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Gene therapy in a murine model of methylmalonic acidemia using rAAV9-mediated gene delivery

Gene Therapy volume 19, pages 385–391 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA), an inherited metabolic disorder caused by deficient activity of methylmalonyl-CoA mutase, carries a poor prognosis for long-term survival. While administration of a recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 8 vector (rAAV8) can rescue Mut−/− mice from neonatal lethality and provide sustained phenotypic correction, translation of gene therapy to human subjects will likely require multiple rounds of systemic administration and, ideally, the use of a vector that transduces the kidney. To examine the effectiveness of alternative rAAVs in the treatment of MMA, a serotype 9 rAAV expressing the Mut cDNA was constructed and delivered to newborn Mut−/− mice (n=11). rAAV9 gene therapy directed hepatic transgene expression within 24 h and effectively rescued the Mut−/− mice from lethality, conferred long-term survival, markedly improved metabolism and resulted in striking preservation of renal function and histology. Systemic readministration of the vector at a dose similar to that used in human clinical trials (2.5 × 109 GC of rAAV9 per gram) to older, treated Mut−/− mice (n=5) lowered circulating metabolites, increased in vivo propionate oxidative capacity and produced transgene expression in the kidney and liver. Our data support the use of an rAAV9 vector in the acute and chronic treatment of MMA, and highlight the renal tropism afforded by this novel serotype.

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Acknowledgements

JSS, RJC, JRS and CPV were supported, in part, by the Intramural Research Program of the National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health. LL was supported, in part, by the Intramural Research Program of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health. JRS also received support from the Angels for Alyssa MMA Research Foundation.

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Author notes

  1. J S Sénac and R J Chandler: These authors contributed equally to this study.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Organic Acid Research Section, Genetics and Molecular Biology Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    J S Sénac, R J Chandler, J R Sysol & C P Venditti

  2. Institute for Biomedical Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA

    R J Chandler

  3. Kidney Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    L Li

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  1. J S Sénac
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Correspondence to C P Venditti.

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Sénac, J., Chandler, R., Sysol, J. et al. Gene therapy in a murine model of methylmalonic acidemia using rAAV9-mediated gene delivery. Gene Ther 19, 385–391 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/gt.2011.108

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