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Covello G, Siva K, Adami V, Denti MA. HCS-Splice: A High-Content Screening Method to Advance the Discovery of RNA Splicing-Modulating Therapeutics. Cells 2023; 12:1959. [PMID: 37566038 PMCID: PMC10417277 DOI: 10.3390/cells12151959] [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: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid therapeutics have demonstrated an impressive acceleration in recent years. They work through multiple mechanisms of action, including the downregulation of gene expression and the modulation of RNA splicing. While several drugs based on the former mechanism have been approved, few target the latter, despite the promise of RNA splicing modulation. To improve our ability to discover novel RNA splicing-modulating therapies, we developed HCS-Splice, a robust cell-based High-Content Screening (HCS) assay. By implementing the use of a two-colour (GFP/RFP) fluorescent splicing reporter plasmid, we developed a versatile, effective, rapid, and robust high-throughput strategy for the identification of potent splicing-modulating molecules. The HCS-Splice strategy can also be used to functionally confirm splicing mutations in human genetic disorders or to screen drug candidates. As a proof-of-concept, we introduced a dementia-related splice-switching mutation in the Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau (MAPT) exon 10 splicing reporter. We applied HCS-Splice to the wild-type and mutant reporters and measured the functional change in exon 10 inclusion. To demonstrate the applicability of the method in cell-based drug discovery, HCS-Splice was used to evaluate the efficacy of an exon 10-targeting siRNA, which was able to restore the correct alternative splicing balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppina Covello
- RNA Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology—CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Kavitha Siva
- RNA Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology—CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Valentina Adami
- High Throughput Screening and Validation Core Facility (HTS), Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology—CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
| | - Michela Alessandra Denti
- RNA Biology and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology—CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy;
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2
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Bizot F, Fayssoil A, Gastaldi C, Irawan T, Phongsavanh X, Mansart A, Tensorer T, Brisebard E, Garcia L, Juliano RL, Goyenvalle A. Oligonucleotide Enhancing Compound Increases Tricyclo-DNA Mediated Exon-Skipping Efficacy in the Mdx Mouse Model. Cells 2023; 12. [PMID: 36899837 DOI: 10.3390/cells12050702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapeutics hold great promise for the treatment of numerous diseases, including neuromuscular disorders, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Some antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drugs have already been approved by the US FDA for DMD, but the potential of this therapy is still limited by several challenges, including the poor distribution of ASOs to target tissues, but also the entrapment of ASO in the endosomal compartment. Endosomal escape is a well recognized limitation that prevents ASO from reaching their target pre-mRNA in the nucleus. Small molecules named oligonucleotide-enhancing compounds (OEC) have been shown to release ASO from endosomal entrapment, thus increasing ASO nuclear concentration and ultimately correcting more pre-mRNA targets. In this study, we evaluated the impact of a therapy combining ASO and OEC on dystrophin restoration in mdx mice. Analysis of exon-skipping levels at different time points after the co-treatment revealed improved efficacy, particularly at early time points, reaching up to 4.4-fold increase at 72 h post treatment in the heart compared to treatment with ASO alone. Significantly higher levels of dystrophin restoration were detected two weeks after the end of the combined therapy, reaching up to 2.7-fold increase in the heart compared to mice treated with ASO alone. Moreover, we demonstrated a normalization of cardiac function in mdx mice after a 12-week-long treatment with the combined ASO + OEC therapy. Altogether, these findings indicate that compounds facilitating endosomal escape can significantly improve the therapeutic potential of exon-skipping approaches offering promising perspectives for the treatment of DMD.
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Iwagawa T, Masumoto H, Tabuchi H, Tani K, Conklin BR, Watanabe S. Evaluation of CRISPR/Cas9 exon-skipping vector for choroideremia using human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived RPE. J Gene Med 2023; 25:e3464. [PMID: 36413603 PMCID: PMC9898118 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.3464] [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: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exon-skipping is a powerful genetic tool, especially when delivering genes using an AAV-mediated full-length gene supplementation strategy is difficult owing to large length of genes. Here, we used engineered human induced pluripotent stem cells and artificial intelligence to evaluate clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR associated protein 9-based exon-skipping vectors targeting genes of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). The model system was choroideremia; this is an X-linked inherited retinal disease caused by mutation of the CHM gene. METHODS We explored whether artificial intelligence detected differentiation of human OTX2, PAX6 and MITF (hOPM) cells, in which OTX2, PAX6 and MITF expression was induced by doxycycline treatment, into RPE. Plasmid encoding CHM exon-skipping modules targeting the splice donor sites of exons 6 were constructed. A clonal hOPM cell line with a frameshift mutation in exon 6 was generated and differentiated into RPE. CHM exon 6-skipping was induced, and the effects of skipping on phagocytic activity, cell death and prenylation of Rab small GTPase (RAB) were evaluated using flow cytometry, an in vitro prenylation assay and western blotting. RESULTS Artificial intelligence-based evaluation of RPE differentiation was successful. Retinal pigment epithelium cells with a frameshift mutation in exon 6 showed increased cell death, reduced phagocytic activity and increased cytosolic unprenylated RABs only when oxidative stress was in play. The latter two phenotypes were partially rescued by exon 6-skipping of CHM. CONCLUSIONS CHM exon 6-skipping contributed to RPE phagocytosis probably by increasing RAB38 prenylation under oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshiro Iwagawa
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Retinal Biology and Pathology, University of Tokyo Hospital, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroki Masumoto
- Xeno Hoc, inc
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tsukazaki Hospital, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hitoshi Tabuchi
- Department of Ophthalmology, Tsukazaki Hospital, Hyogo, Japan
- Department of Technology and Design Thinking for Medicine, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Kenzaburo Tani
- Laboratory of ALA Advanced Medical Research, Institute for quantitative Biosciences, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Bruce R. Conklin
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Departments of Medicine, Ophthalmology & Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States, USA
| | - Sumiko Watanabe
- Division of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Retinal Biology and Pathology, University of Tokyo Hospital, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
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4
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Han G, Lin C, Yin H. Use of Glycine to Augment Exon Skipping and Cell Therapies for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2587:165-182. [PMID: 36401030 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2772-3_10] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide (AO)-based exon-skipping and cell therapies are the main therapeutic approaches for Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Insufficient systemic delivery leading to low therapeutic efficacy limits the former; low transplantation efficiency hampers the latter. Here we describe how glycine can address these issues by augmenting satellite proliferation and muscle regeneration, resulting in enhanced AO uptake in regenerating myofibers and cell transplantation efficiency in dystrophic mice. The dual functionality of glycine demonstrated in AO-based exon-skipping and cell therapies presents a simple and efficient method to augment AO potency and cell transplantation efficacy in DMD and other muscle diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gang Han
- School of Medical Laboratory & Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
| | - Caorui Lin
- School of Medical Laboratory & Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - HaiFang Yin
- School of Medical Laboratory & Department of Cell Biology, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.
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5
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Kracht KD, Eichorn NL, Berlau DJ. Perspectives on the advances in the pharmacotherapeutic management of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Expert Opin Pharmacother 2022; 23:1701-1710. [PMID: 36168943 DOI: 10.1080/14656566.2022.2130246] [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: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION : Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive genetic disease characterized by muscular weakness with a global prevalence of 7.1 cases per 100,000 males. DMD is caused by mutations of the dystrophin gene on the X chromosome which is responsible for dystrophin protein production. Dystrophin is a cytoskeletal protein that contributes to structural support in muscle cells. DMD mutations result in dystrophin protein deficiency which leads to muscle damage and the associated clinical presentation. AREAS COVERED : Corticosteroids such as prednisone and deflazacort are routinely given to patients to treat inflammation, but their use is limited by the occurrence of side effects and a lack of standardized prescribing. Exon-skipping medications are emerging as treatment options for a small portion of DMD patients even though efficacy is uncertain. Many new therapeutics are under development that target inflammation, fibrosis, and dystrophin replacement. EXPERT OPINION : Because of side effects associated with corticosteroid use, there is need for better alternatives to the standard of care. Excessive cost is a barrier to patients receiving medications that have yet to have established efficacy. Additional therapies have the potential to help patients with DMD, although most are several years away from approval for patient use.
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6
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Marchesi E, Bovolenta M, Preti L, Capobianco ML, Mamchaoui K, Bertoldo M, Perrone D. Synthesis and Exon-Skipping Properties of a 3'-Ursodeoxycholic Acid-Conjugated Oligonucleotide Targeting DMD Pre-mRNA: Pre-Synthetic versus Post-Synthetic Approach. Molecules 2021; 26:7662. [PMID: 34946743 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26247662] [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] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Steric blocking antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) are promising tools for splice modulation such as exon-skipping, although their therapeutic effect may be compromised by insufficient delivery. To address this issue, we investigated the synthesis of a 20-mer 2'-OMe PS oligonucleotide conjugated at 3'-end with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) involved in the targeting of human DMD exon 51, by exploiting both a pre-synthetic and a solution phase approach. The two approaches have been compared. Both strategies successfully provided the desired ASO 51 3'-UDC in good yield and purity. It should be pointed out that the pre-synthetic approach insured better yields and proved to be more cost-effective. The exon skipping efficiency of the conjugated oligonucleotide was evaluated in myogenic cell lines and compared to that of unconjugated one: a better performance was determined for ASO 51 3'-UDC with an average 9.5-fold increase with respect to ASO 51.
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7
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Fortunato F, Rossi R, Falzarano MS, Ferlini A. Innovative Therapeutic Approaches for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10040820. [PMID: 33671409 PMCID: PMC7922390 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10040820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [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: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most common childhood muscular dystrophy affecting ~1:5000 live male births. Following the identification of pathogenic variations in the dystrophin gene in 1986, the underlining genotype/phenotype correlations emerged and the role of the dystrophin protein was elucidated in skeletal, smooth, and cardiac muscles, as well as in the brain. When the dystrophin protein is absent or quantitatively or qualitatively modified, the muscle cannot sustain the stress of repeated contractions. Dystrophin acts as a bridging and anchoring protein between the sarcomere and the sarcolemma, and its absence or reduction leads to severe muscle damage that eventually cannot be repaired, with its ultimate substitution by connective tissue and fat. The advances of an understanding of the molecular pathways affected in DMD have led to the development of many therapeutic strategies that tackle different aspects of disease etiopathogenesis, which have recently led to the first successful approved orphan drugs for this condition. The therapeutic advances in this field have progressed exponentially, with second-generation drugs now entering in clinical trials as gene therapy, potentially providing a further effective approach to the condition.
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8
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Ran N, Lin C, Leng L, Han G, Geng M, Wu Y, Bittner S, Moulton HM, Yin H. MOTS-c promotes phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer uptake and efficacy in dystrophic mice. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e12993. [PMID: 33337582 PMCID: PMC7863382 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202012993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide (AO)-mediated exon-skipping therapies show promise in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), a devastating muscular disease caused by frame-disrupting mutations in the DMD gene. However, insufficient systemic delivery remains a hurdle to clinical deployment. Here, we demonstrate that MOTS-c, a mitochondria-derived bioactive peptide, with an intrinsic muscle-targeting property, augmented glycolytic flux and energy production capacity of dystrophic muscles in vitro and in vivo, resulting in enhanced phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) uptake and activity in mdx mice. Long-term repeated administration of MOTS-c (500 μg) and PMO at the dose of 12.5 mg/kg/week for 3 weeks followed by 12.5 mg/kg/month for 3 months (PMO-M) induced therapeutic levels of dystrophin expression in peripheral muscles, with up to 25-fold increase in diaphragm of mdx mice over PMO alone. PMO-M improved muscle function and pathologies in mdx mice without detectable toxicity. Our results demonstrate that MOTS-c enables enhanced PMO uptake and activity in dystrophic muscles by providing energy and may have therapeutic implications for exon-skipping therapeutics in DMD and other energy-deficient disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Ran
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Caorui Lin
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Ling Leng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Gang Han
- School of Medical LaboratoryTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Mengyuan Geng
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Yingjie Wu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
| | - Scott Bittner
- Biomedical SciencesCollege of Veterinary MedicineOregon State UniversityCorvallisORUSA
| | - Hong M Moulton
- Biomedical SciencesCollege of Veterinary MedicineOregon State UniversityCorvallisORUSA
| | - HaiFang Yin
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases & The Province and Ministry Co‐sponsored Collaborative Innovation Center for Medical Epigenetics &Department of Cell BiologyTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
- School of Medical LaboratoryTianjin Medical UniversityTianjinChina
- Department of NeurologyTianjin Medical University General HospitalTianjinChina
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9
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Abstract
Introduction: Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked handicapping disease due to the loss of an essential muscle protein dystrophin. Dystrophin-null animals have been extensively used to study disease mechanisms and to develop experimental therapeutics. Despite decades of research, however, treatment options for DMD remain very limited.Areas covered: High-throughput high-content screening and precision medicine offer exciting new opportunities. Here, the authors review animal models that are suitable for these studies.Expert opinion: Nonmammalian models (worm, fruit fly, and zebrafish) are particularly attractive for cost-effective large-scale drug screening. Several promising lead compounds have been discovered using these models. Precision medicine for DMD aims at developing mutation-specific therapies such as exon-skipping and genome editing. To meet these needs, models with patient-like mutations have been established in different species. Models that harbor hotspot mutations are very attractive because the drugs developed in these models can bring mutation-specific therapies to a large population of patients. Humanized hDMD mice carry the entire human dystrophin gene in the mouse genome. Reagents developed in the hDMD mouse-based models are directly translatable to human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nalinda B Wasala
