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1.
JCI Insight ; 9(10)2024 May 22.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38775150

This study lays the groundwork for future lentivirus-mediated gene therapy in patients with Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) caused by mutations in ribosomal protein S19 (RPS19), showing evidence of a new safe and effective therapy. The data show that, unlike patients with Fanconi anemia (FA), the hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) reservoir of patients with DBA was not significantly reduced, suggesting that collection of these cells should not constitute a remarkable restriction for DBA gene therapy. Subsequently, 2 clinically applicable lentiviral vectors were developed. In the former lentiviral vector, PGK.CoRPS19 LV, a codon-optimized version of RPS19 was driven by the phosphoglycerate kinase promoter (PGK) already used in different gene therapy trials, including FA gene therapy. In the latter one, EF1α.CoRPS19 LV, RPS19 expression was driven by the elongation factor alpha short promoter, EF1α(s). Preclinical experiments showed that transduction of DBA patient CD34+ cells with the PGK.CoRPS19 LV restored erythroid differentiation, and demonstrated the long-term repopulating properties of corrected DBA CD34+ cells, providing evidence of improved erythroid maturation. Concomitantly, long-term restoration of ribosomal biogenesis was verified using a potentially novel method applicable to patients' blood cells, based on ribosomal RNA methylation analyses. Finally, in vivo safety studies and proviral insertion site analyses showed that lentivirus-mediated gene therapy was nontoxic.


Anemia, Diamond-Blackfan , Genetic Therapy , Genetic Vectors , Hematopoietic Stem Cells , Lentivirus , Ribosomal Proteins , Anemia, Diamond-Blackfan/therapy , Anemia, Diamond-Blackfan/genetics , Humans , Genetic Therapy/methods , Lentivirus/genetics , Ribosomal Proteins/genetics , Genetic Vectors/genetics , Hematopoietic Stem Cells/metabolism , Animals , Mice , Male , Female , Ribosomes/metabolism , Ribosomes/genetics , Promoter Regions, Genetic , Mutation , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/methods
2.
Genesis ; 62(3): e23598, 2024 Jun.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38727638

Nowadays, a significant part of the investigations carried out in the medical field belong to cancer treatment. Generally, conventional cancer treatments, including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery, which have been used for a long time, are not sufficient, especially in malignant cancers. Because genetic mutations cause cancers, researchers are trying to treat these diseases using genetic engineering tools. One of them is clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), a powerful tool in genetic engineering in the last decade. CRISPR, which forms the CRISPR-Cas structure with its endonuclease protein, Cas, is known as a part of the immune system (adaptive immunity) in bacteria and archaea. Among the types of Cas proteins, Cas9 endonuclease has been used in many scientific studies due to its high accuracy and efficiency. This review reviews the CRISPR system, focusing on the history, classification, delivery methods, applications, new generations, and challenges of CRISPR-Cas9 technology.


CRISPR-Cas Systems , Gene Editing , Humans , Gene Editing/methods , Neoplasms/genetics , Neoplasms/therapy , Animals , Genetic Therapy/methods , Gene Transfer Techniques
4.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 4018, 2024 May 13.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38740820

Anti-HSV therapies are only suppressive because they do not eliminate latent HSV present in ganglionic neurons, the source of recurrent disease. We have developed a potentially curative approach against HSV infection, based on gene editing using HSV-specific meganucleases delivered by adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors. Gene editing performed with two anti-HSV-1 meganucleases delivered by a combination of AAV9, AAV-Dj/8, and AAV-Rh10 can eliminate 90% or more of latent HSV DNA in mouse models of orofacial infection, and up to 97% of latent HSV DNA in mouse models of genital infection. Using a pharmacological approach to reactivate latent HSV-1, we demonstrate that ganglionic viral load reduction leads to a significant decrease of viral shedding in treated female mice. While therapy is well tolerated, in some instances, we observe hepatotoxicity at high doses and subtle histological evidence of neuronal injury without observable neurological signs or deficits. Simplification of the regimen through use of a single serotype (AAV9) delivering single meganuclease targeting a duplicated region of the HSV genome, dose reduction, and use of a neuron-specific promoter each results in improved tolerability while retaining efficacy. These results reinforce the curative potential of gene editing for HSV disease.


