scholarly journals AON-Mediated Exon Skipping to Bypass Protein Truncation in Retinal Dystrophies Due to the Recurrent CEP290 c.4723A > T Mutation. Fact or Fiction?

Genes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Iris Barny ◽  
Isabelle Perrault ◽  
Christel Michel ◽  
Nicolas Goudin ◽  
Sabine Defoort-Dhellemmes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antisense Oligonucleotides ◽  
Severe Disease ◽  
Retinal Dystrophy ◽  
Exon Skipping ◽  
Retinal Disease ◽  
Premature Termination Codon ◽  
Centrosomal Protein ◽  
Retinal Dystrophies ◽  
Cilia Formation ◽  
Protein Truncation

Mutations in CEP290 encoding a centrosomal protein important to cilia formation cause a spectrum of diseases, from isolated retinal dystrophies to multivisceral and sometimes embryo–lethal ciliopathies. In recent years, endogenous and/or selective non-canonical exon skipping of mutant exons have been documented in attenuated retinal disease cases. This observation led us to consider targeted exon skipping to bypass protein truncation resulting from a recurrent mutation in exon 36 (c.4723A > T, p.Lys1575*) causing isolated retinal ciliopathy. Here, we report two unrelated individuals (P1 and P2), carrying the mutation in homozygosity but affected with early-onset severe retinal dystrophy and congenital blindness, respectively. Studying skin-derived fibroblasts, we observed basal skipping and nonsense associated–altered splicing of exon 36, producing low (P1) and very low (P2) levels of CEP290 products. Consistent with a more severe disease, fibroblasts from P2 exhibited reduced ciliation compared to P1 cells displaying normally abundant cilia; both lines presented however significantly elongated cilia, suggesting altered axonemal trafficking. Antisense oligonucleotides (AONs)-mediated skipping of exon 36 increased the abundance of the premature termination codon (PTC)-free mRNA and protein, reduced axonemal length and improved cilia formation in P2 but not in P1 expressing higher levels of skipped mRNA, questioning AON-mediated exon skipping to treat patients carrying the recurrent c.4723A > T mutation.

scholarly journals Carbon Dot Nanoparticles: Exploring the Potential Use for Gene Delivery in Ophthalmic Diseases

Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 935
Author(s):  
Manas R. Biswal ◽  
Sofia Bhatia
Keyword(s):  
Gene Delivery ◽  
Therapeutic Option ◽  
Retinal Dystrophy ◽  
Retinal Cells ◽  
Adeno Associated Virus ◽  
Inherited Retinal Dystrophies ◽  
Retinal Dystrophies ◽  
Efficient Gene ◽  
New Type ◽  
Viral Nanoparticles

Ocular gene therapy offers significant potential for preventing retinal dystrophy in patients with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRD). Adeno-associated virus (AAV) based gene transfer is the most common and successful gene delivery approach to the eye. These days, many studies are using non-viral nanoparticles (NPs) as an alternative therapeutic option because of their unique properties and biocompatibility. Here, we discuss the potential of carbon dots (CDs), a new type of nanocarrier for gene delivery to the retinal cells. The unique physicochemical properties of CDs (such as optical, electronic, and catalytic) make them suitable for biosensing, imaging, drug, and gene delivery applications. Efficient gene delivery to the retinal cells using CDs depends on various factors, such as photoluminescence, quantum yield, biocompatibility, size, and shape. In this review, we focused on different approaches used to synthesize CDs, classify CDs, various pathways for the intake of gene-loaded carbon nanoparticles inside the cell, and multiple studies that worked on transferring nucleic acid in the eye using CDs.

