have brought small noncoding RNAs, called microRNAs (miRNAs), into the spotlight in oncology. MicroRNAs also play a key role in follicle development as regulators of follicular growth, atresia and steroidogenesis. They are also involved in DNA damage repair responses and they can themselves be modulated during chemotherapy. For these reasons, miRNAs may be an interesting target to develop new protective therapies during oncological treatment. This review summarizes the physiological role of miRNAs in reproduction. Considering recently developed strategies based on miRNA therapy in oncology, we highlight their potential interest as a target in fertility preservation and propose future strategies to make the transition from bench to clinic. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE How can miRNA therapeutic approaches be used to develop new adjuvant protective therapies to reduce the ovarian damage caused by cytotoxic oncological treatments? SEARCH METHODS A systematic search of English language literature using PubMed and Google Scholar databases was performed through to 2019 describing the role of miRNAs in the ovary and their use for diagnosis and targeted therapy in oncology. Personal data illustrate miRNA therapeutic strategies to target the gonads and reduce chemotherapy-induced follicular damage. OUTCOMES This review outlines the importance of miRNAs as gene regulators and emphasizes the fact that insights in oncology can inspire new adjuvant strategies in the field of onco-fertility. Recent improvements in nanotechnology offer the opportunity for drug development using next-generation miRNA-nanocarriers. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Although there are still some barriers regarding the immunogenicity and toxicity of these treatments and there is still room for improvement concerning the specific delivery of miRNAs into the ovaries, we believe that, in the future, miRNAs can be developed as powerful and non-invasive tools for fertility preservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Alexandri
- Research Laboratory in Human Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - A Daniel
- Research Laboratory in Human Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium.,Université de Tours, Faculty of Science and Technology, 37200 Tours, France
| | - G Bruylants
- Engineering of Molecular NanoSystems, Ecole Polytechnique de Bruxelles, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - I Demeestere
- Research Laboratory in Human Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium.,Fertility Clinic, CUB-Erasme, 1070 Brussels, Belgium
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28
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Frei T, Cella F, Tedeschi F, Gutiérrez J, Stan GB, Khammash M, Siciliano V. Characterization and mitigation of gene expression burden in mammalian cells. Nat Commun 2020; 11:4641. [PMID: 32934213 PMCID: PMC7492461 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18392-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [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: 05/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite recent advances in circuit engineering, the design of genetic networks in mammalian cells is still painstakingly slow and fraught with inexplicable failures. Here, we demonstrate that transiently expressed genes in mammalian cells compete for limited transcriptional and translational resources. This competition results in the coupling of otherwise independent exogenous and endogenous genes, creating a divergence between intended and actual function. Guided by a resource-aware mathematical model, we identify and engineer natural and synthetic miRNA-based incoherent feedforward loop (iFFL) circuits that mitigate gene expression burden. The implementation of these circuits features the use of endogenous miRNAs as elementary components of the engineered iFFL device, a versatile hybrid design that allows burden mitigation to be achieved across different cell-lines with minimal resource requirements. This study establishes the foundations for context-aware prediction and improvement of in vivo synthetic circuit performance, paving the way towards more rational synthetic construct design in mammalian cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy Frei
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
| | - Federica Cella
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia-IIT, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci, Naples, 80125, Italy
- University of Genoa, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Fabiana Tedeschi
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia-IIT, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci, Naples, 80125, Italy
| | - Joaquín Gutiérrez
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, Basel, 4058, Switzerland
| | - Guy-Bart Stan
- Department of Bioengineering and Centre for Synthetic Biology, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Mustafa Khammash
- Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering (D-BSSE), ETH Zürich, Mattenstrasse 26, Basel, 4058, Switzerland.
| | - Velia Siciliano
- Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia-IIT, Largo Barsanti e Matteucci, Naples, 80125, Italy.
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29
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Kennedy EM, Farkaly T, Grzesik P, Lee J, Denslow A, Hewett J, Bryant J, Behara P, Goshert C, Wambua D, De Almeida A, Jacques J, Deavall D, Rottman JB, Glorioso JC, Finer MH, Haines BB, Quéva C, Lerner L. Design of an Interferon-Resistant Oncolytic HSV-1 Incorporating Redundant Safety Modalities for Improved Tolerability. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2020; 18:476-490. [PMID: 32953982 PMCID: PMC7479328 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2020.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Development of next-generation oncolytic viruses requires the design of vectors that are potently oncolytic, immunogenic in human tumors, and well tolerated in patients. Starting with a joint-region deleted herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) to create large transgene capability, we retained a single copy of the ICP34.5 gene, introduced mutations in UL37 to inhibit retrograde axonal transport, and inserted cell-type-specific microRNA (miRNA) target cassettes in HSV-1 genes essential for replication or neurovirulence. Ten miRNA candidates highly expressed in normal tissues and with low or absent expression in malignancies were selected from a comprehensive profile of 800 miRNAs with an emphasis on protection of the nervous system. Among the genes essential for viral replication identified using a small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen, we selected ICP4, ICP27, and UL8 for miRNA attenuation where a single miRNA is sufficient to potently attenuate viral replication. Additionally, a neuron-specific miRNA target cassette was introduced to control ICP34.5 expression. This vector is resistant to type I interferon compared to ICP34.5-deleted oncolytic HSVs, and in cancer cell lines, the oncolytic activity of the modified vector is equivalent to its parental virus. In vivo, this vector potently inhibits tumor growth while being well tolerated, even at high intravenous doses, compared to parental wild-type HSV-1.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Joseph C Glorioso
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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30
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Hacker UT, Bentler M, Kaniowska D, Morgan M, Büning H. Towards Clinical Implementation of Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) Vectors for Cancer Gene Therapy: Current Status and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1889. [PMID: 32674264 PMCID: PMC7409174 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12071889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [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: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors have gained tremendous attention as in vivo delivery systems in gene therapy for inherited monogenetic diseases. First market approvals, excellent safety data, availability of large-scale production protocols, and the possibility to tailor the vector towards optimized and cell-type specific gene transfer offers to move from (ultra) rare to common diseases. Cancer, a major health burden for which novel therapeutic options are urgently needed, represents such a target. We here provide an up-to-date overview of the strategies which are currently developed for the use of AAV vectors in cancer gene therapy and discuss the perspectives for the future translation of these pre-clinical approaches into the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrich T. Hacker
- Department of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pulmonology, and Infectious Diseases, University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), Leipzig University Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (M.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Martin Bentler
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (M.B.); (M.M.)
| | - Dorota Kaniowska
- Department of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pulmonology, and Infectious Diseases, University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), Leipzig University Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany;
| | - Michael Morgan
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (M.B.); (M.M.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (M.B.); (M.M.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, Inhoffenstraße 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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31
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a leading cause of visual impairment in the developed country, is characterized by vascular lesions and neuronal damage of the retina. Treatment options for this condition are currently limited. The advent of therapy targeting vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) demonstrated significant benefits to patients with DR. However, this treatment is limited by its short half-life and requirement for frequent invasive intravitreal injections. In addition, many patients failed to achieve clinically significant improvement in visual function. Gene therapy has the potential to provide an alternative treatment for DR with distinct advantages, such as longer therapeutic effect, less injection frequency, ability to intervene at disease onset, and potentially fewer side effects. RECENT FINDINGS Strategies for gene therapy in DR, stemming from the current understanding of the disease pathogenesis, focus on the inhibition of neovascularization and protection of neurovascular degeneration in the retina. Studies with promising results have mainly focussed on animal models due to efficacy and safety concerns, despite a number of successful preclinical studies using adeno-associated virus-mediated transduction to treat both vascular dysfunction and neuronal degeneration. With the optimization of delivery vectors, transgene regulation, and outcome measure, gene therapy will potentially become available for patients with DR. This review provides an update on the current strategies utilized in DR gene therapy research. Several barriers to the clinical application of gene therapy for DR are highlighted, and future directions for this research are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Hui Wang
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Georgina Eloise Roberts
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - Guei-Sheung Liu
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
- Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia.
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32
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Farrera-Sal M, Fillat C, Alemany R. Effect of Transgene Location, Transcriptional Control Elements and Transgene Features in Armed Oncolytic Adenoviruses. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1034. [PMID: 32340119 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12041034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Clinical results with oncolytic adenoviruses (OAds) used as antitumor monotherapies show limited efficacy. To increase OAd potency, transgenes have been inserted into their genome, a strategy known as “arming OAds”. Here, we review different parameters that affect the outcome of armed OAds. Recombinant adenovirus used in gene therapy and vaccination have been the basis for the design of armed OAds. Hence, early region 1 (E1) and early region 3 (E3) have been the most commonly used transgene insertion sites, along with partially or complete E3 deletions. Besides transgene location and orientation, transcriptional control elements, transgene function, either virocentric or immunocentric, and even the codons encoding it, greatly impact on transgene levels and virus fitness.