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Shi-Jie Chen
- Department of Physics, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Biochemistry, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Dongsheng Duan
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Biomedical, Biological & Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
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10
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Uaesoontrachoon K, Srinivassane S, Warford J, Mekhssian K, Montpetit H, Beauvois R, Keyhani A, Hathout Y, Yamashita T, Satou Y, Osaki H, Praest M, Moraca M, Malbasic M, Ross W, MacKinnon A, Rowsell J, Mullen A, Matyas M, Mummidivarpu S, Nagaraju K, Hoffman EP. Orthogonal analysis of dystrophin protein and mRNA as a surrogate outcome for drug development. Biomark Med 2019; 13:1209-1225. [PMID: 31379197 DOI: 10.2217/bmm-2019-0242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: Detection of drug-induced dystrophin in patient muscle biopsy is a surrogate outcome measure for Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We sought to establish and validate an orthogonal approach to measurement of dystrophin protein and RNA in muscle biopsies. Materials & methods: Validated methods were developed for dystrophin western blotting, mass spectrometry, immunostaining and reverse transcriptase PCR of biopsy mRNA using muscle biopsy standards. Results: Both western blotting and mass spectrometry validated methods demonstrated good linearity, and acceptable precision and accuracy with a lower limit of quantitation at 1%. Immunostaining and reverse transcriptase PCR methods were shown to be reliable. Conclusion: The described orthogonal approach is sufficient to support measures of dystrophin as a surrogate outcome in a clinical trial.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jordan Warford
- AGADA BioSciences Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H0A8, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Molly Praest
- AGADA BioSciences Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H0A8, Canada
| | - Marina Moraca
- AGADA BioSciences Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H0A8, Canada
| | - Maja Malbasic
- AGADA BioSciences Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H0A8, Canada
| | - William Ross
- AGADA BioSciences Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H0A8, Canada
| | | | - Joyce Rowsell
- AGADA BioSciences Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H0A8, Canada
| | - Amanda Mullen
- AGADA BioSciences Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H0A8, Canada
| | - Mark Matyas
- AGADA BioSciences Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H0A8, Canada
| | | | - Kanneboyina Nagaraju
- AGADA BioSciences Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H0A8, Canada.,Binghamton University, SUNY. Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
| | - Eric P Hoffman
- AGADA BioSciences Inc., Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H0A8, Canada.,Binghamton University, SUNY. Binghamton, NY 13902, USA
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11
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Wang M, Wu B, Shah SN, Lu P, Lu Q. Saponins as Natural Adjuvant for Antisense Morpholino Oligonucleotides Delivery In Vitro and in mdx Mice. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2018; 11:192-202. [PMID: 29858054 PMCID: PMC5992344 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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: 11/08/2017] [Revised: 02/14/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide (AON) therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy has drawn great attention in preclinical and clinical trials, but its therapeutic applications are still limited due to inefficient delivery. In this study, we investigated a few saponins for their potential to improve delivery performance of an antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) both in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that these saponins, especially digitonin and tomatine, improve the delivery efficiency of PMO comparable to Endo-Porter-mediated PMO delivery in vitro. The significant enhancement of PMO targeting to dystrophin exon 23 delivery was further observed in mdx mice up to 7-fold with the digitonin as compared to PMO alone. Cytotoxicity of the digitonin and glycyrrhizin was lower than Endo-Porter in vitro and not clearly detected in vivo under the tested concentrations. These results demonstrate that optimization of saponins in molecular size and composition are key factors to achieve enhanced PMO exon-skipping efficiency. The higher efficiency and lower toxicity endow saponins as gene/AON delivery enhancing agents for treating muscular dystrophy or other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Wang
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA.
