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Dou Z, Zhao D, Chen X, Xu C, Jin X, Zhang X, Wang Y, Xie X, Li Q, Di C, Zhang H. Aberrant Bcl-x splicing in cancer: from molecular mechanism to therapeutic modulation. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:194. [PMID: 34118966 PMCID: PMC8196531 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02001-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Bcl-x pre-mRNA splicing serves as a typical example to study the impact of alternative splicing in the modulation of cell death. Dysregulation of Bcl-x apoptotic isoforms caused by precarious equilibrium splicing is implicated in genesis and development of multiple human diseases, especially cancers. Exploring the mechanism of Bcl-x splicing and regulation has provided insight into the development of drugs that could contribute to sensitivity of cancer cells to death. On this basis, we review the multiple splicing patterns and structural characteristics of Bcl-x. Additionally, we outline the cis-regulatory elements, trans-acting factors as well as epigenetic modifications involved in the splicing regulation of Bcl-x. Furthermore, this review highlights aberrant splicing of Bcl-x involved in apoptosis evade, autophagy, metastasis, and therapy resistance of various cancer cells. Last, emphasis is given to the clinical role of targeting Bcl-x splicing correction in human cancer based on the splice-switching oligonucleotides, small molecular modulators and BH3 mimetics. Thus, it is highlighting significance of aberrant splicing isoforms of Bcl-x as targets for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Dou
- Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Bio-Medical Research Center, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Dapeng Zhao
- Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Bio-Medical Research Center, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Xiaohua Chen
- Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Bio-Medical Research Center, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Caipeng Xu
- Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Bio-Medical Research Center, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Xiaodong Jin
- Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Bio-Medical Research Center, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xuetian Zhang
- Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Bio-Medical Research Center, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Yupei Wang
- Medical Genetics Center of Gansu Maternal and Child Health Care Center, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Xiaodong Xie
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Qiang Li
- Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Bio-Medical Research Center, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Huizhou, 516029, China
| | - Cuixia Di
- Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Bio-Medical Research Center, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China.
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China.
- Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Huizhou, 516029, China.
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Heavy Ion Radiation Medicine, Bio-Medical Research Center, Institute of Modern Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- Key Laboratory of Heavy Ion Radiation Biology and Medicine of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
- College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China.
- School of Nuclear Science and Technology, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China.
- Advanced Energy Science and Technology Guangdong Laboratory, Huizhou, 516029, China.
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Carvalho C, Carmo-Fonseca M. Design and Application of a Short (16-mer) Locked Nucleic Acid Splice-Switching Oligonucleotide for Dystrophin Production in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Myotubes. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2161:37-50. [PMID: 32681504 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0680-3_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) have been used to modulate gene expression by interfering with pre-mRNA splicing with the intent to treat disease. For Duchenne muscular dystrophy, splicing modulation has been used to induce the skipping of exon 51 of the dystrophin transcript, allowing the production of a truncated but functional protein. Although oligonucleotide-based therapies are promising, the rapid degradation of oligonucleotides (ONs) by intracellular nucleases has been a major obstacle. Locked nucleic acid (LNA) substitution in SSOs protects oligonucleotides from nuclease degradation and enhances the hybridization properties of the oligo. However, the best optimum size of the oligo depends on the LNA substitution rate. Here we show that 16-mer DNA SSOs with 60% LNA substitution and full phosphorothioate (PS) linkage backbone efficiently induce exon 51 skipping in myogenic cells derived from a DMD patient, allowing expression of the dystrophin protein.