Dependovirus , Gene Editing , Herpes Simplex , Herpesvirus 1, Human , Viral Load , Virus Shedding , Animals , Gene Editing/methods , Female , Dependovirus/genetics , Mice , Herpesvirus 1, Human/genetics , Herpesvirus 1, Human/physiology , Herpes Simplex/genetics , Herpes Simplex/virology , Herpes Simplex/therapy , Disease Models, Animal , Virus Latency/genetics , Humans , Genetic Vectors/genetics , Vero Cells , Genetic Therapy/methods , Herpes Genitalis/therapy , Herpes Genitalis/virology , DNA, Viral/genetics
5.
J Nanobiotechnology ; 22(1): 247, 2024 May 13.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38741123

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors have been the standard treatment for patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) leukemia. However, a series of issues, including drug resistance, relapse and intolerance, are still an unmet medical need. Here, we report the targeted siRNA-based lipid nanoparticles in Ph+ leukemic cell lines for gene therapy of Ph+ leukemia, which specifically targets a recently identified NEDD8 E3 ligase RAPSYN in Ph+ leukemic cells to disrupt the neddylation of oncogenic BCR-ABL. To achieve the specificity for Ph+ leukemia therapy, a single-chain fragment variable region (scFv) of anti-CD79B monoclonal antibody was covalently conjugated on the surface of OA2-siRAPSYN lipid nanoparticles to generate the targeted lipid nanoparticles (scFv-OA2-siRAPSYN). Through effectively silencing RAPSYN gene in leukemic cell lines by the nanoparticles, BCR-ABL was remarkably degraded accompanied by the inhibition of proliferation and the promotion of apoptosis. The specific targeting, therapeutic effects and systemic safety were further evaluated and demonstrated in cell line-derived mouse models. The present study has not only addressed the clinical need of Ph+ leukemia, but also enabled gene therapy against a less druggable target.


Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl , Nanoparticles , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics , Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/metabolism , Animals , Humans , Mice , Cell Line, Tumor , Nanoparticles/chemistry , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/metabolism , Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases/genetics , Gene Silencing , RNA, Small Interfering , NEDD8 Protein/metabolism , NEDD8 Protein/genetics , Mice, Inbred BALB C , Apoptosis/drug effects , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy , Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/therapy , Genetic Therapy/methods , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Female
6.
Orphanet J Rare Dis ; 19(1): 193, 2024 May 13.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38741157

BACKGROUND: Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based gene therapy for haemophilia has advanced substantially in the last 13 years; recently, three products have received approvals from regulatory authorities. Although the impact on quality of life seems promising, some limitations remain, such as the presence of pre-existing anti-AAV neutralising antibodies and the occurrence of hepatotoxicity. This review follows the CSL Behring-sponsored symposium at the 27th Congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA) 2022 that examined the haemophilia gene therapy process from a 360-degree multidisciplinary perspective. Here, the faculty (haematologist, nurse and haemophilia patient) summarised their own viewpoints from the symposium, with the aim of highlighting the key considerations required to engage with gene therapy effectively, for both patients and providers, as well as the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration, including with industry. RESULTS: When considering these new therapies, patients face a complex decision-making process, which includes whether gene therapy is right for them at their current stage of life. The authors agreed that collaboration and tailored education across the multidisciplinary team (including patients and their carers/families), starting early in the process and continuing throughout the long-term follow-up period, is key for the success of gene therapy. Additionally, patient expectations, which may surround eligibility, follow-up requirements and treatment outcomes, should be continually explored. During these ongoing discussions, transparent communication of the unknown factors, such as anticipated clotting factor levels, long-term factor expression and safety, and psychological changes, is critical. To ensure efficiency and comprehensiveness, clearly­defined protocols should outline the whole process, which should include the recording and management of long-term effects. CONCLUSION: In order to engage effectively, both patients and providers should be familiar with these key considerations prior to their involvement with the haemophilia gene therapy process. The future after the approval of haemophilia gene therapies remains to be seen and real-world evidence is eagerly awaited.


Dependovirus , Genetic Therapy , Hemophilia A , Humans , Genetic Therapy/methods , Hemophilia A/therapy , Hemophilia A/genetics , Dependovirus/genetics , Physicians , Nurses , Quality of Life
7.
Ann Med ; 56(1): 2337871, 2024 Dec.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38738394

Tendons are fibroblastic structures that link muscle and bone. There are two kinds of tendon injuries, including acute and chronic. Each form of injury or deterioration can result in significant pain and loss of tendon function. The recovery of tendon damage is a complex and time-consuming recovery process. Depending on the anatomical location of the tendon tissue, the clinical outcomes are not the same. The healing of the wound process is divided into three stages that overlap: inflammation, proliferation, and tissue remodeling. Furthermore, the curing tendon has a high re-tear rate. Faced with the challenges, tendon injury management is still a clinical issue that must be resolved as soon as possible. Several newer directions and breakthroughs in tendon recovery have emerged in recent years. This article describes tendon injury and summarizes recent advances in tendon recovery, along with stem cell therapy, gene therapy, Platelet-rich plasma remedy, growth factors, drug treatment, and tissue engineering. Despite the recent fast-growing research in tendon recovery treatment, still, none of them translated to the clinical setting. This review provides a detailed overview of tendon injuries and potential preclinical approaches for treating tendon injuries.


Genetic Therapy , Tendon Injuries , Tissue Engineering , Wound Healing , Tendon Injuries/therapy , Tendon Injuries/physiopathology , Humans , Wound Healing/physiology , Animals , Tissue Engineering/methods , Genetic Therapy/methods , Platelet-Rich Plasma , Tendons , Stem Cell Transplantation/methods , Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/therapeutic use , Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/metabolism
8.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 3780, 2024 May 06.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38710714

Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) have emerged as promising gene therapy vectors due to their proven efficacy and safety in clinical applications. In non-human primates (NHPs), rAAVs are administered via suprachoroidal injection at a higher dose. However, high doses of rAAVs tend to increase additional safety risks. Here, we present a novel AAV capsid (AAVv128), which exhibits significantly enhanced transduction efficiency for photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells, along with a broader distribution across the layers of retinal tissues in different animal models (mice, rabbits, and NHPs) following intraocular injection. Notably, the suprachoroidal delivery of AAVv128-anti-VEGF vector completely suppresses the Grade IV lesions in a laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) NHP model for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Furthermore, cryo-EM analysis at 2.1 Å resolution reveals that the critical residues of AAVv128 exhibit a more robust advantage in AAV binding, the nuclear uptake and endosome escaping. Collectively, our findings highlight the potential of AAVv128 as a next generation ocular gene therapy vector, particularly using the suprachoroidal delivery route.


Choroidal Neovascularization , Dependovirus , Genetic Therapy , Genetic Vectors , Retinal Pigment Epithelium , Animals , Dependovirus/genetics , Genetic Vectors/genetics , Genetic Vectors/administration & dosage , Genetic Therapy/methods , Mice , Retinal Pigment Epithelium/metabolism , Retinal Pigment Epithelium/virology , Choroidal Neovascularization/therapy , Choroidal Neovascularization/genetics , Rabbits , Humans , Gene Transfer Techniques , Macular Degeneration/therapy , Macular Degeneration/genetics , Macular Degeneration/pathology , Disease Models, Animal , Capsid Proteins/genetics , Capsid Proteins/metabolism , Transduction, Genetic , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/genetics , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Retina/metabolism , Retina/virology , Male , HEK293 Cells
9.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 3773, 2024 May 06.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38710738