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33
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Keaveney MK, Tseng HA, Ta TL, Gritton HJ, Man HY, Han X. A MicroRNA-Based Gene-Targeting Tool for Virally Labeling Interneurons in the Rodent Cortex. Cell Rep 2019; 24:294-303. [PMID: 29996091 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.06.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [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: 02/08/2018] [Revised: 04/03/2018] [Accepted: 06/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
More specific and broadly applicable viral gene-targeting tools for labeling neuron subtypes are needed to advance neuroscience research, especially in rodent transgenic disease models and genetically intractable species. Here, we develop a viral vector that restricts transgene expression to GABAergic interneurons in the rodent neocortex by exploiting endogenous microRNA regulation. Our interneuron-targeting, microRNA-guided neuron tag, "GABA mAGNET," achieves >95% interneuron selective labeling in the mouse cortex, including in a murine model of autism and also some preferential labeling of interneurons in the rat brain. We demonstrate an application of our GABA mAGNET by performing simultaneous, in vivo optogenetic control of two distinct neuron subtypes. This interneuron labeling tool highlights the potential of microRNA-based viral gene targeting to specific neuron subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marianna K Keaveney
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Hua-An Tseng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Tina L Ta
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Howard J Gritton
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Heng-Ye Man
- Department of Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Xue Han
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA.
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Kabekkodu SP, Shukla V, Varghese VK, Adiga D, Vethil Jishnu P, Chakrabarty S, Satyamoorthy K. Cluster miRNAs and cancer: Diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic opportunities. Wiley Interdiscip Rev RNA 2019; 11:e1563. [PMID: 31436881 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
MiRNAs are class of noncoding RNA important for gene expression regulation in many plants, animals and viruses. MiRNA clusters contain a set of two or more miRNA encoding genes, transcribed together as polycistronic miRNAs. Currently, there are approximately 159 miRNA clusters reported in the human genome consisting of miRNAs ranging from two or more miRNA genes. A large proportion of clustered miRNAs resides in and around the fragile sites or cancer associated genomic hotspots and plays an important role in carcinogenesis. Altered expression of miRNA cluster can be pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic and can be targeted for clinical management of cancer. Over the past few years, manipulation of miRNA clusters expression is attempted for experimental purpose as well as for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic applications in cancer. Re-expression of miRNAs by epigenetic therapy, genome editing such as clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) and miRNA mowers showed promising results in cancer therapy. In this review, we focused on the potential of miRNA clusters as a biomarker for diagnosis, prognosis, targeted therapy as well as strategies for modulating their expression in a therapeutic context. This article is categorized under: Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs RNA Processing > Processing of Small RNAs RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Biogenesis of Effector Small RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shama Prasada Kabekkodu
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Vaibhav Shukla
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Vinay Koshy Varghese
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Divya Adiga
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Padacherri Vethil Jishnu
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Sanjiban Chakrabarty
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
| | - Kapaettu Satyamoorthy
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Manipal School of Life Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, Karnataka, India
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Berraondo P, Martini PGV, Avila MA, Fontanellas A. Messenger RNA therapy for rare genetic metabolic diseases. Gut 2019; 68:1323-1330. [PMID: 30796097 DOI: 10.1136/gutjnl-2019-318269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Decades of intense research in molecular biology and biochemistry are fructifying in the emergence of therapeutic messenger RNAs (mRNA) as a new class of drugs. Synthetic mRNAs can be sequence optimised to improve translatability into proteins, as well as chemically modified to reduce immunogenicity and increase chemical stability using naturally occurring uridine modifications. These structural improvements, together with the development of safe and efficient vehicles that preserve mRNA integrity in circulation and allow targeted intracellular delivery, have paved the way for mRNA-based therapeutics. Indeed, mRNAs formulated into biodegradable lipid nanoparticles are currently being tested in preclinical and clinical studies for multiple diseases including cancer immunotherapy and vaccination for infectious diseases. An emerging application of mRNAs is the supplementation of proteins that are not expressed or are not functional in a regulated and tissue-specific manner. This so-called 'protein replacement therapy' could represent a solution for genetic metabolic diseases currently lacking effective treatments. Here we summarise this new class of drugs and discuss the preclinical evidence supporting the potential of liver-mediated mRNA therapy for three rare genetic conditions: methylmalonic acidaemia, acute intermittent porphyria and ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Berraondo
- Immunology and Immunotherapy Program, Centro de Investigación Médica Aplicada (Cima), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer, CIBERonc, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain
| | | | - Matias A Avila
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain.,Hepatology Program, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Fontanellas
- Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Navarra IdiSNA, Pamplona, Spain.,Hepatology Program, CIMA, University of Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
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Li H, Okada H, Suzuki S, Sakai K, Izumi H, Matsushima Y, Ichinohe N, Goto YI, Okada T, Inoue K. Gene suppressing therapy for Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease using artificial microRNA. JCI Insight 2019; 4:125052. [PMID: 31092737 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.125052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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: 10/02/2018] [Accepted: 04/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Copy number increase or decrease of certain dosage-sensitive genes may cause genetic diseases with distinct phenotypes, conceptually termed genomic disorders. The most common cause of Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), an X-linked hypomyelinating leukodystrophy, is genomic duplication encompassing the entire proteolipid protein 1 (PLP1) gene. Although the exact molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying PLP1 duplication, which causes severe hypomyelination in the central nervous system, remain largely elusive, PLP1 overexpression is likely the fundamental cause of this devastating disease. Here, we investigated if adeno-associated virus-mediated (AAV-mediated) gene-specific suppression may serve as a potential cure for PMD by correcting quantitative aberrations in gene products. We developed an oligodendrocyte-specific Plp1 gene suppression therapy using artificial microRNA under the control of human CNP promoter in a self-complementary AAV (scAAV) platform. A single direct brain injection achieved widespread oligodendrocyte-specific Plp1 suppression in the white matter of WT mice. AAV treatment in Plp1-transgenic mice, a PLP1 duplication model, ameliorated cytoplasmic accumulation of Plp1, preserved mature oligodendrocytes from degradation, restored myelin structure and gene expression, and improved survival and neurological phenotypes. Together, our results provide evidence that AAV-mediated gene suppression therapy can serve as a potential cure for PMD resulting from PLP1 duplication and possibly for other genomic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Li
- Department of Mental Retardation and Birth Defect Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hironori Okada
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sadafumi Suzuki
- Department of Mental Retardation and Birth Defect Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Sakai
- Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hitomi Izumi
- Department of Mental Retardation and Birth Defect Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yukiko Matsushima
- Department of Mental Retardation and Birth Defect Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Noritaka Ichinohe
- Department of Ultrastructural Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yu-Ichi Goto
- Department of Mental Retardation and Birth Defect Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Okada
- Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Graduate School of Medicine, Nippon Medical School, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ken Inoue
- Department of Mental Retardation and Birth Defect Research, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
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Kim B, Sailor MJ. Synthesis, Functionalization, and Characterization of Fusogenic Porous Silicon Nanoparticles for Oligonucleotide Delivery. J Vis Exp 2019. [PMID: 31058889 DOI: 10.3791/59440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
With the advent of gene therapy, the development of an effective in vivo nucleotide-payload delivery system has become of parallel import. Fusogenic porous silicon nanoparticles (F-pSiNPs) have recently demonstrated high in vivo gene silencing efficacy due to its high oligonucleotide loading capacity and unique cellular uptake pathway that avoids endocytosis. The synthesis of F-pSiNPs is a multi-step process that includes: (1) loading and sealing of oligonucleotide payloads in the silicon pores; (2) simultaneous coating and sizing of fusogenic lipids around the porous silicon cores; and (3) conjugation of targeting peptides and washing to remove excess oligonucleotide, silicon debris, and peptide. The particle's size uniformity is characterized by dynamic light scattering, and its core-shell structure may be verified by transmission electron microscopy. The fusogenic uptake is validated by loading a lipophilic dye, 1,1'-dioctadecyl-3,3,3',3'-tetramethylindocarbocyanine perchlorate (DiI), into the fusogenic lipid bilayer and treating it to cells in vitro to observe for plasma membrane staining versus endocytic localizations. The targeting and in vivo gene silencing efficacies were previously quantified in a mouse model of Staphylococcus aureus pneumonia, in which the targeting peptide is expected to help the F-pSiNPs to home to the site of infection. Beyond its application in S. aureus infection, the F-pSiNP system may be used to deliver any oligonucleotide for gene therapy of a wide range of diseases, including viral infections, cancer, and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byungji Kim
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego;
| | - Michael J Sailor
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego
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Abstract
Rare diseases are very difficult to study mechanistically and to develop therapies for because of the scarcity of patients. Here, the rare neuro-metabolic disorder Rett syndrome (RTT) is discussed as a prototype for precision medicine, demonstrating how mouse models have led to an understanding of the development of symptoms. RTT is caused by mutations in the X-linked gene methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2). Mecp2-mutant mice are being used in preclinical studies that target the MECP2 gene directly, or its downstream pathways. Importantly, this work may improve the health of RTT patients. Clinical presentation may vary widely among individuals based on their mutation, but also because of the degree of X chromosome inactivation and the presence of modifier genes. Because it is a complex disorder involving many organ systems, it is likely that recovery of RTT patients will involve a combination of treatments. Precision medicine is warranted to provide the best efficacy to individually treat RTT patients.
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Abstract
Gene expression regulation is the result of complex interactions between transcriptional and post-transcriptional controls, resulting in cell-type-specific gene expression patterns that are determined by the developmental and differentiation stage of pathophysiological conditions. Understanding the complexity of gene expression regulatory networks is fundamental to gene therapy, an approach which has the potential to treat and cure inherited disorders by delivering the correct gene to patient specific cells or tissues by means of both viral and non-viral vectors. Besides the issues of biosafety, in recent years efforts have focused on achieving a robust and sustained transgene expression, which attains a phenotypic correction in several diseases, while avoiding transgene-related adverse effects, such as overexpression-associated cytotoxicity and/or immune responses to the transgene. In this sense, the use of cell-type-specific promoters and microRNA target sequences (miRTs) in gene transfer expression cassettes have allowed for a restricted expression after gene transfer in several studies. This review will focus on the use of transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation to achieve a highly specific and safe transgene expression, as well as their application in ex vivo and in vivo gene therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Merlin
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
| | - Antonia Follenzi
- Department of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Piemonte Orientale, Novara, Italy
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Jain R, Frederick JP, Huang EY, Burke KE, Mauger DM, Andrianova EA, Farlow SJ, Siddiqui S, Pimentel J, Cheung-Ong K, McKinney KM, Köhrer C, Moore MJ, Chakraborty T. MicroRNAs Enable mRNA Therapeutics to Selectively Program Cancer Cells to Self-Destruct. Nucleic Acid Ther 2018; 28:285-296. [PMID: 30088967 PMCID: PMC6157376 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2018.0734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [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: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The advent of therapeutic mRNAs significantly increases the possibilities of protein-based biologics beyond those that can be synthesized by recombinant technologies (eg, monoclonal antibodies, extracellular enzymes, and cytokines). In addition to their application in the areas of vaccine development, immune-oncology, and protein replacement therapies, one exciting possibility is to use therapeutic mRNAs to program undesired, diseased cells to synthesize a toxic intracellular protein, causing cells to self-destruct. For this approach to work, however, methods are needed to limit toxic protein expression to the intended cell type. Here, we show that inclusion of microRNA target sites in therapeutic mRNAs encoding apoptotic proteins, Caspase or PUMA, can prevent their expression in healthy hepatocytes while triggering apoptosis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruchi Jain
- 1 Department of Molecular Biology, Moderna Therapeutics , Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Josh P Frederick
- 2 Department of Oncology, Moderna Therapeutics , Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Eric Y Huang
- 3 New Venture Labs , Moderna Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Kristine E Burke
- 4 Non-Clinical Sciences , Moderna Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - David M Mauger
- 5 Computational Sciences , Moderna Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Sam J Farlow
- 2 Department of Oncology, Moderna Therapeutics , Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Summar Siddiqui
- 6 Rare Diseases , Moderna Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffrey Pimentel
- 6 Rare Diseases , Moderna Therapeutics, Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Kahlin Cheung-Ong
- 2 Department of Oncology, Moderna Therapeutics , Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Caroline Köhrer
- 1 Department of Molecular Biology, Moderna Therapeutics , Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Melissa J Moore
- 1 Department of Molecular Biology, Moderna Therapeutics , Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Tirtha Chakraborty
- 1 Department of Molecular Biology, Moderna Therapeutics , Cambridge, Massachusetts
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41
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Dhungel B, Ramlogan-Steel CA, Steel JC. MicroRNA-Regulated Gene Delivery Systems for Research and Therapeutic Purposes. Molecules 2018; 23:E1500. [PMID: 29933586 PMCID: PMC6099389 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23071500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted gene delivery relies on the ability to limit the expression of a transgene within a defined cell/tissue population. MicroRNAs represent a class of highly powerful and effective regulators of gene expression that act by binding to a specific sequence present in the corresponding messenger RNA. Involved in almost every aspect of cellular function, many miRNAs have been discovered with expression patterns specific to developmental stage, lineage, cell-type, or disease stage. Exploiting the binding sites of these miRNAs allows for construction of targeted gene delivery platforms with a diverse range of applications. Here, we summarize studies that have utilized miRNA-regulated systems to achieve targeted gene delivery for both research and therapeutic purposes. Additionally, we identify criteria that are important for the effectiveness of a particular miRNA for such applications and we also discuss factors that have to be taken into consideration when designing miRNA-regulated expression cassettes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijay Dhungel
- Gallipoli Medical Research Institute, Greenslopes Private Hospital, 102 Newdegate Street, Brisbane, QLD 4120, Australia.
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, Translational Research Institute, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Charmaine A Ramlogan-Steel
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
- Layton Vision Foundation, Translational Research Institute, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
| | - Jason C Steel
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland, 288 Herston Road, Herston, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia.
- OcuGene, Translational Research Institute, 37 Kent Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia.
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Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is characterised by the concomitant occurrence of impaired social interaction; restricted, perseverative and stereotypical behaviour; and abnormal communication skills. Recent epidemiological studies have reported a dramatic increase in the prevalence of ASD with as many as 1 in every 59 children being diagnosed with ASD. The fact that ASD appears to be principally genetically driven, and may be reversible postnatally, has raised the exciting possibility of using gene therapy as a disease-modifying treatment. Such therapies have already started to seriously impact on human disease and particularly monogenic disorders (e.g. metachromatic leukodystrophy, SMA type 1). In regard to ASD, technical advances in both our capacity to model the disorder in animals and also our ability to deliver genes to the central nervous system (CNS) have led to the first preclinical studies in monogenic ASD, involving both gene replacement and silencing. Furthermore, our increasing awareness and understanding of common dysregulated pathways in ASD have broadened gene therapy's potential scope to include various polygenic ASDs. As this review highlights, despite a number of outstanding challenges, gene therapy has excellent potential to address cognitive dysfunction in ASD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Benger
- Gene Therapy, Centre for Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, W12 0NN, London, UK
| | - Maria Kinali
- Present address: The Portland Hospital, 205-209 Great Portland Street, London, W1W 5AH UK
| | - Nicholas D. Mazarakis
- Gene Therapy, Centre for Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration, Division of Brain Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, W12 0NN, London, UK
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Abstract
There has been a resurgence in gene therapy efforts that is partly fueled by the identification and understanding of new gene delivery vectors. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is a non-enveloped virus that can be engineered to deliver DNA to target cells, and has attracted a significant amount of attention in the field, especially in clinical-stage experimental therapeutic strategies. The ability to generate recombinant AAV particles lacking any viral genes and containing DNA sequences of interest for various therapeutic applications has thus far proven to be one of the safest strategies for gene therapies. This review will provide an overview of some important factors to consider in the use of AAV as a vector for gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael F Naso
- Janssen Research and Development, 200 McKean Road, Spring House, PA, 19477, USA.
| | - Brian Tomkowicz
- Janssen Research and Development, 200 McKean Road, Spring House, PA, 19477, USA
| | - William L Perry
- Janssen Research and Development, 200 McKean Road, Spring House, PA, 19477, USA
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Zhang Y, Xiao F, Zhong C, Zeng M, Zou L. Retracted Article: Cd induces G2/M cell cycle arrest by up-regulating miR-133b via directly targeting PPP2R2D in L02 hepatocytes. Metallomics 2018; 10:1510-1523. [DOI: 10.1039/c8mt00243f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
This study could provide a novel epigenetic mechanism for Cd-induced acute hepatotoxicity and it would offer new targets for its intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Zhang
- Hunan Normal University School of Medicine
- Changsha 410013
- P. R. China
- Central South University Xiangya School of Public Health
- Changsha 410078
| | - Fang Xiao
- Central South University Xiangya School of Public Health
- Changsha 410078
- P. R. China
| | - Caigao Zhong
- Central South University Xiangya School of Public Health
- Changsha 410078
- P. R. China
| | - Ming Zeng
- Central South University Xiangya School of Public Health
- Changsha 410078
- P. R. China
| | - Lianhong Zou
- Hunan Normal University School of Medicine
- Changsha 410013
- P. R. China
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Shayestehpour M, Moghim S, Salimi V, Jalilvand S, Yavarian J, Romani B, Mokhtari-Azad T. Targeting human breast cancer cells by an oncolytic adenovirus using microRNA-targeting strategy. Virus Res 2017; 240:207-214. [PMID: 28867494 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2017.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 07/17/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNA-targeting strategy is a promising approach that enables oncolytic viruses to replicate in tumor cells but not in normal cells. In this study, we targeted adenoviral replication toward breast cancer cells by inserting ten complementary binding sites for miR-145-5p downstream of E1A gene. In addition, we evaluated the effect of increasing miR-145 binding sites on inhibition of virus replication. Ad5-control and adenoviruses carrying five or ten copies of miR145-5p target sites (Ad5-5miR145T, Ad5-10miR145T) were generated and inoculated into MDA-MB-453, BT-20, MCF-7 breast cancer cell lines and human mammary epithelial cells (HMEpC). Titer of Ad5-10miR145T in HMEpC was significantly lower than Ad5-control titer. Difference between the titer of these two viruses at 12, 24, 36, and 48h after infection was 1.25, 2.96, 3.06, and 3.77 log TCID50. No significant difference was observed between the titer of both adenoviruses in MDA-MB-453, BT-20 and MCF-7 cells. The infectious titer of adenovirus containing 10 miR-145 binding sites in HMEpC cells at 24, 36, and 48h post-infection was 1.7, 2.08, and 4-fold, respectively, lower than the titer of adenovirus carrying 5 miR-145 targets. Our results suggest that miR-145-targeting strategy provides selectivity for adenovirus replication in breast cancer cells. Increasing the number of miRNA binding sites within the adenoviral genome confers more selectivity for viral replication in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Shayestehpour
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1471613151, Iran
| | - Sharareh Moghim
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, 8174673461, Iran
| | - Vahid Salimi
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1471613151, Iran
| | - Somayeh Jalilvand
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1471613151, Iran
| | - Jila Yavarian
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1471613151, Iran
| | - Bizhan Romani
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2E1, Canada; Cellular & Molecular Research Center (CMRC), Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (AJUMS), Ahvaz, 6135715794, Iran
| | - Talat Mokhtari-Azad
- Department of Virology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1471613151, Iran.
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION The multiple myeloma (MM) treatment scenario has changed considerably over the past few years. Several novel targeted therapies are currently under consideration including oncolytic virotherapy. Areas covered: This review provides an analysis of the mechanisms of action of virotherapy, and summarizes the preclinical and clinical studies of systemic virotherapy developed for the treatment of MM. Different types of viruses have been identified, including: adenovirus, vaccinia virus, herpes simplex virus 1, myxoma virus, reovirus, measles virus, vesicular stomatitis virus and coxsackievirus A21. Expert opinion: The above-mentioned viruses can do more than simply infect and kill malignant plasma cells alone or in combination with chemo and/or radiotherapy. In fact, some of them can also be used to purge myeloma cells from an autologous bone marrow (BM) transplant. Further investigations are required to better explore the best therapeutic combinations for MM and to also overcome antiviral response immunity that can limit the efficacy of this therapeutic strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Oliva
- a Myeloma Unit, Division of Hematology , University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino , Torino , Italy
| | - Manuela Gambella
- a Myeloma Unit, Division of Hematology , University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino , Torino , Italy
| | - Mario Boccadoro
- a Myeloma Unit, Division of Hematology , University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino , Torino , Italy
| | - Sara Bringhen
- a Myeloma Unit, Division of Hematology , University of Torino, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino , Torino , Italy
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Somplatzki S, Mühlenhoff M, Kröger A, Gerardy-Schahn R, Böldicke T. Intrabodies against the Polysialyltransferases ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV inhibit Polysialylation of NCAM in rhabdomyosarcoma tumor cells. BMC Biotechnol 2017; 17:42. [PMID: 28499450 PMCID: PMC5429572 DOI: 10.1186/s12896-017-0360-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 08/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Polysialic acid (polySia) is a carbohydrate modification of the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM), which is implicated in neural differentiation and plays an important role in tumor development and metastasis. Polysialylation of NCAM is mediated by two Golgi-resident polysialyltransferases (polyST) ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV. Intracellular antibodies (intrabodies; IB) expressed inside the ER and retaining proteins passing the ER such as cell surface receptors or secretory proteins provide an efficient means of protein knockdown. To inhibit the function of ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV specific ER IBs were generated starting from two corresponding hybridoma clones. Both IBs αST8SiaII-IB and αST8SiaIV-IB were constructed in the scFv format and their functions characterized in vitro and in vivo. Results IBs directed against the polySTs prevented the translocation of the enzymes from the ER to the Golgi-apparatus. Co-immunoprecipitation of ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV with the corresponding IBs confirmed the intracellular interaction with their cognate antigens. In CHO cells overexpressing ST8SiaII and ST8SiaIV, respectively, the transfection with αST8SiaII-IB or αST8SiaIV-IB inhibited significantly the cell surface expression of polysialylated NCAM. Furthermore stable expression of ST8SiaII-IB, ST8SiaIV-IB and luciferase in the rhabdomyosarcoma cell line TE671 reduced cell surface expression of polySia and delayed tumor growth if cells were xenografted into C57BL/6 J RAG-2 mice. Conclusion Data obtained strongly indicate that αST8SiaII-IB and αST8SiaIV-IB are promising experimental tools to analyze the individual role of the two enzymes during brain development and during migration and proliferation of tumor cells. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12896-017-0360-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Somplatzki
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Structural and Functional Protein Research, Inhoffenstraße 7, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Martina Mühlenhoff
- Institute of Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, D-30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Andrea Kröger
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Group Innate Immunity and Infection, Inhoffenstraße 7, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Rita Gerardy-Schahn
- Institute of Cellular Chemistry, Hannover Medical School, D-30625, Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Böldicke
- Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Structural and Functional Protein Research, Inhoffenstraße 7, D-38124, Braunschweig, Germany.
