Gene TherapyPub Date : 2025-07-11DOI: 10.1038/s41434-025-00551-8
Alessia Di Donfrancesco, Alessia Adelizzi, Anastasia Giri, Roberto Duchi, Simona Boito, Maria Barandalla, Giulia Massaro, Chiara Santanatoglia, Enrica Cappellozza, Andrea Perota, Ivano Di Meo, Valeria Tiranti, Emanuela Bottani, Cesare Galli, Nicola Persico, Dario Brunetti
{"title":"Transabdominal ultrasound guided AAV9-GFP delivery in fetal pigs: a translational and minimally invasive model for in utero fetal gene therapy","authors":"Alessia Di Donfrancesco, Alessia Adelizzi, Anastasia Giri, Roberto Duchi, Simona Boito, Maria Barandalla, Giulia Massaro, Chiara Santanatoglia, Enrica Cappellozza, Andrea Perota, Ivano Di Meo, Valeria Tiranti, Emanuela Bottani, Cesare Galli, Nicola Persico, Dario Brunetti","doi":"10.1038/s41434-025-00551-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41434-025-00551-8","url":null,"abstract":"In utero fetal gene therapy (IUFGT) has the potential to correct severe monogenic disorders before irreversible damage occurs. Despite promising results in small and large animal models, its translation to clinical practice remains limited by technical challenges, safety concerns, and the lack of standardized protocols in relevant disease models species. We established and validated a minimally invasive, ultrasound-guided approach for systemic gene delivery in fetal pigs using a self-complementary AAV9 vector encoding GFP under a CAG promoter. Injections were performed at different gestational ages (GA 80 and GA 108) via intracardiac or umbilical venous routes. Postnatal outcomes were monitored, and transgene biodistribution and expression were assessed by qPCR, ddPCR, immunofluorescence, and Western blotting. Inflammatory response, toxicity, and maternal safety were evaluated through cytokine profiling and histological analyses. The procedure was well tolerated, with no significant maternal morbidity or adverse obstetric outcomes beyond one preterm delivery. Biodistribution analysis revealed widespread vector presence in peripheral tissues, with robust GFP expression in liver and heart. Importantly, there was no evidence of significant tissue toxicity, necrosis, or fibrosis in any of the organs analyzed. Mild increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines (GM-CSF, GRO-α, IFN-γ) were observed but were not associated with histopathological changes. No anti-AAV9 capsid antibodies were detected in sera from piglets or sows, suggesting a minimal immune response to the vector. These findings demonstrate the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of ultrasound-guided IUFGT in pigs, supporting its potential as a translational platform for therapeutic gene delivery in fetuses affected by severe congenital diseases. This model offers a valuable framework for further preclinical development of prenatal interventions, particularly for disorders with early onset, such as mitochondrial diseases.","PeriodicalId":12699,"journal":{"name":"Gene Therapy","volume":"32 5","pages":"487-496"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41434-025-00551-8.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144608219","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gene TherapyPub Date : 2025-07-09DOI: 10.1038/s41434-025-00543-8
Gu Heng Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Sheng, Hua Jian Shan, Wei Gang Zhu, Ya Lan Chen, Ai Dong Deng, Jun Tan, Xiao Zhong Zhou
{"title":"Nanoparticle hydrogel system delivery of miR-494-3p to improve tendon healing by targeting CXXC4.","authors":"Gu Heng Wang, Lei Wang, Lei Sheng, Hua Jian Shan, Wei Gang Zhu, Ya Lan Chen, Ai Dong Deng, Jun Tan, Xiao Zhong Zhou","doi":"10.1038/s41434-025-00543-8","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41434-025-00543-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Due to the poor healing capacity of tendons, the healing process is slow, with a risk of re-rupture post-injury. In this study, we found that miR-494-3p was one of the miRNAs with significant expression differences after tendon injury by sequencing in the rat Achilles tendon injury model. Therefore, we hypothesized that regulating miR-494-3p expression in tendons could improve tendon healing. Considering the long healing process of the tendons and the short half-life of miRNA, we hope to achieve the best efficacy by delivering miR-494-3p using a sustained-release nanoparticle hydrogel system. In the results, with an increase in miR-494-3p, the tendon biomechanics were significantly improved after 2-week repair, and the content of collagen I (Col I) also increased. Through bioinformatics prediction, double luciferase, and immunohistochemistry experiments, we confirmed that miR-494-3p targeting CXXC finger protein 4 (CXXC4) promoted tendon healing. In conclusion, the miR-494-3p/nanoparticles hydrogel delivery system can protect and sustainedly transfer miR-494-3p into tenocytes, block the translation of CXXC4, increase the expression of Col I, and ultimately improve tendon healing. A nanoparticle hydrogel delivery system of miRNA was constructed and applied to injured tendons. Finally, we confirmed that the miR-494-3p/nanoparticles hydrogel delivery system can protect and sustainedly transfer miR-494-3p into tenocytes, block the translation of CXXC4, increase the expression of Col I, and ultimately improve tendon healing.</p>","PeriodicalId":12699,"journal":{"name":"Gene Therapy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144591098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gene TherapyPub Date : 2025-07-08DOI: 10.1038/s41434-025-00548-3
Tatevik Jalatyan, Erik Aznauryan, Rokib Hasan, Valeri Vardanyan, Stepan Nersisyan, David B. Thompson, Noah Davidsohn, Sanya Thomas, Simon van Haren, Jenny Tam, Denitsa Milanova, George M. Church, Lilit Nersisyan
{"title":"hafoe: an interactive tool for the analysis of chimeric AAV libraries after random mutagenesis","authors":"Tatevik Jalatyan, Erik Aznauryan, Rokib Hasan, Valeri Vardanyan, Stepan Nersisyan, David B. Thompson, Noah Davidsohn, Sanya Thomas, Simon van Haren, Jenny Tam, Denitsa Milanova, George M. Church, Lilit Nersisyan","doi":"10.1038/s41434-025-00548-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41434-025-00548-3","url":null,"abstract":"Naturally occurring adeno-associated viruses (AAVs) are an integral part of gene therapy, yet engineering novel AAV variants is necessary to expand targetable tissues and treatable diseases. Directed evolution, particularly through DNA shuffling of the capsid genes of wild-type AAV serotypes, is a widely employed strategy to generate novel chimeric variants with desired properties. Yet, the computational analysis of such chimeric sequences presents challenges. We introduce hafoe, a novel computational tool designed for the exploratory analysis of chimeric AAV libraries, which does not require extensive bioinformatics expertise. hafoe accurately deciphers the serotype composition and enrichment patterns of chimeric AAV variants across different tissues. Validation against synthetic datasets demonstrates that hafoe identifies parental serotype compositions with an accuracy of 96.3% to 97.5%. Additionally, we engineered chimeric AAV capsid libraries and screened novel AAV variants for tropism to human dermal fibroblasts and dendritic cells, as well as canine muscle, and liver tissues. Using hafoe we identified and characterized enriched AAV variants in these tissues for potential use in gene therapy and vaccine development. Overall, hafoe can provide valuable insights that may further support the rational design of AAV vectors based on parental serotype and sequence preferences of the capsid genes in target tissues.","PeriodicalId":12699,"journal":{"name":"Gene Therapy","volume":"32 5","pages":"475-486"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.comhttps://www.nature.com/articles/s41434-025-00548-3.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144591097","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Systemically delivered lipid nanoparticle-mRNA encoding lysosomal acid β-glucosidase restores the enzyme deficiency in a murine Gaucher disease model.","authors":"Yuanqing Liu, Shasha Wang, Yanni Chen, Zhang Zhang, Xiaojiang Quan, Zhijun Guo, Zihao Wang","doi":"10.1038/s41434-025-00549-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-025-00549-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Gaucher disease (GD) is a rare genetically inherited illness caused by loss of lysosomal acid β-glucosidase (β-GCase) that leads to progressive accumulation of substrates, sphingolipid glucosylceramide (GL1) and glucosylsphingosine (lyso-GL1). The protein-based enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) requires frequent dosing due to short drug half-life causing challenges in long-term patient compliance. JCXH-301 is a lipid nanoparticle (LNP) encapsulated messenger RNA (mRNA) encoding β-GCase. Intravenous administration of JCXH-301 delivered the target mRNA to various tissues in mice with intracellular expression of β-GCase predominantly in macrophages and dendritic cells in the spleen and bone marrow. In GBA1 D427V homozygous mice treated with JCXH-301, the dose-dependent in vivo production of functional β-GCase resulted in reduction of serum lyso-GL1, a key biomarker of GD. The therapeutic effect of JCXH-301 was sustained for a duration significantly longer than that of protein-based ERT Cerezyme. JCXH-301 administration induced minimal pro-inflammatory cytokines in the liver and spleen. Taken together, these results provide proof-of-concept for using LNP-delivered mRNA as a new drug modality to restore the β-GCase genetic deficiency for GD treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12699,"journal":{"name":"Gene Therapy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144559972","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gene TherapyPub Date : 2025-06-24DOI: 10.1038/s41434-025-00547-4
