1
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Baker BF, Xia S, Partridge W, Engelhardt JA, Tsimikas S, Crooke ST, Bhanot S, Geary RS. Safety and Tolerability of GalNAc 3-Conjugated Antisense Drugs Compared to the Same-Sequence 2'- O-Methoxyethyl-Modified Antisense Drugs: Results from an Integrated Assessment of Phase 1 Clinical Trial Data. Nucleic Acid Ther 2024; 34:18-25. [PMID: 38227794 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2023.0026] [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: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
The triantennary N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc3) cluster has demonstrated the utility of receptor-mediated uptake of ligand-conjugated antisense drugs targeting RNA expressed by hepatocytes. GalNAc3-conjugated 2'-O-methoxyethyl (2'MOE) modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have demonstrated a higher potency than the unconjugated form to support lower doses for an equivalent pharmacological effect. We utilized the Ionis integrated safety database to compare four GalNAc3-conjugated and four same-sequence unconjugated 2'MOE ASOs. This assessment evaluated data from eight randomized placebo-controlled dose-ranging phase 1 studies involving 195 healthy volunteers (79 GalNAc3 ASO, 24 placebo; 71 ASO, 21 placebo). No safety signals were identified by the incidence of abnormal threshold values in clinical laboratory tests for either ASO group. However, there was a significant increase in mean alanine transaminase levels compared with placebo in the upper dose range of the unconjugated 2'MOE ASO group. The mean percentage of subcutaneous injections leading to local cutaneous reaction was 30-fold lower in the GalNAc3-conjugated ASO group compared with the unconjugated ASO group (0.9% vs. 28.6%), with no incidence of flu-like reactions (0.0% vs. 0.7%). Three subjects (4.2%) in the unconjugated ASO group discontinued dosing. An improvement in the overall safety and tolerability profile of GalNAc3-conjugated 2'MOE ASOs is evident in this comparison of short-term clinical data in healthy volunteers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shuting Xia
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Sanjay Bhanot
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
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2
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Pollak AJ, Zhao L, Crooke ST. Characterization of cooperative PS-oligo activation of human TLR9. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2023; 33:832-844. [PMID: 37675184 PMCID: PMC10477407 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2023.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Single-stranded phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (PS-oligos) can activate TLR9, leading to an innate immune response. This can occur with PS-oligos containing unmethylated CpG sites, the canonical motif, or PS-oligos that do not contain those motifs (non-CpG). Structural evidence shows that TLR9 contains two PS-oligo binding sites, and recent data suggest that synergistic cooperative activation of TLR9 can be achieved by adding two separate PS-oligos to cells, each engaging with a separate site on TLR9 to enhance TLR9 activation as a pair. Here, we demonstrate and characterize this cooperativity phenomenon using PS-oligos in human cell lines, and we introduce several novel PS-oligo pairs (CpG and non-CpG pairs) that show cooperative activation. Indeed, we find that cooperative PS-oligos likely bind at different sites on TLR9. Interestingly, we find that PS-oligos that generate little TLR9 activation on their own can prime TLR9 to be activated by other PS-oligos. Finally, we determine that previous models of TLR9 activation cannot be used to fully explain data from systems using human TLR9 and PS-oligos. Overall, we reveal new details of TLR9 activation, but we also find that more work needs to be done to determine where certain PS-oligos are binding to TLR9.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luyi Zhao
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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3
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Crooke ST, Kim-McManus OS, Dalby K. A way forward for diagnosis of patients with extremely rare genetic mutations. Nat Biotechnol 2023; 41:1190-1192. [PMID: 37460677 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01879-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Olivia S Kim-McManus
- University of California San Diego Department of Neurosciences, Rady Children's Hospital Division of Pediatric Neurology, La Jolla, CA, USA
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4
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Gleeson JG, Bennett CF, Carroll JB, Cole T, Douville J, Glass S, Tekendo-Ngongang C, Williford AC, Crooke ST. Personalized antisense oligonucleotides 'for free, for life' - the n-Lorem Foundation. Nat Med 2023:10.1038/s41591-023-02335-2. [PMID: 37169866 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-023-02335-2] [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: 05/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph G Gleeson
- n-Lorem Foundation, Carlsbad, CA, USA.
- Department of Neurosciences, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Rady Children's Institute for Genomic Medicine, San Diego, CA, USA.
| | - C Frank Bennett
- n-Lorem Foundation, Carlsbad, CA, USA
- Ionis Pharmaceutical, Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Jeffrey B Carroll
- n-Lorem Foundation, Carlsbad, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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5
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Pollak AJ, Zhao L, Crooke ST. Systematic Analysis of Chemical Modifications of Phosphorothioate Antisense Oligonucleotides that Modulate Their Innate Immune Response. Nucleic Acid Ther 2023; 33:95-107. [PMID: 36749166 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2022.0067] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
While rare, some gapmer phosphorothioate (PS) antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) can induce a noncanonical TLR9-dependent innate immune response. In this study, we performed systematic analyses of the roles of PS ASO backbone chemistry, 2' modifications, and sequence in PS ASO induced TLR9 signaling. We found that each of these factors can contribute to altering PS ASO induced TLR9 signaling, and in some cases the effects are quite dramatic. We also found that the positioning (5' vs. 3') of a particular backbone or 2' modification within a PS ASO can affect its TLR9 signaling. Interestingly, medicinal chemical strategies that decrease TLR9 signaling for one sequence can have opposing effects on another sequence. Our results demonstrate that TLR9 signaling is highly PS ASO sequence dependent, the mechanism of which remains unknown. Despite this, we determined that placement of two mesyl phosphoramidate linkages within the PS ASO gap is the most promising strategy to mitigate PS ASO dependent TLR9 activation to enhance the therapeutic index and, therefore, further streamline PS ASO drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Pollak
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Luyi Zhao
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
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6
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Zhao JC, Saleh A, Crooke ST. SIDT2 Inhibits Phosphorothioate Antisense Oligonucleotide Activity by Regulating Cellular Localization of Lysosomes. Nucleic Acid Ther 2022; 33:108-116. [PMID: 36576400 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2022.0055] [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: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorothioate (PS)-modified antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drugs enter cells through endocytic pathways where a majority are entrapped within membrane-bound endosomes and lysosomes, representing a limiting step for antisense activity. While late endosomes have been identified as a major site for productive PS-ASO release, how lysosomes regulate PS-ASO activity beyond macromolecule degradation remains not fully understood. In this study, we reported that SID1 transmembrane family, member 2 (SIDT2), a lysosome transmembrane protein, can robustly regulate PS-ASO activity. We showed that SIDT2 is required for the proper colocalization between PS-ASO and lysosomes, suggesting an important role of SIDT2 in the entrapment of PS-ASOs in lysosomes. Mechanistically, we revealed that SIDT2 regulates lysosome cellular location. Lysosome location is largely determined by its movement along microtubules. Interestingly, we also observed an enrichment of proteins involved in microtubule function among SIDT2-binding proteins, suggesting that SIDT2 regulates lysosome location via its interaction with microtubule-related proteins. Overall, our data suggest that lysosome protein SIDT2 inhibits PS-ASO activity potentially through its interaction with microtubule-related proteins to place lysosomes at perinuclear regions, thus, facilitating PS-ASO's localization to lysosomes for degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Crystal Zhao
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Aurian Saleh
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
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7
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Zhang L, Liang XH, De Hoyos CL, Migawa M, Nichols JG, Freestone G, Tian J, Seth PP, Crooke ST. The Combination of Mesyl-Phosphoramidate Inter-Nucleotide Linkages and 2'- O-Methyl in Selected Positions in the Antisense Oligonucleotide Enhances the Performance of RNaseH1 Active PS-ASOs. Nucleic Acid Ther 2022; 32:401-411. [PMID: 35861704 PMCID: PMC9595634 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2022.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that mediate RNA target degradation by RNase H1 are used as drugs to treat various diseases. Previously we found that introduction of a single 2'-O-methyl (2'-OMe) modification in position 2 of the central deoxynucleotide region of a gapmer phosphorothioate (PS) ASO, in which several residues at the termini are 2'-methoxyethyl, 2' constrained ethyl, or locked nucleic acid, dramatically reduced cytotoxicity with only modest effects on potency. More recently, we demonstrated that replacement of the PS linkage at position 2 or 3 in the gap with a mesyl-phosphoramidate (MsPA) linkage also significantly reduced toxicity without meaningful loss of potency and increased the elimination half-life of the ASOs. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the combination of MsPA linkages and 2'-OMe nucleotides on PS ASO performance. We found that two MsPA modifications at the 5' end of the gap or in the 3'-wing of a Gap 2'-OMe PS ASO substantially increased the activity of ASOs with OMe at position 2 of the gap without altering the safety profile. Such effects were observed with multiple sequences in cells and animals. Thus, the MsPA modification improves the RNase H1 cleavage rate of PS ASOs with a 2'-OMe in the gap, significantly reduces binding of proteins involved in cytotoxicity, and prolongs elimination half-lives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingdi Zhang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Cheryl Li De Hoyos
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Michael Migawa
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Joshua G Nichols
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Graeme Freestone
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Jun Tian
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Punit P Seth
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
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8
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Zhang L, Bernardo KD, Vickers TA, Tian J, Liang XH, Crooke ST. NAT10 and DDX21 Proteins Interact with RNase H1 and Affect the Performance of Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acid Ther 2022; 32:280-299. [PMID: 35852833 PMCID: PMC9416547 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2021.0107] [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] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
RNase H1-dependent phosphorothioate oligonucleotides (PS-ASOs) have been developed to treat various diseases through specific degradation of target RNAs. Although many factors or features of RNA and PS-ASOs have been demonstrated to affect antisense activity of PS-ASOs, little is known regarding the roles of RNase H1-associated proteins in PS-ASO performance. In this study, we report that two nucleolar proteins, NAT10 and DDX21, interact with RNase H1 and affect the potency and safety of PS-ASOs. The interactions of these two proteins with RNase H1 were determined using BioID proximity labeling in cells and confirmed biochemically. Reduction of NAT10 and DDX21 decreased PS-ASO activity in cells, and purified NAT10 and DDX21 proteins enhanced RNase H1 cleavage rates, indicating that these two proteins facilitate RNase H1 endoribonuclease activity. Consistently, reduction of these proteins increased the levels of R-loops, and impaired pre-rRNA processing. In addition, reduction of the two proteins increased the cytotoxicity of toxic PS-ASOs, and treatment of toxic PS-ASOs also altered the localization of these proteins. Together, this study shows for the first time that NAT10 and DDX21 interact with RNase H1 protein and enhance its enzymatic activity, contributing to the potency and safety of PS-ASOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingdi Zhang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Karla D. Bernardo
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Timothy A. Vickers
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Jun Tian
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Xue-hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Stanley T. Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
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9
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Pollak AJ, Zhao L, Vickers TA, Huggins IJ, Liang XH, Crooke ST. Insights into innate immune activation via PS-ASO-protein-TLR9 interactions. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:8107-8126. [PMID: 35848907 PMCID: PMC9371907 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac618] [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: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Non-CpG PS-ASOs can activate the innate immune system, leading to undesired outcomes. This response can vary—in part—as a function of 2′modifications and sequence. Here we investigated the molecular steps involved in the varied effects of PS-ASOs on the innate immune system. We found that pro-inflammatory PS-ASOs require TLR9 signaling based on the experimental systems used. However, the innate immunity of PS-ASOs does not correlate with their binding affinity with TLR9. Furthermore, the innate immune responses of pro-inflammatory PS-ASOs were reduced by coincubation with non-inflammatory PS-ASOs, suggesting that both pro-inflammatory and non-inflammatory PS-ASOs can interact with TLR9. We show that the kinetics of the PS-ASO innate immune responses can vary, which we speculate may be due to the existence of alternative PS-ASO binding sites on TLR9, leading to full, partial, or no activation of the pathway. In addition, we found that several extracellular proteins, including HMGB1, S100A8 and HRG, enhance the innate immune responses of PS-ASOs. Reduction of the binding affinity by reducing the PS content of PS-ASOs decreased innate immune responses, suggesting that PS-ASO–protein complexes may be sensed by TLR9. These findings thus provide critical information concerning how PS-ASOs can interact with and activate TLR9.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luyi Zhao
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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10
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Crooke ST. Establishing an environment in which rigorous scientific inquiry is practiced: a personal journey. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:7216-7223. [PMID: 35801855 PMCID: PMC9303248 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac526] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
For more than three decades, Ionis Pharmaceutics has pursued the challenging mission of creating a new platform for drug discovery. To overcome the numerous challenges faced required the integration of innovation across many scientific areas, despite many disappointments and failures. The approaches implemented to create and maintain a scientific environment to achieve the mission demanded the rigorous practice of science over three decades. The approaches taken are discussed in this perspective.
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Abstract
Patients with ultrarare diseases present unique challenges to the health care systems of developed economies that demand novel approaches, beginning with achieving a diagnosis and concluding with long-term treatment. The challenges derive from numbers. On the one hand, the rarity of the disease phenotypes means that the vast majority of ultrarare patients are never diagnosed, and for the fortunate few who are diagnosed, the journey to a genetic diagnosis is long and perilous. On the other hand, as more human genomes are sequenced, the number of these patients identified is growing logarithmically. Once patients are diagnosed, personalized medicines must be rapidly developed and delivered. Here I define the problems and propose a nonprofit model to meet the needs of some of these patients.
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12
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Crooke ST. Progress in molecular biology and translational science addressing the needs of nano-rare patients. Progress in Molecular Biology and Translational Science 2022; 190:127-146. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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13
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Liang XH, Nichols JG, Tejera D, Crooke ST. Perinuclear positioning of endosomes can affect PS-ASO activities. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:12970-12985. [PMID: 34878127 PMCID: PMC8682747 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab1198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 08/24/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorothioate (PS) modified antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drugs that act on cellular RNAs must enter cells and be released from endocytic organelles to elicit antisense activity. It has been shown that PS-ASOs are mainly released by late endosomes. However, it is unclear how endosome movement in cells contributes to PS-ASO activity. Here, we show that PS-ASOs in early endosomes display Brownian type motion and migrate only short distances, whereas PS-ASOs in late endosomes (LEs) move linearly along microtubules with substantial distances. In cells with normal microtubules and LE movement, PS-ASO-loaded LEs tend to congregate perinuclearly. Disruption of perinuclear positioning of LEs by reduction of dynein 1 decreased PS-ASO activity, without affecting PS-ASO cellular uptake. Similarly, disruption of perinuclear positioning of PS-ASO-LE foci by reduction of ER tethering proteins RNF26, SQSTM1 and UBE2J1, or by overexpression of P50 all decreased PS-ASO activity. However, enhancing perinuclear positioning through reduction of USP15 or over-expression of RNF26 modestly increased PS-ASO activity, indicating that LE perinuclear positioning is required for ensuring efficient PS-ASO release. Together, these observations suggest that LE movement along microtubules and perinuclear positioning affect PS-ASO productive release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Hai Liang
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Joshua G Nichols
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Dario Tejera
- Neurology, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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14
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Anderson BA, Freestone GC, Low A, De-Hoyos CL, Iii WJD, Østergaard ME, Migawa MT, Fazio M, Wan WB, Berdeja A, Scandalis E, Burel SA, Vickers TA, Crooke ST, Swayze EE, Liang X, Seth PP. Towards next generation antisense oligonucleotides: mesylphosphoramidate modification improves therapeutic index and duration of effect of gapmer antisense oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:9026-9041. [PMID: 34417625 PMCID: PMC8450106 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [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: 06/26/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The PS modification enhances the nuclease stability and protein binding properties of gapmer antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and is one of very few modifications that support RNaseH1 activity. We evaluated the effect of introducing stereorandom and chiral mesyl-phosphoramidate (MsPA) linkages in the DNA gap and flanks of gapmer PS ASOs and characterized the effect of these linkages on RNA-binding, nuclease stability, protein binding, pro-inflammatory profile, antisense activity and toxicity in cells and in mice. We show that all PS linkages in a gapmer ASO can be replaced with MsPA without compromising chemical stability and RNA binding affinity but these designs reduced activity. However, replacing up to 5 PS in the gap with MsPA was well tolerated and replacing specific PS linkages at appropriate locations was able to greatly reduce both immune stimulation and cytotoxicity. The improved nuclease stability of MsPA over PS translated to significant improvement in the duration of ASO action in mice which was comparable to that of enhanced stabilized siRNA designs. Our work highlights the combination of PS and MsPA linkages as a next generation chemical platform for identifying ASO drugs with improved potency and therapeutic index, reduced pro-inflammatory effects and extended duration of effect.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Audrey Low
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | | | | | | | - Michael T Migawa
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Michael Fazio
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - W Brad Wan
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Andres Berdeja
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Eli Scandalis
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | | | | | - Stanley T Crooke
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Eric E Swayze
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Xuehai Liang
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Punit P Seth
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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15
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Abstract
Thanks to the advent of genomic sequencing and numerous personalized medicine initiatives in various medical centers, it is now known that there are many patients who have heretofore never been diagnosed who have mutations that are unique to them and them only and others that may be members of an extremely rare mutation (<30 patients in the world). Although each mutation may be unique it is now estimated that there are millions of these unique or vanishingly small patient groups. Patients with diseases caused by ultra-rare mutations present challenges to the health care system that are as unique as their mutation. n-Lorem was founded to take advantage of the antisense technology that we created at Ionis to discover and develop personalized antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) one patient at a time and provide those experimental ASO treatments for free for life. In our first 18 months of operation, we have demonstrated this goal is achievable and worked with the FDA to develop guidance for ASO treatment of patients with ultra-rare diseases. In this article, I define the problem, discuss the ASO solution, and our progress at n-Lorem to date. I then focus on important steps that we have taken to assure that these complex risk/benefit judgments are made with high quality and that each patient receives the highest quality ASO possible. I then describe the processes we have created to assure that the opportunity to learn from each patient and our aggregate experience are maximized and shared with all stakeholders.
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16
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Liang XH, Nichols JG, De Hoyos CL, Sun H, Zhang L, Crooke ST. Golgi-58K can re-localize to late endosomes upon cellular uptake of PS-ASOs and facilitates endosomal release of ASOs. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:8277-8293. [PMID: 34244781 PMCID: PMC8373082 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab599] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 06/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorothioate (PS) modified antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drugs can trigger RNase H1 cleavage of cellular target RNAs to modulate gene expression. Internalized PS-ASOs must be released from membraned endosomal organelles, a rate limiting step that is not well understood. Recently we found that M6PR transport between Golgi and late endosomes facilitates productive release of PS-ASOs, raising the possibility that Golgi-mediated transport may play important roles in PS-ASO activity. Here we further evaluated the involvement of Golgi in PS-ASO activity by examining additional Golgi proteins. Reduction of certain Golgi proteins, including Golgi-58K, GCC1 and TGN46, decreased PS-ASO activity, without substantial effects on Golgi integrity. Upon PS-ASO cellular uptake, Golgi-58K was recruited to late endosomes where it colocalized with PS-ASOs. Reduction of Golgi-58K caused slower PS-ASO release from late endosomes, decreased GCC2 late endosome relocalization, and led to slower retrograde transport of M6PR from late endosomes to trans-Golgi. Late endosome relocalization of Golgi-58K requires Hsc70, and is most likely mediated by PS-ASO-protein interactions. Together, these results suggest a novel function of Golgi-58K in mediating Golgi-endosome transport and indicate that the Golgi apparatus plays an important role in endosomal release of PS-ASO, ensuring antisense activity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Hong Sun
- Antisense Drug Discovery, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Lingdi Zhang
- Core Antisense Research, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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17
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Prakash TP, Yu J, Shen W, De Hoyos CL, Berdeja A, Gaus H, Liang XH, Crooke ST, Seth PP. Site-specific Incorporation of 2',5'-Linked Nucleic Acids Enhances Therapeutic Profile of Antisense Oligonucleotides. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:922-927. [PMID: 34141070 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00072] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Site-specific incorporation of 2'-modifications and neutral linkages in the deoxynucleotide gap region of toxic phosphorothioate (PS) gapmer ASOs can enhance therapeutic index and safety. In this manuscript, we determined the effect of introducing 2',5'-linked RNA in the deoxynucleotide gap region on toxicity and potency of PS ASOs. Our results demonstrate that incorporation of 2',5'-linked RNA in the gap region dramatically improved hepatotoxicity profile of PS-ASOs without compromising potency and provide a novel alternate chemical approach for improving therapeutic index of ASO drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thazha P. Prakash
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Jinghua Yu
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Wen Shen
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Cheryl Li De Hoyos
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Andres Berdeja
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Hans Gaus
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Xue-hai Liang
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Stanley T. Crooke
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Punit P. Seth
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
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18
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Zhang L, Vickers TA, Sun H, Liang XH, Crooke ST. Binding of phosphorothioate oligonucleotides with RNase H1 can cause conformational changes in the protein and alter the interactions of RNase H1 with other proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:2721-2739. [PMID: 33577678 PMCID: PMC7969025 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently found that toxic PS-ASOs can cause P54nrb and PSF nucleolar mislocalization in an RNase H1-dependent manner. To better understand the underlying mechanisms of these observations, here we utilize different biochemical approaches to demonstrate that PS-ASO binding can alter the conformations of the bound proteins, as illustrated using recombinant RNase H1, P54nrb, PSF proteins and various isolated domains. While, in general, binding of PS-ASOs or ASO/RNA duplexes stabilizes the conformations of these proteins, PS-ASO binding may also cause the unfolding of RNase H1, including both the hybrid binding domain and the catalytic domain. The extent of conformational change correlates with the binding affinity of PS-ASOs to the proteins. Consequently, PS-ASO binding to RNase H1 induces the interaction of RNase H1 with P54nrb or PSF in a 2′-modification and sequence dependent manner, and toxic PS-ASOs tend to induce more interactions than non-toxic PS-ASOs. PS-ASO binding also enhances the interaction between P54nrb and PSF. However, the interaction between RNase H1 and P32 protein can be disrupted upon binding of PS-ASOs. Together, these results suggest that stronger binding of PS-ASOs can cause greater conformational changes of the bound proteins, subsequently affecting protein–protein interactions. These observations thus provide deeper understanding of the molecular basis of PS-ASO-induced protein mislocalization or degradation observed in cells and advance our understanding of why some PS-ASOs are cytotoxic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingdi Zhang
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Timothy A Vickers
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Hong Sun
- Antisense Drug discovery, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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19
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Vasquez G, Freestone GC, Wan WB, Low A, De Hoyos CL, Yu J, Prakash TP, Ǿstergaard ME, Liang XH, Crooke ST, Swayze EE, Migawa MT, Seth PP. Site-specific incorporation of 5'-methyl DNA enhances the therapeutic profile of gapmer ASOs. Nucleic Acids Res 2021; 49:1828-1839. [PMID: 33544849 PMCID: PMC7913697 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkab047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We recently showed that site-specific incorporation of 2′-modifications or neutral linkages in the oligo-deoxynucleotide gap region of toxic phosphorothioate (PS) gapmer ASOs can enhance therapeutic index and safety. In this manuscript, we determined if introducing substitution at the 5′-position of deoxynucleotide monomers in the gap can also enhance therapeutic index. Introducing R- or S-configured 5′-Me DNA at positions 3 and 4 in the oligodeoxynucleotide gap enhanced the therapeutic profile of the modified ASOs suggesting a different positional preference as compared to the 2′-OMe gap modification strategy. The generality of these observations was demonstrated by evaluating R-5′-Me and R-5′-Ethyl DNA modifications in multiple ASOs targeting HDAC2, FXI and Dynamin2 mRNA in the liver. The current work adds to a growing body of evidence that small structural changes can modulate the therapeutic properties of PS ASOs and ushers a new era of chemical optimization with a focus on enhancing the therapeutic profile as opposed to nuclease stability, RNA-affinity and pharmacokinetic properties. The 5′-methyl DNA modified ASOs exhibited excellent safety and antisense activity in mice highlighting the therapeutic potential of this class of nucleic acid analogs for next generation ASO designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillermo Vasquez
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | | | - W Brad Wan
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Audrey Low
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | | | - Jinghua Yu
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Thazha P Prakash
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | | | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Eric E Swayze
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Michael T Migawa
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Punit P Seth
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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20
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Liang XH, Nichols JG, Hsu CW, Crooke ST. Hsc70 Facilitates Mannose-6-Phosphate Receptor-Mediated Intracellular Trafficking and Enhances Endosomal Release of Phosphorothioate-Modified Antisense Oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acid Ther 2021; 31:284-297. [PMID: 33567234 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2020.0920] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotide (PS-ASO) drugs are commonly used to modulate gene expression through RNase H1-mediated cleavage of target RNAs. Upon internalization through endocytic pathways into cells, PS-ASOs must be released from membraned endosomal organelles to act on target RNAs, a limiting step of PS-ASO activity. Here we report that Hsc70 protein mediates productive release of PS-ASOs from endosomes. Hsc70 protein was enriched in endosome fractions shortly after PS-ASO incubation with cells. Reduction of Hsc70 significantly decreased the activities of PS-ASOs in reducing target RNAs. PS-ASO uptake and transport from early endosomes to late endosomes (LEs) were not affected upon Hsc70 reduction; however, endosomal release of PS-ASOs was impaired. Reduction of Hsc70 led to more scattered mannose-6-phosphate receptor (M6PR) localization at LEs in the cytoplasm, in contrast to the perinuclear localization at trans-Golgi network (TGN) in control cells, suggesting that retrograde transport of M6PR from LEs to TGN was affected. Consistently, reduction of Hsc70 increased colocalization of M6PR and PS-ASOs at LEs, and also delayed M6PR antibody transport from LE to TGN. Together, these results suggest that Hsc70 protein is involved in M6PR vesicle escape from LEs and may thus enhance PS-ASO release from LEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Joshua G Nichols
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Chih-Wei Hsu
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
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21
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Liang XH, De Hoyos CL, Shen W, Zhang L, Fazio M, Crooke ST. Solid-Phase Separation of Toxic Phosphorothioate Antisense Oligonucleotide-Protein Nucleolar Aggregates Is Cytoprotective. Nucleic Acid Ther 2021; 31:126-144. [PMID: 33534636 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2020.0923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides (PS-ASOs) interact with proteins and can localize to or induce the formation of a variety of subcellular PS-ASO-protein or PS-ASO-ribonucleoprotein aggregates. In this study, we show that these different aggregates that form with varying compositions at various concentrations in the cytosol, nucleus, and nucleolus may undergo phase separations in cells. Some aggregates can form with both nontoxic and toxic PS-ASOs, such as PS bodies, paraspeckles, and nuclear filaments. However, toxic PS-ASOs have been shown to form unique nucleolar aggregates that result in nucleolar dysfunction and apoptosis. These include liquid-like aggregates that we labeled "cloudy nucleoli" and solid-like perinucleolar filaments. Toxic nucleolar aggregates may undergo solid-phase separation and in the solid phase, protein mobility in and out of the aggregates is limited. Other aggregates appear to undergo liquid-phase separation, including paraspeckles and perinucleolar caps, in which protein mobility is negatively correlated with the binding affinity of the proteins to PS-ASOs. However, PS bodies and nuclear filaments are solid-like aggregates. Importantly, in cells that survived treatment with toxic PS-ASOs, solid-like PS-ASO aggregates accumulated, especially Hsc70-containing nucleolus-like structures, in which modest pre-rRNA transcriptional activity was retained and appeared to mitigate the nucleolar toxicity. This is the first demonstration that exogenous drugs, PS-ASOs, can form aggregates that undergo phase separations and that solid-phase separation of toxic PS-ASO-induced nucleolar aggregates is cytoprotective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Hai Liang
- Core Antisense Research and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Cheryl Li De Hoyos
- Core Antisense Research and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Wen Shen
- Core Antisense Research and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Lingdi Zhang
- Core Antisense Research and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Michael Fazio
- Medicinal Chemistry, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Core Antisense Research and Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
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22
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Abstract
Antisense technology is beginning to deliver on the broad promise of the technology. Ten RNA-targeted drugs including eight single-strand antisense drugs (ASOs) and two double-strand ASOs (siRNAs) have now been approved for commercial use, and the ASOs in phase 2/3 trials are innovative, delivered by multiple routes of administration and focused on both rare and common diseases. In fact, two ASOs are used in cardiovascular outcome studies and several others in very large trials. Interest in the technology continues to grow, and the field has been subject to a significant number of reviews. In this review, we focus on the molecular events that result in the effects observed and use recent clinical results involving several different ASOs to exemplify specific molecular mechanisms and specific issues. We conclude with the prospective on the technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley T Crooke
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Carlsbad, California, USA.
