Antisense correction of SMN2 splicing in the CNS rescues necrosis in a type III SMA mouse model

Hua, Y., Sahashi, K., Hung, G., Rigo, F., Passini, M. A., Bennett, C. F., Krainer, A. R. (August 2010) Antisense correction of SMN2 splicing in the CNS rescues necrosis in a type III SMA mouse model. Genes and Development, 24 (15). pp. 1634-44. ISSN 08909369 (ISSN)

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URL: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20624852
DOI: 10.1101/gad.1941310

Abstract

Increasing survival of motor neuron 2, centromeric (SMN2) exon 7 inclusion to express more full-length SMN protein in motor neurons is a promising approach to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), a genetic neurodegenerative disease. Previously, we identified a potent 2'-O-(2-methoxyethyl) (MOE) phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that blocks an SMN2 intronic splicing silencer element and efficiently promotes exon 7 inclusion in transgenic mouse peripheral tissues after systemic administration. Here we address its efficacy in the spinal cord-a prerequisite for disease treatment-and its ability to rescue a mild SMA mouse model that develops tail and ear necrosis, resembling the distal tissue necrosis reported in some SMA infants. Using a micro-osmotic pump, we directly infused the ASO into a lateral cerebral ventricle in adult mice expressing a human SMN2 transgene; the ASO gave a robust and long-lasting increase in SMN2 exon 7 inclusion measured at both the mRNA and protein levels in spinal cord motor neurons. A single embryonic or neonatal intracerebroventricular ASO injection strikingly rescued the tail and ear necrosis in SMA mice. We conclude that this MOE ASO is a promising drug candidate for SMA therapy, and, more generally, that ASOs can be used to efficiently redirect alternative splicing of target genes in the CNS.

Item Type: Paper
Subjects: diseases & disorders > congenital hereditary genetic diseases
diseases & disorders
bioinformatics > genomics and proteomics > genetics & nucleic acid processing > DNA, RNA structure, function, modification > antisense
organism description > animal > mammal > rodent > mouse
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
organs, tissues, organelles, cell types and functions > cell types and functions > cell types > neurons
CSHL Authors:
Communities: CSHL Post Doctoral Fellows
CSHL labs > Krainer lab
CSHL Cancer Center Shared Resources > Animal Services
CSHL Cancer Center Shared Resources > Antibody and Phage Display Service
CSHL Cancer Center Shared Resources > Microscopy Service
Depositing User: CSHL Librarian
Date: 1 August 2010
Date Deposited: 03 Oct 2011 13:39
Last Modified: 26 Dec 2014 20:51
PMCID: PMC2912561
Related URLs:
URI: https://repository.cshl.edu/id/eprint/15433

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