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Vector-mediated l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine delivery reverses motor impairments in a primate model of Parkinson's disease

Rosenblad, Carl LU ; Li, Qin ; Pioli, Elsa Y ; Dovero, Sandra ; Antunes, André S L M ; Agúndez, Leticia ; Bardelli, Martino ; Linden, R Michael ; Henckaerts, Els and Björklund, Anders LU orcid , et al. (2019) In Brain : a journal of neurology p.2402-2416
Abstract

Ever since its introduction 40 years ago l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) therapy has retained its role as the leading standard medication for patients with Parkinson's disease. With time, however, the shortcomings of oral l-DOPA treatment have become apparent, particularly the motor fluctuations and troublesome dyskinetic side effects. These side effects, which are caused by the excessive swings in striatal dopamine caused by intermittent oral delivery, can be avoided by delivering l-DOPA in a more continuous manner. Local gene delivery of the l-DOPA synthesizing enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and guanosine-tri-phosphate-cyclohydrolase-1, offers a new approach to a more refined dopaminergic therapy where l-DOPA is delivered... (More)

Ever since its introduction 40 years ago l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) therapy has retained its role as the leading standard medication for patients with Parkinson's disease. With time, however, the shortcomings of oral l-DOPA treatment have become apparent, particularly the motor fluctuations and troublesome dyskinetic side effects. These side effects, which are caused by the excessive swings in striatal dopamine caused by intermittent oral delivery, can be avoided by delivering l-DOPA in a more continuous manner. Local gene delivery of the l-DOPA synthesizing enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and guanosine-tri-phosphate-cyclohydrolase-1, offers a new approach to a more refined dopaminergic therapy where l-DOPA is delivered continuously at the site where it is needed i.e. the striatum. In this study we have explored the therapeutic efficacy of adeno-associated viral vector-mediated l-DOPA delivery to the putamen in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-treated rhesus monkeys, the standard non-human primate model of Parkinson's disease. Viral vector delivery of the two enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and guanosine-5'-tri-phosphate-cyclohydrolase-1, bilaterally into the dopamine-depleted putamen, induced a significant, dose-dependent improvement of motor behaviour up to a level identical to that obtained with the optimal dose of peripheral l-DOPA. Importantly, this improvement in motor function was obtained without any adverse dyskinetic effects. These results provide proof-of-principle for continuous vector-mediated l-DOPA synthesis as a novel therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease. The constant, local supply of l-DOPA obtained with this approach holds promise as an efficient one-time treatment that can provide long-lasting clinical improvement and at the same time prevent the appearance of motor fluctuations and dyskinetic side effects associated with standard oral dopaminergic medication.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Brain : a journal of neurology
pages
2402 - 2416
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:31243443
  • scopus:85070660425
ISSN
1460-2156
DOI
10.1093/brain/awz176
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
© The Author(s) (2019). Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Guarantors of Brain.
id
bcddaba2-3bc9-4749-bd55-afe9d009dc91
date added to LUP
2019-07-01 14:24:47
date last changed
2024-05-28 20:06:15
@article{bcddaba2-3bc9-4749-bd55-afe9d009dc91,
  abstract     = {{<p>Ever since its introduction 40 years ago l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (l-DOPA) therapy has retained its role as the leading standard medication for patients with Parkinson's disease. With time, however, the shortcomings of oral l-DOPA treatment have become apparent, particularly the motor fluctuations and troublesome dyskinetic side effects. These side effects, which are caused by the excessive swings in striatal dopamine caused by intermittent oral delivery, can be avoided by delivering l-DOPA in a more continuous manner. Local gene delivery of the l-DOPA synthesizing enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and guanosine-tri-phosphate-cyclohydrolase-1, offers a new approach to a more refined dopaminergic therapy where l-DOPA is delivered continuously at the site where it is needed i.e. the striatum. In this study we have explored the therapeutic efficacy of adeno-associated viral vector-mediated l-DOPA delivery to the putamen in 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine-treated rhesus monkeys, the standard non-human primate model of Parkinson's disease. Viral vector delivery of the two enzymes, tyrosine hydroxylase and guanosine-5'-tri-phosphate-cyclohydrolase-1, bilaterally into the dopamine-depleted putamen, induced a significant, dose-dependent improvement of motor behaviour up to a level identical to that obtained with the optimal dose of peripheral l-DOPA. Importantly, this improvement in motor function was obtained without any adverse dyskinetic effects. These results provide proof-of-principle for continuous vector-mediated l-DOPA synthesis as a novel therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease. The constant, local supply of l-DOPA obtained with this approach holds promise as an efficient one-time treatment that can provide long-lasting clinical improvement and at the same time prevent the appearance of motor fluctuations and dyskinetic side effects associated with standard oral dopaminergic medication.</p>}},
  author       = {{Rosenblad, Carl and Li, Qin and Pioli, Elsa Y and Dovero, Sandra and Antunes, André S L M and Agúndez, Leticia and Bardelli, Martino and Linden, R Michael and Henckaerts, Els and Björklund, Anders and Bezard, Erwan and Björklund, Tomas}},
  issn         = {{1460-2156}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{06}},
  pages        = {{2402--2416}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Brain : a journal of neurology}},
  title        = {{Vector-mediated l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine delivery reverses motor impairments in a primate model of Parkinson's disease}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/brain/awz176}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/brain/awz176}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}