The European landscape for gene therapies in orphan diseases: 6-year experience with the EMA Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products.

In 2000, the European Union (EU) introduced the orphan pharmaceutical legislation to incentivize the development of medicinal products for rare diseases. The Committee for Orphan Medicinal Products (COMP), the European Medicines Agency committee responsible for evaluation of applications for orphan designation (OD), received an increasing flow of applications in the field of gene therapies over the last years. Here, the COMP has conducted a descriptive analysis of applications regarding gene therapies in non-oncological rare diseases, with respect to (a) targeted conditions and their rarity, (b) characteristics of the gene therapy products proposed for OD, with a focus on the type of vector used, and (c) regulatory aspects pertaining to the type of sponsor and development, by examining the use of available frameworks offered in the EU such as protocol assistance and PRIME. It was noted that gene therapies are being developed by sponsors from different backgrounds. Most conditions being targeted are monogenic, the most common being lysosomal disorders, and with a very low prevalence. Generally, adeno-associated viral vectors were being used to deliver the transgene. Finally, sponsors are not frequently using the incentives that may support the development and the reasons for this are unclear.

Modulation of proximal signaling in normal and transformed B cells by transmembrane adapter Cbp/PAG.

The transmembrane protein Cbp/PAG (Csk binding protein/phospho-protein associated with glycosphingolipid-enriched microdomains) has a negative regulatory role in T cell activation as an adapter for C-terminal Src kinase, Csk. In T cells, membrane docking of Csk is promoted by binding to FynT-phosphorylated Cbp/PAG (pTyr317) to allow targeting of substrates residing in lipid rafts. Here, we investigate a potential parallel position for Cbp/PAG and the Src kinase Lyn in early B cell receptor signaling. Using normal and transformed B cells, we have compared signal profiles of BCR-triggered responses created by phospho-specific flow cytometry. In human normal B cells, our data show that reduced Cbp/PAG levels leads to enhanced and prolonged activation of proximal signaling mediators, while over-expression of the adapter in normal, EBV-transformed cells results in reduced calcium flux. Taken together, our findings support a negative regulatory function for Cbp/PAG in proximal BCR signaling in these cells.

High-resolution mapping of prostaglandin E2-dependent signaling networks identifies a constitutively active PKA signaling node in CD8+CD45RO+ T cells.

To analyze prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) signaling in lymphoid cells, we introduce a multipronged strategy, combining temporal quantitative phosphoproteomics and phospho flow cytometry. We describe the PGE(2)-induced phosphoproteome by simultaneous monitoring of approximately 250 regulated phospho-epitopes, which, according to kinase prediction algorithms, originate from a limited number of kinase networks. Assessing these signaling pathways by phospho flow cytometry provided higher temporal resolution at various PGE(2) concentrations in multiple lymphoid cell subsets. This showed elevated levels of protein kinase A (PKA) signaling in unstimulated CD8(+)CD45RO(+) T cells, which correlated with suppressed proximal T-cell receptor signaling, indicating that PKA sets the threshold for activation. The combination of phosphoproteomics and high throughput phospho flow cytometry applied here provides a comprehensive generic framework for the analysis of signaling networks in mixed cell populations.

Quantitative profiling of tyrosine phosphorylation revealed changes in the activity of the T cell receptor signaling pathway upon cisplatin-induced apoptosis.

In order to better understand the cellular responses to the chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin and the mechanisms leading to apoptosis and potential side effects, we performed a SILAC-based quantitative phosphotyrosine analysis of Jurkat T cells exposed to cisplatin. Signaling molecules in the T cell receptor (TCR) pathway were enriched among proteins displaying reduced phosphorylation levels. The results were verified by immunoblotting and/or phospho-flow cytometry for a selected set of proteins, including the tyrosine kinases Lck and Zap70, and downstream targets Itk, Plcγ1 and Erk. In contrast to the effects on the T cell signaling pathways, the dually phosphorylated form of p38α MAPK was increased in treated cells, and activation of this signaling pathway was verified by immunoblot analysis of phosphorylation levels of p38α MAPK and the downstream targets Atf2 and MAPKAPK2. Activation of the p38α MAPK signaling pathway has been suggested to be one of the main mechanisms by which cisplatin induces apoptosis. Our results indicate that cisplatin may reduce the activity of proteins involved in the TCR signaling pathway, which has an important role in regulating proliferation of T cells, and may contribute to explain previous observations where cisplatin has been reported to inhibit proliferation of T cells. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: In this study, a quantitative phosphotyrosine analysis was performed to identify changes of the phosphoproteome during exposure of Jurkat T cells by cisplatin. The results of the phosphoproteome analysis were complemented with immunoblotting and temporal phospho-flow analysis. An initial activation of the p38α MAPK signaling pathway was detected at early time points of cisplatin treatment, a response previously suggested to be part of the mechanism by which cisplatin induces apoptosis. Furthermore, reduced phosphorylation levels of proteins involved in signaling downstream of the TCR during apoptosis were found by the phosphotyrosine proteome analysis. Our study can support to elucidate the mechanism behind the previously observed immunosuppressive effect of cisplatin.