? Liver-directed gene therapy is a promising approach to the treatment of human inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) due to specific liver enzyme deficiencies. The goal of this project is to develop a safe, effective liver- directed gene transfer technique for IEM by treating phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH)-deficient Pahenu2 mice, a model of human phenylketonuria (PKU). We have recently witnessed complete correction of serum phenylalanine levels in Pahenu2 mice treated with a novel recombinant adeno-associated virus serotype 2 vector pseudotyped with serotype 8 capsid (rAAV2/8). We plan to extend this observation to evaluate long- term stability and incidence of adverse effects following rAAV2/8 administration and to further our understanding of the physiologic factors that govern phenylalanine clearance. Our specific hypothesis is that complete correction of hyperphenylalaninemia and its attendant phenotypic features will require permanent restoration of liver PAH activity in at least 10% of Pahenu2 hepatocytes. In the first aim of the project, we will investigate the physiologic thresholds that govern phenylalanine clearance in murine liver. We will transplant primary hepatocytes under a selective growth advantage into PAH deficient mice and will accurately determine the number of PAH positive hepatocytes and absolute amount of PAH enzyme activity required to correct hyperphenylalaninemia. Transplantation of hepatocytes that are either wild type and therefore express 100% normal PAH activity or are heterozygous for the Pahenu2 mutation and have < 100% PAH activity will allow us to determine the interrelationship between liver PAH activity, the absolute number of PAH-expressing cells and total phenylalanine clearance. In the second aim, we will fully evaluate the efficacy and safety of rAAV2/8-mediated, liver-directed gene transfer as therapy for murine PKU. We will evaluate transduction frequency, the amount and duration of therapeutic gene expression, the effect of therapy upon physical and biochemical phenotypes of the mice, the frequency of vector integration, and the incidence of adverse effects in the animals following treatment with rAAV2/8. Our ultimate goal is to develop an effective liver-directed gene transfer method for the treatment of murine PKU. We propose that lessons learned from the treatment of murine PKU will ultimately be applicable to the treatment of human PKU and other allied IEM. ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01DK059371-04
Application #
7224908
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-GTIE-A (01))
Program Officer
Mckeon, Catherine T
Project Start
2001-07-01
Project End
2010-04-14
Budget Start
2007-04-15
Budget End
2008-04-14
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$285,174
Indirect Cost
Name
Oregon Health and Science University
Department
Genetics
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
096997515
City
Portland
State
OR
Country
United States
Zip Code
97239
Harding, Cary O; Winn, Shelley R; Gibson, K Michael et al. (2014) Pharmacologic inhibition of L-tyrosine degradation ameliorates cerebral dopamine deficiency in murine phenylketonuria (PKU). J Inherit Metab Dis 37:735-43
Hamman, Kelly J; Winn, Shelley R; Harding, Cary O (2011) Hepatocytes from wild-type or heterozygous donors are equally effective in achieving successful therapeutic liver repopulation in murine phenylketonuria (PKU). Mol Genet Metab 104:235-40
Harding, Cary O; Blau, Nenad (2010) Advances and challenges in phenylketonuria. J Inherit Metab Dis 33:645-8
Rebuffat, Alexandre; Harding, Cary O; Ding, Zhaobing et al. (2010) Comparison of adeno-associated virus pseudotype 1, 2, and 8 vectors administered by intramuscular injection in the treatment of murine phenylketonuria. Hum Gene Ther 21:463-77
Arnold, Georgianne L; Van Hove, Johan; Freedenberg, Debra et al. (2009) A Delphi clinical practice protocol for the management of very long chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase deficiency. Mol Genet Metab 96:85-90
Ding, Zhaobing; Harding, Cary O; Rebuffat, Alexandre et al. (2008) Correction of murine PKU following AAV-mediated intramuscular expression of a complete phenylalanine hydroxylating system. Mol Ther 16:673-81
Harding, Co (2008) Progress toward cell-directed therapy for phenylketonuria. Clin Genet 74:97-104
Harding, C O; Gillingham, M B; Hamman, K et al. (2006) Complete correction of hyperphenylalaninemia following liver-directed, recombinant AAV2/8 vector-mediated gene therapy in murine phenylketonuria. Gene Ther 13:457-62
Hamman, Kelly; Clark, Heather; Montini, Eugenio et al. (2005) Low therapeutic threshold for hepatocyte replacement in murine phenylketonuria. Mol Ther 12:337-44
Harding, Cary O; Neff, Mark; Wild, Krzysztof et al. (2004) The fate of intravenously administered tetrahydrobiopterin and its implications for heterologous gene therapy of phenylketonuria. Mol Genet Metab 81:52-7

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