Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Profile of Experienced Male Amateur Marathon Runners: A Systematic Review.

Context: Male amateur marathon runners represent a unique subset of the population who may be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) due to their underlying risk factors and their involvement in vigorous exercise such as marathon running.

Objective: To assess the modifiable risk factors (MRFs) of CVD in experienced male amateur marathon runners and health interventions on CVD risk factors.

Data Sources: CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, Medline, and SPORTDiscus.

Development of a translatable gene augmentation therapy for CNGB1-retinitis pigmentosa.

In this study, we investigate a gene augmentation therapy candidate for the treatment of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) due to cyclic nucleotide-gated channel beta 1 (CNGB1) mutations. We use an adeno-associated virus serotype 5 with transgene under control of a novel short human rhodopsin promoter. The promoter/capsid combination drives efficient expression of a reporter gene (AAV5-RHO-eGFP) exclusively in rod photoreceptors in primate, dog, and mouse following subretinal delivery.

Preclinical studies in support of phase I/II clinical trials to treat -associated Leber congenital amaurosis.

Mutations in are associated with severe early-onset retinal dystrophy, Leber congenital amaurosis type 1 (LCA1), a leading cause of blindness in children. Despite a high degree of visual disturbance stemming from photoreceptor dysfunction, patients with LCA1 largely retain normal photoreceptor structure, suggesting that they are good candidates for gene replacement therapy. The purpose of this study was to conduct the preclinical and IND-enabling experiments required to support clinical application of AAV5-hGRK1- in patients harboring biallelic recessive mutations in .

Size Exclusion Chromatography with Dual Wavelength Detection as a Sensitive and Accurate Method for Determining the Empty and Full Capsids of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors.

Gene therapy has evolved over the past decade into a promising therapeutic class for treating many intractable diseases. Recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) is the most commonly used viral vector for delivering therapeutic genes. Independent of the manufacturing process for AAVs, the clinical materials are inherently heterogeneous and contain both empty and full capsids.

Potency Testing of Subretinal rAAV5.hCNGB1 Gene Therapy in the Knockout Mouse Model of Retinitis Pigmentosa.

Retinitis pigmentosa type 45 (RP45) is an autosomal-recessively inherited blinding disease caused by mutations in the cyclic nucleotide-gated channel subunit beta 1 () gene. In this study, we developed and tested a novel gene supplementation therapy suitable for clinical translation. To this end, we designed a recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vector carrying a genome that features a novel human rhodopsin promoter (hRHO194) driving rod-specific expression of full-length human (rAAV5.

Engineered Capsids for Efficient Gene Delivery to the Retina and Cornea.

Adeno-associated viral (AAV) vectors represent an ideal vehicle for human gene transfer. One advantage to the AAV vector system is the availability of multiple naturally occurring serotypes that provide selective tropisms for various target cells. Strategies to enhance the properties of the natural AAV isolates have been developed and can be divided into two approaches, rational design or directed evolution.

Extensive Transduction and Enhanced Spread of a Modified AAV2 Capsid in the Non-human Primate CNS.

The present study was designed to characterize transduction of non-human primate brain and spinal cord with a modified adeno-associated virus serotype 2, incapable of binding to the heparan sulfate proteoglycan receptor, referred to as AAV2-HBKO. AAV2-HBKO was infused into the thalamus, intracerebroventricularly or via a combination of both intracerebroventricular and thalamic delivery. Thalamic injection of this modified vector encoding GFP resulted in widespread CNS transduction that included neurons in deep cortical layers, deep cerebellar nuclei, several subcortical regions, and motor neuron transduction in the spinal cord indicative of robust bidirectional axonal transport.

Rationally designed AAV2 and AAVrh8R capsids provide improved transduction in the retina and brain.

The successful application of adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene delivery vectors as a therapeutic paradigm will require efficient gene delivery to the appropriate cells in affected organs. In this study, we utilized a rational design approach to introduce modifications to the AAV2 and AAVrh8R capsids and the resulting variants were evaluated for transduction activity in the retina and brain. The modifications disrupted either capsid/receptor binding or altered capsid surface charge.

Cardiovascular disease risk factor profile of male Gaelic Athletic Association sports referees.

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the primary cause of morbidity and mortality in Ireland and worldwide. Male sporting referees registered with the Gaelic Athletic Association (G.A.

Universal Method for the Purification of Recombinant AAV Vectors of Differing Serotypes.

The generation of clinical good manufacturing practices (GMP)-grade adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors requires purification strategies that support the generation of vectors of high purity, and that exhibit a good safety and efficacy profile. To date, most reported purification schemas are serotype dependent, requiring method development for each AAV gene therapy product. Here, we describe a platform purification process that is compatible with the purification of multiple AAV serotypes.

Direct Liquid Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry Analysis for Complete Characterization of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Capsid Proteins.

The requirement for robust analytical methods to characterize adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors is immediate, as the field advances more AAV gene therapies into the clinic and onto commercialization. AAV capsid proteins (VPs) are critical for viral infectivity and vector potency. Thus, complete characterization of the constituent viral capsid proteins of AAV vectors, including their sequences and post-translational modifications (PTMs), is highly recommended to ensure AAV product quality and consistency.

