Composition and Method of Treatment for Heart Protection and Regeneration

Abstract

The present invention provides a gene delivery vehicle comprising a heterologous genome capable of upregulating the expression of HMGCS2 in human heart and, in particular, in the cardiomyocyte (CM). Upregulating the expression of HMBCS2 causes a metabolic switch that facilitates CM dedifferentiation and regeneration under myocardial infarction or hypoxic conditions. The present invention also provides a method of therapy for protection and/or regeneration of the human heart and, in particular, in the CM by administration of the composition of the present invention to the patient.

Description

REFERENCE TO AN ELECTRONIC SEQUENCE LISTING

The contents of the electronic sequence listing (Composition and Method of Treatment for Heart Protection and Regeneration.xml; Size: 57,880 bytes; and Date of Creation: Oct. 6, 2022) is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Metabolic flexibility is essential for the heart to adapt to various changes in the microenvironment (Karwi et al., 2018), and changes in metabolism and substrate utilization are well-demonstrated in cardiomyocytes (CMs) during development and following injury. Proliferative fetal CMs favor glycolysis to generate ATP during cardiac development; however, soon after birth, CMs begin to utilize primarily aerobic fatty acid (FA) metabolism. During the same time period, neonatal human CMs rapidly lose their proliferative ability (Bergmann et al., 2015). As the heart enlarges through childhood, rod-shaped CMs undergo hypertrophy, rather than hyperplasia. When injured by hypoxic stress, CMs enlarge due to pathological hypertrophy and their sarcomeric structures become disorganized. During this process, they also regain a small amount of proliferative ability along with a metabolic switch to glycolysis (Neubauer., 2007). This suggests that CM metabolism, dedifferentiation, and proliferation are intrinsically linked. Yet, in adult mammals this adaptive response is not strong enough for complete or even adequate cardiac regeneration after injury. Therefore, there is a need to amplify the metabolic switch or reprogramming to induce substantially higher level of adult CM dedifferentiation and proliferation following injury to provide higher level of CM regeneration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a gene delivery composition comprising a gene delivery vehicle and a heterologous genome wherein the gene delivery vehicle houses or encapsulates the heterologous genome and wherein the heterologous genome comprises nucleic acid sequence at least 80%, 90% or 95% identical to SEQ. ID NO.:1. In an embodiment, the heterologous genome encodes human 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (mitochondrial) (HMGCS2) or its various isoforms. In an embodiment, the heterologous genome further comprises a 5′ primer site and a 3′ primer site flanking the nucleic acid sequence. In another embodiment, the heterologous genome encodes HMGCS2 enzyme or any of its functionally homologous forms. In an embodiment, the 5′ primer site comprises nucleotide sequence at least 80%, 90% or 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 and the 3′ primer site comprises nucleotide sequence at least 80%, 90% or 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3. In another embodiment, the gene delivery vehicle comprises a nanoparticle. In an embodiment, the gene delivery vehicle comprises a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV). In an embodiment, the rAAV comprises an AAV9 capsid.

The present invention also provides a method of treatment for cardiac ischemia comprising the step of providing a therapeutically effective amount of HMGCS2 to a patient. In an embodiment, the step of providing a therapeutically effective amount of HMGCS2 to the patient comprises the step of upregulating the expression of HMGCS2 in the patient's CM. In another embodiment, the step of upregulating the expression of HMGCS2 in the patient's CM comprises the step of administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 1 to the patient's heart. In an embodiment, step of administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the composition to the heart comprises administration of between about 10⁷-10¹⁸, about 10¹¹-10¹⁷ or about 10¹²-10¹³ of the rAAV particles. In an embodiment, the step of providing a therapeutic effective amount of HMGCS2 to the patient is performed before the cardiac ischemia. In another embodiment, the step of providing a therapeutic effective amount of HMGCS2 to the patient is performed after the cardiac ischemia. In an embodiment, the step of providing a therapeutic effective amount of HMGCS2 to the patient is performed 1 day, 2 days, 5, days, 10 days, 20 days or 30 after the cardiac ischemia.

The present invention also provides a method of treatment for cardiac ischemia comprising the step inducing a metabolic switch of adult cardiomyocyte (CM) using HMGCS2.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A-1S show that in vivo CM-reprogramming induces metabolic switch, CM dedifferentiation and increased CM proliferation. FIG. 1A illustrates the experimental design for investigating adult CM reprogramming in vivo. FIG. 1B illustrates OSKM expression level and induction level in adult CMs after inducing OSKM reprogramming for 2 days. FIG. 1C depicts the flow cytometry analysis of isolated proliferative CMs through BrdU tracking in CM-reprogramming mice after OSKM induction. FIG. 1D depicts the percentage of proliferative CMs at each CM-reprogramming day determined by flow cytometry. FIG. 1E depicts the schematic diagram of intravital imaging protocol used for live investigating CM-reprogramming hearts after PBS or OSKM induction in vivo for 2 days. FIG. 1F depicts an investigation of CM alignment in the whole CM-reprogramming hearts by intravital microscopy after PBS or OSKM induction in vivo for 2 days. FIG. 1G depicts the morphology of CMs in CM-reprogramming hearts determined by length and width in intravital imaging data after PBS or OSKM induction in vivo for 2 days. Each dot represents one CM in one Ctrl or reprogramming heart. FIG. 1H depicts the aspect ratio determined by length-to-width ratio of each adult CMs of one control or CM-reprogramming mouse in intravital imaging data after PBS or OSKM induction in vivo for 2 days. FIG. 1I depicts the aspect ratio determined by length-to-width ratio of each CM-reprogramming mouse in intravital imaging data after PBS or OSKM induction specifically in CMs in vivo for 2 days. Each dot represents one mouse sample. FIG. 1J shows immunofluorescence staining of heart tissue sections showing morphology of proliferative CMs through H3P and WGA staining on CM-reprogramming hearts after PBS or OSKM induction for 2 days. Arrow heads represented H3P+ proliferative CMs. Scale bars were 50 μm. FIG. 1K shows the percentage of proliferative CM percentage (H3P+%) in the heart tissue sections of CM-reprogramming hearts after PBS or OSKM induction for 2 days. FIG. 1L depicts the morphology of H3P+ CMs in three CM-reprogramming hearts determined by length, width, and aspect ratio in heart tissue sections after OSKM induction in vivo for 2 days. Each dot represents one CM in one Ctrl or reprogramming heart. FIG. 1M shows immunofluorescence of heart tissue sections showing morphology of proliferative CMs through Aurora B Kinase (AURKB) and cardiac Troponin T (cTnT) staining on control or CM-reprogramming hearts after PBS or OSKM induction for 2 days. Arrow heads represented AURKB+/cTnT+ proliferative CMs. Scale bars were 25 μm. FIG. 1N shows the statistics of proliferative CM percentage (AURKB+%) in the heart tissue sections of CM-reprogramming hearts after PBS or OSKM induction for 2 days. FIG. 1O depicts the experimental design for discovering the detail mechanism for adult CM reprogramming at day 2 by microarray analysis. FIG. 1P depicts gene ontology analysis of gene expressional changes in adult CMs after PBS or OSKM induction for 2 days in vivo. FIG. 1Q is a heat map showing metabolism-related gene expressional changes in adult CMs after PBS or OSKM induction for 2 days in vivo. FIG. 1R and 1S show live imaging of CM-specific OSKM mice, related to FIG. 1A to 1Q. FIG. 1R shows OSKM RNA expression measured by real-time PCR in several tissues isolated from control or CM-reprogramming mice after doxycycline treatment for 2 days. FIG. 1S shows intravital live imaging of one construction in control or CM-reprogramming hearts after doxycycline treatment for 2 days.

FIGS. 2A to 2V show how cardiac-specific ketogenesis creates a systemic and specific metabolic switch along with mitochondrial changes, inducing CM dedifferentiation at CM-reprogramming day 2. FIG. 2A depicts the experimental design for metabolic profiling using LC-MS analysis. FIG. 2B shows hits detected by LC-MS analysis especially in both control and CM-reprogramming hearts. FIG. 2C depicts grouping of metabolic hits detected by LC-MS analysis in control or CM-reprogramming hearts. FIG. 2D shows the experimental design for metabolic profiling using a working heart system perfused with 13C-metabolites, detected by NMR. FIG. 2E depicts the oxidation percentage of control and CM-reprogramming hearts measured by 13C-glutamate level derived from different 13C-metabolic substrates through NMR analysis. FIG. 2F depicts ratio (CM-reprogramming to control hearts) of specific 13C-metabolites of control and CM-reprogramming hearts detected by NMR. FIG. 2G depicts the experimental design for measuring ketogenesis in the control or CM-reprogramming hearts. FIG. 2H depicts the HMG-CoA level detected by HPLC in the isolated mitochondria from control or CM-reprogramming hearts. FIG. 2I depicts the OHB level measured by OHB colorimetric assay in the isolated CMs from control or CM-reprogramming mice. FIG. 2J depicts the OCR detected by Seahorse analysis in the isolated CMs from control or CM-reprogramming mice. FIG. 2K shows the quantification of basal and maximal OCRs in the control or reprogramming CMs isolated from PBS or OSKM-treated hearts. FIG. 2L depicts the RNA expression of Hmgcs2 normalized by GAPDH in CMs isolated from control or OSKM-treated mice. FIG. 2M depicts protein expression of HMGCS2 in CMs isolated from control or OSKM-treated mice. FIG. 2N depicts a schematic diagram showing metabolic switch in adult CMs after OSKM induction for 2 days. FIG. 2O shows mitochondrial copy numbers detected by mtDNA through real-time PCR in control or reprogramming CMs isolated from PBS or OSKM-treated hearts. FIG. 2P shows mitochondrial RNA expression detected by real-time PCR in control or reprogramming CMs isolated from PBS or OSKM treated hearts. These RNA expressions were normalized by GAPDH. FIG. 2Q shows mitochondrial structure examined by TEM in isolated control or CM-reprogramming hearts. FIG. 2R shows mitochondrial size in isolated control or CM-reprogramming hearts, determined by TEM. FIG. 2S shows the aspect ratio of mitochondrial length-to-width in isolated control or CM-reprogramming, determined by TEM. FIG. 2T to 2V show cardiac function of control or CM-OSKM mice, related to FIG. 2A to 2S. FIG. 2T shows NMR peaks for measuring oxidation % of different metabolic substrates in control or CM-reprogramming hearts. FIG. 2U depicts cardiac function measured by echocardiography in control or CM-reprogramming hearts. FIG. 2V shows Western-blotting of phosphorylated DRP-1 on Ser616 or DRP-1 protein expression in control or CM-reprogramming CMs.

FIGS. 3A to 3S show that forced HMGCS2 overexpression increases adult CM dedifferentiation and proliferation for heart function improvement after myocardial infarction or under hypoxia when the forced HMGCS2 overexpression is effected before the myocardial infarction or imposition of the hypoxia environment. FIG. 3A depicts the experimental design for performing myocardial infarction (MI) in AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice. FIG. 3B depicts heart function measured by echocardiography in AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice. FIG. 3C depicts heart function measured by catheterization in AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice. FIG. 3D depicts the fibrotic area in AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 hearts shown by Masson Tri-chrome staining of heart tissue sections at post-MI day 21. FIG. 3E shows quantification of fibrotic percentage in AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 hearts at post-MI day 21 measured by Masson Trichrome Staining. FIG. 3F shows immunofluorescence staining of heart tissue sections showing morphology of proliferative CMs through H3P and cTnT staining at the border zone of AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice at post-MI day 3. Arrow heads represented H3P+/cTnT+ proliferative CMs. Scale bars were 50 μm. FIG. 3G shows quantification of proliferative CMs (H3P+%) in the heart tissue sections of at the border zone of AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice at post-MI day 3. FIG. 3H shows immunofluorescence staining of heart tissue sections showing morphology of proliferative CMs through AURKB and cTnT staining at the border zone of AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice at post-MI day 3. Arrow heads represented AURKB+/cTnT+ proliferative CMs. Scale bars were 25 μm. FIG. 3I shows quantification of proliferative CM percentage (AURKB+%) in the heart tissue sections at the border zone of AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice at post-MI day 3. FIG. 3J shows experimental design for examining effects on forced HMGCS2 expression in hiPSC-CMs after Lenti-EGFP or Lenti-HMGCS2 infection. FIG. 3K shows protein expression of HMGCS2 measured by western-blot in Ctrl or HMGCS2 overexpressed hiPSC-CM under hypoxia. FIG. 3L shows OHB levels detected by OHB colorimetric assay in Ctrl or HMGCS2 overexpressed hiPSC-CM under hypoxia. FIG. 3M shows the morphology of control or HMGCS2 overexpressed hiPSC-CM under hypoxia. FIG. 3N shows the length of each control or HMGCS2 overexpressed hiPSC-CM under hypoxia. FIG. 3O shows the width of each control or HMGCS2 overexpressed hiPSC-CM under hypoxia. FIG. 3P shows the aspect ratio determined by length-to-width ratio of each control or HMGCS2 overexpressed hiPSC-CM under hypoxia. FIG. 3Q shows the proliferative ability determined by calculation of CM numbers of control or HMGCS2 overexpressed hiPSC-CM after culturing in hypoxia chamber for 24 hours. FIGS. 3R and 3S show Lentiviral infection efficiency in hiPSC-CMs, related to FIG. 3A to 3Q. FIG. 3R shows the morphology of BF in hiPSC-CMs. FIG. 3S shows the morphology of Lentiviral infection efficiency in hiPSC-CMs.

FIGS. 4A to 4I show that forced HMGCS2 overexpression increases adult CM dedifferentiation and proliferation for heart function improvement after myocardial infarction or under hypoxia when the forced HMGCS2 overexpression is effected after the myocardial infarction or imposition of the hypoxia environment. FIG. 4A depicts the experimental design for performing myocardial infarction (MI) in AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice. FIG. 4B depicts heart function measured by echocardiography in AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice. FIG. 4C depicts heart function measured by catheterization in AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice. FIG. 4D shows the fibrotic area in AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice hearts shown by Masson Tri-chrome staining of heart tissue sections at post-cI/R day 21. FIG. 4E shows quantification of infarct area % in heart sections of AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice 21 day after cI/R. IS: infarct size; AAR: area at risk; LV: left ventricle. FIG. 4F depicts the fibrotic area in AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 hearts shown by Masson Tri-chrome staining of heart tissue sections at post-MI day 21. FIG. 4G shows quantification of fibrotic percentage in AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 hearts at post-MI day 21 measured by Masson Trichrome Staining. FIG. 4H shows immunofluorescence staining of heart tissue sections showing morphology of proliferative CMs through H3P and cTnT staining at the border zone of AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice at post-MI day 3. Arrow heads represented H3P+/cTnT+ proliferative CMs. Scale bars were 50 μm. FIG. 4I shows quantification of proliferative CMs (H3P+%) in the heart tissue sections of at the border zone of AAV9-EGFP or AAV9-HMGCS2 mice at post-MI day 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The compositions of the present invention can comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of the essential elements and limitations of the invention described herein, as well as any of the additional or optional ingredients, components, or limitations described herein.

As used in the specification and claims, the singular form “a” “an” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “a” cell includes a plurality of cells, including mixtures thereof.

“About” in the context of amount values refers to an average deviation of maximum ±20%, ±10% or ±5% based on the indicated value. For example, an amount of about 30 mg refers to 30 mg±6 mg, 30 mg±3 mg or 30 mg±1.5 mg.

A “therapeutically effective amount” is an amount sufficient to effect beneficial or desired results. A therapeutically effective amount can be administered in one or more administrations, applications or dosages.

A “subject,” “individual” or “patient” is used interchangeably herein, which refers to a vertebrate, preferably a mammal, more preferably a human. Mammals include, but are not limited to, murines, simians, humans, farm animals, sport animals, and pets, By “AAV virion” is meant a complete virus particle, such as a wild-type (wt) AAV virus particle (comprising a linear, single-stranded AAV nucleic acid genome associated with an AAV capsid protein coat). In this regard, single-stranded AAV nucleic acid molecules of either complementary sense, i.e., “sense” or “antisense” strands, can be packaged into any one AAV virion and both strands are equally infectious. The term “adeno-associated virus” (AAV) in the context of the present invention includes without limitation AAV type 1, AAV type 2, AAV type 3 (including types 3A and 3B), AAV type 4, AAV type 5, AAV type 6, AAV type 7, AAV type 8, AAV type 9, AAV type 10, AAV type 11, avian AAV, bovine AAV, canine AAV, equine AAV, and ovine AAV and any other AAV now known or later discovered.

By “recombinant virus” is meant a virus that has been genetically altered, e.g., by the deletion of endogenous nucleic acid and/or addition or insertion of a heterologous nucleic acid construct into the particle.

A “nucleic acid” or “nucleotide sequence” is a sequence of nucleotide bases, and may be RNA, DNA or DNA-RNA hybrid sequences (including both naturally occurring and non-naturally occurring nucleotide), but is preferably either single or double stranded DNA sequences. The term should also be understood to include, as equivalents, analogs of either RNA or DNA made from nucleotide analogs, and, as applicable to the embodiment being described, single (sense or antisense) and double-stranded polynucleotides. The terms “polynucleotide sequence” and “nucleotide sequence” are also used interchangeably herein.

A “coding sequence” or a sequence which “encodes” a particular protein, is a nucleic acid sequence which is transcribed (in the case of DNA) and translated (in the case of mRNA) into a polypeptide in vitro or in vivo when placed under the control of appropriate regulatory sequences. The boundaries of the coding sequence are determined by a start codon at the 5′ (amino) terminus and a translation stop codon at the 3′ (carboxy) terminus. A coding sequence can include, but is not limited to, cDNA from prokaryotic or eukaryotic mRNA, genomic DNA sequences from prokaryotic or eukaryotic DNA, and even synthetic DNA sequences. A transcription termination sequence will usually be located 3′ to the coding sequence.

As used herein, the term “gene” or “recombinant gene” refers to a nucleic acid comprising an open reading frame encoding a polypeptide, including both exon and (optionally) intron sequences.

The term “heterologous” as it relates to nucleic acid sequences such as coding sequences and control sequences, denotes sequences that do not occur in nature or are not normally joined together in nature, and/or are not associated with a particular cell in nature. Thus, a “heterologous” region of a nucleic acid construct or a vector is a segment of nucleic acid within or attached to another nucleic acid molecule that is not found in association with the other molecule in nature. For example, a heterologous region of a nucleic acid construct could include a coding sequence flanked by sequences not found in association with the coding sequence in nature. Another example of a heterologous coding sequence is a construct where the coding sequence itself is not found in nature (e.g., synthetic sequences having codons different from the native gene). Similarly, a cell transformed with a construct which is not normally present in the cell would be considered heterologous for purposes of this invention. Allelic variation or naturally occurring mutational events do not give rise to heterologous DNA, as used herein.

A “recombinant AAV virion,” or “rAAV virion” is defined herein as an infectious, replication-defective virus comprising an AAV protein shell encapsulating one or more heterologous nucleotide sequence that may be flanked on both sides by AAV ITRs. A rAAV virion may be produced in a suitable host cell comprising an AAV vector, AAV helper functions, and accessory functions. In this manner, the host cell may be rendered capable of encoding AAV polypeptides that are required for packaging the AAV vector containing a recombinant nucleotide sequence of interest into infectious recombinant virion particles for subsequent gene delivery.

“Homology” refers to the percent of identity between two polynucleotide or two polypeptide moieties. The correspondence between the sequence from one moiety to another can be determined by techniques known in the art. For example, homology can be determined by a direct comparison of the sequence information between two polypeptide molecules by aligning the sequence information and using readily available computer programs. Alternatively, homology can be determined by hybridization of polynucleotides under conditions which allow for the formation of stable duplexes between homologous regions, followed by digestion with single stranded-specific nuclease(s), and size determination of the digested fragments. Two DNA, or two polypeptide sequences are “substantially homologous” to each other when at least about 80%, at least about 90% or at least about 95% of the nucleotides or amino acids match over a defined length of the molecules, as determined using the methods above.

A “functional homologue” or a “functional equivalent” of a given polypeptide may be molecules derived from the native polypeptide sequence, as well as recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized polypeptides that function in a manner similar to the reference molecule to achieve a desired result. Thus, a functional homologue of AAV Rep68 or Rep78 encompasses derivatives and analogues of those polypeptides, including any single or multiple amino acid additions, substitutions and/or deletions occurring internally or at the amino or carboxy termini thereof—so long as integration activity remains.

A “functional homologue” or a “functional equivalent” of a given adenoviral nucleotide region may be similar regions derived from a heterologous adenovirus serotype, nucleotide regions derived from another virus or from a cellular source, and recombinantly produced or chemically synthesized polynucleotides which function in a manner similar to the reference nucleotide region to achieve a desired result. Thus, a functional homologue of an adenoviral VA RNA gene region or an adenoviral E2A gene region encompasses derivatives and analogues of such gene regions-including any single or multiple nucleotide base additions, substitutions and/or deletions occurring within the regions, so long as the homologue retains the ability to provide its inherent accessory function to support AAV virion production at levels detectable above background.

A “gene delivery vehicle” comprises any method or composition capable of fully or partially encapsulating or housing genome to be carried or delivered to a desired target in a human body such as a cardiomyocyte. The gene delivery vehicle may be biological, chemical or physical in nature or a combination thereof and provides protection for the genome while being carried to be delivered to the desired target. Biological gene delivery vehicle may be bacterial or viral such as rAAV. Chemical gene delivery vehicle may be polymeric particles, liposomes, polymer-lipid hybrid nanoparticles, other biocompatible materials, or combinations thereof. Physical gene delivery vehicle may comprise microinjection, electroporation, ultrasound, gene dun, hydrodynamic applications, or combinations thereof.

The present invention provides a cardiac protection and/or regeneration composition and method of treatment based on 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (mitochondrial) (HMGCS2).

HMGCS2 is an enzyme in humans that is encoded by the HMGCS2 gene. A complete human HMGCS2 sequence hereby defined as SEQ ID NO. 1 is listed in the sequence listing section below as well as in Rojnueangnit et al. Eur J Med Genet. 2020 December; 63(12):104086 which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. The HMGCS2, belonging to the HMG-CoA synthase family, is known to be a mitochondrial enzyme that catalyzes the second and rate-limiting reaction of ketogenesis, a metabolic pathway that provides lipid-derived energy for various organs during times of carbohydrate deprivation, such as fasting, by addition of a third acetyl group to acetoacetyl-CoA, producing HMG-CoA. Mutations in this gene are associated with HMG-CoA synthase deficiency. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been found for this gene such as those published by Puisac et al., Mol Biol Rep. 2012. 39:4777-4785 which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.

Cardiac regeneration after injury in adult mammals including adult humans is limited by the low proliferative capacity of cardiomyocytes (CMs). However, certain animals such as zebrafish, newts, and neonatal mice readily regenerate lost myocardium via a process involving dedifferentiation, which unlocks their proliferative capacities. Inspired by this concept, in Example 1 detailed below, we created an experimental model comprising mice with inducible, CM-specific expression of the Yamanaka factors, enabling adult CM reprogramming in vivo. Specifically, two days following induction by doxycycline, adult CMs presented a dedifferentiated phenotype and increased proliferation of CM in vivo indicating cardiac regeneration. Moreover, in Example 2 detailed below, microarray analysis revealed that metabolic changes were central to this process. In particular, metabolic switch from fatty acid to ketone utilization as indicated by increase in ketogenic enzyme HMGCS2.

Furthermore, Examples 3 and 4 showed that HMGCS2 overexpression by exogenous means is capable of rescuing cardiac function following ischemic injury when HMGCS2 overexpression is effect before (Example 3) as well as after (Example 4) the ischemic injury. Thus, experiments disclosed in the Examples below reveal that HMGCS2-induced ketogenesis leads to metabolic switch in adult CMs during early reprogramming, and this metabolic adaptation substantially increases adult CM dedifferentiation, facilitating cardiac regeneration after injury.

Therefore, embodiments of the present invention encompass various compositions capable of providing a therapeutically effective amount of HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues to a patient capable of effecting cardiac protection and/or regeneration in infarcted or injured areas of the heart of the patient. The composition of the present invention may also encompass various compositions which when administered to the patient effects expression of a therapeutically effective amount of HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues in cells of the patient such as cardiomyocyte capable of effecting cardiac protection and/or regeneration in infarcted or injured areas of the heart, including but not limited to compositions capable of effecting viral-mediated gene delivery, naked DNA delivery, mRNA delivery, transfection methods etc. . . . The composition of the present invention may also encompass various compositions which when administered to the patient effects expression of a therapeutically effective amount of HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues in cells of the patient capable of effecting cardiac protection and/or regeneration in infarcted or injured areas of the heart, including but not limited to compositions comprising gene delivery vehicles housing or fully or partially encapsulating the HMGCS2 genome capable of effecting viral-mediated gene delivery, naked DNA delivery, mRNA delivery, transfection methods etc . . . .

In an embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises rAAV comprising heterologous nucleic acids encoding HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues capable of effecting cells of the patient to express HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues at a substantially higher level than without the rAAV. AAV is a parvovirus belonging to the genus Dependovirus. Although it can infect human cells, AAV has not been associated with any human or animal disease and is stable at a wide range of physical and chemical conditions. In addition, making AAV a desirable gene delivery vehicle.

The wild type AAV genome is a linear, single-stranded DNA molecule containing 4681 nucleotides. It comprises an internal non-repeating genome flanked on each end by inverted terminal repeats (ITRs) which are approximately 145 base pairs (bp) in length. The ITRs have multiple functions, including originals of DNA replication and as packaging signals for the viral genome.

The internal non-repeated portion of the wild type AAV genome includes two large open reading frames, known as the AAV replication (rep) and capsid (cap) genes. The rep and cap genes code for viral proteins that allow the virus to replicate and package the viral genome into a virion. In particular, a family of at least four viral proteins an expressed from the AAV rep region, Rep 78, Rep 69, Rep 52 and Rep 40, named according to their apparent molecular weight, the AAV cap region encodes at least three proteins, VP1, VP2 and VP3.

AAV can be engineered to deliver genes of interest as rAAV by deleting at least some of the internal non-repeating portion of the AAV genome such as rep and cap and inserting one or more heterologous gene between the ITRs. In an embodiment, the rAAV of the present invention comprises AAV type 1, AAV type 2, AAV type 3 (including types 3A and 3B), AAV type 4, AAV type 5, AAV type 6, AAV type 7, AAV type 8, AAV type 9, AAV type 10, AAV type 11, avian AAV, bovine AAV, canine AAV, equine AAV, and ovine AAV and any other AAV now known or later discovered or a combination thereof.

The heterologous gene may be functionally linked to a heterologous promoter (constitutive, cell-specific, or inducible) capable of driving gene expression in the patient's target cells under appropriate conditions. Termination signals, such as polyadenylation sites, can also be included.

Therefore, in an embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises rAAV with genome encoding HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues such that a patient's cells infected with rAAV express HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues as disclosed or shown in the Examples. In another embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises AAV9 with genome encoding HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues disclosed herein such that a patient's cells infected with rAAV express HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues in the heart tissue as shown in the Examples. In an embodiment, the genome encoding HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues comprises primers. Such primer may comprise.

Primer-F→
(SEQ ID NO. 2)
ATACATGGCCAAAAGATGTGGGC
Primer-R→
(SEQ ID NO. 3)
GCACGACGGGACACCGGGCATAC

In an embodiment, the rAAV genome comprises nucleotide sequences described above flanked by ITRs. In another embodiment, the nucleotide sequence encoding HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues is functionally linked to a heterologous promoter capable of driving gene expression in the patient's target cells such as cardiomyocytes. Such promoters can include constitutive, cell-specific or inducible promoters. In an embodiment, the composition of the present invention further comprises αMHC promoter to induce HMGCS2 expression to target cardiomyocyte. In an embodiment the αMHC promoter comprises entire intergenic region between the β-MHC gene (upstream) and the αMHC gene with sequence as detailed in Subramaniam et al. J Biol Chem. 1991 Dec. 25; 266(36):24613-20 which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.

