CA2620294A1 - Ocular gene therapy using avalanche-mediated transfection - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of treating an ocular disease in a subject. In a first step, a nucleic acid is introduced into cells or a tissue.
The nucleic acid is introduced by electron avalanche transfection. With this technique, a high electric field induces a vapor bubble and plasma discharge between an electrode and the surrounding medium. The formation of a vapor bubble generates mechanical stress. Plasma discharge through the ionized vapor in the bubble enables connectivity between the electrode and the surrounding medium, so that mechanical stress and electric field are applied simultaneously, which results in permeabilization of the cells or tissue. This permeabilization in turn allows the nucleic acid to enter the cell or tissue.
Cells or tissue containing the nucleic acid are then transplanted into an ocular region of the subject.

Description

OCULAR GENE THERAPY USING AVALANCHE-MEDIATED
TRANSFECTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to medicine. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of treating ocular diseases with gene therapy using avalanche-mediated transfection to genetically modify cells or tissue.

BACKGROUND
There are many ocular diseases that affect vision. Diseases of the conjunctiva and cornea, cataracts, uveal diseases, retinal diseases, loss of central acuity and visual field abnormalities and diseases of Bruch's membrane are a few examples. Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss in the aged population. In the less common but more severe "wet"
form of age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization leads to progressive disease and vision loss.

Current therapeutics for treatment of many ocular conditions require the need for frequent intravitreal administration. Therapies involving delivery of proteins or aptamers are examples of such approaches, with the drawback that proteins and aptamers have short half-lives and require intravitreal administration every 4-6 weeks for life for maximal efficacy.
Gene therapy approaches are potentially more long-term, with the possibility of lasting many months or years.
Gene therapy can be in vivo, involving delivery of therapeutic genes directly to the tissue of interest, or can be ex vivo, where tissue selected for use is treated outside the body prior to implantation. The art has long sought gene therapy treatment methods that are safe for the patient and therapeutically viable.

One of the important factors in the efficacy and safety of gene therapy is the method used to introduce DNA into a cell. Viral vectors, such as retroviruses and adenoviruses, enable high expression of the introduced DNA but have safety concerns. Non-viral methods, such as liposomes, have low host iimnunogenicity but tend to suffer from inefficient DNA delivery to cells. Accordingly, there is a need in the art for new methods of introducing DNA into cells and tissues for the purpose of gene therapy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a method of treating an ocular disease in a subject. In a first step, a nucleic acid is introduced into cells or a tissue. The nucleic acid is introduced by electron avalanche-mediated transfection. With this technique, a high electric field induces a vapor bubble and plasma discharge between an electrode and the surrounding medium.
The formation of a vapor bubble generates mechanical stress. Plasma discharge through the ionized vapor in the bubble enables connectivity between the electrode and the surrounding medium, so that the mechanical stress and electric field are applied simultaneously, which results in permeabilization of the cells or tissue. This penneabilization in turn allows the nucleic acid to enter the cell or tissue. Cells or tissue containing the nucleic acid are then transplanted into an ocular region of the subject.

Cells and tissue according to the present invention are preferably autologous (i.e. from the subject), or allogeneic (i.e. from an individual of the same species). In the case of cells, the cells may be primary cells or cell lines. Preferred primary cells are conjunctival fibroblasts,_scleral cells, or epithelial cells. Preferred cell lines are fibroblast cell lines or inuscle cell lines.
Preferred tissues are conjunctival tissue and scleral tissue. The cells or tissue may be cultured prior to transplantation. Alternatively, or in addition, the cells or tissue may be placed in a cage, such as a polymeric cage, or a scaffold or matrix to support the growth of the cells.

In a preferred embodiment, the nucleic acid is DNA. The DNA may encode, for example, a therapeutic protein or an RNAi cassette, such as a short-hairpin RNA (shRNA).
Alternatively, the DNA may be used for modifying an endogenous gene. For example, the DNA may be an oligonucleotide used for gene repair, or may be used for homologous recombination with an endogenous gene, for the purpose of modifying the gene. Modifications include, for example, modifying expression levels of the gene and/or replacing a mutant gene with a wild-type copy of the gene. In a particularly preferred einbodiment, the nucleic acid is part of a plasmid. The plasmid may, in addition to a therapeutic gene, contain a marker gene. In order to obtain genomic integration, the plasmid may contain integration elements, such as a phiC31 attB site or inverted repeats recognized by transposases such as Sleeping Beauty. In this case, a source of phiC31 integrase or a transposase would also be provided.

Genetically-modified cells or tissue may be transplanted into any ocular region of the subject.
Preferred regions are the choroid, vitreous hutnor, retinal pigment epithelium, near the macula, and behind the sclera. In the case of a macular region, the ocular region may be epiretinal to the macula, subretinal to the macula, or intra-retinal to the macula. In the case of the vitreous huinor, the ocular region is preferably a region of the vitreous huinor near the pars plana.

Any ocular disease may be treated according to the present invention. Examples include, but are not limited to, age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization, retinal degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal dystrophies.
Similarly, any subject may be treated according to the present invention. Preferred subjects are humans and non-human mammals.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present invention together with its objectives and advantages will be understood by reading the following description in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the avalanche method according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows the use of the avalanche method according to the present invention with wire electrodes.

FIGS. 3-6 show examples of electrode geometries suitable for practicing the avalanche method according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an example of a plasmid construct suitable for gene therapy of an ocular disease according to the present invention. The plasmid contains a nucleotide sequence encoding for pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) and a nucleotide sequence encoding for enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under control of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) proinoter, the two sequences linked by an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) coding sequence.

FIG. 8 shows ocular regions suitable for transplantation according to the present invention.

