AAV2/9 Enables Superior Germ Cell Transduction in Mouse Testes.

BACKGROUND

In contemporary gene therapy research, recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV) has emerged as a pivotal delivery vehicle due to its favorable safety profile and capacity for sustained transgene expression. The most commonly utilized rAAV variants are hybrid vectors constructed by packaging the AAV2 genome within the capsid proteins of alternative serotypes (e.g., AAV1, AAV5, AAV8, or AAV9). This chimeric design combines the stable genomic integration and long-term expression characteristics inherent to AAV2 with the distinct tissue tropisms conferred by different capsid serotypes. Consequently, these engineered rAAVs exhibit enhanced organ-targeting specificity, enabling more efficient and selective gene delivery to desired tissues while minimizing off-target effects.

METHODS

To identify the optimal hybrid vector for germ cell-directed gene delivery in mice, ten distinct chimeric AAV variants were generated by pseudotyping the AAV2 genome with diverse capsid proteins, followed by microinjection into seminiferous tubules via the efferent ducts. Transduction efficiency was comparatively evaluated at 4 weeks post-injection.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that AAV2/9 mediated robust and widespread enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) expression in the mouse testis. Through immunofluorescence assays, we demonstrated that AAV2/9 demonstrated the capability to express in nearly all testicular cells, with remarkable efficiency and durability.

CONCLUSIONS

AAV2/9 demonstrated superior efficacy as a gene delivery vector for murine testicular germ cells without observable adverse effects on testicular development or spermatogenesis. This favorable safety profile, combined with high transduction efficiency establishes AAV2/9 as a promising candidate for therapeutic gene transfer to testicular germ cells. Collectively, our study identifies AAV2/9 as a premier vector for germ cell-directed gene therapy, providing crucial preclinical evidence to inform capsid selection for treating male infertility.