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Kandil R, Baldassi D, Böhlen S, Müller JT, Jürgens DC, Bargmann T, Dehmel S, Xie Y, Mehta A, Sewald K, Merkel OM. Targeted GATA3 knockdown in activated T cells via pulmonary siRNA delivery as novel therapy for allergic asthma. J Control Release 2023; 354:305-315. [PMID: 36634709 PMCID: PMC7614985 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.01.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
GATA3 gene silencing in activated T cells displays a promising option to early-on undermine pathological pathways in the disease formation of allergic asthma. The central transcription factor of T helper 2 (Th2) cell cytokines IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 plays a major role in immune and inflammatory cascades underlying asthmatic processes in the airways. Pulmonary delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNA) to induce GATA3 knockdown within disease related T cells of asthmatic lungs via RNA interference (RNAi) presents an auspicious base to realize this strategy, however, still faces some major hurdles. Main obstacles for successful siRNA delivery in general comprise stability and targeting issues, while in addition the transfection of T cells presents a particularly challenging task itself. In previous studies, we have developed and advanced an eligible siRNA delivery system composed of polyethylenimine (PEI) as polycationic carrier, transferrin (Tf) as targeting ligand and melittin (Mel) as endosomolytic agent. Resulting Tf-Mel-PEI polyplexes exhibited ideal characteristics for targeted siRNA delivery to activated T cells and achieved efficient and sequence-specific gene knockdown in vitro. In this work, the therapeutic potential of this carrier system was evaluated in an optimized cellular model displaying the activated status of asthmatic T cells. Moreover, a suitable siRNA sequence combination was found for effective gene silencing of GATA3. To confirm the translatability of our findings, Tf-Mel-PEI polyplexes were additionally tested ex vivo in activated human precision-cut lung slices (PCLS). Here, the formulation showed a safe profile as well as successful delivery to the lung epithelium with 88% GATA3 silencing in lung explants. These findings support the feasibility of Tf-Mel-PEI as siRNA delivery system for targeted gene knockdown in activated T cells as a potential novel therapy for allergic asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rima Kandil
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Butenandtstraße 5, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Domizia Baldassi
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Butenandtstraße 5, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Böhlen
- Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH) of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Joschka T Müller
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Butenandtstraße 5, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - David C Jürgens
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Butenandtstraße 5, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Tonia Bargmann
- Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH) of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Susann Dehmel
- Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH) of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Yuran Xie
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, 4100 John R St, Detroit, MI 48201, United States
| | - Aditi Mehta
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Butenandtstraße 5, 81377 Munich, Germany; Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) with the CPC-M bioArchive, Helmholtz Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany
| | - Katherina Sewald
- Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Experimental Medicine, Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover (BREATH) of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover, Germany
| | - Olivia M Merkel
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-University of Munich, Butenandtstraße 5, 81377 Munich, Germany; Comprehensive Pneumology Center (CPC) with the CPC-M bioArchive, Helmholtz Munich, German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Munich, Germany.
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Betzer O, Gao Y, Shamul A, Motiei M, Sadan T, Yehuda R, Atkins A, Cohen CJ, Shen M, Shi X, Popovtzer R. Multifunctional nanoprobe for real-time in vivo monitoring of T cell activation. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2022; 46:102596. [PMID: 36031044 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2022.102596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Genetically engineered T cells are a powerful new modality for cancer immunotherapy. However, their clinical application for solid tumors is challenging, and crucial knowledge on cell functionality in vivo is lacking. Here, we fabricated a nanoprobe composed of dendrimers incorporating a calcium sensor and gold nanoparticles, for dual-modal monitoring of engineered T cells within a solid tumor. T cells engineered to express a melanoma-specific T-cell receptor and loaded with the nanoprobe were longitudinally monitored within melanoma xenografts in mice. Fluorescent imaging of the nanoprobe's calcium sensor revealed increased intra-tumoral activation of the T cells over time, up to 24 h. Computed tomography imaging of the nanoprobe's gold nanoparticles revealed the cells' intra-tumoral distribution pattern. Quantitative analysis revealed the intra-tumoral T cell quantities. Thus, this nanoprobe reveals intra-tumoral persistence, penetration and functional status of genetically engineered T cells, which can advance T cell-based immunotherapy and promote next-generation live cell imaging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oshra Betzer
- The Alexander Kofkin Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Yue Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, International Joint Laboratory for Advanced Fiber and Low-dimension Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, PR China
| | - Astar Shamul
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Menachem Motiei
- The Alexander Kofkin Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Tamar Sadan
- The Alexander Kofkin Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Ronen Yehuda
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Ayelet Atkins
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Cyrille J Cohen
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Mingwu Shen
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, International Joint Laboratory for Advanced Fiber and Low-dimension Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, PR China
| | - Xiangyang Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, International Joint Laboratory for Advanced Fiber and Low-dimension Materials, College of Chemistry, Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, PR China.
