Widespread distribution of gene products at clinically relevant levels throughout the CNS has been challenging. Adeno-associated virus type 9 (AAV9) vector has been reported as a good candidate for intravascular gene delivery, but low levels of preexisting antibody titers against AAV in the blood abrogate cellular transduction within the CNS. In the present study we compared the effectiveness of vascular delivery and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) delivery of AAV9 in transducing CNS tissue in nonhuman primates. Both delivery routes generated similar distribution patterns, although we observed a more robust level of transduction after CSF delivery. Consistent with previous reports administering AAV9, we found greater astrocytic than neuronal tropism via both routes, although we did find a greater magnitude of CNS transduction after CSF delivery compared with intravascular delivery. Last, we have demonstrated that delivery of AAV9 into the CSF does not shield against AAV antibodies. This has obvious implications when developing and/or implementing any clinical trial studies.
Tandem pore domain K ϩ channels represent a new family of ion channels involved in the control of background membrane conductances. We report the structural and functional properties of a TWIK-related acid-sensitive K ϩ channel (rTASK), a new member of this family cloned from rat cerebellum. The salient features of the primary amino acid sequence include four putative transmembrane domains and, unlike other cloned tandem pore domain channels, a PDZ (postsynaptic density protein, disk-large, zo-1) binding sequence at the C terminal. rTASK has distant overall homology to a putative Caenorhabditis elegans K ϩ channel and to the mammalian clones TREK-1 and TWIK-1. rTASK expression is most abundant in rat heart, lung, and brain. When exogenously expressed in Xenopus oocytes, rTASK currents activate instantaneously, are noninactivating, and are not gated by voltage. Because rTASK currents satisfy the Goldman-Hodgkin-Katz current equation for an open channel, rTASK can be classified an open rectifier. Activation of protein kinase A produces inhibition of rTASK, whereas activation of protein kinase C has no effect. rTASK currents were inhibited by extracellular acidity. rTASK currents also were inhibited by Zn 2ϩ (IC 50 ϭ 175 M), the local anesthetic bupivacaine (IC 50 ϭ 68 M), and the anti-convulsant phenytoin (ϳ50% inhibition at 200 M). By demonstrating open rectification and open probability independent of voltage, we have established that rTASK is a baseline potassium channel.
We are creating families of designer G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) to allow for precise spatiotemporal control of GPCR signaling in vivo. These engineered GPCRs, called receptors activated solely by synthetic ligands (RASSLs), are unresponsive to endogenous ligands but can be activated by nanomolar concentrations of pharmacologically inert, drug-like small molecules. Currently, RASSLs exist for the three major GPCR signaling pathways (Gs, Gi, Gq). These new advances are reviewed here to help facilitate the use of these powerful and diverse tools.
We report the results of a long-term follow-up of subjects in a phase 1 study of AAV2-hAADC (adeno-associated virus type 2-human aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase) gene therapy for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Ten patients with moderately advanced PD received bilateral putaminal infusions of either a low or a high dose of AAV2-hAADC vector. An annual positron emission tomography (PET) imaging with [(18)F]fluoro-L-m-tyrosine tracer was used for evaluation of AADC expression, and a standard clinical rating scale [Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS)] was used to assess effect. Our previous analysis of the 6-month data suggested that this treatment was acutely safe and well tolerated. We found that the elevated PET signal observed in the first 12 months persisted over 4 years in both dose groups. A significantly increased PET value compared with the presurgery baseline was maintained over the 4-year monitoring period. The UPDRS in all patients off medication for 12 hr improved in the first 12 months, but displayed a slow deterioration in subsequent years. This analysis demonstrates that apparent efficacy continues through later years with an acceptable safety profile. These data indicate stable transgene expression over 4 years after vector delivery and continued safety, but emphasize the need for a controlled efficacy trial and the use of a higher vector dose.
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