In an embodiment, the genome of the rAAV composition of the present invention is lacking one or more rep and cap genes, rendering the rAAV of the present invention unable to reproduce in a patient. The rAAV composition of the present invention may comprise the capsid of any known AAV serotypes such as AAV type 1, AAV type 2, AAV type 3 (including types 3A and 3B), AAV type 4, AAV type 5, AAV type 6, AAV type 7, AAV type 8, AAV type 9, AAV type 10, AAV type 11, avian AAV, bovine AAV, canine AAV, equine AAV, and ovine AAV and any other AAV now known or later discovered or a combination thereof. In another embodiment, since AAV-9 is known to specifically target the heart, in an embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises rAAV-9 capsid comprising nucleotide sequence encoding HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues.

In an embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises genome fully or partially encapsulated in lipid formulation wherein the genome encodes HMGCS2 or any variants thereof as disclosed and lipid formulation comprises liposomes or polymeric nanoparticles. In another embodiment, the composition of the present invention comprises mRNA housed or encapsulated in lipid formulation wherein the mRNA encodes HMGCS2 or any variants thereof as disclosed and lipid formulation comprises liposomes or polymeric nanoparticles. Methods of preparation of these compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,086,143 which is hereby incorporated in its entirety.

The present invention also provides a method of treatment for cardiac ischemia or heart diseases involving metabolic changes or loss of or injury to cardiomyocytes comprising the step of administering a therapeutically effective amount of any of the disclosed compositions of the present invention to a patient in need. In an embodiment, the present invention comprises a method of treatment for cardiac ischemia or heart diseases involving metabolic changes or loss of or injury to cardiomyocytes comprising the step of parenteral administration of a therapeutically effective amount of rAAV comprising nucleic acid encoding HMGCS2. In an embodiment, the dose range comprises between about 10⁷-10¹⁸, about 10¹¹-10¹⁷ or about 10¹²-10¹³ of the rAAV particles comprising nucleic acid encoding HMGCS2. In another embodiment, the present invention comprises a method of treatment for cardiac ischemia or heart diseases involving metabolic changes or loss of cardiomyocytes comprising the step of administration of a therapeutically effective amount of rAAV comprising nucleic acid encoding HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues parenterally at and near the border region of the ischemia. In an embodiment, a method of treatment for cardiac ischemia or heart diseases involving metabolic changes or loss of cardiomyocytes comprising the step of administration of rAAV comprising nucleic acid encoding HMGCS2, variants thereof disclosed herein or functional homologues by perfusion of the heart.

In an embodiment, the method of the present invention comprises administration of HMGCS2 enzyme to the patient. In an embodiment, the method of the present invention comprises administration of HMGCS2 enzyme to the heart of the patient. In an embodiment, the method of the present invention comprises administration of HMGCS2 enzyme to the CM injured area of the patient. In an embodiment, the method of the present invention comprises administration of HMGCS2 enzyme to the border region of the CM injured area of the patient.

In all of the embodiments of the method of the present invention disclosed herein, the administration time may be prior to the cardiac ischemia. Alternatively, in all of the embodiments of the method of the present invention disclosed herein, the administration time may be after cardiac ischemia such as about 1 hour to about one month after the injury such as about 1 hour, about 3 hours, about 10 hours about 24 hours, about 2 days, about 4 days, about 10 days about 15 days about 20 days, about 25 days or about 30 days including any numbers and number ranges falling within these values. In all of the embodiments of the method of the present invention disclosed herein, the administration method may comprise parenteral administration to the patient and, in some embodiment, to the heart of the patient.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

These and other changes can be made to the technology in light of the detailed description. In general, the terms used in the following disclosure should not be construed to limit the technology to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above detailed description explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the technology encompasses the disclosed embodiments and all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the technology.

It can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the examples described without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular examples disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Examples

Experimental Methods and Materials

Material and Methods

Animals

All animal experiments were conducted in accordance with the Guides for the Use and Care of Laboratory Animals (ARRIVE guidelines), and all of the animal protocols have been approved by the Experimental Animal Committee, Academia Sinica, Taiwan. Myh6-rtTA mice (Stock No: Jam8585) was purchased from MMRRC. Collal-tetO-OSKM mice (Stock No: 011001) and Myh6-CRE (Stock No: 011038) were both purchased from Jackson lab. Conditional HMGCS2 knockout mice were generated by inserting 2 1oxP fragments into the regions before and after exon 2 (FIG. 4A) through CRISPR/Cas9 technique. All mice were housed in individually ventilated cages (IVCs) system in animal core facility at Academia Sinica. Doxycycline treatment (Sigma-Aldrich, D9891) was administrated by intraperitoneal injection at 2 mg per 25 g mouse (Stadtfeld et al., 2010).

Adult CM Isolation

Adult ventricular CMs were isolated from mice on a Langendorff apparatus. After heparinization for 10 mins, the heart was removed from the anaesthetized mice and then was cannulated for retrograde perfusion with Ca2+-free Tyrode solution (NaCl 120.4 mmol/l, KCl 14.7 mmol/l, KH2PO4 0.6 mmol/l, Na2HPO4 0.6 mmol/l, MgSO4 1.2 mmol/l, HEPES 1.2 mmol/l, NaHCO3 4.6 mmol/l, taurine 30 mmol/l, BDM 10 mmol/l, glucose 5.5 mmol/1). After perfusion, the enzyme solution containing Ca2+-free Tyrode solution supplemented with collagenase B (0.4 mg/g body weight, Roche), collagenase D (0.3 mg/g body weight, Roche), and protease type XIV (0.05 mg/g body weight, Sigma-Aldrich) was perfused to digest the hearts for 10 mins. The ventricle was then cut from the cannula and teased into small pieces in the enzyme solution and then neutralized by the Ca2+-free Tyrode solution containing 10% FBS. Adult CMs were dissociated from the digested tissues by gentle pipetting and collected after removing the debris by filtering through a nylon mesh with 100 μm pores.

RNA Isolation and Real-Time PCR

Total RNA was isolated from frozen LV tissue or from isolated CMs using Trizol buffer (Invitrogen), and cDNA was synthesized using SuperScript IV reverse transcriptase and random hexamers according to manufacturers' guidelines. Real-time PCR was performed using SYBR green (Bio-Rad), and the primers are described in the Table Si. The mRNA levels in each sample were normalized to GAPDH RNA levels.

Flow Cytometry

Cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde and permeabilized with 90% methanol on ice. The single cell suspension was further stained with anti-BrdU antibody (ab8152) for 30 mins then washed with PBS. After incubating with secondary antibody conjugated with Alexa fluor-488 or Alexa fluor-568 (Life Technologies) for another 30 mins, samples suspended in PBS were measured by LSRII SORP (Becton Dickinson) and analyzed by FlowJo Software (Treestar, Ashland, Oreg.).

Intravital Imaging

The multiphoton intravital imaging system was performed following the procedure published in previous study (Vinegoni., 2015). In brief, mice were anesthetized by 1.5% isoflurane (Minrad) and membrane potential dye (Di-2-ANEPEQ) was injected intravenously to examine live imaging of heart tissue was performed using a multi-photon scanning microscope.

Immunofluorescence

The tissue sections were deparaffinized, rehydrated, and antigens retrieved by boiling twice in sodium citrate solution. The sections were incubated with blocking buffer (5% goat serum and FBS) for 1 hour, and then stained with primary antibody including histone H3 phosphorylated at serine 10 (Millipore), and anti-cardiac troponin T (DSHB) at 4° C. overnight. Samples were incubated in secondary antibodies conjugated with Alexa fluor-488 or Alexa fluor-568 (Life Technology) for 1 h at room temperature. After PBS washing, the nuclei were stained with DAPI (Life Technologies) for 5 min.

Transcriptomic Analysis

Samples from control or reprogramming CMs were hybridized to a Mouse Oligo Microarray (Agilent) following the manufacturer's procedure, and arrays were scanned with Microarray Scanner System (Agilent). All CEL files were analyzed by GeneSpring GX software (Agilent) with quantile normalization and median polish probe summarization using the control group as a baseline. The expression levels in the first quantile were filtered out to remove noise. Genes were defined as differentially expressed if they had fold changes of at least ±2 combined with the Student's t-test (P<0.05) with the Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment for false discovery rate (FDR). Gene Ontology analysis was conducted using DAVID software (Huang et al, 2009). The biological replicates were two for control or reprogramming CM isolated from doxycycline treated CM-OSKM mice.

LC-MS Untargeted Profiling

Hearts were isolated from control or reprogramming mice at reprogramming day 2. After removing the atria and aorta, samples were frozen in liquid nitrogen and then prepared for LC-MS metabolic profiling. The whole profiling experiments including sample preparation followed a previously published procedure (Wang et al., 2015).

13C NMR Spectroscopy and Analysis

Mouse hearts were isolated and perfused with unlabeled mixed-substrate buffer (in mM; NaCl 118 mM, NaHCO3 25 mM, KCl 4.1 mM, CaCl2) 2 mM, MgSO4 1.2 mM, KH2PO4 1.2 mM, EDTA 0.5 mM, glucose 5.5 mM, mixed long-chain fatty acids bound to 1% albumin 1 mM, lactate 1 mM, and insulin 50 μU/mL) for 20 minutes and 13C-labeled mixed-substrate buffer for another 40 minutes. 13C-labeled mixed-substrate buffer was divided into 2 groups; one contained [U-13C]glucose and [1,4-13C] OHB and unlabeled mixed FA and Lactate, the other group contained [U-13C] mixed FA and [1,4-13C] Lactate and unlabeled glucose and OHB. After perfusion, the hearts were frozen in liquid nitrogen, homogenized and extracted in perchloric acid, and then neutralized by KOH. The hearts were then lyophilized and dissolved in deuterium oxide (D20) supplemented with internal standard Sodium trimethylsilyl propionate. A Bruker Avance III 600 MHz NMR Spectrometer was used to present proton-decoupled 13C NMR spectra of each heart sample, and spectra were generated by Fourier transformation following multiplication of the free-induction decays (FIDs) by an exponential function. The peak areas of each 13C-metabolites were analyzed using Bruker TopSpin 4.0.2.

High Performance Liquid Chromatography

An HPLC system Dionex Ultimate 3000 (ThermoFisher Scientific, Waltham, Mass., USA), with a Varian 380-LC (Varian, Palo Alto, Calif., USA) evaporative light-scattering detector was employed. The conditions used followed a published procedure (Heijden et al., 1994). In brief, the condition was used as follows: Column: Hypersil ODS (AMT, Wilmington, Del., USA), 250×4.6 mm, particle diameter 5 μm without precolumn. Solvent system: 0.2 M sodium phosphate buffer, pH 5.0, containing 4.5% (v/v) acetonitrile; flow rate: 1.5 ml/min. The compounds were detected by UV at 254 nm.

Transmission Electron Microscopy

To monitor mitochondria ultrastructure, transmission electron microscopy was used as described previously (Karamanlidis et al., 2013). Briefly, freshly collected samples from the apex of the mouse hearts were dissected in 1 mm³ sections and immediately fixed with 2% glutaraldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffered saline, and then fixed with 1% osmium tetroxide. After the samples were dehydrated in ethanol and embedded in epon resin, ultrathin sections were prepared and counterstained with uranyl acetate and lead citrate. The stained sections were examined under a Transmission Electron Microscope (JEOL1230). Mitochondrial number was counted in total of 10 images per heart (45 m2 at ×12000 magnification, n=3 hearts per group). Data were expressed as fold changes relative to WT.

Mitochondria Isolation

Mitochondria were collected from isolated hearts by sequential centrifugation (Boehm et al., 2001). In brief, hearts were isolated and rinsed with mitochondrial isolation buffer (250 mM Sucrose, 10 mM Tris-HCL, and 3 mM EDTA, pH 7.4). Heart tissue was minced in mitochondrial isolation buffer and was homogenized by a homogenizer with Teflon pestle. The homogenate was centrifuged at 800 g for 10 min at 4° C. to remove tissue debris. The supernatant was further centrifuged at 8000 g for 15 min at 4° C. to collect mitochondria.

Myocardial Ischemia and Reperfusion

C57BL/6 mice (10 weeks old) were randomized and anesthetized by isofluorane inhalation, endotracheally intubated, and placed onto a rodent ventilator. The left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was visualized and occluded with a prolene suture for 45 mins after first removing the pericardium. After confirming the whitening region of the left ventricle, the occluded LAD was released. EF % between 55-60% one day after occlusion was considered a successful cI/R model.

Determination of Infarct Size

Infarct and remote area performed by Myocardial I/R was determined by Evans blue/TTC double staining as described previously (Bohl et al., 2009). In brief, the ligature around the LAD was re-tied after 24 hours of reperfusion. Injection of 1 ml 1% Evans blue dye through heart apex and the heart was excised and then frozen in −20° C. refrigerator for 15 minutes and sliced into four 1 mm-thick slices. The slides were stained with 1% triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC, Sigma) in PBS at 37° C. for 10 minutes and photographed. The area at risk (AAR) was identified as red (TTC-stained) and white (infarct) areas. AAR, IR, and total LV area were measured by Image J software (NIH).

Western Blot Analysis and Immunoprecipitation

Myocardial tissues were frozen and lysed in RIPA buffer with a protease inhibitor cocktail. Protein samples (20 μg) were separated by SDS-PAGE and transferred to a PVDF membrane. The membrane was blocked in 5% skimmed milk and probed with primary antibodies overnight at 4° C.: HMGCS2 (sc-393256) and GAPDH (MAB374), followed by corresponding secondary antibodies. The membrane then was developed with ECL and the signal intensities were visualized by a Supersignal chemiluminescence detection kit (Pierce) and analyzed with Image J software (NIH).

Adeno-Associated Virus Production

AAV9 was produced by triple-transfection procedures using CMV-HMGCS2/CMV-EGFP plasmid, with a plasmid encoding Rep2Cap9 sequence and an adenoviral helper plasmid pHelper in 293 cells. Virus was purified by two cesium chloride density gradient purification steps through ultracentrifugation followed by dialysis against 5 rounds of PBS buffer change. Viral titers were determined by qPCR.

The primers to amplify full gene sequence of HMGCS2 were listed below.

Primer-F→
(SEQ ID NO. 2)
ATACATGGCCAAAAGATGTGGGC
Primer-R→
(SEQ ID NO. 3)
GCACGACGGGACACCGGGCATAC

Lentivirus Production

293 cells were seeded in 10-cm-diameter dishes 24 h prior to transfection using PolyJet (SL10068). The PLKO3.1-EGFP or PLKO3.1-HMGCS2 vector plasmids was each cotransfected together with psPAX2 and pMD2.G in a ratio of 5:4:1 (total 9 ag). After 12-18 hours of transfection, the culture medium (DMEM-HG) was changed and the viral supernatant was collected after 48 and 72 hours of transfection.

Primers Used in various RNA isolation and Real-Time PCR are listed in Table 1 below

TABLE 1
Name     Sequence (5′ to 3′)
GAPDH-F  (SEQ ID NO. 4)
         CAT CAC TGC CAC CCA GAA GAC TG
GAPDH-R  (SEQ ID NO. 5)
         ATG CCA GTG AGC TTC CCG TTC AG
mOct4-F  (SEQ ID NO. 6)
         CCT GCA GAA GGA GCT AGA ACA GT
mOct4-R  (SEQ ID NO. 7)
         TGT TCT TAA GGC TGA GCT GCA A
mSox2-F  (SEQ ID NO. 8)
         GCA CAT GAA CGG CTG GAG CAA CG
mSox2-R  (SEQ ID NO. 9)
         TGC TGC GAG TAG GAC ATG CTG TAG G
mKlf4-F  (SEQ ID NO. 10)
         GAA ATT CGC CCG CTC CGA TGA
mKlf4-R  (SEQ ID NO. 11)
         CTG TGT GTT TGC GGT AGT GCC
cMyc-F   (SEQ ID NO. 12)
         GCC CCC AAG GTA GTG ATC CT
cMyc-R   (SEQ ID NO. 13)
         GTC CTC GTC TGC TTG AAT GG
mtDNA-F  (SEQ ID NO. 14)
         CGA AAG GAC AAG AGA AAT AAG G
mtDNA-R  (SEQ ID NO. 15)
         CTG TAA AGT TTT AAG TTT TAT GCG
mtCox1-F (SEQ ID NO. 16)
         AGT CTA CCC ACC TCT AGC CG
mtCox1-R (SEQ ID NO. 17)
         TGT GTT ATG GCT GGG GGT TT
mtAtp6-F (SEQ ID NO. 18)
         TCC ACA CAC CAA AAG GAC GAA
mtAtp6-R (SEQ ID NO. 19)
         CCA GCT CAT AGT GGA ATG GCT
mtAtp8-F (SEQ ID NO. 20)
         CAT CAC AAA CAT TCC CAC TGG C
mtAtp8-R (SEQ ID NO. 21)
         TGA GGC AAA TAG ATT TTC GTT CAT T
mtCox2-F (SEQ ID NO. 22)
         GAC GAA ATC AAC AAC CCC GT
mtCox2-R (SEQ ID NO. 23)
         TAG CAG TCG TAG TTC ACC AGG
mtNd2-F  (SEQ ID NO. 24)
         CAA GGGATC CCA CTG CAC AT
mtNd2-R  (SEQ ID NO. 25)
         AAG TCC TCC TCA TGC CCC TA
Hmgcs2-F (SEQ ID NO. 26)
         GGT GTC CCG TCT AAT GGA GA
Hmgcs2-R (SEQ ID NO. 27)
         ACA CCC AGG ATT CAC AGA GG
βMhc-F   (SEQ ID NO. 28)
         GTG CCA AGG GCC TGA ATG AG
βMhc-R   (SEQ ID NO. 29)
         GCA AAG GCT CCA GGT CTG A
αMhc-F   (SEQ ID NO. 30)
         CCA ACA CCA ACC TGT CCA AGT
αMhc-R   (SEQ ID NO. 31)
         AGA GGT TAT TCC TCG TCG TGC AT
Pgc1α-F  (SEQ ID NO. 32)
         AGC CGT GAC CAC TGA CAA CGA G
Pgc1α-R  (SEQ ID NO. 33)
         GCT GCA TGG TTC TGA GTG CTA AG

Example 1—In Vivo CM-Reprogramming Induces Metabolic Switch, CM Dedifferentiation and In-Creased CM Proliferation

In order to examine the process of adult CM reprogramming in vivo, transgenic mice were generated to overexpress mouse OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, and c-MYC (OSKM) specifically in adult CMs after doxycycline induction as shown in FIG. 1A. FIG. 1B shows induction of OSKM mRNA expression in isolated transgenic, adult CMs after doxycycline treatment for 2 days. Importantly, this high level of induction was detected only in CMs but not other non-CMs in the heart or other tissues isolated from doxycycline-treated mice (FIG. 1R). Tracking the degree of CM proliferation by BrdU labeling, a three-fold in-crease in BrdU+ CMs was found 2 days following doxycycline administration (FIGS. 1C and 1D). The proliferative response of adult CMs was highest at reprogramming day 2 compared to day 1 and 4, and six days of doxycycline treatment was lethal. Therefore, reprogramming day 2 was selected as the key time point for further analysis. Using intravital microscopy to investigate the isolated whole hearts with membrane potential dye (Di-2-ANEPEQ) staining, we found that the alignment of CMs was changed after inducing re-programming for 2 days (FIG. 1E). Well-aligned CMs were observed throughout control (Ctrl) hearts, but regions of poorly-aligned CMs were observed in the doxycycline-treated mice (FIG. 1F). In addition, the in vivo morphology of reprogramming CMs was different from Ctrl CMs, maintaining their width but becoming shorter, leading to a different aspect ratio than control CMs (FIGS. 1G-1I). By recording each contraction of the Ctrl or reprogramming hearts in vivo using intravital microscopy, areas of disorganized or nonaligned contraction were observed consistent with the disruption of the normal aligned CM structure of the heart (FIG. 1S). Furthermore, heart tissue sectioning was performed to examine the relationship between CM alignment (WGA staining) and CM proliferation (H3P staining). We confirmed that the more proliferative CM population were found in doxycycline-induced hearts and these cells displayed a shortened morphology with poorer cell alignment (around 50-60 μm in length and an aspect ratio of approximately 3) (FIGS. 1J-1L). In addition, 2 times more Aurora b kinase (AURKB) positive CMs were shown in reprogramming hearts than in control hearts, showing that reprogramming CMs not only enter mitosis but completing cytokinesis (FIGS. 1M and 1N). Finally, in order to probe the mechanisms by which adult CMs dedifferentiate to regain their proliferative ability, CMs were isolated from the hearts of mice treated for 2 days with PBS or doxycycline, and RNA was extracted and subjected to microarray analysis (FIG. 1O). Gene Ontology data showed that metabolism-related gene expression was significantly changed in the reprogramming CMs compared to the Ctrl CMs at reprogramming day 2 (FIG. 1P). The gene expression changes included the up-regulation of glucose and amino acid metabolism and down-regulation of nucleotide metabolism. Similar trends were shown in heat map analysis; ketone metabolism-related gene expression was up-regulated and aerobic respiration-related genes were down-regulated in the adult reprogramming CMs compared to the Ctrl CMs (FIG. 1Q). Examining all of the data shown in FIGS. 1A-1S, temporary CM reprogramming induced dedifferentiation in the form of changes in cell morphology, proliferation, and changes in the expression of genes associated with metabolism.

Example 2 Cardiac-Specific Ketogenesis Creates a Systemic and Specific Metabolic Switch Along with Mitochondrial Changes, Inducing CM Dedifferentiation at CM-Reprogramming Day 2

Since a metabolic switch appears to be intrinsically linked to adult CM dedifferentiation, it is necessary to clarify the detailed rearrangement of metabolic pathways in adult CMs which are undergoing reprogramming. First, the metabolic profiles of Ctrl and CM-reprogramming hearts were analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) metabolic profiling, and 101 metabolites were detected in both groups (FIGS. 2A and 2B). Grouping these hits revealed that glucose and ketone body metabolism-related metabolites were up-regulated in CM-reprogramming hearts (FIG. 2C). On the contrary, tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and nucleotide metabolism-related metabolites were down-regulated in CM-reprogramming hearts which is consistent with the microarray data (FIGS. 2C and 1Q). In order to avoid influence by intermediate products derived from other tissues, a working heart system was set up and carbon NMR was used to detect the 13C-metabolites produced only from the exogenous addition of labeled substrates (Li et al., 2017; FIG. 2D). In NMR analysis, mixed fatty acids (FAs), which are the primary fuel for aerobic respiration, were decreased in the reprogramming hearts compared to the Ctrl hearts (FIG. 2E). Although glucose and ketones slightly increased for oxidation, the aerobic respiration derived from exogenous 13C-metabolites were decreased in the reprogramming hearts (FIGS. 2E and 2T). In addition, the amounts of Lactate (Lac) and Ala-nine (Ala) were 1.5-2 times higher in reprogramming hearts than in the Ctrl hearts, indicating that glycolysis (anaerobic respiration) was increased in the hearts two days following OKSM induction (FIG. 2F). Interestingly, both β-hydroxybutyrate (OHB, ketone) and Aspartate (Asp) were 2 times higher in the reprogramming hearts than in the Ctrl hearts, indicating that ketogenesis is increased (FIG. 2F). Since ketogenesis and the TCA cycle share the same metabolic substrate, Acetyl-CoA, ketogenesis induction should competitively reduce aerobic respiration in mitochondria. In order to confirm this concept, several techniques were utilized (FIG. 2G). The main intermediate product of ketogenesis is HMG-CoA. Therefore, we isolated mitochondria from Ctrl and reprogramming hearts and quantified HMG-CoA by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) (FIG. 2G). The amount of HMG-CoA was 2 times higher in the mitochondria isolated from reprogramming hearts than in the Ctrl hearts (FIG. 2H). The end product of ketogenesis, OHB, was measured by an OHB colorimetric assay kit. We found that OHB is more than 1.5 times higher in the reprogramming CMs than Ctrl CMs (FIG. 2I). Using the Sea-horse assay we found that the oxygen consumption rate (OCR) is lower in the adult reprogramming CMs than in the Ctrl CMs (FIGS. 2J and 2K). HMGCS2, the rate-limiting enzyme of ketogenesis, was up-regulated in adult reprogramming CMs compared to the Ctrl, as determined by microarray analysis. Moreover, the expression of HMGCS2 was significantly increased at both the RNA and protein levels (FIGS. 2L and 2M). A summary of these changes is shown in FIG. 2N. Interestingly, the changes associated with CM reprogramming did not affect overall heart function, as reprogramming hearts showed similar ejection fraction % (EF %) to Ctrl hearts (FIG. 2U). Several metabolic pathways such as ketogenesis and aerobic respiration are carried out in mitochondria, and changes of OCR are always accompanied by mitochondrial differences. Thus, CM mitochondria were assessed by measuring mitochondrial DNA content and mitochondrial RNA expression in the Ctrl and reprogramming CMs. The mitochondrial copy numbers were lower and RNA expression was significantly lower in the reprogramming CMs compared to the Ctrl CMs (FIGS. 2O and 2P), indicating immature mitochondria were shown in the reprogramming hearts. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed that mitochondrial area and aspect ratio were both significantly decreased in the reprogramming hearts (FIGS. 2Q-2S). Mitochondrial fission is reported to be related to proliferative induction through post-translational phosphorylation of DRP-1 on serine 616 (Marsboom et al., 2012). Indeed, DRP-1 serine 616 phosphorylation was higher in reprogramming CMs compared to the Ctrl CMs (FIG. 2V). These data indicate that during CM reprogramming by OSKM induction, a metabolic switch occurs, including increased ketogenesis and glycolysis and deceased aerobic respiration with immature mitochondrial structure and function. This switch occurs in synchrony with the induction of CM proliferation.

Example 3—Forced HMGCS2 Overexpression Effected Before Myocadial Infarction Increases Adult CM Dedifferentiation and Proliferation for Heart Function Improvement after Myocardial Infarction or Under Hypoxia

In this section, we aimed to investigate the possible therapeutic role of HMGCS2 on a permanent coronary artery ligation myocardial infarction (MI) model (FIG. 3A). After exogenous HMGCS2 induction by AAV9 induction for 5 weeks, HMGCS2-overexpressing mice showed a higher EF % at D21 following MI surgery than Ctrl AAV9-EGFP mice measured by echocardiography (FIG. 3B). Catheter measurements indicated better heart function in HMGCS2-overexpressing mice 21 days after MI injury compared to Ctrl mice (FIG. 3C). The fibrotic area was also smaller in HMGCS2-overexpressing mice compared to the Ctrl mice (FIG. 3D, E). More H3P+ and AURKB+ CMs were found in HMGCS2-overexpressing hearts 3 days after MI injury compared to the Ctrl (FIGS. 3F-3I). Taken together, these findings show that exogenous HMGCS2 expression can support cardiac regeneration and improve heart function after MI. Next, we examined whether these findings could be replicated in an in vitro model using hypoxic human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived CMs (hiPSC-CMs) (FIG. 3J). HMGCS2 expression was highly up-regulated in hiPSC-CMs after lentiviral infection (Lenti-HMGCS2) compared to the Ctrl (Lenti-EGFP) (FIGS. 3K, 3R and 3S). HMGCS2 overexpression also induces increased ketone production in hiPSC-CMs (FIG. 3L). Furthermore, HMGCS2 overexpressing hiPSC-CMs showed a shorter morphology with a lower length-to-width ratio compared to the Ctrl cells under hypoxia (FIGS. 3M-3P). This shows that HMGCS2 overexpression supports human CM dedifferentiation, as we found in adult mouse CMs shown in FIG. 1. Finally, HMGCS2 overexpressing hiPSC-CMs showed a two-fold greater proliferative ability compared to Ctrl cells under hypoxic conditions (FIG. 3Q). These data indicate that forced HMGCS2 overexpression supports CM dedifferentiation and facilitates proliferation under hypoxic conditions.

Example 4—Forced HMGCS2 Overexpression Effected after Myocardial Infarction Increases Adult CM Dedifferentiation and Proliferation for Heart Function Improvement after Myocardial Infarction

In order to test the possible therapeutic role of HMGCS2 on heart regeneration, exogenous HMGCS2 was induced immediately after performing a permanent coronary artery ligation myocardial infarction (MI) model (FIG. 4A). After exogenous HMGCS2 induction by intramyocardial AAV9 injection immediately after MI, HMGCS2-overexpressing mice showed a higher EF % at post-MI D21 than Ctrl AAV9-EGFP mice (FIG. 4B). Catheter measurements indicated better heart function in HMGCS2-overexpressing mice 21 days after MI injury compared to Ctrl mice (FIG. 4C). The infarct area showed no differences in Ctrl or HMGCS2-overexpressing mice 1 day after MI (FIGS. 4D and 4E), indicating that HMGCS2 overexpression may stimulate regeneration rather than protecting the myocardium. The fibrotic area was also smaller in HMGCS2-overexpressing mice compared to the Ctrl mice (FIGS. 4F and 4G). More H3P+ CMs were found in HMGCS2-overexpressing hearts 3 days after MI injury compared to controls (FIGS. 4H and 4I). Taken together, these findings show that exogenous HMGCS2 expression can support cardiac regeneration and improve heart function after MI.

DISCUSSION

Adult CMs undergoing early OSKM-induced reprogramming display metabolic changes which allow for enhanced dedifferentiation and proliferation in vivo (FIGS. 1A to 1S). Our previous study investigating early-stage neonatal CM reprogramming in vitro found up-regulation of proliferation-related gene expression (Cheng et al., 2017). However, neonatal and adult CMs differ significantly in their structure, function, metabolism and response to injury (Szibor et al., 2014). In addition, the gene cocktail described in our previous study was unable to efficiently induce proliferation in adult CMs. This indicates that adult CMs and neonatal CMs induce reprogramming via different mechanisms. These data suggest that inducing a metabolic switch of adult CMs, rather than directly inducing cell cycle-related activators, may be a more efficient way for giving rise to the cellular phenotype adaptations necessary to regain proliferative ability (FIGS. 1A to 1S and FIGS. 2A to 2V). Since adult CMs are notoriously difficult to maintain in culture, and the reprogramming process may be affected by the cellular microenvironment, this study profiled the changes which reprogrammed adult CMs undergo in vivo. Through specific induction of adult CM reprogramming in vivo, we not only can investigate the transformation of CMs during the process, but its effects on whole mouse can be also detected. This system undoubtedly is a powerful tool to study the reprogramming process specifically at the tissue level in vivo and to explore how reprogramming of specific tissues has systemic effects.

Ketogenesis is mainly carried out in liver tissues, where ketones, as water-soluble metabolites, can be easily transferred to other tissues for utilization (Grabacka et al., 2016). Ketone utilization is common as an alternative energy source while fasting or exercising (Puchalska et al., 2017), and ketones are also reported as the preferred metabolic substrate for heart improvement after injury (Anbert et al., 2016; Horton et al., 2019; Nielsen et al., 2019). However, there are few studies clearly defining the role of ketone synthesis in the heart tissue itself. Here, we demonstrate that HMGCS2-induced ketogenesis in adult CMs competitively reduces FA metabolism leading to a metabolic switch and mitochondrial changes (FIGS. 2A to 2V). Metabolic flexibility allows cells to adapt certain conditions, and primarily occurs due to the antagonism between glucose and FA for providing energy production (Bret., 2017). Besides, ketogenesis plays as a critical regulator to control FA metabolism, Glc metabolism, and TCA cycle for maintaining hepatic metabolic homeostasis (Cotter et al., 2017). The same scenario is presented in our current study, showing that an increase of HMGCS2-induced ketogenesis in adult CMs decreases FA metabolism, and glucose is then used via anaerobic or aerobic respiration, based on the available oxygen. Therefore, ketogenesis-induced adult CM reprogramming can be specifically induced in the border zone but not the remote area of injury hearts.

HMGCS2 is up-regulated in the mouse heart ventricle within one week after birth, and its expression is diminished at postnatal day 12 (Talman et al., 2018). However, the role of HMGCS2 in heart function maintenance during development or after injury had not yet been shown. Under certain condition such as reprogramming or injury, exogenous HMGCS2 expression increases adult CM dedifferentiation and proliferation. All these data suggest that HMGCS2 may not be a driver but is required for starting adult CM dedifferentiation and proliferation, and this requirement successfully supports cardiac protection and regeneration after injury (FIGS. 3A to 3S and FIGS. 4A to 4I). In previous studies, genes responsible for proliferation such as OSKM always carry a risk of tumor formation, which limits therapeutic applicability (Ohmishi et al., 2014). However, HMGCS2 controls the metabolic flexibility, allowing adult CM dedifferentiation and proliferation during cell stress, thus providing an ideal therapeutic target for heart diseases.

Overall, this is the first study to perform and investigate OSKM reprogramming specifically on adult CMs in vivo. We have demonstrated the importance of HMGCS2-induced keto-genesis as a means to regulate metabolic response to CM injury, thus allowing cell dedifferentiation and proliferation as a regenerative response. Furthermore, overlaps between OSKM-induced CM reprogramming, heart development and maturation, and the response to heart injury become readily apparent. Since myocardial infarction remains the greatest cause of death in developed countries, we hope this study provides a foundation for future research, exploiting metabolism as a mechanism to drive myocardial regeneration following injury.