| | - Rachela Popovtzer
- The Alexander Kofkin Faculty of Engineering, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel; Bar-Ilan Institute for Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials (BINA), Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel.
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3
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White JM, Keinänen OM, Cook BE, Zeglis BM, Gibson HM, Viola NT. Removal of Fc Glycans from [ 89Zr]Zr-DFO-Anti-CD8 Prevents Peripheral Depletion of CD8 + T Cells. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:2099-2108. [PMID: 32330387 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.0c00270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
The N-linked biantennary glycans on the heavy chain of immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies (mAbs) are instrumental in the recognition of the Fc region by Fc-gamma receptors (FcγR). In the case of full-length mAb-based imaging tracers targeting immune cell populations, these Fc:FcγR interactions can potentially deplete effector cells responsible for tumor clearance. To bypass this problem, we hypothesize that the enzymatic removal of the Fc glycans will disrupt Fc:FcγR interactions and spare tracer-targeted immune cells from depletion during immunopositron emission tomography (immunoPET) imaging. Herein, we compared the in vitro and in vivo properties of 89Zr-radiolabeled CD8-specific murine mAb (anti-CD8wt, clone 2.43), a well-known depleting mAb, and its deglycosylated counterpart (anti-CD8degly). Deglycosylation was achieved via enzymatic treatment with the peptide: N-glycosidase F (PNGaseF). Both anti-CD8wt and anti-CD8degly mAbs were conjugated to p-SCN-Bn-desferrioxamine (DFO) and labeled with 89Zr. Bindings of both DFO-conjugated mAbs to FcγR and CD8+ splenocytes were compared. In vivo imaging and distribution studies were conducted to examine the specificity and pharmacokinetics of the radioimmunoconjugates in tumor-naive and CT26 colorectal tumor-bearing mice. Ex vivo analysis of CD8+ T cell population in spleens and tumors obtained postimaging were measured via flow cytometry and qRT-PCR. The removal of the Fc glycans from anti-CD8wt was confirmed via SDS-PAGE. A reduction in FcγR interaction was exhibited by DFO-anti-CD8degly, while its binding to CD8 remained unchanged. Tissue distribution showed similar pharmacokinetics of [89Zr]Zr-DFO-anti-CD8degly and the wt radioimmunoconjugate. In vivo blocking studies further demonstrated retained specificity of the deglycosylated radiotracer for CD8. From the imaging studies, no difference in accumulation in both spleens and tumors was observed between both radiotracers. Results from the flow cytometry analysis confirmed depletion of CD8+ T cells in spleens of mice administered with DFO-anti-CD8wt, whereas an increase in CD8+ T cells was shown with DFO-anti-CD8degly. No statistically significant difference in tumor infiltrating CD8+ T cells was observed in cohorts administered with the probes when compared to control unmodulated mice. CD8 mRNA levels from excised tumors showed increased transcripts of the antigen in mice administered with [89Zr]Zr-DFO-anti-CD8degly compared to mice imaged with [89Zr]Zr-DFO-anti-CD8wt. In conclusion, the removal of Fc glycans offers a straightforward approach to develop full length antibody-based imaging probes specifically for detecting CD8+ immune molecules with no consequential depletion of their target cell population in peripheral tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordan M White
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Outi M Keinänen
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, New York 10021, United States.,Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Brendon E Cook
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, New York 10021, United States.,Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States
| | - Brian M Zeglis
- Department of Chemistry, Hunter College, City University of New York, New York, New York 10021, United States.,Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, New York 10016, United States.,Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York 10065, United States
| | - Heather M Gibson
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
| | - Nerissa T Viola
- Department of Oncology, Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, Michigan 48201, United States
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4
