AU767690B2 - Oral delivery of adeno-associated viral vectors - Google Patents

Description

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ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT r Applicant(s): Address for Service: Yale University 451 College Street Hew Haven Connecticut 06520 a; United States of America oces wed 0 Documents DAVIES COLLISON CAVE Patent Trade Mark Attorneys Level 10, 10 Barrack Street- SYDNEY NSW 2000 vi M-32'~ Invention Title: Oral delivery of adeno-associated viral vectors The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- 5020 B-10-03; 4:13 8-1003:4:1 612 93045173 8/ 18 ORAL DELTWRY OF ADENO-ASSCAE VIA V4JORS i& inventioni ~s*Ort-ed in pant by Nffl grants NS28227 andlN 8P. 'The Govc:Antas rights in this invention as a result oft~isj#4.t This invention is in the field of gene expression and is particulatly direced to expression of gone products in the gut of an animal.

Adeno-aS3ociated Virus (AAV) Vctors have been proposed and patented as vectors for expressing gene Products in animals. See, for example, U.S. patent No. 5,193,941, issued 18 August 1992, WO 9413788, as well as WO 95/28493 the last application arising from the laboratory of the present inventor. A number of patents and other publications describe numerous AAV vectors and their uses, the uses generally being related to expression of gene products either in vitro (usually tissue cultures) or in vivo (usually in the lungs or *20 oral mucosa, the normal sites of AAV infection, although WO 9 5/28493 relates to expression in the central nervous system).

investigations in the laboraory of the present inventor have surprisingly discovered that AAV' vectors can act as effective, long-term expression systems in the gut of animals after oral in~gestion. This discovery provides a new method of expressing desirable gene products and control olements in the gut of animals, including hutrans.

Accordingly, the present invention seeks to provide new uses for AAV vectors that have already been developed for other purposes.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00445248 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2003-10-08 8-10-03: 4:13 8-10-03 4:3612 93645173 9/ i8 2 The present invention also seeks to provide new recombinant AAV vectors containing gut-directed gene expression systems.

This has been accomplished by providing a method of expressing a gene product in the gut of an animal, which comprises administering a recombinant AAV vector to the gut of the animal, wherein the vector comprises a non-AAV gene of interest ligated into an AAV vector.

As now claimed, according to one aspect, the present invention provides a method for obtaining expression of a gene of interest in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal comprising: administering a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) particle to the gastrointestinal tract of said animal, wherein said AAV particle comprises a non-AAV gene of interest.

BUIE DES CIUT[ON OF 3ME DRAWING The invention will be bett~r understood by reference to thie following detailed description of the invention when considered in combination with the drawings that form part of the specification, wherein: Figure 1 is a graph showing plasma glucose and animl weight following an acute lactose challenge and a lactose-only diet. A. The change in plasma glucose following the ingestion ofLcoein overnight, fasted rats. Rats-were, studied I week following AAVlac or PBS administration- B. The oral lactose challenge was repeated after 14 diys on. the lactosie diet. C. The weights of rats, at baseline, 1'eka ek olwing a 14 clay lactose and water diet. The die't commenced I week following oral'AAVlac or PBS treatment.

Figure 2. A. The change in plasma glucose following the ingestion of lactose In overnight fasted rats, which were challenged 120 days following a single perral dose of AAVlac or PBS. B. The weights of rat at baseline, I week and 2 weeks following a 14 day lactose and water diet. The diet commenced 120 days following oral AAV~ac or PBS treatmnt.

IDESCR=TON OF SPECiFC EM(BOD-MMMT Tie present invention is quite straightforwaxd: prior to this invention recombinant AAV vectors were well krnown and. were known to be able to COMS ID No: SMBI-00445248 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2003-10-08 8-10-03: 4:13 8-1003:4:1 612 93645173 10/ 18 2a transduce a number of cells and tissues, but had not been used or suggested for use in expresipg gene products in the gut of animals. The invention therefore omprises adminisering to the gut of a target animal a recombinant AAV vector containing ageme whose expression is desired (along with fth appropriate control COMS ID No: SMBI-00445248 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2003-10-08 3.

elements, if desired or necessary in the normal manner for vectors). No new vectors are required, as previously known AAV vectors have been shown to work well for gut expression. Thus the invention is in part a discovery that no particular adaption of AAV vectors is required for gut expression, which is surprising in view of the strict requirements for AAV reproduction presence of a helper virus) and the normal association of AAV with the lungs and nasal passages.

A number of scientific and patent publications describe the state of the art in the AAV vector field. Since no particular adaptations of prior art vectors are required for practice of the present invention, there is no need here to detail at great length the already well-known state of the art. However, the following publications are herein incorporated by reference, as are the patent and the patent applications (and their published equivalents) identified in the Introduction section of this specification, as these materials may be useful for those less experienced in i 15 the AAV field: 1. Samulski, R.J. et al. (1982) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 29:2077-2081 "Cloning of Adeno-Associated Virus into pBR322: Rescue of Intact Virus 20 from Recombinant Plasmid in Human Cells" 2. Samulski, R.J. et al. (1983) Cell 33:135-143 "Rescue of Adeno-Associated Virus from Recombinant Plasmids: Gene 25 Correction within the Terminal Repeats of AAV" 3. Laughlin et al. (1983) Gene 23:65-73 "Cloning of Infectious Adeno-Associated Virus Genomes in Bacterial Plasmids" 4. Hermanot, P.L. and Muzycka, N. (1984) Proc. Nail. Acad. Sci. USA. B1:6466-6470 "Use of Adeno-Associated Virus as a Mammalian DNA Cloning Vector: Transduction of Neomycin Resistance into. Mamnmalian Tissue Culture Cells" Senepathy, P. et al. (1984) J. Mol. Blol. 178L172 1-20 "Rltion of Adeno-Associated Virus DNA Complemnenration of Naturally Occurring rep- Mutants by a Wild-type Genome or an ori- Mutant and Correction of Terminal Palindrome Deletions' 6. Tratscliinet al. (1984) J. Wmol :611-619 Genetic Analysis of Adeno-Associated Virus: Properties of Deletion i Mutants Constructed In Vitro and Evidence for an Adeno-Associated Virus Replication Function" Tratschin et al. (1984) Mo!. Cell. Bicd. _4:2072-2081 20"A Human Parvovirus. Adeno-Associated Virus, as a Eukaryotic Vector: Transient Expression and Encapsidation of the Prokaryotic Gene for Chioramphenicol Acetyltransferase* 8. Milleret al. (1986) 25Somaric Cell and Molecular Genetics .12: 175-183 "Factors Involved in Production of Helper Virus-Free Retrovinis Vectors" 9. Bosselman et al. (1987) Mol. Cell. Biol. 2:1797-1806 "Replication-Defective Chimneric Helper Provinises and Factors Affecting Generation of Competent Virus: Expression of Moloney Murine Leukemia Virus Stiuctural Genes via the Metaiioionein Promoter" Ohi et al. (1988) CelL Biol 107:304A 'Construction and Characterization of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus Genoine Containing fl-globin cDNA" 11. McLaughlin etal. (1988) J. Wrol §:1963-1973 "Adeno-Associated General Transduction Vectors: Analysis of Proviral Structures" 12. Lebkowski et al. (1988) Mol. Cell BioL 8:3988-3996 "Adeno-Associated Virus: a Vector System for Efficient Introduction and Integration of DNA into a Variety of Mammalian Cell Types" IS ~1 13. Samulski et al. (1989) J. ViroL 0:3822-3828 *"Helper-Free Stocks of Recombinant Adeno-Associated Viruses: Normal Integration Does not Require Viral Gene Expression" 14. Srivastava et al. (October 1989) Proc. Narl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. :O,87-82 "Construction of a recombinant human parvo virus-B19: adeno-associated vinzs-2 (AAV) DNA inverted terminal repeats are functional in an AAV- 25B19 hybrid virus -vector construction; potential application gene cloning in bone marrow cell culture and gene therapy" IS1. OhiS. et al. (1990) 1. CeIL. Biochemn. (Suppl. I 4A,D422) "Construction of recombinant adeno-associated virus that harbors human bet a-globin cDNA vector construction for potential application in 15 hemoglobinopathy gene therapy; gene cloning and expression in 293 cell culture" 16.. Ohi, S. et al. (1990) Gene 89 2:279-82 "Construction and replication of an adeno-associated virus expression vector that contains human beta-globin cDNA plasmid PAVh-beta-GHPl I and plasmid PAVh-beta-G-psi-l construction; potential application in gene therapy of e.g. sickle cell anemia or thalassemia" 17. Ohi, S. et al. (1990) FASEBI J. 4:7, A2288) "Production and expression of recombinant adeno-associated viruses harboring human beta-globin cDNA adeno-associated virus expression in 293 cell culture; potential gene therapy for henioglobinopathy disease" 18. Sarnulsld et al. (1991) Embo J. n0:3941-3950 "Targeted Integration of Adeno-associated virus AAV Into human chromosome 19" 19. Ruffing et al- (Dec. 1992) Virol. 6:6922-6930 "Assembly of Viruslike Particles by Recombinant Structural Proteins of Adeno-Associated Virus Type 2 in Insect Cells" Sitaric et al.- (1991) FASEB 5:A1550 "Production of a Helper-free Recombinant Adeno-Associated Virus That Harbors Hunan fl-globin cDNA" 21. Walsh et al. (1991) Cliii Res. 2:325 "Gene Transfer and High-level Expression of a human -y-globin Gene Mediated by a Novel Adeno-Associated Virus Promoter' 22. Carter, B.J. (October 1992) CluT. Opinion in BiorechnoL 3-:533-539 'Adeno-Associated Virus Vectors" 23. ONi et al. (1992) (June 21-22, 1991) qP Hematol 20 119 'Synthesis of a human beta globin in the recombinant adeno-associated..

virus-infected cells towards gene therapy of hemoglobinopatlies" .24. Flotte et al- (1993) is J: C 268:3781-3790 "Expression of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator from a Novel Adeno-Associated Virus Promoter" Wong et al. (1993) Blood 82:302A.

"High efficiency gene transfer into growth arrested cells utilizing an adenoassociated virus (AAV)-based vector' 26. Shaughnessey, et (1994) Proc. Am. Assoc. Cancer Res. M:373 "Adeno-associated virus vectors for IMRl gene therapy multidrugresistance gene cloning and gene transfer into hematopoietic stemn cell culture using adeno-associated virus vector CWRSP for potential gene therapy" 27. Tenenbaum, L. et al. (1994) Gene Ther. Suppl. 1, "Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) as a Vector for Gene Transfer into Glial Cells of the Human Central Nervous System Potential Gene Therapy" 28. Friedmann, T. (1994) Gene Ther. Suppl.1, S47-S48) "Gene Therapy for Disorders of the CNS Parkinson Disease Alzheimer Disease Therapy by Gene Transfer Using Herpes Simplex Virus, Adeno Virus and Adeno-Associated Virus Vector" 29. DE 42 19626 Al Assignee: Wehling, P.

Filed: 16 June 1992 Publication: 23 DEC 93 "Methods for Introducing Therapeutically Relevant Genes into Cells" 30. WO 91/18088 Assignee: Nat. Inst. Health-Bethesda Filed: 17 May 1991 (Priority 23 May 1990) Inventors: Chatterjee and Wong 20 Publication: 28 November 1991 "Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV)-based Eukaryotic Vectors" 31. EP 0 592 836 Al Assignee: American Cyanamide Co.

25 Filed: 16 September 93 (priority 17 Sept 92 US 947127) •Publication: 20 April 94 9 "Human Adeno-Associated Virus Integration Site DNA and use thereof" 32. WO 93/24641 Assignee: U.S. Dept. Health-Human-Serv.

Filed: 2 June 1993 (Priority 2 June 1992) Publication: 20 APR 94 "Adeno-Associated Virus with Inverted Terminal Repeat Sequences as Promoter" 33. WO 93/09239 Assignee: Res. Corp. Technol.

Filed: 6 NOV 92 (US priority 8 NOV 91) Publication: 13 MAY 93 "Adeno-Associated Virus-2 Basal Vectors" 34. EP 0 488 528 Al Assignee: Appl. Immune Sci.

Filed: 29 OCT 91 (US priority 30 OCT Publication: 3 JUNE 92 "Recombinant adeno-associated Virus Vectors" 35. USPN 4,797, 368 Assignee: U.S. Dept. Health-Human-Serv.

Filed: 15 MAR Issued: 10 JAN 89 20 "Adeno-associated Virus as Eukaryotic Expression Vector" Two recent review article provide a particularly complete overview of the S" recent status of gene therapy using AAV virus and include a collection of additional recent scientific publications in this field.

S 36. Samulski, R. J.

"Adenoassociated Viral Vectors" Chapter 3 in "Viruses in Human Gene Therapy" Chapman Hall, H. Vos., ed.

37. Samulski, R. J.

"Adeno-associated Virus-based Vectors for Human Gene Therapy" Chapter 11 in "Gene Therapy: From Laboratory to the Clinic" World Scientific, K. M. Hui, ed.

Actual delivery of the viral vector for purposes of the invention is accomplished by using any physical method that will transport the AAV recombinant vector to the gut. In this discussion on administration, "AAV vector" means both a bare recombinant AAV DNA vector or AAV vector DNA packaged into viral capsids. Simply dissolving an AAV vector in phosphate buffered saline has been demonstrated to be sufficient for useful gut expression, and there are no known restrictions on the carriers or other components that can be coadministered with the vector (although compositions that degrade DNA should be avoided in the normal manner with vectors). Pharmaceutical compositions can be prepared as oral tablets, capsules, or ingestible liquids or as suppositories. The vectors can be used with any pharmaceutically acceptable carrier for ease of administration and 15 handling.

The AAV vector may be orally administered, for example, with an inert diluent or with an assimilable edible carrier, or it may be enclosed in hard or soft shell gelatin capsules, or it may be compressed into tablets, or it may be incorporated directly with the food of the diet. For oral therapeutic administration, the AAV vector may be incorporated with excipient and used in the form of ingestible tablets, buccal tablets, troches, capsules, elixirs, suspensions, syrups, wafers, and the like. Such compositions and preparations should contain at least 1 ug, preferably 10-1000 pg of AAV vector DNA, or 5 x 103 to 5 x 10 infectious units AAV vector per kg body weight. The amount of AAV vector in a therapeutically useful composition is that which is sufficient to produce gene expression at a therapeutically useful level. Preferred compositions or preparations according to the present invention are prepared so that an oral dosage unit form contains between about 10 and 1000 pg of AAV vector DNA or to 10 s infectious units AAV vector.

The tablets, troches, pills, capsules and the like may also contain the following: a binder such as polyvinylpyrrolidone, gum tragacanth, acacia, sucrose, corn starch or gelatin; an excipient such as calcium phosphate, sodium citrate and calcium carbonate; a disintegrating agent such as corn starch, potato starch, tapioca starch, certain complex silicates, alginic acid and the like; a lubricant such as sodium lauryl sulfate, talc and magnesium stearate; a sweetening agent such as sucrose, lactose or saccharin; or a flavoring agent such as peppermint, oil of wintergreen or cherry flavoring. Solid compositions of a similar type are also employed as fillers in soft and hard-filled gelatin capsules; preferred materials in this connection alsokiclude lactose or milk sugar as well as high molecular weight polyethylene glycols. When the dosage unit formn is a capsule, it may contain, in addition to materials of the above type, a liquid carrier. Various other materials may be present as coatings or to otherwise modify the physical frm~ of the dosage u nit. For instance, tablets, pills, or capsules may be coated with shellac, sugar or both. A syrup or elixir may contain the AAV vector, sucrose as a sweetening agent, methyl and propylparabens as preservatives, a dye, flavoring such as cherry 15or or-ange- flavor, emulsifying agents and/or suspending agents, as well as such diluents as water, ethanol, propylene glycol, glycerin and various like combinations thereof. Of course, any material used in preparing any dosage unit should be pharmaceutically pure and substantially non-toxic in the amounts employed. In addition, the AAV vector may be incorporated into sustained-release preparations and formulations.

20 Since AAV has in the past been shown to have a broad host range (for pulmonary expression) and has now been demonstrated to be operable in the gut, there are no known limits on the animals in which gut expression can take place, although expression in animals with evolutionarily developed small and large intestines is preferred, particularly in mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles, especially domesticated mammals and birds such as cattle, sheep, pigs, horses, dogs, cats, chickens, and turkeys.. Both human and veterinary uses are particularly preferred.

The gene being expressed can be either a DNA segment encoding a protein, with whatever control elements promoters, operators, ribosome binding sites) are desired by the user, or a non-coding DNA segment, the transcription of which produces all or part of some RNA-containing molecule or anti-sense molecule that is functional in cells. Since the present invention is 12.

directed to a route of delivery and to the vector rather than to the material being delivered, there are no limitations on the foreign DNA (non-AAV DNA) being delivered by the vector. While delivery of genes associated with correction of genetic deficiencies related to gut expression is preferred, expression of genes in the gut has the capability of correcting aberrant gene expression in other locations as a result of transport of expression products throughout the body.

We have demonstrated the invention by correcting lactose deficiency in the gut. We used a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) expressing fgalactosidase (AAVlac) and delivered the vector to the proximal intestine using a peroral route. Lactase-deficient rats that received AAVIac were able to metabolize an acute lactose load as demonstrated by a rise in plasma glucose. In contrast, phosphate-buffered saline(PBS)-treated controls demonstrated no effect of lact6se Son plasma glucose. Furthermore, when animals were placed on a restricted, lactose-only diet, PBS-treated rats continued to lose weight over the entire 2-week 15 test-diet period. In contrast, AAVlac-treated animals had no weight loss during the second week. PCR and RT-PCR and histological analysis confirmed intestinal persistence of viral DNA and expression of the vector-encoded 0-galactosidase for S the life of the animal (extending to 6 months). Moreover, when animals were rechallenged with a lactose load at 3 months after a single AAVlac or PBS 20 treatment, AAVlac animals retained their ability to metabolize lactose and .maintained body weight on a lactose diet. These data indicate that oral delivery of an AAV vector can result in long-lasting phenotypic correction of lactase deficiency.

This demonstration system was selected both to prove the principle of the invention and to demonstrate the invention in a therapeutically useful mode.

Adult-type hypolactasis is genetically determined by an autosomal recessive gene (Sahi et al. Lancet 1973 2:823-828). It is the world's most common genetic disorder, afflicting over 50% of the world's population ranging from 100% in some Southeast Asian populations to less than 5% in some Northern European countries (Platz Human Genet. 1984 36:306-310). Although the symptoms associated with lactose intolerance are relatively mild and readily controlled by omitting lactose-containing foods, there is some debate as to the potential clinical 13.

significance of the dietary restrictions which typically accompany lactose intolerance. Specifically, the reduction in calcium-intake associated with complying with a lactose-free diet may lead to an acceleration in the loss of bone mass in the elderly (Flatz 1987 Advances in Human Genet. 16:1-77 NY PlenumPress); and in adolescents and young adults, it may reduce the bone mineral mass (Mobassaleh et al. Pediatrics 75:160-166 1985).

