We have made major strides towards determining the pathogenesis and testing a treatment for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON). We successfully expressed the wild-type human NADH ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit 4 (ND4) of complex I in the nuclear genetic code. The protein was imported into the mitochondria by agency of a mitochondrial targeting sequence. The gene was packaged into next generation tyrosine to phenylalanine modified self-complementary adenoassociated virus (AAV) then injected into rodent eyes. FLAG-tagged wild-type human ND4 was detected quickly in 90% of retinal ganglion cells by 1 week post injection and it integrated into Complex I. Furthermore, in rodent eyes also injected with a mutant G11778A ND4 homologue responsible for most cases of LHON, wild-type ND4 restored defective ATP synthesis, suppressed visual loss, reduced apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells and prevented demise of axons in the optic nerve that persisted long-term. The self-complementary wild-type ND4 injected at the relevant titer into the ex vivo human eye expressed in most retinal ganglion cells, suggesting that it will do so in our LHON patients. Unlike Leber Congenital Amaurosis (RPE65 mutation), there is no FDA approved treatment for the visual loss of LHON. Over the past 4 years we have enrolled 19 LHON patients with genetic confirmation of the G11778A mutation in the ND4 subunit of complex I into a phase I clinical trial designed to test the safety of our gene therapy vector (IND# 15941). Nine patients were vitreally injected with low dose self-complementary scAAV2- P1ND4v2, nine injected with medium doses and one injected with high dose. Our goal in this competing renewal application is to test the safety and tolerability of higher doses of AAV mediated delivery of the human ND4 gene in our phase I clinical trial of patients with mutated G11778A mtDNA in order to move to prove efficacy in the later years of this program.
Unlike LHON, glaucoma and diseases of the retina that have effective treatments constitute 99% of NEI funding. We have assembled a highly experienced multidisciplinary team of researchers and clinicians with the necessary infrastructure and expertise to move our translational research into a human clinical trial designed to reduce the burden and specter of visual loss in our patients and families with LHON. We propose to use the AAV vector, safely tested in many human clinical trials and approved by the FDA to treat Leber Congenital Amaurosis, to deliver the affected gene to the mitochondria. Our technology is also applicable to treatment of the myriad of diseases caused by mutated mitochondrial DNA included in the category of orphan diseases that have no effective remedy.
