Pre-injection aerobic exercise increases the effectiveness of gene therapy

American researchers have investigated the benefits of a short, low-intensity physical activity session on the efficacy of gene therapy product transduction in mouse models of Barth syndrome.

At six weeks, the mice were subjected to 30 min of aerobic exercise (treadmill) immediately followed by an intravenous injection of a dose of gene therapy (AAV9). Four weeks later, compared with treated but unexercised mice, the experimental cohort showed :

• increased transduction in the heart and gastrocnemius muscle ;
• significantly higher transgene transcriptionTransfert de l’information génétique d’un gène à partir d’une molécule d’ADN en ARN messager (transcrit). in these same muscles.

This study demonstrates the potential of exercise as a low-risk, low-cost strategy for optimizing gene therapy without increasing viral doses.

One episode of low intensity aerobic exercise prior to systemic AAV9 administration augments transgene delivery to the heart and skeletal muscle. Pacak, C. A., Suzuki-Hatano, S., Khadir, F. et al. J Transl Med 2023 21(1): 748.