Bicistronic lentiviral vector corrects beta-hexosaminidase deficiency in transduced and cross-corrected human Sandhoff fibroblasts

Neurobiol Dis. 2005 Nov;20(2):583-93. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2005.04.017. Epub 2005 Jun 13.

Abstract

Sandhoff disease is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disease characterized by a GM2 ganglioside intralysosomal accumulation. It is due to mutations in the beta-hexosaminidases beta-chain gene, resulting in a beta-hexosaminidases A (alphabeta) and B (betabeta) deficiency. Mono and bicistronic lentiviral vectors containing the HEXA or/and HEXB cDNAs were constructed and tested on human Sandhoff fibroblasts. The bicistronic SIV.ASB vector enabled a massive restoration of beta-hexosaminidases activity on synthetic substrates and a 20% correction on the GM2 natural substrate. Metabolic labeling experiments showed a large reduction of ganglioside accumulation in SIV.ASB transduced cells, demonstrating a correct recombinant enzyme targeting to the lysosomes. Moreover, enzymes secreted by transduced Sandhoff fibroblasts were endocytosed in deficient cells via the mannose 6-phosphate pathway, allowing GM2 metabolism restoration in cross-corrected cells. Therefore, our bicistronic lentivector supplying both alpha- and beta-subunits of beta-hexosaminidases may provide a potential therapeutic tool for the treatment of Sandhoff disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cell Line
  • Down-Regulation / physiology
  • Endocytosis / physiology
  • Fibroblasts / enzymology
  • Fibroblasts / virology
  • G(M2) Ganglioside / biosynthesis
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics*
  • Hexosaminidase A
  • Hexosaminidase B
  • Humans
  • Isoenzymes / deficiency
  • Isoenzymes / genetics
  • Lentivirus / genetics
  • Lysosomes / enzymology
  • Lysosomes / genetics
  • Mannosephosphates / metabolism
  • Sandhoff Disease / enzymology
  • Sandhoff Disease / genetics
  • Sandhoff Disease / therapy*
  • Transduction, Genetic / methods*
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / deficiency*
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases / genetics*

Substances

  • Isoenzymes
  • Mannosephosphates
  • G(M2) Ganglioside
  • mannose-6-phosphate
  • Hexosaminidase A
  • Hexosaminidase B
  • beta-N-Acetylhexosaminidases