Sequence Listing
SEQ. ID NO.: 1
1     aggactcctc cctcaccaaa ctctgcaggctttgaaatca aagttctaaa tgtctcccca
61    ggcaatcaga aaaggcaaga cctggcaaat aagaggttgt actaaccagt aacaaaatca
121   caaacaacat ttgctcttcc tcttccacag cagactccac aagtaggtgc aatgaaagag
181   ccctagattt ggagccaagg ccgtcaaatg ccctcccagc cattgtcact aatcacatat
241   ccacaagcca gatcacttaa tctctcaaag cctcaatgtc catatcttcc aaatggggct
301   aataattcag gttaactcca tggaactttc atgagaaaag accgtatgca aaagcaactg
361   aaaactgata aagcaccaga tatgctagta atgcattagt atcgtgaaat aaacagggct
421   catttccaaa ggtacaaaga ccctgcaagt ataaagactt cttcctaggt ctagactttc
481   catagaaata gctttcctac ccactttctg atgccgagaa ttttgaaagt tctttttccc
541   ttaggttgag atgtaaaggg caaatctgca tgggaaaaga ttgcttcaat ttatcagtca
601   tgggaacctg gggtaaatgc attttcagag catttattga aaggagaata gtgggctact
661   gaggtagaag agttgcaatc tttatgtggg ctaaaagagg caaatccagg tgcctgggaa
721   ccttgtttat agttttgttc tcctacaccg gctcttttgt cagaattgct taaaaaacaa
781   acattgtttt tgcaagacct caccctagat gtctaaactt ctaaaatccc tcataatcaa
841   tttttctgac ttttaatgct tatctagcag gtaacatgca ttttaaatta atccttttat
901   caacacttca gctgaaaagc tgaagtctag gagttgaagg accctaaagt ctcaaatcaa
961   aaataaatac atcttttttc atctaggaag tatcaaaatg tgggtttatt taagtatttg
1021  ggaggtagta tcttcttcag acacaaatag tgtgttccat tttcttcaac actttgagca
1081  attagtagac aaaccagtta tttgattgta tttgaataca attacttgac taagtcatat
1141  aaatttcctt cagtatgaaa aactaccacc tcatggtgtt ttactattat ttccctcaat
1201  ttatactttg cataatgcat tcctggtgct tcctcaatct acaagttccc ttatcccaaa
1261  ggaacaactt aatattagat tggccatata aaatttccac cttcccaagt caaaaatggt
1321  tcatgattga ctcaggttat gtgtagagcc agatacctgg attcaaagcc cattcaggcc
1381  atttactaga tctaaaacca caaatggtta tataattttc ctgaacctca gtttcctcat
1441  ctgtaaaatg ggcttaacaa tagtgccaac ctcagacagt tgtaaaaatt aaatgagata
1501  atgaacggaa agtacttagc acagtaccta gcacgcagta attacttagt acatgtcagc
1561  ttaaaagaga gaagggaatg aagttgatcc atctatctgt attcccagtg cttatcacag
1621  tgccaatttg ttatatacac taattaaaat ttgcattgga ttggatagtt ttggtcttca
1681  attctatcaa actgagccat gatgtagcca taatcccgtg tgatgtttgt gtaagagttt
1741  aatgtttcta ttgttaaaag taaaaccttg aacaaattaa atttagttga atttatttga
1801  gcaaagaaac cattcatgaa taagtcagca ccctgaatta gtaaagattt agagatctcc
1861  aatagaaata ttggactgtc agtatttaga gacaaaaata gcttgattgg ttacagctgg
1921  catttgcctt acaggaacat gttttggcaa tttgcagcct gcgattgact gaaagcatgg
1981  ctgctatgat tggtcaagac tcagctactt gttacatgaa tacactctca ggttaggttg
2041  cggtttgttt atatattagg ttaagtaccc tacctaccta ggcagttttg ggccacatta
2101  aatttacttt aacactatcg agttttatcc attttcttag tggaataagg aacatgtgga
2161  gactacctga gtactccaaa atttagagat cagaaagagg ggagcacctg tggggagtgg
2221  ccagggattt ggaggaaaac catgggattg tcaggtctaa gggcaaagtg aaaaaggtgc
2281  tttgagaaga agggagagca gccttgccat ttgctgctaa gaggtctagt aagctgaagg
2341  ttcaagagca aacactgcat ttggcaataa ggaagccact ggtgaccttg atgagaggga
2401  attccttgga gcactggggg caaaagcctt agtggtcaat taaagacaga atgagaggta
2461  agcttgtaaa acactgaaag cagacatttt aaataaattt ccctatagat gacagcatag
2521  atttggtggc actcagtaag acatatagag tcaagaggag gtatttaaag atgggattgt
2581  ataagaacaa taacacaaga agaatgtagt agaaagggaa aatagatcat gagaaagaga
2641  ggggaaaact gcaggagcac agccttatgt gagaaacaag cagtacaacc agtgcacaca
2701  tggtggtgct ggcccgaggc cagagcaggg actcttcctc tgcatagtga gaaggcagtg
2761  agaaggcaat gtgtggggta taaaggcagg caatttgcca gatttgctca tggaaaacgg
2821  agttattctt ttctgattgt ttctattttc tcagtgaatt cagagtcaaa gtgatcagct
2881  gagaatgagt agaaaggggc tatggcagaa gagaagttgt gactagccct cttgggatgg
2941  gagagcaaat ggactgggaa aaggtagtag agttaccagg ccatggtgag ggtccacttg
3001  agatgtatgt ttgtaaattt aaagctaaca agttagtaca aagttgtgtt tttcttcatc
3061  tatgtttagc tgctcagatg caggcgcaga gtagattaag agttgggttt aaccaaaatt
3121  gaaggtttgc taggccagtc cgacagagag cacaaattgc aaagtgtgtg caagggattg
3181  cttatggtga ggcaccatgg ttaatctgat ctggataagg agagaaaaga ggtgatgagg
3241  tgtaacaaat gctaaaaaca tagaggagtc agtggtggtc tcagtgggag aaaaaggtgt
3301  gagggtactt taaacaggag cagggaatat agaggtggtt ggaaattgga atgcatgaaa
3361  ctaaaatgtt ggaggtggca tagacactgt aataacaaag tccacattat gactgtggag
3421  tgggaggcta aagtcatgtc catgaacacg gacatggctg tgggagcttc agtgagaggc
3481  tagggcaggt gaattatctt atgtggagat tgacatctca catccattga gatgactgat
3541  ggtggagagg aaagtagtga tctatgtgct taaattttat caatgaggga cagtggaaca
3601  tgacagttag ttgactgcaa gaataagggc actgggtggc acagactgta gcatgtgctt
3661  taagacagca ggggttttga gaggaggaag aggagaaata ccctggaaga gatagtatga
3721  agcaaagagg acacaggcct tgttgtaagc atttaaagtg cattggattg acaagaagca
3781  acaggtattt cagagaagag attggaaatg aagaatttca ctgacgacag aactttgcaa
3841  aaggctgagt gtaagagcag gaggtgacac agcaaggtag gagattgagt tagaacacca
3901  acacaccaag atatatggag ataagaattt aaagataaga tggaagacct agatatcctg
3961  gactgctggg ggcacctaga cattctctgt ctgtaggaac atgaagtcaa ctatatcctc
4021  ctaaagcagg aaccactcca gctcttttct gtgttcccta cacactcata ttagacaggg
4081  ggttggtgat ggggatgact gaatgaacta aggagtgaat gcatgactca caaaaggtag
4141  aggaagattg gtgctgtggg aggagtggag ggagacattc atttggaaaa tcagatggca
4201  ggagcctttt tattgagtag tagaagagca aagcagaagg accagaatct ggagtcaaaa
4261  gacatggttg agttctcatt ctgcaacttc ctagctgcag gtctttggga aaatgactcc
4321  tttatacata actctgacct catctataaa gtaaaccttt cctccttagg agattgagct
4381  tcaaactgtc acctctttga ggctcctgtc cctttactac aacactaatt tcatcccact
4441  tggaaattgt gtagagctgt acaagtaaaa gggtggacaa taaacaggag aaatatagta
4501  ggttccacat actctaacgc ccagcccttg gcctatgtgc caacactcac tcccaactcc
4561  ttgaaaagct actattaaaa gagtttccct ttggtttaga aagatgtttc ttataatgca
4621  tagcacatta aaataataac aactaacacc acagagagga gtgtggaaca cccagtgaga
4681  gtaatacaga taaggagcca gggtctaaaa caagacacat agggttacct tgggatgtga
4741  tacaacaagg aacatcataa cctcctgctt aggtagctgg gcagaatcaa ggctgccaca
4801  gagcctgatg gagtaggagg aacaatgccc agccattccc acacatgctc aggagcaggg
4861  cagctatgta catgttggag agatgctgtt tgtctttgac tcgcccgtgt tctgagtgag
4921  ccctttgacc cagttttaga agcagactga gccacggtga gcagaggcgg ggcttaggga
4981  ggcaggagtc ttggggcttt ataaagtcct gccgggcacc actgggcatc tctttcaagg
5041  tttctgctgg gtttctgaac tgctgggttt ctgcttgctc ctctggagat gcagcgtctg
5101  ttgactccag tgaagcgcat tctgcaactg acaagagcgg tgcaggaaac ctccctcaca
5161  cctgctcgcc tgctcccagt agcccaccaa aggtgagtca ctttctgaga agcaccttgt
5221  aactagtaaa agatagtttt tccctgctat tggggaaaac tcactagaat cccactcaaa
5281  atttggcaag gcttgtgcac agcagcctta gacaagcaag ttaactttaa agggtctcag
5341  ttacctcatc tctaaacaga caatcccttt cagctgtaga gtgagaagag cccaaacctc
5401  tgacacatgc tgtgtttgtg agcaatggca acttttactc tgccagctgc atgaagcagt
5461  agaaatatca gtaccaggcc acagctttcc tctctacacc accattccca ccttcacccc
5521  tagcctctgc ctagaaccac aggaccttgt gccaactgca gtgttagtaa aaccagtgac
5581  tttatatcac tgcagcagaa tcagaaatgg actgaggatg agaagctgtg tttgccttgt
5641  gttccaattt tatgaaaagg ggaaatgtgt gtttatgtgt gtatgtgtac atgctctttg
5701  caagaagaac atgcacactc cttttctttg taaatagtcc ctgaacatgg ctcaagtgct
5761  tatgttttcc attgtcagcg atgatggtaa cacagctatc gttagtgcct caggctccca
5821  gccacctatg tgtttctgtc taatccccaa accatccact acacattggg actagttctt
5881  tatttcctta catttttact ctatattcta tgactactaa atatttagaa aaatgatttt
5941  gacctagtgt ctttccttgc caaataccca aggaacctgg gtgtatagat gtgcatggta
6001  gaggcaaatg cacatagctt tcttatattt ttcattatgc taccatcatc tcactctccc
6061  catgcactgc caaaccctgc atgtgggtta aatgtcccag ctcaggattt aacctgtttc
6121  tatatttgtg aagaagagat tgatgtgggt ttcttgtttt aatagcaata gttggccatc
6181  agccaaaaga catacatcaa tcctccccaa cattctgact cccttggttc aaactcttgg
6241  aatcattccc atttcccttc tggtatattc acagttaatc ccattatgca tggcttgaac
6301  taatattgct tttcatgagt caccttttct ctatatgtct aatcgccttt aatccaaccc
6361  acattggctc taactccaac ctaaaagaga ctttcatctc agcatctgct ttgctgtctt
6421  caaaattcgg taagacttgt gccctccact tactgtattt ctcacatatt gtctccctgc
6481  tcccctatac acctgcatct ccagggttcc ttacttgttc agtcaccccc tgccgtggcc
6541  actgcccctt cattcccctc cagttcttca ctggcagaag tctgtcatcc atcaaggttt
6601  gcctcaaatg cggtctcttc cacgaagctt ctctgatcct ccaacccact gaaatctctg
6661  cttcctttga actcctgtag attttgctca cattcctttt tgtgggcctg accacattct
6721  gccttgaagt tgggttatat gtgtgcttat cattcctcac actggtcaag gaggtctcaa
6781  gaacctcacc ctcttctttt ctttgtccaa cccctttgtt caaccctcac aaacccttcc
6841  cagcacagtg cctgaagtgt agtaattaat tttgaaacac aagggaagga ggcaagatgg
6901  aatacagaag taaaggtgtg gtgcatgttc ttgaagtggg caacaccagg agaaaaatga
6961  tttaaaatta cacaaagtga tcattcttta gagaaagcac aagatgagaa ggatactctt
7021  aacttcggtg ggctgaagct tctggaagcc tctccgtgtt aattttcttc aaggctttat
7081  aatccatttc tagaaatagc tccccaccaa gacagctaca aaagttacca actgacccat
7141  tctaagcttc ttcttgcaag ctttgatttc taactgggaa gaaagggagg gagccagccc
7201  agagaagtca gagcgagaat gaggctgaga gaaaggcagc caagctggca ggacaagcgc
7261  tggcttaacc attagctccc gggtactggg gaagctcctc cgtaaatatt tgagagtaca
7321  aactccagtt atttggaggg agtcaaataa atagggaaga taaataaact ccaaacctct
7381  cctgtcagat ataatgtgta tttatcattc tgcctcacta tcttgtgatc atatgatcca
7441  cttttgcctc acagctgtcc ttagaagtga ccttgctgct gggagaggct ctagaattct
7501  accagaggct cagaatccca aagatgattg atagacacat tcaatctgag ttccagctcc
7561  cgtagaatgg agctaaattt ataagcctgg cacccagggc agtgaaggga cagagtattt
7621  ctaacacgtg agaaactatg aagttaccct gagtgcatca ctttaccagt gtgtgccttg
7681  gtttcactaa ctataaaatg aagaatgttg ctaaagtgaa cagaaggtat aaagtacttt
7741  tgtatgggag cagtacagag atcaccaagt tcacctccag tatgctccca tacaaaaggg
7801  aacacagatt ttcgccaggg atattaagaa tctgggttaa agagaagtga attggtccag
7861  aaaagaaata gatcatctct cccttcttct gctgactcct tccccttcct tttttcctct
7921  gctctcgttt agaattgctc tttctgctgt ctgtgttccc tgcatattta gctgtaaaat
7981  gtctgcttct ttcactgggc tgtgctctct ttatgggcac aatgcatgtc ttattcactg
8041  ctgtgtattt ggactagaac tgtgttgggt gtgctcaata aacattggaa ggccctatca
8101  gaaaaatcag ctagcagaaa acttacttaa aagtaggaaa acagtgggta tgttcttgtg
8161  tagaaaaaag aaaggagaaa gacatgtaat tagaggtaca cttttaaaat gagtaaagat
8221  tgtataatta tgccctataa gggcttataa catgtagaag taaagtatat gacaataatg
8281  gttcaaaagg atgcagagag taaataaagt caacctaaag tttttgcagt gttccaaaag
8341  taagataagt attaatttaa gtaagattac aacaagccaa ttatgcatgt tataatcttt
8401  aaggtcacca gtaaaaggaa aagagggtat aaaatgaata ataaatattt gcttactcta
8461  aaaggatatg ggaaaggagg aataaaagaa caaagaacaa atgagacaaa tagaaacaaa
8521  taaaaaaata gacttagttc cggctgggcg tggtggctca cgcctgtaat cccagcactt
8581  tggaagaccg agatcaggag atcgagacca tcctggctaa cacggtgaaa ccctgtctct
8641  actaaaaata caaaaaatta gctgggcgtg gtggcaggtg cctgtagtcc cagctactca
8701  ggaggctgag gcaggagaat ggtgtgaacc caggaggcgg agcttgcagt gagcagagat
8761  cacgccactg cactccagct tgggtgacag agtgagactc cgggtgacag agtgagactc
8821  cgtctcaaaa aagagaaaaa aaaagattta gttccaacta tattagtaat tacaacaaat
8881  ataaatggat gaaatactca aattaaaaca ccactattgt tagacttatt aaaatttttt
8941  taaaggacta aaatatatat accgatcaca agagatgtat gttaaagata aagacgttaa
9001  gaagttgaaa gtaaaaaggg acagaaaaag atgtaccatg gaaacagtaa gcaaaaagct
9061  agtgtagcta tatcgacgtc aggaaaggaa actttatgcc aagaatatca caaagatgaa
9121  aagggatatt taataagtat agaagggtca attcaatgaa aagataataa caatactaaa
9181  tttgtagtca tctgataaca tagcttcaaa atatagaaaa ttaattaaat gattgctatg
9241  ttactgtctt ttgaggaaat tgtctacaga ccattagtgg gagtttgact gttatctcca
9301  tcacaggttt tctacagcct ctgctgtccc cctggccaaa acagatactt ggccaaagga
9361  cgtgggcatc ctggccctgg aggtctactt cccagcccaa tatgtggacc aaactgacct
9421  ggagaagtat aacaatgtgg aagcaggaaa gtatacagtg ggcttgggcc agacccgtat
9481  gggcttctgc tcagtccaag aggacatcaa ctccctgtgc ctgacggtgg tgcaacggct
9541  gatggagcgc atacagctcc catgggactc tgtgggcagg ctggaagtag gcactgagac
9601  catcattgac aagtccaaag ctgtcaaaac agtgctcatg gaactcttcc aggattcagg
9661  caatactgat attgagggca tagataccac caatgcctgc tacggtggta ctgcctccct
9721  cttcaatgct gccaactgga tggagtccag ttcctgggat ggtatgtacg gccacgaacc
9781  ttatgtaaga aaggtgctgg aattggaggc tgaatattac cagttttgct tttcagttcc
9841  ccaggtggct tcatctagtg aaggaaggac aatatattca cacagctgct gctatcatcc
9901  cacaataacc acttagactt atatagcttt acagttaggt agcatgttca catagccatt
9961  catttaattc ttacaacagc ctaggaagtg tgtattatac cagatttata gaagagaaca
10021 tggaagatct gatagcttac acatagtgag tggcagaggc aaaaatgcca aaccacatct
10081 gacatatttc ctattttacc gtacctgttt ctcttaaaca tgtcctaagt ctctgagaga
10141 ttggtgatgt tgaaagatgt atgcaagttt agatgttcgg gaaaaaaaca ccttcataga
10201 aacaggccca gaaaaccaca agatagactg tgagtatttc tactctttct cccttaggtg
10261 gctccttgca tattgctttt tgcttaacat attaacatta ccttgtatct tacttatatc
10321 ttctcccagt gctatatttg aggactaacc cctgttgtta cagcaagaaa tgattcaagg
10381 gaaacagtac agtatgagag cttgaagcca tagctctatc aataatcatt gataaattcc
10441 tgaacctctt tgagcctcag ggttatttgc ctatctgcct tgcttaactt ataagaggac
10501 tgaataaaat aattcataga aatgtgaaat tttcataaag atgtgaaaaa acagtatgtt
10561 ggcagtagtt aagacactct atatttacta agtttgaaac taggattaaa aaccttagaa
10621 accatgataa gcattaatta taaaattaat caaaaagcct taatattggc agagtcctca
10681 gagatcatct aattcaatat cttttgcttt agaaaaaaga ggtcaagagg agtgtaacag
10741 tttatctctg tacatgcagc aagaccgtgc aattacaaaa gttcattcca ggcttttcca
10801 actgccctac ctggctccat cattaacaat tccactgaca tgggatggtc cagtctacat
10861 catcaagtct gttcttaaag tgcctctcct acttgatact tgtattacta cctctctagt
10921 aacccctacc accattacca ccactgatat gtccaaccaa ttatttagtt gaggagtaga
10981 aatgaaaaat aaggggcatt caccagcctt taaccaaaaa tcaaagagcc tattcttgag
11041 agcattgtca gccttaagca tgccatttca aatgcgtaga ttcttctgag gggctgggta
11101 ttccacagat ggggttgcaa atgcatcttt taaaaaaatg tggtatctag gtataaaagt
11161 aaaaatttaa aaaacaagtt attgaaatgt gaatctttag tttgtattta aaacaaaaac
11221 agctaagctt gagcctggac actcggacta cataccctgc aggtgacagt aaccaccagg
11281 accagaggat gccagtgtga atgagaactc tgcttctgac ctagccagtc attcatctgg
11341 ggaccctcag gtgggaggga gtggctctga gactcaggga gttctgaatc actccagaga
11401 aaagtggagg ggatgaggaa agagaagagt atttctggct cagattggct gggagtcccc
11461 atgttttctt gtgttttttt ttttaaatga aaataattaa aatttatatt tggaaaaaaa
11521 catacacata cacaaaagta tataaagcaa agaaagactc ctcatttgac ctgttaccac
11581 ttcccaaaat ttaacactga tggtttatat gtattcttcc aatatttttt ctaagtacct
11641 gcaagtatac acatatctat tccattttaa acattgtaca aaatattcct catctcttag
11701 gtcttagagg taattctgta tcaacatatg taaggtctat ctgattcttt ttaaaaccac
11761 aatattcttg atggatatgc caaattttat ttaattaatc ccatattgat ggatatttag
11821 ttttttagca atgataaata aagttttaat gaacattgta caatagcttt gtatactttt
11881 ggcattgtat tgtaagaata aattcctaga agtggaatat caggataggt tgatttaaaa
11941 gtttgataaa atgtgccaaa ttcttctcca aaatgttgta ctaacttaca ttcctacaat
12001 gtatatatta tcaaactttc taatctttgt caatttaaca agtaaaatta taatgttttt
12061 gatttgcgtt tcttttacta taagaaatct tgaatatttc tatgttgttt attggccttt
12121 ttttattata tagcttgcct ttttttattt tttatttatt tattttttta gacagagtct
12181 cgatctgttg ccaggctgga gtgcagtggc ggtgatctca gctcactgca acctctgcct
12241 cccaggttca agcgattctt ctgtctcagc ctcccgagta gctgggacta caggacccca
12301 ccaccacacc cggctcattt tttgtatttt tagtagagat gggatttcac cgtgttagcc
12361 aggatagtct tgatctcctg acctcacaat cctcctgcct cggcctcccc aatcgctggg
12421 attacaggcg tgagccaccg tgcccggcct agcttgcctt tttaatgaaa cttttataaa
12481 tgaagataaa ttgatttttg ttgattgtaa gtattgtaaa tactccccca atttgtcttt
12541 tgactttgtt tctgatagaa ggctttgatt tttagataat caaatttact ggccttttcc
12601 taaatggatt ctaaatactt ttctatagtt tctaaagttt tcaaaatgtg tgcgtgtgtg
12661 tgcttatata caggtagaaa aaagtattgt tttcccttaa ttttatgtat ataaaaatta
12721 tatatactta aatatatatt tatatatatt aaatatacca atttacttat actaatatat
12781 ttatatatac taaatatata cttacattta tatatttata taaattattt gtatatttat
12841 atatatacac acacacacat gcacatagca ttggggaaga aaacaatact ttttcgttga
12901 tgttggagtt gggattgtta taattcttaa gagaaggtcc ctggatttca gtgaatttgg
12961 gttggagtcc tgactctgaa tccttaccct accatttatt agctatgtgg tttttgggca
13021 agtggcttaa attctttagc cctcagtttc ttcatctgta ggatggggat aactatatct
13081 gctacataga tttatcatga ggattaaatt atatagaaat gtggctccca aagcagtgct
13141 gtgggtgaat actgggagct tcctcacagg tcagaatact aaaattacta ccatatctca
13201 cccacaaact tgagtttttg ggacagtact tcttacagat gaaagtggaa cacataatag
13261 tcaagaccac aattatttat tgaatactag tctgattatc ataaagttag tgactacgga
13321 tcatttactc aatataaact attttcacaa tgaaagtagt gccacacaat tcaaggcacg
13381 tggttcagga tccagtcaga actgggtttg aatatcaaaa tccatattaa ctagctatgt
13441 gaccttacac tagttactca gtctctcagg aaggcaatgt cttcacttgt gaatgtggat
13501 gttacctacc tcattggatt gtttcaagaa ttgtttaagg ttaactagtg tcctactagt
13561 gttttaaatg ttagtttccc tccctgtcct ttaccttcta tgatttagga tataatttca
13621 ggatcatggt gtgctataag gagatgggta caaacccaaa cctgaattgt ctccaaaagt
13681 gcgaattaac acatttttca ctgaagtcag agacagaatt ctgaataaat gagcgtttta
13741 cagagtgtca ggacactaaa ttttgacttt acatttcaaa tgtatcatga attgcactag
13801 aacataagct ccacaggact gggatttttt attttgttta tcactctata tccaggacct
13861 agaattgtgc ctggtacaca gtaggcactc agtctactct agatttggta atgatggtaa
13921 atatttcttg tttctcttta caggtcgtta tgccatggtg gtctgtggag acattgccgt