Ying Hong, Alice Burleigh, Aiyin Liao, Jenny Yeung, Yixin Bian, Neil Sebire, Olumide Ogunbiyi, Ebun Omoyinmi, Adrian J Thrasher, Emma Morris, Paul A Brogan, Despina Eleftheriou
{"title":"Preclinical evaluation of lentiviral gene therapy for adenosine deaminase 2 deficiency (DADA2): engraftment efficiency and biodistribution in humanised NBSGW mice.","authors":"Ying Hong, Alice Burleigh, Aiyin Liao, Jenny Yeung, Yixin Bian, Neil Sebire, Olumide Ogunbiyi, Ebun Omoyinmi, Adrian J Thrasher, Emma Morris, Paul A Brogan, Despina Eleftheriou","doi":"10.1038/s41434-025-00547-4","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-025-00547-4","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Adenosine deaminase type 2 deficiency (DADA2) is caused by bi-allelic loss-of-function mutations in ADA2. While anti-TNF therapy is effective for the autoinflamatory and vasculitic components of the disease it does not correct marrow failure or immunodeficiency. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) offers a potential cure but is limited by challenges such as graft-versus-host-disease and donor availability. We previously demonstrated that lentiviral-mediated ADA2 gene therapy could restore ADA2 enzyme activity in patient-derived cells, correct macrophage inflammatory activation and reduce endothelial activation in vitro. Here, we evaluated the biodistribution and engraftment potential of lentivirally transduced healthy donor and patient-derived haematopoietic stem cells (HSC) in vivo using a humanised NBSGW mouse model. Transduced healthy HSC retained multilineage differentiation and engraftment capacity, without functional impairment. PCR analysis confirmed the absence of viral integration in non-haematopoietic organs, and histology showed no abnormal tissue changes, underscoring the safety and precision of this approach. In DADA2 patient-derived HSC, ADA2 transduction restored protein expression and enzyme activity, supporting improved cellular function and enhanced engraftment potential. These findings provide a strong foundation for advancing ADA2 gene therapy as a therapeutic strategy for DADA2, bringing it closer to clinical application.</p>","PeriodicalId":12699,"journal":{"name":"Gene Therapy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144484128","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gene TherapyPub Date : 2025-06-20DOI: 10.1038/s41434-025-00546-5
Konstantina Tzimou, Pol Hulsbus-Andreu, Ece Bahar Yildirim, Lars K Nielsen, Jesús Lavado-García
{"title":"Mixture design as a tool for improving full-to-empty particle ratios across various GOIs in rAAV production.","authors":"Konstantina Tzimou, Pol Hulsbus-Andreu, Ece Bahar Yildirim, Lars K Nielsen, Jesús Lavado-García","doi":"10.1038/s41434-025-00546-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41434-025-00546-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Optimization of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) production is essential for effective gene therapy applications. However, multiple factors affect the rAAV productivity in mammalian cells, and often they interact with each other, making the optimization process highly challenging. In our previous work, we showed how coupling mixture design (MD) with face-centered central composite design (FCCD) was the most suitable design of experiments (DOE) approach for optimizing rAAV2 productivity and cell viability. In this study, we built on this method and demonstrate that combining MD with FCCD can be used to optimize the percentage of full capsids in rAAV2 upstream preparation. Additionally, we investigate the influence of the gene of interest (GOI) on the optimal conditions for viral particle production and packaging efficiency. By integrating MD and FCCD methodologies, we achieved an improvement of almost 100-fold in Log(Vp) in the case of egfp-expressing rAAV, and a 12-fold increase in bdnf-expressing full rAAV capsids, suggesting that this combined approach is a versatile and effective strategy for optimizing rAAV production processes. These findings emphasize the need for a comprehensive understanding of the factors influencing rAAV production to enhance the efficiency and efficacy of viral vector applications in gene therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":12699,"journal":{"name":"Gene Therapy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144336457","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gene TherapyPub Date : 2025-06-19DOI: 10.1038/s41434-025-00545-6
Clara Gontijo Camelo, Rodrigo Holanda Mendonça, Cristiane Araújo Martins Moreno, Juliana Caires Oliveira Achili Ferreira, Adriana Banzzatto Ortega, Vanessa van der Linden, Rejane Souza Macedo Campos, Helio van der Linden, Natalia Spinola Costa da Cunha, Juliana Gurgel-Giannetti, Janaina Monteiro Chaves, Silvana Maria Carvalho Miranda, Andreas Ziegler, Edmar Zanoteli
{"title":"Thrombotic microangiopathy following gene therapy for 5q-spinal muscular atrophy.","authors":"Clara Gontijo Camelo, Rodrigo Holanda Mendonça, Cristiane Araújo Martins Moreno, Juliana Caires Oliveira Achili Ferreira, Adriana Banzzatto Ortega, Vanessa van der Linden, Rejane Souza Macedo Campos, Helio van der Linden, Natalia Spinola Costa da Cunha, Juliana Gurgel-Giannetti, Janaina Monteiro Chaves, Silvana Maria Carvalho Miranda, Andreas Ziegler, Edmar Zanoteli","doi":"10.1038/s41434-025-00545-6","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41434-025-00545-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Onasemnogene abeparvovec (OA) is the first gene replacement therapy (GT) approved for 5q spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). While effective, it can cause severe side effects, including thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). The pathophysiology, risk factors, and management of viral-vector-related TMA remain unclear. This study aimed to evaluate TMA frequency among Brazilian patients treated with OA and characterize their clinical and laboratory profiles. This retrospective, multicenter study analyzed 294 Brazilian patients with 5q SMA treated with OA between October 2020 and September 2024, of whom seven (2.4%) developed TMA. The average age at OA administration was 20.4 months, and the average weight was 11.5 kg. Three patients had documented infections before OA administration. TMA symptoms appeared within 6-10 days post-infusion. All patients showed hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia, and at least one organ dysfunction. Treatment included plasmapheresis in two cases and increased corticosteroid doses in four cases. One patient died from TMA complications. Whole exome sequencing in five patients identified no pathogenic variants linked to TMA. TMA is a rare but severe complication of OA therapy for SMA. Prompt recognition and management, often with corticosteroids, are crucial for improving outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":12699,"journal":{"name":"Gene Therapy","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144325237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gene TherapyPub Date : 2025-06-14DOI: 10.1038/s41434-025-00544-7
Aisha H. A. Alsenousy, Sara A. Sharker, Mennatallah A. Gowayed, Samar S. Elblehi, Maher A. Kamel
{"title":"Aptamer-targeted anti-miR RNA construct based on 3WJ as a new approach for the treatment of chronic kidney disease in an experimental model","authors":"Aisha H. A. Alsenousy, Sara A. Sharker, Mennatallah A. Gowayed, Samar S. Elblehi, Maher A. Kamel","doi":"10.1038/s41434-025-00544-7","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41434-025-00544-7","url":null,"abstract":"The treatment of chronic disease (CKD) is a great challenge in healthcare that requires an innovative approach to address its complex nature. RNA nanotechnology has emerged rapidly and received attention in the last few years because of its significant aptitude for therapies. Hence, the present study aimed to design, construct, and characterize a multifunctional (anti-miR-34a DNA aptamer-kidney targeted) RNA nanoparticle (RNPs) based on bacteriophage phi29 packaging RNA three-way junction (pRNA-3WJ), and then explore their in vivo toxicity and therapeutic potentials in mice model of CKD. After confirming the safety and specific targeting capability of the prepared core 3WJ (3WJ) and the therapeutic 3WJ (3WJ-Kapt/anti-miR-34a) RNPs to renal tissue using healthy mice, CKD was induced in C57BL/6 mice using adenine. CKD mice were treated with a single intravenous injection of 3WJ or 3WJ-Kapt/anti-miR-34a. Every week, 5 mice of each group were selected randomly for sample collection for 4 weeks post-treatment. The anti-miR-34a 3WJ-RNPs have shown stability, safety, and efficacy in renal targeting using DNA aptamer, by targeting miR-34a in renal tissue, 3WJ-Kapt/anti-miR-34a suppressed profibrotic gene expression and induced anti-fibrotic pathways’ expression. Our present study provides preliminary and pioneering evidence for the promising treatment of renal fibrosis and CKD through targeting miR-34a in the renal tissue by 3WJ-RNPs.","PeriodicalId":12699,"journal":{"name":"Gene Therapy","volume":"32 4","pages":"359-375"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12310521/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144293652","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Gene TherapyPub Date : 2025-06-10DOI: 10.1038/s41434-025-00542-9