Characteristics of Minimally Oversized Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors Encoding Human Factor VIII Generated Using Producer Cell Lines and Triple Transfection.

Several ongoing clinical studies are evaluating recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) vectors as gene delivery vehicles for a variety of diseases. However, the production of vectors with genomes >4.7 kb is challenging, with vector preparations frequently containing truncated genomes.

Widespread AAV1- and AAV2-mediated transgene expression in the nonhuman primate brain: implications for Huntington's disease.

Huntington's disease (HD) is caused by a toxic gain-of-function associated with the expression of the mutant huntingtin (htt) protein. Therefore, the use of RNA interference to inhibit Htt expression could represent a disease-modifying therapy. The potential of two recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (AAV), AAV1 and AAV2, to transduce the cortico-striatal tissues that are predominantly affected in HD was explored.

The impact of minimally oversized adeno-associated viral vectors encoding human factor VIII on vector potency in vivo.

Recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors containing oversized genomes provide transgene expression despite low efficiency packaging of complete genomes. Here, we characterized the properties of oversized rAAV2/8 vectors (up to 5.4 kb) encoding human factor VIII (FVIII) under the transcriptional control of three liver promoters.

Analytical Ultracentrifugation as an Approach to Characterize Recombinant Adeno-Associated Viral Vectors.

Recombinant adeno-associated viral (rAAV) vectors represent a novel class of biopharmaceutical drugs. The production of clinical-grade rAAV vectors for gene therapy would benefit from analytical methods that are able to monitor drug product quality with regard to homogeneity, purity, and manufacturing consistency. Here, we demonstrate the novel application of analytical ultracentrifugation (AUC) to characterize the homogeneity of preparations of rAAV vectors.

Translational fidelity of intrathecal delivery of self-complementary AAV9-survival motor neuron 1 for spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in survival motor neuron 1 (SMN1). Previously, we showed that central nervous system (CNS) delivery of an adeno-associated viral (AAV) vector encoding SMN1 produced significant improvements in survival in a mouse model of SMA. Here, we performed a dose-response study in SMA mice to determine the levels of SMN in the spinal cord necessary for efficacy, and measured the efficiency of motor neuron transduction in the spinal cord after intrathecal delivery in pigs and nonhuman primates (NHPs).

CNS-targeted gene therapy improves survival and motor function in a mouse model of spinal muscular atrophy.

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease caused by a deficiency of survival motor neuron (SMN) due to mutations in the SMN1 gene. In this study, an adeno-associated virus (AAV) vector expressing human SMN (AAV8-hSMN) was injected at birth into the CNS of mice modeling SMA. Western blot analysis showed that these injections resulted in widespread expression of SMN throughout the spinal cord, and this translated into robust improvement in skeletal muscle physiology, including increased myofiber size and improved neuromuscular junction architecture.

PEGylated adenovirus for targeted gene therapy.

Bifunctional polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules provide a novel approach to retargeting viral vectors without the need to genetically modify the vector. Modification of the surface of adenovirus with heterofunctional PEG allows further modification of the capsid with ligands. In addition, heterofunctional PEG modification ablates the normal tropism of the virus and reduces transduction of non-target tissues in vivo.

Combination brain and systemic injections of AAV provide maximal functional and survival benefits in the Niemann-Pick mouse.

Niemann-Pick disease (NPD) is caused by the loss of acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity, which results in widespread accumulation of undegraded lipids in cells of the viscera and CNS. In this study, we tested the effect of combination brain and systemic injections of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors encoding human ASM (hASM) in a mouse model of NPD. Animals treated by combination therapy exhibited high levels of hASM in the viscera and brain, which resulted in near-complete correction of storage throughout the body.

Gene transfer of human acid sphingomyelinase corrects neuropathology and motor deficits in a mouse model of Niemann-Pick type A disease.

Niemann-Pick type A disease is a lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency in acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity. Previously we showed that storage pathology in the ASM knockout (ASMKO) mouse brain can be corrected by adeno-associated virus serotype 2 (AAV2)-mediated gene transfer. The present experiment compared the relative therapeutic efficacy of different recombinant AAV serotype vectors (1, 2, 5, 7, and 8) using histological, biochemical, and behavioral endpoints.

AAV vector-mediated correction of brain pathology in a mouse model of Niemann-Pick A disease.

Niemann-Pick A disease (NPA) is a fatal lysosomal storage disorder caused by a deficiency in acid sphingomyelinase (ASM) activity. The lack of functional ASM results in cellular accumulation of sphingomyelin and cholesterol within distended lysosomes throughout the brain. In this study, we investigated the potential of AAV-mediated expression of ASM to correct the brain pathology in an ASM knockout (ASMKO) mouse model of NPA.

Targeting adenoviral vectors using heterofunctional polyethylene glycol FGF2 conjugates.

Bifunctional PEG (polyethylene glycol) molecules provide a novel approach to retargeting viral vectors without the need to genetically modify the vector. In a previous report we showed that modification of the viral capsid by the addition of a peptide with binding preference for differentiated ciliated airway epithelia allowed gene delivery to those cells by a novel entry pathway. Here we demonstrate further the versatility of this method by coupling a protein, FGF2, to the surface of an adenovirus (Ad).