Adenoviral Gene Therapy With Catalase Suppresses Experimental Optic Neuritis

Abstract

Adenoviral-mediated gene transfer increased catalase levels in all optic nerve cell types, and it persisted for 1 month after inoculation. The increased cellular levels of catalase suppressed demyelination and blood-brain barrier disruption at the foci in the optic nerve where prior magnetic resonance imaging and histopathologic studies have demonstrated the demyelinating inflammation of experimental and human optic neuritis. Together, they suggest that gene therapy with CAT may be helpful in the treatment of patients with optic neuritis.