scholarly journals Personalized Development of Antisense Oligonucleotides for Exon Skipping Restores Type XVII Collagen Expression in Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (7) ◽  
pp. 3326
Author(s):  
Michael Ablinger ◽  
Thomas Lettner ◽  
Nicole Friedl ◽  
Hannah Potocki ◽  
Theresa Palmetzhofer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Epidermolysis Bullosa ◽  
Antisense Oligonucleotides ◽  
Exon Skipping ◽  
Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa ◽  
Reading Frame ◽  
Collagen Expression ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Mucous Membranes ◽  
Personalized Approach ◽  
Xvii Collagen

Intermediate junctional epidermolysis bullosa caused by mutations in the COL17A1 gene is characterized by the frequent development of blisters and erosions on the skin and mucous membranes. The rarity of the disease and the heterogeneity of the underlying mutations renders therapy developments challenging. However, the high number of short in-frame exons facilitates the use of antisense oligonucleotides (AON) to restore collagen 17 (C17) expression by inducing exon skipping. In a personalized approach, we designed and tested three AONs in combination with a cationic liposomal carrier for their ability to induce skipping of COL17A1 exon 7 in 2D culture and in 3D skin equivalents. We show that AON-induced exon skipping excludes the targeted exon from pre-mRNA processing, which restores the reading frame, leading to the expression of a slightly truncated protein. Furthermore, the expression and correct deposition of C17 at the dermal–epidermal junction indicates its functionality. Thus, we assume AON-mediated exon skipping to be a promising tool for the treatment of junctional epidermolysis bullosa, particularly applicable in a personalized manner for rare genotypes.

scholarly journals Pathogenic STX3 variants affecting the retinal and intestinal transcripts cause an early-onset severe retinal dystrophy in microvillus inclusion disease subjects

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas R. Janecke ◽  
Xiaoqin Liu ◽  
Rüdiger Adam ◽  
Sumanth Punuru ◽  
Arne Viestenz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Onset ◽  
Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Array ◽  
Outer Nuclear Layer ◽  
Retinal Dystrophy ◽  
Geographic Origin ◽  
Retinal Disease ◽  
Homozygosity Mapping ◽  
Rod Photoreceptor ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Knockout Mouse Model

AbstractBiallelic STX3 variants were previously reported in five individuals with the severe congenital enteropathy, microvillus inclusion disease (MVID). Here, we provide a significant extension of the phenotypic spectrum caused by STX3 variants. We report ten individuals of diverse geographic origin with biallelic STX3 loss-of-function variants, identified through exome sequencing, single-nucleotide polymorphism array-based homozygosity mapping, and international collaboration. The evaluated individuals all presented with MVID. Eight individuals also displayed early-onset severe retinal dystrophy, i.e., syndromic—intestinal and retinal—disease. These individuals harbored STX3 variants that affected both the retinal and intestinal STX3 transcripts, whereas STX3 variants affected only the intestinal transcript in individuals with solitary MVID. That STX3 is essential for retinal photoreceptor survival was confirmed by the creation of a rod photoreceptor-specific STX3 knockout mouse model which revealed a time-dependent reduction in the number of rod photoreceptors, thinning of the outer nuclear layer, and the eventual loss of both rod and cone photoreceptors. Together, our results provide a link between STX3 loss-of-function variants and a human retinal dystrophy. Depending on the genomic site of a human loss-of-function STX3 variant, it can cause MVID, the novel intestinal-retinal syndrome reported here or, hypothetically, an isolated retinal dystrophy.

In vivocomparison of 2′-O-methyl phosphorothioate and morpholino antisense oligonucleotides for Duchenne muscular dystrophy exon skipping

2009 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 257-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans A. Heemskerk ◽  
Christa L. de Winter ◽  
Sjef J. de Kimpe ◽  
Petra van Kuik-Romeijn ◽  
Niki Heuvelmans ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Muscular Dystrophy ◽  
Antisense Oligonucleotides ◽  
Exon Skipping

scholarly journals Antisense oligonucleotides targeting mutant Ataxin-7 restore visual function in a mouse model of spinocerebellar ataxia type 7

