Molybdenum cofactor deficiency type B knock-in mouse models carrying patient-identical mutations and their rescue by singular AAV injections

Hum Genet. 2019 Apr;138(4):355-361. doi: 10.1007/s00439-019-01992-z. Epub 2019 Feb 27.

Abstract

Molybdenum cofactor deficiency is an autosomal, recessively inherited metabolic disorder, which, in the absence of an effective therapy, leads to early childhood death due to neurological deterioration. In type A of the disease, cyclic pyranopterin monophosphate (cPMP) is missing, the first intermediate in the biosynthesis of the cofactor, and a biochemical substitution therapy using cPMP has been developed. A comparable approach for type B of the disease with a defect in the second step of the synthesis, formation of molybdopterin, so far has been hampered by the extreme instability of the corresponding metabolites. To explore avenues for a successful and safe gene therapy, knock-in mouse models were created carrying the mutations c.88C>T (p.Q30X) and c.726_727delAA, which are also found in human patients. Recombinant adeno-associated viruses (rAAVs) were constructed and used for postnatal intrahepatic injections of MoCo-deficient mice in a proof-of-concept approach. Singular administration of an appropriate virus dose in 60 animals prevented the otherwise devastating phenotype to a variable extent. While untreated mice did not survive for more than 2 weeks, some of the treated mice grew up to adulthood in both sexes.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Dependovirus* / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Enzyme Replacement Therapy / methods
  • Feasibility Studies
  • Gene Knock-In Techniques
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Humans
  • Injections
  • Metal Metabolism, Inborn Errors / genetics*
  • Metal Metabolism, Inborn Errors / pathology
  • Metal Metabolism, Inborn Errors / therapy*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Mutation
  • Sulfurtransferases / administration & dosage
  • Sulfurtransferases / genetics*

Substances

  • Sulfurtransferases
  • molybdopterin synthase

Supplementary concepts

  • Molybdenum cofactor deficiency