Systemic delivery of dysferlin overlap vectors provides long-term gene expression and functional improvement for dysferlinopathy

RA Potter, DA Griffin, PC Sondergaard… - Human gene …, 2018 - liebertpub.com
RA Potter, DA Griffin, PC Sondergaard, RW Johnson, ER Pozsgai, KN Heller, EL Peterson…
Human gene therapy, 2018liebertpub.com
Dysferlinopathies comprise a family of disorders caused by mutations in the dysferlin (DYSF)
gene, leading to a progressive dystrophy characterized by chronic muscle fiber loss, fat
replacement, and fibrosis. To correct the underlying histopathology and function, expression
of full-length DYSF is required. Dual adeno-associated virus vectors have been developed,
defined by a region of homology, to serve as a substrate for reconstitution of the full 6.5 kb
dysferlin cDNA. Previous work studied the efficacy of this treatment through intramuscular …
Dysferlinopathies comprise a family of disorders caused by mutations in the dysferlin (DYSF) gene, leading to a progressive dystrophy characterized by chronic muscle fiber loss, fat replacement, and fibrosis. To correct the underlying histopathology and function, expression of full-length DYSF is required. Dual adeno-associated virus vectors have been developed, defined by a region of homology, to serve as a substrate for reconstitution of the full 6.5 kb dysferlin cDNA. Previous work studied the efficacy of this treatment through intramuscular and regional delivery routes. To maximize clinical efficacy, dysferlin-deficient mice were treated systemically to target all muscles through the vasculature for efficacy and safety studies. Mice were evaluated at multiple time points between 4 and 13 months post treatment for dysferlin expression and functional improvement using magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy and membrane repair. A systemic dose of 6 × 1012 vector genomes resulted in widespread gene expression in the muscles. Treated muscles showed a significant decrease in central nucleation, collagen deposition, and improvement of membrane repair to wild-type levels. Treated gluteus muscles were significantly improved compared to placebo-treated muscles and were equivalent to wild type in volume, intra- and extramyocellular lipid accumulation, and fat percentage using magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Dual-vector treatment allows for production of full-length functional dysferlin with no toxicity. This confirms previous safety data and validates translation of systemic gene delivery for dysferlinopathy patients.
Mary Ann Liebert