scholarly journals Single-dose MGTA-145/plerixafor leads to efficient mobilization and in vivo transduction of HSCs with thalassemia correction in mice

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 1239-1249
Author(s):  
Chang Li ◽  
Kevin A. Goncalves ◽  
Tamás Raskó ◽  
Amit Pande ◽  
Sucheol Gil ◽  
...  

Abstract We have developed an in vivo hemopoietic stem cell (HSC) gene therapy approach without the need for myelosuppressive conditioning and autologous HSC transplantation. It involves HSC mobilization and IV injection of a helper-dependent adenovirus HDAd5/35++ vector system. The current mobilization regimen consists of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) injections over a 4-day period, followed by the administration of plerixafor/AMD3100. We tested a simpler, 2-hour, G-CSF–free mobilization regimen using truncated GRO-β (MGTA-145; a CXCR2 agonist) and plerixafor in the context of in vivo HSC transduction in mice. The MGTA-145+plerixafor combination resulted in robust mobilization of HSCs. Importantly, compared with G-CSF+plerixafor, MGTA-145+plerixafor led to significantly less leukocytosis and no elevation of serum interleukin-6 levels and was thus likely to be less toxic. With both mobilization regimens, after in vivo selection with O6-benzylguanine (O6BG)/BCNU, stable GFP marking was achieved in >90% of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Genome-wide analysis showed random, multiclonal vector integration. In vivo HSC transduction after mobilization with MGTA-145+plerixafor in a mouse model for thalassemia resulted in >95% human γ-globin+ erythrocytes at a level of 36% of mouse β-globin. Phenotypic analyses showed a complete correction of thalassemia. The γ-globin marking percentage and level were maintained in secondary recipients, further demonstrating that MGTA145+plerixafor mobilizes long-term repopulating HSCs. Our study indicates that brief exposure to MGTA-145+plerixafor may be advantageous as a mobilization regimen for in vivo HSC gene therapy applications across diseases, including thalassemia and sickle cell disease.

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0261269
Author(s):  
Martin V. Hamann ◽  
Niklas Beschorner ◽  
Xuan-Khang Vu ◽  
Ilona Hauber ◽  
Ulrike C. Lange ◽  
...  

Adeno-associated viruses (AAV) are considered non-pathogenic in humans, and thus have been developed into powerful vector platforms for in vivo gene therapy. Although the various AAV serotypes display broad tropism, frequently infecting multiple tissues and cell types, vectors for specific and efficient targeting of human CD4+ T lymphocytes are largely missing. In fact, a substantial translational bottleneck exists in the field of therapeutic gene transfer that would require in vivo delivery into peripheral disease-related lymphocytes for subsequent genome editing. To solve this issue, capsid modification for retargeting AAV tropism, and in turn improving vector potency, is considered a promising strategy. Here, we genetically modified the minor AAV2 capsid proteins, VP1 and VP2, with a set of novel nanobodies with high-affinity for the human CD4 receptor. These novel vector variants demonstrated improved targeting of human CD4+ cells, including primary human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and purified human CD4+ T lymphocytes. Thus, the technical approach presented here provides a promising strategy for developing specific gene therapy vectors, particularly targeting disease-related peripheral blood CD4+ leukocytes.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hacer Kuzu Okur ◽  
Koray Yalcin ◽  
Cihan Tastan ◽  
Sevda Demir ◽  
Bulut Yurtsever ◽  
...  

