Interleukin-36 (IL-36) represents three cytokines, IL-36alpha, IL-36beta and IL-36gamma, which bind to the same receptor, IL-1RL2; however, their physiological function(s) remain poorly understood. Here, the role of IL-36 in immunity against HSV-1 was examined using the flank skin infection mouse model. Expression analyses revealed increased levels of IL-36alpha and IL-36beta mRNA in infected skin, while constitutive IL-36gamma levels remained largely unchanged. In human keratinocytes, IL-36alpha mRNA was induced by HSV-1, while IL-1beta and TNFalpha increased all three IL-36 mRNAs. The dominant alternative splice variant of human IL-36beta mRNA was isoform 2, which is the ortholog of the known mouse IL-36beta mRNA. Mice deficient in IL-36beta, but not IL-36alpha or IL-36gamma, succumbed more frequently to HSV-1 infection than wild type mice. Furthermore, IL-36beta(-/-) mice developed larger zosteriform skin lesions along infected neurons. Levels of HSV-1 specific antibodies, CD8(+) cells and IFNgamma-producing CD4(+) cells were statistically equal in wild type and IL-36beta(-/-) mice, suggesting similar initiation of adaptive immunity in the two strains. This correlated with the time at which HSV-1 genome and mRNA levels in primary skin lesions started to decline in both wild type and IL-36beta(-/-) mice. Our data indicate that IL-36beta has previously unrecognized functions protective against HSV-1 infection.

Canavan disease (CD) is a debilitating and lethal leukodystrophy caused by mutations in the aspartoacylase (ASPA) gene and the resulting defect in N-acetylaspartate (NAA) metabolism in the CNS and peripheral tissues. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and widely transduce the CNS. We developed a rAAV-based and optimized gene replacement therapy, which achieves early, complete, and sustained rescue of the lethal disease phenotype in CD mice. Our treatment results in a super-mouse phenotype, increasing motor performance of treated CD mice beyond that of WT control mice. We demonstrate that this rescue is oligodendrocyte independent, and that gene correction in astrocytes is sufficient, suggesting that the establishment of an astrocyte-based alternative metabolic sink for NAA is a key mechanism for efficacious disease rescue and the super-mouse phenotype. Importantly, the use of clinically translatable high-field imaging tools enables the noninvasive monitoring and prediction of therapeutic outcomes for CD and might enable further investigation of NAA-related cognitive function.

Achieving efficient cardiac gene transfer in a large animal model has proven to be technically challenging. Previous strategies have used cardiopulmonary bypass or dual catheterization with the aid of vasodilators to deliver vectors, such as adenovirus, adeno-associated virus (AAV), or plasmid DNA. Although single-stranded AAV (ssAAV) vectors have shown the greatest promise, they suffer from delayed expression, which might be circumvented using self-complementary vectors. We sought to optimize cardiac gene transfer using a percutaneous transendocardial injection catheter to deliver adeno-associated viral vectors to the canine myocardium. Four vectors were evaluated-ssAAV9, self-complementary AAV9 (scAAV9), scAAV8, scAAV6-so that comparison could be made between single-stranded and self-complementary vectors as well as among serotypes 9, 8, and 6. We demonstrate that scAAV is superior to ssAAV and that AAV 6 is superior to the other serotypes evaluated. Biodistribution studies revealed that vector genome copies were 15-4,000 times more abundant in the heart than in any other organ for scAAV6. Percutaneous transendocardial injection of scAAV6 is a safe, effective method to achieve efficient cardiac gene transfer.