New strategies for enzyme replacement therapy for lysosomal storage diseases

Enzyme replacement therapy is an established means of treating lysosomal storage diseases. Infused enzymes are normally targeted to the lysosomes of affected cells by interactions with cell-surface receptors that recognize carbohydrate moieties such as mannose and mannose 6-phosphate on the enzymes. Therefore, we have investigated alternative strategies to deliver the lysosomal enzyme beta-glucuronidase in the enzyme-deficient mucopolysaccharidosis type VII mouse model. Here we summarize our recent efforts to use nontraditional ways to deliver beta-glucuronidase. First, we used a chimeric protein of the insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) fused to beta-glucuronidase to deliver enzyme via the IGF-II binding site on the bifunctional IGF-II/mannose 6-phosphate receptor. Second, we used the 11-amino-acid human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) Tat domain fused to beta-glucuronidase to mediate uptake by absorptive endocytosis. Interaction with heparan sulfate on the cell surface internalizes and delivers the Tat-tagged enzyme to the lysosome via plasma membrane recycling. Third, we created a chimeric beta-glucuronidase fused to the Fc portion of human immunoglobulin G (IgG) Fc, which was transported by the neonatal Fc receptor from the maternal circulation across the placenta to sites of storage in fetal tissues. Finally, periodate treatment was used to eliminate interaction with carbohydrate receptors, creating an enzyme with increased plasma half-life, resulting in transport across the blood-brain barrier and clearance of storage in neurons. These strategies for delivering lysosomal enzymes could also be used to target nonlysosomal proteins or enzymes identified for bioremediation of other conditions.