Novel AAV-mediated genome editing therapy improves health and survival in a mouse model of methylmalonic acidemia

PLoS One. 2022 Sep 20;17(9):e0274774. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274774. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is an inborn error of metabolism mostly caused by mutations in the mitochondrial methylmalonyl-CoA mutase gene (MMUT). MMA patients suffer from frequent episodes of metabolic decompensation, which can be life threatening. To mimic both the dietary restrictions and metabolic decompensation seen in MMA patients, we developed a novel protein-controlled diet regimen in a Mmut deficient mouse model of MMA and demonstrated the therapeutic benefit of mLB-001, a nuclease-free, promoterless recombinant AAV GeneRideTM vector designed to insert the mouse Mmut into the endogenous albumin locus via homologous recombination. A single intravenous administration of mLB-001 to neonatal or adult MMA mice prevented body weight loss and mortality when challenged with a high protein diet. The edited hepatocytes expressed functional MMUT protein and expanded over time in the Mmut deficient mice, suggesting a selective growth advantage over the diseased cells. In mice with a humanized liver, treatment with a human homolog of mLB-001 resulted in site-specific genome editing and transgene expression in the transplanted human hepatocytes. Taken together, these findings support the development of hLB-001 that is currently in clinical trials in pediatric patients with severe forms of MMA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Albumins / genetics
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors* / genetics
  • Amino Acid Metabolism, Inborn Errors* / therapy
  • Animals
  • Child
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Editing
  • Humans
  • Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase* / genetics
  • Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase* / metabolism
  • Mice

Substances

  • Albumins
  • Methylmalonyl-CoA Mutase

Supplementary concepts

  • Methylmalonic acidemia

Grants and funding

LogicBio Therapeutics provided funding for the experiments. The funder provided support in the form of salaries for all authors, but did not have any additional role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.