0000000000180025
AUTHOR
Timor Baasov
A comparative evaluation of NB30, NB54 and PTC124 in translational read-through efficacy for treatment of an USH1C nonsense mutation
Translational read-through-inducing drugs (TRIDs) promote read-through of nonsense mutations, placing them in the spotlight of current gene-based therapeutic research. Here, we compare for the first time the relative efficacies of new-generation aminoglycosides NB30, NB54 and the chemical compound PTC124 on retinal toxicity and read-through efficacy of a nonsense mutation in the USH1C gene, which encodes the scaffold protein harmonin. This mutation causes the human Usher syndrome, the most common form of inherited deaf-blindness. We quantify read-through efficacy of the TRIDs in cell culture and show the restoration of harmonin function. We do not observe significant differences in the read…
Beneficial Read-Through of aUSH1CNonsense Mutation by Designed Aminoglycoside NB30 in the Retina
PURPOSE. The human Usher syndrome (USH) is the most frequent cause of inherited combined deaf-blindness. USH is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, assigned to three clinical types. The most severe type is USH1, characterized by profound inner ear defects and retinitis pigmentosa. Thus far, no effective treatment for the ophthalmic component of USH exists. The p.R31X nonsense mutation in USH1C leads to a disease causing premature termination of gene translation. Here, we investigated the capability of the novel synthetic aminoglycoside NB30 for the translational read-through of the USH1C-p.R31X nonsense mutation as a retinal therapy option. METHODS. Read-through of p.R31X by three com…
Gene-based treatment options for Usher type 1C by translational read-through of a nonsense mutation
The Usher syndrome (USH) is the most frequent cause of inherited combined deaf-blindness. The ciliopathy is clinically and genetically heterogeneous, assigned to three clinical USH types of which the most severe type is USH1. The USH1C gene encodes the PDZ containing scaffold protein harmonin which is expressed in form of numerous alternatively spliced variants. Hamonin binds directly to all USH1/2 proteins and is a key organizer of USH protein networks in photoreceptor cells. So far no effective treatment for the ophthalmic component of USH exists. Translational read-through was introduced as an innovative therapy option for several non-ocular diseases caused by nonsense mutations leading …
Therapy Strategies for Usher Syndrome Type 1C in the Retina
The Usher syndrome (USH) is the most common form of inherited deaf-blindness with a prevalence of ~ 1/6,000. Three clinical subtypes (USH1–USH3) are defined according to the severity of the hearing impairment, the presence or absence of vestibular dysfunction and the age of onset of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). USH1 is the most severe subtype with congenital severe to profound hearing loss and onset of RP before puberty. Currently only the amelioration of the hearing deficiency is implemented, but no treatment of the senso-neuronal degeneration in the eye exists.