Intravenous AAV9- <i>ATP7A</i> plus subcutaneous copper histidinate optimizes outcomes in a lethal Menkes disease mouse model

Menkes disease is an X-linked recessive condition characterized by seizures, failure to thrive, and rapid, progressive neurodegeneration beginning within weeks after birth. Death usually occurs by 3 years of age. The disorder is caused by genetic variants in <i>ATP7A</i>, an evolutionarily conserved copper transporter that is crucial for normal brain development. The <i>mottled-brindled</i> mouse recapitulates salient features of the human illness. Affected male mice typically die by 14 postnatal days. We evaluated a single-dose intravenous adeno-associated virus gene therapy approach to deliver working copies of a codon-optimized version of ATP7A to male <i>mottled-brindled</i> mice. In conjunction with subcutaneous injections of clinical-grade copper histidinate in the first month of life, 95% long-term survival was attained, which was correlated with improvements in serum and brain copper levels, brain neurochemical profiles, somatic growth, and neuromotor function. The notable results support a trial of this treatment combination in affected male newborns with Menkes disease.