Generating Functional and Highly Proliferative Melanocytes Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: A Promising Tool for Biotherapeutic Approaches to Treat Skin Pigmentation Disorders.

Melanocytes are essential for skin homeostasis and protection, and their loss or misfunction leads to a wide spectrum of diseases. Cell therapy utilizing autologous melanocytes has been used for years as an adjunct treatment for hypopigmentary disorders such as vitiligo. However, these approaches are hindered by the poor proliferative capacity of melanocytes obtained from skin biopsies. Recent advances in the field of human pluripotent stem cells have fueled the prospect of generating melanocytes. Here, we have developed a well-characterized method to produce a pure and homogenous population of functional and proliferative melanocytes. The genetic stability and potential transformation of melanocytes from pluripotent stem cells have been evaluated over time during the in vitro culture process. Thanks to transcriptomic analysis, the molecular signatures all along the differentiation protocol have been characterized, providing a solid basis for standardizing the protocol. Altogether, our results promise meaningful, broadly applicable, and longer-lasting advances for pigmentation disorders and open perspectives for innovative biotherapies for pigment disorders.

Peptides derived from evolutionarily conserved domains in Beclin-1 and Beclin-2 enhance the entry of lentiviral vectors into human cells.

Autophagy-related proteins such as Beclin-1 are involved in an array of complex processes, including antiviral responses, and may also modulate the efficiency of gene therapy viral vectors. The Tat-Beclin-1 (TB1) peptide has been reported as an autophagy-inducing factor inhibiting the replication of pathogens such as HIV, type 1 (HIV-1). However, autophagy-related proteins are also essential for the early steps of HIV-1 infection. Therefore, we examined the effects of the Beclin-1 evolutionarily conserved domain in TB1 on viral transduction and autophagy in single-round HIV infection or with nonreplicative HIV-1-derived lentiviral vectors. TB1 enhanced transduction with various pseudotypes but without inducing the autophagy process. TB1 augmented the transduction of human CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells while maintaining their capacity to engraft in vivo into humanized mice. TB1 was as effective as other transduction additives and functioned by enhancing the adhesion and fusion of viral particles with target cells but not their aggregation. We also found that the N-terminal L1 loop was critical for TB1 transduction-enhancing activity. Interestingly, the Tat-Beclin-2 (TB2) peptide, derived from the human Beclin-2 protein, was even more potent than TB1 in promoting viral transduction and infection. Taken together, our findings suggest that the TB1 and TB2 peptides enhance the viral entry step. Tat-Beclin peptides therefore represent a new family of viral transduction enhancers for potential use in gene therapy.

Molecular Determinants of Vectofusin-1 and Its Derivatives for the Enhancement of Lentivirally Mediated Gene Transfer into Hematopoietic Stem/Progenitor Cells.

Gene delivery into hCD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells (HSPCs) using human immunodeficiency virus, type 1-derived lentiviral vectors (LVs) has several promising therapeutic applications. Numerous clinical trials are currently underway. However, the efficiency, safety, and cost of LV gene therapy could be ameliorated by enhancing target cell transduction levels and reducing the amount of LV used on the cells. Several transduction enhancers already exist, such as fibronectin fragments or cationic compounds. Recently, we discovered Vectofusin-1, a new transduction enhancer, also called LAH4-A4, a short histidine-rich amphipathic peptide derived from the LAH4 family of DNA transfection agents. Vectofusin-1 enhances the infectivity of lentiviral and γ-retroviral vectors pseudotyped with various envelope glycoproteins. In this study, we compared a family of Vectofusin-1 isomers and showed that Vectofusin-1 remains the lead peptide for HSPC transduction enhancement with LVs pseudotyped with vesicular stomatitis virus glycoproteins and also with modified gibbon ape leukemia virus glycoproteins. By comparing the capacity of numerous Vectofusin-1 variants to promote the modified gibbon ape leukemia virus glycoprotein-pseudotyped lentiviral vector infectivity of HSPCs, the lysine residues on the N-terminal extremity of Vectofusin-1, a hydrophilic angle of 140° formed by the histidine residues in the Schiffer-Edmundson helical wheel representation, hydrophobic residues consisting of leucine were all found to be essential and helped to define a minimal active sequence. The data also show that the critical determinants necessary for lentiviral transduction enhancement are partially different from those necessary for efficient antibiotic or DNA transfection activity of LAH4 derivatives. In conclusion, these results help to decipher the action mechanism of Vectofusin-1 in the context of hCD34+ cell-based gene therapy.

Generation of heterozygous and homozygous NF1 lines from human-induced pluripotent stem cells using CRISPR/Cas9 to investigate bone defects associated with neurofibromatosis type 1.

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is one of the most common genetic disorders caused by heterozygous germline NF1 mutations. NF1 affects many systems, including the skeletal system. To date, no curative therapies are available for skeletal manifestations such as scoliosis and tibial dysplasia, mainly due to the lack of knowledge about the mechanisms that underlie this process. By using CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene editing in human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to minimize the variability due to genetic background and epigenetic factors, we generated isogenic heterozygous and homozygous NF1-deficient hiPSC lines to investigate the consequences of neurofibromin inactivation on osteoblastic differentiation. Here, we demonstrate that loss of one or both copies of NF1 does not alter the potential of isogenic hiPSCs to differentiate into mesenchymal stem cells (hiPSC-MSCs). However, NF1 (+/-) and NF1 (-/-) hiPSC-MSCs show a defect in osteogenic differentiation and mineralization. In addition, we show that a mono-allelic deletion in NF1 in an isogenic context is sufficient to impair cell differentiation into osteoblasts. Overall, this study highlights the relevance of generating isogenic lines, which may help in genotype-phenotype correlation and provide a human cellular model to understand the molecular mechanisms underlying NF1 and, thus, discover new therapeutic strategies.

Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell‒Derived Keratinocytes, a Useful Model to Identify and Explore the Pathological Phenotype of Epidermolysis Bullosa Simplex.

Epidermolysis bullosa simplex (EBS), an autosomal dominant skin disorder, is characterized by skin fragility. Genetically, the majority of cases are related to missense sequence variations in two keratin genes K5 or K14, leading to cytolysis of basal keratinocytes (KCs) and intraepidermal blistering. Progress toward the identification of treatments has been hampered by an incomplete understanding of the mechanisms underlying this disease and availability of relevant and reliable in vitro models recapitulating the physiopathological mechanisms. Recent advances in stem cell field have fueled the prospect that these limitations could be overcome, thanks to the availability of disease-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). In this study, we generated hiPSC-derived KCs from patients carrying keratin gene K5-dominant sequence variations and compared them with nonaffected hiPSC-derived KCs as well as their primary counterparts. Our results showed that EBS hiPSC-derived KCs displayed proliferative defects, increased capacity to migrate, alteration of extracellular signal‒regulated kinase signaling pathway, and cytoplasmic keratin filament aggregates as observed in primary EBS KCs. Of interest, EBS hiPSC-derived KCs exhibited downregulation of hemidesmosomal proteins, revealing the different effects of keratin gene K5 sequence variations on keratin cytoskeletal organization. With a combination of culture miniaturization and treatment with the chaperone molecule 4-phenylbutyric acid, our results showed that hiPSC-derived KCs represent a suitable model for identifying novel therapies for EBS.

A high throughput method for genome-wide analysis of retroviral integration.

Retroviral and lentiviral vectors integrate their DNA into the host cell genome leading to stable transgene expression. Integration preferentially occurs in the proximity of active genes, and may in some case disturb their activity, with adverse toxic consequences. To efficiently analyze high numbers of lentiviral insertion sites in the DNA of transduced cells, we developed an improved high-throughput method called vector integration tag analysis (VITA). VITA is based on the identification of Genomic Tags associated to the insertion sites, which are used as signatures of the integration events. We use the capacity of MmeI to cleave DNA at a defined distance of its recognition site, in order to generate 21 bp long tags from libraries of junction fragments between vector and cellular DNA. The length of the tags is sufficient in most cases, to identify without ambiguity an unique position in the human genome. Concatenation, cloning and sequencing of the tags allow to obtain information about 20-25 insertion sites in a single sequencing reaction. As a validation of this method, we have characterized 1349 different lentiviral vector insertion sites in transduced HeLa cells, from only 487 sequencing reactions, with a background of <2% false positive tags.

Improvement of De Novo Cholesterol Biosynthesis Efficiently Promotes the Production of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type 1-Derived Lentiviral Vectors.

The use of lentiviral vectors (LVs) for gene transfer in research, technological, or clinical applications requires the production of large amounts of vector. Mass production of clinical-grade LVs remains a challenge and limits certain perspectives for therapeutic use. Some improvements in LV production protocols have been possible by acting on multiple steps of the production process. The addition of animal-derived cholesterol to the culture medium of producer cells is known to increase the infectivity of LVs. To avoid the use of this animal-derived product in clinical settings, an alternative approach is to increase de novo the production of cholesterol by overexpressing a crucial cholesterogenic enzyme, namely, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR). This project evaluates the impact of such an approach on the production, infectivity, and stability of LVs. We demonstrated that the overexpression of human HMGCR isoform 1 (hHMGCR1) in LV producer cells efficiently increased de novo cholesterol biosynthesis and enhanced by 2- to 3-fold the physical and infectious titers of LVs. We also observed that LVs produced in hHMGCR1-overexpressing cells were comparable in stability to LVs produced under classical conditions and were capable of transducing human CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells efficiently. Interestingly, we also showed that LV production in the absence of fetal calf serum (FCS) but under hHMGCR1-overexpressing conditions allowed a viral production yield comparable to that achieved under classical conditions in high FCS content, leading the way to the establishment of new LV production protocols on adherent cells without serum.

Vectofusin-1, a potent peptidic enhancer of viral gene transfer forms pH-dependent α-helical nanofibrils, concentrating viral particles.

Gene transfer using lentiviral vectors has therapeutic applications spanning from monogenic and infectious diseases to cancer. Such gene therapy has to be improved by enhancing the levels of viral infection of target cells and/or reducing the amount of lentivirus for greater safety and reduced costs. Vectofusin-1, a recently developed cationic amphipathic peptide with a pronounced capacity to enhance such viral transduction, strongly promotes the entry of several retroviral pseudotypes into target cells when added to the culture medium. To clarify the molecular basis of its action the peptide was investigated on a molecular and a supramolecular level by a variety of biophysical approaches. We show that in culture medium vectofusin-1 rapidly forms complexes in the 10 nm range that further assemble into annular and extended nanofibrils. These associate with viral particles allowing them to be easily pelleted for optimal virus-cell interaction. Thioflavin T fluorescence, circular dichroism and infrared spectroscopies indicate that these fibrils have a unique α-helical structure whereas most other viral transduction enhancers form ß-amyloid fibrils. A vectofusin-1 derivative (LAH2-A4) is inefficient in biological assays and does not form nanofibrils, suggesting that supramolecular assembly is essential for transduction enhancement. Our observations define vectofusin-1 as a member of a new class of α-helical enhancers of lentiviral infection. Its fibril formation is reversible which bears considerable advantages in handling the peptide in conditions well-adapted to Good Manufacturing Practices and scalable gene therapy protocols.

Production of Retrovirus-Based Vectors in Mildly Acidic pH Conditions.

Gene transfer vectors based on retroviridae are increasingly becoming a tool of choice for biomedical research and for the development of biotherapies in rare diseases or cancers. To meet the challenges of preclinical and clinical production, different steps of the production process of self-inactivating γ-retroviral (RVs) and lentiviral vectors (LVs) have been improved (e.g., transfection, media optimization, cell culture conditions). However, the increasing need for mass production of such vectors is still a challenge and could hamper their availability for therapeutic use. Recently, we observed that the use of a neutral pH during vector production is not optimal. The use of mildly acidic pH conditions (pH 6) can increase by two- to threefold the production of RVs and LVs pseudotyped with the vesicular stomatitis virus G (VSV-G) or gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV) glycoproteins. Here, we describe the production protocol in mildly acidic pH conditions of GALVTR- and VSV-G-pseudotyped LVs using the transient transfection of HEK293T cells and the production protocol of GALV-pseudotyped RVs produced from a murine producer cell line. These protocols should help to achieve higher titers of vectors, thereby facilitating experimental research and therapeutic applications.

Influence of mildly acidic pH conditions on the production of lentiviral and retroviral vectors.

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1-derived lentiviral vectors (LVs) are becoming major tools for gene transfer approaches. Several gene therapy clinical studies involving LVs are currently ongoing. Industrial production of clinical-grade LVs is therefore an important challenge. Some improvements in LV production protocols have already been possible by acting on multiple steps of the production process like transfection, cell culture, or media optimizations. Yet, the effects of physicochemical parameters such as pH remain poorly studied. Mammalian cell cultures are generally performed at neutral pH, which may not be the optimal condition to produce high quantities of LVs with optimal infectious properties. In this study, we showed that lentiviral transient production in HEK293T cells is inversely dependent on the pH value of the harvesting medium. Infectious and physical titers of LVs pseudotyped with GALVTR or VSV-G glycoproteins are enhanced by two- to threefold at pH 6 compared with neutral conditions. pH 6-produced LVs are highly infectious on cell lines but also on relevant primary target cells like hCD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. GALVTR-LV particles produced at pH 6 are highly stable at 37 °C and resistant to multiple freeze-thaw cycles. Higher levels of expression of intracellular pr55gag polyproteins are observed within HEK293T producer cells cultured at pH 6. The positive effect of pH 6 conditions is also observed for moloney-derived retroviral vectors produced from NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, arguing that the mildly acidic pH effect is not limited to the lentivirus genus and is reproducible in various producer cell lines. This observation may help us in the design of more effective LV production protocols for clinical applications.

The brown algae Pl.LSU/2 group II intron-encoded protein has functional reverse transcriptase and maturase activities.

Group II introns are self-splicing mobile elements found in prokaryotes and eukaryotic organelles. These introns propagate by homing into precise genomic locations, following assembly of a ribonucleoprotein complex containing the intron-encoded protein (IEP) and the spliced intron RNA. Engineered group II introns are now commonly used tools for targeted genomic modifications in prokaryotes but not in eukaryotes. We speculate that the catalytic activation of currently known group II introns is limited in eukaryotic cells. The brown algae Pylaiella littoralis Pl.LSU/2 group II intron is uniquely capable of in vitro ribozyme activity at physiological level of magnesium but this intron remains poorly characterized. We purified and characterized recombinant Pl.LSU/2 IEP. Unlike most IEPs, Pl.LSU/2 IEP displayed a reverse transcriptase activity without intronic RNA. The Pl.LSU/2 intron could be engineered to splice accurately in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and splicing efficiency was increased by the maturase activity of the IEP. However, spliced transcripts were not expressed. Furthermore, intron splicing was not detected in human cells. While further tool development is needed, these data provide the first functional characterization of the PI.LSU/2 IEP and the first evidence that the Pl.LSU/2 group II intron splicing occurs in vivo in eukaryotes in an IEP-dependent manner.

In vitro differentiation of WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells into the biliary lineage.

Differentiation of hepatic precursor cells in the biliary lineage has rarely been investigated, owing to the lack of convenient in vitro models. In this study, we used sodium butyrate and culture on Matrigel to promote differentiation of WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells along the biliary phenotype. This differentiation was assessed by following the expression of phenotypic markers at the protein or mRNA level. Sodium butyrate induced cytokeratin 19 expression and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase activity, together with a large increase in gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase mRNA IV, a transcript expressed at high levels in biliary cells. We also observed an increase in aquaporin-1 and beta4 integrin mRNAs, encoding two proteins expressed in adult biliary cells. Culture on Matrigel increased cytokeratin 19, gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase, and BDS7 expression in WB-F344 cells which still expressed aquaporin-1 and beta4 integrin. These results show that WB-F344 cells are able to differentiate in vitro along the biliary pathway, making them a candidate model for analyzing the molecular events associated with the hepatoblast-biliary cell transition.