We elected to study lactase deficiency in the rat as a model of a gastrointestinal genetic disease. We were particularly interested in determining whether we could obtain phenotypic correction using an orally delivered viral vector. We have previously shown that AAV vectors can result in long-term transgene expression in terminally differentiated cells following in vivo administration (Birge et al. NEJM 1967 276:445-448). AAV has several features which make it particularly attractive for gene therapy. It is a defective, helperdependent virus, and the wild-type is non-pathogenic. Vectors can be generated 15 which are completely free of helper virus (Bayless et al. 1975 NEJM 292:1156- 1159). Furthermore, some recombinant AAV vectors retain just 145 base terminal repeats with the entire coding sequences removed. In other AAV vectors, non- AAV DNA is operably linked to a vector comprising a double-D AAV genomic segment consisting of 165 basepairs including an internal terminal repeat with D segments at both ends. These vectors therefore are devoid of all viral genes, minimizing any possibility of recombination and viral gene expression. Moreover, unlike adenovirus, they do not appear to elicit any immune response. Another feature of AAV which makes it potentially suitable for an orally based vector is that of hardiness AAV is resistant to temperature, pH extremes and solvents (Sandler et al. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1985 42:270-274). Furthermore, during an active infection in humans, wild-type AAV is typically found in both respiratory tract and gastrointestinal secretions, the gut is therefore a normal host tissue for the virus.

Lactose intolerance is most commonly associated with a reduction in intestinal lactase activity. Lactose digestion is dependent on the enzyme, lactasephlorizin hydrolase (LPH), a microvillar protein which has both galactosidase activity and glycosyl-N-acylsphingosine glucohydrolase activities. However, 14.

dietary administration of yeast or bacterial 1-galactosidase is sufficient to confer the ability to metabolize lactose (Kaplitt et al. Nature Genet. 1994 8:148-154).

Most mammalian species are relatively lactase deficient following weaning, although this developmental change in LPH expression does not appear to be simply a reduction in gene transcription. In both humans and rats, although LPH mRNA declines after weaning, it reappears during adulthood. However, this increase in mRNA is not associated with an increase in translation; and adult enzyme levels within the brush-border remain low. It appears that some LPH protein is expressed, but the enzyme is accumulated within the golgi region and is not transported to the brush-border. Based on this information, we conducted the following examples to illustrate the invention. These examples are not to be considered limiting of the invention unless so specified.

EXAMPLES

15 We decided to demonstrate increased enterocyte expression of jgalactosidase using a viral vector and to obtain brush-border increases in enzyme S activity resulting in phenotypic correction in an animal model. We elected to study the adult rat as a genetic model of adult-onset hypolactasia. However, upon screening adult 4-month-old) Sprague-Dawley and Fisher rats, a significant 20 number at least 70%) had persistent lactase activity as determined by a rise in plasma glucose following an oral lactose challenge test. We therefore selected only those animals that had a flat plasma glucose curve following feeding with lactose.

Rats were randomized to receive AAVlac or vehicle. The vector (or PBS vehicle) was delivered in lightly anesthetized, fasting rats using an oro-gastric tube. Animals were allowed to recover and placed on a regular rat chow diet. At various times following AAViac administration, animals were challenged with lactose and plasma glucose samples measured. Moreover, at one week following AAV and again at 120 days, animals were put on a lactose-only diet. Animal weights were monitored, and the lactose challenge was repeated.

AAVlac DNA persistence and expression was determined using PCR and RT-PCR, in situ RT-PCR and X-gal immunohistochemistry. No f-galactosidase (as determined using X-gal staining) expression was observed within the first 3 hours. However, at 6 hours, clear blue (X-gal positive) cells were seen in a characteristic distribution. Moreover, this expression persisted throughout the animals' lifetime with no loss of expression observed. In contrast to the endogenous enzyme activity in lactase-plus animals which is at the tips of the villi and in the brush-border, the vast majority of expression was within the lamina propria, even at 6 hours following peroral administration. On high-power magnification, however, it appeared that some of the enzyme diffused or was transported to the intestinal brush-border.