FIG. 9-10 show examples of electron avalanche-mediated transfection according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Avalanche method The present invention provides an ex vivo gene therapy method based on a novel method of introducing DNA into cells called the avalanche method. When sufficiently high voltage is applied to an electrode, a mechanical stress wave synchronized with a pulse of electric current can be produced and applied to cells or tissue, as shown in FIG. 1. FIG. lA-C
shows three stages that occur when a high voltage is applied to an electrode 110 covered by insulation 120.
Electrode 110 is situated in tissue culture well 130, with conductive liquid medium 132, cells 134, and nucleic acid 136. (While cells are pictured in this figure, tissue could also be used).
When a voltage is first applied to electrode 110, (FIG. lA), an electric field 140 is generated around the un-insulated portion of electrode 110. If the electric field in the mediuin is sufficiently high, generated Joule heat leads to rapid vaporization of liquid medium 132 in the areas adjacent to electrode 110, resulting in generation of a vapor bubble 150 (FIG. 1B). As soon as vapor bubble 150 is formed, it disconnects the surface of electrode 110 from conductive medium 132, so that the electric current stops flowing, and the electric field on the target cells is tenninated. To overcome this difficulty, the vapor in the bubble can be ionized to forin ionized vapor 160, which restores the electrical conductivity, as shown in FIG. 1C.
Ionized vapor 160, also known as plasma, forms a kind of virtual electrode with electric field 170. During this process, the formation of the vapor bubble, and its subsequent collapse, causes a propagating shock wave through the medium, exposing the cells or tissue to mechanical stress 180. The combination of the shock wave and the electric field leads to permeabilization of cells 132, such that nucleic acid 136 may enter cells 132 (FIG. 1D). Highlighting the role of the plasma-mediated electric discharge, the inventors have named this technique electron avalanche-mediated transfection, or, for siinplicity, the avalanche method.

The process described in FIG. 1 works when the electrode produces a relatively uniform electric field. Alternatively, electrodes with a very uneven electric field may be used, so that the vapor cavity formed at the apex does not cover the whole surface of the electrode with a lower electric field. This way the electric current to the medium will not be completely disconnected. One example of an electrode geometry with a non-uniform electric field is a cylindrical probe, such as a wire, with a sharp end. FIG. 2A shows an image of a wire electrode 210 producing a plasma discharge 220. As can be seen from FIG. 2A, the plasma discharge is clearly visible. It is also clearly audible. FIG. 2B shows current 230 and voltage 240 versus time when a voltage is applied to a wire probe. In this particular example, the wire probe was 50 m in diameter and electrical pulses of up to 600 V were used to produce an electric field at the tip of the wire of about 30 kV/cm. However, these parameters may be varied. FIG. 2B shows that when a voltage is applied to such a probe, the initial 20 s of the waveform exhibits reduction of the current due to beginning of vaporization. This is followed by stabilization of conductivity following ionization of the vapor cavity. The ionized vapor cavity serves as a transient electrode, which can greatly exceed the size of the probe, as shown in FIG. 2A. As a result, the distribution of the electric field becomes inuch more uniform than the one generated initially on the small wire electrode, thus leading to more uniform electroporation of the target cells or tissue.

FIG. 2C shows, for different diaineters of electrodes, the field strength (kVhnin) along the length of electrode 230 covered by insulator 240. The electrode diameter indicated by the solid line 250 is 10 m, the dotted line 260 is 25 m, and the dashed line 270 is 50 in. In this particular experiment, 600 V was applied to the electrode. FIG. 2C shows that for a cylindrical electrode with a sharp tip, there is a rapid decrease in electric field as one moves farther away from the tip of the electrode. Thus, the strength of the electric field at the apex of the electrode can be varied by changing the electrode diameter.

Various types of probes may be used according to the present invention. FIG. 3 shows a version of a probe in which active electrodes 310 are plated on a substrate 320. FIG.
3A shows a top view and FIG. 3B shows a side view of the probe. In this probe, substrate 320 is surrounded by return electrode 330. The pattern of active electrodes 310 on substrate 320 forms the necessary proportion between electric field 340 and mechanical stress wave 350 due to plasma discharge 352. The probe in FIG. 3 has a singularity of the electric field 340 at the edges 312 of active electrodes 310. Singularities serve as ignition points for plasma discharge 352 and generation of mechanical stress wave 350. In FIG. 1, plasma occupies the whole volume of the vapor cavity.

In contrast, in FIG. 3, the electric field at the edges of the thin electrode is much higher than in front of its flat part so vaporization and ionization will occur (or start) primarily there. This implementation is simple and inexpensive, but it does not provide the flexibility to control mechanical and electric pulse parameters separately.

Another probe iinplementation, which allows separate control of mechanical stress wave 450 and electric field 440, is shown in FIG. 4. (FIG. 4A is a top view, FIG. 4B is a side view). In this iinplementation, two types of active electrodes, 410 and 412, are patterned on substrate 420, with return electrode 430 surrounding substrate 420. Electrodes 412 may be driven to generate an electric field 440, while electrodes 410 may be driven to generate plasma 452 and mechanical stress wave 450. (Plasma 454 also generates an accoinpanying electric field, not shown).

Separate control of the ainplitude of stress wave and electric field might be desirable for optimization of penneabilization. Generating thein on the same electrode will make these values inutually dependent, while generation on two separate electrodes may provide independent control of these phenomena.

FIG. 5 shows an example of a transfection device suitable for molecular delivery of nucleic acid to adherent cells or tissue according to the present invention. In this arrangement, cells 510 are growing on an adherent surface 520 placed in a nonporous substrate 530, such as a tissue culture plate. Adherent surface 520 may be, for example, a tissue culture insert made of porous material such as polycarbonate. Cells could also be grown directly on nonporous substrate 530. A

gelatinous matrix and/or feeder layer may also be present (not shown). A probe 540 with pillar electrodes 542, return electrode 544, and connection 546 to a voltage source (not shown) is brought into a solution 550 containing nucleic acid 560. Pillar electrodes 542 are positioned a finite distance from cells 510, e.g. about 1 mm. This finite distance is preferably in the range of about 0.5 mm to about 2 cm. In the embodiment shown, the return electrode 544 extends beyond pillar electrodes 542 a distance equal to this finite distance such that the finite distance is defined when the return electrode 544 is touching adherent surface 520. However, this distance could.be defined by any substance. In addition, pillar electrodes 542 are preferably about 0.5 mm to about 2 cm apart.

FIG. 6 shows an example of a transfection device suitable for molecular delivery of nucleic acid to cells or tissue in solution according to the present invention. In this arrangement, cells or tissue 610 are suspended in solution 620 with nucleic acids 630 in cuvette 640. Cuvette 640 contains return electrode 642, pillar electrodes 644, and connection 646 to a voltage source (not shown). In this design, pillar electrodes 644 are preferably between about 0.5 mm and about 2 em apart to provide adequate coverage of the solution voluine. In this arrangeinent, the pillar electrodes could be simultaneously or alternately active.

Regardless of probe design, to produce a strong stress wave, the electric field on the electrode surface should be sufficient for rapid vaporization of the liquid medium. In addition, to maintain connectivity, the electric field should be high enough to induce ionization of the vapor. In this way, both a mechanical stress wave and an electric field can be synchronized, with maximal intensity at the surface of the electrode. In addition to these concerns, the plasma discharge must be controlled in order to maximize transfection efficiency and minimize cell death.

