title: Preclinical toxicity evaluation of erythrocyte-encapsulated thymidine phosphorylase in BALB/c mice and beagle dogs: an enzyme-replacement therapy for mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy.
abstract: Erythrocyte-encapsulated thymidine phosphorylase (EE-TP) is currently under development as an enzyme replacement therapy for mitochondrial neurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy (MNGIE), an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a deficiency of thymidine phosphorylase. The rationale for the development of EE-TP is based on the pathologically elevated metabolites (thymidine and deoxyuridine) being able to freely diffuse across the erythrocyte membrane where the encapsulated enzyme catalyses their metabolism to the normal products. The systemic toxic potential of EE-TP was assessed when administered intermittently by iv bolus injection to BALB/c mice and Beagle dogs for 4 weeks. The studies consisted of one control group receiving sham-loaded erythrocytes twice weekly and two treated groups, one dosed once every 2 weeks and the other dosed twice per week. The administration of EE-TP to BALB/c mice resulted in thrombi/emboli in the lungs and spleen enlargement. These findings were also seen in the control group, and there was no relationship to the number of doses administered. In the dog, transient clinical signs were associated with EE-TP administration, suggestive of an immune-based reaction. Specific antithymidine phosphorylase antibodies were detected in two dogs and in a greater proportion of mice treated once every 2 weeks. Nonspecific antibodies were detected in all EE-TP-treated animals. In conclusion, these studies do not reveal serious toxicities that would preclude a clinical trial of EE-TP in patients with MNGIE, but caution should be taken for infusion-related reactions that may be related to the production of nonspecific antibodies or a cell-based immune response.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Sciences, St. George's, University of London, London SW17 0RE, UK.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levene
authors.forename: David G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Coleman
authors.forename: Hugh C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
authors.forename: Lynette D
authors.initials: LD
authors.lastname: Fairbanks
authors.forename: Babunilayam
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gangadharan
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gasson
authors.forename: Bridget E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Bax
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001804:Blood Transfusion, Autologous; D004285:Dogs; D004337:Drug Carriers / Q000737:chemistry; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D056947:Enzyme Replacement Therapy; D017707:Erythrocyte Transfusion; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000737:chemistry; D007418:Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D017237:Mitochondrial Encephalomyopathies / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D039141:Muscular Dystrophy, Oculopharyngeal; D009886:Ophthalmoplegia / Q000151:congenital; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D028361:Mitochondrial Diseases
chemical_list: D004337:Drug Carriers; D013939:Thymidine Phosphorylase