Systemic Delivery of MicroRNA Using Recombinant Adeno-associated Virus Serotype 9 to Treat Neuromuscular Diseases in Rodents

J Vis Exp. 2018 Aug 10:(138):55724. doi: 10.3791/55724.

Abstract

RNA interference via the endogenous miRNA pathway regulates gene expression by controlling protein synthesis through post-transcriptional gene silencing. In recent years, miRNA-mediated gene regulation has shown potential for treatment of neurological disorders caused by a toxic gain of function mechanism. However, efficient delivery to target tissues has limited its application. Here we used a transgenic mouse model for spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), a neuromuscular disease caused by polyglutamine expansion in the androgen receptor (AR), to test gene silencing by a newly identified AR-targeting miRNA, miR-298. We overexpressed miR-298 using a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) serotype 9 vector to facilitate transduction of non-dividing cells. A single tail-vein injection in SBMA mice induced sustained and widespread overexpression of miR-298 in skeletal muscle and motor neurons and resulted in amelioration of the neuromuscular phenotype in the mice.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Video-Audio Media

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression Regulation / genetics*
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • MicroRNAs / genetics*
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / genetics*
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / pathology
  • Neuromuscular Diseases / therapy*
  • Rodentia
  • Serogroup

Substances

  • MicroRNAs