Adenovirus vectors based on human adenovirus type 19a have high potential for human muscle-directed gene therapy.
Until recently, adenovirus-based gene therapy has been almost exclusively based on human adenovirus serotype 5 (Ad5). The aim of this study was to systematically compare the efficiency of transduction of primary muscle cells from various species by two adenoviral vectors from subgroups C and D. Transduction of a panel of myoblasts demonstrated a striking specificity of an Ad19a-based replication-defective E1-deleted vector (Ad19aEGFP) for human cells, whereas the Ad5-based vector had high affinity for nonhuman primate myoblasts. Transgene expression correlated well with cell-associated vector genomes. Up to 6.59% of the initially applied Ad19aEGFP vector particles were taken up by human myoblasts, as compared with 0.1% of the corresponding Ad5 vector. Remarkably, Ad19aEGFP but not Ad5EGFP efficiently transduced differentiated human myotubes, an in vitro model for skeletal muscle transduction. Uptake of Ad19aEGFP vector particles in human myotubes was 12-fold more efficient than that of Ad5EGFP. Moreover, both vectors demonstrated an early block at the level of vector uptake in mouse myoblasts and rat L6 cells. Investigation of the underlying mechanism for binding and uptake of the two vectors by human myoblasts showed high susceptibility for Ad19a to neuraminidase and wheat germ agglutinin (WGA) lectin, whereas Ad5-mediated transduction was dependent on binding to the coxsackie-adenovirus receptor (CAR) and sensitive to soluble RGD peptide and heparin. Our study offers insights into species-dependent factors that determine Ad tropism and, moreover, provides a basis for application of the novel Ad19a-based vector for gene transfer into human skeletal muscle.
Thirion
Christian
C
Gene Center, Friedrich Baur Institute, and Department of Neurology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich 81377, Germany. Christian.Thirion@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Lochmüller
Hanns
H
Ruzsics
Zsolt
Z
Boelhauve
Marc
M
König
Cornelia
C
Thedieck
Cornelia
C
Kutik
Stephan
S
Geiger
Christiane
C
Kochanek
Stefan
S
Volpers
Christoph
C
Burgert
Hans-Gerhard
HG
D000260:Adenoviruses, Human / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D062727:Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor-Like Membrane Protein; D000939:Epitopes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006497:Heparan Sulfate / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D018485:Muscle Fibers, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology / Q000821:virology*; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011991:Receptors, Virus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D013045:Species Specificity; D014161:Transduction, Genetic; D018523:Tropism; D014779:Virus Replication
D062727:Coxsackie and Adenovirus Receptor-Like Membrane Protein; D000939:Epitopes; D006497:Heparan Sulfate; D019158:N-Acetylneuraminic Acid; D011991:Receptors, Virus; C568771:CLMP protein, human; C568772:CLMP protein, mouse; C568773:Clmp protein, rat