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Taschenberger G, Tereshchenko J, Kügler S. A MicroRNA124 Target Sequence Restores Astrocyte Specificity of gfaABC 1D-Driven Transgene Expression in AAV-Mediated Gene Transfer. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2017; 8:13-25. [PMID: 28918015 PMCID: PMC5476465 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Experimentally restricting transgene expression exclusively to astrocytes has proven difficult. Using adeno-associated-virus-mediated gene transfer, we assessed two commonly used glial fibrillary acidic protein promoters: the full-length version gfa2 (2,210-bp human glial fibrillary acidic protein [GFAP] promoter) and the truncated variant gfaABC1D (681-bp GFAP promoter). The capacity to drive efficient, but also cell-type specific, expression of the EGFP in astrocytes was tested both in vitro in rat primary cortical cultures as well as in vivo in the rat striatum. We observed an efficient, but not entirely astrocyte-specific, gfa2-driven reporter expression. gfaABC1D exhibited a weaker activity, and most importantly, off-target, neuronal expression of the transgene occurred in a larger fraction of cells. Therefore, we explored the potential of a microRNA (miR)-specific target-sequence-based approach for abolishing off-target expression. When miR124 target sequences were incorporated into the 3′ UTR, neuronal gene expression was effectively silenced. However, unexpectedly, the insertion of an additional sequence in the 3′ UTR clearly diminished transgene expression. In conclusion, the gfaABC1D promoter on its own is not sufficient to specifically target transgene expression to astrocytes and is not well suited for AAV-based gene targeting, even if short promoter sequences are required. The combination with a miR de-targeting sequence represents a promising experimental strategy that eliminates off-target, neuronal expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grit Taschenberger
- Center of Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Goettingen, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Waldweg 33, 37073 Goettingen, Germany.
| | - Julia Tereshchenko
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Waldweg 33, 37073 Goettingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Kügler
- Center of Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain, Humboldtallee 23, 37073 Goettingen, Germany; Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Waldweg 33, 37073 Goettingen, Germany
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Lee KJ, Li Y. Utilities of AAV vectors in in vivo phenotypic screening and functional studies. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2017; 21:449-450. [DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2017.1292442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ki Jeong Lee
- Genome Analysis Unit, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, CA, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Cardiometabolic Disorders, Amgen Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
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Wang JH, Ling D, Tu L, van Wijngaarden P, Dusting GJ, Liu GS. Gene therapy for diabetic retinopathy: Are we ready to make the leap from bench to bedside? Pharmacol Ther 2017; 173:1-18. [PMID: 28132907 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a chronic and progressive complication of diabetes mellitus, is a sight-threatening disease characterized in the early stages by neuronal and vascular dysfunction in the retina, and later by neovascularization that further damages vision. A major contributor to the pathology is excess production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), a growth factor that induces formation of new blood vessels and increases permeability of existing vessels. Despite the recent availability of effective treatments for the disease, including laser photocoagulation and therapeutic VEGF antibodies, DR remains a significant cause of vision loss worldwide. Existing anti-VEGF agents, though generally effective, are limited by their short therapeutic half-lives, necessitating frequent intravitreal injections and the risk of attendant adverse events. Management of DR with gene therapies has been proposed for several years, and pre-clinical studies have yielded enticing findings. Gene therapy holds several advantages over conventional treatments for DR, such as a longer duration of therapeutic effect, simpler administration, the ability to intervene at an earlier stage of the disease, and potentially fewer side-effects. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the pathophysiology of DR and provide an overview of research into DR gene therapies. We also examine current barriers to the clinical application of gene therapy for DR and evaluate future prospects for this approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Hui Wang
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Damien Ling
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Discipline of Ophthalmology, Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Leilei Tu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peter van Wijngaarden
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Gregory J Dusting
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Guei-Sheung Liu
- Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, Australia.
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