Intraspinal cord delivery of IGF-I mediated by adeno-associated virus 2 is neuroprotective in a rat model of familial ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating disease that is characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons. Patients with ALS usually die from respiratory failure due to respiratory muscle paralysis. Consequently, therapies aimed at preserving segmental function of the respiratory motor neurons could extend life for these patients. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is known to be a potent survival factor for motor neurons. In this study we induced high levels of IGF-I expression in the cervical spinal cord of hSOD1 G93A rats with intraspinal cord (ISC) injections of an adeno-associated virus serotype 2 vector (CERE-130). This approach reduced the extent of motor neuron loss in the treated segments of the spinal cord. However, a corresponding preservation of motor function was observed in male, but not female, hSOD1 G93A rats. We conclude that ISC injection of CERE-130 has the potential to protect motor neurons and preserve neuromuscular function in ALS.