Administration of AAVIac did not effect the weight gain or behavior of any rats fed on regular rat chow. However, on changing to the lactose-only diet, both AAVlac and PBS-treated rats lost weight. Over the first week, this weight loss was identical in both groups and largely reflected a reduction in food intake and a lack of interest in ingesting the lactose. However, in the second week, both 15 groups ingested the lactose. Of interest, the AAVlac animals had no further Sweight loss; whereas, the PBS-treated animals continued to lose weight at the same rate as over the first week. Moreover, following a lactose challenge, the AAVlac animals had a significant elevation in plasma glucose; whereas, the plasma glucose level of the PBS-treated animals remained flat (Fig. 1).

20 A group of animals was followed for 4 months following a single oral administration of the vector. At 120 days these rats were rechallenged with a lactose load and then recommenced on a lactose-only diet. In a manner similar to the challenge during the first week following AAVlac administration, the vectortreated animals increased plasma glucose whereas the controls had no response.

Furthermore, the PBS-treated animals had persistent weight loss on the lactose diet, whereas the AAVlac-treated animals were able to maintain body weight during the second week (Fig. 2).

Experimental Details Adult (age 4 months), male Fisher 344 rats were screened using an oral lactose challenge. Rats were fasted overnight. On the morning of the test, a baseline, fasting plasma glucose level was taken from blood obtained from the tail 16.

vein. The animals were then administered 2 gr lactose and the plasma glucose was again measured in a tail vein sample at 30 minutes. Plasma glucose was measured suing a Beckman Glucose Analyzer II as previously described (During MJ et al. J Clin Invest 1995; 95:2403-2408). Rats which had an increase in plasma glucose of greater than 5 mg/dl were excluded from further study. Rats with flat (A <5 mg/dl) were randomized to 2 groups: A) AAVlac and B) PBS.

Rats randomized to AAVlac were lightly anesthetized with ketamine/xylazine (8/80 mg/kg and an oro-gastric tube inserted. 10 microliters of AAVlac (titer x 10'/ml in a carrier solution or 0.5mI PBS or PBS alone was infused. Rats were allowed to recover and returned to ad libitum access to water and rat chow.

AAVlac is the recombinant AAV vector prepared from pABI I as described (Goodman et al. Blood 1994 84:1492-1500).

Rats were fasted overnight, and blood was taken by nicking the tail vein.

Rats were then given a 30 minute access to 2 gram of lactose (Sigma, St. Louis) 15 in their home cages. Thirty minutes from the midpoint of the lactose meal, a second tail vein sample was taken. The blood was immediately centrifuged upon collection and the plasma analyzed for glucose using the Beckman glucose *',analyzer. In preliminary studies we had determined that a forced oral dose of lactose using either an orogastric or other forced feeding resulted in a highly 20 variable stres hyperglycemic response. Moreover, eating behavior per se was insufficient to raise plasma glucose.

Rat chow was removed from housing cages and was replaced with 100% lactose (Sigma, St. Louis). Ad libirun water access was continued at all times.

Animals were weighed at the beginning and at 7 days and 14 days after commencement of the lactose diet. At the end of 14 days the animals, the lactose was removed and the rats were fed regular rat chow.

These studies demonstrate the feasibility of administering an AAV vector orally to obtain long-term gene expression. Moreover, there was no loss of expression evidenced over a 6-month period, and phenotypic correction extended to at least 4 months.

In normal rats, LPH expression is observed within the enterocytes with the protein transported to the brush-border. The expression of jf-galactosidase in our study was somewhat atypical in that expression was most apparent in the lamina propria, with little expression in enterocytes. As turnover of enterocytes occurs every 3-5 days, it might be expected that after 4 or 5 days expression would not be seen within this population of cells. Alternatively, a few progenitor cells in the crypts may have been transduced, although we did not observe any persistent gene expression in enterocytes at both the tips of the villi or in the depths of the crypts.

In contrast, as early as 6 hours following AAVlac administration, expression was observed within the lamina propria. This finding is consistent with the function of M cells within the gut. M cells are specialized gut epithelial cells which are scattered throughout the intestine but are found most concentrated overlying Peyers patches and clusters of immune cells. M cells essentially scavenge foreign proteins, viruses and bacteria and rapidly (within 3 hours)-transport these foreign agents to the immune cells within the lamina propria. The early expression of vector encoded f-galactosidase within the lamina propria is consistent with this 15 pathway. In high powered sections we were able to see enzyme activity (as demonstrated by X-gal staining) extending down through the enterocytes to the brush border, thus contributing to the phenotypic correction we observed in this model. However, the greatest expression was within the lamina propria. The gut antigen presenting cells (APC) may be the best cells to generate systemic immune 20 responses and are a target for vaccine development (Berns et al. Adv. Virus Res.

1979 25:407-409). Oral AAV vectors may therefore be very attractive choice for immunization. The persistent expression within the vascular lamina propria also suggest this route may be applicable for protein replacement, particularly where release into the portal circulation is desired. For example, this approach may be useful for restoration of portal insulin release in diabetes mellitus. The stable expression of a transgene within the gastrointestinal immune system may also be useful to generate immune tolerance akin to oral antigen approaches (Scrimshaw et al. Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 1988 48:1129-1136).

In summary. we have demonstrated that a single peroral administration of an AAV vector can result in persistent expression and long-lasting phenotypic correction. Our data indicates that a "gene in a tablet" strategy using AAV vectors will be useful for a broad range of conditions. Moreover, the lack of -8-10-03: 4:13 -612 93645173 11 8 toxicity azd non-invasivenes of this approch will, rende r al AAV vectors as a palatable choice compared to current pharmacological treabments.

An publications and patent applications mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual' publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated -by reference.

The invention now being fuly described, it will be apparent to one)f ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit or scope of the appended claims.

Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", or variations such as "1comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

The reference to any prior art in this specification is not, and should not be taken as, an acknowledgment or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge in Australia.

COMS ID No: SMBI-00445248 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2003-10-08

Claims (4)

1. 8-10-03: 4:13 612 93645173 12/ 18 19 The claims defining the invention are as follows: 1. A method for obtaining expression of a gene of interest in the gastrointestinal tract of an animal comprising: directly administering a recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) particle to the gastrointestinal tract of said animal, wherein said AAV particle comprises a non-AAV gene of interest. 2. The method of Claim 1, wherein said particle is administered dissolved or 10 suspended in a liquid pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. 3. The method of Claim 2, wherein said liquid carrier comprises an aqueous solution. 4. The method of Claim 1, wherein said particle is administered in a solid pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The method of Claim 1, wherein said gene of interest comprises a DNA segment encoding a protein operably linked to a promoter operable in said gastrointestinal tract. 20 6. The method of Claim 1, wherein said administering is by oral ingestion. 7. The method of Claim 1, wherein said administering is by suppository. 8. The method of Claim 1, wherein said AAV particle comprises non-AAV DNA ligated into an AAV genome in place of or in addition to an AAV DNA sequence excluding the first and last 145 basepairs of said AAV genome or non-AAV DNA operably linked to a vector comprising a double-D AAV genomic segment consisting of 165 basepairs including an internal terminal repeat with D segments at both ends.
2. 9. The method of Claim 1, wherein said gene of interest comprises a DNA segment encoding an anti-sense RNA molecule or a genetic control element. COMS ID No: SMBI-00445248 Received by IP Australia: Time 16:57 Date 2003-10-08 8-10-03: 4:13 612 93645173 13/ 18 The method of Claim 1, wherein said animal is a bird or mammal.
3. 11. The method of Claim 1, wherein said animal is a human.
4. 12. The method of Claim 1, wherein said gene of interest comprises a P-galactosidase gene and promoter system. DATED THIS 8th day of October, 2003. 10 YALE UNIVERSITY By Its Patent Attorneys DAVIES COLLISON CAVE S a 00 o