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Keil TWM, Baldassi D, Merkel OM. T-cell targeted pulmonary siRNA delivery for the treatment of asthma. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 12:e1634. [PMID: 32267622 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2019] [Revised: 03/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Despite the large number of drugs available for the treatment of asthma, in 5-10% of the patients this disease is not well controlled. While most treatments palliate symptoms, those suffering from severe and uncontrolled asthma could benefit more from a therapeutic approach addressing the root problem. An siRNA-based therapy targeting the transcription factor GATA3 in activated T helper cells subtype 2 (TH 2 cells), one of the key upstream factors involved in asthma, could therefore represent a promising strategy. However, the difficult-to-transfect cell type has not extensively been explored for nucleic acid therapeutics. In this regard, our group first identified a suitable pathway, that is, transferrin receptor mediated uptake, to target efficiently and specifically activated TH 2 cells with a transferrin-polyethyleneimine (PEI) conjugate which forms polyplexes with siRNA. This system, despite efficient uptake in activated T cells (ATCs) in vivo, suffered from poor endosomal release and was later improved by a combination with a melittin-PEI conjugate. The new formulation showed improved endosomal escape and gene silencing efficacy. Additionally, in order to develop a clinically relevant dosage form for pulmonary delivery of siRNA we have lately focused on a dry powder formulation by spray drying (SD) for the production of inhalable nano-in-microparticles. In proof-of-concept experiments, DNA/PEI polyplexes were used in order to implement analytics and engineer process parameters to pave the way for SD also siRNA containing polyplexes and more sophisticated systems in general. Ultimately, our efforts are devoted to the development of a novel treatment of asthma that can be translated from bench to bedside and are reviewed and discussed here in the context of the current literature. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Respiratory Disease Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Nucleic Acid-Based Structures Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Protein and Virus-Based Structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias W M Keil
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Domizia Baldassi
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Olivia M Merkel
- Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
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5
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Kandil R, Feldmann D, Xie Y, Merkel OM. Evaluating the Regulation of Cytokine Levels After siRNA Treatment in Antigen-Specific Target Cell Populations via Intracellular Staining. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1943:323-331. [PMID: 30838626 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9092-4_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/28/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) offers a promising base for therapeutic knockdown of clinically relevant genes. Local delivery routes as well as targeted delivery to specific cell populations have been shown to circumvent several hurdles of successful siRNA delivery in vivo. To evaluate and quantify the treatment effect in a precise way, next to measuring the downregulation on gene and protein levels, it is equally essential to investigate the influence on downstream factors such as generated cytokines. Here, we describe an expressive method to specifically isolate the desired target cells and determine their levels of intracellular cytokines by flow cytometry using the example of murine lungs after pulmonary in vivo transfection with siRNA.Therefore, the lungs of treated mice are harvested and processed into single cell suspensions, in which CD4 positive T cells are marked by antibody-coupled magnetic beads and isolated via magnetic separation. These purified target cells are then fixed and permeabilized, making their intracellular interleukins accessible for staining with fluorescently labeled antibodies. Thus, the cytokine levels and hence the precise influence of the siRNA treatment on intracellular conditions can be measured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rima Kandil
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Feldmann
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Yuran Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Olivia M Merkel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany. .,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA.
