Gene delivery in the equine cornea: a novel therapeutic strategy.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if hybrid adeno-associated virus serotype 2/5 (AAV5) vector can effectively deliver foreign genes into the equine cornea without causing adverse side effects. The aims of this study were to: (i) evaluate efficacy of AAV5 to deliver therapeutic genes into equine corneal fibroblasts (ECFs) using enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) marker gene, and (ii) establish the safety of AAV5 vector for equine corneal gene therapy.


METHODS
Primary ECF cultures were harvested from healthy donor equine corneas. Cultures were maintained at 37°C in humidified atmosphere with 5% CO(2).


METHODS
AAV5 vector expressing EGFP under control of hybrid cytomegalovirus + chicken β-actin promoter was applied topically to ECF. Expression of delivered EGFP gene in ECF was quantified using fluorescent microscopy. Using fluorescent staining, the total number of cells and transduction efficiency of tested AAV vector was determined. Phase contrast microscopy, trypan blue and TUNEL assays were used to determine toxicity and safety of AAV5 for ECFs.


RESULTS
Topical AAV5 application successfully transduced significant numbers of ECFs. Transduction efficiency was 13.1%. Tested AAV5 vector did not cause phenotype change or significant cell death and cell viability was maintained.


CONCLUSIONS
Tested AAV5 vector is effective and safe for gene therapy in ECFs in vitro.
Buss
Dylan G
DG
Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Columbia, Missouri, USA.
Giuliano
Elizabeth
E
Sharma
Ajay
A
Mohan
Rajiv R
RR
D000818:Animals; D003315:Cornea; D000229:Dependovirus; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D006736:Horses; D046509:Tissue Culture Techniques
C485184:enhanced green fluorescent protein; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins