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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Washington, DC —Scientists have successfully used viral vectors to deliver genetic material to kidney cells. The findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), could have important implications for the treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Almost 50 years after it was first proposed, gene therapy is now entering into regular clinical use. The most common method uses adeno-associated virus (AAV) to deliver genetic material to target cells, but no AAV has been capable of doing so in the kidney.
Now a team led by Benjamin D. Humphreys MD, PhD (Washington University in St. Louis) reports the first examination of AAV subtypes for delivering and transferring (or “transducing”) genetic material to the kidney. Of 6 AAVs tested, a synthetic AAV called Anc80 showed specific and high efficiency for transducing different kidney cell types in both mice and humans. Anc880 was also successfully used in gene therapy strategies to treat mice with kidney scarring.
The findings may be useful in therapeutic approaches to treat CKD, a condition that affects10% of the population worldwide. “CKD is an enormous problem and there has been little innovation and no significant therapies in decades. Our discovery shows that genetic material can be delivered to kidney cells that play a key role in CKD,” said Dr. Humphreys. “Future gene therapy approaches could deliver genes that slow or reverse the growth of these cells in CKD.”
Study co-authors include Yoichiro Ikeda, MD, PhD; Zhao Sun, PhD; Xiao Ru, MD; and Luk Vandenberghe, PhD.
Disclosures Dr. Vandenberghe is an inventor on several technologies licensed to pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies including Anc80 technology, which was licensed to Akouos, Vivet Therapeutics, Lonza Houston, and Selecta Biosciences. He receives research funding from and consults for Lonza Houston, Solid and Selecta Biosciences. He is also cofounder and equity holder of GenSight Biologics and Akouos, and he is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of GenSight Biologics, Akouos, and NightStarX. For all other authors, no competing financial interests exist.
The article, entitled “Efficient Gene Transfer to Kidney Mesenchymal Cells Using a Synthetic Adeno-Associated Viral Vector,” will appear online at http://jasn.asnjournals.org/ on July 5, 2018, doi: 10.2215/ASN.2018004026.
The content of this article does not reflect the views or opinions of The American Society of Nephrology (ASN). Responsibility for the information and views expressed therein lies entirely with the author(s). ASN does not offer medical advice. All content in ASN publications is for informational purposes only, and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions, or adverse effects. This content should not be used during a medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. Please consult your doctor or other qualified health care provider if you have any questions about a medical condition, or before taking any drug, changing your diet or commencing or discontinuing any course of treatment. Do not ignore or delay obtaining professional medical advice because of information accessed through ASN. Call 911 or your doctor for all medical emergencies.
Since 1966, ASN has been leading the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge, and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN has more than 18,000 members representing 112 countries. For more information, please visit www.asn-online.org or contact the society at 202-640-4660.
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