Enhanced gene transfer to arthritic joints using adeno-associated virus type 5: implications for intra-articular gene therapy.
BACKGROUND
Gene therapy of the joint has great potential as a new therapeutic approach for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The vector chosen is of crucial importance for clinical success.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate the tropism and transduction efficiency in arthritic joints in vivo, and in synovial cells in vitro, using five different serotypes of recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) encoding beta-galactosidase or green fluorescent protein genes.


METHODS
rAAV was injected into the ankle joints of rats with adjuvant arthritis after the onset of disease. Synovial tissue was examined at different time points for beta-galactosidase protein and gene expression by in situ staining and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis, respectively. In addition, the ability of rAAV to transduce primary human fibroblast-like synoviocytes from patients with RA was investigated in vitro.


RESULTS
Intra-articular injection of the rAAV5 serotype resulted in the highest synovial transduction, followed by much lower expression using rAAV2. Expression of the transgene was already detectable 7 days after injection and lasted for at least 4 weeks. Only background staining was seen for serotypes 1, 3, and 4. Importantly, there was a minimal humoral immune response to rAAV5 compared with rAAV2. Additionally, it was found that both rAAV2 and rAAV5 can efficiently transduce human fibroblast-like synoviocytes obtained from patients with RA.


CONCLUSIONS
Intra-articular rAAV mediated gene therapy in RA might be improved by using rAAV5 rather than other serotypes.
Adriaansen
J
J
Division of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Academic Medical Centre, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Tas
S W
SW
Klarenbeek
P L
PL
Bakker
A C
AC
Apparailly
F
F
Firestein
G S
GS
Jorgensen
C
C
Vervoordeldonk
M J B M
MJ
Tak
P P
PP
D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000096:biosynthesis; D001169:Arthritis, Experimental / Q000628:therapy*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000628:therapy; D015870:Gene Expression; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D011917:Rats, Inbred Lew; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000201:enzymology; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D019076:Transgenes; D001616:beta-Galactosidase / Q000378:metabolism
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D001616:beta-Galactosidase