Zhiquan Liu

All Publications

• All-in-one AAV-mediated Nrl gene inactivation rescues retinal degeneration in Pde6a mice. JCI insight Liu, Z., Chen, S., Lo, C. H., Wang, Q., Sun, Y. 2024

  Abstract

  Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a complex group of inherited retinal diseases characterized by progressive death of photoreceptor cells and eventual blindness. Pde6a, which encodes a cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase, is a crucial pathogenic gene for autosomal recessive RP (RP43); there is no effective therapy for this form of RP. The compact CRISPR/SaCas9 system, which can be packaged into a single adeno-associated virus, holds promise for simplifying effective gene therapy. Here, we demonstrated that all-in-one AAV-SaCas9-mediated Nrl gene inactivation can efficiently prevent retinal degeneration in a RP mouse model with Pde6anmf363/nmf363 mutation. We screened single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) capable of efficiently editing mouse Nrl gene in N2a cells and then achieved effective gene editing by using a single AAV to co-deliver SaCas9 and an optimal Nrl-sg2 into the mouse retina. Excitingly, in vivo inactivation of Nrl improved photoreceptor cell survival and rescued retinal function in treated Pde6a deficient mice. Thus, we showed that a practical, gene-independent method, AAV-SaCas9-mediated Nrl inactivation, holds promise for future therapeutic applications in patients with RP.

  View details for DOI 10.1172/jci.insight.178159

  View details for PubMedID 39499900

• Defective Neurogenesis in Lowe Syndrome is Caused by Mitochondria Loss and Cilia-related Sonic Hedgehog Defects. bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology Lo, C. H., Chen, S., Zhao, J., Liu, Z., Wang, B., Wang, Q., Kowal, T. J., Sun, Y. 2024

  Abstract

  Human brain development is a complex process that requires intricate coordination of multiple cellular and developmental events. Dysfunction of lipid metabolism can lead to neurodevelopmental disorders. Lowe syndrome (LS) is a recessive X-linked disorder associated with proximal tubular renal disease, congenital cataracts and glaucoma, and central nervous system developmental delays. Mutations in OCRL, which encodes an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase, lead to the development of LS. The cellular mechanism responsible for neuronal dysfunction in LS is unknown. Here we show depletion of mitochondrial DNA and decrease in mitochondrial activities result in neuronal differentiation defects. Increased astrocytes, which are secondary responders to neurodegeneration, are observed in neuronal (iN) cells differentiated from Lowe patient-derived iPSCs and an LS mouse model. Inactivation of cilia-related sonic hedgehog signaling, which organizes the pattern of cellular neuronal differentiation, is observed in an OCRL knockout, iN cells differentiated from Lowe patient-derived iPSCs, and an LS mouse model. Taken together, our findings indicate that mitochondrial dysfunction and impairment of the ciliary sonic hedgehog signaling pathway represent a novel pathogenic mechanism underlying the disrupted neuronal differentiation observed in LS.

  View details for DOI 10.1101/2024.11.01.621496

  View details for PubMedID 39553960

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC11565974

• Efficient Rescue of Retinal Degeneration in Pde6a Mice by Engineered Base Editing and Prime Editing. Advanced science (Weinheim, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany) Liu, Z., Chen, S., Davis, A. E., Lo, C. H., Wang, Q., Li, T., Ning, K., Zhang, Q., Zhao, J., Wang, S., Sun, Y. 2024: e2405628

  Abstract

  Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a complex spectrum of inherited retinal diseases marked by the gradual loss of photoreceptor cells, ultimately leading to blindness. Among these, mutations in PDE6A, responsible for encoding a cGMP-specific phosphodiesterase, stand out as pivotal in autosomal recessive RP (RP43). Unfortunately, no effective therapy currently exists for this specific form of RP. However, recent advancements in genome editing, such as base editing (BE) and prime editing (PE), offer a promising avenue for precise and efficient gene therapy. Here, it is illustrated that the engineered BE and PE systems, particularly PE, exhibit high efficiency in rescuing a target point mutation with minimal bystander effects in an RP mouse model carrying the Pde6a (c.2009A > G, p.D670G) mutation. The optimized BE and PE systems are first screened in N2a cells and subsequently assessed in electroporated mouse retinas. Notably, the optimal PE system, delivered via dual adeno-associated virus (AAV), precisely corrects the pathogenic mutation with average 9.4% efficiency, with no detectable bystander editing. This correction restores PDE6A protein expression, preserved photoreceptors, and rescued retinal function in Pde6a mice. Therefore, this study offers a proof-of-concept demonstration for the treatment of Pde6a-related retinal degeneration using BE and PE systems.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/advs.202405628

  View details for PubMedID 39297417

• Primary cilia formation requires the Leigh syndrome-associated mitochondrial protein NDUFAF2. The Journal of clinical investigation Lo, C. H., Liu, Z., Chen, S., Lin, F., Berneshawi, A. R., Yu, C. Q., Koo, E. B., Kowal, T. J., Ning, K., Hu, Y., Wang, W. J., Liao, Y. J., Sun, Y. 2024; 134 (13)

  Abstract

  Mitochondria-related neurodegenerative diseases have been implicated in the disruption of primary cilia function. Mutation in an intrinsic mitochondrial complex I component NDUFAF2 has been identified in Leigh syndrome, a severe inherited mitochondriopathy. Mutations in ARMC9, which encodes a basal body protein, cause Joubert syndrome, a ciliopathy with defects in the brain, kidney, and eye. Here, we report a mechanistic link between mitochondria metabolism and primary cilia signaling. We discovered that loss of NDUFAF2 caused both mitochondrial and ciliary defects in vitro and in vivo and identified NDUFAF2 as a binding partner for ARMC9. We also found that NDUFAF2 was both necessary and sufficient for cilia formation and that exogenous expression of NDUFAF2 rescued the ciliary and mitochondrial defects observed in cells from patients with known ARMC9 deficiency. NAD+ supplementation restored mitochondrial and ciliary dysfunction in ARMC9-deficient cells and zebrafish and ameliorated the ocular motility and motor deficits of a patient with ARMC9 deficiency. The present results provide a compelling mechanistic link, supported by evidence from human studies, between primary cilia and mitochondrial signaling. Importantly, our findings have significant implications for the development of therapeutic approaches targeting ciliopathies.

  View details for DOI 10.1172/JCI175560

  View details for PubMedID 38949024

• Base editing correction of OCRL in Lowe syndrome: ABE-mediated functional rescue in patient-derived fibroblasts. Human molecular genetics Chen, S., Lo, C. H., Liu, Z., Wang, Q., Ning, K., Li, T., Sun, Y. 2024

  Abstract

  Lowe syndrome, a rare X-linked multisystem disorder presenting with major abnormalities in the eyes, kidneys, and central nervous system, is caused by mutations in OCRL gene (NG_008638.1). Encoding an inositol polyphosphate 5-phosphatase, OCRL catalyzes the hydrolysis of PI(4,5)P2 into PI4P. There are no effective targeted treatments for Lowe syndrome. Here, we demonstrate a novel gene therapy for Lowe syndrome in patient fibroblasts using an adenine base editor (ABE) that can efficiently correct pathogenic point mutations. We show that ABE8e-NG-based correction of a disease-causing mutation in a Lowe patient-derived fibroblast line containing R844X mutation in OCRL gene, restores OCRL expression at mRNA and protein levels. It also restores cellular abnormalities that are hallmarks of OCRL dysfunction, including defects in ciliogenesis, microtubule anchoring, α-actinin distribution, and F-actin network. The study indicates that ABE-mediated gene therapy is a feasible treatment for Lowe syndrome, laying the foundation for therapeutic application of ABE in the currently incurable disease.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/hmg/ddae045

  View details for PubMedID 38557732