Rescue of advanced Pompe disease in mice with hepatic expression of secretable acid α-glucosidase

Pompe disease is a neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding for the lysosomal enzyme acid α-glucosidase (GAA). GAA converts lysosomal glycogen to glucose, and its deficiency leads to pathologic glycogen accumulation. Enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) is the only available treatment for Pompe disease at the moment with several shortcomings. We have shown that liver expression of secGAA has better therapeutic efficacy than non-engineered GAA after long-term treatment of four months old Gaa-/- mice with low vector doses. Based on those results, we have treated severely affected nine months old Gaa-/- mice with the AAV-secGAA vector and followed the animals for nine months thereafter. At the end of the study, AAV-treated Gaa-/- mice showed complete rescue of the Pompe phenotype. Transcriptomic profiling of skeletal muscle highlighted mitochondrial bioenergetics defects, supported by electron microscopy, western blotting and biochemical findings, which were partially corrected after AAV treatment. Together, these results provide insight into the reversibility of advanced Pompe disease in the Gaa-/- mouse model via liver gene transfer of secGAA. Transcriptomic analysis comparing the gene expression profile in quadriceps muscle from WT and GAA KO mice, with that of GAA KO mice treated with secGAA.