Cystic Fibrosis, an inherited autosomal recessive disease, arises from mutations in the CFTR gene. For intronic mutations affecting splicing events, oligonucleotides therapy has the potential to restore the production of the full length CFTR protein. Recent scientific research has demonstrated the potential of this approach to restore full length mRNA CFTR in in vitro human airway cells. The study aims to validate the therapeutic efficacy of oligonucleotide blockers (ONB) that target splicing defects associated to splicing variants in epithelia obtained from patients with Cystic Fibrosis and CFTR-related disorders.
The study will include patients with various CFTR genotypes. The assessment of ONB (named ONB-CFTR) will be performed using an air-liquid interface model of airway epithelium, developed from nasal cells of patients, without or with a combination of existing CFTR modulators, depending on the patient' genotype. This study will also aim to build a local biobank of rectal organoids from patients (only from Montpellier, France) carrying rare CFTR disease-causing variants.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
16
Nasal epithelium brushing in intermediate turbinate using a specific curette following a local anesthesia with Xylocaine 5% nebulizer.
Forceps Biopsy Procedure (Servidoni et al., 2013) Only for volunteer patients included in the Montpellier center.
Montpellier University Hospital
Montpellier, France
Restoration of the correctly spliced CFTR mRNA (full length) using specific ONB-CFTR (designed for one splicing variant).
The increase will be assessed in comparison to oligonucleotide-control effect by using semi-quantitative fluorescent PCR.
Time frame: 21 days after the air-liquid switch of epithelia (i.e. full differentiation)
Restoration of the mature CFTR protein using specific ONB-CFTR (designed for one splicing variant).
The increase will be assessed in comparison to oligonucleotide-control effect by using western blot
Time frame: 21 days after the air-liquid switch of epithelia (i.e. full differentiation)
Restoration of CFTR channel function using specific ONB-CFTR (designed for one splicing variant).
The increase will be assessed in comparison to oligonucleotide-control effect by using electrophysiological assays (Ussing chamber).
Time frame: 21 days after the air-liquid switch of epithelia (i.e. full differentiation)
Restoration of the correctly spliced CFTR mRNA (full length) and mature CFTR protein and CFTR channel function using a pool of ONB-CFTR (a mix of specific ONB-CFTR).
The increase will be assessed in comparison to oligonucleotide-control effect by using semi-quantitative fluorescent PCR, western blot and electrophysiological assays (Ussing chamber).
Time frame: 21 days after the air-liquid switch of epithelia (i.e. full differentiation)
Assessment of the amount of CFTR mRNA with normal splicing under the conditions tested.
That parameter will be quantified in comparison to oligonucleotide-control effect by using quantitative PCR assays.
Time frame: 21 days after the air-liquid switch of epithelia (i.e. full differentiation)
Assessment of the amount of mature CFTR proteins under the conditions tested.
That parameter will be quantified in comparison to oligonucleotide-control effect by using western blot assays.
Time frame: 21 days after the air-liquid switch of epithelia (i.e. full differentiation)
Assessment of the CFTR channel activity under the conditions tested.
That parameter will be quantified in comparison to oligonucleotide-control effect by using electrophysiological assays (Ussing chamber).
Time frame: 21 days after the air-liquid switch of epithelia (i.e. full differentiation)
Increase of CFTR channel function using ONB-CFTR and CFTR modulators (correctors and/or potentiators) under the conditions tested.
The increase will be assessed in comparison to oligonucleotide-control effect by using electrophysiological assays (Ussing chamber).
Time frame: 21 days after the air-liquid switch of epithelia (i.e. full differentiation)
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