UNSTRUCTURED Dornase alfa, the recombinant form of the human DNase I enzyme, breaks down neutrophil extracellular traps (NET) that include a vast amount of DNA fragments, histones, microbicidal proteins and oxidant enzymes released from necrotic neutrophils in the highly viscous mucus of cystic fibrosis patients. Dornase alfa has been used for decades in patients with cystic fibrosis to reduce the viscoelasticity of respiratory tract secretions, to decrease the severity of respiratory tract infections, and to improve lung function. Previous studies have linked abnormal NET formations to lung diseases, especially to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected more than two million people over the world, resulting in unprecedented health, social and economic crises. The COVID-19, viral pneumonia that progresses to ARDS and even multiple organ failure, is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). High blood neutrophil levels are an early indicator of SARS-CoV-2 infection and predict severe respiratory diseases. A similar mucus structure is detected in COVID-19 patients due to the accumulation of excessive NET in the lungs. Here, we show our preliminary results with dornase alfa that may have an in-vitro anti-viral effect against SARS-CoV-2 infection in a bovine kidney cell line, MDBK without drug toxicity on healthy adult peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In this preliminary study, we also showed that dornase alfa can promote clearance of NET formation in both an in-vitro and three COVID-19 cases who showed clinical improvement in radiological analysis (2-of-3 cases), oxygen saturation (SpO2), respiratory rate, disappearing of dyspnea and coughing.


npj Vaccines ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Tanner ◽  
Andrew D. White ◽  
Charelle Boot ◽  
Claudia C. Sombroek ◽  
Matthew K. O’Shea ◽  
...  

AbstractWe present a non-human primate mycobacterial growth inhibition assay (MGIA) using in vitro blood or cell co-culture with the aim of refining and expediting early tuberculosis vaccine testing. We have taken steps to optimise the assay using cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells, transfer it to end-user institutes, and assess technical and biological validity. Increasing cell concentration or mycobacterial input and co-culturing in static 48-well plates compared with rotating tubes improved intra-assay repeatability and sensitivity. Standardisation and harmonisation efforts resulted in high consistency agreements, with repeatability and intermediate precision <10% coefficient of variation (CV) and inter-site reproducibility <20% CV; although some systematic differences were observed. As proof-of-concept, we demonstrated ability to detect a BCG vaccine-induced improvement in growth inhibition in macaque samples, and a correlation between MGIA outcome and measures of protection from in vivo disease development following challenge with either intradermal BCG or aerosol/endobronchial Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) at a group and individual animal level.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (3) ◽  
pp. R591-R599 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsuharu Okutsu ◽  
Kenji Ishii ◽  
Kai Jun Niu ◽  
Ryoichi Nagatomi

The aim of this study was to elucidate the mechanism responsible for lymphopenia after exercise. Seven young healthy men volunteered for this study. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were cultured with cortisol and analyzed for C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4) expression by flow cytometry. To determine the effects of exercise, subjects performed exhaustive cycling exercise. PBMC were cultured with plasma obtained before and after the cycling exercise. Alternatively, PBMC obtained before and after exercise were cultured without plasma or glucocorticoid to examine whether PBMC were primed in vivo for CXCR4 expression. We analyzed cortisol- or plasma-treated PBMC to determine their ability to migrate through membrane filters in response to stromal cell-derived factor 1α/CXCL12. Cortisol dose- and time-dependently augmented CXCR4 expression on T lymphocytes, with <6 h of treatment sufficient to augment CXCR4 on T lymphocytes. Postexercise plasma also augmented CXCR4 expression. Cortisol or postexercise plasma treatment markedly enhanced migration of T lymphocytes toward CXCL12. Augmentation of CXCR4 on T lymphocytes by cortisol or plasma was effectively blocked by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU-486. Thus exercise-elicited endogenous cortisol effectively augments CXCR4 expression on T lymphocytes, which may account for lymphopenia after exercise.


Blood ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 83 (9) ◽  
pp. 2516-2525 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Meszaros ◽  
S Aberle ◽  
R Dedrick ◽  
R Machovich ◽  
A Horwitz ◽  
...  

Abstract Mononuclear phagocytes, stimulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), have been implicated in the activation of coagulation in sepsis and endotoxemia. In monocytes LPS induces the synthesis of tissue factor (TF) which, assembled with factor VII, initiates the blood coagulation cascades. In this study we investigated the mechanism of LPS recognition by monocytes, and the consequent expression of TF mRNA and TF activity. We also studied the inhibition of these effects of LPS by rBPI23, a 23-kD recombinant fragment of bactericidal/permeability increasing protein, which has been shown to antagonize LPS in vitro and in vivo. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, or monocytes isolated by adherence, were stimulated with Escherichia coli O113 LPS at physiologically relevant concentrations (&gt; or = 10 pg/mL). The effect of LPS was dependent on the presence of the serum protein LBP (lipopolysaccharide-binding protein), as shown by the potentiating effect of human recombinant LBP or serum. Furthermore, recognition of low amounts of LPS by monocytes was also dependent on CD14 receptors, because monoclonal antibodies against CD14 greatly reduced the LPS sensitivity of monocytes in the presence of serum or rLBP. Induction of TF activity and mRNA expression by LPS were inhibited by rBPI23. The expression of tumor necrosis factor showed qualitatively similar changes. Considering the involvement of LPS-induced TF in the potentially lethal intravascular coagulation in sepsis, inhibition of TF induction by rBPI23 may be of therapeutic benefit.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (3) ◽  
pp. 770-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mithun Vinod Shah ◽  
Ranran Zhang ◽  
Rosalyn Irby ◽  
Ravi Kothapalli ◽  
Xin Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract T-cell large granular lymphocyte (LGL) leukemia is characterized by clonal expansion of CD3+CD8+ cells. Leukemic LGLs correspond to terminally differentiated effector-memory cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) that escape Fas-mediated activation-induced cell death (AICD) in vivo. The gene expression signature of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 30 LGL leukemia patients showed profound dysregulation of expression of apoptotic genes and suggested uncoupling of activation and apoptotic pathways as a mechanism for failure of AICD in leukemic LGLs. Pathway-based microarray analysis indicated that balance of proapoptotic and antiapoptotic sphingolipid-mediated signaling was deregulated in leukemic LGLs. We further investigated sphingolipid pathways and found that acid ceramidase was constitutively overexpressed in leukemic LGLs and that its inhibition induced apoptosis of leukemic LGLs. We also showed that S1P5 is the predominant S1P receptor in leukemic LGLs, whereas S1P1 is down-regulated. FTY720, a functional antagonist of S1P-mediated signaling, induced apoptosis in leukemic LGLs and also sensitized leukemic LGLs to Fas-mediated death. Collectively, these results show a role for sphingolipid-mediated signaling as a mechanism for long-term survival of CTLs. Therapeutic targeting of this pathway, such as use of FTY720, may have efficacy in LGL leukemia.


2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 194-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pornrutsami Jintaridth ◽  
Apiwat Mutirangura

Interspersed repetitive sequences (IRSs) are a major contributor to genome size and may contribute to cellular functions. IRSs are subdivided according to size and functionally related structures into short interspersed elements, long interspersed elements (LINEs), DNA transposons, and LTR-retrotransposons. Many IRSs may produce RNA and regulate genes by a variety of mechanisms. The majority of DNA methylation occurs in IRSs and is believed to suppress IRS activities. Global hypomethylation, or the loss of genome-wide methylation, is a common epigenetic event not only in senescent cells but also in cancer cells. Loss of LINE-1 methylation has been characterized in many cancers. Here, we evaluated the methylation levels of peripheral blood mononuclear cells of LINE-1, Alu, and human endogenous retrovirus K (HERV-K) in 177 samples obtained from volunteers between 20 and 88 yr of age. Age was negatively associated with methylation levels of Alu (r = −0.452, P < 10−3) and HERV-K (r = −0.326, P < 10−3) but not LINE-1 (r = 0.145, P = 0.055). Loss of methylation of Alu occurred during ages 34–68 yr, and loss of methylation of HERV-K occurred during ages 40–63 yr and again during ages 64–83 yr. Interestingly, methylation of Alu and LINE-1 are directly associated, particularly at ages 49 yr and older (r = 0.49, P < 10−3). Therefore, only some types of IRSs lose methylation at certain ages. Moreover, Alu and HERV-K become hypomethylated differently. Finally, there may be several mechanisms of global methylation. However, not all of these mechanisms are age-dependent. This finding may lead to a better understanding of not only the biological causes and consequences of genome-wide hypomethylation but also the role of IRSs in the aging process.


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