mRNA therapy restores euglycemia and prevents liver tumors in murine model of glycogen storage disease

Nat Commun. 2021 May 25;12(1):3090. doi: 10.1038/s41467-021-23318-2.

Abstract

Glycogen Storage Disease 1a (GSD1a) is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder caused by deficiency of glucose 6-phosphatase (G6Pase-α). G6Pase-α is critical for maintaining interprandial euglycemia. GSD1a patients exhibit life-threatening hypoglycemia and long-term liver complications including hepatocellular adenomas (HCAs) and carcinomas (HCCs). There is no treatment for GSD1a and the current standard-of-care for managing hypoglycemia (Glycosade®/modified cornstarch) fails to prevent HCA/HCC risk. Therapeutic modalities such as enzyme replacement therapy and gene therapy are not ideal options for patients due to challenges in drug-delivery, efficacy, and safety. To develop a new treatment for GSD1a capable of addressing both the life-threatening hypoglycemia and HCA/HCC risk, we encapsulated engineered mRNAs encoding human G6Pase-α in lipid nanoparticles. We demonstrate the efficacy and safety of our approach in a preclinical murine model that phenotypically resembles the human condition, thus presenting a potential therapy that could have a significant therapeutic impact on the treatment of GSD1a.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cytokines / blood
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Glucose-6-Phosphatase / genetics*
  • Glucose-6-Phosphatase / metabolism
  • Glycogen / metabolism
  • Glycogen Storage Disease / genetics
  • Glycogen Storage Disease / pathology
  • Glycogen Storage Disease / therapy*
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Nanoparticles / administration & dosage
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • RNA, Messenger / administration & dosage
  • RNA, Messenger / chemistry
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Triglycerides / metabolism

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Triglycerides
  • Glycogen
  • Glucose-6-Phosphatase