title: Proof of concept for AAV2/5-mediated gene therapy in iPSC-derived retinal pigment epithelium of a choroideremia patient.
abstract: Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) comprise a large group of genetically and clinically heterogeneous diseases that lead to progressive vision loss, for which a paucity of disease-mimicking animal models renders preclinical studies difficult. We sought to develop pertinent human cellular IRD models, beginning with choroideremia, caused by mutations in the CHM gene encoding Rab escort protein 1 (REP1). We reprogrammed REP1-deficient fibroblasts from a CHM (-/y) patient into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), which we differentiated into retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). This iPSC-derived RPE is a polarized monolayer with a classic morphology, expresses characteristic markers, is functional for fluid transport and phagocytosis, and mimics the biochemical phenotype of patients. We assayed a panel of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector serotypes and showed that AAV2/5 is the most efficient at transducing the iPSC-derived RPE and that CHM gene transfer normalizes the biochemical phenotype. The high, and unmatched, in vitro transduction efficiency is likely aided by phagocytosis and mimics the scenario that an AAV vector encounters in vivo in the subretinal space. We demonstrate the superiority of AAV2/5 in the human RPE and address the potential of patient iPSC-derived RPE to provide a proof-of-concept model for gene replacement in the absence of an appropriate animal model.
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1051, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 1 , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 2 , Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cereso
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1051, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 1 , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 2 , Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Marie O
authors.initials: MO
authors.lastname: Pequignot
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1051, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 1 , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 2 , Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Lorenne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Robert
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1040, Institute for Research in Biotherapy , Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Fabienne
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1051, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 1 , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 2 , Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Luca
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1051, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 1 , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 2 , Montpellier, France ; Department of Ophthalmology, CHRU , Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nabholz
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Pathological Cytology, CHRU , Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rigau
authors.affiliation: University of Montpellier 1 , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 2 , Montpellier, France ; Inserm U1040, Institute for Research in Biotherapy , Montpellier, France ; Cellular Therapy Unit, CHRU , Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: De Vos
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1051, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 1 , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 2 , Montpellier, France ; Department of Ophthalmology, CHRU , Montpellier, France ; Centre of Reference for Genetic Sensory Diseases, CHRU , Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Christian P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Hamel
authors.affiliation: Inserm U1051, Institute for Neurosciences of Montpellier , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 1 , Montpellier, France ; University of Montpellier 2 , Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Vasiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kalatzis