Bietti crystalline corneoretinal dystrophy (BCD) is an autosomal recessive chorioretinal degenerative disease without approved therapeutic drugs. It is caused by mutations in CYP4V2 gene, and about 80% of BCD patients carry mutations in exon 7 to 11. Here, we apply CRISPR/Cas9 mediated homology-independent targeted integration (HITI)-based gene editing therapy in HEK293T cells, BCD patient derived iPSCs, and humanized Cyp4v3 mouse model (h-Cyp4v3mut/mut) using two rAAV2/8 vectors via sub-retinal administration. We find that sgRNA-guided Cas9 generates double-strand cleavage on intron 6 of the CYP4V2 gene, and the HITI donor inserts the carried sequence, part of intron 6, exon 7-11, and a stop codon into the DNA break, achieving precise integration, effective transcription and translation both in vitro and in vivo. HITI-based editing restores the viability of iPSC-RPE cells from BCD patient, improves the morphology, number and metabolism of RPE and photoreceptors in h-Cyp4v3mut/mut mice. These results suggest that HITI-based editing could be a promising therapeutic strategy for those BCD patients carrying mutations in exon 7 to 11, and one injection will achieve lifelong effectiveness.


CRISPR-Cas Systems , Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary , Cytochrome P450 Family 4 , Gene Editing , Genetic Therapy , Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells , Retinal Diseases , Humans , Gene Editing/methods , Animals , HEK293 Cells , Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary/genetics , Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary/therapy , Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary/pathology , Corneal Dystrophies, Hereditary/metabolism , Mice , Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells/metabolism , Genetic Therapy/methods , Cytochrome P450 Family 4/genetics , Cytochrome P450 Family 4/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Mutation , Retinal Pigment Epithelium/metabolism , Retinal Pigment Epithelium/pathology , Genetic Vectors/genetics , Introns/genetics , Exons/genetics
10.
Cell Mol Biol Lett ; 29(1): 64, 2024 May 02.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38698311

Osteoarthritis (OA), known as one of the most common types of aseptic inflammation of the musculoskeletal system, is characterized by chronic pain and whole-joint lesions. With cellular and molecular changes including senescence, inflammatory alterations, and subsequent cartilage defects, OA eventually leads to a series of adverse outcomes such as pain and disability. CRISPR-Cas-related technology has been proposed and explored as a gene therapy, offering potential gene-editing tools that are in the spotlight. Considering the genetic and multigene regulatory mechanisms of OA, we systematically review current studies on CRISPR-Cas technology for improving OA in terms of senescence, inflammation, and cartilage damage and summarize various strategies for delivering CRISPR products, hoping to provide a new perspective for the treatment of OA by taking advantage of CRISPR technology.


CRISPR-Cas Systems , Gene Editing , Inflammation , Osteoarthritis , Humans , Osteoarthritis/genetics , Osteoarthritis/therapy , CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics , Inflammation/genetics , Gene Editing/methods , Animals , Genetic Therapy/methods , Cartilage/metabolism , Cartilage/pathology , Cellular Senescence/genetics , Cartilage, Articular/pathology , Cartilage, Articular/metabolism
11.
Int J Nanomedicine ; 19: 4411-4427, 2024.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38774028

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic and systemic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation and joint destruction. Despite progress in RA therapy, it remains difficult to achieve long-term remission in RA patients. Phosphodiesterase 3B (Pde3b) is a member of the phosphohydrolyase family that are involved in many signal transduction pathways. However, its role in RA is yet to be fully addressed. Methods: Studies were conducted in arthritic DBA/1 mice, a suitable mouse strain for collagen-induced rheumatoid arthritis (CIA), to dissect the role of Pde3b in RA pathogenesis. Next, RNAi-based therapy with Pde3b siRNA-loaded liposomes was assessed in a CIA model. To study the mechanism involved, we investigated the effect of Pde3b knockdown on macrophage polarization and related signaling pathway. Results: We demonstrated that mice with CIA exhibited upregulated Pde3b expression in macrophages. Notably, intravenous administration of liposomes loaded with Pde3b siRNA promoted the macrophage anti-inflammatory program and alleviated CIA in mice, as indicated by the reduced inflammatory response, synoviocyte infiltration, and bone and cartilage erosion. Mechanistic study revealed that depletion of Pde3b increased cAMP levels, by which it enhanced PKA-CREB-C/EBPß pathway to transcribe the expression of anti-inflammatory program-related genes. Conclusion: Our results support that Pde3b is involved in the pathogenesis of RA, and Pde3b siRNA-loaded liposomes might serve as a promising therapeutic approach against RA.


Arthritis, Experimental , Arthritis, Rheumatoid , Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 3 , Genetic Therapy , Liposomes , Macrophages , Mice, Inbred DBA , RNA, Small Interfering , Animals , Liposomes/chemistry , Liposomes/administration & dosage , Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 3/genetics , Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 3/metabolism , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/therapy , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/chemically induced , Mice , Arthritis, Experimental/genetics , Arthritis, Experimental/prevention & control , Arthritis, Experimental/therapy , Macrophages/drug effects , RNA, Small Interfering/genetics , RNA, Small Interfering/administration & dosage , Genetic Therapy/methods , Male , Signal Transduction/drug effects
13.
Sci Rep ; 14(1): 11838, 2024 05 23.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38783003

5q-spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder (NMD) that has become one of the first 5% treatable rare diseases. The efficacy of new SMA therapies is creating a dynamic SMA patient landscape, where disease progression and scoliosis development play a central role, however, remain difficult to anticipate. New approaches to anticipate disease progression and associated sequelae will be needed to continuously provide these patients the best standard of care. Here we developed an interpretable machine learning (ML) model that can function as an assistive tool in the anticipation of SMA-associated scoliosis based on disease progression markers. We collected longitudinal data from 86 genetically confirmed SMA patients. We selected six features routinely assessed over time to train a random forest classifier. The model achieved a mean accuracy of 0.77 (SD 0.2) and an average ROC AUC of 0.85 (SD 0.17). For class 1 'scoliosis' the average precision was 0.84 (SD 0.11), recall 0.89 (SD 0.22), F1-score of 0.85 (SD 0.17), respectively. Our trained model could predict scoliosis using selected disease progression markers and was consistent with the radiological measurements. During post validation, the model could predict scoliosis in patients who were unseen during training. We also demonstrate that rare disease data sets can be wrangled to build predictive ML models. Interpretable ML models can function as assistive tools in a changing disease landscape and have the potential to democratize expertise that is otherwise clustered at specialized centers.


Disease Progression , Machine Learning , Muscular Atrophy, Spinal , Scoliosis , Humans , Scoliosis/therapy , Muscular Atrophy, Spinal/genetics , Muscular Atrophy, Spinal/therapy , Male , Female , Child , Genetic Therapy/methods , Adolescent , Child, Preschool
14.
Cells ; 13(10)2024 May 08.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38786024

In recent years, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) protein have emerged as a revolutionary gene editing tool to treat inherited disorders affecting different organ systems, such as blood and muscles. Both hematological and neuromuscular genetic disorders benefit from genome editing approaches but face different challenges in their clinical translation. The ability of CRISPR/Cas9 technologies to modify hematopoietic stem cells ex vivo has greatly accelerated the development of genetic therapies for blood disorders. In the last decade, many clinical trials were initiated and are now delivering encouraging results. The recent FDA approval of Casgevy, the first CRISPR/Cas9-based drug for severe sickle cell disease and transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia, represents a significant milestone in the field and highlights the great potential of this technology. Similar preclinical efforts are currently expanding CRISPR therapies to other hematologic disorders such as primary immunodeficiencies. In the neuromuscular field, the versatility of CRISPR/Cas9 has been instrumental for the generation of new cellular and animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), offering innovative platforms to speed up preclinical development of therapeutic solutions. Several corrective interventions have been proposed to genetically restore dystrophin production using the CRISPR toolbox and have demonstrated promising results in different DMD animal models. Although these advances represent a significant step forward to the clinical translation of CRISPR/Cas9 therapies to DMD, there are still many hurdles to overcome, such as in vivo delivery methods associated with high viral vector doses, together with safety and immunological concerns. Collectively, the results obtained in the hematological and neuromuscular fields emphasize the transformative impact of CRISPR/Cas9 for patients affected by these debilitating conditions. As each field suffers from different and specific challenges, the clinical translation of CRISPR therapies may progress differentially depending on the genetic disorder. Ongoing investigations and clinical trials will address risks and limitations of these therapies, including long-term efficacy, potential genotoxicity, and adverse immune reactions. This review provides insights into the diverse applications of CRISPR-based technologies in both preclinical and clinical settings for monogenic blood disorders and muscular dystrophy and compare advances in both fields while highlighting current trends, difficulties, and challenges to overcome.


