Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Responses to Transgene Product, Not Adeno-Associated Viral Capsid Protein, Limit Transgene Expression in Mice

摘要

The use of adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors for gene replacement therapy is currently being explored in several clinical indications. However, reports have suggested that input capsid proteins from AAV-2 vector particles may result in the stimulation of cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses that can result in a loss of transduced cells. To explore the impact of anti-AAV CTLs on AAV-mediated transgene expression, both im-munocompetent C57BL/6 mice and B cell-deficient muMT mice were immunized against the AAV2 capsid protein (Cap) and were injected intravenously with an AAV-2 vector encoding a-galactosidase (alpha-Gal). C57BL/6 mice, which developed both CTL and neutralizing antibody responses against Cap, failed to show any detectable alphalpha-Galexpression. In contrast, serum alpha-Gallevels comparable to those of naive mice were observed in muMT mice despite the presence of robust CTL activity against Cap, indicating that preexisting Cap-specific CTLs did not have any effect on the magnitude and duration of transgene expression. The same strategy was used to assess the impact of CTLs against the alpha-Galtransgene product on AAV-mediated gene delivery and persistence of transgene expression. Preimmunization of muMT mice with an Ad/alphalpha-Galvector induced a robust CTL response to a-Gal. When these mice were injected with AAV2/alpha-Galvector, initial levels of alpha-Galexpression were reduced by more than 1 log and became undetectable by 2 weeks postinjection. Overall, our results indicate that CTLs against the transgene product as opposed to AAV capsid protein are more likely to interfere with AAV transgene expression.