Our translational research program aims to leverage our expertise in genetic therapies and personalized medicine to develop clinical solutions that target the molecular causes of human diseases.
Our translational research program aims to leverage our expertise in genetic therapies and personalized medicine to develop clinical solutions that target the molecular causes of human diseases.
Rostami M, Leopold P, Vasquez J, de Mulder Rougvie M, Al Shakaki A, Hssain A, Robay A, Hackett N, Mezey J, Crystal R
Journal
Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev
Volume
31
Pagination
101136
Date Published
10/13/2023
ISSN
2329-0501
Abstract
Based on the observation that humans have variable responses of gene expression with the same dose of an adeno-associated vector, we hypothesized that there are deleterious variants in genes coding for processes required for adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer/expression that may hamper or enhance the effectiveness of AAV-mediated gene therapy. To assess this hypothesis, we evaluated 69,442 whole genome sequences from three populations (European, African/African American, and Qatari) for predicted deleterious variants in 62 genes known to play a role in AAV-mediated gene transfer/expression. The analysis identified 5,564 potentially deleterious mutations of which 27 were classified as common based on an allele frequency ≥1% in at least one population studied. Many of these deleterious variants are predicated to prevent while others enhance effective AAV gene transfer/expression, and several are linked to known hereditary disorders. The data support the hypothesis that, like other drugs, human genetic variability contributes to the person-to-person effectiveness of AAV gene therapy and the screening for genetic variability should be considered as part of future clinical trials.