Gene Therapy with an Adeno-Associated Viral Vector Expressing Human Interleukin-2 Alters Immune System Homeostasis in Humanized Mice
Authors
Durost, Philip A.Aryee, Ken-Edwin
Manzoor, Fatima
Tisch, Roland M.
Mueller, Christian
Jurczyk, Agata
Shultz, Leonard D.
Brehm, Michael A.
UMass Chan Affiliations
Program in Molecular MedicineHorae Gene Therapy Center
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Pulmonology
Document Type
Journal ArticlePublication Date
2017-08-21
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) serve as vectors for in vivo gene delivery in both mice and humans, and have broad applicability for the treatment of genetic diseases. Clinical trials with AAV vectors have demonstrated promise and safety in several human diseases. However, the in vivo validation of novel AAV constructs expressing products that act specifically on human cells and tissues is limited by a paucity of effective translatable models. Humanized mice that are engrafted with human cells, tissues, and immune systems offer strong potential to test the biological effectiveness of AAV vectors on human cells and tissues. Using the BLT (bone marrow, liver, thymus) humanized NOD-scid Il2rgnull (NSG) mouse model, which enables efficient development of HLA-restricted effector and regulatory T cells (Tregs), we have evaluated the delivery and function of human interleukin (IL)-2 by an AAV vector. Humanized mice treated with an AAV vector expressing human IL-2 showed a significant and sustained increase in the number of functional human FOXP3+CD4+ Tregs. The expression of human IL-2 did not significantly change the levels or activation status of conventional T-cell subsets. Numbers of activated human natural killer cells were also increased significantly in humanized mice treated with the IL-2 vector. These data recapitulate observations in clinical trials of IL-2 therapy and collectively show that humanized mouse models offer a translational platform for testing the efficacy of AAV vectors targeting human immune cells.Source
Hum Gene Ther. 2017 Aug 21. doi: 10.1089/hum.2017.072. Link to article on publisher's siteDOI
10.1089/hum.2017.072Permanent Link to this Item
http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14038/43610PubMed ID
28826231Related Resources
Link to Article in PubMedae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.1089/hum.2017.072