Antisense Therapy for a Common Corneal Dystrophy Ameliorates TCF4 Repeat Expansion-Mediated Toxicity.

Abstract

Fuchs endothelial corneal dystrophy (FECD) is a common disease for which corneal transplantation is the only treatment option in advanced stages, and alternative treatment strategies are urgently required. Expansion (≥50 copies) of a non-coding trinucleotide repeat in TCF4 confers >76-fold risk for FECD in our large cohort of affected individuals. An FECD subject-derived corneal endothelial cell (CEC) model was developed to probe disease mechanism and investigate therapeutic approaches. The CEC model demonstrated that the repeat expansion leads to nuclear RNA foci, with the sequestration of splicing factor proteins (MBNL1 and MBNL2) to the foci and altered mRNA processing. Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) treatment led to a significant reduction in the incidence of nuclear foci, MBNL1 recruitment to the foci, and downstream aberrant splicing events, suggesting functional rescue. This proof-of-concept study highlights the potential of a targeted ASO therapy to treat the accessible and tractable corneal tissue affected by this repeat expansion-mediated disease.

• Authors: Christina Zarouchlioti, Beatriz Sanchez-Pintado, Nathaniel J Hafford Tear, Pontus Klein, Petra Liskova, Kalyan Dulla, Ma'ayan Semo, Anthony A Vugler, Kirithika Muthusamy, Lubica Dudakova, Hannah J Levis, Pavlina Skalicka, Pirro Hysi, Michael E Cheetham, Stephen J Tuft, Peter Adamson, Alison J Hardcastle, Alice E Davidson
• Journal: American journal of human genetics (Am J Hum Genet) Vol. 102 Issue 4 Pg. 528-539 (04 05 2018) ISSN: 1537-6605 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 29526280 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2018 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Oligonucleotides, Antisense
• RNA Precursors
• RNA Splicing Factors
• RNA, Messenger
• TCF4 protein, human
• Transcription Factor 4

Topics

• Aged
• Animals
• Cell Nucleus (drug effects, metabolism)
• Cohort Studies
• Endothelial Cells (metabolism)
• Endothelium, Corneal (pathology)
• Female
• Fuchs' Endothelial Dystrophy (genetics, pathology)
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Humans
• Male
• Mice, Inbred C57BL
• Oligonucleotides, Antisense (pharmacology)
• Organ Specificity
• RNA Precursors (genetics)
• RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional
• RNA Splicing Factors (metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (metabolism)
• Risk Factors
• Transcription Factor 4 (genetics)
• Trinucleotide Repeat Expansion (genetics)