The latest issue of the journal Molecular Therapy published by the American Society for Gene and Cell Therapies features an article written by researchers from the JU Department of Medical Biotechnology. The aim of their study was to determine the mechanism of transduction of human heart cells by viral vectors based on adeno-associated viruses (AAV) and to identify strategies to increase the efficiency of this process.
Viral vectors are used in gene therapy to introduce genetic material into body cells for therapeutic purposes. Clinical trials demonstrate the relatively high effectiveness and safety of AAV vectors (compared to other therapeutic nucleic acid carriers). Unfortunately, the main limitation in most applications, including cardiovascular diseases, is still the issue of achieving effective transduction and efficient expression of the transgene.
The results of the project shed new light on the importance of the CK2 protein kinase in the host-AAV vector interaction, identifying the activity of this kinase as a key barrier reducing transduction efficiency and transgene expression. This creates the potential for the development of new therapeutic strategies.
The research was funded by the National Science Centere. Its authors are: Dr Izabela Kraszewska, Katarzyna Sarad, Dr Kalina Andrysiak, Dr Aleksandra Kopacz, Prof. Józef Dulak and Dr hab. Agnieszka Jaźwa-Kusior from the JU Faculty of Biophysics, Biochemistry and Biotechnology as well as Luisa Schmidt and Prof. Marcus Krüger from the University of Cologne.
The article Casein kinase 2 activity is a host restriction factor for AAV is available on the website of the journal Molecular Therapy in open access format, thanks to funding from the Jagiellonian University Faculty of Biochemistry and Biotechnology as part of the Strategic Programme – Excellence Initiative at the Jagiellonian University.
