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Haberman RP, Criswell HE, Snowdy S, Ming Z, Breese GR, Samulski RJ, McCown TJ. Therapeutic liabilities of in vivo viral vector tropism: adeno-associated virus vectors, NMDAR1 antisense, and focal seizure sensitivity. Mol Ther 2002; 6:495-500. [PMID: 12377191 PMCID: PMC3213639 DOI: 10.1006/mthe.2002.0701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) receptor provides a potential target for gene therapy of focal seizure disorders. To test this approach, we cloned a 729-bp NMDA receptor (NMDAR1) cDNA fragment in the antisense orientation into adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors, where expression was driven by either a tetracycline-off regulatable promoter (AAV-tTAK-NR1A) or a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (AAV-CMV-NR1A). After infection of primary cultured cortical neurons with recombinant AAV-tTAK-NR1A, patch clamp studies found a significant decrease in maximal NMDA-evoked currents, indicative of a decrease in the number of NMDA receptors. Similarly, infusion of AAV-tTAK-NR1A (1 microl) into the rat temporal cortex significantly decreased NMDAR1-like immunoreactivity in layer V pyramidal cells. When AAV-tTAK-NR1A vectors were infused into the seizure-sensitive site of the rat inferior collicular cortex, the seizure sensitivity increased significantly over a period of 4 weeks. However, collicular infusion of AAV-CMV-NR1A vectors caused the opposite effect, a significant decrease in seizure sensitivity. Subsequent collicular coinfusion of vector encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by the tetracyclineoff promoter (AAV-tTAK-GFP) and vector encoding beta-galactosidase driven by the CMV promoter (AAV-CMV-LacZ) transduced distinct neuronal populations with only partial overlap. Thus, differing transduction ratios of inhibitory interneurons to primary output neurons likely account for the divergent seizure influences. Although AAV vector-derived NMDAR1 antisense can influence NMDA receptor function both in vitro and in vivo, promoter-related tropic differences dramatically alter the physiological outcome of this receptor-based gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca P. Haberman
- UNC Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Hugh E. Criswell
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Stephen Snowdy
- Curriculum in Neurobiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Zhen Ming
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - George R. Breese
- Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Center for Alcohol Studies, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Curriculum in Neurobiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - R. Jude Samulski
- UNC Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
| | - Thomas J. McCown
- UNC Gene Therapy Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- Department of Psychiatry, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA
- To whom correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed. Fax: (919) 966-0907.
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Finegold AA, Perez FM, Iadarola MJ. In vivo control of NMDA receptor transcript level in motoneurons by viral transduction of a short antisense gene. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2001; 90:17-25. [PMID: 11376852 DOI: 10.1016/s0169-328x(01)00062-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Glutamate receptors play critical roles in normal and pathological processes. We developed an antisense gene delivery strategy to modulate the NMDA type of glutamate receptor. Using transient transfection in vitro and viral mediated gene transfer in vitro and in vivo, the effect of expression of an antisense gene fragment (60 bp) of the NR1 subunit was tested. Immunoblot analysis showed an antisense-concentration-dependent reduction in the NR1 subunit upon transient co-transfection of a plasmid expressing a sense NR1 gene and a plasmid expressing the antisense fragment into COS-7 cells. After recombination into an adenoviral vector, this antisense fragment reduced the amount of endogenous NR1 protein in PC12 cells. Finally, direct intraparenchymal injection of the viral vector into rat spinal cord resulted in diminished NR1 in motor neurons. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of this approach, which combines antisense with viral gene delivery to control the expression of specific genes in vivo. This approach may also be useful in reducing excitatory neurotransmission in vivo, with implications for the treatment of spinal disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Finegold
- Pain and Neurosensory Mechanisms Branch, NIH-NIDCR, Bldg 49, Rm 1A11, 49 Convent Dr. MSC 4410, Bethesda 20892, MD, USA. alan.finegold@perkinelmer
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Wang S, Bui V, Hughes JA, King MA, Meyer EM. Adeno-associated virus mediated gene transfer into primary rat brain neuronal and glial cultures: enhancement with the pH-sensitive surfactant dodecyl 2-(1'-imidazolyl) propionate. Neurochem Int 2000; 37:1-6. [PMID: 10781840 DOI: 10.1016/s0197-0186(00)00007-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluated the effects of a novel, pH-sensitive surfactant, dodecyl 2-(1'-imidazolyl) propionate (DIP), on cationic lipid mediated transfection in primary rat brain neuronal and glial cultures. The cationic lipid complex DOTAP/DOPE (1, 2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium propionate and dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine, respectively) was added over a range of concentrations (0-120 microg/ml) with DNA concentration kept constant (1.6 microg/ml). The neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoters were found to drive green fluorescent protein (GFP) expression in neuron-enriched and glial cultures, respectively, using adeno-associated virus (AAV) derived constructs. NSE-driven GFP expression was not observed in glial cultures. Addition of DOTAP/DOPE increased transfection efficiency over a wide range of lipid concentrations (5-50 microg/ml) keeping DNA concentration constant (1.6 microg/ml). Addition of DIP to the lipid/DNA complex increased maximum transfection efficiencies in glial and neuronal cultures 2-3-fold. Transfection efficiencies were at their maximum with a similar total lipid concentration (50 microg/ml) in both cell-types in the presence of DIP. Neuronal cultures were more sensitive than glia to the toxic actions of DOTAP/DOPE, with or without DIP. These results indicate that AAV-mediated gene-transfer to neurons and glia can be facilitated by addition of a pH-sensitive surfactant to cationic liposome/DNA complexes and that endosomal escape could be a limiting factor in transgene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610, USA
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Tang X, Mohuczy D, Zhang YC, Kimura B, Galli SM, Phillips MI. Intravenous angiotensinogen antisense in AAV-based vector decreases hypertension. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY 1999; 277:H2392-9. [PMID: 10600860 DOI: 10.1152/ajpheart.1999.277.6.h2392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Angiotensinogen (AGT) has been linked to hypertension. Because there are no direct inhibitors of AGT, we have developed antisense (AS) inhibition of AGT mRNA delivered in an adeno-associated virus (AAV)-based plasmid vector. This plasmid, driven by the cytomegalovirus promoter, contains a green fluorescent protein reporter gene and AS cDNA for rat AGT. Transfection of the plasmid into rat hepatoma cells brought a strong expression of the transgenes and a significant reduction in the level of AGT. In the in vivo study, naked plasmid DNA was intravenously injected into adult spontaneously hypertensive rats at different doses (0.6, 1.5, and 3 mg/kg). Expression of AGT AS mRNA was present in liver and heart, and it lasted longer in the liver. All three doses produced a significant decrease in blood pressure (BP). BP decreased for 2, 4, and 6 days, respectively. The lowest dose decreased BP by 12 +/- 3.0 mmHg, whereas the higher doses decreased BP by up to 22.5 +/- 5.2 mmHg compared with the control rats injected with saline (P < 0.01). The injection of the plasmid with liposomes produced a more profound and longer reduction (8 days) in BP. Consistent changes in plasma AGT level were observed. Sense plasmid had no effect. No liver toxicity was observed after injection of AS plasmid with or without liposomes. Our results suggest that the systemic delivery of AS against AGT mRNA by AAV-based plasmid vector, especially with liposomes, may have potential for gene therapy of hypertension and that further studies with the plasmid packaged into a recombinant AAV vector for a longer-lasting AS effect are warranted.
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MESH Headings
- Angiotensinogen/genetics
- Animals
- Blood Pressure/drug effects
- Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
- Cytomegalovirus/genetics
- Dependovirus
- Genes, Reporter
- Genetic Vectors
- Green Fluorescent Proteins
- Hypertension/drug therapy
- Hypertension/genetics
- Hypertension/prevention & control
- Injections, Intravenous
- Liver/metabolism
- Liver Neoplasms
- Luminescent Proteins/genetics
- Male
- Myocardium/metabolism
- Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense/administration & dosage
- Oligodeoxyribonucleotides, Antisense/pharmacology
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- Rats
- Rats, Inbred SHR
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Systole/drug effects
- Time Factors
- Transcription, Genetic/drug effects
- Transfection
- Tumor Cells, Cultured
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Affiliation(s)
- X Tang
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA
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Klein RL, McNamara RK, King MA, Lenox RH, Muzyczka N, Meyer EM. Generation of aberrant sprouting in the adult rat brain by GAP-43 somatic gene transfer. Brain Res 1999; 832:136-44. [PMID: 10375659 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-8993(99)01482-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The expression of GAP-43 was modulated genetically in the adult rat nigrostriatal or septohippocampal pathway using recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors incorporating the neuron specific enolase (NSE) promoter and either a rat GAP-43 cDNA or the corresponding antisense sequence. Bicistronic expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP) enabled us to evaluate transduced neurons selectively. Single injections of rAAV into the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) transduced both dopaminergic and non-dopaminergic neurons stably for the 3-month duration of the study. Transduction with the GAP-43 vector in this region: (1) increased GAP-43 mRNA levels 2-fold compared to controls; (2) led to GAP-43 immunoreactivity in neuronal perikarya, axons, and dendrites that was not observed otherwise; and (3) resulted in GAP-43/ GFP-positive axons that were traced to the striatum where they formed clusters of aberrant nets. The GAP-43 antisense vector, in contrast, decreased neuropil GAP-43 immunoreactivity compared to controls in the SNc. In septum, injections of the GAP-43 expressing vector also caused aberrant clusters of GAP-43 labelled fibers in terminal fields, i.e., fornix and hippocampus, that were not observed in control tissues. It therefore appears that rAAV vectors provide a novel approach for modulating intraneuronal GAP-43 expression in the adult brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L Klein
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Campus Box 100267 JHMHC, Gainesville, FL 32610-0267, USA
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