Stem Cell-Mediated Exon Skipping of the Dystrophin Gene by the Bystander Effect

Curr Gene Ther. 2015;15(6):563-71. doi: 10.2174/1566523215666150929111400.

Abstract

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by the loss of a functional dystrophin protein; the muscles of DMD patients progressively degenerate as a result of mechanical stress during contractions, and the condition eventually leads to premature death. By means antisense oligonucleotides (AONs), it is possible to modulate pre-mRNA splicing eliminating mutated exons and restoring dystrophin open reading frame. To overcome the hurdles in using AONs for therapeutic interventions, we exerted engineered human DMD stem cells with a lentivirus, which permanently and efficiently delivered the cloned AONs. Here we describe for the first time the exosome-mediated release of AONs from engineered human DMD CD133+ stem cells allowing the rescue of murine dystrophin expression. Finally, upon release, AONs could be internalized by host cells suggesting a potential role of exosomes acting as vesicular carriers for DMD gene therapy.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Bystander Effect / physiology
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Dystrophin / biosynthesis
  • Dystrophin / genetics*
  • Exons / genetics
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / genetics*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne / therapy*
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / genetics
  • RNA Splicing / genetics
  • Stem Cells / cytology*

Substances

  • Dystrophin
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense