The development of new therapies to treat disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) is often hindered by the poor bioavailability of candidate drugs (e.g. small molecules, peptides, proteins, or viruses) to target cells within the brain and/or spinal cord. In particular, recombinant glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has been shown to have robust neuroprotective and neurorestorative effects in a variety of animal models for neurological disease and CNS injury in vivo, however, its success in treating human neurological disorders has been limited by its poor delivery to the much larger human brain. The overall goal of this project is to evaluate the therapeutic potential of a novel recombinant fusion protein composed of GDNF linked to the neuronal binding fragment of tetanus toxin (tetanus toxin fragment C, or TTC). Our study has four specific aims: (1) design, express, and purify GDNF:TTC fusion proteins; (2) characterize the functional activity of these fusion proteins; (3) determine the distribution, persistence, and tissue levels of GDNF:TTC fusion proteins in the CNS following intraparenchymal, intraventricular, and intramuscular administration; and (4) investigate the neuroprotective activity of the fusion proteins using a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. The experiments in Aim 1 will involve the use of cDNA constructs (all currently in hand) and recombinant protein purification techniques. The studies in Aim 2 will employ primary neuron cell culture in conjunction with immunocytochemical, enzyme immunoassay, and morphometric techniques to assess the functional properties of the GDNF:TTC fusion proteins in vitro. The studies in Aim 3 will similarly use immunocytochemical and enzyme immunoassay methods to investigate the delivery of fusions proteins to mouse and rat CNS in vivo. Finally, the experiments in Aim 4 will use a neurochemical approach to investigate the neuroprotective effects of GDNF:TTC in mice in vivo. While the present work may give rise to a new treatment for Parkinson's Disease, the information obtained from our characterization of GDNF:TTC may lead to its use in other neurological disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.(ALS). ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
3R01NS038679-05A2S1
Application #
7037068
Study Section
Clinical Neuroplasticity and Neurotransmitters Study Section (CNNT)
Program Officer
Tagle, Danilo A
Project Start
1999-04-19
Project End
2008-12-31
Budget Start
2005-01-15
Budget End
2005-12-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2005
Total Cost
$30,000
Indirect Cost
Name
Massachusetts General Hospital
Department
Type
DUNS #
073130411
City
Boston
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
02199
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Li, Jianhong; Chian, Ru-Ju; Ay, Ilknur et al. (2009) Insect GDNF:TTC fusion protein improves delivery of GDNF to mouse CNS. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 390:947-51
Larsen, Kristin E; Benn, Susanna C; Ay, Ilknur et al. (2006) A glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF):tetanus toxin fragment C protein conjugate improves delivery of GDNF to spinal cord motor neurons in mice. Brain Res 1120:1-12
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