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Brenda F Baker
- Development Communication, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Rosanne M Crooke
- Antisense Drug Discovery, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Carlsbad, California, USA
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23
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Liang XH, Nichols JG, De Hoyos CL, Crooke ST. Some ASOs that bind in the coding region of mRNAs and induce RNase H1 cleavage can cause increases in the pre-mRNAs that may blunt total activity. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:9840-9858. [PMID: 32870273 PMCID: PMC7515700 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa715] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) drugs that trigger RNase H1 cleavage of target RNAs have been developed to treat various diseases. Basic pharmacological principles suggest that the development of tolerance is a common response to pharmacological interventions. In this manuscript, for the first time we report a molecular mechanism of tolerance that occurs with some ASOs. Two observations stimulated our interest: some RNA targets are difficult to reduce with RNase H1 activating ASOs and some ASOs display a shorter duration of activity than the prolonged target reduction typically observed. We found that certain ASOs targeting the coding region of some mRNAs that initially reduce target mRNAs can surprisingly increase the levels of the corresponding pre-mRNAs. The increase in pre-mRNA is delayed and due to enhanced transcription and likely also slower processing. This process requires that the ASOs bind in the coding region and reduce the target mRNA by RNase H1 while the mRNA resides in the ribosomes. The pre-mRNA increase is dependent on UPF3A and independent of the NMD pathway or the XRN1-CNOT pathway. The response is consistent in multiple cell lines and independent of the methods used to introduce ASOs into cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-hai Liang
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Joshua G Nichols
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Cheryl L De Hoyos
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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24
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Crooke ST, Seth PP, Vickers TA, Liang XH. The Interaction of Phosphorothioate-Containing RNA Targeted Drugs with Proteins Is a Critical Determinant of the Therapeutic Effects of These Agents. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:14754-14771. [PMID: 32786803 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c04928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Recent progress in understanding phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotide (PS-ASO) interactions with proteins has revealed that proteins play deterministic roles in the absorption, distribution, cellular uptake, subcellular distribution, molecular mechanisms of action, and toxicity of PS-ASOs. Similarly, such interactions can alter the fates of many intracellular proteins. These and other advances have opened new avenues for the medicinal chemistry of PS-ASOs and research on all elements of the molecular pharmacology of these molecules. These advances have recently been reviewed. In this Perspective article, we summarize some of those learnings, the general principles that have emerged, and a few of the exciting new questions that can now be addressed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley T Crooke
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California 92010-6670, United States
| | - Punit P Seth
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California 92010-6670, United States
| | - Timothy A Vickers
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California 92010-6670, United States
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California 92010-6670, United States
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25
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Pollak AJ, Hickman JH, Liang XH, Crooke ST. Gapmer Antisense Oligonucleotides Targeting 5S Ribosomal RNA Can Reduce Mature 5S Ribosomal RNA by Two Mechanisms. Nucleic Acid Ther 2020; 30:312-324. [PMID: 32589504 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2020.0864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [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: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, we demonstrate that 5S ribosomal RNA (rRNA), a highly structured and protein-bound RNA, is quite difficult to reduce with antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). However, we found a single accessible site that was targetable with a high-affinity complementary ASO. The ASO appeared to bind to the site, recruit RNaseH1, and cause degradation of the 5S RNA. Intriguingly, we also observed that the same ASO induced an accumulation of pre-5S RNA, which may contribute to reduced levels of mature 5S rRNA. As expected, ASO mediated reduction of 5S RNA, and modest inhibition of processing of pre-5S RNA resulted in nucleolar toxicity. However, the toxicity induced was minimal compared with actinomycin D, consistent with its modest effects on pre-5S rRNA. Mechanistically, we show that the accumulation of pre-5S rRNA required ASO hybridization to the cognate rRNA sequence but was independent of RNaseH1 activity. We found that Ro60 and La, proteins known to bind misprocessed RNAs, likely sequester the ASO-pre-5S rRNA species and block RNaseH1 activity, thus identifying another example of competitive mechanisms mediated by proteins that compete with RNaseH1 for binding to ASO-RNA heteroduplexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Pollak
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Justin H Hickman
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
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26
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Crooke ST, Vickers TA, Liang XH. Phosphorothioate modified oligonucleotide-protein interactions. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:5235-5253. [PMID: 32356888 PMCID: PMC7261153 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 04/08/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) interact with target RNAs via hybridization to modulate gene expression through different mechanisms. ASO therapeutics are chemically modified and include phosphorothioate (PS) backbone modifications and different ribose and base modifications to improve pharmacological properties. Modified PS ASOs display better binding affinity to the target RNAs and increased binding to proteins. Moreover, PS ASO protein interactions can affect many aspects of their performance, including distribution and tissue delivery, cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking, potency and toxicity. In this review, we summarize recent progress in understanding PS ASO protein interactions, highlighting the proteins with which PS ASOs interact, the influence of PS ASO protein interactions on ASO performance, and the structure activity relationships of PS ASO modification and protein interactions. A detailed understanding of these interactions can aid in the design of safer and more potent ASO drugs, as illustrated by recent findings that altering ASO chemical modifications dramatically improves therapeutic index.
