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Melillo P, Testa F, Di Iorio V, Karali M, Citro A, Della Corte M, Rossi S, Banfi S, Simonelli F. Objective Outcomes to Evaluate Voretigene Neparvovec Treatment Effects in Clinical Practice. Ophthalmol Retina 2024; 8:688-698. [PMID: 38295874 DOI: 10.1016/j.oret.2024.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE To assess the efficacy of voretigene neparvovec (VN) treatment by objective fixation stability and chromatic pupillometry testing in clinical practice. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study with longitudinal follow-up. SUBJECTS Twelve patients (aged 7-34 years) with RPE65-related inherited retinal dystrophies were treated at the same center with VN in both eyes. METHODS Patients treated at the same center with VN were evaluated over a 12-month posttreatment follow-up by subjective and objective tests. Furthermore, patients treated with VN who developed atrophy were compared with those who did not. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), full-field stimulus threshold test (FST), semiautomated kinetic visual field (SKVF), microperimetry, and chromatic pupillometry over a 12-month follow-up. RESULTS Significant improvements of BCVA (P < 0.001), SKVF (P < 0.05), and FST (P < 0.001) were already observed 45 days after treatment and were maintained at the 12-month timepoint. Fixation stability, assessed by microperimetry, improved significantly (P < 0.05) after treatment. Chromatic pupillometry showed significant improvements (P < 0.05) at the 6- and 12-month timepoints. The increase in maximum pupillary constriction significantly (P < 0.001) correlated with higher retinal sensitivity in FST. Four patients developed multifocal retinal atrophy in both eyes, detected at the 6-month timepoint, but this atrophy was not generally associated with worse visual function outcomes. CONCLUSIONS This study explores objective outcomes in order to demonstrate the efficacy of VN treatment in addition to the tests normally performed in clinical practice. Our findings show a significant improvement of retinal function both in subjective assessments, such as BCVA, SKVF, and FST, and in objective measurements of fixation stability and maximum pupillary constriction. Moreover, the significant correlation between maximum pupillary constriction and light sensitivity thresholds corroborates the introduction of chromatic pupillometry as an objective test to better assess treatment outcomes in patients with inherited retinal dystrophies. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE(S) Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found after the references in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Melillo
- Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Testa
- Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Valentina Di Iorio
- Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.
| | - Marianthi Karali
- Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy; Medical Genetics, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Amelia Citro
- Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Michele Della Corte
- Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Settimio Rossi
- Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
| | - Sandro Banfi
- Medical Genetics, Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy; Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Francesca Simonelli
- Eye Clinic, Multidisciplinary Department of Medical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy
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Ku CA, Igelman AD, Huang SJ, Bailey ST, Lauer AK, Duncan JL, Weleber RG, Yang P, Pennesi ME. Perimacular Atrophy Following Voretigene Neparvovec-Rzyl Treatment in the Setting of Previous Contralateral Eye Treatment With a Different Viral Vector. Transl Vis Sci Technol 2024; 13:11. [PMID: 38888288 PMCID: PMC11186569 DOI: 10.1167/tvst.13.6.11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose To report on cases of unilateral perimacular atrophy after treatment with voretigene neparvovec-rzyl, in the setting of previous contralateral eye treatment with a different viral vector. Design Single-center, retrospective chart review. Methods In this case series, four patients between the ages of six and 11 years old with RPE65-related retinopathy were treated unilaterally with rAAV2-CB-hRPE65 as part of a gene augmentation clinical trial (NCT00749957). Six to 10 years later the contralateral eyes were treated with the Food and Drug Administration-approved drug, voretigene neparvovec-rzyl. Best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), fundus photos, ocular coherence tomography, two-color dark-adapted perimetry, full field stimulus threshold testing (FST), and location of subretinal bleb and chorioretinal atrophy were evaluated. Results Three out of four patients showed unilateral perimacular atrophy after treatment with voretigene, ranging from five to 22 months after treatment. Areas of robust visual field improvement were followed by areas of chorioretinal atrophy. Despite perimacular changes, BCVA, FST, and subjective improvements in vision and nyctalopia were maintained. Perimacular atrophy was not observed in the first eye treated with the previous viral vector. Conclusions We observed areas of robust visual field improvement followed by perimacular atrophy in voretigene treated eyes, as compared to the initially treated contralateral eyes. Translational Relevance Caution is advised when using two different viral vectors between eyes in gene therapy. This may become an important issue in the future with increasing gene therapy clinical trials for inherited retinal dystrophies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristy A. Ku
- Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Austin D. Igelman
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Samuel J. Huang
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Steven T. Bailey
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Andreas K. Lauer
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Jacque L. Duncan
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Richard G. Weleber
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Paul Yang
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Mark E. Pennesi
- Casey Eye Institute, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
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Stingl K, Priglinger C, Herrmann P. RPE65-Associated Retinal Dystrophies: Phenotypes and Treatment Effects with Voretigene Neparvovec. Klin Monbl Augenheilkd 2024; 241:259-265. [PMID: 38508214 DOI: 10.1055/a-2227-3671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
Retinal dystrophies linked to the RPE65 gene are mostly fast-progressing retinal diseases, with childhood onset of night blindness and progressive visual loss up to the middle adult age. Rare phenotypes linked to this gene are known with congenital stationary night blindness or slowly progressing retinitis pigmentosa, as well as an autosomal dominant c.1430A>G (p.Asp477Gly) variant. This review gives an overview of the current knowledge of the clinical phenotypes, as well as experience with the efficacy and safety of the approved gene augmentation therapy voretigene neparvovec.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina Stingl
- Department of Ophthalmology, Universitäty Hospital Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Priglinger
- Department of Ophthalmology, Ludwig-Maximilians-Univerity Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Philipp Herrmann
- University Eye Hospital, Center for Ophthalmology, University of Tübingen, Germany
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Dormegny L, Studer F, Sauer A, Ballonzoli L, Speeg-Schatz C, Bourcier T, Dollfus H, Gaucher D. Could internal limiting membrane peeling before Voretigen neparvovec-ryzl subretinal injection prevent focal chorioretinal atrophy? Heliyon 2024; 10:e25154. [PMID: 38322949 PMCID: PMC10844059 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose To report the effect of internal limiting membrane (ILM) peeling prior to Voretigen Neparvovec-ryzl (VN) subretinal injection on focal chorioretinal atrophy development in patients presenting with RPE65-mediated Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA). Design Retrospective case series. Methods Three patients who underwent bilateral subretinal VN injection for RPE65-mediated LCA were followed up for 18-24 months. ILM peeling was performed unilaterally in patients 1 and 2 and bilaterally in patient 3. Chorioretinal atrophy was identified on fundus biomicroscopy, non-mydriatic retinography and/or ultrawide field fundus imaging. Best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), visual fields, full-field stimulus threshold (FST) and visual functioning questionnaire score (NEI-VFQ-25) were reported. Outcome measures were changes in BCVA, visual fields, FST, NEI-VFQ-25, and chorioretinal atrophy location. Results Chorioretinal atrophy at the injection site exclusively developed in eyes which did not undergo prior ILM peeling. In patient 3, bilateral pre-operative nummular chorioretinal alterations progressed toward epithelial atrophic patches in the mid and extreme retinal periphery 18 months after VN injection. BCVA and visual fields improved bilaterally. NEI_VFQ 25 remained stable in patient 1 and improved in patient 2 and 3. FST test improved bilaterally in patient 3. Conclusions ILM peeling prior to VN injection seems to be a smoother and safer technique to administer VN treatment and may prevent secondary focal atrophy development at the injection site. However, another type of more extended chorioretinal atrophy might exist and could be related to LCA evolution or to incompletely understood adverse effect of VN product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Dormegny
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Civil Hospital, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Fouzia Studer
- Institut de Génétique Médicale d'Alsace, CARGO Reference Center for Rare Diseases in Genetic Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - Arnaud Sauer
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Civil Hospital, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Laurent Ballonzoli
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Civil Hospital, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Claude Speeg-Schatz
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Civil Hospital, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Tristan Bourcier
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Civil Hospital, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
| | - Helene Dollfus
- Institut de Génétique Médicale d'Alsace, CARGO Reference Center for Rare Diseases in Genetic Ophthalmology, University Hospital of Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France
| | - David Gaucher
- Department of Ophthalmology, New Civil Hospital, Strasbourg University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
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Moran AL, Fehilly JD, Blacque O, Kennedy BN. Gene therapy for RAB28: What can we learn from zebrafish? Vision Res 2023; 210:108270. [PMID: 37321111 DOI: 10.1016/j.visres.2023.108270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The eye is particularly suited to gene therapy due to its accessibility, immunoprivileged state and compartmentalised structure. Indeed, many clinical trials are underway for therapeutic gene strategies for inherited retinal degenerations (IRDs). However, as there are currently 281 genes associated with IRD, there is still a large unmet need for effective therapies for the majority of IRD-causing genes. In humans, RAB28 null and hypomorphic alleles cause autosomal recessive cone-rod dystrophy (arCORD). Previous work demonstrated that restoring wild type zebrafish Rab28 via germline transgenesis, specifically in cone photoreceptors, is sufficient to rescue the defects in outer segment phagocytosis (OSP) observed in zebrafish rab28-/- knockouts (KO). This rescue suggests that gene therapy for RAB28-associated CORD may be successful by RAB28 gene restoration to cones. It also inspired us to critically consider the scenarios in which zebrafish can provide informative preclinical data for development of gene therapies. Thus, this review focuses on RAB28 biology and disease, and delves into both the opportunities and limitations of using zebrafish as a model for both gene therapy development and as a diagnostic tool for patient variants of unknown significance (VUS).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ailis L Moran
