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Inhibiting neutral amino acid transport for the treatment of phenylketonuria
Adam M. Belanger, … , Yunxiang Zhu, Nelson S. Yew
Adam M. Belanger, … , Yunxiang Zhu, Nelson S. Yew
Published July 26, 2018
Citation Information: JCI Insight. 2018;3(14):e121762. https://doi.org/10.1172/jci.insight.121762.
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Research Article Metabolism Therapeutics

Inhibiting neutral amino acid transport for the treatment of phenylketonuria

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Abstract

The neuropathological effects of phenylketonuria (PKU) stem from the inability of the body to metabolize excess phenylalanine (Phe), resulting in accumulation of Phe in the blood and brain. Since the kidney normally reabsorbs circulating amino acids with high efficiency, we hypothesized that preventing the renal uptake of Phe might provide a disposal pathway that could lower systemic Phe levels. SLC6A19 is a neutral amino acid transporter responsible for absorption of the majority of free Phe in the small intestine and reuptake of Phe by renal proximal tubule cells. Transgenic KO mice lacking SLC6A19 have elevated levels of Phe and other amino acids in their urine but are otherwise healthy. Here, we crossed the Pahenu2 mouse model of PKU with the Slc6a19-KO mouse. These mutant/KO mice exhibited abundant excretion of Phe in the urine and an approximately 70% decrease in plasma Phe levels. Importantly, brain Phe levels were decreased by 50%, and the levels of key neurotransmitters were increased in the mutant/KO mice. In addition, a deficit in spatial working memory and markers of neuropathology were corrected. Finally, treatment of Pahenu2 mice with Slc6a19 antisense oligonucleotides lowered Phe levels. The results suggest that inhibition of SLC6A19 may represent a novel approach for the treatment of PKU and related aminoacidopathies.

Authors

Adam M. Belanger, Malgorzata Przybylska, Estelle Gefteas, Matthew Furgerson, Sarah Geller, Alla Kloss, Seng H. Cheng, Yunxiang Zhu, Nelson S. Yew

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Figure 6

Characterization of the deficit in spatial working memory in Pahenu2 mice and restoration in Pahenu2 mice lacking Slc6a19.

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Characterization of the deficit in spatial working memory in Pahenu2 mic...
Mice were tested in an 8-arm radial arm maze (see Methods). Each black circle indicates food reward at the end of an arm; white bars indicate arms open to entry; black bars indicate arms blocked from entry. (A) Percentage of correct choices made during the training phase, days 1–2. (B) Training phase days, 9–10. (C) Study phase, days 11–12. (D) Test phase, days 11–12. (E) Study phase, days 19–20. (F) Test phase, days 19–20. n = 9–13 animals/group. One-way ANOVA was performed, follow by Tukey’s multiple comparisons test. *P = 0.0375, ***P < 0.0001. Mean ± SEM is shown.

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