April 2014
Volume 55, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   April 2014
Therapeutic cross-species efficacy of vectors for human gene therapy in achromatopsia type 2 (ACHM2)
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • Vithiyanjali Sothilingam
    Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Tuebingen, Germany
  • Regine Lotte Muehlfriedel
    Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Tuebingen, Germany
  • Naoyuki Tanimoto
    Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Tuebingen, Germany
  • Fred Koch
    Department of Pharmacy, Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM), Center for Drug Research, LMU, Munich, Germany
  • Christian Schön
    Department of Pharmacy, Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM), Center for Drug Research, LMU, Munich, Germany
  • Marina Garcia Garrido
    Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Tuebingen, Germany
  • Susanne C Beck
    Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Tuebingen, Germany
  • Martin Biel
    Department of Pharmacy, Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM), Center for Drug Research, LMU, Munich, Germany
  • Stylianos Michalakis
    Department of Pharmacy, Center for Integrated Protein Science Munich (CIPSM), Center for Drug Research, LMU, Munich, Germany
  • Mathias W Seeliger
    Division of Ocular Neurodegeneration, Centre for Ophthalmology, Institute for Ophthalmic Research, Tuebingen, Germany
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships Vithiyanjali Sothilingam, None; Regine Muehlfriedel, None; Naoyuki Tanimoto, None; Fred Koch, None; Christian Schön, None; Marina Garcia Garrido, None; Susanne Beck, None; Martin Biel, None; Stylianos Michalakis, None; Mathias Seeliger, None
  • Footnotes
    Support None
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science April 2014, Vol.55, 3335. doi:
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      Vithiyanjali Sothilingam, Regine Lotte Muehlfriedel, Naoyuki Tanimoto, Fred Koch, Christian Schön, Marina Garcia Garrido, Susanne C Beck, Martin Biel, Stylianos Michalakis, Mathias W Seeliger; Therapeutic cross-species efficacy of vectors for human gene therapy in achromatopsia type 2 (ACHM2). Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2014;55(13):3335.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Purpose: Achromatopsia type 2 (ACHM2) is caused by loss-of-function mutations in CNGA3 that lead to a total lack of cone photoreceptor function. The vast success of gene therapy in the respective disease model (Michalakis et al. 2010) has been the basis for the translation to human patients which is currently underway. In this process, a novel vector has been developed that contains the human CNGA3 gene whose expression is controlled by the human cone arrestin promotor. Here, we assessed the therapeutic efficacy of this vector intended for clinical use in the murine model.

Methods: Gene replacement therapy in Cnga3-/- mice was done via injections of a AAV8 vector carrying the human CNGA3 gene driven by the human cone arrestin promotor into the subretinal space of 2 week-old knockout mice. The treatment success was monitored in vivo for short- (PI 8W) and long term- (PI 6M) efficacy using Ganzfeld electroretinography (ERG). Animals subsequently underwent immunohistomorphological analysis.

Results: The novel vector construct containing a human cone arrestin promotor and the human CNGA3 gene resulted, like its murine counterpart, in stable and efficient restoration of cone photoreceptor function in Cnga3-deficient mice after treatment.

Conclusions: In this work, we provide proof-of-principle for the cross-species efficacy of the AAV8 vector developed for use in human patients. Our data show a stable, long-term rescue effect of this vector in mice. Based on these findings, the murine disease model will play an important role in the quality control during the further vector development process for the human ACHM2 clinical trials.

Keywords: 538 gene transfer/gene therapy • 696 retinal degenerations: hereditary • 508 electrophysiology: non-clinical  
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