Enhanced viral-mediated cochlear gene delivery in adult mice by combining canal fenestration with round window membrane inoculation

Sci Rep. 2018 Feb 14;8(1):2980. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-21233-z.

Abstract

Cochlear gene therapy holds promise for the treatment of genetic deafness. Assessing its impact in adult murine models of hearing loss, however, has been hampered by technical challenges that have made it difficult to establish a robust method to deliver transgenes to the mature murine inner ear. Here in we demonstrate the feasibility of a combined round window membrane injection and semi-circular canal fenestration technique in the adult cochlea. Injection of both AAV2/9 and AAV2/Anc80L65 via this approach in P15-16 and P56-60 mice permits robust eGFP transduction of virtually all inner hair cells throughout the cochlea with variable transduction of vestibular hair cells. Auditory thresholds are not compromised. Transduction rate and cell tropism is primarily influenced by viral titer and AAV serotype but not age at injection. This approach is safe, versatile and efficient. Its use will facilitate studies using cochlear gene therapy in murine models of hearing loss over a wide range of time points.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenoviridae / genetics
  • Animals
  • Cochlea / physiology*
  • Cochlea / surgery
  • Cochlear Implantation
  • Deafness / genetics
  • Deafness / therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Ear Canal / surgery
  • Female
  • Fenestration, Labyrinth / methods*
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Genetic Vectors
  • Hair Cells, Auditory, Inner / physiology*
  • Hearing Loss / genetics
  • Hearing Loss / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C3H
  • Round Window, Ear / surgery
  • Tympanic Membrane / surgery