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27
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Vickers TA, Migawa MT, Seth PP, Crooke ST. Interaction of ASOs with PC4 Is Highly Influenced by the Cellular Environment and ASO Chemistry. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:9661-9674. [PMID: 32374993 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.0c01808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The activity of PS-ASOs is strongly influenced by association with both inter- and intracellular proteins. The sequence, chemical nature, and structure of the ASO can have profound influences on the interaction of PS-ASOs with specific proteins. A more thorough understanding of how these pharmacological agents interact with various proteins and how chemical modifications, sequence, and structure influence interactions with proteins is needed to inform future ASO design efforts. To better understand the chemistry of PS-ASO interactions, we have focused on human positive cofactor 4 (PC4). Although several studies have investigated the in vitro binding properties of PC4 with endogenous nucleic acids, little is known about the chemistry of interaction of PS-ASOs with this protein. Here we examine in detail the impact of ASO backbone chemistry, 2'-modifications, and buffer environment on the binding affinity of PC4. In addition, using site-directed mutagenesis, we identify those amino acids that are specifically required for ASO binding interactions, and by substitution of abasic nucleotides we identify the positions on the ASO that most strongly influence affinity for PC4. Finally, to confirm that the interactions observed in vitro are biologically relevant, we use a recently developed complementation reporter system to evaluate the kinetics and subcellular localization of the interaction of ASO and PC4 in live cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Vickers
- Department of Core Antisense Research, IONIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Michael T Migawa
- Department of Medicinal ChemistryIONIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2855 Gazelle CourtCarlsbadCalifornia92010United States
| | - Punit P Seth
- Department of Medicinal ChemistryIONIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc.2855 Gazelle CourtCarlsbadCalifornia92010United States
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, IONIS Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
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28
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Vickers TA, Rahdar M, Prakash TP, Crooke ST. Kinetic and subcellular analysis of PS-ASO/protein interactions with P54nrb and RNase H1. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 47:10865-10880. [PMID: 31495875 PMCID: PMC6846478 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2019] [Revised: 08/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid RNase H1-dependent mislocalization of heterodimer proteins P54nrb and PSF to nucleoli is an early event in the pathway that explains the effects of most toxic phosphorothioate ASOs (PS-ASOs). Using a recently developed NanoLuciferace (NLuc)-based structural complementation reporter system which allows us to observe ASO/protein interactions in real time in live cells, we have determined that safe and toxic PS-ASOs associate with these proteins with kinetics and impact on subcellular localization that differ. Toxic PS-ASOs interact in a complex that includes RNase H1, P54nrb and PSF; but RNase H1/P54nrb complexes were observed in only the cells treated with toxic, but not safe PS-ASOs. In addition, experiments performed in vitro suggest that RNA is also a required component of the complex. The protein–protein interaction between P54nrb and RNase H1 requires the spacer region of RNAse H1, while the P54nrb core domains are required for association with RNase H1. In addition, we have determined that PS-ASOs bind P54nrb via RRM1 and RRM2, while they bind RNase H1 primarily via the hybrid binding domain, however catalytic domain interactions also contribute to overall affinity. These ASO–protein interactions are highly influenced by the chemistry of the PS-ASO binding environment, however little correlation between affinity for specific proteins and PS-ASO toxicity was observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Vickers
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Meghdad Rahdar
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Thazha P Prakash
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
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29
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Hyjek-Składanowska M, Vickers TA, Napiórkowska A, Anderson BA, Tanowitz M, Crooke ST, Liang XH, Seth PP, Nowotny M. Origins of the Increased Affinity of Phosphorothioate-Modified Therapeutic Nucleic Acids for Proteins. J Am Chem Soc 2020; 142:7456-7468. [PMID: 32202774 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.9b13524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The phosphorothioate backbone modification (PS) is one of the most widely used chemical modifications for enhancing the drug-like properties of nucleic acid-based drugs, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). PS-modified nucleic acid therapeutics show improved metabolic stability from nuclease-mediated degradation and exhibit enhanced interactions with plasma, cell-surface, and intracellular proteins, which facilitates their tissue distribution and cellular uptake in animals. However, little is known about the structural basis of the interactions of PS nucleic acids with proteins. Here, we report a crystal structure of the DNA-binding domain of a model ASO-binding protein PC4, in complex with a full PS 2'-OMe DNA gapmer ASO. To our knowledge this is the first structure of a complex between a protein and fully PS nucleic acid. Each PC4 dimer comprises two DNA-binding interfaces. In the structure one interface binds the 5'-terminal 2'-OMe PS flank of the ASO, while the other interface binds the regular PS DNA central part in the opposite polarity. As a result, the ASO forms a hairpin-like structure. ASO binding also induces the formation of a dimer of dimers of PC4, which is stabilized by base pairing between homologous regions of the ASOs bound by each dimer of PC4. The protein interacts with the PS nucleic acid through a network of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions, which provides insights into the origins for the enhanced affinity of PS for proteins. The importance of these contacts was further confirmed in a NanoBRET binding assay using a Nano luciferase tagged PC4 acting as the BRET donor, to a fluorescently conjugated ASO acting as the BRET acceptor. Overall, our results provide insights into the molecular forces that govern the interactions of PS ASOs with cellular proteins and provide a potential model for how these interactions can template protein-protein interactions causative of cellular toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malwina Hyjek-Składanowska
- Structural Biology Center, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 4 Trojdena St., 02-109 Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 4 Trojdena Street, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Timothy A Vickers
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Agnieszka Napiórkowska
- Structural Biology Center, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 4 Trojdena St., 02-109 Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 4 Trojdena Street, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Brooke A Anderson
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Michael Tanowitz
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Punit P Seth
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Marcin Nowotny
- Structural Biology Center, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 4 Trojdena St., 02-109 Warsaw, Poland.,Laboratory of Protein Structure, International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 4 Trojdena Street, 02-109 Warsaw, Poland
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Østergaard ME, De Hoyos CL, Wan WB, Shen W, Low A, Berdeja A, Vasquez G, Murray S, Migawa MT, Liang XH, Swayze EE, Crooke ST, Seth PP. Understanding the effect of controlling phosphorothioate chirality in the DNA gap on the potency and safety of gapmer antisense oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:1691-1700. [PMID: 31980820 PMCID: PMC7038945 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic oligonucleotides are often modified using the phosphorothioate (PS) backbone modification which enhances stability from nuclease mediated degradation. However, substituting oxygen in the phosphodiester backbone with sulfur introduce chirality into the backbone such that a full PS 16-mer oligonucleotide is comprised of 215 distinct stereoisomers. As a result, the role of PS chirality on the performance of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) has been a subject of debate for over two decades. We carried out a systematic analysis to determine if controlling PS chirality in the DNA gap region can enhance the potency and safety of gapmer ASOs modified with high-affinity constrained Ethyl (cEt) nucleotides in the flanks. As part of this effort, we examined the effect of systematically controlling PS chirality on RNase H1 cleavage patterns, protein mislocalization phenotypes, activity and toxicity in cells and in mice. We found that while controlling PS chirality can dramatically modulate interactions with RNase H1 as evidenced by changes in RNA cleavage patterns, these were insufficient to improve the overall therapeutic profile. We also found that controlling PS chirality of only two PS linkages in the DNA gap was sufficient to modulate RNase H1 cleavage patterns and combining these designs with simple modifications such as 2'-OMe to the DNA gap resulted in dramatic improvements in therapeutic index. However, we were unable to demonstrate improved potency relative to the stereorandom parent ASO or improved safety over the 2'-OMe gap-modified stereorandom parent ASO. Overall, our work shows that while controlling PS chirality can modulate RNase H1 cleavage patterns, ASO sequence and design are the primary drivers which determine the pharmacological and toxicological properties of gapmer ASOs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cheryl L De Hoyos
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - W Brad Wan
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Wen Shen
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Audrey Low
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Andres Berdeja
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Guillermo Vasquez
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Susan Murray
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Michael T Migawa
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Eric E Swayze
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Punit P Seth
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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31
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Liang XH, Sun H, Hsu CW, Nichols JG, Vickers TA, De Hoyos CL, Crooke ST. Golgi-endosome transport mediated by M6PR facilitates release of antisense oligonucleotides from endosomes. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:1372-1391. [PMID: 31840180 PMCID: PMC7026651 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz1171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Release of phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides (PS-ASOs) from late endosomes (LEs) is a rate-limiting step and a poorly defined process for productive intracellular ASO drug delivery. Here, we examined the role of Golgi-endosome transport, specifically M6PR shuttling mediated by GCC2, in PS-ASO trafficking and activity. We found that reduction in cellular levels of GCC2 or M6PR impaired PS-ASO release from endosomes and decreased PS-ASO activity in human cells. GCC2 relocated to LEs upon PS-ASO treatment, and M6PR also co-localized with PS-ASOs in LEs or on LE membranes. These proteins act through the same pathway to influence PS-ASO activity, with GCC2 action preceding that of M6PR. Our data indicate that M6PR binds PS-ASOs and facilitates their vesicular escape. The co-localization of M6PR and of GCC2 with ASOs is influenced by the PS modifications, which have been shown to enhance the affinity of ASOs for proteins, suggesting that localization of these proteins to LEs is mediated by ASO-protein interactions. Reduction of M6PR levels also decreased PS-ASO activity in mouse cells and in livers of mice treated subcutaneously with PS-ASO, indicating a conserved mechanism. Together, these results demonstrate that the transport machinery between LE and Golgi facilitates PS-ASO release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Hai Liang
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Carlsbad, CA 92104, USA
| | - Hong Sun
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Carlsbad, CA 92104, USA
| | - Chih-Wei Hsu
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Carlsbad, CA 92104, USA
| | - Joshua G Nichols
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Carlsbad, CA 92104, USA
| | - Timothy A Vickers
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Carlsbad, CA 92104, USA
| | - Cheryl L De Hoyos
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Carlsbad, CA 92104, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Carlsbad, CA 92104, USA
