DNA-Encoded Glutamine Synthetase Enzyme as Ammonia-Lowering Therapeutic for Hyperammonemia

Hyperammonemia is a dangerous life-threatening metabolic complication characterized by markedly elevated ammonia levels that can lead to irreversible brain damage if not carefully monitored. Current pharmacological treatment strategies available for hyperammonemia patients are suboptimal and associated with major side effects. In this study, we focus on developing and evaluating the in vivo delivery of novel DNA-encoded glutamine synthetase (GS) enzymes for the treatment of hyperammonemia. Direct in vivo delivered DNA-encoded GS enzyme was evaluated in ammonium acetate-induced hyperammonemia and thioacetamide-induced acute liver injury (ALI) models in C57BL/6 mice. In ammonium acetate-induced hyperammonemia model, we achieved a 30.5% decrease in blood ammonia levels 15 min postadministration of ammonium acetate, with DNA-encoded GS-treated group. Significant increase in survival was observed in ALI model with the treated mice. A comparison of the secreted versus intracellular DNA-encoded GS enzyme demonstrated similar increases in survival in the ALI model, with 40% mortality in the secreted enzymes and 30% mortality in the intracellular enzymes, as compared with 90% mortality in the control group. Direct in vivo delivery of DNA-encoded GS demonstrated important ammonia-lowering potential. These results provide the initial steps toward development of delivered DNA as a potential new approach to ammonia-lowering therapeutics.