13981 ctatcccagt ggtaatgctc gtcccacagg tggggccgga gctgtggcta tgctgattgg
14041 gcccaaggcc cctctggccc tggagcgagg tttgtagtaa tccattacca agaggctgtg
14101 catggcatag ccaagaacat agatcctaat cccacattgg cacacctgct actcagggct
14161 gaggtatgcg tttgaggatg gtattgcttg cctctaaaaa gggctggtct atggagcaga
14221 gggaggagag gagaaatggg agaggggaat ccgcgaggct tcctctcttg catcatcagg
14281 cattgggata acgatgcatg gaatgagtgg tgcagatgat ggtgaggaat cttagggaac
14341 tcttctggca attgaagatt aaaatatata actggatata aagtgaaagt ctttcctttg
14401 agactgttgg cttctattct aggttttgtt aagcccatgt aggtgaggaa agggaaatat
14461 acatctcatt tttgtaatac caacaacctg tccaactcct tttgaatatg caagggatgt
14521 tgaatgggct tgaacttggg catgggacac agataatgac cagaaacctc ctttatatgg
14581 ttctctcatc ttttgtgctc aaggtaggct gcattgtgta gtctctgaaa cactttgtgt
14641 gcctttccag ggctgagggg aacccatatg gagaatgtgt atgacttcta caaaccaaat
14701 ttggcctcgg agtacccaat agtggatggg aagctttcca tccagtgcta cttgcgggcc
14761 ttggatcgat gttacacatc ataccgtaaa aaaatccaga atcagtggaa gcaaggtatg
14821 agattcagag ggcagaaagt gggggctcta tttacatagg ccaagggttt gtacccaaag
14881 gccatgagat ggtcttttct ctcctgcctt gaaaataatg tcaagagaat tgtttcctgt
14941 cctctttctt acactcttcc ctgggtctat gctaaaatcc atttggaagt cattcaactt
15001 caggtgtaaa attgcttcta acttgagcta aataaaagaa agtaaataat ccagggcaag
15061 gcccccagtg tgaaaccaag ggatgtcagc cacctgagaa gatggtgtta agaggctggg
15121 cagtcacatt cgacagtggt tggcatttgt ttctggttaa gtcaggcatg gtttggctct
15181 tggtttgtgg tttaccatct tttaaagtct cacgttgaga aatcatacct atattttcta
15241 tatgctgaag tgttatcagt gatttttctc ttcgtgatgc tactgcaggt tgattttatt
15301 ttcaccttta gttttggaat ttccctcctg agaaatatgt actgctttca taagcagaaa
15361 ataagcaaat aaatcttcct tttaaaatac agaaaagcag ggagtggtgg ctcacgcctg
15421 taatcccagc accttgggaa gctgaggcag gaggattgct tgaacccagg aatttgagac
15481 caatgtgggc aacaaagcaa gaccctgtct ctaaaaaaaa aaagtacaaa agttagccag
15541 gcatggtggc ataagcctgt agtcccagct actcagaagg ctgagatggg ggaaattgct
15601 tgagaccagg agcccatgca gtaagctatg atcaagcaac tgcctccagc ctggactaca
15661 gagtgaaaca aaccctgtct ctaaaaacat ataaataaat aaaaataaaa tacagttaaa
15721 cctactttaa agacataaat agtattcttg cctgctcagg catgcccaga tgggcatccg
15781 caaaagacag attgcagtgt gggagaaggc atggatgcct tgggggtgtc ataaagagct
15841 acctcttgtc cctttctact gcagtgggtg ggacaccacc tgccagaggt gaacctcatg
15901 ggcaagaagt tgctttgggc ctctctgcct cagtctgtct tctgtaattg gttatttgct
15961 cctaactcct ctgaattctt gtggcattta aattttactc cttatttgca tatgtaaggt
16021 gacagatgct gctttggatc ccagcactaa aatgtaatat ttcctaaggg cagagattgc
16081 attgccctct tcttcagagt gagagagaca gtctgtagag tagagtcaga gacatctgaa
16141 cctgaatcca aagccagcct tttcaaagtt ggacagatga caatgttttg tagaccggtt
16201 cctcctctgg caaatgaaga aaattatata acacaaggtt gatttgagcc aagtatcata
16261 gaggctggta atagtagata caaaggcttt gtttctttcc cttctttcct tattcgtaga
16321 gattgcttag taagtgcatg taaaatgaat aaataaagct catatgtgtt tgcaggaggt
16381 gggaagtagt tccctgggag gcctggagaa actcggcaca gttaaatctc agggaggata
16441 tctaaatggc tcgcccctca tgccccatcc ttgccttcac gcttcctctt ccagctggca
16501 gcgatcgacc cttcaccctt gacgatttac agtacatgat ctttcataca cccttttgca
16561 agatggtcca gaagtctctg gctcgcctga tgttcaatga cttcctgtca gccagcagtg
16621 acacacaaac cagcttatat aaggggctgg aggctttcgg gtgagttctc ttcttgggga
16681 gcctagaggc tggtgaggtg tgagcaagaa ggaggcttct tcatgcctta agtctagacc
16741 accagcaccc ctgtggggga caaatggcaa tcctccagca gaacaggaac aatcccaggt
16801 ccttccacgg ggtagtgggt tattgtctgg gtagggccct ccatgagtta ttgcagggaa
16861 acatggggga tttggcagca ctgcaggatc aaggggcagt aagaaactac agaggataaa
16921 gaaagaaaga gagaaaggga gaaagagagg aagggagaaa gagagtagct aaatcattca
16981 gtcaataaac attttctgaa catgttatgt gctagacatc gtattaacct ctcaggatac
17041 taaaatgaat gtgactccat ggtccctgcc ctagagcatc tcacagccta tacagacaca
17101 aacacacaga agcaaatgat cacactacag ggtagcaatt tgagaagtgt caggtcccat
17161 tctcatttgc cattgtctta attcatgtcc tgcttttgct tttctcccat ctataaaatg
17221 gggatgttcc agctcatccc cttagatgtg aaaaagcaga aagaatgctg tttattgatt
17281 cactacacta atacactaat atttacaaag aaatgtcttc aatacagttt ccactgggaa
17341 aggaatcttt ccctttcttc ttggtacctg tttatttcaa attttggtca attttatcaa
17401 cagtagaata ggctaccaag tgtagcccct gttactaact agtactccta accctgccac
17461 taactaaaac atcaaaatta gcacaaacac tgcttgtaag accagcccta tcgaaacaaa
17521 aagtataaca tataccaaag atactagctt aatatcttta atatataaag atattatcaa
17581 taataaaata aataccctaa tagaaaaatg agcaaaggat atgaacagaa aattttctca
17641 aagaagacat gtatatgatc acattttaaa tatgcatatt cattaataaa aagtttactc
17701 aagttaccat tttctctaga tagtcttttt aaaatgtgaa tacccagaat tgtcaagcct
17761 gtgggaaaat gggcagtagt ggatgcgtaa atggatcagg tgttttgagg agtaacagga
17821 gagcatgaag ccaaagcctt aaagatgtgc aaactttggg ctcagtaatc ccatgtgttt
17881 aaaagaacac ctacctattc gctgtagtgt tttaactagt gaggaacagg agcaggaaga
17941 tgggttaaag tgcggtacat cctgtcatgg accattcttc agcctttaca aataatgtta
18001 tagaatgtca tggaaaaaaa atatatatat atatacacac acacactaag ttaagaaagt
18061 atgctaacca caacacatag catgattttc tttctaattt tctagtaagc tctataaaat
18121 tagggatgga ttccaccaga aaaataagcc ctaagtactc tctctgaatg gtaaggccat
18181 tagtggtatg ttctcctctg tactgttctg tatttccaaa tattgtagga aaaacatgcg
18241 ccccaaagtc ctctccagaa gctgttactt ttcccccttg ctccctgcct cccgtcccct
18301 ggcctctcac atggctacct ctggctacct cacagggggc taaagctgga agacacctac
18361 accaacaagg acctggataa agcacttcta aaggcctctc aggacatgtt cgacaagaaa
18421 accaaggctt ccctttacct ctccactcac aatgggaaca tgtacacctc atccctgtac
18481 gggtgcctgg cctcgcttct gtcccagtga gtactgcatc tggctccatg tcctccatgc
18541 acaccctcag cctccgcccc cgtgggctgc agggtcaaca aagttgggtt tctcttttgg
18601 ctcagaaatt taaaagaaag gaaggggcct ggtgtagtgg ctcatgcctg taatctcagc
18661 atttggggag gtttaggcgg gcagatcgcc tgaacctagg agttcgagac ccgcctgggc
18721 aacgtggtga aacctcatct ctacaaaaat tagctgagca tggttgtgtg cacgtgtggt
18781 cccagctgct cgggaggctg aagtgggagg atggtgtgag cccaggagtg gaaggttgca
18841 gtgagccatg attgtgtcat tggactccaa cctggatgac agaatgagat cctgtcataa
18901 ataaataaat aaatataaaa gaaaggaaag gagggagaag gcaggaaaag gaaggaagat
18961 gaaagaaact cgtaccaaag gtgtatgtat aggcagattt acagtctgta tcagacagtg
19021 gtctccaaag tgaagtacat gatgtcaagg gatgggcaag atctgtttgg gcacatcaag
19081 aaaacagtag ctttggtatg catatttttg tctcatttat ttaaaatctc tatacttagt
19141 agagcatggt ggttaaatgg gtctgacttt agagcccaca acctgggttc aaattttttt
19201 aaccaattat tagggttgac tttggataat acttaacctc aatgcacctc accttcccca
19261 actgtagcat gtgtgcaatc acaatacctg tgttctactg tttttatgag cattaagtat
19321 ctaaaacaat taaaatagca gtgcttagca ggtgctcaaa tgttggatgt tatttctatt
19381 cattttctgt tttgtgggtt ttataaggaa gtactgcatc taacataaga aagggctcat
19441 gaagtggctc atgcctataa tcctagcact ttggaaggct caggcaggag gatctcttga
19501 gctcaggagt ttgagaccag ccttgggaac agagggaggc cccatctcta caaaattttt
19561 ttaaacaatt agccatggat gttcacggtg gctcatgcct gtaataccaa cactttggga
19621 ggccaaggtg ggaagatcac ctgaggtcag gagtttgaga acagcctggc caacatggca
19681 aaaccccttc tctactaaaa atacaaacat cagctgggca tggtggtacg tgcctgtagt
19741 cccagcaact cgagaggctg aggcatgaga attgcttgaa cccgggaggc agaagttgca
19801 gtgagctgag atcgagctac tgcactatag cttgggtgac agagtgagac tctgtctcaa
19861 aaaaaaaaaa aaaattagct gggtgtggca gcttgcacct gtagtcccag ctactcagga
19921 tcctgaatcc tgaggtggga ggatcacttg agcccaggag gtaaaggctg cagtgagcca
19981 tgatcacgcc actgcattcc gggcactcca ggctgggcaa cagagcaaga ctctgccaaa
20041 aaaagaaaaa aaaaacgggc aggaaaaagt gcttatgggt gaacttgatc aaattattac
20101 tcacagggga tgatcaaaaa gttatgactg ctgaaccatt accaatcaac atgggagcct
20161 gaagggtgag tccagtggtc tgatctccat ctggagacac cttcagaatg cactgaattt
20221 accctgtcct catgagaggg gagaagctct atgtacacca aaaattatct tgtgttttct
20281 ctgccttata tatcttggat attagctgct ttccttttgg caaggtttcc tacacaaagg
20341 cctgtccctg gggtctacca gaagtccctc tttatgtagg gtgcctggaa cccatttcta
20401 gttgcatgag gtagacaggg agaagatcgg gatgataggc tgttgttcta tttgaagtgc
20461 agaatataat atatatatac atatatgtgt gtgtgtgtgt gtgtgtgtgt gtgtgtgtgt
20521 gttttatttg atttctttcc ccacagccac tctgcccaag aactggctgg ctccaggatt
20581 ggtgccttct cttatggctc tggtttagca gcaagtttct tttcatttcg agtatcccag
20641 gatgctgctc caggtgagtg tcatctttct agtaggcctt cctgacaaga ttcatctggt
20701 agaataacca tcttcttccc caccattact gaggctgcca tcttgacaga gttacgttat
20761 tattaatagc aaagtaaatc actgaaggga tttaagcatg gagtaagttt gtttaattta
20821 tgtgtttaaa gcacttattt ggctactact tagagactag attgaaaagg aacaaagctg
20881 gatatgggga aaccacttag attgttccag taactagttc aggcaagagg taatggtggt
20941 ttgattgcaa ctgattaaag agaagttgat ggatttgaga tacctaataa gaatttattg
21001 attattttgt gattgatgtg attaaggaca tgcatttaag tactatgtgg catacacctt
21061 gaccaaatca gtgtgtctgc ctgcatgttt tgctaacaag tatgcttgct tatcatttct
21121 tggtattcta agccacacac accacacgtt cctccagggt gtaacctccc acagaacctg
21181 gctctctgtt gaactcgtga ttggcaatag tgataatgac aatgaaaaag gtgtaacaat
21241 cttgcttttg cttcccaggc tctcccctgg acaagttggt gtccagcaca tcagacctgc
21301 caaaacgcct agcctcccga aagtgtgtgt ctcctgagga gttcacagaa ataatgaacc
21361 aaagagagca attctaccat aagggtaaga aaaaagtcag gaagagagga agagagaccc
21421 cattccagta gctgggagcc agggatttct ttggaaatct agaatttagt agtccagggt
21481 caagactttt acgagatatg gttgggagaa gatttgctag aagatctgtt gtccaaaggg
21541 gcaagaagtg ggtggggaaa cagaagatag agttgggaag agggaggcag gatgcagctt
21601 cccagtatag aatatagcta aacacccaga atgtgtagtc ccatggaagc cagaagtata
21661 gtctttgaaa ataccatctg caacagttga aagagtacag actttagagc tagatatcca
21721 aatctaaccc tgagctgtgc cactcactag ctgtttatct ttggaaaaat ggttgaactt
21781 ttctcagttg tcttatttct aaaatcatac cgattttgca ggatttccaa acaaattaaa
21841 tgaattactc tatataaata tgttatcgac aaatattact gtcccctcca aattgccctc
21901 tttctccacc aaacataaaa acaaaaaaca aaatattgct ccaaaagcaa caaatgaaag
21961 gaaaatgaaa cccaaaggta atactagagt gattagttgg tggttttaaa accatagtaa
22021 tacacagttt taccatgatt tctacaggtt ttatatatat tctcaagcaa aacttgggat
22081 gcatgttgtt ttgcagcatg gtctcaaaag gagacagaat atacggaatt ggaaatgttc
22141 cagaaaacct agacctagtg gtcattgatc tcttctggac cagtggatat gttatagcaa
22201 agaaagacaa tgaaaataaa aatggagcag ggcacagtgg ctcacgcctg taatgctagt
22261 cctttgggag gcagaggcag gtggatcact tgaggccagg agtttgagac cagcctggcc
22321 aacatggtga aaacccatct ctactaaaaa tataaaaatt ataaaaatat gaatataata
22381 aaaaaaataa aattatgtaa aaattagccg agtgtggtgg cacacacctc taatctcagc
22441 tactcaggag gctgaggaga attacttgaa cccaggaggc agaggatgca gtgaactgag
22501 atcacaccac cacactctag cctgggtgac acagaaagac tctgtctcaa aacaaaaaaa
22561 aaaaaaagaa gaaaagaaaa ataggacctc tgagacaaac gttaacggac aaagcactga
22621 aatactgcaa tgaatcagaa ccagaaaatt tagagtttag aaggacgtgt ctgttaggaa
22681 acaggaagct gggaattacg tctcaaagta ggaactattg gcaaaaggat gggatgaaga
22741 tttcaatgga ggaaggctat gtttactgta ggaaaatgtt gtactcttat aataaaagtc
22801 ttaatagact tttattaagg ccttaagtgc tagattcaag atggctgccc ctcttgttct
22861 gtgggtccag tgttctattt ggtggactaa gggtgacctt gcagcccctt acagcccagc
22921 caagagagct tcactgtgaa ggggcagaca tcttcattac tattttctct tccaaaaact
22981 catataactc tttgtgagta ctgcctcttc tcctcattcc acagtgaatt tctccccacc
23041 tggtgacaca aacagccttt tcccaggtac ttggtacctg gagcgagtgg acgagcagca
23101 tcgccgaaag tatgcccggc gtcccgtcta aaggtggtga gtgagagttt gcagagttgg
23161 tggcataaaa ccctaatgtc ttcctctgag taacaacaca gagagagaag gtggggacag
23221 gtgcagggag aagaaagttt aatggaagag gattggggtg acaggagaaa tgggagaatt
23281 atctgtggaa tttttaaaag gaaaagcaag tattcagaat aggaatcttg tagtttggga
23341 acattaacca ggccagggag ggttcacagc tttcaaacta atcagaagtg gggatttgta
23401 ccataaagac caattaaaac tcttggggct ctttgccttg gaaaggcaaa agctggggga
23461 gaaacatgtt ctgaaatctt gaatgtgaaa aataggagct ggatttgttt acctgatctg
23521 ctgaagatag gaagctctcc tagaagcttg acagattagc attcagagca tccgttgagt
23581 gaacaggctg tgaacctgaa cctatagaaa tcattactcc agggggatga gatcaacaga
23641 tctgatgagc aacagaacaa ccaagatgaa cagccccaaa acctcagaaa tggtacacac
23701 caatgtgtgg gagacagatt cataaggaat ggggcggttg aagattctgt taaagccaga
23761 tacttctgct ggagggagtt ttaggctaag ggtcatgtaa caattcttat atcatgggat
23821 tccttctggg gagaagcaat gaggttcagg aaattcgtgg acacaaggat agggagaaga
23881 gagcaaggtg aaagaggatt gcggtgacag gagaaatggg agatattctt tatgatcgtt
23941 tttaaaggaa agcaaacatt caaaaataag aatcttatat gaacccaggt agctgccttc
24001 agttgaccaa ataggtagga taagcagaat gatagagtga gaagagattt attttacaac
24061 ccataaattt taattagtgc agtctccatg ctcaagtttt taagattttc ccctcctttt
24121 ggtagatgga gagggaagaa gaaaaaggtg tgccgaggca gggaaggagc agaggaaggg
24181 aaggaagaag tcagtgggtg gcagagatgc acagatacag ccacctgaga ggaagcagag
24241 gtgcgggtgg aggggccctg ggttcattcc ttaccgctgg gatattggca ggtgctaggc
24301 tgttgcagcc cagatgttgt tagggctagg agaggtggac aagtgggctg agggccgcag
24361 gatgcctttg agaggacgag ctcagttagc agccctgaag actgtggtac tgcccgggag
24421 cctgtgtgca tgttggaaat acggttctta agggcaggtc agtagcaaag aggggctgtt
24481 aaatgtgtca acttagttca ttcatcagaa gaagagtggg agaaataggg agggaggggg
24541 gaaagggaga gagagaggtt ggggagagag tcagcgggag ggggagagag aaagagaaat
24601 ttggaatttt taaaggagaa tttccacgtc agcctccctc cctctcatgg tagacaagct
24661 tcttgcaagt gcttaggcag aattatacct gaaaaaaaaa gctggaactc ttgacctttt
24721 ctcatgttga ttattaatat gagcagtgaa cttccaacaa tgagatttta gcagaaatga
24781 agggctgctg tcagtgcagt gctcatggtg gagctctaca ggtctctgca gcgccctagc
24841 ctgcctctcc tgctctccta tcacaggcag atgtgcgacg gggaccctgc ctacccccag
24901 ccttggctcc agtagcattg ggcacagatc cctcaggtgt ccaggcttgg cacagggtgc
24961 atagtgggag caccctcagg atgcagttag gggagcccct ctgcacagcc acacctcggg
25021 caagaagcag gtactggggg cagggtgccc aagaggagac ccatgattga atgacttttt
25081 gtttatttaa gttctgcaga tccatggaaa gcttcctggg aaacgtatgc tagcagagct
25141 tctccccgtg aatcatattt ttaagatccc actcttagct ggtaaatgaa tttgaatcga
25201 catagtagcc ccataagcat cagccctgta gagtgaggag ccatctctag cgggcccttc
25261 attcctctcc atgctgcaat cactgtcctg ggcttatggt gctatggact aggggtcctt
25321 tgtgaaagag caagatggag caatggagag aagacctctt cctgaatcac tggactccag
25381 aaatgtgcat gcagatcagc tgttgccttc aagatccaga taaactttcc tgtcatgtgt
25441 tagaacttta ttattattaa tattgttaaa cttctgtgct gttcctgtga atctccaaat
25501 tttgtacctt gttctaagct aatatatagc aattaaaaag agagaaagag gaaatgattc
25561 ctgcgtttct tggaacccag aatacaaacc cagcctaaca tgcagcaagc ctgctagacc
25621 ttgtgggtca gagggctggg tccttgcctc acaggctgcc tctgtcccct tgcaattcca
25681 ttctatttct gccacatgcc aagtgctatg acaggtacaa ggcaaataag aacggtagaa
25741 cacagcttcc cccagcccac ttccctgttc taaagacacc acatagacag agagcagcag
25801 acaggggcca gcaggagctg tagttcagat cttcttggtc attccttgcc gctgttattt
25861 gaacaaataa acacagcgca aaggttaaca agtttttgcc ttctatagcc aaaaataaaa
25921 aaataaataa attttgatgc ctggcaggaa attattccat tacaggatct ttcccccttg
25981 ggggagggca ctgcttcttc tagggtcctc ttataaaata gcaatggttc aggcagatgg
26041 ggattgagct gaggacggga gtgggaggag agggaaagta tcagggtgtt gtcatcactt
26101 ccttttagaa agtttcctca gtcaccccca tgaggaaagg gcaccttgga aaagagagag
26161 gatgctttcc attggcgggg agcagagctg gtgggggcag gggaggagga ggggaggagg
26221 aggaggagga gaagcagggg aggcttaagg ctcccttaag cctcagggag cgcttaagaa
26281 tggccccaca ggaatgagaa gctgggtctg ttcccttcac tgttttgctc aaggctgttc
26341 atgtcacaac aaatcccaga taagccccaa tttgctcaga gaatccagca ttagctgact
26401 gccttcccag gcctctctca aggtgcctgc aaaactctac tcatcacacc agctgcagcc
26461 gctgcttagc agcccctctt tgctaccctc ttgctgcctg cacctcctca gcaagatgtt
26521 taggggccct caacctggtt ggcatcccta gcagaacaac atgtgccttt cggtatctgt
26581 gtgcagggga gaaaacccag cactaacctt agctctggag acaagaggcc tcgggcctgg
26641 ccttctatcc acacagaagc tcactgtgca gtgttggtgc tgaaactctc tccatcagcc
26701 tcagtcagcc tcagcaacca gaacttccca tacttcctgc atcagaggcc aggcctgtct
26761 ccactaggga ggcatttgag cacaaatgga atgatattaa acattcgaca accaggttgt
26821 caagggctga ccaattgaat ggacactgcc cacagcccac acaccagctg ggcatcagca
26881 ctggctccct ccaacttcct tattcaccaa cttttatact gagcccgagg ccttcctctg
26941 gcagctctgg gacactgatg cctgcctgct ctgaacaaag ccctctcccc catgtaaggt
27001 cagcacacga gggaatgagt tgccaatggc tcagtcaaca ttttcaccct aaagtctaca
27061 gataccatac aaataaagac tttccctgtg ggcaaaaatt cacacagggt gacctagggc
27121 aggagagagg acggcagatt gggcaagtgt tgggctatga tacactcatt caaacgggaa
27181 tactcaacat gtgatgttaa aactgatgca aaagatggcc ccgccactga ccatgagaca
27241 agcccaagct ctagggggac acactgatca caacttcagg agtcagcaca ttgaggcaga
27301 ttctgtgcgt ggcccagctt ttgccctgcc tccaccctga gctcacagcc agccttctgc
27361 tgtgtgtgca caagaatgaa cttctactct aaaggggcag tgaagagatg ccacatgcca
27421 caaagaacat gagggagtcc atggcaccct ccctgtagcc ctagctggat ttttcaaaaa
27481 tttcattgta tatatttgag ggatagaaca tgacgttgta agatatatat atgtagtaaa
27541 atggttactg taacggaaca aattaacata ttcattattt tacaaagtta cccatccccc
27601 gccaccatgg caagagcagc tgcaatctac taatttagga aaaatcctca gtacaataca
27661 ctgttattaa ctatagtcct caggttgtac atcagatctt ttgacttact caccctatgt
27721 attttctact ttacattctt tgacctgtat ctccctagac acccccctca actacttttc
27781 tagttcctat gtcaatatat ttgacctctt ttttgggggg ggattccaca tataaatgag
27841 taagtgcaat aattttcttt ttgtgtctgg cctatttact tagtcatcag ggaaatgcaa
27901 atcaaaacca cggtgagata ccacctcaca cctgtta
//

