title: Embryonic stem cell-based reduction of central nervous system sulfatide storage in an animal model of metachromatic leukodystrophy.
abstract: Pluripotency, virtually unlimited self-renewal and amenability to genetic modification make embryonic stem (ES) cells an attractive donor source for cell-mediated gene therapy. In this proof of concept study, we explore whether glial precursors derived from murine ES cells (ESGPs) and engineered to overexpress human arylsulfatase A (hASA) can cross-correct the metabolic defect in an animal model of metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD). Transfected ES cells showed an up to 30-fold increase in ASA activity. Following in vitro differentiation, high expression of ASA was found in all stages of neural and glial differentiation. hASA-overexpressing ESGPs maintained their ability to differentiate into astrocytes and oligodendrocytes in vitro and in vivo. After transplantation into the brain of neonatal ASA-deficient mice, hASA-overexpressing ESGPs were found to incorporate into a variety of host brain regions. Four weeks after engraftment, immunofluorescence analyses with an antibody to sulfatide revealed a 46.7+/-4.0% reduction of immunoreactive sulfatide deposits in the vicinity of the hASA-positive engrafted cells, thereby significantly extending the rate of sulfatide reduction achieved by the endogenous ASA activity of non-hASA-transfected control cells (21.1+/-5.8%). These findings provide first in vivo evidence that ES cells may serve as a potential donor source for cell-mediated enzyme delivery in storage disorders such as MLD.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physiological Chemistry, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schmandt
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Muth-Köhne
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Perez-Bouza
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Segschneider
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gieselmann
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Brüstle
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western / Q000379:methods; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D002553:Cerebroside-Sulfatase / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D018274:Electroporation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000637:transplantation*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry / Q000379:methods; D007966:Leukodystrophy, Metachromatic / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D023421:Models, Animal; D013433:Sulfoglycosphingolipids / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D013433:Sulfoglycosphingolipids; D002553:Cerebroside-Sulfatase