An adeno-associated virus vector efficiently and specifically transduces mouse skeletal muscle

Mol Biotechnol. 2011 Sep;49(1):1-10. doi: 10.1007/s12033-010-9369-z.

Abstract

Expression of a therapeutic gene in the skeletal muscle is a practical strategy to compensate a patients' insufficient circulating factor. Its clinical application requires a muscle-targeting vector capable of inducing a continuous high-level transgene expression. We modified an adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2) vector expressing luciferase from the mouse muscle creatine kinase gene promoter-enhancer (Ckm). First, AAVS1 insulator was inserted into the vector genome for transcriptional enhancement. This increased transduction of mouse quadriceps muscle by 11-fold at 4 weeks after intramuscular injection. Second, two capsid modifications were combined (21F capsid): incorporation of a segment of AAV1 capsid to produce a hybrid capsid and substitution of a tyrosine with a phenylalanine. Use of 21F capsid increased muscle transduction further by 18-fold, resulting in 200-fold higher efficacy than that of the unmodified vector. Compared with a vector having human elongation factor 1α promoter which showed similar efficacy in the muscle, this vector having Ckm transduced non-muscle organs less efficiently after intravenous administration. The AAV2 vector composed of the modified genome and capsid provides a backbone to develop a clinical vector expressing a therapeutic gene in the muscle.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Capsid Proteins / genetics
  • Capsid Proteins / metabolism
  • Cell Line
  • Creatine Kinase, MM Form / genetics
  • Creatine Kinase, MM Form / metabolism
  • Dependovirus / genetics*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Genetic Vectors*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Muscle, Skeletal / cytology*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / metabolism
  • Transduction, Genetic*
  • Transgenes

Substances

  • Capsid Proteins
  • Creatine Kinase, MM Form