Claims

1. A gene delivery composition comprising a gene delivery vehicle and a heterologous genome wherein the gene delivery vehicle houses or encapsulates the heterologous genome and wherein the heterologous genome comprises nucleic acid sequence at least 80%, 90% or 95% identical to SEQ. ID NO.:1.

2. The gene delivery composition of claim 1 wherein the heterologous genome encodes human 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA synthase 2 (mitochondrial) (HMGCS2) or its various isoforms.

3. The gene delivery composition of claim 1 wherein the heterologous genome further comprises a 5′ primer site and a 3′ primer site flanking the nucleic acid sequence.

4. The gene delivery composition of claim 1 wherein the heterologous genome encodes HMGCS2 enzyme or any of its functionally homologous forms.

5. The gene delivery composition of claim 2 wherein the 5′ primer site comprises nucleotide sequence at least 80%, 90% or 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:2 and the 3′ primer site comprises nucleotide sequence at least 80%, 90% or 95% identical to the nucleotide sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.

6. The gene delivery composition of claim 1 wherein the gene delivery vehicle comprises a liposome or polymeric nanoparticle.

7. The gene delivery composition of claim 1 wherein the gene delivery vehicle comprises a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV).

8. The gene delivery composition of claim 7 wherein the rAAV comprises an AAV9 capsid.

9. A method of treatment for cardiac ischemia comprising the step of providing a therapeutically effective amount of HMGCS2 to a patient.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of providing a therapeutically effective amount of HMGCS2 to the patient comprises the step of upregulating the expression of HMGCS2 in the patient's cardiomyocyte (CM).

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the step of upregulating the expression of HMGCS2 in the patient's CM comprises the step of administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 1 to the patient's heart.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein step of administration of a therapeutically effective amount of the composition of claim 7 to the heart comprises administration of between about 107-1018, about 1011-1017 or about 1012-1013 of the rAAV of claim 7.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of providing a therapeutic effective amount of HMGCS2 to the patient is performed before the cardiac ischemia.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein the step of providing a therapeutic effective amount of HMGCS2 to the patient is performed after the occurrence of cardiac ischemia.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of providing a therapeutic effective amount of HMGCS2 to the patient is performed 1 day, 2 days, 5, days, 10 days, 20 days or 30 after the occurrence cardiac ischemia.

16. A method of treatment for cardiac ischemia comprising the step inducing a metabolic switch of adult cardiomyocyte (CM) using HMGCS2.