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6
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Kandil R, Xie Y, Heermann R, Isert L, Jung K, Mehta A, Merkel OM. Coming in and Finding Out: Blending Receptor-Targeted Delivery and Efficient Endosomal Escape in a Novel Bio-Responsive siRNA Delivery System for Gene Knockdown in Pulmonary T Cells. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2019; 2:1900047. [PMID: 31372493 PMCID: PMC6675603 DOI: 10.1002/adtp.201900047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) offers the potential to selectively silence disease-related genes in defined cell subsets. Translation into the clinical routine is, however, still hampered by the lack of efficient carrier systems for therapeutic siRNA, endosomal entrapment presenting a major hurdle. A promising siRNA delivery system has previously been developed on the base of polyethylenimine (PEI) and the targeting ligand transferrin (Tf) to specifically reach activated T cells in the lung. In the present work, the focus is on optimizing Tf-PEI polyplexes for gene knockdown in primary activated T cells by improving their endosomal escape properties. Blending of the conjugate with membrane lytic melittin significantly enhanced endosomal release and thereby cytoplasmic delivery, while maintaining selective T cell targeting abilities and overall cell tolerability. The gathered data furthermore demonstrate that melittin addition also distinctly improves several other essential particle characteristics, such as siRNA encapsulation efficiency and stability in lung lining fluids. In conclusion, this results in a novel upgraded siRNA delivery system that is not only able to specifically deliver its payload to the desired target cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis, but also shows enhanced release from endosomal vesicles in order to initiate RNAi in the cytoplasm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rima Kandil
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81337 Munich, Germany
| | - Yuran Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Wayne State University, 259 Mack Ave, Detroit, MI 48201, USA
| | - Ralf Heermann
- Institute for Molecular Physiology, Microbiology and Wine Research, Johannes-Gutenberg-University, Johann-Joachim-Becher-Weg 13, 55128 Mainz, Germany; Biocenter, Department Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Großhaderner Str. 2-4, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Lorenz Isert
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81337 Munich, Germany
| | - Kirsten Jung
- Biocenter, Department Microbiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Großhaderner Str. 2-4, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Aditi Mehta
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81337 Munich, Germany
| | - Olivia M. Merkel
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Butenandtstraße 5-13, 81337 Munich, Germany
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Delivery of RNAi Therapeutics to the Airways-From Bench to Bedside. Molecules 2016; 21:molecules21091249. [PMID: 27657028 PMCID: PMC6272875 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21091249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Revised: 09/05/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a potent and specific post-transcriptional gene silencing process. Since its discovery, tremendous efforts have been made to translate RNAi technology into therapeutic applications for the treatment of different human diseases including respiratory diseases, by manipulating the expression of disease-associated gene(s). Similar to other nucleic acid-based therapeutics, the major hurdle of RNAi therapy is delivery. Pulmonary delivery is a promising approach of delivering RNAi therapeutics directly to the airways for treating local conditions and minimizing systemic side effects. It is a non-invasive route of administration that is generally well accepted by patients. However, pulmonary drug delivery is a challenge as the lungs pose a series of anatomical, physiological and immunological barriers to drug delivery. Understanding these barriers is essential for the development an effective RNA delivery system. In this review, the different barriers to pulmonary drug delivery are introduced. The potential of RNAi molecules as new class of therapeutics, and the latest preclinical and clinical studies of using RNAi therapeutics in different respiratory conditions are discussed in details. We hope this review can provide some useful insights for moving inhaled RNAi therapeutics from bench to bedside.