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Zhdanov DD, Plyasova AA, Gladilina YA, Pokrovsky VS, Grishin DV, Grachev VA, Orlova VS, Pokrovskaya MV, Alexandrova SS, Lobaeva TA, Sokolov NN. Inhibition of telomerase activity by splice-switching oligonucleotides targeting the mRNA of the telomerase catalytic subunit affects proliferation of human CD4 + T lymphocytes. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 509:790-796. [PMID: 30612734 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.12.186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Telomerase activity is regulated at the mRNA level by alternative splicing (AS) of its catalytic subunit hTERT. The aim of this study was to define the ability of splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) that pair with hTERT pre-mRNA to induce AS and inhibit telomerase activity in human CD4+ T lymphocytes. SSOs that blocked the binding of a single splicing regulatory protein, SRp20 or SRp40, to its site within intron 8 of hTERT pre-mRNA demonstrated rather moderate capacities to induce AS and inhibit telomerase. However, a SSO that blocked the interaction of both SRp20 and SRp40 proteins with pre-mRNA was the most active. Cultivation of lymphocytes with spliced hTERT and inhibited telomerase resulted in the reduction of proliferative activity without significant induction of cell death. These results should facilitate further investigation of telomerase activity regulation, and antitelomerase SSOs could become promising agents for antiproliferative cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dmitry D Zhdanov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10/8 Pogodinskaya st, 119121, Moscow, Russia; Рeoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Anna A Plyasova
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10/8 Pogodinskaya st, 119121, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yulia A Gladilina
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10/8 Pogodinskaya st, 119121, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vadim S Pokrovsky
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10/8 Pogodinskaya st, 119121, Moscow, Russia; Рeoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198, Moscow, Russia; N.N. Blokhin Cancer Research Center, 24 Kashirskoe Shosse, 115478, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry V Grishin
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10/8 Pogodinskaya st, 119121, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vladimir A Grachev
- Рeoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198, Moscow, Russia
| | - Valentina S Orlova
- Рeoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198, Moscow, Russia
| | | | | | - Tatiana A Lobaeva
- Рeoples' Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198, Moscow, Russia
| | - Nikolay N Sokolov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10/8 Pogodinskaya st, 119121, Moscow, Russia
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Saher O, Rocha CSJ, Zaghloul EM, Wiklander OPB, Zamolo S, Heitz M, Ezzat K, Gupta D, Reymond JL, Zain R, Hollfelder F, Darbre T, Lundin KE, El Andaloussi S, Smith CIE. Novel peptide-dendrimer/lipid/oligonucleotide ternary complexes for efficient cellular uptake and improved splice-switching activity. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2018; 132:29-40. [PMID: 30193928 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Despite the advances in gene therapy and in oligonucleotide (ON) chemistry, efficient cellular delivery remains an obstacle. Most current transfection reagents suffer from low efficacy or high cytotoxicity. In this report, we describe the synergism between lipid and dendrimer delivery vectors to enhance the transfection efficiency, while avoiding high toxicity. We screened a library of 20 peptide dendrimers representing three different generations and evaluated their capability to deliver a single-stranded splice-switching ON after formulating with lipids (DOTMA/DOPE). The transfection efficiency was analyzed in 5 reporter cell lines, in serum-free and serum conditions, and with 5 different formulation protocols. All formulations displayed low cytotoxicity to the majority of the tested cell lines. The complex sizes were < 200 nm; particle size distributions of effective mixtures were < 80 nm; and, the zeta potential was dependent on the formulation buffer used. The best dendrimer enhanced transfection in a HeLa reporter cell line by 30-fold compared to untreated cells under serum-free conditions. Interestingly, addition of sucrose to the formulation enabled - for the first time - peptide dendrimers/lipid complexes to efficiently deliver splice-switching ON in the presence of serum, reaching 40-fold increase in splice switching. Finally, in vivo studies highlighted the potential of these formulae to change the biodistribution pattern to be more towards the liver (90% of injected dose) compared to the kidneys (5% of injected dose) or to unformulated ON. This success encourages further development of peptide dendrimer complexes active in serum and future investigation of mechanisms behind the influence of additives on transfection efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Osama Saher
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden; Department Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
| | - Cristina S J Rocha
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Eman M Zaghloul
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Oscar P B Wiklander
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Susanna Zamolo
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marc Heitz
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Kariem Ezzat
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Dhanu Gupta
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Jean-Louis Reymond
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Rula Zain
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden; Department of Clinical Genetics, Centre for Rare Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Florian Hollfelder
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge 80 Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK
| | - Tamis Darbre
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Bern, Freiestrasse 3, 3012 Bern, Switzerland
| | - Karin E Lundin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Samir El Andaloussi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - C I Edvard Smith
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Clinical Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital Huddinge, 141 86 Huddinge, Sweden.
