University of Pennsylvania ScholarlyCommons Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations 2018 Reprogramming The Retina: Next Generation Strategies Of Retinal Neuroprotection And Gene Therapy Vector Potency Assessment Devin Scott Mcdougald University of Pennsylvania,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations Part of the Genetics Commons, Molecular Biology Commons, and the Virology Commons Recommended Citation Mcdougald, Devin Scott, "Reprogramming The Retina: Next Generation Strategies Of Retinal Neuroprotection And Gene Therapy Vector Potency Assessment" (2018). Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. 3158. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/3158 This paper is posted at ScholarlyCommons. https://repository.upenn.edu/edissertations/3158 For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Reprogramming The Retina: Next Generation Strategies Of Retinal Neuroprotection And Gene Therapy Vector Potency Assessment Abstract Mutations within over 250 known genes are associated with inherited retinal degeneration. Clinical success following gene replacement therapy for Leber’s congenital amaurosis type 2 establishes a platform for the development of downstream treatments targeting other forms of inherited and acquired ocular disease. Unfortunately, several challenges relevant to complex disease pathology and limitations of current gene transfer technologies impede the development of gene replacement for each specific form of retinal degeneration. Here we describe gene augmentation strategies mediated by recombinant AAV vectors that impede retinal degeneration in pre-clinical models of acquired and inherited vision loss. We demonstrate distinct neuroprotective effects upon retinal ganglion cell survival and function in experimental optic neuritis following AAV-mediated gene augmentation. Gene transfer of the antioxidant transcription factor, NRF2, improves RGC survival while overexpression of the pro-survival and anti- inflammatory protein, SIRT1, promotes preservation of visual function.