Non-Clinical Study Examining AAV8.TBG.hLDLR Vector-Associated Toxicity in Chow-Fed Wild-Type and LDLR+/-Rhesus Macaques.
Vectors based on adeno-associated virus serotype 8 (AAV8) have been evaluated in several clinical trials of gene therapy for hemophilia B with encouraging results. In preparation for a Phase 1 clinical trial of AAV8 gene therapy for the treatment of homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), the safety of the clinical candidate vector, AAV8.TBG.hLDLR, was evaluated in wild-type rhesus macaques and macaques heterozygous for a nonsense mutation in the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) gene (LDLR+/-). Intravenous infusion of 1.25 × 1013GC/kg of AAV8.TBG.hLDLR expressing the human version of LDLR was well tolerated and associated with only mild histopathology that was restricted to the liver and sporadic, low-level, and transient elevations in transaminases. Some animals developed T cells to both capsid and the hLDLR transgene, although these adaptive immune responses were most evident at the early time points from peripheral blood and in mononuclear cells derived from the liver. This toxicology study supports the safety of AAV8.TBG.hLDLR for evaluation in HoFH patients, and provides some context for evaluating previously conducted clinical trials of AAV8 in patients with hemophilia.
1 Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Jenny A
JA
Greig
2 Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Maria P
MP
Limberis
1 Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Peter
P
Bell
1 Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Shu-Jen
SJ
Chen
1 Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Roberto
R
Calcedo
3 Division of Translational Medicine and Human Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.|4 Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Daniel J
DJ
Rader
1 Gene Therapy Program, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania , Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
James M
JM
Wilson
D000071479:APOBEC-1 Deaminase / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000633:toxicity; D006801:Humans; D006938:Hyperlipoproteinemia Type II / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D008253:Macaca mulatta; D008297:Male; D009154:Mutation / Q000235:genetics; D011973:Receptors, LDL / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics*
D011973:Receptors, LDL; D002784:Cholesterol; D000071479:APOBEC-1 Deaminase
AAV; LDLR; familial hypercholesterolemia; gene therapy; low density lipoprotein receptor; toxicology