CRISPR-Cas Systems , Gene Editing , Genetic Therapy , Humans , Genetic Therapy/methods , CRISPR-Cas Systems/genetics , Animals , Gene Editing/methods , Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/therapy , Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne/genetics , Clinical Trials as Topic , Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats/genetics
15.
Nat Med ; 30(5): 1406-1415, 2024 May.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38745011

GRN mutations cause progranulin haploinsufficiency, which eventually leads to frontotemporal dementia (FTD-GRN). PR006 is an investigational gene therapy delivering the granulin gene (GRN) using an adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9) vector. In non-clinical studies, PR006 transduced neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells of patients with FTD-GRN, resulted in progranulin expression and improvement of lipofuscin, lysosomal and neuroinflammation pathologies in Grn-knockout mice, and was well tolerated except for minimal, asymptomatic dorsal root ganglionopathy in non-human primates. We initiated a first-in-human phase 1/2 open-label trial. Here we report results of a pre-specified interim analysis triggered with the last treated patient of the low-dose cohort (n = 6) reaching the 12-month follow-up timepoint. We also include preliminary data from the mid-dose cohort (n = 7). Primary endpoints were safety, immunogenicity and change in progranulin levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. Secondary endpoints were Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) plus National Alzheimer's Disease Coordinating Center (NACC) Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration (FTLD) rating scale and levels of neurofilament light chain (NfL). One-time administration of PR006 into the cisterna magna was generally safe and well tolerated. All patients developed treatment-emergent anti-AAV9 antibodies in the CSF, but none developed anti-progranulin antibodies. CSF pleocytosis was the most common PR006-related adverse event. Twelve serious adverse events occurred, mostly unrelated to PR006. Deep vein thrombosis developed in three patients. There was one death (unrelated) occurring 18 months after treatment. CSF progranulin increased after PR006 treatment in all patients; blood progranulin increased in most patients but only transiently. NfL levels transiently increased after PR006 treatment, likely reflecting dorsal root ganglia toxicity. Progression rates, based on the CDR scale, were within the broad ranges reported for patients with FTD. These data provide preliminary insights into the safety and bioactivity of PR006. Longer follow-up and additional studies are needed to confirm the safety and potential efficacy of PR006. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04408625 .


Dependovirus , Frontotemporal Dementia , Genetic Therapy , Progranulins , Humans , Frontotemporal Dementia/genetics , Frontotemporal Dementia/therapy , Frontotemporal Dementia/cerebrospinal fluid , Progranulins/genetics , Genetic Therapy/adverse effects , Genetic Therapy/methods , Dependovirus/genetics , Middle Aged , Female , Male , Aged , Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/genetics , Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/cerebrospinal fluid , Genetic Vectors , Animals , Treatment Outcome , Translational Research, Biomedical , Mice , Neurofilament Proteins/genetics , Neurofilament Proteins/cerebrospinal fluid , Neurofilament Proteins/blood
16.
Int J Mol Sci ; 25(9)2024 May 04.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38732235

The formulation of novel delivery protocols for the targeted delivery of genes into hepatocytes by receptor mediation is important for the treatment of liver-specific disorders, including cancer. Non-viral delivery methods have been extensively studied for gene therapy. Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) have gained attention in nanomedicine due to their biocompatibility. In this study, AuNPs were synthesized and coated with polymers: chitosan (CS), and polyethylene glycol (PEG). The targeting moiety, lactobionic acid (LA), was added for hepatocyte-specific delivery. Physicochemical characterization revealed that all nano-formulations were spherical and monodispersed, with hydrodynamic sizes between 70 and 250 nm. Nanocomplexes with pCMV-Luc DNA (pDNA) confirmed that the NPs could bind, compact, and protect the pDNA from nuclease degradation. Cytotoxicity studies revealed that the AuNPs were well tolerated (cell viabilities > 70%) in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2), embryonic kidney (HEK293), and colorectal adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells, with enhanced transgene activity in all cells. The inclusion of LA in the NP formulation was notable in the HepG2 cells, which overexpress the asialoglycoprotein receptor on their cell surface. A five-fold increase in luciferase gene expression was evident for the LA-targeted AuNPs compared to the non-targeted AuNPs. These AuNPs have shown potential as safe and suitable targeted delivery vehicles for liver-directed gene therapy.