Several parameters may be varied to meet the above requirements, such as electric field strength, applied voltage, pulse duration, number of pulses, frequency, etc. The actual values of these parameters will depend on the specific electrode geometry. In general, however, applied voltages are preferably in the range of about 1 V to about 10 kV, more preferably between about 100 V and about 1 W. Applied voltage preferably results in an electric field between about 1 to about 100 kV/cm, more preferably about 10 to about 50 kV/cm, and most preferably about 30 kV/cm. Pulse duration is preferably in the range of about 1 ns to about 100 ms, more preferably between about 100 ns and about 1 ms. Either monophasic or biphasic pulses are suitable for the purposes of the present invention. However, biphasic pulses are preferred as they lead to less gas formation, nerve and muscle response, and electrode erosion. Any nuinber of pulses may be used according to the present invention. The number of pulses is preferably between about 1 and 100, more preferably between about 1 and 50. When multiple pulses are used, the frequency of pulses should be in the range of about 0.1 Hz to about 1 kHz. Preferably, the frequency is less than about 1 kHz to prevent heat accumulation.

Cells and Tissues Any cell or tissue may be suitable for practicing the invention. Examples include primary cells, primary tissues, and cell lines. Preferred cells include conjunctival fibroblasts, epithelial cells and scleral cells. Preferred tissues include conjunctival tissue and scleral tissue. Preferred cell lines include fibroblast cell lines and muscle cell lines. The cells and tissue are preferably autologous or allogeneic.

In one einbodiinent, the method of the present invention involves obtaining tissue from a subject having or at risk of developing an undesirable eye condition. The condition can range from a minor or nuisance condition, such as dry eye, to a more serious disease with possible vision loss, such as age-related macular degeneration. Under the care of a skilled medical provider, tissue from the patent is harvested in an invasive, minimally invasive, or non-invasive procedure, the degree of invasiveness dictated, in part, by the tissue to be harvested.
Candidate tissues are preferably those capable of transfection and production of a protein, and that are capable of survival in the transplanted environment.

In one aspect of this embodiment, tissue is harvested from the eye and it is contemplated that any tissue in the eye may be harvested in any feasible manner. For example, conjunctival fibroblasts can be excised from the eye by, for example, anesthetizing the conjunctiva with a topical agent such as propraracaine, cleansing and preparing the area with betadine or another cidal agent, and then taking a snip biopsy with a pair of toothed forceps and Wescott scissors.
Subconjunctival anesthesia may be preferred by some surgeons or patients. The excised conjunctiva or other tissue is removed and then transfected either in the operating room or in an adjacent area then reimplanted in the appropriate location in the same session. Alternatively the tissue can be maintained under sterile conditions, taken to a sterile facility where transfection and subsequent subculture and testing can be perfonned, and reimplantation of the tissue performed one to three weeks later. A similar procedure can be performed on the sclera, except it may be preferred to use subconjunctival rather than topical anesthesia. In some instances alternative tissue substrates such as iris pigment epithelium may be substituted for conjunctiva or sclera.
Although a tissue sainple of any size or dimension can be removed, typically a tissue sample of approxiinately one cubic millimeter of tissue or less is obtained. After removal of the tissue, the site can sutured or treated as needed.

In an alternative einbodiment, the tissue is harvested from a donor, rather than the patient. In this case, donor tissue would be isolated and transfected as described above for autologous transplantation. It may be transplanted after transfection in the same session, or, alternatively the tissue can be maintained under sterile conditions, taken to a sterile facility where transfection and subsequent subculture and testing can be performed, and reimplantation of the tissue performed one to three weeks later. In this case, donor tissue may be tested to determine suitability of transplantation, for example for viral or other pathogens or irmnunocompatibility with recipient.
Nucleic Acids Harvested cells or tissues, cell lines made from these cells or tissues, or standard cell lines are genetically modified according to the present invention with a nucleic acid as described above.
The nucleic acid inay encode, for example, a therapeutic protein or an RNAi cassette, such as a shRNA. Alternatively, the nucleic acid may be used to repair or replace an endogenous gene, for example DNA used for homologous recombination, or an oligonucleotide used for gene repair.

Modifications include, for exainple, modifying expression levels of the gene and/or replacing a mutant gene with a wild-type copy of the gene. The nucleic acid may be DNA or RNA, but is preferably DNA. Also preferably, the nucleic acid is a DNA construct, in particular a cDNA or synthetic DNA, and can be further modified to improve transcription and/or translation in the host cell, or to reduce or minunize gene silencing. The nucleic acid construct may coinprise, operably linlced, a promoter region, a nucleotide, and optionally, a termination signal.

Preferably, this construct is part of a plasmid. Preferably, the cells or tissue are stably transfected so that the transplanted cells or tissue may act, for example, as a bio-factory to produce a therapeutic protein for a long period of time.

Multiple nucleic acid sequences can be introduced into the cells or tissue, including multiple copies of the saine nucleic acid sequence and/or multiple copies of differing nucleic acid sequences encoding for different therapeutic or marker proteins. In one embodiment, each nucleic acid sequence is present on a separate polynucleotide construct, plasmid, or vector. In another embodiment, both nucleic acid sequences are present on one polynucleotide construct, plasmid, or vector, with each sequence under the control of a separate promoter. Alternatively, and in yet another embodiment, both nucleic acid sequences are present on one polynucleotide construct, plasmid, or vector, with the polynucleotide structured so that it is bicistronic and where both nucleic acid sequences are under the control of a single promoter.
These various embodiments are further described below.

With respect to the embodiments where two differing nucleic acid sequences are present on one polynucleotide construct, plasmid, or vector, each sequence can be under the control of a separate promoter or can be under the control of a single promoter. In addition to a first nucleic acid sequence encoding for a selected therapeutic protein, in this embodiment, a second nucleic acid sequence encoding, for example, a second therapeutic protein or a marker is included in the construct. Expression of this gene may be constitutive; in the case of a selectable marker this may be useful for selecting successfully transfected cells or for selecting cells or transfected populations of cells that are producing particularly high levels or optimal therapeutic levels of the protein. It will also be appreciated that a selectable marker may be used to provide a means for enriching for transfected cells or positively selecting for those cells which have been transfected, before reintroducing the cells into the patient, as will be described below.

Markers may include selectable drug resistance genes, metabolic enzyme genes, fluorescent proteins, bioluminescent proteins, or any other markers known in the art.
Exeinplary fluorescent proteins include, but are not limited to: green fluorescent protein, cyan fluorescent protein, yellow fluorescent protein, DsRed fluorescent protein, AsRed fluorescent protein, HcRed fluorescent protein, and maxFP-green protein. When a marker gene is included in the vector construct, it will be appreciated that the marker can be used to quantify the amount of fluorescence after transfection and/or before transplantation and/or after transplantation.
Quantitative determination of fluorescence can be undertaken after transfection but before transplanting the tissue using, for example, fluorescence microscopy, flow cytometry, or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis, in order to quantify the expression of fluorescence markers ex vivo. After transplanting the tissue, in vivo monitoring of the extent of fluorescence, as a measure of production of the therapeutic protein, can be done by examining the patient with a fluorescent ophthalmoscope or a surgical microscope equipped for fluorescence imaging, and can be documented with a CCD camera. It will be appreciated that the marker gene can be used to indicate levels of transgene expression and can be monitored by a non-invasive or a minimally invasive procedure. If marker gene expression decreases, another tissue implant can be inserted into the patient to increase the level of therapeutic protein. By using a marker gene, diminished expression of the therapeutic protein can be recognized early, rather than waiting until decreased levels of the therapeutic gene lead to disease progression.

It will be evident that for many gene therapy applications, selection for expression of a marker gene may not be possible or necessary. Also, it is possible that for in vivo applications, vectors without any internal promoters may be preferable. Single transcription unit vectors, wliich may be bi-cistronic or poly-cistronic, coding for one or two or more therapeutic genes, may be designed.

Where two or more genes are present and under transcriptional control of a single promoter, there may be an internal ribosome entry site (IRES), e.g. from picornaviral RNA, to allow both genes to be separately translated from a single transcript. Retroviruses incorporating IRES

sequences are known in the art, for example in U.S. Patent No. 5,665,567.
Briefly, in bicistronic or multicistronic vectors, the individual reading frames of the gene segments encoding the proteins lie on the transcription unit (expression unit). Expression of each cistron is effected using a single promoter, in conjunction with a specific nucleic acid sequence, typically untranslated regions of individual picorna viruses, e.g. poliovirus or encephalomyocarditis virus, or a cellular protein, e.g. BiP. In the picorna viruses, a short segment of the 5' untranslated region, the so-called IRES (internal ribosomal entry site) functions as an initiator for translation of reading frames.

By way of a specific example, and with reference to FIG. 7, the cells or tissue can be transfected with a plasmid having one promoter that drives the expression of a first therapeutic protein, such as pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), and of a selectable marker, such as a fluorescent protein like enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under control of a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. The CMV promoter is positioned at the 5' end of the construct.
Downstream of the 3' end of the CMV promoter is the PEDF nucleotide sequence that encodes for PEDF

protein. In the 3' direction of PEDF is an IRES site, which is designed to allow translation of inultiple genes on an inRNA transcript. Following the IRES site in the 3' direction is the eGFP
coding sequence. The IRES will allow translation of eGFP as well as translation of PEDF.

The promoter region of the construct can be chosen from ainong all promoter regions that are functional in maininalian cells, in particular human cells. The promoter can be a strong or weak promoter, a constitutive or a regulated/inducible promoter, a ubiquitous or selective promoter.
The promoter can be of different origin such as cellular, viral, artificial, and the like. Particular types of promoters are house-keeping promoters, i.e., promoters from cellular genes expressed in inainmalian tissues or cells, or viral promoters (CMV, LTR, SV40, etc.).
Furthermore, the promoter region can be modified artificially to include enhancer element(s), inducibility eleinent(s) and the like. The promoter, secretion and termination region sequences can be selected and adapted by the skilled artisan based on the polypeptide, the pathology, the vector used, etc. In this regard, the nucleic acid construct can be inserted into various kinds of vectors such as plasmids, episomes, artificial chromosomes and the like.

The nucleic acid construct can optionally include a secretion signal, positioned between the promoter and coding regions, which allows, or facilitates, the secretion of the polypeptide outside of the cells. The secretion signal may be homologous with respect to the polypeptide (i.e., from the same gene) or heterologous thereto (i.e., from any other gene encoding a secreted polypeptide, in particular a mammalian gene, or artificial). Examples of secretion signals include the signal peptide of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), pre pro nerve growth sequence (NGS), and the like.

Various approaches may be used to achieve long-term expression of the nucleic acid in the cells or tissue. One approach involves a circular vector carrying a recoinbination site and the polynucleotide sequence encoding for the therapeutic protein, shRNA, etc., and the transfection is accompanied by introduction of a recoinbinase that facilitates recombination between the vector's recombination site and a second recombination site in the genome of the cell being transfected. Constructs carrying a recoinbination site, such as a phiC31 attB
site, are described, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 6,632,672, which is incorporated by reference herein. It will be appreciated, however, that other means for long-tenn gene expression are contemplated, such as the other meinbers of the serine recoinbinase fainily, transposases (e.g., "Sleepifzg Beauty"), DNA mini-circles, plasmids optimized for minimal gene silencing, or the_use of a stable extrachroinasoinal vector such as EBV. When using a phiC31 attB recombination site, the nucleic acid constructs are comprised of the phiC31 integrase system (described in U.S. patents 6,632,672 and 6,808,925, which are incorporated by reference herein) to achieve site-specific integration into a target genome of interest.

Bacteriophage phi-.C31 integtrase recognizes pseudo-recombination sites present in eukaryotic cells. For genetic manipulation of a eukaryotic cell, phiC31 integrase and a vector carrying a phiC31 wild-type recombination site are placed into the cell. The wild-type recombination sequence aligns itself with a sequence in the eukaryotic cell genome and the phiC31 integrase facilitates a recombination that results in integration of a heterologous gene into the eukaryotic genome. It is contemplated that any attB site, any attP site, or any pseudo att site is present on any nucleotide sequence used to introduce genetic material into the genome of the harvested or cultured cells.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, the method of integrating a polynucleotide sequence into a genome of a cell comprises introducing into the cell (i) a circular targeting construct, comprising a first recoinbination site and a polynucleotide sequence of interest, and (ii) a phiC31 integrase, native or, imodified, wherein the genome of the cell coinprises a second recombination site (i.e. a pseudo att site) native to the human genome. Recoinbination between the first and second recoinbination sites is facilitated by the site-specific integrase.

The therapeutic gene and the attB sequence are preferably introduced into the target cell as circular plasmid DNA. The integrase may be introduced into the target cell (i) as DNA encoding the integrase on a second plasmid, (ii) mRNA encoding the integrase, or (iii) in polypeptide form. Once phiC31 is introduced into the cell, the cell is maintained under conditions that allow recoinbination between the first and second recombination sites and the recombination is mediated by the phiC31 integrase. The result of the recoinbination is site-specific integration of the polynucleotide sequence of interest in the genome of the cell.

By way of a specific example, and with reference again to FIG. 7, a plasmid is constructed having a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter that drives the expression of a therapeutic protein, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), and as a marker, enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP). In the 3' direction of the PEDF nucleotide sequence is an IRES site, followed in the 3' direction by the eGFP coding sequence. The IRES allows translation of eGFP as well as translation of PEDF. The plasmid, which also includes an attB nucleic acid sequence, is detailed in Example 1 and the plasmid sequence is identified herein as SEQ ID NO: 1.

Transfection of a wide variety of genes encoding for therapeutic proteins is contemplated, and preferred candidate genes include genes that encode for diffusible proteins that act extracellularly to have a therapeutic effect. In a preferred embodiment, a nucleic acid sequence coding for a protein with anti-angiogenic activity or with neurotrophic activity is transfected into human cells. Exemplary proteins include, but are not limited to, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF), truncated soluble VEGF receptor sFlt-1, truncated soluble VEGF
receptor sFlk-1, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, angiostatin, endostatin, tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease 3 (TIMP-3), ExTek, ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (BMP4), alpha fibroblast growth factor (aFGF), beta fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), and any protein having activity on or within the compliment factor H pathway.
Preferred biologically active polypeptides exhibit neurotrophic and/or anti-angiogenic activity.

The most preferred biologically active polypeptides are autogenic and thus do not invoke an iimnune response in the subject or are known in the art not to invoke an iininune response.

In a preferred embodiment, human cells are genetically modified to contain a recombinant nucleic acid construct that directs the cells to produce the therapeutic protein encoded by the recombinant nucleic acid. The cells can be immediately transplanted into the subject or can be cultured in vitro for a period of time. In a preferred embodiment, mammalian cells modified with a vector containing at least one nucleic acid sequence coding for a therapeutic protein and another nucleic acid sequence coding for a marker gene are prepared for transplantation. When the cells are cultured in vitro prior to transplantation, a selection step can be performed in order to isolate the cells that effectively contain the recombinant nucleic acid construct and express the polypeptide. The selection step will depend in part on the marker gene and can involve measuring fluorescence, screening for antibiotic resistance, or the like.
Cells expressing the marker gene are selected for transplantation. In general, when the cells are cultured for a period of time after transfection, the treatment method is performed on a subject over more than one visit to the medical provider. In a first visit, the tissue is harvested. The tissue cells are transfected and cultured in vitro, during which time the level of expression can be monitored and stably-transfected cells from the tissue selected, by, for example, quantifying expression of a marker or of the desired protein by methods noted above for measuring marker expression, for transplantation. The subject returns to the medical provider for a second visit during which the transfected tissue is transplanted.

Alternatively, tissue can be obtained, transfected, and transplanted during a single patient visit to a medical provider. In this scenario, the level of expression of a marker or the desired therapeutic protein can be monitored in vivo, by methods mentioned above, such as ophthalmoscope or a surgical microscope.

In a preferred einbodiment, one or more nucleotide sequences coding for a therapeutic protein and one nucleotide sequence coding for a marker gene are present in the saine polynucleotide vector construct. The marker gene is coupled to the therapeutic gene by an IRES sequence.
Quantification of the degree of fluorescence emitted from a cell or group of clonal cells would correlate with the amount of expression of the therapeutic protein, enabling selection of stably transfected cells or monitoring of protein expression after transplantation.

Transplantation The transfected tissue or cells can be transplanted into the subject in any of a number of different iinplantation sites in or near the eye by a provider of medical care. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an eye 800 in cross-sectional view, and indicating some of the preferred sites for placing genetically modified cells or tissue into the patient. Identified anatomical features are retina 830, sclera 840, optic nerve 850, cornea 860, pupil 870 and iris 880. Sites in eye 800 preferred for implanting the transfected cells or tissue include the vitreous humor 810, near the pars plana 820, near the posterior retina 832, or sub-sclerally 842. Other sites for implanting tissue, which are not specifically indicated in FIG. 8, include the choroid, retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), and near the macula epi-retinally, sub-retinally, or intra-retinally.

In a preferred embodiment, the transfected cells or tissue are implanted into the subject in the absence of an encapsulating member, such as a polymer capsule or a so-called "cage". Especially in the case where the method described herein employs autologous tissue or cells, encapsulation of the tissue or cells within a cage is not necessary for immunosuppression.
However, encapsulation could be used to enhance graft survival and/or to reduce possible splintering of cells away from the graft to other sites in the eye. A number of cage designs have been proposed for ophthalmologic use for various purposes, as described in U.S. Patent Nos.
6,500,449 and 6,663,894. The cage would be able to house the tissue or cell transplant and would have pores large enough for proteins to diffuse out, but small enough so that cells could not enter or leave.
The cage may contain a matrix or other materials to support cell survival and cell anchoring to prevent cell migration to other sites.

EXAMPLES

The following exainples are illustrative in nature and are in no way intended to be limiting.
Example 1: Construction of a plasmid for transfection The plasmid shown in FIG. 7 contains the sequence SEQ ID NO: 1. SEQ ID NO: 1 includes a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter (1-589 bp), a nucleotide sequence encoding for pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF; 590-2131 bp), an internal ribosome entry site (IRES) coding sequence (b2151-2735 bp), and a nucleotide sequence encoding for enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP; bp 2739-3455), an sv4O polyA sequence (3612-3662 bp), a phi C31 attB site (3952-4245 bp), a bacterial kan promoter (4541-4576 bp), SV40 origin and promoter enhancer (4653-4955 bp), neo for G418 selection (5004-5798 bp), and an pUC origin (6383-7026 bp).

To make this plasmid, begin with vector pIRES-EGFP, commercially available from Clontech.
Cut the vector with the restriction enzyme BsaI (New England Biolabs) to linearize the vector, make blunt ends (e.g., using DNA Polymerase I, Large (Klenow) Fragment, New England Biolabs), and treat with a phosphatase to remove the phosphate groups (e.g., using calf intestinal phosphatase, New England Biolabs). Ligate this vector to the fragment containing attB when pTA-attB+ is cleaved with EcoRI and then its ends blunted, to fonn the plasmid pIRES-EGFP-attB.

In the second cloning step, use PCR ainplification with primers designed to amplify the PEDF
gene from human cDNA. Cleave pIRES-EGFP-attB with the restriction enzyme Srnal, which linearizes the plasmid upstream of the IRES sequence and use a phosphatase to remove the phosphate groups. Ligate the PCR-ainplified fragment into the vector to forin the plasmid pPEDF-IRES-GFP-attB, shown in FIG. 7. ' Example 2: Transfection of conjunctival tissue with luciferase gene A study was conducted in support of the inethod described herein, where a luciferase marker gene was transfected into conjunctiva tissue. Conjunctival tissue was explanted from adult New Zealand White rabbits and placed in tissue culture dishes. All samples were placed in 1 mL
phosphate buffered saline solution with 100 micrograms of plasmid DNA encoding the luciferase gene under a CMV promoter. All samples were cultured in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium (DMEM) plus 10% serum and antibiotic/antimicotic for 24 hours after transfection. Samples were then treated with luciferin substrate (150 micrograms luciferin per ml medium) and imaged using the IVIS-200 system (Xenogen Corp.).

The conjunctival tissue, which contained conjunctival fibroblasts, was transfected using electron-avalanche mediated transfection with a luciferase inarker gene. A control sample of tissue was contacted with the luciferase gene in the absence of electron-avalanche mediated transfection.
Twenty-four hours after transfection, bioluininescence was measured. As shown in FIG. 9, the tissue transfected with electron-avalanche mediated transfection emitted 2.2 x 105 photons/sec, two orders of magnitude higher than the cells transfected in the absence of the electron-avalanche mediated transfection (4.6 x 103 photons/sec). Background emission was measured at 3.7 x 103 photons/sec.

Example 3: Comparison of electron avalanclie versus traditional electroporation in DNA
transfer Because electroporation protocols vary for different tissues, experiments were first conducted to determine the optimal protocol for transfecting CAM from a developing chicken egg using traditional electroporation. CAM is a live, readily available, and inexpensive tissue. Its epithelial layer is unifonn and has high resistance, inalcing it a good model for epithelial cell layers, such as retinal pigment epithelium. In this model system, 100 g of pNBL2 plasmid DNA encoding the luciferase gene was pipetted onto the CAM, and pulses were applied.
Specifically, a 250- s, 150-V phase, followed by a 5-ms, 5-V phase in the same polarity was applied.
Optimal results were achieved with 50 cycles applied at 1 Hz. The tissue was then cultured and assayed for luciferase bioluininescence. Luciferase expression using this method was about 104 photons/s.

For electron-avalanche transfection, a 50- m wire microelectrode 1 mm in length was used to apply a series of symmetric biphasic pulses, with each phase 250 s in duration and 600 V in amplitude. The microelectrode was scanned over a 4-mm2 area, and approximately 50 pulses were applied. As shown in FIG. 10, the resultant luciferase expression was about 109 photons/s, 1 0,000-fold higher than levels seen with conventional electroporation.

As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, various changes, substitutions, and alterations could be made or otherwise impleinented without departing from the principles of the present invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention should be determined by the following claims and their legal equivalents.

SEQUENCE LISTING

<110> Chalberg, Thomas W
Huie, Philip Marmor, Michael F
Calos, Michele P
Blumenkranz, Mark S
Palanker, Daniel V
Vankov, Alexander B

<120> Ocular Gene Therapy Using Avalanche-Mediated Transfection <130> S05-139 <150> 60/708,486 <151> 2005-08-15 <150> 11/360,984 <151> 2006-02-22 <160> 1 <170> PatentIn version 3.3 <210> 1 <211> 7166 <212> DNA
<213> Artificial <220>
<223> Nucleotide sequence for the circular construct shown in FIG. 7 <400> 1 tagttattaa tagtaatcaa ttacggggtc attagttcat agcccatata tggagttccg 60 cgttacataa cttacggtaa atggcccgcc tggctgaccg cccaacgacc cccgcccatt 120 gacgtcaata atgacgtatg ttcccatagt aacgccaata gggactttcc attgacgtca 180 atgggtggag tatttacggt aaactgccca cttggcagta catcaagtgt atcatatgcc 240 aagtacgccc cctattgacg tcaatgacgg taaatggccc gcctggcatt atgcccagta 300 catgacctta tgggactttc ctacttggca gtacatctac gtattagtca tcgctattac 360 catggtgatg cggttttggc agtacatcaa tgggcgtgga tagcggtttg actcacgggg 420 atttccaagt ctccacccca ttgacgtcaa tgggagtttg ttttggcacc aaaatcaacg 480 ggactttcca aaatgtcgta acaactccgc cccattgacg caaatgggcg gtaggcgtgt 540 acggtgggag gtctatataa gcagagctgg tttagtgaac cgtcagatcc gctagcgcta 600 ccggactcag atctcgagct caagcttcga attctgcagt cgacggtacc gcgggcccgg 660 tcgctttaag aaaggagtag ctgtaatctg aagcctgctg gacgctggat tagaaggcag 720 caaaaaaagc tctgtgctgg ctggagcccc ctcagtgtgc aggcttagag ggactaggct 780 gggtgtggag ctgcagcgta tccacaggcc ccaggatgca ggccctggtg ctactcctct 840 gcattggagc cctcctcggg cacagcagct gccagaaccc tgccagcccc ccggaggagg 900 gctccccaga ccccgacagc acaggggcgc tggtggagga ggaggatcct ttcttcaaag 960 tccccgtgaa caagctggca gcggctgtct ccaacttcgg ctatgacctg taccgggtgc 1020 gatccagcac gagccccacg accaacgtgc tcctgtctcc tctcagtgtg gccacggccc 1080 tctcggccct ctcgctggga gcggagcagc gaacagaatc catcattcac cgggctctct 1140 actatgactt gatcagcagc ccagacatcc atggtaccta toaggagctc cttgacacgg 1200 tcactgcccc ccagaagaac ctcaagagtg cctcccggat cgtctttgag aagaagctgc 1260 gcataaaatc cagctttgtg gcacctctgg aaaagtcata tgggaccagg cccagagtcc 1320 tgacgggcaa ccctcgcttg gacctgcaag agatcaacaa ctgggtgcag gcgcagatga 1380 aagggaagct cgccaggtcc acaaaggaaa ttcccgatga gatcagcatt ctccttctcg 1440 gtgtggcgca cttcaagggg cagtgggtaa caaagtttga ctccagaaag acttccctcg 1500 aggatttcta cttggatgaa gagaggaccg tgagggtccc catgatgtcg gaccctaagg 1560 ctgttttacg ctatggcttg gattcagatc tcagctgcaa gattgcccag ctgcccttga 1620 ccggaagcat gagtatcatc ttcttcctgc ccctgaaagt gacccagaat ttgaccttga 1680 tagaggagag cctcacctcc gagttcattc atgacataga ccgagaactg aagaccgtgc 1740 aggcggtcct cactgtcccc aagctgaagc tgagttatga aggcgaagtc accaagtccc 1800 tgcaggagat gaagctgcaa tccttgtttg attcaccaga ctttagcaag atcacaggca 1860 aacccatcaa gctgactcag gtggaacacc gggctggctt tgagtggaac gaggatgggg 1920 cgggaaccac ccccagccca gggctgcagc ctgcccacct caccttcccg ctggactatc 1980 accttaacca gcctttcatc ttcgtactga gggacacaga cacaggggcc cttctcttca 2040 ttggcaagat tctggacccc aggggcccct aatatcccag tttaatattc caatacccta 2100 gaagaaaacc cgagggacag cagattccac aggacacgaa ggctgcccct gtaaggtttc 2160 aatgcataca ataaaagagc tttatcccta acttctgtta gggatccgcc cctctccctc 2220 ccccccccct aacgttactg gccgaagccg cttggaataa ggccggtgtg cgtttgtcta 2280 totgttattt tccaccatat tgccgtcttt tggcaatgtg agggcccgga aacctggccc 2340 tgtcttcttg acgagcattc ctaggggtct ttcccctctc gccaaaggaa tgcaaggtct 2400 gttgaatgtc gtgaaggaag cagttcctct ggaagcttct tgaagacaaa caacgtctgt 2460 agcgaccctt tgcaggcagc ggaacccccc acctggcgac aggtgcctct gcggccaaaa 2520 gccacgtgta taagatacac ctgcaaaggc ggcacaaccc cagtgccacg ttgtgagttg 2580 gatagttgtg gaaagagtca aatggctctc ctcaagcgta ttcaacaagg ggctgaagga 2640 tgcccagaag gtaccccatt gtatgggatc tgatctgggg cctcggtgca catgctttac 2700 atgtgtttag tcgaggttaa aaaaacgtct aggccccccg aaccacgggg acgtggtttt 2760 cctttgaaaa acacgatgat aatatggcca caaccatggt gagcaagggc gaggagctgt 2820 tcaccggggt ggtgcccatc ctggtcgagc tggacggcga cgtaaacggc cacaagttca 2880 gcgtgtccgg cgagggcgag ggcgatgcca cctacggcaa gctgaccctg aagttcatct 2940 gcaccaccgg caagctgccc gtgccctggc ccaccctcgt gaccaccctg acctacggcg 3000 tgcagtgctt cagccgctac cccgaccaca tgaagcagca cgacttcttc aagtccgcca 3060 tgcccgaagg ctacgtccag gagcgcacca tcttcttcaa ggacgacggc aactacaaga 3120 cccgcgccga ggtgaagttc gagggcgaca ccctggtgaa ccgcatcgag ctgaagggca 3180 tcgacttcaa ggaggacggc aacatcctgg ggcacaagct ggagtacaac tacaacagcc 3240 acaacgtcta tatcatggcc gacaagcaga agaacggcat caaggtgaac ttcaagatcc 3300 gccacaacat cgaggacggc agcgtgcagc tcgccgacca ctaccagcag aacaccccca 3360 tcggcgacgg ccccgtgctg ctgcccgaca accactocct gagcacccag tccgccctga 3420 gcaaagaccc caacgagaag cgcgatcaca tggtcctgct ggagttcgtg accgccgccg 3480 ggatcactct cggcatggac gagctgtaca agtaaagcgg ccgcgactct agatcataat 3540 cagccatacc acatttgtag aggttttact tgctttaaaa aacctcccac acctccccct 3600 gaacctgaaa cataaaatga atgcaattgt tgttgttaac ttgtttattg cagcttataa 3660 tggttacaaa taaagcaata gcatcacaaa tttcacaaat aaagcatttt tttcactgca 3720 ttctagttgt ggtttgtcca aactcatcaa tgtatcttaa ggcgtaaatt gtaagcgtta 3780 atattttgtt aaaattcgcg ttaaattttt gttaaatcag ctcatttttt aaccaatagg 3840 ccgaaatcgg caaaatccct tataaatcaa aagaatagac cgagataggg ttgagtgttg 3900 ttccagtttg gaacaagagt ccactattaa agaacgtgga ctccaacgtc aaagggcgaa 3960 aaaccgtcta tcagggcgat ggcccactac gtgaaccatc accctaatca agttttttgg 4020 ggtcgaggtg ccgtaaagca ctaaatcgga accctaaagg gagcccccga tttagagctt 4080 gacggggaaa gccggcgaac gtggcgagaa aggaagggaa gaaagcgaaa ggagcgggcg 4140 ctagggcgct ggcaagtgta gcggtcacgc tgcgcgtaac caccacaccc gccgcgctta 4200 atgcgccgct acagggcgcg tcaggtggca cttttcgggg aaatgtgcgc ggaaccccta 4260 tttgtttatt tttctaaata cattcaaata tgtatccgct catgagacaa taaccctgat 4320 aaatgcttca ataatattga aaaaggaaga gtcctgaggc ggaaagaacc agctgtggaa 4380 tgtgtgtcag ttagggtgtg gaaagtcccc aggctcccca gcaggcagaa gtatgcaaag 4440 catgcatctc aattagtcag caaccaggtg tggaaagtcc ccaggctccc cagcaggcag 4500 aagtatgcaa agcatgcatc tcaattagtc agcaaccata gtcccgcccc taactccgcc 4560 catcccgccc ctaactccgc ccagttccgc ccattctccg ccccatggct gactaatttt 4620 ttttatttat gcagaggccg aggccgcctc ggcctctgag ctattccaga agtagtgagg 4680 aggctttttt ggaggcctag gcttttgcaa agatcgatca agagacagga tgaggatcgt 4740 ttcgcatgat tgaacaagat ggattgcacg caggttctcc ggccgcttgg gtggagaggc 4800 tattcggcta tgactgggca caacagacaa tcggctgctc tgatgccgcc gtgttccggc 4860 tgtcagcgca ggggcgcccg gttctttttg tcaagaccga cctgtccggt gccctgaatg 4920 aactgcaaga cgaggcagcg cggctatcgt ggctggccac gacgggcgtt ccttgcgcag 4980 ctgtgctcga cgttgtcact gaagcgggaa gggactggct gctattgggc gaagtgccgg 5040 ggcaggatct cctgtcatct caccttgctc ctgccgagaa agtatccatc atggctgatg 5100 caatgcggcg gctgcatacg cttgatccgg ctacctgccc attcgaccoc caagcgaaac 5160 atcgcatcga gcgagcacgt actcggatgg aagccggtct tgtcgatcag gatgatctgg 5220 acgaagagca tcaggggctc gcgccagccg aactgttcgc caggctcaag gcgagcatgc 5280 ccgacggcga ggatctcgtc gtgacccatg gcgatgcctg cttgccgaat atcatggtgg 5340 aaaatggccg cttttctgga ttcatcgact gtggccggct gggtgtggcg gaccgctatc 5400 aggacatagc gttggctacc cgtgatattg ctgaagagct tggcggcgaa tgggctgacc 5460 gcttcctcgt gctttacggt atcgccgctc ccgattcgca gcgcatcgcc ttctatcgcc 5520 ttcttgacga gttcttctga gcgggactct ggggttcgaa atgaccgacc aagcgacgcc 5580 caacctgcca tcacgagatt tcgattccac cgccgccttc tatgaaaggt tgggcttcgg 5640 aatcgttttc cgggacgccg gctggatgat cctccagcgc ggggatctca tgctggagtt 5700 cttcgcccac cctaggggga ggctaactga aacacggaag gagacaatac cggaaggaac 5760 ccgcgctatg acggcaataa aaagacagaa taaaacgcac ggtgttgggt cgtttgttca 5820 taaacgcggg gttcggtccc agggctggca ctctgtcgat accccacaat tcggcttggc 5880 tgtcgacatg cccgccgtga ccgtcgagaa cccgctgacg ctgccccgcg tatccgcacc 5940 cgccgacgcc gtcgcacgtc ccgtgctcac cgtgaccacc gcgcccagcg gtttcgaggg 6000 cgagggcttc ccggtgcgcc gcgcgttcgc cgggatcaac taccgccacc tcgacccgtt 6060 catcatgatg gaccagatgg gtgaggtgga gtacgcgccc ggggagccca agggcacgcc 6120 ctggcacccg caccgcggct tcgagaccgt gacctacatc gtcgacggta cctggaattc 6180 caccgagacc ccattggggc caatacgccc gcgtttcttc cttttcccca ccccaccccc 6240 caagttcggg tgaaggccca gggctcgcag ccaacgtcgg ggcggcaggc cctgccatag 6300 cctcaggtta ctcatatata ctttagattg atttaaaact tcatttttaa tttaaaagga 6360 tctaggtgaa gatccttttt gataatctca tgaccaaaat cccttaacgt gagttttcgt 6420 tccactgagc gtcagacccc gtagaaaaga tcaaaggatc ttcttgagat cctttttttc 6480 tgcgcgtaat ctgctgcttg caaacaaaaa aaccaccgct accagcggtg gtttgtttgc 6540 cggatcaaga gctaccaact ctttttccga aggtaactgg cttcagcaga gcgcagatac 6600 caaatactgt ccttctagtg tagccgtagt taggccacca cttcaagaac tctgtagcac 6660 cgcctacata cctcgctctg ctaatcctgt taccagtggc tgctgccagt ggcgataagt 6720 cgtgtcttac cgggttggac tcaagacgat agttaccgga taaggcgcag cggtcgggct 6780 gaacgggggg ttcgtgcaca cagcccagct tggagcgaac gacctacacc gaactgagat 6840 acctacagcg tgagctatga gaaagcgcca cgcttcccga agggagaaag gcggacaggt 6900 atccggtaag cggcagggtc ggaacaggag agcgcacgag ggagcttcca gggggaaacg 6960 cctggtatct ttatagtcct gtcgggtttc gccacctctg acttgagcgt cgatttttgt 7020 gatgctcgtc aggggggcgg agcctatgga aaaacgccag caacgcggcc tttttacggt 7080 tcctggcctt ttgctggcct tttgctcaca tgttctttcc tgcgttatcc cctgattctg 7140 tggataaccg tattaccgcc atgcat 7166

