Hematopoietic stem cell-targeted neonatal gene therapy reverses lethally progressive osteopetrosis in oc/oc mice

Blood. 2007 Jun 15;109(12):5178-85. doi: 10.1182/blood-2006-12-061382. Epub 2007 Mar 1.

Abstract

Infantile malignant osteopetrosis (IMO) is a fatal disease caused by lack of functional osteoclasts, and the only available treatment is hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplantation. In the majority of patients, the TCIRG1 gene, coding for a subunit of a proton pump essential for bone resorption, is mutated. Oc/oc mice have a deletion in the homologue gene (tcirg1) and die at 3 to 4 weeks, but can be rescued by neonatal transplantation of HSCs. Here, HSC-targeted gene therapy of osteopetrosis in the oc/oc mouse model was developed. Oc/oc fetal liver cells depleted of Ter119-expressing erythroid cells were transduced with a retroviral vector expressing tcirg1 and GFP, and subsequently transplanted intraperitoneally to irradiated neonatal oc/oc mice. Eight of 15 mice survived past the normal life span of oc/oc mice. In vitro osteoclastogenesis revealed formation of GFP-positive osteoclasts and bone resorption, albeit at a lower level than from wild-type cells. The skeletal phenotype was analyzed by X-ray and histopathology and showed partial correction at 8 weeks and almost normalization after 18 weeks. In summary, osteopetrosis in oc/oc mice can be reversed by neonatal transplantation of gene-modified HSCs leading to long-term survival. This represents a significant step toward the development of gene therapy for osteopetrosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Disease Progression
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • Osteopetrosis / therapy*
  • Sequence Deletion
  • Survival Rate
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / administration & dosage*
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases / genetics

Substances

  • Atp6ap1 protein, mouse
  • Vacuolar Proton-Translocating ATPases