AAV8-mediated gene transfer of interleukin-4 to endogenous beta-cells prevents the onset of diabetes in NOD mice.
We have demonstrated the ability to deliver and express genes specifically in beta-cells for at least 6 months, using a murine insulin promoter (mIP) in a double-stranded, self-complementary AAV vector (dsAAV8-mIP). In this study, we evaluated the effects of dsAAV8-mIP-mediated delivery of interleukin 4 (mIL-4) to endogenous beta-cells in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice. In 4-week-old NOD mice, the extent of gene transfer and expression in endogenous beta-cells after ip delivery of dsAAV8-mIP-enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) was comparable to normal BALB/C mice. Further, after IP delivery of dsAAV8-mIP-IL4, expression of mIL-4 was detected in islets isolated from the treated mice and cultured. AAV8-mIP-mediated gene expression of mIL-4 in endogenous beta- cells of 4- and 8-week-old NOD mice prevented the onset of hyperglycemia in NOD mice and reduced the severity of insulitis. Moreover, expression of mIL-4 also maintained the level of CD4(+)CD25(+)FoxP3(+) cells, and adoptive transfer of splenocytes from nondiabetic dsAAV8-mIP-IL-4 mice to NODscid mice was able to block the diabetes induced by splenocytes co-adoptively transferred from nondiabetic dsAAV-mIP-eGFP mice. Taken together, these results demonstrate that local expression of mIL-4 in islets prevents islet destruction and blocks autoimmunity, partly through regulation of T-cell function.
Rehman
Khaja K
KK
Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
Trucco
Massimo
M
Wang
Zhong
Z
Xiao
Xiao
X
Robbins
Paul D
PD
D000818:Animals; D015496:CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050417:Insulin-Secreting Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D007515:Islets of Langerhans / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016688:Mice, Inbred NOD; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D013154:Spleen / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology
D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C498833:Foxp3 protein, mouse; D053645:Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit; D016753:Interleukin-10; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D015847:Interleukin-4