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Project
1: New Vectors for Gene Therapy of Hemophilia A
The overall goal of this proposal is to achieve long-term expression
of human factor VIII (FVIII) and human a1-antitrypsin
(hAAT) at therapeutic levels in mice. Towards this goal, we will utilize
hybrid DAd.AAV vectors,
which are devoid of all adenoviral genes and accommodate transgene cassettes
with a maximal size of 20kb. These vectors integrate randomly into the
host genome with a frequency comparable to recombinant AAV vectors. Transient
expression of AAV rep78 from non-integrating adenoviral vectors stimulates
site-specific integration of DAd.AAV
vectors. We will use two principal gene transfer approaches: (A) transduction
of hepatocytes in vivo after systemic vector application and (B)
in vitro transduction of bone marrow derived stem cells with subsequent
transplantation and liver repopulation. In the in vivo transduction
studies (A), we will test i) whether the use of DAd.AAV
vectors retargeted to hepatocytes will minimize vector related toxic and
immunological side effects; ii) whether modified DAd.AAV
vectors in combination with transient rep78 expression will allow for site-specific
integration in hepatocytes; and iii) whether integrated transgenes will
provide sustained FVIII and hAAT expression at therapeutic levels. In the
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