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Migawa MT, Shen W, Wan WB, Vasquez G, Oestergaard ME, Low A, De Hoyos CL, Gupta R, Murray S, Tanowitz M, Bell M, Nichols JG, Gaus H, Liang XH, Swayze EE, Crooke ST, Seth PP. Site-specific replacement of phosphorothioate with alkyl phosphonate linkages enhances the therapeutic profile of gapmer ASOs by modulating interactions with cellular proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:5465-5479. [PMID: 31034558 PMCID: PMC6582325 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 03/21/2019] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotides (PS-ASOs) interact with a host of plasma, cell-surface and intracellular proteins which govern their therapeutic properties. Given the importance of PS backbone for interaction with proteins, we systematically replaced anionic PS-linkages in toxic ASOs with charge-neutral alkylphosphonate linkages. Site-specific incorporation of alkyl phosphonates altered the RNaseH1 cleavage patterns but overall rates of cleavage and activity versus the on-target gene in cells and in mice were only minimally affected. However, replacing even one PS-linkage at position 2 or 3 from the 5'-side of the DNA-gap with alkylphosphonates reduced or eliminated toxicity of several hepatotoxic gapmer ASOs. The reduction in toxicity was accompanied by the absence of nucleolar mislocalization of paraspeckle protein P54nrb, ablation of P21 mRNA elevation and caspase activation in cells, and hepatotoxicity in mice. The generality of these observations was further demonstrated for several ASOs versus multiple gene targets. Our results add to the types of structural modifications that can be used in the gap-region to enhance ASO safety and provide insights into understanding the biochemistry of PS ASO protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael T Migawa
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Wen Shen
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - W Brad Wan
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | | | | | - Audrey Low
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | | | - Ruchi Gupta
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Susan Murray
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Michael Tanowitz
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Melanie Bell
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Joshua G Nichols
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Hans Gaus
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Eric E Swayze
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Punit P Seth
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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33
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Wang Y, Shen W, Liang XH, Crooke ST. Phosphorothioate Antisense Oligonucleotides Bind P-Body Proteins and Mediate P-Body Assembly. Nucleic Acid Ther 2019; 29:343-358. [PMID: 31429620 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2019.0806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [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] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) regulate gene expression by binding to complementary target RNA, and ASOs can be designed to take advantage of a growing array of post RNA binding molecular mechanisms. Intracellular trafficking of ASOs influences their efficacy. We have identified a number of membrane-less structures in the nucleus, nucleolus, and cytoplasm where phosphorothioate-modified ASOs (PS-ASOs) accumulate and have shown that PS-ASOs can induce the formation of new nuclear structures such as PS-bodies and paraspeckle-like structures. In this study, we report that PS-ASOs can localize to cytoplasmic processing bodies (P-bodies) and increase the number of P-bodies in cells. The antisense activity of PS-ASOs was not affected by the absence of essential P-body assembly proteins DDX6 and LSm14A. Moreover, the effects of PS-ASOs on P-body assembly were independent of their antisense activities. The phosphorothioate modification stabilizes the association between ASOs and cellular proteins and is essential for the P-body localization of ASOs. Since PS-ASOs bind to major P-body components, PS-ASOs may serve as scaffolds for P-body formation. Taken together, these results indicate that interactions of PS-ASO with proteins, rather than antisense activities, are essential for the dynamic interplay between PS-ASOs and P-bodies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
| | - Wen Shen
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
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34
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Shen W, De Hoyos CL, Sun H, Vickers TA, Liang XH, Crooke ST. Acute hepatotoxicity of 2' fluoro-modified 5-10-5 gapmer phosphorothioate oligonucleotides in mice correlates with intracellular protein binding and the loss of DBHS proteins. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:2204-2217. [PMID: 29390093 PMCID: PMC5861398 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 01/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
We reported previously that a 2′ fluoro-modified (2′ F) phosphorothioate (PS) antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) with 5–10–5 gapmer configuration interacted with proteins from Drosophila behavior/human splicing (DBHS) family with higher affinity than PS-ASOs modified with 2′-O-(2-methoxyethyl) (2′ MOE) or 2′,4′-constrained 2′-O-ethyl (cEt) did. Rapid degradation of these proteins and cytotoxicity were observed in cells treated with 2′ F PS-ASO. Here, we report that 2′ F gapmer PS-ASOs of different sequences caused reduction in levels of DBHS proteins and hepatotoxicity in mice. 2′ F PS-ASOs induced activation of the P53 pathway and downregulation of metabolic pathways. Altered levels of RNA and protein markers for hepatotoxicity, liver necrosis, and apoptosis were observed as early as 24 to 48 hours after a single administration of the 2′ F PS-ASO. The observed effects were not likely due to the hybridization-dependent RNase H1 cleavage of on- or potential off-target RNAs, or due to potential toxicity of 2′ F nucleoside metabolites. Instead, we found that 2′ F PS-ASO associated with more intra-cellular proteins including proteins from DBHS family. Our results suggest that protein-binding correlates positively with the 2′ F modification-dependent loss of DBHS proteins and the toxicity of gapmer 2′ F PS-ASO in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Shen
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Cheryl L De Hoyos
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Timothy A Vickers
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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35
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Wang S, Allen N, Vickers TA, Revenko AS, Sun H, Liang XH, Crooke ST. Cellular uptake mediated by epidermal growth factor receptor facilitates the intracellular activity of phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acids Res 2019. [PMID: 29514240 PMCID: PMC5909429 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) with phosphorothioate (PS) linkages have been extensively studied as research and therapeutic agents. PS-ASOs can enter the cell and trigger cleavage of complementary RNA by RNase H1 even in the absence of transfection reagent. A number of cell surface proteins have been identified that bind PS-ASOs and mediate their cellular uptake; however, the mechanisms that lead to productive internalization of PS-ASOs are not well understood. Here, we characterized the interaction between PS-ASOs and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). We found that PS-ASOs trafficked together with EGF and EGFR into clathrin-coated pit structures. Their co-localization was also observed at early endosomes and inside enlarged late endosomes. Reduction of EGFR decreased PS-ASO activity without affecting EGF-mediated signaling pathways and overexpression of EGFR increased PS-ASO activity in cells. Furthermore, reduction of EGFR delays PS-ASO trafficking from early to late endosomes. Thus, EGFR binds to PS-ASOs at the cell surface and mediates essential steps for active (productive) cellular uptake of PS-ASOs through its cargo-dependent trafficking processes which migrate PS-ASOs from early to late endosomes. This EGFR-mediated process can also serve as an additional model to better understand the mechanism of intracellular uptake and endosomal release of PS-ASOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Wang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Nickolas Allen
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Timothy A Vickers
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Alexey S Revenko
- Department of Antisense Drug, Discovery, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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36
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Liang XH, Nichols JG, Sun H, Crooke ST. Translation can affect the antisense activity of RNase H1-dependent oligonucleotides targeting mRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:293-313. [PMID: 29165591 PMCID: PMC5758896 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
RNase H1-dependent antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) can degrade complementary RNAs in both the nucleus and the cytoplasm. Since cytoplasmic mRNAs are actively engaged in translation, ASO activity may thus be affected by translating ribosomes that scan the mRNAs. Here we show that mRNAs associated with ribosomes can be cleaved using ASOs and that translation can alter ASO activity. Translation inhibition tends to increase ASO activity when targeting the coding regions of efficiently translated mRNAs, but not nuclear non-coding RNAs or less efficiently translated mRNAs. Increasing the level of RNase H1 protein eliminated the enhancing effects of translation inhibition on ASO activity, suggesting that RNase H1 recruitment to ASO/mRNA heteroduplexes is a rate limiting step and that translating ribosomes can inhibit RNase H1 recruitment. Consistently, ASO activity was not increased by translation inhibition when targeting the 3′ UTRs, independent of the translation efficiency of the mRNAs. Contrarily, the activity of 3′ UTR-targeting ASOs tended to be reduced upon translation inhibition, likely due to decreased accessibility. These results indicate that ASO activity can be affected by the translation process, and the findings also provide important information toward helping better ASO drug design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceutics, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Joshua G Nichols
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceutics, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceutics, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceutics, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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37
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Wang S, Allen N, Prakash TP, Liang XH, Crooke ST. Lipid Conjugates Enhance Endosomal Release of Antisense Oligonucleotides Into Cells. Nucleic Acid Ther 2019; 29:245-255. [PMID: 31158063 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2019.0794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides modified with phosphorothioate linkages (PS-ASOs) can enter cells via endocytic pathways and must escape from membraned organelles to reach target RNAs. We recently found that membrane destabilization induced by different lipid species contributes to PS-ASO release from late endosomes (LEs). In this study, we characterized intracellular uptake, trafficking, and activities of PS-ASOs conjugated with different lipid species. We found that palmitic acid-, tocopherol-, and cholesterol-conjugated PS-ASOs have increased protein binding and enhanced intracellular uptake compared to unconjugated PS-ASOs. Similar to the parental PS-ASO, the lipid-conjugated PS-ASOs traffic from early to LEs without incorporation into lipid droplets. Unlike parental PS-ASOs, the lipid-conjugated PS-ASOs tend to remain associated with plasma or endosomal membranes, and this appears to influence their release from endosomes. The lipid-conjugated PS-ASOs were released more rapidly than parental PS-ASO. These results suggest that lipid conjugation enhances the interactions of PS-ASOs with proteins or membranes, in turn facilitating intracellular trafficking and endosomal release.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Wang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
| | - Nickolas Allen
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
| | - Thazha P Prakash
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
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38
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Liang XH, Shen W, Crooke ST. Specific Increase of Protein Levels by Enhancing Translation Using Antisense Oligonucleotides Targeting Upstream Open Frames. Adv Exp Med Biol 2019. [PMID: 28639196 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-10-4310-9_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
A number of diseases are caused by low levels of key proteins; therefore, increasing the amount of specific proteins in human bodies is of therapeutic interest. Protein expression is downregulated by some structural or sequence elements present in the 5' UTR of mRNAs, such as upstream open reading frames (uORF). Translation initiation from uORF(s) reduces translation from the downstream primary ORF encoding the main protein product in the same mRNA, leading to a less efficient protein expression. Therefore, it is possible to use antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) to specifically inhibit translation of the uORF by base-pairing with the uAUG region of the mRNA, redirecting translation machinery to initiate from the primary AUG site. Here we review the recent findings that translation of specific mRNAs can be enhanced using ASOs targeting uORF regions. Appropriately designed and optimized ASOs are highly specific, and they act in a sequence- and position-dependent manner, with very minor off-target effects. Protein levels can be increased using this approach in different types of human and mouse cells, and, importantly, also in mice. Since uORFs are present in around half of human mRNAs, the uORF-targeting ASOs may thus have valuable potential as research tools and as therapeutics to increase the levels of proteins for a variety of genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA.