| | - Bo Wu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA
| | - Sapana N Shah
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA
| | - Peijuan Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA
| | - Qilong Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Department of Neurology, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28203, USA
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Abstract
Oligonucleotide therapeutics hold great promise for the treatment of various diseases and the antisense field is constantly gaining interest due to the development of more potent and nuclease resistant chemistries. Despite a rather low success rate with only three antisense drugs being clinically approved, the frontiers of AON therapeutic applications have increased over the past three decades and continue to expand thanks to a steady increase in understanding the mechanisms of action of these molecules, progress in chemical modification and delivery. In this review, we will examine the recent advances obtained with the tricyclo-DNA chemistry which displays unique pharmacological properties and unprecedented uptake in many tissues after systemic administration. We will review their specific properties and their therapeutic applications mainly for neuromuscular disorders, including exon-skipping for Duchenne muscular dystrophy and exon-inclusion for spinal muscular atrophy, but also aberrant splicing correction for Pompe disease. Finally, we will discuss their advantages and potential limitations, with a focus on the need for careful toxicological screen early in the process of AON drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurelie Goyenvalle
- Université de Versailles St- Quentin, U1179 INSERM, UFR des Sciences de la Santé - LIA BAHN CSM, France
| | - Christian Leumann
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of Bern, Switzerland
| | - Luis Garcia
- Université de Versailles St- Quentin, U1179 INSERM, UFR des Sciences de la Santé - LIA BAHN CSM, France
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13
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Booth KT, Azaiez H, Kahrizi K, Wang D, Zhang Y, Frees K, Nishimura C, Najmabadi H, Smith RJ. Exonic mutations and exon skipping: Lessons learned from DFNA5. Hum Mutat 2018; 39:433-440. [PMID: 29266521 PMCID: PMC5805621 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 11/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/12/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulation of splicing is a common factor underlying many inherited diseases including deafness. For one deafness-associated gene, DFNA5, perturbation of exon 8 splicing results in a constitutively active truncated protein. To date, only intronic mutations have been reported to cause exon 8 skipping in patients with DFNA5-related deafness. In five families with postlingual progressive autosomal dominant non-syndromic hearing loss, we employed two next-generation sequencing platforms-OtoSCOPE and whole exome sequencing-followed by variant filtering and prioritization based on both minor allele frequency and functional consequence using a customized bioinformatics pipeline to identify three novel and two recurrent mutations in DFNA5 that segregated with hearing loss in these families. The three novel mutations are all missense variants within exon 8 that are predicted computationally to decrease splicing efficiency or abolish it completely. We confirmed their functional impact in vitro using mini-genes carrying each mutant DFNA5 exon 8. In so doing, we present the first exonic mutations in DFNA5 to cause deafness, expand the mutational spectrum of DFNA5-related hearing loss, and highlight the importance of assessing the effect of coding variants on splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin T Booth
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Molecular Otolaryngology Renal Research Laboratories, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
- The Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Hela Azaiez
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Molecular Otolaryngology Renal Research Laboratories, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Kimia Kahrizi
- Genetics Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Donghong Wang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Molecular Otolaryngology Renal Research Laboratories, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Yuzhou Zhang
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Molecular Otolaryngology Renal Research Laboratories, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Kathy Frees
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Molecular Otolaryngology Renal Research Laboratories, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Carla Nishimura
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Molecular Otolaryngology Renal Research Laboratories, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
| | - Hossein Najmabadi
- Genetics Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Richard J Smith
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head Neck Surgery, Molecular Otolaryngology Renal Research Laboratories, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
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14
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Aupy P, Echevarría L, Relizani K, Goyenvalle A. The Use of Tricyclo-DNA Oligomers for the Treatment of Genetic Disorders. Biomedicines 2017; 6:E2. [PMID: 29271929 PMCID: PMC5874659 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines6010002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [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: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense Oligonucleotides (ASOs) represent very attractive therapeutic compounds for the treatment of numerous diseases. The antisense field has remarkably progressed over the last few years with the approval of the first antisense drugs and with promising developments of more potent and nuclease resistant chemistries. Despite these recent clinical successes and advances in chemistry and design, effective delivery of ASOs to their target tissues remains a major issue. This review will describe the latest advances obtained with the tricyclo-DNA (tcDNA) chemistry which displays unique pharmacological properties and unprecedented uptake in many tissues after systemic administration. We will examine the variety of therapeutic approaches using both fully modified tcDNA-ASOs and gapmers, including splice switching applications, correction of aberrant splicing, steric blocking strategies and targeted gene knock-down mediated by RNase H recruitment. We will then discuss the merits and potential liabilities of the tcDNA chemistry in the context of ASO drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philippine Aupy
- INSERM U1179, UFR des Sciences de la Santé, University of Versailles St-Quentin, 78180 Montigny le Bretonneux, France.
| | - Lucía Echevarría
- INSERM U1179, UFR des Sciences de la Santé, University of Versailles St-Quentin, 78180 Montigny le Bretonneux, France.
- SQY Therapeutics, University of Versailles St-Quentin, 78180 Montigny le Bretonneux, France.
| | - Karima Relizani
- INSERM U1179, UFR des Sciences de la Santé, University of Versailles St-Quentin, 78180 Montigny le Bretonneux, France.
- SQY Therapeutics, University of Versailles St-Quentin, 78180 Montigny le Bretonneux, France.
| | - Aurélie Goyenvalle
- INSERM U1179, UFR des Sciences de la Santé, University of Versailles St-Quentin, 78180 Montigny le Bretonneux, France.
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15
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Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide therapy for Duchenne muscular dystrophy has shown great potential in preclinical and clinical trials, but its therapeutic applications are still limited due to inefficient delivery. In this study, we investigated a few polyquaterniums (PQs) with different size and composition for their potential to improve delivery performance of an antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) both in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that LuviquatTM series, especially PQ-1 and PQ-3, promoted the exon-skipping efficiency comparable to Endoporter-mediated PMO delivery in vitro. Significant enhancement in skipping dystrophin exon 23 has also been achieved with PQ-3 up to seven-fold when compared to PMO alone in mdx mice. Cytotoxicity of the PQs was lower than Endoporter and PEI 25 K in vitro and muscle damage not clearly detected in vivo under the tested concentrations. These results together demonstrate that the optimization of PQ in molecular size, composition and distribution of positive charges is the key factor to achieve enhanced PMO exon-skipping efficiency. The higher efficiency and lower toxicity endow polyquaternium series as AO delivery enhancing agents for treating muscular dystrophy and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Wang
- a McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research , Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center , Charlotte , NC , United States
| | - Bo Wu
- a McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research , Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center , Charlotte , NC , United States
| | - Sapana N Shah
- a McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research , Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center , Charlotte , NC , United States
| | - Peijuan Lu
- a McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research , Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center , Charlotte , NC , United States
| | - Qilong Lu
- a McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research , Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center , Charlotte , NC , United States
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16
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Le BT, Adams AM, Fletcher S, Wilton SD, Veedu RN. Rational Design of Short Locked Nucleic Acid-Modified 2'-O-Methyl Antisense Oligonucleotides for Efficient Exon-Skipping In Vitro. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2017; 9:155-161. [PMID: 29246294 PMCID: PMC5633351 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2017] [Revised: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Locked nucleic acid is a prominent nucleic acid analog with unprecedented target binding affinity to cDNA and RNA oligonucleotides and shows remarkable stability against nuclease degradation. Incorporation of locked nucleic acid nucleotides into an antisense oligonucleotide (AO) sequence can reduce the length required without compromising the efficacy. In this study, we synthesized a series of systematically truncated locked nucleic acid-modified 2′-O-methyl AOs on a phosphorothioate (PS) backbone that were designed to induce skipping exon 23 from the dystrophin transcript in H-2Kb-tsA58 mdx mouse myotubes in vitro. The results clearly demonstrated that shorter AOs (16- to 14-mer) containing locked nucleic acid nucleotides efficiently induced dystrophin exon 23 skipping compared with the corresponding 2′-O-methyl AOs. Our remarkable findings contribute significantly to the existing knowledge about the designing of short LNA-modified oligonucleotides for exon-skipping applications, which will help reduce the cost of exon-skipping AOs and potential toxicities, particularly the 2′-OMe-based oligos, by further reducing the length of AOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bao T Le
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Abbie M Adams
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia
| | - Susan Fletcher
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Stephen D Wilton
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA 6009, Australia
| | - Rakesh N Veedu
- Centre for Comparative Genomics, Murdoch University, Perth, WA 6150, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.
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17
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Wang M, Wu B, Lu P, Shah SN, Tucker JD, Bollinger LE, Lu Q. Evaluation of Amphiphilic Peptide Modified Antisense Morpholino Oligonucleotides In Vitro and in Dystrophic mdx Mice. Polymers (Basel) 2017; 9:E177. [PMID: 30970855 PMCID: PMC6432210 DOI: 10.3390/polym9050177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2017] [Revised: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
A series of amphiphilic peptides modified PMO (Pt-PMO) were prepared, and their antisense effect and toxicity were evaluated both in vitro and in mdx mice. The results showed that the exon-skipping performance of Pt-PMO are relative to the structure of the conjugated peptide: the Pt3/Pt4 composed of six/seven arginines and one myristoylation modified PMO showed more efficacy and with less toxicity as compared to others, confirming that appropriate hydrophilic-lipophilic balance (HLB) and cationic sequence numbers play a crucial role in improving cell uptake and corresponding exon-skipping efficiency. This was observed particularly in enhanced delivery efficiency of PMO comparable to B-PMO in vitro, while 6-fold improved exon-skipping was achieved against naked PMO in vivo. The multi-PMO modified Pt8-PMO also showed improved exon-skipping both in vitro and in vivo, though there is lower efficiency in systemic delivery as compared to Pt4-PMO. These data suggest that with optimization of peptide in component, charge density has clear potential for exploration towards achieving higher efficiency of antisense oligonucleotide systemic delivery, and thus is more applicable for clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Wang
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Bo Wu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Peijuan Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Sapana N Shah
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Jason D Tucker
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Lauren E Bollinger
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
| | - Qilong Lu
- McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Carolinas Medical Center, 1000 Blythe Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28231, USA.
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18
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Abstract
Mutations that give rise to premature termination codons are a common cause of inherited genetic diseases. When transcripts containing these changes are generated, they are usually rapidly removed by the cell through the process of nonsense-mediated decay. Here we discuss observed changes in transcripts of the centrosomal protein CEP290 resulting not from degradation, but from changes in exon usage. We also comment on a landmark paper (Drivas et al. Sci Transl Med. 2015) where modelling this process of exon usage may be used to predict disease severity in CEP290 ciliopathies, and how understanding this process may potentially be used for therapeutic benefit in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Molinari
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - Shalabh Srivastava
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ, UK
| | - John A Sayer
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ, UK.,Renal Services, Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust, Newcastle, NE7 7DN, UK
| | - Simon A Ramsbottom
- Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ, UK
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19
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Wang M, Wu B, Tucker JD, Bollinger LE, Lu P, Lu Q. Poly(ester amine) Composed of Polyethylenimine and Pluronic Enhance Delivery of Antisense Oligonucleotides In Vitro and in Dystrophic mdx Mice. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2016; 5:e341. [PMID: 27483024 PMCID: PMC5023397 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2016.51] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2015] [Accepted: 06/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
A series of poly(esteramine)s (PEAs) constructed from low molecular weight polyethyleneimine (LPEI) and Pluronic were evaluated for the delivery of antisense oligonuclotides (AOs), 2'-O-methyl phosphorothioate RNA (2'-OMePS) and phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) in cell culture and dystrophic mdx mice. Improved exon-skipping efficiency of both 2'-OMePS and PMO was observed in the C2C12E50 cell line with all PEA polymers compared with PEI 25k or LF-2k. The degree of efficiency was found in the order of PEA 01, PEA 04 > PEA 05 > others. The in vivo study in mdx mice demonstrated enhanced exon-skipping of 2'-OMePS with the order of PEA 06 > PEA 04, PEA 07 > PEA 03 > PEA 01 > others, and much higher than PEI 25k formulated 2'-OMePS. Exon-skipping efficiency of PMO in formulation with the PEAs were significantly enhanced in the order of PEA 02 > PEA 10 > PEA 01, PEA 03 > PEA 05, PEA 07, PEA 08 > others, with PEA 02 reaching fourfold of Endo-porter formulated PMO. PEAs improve PMO delivery more effectively than 2'-OMePS delivery in vivo, and the systemic delivery evaluation further highlight the efficiency of PEA for PMO delivery in all skeletal muscle. The results suggest that the flexibility of PEA polymers could be explored for delivery of different AO chemistries, especially for antisense therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Wang
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bo Wu
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jason D Tucker
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lauren E Bollinger
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Peijuan Lu
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Qilong Lu
- McCollLockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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20
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Wang M, Wu B, Tucker JD, Lu P, Lu Q. Cationic polyelectrolyte-mediated delivery of antisense morpholino oligonucleotides for exon-skipping in vitro and in mdx mice. Int J Nanomedicine 2015; 10:5635-46. [PMID: 26366082 PMCID: PMC4562748 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s89910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we investigated a series of cationic polyelectrolytes (PEs) with different size and composition for their potential to improve delivery of an antisense phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomer (PMO) both in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDAC) polymer series, especially PE-3 and PE-4, improves the delivery efficiency of PMO, comparable with Endoporter-mediated PMO delivery in vitro. The enhanced PMO delivery and targeting to dystrophin exon 23 was further observed in mdx mice, up to fourfold with the PE-4, compared with PMO alone. The cytotoxicity of the PEs was lower than that of Endoporter and polyethylenimine 25,000 Da in vitro, and was not clearly detected in muscle in vivo under the tested concentrations. Together, these results demonstrate that optimization of PE molecular size, composition, and distribution of cationic charge are key factors to achieve enhanced PMO exon-skipping efficiency. The increased efficiency and lower toxicity show this PDDAC series to be capable gene/antisense oligonucleotide delivery-enhancing agents for treating muscular dystrophy and other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxing Wang
- Department of Neurology, McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Bo Wu
- Department of Neurology, McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Jason D Tucker
- Department of Neurology, McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Peijuan Lu
- Department of Neurology, McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Qilong Lu
- Department of Neurology, McColl-Lockwood Laboratory for Muscular Dystrophy Research, Cannon Research Center, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC, USA
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21
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Barthélémy F, Blouin C, Wein N, Mouly V, Courrier S, Dionnet E, Kergourlay V, Mathieu Y, Garcia L, Butler-Browne G, Lamaze C, Lévy N, Krahn M, Bartoli M. Exon 32 Skipping of Dysferlin Rescues Membrane Repair in Patients' Cells. J Neuromuscul Dis 2015; 2:281-290. [PMID: 27858744 PMCID: PMC5240545 DOI: 10.3233/jnd-150109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Dysferlinopathies are a family of disabling muscular dystrophies with LGMD2B and Miyoshi myopathy as the main phenotypes. They are associated with molecular defects in DYSF, which encodes dysferlin, a key player in sarcolemmal homeostasis. Previous investigations have suggested that exon skipping may be a promising therapy for a subset of patients with dysferlinopathies. Such an approach aims to rescue functional proteins when targeting modular proteins and specific tissues. We sought to evaluate the dysferlin functional recovery following exon 32 skipping in the cells of affected patients. Exon skipping efficacy was characterized at several levels by use of in vitro myotube formation assays and quantitative membrane repair and recovery tests. Data obtained from these assessments confirmed that dysferlin function is rescued by quasi-dysferlin expression in treated patient cells, supporting the case for a therapeutic antisense-based trial in a subset of dysferlin-deficient patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Florian Barthélémy
- Aix Marseille Universit é, UMR S 910, Facult é de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille, France.,GMGF, INSERM UMR_ S 910, Marseille, France
| | - Cédric Blouin
- CNRS UMR 144, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris Cedex 05, France.,Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, Laboratoire Trafic, Signalisation et Ciblage Intracellulaires, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Nicolas Wein
- Aix Marseille Universit é, UMR S 910, Facult é de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille, France.,GMGF, INSERM UMR_ S 910, Marseille, France
| | - Vincent Mouly
- INSERM UMR_S 974, Institut de Myologie, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR7215, Institut de Myologie, Paris, France.,Universit é Pierre et Marie Curie, UM76, Paris, France
| | - Sébastien Courrier
- Aix Marseille Universit é, UMR S 910, Facult é de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille, France.,GMGF, INSERM UMR_ S 910, Marseille, France
| | - Eugénie Dionnet
- Aix Marseille Universit é, UMR S 910, Facult é de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille, France.,GMGF, INSERM UMR_ S 910, Marseille, France
| | - Virginie Kergourlay
- Aix Marseille Universit é, UMR S 910, Facult é de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille, France.,GMGF, INSERM UMR_ S 910, Marseille, France
| | - Yves Mathieu
- Aix Marseille Universit é, UMR S 910, Facult é de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille, France.,GMGF, INSERM UMR_ S 910, Marseille, France
| | - Luis Garcia
- INSERM UMR_S 974, Institut de Myologie, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR7215, Institut de Myologie, Paris, France.,Universit é Versailles-Saint-Quentin, Versailles, France
| | - Gillian Butler-Browne
- INSERM UMR_S 974, Institut de Myologie, Paris, France.,CNRS, UMR7215, Institut de Myologie, Paris, France.,Universit é Pierre et Marie Curie, UM76, Paris, France
| | - Christophe Lamaze
- CNRS UMR 144, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris Cedex 05, France.,Institut Curie, Centre de Recherche, Laboratoire Trafic, Signalisation et Ciblage Intracellulaires, 26 rue d'Ulm, Paris Cedex 05, France
| | - Nicolas Lévy
- Aix Marseille Universit é, UMR S 910, Facult é de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille, France.,GMGF, INSERM UMR_ S 910, Marseille, France.,AP-HM, Hôpital d'Enfants de la Timone, Département de Génétique Médicale et de Biologie Cellulaire, Marseille, France
| | - Martin Krahn
- Aix Marseille Universit é, UMR S 910, Facult é de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille, France.,GMGF, INSERM UMR_ S 910, Marseille, France.,AP-HM, Hôpital d'Enfants de la Timone, Département de Génétique Médicale et de Biologie Cellulaire, Marseille, France
| | - Marc Bartoli
- Aix Marseille Universit é, UMR S 910, Facult é de Médecine de la Timone, Marseille, France.,GMGF, INSERM UMR_ S 910, Marseille, France.,AP-HM, Hôpital d'Enfants de la Timone, Département de Génétique Médicale et de Biologie Cellulaire, Marseille, France
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