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (465) ◽  
pp. eaap8677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chenchen Niu ◽  
Thazah P. Prakash ◽  
Aneeza Kim ◽  
John L. Quach ◽  
Laryssa A. Huryn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Retinal Degeneration ◽  
Spinocerebellar Ataxia ◽  
Visual Function ◽  
Antisense Oligonucleotides ◽  
Neurodegenerative Disorder ◽  
Retinal Disease ◽  
Fundus Photography ◽  
Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type ◽  
Autofluorescence Imaging ◽  
Spinocerebellar Ataxia Type 7

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 7 (SCA7) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cerebellar and retinal degeneration, and is caused by a CAG-polyglutamine repeat expansion in the ATAXIN-7 gene. Patients with SCA7 develop progressive cone-rod dystrophy, typically resulting in blindness. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are single-stranded chemically modified nucleic acids designed to mediate the destruction, prevent the translation, or modify the processing of targeted RNAs. Here, we evaluated ASOs as treatments for SCA7 retinal degeneration in representative mouse models of the disease after injection into the vitreous humor of the eye. Using Ataxin-7 aggregation, visual function, retinal histopathology, gene expression, and epigenetic dysregulation as outcome measures, we found that ASO-mediated Ataxin-7 knockdown yielded improvements in treated SCA7 mice. In SCA7 mice with retinal disease, intravitreal injection of Ataxin-7 ASOs also improved visual function despite initiating treatment after symptom onset. Using color fundus photography and autofluorescence imaging, we also determined the nature of retinal degeneration in human SCA7 patients. We observed variable disease severity and cataloged rapidly progressive retinal degeneration. Given the accessibility of neural retina, availability of objective, quantitative readouts for monitoring therapeutic response, and the rapid disease progression in SCA7, ASOs targeting ATAXIN-7 might represent a viable treatment for SCA7 retinal degeneration.

scholarly journals Innate and Autoimmunity in the Pathogenesis of Inherited Retinal Dystrophy

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 630 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Hollingsworth ◽  
Alecia K. Gross
Keyword(s):  
Disease Progression ◽  
Age Of Onset ◽  
Retinal Dystrophy ◽  
Inherited Retinal Dystrophies ◽  
Retinal Dystrophies ◽  
Major Player ◽  
Inherited Retinal Dystrophy ◽  
Rate Of Progression ◽  
Immunohistochemical Methods ◽  
Onset Rate

Inherited retinal dystrophies (RDs) are heterogenous in many aspects including genes involved, age of onset, rate of progression, and treatments. While RDs are caused by a plethora of different mutations, all result in the same outcome of blindness. While treatments, both gene therapy-based and drug-based, have been developed to slow or halt disease progression and prevent further blindness, only a small handful of the forms of RDs have treatments available, which are primarily for recessively inherited forms. Using immunohistochemical methods coupled with electroretinography, optical coherence tomography, and fluorescein angiography, we show that in rhodopsin mutant mice, the involvement of both the innate and the autoimmune systems could be a strong contributing factor in disease progression and pathogenesis. Herein, we show that monocytic phagocytosis and inflammatory cytokine release along with protein citrullination, a major player in forms of autoimmunity, work to enhance the progression of RD associated with a rhodopsin mutation.

scholarly journals Nucleobase-modified antisense oligonucleotides containing 5-(phenyltriazol)-2′-deoxyuridine nucleotides induce exon-skipping in vitro

RSC Advances ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (86) ◽  
pp. 54542-54545 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bao T. Le ◽  
Mick Hornum ◽  
Pawan K. Sharma ◽  
Poul Nielsen ◽  
Rakesh N. Veedu
Keyword(s):  
Antisense Oligonucleotides ◽  
Exon Skipping

We investigated the potential of nucleobase-modified antisense oligonucleotides to induce exon-skipping, and found that 5-(phenyltriazol)-2′-deoxyuridine-modified antisense oligonucleotides induced efficient exon-skipping in vitro.

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