UCL Discovery
UCL home » Library Services » Electronic resources » UCL Discovery

Liver-directed gene transfer of atheroprotective human Apolipoprotein AI and variants

Osman, E.; (2009) Liver-directed gene transfer of atheroprotective human Apolipoprotein AI and variants. Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).

Full text not available from this repository.

Abstract

Plasma Apolipoprotein AI (ApoAI; 28-kDa) is the major constituent of HDL and is atheroprotective. A natural variant, ApoAI-Milano (ApoAI-M), has an Arg-173Cys substitution and is “super-atheroprotective”. The Cys residue allows formation of disulphide-linked homodimers, as well as heterodimers with ApoA-II, and confers HDL with unique structural and functional properties. ApoAI-Paris (Arg-151Cys; ApoAI-P) is also a natural variant with similar anti-atherogenic properties to ApoAI-M. The aim of this thesis was to inhibit development of atherosclerotic lesions by expressing high, sustained levels of human ApoAI and variants from livers of hyperlipidaemic ApoE-/- mice. First, I cloned wild-type (wt) ApoAI, ApoAI-M and the double mutant, ApoAI-MP, into self-complementary, adeno-associated virus serotype-2 (scAAV2)-based plasmids. Liver-specific expression was driven by the strong, but short, promoter LP1 containing a hepatic control region and the alpha-1-antitrypsin gene promoter/ enhancer. I verified construct viability by transfecting cultured cells invitro, which confirmed secretion of monomer ApoA-I proteins and, with ApoAI-M and ApoAI-MP variants, formation of dimers (>50-kDa). In-vivo hydrodynamic tail-vein injections of plasmids further confirmed transgene expression. Next, I generated wtApoAI, ApoAI-M and ApoAI-MP viral vectors by cross-packaging with serotype-8 capsid, which has high hepatic tropism. Tail-vein (liver-directed) injection of viruses demonstrated increasing secretion of recombinant proteins into plasma over a 12 week period for ApoAI and both variants. At termination (12 weeks), atherosclerotic lesion size was determined by aortic en face analysis. Expression of wtApoAI reduced progression of atherosclerosis by 47% (P=0.001) compared to control. In contrast, ApoAI-M reduced progression by only 17% (P=0.07), although the reduction with ApoAI-MP was 41% (P=0.002). These findings were consistent with the increases in plasma HDL, which were wtApoAI > ApoAI-MP > ApoAI-M. In conclusion, liver-directed scAAV2/8LP1-mediated gene transfer of wtApoAI significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesion progression in ApoE-/- mice, whereas ApoAI-M was less potent. Interestingly, the ApoAI-MP variant, which has increased dimer formation compared to ApoAI-M, also significantly reduced atherogenesis, suggesting it has potential as an anti-atherogenic candidate gene.

Type: Thesis (Doctoral)
Title: Liver-directed gene transfer of atheroprotective human Apolipoprotein AI and variants
Language: English
Additional information: Authorisation for digitisation not received
UCL classification: UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Medical Sciences > Div of Medicine > Nephrology
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/19037
Downloads since deposit
0Downloads
Download activity - last month
Download activity - last 12 months
Downloads by country - last 12 months

Archive Staff Only

View Item View Item