Intravitreal AAV vector delivery induces integrin-dependent ocular inflammation, complement activation, and antiviral and DNA damage responses.

BACKGROUND

Intravitreal delivery of adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors offers a promising, minimally invasive strategy for retinal gene therapy, but remains limited by dose-dependent intraocular inflammation. Corticosteroid therapy, the current standard for managing gene therapy-associated uveitis (GTAU), can be ineffective or contraindicated, highlighting the need for alternative immunomodulatory approaches and deeper understanding of AAV-induced inflammation.

METHODS

Using porcine and mice models, we characterized immune responses triggered by AAV2.7m8 vector.

RESULTS

Consistent with previous data for this serotype, AAV-mediated transgene expression localized predominantly to retinal ganglion cells, although photoreceptor, bipolar, amacrine, horizontal, and glia cells were also transduced. Despite prophylactic methylprednisolone, AAV-treated animals developed GTAU, accompanied by increased MCP-1, IP-10, MIP-1α and IL-6 levels in ocular humors, along with microglial activation and peripheral leukocyte infiltration. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation of antiviral interferon responses across all retinal cell populations, together with complement and DNA damage pathways. Accordingly, functional assays confirmed complement C3a accumulation in ocular humors and presence of γH2AX+ DNA damage foci in transduced retinas. Finally, a mechanistic study of intravitreal AAV delivery in mice using integrin-blocking antibodies revealed a role for peripheral leukocytes in mediating ocular inflammation in this species.

CONCLUSION

Our work identified new markers of ocular inflammation and potential targets to modulate GTAU.