WNT-modulating gene silencers as a gene therapy for osteoporosis, bone fracture, and critical-sized bone defects
Oh, Won-Taek ; Yang, Yeon-Suk ; Xie, Jun ; Ma, Hong ; Kim, Jung-Min ; Park, Kwang-Hwan ; Oh, Daniel S ; Park-Min, Kyung-Hyun ; Greenblatt, Matthew B ; Gao, Guangping ... show 1 more
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Abstract
Treating osteoporosis and associated bone fractures remains challenging for drug development in part due to potential off-target side effects and the requirement for long-term treatment. Here, we identify recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-mediated gene therapy as a complementary approach to existing osteoporosis therapies, offering long-lasting targeting of multiple targets and/or previously undruggable intracellular non-enzymatic targets. Treatment with a bone-targeted rAAV carrying artificial microRNAs (miRNAs) silenced the expression of WNT antagonists, schnurri-3 (SHN3), and sclerostin (SOST), and enhanced WNT/β-catenin signaling, osteoblast function, and bone formation. A single systemic administration of rAAVs effectively reversed bone loss in both postmenopausal and senile osteoporosis. Moreover, the healing of bone fracture and critical-sized bone defects was also markedly improved by systemic injection or transplantation of AAV-bound allograft bone to the osteotomy sites. Collectively, our data demonstrate the clinical potential of bone-specific gene silencers to treat skeletal disorders of low bone mass and impaired fracture repair.
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Oh WT, Yang YS, Xie J, Ma H, Kim JM, Park KH, Oh DS, Park-Min KH, Greenblatt MB, Gao G, Shim JH. WNT-modulating gene silencers as a gene therapy for osteoporosis, bone fracture, and critical-sized bone defects. Mol Ther. 2023 Feb 1;31(2):435-453. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2022.09.018. Epub 2022 Oct 3. PMID: 36184851; PMCID: PMC9931550.