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - John D Fehilly
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Oliver Blacque
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Breandán N Kennedy
- UCD School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland; UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Kim HJ, Zhao J, Walewski JL, Sparrow JR. A High Fat Diet Fosters Elevated Bisretinoids. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:104784. [PMID: 37146972 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2023.104784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/07/2023] Open
Abstract
High dietary fat intake is associated with metabolic dysregulation, but little is known regarding the effects of a high fat diet (HFD) on photoreceptor cell functioning. We explored the intersection of a high fat diet (HFD) and the visual cycle adducts that form in photoreceptor cells by non-enzymatic reactions. In black C57BL/6J mice and albino C57BL/6Jc2j mice raised on a high fat diet until age 3, 6 or 12 months, chromatographically quantified bisretinoids were increased relative to mice on a standard diet. In vivo measurement of fundus autofluorescence, the source of which is bisretinoid, also revealed a significant increase in the HFD-mice. Additionally, mice provided with a diet high in fat presented with elevated retinol-binding protein 4 (RBP4) the protein responsible for transporting retinol in plasma. Vitamin A was elevated in plasma although not in ocular tissue. Bisretinoids form in photoreceptor cell outer segments by random reactions of retinaldehyde with phosphatidylethanolamine. We found that the latter phospholipid was significantly increased in mice fed a HFD versus mice on a control diet. In leptin-deficient ob/ob mice, a genetic model of obesity, plasma levels of Rbp4 protein were higher but bisretinoids in retina were not elevated. Photoreceptor cell viability measured as outer nuclear layer thickness was reduced in the ob/ob mice relative to wild-type. The accelerated formation of bisretinoid we observed in diet induced obese mice is related to the high fat intake and to increased delivery of vitamin A to the visual cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hye Jin Kim
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, 635 W. 165(th) Street, New York NY, 10032
| | - Jin Zhao
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, 635 W. 165(th) Street, New York NY, 10032
| | - Jose L Walewski
- Departments of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, 635 W. 165(th) Street, New York NY, 10032
| | - Janet R Sparrow
- Departments of Ophthalmology, Columbia University Medical Center, 635 W. 165(th) Street, New York NY, 10032; Departments of Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, 635 W. 165(th) Street, New York NY, 10032.
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Kolesnikova M, Lima de Carvalho JR, Parmann R, Kim AH, Mahajan VB, Tsang SH, Sparrow JR. Chorioretinal atrophy following voretigene neparvovec despite the presence of fundus autofluorescence. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2022; 10:e2038. [PMID: 36225124 PMCID: PMC9651599 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.2038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA) type 2, due to disease-causing variants in RPE65, is characterized by severe visual loss in early infancy. Current treatments include voretigene neparvovec-rzyl (VN) for RPE65-associated LCA. Herein, we present the long-term follow-up of a patient treated with VN using quantitative autofluorescence (488 nm excitation). CASE REPORT A 9-year-old girl with a diagnosis of LCA with biallelic variants in RPE65 presented for evaluation. The patient underwent VN treatment at the age of 11. The patient returned to clinic at age of 19 at which time imaging revealed evidence of chorioretinal atrophy. Quantitative autofluorescence performed prior to gene therapy and at 6- and 8-year follow-up revealed a central area of fundus autofluorescence. DISCUSSION This case report demonstrates acquisition of fundus autofluorescence at 6- and 8-year follow-up despite the development of chorioretinal atrophy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masha Kolesnikova
- Edward S. Harkness Eye InstituteNew York‐Presbyterian HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of OphthalmologyColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- College of Medicine at the State University of New York at Downstate Medical CenterBrooklynNew YorkUSA
| | - Jose Ronaldo Lima de Carvalho
- Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital das Clínicas de Pernambuco, Empresa Brasileira de Serviços HospitalaresFederal University of PernambucoRecifeBrazil
| | - Rait Parmann
- Edward S. Harkness Eye InstituteNew York‐Presbyterian HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Angela H. Kim
- Edward S. Harkness Eye InstituteNew York‐Presbyterian HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of OphthalmologyColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- College of Medicine at the State University of New York at Downstate Medical CenterBrooklynNew YorkUSA
| | - Vinit B. Mahajan
- Byers Eye Institute, Molecular Surgery ProgramStanford UniversityPalo AltoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Stephen H. Tsang
- Edward S. Harkness Eye InstituteNew York‐Presbyterian HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Jonas Children's Vision Care and Bernard & Shirlee Brown Glaucoma Laboratory, Department of OphthalmologyColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Pathology & Cell BiologyColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
| | - Janet R. Sparrow
- Edward S. Harkness Eye InstituteNew York‐Presbyterian HospitalNew YorkNew YorkUSA
- Department of Pathology & Cell BiologyColumbia University Irving Medical CenterNew YorkNew YorkUSA
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