2. Academic Validation
  3. NCALD Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy in Addition to Nusinersen further Ameliorates Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Mice

NCALD Antisense Oligonucleotide Therapy in Addition to Nusinersen further Ameliorates Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Mice

  • Am J Hum Genet. 2019 Jul 3;105(1):221-230. doi: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.05.008.
Laura Torres-Benito 1,  Svenja Schneider 1,  Roman Rombo 1,  Karen K Ling 2,  Vanessa Grysko 1,  Aaradhita Upadhyay 1,  Natalia L Kononenko 3,  Frank Rigo 2,  C Frank Bennett 2,  Brunhilde Wirth 4
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
  • 2 Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA 92008, USA.
  • 3 Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany.
  • 4 Institute of Human Genetics, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany; Institute for Genetics, University of Cologne, 50674 Cologne, Germany; Center for Rare Diseases, University Hospital of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany. Electronic address: [email protected].
PMID: 31230718 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2019.05.008
Abstract

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disease causing the most frequent genetic childhood lethality. Recently, nusinersen, an antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that corrects SMN2 splicing and thereby increases full-length SMN protein, has been approved by the FDA and EMA for SMA therapy. However, the administration of nusinersen in severe and/or post-symptomatic SMA-affected individuals is insufficient to counteract the disease. Therefore, additional SMN-independent therapies are needed to support the function of motoneurons and neuromuscular junctions. We recently identified asymptomatic SMN1-deleted individuals who were protected against SMA by reduced expression of neurocalcin delta (NCALD). NCALD reduction is proven to be a protective modifier of SMA across species, including worm, zebrafish, and mice. Here, we identified Ncald-ASO3-out of 450 developed Ncald ASOs-as the most efficient and non-toxic ASO for the CNS, by applying a stepwise screening strategy in cortical neurons and adult and neonatal mice. In a randomized-blinded preclinical study, a single subcutaneous low-dose SMN-ASO and a single intracerebroventricular Ncald-ASO3 or control-ASO injection were presymptomatically administered in a severe SMA mouse model. NCALD reduction of >70% persisted for about 1 month. While low-dose SMN-ASO rescues multiorgan impairment, additional NCALD reduction significantly ameliorated SMA pathology including electrophysiological and histological properties of neuromuscular junctions and muscle at P21 and motoric deficits at 3 months. The present study shows the additional benefit of a combinatorial SMN-dependent and SMN-independent ASO-based therapy for SMA. This work illustrates how a modifying gene, identified in some asymptomatic individuals, helps to develop a therapy for all SMA-affected individuals.

Keywords

ASO therapy; NCALD; SMA; SMN1; SMN2; modifier gene; motor neuron disorder; neuromuscular disorder; neuromuscular junction; spinal muscular atrophy.

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