Chitosan , Gene Transfer Techniques , Gold , Liver Neoplasms , Metal Nanoparticles , Humans , Gold/chemistry , Metal Nanoparticles/chemistry , Hep G2 Cells , Liver Neoplasms/therapy , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Chitosan/chemistry , HEK293 Cells , Asialoglycoprotein Receptor/metabolism , Asialoglycoprotein Receptor/genetics , Caco-2 Cells , Luciferases/genetics , Luciferases/metabolism , Polyethylene Glycols/chemistry , Plasmids/genetics , Disaccharides/chemistry , Genetic Therapy/methods , Polymers/chemistry , Cell Survival/drug effects
17.
Life Sci ; 348: 122680, 2024 Jul 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38697280

AIMS: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. But its chemotherapeutic options are far from expectation. We here compared H-ras targeted genetic therapy to a commercial docetaxel formulation (DXT) in inhibiting HCC in rats. MAIN METHODS: After the physicochemical characterization of phosphorothioate-antisense oligomer (PS-ASO) against H-ras mutated gene, the PS-ASO-mediated in vitro hemolysis, in vivo hepatic uptake, its pharmacokinetic profile, tissue distribution in some highly perfused organs, its effect in normal rats, antineoplastic efficacy in carcinogen-induced HCC in rats were evaluated and compared against DXT treatment. Mutated H-ras expression by in situ hybridization, hep-par-I, CK-7, CD-15, p53 expression patterns by immunohistochemical methods, scanning electron microscopic evaluation of hepatic architecture, various hepatic marker enzyme levels and caspase-3/9 apoptotic enzyme activities were also carried out in the experimental rats. KEY FINDINGS: PS-ASO showed low in vitro hemolysis (<3 %), and had a sustained PS-ASO blood residence time in vivo compared to DTX, with a time-dependent hepatic uptake. It showed no toxic manifestations in normal rats. PS-ASO distribution was although initially less in the lung than liver and kidney, but at 8 h it accumulated more in lung than kidney. Antineoplastic potential of PS-ASO (treated for 6 weeks) excelled in inhibiting chemically induced tumorigenesis compared to DTX in rats, by inhibiting H-ras gene expression, some immonohistochemical modulations, and inducing caspase-3/9-mediated apoptosis. It prevented HCC-mediated lung metastatic tumor in the experimental rats. SIGNIFICANCE: PS-ASO genetic therapy showed potential to inhibit HCC far more effectively than DXT in rats.


Antineoplastic Agents , Docetaxel , Genetic Therapy , Animals , Docetaxel/pharmacology , Rats , Male , Genetic Therapy/methods , Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/pathology , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/genetics , Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy , Liver Neoplasms/pathology , Liver Neoplasms/genetics , Liver Neoplasms/metabolism , Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/drug therapy , Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology , Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/chemically induced , Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/metabolism , Liver Neoplasms, Experimental/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/genetics , Proto-Oncogene Proteins p21(ras)/metabolism , Apoptosis/drug effects , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Taxoids/pharmacology
18.
Medicine (Baltimore) ; 103(18): e38036, 2024 May 03.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38701251

