Objective
This project aims to develop an effective cell therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). To reach this goal we plan to transfer a human artificial chromosome containing the whole dystrophin locus into dystrophic mesoangioblasts. As the transfer is inefficient and requires selection, it is impossible to use primary cells that would undergo senescence during selection. Therefore we need to reversibly immortalize DMD patient mesoangioblasts by the combined use of lentiviral vectors expressing either floxed human telomerase (h-Tert) or floxed Bmi1 (and also the Herpes Simplex Thymidine Kinase, HSTK). Immortal clones, selected for proper expression of h-Tert and Bmi1 and maintenance of a mesoangioblast phenotype, will be transfected with a human artificial chromosome expressing human dystrophin. Expressing clones will be selected and characterized. Before transplantation, selected clones will be infected with an adenoviral vector expressing the Cre recombinase and then treated with Gancyclovir. Transduced and selected cells will be transplanted into mdx/SCID (dystrophic and immune deficient) mice and the extent of dystrophin reconstitution and consequent functional benefit will be evaluated. In addition, the possible immune reaction to the transgenes or novel antigens generated by the experimental strategy will be monitored by an in vitro assay utilizing donor s dendritic cells and T lymphocytes. Finally this strategy will be repeated in Golden Retriever dystrophic dogs, the closest animal model to DMD. Dog mesoangioblasts will be reversibly immortalized, transduced with the dystrophin HAC and, after viral excision and GC selection, transplanted in the same dogs from which they had been directly isolated. Dystrophin expression, functional amelioration and possible toxic and immune reactions will be monitored. This project will therefore cover all pre-clinical experimentation and would set the stage for immediate clinical translation.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: https://op.europa.eu/en/web/eu-vocabularies/euroscivoc.
- agricultural sciences animal and dairy science domestic animals
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology muscular dystrophies duchenne muscular dystrophy
- medical and health sciences clinical medicine transplantation
- natural sciences biological sciences genetics chromosomes
- medical and health sciences medical biotechnology cells technologies
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Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
ERC-2008-AdG
See other projects for this call
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Host institution
M13 9PL Manchester
United Kingdom
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.