Université de Paris

IPEX (Immune dysregulation Polyendocrinopathy X linked) syndrome is a primary immunodeficiency caused by mutations in the gene encoding the transcription factor forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), which leads to the loss of function of thymus-derived CD4+CD25+ regulatory T (tTreg) cells. Preclinical and clinical studies suggest that T cell gene therapy approaches designed to selectively restore the repertoire of Treg cells by transfer of wild type FOXP3 gene is a promising potential cure for IPEX. However, there is still a need for a vector that can be used efficiently for the preparation of said Treg cells. The inventors thus compared 6 different lentiviral constructs according to 4 criteria (vector titers, level of transduction of human CD4+ T cells, level of expression of FOXP3 and ΔLNGFR genes, degree of correlation between both expression) and selected one construct comprising a bidirectional PGK-EF1a promoter that showed remarkable efficiency.

The invention relates to the skipping of the CEP290 exon 36 in an individual suffering from a retinal dystrophy accounted for by a nonsense mutation or a premature termination codon generated by a frameshift mutation in exon 36 or an upstream exon, including the c.4723A>T, c.4771C>T, c.4714G>T, c.4786_4790del, c.4791_4794del, c.4732G>T, c.4625_4626insCATG (35), c.4792_4795del, c.4801C>T, c.4805C>T, or c.4811G>A mutations, to bypass protein truncation and lessen retinal damages. Here, studying fibroblasts from control individuals, and two patients carrying the CEP290 c.4723A>T nonsense mutation, they show low levels of spontaneous skipping of exon 36 arising from both endogenous basal skipping and mutation-induced skipping. The minimally shortened and mutation-free CEP290 mRNA produced by skipping of exon 36 in the fibroblasts of the two patients is translated into a protein isoform that localizes at the centrosome and allows the formation of primary cilia, yet with elongated axonemes. Using an AON consisting of a sequence set forth as SEQ ID NO: 1, complementary to a nucleic acid sequence of CEP290 pre-mRNA, wherein said AON targeting an mRNA encoding the donor splice site (H36D) is capable to alter splicing by blocking the recognition of exon 36 and bypass protein truncation while maintaining the open reading frame, leading to the production of near full-length CEP290 protein, they were able to increase the abundance of the alternatively spliced mRNA and shortened protein and to reduce axonemal length in patient cells.

The invention relates to a method for treating cancers. Many cancers harbour sternness signature to de-differentiate into immature progenitors confer to tumor clones the re-expression of genes from fetal development. Inventors have obtained mice per group which received two boosts of vaccine 7 and 14 days with 2×106 irradiated hESCs cells that were mixed with 3 different adjuvants: 500 μg of TLR3, 50 μg of TLR9 agonist or 50 μg/ml of Quil A® Saponin vaccine adjuvant. After 14 days 5×104 4T1 cells were injected into the mammary fat pad of the mice and Valproic acid added in the drinking water at the dose of 4 mg/ml. They have shown that in contrast to the non-vaccinated mice, the mice vaccinated with hESC combined with a TLR3 agonist have generated the highest reduction of breast tumor volume (p<0.001) compared to the use of a TLR9 agonist or to Quil-A® Saponin vaccine adjuvant. Accordingly, the invention relates to a method for treating a subject suffering from a cancer with i) an agent that induces MHC-I presentation of antigens, ii) a vaccine composition containing an immunogenic element and iii) an adjuvant.

The mechanisms driving the development of extracapillary lesions in focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and crescentic glomerulonephritis (CGN) remain poorly understood. A key question is how parietal epithelial cells (PECs) invade glomerular capillaries, thereby promoting injury and kidney failure. Here the inventors show that expression of the tetraspanin CD9 increases markedly in PECs in mouse models of CGN and FSGS, and in kidneys from individuals diagnosed with these diseases. Cd9 gene targeting in PECs prevents glomerular damage in CGN and FSGS mouse models. Mechanistically, CD9 deficiency prevents the oriented migration of PECs into the glomerular tuft and their acquisition of CD44 and β1 integrin expression. These findings highlight a critical role for de novo expression of CD9 as a common pathogenic switch driving the PEC phenotype in CGN and FSGS, while offering a potential therapeutic avenue to treat these conditions. Accordingly, CD9 represents a reliable biomarker and as well as a biotargets in glomerulonephritides.

The present invention relates to a method for promoting wound healing in a subject suffering from Ectodermal dysplasia in need thereof comprising a step of administering subcutaneously, intradermally or topically to said subject a therapeutically effective amount of a compound which restores the activity of p63. Inventors have performed a primary culture of patient keratinocytes suffering from ectodermal dysplasias with two compounds which restore the activity of p63 (e.g. STIMA-1 and/or PRIMA-1Met). They have shown that there is an important differentiation of the keratinocytes of said patient compared to the cells not treated with these compounds. They observed that the activity of p63 mutated is restored, thus the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes from the patient are activated. Moreover, inventors have used PRIMA-1Met by topical application on a young patient suffering from ectodermal dysplasias and shown that said patient presents an improvement on her hand. Typically, severe skin erosions (on hands and feet) are healing when PRIMA-1Met is administered topically on the hand.

CD38 is also expressed in a variety of malignant hematological diseases, including multiple myeloma. In the present invention, the inventors have generated a new antibody against CD38 that could be suitable for producing bispecific antibodies as well as CAR-T cells. In particular, the inventors report the development of Bi38-3, a new bispecific T cell engager that targeted CD38 on MM cells and recruited cytotoxic T cells through the CD3ε. Bi38-3 lacked the Fc region of natural mAb, which contributes to resistance processes, but triggered T cells to proliferate, release cytokine and lyse CD38 positive MM cells in vitro. Similarly, Bi38-3 induced autologous T cells to eliminate tumor plasma cells isolated from MM patients both at diagnosis and at relapse. The cytotoxicity triggered by Bi38-3 was restricted to cells expressing high levels of CD38 and preserved the integrity of T, B and NK lymphocytes in vitro. Importantly, Bi38-3 rapidly reduced tumor cells in an MM1.S xenograft mouse model of human MM. Taken together, the results show that the antibody of the present invention is an effective reagent to specifically eliminate CD38 positive malignant cells without significantly affecting CD38 lowly expressing cells and represents a promising novel immunotherapeutic tool for the treatment of malignant hematological diseases, and especially multiple myeloma.

Olmsted syndrome (OS) is a rare genodermatosis classically characterized by the combination of bilateral mutilating transgredient palmoplantar keratoderma (PPK) and periorificial keratotic plaques. The inventors obtained remarkable results with a treatment with a EGFR inhibitor (e.g. erlotinib) in 3 patients with Olmsted Syndrome and erythemalgia linked to different TRPV3 mutations. In less than 3 months, the drug induced a complete disappearance of the hyperkeratosis and the pain. Anorexia and insomnia disappeared with an improvement of the growth. Accordingly, the present invention relates to the use of EGFR inhibitors for the keratodermas.

The present application relates to a double-stranded DNA molecule comprising a first double-stranded DNA molecule (1) connected to a second double-stranded DNA molecule (2) by at least one covalent bond which is not a phosphodiester, phosphorothioate, phosphoramidate or phosphorodiamidate bond, preferably by a tether, said tether preferably being a double-stranded DNA molecule.

Probenecid or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof for use in the treatment of a neurological disorder in a subject in need thereof, wherein administration of probenecid or a pharmaceutical acceptable salt thereof controls clinical or electrographic seizures in the subject. Preferably, the neurological disorder is an epileptic disease, disorder or condition.

The present invention relates to the field of neonatal cholestasis, in particular the treatment of neonatal biliary atresia or diseases associated with biliary system destruction. Also, the invention relates to methods and/or compounds for treating or preventing biliary atresia or disease associated with biliary system destruction. It further relates to methods and/or compounds for slowing the progression of biliary atresia or disease associated with biliary system destruction.