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Molecular and functional characterization of BDNF-overexpressing human retinal pigment epithelial cells established by sleeping beauty transposon-mediated gene transfer

Authors

  • L. Mattern
  • K. Otten
  • C. Miskey
  • M. Fuest
  • Z. Izsvák
  • Z. Ivics
  • P. Walter
  • G. Thumann
  • S. Johnen

Journal

  • International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Citation

  • Int J Mol Sci 23 (21): 12982

Abstract

  • More and more patients suffer from multifactorial neurodegenerative diseases, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). However, their pathological mechanisms are still poorly understood, which complicates the development of effective therapies. To improve treatment of multifactorial diseases, cell-based gene therapy can be used to increase the expression of therapeutic factors. To date, there is no approved therapy for dry AMD, including late-stage geographic atrophy. We present a treatment option for dry AMD that transfers the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene into retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells by electroporation using the plasmid-based Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon system. ARPE-19 cells and primary human RPE cells were co-transfected with two plasmids encoding the (SB100X) transposase and the transposon carrying a BDNF transcription cassette. We demonstrated efficient expression and secretion of BDNF in both RPE cell types, which were further increased in ARPE-19 cell cultures exposed to hydrogen peroxide. BDNF-transfected cells exhibited lower apoptosis rates and stimulated neurite outgrowth in human SH-SY5Y cells. This study is an important step in the development of a cell-based BDNF gene therapy that could be applied as an advanced therapy medicinal product to treat dry AMD or other degenerative retinal diseases.


DOI

doi:10.3390/ijms232112982