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Zeng W, Chen YC, Bai Y, Trang P, Vu GP, Lu S, Wu J, Liu F. Effective inhibition of human immunodeficiency virus 1 replication by engineered RNase P ribozyme. PLoS One 2012; 7:e51855. [PMID: 23300569 PMCID: PMC3530568 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0051855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2012] [Accepted: 11/13/2012] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Using an in vitro selection procedure, we have previously isolated RNase P ribozyme variants that efficiently cleave an mRNA sequence in vitro. In this study, a variant was used to target the HIV RNA sequence in the tat region. The variant cleaved the tat RNA sequence in vitro about 20 times more efficiently than the wild type ribozyme. Our results provide the first direct evidence that combined mutations at nucleotide 83 and 340 of RNase P catalytic RNA from Escherichia coli (G(83) -> U(83) and G(340) -> A(340)) increase the overall efficiency of the ribozyme in cleaving an HIV RNA sequence. Moreover, the variant is more effective in reducing HIV-1 p24 expression and intracellular viral RNA level in cells than the wild type ribozyme. A reduction of about 90% in viral RNA level and a reduction of 150 fold in viral growth were observed in cells that expressed the variant, while a reduction of less than 10% was observed in cells that either did not express the ribozyme or produced a catalytically inactive ribozyme mutant. Thus, engineered ribozyme variants are effective in inhibiting HIV infection. These results also demonstrate the potential of engineering RNase P ribozymes for anti-HIV application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbo Zeng
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Yuan-Chuan Chen
- Program in Comparative Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Yong Bai
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Phong Trang
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Gia-Phong Vu
- Program in Comparative Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
| | - Sangwei Lu
- Program in Comparative Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (FL); (JW); (SL)
| | - Jianguo Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- * E-mail: (FL); (JW); (SL)
| | - Fenyong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Virology, College of Life Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Program in Comparative Biochemistry, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (FL); (JW); (SL)
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Scherer L, Weinberg MS, Rossi JJ. RNA Based Therapies for Treatment of HIV Infection. THERAPEUTIC OLIGONUCLEOTIDES 2008. [DOI: 10.1039/9781847558275-00316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Scherer
- Division of Molecular Biology City of Hope Beckman Research Institute Duarte CA
| | - Marc S. Weinberg
- Department of Molecular Medicine and Hematology University of the Witwatersrand Medical School Wits South Africa
| | - John J. Rossi
- Division of Molecular Biology City of Hope Beckman Research Institute Duarte CA
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Scherer L, Rossi JJ, Weinberg MS. Progress and prospects: RNA-based therapies for treatment of HIV infection. Gene Ther 2007; 14:1057-64. [PMID: 17607313 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3302977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The current treatment regimen for HIV-infected individuals combines two or more drugs targeting different viral proteins such as RT and gag. Resistance to conventional drugs can develop quickly, and typically persists. The prospect of longer, continuous antiretroviral therapy brings with it the need for new antiretroviral drugs and approaches. In this context, gene therapies have the potential to prolong life and quality of life as an additional therapeutic class and may serve as an adjuvant to traditional treatments. This review focuses on RNA-based hematopoietic cell gene therapy for treatment of HIV infection. Recent advances in our understanding of RNA interference (RNAi) make this an especially attractive candidate for anti-HIV gene therapy although ribozyme and RNA decoy/aptamer approaches can be combined with RNAi to make a combinatorial therapy akin to highly active anti-retroviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Scherer
- Division of Molecular Biology, City of Hope Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, CA 91010, USA
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Abstract
In the last years, different non-biological and biological carrier systems have been developed for anti-HIV1 therapy. Liposomes are excellent potential anti-HIV1 carriers that have been tested with drugs, antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes and therapeutic genes. Nanoparticles and low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) are cell-specific transporters of drugs against macrophage-specific infections such as HIV1. Through a process of protein transduction, cell-permeable peptides of natural origin or designed artificially allow the delivery of drugs and genetic material inside the cell. Erythrocyte ghosts and bacterial ghosts are a promising delivery system for therapeutic peptides and HIV vaccines. Of interest are the advances made in the field of HIV gene therapy by the use of autologous haematopoietic stem cells and viral vectors for HIV vaccines. Although important milestones have been reached in the development of carrier systems for the treatment of HIV, especially in the field of gene therapy, further clinical trials are required so that the efficiency and safety of these new systems can be guaranteed in HIV patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- José M Lanao
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
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Jakobsen MR, Haasnoot J, Wengel J, Berkhout B, Kjems J. Efficient inhibition of HIV-1 expression by LNA modified antisense oligonucleotides and DNAzymes targeted to functionally selected binding sites. Retrovirology 2007; 4:29. [PMID: 17459171 PMCID: PMC1866241 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-4-29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2007] [Accepted: 04/26/2007] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A primary concern when targeting HIV-1 RNA by means of antisense related technologies is the accessibility of the targets. Using a library selection approach to define the most accessible sites for 20-mer oligonucleotides annealing within the highly structured 5'-UTR of the HIV-1 genome we have shown that there are at least four optimal targets available. RESULTS The biological effect of antisense DNA and LNA oligonucleotides, DNA- and LNAzymes targeted to the four most accessible sites was tested for their abilities to block reverse transcription and dimerization of the HIV-1 RNA template in vitro, and to suppress HIV-1 production in cell culture. The neutralization of HIV-1 expression declined in the following order: antisense LNA > LNAzymes > DNAzymes and antisense DNA. The LNA modifications strongly enhanced the in vivo inhibitory activity of all the antisense constructs and some of the DNAzymes. Notably, two of the LNA modified antisense oligonucleotides inhibited HIV-1 production in cell culture very efficiently at concentration as low as 4 nM. CONCLUSION LNAs targeted to experimentally selected binding sites can function as very potent inhibitors of HIV-1 expression in cell culture and may potentially be developed as antiviral drug in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin R Jakobsen
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Aarhus C.F. Møllers Allé, building 130, DK-8000 Århus C, Denmark
| | - Joost Haasnoot
- Department of Human Retrovirology Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jesper Wengel
- Department of Chemistry, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, DK-5230 Odense M, Denmark
| | - Ben Berkhout
- Department of Human Retrovirology Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 15, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jørgen Kjems
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Aarhus C.F. Møllers Allé, building 130, DK-8000 Århus C, Denmark
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