Concomitant intravenous nitroglycerin with intracoronary delivery of AAV1.SERCA2a enhances gene transfer in porcine hearts

Mol Ther. 2012 Mar;20(3):565-71. doi: 10.1038/mt.2011.268. Epub 2012 Jan 3.

Abstract

SERCA2a gene therapy improves contractile and energetic function of failing hearts and has been shown to be associated with benefits in clinical outcomes, symptoms, functional status, biomarkers, and cardiac structure in a phase 2 clinical trial. In an effort to enhance the efficiency and homogeneity of gene uptake in cardiac tissue, we examined the effects of nitroglycerin (NTG) in a porcine model following AAV1.SERCA2a gene delivery. Three groups of Göttingen minipigs were assessed: (i) group A: control intracoronary (IC) AAV1.SERCA2a (n = 6); (ii) group B: a single bolus IC injection of NTG (50 µg) immediately before administration of intravenous (IV) AAV1.SERCA2a (n = 6); and (iii) group C: continuous IV NTG (1 µg/kg/minute) during the 10 minutes of AAV1.SERCA2a infusion (n = 6). We found that simultaneous IV infusion of NTG and AAV1.SERCA2a resulted in increased viral transduction efficiency, both in terms of messenger RNA (mRNA) as well as SERCA2a protein levels in the whole left ventricle (LV) compared to control animals. On the other hand, IC NTG pretreatment did not result in enhanced gene transfer efficiency, mRNA or protein levels when compared to control animals. Importantly, the transgene expression was restricted to the heart tissue. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that IV infusion of NTG significantly improves cardiac gene transfer efficiency in porcine hearts.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Coronary Circulation / drug effects
  • Dependovirus / genetics*
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Genetic Vectors / administration & dosage*
  • Hemodynamics / drug effects
  • Infusions, Intra-Arterial
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Male
  • Myocardium / metabolism*
  • Myocytes, Cardiac / metabolism
  • Nitroglycerin / administration & dosage*
  • Nitroglycerin / pharmacology
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases / genetics*
  • Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases / metabolism
  • Swine
  • Transduction, Genetic

Substances

  • RNA, Messenger
  • Sarcoplasmic Reticulum Calcium-Transporting ATPases
  • Nitroglycerin