Claims (25)

1. A method of treating an ocular disease in a subject, comprising:

a. introducing a nucleic acid into cells or a tissue using electron avalanche-mediated transfection; and b. transplanting said cells or said tissue coinprising said nucleic acid into an ocular region of said subject.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said avalanche-mediated transfection comprises inducing a vapor bubble and a plasma discharge between an electrode and a conductive fluid surrounding said cells or said tissue.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cells are primary cells or cell lines.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, wherein said cells are autologous or allogeneic.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said cells are conjunctival fibroblasts, scleral cells, or epithelial cells.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tissue is conjunctival tissue or scleral tissue.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising culturing said cells or said tissue prior to said transplanting.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transplanting further comprises placing said cells or said tissue in an implantable device.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8, wherein said implantable device comprises a cage or a capsule.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid is DNA.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid encodes a therapeutic protein, an oligonucleotide, an RNAi cassette.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said RNAi cassette comprises a short-hairpin RNA.

13. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said therapeutic protein has at least one of anti-angiogenic activity or neurotrophic activity.

14. The method as set forth in claim 11, wherein said therapeutic protein has activity on or with the complement factor H pathway.

15. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid is part of a plasmid.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein said plasmid further comprises at least one of a phiC31 attB site or a marker gene.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16, wherein said marker gene encodes a fluorescent protein.

18. The method as set forth in claim 16, further comprising providing a source of phiC31 integrase.

19. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid is an oligonucleotide introduced for gene repair.

20. The method set forth in claim 1, wherein said nucleic acid is DNA suitable for homologous recombination.

21. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said ocular region comprises at least one of the choroid, vitreous humor, retinal pigment epithelium, near the macula, and behind the sclera.

22. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said ocular region is epiretinal to said macula, subretinal to said macula, or intra-retinal to said macula.

23. The method as set forth in claim 21, wherein said ocular region comprises a region of the vitreous humor that is near the pars plana.

24 24. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said disease is selected from the group consisting of age-related macular degeneration, choroidal neovascularization, retinal degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and retinal dystrophies.

25. The method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said subject is a mammal.