title: PEGylated helper-dependent adenoviral vector expressing human Apo A-I for gene therapy in LDLR-deficient mice.
abstract: Helper-dependent adenoviral (HD-Ad) vectors have great potential for gene therapy applications; however, their administration induces acute toxicity that impairs safe clinical applications. We previously observed that PEGylation of HD-Ad vectors strongly reduces the acute response in murine and primate models. To evaluate whether PEGylated HD-Ad vectors combine reduced toxicity with the correction of pathological phenotypes, we administered an HD-Ad vector expressing the human apolipoprotein A-I (hApoA-I) to low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-receptor-deficient mice (a model for familial hypercholesterolemia) fed a high-cholesterol diet. Mice were treated with high doses of HD-Ad-expressing apo A-I or its PEGylated version. Twelve weeks later, LDL levels were lower and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) levels higher in mice treated with either of the vectors than in untreated mice. After terminal killing, the areas of atherosclerotic plaques were much smaller in the vector-treated mice than in the control animals. Moreover, the increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines was lower and consequently the toxicity profile better in mice treated with PEGylated vector than in mice treated with the unmodified vector. This finding indicates that the reduction in toxicity resulting from PEGylation of HD-Ad vectors does not impair the correction of pathological phenotypes. It also supports the clinical potential of these vectors for the correction of genetic diseases.
authors.affiliation: 1] CEINGE-Biotecnologie Avanzate, Napoli, Italy [2] Dipartimento di Medicina Molecolare e Biotecnologie Mediche, Università di Napoli 'Federico II', Napoli, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leggiero
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Astone
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cerullo
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lombardo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzaccara
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Labruna
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sacchetti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Salvatore
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Croyle
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pastore
mesh_terms: D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000235:genetics*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D006378:Helper Viruses / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D016207:Cytokines; D011973:Receptors, LDL; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols