Phenotypic rescue after adeno-associated virus-mediated delivery of 4-sulfatase to the retinal pigment epithelium of feline mucopolysaccharidosis VI

Thucanh T. Ho, Albert M. Maguire, Gustavo D. Aguirre, Enrico M. Surace, Vibha Anand, Yong Zeng, Anna Salvetti, John J. Hopwood, Mark E. Haskins, Jean Bennett

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35 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: Mucopolysaccharidosis VI (MPS VI), due to recessively inherited 4-sulfatase (4S) deficiency, results in lysosomal storage of dermatan sulfate in numerous tissues. Retinal involvement is limited to the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). This study aimed to determine whether recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated delivery of 4S would reverse the RPE pathology seen in MPS VI cats. Methods: AAV.f4S, containing the feline 4S cDNA, was delivered unilaterally to eyes of affected cats by subretinal or intravitreal injection. Contralateral eyes received AAV with the green fluorescent protein (GFP) reporter gene as control. At 2-11 months post-injection, the cats were sacrificed and the treatment effects were evaluated histologically. Results: By ophthalmoscopy and histological analyses, GFP was evident as early as 4 weeks and persisted through the latest time point (11 months). Untreated and AAV.GFP-treated diseased retinas contained massively hypertrophied RPE cells secondary to accumulation of dilated lysosomal inclusions containing dermatan sulfate. MPS VI eyes treated subretinally with AAV.f4S had minimal RPE cell inclusions and, consequently, were not hypertrophied. Conclusions: AAV-mediated subretinal delivery of f4S provided correction of the disease phenotype in RPE cells of feline MPS VI, supporting the utility of AAV as a vector for the treatment of RPE-specific as well as lysosomal storage diseases.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)613-621
Number of pages9
JournalJournal of Gene Medicine
Volume4
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished or Issued - Nov 2002

Keywords

  • Adeno-associated virus
  • Cat
  • Gene therapy
  • Lysosomal storage
  • Mucopolysaccharidosis VI
  • Retinal pigment epithelium

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Drug Discovery
  • Genetics(clinical)

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