Adeno-associated virus vector serotypes mediate sustained correction of bilirubin UDP glucuronosyltransferase deficiency in rats.
Crigler-Najjar (CN) patients have no bilirubin UDP glucuronosyltransferase (UGT1A1) activity and suffer brain damage because of bilirubin toxicity. Vectors based on adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 2 transduce liver cells with relatively low efficiency. Recently, AAV serotypes 1, 6, and 8 have been shown to be more efficient for liver cell transduction. We compared AAV serotypes 1, 2, 6, and 8 for correction of UGT1A1 deficiency in the Gunn rat model of CN disease. Adult Gunn rats were injected with CMV-UGT1A1 AAV vectors. Serum bilirubin was decreased over the first year by 64% for AAV1, 16% for AAV2, 25% for AAV6, and 35% for AAV8. Antibodies to UGT1A1 were detected after injection of all AAV serotypes. An AAV1 UGT1A1 vector with the liver-specific albumin promoter corrected serum bilirubin levels but did not induce UGT1A1 antibodies. Two years after injection of AAV vectors all animals had large lipid deposits in the liver. These lipid deposits were not seen in age-matched control animals. AAV1 vectors are promising candidates for CN gene therapy because they can mediate a reduction in serum bilirubin levels in Gunn rats that would be therapeutic in humans.
Academic Medical Center Liver Center, 1105 BK Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Jurgen
J
Seppen
Conny
C
Bakker
Berry
B
de Jong
Cindy
C
Kunne
Karin
K
van den Oever
Kristin
K
Vandenberghe
Rudi
R
de Waart
Jaap
J
Twisk
Piter
P
Bosma
D000818:Animals; D001646:Bile / Q000502:physiology; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000097:blood; D003414:Crigler-Najjar Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase / Q000172:deficiency* / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D051381:Rats; D011911:Rats, Gunn; D012703:Serotyping; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D000099148:UGT1A1 Enzyme
D001663:Bilirubin; D014453:Glucuronosyltransferase; D000099148:UGT1A1 Enzyme