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McNamee SM, Chan NP, Akula M, Avola MO, Whalen M, Nystuen K, Singh P, Upadhyay AK, DeAngelis MM, Haider NB. Preclinical dose response study shows NR2E3 can attenuate retinal degeneration in the retinitis pigmentosa mouse model Rho P23H+/. Gene Ther 2024; 31:255-262. [PMID: 38273095 PMCID: PMC11090815 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-024-00440-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a heterogeneous disease and the main cause of vision loss within the group of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs). IRDs are a group of rare disorders caused by mutations in one or more of over 280 genes which ultimately result in blindness. Modifier genes play a key role in modulating disease phenotypes, and mutations in them can affect disease outcomes, rate of progression, and severity. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the nuclear hormone receptor 2 family e, member 3 (Nr2e3) gene reduced disease progression and loss of photoreceptor cell layers in RhoP23H-/- mice. This follow up, pharmacology study evaluates a longitudinal NR2E3 dose response in the clinically relevant heterozygous RhoP23H mouse. Reduced retinal degeneration and improved retinal morphology was observed 6 months following treatment evaluating three different NR2E3 doses. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis revealed regions of photoreceptor rescue in the treated retinas of RhoP23H+/- mice. Functional assessment by electroretinogram (ERG) showed attenuated photoreceptor degeneration with all doses. This study demonstrates the effectiveness of different doses of NR2E3 at reducing retinal degeneration and informs dose selection for clinical trials of RhoP23H-associated RP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon M McNamee
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Natalie P Chan
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Monica Akula
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Marielle O Avola
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maiya Whalen
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kaden Nystuen
- University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Margaret M DeAngelis
- Department of Ophthalmology, Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Neena B Haider
- Schepens Eye Research Institute, Massachusetts Eye and Ear, Department of Ophthalmology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
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Kajtna J, Tsang SH, Koch SF. Late-stage rescue of visually guided behavior in the context of a significantly remodeled retinitis pigmentosa mouse model. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:148. [PMID: 35195763 PMCID: PMC8866266 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04161-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Patients with progressive neurodegenerative disorder retinitis pigmentosa (RP) are diagnosed in the midst of ongoing retinal degeneration and remodeling. Here, we used a Pde6b-deficient RP gene therapy mouse model to test whether treatment at late disease stages can halt photoreceptor degeneration and degradative remodeling, while sustaining constructive remodeling and restoring function. We demonstrated that when fewer than 13% of rods remain, our genetic rescue halts photoreceptor degeneration, electroretinography (ERG) functional decline and inner retinal remodeling. In addition, in a water maze test, the performance of mice treated at 16 weeks of age or earlier was indistinguishable from wild type. In contrast, no efficacy was apparent in mice treated at 24 weeks of age, suggesting the photoreceptors had reached a point of no return. Further, remodeling in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and retinal vasculature was not halted at 16 or 24 weeks of age, although there appeared to be some slowing of blood vessel degradation. These data suggest a novel working model in which restoration of clinically significant visual function requires only modest threshold numbers of resilient photoreceptors, halting of destructive remodeling and sustained constructive remodeling. These novel findings define the potential and limitations of RP treatment and suggest possible nonphotoreceptor targets for gene therapy optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacqueline Kajtna
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
- Physiological Genomics, BioMedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg/Martinsried, Germany
| | - Stephen H Tsang
- Jonas Children's Vision Care, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Departments of Ophthalmology, Pathology and Cell Biology, Institute of Human Nutrition, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, 10032, USA
- Edward S. Harkness Eye Institute, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Susanne F Koch
- Department of Pharmacy, Center for Drug Research, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
- Physiological Genomics, BioMedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg/Martinsried, Germany.
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