Efficient precise in vivo base editing in adultdystrophic mice

Overview

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a muscular disease caused by alterations in dystrophin expression, which has a functional role in muscle force transmission and sarcolemma stability. As such, a loss of dystrophin can lead to muscle weakening and wasting, cardiomyopathy, and several other health conditions. This study focuses on the efficacy of using NG-targeting base editors to restore dystrophin levels in mdx4cv mice. Five weeks following base editor AAv9-iNG injection, mdx4cv mouse hearts exhibited increased levels of dystrophin. Furthermore, approximately 42% of cardiomyocytes became dystrophin-positive following systemic AAV9-iNG treatment, whereas dystrophin expression remained almost completely absent in the control group. A long-term analysis conducted at the 10-month mark showed that dystrophin was almost completely rescued in mdx4cv mouse hearts. In addition to this, dystrophin rescue was also observed in skeletal muscles, including the gastrocnemius and diaphragm, of mdx4cv mice treated with AAV9-iNG. Long-term analysis following intravenous administration of AAV9-iNG also showed almost complete dystrophin restoration (95% of wild type level) in mdx4cv hearts. Through trichome staining analysis, the increased percentage of fibrotic areas seen in the muscle of mdx4cv mice was significantly reduced in those treated with the base editor. Lastly, to determine if AAV9-iNG could improve muscle function, the authors used Aurora’s 1300A 3-in-1 Whole Animal System to measure the maximum plantarflexion tetanic torque during supramaximal electric stimulation of the tibial nerve. The results showed that mdx4cv mice produced significantly less torque compared to wild type mice. Moreover, a significant increase in tetanic torque was observed in AAV9-iNG treated mdx4cv mice. These findings underscore the importance of optimized base editing techniques and their potential use in treating monogenic diseases such as DMD.