| | - Wen Shen
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA, 92010, USA
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39
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Shen W, De Hoyos CL, Migawa MT, Vickers TA, Sun H, Low A, Bell TA, Rahdar M, Mukhopadhyay S, Hart CE, Bell M, Riney S, Murray SF, Greenlee S, Crooke RM, Liang XH, Seth PP, Crooke ST. Chemical modification of PS-ASO therapeutics reduces cellular protein-binding and improves the therapeutic index. Nat Biotechnol 2019; 37:640-650. [PMID: 31036929 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-019-0106-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 35.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The molecular mechanisms of toxicity of chemically modified phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides (PS-ASOs) are not fully understood. Here, we report that toxic gapmer PS-ASOs containing modifications such as constrained ethyl (cEt), locked nucleic acid (LNA) and 2'-O-methoxyethyl (2'-MOE) bind many cellular proteins with high avidity, altering their function, localization and stability. We show that RNase H1-dependent delocalization of paraspeckle proteins to nucleoli is an early event in PS-ASO toxicity, followed by nucleolar stress, p53 activation and apoptotic cell death. Introduction of a single 2'-O-methyl (2'-OMe) modification at gap position 2 reduced protein-binding, substantially decreasing hepatotoxicity and improving the therapeutic index with minimal impairment of antisense activity. We validated the ability of this modification to generally mitigate PS-ASO toxicity with more than 300 sequences. Our findings will guide the design of PS-ASOs with optimal therapeutic profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Shen
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | - Hong Sun
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Audrey Low
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Stan Riney
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
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Crooke ST, Baker BF, Xia S, Yu RZ, Viney NJ, Wang Y, Tsimikas S, Geary RS. Integrated Assessment of the Clinical Performance of GalNAc 3-Conjugated 2'-O-Methoxyethyl Chimeric Antisense Oligonucleotides: I. Human Volunteer Experience. Nucleic Acid Ther 2018; 29:16-32. [PMID: 30570431 PMCID: PMC6386089 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2018.0753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [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: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in medicinal chemistry have produced new chemical classes of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) with enhanced therapeutic properties. Conjugation of the triantennary N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc3) moiety to the extensively characterized phosphorothioate (PS)-modified 2′-O-methoxyethyl (2′MOE) ASO exemplifies such an advance. This structure-activity optimized moiety effects receptor-mediated uptake of the ASO prodrug through the asialoglycoprotein receptor 1 to support selective targeting of RNAs expressed by hepatocytes. In this study we report the integrated assessment of data available from randomized placebo-controlled dose-ranging studies of this chemical class of ASOs administered systemically to healthy human volunteers. First, we compare the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles of a subset of the GalNAc3-conjugated PS-modified 2′MOE ASOs to the parent PS-modified 2′MOE ASOs for which plasma analytes are available. We then evaluate the safety profile of the full set of GalNAc3-conjugated PS-modified 2′MOE ASO conjugates by the incidence of signals in standardized laboratory tests and by the mean laboratory test results as a function of dose level over time. With hepatocyte targeted delivery, the ED50 for the GalNAc3-conjugated PS-modified 2′MOE ASO subset ranges from 4 to 10 mg/week, up to 30-fold more potent than the parent PS-modified 2′MOE ASO. No GalNAc3-conjugated PS-modified 2′MOE ASO class effects were identified from the assessment of the integrated laboratory test data across all doses tested with either single or multidose regimens. The increase in potency supports an increase in the safety margin for this new chemical class of ASOs now under broad investigation in the clinic. Although the total exposure is limited in the initial phase 1 trials, ongoing and future investigations in patient populations will support evaluation of the effects of long-term exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shuting Xia
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
| | - Rosie Z Yu
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
| | | | - Yanfeng Wang
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California
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Liang XH, Sun H, Nichols JG, Allen N, Wang S, Vickers TA, Shen W, Hsu CW, Crooke ST. COPII vesicles can affect the activity of antisense oligonucleotides by facilitating the release of oligonucleotides from endocytic pathways. Nucleic Acids Res 2018; 46:10225-10245. [PMID: 30239896 PMCID: PMC6212795 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RNase H1-dependent, phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotides (PS-ASOs) can enter cells through endocytic pathways and need to be released from the membrane-enclosed organelles, a limiting step for antisense activity. Accumulating evidence has suggested that productive PS-ASO release mainly occurs from late endosomes (LEs). However, how PS-ASOs escape from LEs is not well understood. Here, we report that upon PS-ASO incubation, COPII vesicles, normally involved in ER-Golgi transport, can re-locate to PS-ASO-containing LEs. Reduction of COPII coat proteins significantly decreased PS-ASO activity, without affecting the levels of PS-ASO uptake and early-to-late endosome transport, but caused slower PS-ASO release from LEs. COPII co-localization with PS-ASOs at LEs does not require de novo assembly of COPII at ER. Interestingly, reduction of STX5 and P115, proteins involved in tethering and fusion of COPII vesicles with Golgi membranes, impaired COPII re-localization to LEs and decreased PS-ASO activity. STX5 can re-locate to LEs upon PS-ASO incubation, can bind PS-ASOs, and the binding appears to be required for this pathway. Our study reveals a novel release pathway in which PS-ASO incubation causes LE re-localization of STX5, which mediates the recruitment of COPII vesicles to LEs to facilitate endosomal PS-ASO release, and identifies another key PS-ASO binding protein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-hai Liang
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Hong Sun
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Joshua G Nichols
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Nickolas Allen
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Shiyu Wang
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Timothy A Vickers
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Wen Shen
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Chih-Wei Hsu
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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43
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Wang S, Allen N, Liang XH, Crooke ST. Membrane Destabilization Induced by Lipid Species Increases Activity of Phosphorothioate-Antisense Oligonucleotides. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2018; 13:686-698. [PMID: 30508785 PMCID: PMC6276310 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Chemically modified antisense oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate linkages (PS-ASOs) mediate site-specific cleavage of RNA by RNase H1 and are broadly used as research and therapeutic tools. PS-ASOs can enter cells via endocytic pathways and escape from membrane-enclosed endocytic organelles to reach target RNAs. We recently found that lysobisphosphatidic acid is required for release of PS-ASOs from late endosomes. Here, we evaluated the effects of other lipids on PS-ASO intracellular trafficking and activities. We show that free fatty acids, ceramide, and cholesterol increase PS-ASO activities. Free fatty acids induced formation of lipid droplets without changing the intracellular localization of PS-ASOs in early or late endosomes. Ceramide and cholesterol did not obviously induce the formation of lipid droplets, but cholesterol caused enlargement of endosome size and volume. Although none of those lipids appeared to influence PS-ASO internalization or intracellular trafficking processes, all led to an increase in leakiness of late endosomes. Thus, the membrane destabilization induced by these lipids likely contributes to PS-ASO release from late endosomes, which, in turn, increases PS-ASO activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Wang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA.
| | - Nickolas Allen
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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44
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MacLeod AR, Crooke ST. RNA Therapeutics in Oncology: Advances, Challenges, and Future Directions. J Clin Pharmacol 2018; 57 Suppl 10:S43-S59. [PMID: 28921648 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Accepted: 05/08/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
RNA-based therapeutic technologies represent a rapidly expanding class of therapeutic opportunities with the power to modulate cellular biology in ways never before possible. With RNA-targeted therapeutics, inhibitors of previously undruggable proteins, gene expression modulators, and even therapeutic proteins can be rationally designed based on sequence information alone, something that is not possible with other therapeutic modalities. The most advanced RNA therapeutic modalities are antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs. Particularly with ASOs, recent clinical data have demonstrated proof of mechanism and clinical benefit with these approaches across several nononcology disease areas by multiple routes of administration. In cancer, next-generation ASOs have recently demonstrated single-agent activity in patients with highly refractory cancers. Here we discuss advances in RNA therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and the challenges that remain to solidify these as mainstay therapeutic modalities to bridge the pharmacogenomic divide that remains in cancer drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Robert MacLeod
- Vice President, Oncology Discovery, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- CEO and Chairman of the Board, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, USA
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45
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Abstract
RNA-targeted therapies represent a platform for drug discovery involving chemically modified oligonucleotides, a wide range of cellular RNAs, and a novel target-binding motif, Watson-Crick base pairing. Numerous hurdles considered by many to be impassable have been overcome. Today, four RNA-targeted therapies are approved for commercial use for indications as diverse as Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) and reduction of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and by routes of administration including subcutaneous, intravitreal, and intrathecal delivery. The technology is efficient and supports approaching "undruggable" targets. Three additional agents are progressing through registration, and more are in clinical development, representing several chemical and structural classes. Moreover, progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms by which these drugs work has led to steadily better clinical performance and a wide range of mechanisms that may be exploited for therapeutic purposes. Here we summarize the progress, future challenges, and opportunities for this drug discovery platform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stanley T Crooke
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA.
