Our purpose is to study gene therapy in mouse models of Fukutin-related protein (FKRP) deficiency. FKRP is a glycotransferase, one of the key enzymes in the glycosylation pathway of -dystroglycan (-DG). Alpha-DG is a membrane protein abundant in muscle and nerve. Mutations in FKRP gene cause a spectrum of muscular dystrophies. The most common form is limb girdle muscular dystrophy 2I (LGMD2I) that manifests cardiomyopathy at later stage. The rare and severe forms, including congenital muscular dystrophy (MDC1C), Walker-Warburg syndrome (WWS) and muscle-eye-brain disease (MEB), also show central nervous system (CNS) deficiency. No curative or effective treatment is clinically available for any muscular dystrophies. Our short-term goal is to use the new mouse models to study FKRP gene therapy efficacy and safety, with the long-term goal to develop an effective treatment for FKRP-related diseases. Since the vast majority of the FKRP-deficient patients suffer from LGMD2I, we design Aim 1 to focus on LGMD2I gene therapy, which will practically find and benefit many more patients. On the other hand, the severe and early-onset FKRP- related diseases are extremely rare but they affect young children with CNS complications. We therefore have Aim 2 dedicated to this type of diseases with an emphasis on CNS gene delivery. FKRP deficiency has been under-studied and its basic biochemistry is not as thoroughly understood as most of the well-defined classic enzymes. As a result, we put forth Aim 3 to further elucidate the in vivo functions of FKRP, to gain useful information and guidance for gene therapy.

Public Health Relevance

Our purpose is to study gene therapy in mouse models of Fukutin-related protein (FKRP) deficiency. FKRP deficiency has been under-studied and its basic biochemistry is not as thoroughly understood as most of the well-defined classic enzymes. Our short-term goal is to use the new mouse models to study FKRP gene therapy efficacy and safety, with the long-term goal to develop an effective treatment for FKRP-related diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
4R01NS082536-04
Application #
9035156
Study Section
Gene and Drug Delivery Systems Study Section (GDD)
Program Officer
Nuckolls, Glen H
Project Start
2013-04-01
Project End
2017-03-31
Budget Start
2016-04-01
Budget End
2017-03-31
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2016
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Department
Pharmacology
Type
Schools of Pharmacy
DUNS #
608195277
City
Chapel Hill
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27599
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Vannoy, Charles Harvey; Xiao, Will; Lu, Peijuan et al. (2017) Efficacy of Gene Therapy Is Dependent on Disease Progression in Dystrophic Mice with Mutations in the FKRP Gene. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 5:31-42
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