Ozes Burcak, Myers Morgan, Moss Kyle, Mckinney Jennifer, Ridgley Alicia, Chen Lei, Bai Shasha, Abrams Charles K, Freidin Mona M, Mendell Jerry R, Sahenk Zarife
Center for Gene Therapy, The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, OH, USA.
Department of Pediatrics and Neurology, Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Gene Ther. 2022 Apr;29(3-4):127-137. doi: 10.1038/s41434-021-00231-3. Epub 2021 Feb 4.
X-linked Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy (CMTX) is caused by mutations in the gene encoding Gap Junction Protein Beta-1 (GJB1)/Connexin32 (Cx32) in Schwann cells. Neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) is an important autocrine factor supporting Schwann cell survival and differentiation and stimulating axon regeneration and myelination. Improvements in these parameters have been shown previously in a CMT1 model, Trembler mouse, with NT-3 gene transfer therapy. For this study, scAAV1.tMCK.NT-3 was delivered to the gastrocnemius muscle of 3-month-old Cx32 knockout (KO) mice. Measurable levels of NT-3 were found in the serum at 6-month post gene delivery. The outcome measures included functional, electrophysiological and histological assessments. At 9-months of age, NT-3 treated mice showed no functional decline with normalized compound muscle action potential amplitudes. Myelin thickness and nerve conduction velocity significantly improved compared with untreated cohort. A normalization toward age-matched wildtype histopathological parameters included increased number of Schmidt-Lanterman incisures, and muscle fiber diameter. Collectively, these findings suggest a translational application to CMTX1.
X连锁型夏科-马里-图斯神经病变(CMTX)由施万细胞中编码缝隙连接蛋白β-1(GJB1)/连接蛋白32(Cx32)的基因突变引起。神经营养因子-3(NT-3)是一种重要的自分泌因子,可支持施万细胞的存活和分化,并刺激轴突再生和髓鞘形成。先前在CMT1模型震颤小鼠中通过NT-3基因转移疗法已显示出这些参数有所改善。在本研究中,将重组腺相关病毒1型.tMCK.NT-3(scAAV1.tMCK.NT-3)注射到3月龄Cx32基因敲除(KO)小鼠的腓肠肌中。基因递送后6个月时,在血清中检测到可测量水平的NT-3。结果指标包括功能、电生理和组织学评估。在9月龄时,接受NT-3治疗的小鼠未出现功能衰退,复合肌肉动作电位幅度恢复正常。与未治疗组相比,髓鞘厚度和神经传导速度显著改善。向年龄匹配的野生型组织病理学参数的正常化包括施密特-兰特尔曼切迹数量增加和肌纤维直径增大。总体而言,这些发现提示了其在CMTX1中的转化应用。