Retinoschisin gene therapy in photoreceptors, Müller glia or all retinal cells in the Rs1h-/- mouse.
X-linked retinoschisis, a disease characterized by splitting of the retina, is caused by mutations in the retinoschisin gene, which encodes a putative secreted cell adhesion protein. Currently, there is no effective treatment for retinoschisis, though viral vector-mediated gene replacement therapies offer promise. We used intravitreal delivery of three different AAV vectors to target delivery of the RS1 gene to Müller glia, photoreceptors or multiple cell types throughout the retina. Müller glia radially span the entire retina, are accessible from the vitreous, and remain intact throughout progression of the disease. However, photoreceptors, not glia, normally secrete retinoschisin. We compared the efficacy of rescue mediated by retinoschisin secretion from these specific subtypes of retinal cells in the Rs1h-/- mouse model of retinoschisis. Our results indicate that all three vectors deliver the RS1 gene, and that several cell types can secrete retinoschisin, leading to transport of the protein across the retina. The greatest long-term rescue was observed when photoreceptors produce retinoschisin. Similar rescue was observed with photoreceptor-specific or generalized expression, although photoreceptor secretion may contribute to rescue in the latter case. These results collectively point to the importance of cell targeting and appropriate vector choice in the success of retinal gene therapies.
1] Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA [2] Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA [3] Department of Bioengineering, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Byrne
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Oztürk
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Lee
1] Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA [2] Department of Vision Science, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Fortuny
Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Visel
1] Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA [2] Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA [3] Department of Bioengineering, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Dalkara
1] Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA [2] Department of Bioengineering, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Schaffer
1] Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA [2] Department of Vision Science, The University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.
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Flannery
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004596:Electroretinography; D005136:Eye Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000235:genetics; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D020419:Photoreceptor Cells, Vertebrate / Q000502:physiology; D012160:Retina / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D041441:Retinoschisis / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy
D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D005136:Eye Proteins; C108726:RS1 protein, human; C491843:RS1 protein, mouse; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins