Functional Neuroprotection and Efficient Regulation of GDNF Using Destabilizing Domains in a Rodent Model of Parkinson's Disease

Summary, in English

Glial cell line derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) has great potential to treat Parkinson's disease (PD). However, constitutive expression of GDNF can over time lead to side effects. Therefore, it would be useful to regulate GDNF expression. Recently, a new gene inducible system using destabilizing domains (DD) from E. coil dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) has been developed and characterized. The advantage of this novel DD is that it is regulated by trimethoprim (TMP), a well-characterized drug that crosses the blood brain barrier and can therefore be used to regulate gene expression in the brain. We have adapted this system to regulate expression of GDNF. A C-terminal fusion of GDNF and a DD with an additional furin cleavage site was able to be efficiently regulated in vitro, properly processed and was able to bind to canonical GDNF receptors, inducing a signaling cascade response in target cells. In vivo characterization of the protein showed that it could be efficiently induced by TMP and it was only functional when gene expression was turned on. Further characterization in a rodent model of PD showed that the regulated GDNF protected neurons, improved motor behavior of animals and was efficiently regulated in a pathological setting.

• Author: Luis Quintino; Giuseppe Manfre; Erika Elgstrand; Angrit Namislo; Christina Isaksson; Cecilia Lundberg
• Department/s: CNS Gene Therapy; MultiPark: Multidisciplinary research focused on Parkinson´s disease
• Publishing year: 2013
• Language: English
• Pages: 2169-2180
• Publication/Series: Molecular Therapy
• Volume: 21
• Issue: 12
• Links: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/mt.2013.169
• Document type: Journal article
• Publisher: Nature Publishing Group
• Topic: Medical Genetics
• Status: Published
• Research group: CNS Gene Therapy
• ISBN/ISSN/Other: ISSN: 1525-0024