| | - Joseph L Witztum
- University of California San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - C Frank Bennett
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Brenda F Baker
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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46
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Crooke ST, Baker BF, Pham NC, Hughes SG, Kwoh TJ, Cai D, Tsimikas S, Geary RS, Bhanot S. The Effects of 2'-O-Methoxyethyl Oligonucleotides on Renal Function in Humans. Nucleic Acid Ther 2017; 28:10-22. [PMID: 29185862 PMCID: PMC5790433 DOI: 10.1089/nat.2017.0693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [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: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemically administered 2′-O-methoxyethyl (2′MOE) antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) accumulate in the kidney and metabolites are cleared in urine. The effects of eleven 2′MOE ASOs on renal function were assessed in 2,435 patients from 32 phase 2 and phase 3 trials. The principle analysis was on data from 28 randomized placebo-controlled trials. Mean levels of renal parameters remained within normal ranges over time across dose groups. Patient-level meta-analyses demonstrated a significant difference between placebo-treated and 2′MOE ASO-treated patients at doses >175 mg/week in the percentage and absolute change from baseline for serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate. However, these changes were not clinically significant or progressive. No dose-related effects were observed in the incidence of abnormal renal test results in the total population of patients, or subpopulation of diabetic patients or patients with renal dysfunction at baseline. The incidence of acute kidney injury [serum creatinine ≥0.3 mg/dL (26.5 μM) increases from baseline or ≥1.5 × baseline] in 2′MOE ASO-treated patients (2.4%) was not statistically different from placebo (1.7%, P = 0.411). In conclusion, in this database, encompassing 32 clinical trials and 11 different 2′MOE ASOs, we found no evidence of clinically significant renal dysfunction up to 52 weeks of randomized-controlled treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - T Jesse Kwoh
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , Carlsbad, California
| | - Danlin Cai
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. , Carlsbad, California
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47
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Bailey JK, Shen W, Liang XH, Crooke ST. Nucleic acid binding proteins affect the subcellular distribution of phosphorothioate antisense oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:10649-10671. [PMID: 28977508 PMCID: PMC5737868 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are versatile tools that can regulate multiple steps of RNA biogenesis in cells and living organisms. Significant improvements in delivery, potency, and stability have been achieved through modifications within the oligonucleotide backbone, sugar and heterocycles. However, these modifications can profoundly affect interactions between ASOs and intracellular proteins in ways that are only beginning to be understood. Here, we report that ASOs with specific backbone and sugar modifications can become localized to cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granules such as stress granules and those seeded by the aggregation of specific ASO-binding proteins such as FUS/TLS (FUS) and PSF/SFPQ (PSF). Further investigation into the basis for ASO-FUS binding illustrated the importance of ASO backbone and hydrophobic 2' sugar modifications and revealed that the C-terminal region of FUS is sufficient to retain ASOs in cellular foci. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate that affinities of various nucleic acid binding domains for ASO depend on chemical modifications and further demonstrate how ASO-protein interactions influence the localization of ASOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey K Bailey
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Wen Shen
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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48
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Shen W, Sun H, De Hoyos CL, Bailey JK, Liang XH, Crooke ST. Dynamic nucleoplasmic and nucleolar localization of mammalian RNase H1 in response to RNAP I transcriptional R-loops. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:10672-10692. [PMID: 28977560 PMCID: PMC5737507 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
An R-loop is a DNA:RNA hybrid formed during transcription when a DNA duplex is invaded by a nascent RNA transcript. R-loops accumulate in nucleoli during RNA polymerase I (RNAP I) transcription. Here, we report that mammalian RNase H1 enriches in nucleoli and co-localizes with R-loops in cultured human cells. Co-migration of RNase H1 and R-loops from nucleoli to perinucleolar ring structures was observed upon inhibition of RNAP I transcription. Treatment with camptothecin which transiently stabilized nucleolar R-loops recruited RNase H1 to the nucleoli. It has been reported that the absence of Topoisomerase and RNase H activity in Escherichia coli or Saccharomyces cerevisiae caused R-loop accumulation along rDNA. We found that the distribution of RNase H1 and Top1 along rDNA coincided at sites where R-loops accumulated in mammalian cells. Loss of either RNase H1 or Top1 caused R-loop accumulation, and the accumulation of R-loops was exacerbated when both proteins were depleted. Importantly, we observed that protein levels of Top1 were negatively correlated with the abundance of RNase H1. We conclude that Top1 and RNase H1 are partially functionally redundant in mammalian cells to suppress RNAP I transcription-associate R-loops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Shen
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Cheryl L De Hoyos
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Jeffrey K Bailey
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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Wang S, Sun H, Tanowitz M, Liang XH, Crooke ST. Intra-endosomal trafficking mediated by lysobisphosphatidic acid contributes to intracellular release of phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotides. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:5309-5322. [PMID: 28379543 PMCID: PMC5605259 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2017] [Accepted: 03/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) with phosphorothioate (PS) linkages are broadly used as research tools and therapeutic agents. Chemically modified PS-ASOs can mediate efficient target reduction by site-specific cleavage of RNA through RNase H1. PS-ASOs are known to be internalized via a number of endocytotic pathways and are released from membrane-enclosed endocytotic organelles, mainly late endosomes (LEs). This study was focused on the details of PS-ASO trafficking through endocytic pathways. It was found that lysobisphosphatidic acid (LBPA) is required for release of PS-ASOs from LEs. PS-ASOs exited early endosomes (EEs) rapidly after internalization and became co-localized with LBPA by 2 hours in LEs. Inside LEs, PS-ASOs and LBPA were co-localized in punctate, dot-like structures, likely intraluminal vesicles (ILVs). Deactivation of LBPA using anti-LBPA antibody significantly decreased PS-ASO activities without affecting total PS-ASO uptake. Reduction of Alix also substantially decreased PS-ASO activities without affecting total PS-ASO uptake. Furthermore, Alix reduction decreased LBPA levels and limited co-localization of LBPA with PS-ASOs at ILVs inside LEs. Thus, the fusion properties of ILVs, which are supported by LBPA, contribute to PS-ASO intracellular release from LEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiyu Wang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Michael Tanowitz
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Xue-Hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
| | - Stanley T Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 2855 Gazelle Court, Carlsbad, CA 92010, USA
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Liang XH, Sun H, Shen W, Wang S, Yao J, Migawa MT, Bui HH, Damle SS, Riney S, Graham MJ, Crooke RM, Crooke ST. Antisense oligonucleotides targeting translation inhibitory elements in 5' UTRs can selectively increase protein levels. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:9528-9546. [PMID: 28934489 PMCID: PMC5766168 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
A variety of diseases are caused by deficiencies in amounts or activity of key proteins. An approach that increases the amount of a specific protein might be of therapeutic benefit. We reasoned that translation could be specifically enhanced using trans-acting agents that counter the function of negative regulatory elements present in the 5' UTRs of some mRNAs. We recently showed that translation can be enhanced by antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) that target upstream open reading frames. Here we report the amount of a protein can also be selectively increased using ASOs designed to hybridize to other translation inhibitory elements in 5' UTRs. Levels of human RNASEH1, LDLR, and ACP1 and of mouse ACP1 and ARF1 were increased up to 2.7-fold in different cell types and species upon treatment with chemically modified ASOs targeting 5' UTR inhibitory regions in the mRNAs encoding these proteins. The activities of ASOs in enhancing translation were sequence and position dependent and required helicase activity. The ASOs appear to improve the recruitment of translation initiation factors to the target mRNA. Importantly, ASOs targeting ACP1 mRNA significantly increased the level of ACP1 protein in mice, suggesting that this approach has therapeutic and research potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-hai Liang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Hong Sun
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Wen Shen
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Shiyu Wang
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Joyee Yao
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Michael T. Migawa
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Huynh-Hoa Bui
- Department of Antisense Drug Discovery, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Sagar S. Damle
- Department of Antisense Drug Discovery, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Stan Riney
- Department of Antisense Drug Discovery, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Mark J. Graham
- Department of Antisense Drug Discovery, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Rosanne M. Crooke
- Department of Antisense Drug Discovery, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
| | - Stanley T. Crooke
- Department of Core Antisense Research, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, CA, USA
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