Improved Gene Therapy Extends the Survival of MeCP2-Null Mice Without Apparent Toxicity After Intracisternal Delivery

Intravenous administration of adeno-associated virus serotype 9 (AAV9)/ has been shown to extend the lifespan of mice, but this delivery route induces liver toxicity in wild-type (WT) mice. To reduce peripheral transgene expression, we explored the safety and efficacy of AAV9/ injected into the cisterna magna (ICM). AAV9/ (1 × 10 viral genomes [vg]; ICM) extended survival but aggravated hindlimb clasping and abnormal gait phenotypes. In WT mice, 1 × 10 vg of AAV9/ induced clasping and abnormal gait. A lower dose mitigated these adverse phenotypes but failed to extend survival of mice. Thus, ICM delivery of this vector is impractical as a treatment for Rett syndrome (RTT). To improve the safety of MeCP2 gene therapy, the gene expression cassette was modified to include more endogenous regulatory elements believed to modulate MeCP2 expression in vivo. In mice, ICM injection of the modified vector extended lifespan and was well tolerated by the liver but did not rescue RTT behavioral phenotypes. In WT mice, these same doses of the modified vector had no adverse effects on survival or neurological phenotypes. In summary, we identified limitations of the original vector and demonstrated that an improved vector design extends survival, without apparent toxicity.