| 1. |
- Bestas, Burcu, et al.
(författare)
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Splice-correcting oligonucleotides restore BTK function in X-linked agammaglobulinemia model
- 2014
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Ingår i: Journal of Clinical Investigation. - 0021-9738 .- 1558-8238. ; 124:9, s. 4067-4081
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- X-linked agammaglobulinemia (XLA) is an inherited immunodeficiency that results from mutations within the gene encoding Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). Many XLA-associated mutations affect splicing of BTK pre-mRNA and severely impair B cell development. Here, we assessed the potential of antisense, splice-correcting oligonucleotides (SCOs) targeting mutated BTKtranscripts for treating XLA. Both the SCO structural design and chemical properties were optimized using 2'-O-methyl, locked nucleic acid, or phosphorodiamidate morpholino backbones. In order to have access to an animal model of XLA, we engineered a transgenic mouse that harbors a BAC with an authentic, mutated, splice-defective human BTK gene. BTK transgenic mice were bred onto a Btk knockout background to avoid interference of the orthologous mouse protein. Using this model, we determined that BTK-specific SCOs are able to correct aberrantly spliced BTK in B lymphocytes, including pro-B cells. Correction of BTK mRNA restored expression of functional protein, as shown both by enhanced lymphocyte survival and reestablished BTK activation upon B cell receptor stimulation. Furthermore, SCO treatment corrected splicing and restored BTK expression in primary cells from patients with XLA. Together, our data demonstrate that SCOs can restore BTK function and that BTK-targeting SCOs have potential as personalized medicine in patients with XLA.
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| 2. |
- Jungebluth, Philipp, et al.
(författare)
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Tracheobronchial transplantation with a stem-cell-seeded bioartificial nanocomposite : a proof-of-concept study
- 2011
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Ingår i: The Lancet. - 0140-6736 .- 1474-547X. ; 378:9808, s. 1997-2004
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background Tracheal tumours can be surgically resected but most are an inoperable size at the time of diagnosis; therefore, new therapeutic options are needed. We report the clinical transplantation of the tracheobronchial airway with a stem-cell-seeded bioartificial nanocomposite. Methods A 36-year-old male patient, previously treated with debulking surgery and radiation therapy, presented with recurrent primary cancer of the distal trachea and main bronchi. After complete tumour resection, the airway was replaced with a tailored bioartificial nanocomposite previously seeded with autologous bone-marrow mononuclear cells via a bioreactor for 36 h. Postoperative granulocyte colony-stimulating factor filgrastim (10 mu g/kg) and epoetin beta (40 000 UI) were given over 14 days. We undertook flow cytometry, scanning electron microscopy, confocal microscopy epigenetics, multiplex, miRNA, and gene expression analyses. Findings We noted an extracellular matrix-like coating and proliferating cells including a CD105+ subpopulation in the scaffold after the reseeding and bioreactor process. There were no major complications, and the patient was asymptomatic and tumour free 5 months after trans plantation. The bioartificial nanocomposite has patent anastomoses, lined with a vascularised neomucosa, and was partly covered by nearly healthy epithelium. Post-operatively, we detected a mobilisation of peripheral cells displaying increased mesenchymal stromal cell phenotype, and upregulation of epoetin receptors, antiapoptotic genes, and miR-34 and miR-449 biomarkers. These findings, together with increased levels of regenerative-associated plasma factors, strongly suggest stem-cell homing and cell-mediated wound repair, extracellular matrix remodelling, and neovascularisation of the graft. Interpretation Tailor-made bioartificial scaffolds can be used to replace complex airway defects. The bioreactor reseeding process and pharmacological-induced site-specific and graft-specific regeneration and tissue protection are key factors for successful clinical outcome.
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| 3. |
- Lundberg, Pontus, et al.
(författare)
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Delivery of short interfering RNA using endosomolytic cell-penetrating peptides
- 2007
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Ingår i: The FASEB Journal. - : Wiley. - 0892-6638 .- 1530-6860. ; 21:11, s. 2664-2671
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) are peptides able to promote uptake of various cargos, including proteins and plasmids. Advances in recent years imply the uptake to be endocytic, where the current hurdle for efficient intracellular delivery is material being retained in the endosomes. In this study we wanted to compare the ability of various established CPPs to deliver siRNA and induce gene silencing of luciferase, with a novel designed penetratin analog having endosomolytic properties, using a noncovalent strategy. In principal, the penetratin analog EB1 will, upon protonation in the early-late endosomes, be able to form an amphipathic alpha helix resulting in permeabilization of the endosomal membrane. We demonstrate that even though all CPPs evaluated in this study can form complexes with siRNA, there is not a direct relationship between the complex formation ability and delivery efficacy. More important, although all CPPs significantly promote siRNA uptake, in some cases no gene silencing effect can be observed unless endosomal escape is induced. We find the designed endosomolytic peptide EB1 to be far more effective both in forming complexes and transporting biologically active siRNA than its parent peptide penetratin. We believe that developing CPPs with increased endosomolytical properties is a necessary step toward achieving biological effects at low concentrations for future in vivo applications.—Lundberg, P., El-Andaloussi, S., Sütlü, T., Johansson, H., Langel, Ü. Delivery of short interfering RNA using endosomolytic cell-penetrating peptides.
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| 4. |
- Sayitoglu, Ece Canan, et al.
(författare)
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Boosting Natural Killer Cell-Mediated Targeting of Sarcoma Through DNAM-1 and NKG2D
- 2020
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Ingår i: Frontiers in Immunology. - : FRONTIERS MEDIA SA. - 1664-3224. ; 11
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Sarcomas are malignancies of mesenchymal origin that occur in bone and soft tissues. Many are chemo- and radiotherapy resistant, thus conventional treatments fail to increase overall survival. Natural Killer (NK) cells exert anti-tumor activity upon detection of a complex array of tumor ligands, but this has not been thoroughly explored in the context of sarcoma immunotherapy. In this study, we investigated the NK cell receptor/ligand immune profile of primary human sarcoma explants. Analysis of tumors from 32 sarcoma patients identified the proliferative marker PCNA and DNAM-1 ligands CD112 and/or CD155 as commonly expressed antigens that could be efficiently targeted by genetically modified (GM) NK cells. Despite the strong expression of CD112 and CD155 on sarcoma cells, characterization of freshly dissociated sarcomas revealed a general decrease in tumor-infiltrating NK cells compared to the periphery, suggesting a defect in the endogenous NK cell response. We also applied a functional screening approach to identify relevant NK cell receptor/ligand interactions that induce efficient anti-tumor responses using a panel NK-92 cell lines GM to over-express 12 different activating receptors. Using GM NK-92 cells against primary sarcoma explants (n = 12) revealed that DNAM-1 over-expression on NK-92 cells led to efficient degranulation against all tested explants (n = 12). Additionally, NKG2D over-expression showed enhanced responses against 10 out of 12 explants. These results show that DNAM-1(+) or NKG2D(+) GM NK-92 cells may be an efficient approach in targeting sarcomas. The degranulation capacity of GM NK-92 cell lines was also tested against various established tumor cell lines, including neuroblastoma, Schwannoma, melanoma, myeloma, leukemia, prostate, pancreatic, colon, and lung cancer. Enhanced degranulation of DNAM-1(+) or NKG2D(+) GM NK-92 cells was observed against the majority of tumor cell lines tested. In conclusion, DNAM-1 or NKG2D over-expression elicited a dynamic increase in NK cell degranulation against all sarcoma explants and cancer cell lines tested, including those that failed to induce a notable response in WT NK-92 cells. These results support the broad therapeutic potential of DNAM-1(+) or NKG2D(+) GM NK-92 cells and GM human NK cells for the treatment of sarcomas and other malignancies.
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| 5. |
- Sutlu, Tolga
(författare)
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Expansion and genetic modification of human natural killer cells for adoptive immunotherapy of cancer
- 2012
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- A century after the initial proposition that the immune system has the capacity to fight against tumors, evading destruction by immune cells is now well recognized as a hallmark of cancer. Recent decades have witnessed extraordinary improvements in the use of immunotherapy against malignancies and adoptive transfer of Natural Killer (NK) cells stands among promising tools in the fight against cancer. Clinical studies have demonstrated the anti‐tumor responses generated by NK cells both in the autologous and allogeneic settings in various cancers. Direct adoptive transfer, ex vivo activation and/or expansion, as well as genetic modification of NK cells aspire novel improvements to current immunotherapy strategies. As such interventions develop, the quest for better preparation of NK cell based therapies continues. This thesis, primarily investigates the feasibility and potential of ex vivo expanded NK cells for cancer immunotherapy. Our results produced a system that has the capacity to expand polyclonal and highly cytotoxic NK cells showing selective anti‐tumor activity. Protocols for expansion of these cells from healthy donors and patients with Multiple Myeloma (MM) using current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP)‐compliant methods have been optimized in conventional cell culture systems as well as automated bioreactors. The elevated cytotoxic activity of expanded NK cells against autologous tumor cells, along with detailed analysis of phenotypic changes during the expansion process has subsequently shifted attention to the interaction between NK and tumor cells. Both as a basic method to identify these interactions, and as part of further plans to use genetically retargeted NK cells in cancer immunotherapy, we have investigated methods for efficient lentiviral genetic modification of NK cells. This study has resulted in an optimized stimulation and genetic modification process for NK cells that greatly enhances viral gene delivery. Along with NK cell stimulating cytokines, an inhibitor of innate immune receptor signaling that blocks the intracellular detection of viral RNA introduced by the vector was successfully utilized to enhance gene transfer efficiency, also constituting a proof‐of‐concept for various other gene therapy approaches. Taken together, the work presented in this thesis aims to bring us closer to optimal ex vivo manipulation of NK cells for immunotherapy. Clinical trials with the long‐term expanded NK cells as well as further preclinical development of NK cell genetic modification processes are warranted.
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