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Zhou D, Shao Q, Fan X, Wu P, Lin W, Wei H, He F, Jiang Y. Regulation of Tak1 alternative splicing by splice-switching oligonucleotides. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 497:1018-24. [PMID: 29475001 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.02.160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) generates multiple isoforms from a single precursor mRNA, and these isoforms usually exhibit different tissue distributions and functions. Aberrant protein isoforms can lead to abnormalities in protein function and may even result in genetic disorders or cancer. In recent years, splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) have emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy for several neurological diseases, but the efficacy of this strategy in other organs is less reported. In this study, we designed and synthesized SSOs targeting the splicing regulators of exon 12 of the Tak1 gene, inducing variant switching between Tak1-A and Tak1-B. We also designed SSOs capable of knockdown both Tak1 variants by inducing the aberrant splicing of exon 4. The Vivo-morpholino SSOs showed significant splice-switching of Tak1 in mouse liver, with a persistence of at least 10 days after initial SSOs delivery. Bioinformatics analysis indicated a lipid metabolism-related function for Tak1-B but not Tak1-A. The conversion of Tak1-B to Tak1-A consistently led to significant accumulation of lipids in cultured AML12 cells, as well as the dysregulation of several lipid metabolism-related genes in mouse liver. Different functional properties of the two isoforms may explain the conflicting functions previously reported for Tak1. In conclusion, our research clarified the different functions of Tak1 isoforms, and provided an efficient strategy for the functional research of the AS isoforms.
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Farrelly-Rosch A, Lau CL, Patil N, Turner BJ, Shabanpoor F. Combination of valproic acid and morpholino splice-switching oligonucleotide produces improved outcomes in spinal muscular atrophy patient-derived fibroblasts. Neurochem Int 2017; 108:213-221. [PMID: 28389270 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2017.02.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), the leading genetic cause of infant mortality worldwide, is characterised by the homozygous loss of the survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1) gene. The consequent degeneration of spinal motor neurons and progressive atrophy of voluntary muscle groups results in paralysis and eventually premature infantile death. Humans possess a second nearly identical copy of SMN1, known as SMN2. However, SMN2 produces only 10-20% functional SMN protein due to aberrant splicing of its pre-mRNA that leads to the exclusion of exon 7. This level of SMN is insufficient to rescue the phenotype. Recently developed splice-switching antisense oligonuclotides (SSO) have shown great promise in correcting the aberrant splicing of SMN2 towards producing functional SMN protein. Several FDA approved drugs are being repurposed for SMA treatment including valproic acid (VPA), a histone deacetylase inhibitor, which has been shown to increase overall SMN2 expression. In this study, we have characterised the effects of single and combined treatment of VPA and a SSO based on phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) chemistry. We conjugated both VPA and PMO to a single cell-penetrating peptide (Apolipoprotein E (ApoE)) for their simultaneous intracellular delivery. Treatment of SMA Type I patient-derived fibroblasts with the conjugates showed no additive increase in the level of full-length SMN2 mRNA expression over both 4 and 16 h treatments indicating that conjugation of VPA to ApoE-PMO has limited benefit. However, treatment with a combination of VPA and ApoE-PMO induced more favourable splice switching activity than either agent alone, promoting exon 7 inclusion in SMN2 transcripts. Our results suggest that combination therapy of VPA and ApoE-PMO is superior in upregulating SMN2 production in vitro, as compared to singular treatment of each compound at both transcriptional and protein levels. This study provides the first indication of a novel dual therapy approach for the potential treatment of SMA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Farrelly-Rosch
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Chew Ling Lau
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Nitin Patil
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Bradley J Turner
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Fazel Shabanpoor
- The Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia; School of Chemistry, University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia.
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Abstract
Nucleic acids and their synthetic oligonucleotide (ON) analogs are a group of gene therapeutic compounds which hold enormous clinical potential. Despite their undoubted potential, clinical translation of these molecules, however, has been largely held back by their limited bioavailability in the target tissues/cells. To overcome this, many different drug delivery systems have been devised. Among others, short delivery peptides, called cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs), have been demonstrated to allow for efficient delivery of nucleic acids and their ON analogs, in both cell culture and animal models. In this review, we provide brief overview of the latest advances in nucleic acid delivery with CPPs, covering the two main vectorization strategies, covalent conjugation and nanoparticle formation-based approach. In conclusion, CPP-based drug delivery systems have the capacity to overcome the hurdle of delivery and thus have the potential to facilitate the clinical translation of nucleic acid-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taavi Lehto
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden; Institute of Technology, University of Tartu, Nooruse 1, 50411 Tartu, Estonia.
| | - Kariem Ezzat
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden
| | - Matthew J A Wood
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX13QX Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Samir El Andaloussi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm SE-171 77, Sweden; Department of Physiology, Anatomy, and Genetics, University of Oxford, OX13QX Oxford, United Kingdom
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