ß-Thalassemia is the world's number 1 single-gene genetic disorder and is characterized by suppressed or impaired production of ß-pearl protein chains. This results in intramedullary destruction and premature lysis of red blood cells in peripheral blood. Among them, patients with transfusion-dependent ß-thalassemia face the problem of long-term transfusion and iron chelation therapy, which leads to clinical complications and great economic stress. As gene editing technology improves, we are seeing the dawn of a cure for the disease, with its reduction of ineffective erythropoiesis and effective prolongation of survival in critically ill patients. Here, we provide an overview of ß-thalassemia distribution and pathophysiology. In addition, we focus on gene therapy and gene editing advances. Nucleic acid endonuclease tools currently available for gene editing fall into 3 categories: zinc finger nucleases, transcription activator-like effector nucleases, and regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR-Cas9) nucleases. This paper reviews the exploratory applications and exploration of emerging therapeutic tools based on 3 classes of nucleic acid endonucleases in the treatment of ß-thalassemia diseases.


Gene Editing , Genetic Therapy , beta-Thalassemia , beta-Thalassemia/therapy , beta-Thalassemia/genetics , Humans , Gene Editing/methods , Genetic Therapy/methods , CRISPR-Cas Systems , Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases/genetics , Zinc Finger Nucleases/genetics
19.
Life Sci ; 348: 122683, 2024 Jul 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38702027

Although CAR-T cell therapy has emerged as a game-changer in cancer immunotherapy several bottlenecks limit its widespread use as a front-line therapy. Current protocols for the production of CAR-T cells rely mainly on the use of lentiviral/retroviral vectors. Nevertheless, according to the safety concerns around the use of viral vectors, there are several regulatory hurdles to their clinical use. Large-scale production of viral vectors under "Current Good Manufacturing Practice" (cGMP) involves rigorous quality control assessments and regulatory requirements that impose exorbitant costs on suppliers and as a result, lead to a significant increase in the cost of treatment. Pursuing an efficient non-viral method for genetic modification of immune cells is a hot topic in cell-based gene therapy. This study aims to investigate the current state-of-the-art in non-viral methods of CAR-T cell manufacturing. In the first part of this study, after reviewing the advantages and disadvantages of the clinical use of viral vectors, different non-viral vectors and the path of their clinical translation are discussed. These vectors include transposons (sleeping beauty, piggyBac, Tol2, and Tc Buster), programmable nucleases (ZFNs, TALENs, and CRISPR/Cas9), mRNA, plasmids, minicircles, and nanoplasmids. Afterward, various methods for efficient delivery of non-viral vectors into the cells are reviewed.


Genetic Vectors , Immunotherapy, Adoptive , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen , Humans , Immunotherapy, Adoptive/methods , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/genetics , Receptors, Chimeric Antigen/immunology , Animals , T-Lymphocytes/immunology , Genetic Therapy/methods , Neoplasms/therapy
20.
Life Sci ; 348: 122685, 2024 Jul 01.
Article En | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38710276

Gene therapy in pediatrics represents a cutting-edge therapeutic strategy for treating a range of genetic disorders that manifest in childhood. Gene therapy involves the modification or correction of a mutated gene or the introduction of a functional gene into a patient's cells. In general, it is implemented through two main modalities namely ex vivo gene therapy and in vivo gene therapy. Currently, a noteworthy array of gene therapy products has received valid market authorization, with several others in various stages of the approval process. Additionally, a multitude of clinical trials are actively underway, underscoring the dynamic progress within this field. Pediatric genetic disorders in the fields of hematology, oncology, vision and hearing loss, immunodeficiencies, neurological, and metabolic disorders are areas for gene therapy interventions. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the evolution and current progress of gene therapy-based treatments in the clinic for pediatric patients. It navigates the historical milestones of gene therapies, currently approved gene therapy products by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and/or European Medicines Agency (EMA) for children, and the promising future for genetic disorders. By providing a thorough compilation of approved gene therapy drugs and published results of completed or ongoing clinical trials, this review serves as a guide for pediatric clinicians to get a quick overview of the situation of clinical studies and approved gene therapy products as of 2023.


Drug Approval , Genetic Therapy , Pediatrics , Humans , Genetic Therapy/methods , Child , Pediatrics/methods , Genetic Diseases, Inborn/therapy , Genetic Diseases, Inborn/genetics , Genetic Diseases, Inborn/drug therapy , Clinical Trials as Topic
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