Liposomes as a drug delivery system for antisense oligonucleotides

Antisense inhibition of silica-induced tumor necrosis factor in alveolar macrophages

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) has been shown to play an important role in the pathogenesis of silicotic fibrosis. In this study, antisense oligonucleotides targeted to TNFalpha mRNA were used to inhibit silica-induced TNFalpha gene expression in alveolar macrophages. To achieve macrophage-specific oligonucleotide delivery, a molecular conjugate consisting of mannosylated polylysine that exploits endocytosis via the macrophage mannose receptor was used. Complexes were formed between the mannosylated polylysine and oligonucleotides and added to the cells in the presence of silica. Enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay showed that the complex consisting of the conjugate and antisense oligomer effectively inhibited TNFalpha production, whereas the oligomer alone had much less effect. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the reduction in TNFalpha secretion was associated with specific ablation of targeted TNFalpha mRNA. The conjugate alone or conjugate complexed with inverted or sense sequence oligonucleotide had no effect. The promoting effect of the conjugate on antisense activity was shown to be due to enhanced cellular uptake of the oligomer via mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis. Cells lacking mannose receptors showed no susceptibility to the conjugate treatment. These results indicate that effective and selective inhibition of macrophage TNFalpha expression can be achieved using the antisense mannosylated polylysine system.

Enhanced delivery of synthetic oligonucleotides to human leukaemic cells by liposomes and immunoliposomes

The ability of pH-sensitive liposomes and immunoliposomes to deliver synthetic antisense oligonucleotides (oligos) into human myeloid and lymphoid leukaemia cells was examined. The cellular uptake of an 18mer anti-myb oligonucleotide encapsulated in liposomes was from three- to five-fold higher than that of 32P-oligos alone. In addition, anti-CD32 or anti-CD2 immunoliposomes improved the delivery of oligos to leukaemic cells carrying the appropriate receptor for the specific antibody-linked immunoliposome. The uptake of oligos was twice that of the liposome or non-specific immunoliposome encapsulated oligos. These findings support the use of liposomes or immunoliposomes to deliver antisense oligos into human leukaemic cells.

Liposomal delivery of oligodeoxynucleotides

We have previously demonstrated that liposome-incorporated methylphosphonate antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (oligos) specific for BCR-ABL can selectively inhibit the expression of p210Bcr-Abl protein and the proliferation of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells in vitro. Here, we show that liposome-entrapment of phosphodiester and phosphorothioate oligos specific for BCR-ABL can also selectively inhibit the proliferation of chronic myelogenous leukemia cells. We have studied the intracellular localization of liposomes by fluorescent microscopy and found that liposomes are readily taken up by leukemic cells and are localized in the cytoplasm, allowing increased access of oligos to target cells intracellularly. Liposomal oligos are not toxic to peripheral blood mononuclear cells nor to bone marrow progenitors isolated from normal hematological donors. These studies strongly suggest that liposomal delivery of oligos may indeed circumvent the major limitations that preclude the clinical development of antisense oligos.

Antisense therapy for angioplasty restenosis. Some critical considerations

The high affinity of even relatively short sequences of DNA for their target mRNA suggests that antisense agents represent an ideal method of suppressing specific gene products both in vitro and in vivo. In experiments performed thus far, an effect on the target mRNA in cultured vascular cells and in the vessel wall can be documented. The in vitro activity, toxicity, and pharmacokinetic data of antisense oligonucleotides are encouraging, and the in vivo animal experiments demonstrating suppression of neointimal formation are very promising. If animals trials presently under way show continued suppression not only of intimal formation but also of loss of lumen caliber after a single application, then effective delivery of antisense oligonucleotides is a realistic possibility. Nevertheless, some words of caution regarding the use of antisense oligonucleotides are warranted. Potential nonspecific effects of antisense oligonucleotides should be carefully considered in studies in which antisense agents are used to define biological functions of specific genes. In particular, demonstration that the target mRNA has been suppressed does not prove that other sequences within the mRNA pool have not also been suppressed. Critical control measures include adding back the target mRNA or protein and demonstrating similar biological effects with antisense sequences, which also suppress target gene expression directed at different regions of the target mRNA. At the clinical level, the systemic effects of antisense oligonucleotides, the dosage required, the timing of administration compared with mechanical intervention, and the toxicity of breakdown products all need to be established. In addition, the most appropriate targets for antisense use in restenosis remain largely obscure. Indiscriminate suppression of cell-cycle genes or proto-oncogenes may be as acutely toxic as current anticancer chemotherapy if the site delivery is not completely localized. Furthermore, much of the clinical evidence suggests that restenosis is a chronic process, continuing to develop weeks to months after the procedure. If this is the case, then the current approaches that rely on a transient, local application of an antisense agent may fail. If, however, a target gene is identified that is specific to vascular tissue, then repeated administration of an antisense agent may be tolerated via a systemic route. This approach has proved successful in targeting mutated genes with little suppression of closely related genes and with minimal systemic toxicity. An alternative approach is to transfect the target tissue with a gene that makes it susceptible to systemic delivery of a drug that is not normally toxic to mammalian cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Antisense DNA downregulation of the ERBB2 oncogene measured by a flow cytometric assay

A causal role has been inferred for ERBB2 overexpression in the etiology of breast cancer and other epithelial malignancies. The development of therapeutics that inhibit this tyrosine kinase cell surface receptor remains a high priority. This report describes the specific downregulation of ERBB2 protein and mRNA in the breast cancer cell line SK-BR-3 by using antisense DNA phosphorothioates. An approach was developed to examine antisense effects which allows simultaneous measurements of antisense dose and gene specific regulation on a per cell basis. A fluorescein isothiocyanate end-labeled tracer oligonucleotide was codelivered with antisense DNA followed by immunofluorescent staining for ERBB2 protein expression. Two-color flow cytometry measured the amount of both intracellular oligonucleotide and ERBB2 protein. In addition, populations of cells that received various doses of nucleic acids were physically separated and studied. In any given transfection, a 100-fold variation in oligonucleotide dosage was found. ERBB2 protein expression was reduced greater than 50%, but only in cells within a relatively narrow uptake range. Steady-state ERBB2 mRNA levels were selectively diminished, indicating a specific antisense effect. Cells receiving the optimal antisense dose were sorted and analyzed for cell cycle changes. After 2 days of ERBB2 suppression, breast cancer cells showed an accumulation in the G1 phase of the cell cycle.

Reversible permeabilization. A novel technique for the intracellular introduction of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides into intact smooth muscle

Antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) have been used to modify gene expression in vitro and are also promising therapeutic agents. Although there are numerous reports of antisense ODN-mediated changes in protein expression of cultured cells, use of these compounds to achieve antisense regulation of specific proteins in intact tissue has been limited. The aims of this study were (1) to define organ culture conditions for ileum smooth muscle that would permit long-term maintenance of force-generating capabilities and normal ultrastructure and (2) to develop a method for efficient introduction of antisense ODNs into intact tissue. Sheets of ODN-containing, reversibly permeabilized rat outer longitudinal ileum were maintained in a serum-free organ culture medium for 1 week without significant decreases in tension response to membrane depolarization or carbachol stimulation; the G protein-coupled calcium sensitization pathway was also intact after 7 days. Reversible permeabilization, a method previously used to load smooth and cardiac muscle with aequorin and heparin, was effective for loading > 95% of ileum smooth muscle cells with a fluorescein-conjugated antisense ODN (5'-AAGGGCCATTTTGTT-FITC-3'). Confocal microscopy of reversibly permeabilized smooth muscle loaded with fluorescent antisense ODNs revealed intense nuclear fluorescence and less intense, homogeneous, cytoplasmic fluorescence. Internally radiolabeled ODNs (homologous to the above sequence) showed complete degradation between 4 and 16 hours after introduction into the cells. In summary, we have demonstrated methods for long-term organ culture and high-efficiency introduction of antisense ODNs into intact smooth muscle sheets. Such methods have broad potential utility for investigating many questions in smooth muscle biology. At present, however, a major limitation of this approach is the short half-life of phosphorothioated ODNs.

Antigene, ribozyme and aptamer nucleic acid drugs: progress and prospects

Nucleic acids are increasingly being considered for therapeutic uses, either to interfere with the function of specific nucleic acids or to bind specific proteins. Three types of nucleic acid drugs are discussed in this review: aptamers, compounds which bind specific proteins; triplex forming (antigene) compounds; which bind double stranded DNA; and ribozymes (catalytic RNA), which bind and cleave RNA targets. The binding of aptamers to protein may involve specific sequence recognition, although this is not always the case. The interaction of triplex forming oligonucleotides or ribozymes with their targets always involves specific sequence recognition and hybridization. Early optimism concerning the possibility of designing drugs without a priori knowledge of the structure of the target (except a nucleotide sequence) has been tempered by the finding that target structure has a dramatic effect upon the hybridization potential of the nucleic acid drug. Other obstacles to the creation of effective nucleic acid drugs are their relative high molecular weight (> 3300) and their sensitivity to degradation. The molecular weight of these compounds has created a significant delivery problem which needs to be solved if nucleic acid drugs are to become effective therapies.

A new cationic liposome encapsulating genetic material. A potential delivery system for polynucleotides

The endeavour to enhance gene therapy has led to increased research on the development of simple, efficient and safe delivery systems. This study deals with the use of an artificial cationic lipid on the encapsulation of genetic material in liposomes. The addition of a biologically degradable cationic phospholipid, dipalmitoyl-L-alpha-phosphatidylethanolamine covalently coupled to L-lysine, in a standard liposome formulation allowed us to obtain vesicles with high entrapment of various polynucleotides. Polynucleotide degradation by nucleases is markedly prevented by these liposomes. The preparations were stable in both culture medium and human plasma. This latter finding is consistent with the weak binding of plasma proteins on the liposome surface. The efficiency of this new delivery system was demonstrated in antiviral assays. Finally, these liposomes displayed a relatively low cellular toxicity. All these findings indicate that these cationic vesicles are very suitable for genetic material vehiculation.

Sequence-specific inhibition of gene expression by a novel antisense oligodeoxynucleotide phosphorothioate directed against a nonregulatory region of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 genome

Previous studies have demonstrated that oligodeoxynucleotide phosphorothioates complementary to human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) RNA are more nuclease resistant and are effective inhibitors of HIV-1 replication than their unmodified counterpart. In this study, antisense oligodeoxynucleotide sequences were evaluated for therapeutic potential in the treatment of HIV infections. The use of HIV-infected lymphocytes to test the efficacy of a drug is very complex, and therefore it is difficult to draw conclusions about the mechanism. We used a COS-like Monkey kidney cell line (CMT3) stably transfected with plasmids pCMVgagpol-rre-r (containing gag and pol genes) and pCMVrev (containing the rev gene of HIV-1), derived from cDNA clone BH10, as a model. A biologically active provirus that transcribes and translates their nucleotide sequences into viral proteins p24, p39/41, p55, and p160 was generated. Sequence-specific and dose-dependent inhibition of HIV-1 viral protein synthesis and significant inhibition at the mRNA level were demonstrated by antisense construct GPI2A, directed against a nonregulatory region of the HIV-1 genome. Also, our studies demonstrated enhancement of the antisense effect through encapsulation in a cationic lipid preparation. The observed attenuation of HIV-1 mRNA levels suggests that, at least in part, the mechanism of action of GPI2A was at the transcript level. Further studies have also shown antiviral activity of this construct as determined by the reverse transcriptase assay using acutely and chronically infected cells of lymphoid origin (H9 cells). Toxicological studies involving cell growth characteristics, colony-forming ability, effects on cellular proteins, specific activities of labeled proteins, and DNA synthesis in cell culture showed no cytotoxic effects of GPI2A.

Use of cyclodextrin and its derivatives as carriers for oligonucleotide delivery

The use of antisense phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides as tools for modulating gene expression represents a novel strategy for designing drugs to treat a variety of diseases. Several factors, including cellular uptake and internalization of the phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide, are important parameters in determining the effectiveness of antisense agents as therapies. We have used cyclodextrin and its analogs as carriers to increase cellular uptake of phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotides. The studies were carried out using 35S-labeled and fluorescent-labeled phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide in human T cell leukemia H9 cell line. Cellular uptake of phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide in the presence of cyclodextrin was found to be concentration and time dependent. Using various cyclodextrin analogs, e.g., 2-hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrin (HPCD), hydroxyethyl beta-cyclodextrin (HECD), and a mixture of various hydroxypropyl beta-cyclodextrins (Encapsin), we observed increases in phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide uptake, up to twofold to threefold in 48 hours. Confocal microscopy studies confirmed that oligonucleotide was present intracellularly. Cyclodextrin itself was not toxic at the concentration used. Cyclodextrins did not seem to affect the efflux of phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide from cells. Stability of phosphorothioate oligodeoxynucleotide against endogenous cellular nucleases remained unchanged in the presence of cyclodextrins. These studies suggest that cyclodextrin and its analogs might be used successfully as carriers for oligonucleotide and analogs.

Transport of oligonucleotides across natural and model membranes

Oligo- and polynucleotides can not diffuse through lipid membrane, however they are taken up by eukaryotic cells by endocytosis mediated by the nucleic acid specific receptors. The compounds find some way to escape from endosomes and reach nucleic acids in both cell nucleus and cytoplasm. Oligonucleotides bind to a few cell surface proteins which take part in the virus-cell interaction and in the development of immune response. Interaction of nucleic acids with cell surface proteins may play a role in development of some pathologies. The biological role of this interaction is unclear. Efficient delivery of oligonucleotides into eukaryotic cells can be achieved in some conditions by natural mechanisms and by using artificial carriers--membrane vehicles and cationic polymer micelles.

Synthesis and hybridization properties of oligonucleotides containing 2'-O-modified ribonucleotides

A versatile, general way is described for the introduction of different functional groups into oligonucleotides by means of a simple linker at the 2'-position of the sugar. Nucleotide building blocks carrying lipophilic, intercalating or tertiary amino groups can be placed deliberately at any desired position of oligonucleotides by standard automated oligonucleotide synthesis. Thermal denaturation studies with these oligonucleotides reveal the following general trends: i) Modification with lipophilic n-octyl groups has little if any effect on duplex stability; a destabilizing (lipophilic) substituent is better tolerated at or near the ends than in the middle of the oligo. ii) An intercalating substituent (2-aminoanthraquinone) substantially increases duplex stability. iii) N,N-Dimethyl amino residues also increase duplex stability though to a smaller extent than intercalating residues. iv) Modifications at the 5'-end have a more pronounced influence on the TM than the corresponding 3'-modifications. v) Oligonucleotides modified in such a way show little or no loss in sequence specificity.