Plasmid-based gene transfer ameliorates visceral storage in a mouse model of Sandhoff disease

A Yamaguchi, K Katsuyama, K Suzuki… - Journal of molecular …, 2003 - Springer
A Yamaguchi, K Katsuyama, K Suzuki, K Kosaka, I Aoki, S Yamanaka
Journal of molecular medicine, 2003Springer
Sandhoff disease is a severe neurodegenerative disorder with visceral involvement caused
by mutations in the HEXB gene coding for the β subunit of the lysosomal hexosaminidases A
and B. HEXB mutations result in the accumulation of undegraded substrates such as GM2
and GA2 in lysosomes. We evaluated the efficacy of cationic liposome-mediated plasmid
gene therapy using the Sandhoff disease mouse, an animal model of a human lysosomal
storage disease. The mice received a single intravenous injection of two plasmids, encoding …
Abstract
Sandhoff disease is a severe neurodegenerative disorder with visceral involvement caused by mutations in the HEXB gene coding for the β subunit of the lysosomal hexosaminidases A and B. HEXB mutations result in the accumulation of undegraded substrates such as GM2 and GA2 in lysosomes. We evaluated the efficacy of cationic liposome-mediated plasmid gene therapy using the Sandhoff disease mouse, an animal model of a human lysosomal storage disease. The mice received a single intravenous injection of two plasmids, encoding the human α and β subunits of hexosaminidase cDNAs. As a result, 10–35% of normal levels of hexosaminidase expression, theoretically therapeutic levels, were achieved in most visceral organs, but not in the brain, 3 days after injection with decreased levels by day 7. Histochemical staining confirmed widespread enzyme activity in visceral organs. Both GA2 and GM2 were reduced by almost 10% and 50%, respectively, on day 3, and by 60% and 70% on day 7 compared with untreated age-matched Sandhoff disease mice. Consistent with the biochemical results, a reduction in GM2 was observed in liver cells histologically as well. These initial findings support further development of the plasmid gene therapy against lysosomal diseases with visceral pathology.
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