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Complete correction of hyperphenylalaninemia following liver-directed, recombinant AAV2/8 vector-mediated gene therapy in murine phenylketonuria

Gene Therapy volume 13, pages 457–462 (2006)Cite this article

Abstract

Novel recombinant adeno-associated virus vectors pseudotyped with serotype 8 capsid (rAAV2/8) have recently shown exciting promise as effective liver-directed gene transfer reagents. We have produced a novel liver-specific rAAV2/8 vector expressing the mouse phenylalanine hydroxylase (Pah) cDNA and have administered this vector to hyperphenylalaninemic PAH-deficient Pahenu2 mice, a model of human phenylketonuria (PKU). Our hypothesis was that this vector would produce sufficient hepatocyte transduction frequency and PAH activity to correct blood phenylalanine levels in murine PKU. Portal vein injection of recombinant AAV2/8 vector into five adult Pahenu2 mice yielded complete and stable (up to 17 weeks) correction of serum phenylalanine levels. Liver PAH activity was corrected to 11.5±2.4% of wild type liver activity and was associated with a significant increase in phenylalanine clearance following parenteral phenylalanine challenge. Although questions of long-term safety and stability of expression remain, recombinant AAV2/8-mediated, liver-directed gene therapy is a promising novel treatment approach for PKU and allied inborn errors of metabolism.

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Abbreviations

AAV:

adeno-associated virus

PKU:

phenylketonuria

Phe:

phenylalanine

PAH:

phenylalanine hydroxylase.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation, Portland, OR (COH). Dr Koeberl was supported by the Muscular Dystrophy Association and Genzyme Corporation. The authors would like to thank Drs Markus Grompe and David Koeller for critical reviews of the manuscript. Dr Harding would like to thank the many families affected by PKU, who provided constant encouragement and inspiration for this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    C O Harding, K Hamman, H Clark & E Goebel-Daghighi

  2. Department of Molecular and Medical Genetics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA

    C O Harding & M B Gillingham

  3. Department of Pediatrics, Duke University Medical School, Durham, NC, USA

    A Bird & D D Koeberl

Authors
  1. C O Harding
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  2. M B Gillingham
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  3. K Hamman
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  4. H Clark
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  5. E Goebel-Daghighi
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  6. A Bird
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  7. D D Koeberl
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Correspondence to C O Harding.

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Harding, C., Gillingham, M., Hamman, K. et al. Complete correction of hyperphenylalaninemia following liver-directed, recombinant AAV2/8 vector-mediated gene therapy in murine phenylketonuria. Gene Ther 13, 457–462 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gt.3302678

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