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Xie Y, Kim NH, Nadithe V, Schalk D, Thakur A, Kılıç A, Lum LG, Bassett DJP, Merkel OM. Targeted delivery of siRNA to activated T cells via transferrin-polyethylenimine (Tf-PEI) as a potential therapy of asthma. J Control Release 2016; 229:120-129. [PMID: 27001893 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2016.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Revised: 03/16/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Asthma is a worldwide health problem. Activated T cells (ATCs) in the lung, particularly T helper 2 cells (Th2), are strongly associated with inducing airway inflammatory responses and chemoattraction of inflammatory cells in asthma. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) as a promising anti-sense molecule can specifically silence inflammation related genes in ATCs, however, lack of safe and efficient siRNA delivery systems limits the application of siRNA as a therapeutic molecule in asthma. Here, we designed a novel pulmonary delivery system of siRNA, transferrin-polyethylenimine (Tf-PEI), to selectively deliver siRNA to ATCs in the lung. Tf-PEI polyplexes demonstrated optimal physicochemical properties such as size, distribution, zeta-potential, and siRNA condensation efficiency. Moreover, in vitro studies showed significantly enhanced cellular uptake and gene knockdown mediated by Tf-PEI polyplexes in human primary ATCs. Biodistribution of polyplexes in a murine asthmatic model confirmed that Tf-PEI polyplexes can efficiently and selectively deliver siRNA to ATCs. In conclusion, the present work proves the feasibility to target ATCs in asthma via Tf receptor. This strategy could potentially be used to design an efficient siRNA delivery system for asthma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuran Xie
- Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Na Hyung Kim
- Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States
| | | | - Dana Schalk
- Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States; Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Archana Thakur
- Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States; Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Ayşe Kılıç
- Philipps-Universität Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lawrence G Lum
- Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States; Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, United States
| | | | - Olivia M Merkel
- Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, United States; Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI, United States; Ludwig-Maximilians Universität München, Munich, Germany.
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9
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Xie Y, Merkel OM. Pulmonary Delivery of siRNA via Polymeric Vectors as Therapies of Asthma. Arch Pharm (Weinheim) 2015; 348:681-8. [PMID: 26148454 PMCID: PMC4665213 DOI: 10.1002/ardp.201500120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2015] [Revised: 06/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/23/2015] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease. Despite the fact that current therapies, such as the combination of inhaled corticosteroids and β2-agonists, can control the symptoms of asthma in most patients, there is still an urgent need for an alternative anti-inflammatory therapy for patients who suffer from severe asthma but lack acceptable response to conventional therapies. Many molecular factors are involved in the inflammatory process in asthma, and thus blocking the function of these factors could efficiently alleviate airway inflammation. RNA interference (RNAi) is often thought to be the answer in the search for more efficient and biocompatible treatments. However, difficulties of efficient delivery of small interference RNA (siRNA), the key factor in RNAi, to target cells and tissues have limited its clinical application. In this review, we summarize cytokines and chemokines, transcription factors, tyrosine kinases, and costimulatory factors that have been reported as targets of siRNA-mediated treatment in experimental asthma. Additionally, we conclude several targeted delivery systems of siRNA to specific cells such as T cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells, which could potentially be applied in asthma therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuran Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201
| | - Olivia M Merkel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Science, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201
- Molecular Therapeutics Program, Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute, Detroit, MI 48201
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10
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Merkel OM, Rubinstein I, Kissel T. siRNA delivery to the lung: what's new? Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2014; 75:112-28. [PMID: 24907426 PMCID: PMC4160355 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2014.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2014] [Revised: 05/22/2014] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has been thought of as the general answer to many unmet medical needs. After the first success stories, it soon became obvious that short interfering RNA (siRNA) is not suitable for systemic administration due to its poor pharmacokinetics. Therefore local administration routes have been adopted for more successful in vivo RNAi. This paper reviews nucleic acid modifications, nanocarrier chemistry, animal models used in successful pulmonary siRNA delivery, as well as clinical translation approaches. We summarize what has been published recently and conclude with the potential problems that may still hamper the efficient clinical application of RNAi in the lung.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivia M Merkel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA; Department of Oncology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
| | - Israel Rubinstein
- College of Medicine, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL 60612, USA; Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
| | - Thomas Kissel
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Biopharmacy, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Ketzerbach 63, 35037 Marburg, Germany
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