Pre-existing antibodies to candidate gene therapy vectors (adeno-associated vector serotypes) in domestic cats

PLoS One. 2019 Mar 21;14(3):e0212811. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212811. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

Adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors represent promising candidates for gene therapy; however, pre-existing neutralizing antibodies (NAb) may reduce AAV vector delivery efficiency. In this study, the presence of AAV NAb was investigated in cats, which serve as a larger and outbred animal model for the prediction of gene therapy outcomes in humans but also in cats.Serum/plasma samples from 230 client-owned Swiss cats and 20 specified pathogen-free cats were investigated for NAb to AAV1, AAV2, AAV5, AAV6, AAV7, AAV8 and AAV9 using in vitro transduction inhibition and a beta-galactosidase assay. NAb to all tested AAV serotypes were found. Of the client-owned cats, 53% had NAb to one or more of the AAV serotypes. NAb (≥1:10) were found at frequencies of 5% (AAV6) to 28% (AAV7). The highest titers were found against AAV7 (≥1:160). The NAb prevalence to AAV2, AAV7 and AAV9 differed geographically. Regarding titers ≥1:10 against single AAV serotypes, age, breed and sex of the cats were not associated with the NAb prevalence. Cats with titers ≥1:20 against AAV2 and titers ≥1:40 against AAV7 were significantly younger than cats with low/no titers, and purebred cats were significantly more likely than non-purebred cats to have NAb to AAV2 (≥1:40). Additionally, regarding NAb to all AAV combined, female cats were significantly more likely than male cats to have NAb titers ≥1:40. Preliminary data using AAV-DJ indicated that less pre-existing NAb to the hybrid AAV-DJ can be expected compared to the wild-type AAV serotypes. AAV NAb will need to be taken into account for future in vivo gene therapy studies in cats.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age Factors
  • Animals
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / blood*
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / immunology
  • Antibodies, Neutralizing / isolation & purification
  • Antibodies, Viral / blood*
  • Antibodies, Viral / immunology
  • Antibodies, Viral / isolation & purification
  • Cat Diseases / genetics
  • Cat Diseases / therapy
  • Cats
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Dependovirus / genetics
  • Dependovirus / immunology*
  • Female
  • Genetic Diseases, Inborn / genetics
  • Genetic Diseases, Inborn / therapy
  • Genetic Therapy / adverse effects*
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • Genetic Vectors / genetics
  • Genetic Vectors / immunology*
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Models, Animal
  • Serogroup
  • Sex Factors

Substances

  • Antibodies, Neutralizing
  • Antibodies, Viral

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Swiss National Science Foundation (310030_166198) to RH, China Scholarship Council (No. 201608420107) to PL. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.