Functional correction of established central nervous system deficits in an animal model of lysosomal storage disease with feline immunodeficiency virus-based vectors

Gene transfer vectors based on lentiviruses can transduce terminally differentiated cells in the brain; however, their ability to reverse established behavioral deficits in animal models of neurodegeneration has not previously been tested. When recombinant feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-based vectors expressing β-glucuronidase were unilaterally injected into the striatum of adult β-glucuronidase deficient [mucopolysaccharidosis type VII (MPS VII)] mice, an animal model of lysosomal storage disease, there was bihemispheric correction of the characteristic cellular pathology. Moreover, after the injection of FIV-based vectors expressing β-glucuronidase into brains of β-glucuronidase-deficient mice with established impairments in spatial learning and memory, there was dramatic recovery of behavioral function. Cognitive improvement resulting from expression of β-glucuronidase was associated with alteration in expression of genes associated with neuronal plasticity. These data suggest that enzyme replacement to the MPS VII central nervous system goes beyond restoration of β-glucuronidase activity in the lysosome, and imparts improvements in plasticity and spatial learning.