Edwina Abou Haidar, Shilpa Prabhakar, Pike See Cheah, Killian S. Hanlon, Paula Espinoza, Adam V. Crain, Nikita Patel, Greta W. Radcliff, Ming Cheng, Iván Coto Hernández, Steven Minderler, Demitri de la Cruz, Carrie Ng, Cintia Carla da Hora, Alain Charest, Anat Stemmer-Rachamimov, Nate Jowett, Xandra O. Breakefield, Casey A. Maguire
{"title":"Engineered AAV capsids mediate transduction of murine neurofibroma and sciatic nerve","authors":"Edwina Abou Haidar, Shilpa Prabhakar, Pike See Cheah, Killian S. Hanlon, Paula Espinoza, Adam V. Crain, Nikita Patel, Greta W. Radcliff, Ming Cheng, Iván Coto Hernández, Steven Minderler, Demitri de la Cruz, Carrie Ng, Cintia Carla da Hora, Alain Charest, Anat Stemmer-Rachamimov, Nate Jowett, Xandra O. Breakefield, Casey A. Maguire","doi":"10.1038/s41434-025-00542-9","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41434-025-00542-9","url":null,"abstract":"Genetic diseases such as Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and Charcot-Marie Tooth disease involve Schwann cells (SCs) associated with peripheral nerves. Gene therapy using adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector mediated gene delivery is a promising strategy to treat these diseases. However, AAV-mediated transduction of SCs in vivo after intravascular delivery is relatively inefficient, with a lack of extensive characterization of different capsids to date. Here, we performed an in vivo selection with an AAV9 capsid peptide display library in a mouse model of NF1. We chose one capsid variant, AAV-SC3, which was present in NF1 nerves for comparison to two benchmark capsids after systemic injection. AAV-SC3 significantly outperformed one of the two benchmark capsids at levels of transgene mRNA in the neurofibroma. Immunofluorescence microscopy revealed transgene expressing Sox10-positive SCs throughout the neurofibroma with AAV-SC3 injection. Next, we performed a pooled screen with four of the top capsids from our initial selection and AAV9 and identified one capsid, AAV-SC4, with enhanced biodistribution to and transduction of normal sciatic nerve in mice. This capsid displayed a peptide with a known laminin-binding motif, which may provide a conduit for future laminin-targeting strategies. Our results provide a baseline for future AAV-based gene therapies developed for NF1 or other diseases that affect SCs.","PeriodicalId":12699,"journal":{"name":"Gene Therapy","volume":"32 4","pages":"385-397"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144266087","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"RNAi targeting heparin cofactor II promotes hemostasis in a canine model of acquired hemophilia A","authors":"Yuyang Zhang, Tingting Liu, Haiming Kou, Huafang Wang, Yu Hu, Liang V. Tang","doi":"10.1038/s41434-025-00541-w","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41434-025-00541-w","url":null,"abstract":"Heparin cofactor II (HCII) is a critical anticoagulant protein that inactivates thrombin. In our previous mouse studies, we demonstrated that GalNAc-HCII, a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting HCII conjugated with N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), exhibited promising therapeutic effects in hemophilia A mouse models. Further evaluation in large animal models, especially with FVIII inhibitors, is essential before GalNAc-HCII can proceed to clinical trials. In this study, we successfully established, for the first time, an acquired hemophilia A canine model by multiple intravenous injections of a rabbit-dog chimeric neutralizing anti-canine FVIII antibody. In the control group, the Beagle dogs exhibited spontaneous bleeding symptoms accompanied by prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT). After administration, GalNAc-HCII (0.8 and 1.6 mg/kg) demonstrated potent, dose-dependent, and durable HCII inhibitory effects. After 5 days, in normal dogs, GalNAc-HCII reduced HCII levels to 32.67% ± 3.07% and 10.62% ± 1.74% with 0.8 and 1.6 mg/kg GalNAc-HCII, respectively. In hemophilic dogs, GalNAc-HCII treatment significantly improved hemostatic function. Specifically, in the carotid artery thrombosis model, the thrombus formation time was shortened [29.7 ± 2.08 min (0.8 mg/kg) and 18.0 ± 1.0 min (1.6 mg/kg) vs. 40 min (control), P < 0.01]; in the knee joint puncture-induced bleeding model, joint bleeding and synovitis were alleviated; and in the saphenous vein bleeding model, the number of hemostatic events increased. Furthermore, repeated administration of GalNAc-HCII effectively reduced the prolonged APTT. This study demonstrates the efficacy of GalNAc-HCII in hemophilic dogs, suggesting it as a promising novel therapeutic option for patients with hemophilia, including those with FVIII inhibitors.","PeriodicalId":12699,"journal":{"name":"Gene Therapy","volume":"32 4","pages":"398-409"},"PeriodicalIF":4.5,"publicationDate":"2025-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144142373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}