CTNS mRNA as a potential treatment for nephropathic cystinosis

Messenger RNA (mRNA) therapies are emerging in different disease areas, but have not yet reached the kidney field. Our aim was to study the feasibility to correct the genetic defect in nephropathic cystinosis using synthetic mRNA. Cystinosis is a prototype disorder of proximal tubular dysfunction caused by mutations in the CTNS gene, encoding the lysosomal cystine-H+ symporter cystinosin, and leading to cystine accumulation in all cells of the body. The kidneys are the first and most severely affected organs, presenting glomerular and proximal tubular dysfunction. Cysteamine is the current therapeutic standard that reduces cellular cystine levels, but has many side effects and does not restore kidney function. Here, we show that synthetic mRNA is safe and effective to reintroduce functional cystinosin using lipofection in CTNS-/- kidney cells and following direct injection in ctns-/- zebrafish larvae. CTNS mRNA therapy results in prompt lysosomal expression of the functional protein and decreases cellular cystine accumulation for up to 14 days. In the ctns-/- zebrafish, CTNS mRNA therapy improves proximal tubular reabsorption, reduces proteinuria, and restores brush border expression of the multi-ligand receptor megalin. We propose that mRNA-based therapy, if sufficient kidney targeting can be achieved, may be a new approach to treat cystinosis. Translational statementCystinosis is a systemic lysosomal storage disease caused by mutations in the CTNS (cystinosin) gene. It initially affects the kidneys and leads to kidney failure, if left untreated. The current standard therapy, cysteamine, is not curative and has many side-effects. Here we demonstrate the potential of mRNA-based therapy to swiftly restore cystinosin function and ameliorate the kidney phenotype. Future research will focus on mRNA delivery methods and targeting kidney cells in cystinosis rodent models.