Safety of recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2-RPE65 vector delivered by ocular subretinal injection
Samuel G Jacobson, Gregory M Acland, Gustavo D Aguirre, Tomas S Aleman, Sharon B Schwartz, Artur V Cideciyan, Caroline J Zeiss, Andras M Komaromy, Shalesh Kaushal, Alejandro J Roman, Elizabeth A M Windsor, Alexander Sumaroka, Susan E Pearce-Kelling, Thomas J Conlon, Vincent A Chiodo, Sanford L Boye, Terence R Flotte, Albert M Maguire, Jean Bennett, William W Hauswirth, Samuel G Jacobson, Gregory M Acland, Gustavo D Aguirre, Tomas S Aleman, Sharon B Schwartz, Artur V Cideciyan, Caroline J Zeiss, Andras M Komaromy, Shalesh Kaushal, Alejandro J Roman, Elizabeth A M Windsor, Alexander Sumaroka, Susan E Pearce-Kelling, Thomas J Conlon, Vincent A Chiodo, Sanford L Boye, Terence R Flotte, Albert M Maguire, Jean Bennett, William W Hauswirth
Abstract
AAV2 delivery of the RPE65 gene to the retina of blind RPE65-deficient animals restores vision. This strategy is being considered for human trials in RPE65-associated Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), but toxicity and dose efficacy have not been defined. We studied ocular delivery of AAV-2/2.RPE65 in RPE65-mutant dogs. There was no systemic toxicity. Ocular examinations showed mild or moderate inflammation that resolved over 3 months. Retinal histopathology indicated that traumatic lesions from the injection were common, but thinning within the injection region occurred only at the two highest vector doses. Biodistribution studies at 3 months postinjection showed no vector in optic nerve or visual centers in the brain and only isolated non-dose-related detection in other organs. We also performed biodistribution studies in normal rats at about 2 weeks and 2 months postinjection and vector was not widespread outside the injected eye. Dose-response results in RPE65-mutant dogs indicated that the highest 1.5-log unit range of vector doses proved efficacious. The efficacy and toxicity limits defined in this study lead to suggestions for the design of a subretinal AAV-2/2.RPE65 human trial of RPE65-associated LCA.
Source: PubMed