Abstract:
The present invention generally relates to the field of genome engineering (gene editing), and more specifically to gene therapy for the treatment of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) related to RAG1. Particularly, the present invention pertains to the treatment of RAG1 deficiency in long-term repopulating hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). The present invention provides means and methods for genetically modifying HSCs involving gene editing reagents, such as TALE-nucleases, that specifically target a non-functional endogenous RAG1 gene, comprising at least one mutation causing Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID), thereby allowing the restoration of the normal cellular phenotype. The present invention also provides engineered RAG1-edited HSCs comprising an exogenous sequence comprising a nucleic acid sequence encoding a functional RAG1 protein which is integrated in said HSCs' genome into a non-functional RAG1 endogenous locus, resulting in the expression of a functional RAG1 polypeptide. The present invention further provides populations of cells comprising said engineered HSCs, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said engineered HSCs or populations of cells, as well as their use in gene therapy for the treatment of Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) related to RAG1.
Abstract:
The invention pertains to the field of adaptive cell immunotherapy. It provides with the genetic insertion of exogenous coding sequence(s) that help the immune cells to direct their immune response against infected or malignant cells. These exogenous coding sequences are more particularly inserted under the transcriptional control of endogenous gene promoters that are sensitive to immune cells activation. Such method allows the production of safer immune primary cells of higher therapeutic potential.
Abstract:
The invention relates to cell death inducing chimeric antigen receptors (D-CAR). In particular, the present invention relates to cell death inducing chimeric antigen receptors which comprise at least one death domain in their endodomain, including cell death inducing chimeric antigen receptors comprising within their death domains modifications which attenuate the self-association and/or binding to pro-apoptotic or pro-necrotic adaptor proteins, such as FADD or TRADD. Moreover, the present invention relates to an engineered immune cell expressing at its surface a cell death inducing CAR of the present invention and, optionally, an activating chimeric antigen receptor, wherein the extracellular ligand-binding domains of the cell death inducing CAR and the activating CAR bind to different antigens. The engineered immune cell may furthermore comprise at least one edited (e.g., inactivated) gene selected from TCR genes, immune check point genes, genes involved in drug resistance, and combinations thereof.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to Chimeric Antigen Receptors (CAR) that are recombinant chimeric proteins able to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward selected membrane antigens, and more particularly in which extracellular ligand binding is a scFV derived from an anti-HSP70 monoclonal antibody, conferring specific immunity against HSP70 positive cells. The engineered immune cells endowed with such CARs are particularly suited for treating in particular leukemia.
Abstract:
The present disclosure provides methods for targeted insertion of an exogenous sequence at a genomic locus in a cell, wherein said insertion is induced by a sequence-specific endonuclease that has cleavage activity at said locus, at least 5 hours before the introduction into said cell of a DNA template comprising said exogenous sequence.
Abstract:
A polypeptide encoding a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) comprising at least one extracellular binding domain that comprises a scFv formed by at least a VH chain and a VL chain specific to an antigen, wherein said extracellular binding domain comprises at least one mAb-specific epitope.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a new generation of chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) referred to as multi-chain CARs, which are made specific to the antigen CLL1. Such CARs aim to redirect immune cell specificity and reactivity toward malignant cells expressing the tumor antigen CLL1. The alpha, beta and gamma polypeptides composing these CARs are designed to assemble in juxtamembrane position, which forms flexible architecture closer to natural receptors, that confers optimal signal transduction. The invention encompasses the polynucleotides, vectors encoding said multi-chain CAR and the isolated cells expressing them at their surface, in particularly for their use in immunotherapy. The invention opens the way to efficient adoptive immunotherapy strategies for treating cancer, especially leukemia.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to a method of genome engineering in microalgae using the Cas9/CRISPR system. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of delivering RNA guides via cell penetrating peptides in microalgae, preferably in stable integrated Cas9 microalgae. The present invention also relates to kits and isolated cells comprising Cas9, split Cas9 or guide RNA and Cas9-fused cell-penetrating peptides. The present invention also relates to isolated cells obtained by the methods of the invention.
Abstract:
The present invention is in the field of genetic editing tools and methods of genetic engineering. It relates to the engineering of rare-cutting endonucleases designed to contract highly repetitive motives in chromosomes, which are at the origin of certain genetic diseases, in particular the so-called “triplet repeat diseases”, such as the Huntington disease. The invention encompasses the method for contracting the repetitive motives, the rare-cutting endonucleases for use to contract repetitive motives in a gene subjected to repeat disorder, the polynucleotides and vectors encoding thereof as well as the resulting pharmaceutical compositions.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to the design of improved TALE protein fusions useful as sequence-specific genomic reagents, such as TALE-nucleases and TALE base editors, displaying higher on-target/off-target activity ratios. Its goal is to produce safer reagents to genetically modify the genomes of different types of cells, especially mammalian cells, in particular for their use in gene therapy.