Genome-wide computational analysis reveals cardiomyocyte-specific transcriptional Cis-regulatory motifs that enable efficient cardiac gene therapy.
Mol Ther
; 23(1): 43-52, 2015 Jan.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25195597
ABSTRACT
Gene therapy is a promising emerging therapeutic modality for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and hereditary diseases that afflict the heart. Hence, there is a need to develop robust cardiac-specific expression modules that allow for stable expression of the gene of interest in cardiomyocytes. We therefore explored a new approach based on a genome-wide bioinformatics strategy that revealed novel cardiac-specific cis-acting regulatory modules (CS-CRMs). These transcriptional modules contained evolutionary-conserved clusters of putative transcription factor binding sites that correspond to a "molecular signature" associated with robust gene expression in the heart. We then validated these CS-CRMs in vivo using an adeno-associated viral vector serotype 9 that drives a reporter gene from a quintessential cardiac-specific α-myosin heavy chain promoter. Most de novo designed CS-CRMs resulted in a >10-fold increase in cardiac gene expression. The most robust CRMs enhanced cardiac-specific transcription 70- to 100-fold. Expression was sustained and restricted to cardiomyocytes. We then combined the most potent CS-CRM4 with a synthetic heart and muscle-specific promoter (SPc5-12) and obtained a significant 20-fold increase in cardiac gene expression compared to the cytomegalovirus promoter. This study underscores the potential of rational vector design to improve the robustness of cardiac gene therapy.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Terapia Genética
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Genoma
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Dependovirus
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Miosinas Ventriculares
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Miocitos Cardíacos
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Miocardio
Límite:
Animals
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Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mol Ther
Asunto de la revista:
BIOLOGIA MOLECULAR
/
TERAPEUTICA
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Bélgica