Gene delivery of immunomodulatory cytokines to the lung preserves respiratory function during inflammatory challenge

Abstract

Respiratory infections that result in severe and life-threatening immune-mediated respiratory decline are a major public health issue. Controlling local respiratory immune reactions without the use of systemic immunosuppressants remains an unmet clinical challenge. We developed a gene delivery system to express anti-inflammatory cytokines in the lung, which reestablishes local immune homeostasis without triggering systemic effects. Using an adeno-associated vector cargo system (AAV6.2-CC10), we induced production of interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), and IL-10 in situ in the lung microenvironment, with no detectable expression or immunological deviation in the peripheral immune system. We demonstrate the effective potential of IL-2, IL-1RA, and IL-10 as immunomodulatory cargos in severe infectious challenge, which reduced respiratory pathology after influenza-associated pulmonary aspergillosis. Thus, the AAV6.2-CC10 platform enables targeted delivery of biologics to the lung, modulates the lung environment, and improves pathology without inducing systemic immune reactions.