title: Long-term rAAV-mediated gene transfer of GDNF in the rat Parkinson's model: intrastriatal but not intranigral transduction promotes functional regeneration in the lesioned nigrostriatal system.
abstract: Previous studies have used recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors to deliver glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) in the substantia nigra to protect the nigral dopamine (DA) neurons from 6-hydroxydopamine-induced damage. However, no regeneration or functional recovery was observed in these experiments. Here, we have used an rAAV-GDNF vector to express GDNF long-term (6 months) in either the nigral DA neurons themselves, in the striatal target cells, or in both of these structures. The results demonstrate that both nigral and striatal transduction provide significant protection of nigral DA neurons against the toxin-induced degeneration. However, only the rats receiving rAAV-GDNF in the striatum displayed behavioral recovery, accompanied by significant reinnervation of the lesioned striatum, which developed gradually over the first 4-5 months after the lesion. GDNF transgene expression was maintained at high levels throughout this period. These results provide evidence that rAAV is a highly efficient vector system for long-term expression of therapeutic proteins in the nigrostriatal system.
authors.affiliation: Wallenberg Neuroscience Center, Department of Physiological Sciences, Division of Neurobiology, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden. deniz.kirik@mphy.lu.se
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kirik
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Rosenblad
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjorklund
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Mandel
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001552:Benzazepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000229:Dependovirus; D018491:Dopamine Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D008164:Luminescent Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009416:Nerve Regeneration / Q000502:physiology*; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D016627:Oxidopamine / Q000633:toxicity; D020734:Parkinsonian Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D001552:Benzazepines; D018491:Dopamine Agonists; C495041:Gdnf protein, rat; D051100:Glial Cell Line-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; D008164:Luminescent Proteins; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; C071262:SK&F 82958; D016627:Oxidopamine; D014446:Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase