1
|
Oude Egberink R, van Schie DM, Joosten B, de Muynck LTA, Jacobs W, van Oostrum J, Brock R. Unraveling mRNA delivery bottlenecks of ineffective delivery vectors by co-transfection with effective carriers. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 202:114414. [PMID: 39009193 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
The messenger RNA (mRNA) SARS-CoV-2 vaccines have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of this novel drug modality. Protein expression is the consequence of a multistep delivery process that relies on proper packaging into nanoparticle carriers to protect the mRNA against degradation enabling effective cellular uptake and endosomal release, and liberating the mRNA in the cytosol. Bottlenecks along this route remain challenging to pinpoint. Although methods to assess endosomal escape of carriers have been developed, versatile strategies to identify bottlenecks along the delivery trajectory are missing. Here, it is shown that co-incubating an inefficient nanoparticle formulation with an efficient one solves this problem. Cells were co-incubated with mRNA nanoparticles formed with either the efficient cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) PepFect14 or the inefficient CPP nona-arginine (R9). Co-transfection enhanced cellular uptake and endosomal escape of R9-formulated mRNA, resulting in protein expression, demonstrating that both vectors enter cells along the same route. In addition, cells were transfected with a galectin-9-mCherry fusion protein to detect endosomal rupture. Remarkably, despite endosomal release, mRNA remained confined to punctate structures, identifying mRNA liberation as a further bottleneck. In summary, co-transfection offers a rapid means to identify bottlenecks in cytosolic mRNA delivery, supporting the rational design and optimization of intracellular mRNA delivery systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rik Oude Egberink
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Deni M van Schie
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Ben Joosten
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Lisa T A de Muynck
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Ward Jacobs
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Jenny van Oostrum
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| | - Roland Brock
- Department of Medical BioSciences, Research Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, 6525 GA Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Medical Biochemistry, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama 329, Bahrain.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
O'Donoghue ML, Rosenson RS, López JAG, Lepor NE, Baum SJ, Stout E, Gaudet D, Knusel B, Kuder JF, Murphy SA, Wang H, Wu Y, Shah T, Wang J, Wilmanski T, Sohn W, Kassahun H, Sabatine MS. The Off-Treatment Effects of Olpasiran on Lipoprotein(a) Lowering: OCEAN(a)-DOSE Extension Period Results. J Am Coll Cardiol 2024; 84:790-797. [PMID: 39168564 DOI: 10.1016/j.jacc.2024.05.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Olpasiran, a small interfering RNA (siRNA), blocks lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) production by preventing translation of apolipoprotein(a) mRNA. In phase 2, higher doses of olpasiran every 12 weeks (Q12W) reduced circulating Lp(a) by >95%. OBJECTIVES This study sought to assess the timing of return of Lp(a) to baseline after discontinuation of olpasiran, as well as longer-term safety. METHODS OCEAN(a)-DOSE (Olpasiran Trials of Cardiovascular Events And LipoproteiN[a] Reduction-DOSE Finding Study) was a phase 2, dose-finding trial that enrolled 281 participants with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and Lp(a) >150 nmol/L to 1 of 4 active doses of olpasiran vs placebo (10 mg, 75 mg, 225 mg Q12W, or an exploratory dose of 225 mg Q24W given subcutaneously). The last dose of olpasiran was administered at week 36; after week 48, there was an extended off-treatment follow-up period for a minimum of 24 weeks. RESULTS A total of 276 (98.2%) participants entered the off-treatment follow-up period. The median study exposure (treatment combined with off-treatment phases) was 86 weeks (Q1-Q3: 79-99 weeks). For the 75 mg Q12W dose, the off-treatment placebo-adjusted mean percent change from baseline in Lp(a) was -76.2%, -53.0%, -44.0%, and -27.9% at 60, 72, 84, and 96 weeks, respectively (all P < 0.001). The respective off-treatment changes in Lp(a) for the 225 mg Q12W dose were -84.4%, -61.6%, -52.2%, and -36.4% (all P < 0.001). During the extension follow-up phase, no new safety concerns were identified. CONCLUSIONS Olpasiran is a potent siRNA with prolonged effects on Lp(a) lowering. Participants receiving doses ≥75 mg Q12W sustained a ∼40% to 50% reduction in Lp(a) levels close to 1 year after the last dose. (Olpasiran Trials of Cardiovascular Events And LipoproteiN[a] Reduction-DOSE Finding Study [OCEAN(a)-DOSE]; NCT04270760).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L O'Donoghue
- TIMI Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
| | - Robert S Rosenson
- Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | | | - Norman E Lepor
- David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Seth J Baum
- Flourish Research, Boca Raton, Florida, USA; Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, USA
| | - Elmer Stout
- Crossroads Clinical Research Inc, Mooresville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel Gaudet
- Department of Medicine, University of Montréal, Chicoutimi, Quebec, Canada
| | - Beat Knusel
- Global Development, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
| | - Julia F Kuder
- TIMI Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sabina A Murphy
- TIMI Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Huei Wang
- Global Development, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
| | - You Wu
- Global Development, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
| | - Trupti Shah
- Global Development, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
| | - Jingying Wang
- Global Development, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
| | | | - Winnie Sohn
- Global Development, Amgen, Thousand Oaks, California, USA
| | | | - Marc S Sabatine
- TIMI Study Group, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ferraresso F, Leung J, Kastrup CJ. RNA therapeutics to control fibrinolysis: review on applications in biology and medicine. J Thromb Haemost 2024; 22:2103-2114. [PMID: 38663489 PMCID: PMC11269028 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtha.2024.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Regulation of fibrinolysis, the process that degrades blood clots, is pivotal in maintaining hemostasis. Dysregulation leads to thrombosis or excessive bleeding. Proteins in the fibrinolysis system include fibrinogen, coagulation factor XIII, plasminogen, tissue plasminogen activator, urokinase plasminogen activator, α2-antiplasmin, thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, α2-macroglobulin, and others. While each of these is a potential therapeutic target for diseases, they lack effective or long-acting inhibitors. Rapid advances in RNA-based technologies are creating powerful tools to control the expression of proteins. RNA agents can be long-acting and tailored to either decrease or increase production of a specific protein. Advances in nucleic acid delivery, such as by lipid nanoparticles, have enabled the delivery of RNA to the liver, where most proteins of coagulation and fibrinolysis are produced. This review will summarize the classes of RNA that induce 1) inhibition of protein synthesis, including small interfering RNA and antisense oligonucleotides; 2) protein expression, including messenger RNA and self-amplifying RNA; and 3) gene editing for gene knockdown and precise editing. It will review specific examples of RNA therapies targeting proteins in the coagulation and fibrinolysis systems and comment on the wide range of opportunities for controlling fibrinolysis for biological applications and future therapeutics using state-of-the-art RNA therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Ferraresso
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Jerry Leung
- Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Christian J Kastrup
- Blood Research Institute, Versiti Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Centre for Blood Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada; Departments of Surgery, Biochemistry, Biomedical Engineering, and Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Yamada K, Hariharan VN, Caiazzi J, Miller R, Ferguson CM, Sapp E, Fakih HH, Tang Q, Yamada N, Furgal RC, Paquette JD, Biscans A, Bramato BM, McHugh N, Summers A, Lochmann C, Godinho BMDC, Hildebrand S, Jackson SO, Echeverria D, Hassler MR, Alterman JF, DiFiglia M, Aronin N, Khvorova A. Enhancing siRNA efficacy in vivo with extended nucleic acid backbones. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-024-02336-7. [PMID: 39090305 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02336-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic small interfering RNA (siRNA) requires sugar and backbone modifications to inhibit nuclease degradation. However, metabolic stabilization by phosphorothioate (PS), the only backbone chemistry used clinically, may be insufficient for targeting extrahepatic tissues. To improve oligonucleotide stabilization, we report the discovery, synthesis and characterization of extended nucleic acid (exNA) consisting of a methylene insertion between the 5'-C and 5'-OH of a nucleoside. exNA incorporation is compatible with common oligonucleotide synthetic protocols and the PS backbone, provides stabilization against 3' and 5' exonucleases and is tolerated at multiple oligonucleotide positions. A combined exNA-PS backbone enhances resistance to 3' exonuclease by ~32-fold over the conventional PS backbone and by >1,000-fold over the natural phosphodiester backbone, improving tissue exposure, tissue accumulation and efficacy in mice, both systemically and in the brain. The improved efficacy and durability imparted by exNA may enable therapeutic interventions in extrahepatic tissues, both with siRNA and with other oligonucleotides such as CRISPR guide RNA, antisense oligonucleotides, mRNA and tRNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ken Yamada
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Vignesh N Hariharan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jillian Caiazzi
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Rachael Miller
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Chantal M Ferguson
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Hassan H Fakih
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Qi Tang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Nozomi Yamada
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Raymond C Furgal
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Joseph D Paquette
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Annabelle Biscans
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Brianna M Bramato
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas McHugh
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ashley Summers
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Clemens Lochmann
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Bruno M D C Godinho
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Samuel Hildebrand
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Matthew R Hassler
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Julia F Alterman
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Marian DiFiglia
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Neil Aronin
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Yang X, Qiu K, Jiang Y, Huang Y, Zhang Y, Liao Y. Metabolic Crosstalk between Liver and Brain: From Diseases to Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7621. [PMID: 39062868 PMCID: PMC11277155 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/28/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Multiple organs and tissues coordinate to respond to dietary and environmental challenges. It is interorgan crosstalk that contributes to systemic metabolic homeostasis. The liver and brain, as key metabolic organs, have their unique dialogue to transmit metabolic messages. The interconnected pathogenesis of liver and brain is implicated in numerous metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. Recent insights have positioned the liver not only as a central metabolic hub but also as an endocrine organ, capable of secreting hepatokines that transmit metabolic signals throughout the body via the bloodstream. Metabolites from the liver or gut microbiota also facilitate a complex dialogue between liver and brain. In parallel to humoral factors, the neural pathways, particularly the hypothalamic nuclei and autonomic nervous system, are pivotal in modulating the bilateral metabolic interplay between the cerebral and hepatic compartments. The term "liver-brain axis" vividly portrays this interaction. At the end of this review, we summarize cutting-edge technical advancements that have enabled the observation and manipulation of these signals, including genetic engineering, molecular tracing, and delivery technologies. These innovations are paving the way for a deeper understanding of the liver-brain axis and its role in metabolic homeostasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Yunfei Liao
- Department of Endocrinology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yuan Y, Li L, Earp J, Ma L, Bhattaram VA, Sharma V, Tong A, Wang Y, Liu J, Zhu H. Application of Model-Informed Drug Development in Dose Selection and Optimization for siRNA Therapies. J Clin Pharmacol 2024; 64:799-809. [PMID: 38426370 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.2418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
The application of model-informed drug development (MIDD) has revolutionized drug development and regulatory decision making, transforming the process into one that is more efficient, effective, and patient centered. A critical application of MIDD is to facilitate dose selection and optimization, which play a pivotal role in improving efficacy, safety, and tolerability profiles of a candidate drug. With the surge of interest in small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs as a promising class of therapeutics, their applications in various disease areas have been extensively studied preclinically. However, dosing selection and optimization experience for siRNA in humans is limited. Unique challenges exist for the dose evaluation of siRNA due to the temporal discordance between pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profiles, as well as limited available clinical experience and considerable interindividual variability. This review highlights the pivotal role of MIDD in facilitating dose selection and optimization for siRNA therapeutics. Based on past experiences with approved siRNA products, MIDD has demonstrated its ability to aid in dose selection for clinical trials and enabling optimal dosing for the general patient population. In addition, MIDD presents an opportunity for dose individualization based on patient characteristics, enhancing the precision and effectiveness of siRNA therapeutics. In conclusion, the integration of MIDD offers substantial advantages in navigating the complex challenges of dose selection and optimization in siRNA drug development, which in turn accelerates the development process, supports regulatory decision making, and ultimately improves the clinical outcomes of siRNA-based therapies, fostering advancements in precision medicine across a diverse range of diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ye Yuan
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Liang Li
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Justin Earp
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Lian Ma
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Venkatesh Atul Bhattaram
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Vishnu Sharma
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Alexander Tong
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Yaning Wang
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Jiang Liu
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| | - Hao Zhu
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Tölke AJ, Gaisbauer JF, Gärtner YV, Steigenberger B, Holovan A, Streshnev F, Schneider S, Müller M, Carell T. Efficient Tandem Copper-Catalyzed Click Synthesis of Multisugar-Modified Oligonucleotides. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202405161. [PMID: 38606873 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202405161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024]
Abstract
Nucleic acids in the form of siRNA, antisense oligonucleotides or mRNA are currently explored as new promising modalities in the pharmaceutical industry. Particularly, the success of mRNA-vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, along with the successful development of the first sugar-modified siRNA therapeutics has inspired the field. The development of nucleic acid therapeutics requires efficient chemistry to link oligonucleotides to chemical structures that can improve stability, boost cellular uptake, or enable specific targeting. For the siRNA therapeutics currently in use, modification of the 3'-end of the oligonucleotides with triple-N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)3 was shown to be of significance. This modification is currently achieved through cumbersome multistep synthesis and subsequent loading onto the solid support material. Herein, we report the development of a bifunctional click-reactive linker that allows the modification of oligonucleotides in a tandem click reaction with multiple sugars, regardless of the position within the oligonucleotide, with remarkable efficiency and in a one-pot reaction.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annika J Tölke
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Julia F Gaisbauer
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Yasmin V Gärtner
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Barbara Steigenberger
- Mass Spectrometry Core Facility, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Anna Holovan
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Filip Streshnev
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Sabine Schneider
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Müller
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| | - Thomas Carell
- Department of Chemistry, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Butenandtstr. 5-13, 81377, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Li Q, Geng T, Li H, Zheng S, Svedlund S, Gan L, Egnell AC, Gao S, Chen R, Hu P. Analysis of the pharmacokinetics and efficacy of RBD1016 - A GalNAc-siRNA targeting Hepatitis B Virus X gene using semi-mechanistic PK/PD model. Heliyon 2024; 10:e31924. [PMID: 38841435 PMCID: PMC11152740 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e31924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Small interference RNA (siRNA) is a class of short double-stranded RNA molecules that cause mRNA degradation through an RNA interference mechanism and is a promising therapeutic modality. RBD1016 is a siRNA drug in clinical development for the treatment of chronic Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) infection, which contains a conjugated with N-acetylglucosamine moiety that can facilitate its hepatic delivery. We aimed to construct a semi-mechanistic model of RBD1016 in pre-clinical animals, to elucidate the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) profiles in mice and PK profiles in monkeys, which can lay the foundation for potential future translation of RBD1016 PK and PD from the pre-clinical stage to the clinic stage. The proposed semi-mechanistic PK/PD model fitted PK and PD data in HBV transgenic mice well and described plasma and liver concentrations in the monkeys well. The simulation results showed that our model has a reasonable predictive ability for Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels after multiple dosing in mice. Further PK and PD data for RBD1016, including clinical data, will assist in refining the model presented here. Our current effort focused on model building for RBD1016, we anticipate that the model could apply to other GalNAc-siRNA drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Li
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, NMPA Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Drug, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical PK & PD Investigation for Innovative Drugs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Taohua Geng
- Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co. Ltd., Jiangsu, 215300, China
| | - Haiyan Li
- Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co. Ltd., Jiangsu, 215300, China
| | - Shuquan Zheng
- Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co. Ltd., Jiangsu, 215300, China
| | - Sara Svedlund
- Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB, Medicinaregatan 8A, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Liming Gan
- Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co. Ltd., Jiangsu, 215300, China
- Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB, Medicinaregatan 8A, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ann-Charlotte Egnell
- Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co. Ltd., Jiangsu, 215300, China
- Ribocure Pharmaceuticals AB, Medicinaregatan 8A, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Shan Gao
- Suzhou Ribo Life Science Co. Ltd., Jiangsu, 215300, China
| | - Rui Chen
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, NMPA Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Drug, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical PK & PD Investigation for Innovative Drugs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Pei Hu
- Clinical Pharmacology Research Center, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Complex Severe and Rare Diseases, NMPA Key Laboratory for Clinical Research and Evaluation of Drug, Beijing Key Laboratory of Clinical PK & PD Investigation for Innovative Drugs, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yuan W, Shi X, Lee LTO. RNA therapeutics in targeting G protein-coupled receptors: Recent advances and challenges. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102195. [PMID: 38741614 PMCID: PMC11089380 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the major targets of existing drugs for a plethora of human diseases and dominate the pharmaceutical market. However, over 50% of the GPCRs remain undruggable. To pursue a breakthrough and overcome this situation, there is significant clinical research for developing RNA-based drugs specifically targeting GPCRs, but none has been approved so far. RNA therapeutics represent a unique and promising approach to selectively targeting previously undruggable targets, including undruggable GPCRs. However, the development of RNA therapeutics faces significant challenges in areas of RNA stability and efficient in vivo delivery. This review presents an overview of the advances in RNA therapeutics and the diverse types of nanoparticle RNA delivery systems. It also describes the potential applications of GPCR-targeted RNA drugs for various human diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wanjun Yuan
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa 999078, Macau, China
| | - Xiangyang Shi
- State Key Laboratory for Modification of Chemical Fibers and Polymer Materials, Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Nano-Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine, College of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, People’s Republic of China
| | - Leo Tsz On Lee
- Cancer Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa 999078, Macau, China
- Ministry of Education Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Taipa 999078, Macau, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Hariharan VN, Nakamura T, Shin M, Tang Q, Sontakke V, Caiazzi J, Hildebrand S, Khvorova A, Yamada K. Phosphatidylcholine head group chemistry alters the extrahepatic accumulation of lipid-conjugated siRNA. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102230. [PMID: 38938759 PMCID: PMC11209015 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are revolutionizing the treatment of liver-associated indications. Yet, robust delivery to extrahepatic tissues remains a challenge. Conjugating lipids (e.g., docosanoic acid [DCA]) to siRNA supports extrahepatic delivery, but tissue accumulation remains lower than that achieved in liver by approved siRNA therapeutics. Early evidence suggests that functionalizing DCA with a head group (e.g., phosphatidylcholine [PC]) may enhance delivery to certain tissues. Here, we report the first systematic evaluation of the effect of PC head group chemistry on the extrahepatic distribution of DCA-conjugated siRNAs. We show that functionalizing DCA with a PC head group enhances siRNA accumulation in heart, muscle, lung, pancreas, duodenum, urinary bladder, and fat. Varying the size of the linker between the phosphate and choline moiety of the PC head group altered the extrahepatic accumulation of siRNA, with the optimal linker length being different for different tissues. Increasing PC head group valency also improved extrahepatic accumulation in a tissue-specific manner. This study demonstrates the structural impact of the PC moiety on the biodistribution of lipid-conjugated siRNA and introduces multiple novel PC variants for the chemical optimization of DCA-conjugated siRNA. These chemical variants can be used in the context of other lipids to increase the repertoire of conjugates for the extrahepatic distribution of siRNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vignesh N. Hariharan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Takahiro Nakamura
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Minwook Shin
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Qi Tang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Vyankat Sontakke
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Jillian Caiazzi
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Samuel Hildebrand
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Ken Yamada
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Yu M, Qin J, Liu X, Ramsden D, Williams B, Zlatev I, Guenther D, Matsuda S, Tymon R, Darcy J, Wong C, Tsung J, Zawaneh P, Chong S, Theile C, Taneja N, Rogers A, Liu J, Castellanos-Rizaldos E, Bond S, So K, Denoncourt J, Castoreno A, Manoharan M, Wu JT, Fitzgerald K, Maier MA, Jadhav V, Nair J. Evaluating the oral delivery of GalNAc-conjugated siRNAs in rodents and non-human primates. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:5423-5437. [PMID: 38742636 PMCID: PMC11162796 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Oral delivery is the most widely used and convenient route of administration of medicine. However, oral administration of hydrophilic macromolecules is commonly limited by low intestinal permeability and pre-systemic degradation in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Overcoming some of these challenges allowed emergence of oral dosage forms of peptide-based drugs in clinical settings. Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have also been investigated for oral administration but despite the recent progress, the bioavailability remains low. Given the advancement with highly potent and durable trivalent N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-conjugated small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) via subcutaneous (s.c.) injection, we explored their activities after oral administration. We report robust RNA interference (RNAi) activity of orally administrated GalNAc-siRNAs co-formulated with permeation enhancers (PEs) in rodents and non-human primates (NHPs). The relative bioavailability calculated from NHP liver exposure was <2.0% despite minimal enzymatic degradation in the GI. To investigate the impact of oligonucleotide size on oral delivery, highly specific GalNAc-conjugated single-stranded oligonucleotides known as REVERSIRs with different lengths were employed and their activities for reversal of RNAi effect were monitored. Our data suggests that intestinal permeability is highly influenced by the size of oligonucleotides. Further improvements in the potency of siRNA and PE could make oral delivery of GalNAc-siRNAs as a practical solution.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mikyung Yu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - June Qin
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Xiumin Liu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Diane Ramsden
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Ivan Zlatev
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Dale Guenther
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Roxanne Tymon
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Justin Darcy
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Catrina Wong
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jamie Tsung
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Peter Zawaneh
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Saeho Chong
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Nathan Taneja
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Arlin Rogers
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ju Liu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Sarah Bond
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Kawai So
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | | | - Jing-Tao Wu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | - Vasant Jadhav
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Sorets AG, Schwensen KR, Francini N, Kjar A, Abdulrahman AM, Shostak A, Katdare KA, Schoch KM, Cowell RP, Park JC, Ligocki AP, Ford WT, Ventura-Antunes L, Hoogenboezem EN, Prusky A, Castleberry M, Michell DL, Miller TM, Vickers KC, Schrag MS, Duvall CL, Lippmann ES. Lipid-siRNA conjugate accesses a perivascular transport mechanism and achieves widespread and durable knockdown in the central nervous system. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.06.09.598079. [PMID: 38915549 PMCID: PMC11195074 DOI: 10.1101/2024.06.09.598079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Short-interfering RNA (siRNA) has gained significant interest for treatment of neurological diseases by providing the capacity to achieve sustained inhibition of nearly any gene target. Yet, achieving efficacious drug delivery throughout deep brain structures of the CNS remains a considerable hurdle. We herein describe a lipid-siRNA conjugate that, following delivery into the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), is transported effectively through perivascular spaces, enabling broad dispersion within CSF compartments and through the CNS parenchyma. We provide a detailed examination of the temporal kinetics of gene silencing, highlighting potent knockdown for up to five months from a single injection without detectable toxicity. Single-cell RNA sequencing further demonstrates gene silencing activity across diverse cell populations in the parenchyma and at brain borders, which may provide new avenues for neurological disease-modifying therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alexander G. Sorets
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Katrina R. Schwensen
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Nora Francini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Andrew Kjar
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Adam M. Abdulrahman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alena Shostak
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ketaki A. Katdare
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kathleen M. Schoch
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Rebecca P. Cowell
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Joshua C. Park
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Alexander P. Ligocki
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - William T. Ford
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | | | | | - Alex Prusky
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Mark Castleberry
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Danielle L. Michell
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Timothy M. Miller
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kasey C. Vickers
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Matthew S. Schrag
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Craig L. Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ethan S. Lippmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Brain Institute, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Neurology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Vanderbilt Memory and Alzheimer’s Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Wang J, Chen P. Engineering Biomimetic Protein Camouflage for Delivering Peptide/siRNA Nanocomplexes. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:15096-15107. [PMID: 38773940 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c00691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2024]
Abstract
For cationic nanoparticles, the spontaneous nanoparticle-protein corona formation and aggregation in biofluids can trigger unexpected biological reactions. Herein, we present a biomimetic strategy for camouflaging the cationic peptide/siRNA nanocomplex (P/Si) with single or dual proteins, which exploits the unique properties of endogenous proteins and stabilizes the cationic P/Si complex for safe and targeted delivery. An in-depth study of the P/Si protein corona (P/Si-PC) formation and protein binding was conducted. The results provided insights into the biochemical and toxicological properties of cationic nanocomplexes and the rationales for engineering biomimetic protein camouflages. Based on this, the human serum albumin (HSA) and apolipoprotein AI (Apo-AI) ranked within the top 20 abundant protein species of P/Si-PC were selected to construct biomimetic HSA-dressed P/Si (P/Si@HSA) and dual protein (HSA and Apo-AI)-dressed P/Si (P/Si@HSA_Apo), given that the dual-protein camouflage plays complementary roles in efficient delivery. A branched cationic peptide (b-HKR) was tailored for siRNA delivery, and their nanocomplexes, including the cationic P/Si and biomimetic protein-dressed P/Si, were produced by a precise microfluidic technology. The biomimetic anionic protein camouflage greatly enhanced P/Si biostability and biocompatibility, which offers a reliable strategy for overcoming the limitation of applying cationic nanoparticles in biofluids and systemic delivery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - P Chen
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue West, Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Androsavich JR. Frameworks for transformational breakthroughs in RNA-based medicines. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:421-444. [PMID: 38740953 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-00943-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
RNA has sparked a revolution in modern medicine, with the potential to transform the way we treat diseases. Recent regulatory approvals, hundreds of new clinical trials, the emergence of CRISPR gene editing, and the effectiveness of mRNA vaccines in dramatic response to the COVID-19 pandemic have converged to create tremendous momentum and expectation. However, challenges with this relatively new class of drugs persist and require specialized knowledge and expertise to overcome. This Review explores shared strategies for developing RNA drug platforms, including layering technologies, addressing common biases and identifying gaps in understanding. It discusses the potential of RNA-based therapeutics to transform medicine, as well as the challenges associated with improving applicability, efficacy and safety profiles. Insights gained from RNA modalities such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and small interfering RNAs are used to identify important next steps for mRNA and gene editing technologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John R Androsavich
- RNA Accelerator, Pfizer Inc, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Ginkgo Bioworks, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Choi Y, Seok SH, Yoon HY, Ryu JH, Kwon IC. Advancing cancer immunotherapy through siRNA-based gene silencing for immune checkpoint blockade. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 209:115306. [PMID: 38626859 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy represents a revolutionary strategy, leveraging the patient's immune system to inhibit tumor growth and alleviate the immunosuppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment (TME). The recent emergence of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies, particularly following the first approval of cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA-4) inhibitors like ipilimumab, has led to significant growth in cancer immunotherapy. The extensive explorations on diverse immune checkpoint antibodies have broadened the therapeutic scope for various malignancies. However, the clinical response to these antibody-based ICB therapies remains limited, with less than 15% responsiveness and notable adverse effects in some patients. This review introduces the emerging strategies to overcome current limitations of antibody-based ICB therapies, mainly focusing on the development of small interfering ribonucleic acid (siRNA)-based ICB therapies and innovative delivery systems. We firstly highlight the diverse target immune checkpoint genes for siRNA-based ICB therapies, incorporating silencing of multiple genes to boost anti-tumor immune responses. Subsequently, we discuss improvements in siRNA delivery systems, enhanced by various nanocarriers, aimed at overcoming siRNA's clinical challenges such as vulnerability to enzymatic degradation, inadequate pharmacokinetics, and possible unintended target interactions. Additionally, the review presents various combination therapies that integrate chemotherapy, phototherapy, stimulatory checkpoints, ICB antibodies, and cancer vaccines. The important point is that when used in combination with siRNA-based ICB therapy, the synergistic effect of traditional therapies is strengthened, improving host immune surveillance and therapeutic outcomes. Conclusively, we discuss the insights into innovative and effective cancer immunotherapeutic strategies based on RNA interference (RNAi) technology utilizing siRNA and nanocarriers as a novel approach in ICB cancer immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Youngjin Choi
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Su Hyun Seok
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Yeol Yoon
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science &Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Ju Hee Ryu
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea.
| | - Ick Chan Kwon
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Scherer D, Burger M, Leroux JC. Revival of Bioengineered Proteins as Carriers for Nucleic Acids. Bioconjug Chem 2024; 35:561-566. [PMID: 38621363 PMCID: PMC11099893 DOI: 10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.4c00079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- David Scherer
- Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Michael Burger
- Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| | - Jean-Christophe Leroux
- Institute of Pharmaceutical
Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Zurich 8093, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Chen L, Bosmajian C, Woo S. A highly sensitive stem-loop RT-qPCR method to study siRNA intracellular pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Biol Methods Protoc 2024; 9:bpae029. [PMID: 38783988 PMCID: PMC11112049 DOI: 10.1093/biomethods/bpae029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a powerful tool for sequence-specific silencing of disease-related genes. In this study, we established and validated a stem-loop reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) method applicable for both chemically unmodified and modified siRNA, aiming to elucidate mechanistic intracellular pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) properties of siRNA. We conducted a comprehensive evaluation of factors affecting intracellular siRNA quantification. Our study revealed that immobilization-based siRNA extraction introduced high variation, making it unsuitable for absolute quantification. Conversely, direct cell lysis followed by stem-loop RT-qPCR demonstrated excellent reproducibility, with a quantification range from 0.0002 to 20 femtomole (fmole) for unmodified siRNA and 0.02 to 20 fmole for modified siRNA. The design of a 6-bp overlapping RT primer facilitated the distinction of full-length antisense from its 3'-metabolites, and pre-annealing of antisense to RT primer enhanced sensitivity and reproducibility. Differences in siRNA loss during storage and sample processing were noted among microcentrifuge tubes from various manufacturers. Endogenous miR-16 served as a reference for normalizing cytoplasmic siRNA, while protein concentration post-immunoprecipitation lysis was used to normalize RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC)-loaded siRNA levels. This method successfully enabled a detailed characterization of the time profiles of cytoplasmic and RISC-loaded siRNA, advancing the in vitro-in vivo translation of siRNA therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lin Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
| | - Caroline Bosmajian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
| | - Sukyung Woo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY 14214, United States
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Guo F, Li Y, Yu W, Fu Y, Zhang J, Cao H. Recent Progress of Small Interfering RNA Delivery on the Market and Clinical Stage. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:2081-2096. [PMID: 38630656 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c01158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are promising therapeutic strategies, and five siRNA drugs have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Commission (EC). This marks a significant milestone in the development of siRNA for clinical applications. The approved siRNA agents can effectively deliver siRNAs to the liver and treat liver-related diseases. Currently, researchers have developed diverse delivery platforms for transporting siRNAs to different tissues such as the brain, lung, muscle, and others, and a large number of siRNA drugs are undergoing clinical trials. Here, these delivery technologies and the latest advancements in clinical applications are summarized, and this Review provides a concise overview of the strategies employed for siRNA delivery to both hepatic and extrahepatic tissues.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fan Guo
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Shandong 264003, China
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine & Advanced Preparations, Yantai Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong 264000, China
| | - Yan Li
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine & Advanced Preparations, Yantai Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong 264000, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong 264117, China
| | - Wenjun Yu
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine & Advanced Preparations, Yantai Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong 264000, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong 264117, China
| | - Yuanlei Fu
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine & Advanced Preparations, Yantai Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong 264000, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong 264117, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Shandong 264003, China
| | - Haiqiang Cao
- Yantai Key Laboratory of Nanomedicine & Advanced Preparations, Yantai Institute of Materia Medica, Shandong 264000, China
- Shandong Laboratory of Yantai Drug Discovery, Bohai Rim Advanced Research Institute for Drug Discovery, Yantai, Shandong 264117, China
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Sandra L, T'jollyn H, Vermeulen A, Ackaert O, Perez‐Ruixo J. Model-based meta-analysis to quantify the effects of short interfering RNA therapeutics on hepatitis B surface antigen turnover in hepatitis B-infected mice. CPT Pharmacometrics Syst Pharmacol 2024; 13:729-742. [PMID: 38522000 PMCID: PMC11098160 DOI: 10.1002/psp4.13129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of short interfering RNA therapeutics (siRNAs) in reducing hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) levels in hepatitis B-infected (HBV) mice across multiple siRNA therapeutic classes using model-based meta-analysis (MBMA) techniques. Literature data from 10 studies in HBV-infected mice were pooled, including 13 siRNAs, formulated as liposomal nanoparticles (LNPs) or conjugated to either cholesterol (chol) or N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc). Time course of the baseline- and placebo-corrected mean HBsAg profiles were modeled using kinetics of drug effect (KPD) model coupled to an indirect response model (IRM) within a longitudinal non-linear mixed-effects MBMA framework. Single and multiple dose simulations were performed exploring the role of dosing regimens across evaluated siRNA classes. The HBsAg degradation rate (0.72 day-1) was consistent across siRNAs but exhibited a large between-study variability of 31.4% (CV%). The siRNA biophase half-life was dependent on the siRNA class and was highest for GalNAc-siRNAs (21.06 days) and lowest for chol-siRNAs (2.89 days). ID50 estimates were compound-specific and were lowest for chol-siRNAs and highest for GalNAc-siRNAs. Multiple dose simulations suggest GalNAc-siRNAs may require between 4 and 7 times less frequent dosing at higher absolute dose levels compared to LNP-siRNAs and chol-siRNAs, respectively, to reach equipotent HBsAg-lowering effects in HBV mice. In conclusion, non-clinical HBsAg concentration-time data after siRNA administration can be described using the presented KPD-IRM MBMA framework. This framework allows to quantitatively compare the effects of siRNAs on the HBsAg time course and inform dose and regimen selection across siRNA classes. These results may support siRNA development, optimize preclinical study designs, and inform data analysis methodology of future anti-HBV siRNAs; and ultimately, support siRNA model-informed drug development (MIDD) strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Louis Sandra
- Janssen Research and Development, a Johnson & Johnson CompanyBeerseBelgium
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry and Clinical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - Huybrecht T'jollyn
- Janssen Research and Development, a Johnson & Johnson CompanyBeerseBelgium
| | - An Vermeulen
- Janssen Research and Development, a Johnson & Johnson CompanyBeerseBelgium
- Laboratory of Medical Biochemistry and Clinical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical SciencesGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - Oliver Ackaert
- Janssen Research and Development, a Johnson & Johnson CompanyBeerseBelgium
| | | |
Collapse
|
20
|
Lumen A, Zhang X, Dutta S, Upreti VV. Predicting Clinical Pharmacokinetics/Pharmacodynamics and Impact of Organ Impairment on siRNA-Based Therapeutics Using a Mechanistic Physiologically-Based Pharmacokinetic-Pharmacodynamic Model. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2024; 115:1054-1064. [PMID: 38282246 DOI: 10.1002/cpt.3160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Approved and emerging siRNA therapeutics are primarily designed for targeted delivery to liver where the therapeutic gene silencing effects occurs. Impairment of hepatic/renal function and its impact on siRNA pharmacokinetics/pharmacodynamics (PKs/PDs) are yet to be mechanistically evaluated to describe the unanticipated clinical observations for this novel modality. We developed pathophysiologically relevant models for organ impairment within a physiologically-based PK-PD (PBPK-PD) modeling framework focusing on modality-specific mechanistic factors to evaluate impact on siRNA PKs and PDs. PBPK-PD models for two US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved siRNAs inclisiran and vutrisiran were developed as case studies leveraging available tissue-specific data and translated to humans. Key determinants of the clinical PK and PD of N-acetylgalactosamine conjugated siRNAs (GalNAc-siRNAs) with varying sequences were also identified to inform effective clinical translation strategies for emerging GalNAc-siRNA candidates. A 30-70% reduction in hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptors concentrations still allowed for sufficient amount of free cytoplasmic siRNA for RISC-loading to produce PD effects comparable in extent and duration to normal liver function. This included severe hepatic impairment for which no clinical data are available. Inclusion of other modality agnostic physiological changes relevant to organ impairment did not alter the findings. Changes in renal physiologies, including changes in GFR across various degrees of impairment, well predicted minimal changes in PD for inclisiran and vutrisiran. This work provides a quantitative mechanistic framework and insights on modality-specific factors that drive clinical translation and patient/disease-related factors that impact specific dosing considerations and clinical outcomes to help accelerate the optimal development of siRNA therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Annie Lumen
- Clinical Pharmacology, Modeling, and Simulation, Amgen Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Xinwen Zhang
- Clinical Pharmacology, Modeling, and Simulation, Amgen Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sandeep Dutta
- Clinical Pharmacology, Modeling and Simulation, Amgen Inc., Thousand Oaks, California, USA
| | - Vijay V Upreti
- Clinical Pharmacology, Modeling, and Simulation, Amgen Inc., South San Francisco, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Berdecka D, De Smedt SC, De Vos WH, Braeckmans K. Non-viral delivery of RNA for therapeutic T cell engineering. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2024; 208:115215. [PMID: 38401848 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2024.115215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024]
Abstract
Adoptive T cell transfer has shown great success in treating blood cancers, resulting in a growing number of FDA-approved therapies using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells. However, the effectiveness of this treatment for solid tumors is still not satisfactory, emphasizing the need for improved T cell engineering strategies and combination approaches. Currently, CAR T cells are mainly manufactured using gammaretroviral and lentiviral vectors due to their high transduction efficiency. However, there are concerns about their safety, the high cost of producing them in compliance with current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP), regulatory obstacles, and limited cargo capacity, which limit the broader use of engineered T cell therapies. To overcome these limitations, researchers have explored non-viral approaches, such as membrane permeabilization and carrier-mediated methods, as more versatile and sustainable alternatives for next-generation T cell engineering. Non-viral delivery methods can be designed to transport a wide range of molecules, including RNA, which allows for more controlled and safe modulation of T cell phenotype and function. In this review, we provide an overview of non-viral RNA delivery in adoptive T cell therapy. We first define the different types of RNA therapeutics, highlighting recent advancements in manufacturing for their therapeutic use. We then discuss the challenges associated with achieving effective RNA delivery in T cells. Next, we provide an overview of current and emerging technologies for delivering RNA into T cells. Finally, we discuss ongoing preclinical and clinical studies involving RNA-modified T cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominika Berdecka
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Winnok H De Vos
- Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Kevin Braeckmans
- Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Tang Q, Khvorova A. RNAi-based drug design: considerations and future directions. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2024; 23:341-364. [PMID: 38570694 PMCID: PMC11144061 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-024-00912-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
More than 25 years after its discovery, the post-transcriptional gene regulation mechanism termed RNAi is now transforming pharmaceutical development, proved by the recent FDA approval of multiple small interfering RNA (siRNA) drugs that target the liver. Synthetic siRNAs that trigger RNAi have the potential to specifically silence virtually any therapeutic target with unprecedented potency and durability. Bringing this innovative class of medicines to patients, however, has been riddled with substantial challenges, with delivery issues at the forefront. Several classes of siRNA drug are under clinical evaluation, but their utility in treating extrahepatic diseases remains limited, demanding continued innovation. In this Review, we discuss principal considerations and future directions in the design of therapeutic siRNAs, with a particular emphasis on chemistry, the application of informatics, delivery strategies and the importance of careful target selection, which together influence therapeutic success.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Tang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Dermatology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Broc B, Varini K, Sonnette R, Pecqueux B, Benoist F, Masse M, Mechioukhi Y, Ferracci G, Temsamani J, Khrestchatisky M, Jacquot G, Lécorché P. LDLR-Mediated Targeting and Productive Uptake of siRNA-Peptide Ligand Conjugates In Vitro and In Vivo. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:548. [PMID: 38675209 PMCID: PMC11054735 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Small RNA molecules such as microRNA and small interfering RNA (siRNA) have become promising therapeutic agents because of their specificity and their potential to modulate gene expression. Any gene of interest can be potentially up- or down-regulated, making RNA-based technology the healthcare breakthrough of our era. However, the functional and specific delivery of siRNAs into tissues of interest and into the cytosol of target cells remains highly challenging, mainly due to the lack of efficient and selective delivery systems. Among the variety of carriers for siRNA delivery, peptides have become essential candidates because of their high selectivity, stability, and conjugation versatility. Here, we describe the development of molecules encompassing siRNAs against SOD1, conjugated to peptides that target the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), and their biological evaluation both in vitro and in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Baptiste Broc
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Karine Varini
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Rose Sonnette
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Belinda Pecqueux
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Florian Benoist
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Maxime Masse
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Yasmine Mechioukhi
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Géraldine Ferracci
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, INP, Inst Neurophysiopathol, 13005 Marseille, France
| | - Jamal Temsamani
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | | | - Guillaume Jacquot
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| | - Pascaline Lécorché
- Vect-Horus S.A.S, Faculté des Sciences Médicales et Paramédicales Secteur Timone, 13385 Marseille, France
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Oza D, Ivich F, Pace J, Yu M, Niedre M, Amiji M. Lipid nanoparticle encapsulated large peritoneal macrophages migrate to the lungs via the systemic circulation in a model of clodronate-mediated lung-resident macrophage depletion. Theranostics 2024; 14:2526-2543. [PMID: 38646640 PMCID: PMC11024852 DOI: 10.7150/thno.91062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Rationale: A mature tissue resident macrophage (TRM) population residing in the peritoneal cavity has been known for its unique ability to migrate to peritoneally located injured tissues and impart wound healing properties. Here, we sought to expand on this unique ability of large peritoneal macrophages (LPMs) by investigating whether these GATA6+ LPMs could also intravasate into systemic circulation and migrate to extra-peritoneally located lungs upon ablating lung-resident alveolar macrophages (AMs) by intranasally administered clodronate liposomes in mice. Methods: C12-200 cationic lipidoid-based nanoparticles were employed to selectively deliver a small interfering RNA (siRNA)-targeting CD-45 labeled with a cyanine 5.5 (Cy5.5) dye to LPMs in vivo via intraperitoneal injection. We utilized a non-invasive optical technique called Diffuse In Vivo Flow Cytometry (DiFC) to then systemically track these LPMs in real time and paired it with more conventional techniques like flow cytometry and immunocytochemistry to initially confirm uptake of C12-200 encapsulated siRNA-Cy5.5 (siRNA-Cy5.5 (C12-200)) into LPMs, and further track them from the peritoneal cavity to the lungs in a mouse model of AM depletion incited by intranasally administered clodronate liposomes. Also, we stained for LPM-specific marker zinc-finger transcription factor GATA6 in harvested cells from biofluids like broncho-alveolar lavage as well as whole blood to probe for Cy5.5-labeled LPMs in the lungs as well as in systemic circulation. Results: siRNA-Cy5.5 (C12-200) was robustly taken up by LPMs. Upon depletion of lung-resident AMs, these siRNA-Cy5.5 (C12-200) labeled LPMs rapidly migrated to the lungs via systemic circulation within 12-24 h. DiFC results showed that these LPMs intravasated from the peritoneal cavity and utilized a systemic route of migration. Moreover, immunocytochemical staining of zinc-finger transcription factor GATA6 further confirmed results from DiFC and flow cytometry, confirming the presence of siRNA-Cy5.5 (C12-200)-labeled LPMs in the peritoneum, whole blood and BALF only upon clodronate-administration. Conclusion: Our results indicate for the very first time that selective tropism, migration, and infiltration of LPMs into extra-peritoneally located lungs was dependent on clodronate-mediated AM depletion. These results further open the possibility of therapeutically utilizing LPMs as delivery vehicles to carry nanoparticle-encapsulated oligonucleotide modalities to potentially address inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases and even cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dhaval Oza
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 360 Huntington Avenue, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA, USA 02142
| | - Fernando Ivich
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Joshua Pace
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Mikyung Yu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 675W Kendall St, Cambridge, MA, USA 02142
| | - Mark Niedre
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| | - Mansoor Amiji
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 360 Huntington Avenue, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115
- Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering, Northeastern University, 360 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Elnaggar MG, He Y, Yeo Y. Recent trends in the delivery of RNA drugs: Beyond the liver, more than vaccine. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2024; 197:114203. [PMID: 38302049 PMCID: PMC10947810 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2024.114203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
RNAs are known for versatile functions and therapeutic utility. They have gained significant interest since the approval of several RNA drugs, including COVID-19 mRNA vaccines and therapeutic agents targeting liver diseases. There are increasing expectations for a new class of RNA drugs for broader applications. Successful development of RNA drugs for new applications hinges on understanding their diverse functions and structures. In this review, we explore the last five years of literature to understand current approaches to formulate a spectrum of RNA drugs, focusing on new efforts to expand their applications beyond vaccines and liver diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marwa G Elnaggar
- Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | - Yanying He
- Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | - Yoon Yeo
- Department of Industrial and Molecular Pharmaceutics, Purdue University, 575 Stadium Mall Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Purdue University Institute for Cancer Research, 201 South University Street, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, 206 S Martin Jischke Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ferguson CM, Hildebrand S, Godinho BMDC, Buchwald J, Echeverria D, Coles A, Grigorenko A, Vangjeli L, Sousa J, McHugh N, Hassler M, Santarelli F, Heneka MT, Rogaev E, Khvorova A. Silencing Apoe with divalent-siRNAs improves amyloid burden and activates immune response pathways in Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:2632-2652. [PMID: 38375983 PMCID: PMC11032532 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The most significant genetic risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is APOE4, with evidence for gain- and loss-of-function mechanisms. A clinical need remains for therapeutically relevant tools that potently modulate APOE expression. METHODS We optimized small interfering RNAs (di-siRNA, GalNAc) to potently silence brain or liver Apoe and evaluated the impact of each pool of Apoe on pathology. RESULTS In adult 5xFAD mice, siRNAs targeting CNS Apoe efficiently silenced Apoe expression and reduced amyloid burden without affecting systemic cholesterol, confirming that potent silencing of brain Apoe is sufficient to slow disease progression. Mechanistically, silencing Apoe reduced APOE-rich amyloid cores and activated immune system responses. DISCUSSION These results establish siRNA-based modulation of Apoe as a viable therapeutic approach, highlight immune activation as a key pathway affected by Apoe modulation, and provide the technology to further evaluate the impact of APOE silencing on neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chantal M. Ferguson
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | - Samuel Hildebrand
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | - Bruno M. D. C. Godinho
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | - Julianna Buchwald
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | - Andrew Coles
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | - Anastasia Grigorenko
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | - Lorenc Vangjeli
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | - Jacquelyn Sousa
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | - Nicholas McHugh
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | - Matthew Hassler
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | | | - Michael T. Heneka
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB)Esch‐sur‐AlzetteLuxembourg
| | - Evgeny Rogaev
- Department of PsychiatryUniversity of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Medical SchoolWorcesterMassachusettsUSA
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Liu Y, Wang Y, Liu B, Liu W, Ma Y, Cao Y, Yan S, Zhang P, Zhou L, Zhan Q, Wu N. Targeting lncRNA16 by GalNAc-siRNA conjugates facilitates chemotherapeutic sensibilization via the HBB/NDUFAF5/ROS pathway. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:663-679. [PMID: 38155279 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2434-8] [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: 06/29/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
Chemoresistance is a significant barrier to effective cancer treatment. Potential mechanisms for chemoresistance include reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and expression of chemoresistance-promoting genes. Here, we report a novel function of lncRNA16 in the inhibition of ROS generation and the progression of chemoresistance. By analyzing the serum levels of lncRNA16 in a cohort of 35 patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and paired serum samples pre- and post-treatment from 10 NSCLC patients receiving neoadjuvant platinum-based chemotherapy, performing immunohistochemistry (IHC) assays on 188 NSCLC tumor samples, using comprehensive identification of RNA-binding proteins by mass spectrometry (ChIRP-MS) assays, as well as RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and RNA pull-down analyses, we discovered that patients with increased serum levels of lncRNA16 exhibited a poor response to platinum-based chemotherapy. The expression of hemoglobin subunit beta (HBB) and NDUFAF5 significantly increases with the development of chemoresistance. LncRNA16 binds to HBB and promotes HBB accumulation by inhibiting autophagy. LncRNA16 can also inhibit ROS generation via the HBB/NDUFAF5 axis and function as a scaffold to facilitate the colocalization of HBB and NDUFAF5 in the mitochondria. Importantly, preclinical studies in mouse models of chemo-resistant NSCLC have suggested that lncRNA16 targeting by trivalent N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-conjugated siRNA restores chemosensitivity and results in tumor growth inhibition with no detectable toxicity in vivo. Overall, lncRNA16 is a promising therapeutic target for overcoming chemoresistance, and the combination of first-line platinum-based chemotherapy with lncRNA16 intervention can substantially enhance anti-tumor efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanfang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Bing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Wenzhong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Yuanyuan Ma
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Yiren Cao
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Shi Yan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Panpan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Thoracic Oncology II, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Lixin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education), Department of Pathology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Qimin Zhan
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China.
- Peking University International Cancer Institute, Beijing, 100191, China.
- Institute of Cancer Research, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen, 518132, China.
| | - Nan Wu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Department of Thoracic Surgery II, Peking University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Beijing, 100142, China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Roh EH, Sullivan MO, Epps TH. Which Lipid Nanoparticle (LNP) Designs Work? A Simple Kinetic Model Linking LNP Chemical Structure to In Vivo Delivery Performance. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2024; 16:13399-13410. [PMID: 38466900 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.3c15424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/13/2024]
Abstract
Although lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are the predominant nanocarriers for short-interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery, most therapies use nearly identical formulations that have taken 30 years to design but lack the diverse property ranges necessary for versatile application. This dearth in variety and the extended timeline for implementation are attributed to a limited understanding of how LNP properties facilitate overcoming biological barriers. Herein, a simple kinetic model was developed by using major rate-limiting steps for siRNA delivery, and this model enabled the identification of a critical parameter to predict LNP efficacy without extensive experimental testing. A volume-averaged log D, the "solubility" of charged molecules as a function of pH weighted by component volume fractions, resulted in a good correlation between LNP composition and siRNA delivery. Both the effects of modifying the structures of ionizable lipids and LNP composition on gene silencing were easily captured in the model predictions. Thus, this approach provides a robust LNP structure-activity relationship to dramatically accelerate the realization of effective LNP formulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Esther H Roh
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Millicent O Sullivan
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| | - Thomas H Epps
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
- Center for Research in Soft matter and Polymers (CRiSP), University of Delaware, Newark Delaware 19716, United States
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19716, United States
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Lachance-Brais C, Yao C, Reyes-Valenzuela A, Asohan J, Guettler E, Sleiman HF. Exceptional Nuclease Resistance of DNA and RNA with the Addition of Small-Molecule Nucleobase Mimics. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:5811-5822. [PMID: 38387071 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c07023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Nucleases present a formidable barrier to the application of nucleic acids in biology, significantly reducing the lifetime of nucleic acid-based drugs. Here, we develop a novel methodology to protect DNA and RNA from nucleases by reconfiguring their supramolecular structure through the addition of a nucleobase mimic, cyanuric acid. In the presence of cyanuric acid, polyadenine strands assemble into triple helical fibers known as the polyA/CA motif. We report that this motif is exceptionally resistant to nucleases, with the constituent strands surviving for up to 1 month in the presence of serum. The conferred stability extends to adjacent non-polyA sequences, albeit with diminishing returns relative to their polyA sections due to hypothesized steric clashes. We introduce a strategy to regenerate stability through the introduction of free polyA strands or positively charged amino side chains, enhancing the stability of sequences of varied lengths. The proposed protection mechanism involves enzyme failure to recognize the unnatural polyA/CA motif, coupled with the motif's propensity to form long, bundling supramolecular fibers. The methodology provides a fundamentally new mechanism to protect nucleic acids from degradation using a supramolecular approach and increases lifetime in serum to days, weeks, or months.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Chihyu Yao
- McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, Quebec H3A0B8, Canada
| | | | - Jathavan Asohan
- McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, Quebec H3A0B8, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Guettler
- McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, Quebec H3A0B8, Canada
| | - Hanadi F Sleiman
- McGill University, 801 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal, Quebec H3A0B8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Jadhav V, Vaishnaw A, Fitzgerald K, Maier MA. RNA interference in the era of nucleic acid therapeutics. Nat Biotechnol 2024; 42:394-405. [PMID: 38409587 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-02105-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Two decades of research on RNA interference (RNAi) have transformed a breakthrough discovery in biology into a robust platform for a new class of medicines that modulate mRNA expression. Here we provide an overview of the trajectory of small-interfering RNA (siRNA) drug development, including the first approval in 2018 of a liver-targeted siRNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic in lipid nanoparticles and subsequent approvals of five more RNAi drugs, which used metabolically stable siRNAs combined with N-acetylgalactosamine ligands for conjugate-based liver delivery. We also consider the remaining challenges in the field, such as delivery to muscle, brain and other extrahepatic organs. Today's RNAi therapeutics exhibit high specificity, potency and durability, and are transitioning from applications in rare diseases to widespread, chronic conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vasant Jadhav
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Akshay Vaishnaw
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Fitzgerald
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Martin A Maier
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
Kremer A, Ryaykenen T, Haraszti RA. Systematic optimization of siRNA productive uptake into resting and activated T cells ex vivo. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 172:116285. [PMID: 38382331 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA-based medicines are ideally suited for precise modulation of T cell phenotypes in anti-cancer immunity, in autoimmune diseases and for ex vivo modulation of T-cell-based therapies. Therefore, understanding productive siRNA uptake to T cells is of particular importance. Most studies used unmodified siRNAs or commercially available siRNAs with undisclosed chemical modification patterns to show functionality in T cells. Despite being an active field of research, robust siRNA delivery to T cells still represents a formidable challenge. Therefore, a systematic approach is needed to further optimize and understand productive siRNA uptake pathways to T cells. Here, we compared conjugate-mediated and nanoparticle-mediated delivery of siRNAs to T cells in the context of fully chemically modified RNA constructs. We showed that lipid-conjugate-mediated delivery outperforms lipid-nanoparticle-mediated and extracellular-vesicle-mediated delivery in activated T cells ex vivo. Yet, ex vivo manipulation of T cells without the need of activation is of great therapeutic interest for CAR-T, engineered TCR-T and allogeneic donor lymphocyte applications. We are first to report productive siRNA uptake into resting T cells using lipid-conjugate-mediated delivery. Interestingly, we observed strong dependence of silencing activity on lipid-conjugate-identity in resting T cells but not in activated T cells. This phenomenon is consistent with our early uptake kinetics data. Lipid-conjugates also enabled delivery of siRNA to all mononuclear immune cell types, including both lymphoid and myeloid lineages. These findings are expected to be broadly applicable for ex vivo modulation of immune cell therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- A Kremer
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Germany; Gene and RNA Therapy Center (GRTC), Faculty of Medicine, University Tuebingen, Germany
| | - T Ryaykenen
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Germany; Gene and RNA Therapy Center (GRTC), Faculty of Medicine, University Tuebingen, Germany
| | - R A Haraszti
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Hematology, Oncology, Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Germany; Gene and RNA Therapy Center (GRTC), Faculty of Medicine, University Tuebingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Zhang Y, Gu X, Li Y, Huang Y, Ju S. Multiple regulatory roles of the transfer RNA-derived small RNAs in cancers. Genes Dis 2024; 11:597-613. [PMID: 37692525 PMCID: PMC10491922 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.02.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023] Open
Abstract
With the development of sequencing technology, transfer RNA (tRNA)-derived small RNAs (tsRNAs) have received extensive attention as a new type of small noncoding RNAs. Based on the differences in the cleavage sites of nucleases on tRNAs, tsRNAs can be divided into two categories, tRNA halves (tiRNAs) and tRNA-derived fragments (tRFs), each with specific subcellular localizations. Additionally, the biogenesis of tsRNAs is tissue-specific and can be regulated by tRNA modifications. In this review, we first elaborated on the classification and biogenesis of tsRNAs. After summarizing the latest mechanisms of tsRNAs, including transcriptional gene silencing, post-transcriptional gene silencing, nascent RNA silencing, translation regulation, rRNA regulation, and reverse transcription regulation, we explored the representative biological functions of tsRNAs in tumors. Furthermore, this review summarized the clinical value of tsRNAs in cancers, thus providing theoretical support for their potential as novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Xinliang Gu
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Yang Li
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Yuejiao Huang
- Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| | - Shaoqing Ju
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu 226001, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Hoogenboezem EN, Patel SS, Lo JH, Cavnar AB, Babb LM, Francini N, Gbur EF, Patil P, Colazo JM, Michell DL, Sanchez VM, McCune JT, Ma J, DeJulius CR, Lee LH, Rosch JC, Allen RM, Stokes LD, Hill JL, Vickers KC, Cook RS, Duvall CL. Structural optimization of siRNA conjugates for albumin binding achieves effective MCL1-directed cancer therapy. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1581. [PMID: 38383524 PMCID: PMC10881965 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45609-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
The high potential of siRNAs to silence oncogenic drivers remains largely untapped due to the challenges of tumor cell delivery. Here, divalent lipid-conjugated siRNAs are optimized for in situ binding to albumin to improve pharmacokinetics and tumor delivery. Systematic variation of the siRNA conjugate structure reveals that the location of the linker branching site dictates tendency toward albumin association versus self-assembly, while the lipid hydrophobicity and reversibility of albumin binding also contribute to siRNA intracellular delivery. The lead structure increases tumor siRNA accumulation 12-fold in orthotopic triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) tumors over the parent siRNA. This structure achieves approximately 80% silencing of the anti-apoptotic oncogene MCL1 and yields better survival outcomes in three TNBC models than an MCL-1 small molecule inhibitor. These studies provide new structure-function insights on siRNA-lipid conjugate structures that are intravenously injected, associate in situ with serum albumin, and improve pharmacokinetics and tumor treatment efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ella N Hoogenboezem
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Shrusti S Patel
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Justin H Lo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ashley B Cavnar
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Lauren M Babb
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Nora Francini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Eva F Gbur
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Prarthana Patil
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Juan M Colazo
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Danielle L Michell
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Violeta M Sanchez
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Joshua T McCune
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jinqi Ma
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Carlisle R DeJulius
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Linus H Lee
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jonah C Rosch
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Ryan M Allen
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Larry D Stokes
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Jordan L Hill
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Kasey C Vickers
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Rebecca S Cook
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Craig L Duvall
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Elkhashab M, Dilek Y, Foss M, Creemers LB, Howard KA. A Modular Albumin-Oligonucleotide Biomolecular Assembly for Delivery of Antisense Therapeutics. Mol Pharm 2024; 21:491-500. [PMID: 38214218 PMCID: PMC10848253 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00561] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Antisense nucleic acid drugs are susceptible to nuclease degradation, rapid renal clearance, and short circulatory half-life. In this work, we introduce a modular-based recombinant human albumin-oligonucleotide (rHA-cODN) biomolecular assembly that allows incorporation of a chemically stabilized therapeutic gapmer antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) and FcRn-driven endothelial cellular recycling. A phosphodiester ODN linker (cODN) was conjugated to recombinant human albumin (rHA) using maleimide chemistry, after which a complementary gapmer ASO, targeting ADAMTS5 involved in osteoarthritis pathogenesis, was annealed. The rHA-cODN/ASO biomolecular assembly production, fluorescence labeling, and purity were confirmed using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. ASO release was triggered by DNase-mediated degradation of the linker strand, reaching 40% in serum after 72 h, with complete release observed following 30 min of incubation with DNase. Cellular internalization and trafficking of the biomolecular assembly using confocal microscopy in C28/I2 cells showed higher uptake and endosomal localization by increasing incubation time from 4 to 24 h. FcRn-mediated cellular recycling of the assembly was demonstrated in FcRn-expressing human microvascular endothelial cells. ADAMTS5 in vitro silencing efficiency reached 40%, which was comparable to free gapmer after 72 h incubation with human osteoarthritis patients' chondrocytes. This work introduces a versatile biomolecular modular-based "Plug-and-Play" platform potentially applicable for albumin-mediated half-life extension for a range of different types of ODN therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marwa Elkhashab
- Interdisciplinary
Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Yeter Dilek
- Department
of Orthopedics, University Medical Center
Utrecht, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Morten Foss
- Interdisciplinary
Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus
C, Denmark
| | - Laura B. Creemers
- Department
of Orthopedics, University Medical Center
Utrecht, 3584 CT Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kenneth A. Howard
- Interdisciplinary
Nanoscience Center (iNANO), Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus C, Denmark
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Chen P, Wei Y, Sun T, Lin J, Zhang K. Enabling safer, more potent oligonucleotide therapeutics with bottlebrush polymer conjugates. J Control Release 2024; 366:44-51. [PMID: 38145661 PMCID: PMC10922259 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.12.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Abstract
Oligonucleotide therapeutics have the unique ability to address traditionally undruggable targets through various target engagement pathways. However, despite advances in chemically modified oligonucleotides and carrier-assisted delivery systems such as lipid nanoparticles and protein/peptide conjugates, the development of oligonucleotide drugs is still plagued with lackluster potency, narrow therapeutic window, poor delivery to non-liver target sites, and/or high potential for toxicity and unwanted immune system activation. In this perspective, we discuss an unconventional delivery solution based upon bottlebrush polymers, which overcomes many key challenges in oligonucleotide drug development. We address the molecular basis of the polymer's ability to enhance tissue bioavailability and drug potency, reduce side effects, and suppress anti-carrier immunity. Furthermore, we discuss the potential of the technology in advancing oligonucleotide-based therapies for non-liver targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peiru Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yun Wei
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Tingyu Sun
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jiachen Lin
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ke Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Belgrad J, Fakih HH, Johnson KC, Corey DR. Editorial: Nucleic Acids Research virtual issue dedicated to nucleic acid therapeutics, 2018-2023. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:511-512. [PMID: 38035373 PMCID: PMC10810194 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkad1148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jillian Belgrad
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Hassan H Fakih
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Krystal C Johnson
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9041, USA
| | - David R Corey
- Departments of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390-9041, USA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Nguyen TT, Nguyen Thi YV, Chu DT. RNA therapeutics: Molecular mechanisms, and potential clinical translations. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2024; 203:65-82. [PMID: 38360006 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2023.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
RNA therapies involve the utilization of natural and artificial RNA molecules to control the expression and function of cellular genes and proteins. Initializing from 1990s, RNA therapies now show the rapid growth in the development and application of RNA therapeutics for treating various conditions, especially for undruggable diseases. The outstanding success of recent mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 infection again highlighted the important role of RNA therapies in future medicine. In this review, we will first briefly provide the crucial investigations on RNA therapy, from the first pieces of discovery on RNA molecules to clinical applications of RNA therapeutics. We will then classify the mechanisms of RNA therapeutics from various classes in the treatment of diseases. To emphasize the huge potential of RNA therapies, we also provide the key RNA products that have been on clinical trials or already FDA-approved. With comprehensive knowledge on RNA biology, and the advances in analysis, technology and computer-aid science, RNA therapies can bring a promise to be more expanding to the market in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiep Tien Nguyen
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam; Epibiotech Co. Ltd., Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Yen Vi Nguyen Thi
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam; Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Dinh-Toi Chu
- Center for Biomedicine and Community Health, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam; Faculty of Applied Sciences, International School, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam.
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Neumayer C, Ng D, Requena D, Jiang CS, Qureshi A, Vaughan R, Prakash TP, Revenko A, Simon SM. GalNAc-conjugated siRNA targeting the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion junction in fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. Mol Ther 2024; 32:140-151. [PMID: 37980543 PMCID: PMC10787139 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2023.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma (FLC) is a rare liver cancer caused by a dominant recurrent fusion of the heat shock protein (DNAJB1) and the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PRKACA). Current therapies such as chemotherapy and radiation have limited efficacy, and new treatment options are needed urgently. We have previously shown that FLC tumors are dependent on the fusion kinase DNAJB1::PRKACA, making the oncokinase an ideal drug target. mRNA degrading modalities such as antisense oligonucleotides or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) provide an opportunity to specifically target the fusion junction. Here, we identify a potent and specific siRNA that inhibits DNAJB1::PRKACA expression. We found expression of the asialoglycoprotein receptor in FLC to be maintained at sufficient levels to effectively deliver siRNA conjugated to the GalNAc ligand. We observe productive uptake and siRNA activity in FLC patient-derived xenografts (PDX) models in vitro and in vivo. Knockdown of DNAJB1::PRKACA results in durable growth inhibition of FLC PDX in vivo with no detectable toxicities. Our results suggest that this approach could be a treatment option for FLC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Neumayer
- Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Denise Ng
- Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - David Requena
- Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Caroline S Jiang
- Hospital Biostatistics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam Qureshi
- Hospital Biostatistics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Roger Vaughan
- Hospital Biostatistics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Sanford M Simon
- Laboratory of Cellular Biophysics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Guo S, Zhang M, Huang Y. Three 'E' challenges for siRNA drug development. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:13-24. [PMID: 37951790 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023]
Abstract
siRNA therapeutics have gained extensive attention, and to date six siRNAs are approved for clinical use. Despite being investigated for the treatment of metabolic, cardiovascular, infectious, and rare genetic diseases, cancer, and central nervous system (CNS) disorders, there exist several druggability challenges. Here, we provide insightful discussions concerning these challenges, comprising targeted accumulation and cellular uptake ('entry'), endolysosomal escape ('escape'), and in vivo pharmaceutical performance ('efficacy') - the three 'E' challenges - while also shedding light on siRNA drug development. Moreover, we propose several promising strategies that hold great potential in facilitating the clinical translation of siRNA therapeutics, including the exploration of diverse ligand-siRNA conjugates, expansion of potential disease targets, and excavation of novel modification geometries, as well as the development of combination therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuai Guo
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Mengjie Zhang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yuanyu Huang
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine and Biotherapy, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Key Laboratory of Medical Molecule Science and Pharmaceutics Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China; Rigerna Therapeutics, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215127, China; Rigerna Therapeutics, Beijing 102629, China.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Ayyar VS, Song D. Mechanistic Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of GalNAc-siRNA: Translational Model Involving Competitive Receptor-Mediated Disposition and RISC-Dependent Gene Silencing Applied to Givosiran. J Pharm Sci 2024; 113:176-190. [PMID: 37871778 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2023.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Triantennary N-acetyl-D galactosamine (GalNAc)3-conjugated small interfering RNA (siRNA) have majorly advanced the development of RNA-based therapeutics. Chemically stabilized GalNAc-siRNAs exhibit extensive albeit capacity-limited (nonlinear) distribution into hepatocytes with additional complexities in intracellular liver disposition and pharmacology. A mechanism-based pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic (PK-PD) model of GalNAc-siRNA was developed to i) quantitate ASGPR-mediated disposition and downstream RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC)-dependent pharmacology following intravenous (IV) and subcutaneous (SC) dosing, ii) assess the kinetics of formed active metabolite, iii) leverage, as an example, published experimental data for givosiran, and iv) demonstrate PK translation across two preclinical species (rat and monkey) with subsequent prediction of human plasma PK. The structural model is based on competition between parent and formed active metabolite for occupancy and uptake via ASGPR into hepatocytes, intracellular sequestration and degradation, and downstream engagement of RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) governing target mRNA degradation. The model jointly and accurately captured available concentration-time profiles of givosiran and/or AS(N-1)3' givosiran in rat and/or monkey plasma, liver, and/or kidney following givosiran administered both IV and SC. RISC-dependent gene silencing of ALAS1 mRNA was well-characterized. The model estimated an in vivo affinity (KD) value of 27.7 nM for GalNAc-ASGPR and weight-based allometric exponents of -0.27 and -0.24 for SC absorption and intracellular (endolysosomal) degradation rate constants. The model well-predicted reported givosiran plasma PK profiles in humans. PK simulations revealed net-shifts in liver-to-kidney distribution ratios with increasing IV and SC dose. Importantly, decreases in the relative liver uptake efficiency were demonstrated following IV and, to a lesser extent, following SC dosing explained by differential ASGPR occupancy profiles over time.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vivaswath S Ayyar
- Clinical Pharmacology & Pharmacometrics, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA, USA.
| | - Dawei Song
- Clinical Pharmacology & Pharmacometrics, Janssen Research and Development, Spring House, PA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
An G. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of GalNAc-Conjugated siRNAs. J Clin Pharmacol 2024; 64:45-57. [PMID: 37589246 DOI: 10.1002/jcph.2337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) represent a new class of drugs with tremendous potential for battling previously "undruggable" diseases. After nearly 2 decades of efforts in addressing the problems of the poor drug profile of naked unmodified siRNAs, this new modality has finally come to fruition, with 5 agents (patisiran, givosiran, lumasiran, inclisiran, and vutrisiran) being approved since 2018, and with many others in the different phases of clinical development. Unlike small-molecule drugs and protein therapeutics, siRNAs have different sizes, distinct mechanisms of action, differing physicochemical and pharmacological properties, and, accordingly, a unique pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) relationship. To support the continuous development of siRNAs, it is important to have a thorough and deep understanding of the PK/PD and clinical pharmacology related features of siRNAs. As most of the current siRNA products are conjugated by N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc), this review focuses on the PK/PD relationships and clinical pharmacology of GalNAc-conjugated siRNAs, including their absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion (ADME) properties, PK/PD models, drug-drug interactions, clinical pharmacology in special populations, and safety evaluation. In addition, necessary background information related to the development of siRNAs as a therapeutic modality, including the mechanisms of action, the advantages of siRNAs, the problems of naked siRNAs, as well as the strategies used to enhance the clinical utility of siRNAs, have also been covered. The goal of this review is to serve as a "primer" on siRNA PK/PD, and I hope the readers, especially those who have a limited background on siRNA therapeutics, will have a fundamental understanding of siRNA PK/PD and clinical pharmacology after reading this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guohua An
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Chaudhary N, Newby AN, Whitehead KA. Non-Viral RNA Delivery During Pregnancy: Opportunities and Challenges. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2023:e2306134. [PMID: 38145340 PMCID: PMC11196389 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202306134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
During pregnancy, the risk of maternal and fetal adversities increases due to physiological changes, genetic predispositions, environmental factors, and infections. Unfortunately, treatment options are severely limited because many essential interventions are unsafe, inaccessible, or lacking in sufficient scientific data to support their use. One potential solution to this challenge may lie in emerging RNA therapeutics for gene therapy, protein replacement, maternal vaccination, fetal gene editing, and other prenatal treatment applications. In this review, the current landscape of RNA platforms and non-viral RNA delivery technologies that are under active development for administration during pregnancy is explored. Advancements of pregnancy-specific RNA drugs against SARS-CoV-2, Zika, influenza, preeclampsia, and for in-utero gene editing are discussed. Finally, this study highlights bottlenecks that are impeding translation efforts of RNA therapies, including the lack of accurate cell-based and animal models of human pregnancy and concerns related to toxicity and immunogenicity during pregnancy. Overcoming these challenges will facilitate the rapid development of this new class of pregnancy-safe drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Namit Chaudhary
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Alexandra N. Newby
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Kathryn A. Whitehead
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Takatsu M, Morihiro K, Watanabe H, Yuki M, Hattori T, Noi K, Aikawa K, Noguchi K, Yohda M, Okazoe T, Okamoto A. Cellular Penetration and Intracellular Dynamics of Perfluorocarbon-Conjugated DNA/RNA as a Potential Means of Conditional Nucleic Acid Delivery. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:2590-2598. [PMID: 37981738 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.3c00612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based therapeutics represent a novel approach for controlling gene expression. However, a practical delivery system is required that overcomes the poor cellular permeability and intercellular instability of nucleic acids. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) are highly stable structures that can readily traverse the lipid membrane of cells. Thus, PFC-DNA/RNA conjugates have properties that offer a potential means of delivering nucleic acid therapeutics, although the cellular dynamics of the conjugates remain unknown. Here, we performed systematic analysis of the cellular permeability of sequence-controlled PFC-DNA conjugates (N[PFC]n-DNA, n = 1,2,3,4,5) that can be synthesized by conventional phosphoramidite chemistry. We showed that DNA conjugates with two or more PFC-containing units (N[PFC]n≥2-DNA) penetrated HeLa cells without causing cellular damage. Imaging analysis along with quantitative flow cytometry analysis revealed that N[PFC]2-DNA rapidly passes through the cell membrane and is evenly distributed within the cytoplasm. Moreover, N[PFC]2-modified cyclin B1-targeting siRNA promoted gene knockdown efficacy of 30% compared with naked siRNA. A similar cell penetration without associated toxicity was consistent among the seven different human cell lines tested. These unique cellular environmental properties make N[PFC]2-DNA/RNA a potential nucleic acid delivery platform that can meet a wide range of applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masako Takatsu
- Graduate School of Bio-Applications and Systems Engineering, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, , Japan
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kunihiko Morihiro
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Honoka Watanabe
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Mizue Yuki
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Takara Hattori
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Kentaro Noi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Kohsuke Aikawa
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| | - Keiichi Noguchi
- Instrumentation Analysis Center, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Masafumi Yohda
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Koganei, Tokyo 184-8588, Japan
| | - Takashi Okazoe
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
- Yokohama Technical Center, AGC Inc. Yokohama, Kanagawa 230-0045, Japan
| | - Akimitsu Okamoto
- Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Sten S, Cardilin T, Antonsson M, Gennemark P. Plasma Pharmacokinetics of N-Acetylgalactosamine-Conjugated Small-Interfering Ribonucleic Acids (GalNAc-Conjugated siRNAs). Clin Pharmacokinet 2023; 62:1661-1672. [PMID: 37824025 PMCID: PMC10684612 DOI: 10.1007/s40262-023-01314-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
Small-interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs) with N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) conjugation for improved liver uptake represent an emerging class of drugs that modulate liver-expressed therapeutic targets. The pharmacokinetics of GalNAc-siRNAs are characterized by a rapid distribution from plasma to tissue (hours) and a long terminal plasma half-life, analyzed in the form of the antisense strand, driven by redistribution from tissue (weeks). Understanding how clinical pharmacokinetics relate to the dose and type of siRNA chemical stabilizing method used is critical, e.g., to design studies, to investigate safety windows, and to predict the pharmacokinetics of new preclinical assets. To this end, we collected and analyzed pharmacokinetic data from the literature regarding nine GalNAc-siRNAs. Based on this analysis, we showed that the clinical plasma pharmacokinetics of GalNAc-siRNAs are approximately dose proportional and similar between chemical stabilizing methods. This holds for both the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) and the maximum plasma concentration (Cmax). Corresponding rat and monkey pharmacokinetic data for a subset of the nine GalNAc-siRNAs show dose-proportional Cmax, supra-dose-proportional AUC, and similar pharmacokinetics between chemical stabilizing methods. Together, the animal and human pharmacokinetic data indicate that plasma clearance divided by bioavailability follows allometric principles and scales between species with an exponent of 0.75. Finally, the clinical plasma concentration-time profiles can be empirically described by standard one-compartment kinetics with first-order absorption up to 24 h after subcutaneous dosing, and by three-compartment kinetics with first-order absorption in general. To describe the system more mechanistically, we report a corrected and unambiguously defined version of a previously published physiologically based pharmacokinetic model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Sten
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Tim Cardilin
- Fraunhofer-Chalmers Research Centre for Industrial Mathematics, Chalmers Science Park, 41288, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Madeleine Antonsson
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Peter Gennemark
- Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, Research and Early Development, Cardiovascular, Renal and Metabolism (CVRM), BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Gothenburg, Sweden.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Ye D, Cruz-López EO, Tu HC, Zlatev I, Danser AJ. Targeting Angiotensinogen With N-Acetylgalactosamine-Conjugated Small Interfering RNA to Reduce Blood Pressure. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:2256-2264. [PMID: 37855126 PMCID: PMC10659251 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.123.319897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Blood pressure management involves antihypertensive therapies blocking the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Yet, it might be inadequate due to poor patient adherence or the so-called RAS escape phenomenon, elicited by the compensatory renin elevation upon RAS blockade. Recently, evidence points toward targeting hepatic AGT (angiotensinogen) as a novel approach to block the RAS pathway that could circumvent the RAS escape phenomenon. Removing AGT, from which all angiotensins originate, should prevent further angiotensin generation, even when renin rises. Furthermore, by making use of a trivalent N-acetylgalactosamine ligand-conjugated small interfering RNA that specifically targets the degradation of hepatocyte-produced mRNAs in a highly potent and specific manner, it may be possible in the future to manage hypertension with therapy that is administered 1 to 2× per year, thereby supporting medication adherence. This review summarizes all current findings on AGT small interfering RNA in preclinical models, making a comparison versus classical RAS blockade with either ACE (angiotensin-converting enzyme) inhibitors or AT1 (angiotensin II type 1) receptor antagonists and AGT suppression with antisense oligonucleotides. It ends with discussing the first-in-human study with AGT small interfering RNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dien Ye
- Division of Pharmacology and Vascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.Y., E.O.C.-L., A.H.J.D.)
| | - Edwyn O. Cruz-López
- Division of Pharmacology and Vascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.Y., E.O.C.-L., A.H.J.D.)
| | - Ho-Chou Tu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA (H.-C.T., I.Z.)
| | - Ivan Zlatev
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA (H.-C.T., I.Z.)
| | - A.H. Jan Danser
- Division of Pharmacology and Vascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands (D.Y., E.O.C.-L., A.H.J.D.)
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Van de Vyver T, Muntean C, Efimova I, Krysko DV, De Backer L, De Smedt SC, Raemdonck K. The alpha-adrenergic antagonist prazosin promotes cytosolic siRNA delivery from lysosomal compartments. J Control Release 2023; 364:142-158. [PMID: 37816483 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2023.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 08/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
The widespread use of small interfering RNA (siRNA) is limited by the multiple extra- and intracellular barriers upon in vivo administration. Hence, suitable delivery systems, based on siRNA encapsulation in nanoparticles or its conjugation to targeting ligands, have been developed. Nevertheless, at the intracellular level, these state-of-the-art delivery systems still suffer from a low endosomal escape efficiency. Consequently, the bulk of the endocytosed siRNA drug rapidly accumulates in the lysosomal compartment. We recently reported that a wide variety of cationic amphiphilic drugs (CADs) can promote small nucleic acid delivery from the endolysosomal compartment into the cytosol via transient induction of lysosomal membrane permeabilization. Here, we describe the identification of alternate siRNA delivery enhancers from the NIH Clinical Compound Collection that do not have the typical physicochemical properties of CADs. Additionally, we demonstrate improved endolysosomal escape of siRNA via a cholesterol conjugate and polymeric carriers with the α1-adrenergic antagonist prazosin, which was identified as the best performing delivery enhancer from the compound screen. A more detailed assessment of the mode-of-action of prazosin suggests that a different cellular phenotype compared to typical CAD adjuvants drives cytosolic siRNA delivery. As it has been described in the literature that prazosin also induces cancer cell apoptosis and promotes antigen cross-presentation in dendritic cells, the proof-of-concept data in this work provides opportunities for the repurposing of prazosin in an anti-cancer combination strategy with siRNA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thijs Van de Vyver
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Cristina Muntean
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Iuliia Efimova
- Cell Death Investigation and Therapy Laboratory, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Dmitri V Krysko
- Cell Death Investigation and Therapy Laboratory, Department of Human Structure and Repair, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Pathophysiology, Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University (Sechenov University), 119146 Moscow, Russia.
| | - Lynn De Backer
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Stefaan C De Smedt
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| | - Koen Raemdonck
- Ghent Research Group on Nanomedicines, Laboratory of General Biochemistry and Physical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Ottergemsesteenweg 460, 9000 Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Gao Y, Tong M, Wong TL, Ng KY, Xie YN, Wang Z, Yu H, Loh JJ, Li M, Ma S. Long Noncoding RNA URB1-Antisense RNA 1 (AS1) Suppresses Sorafenib-Induced Ferroptosis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Driving Ferritin Phase Separation. ACS NANO 2023; 17:22240-22258. [PMID: 37966480 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c01199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Sorafenib, a first-line molecular-target drug for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), has been shown to be a potent ferroptosis inducer in HCC. However, we found that there was a lower level of ferroptosis in sorafenib-resistant HCC samples than in sorafenib-sensitive HCC samples, suggesting that sorafenib resistance in HCC may be a result of ferroptosis suppression. Recent reports have shown that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are involved in programmed cell death (PCD), including apoptosis and ferroptosis. This study aimed to investigate the roles and underlying molecular mechanisms of lncRNAs in sorafenib-induced ferroptosis in HCC cells. Using lncRNA sequencing, we identified a ferroptosis-related lncRNA, URB1-antisense RNA 1 (AS1), which was highly expressed in sorafenib-resistant HCC samples and predicted poor survival in HCC. Furthermore, URB1-AS1 mitigates sorafenib-induced ferroptosis by inducing ferritin phase separation and reducing the cellular free iron content. Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1α was identified as a key factor promoting URB1-AS1 expression in sorafenib-resistant HCC cells. Notably, we found that specifically inhibiting the expression of URB1-AS1 with N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-small interfering (si)URB1-AS1 successfully enhanced the sensitivity of HCC cells to sorafenib in an in vivo tumor model. Our study uncovered a critical role for URB1-AS1 in the repression of ferroptosis, suggesting URB1-AS1 targeting may represent a potential approach to overcome sorafenib resistance in HCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Gao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710000, China
| | - Man Tong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Tin-Lok Wong
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Kai-Yu Ng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yu-Nong Xie
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Zhaowei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710000, China
| | - Huajian Yu
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Jia-Jian Loh
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Meng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cancer Biology, Biotechnology Center, School of Pharmacy, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710000, China
| | - Stephanie Ma
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
- State Key Laboratory of Liver Research, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Adams D, Algalarrondo V, Echaniz-Laguna A. Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis in the era of RNA interference, antisense oligonucleotide, and CRISPR-Cas9 treatments. Blood 2023; 142:1600-1612. [PMID: 37624911 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2023019884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 08/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) is a rare autosomal dominant adult-onset disorder caused by point mutations in the transthyretin (TTR) gene encoding TTR, also known as prealbumin. ATTRv survival ranges from 3 to 10 years, and peripheral nervous system and heart are usually the 2 main tissues affected, although central nervous system and eye may also be involved. Because the liver is the main TTR protein secretor organ, it has been the main target of treatments developed these last years, including liver transplantation, which has been shown to significantly increase survival in a subset of patients carrying the so-called "early-onset Val30Met" TTR gene mutation. More recently, treatments targeting hepatic TTR RNA have been developed. Hepatic TTR RNA targeting is performed using RNA interference (RNAi) and antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) technologies involving lipid nanoparticle carriers or N-acetylgalactosamine fragments. RNAi and ASO treatments induce an 80% decrease in TTR liver production for a period of 1 to 12 weeks. ASO and RNAi phase 3 trials in patients with TTR-related polyneuropathy have shown a positive impact on neuropathy clinical scores and quality of life end points, and delayed RNAi treatment negatively affects survival. Clinical trials specifically investigating RNAi therapy in TTR cardiomyopathy are underway. Hepatic RNA targeting has revolutionized ATTRv treatment and may allow for the transforming a fatal disease into a treatable disorder. Because retina and choroid plexus secrete limited quantities of TTR protein, both tissues are now seen as the next targets for fully controlling the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Adams
- Neurology Department, Bicêtre Hospital, INSERM U 1195, CERAMIC, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| | - Vincent Algalarrondo
- Cardiology Department, CERAMIC, Bichat Claude Bernard Hospital, University of Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | - Andoni Echaniz-Laguna
- Neurology Department, Bicêtre Hospital, INSERM U 1195, CERAMIC, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, University of Paris Saclay, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Yasuda M, Keel S, Balwani M. RNA interference therapy in acute hepatic porphyrias. Blood 2023; 142:1589-1599. [PMID: 37027823 PMCID: PMC10656724 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022018662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The acute hepatic porphyrias (AHPs) are inherited disorders of heme biosynthesis characterized by life-threatening acute neurovisceral attacks precipitated by factors that upregulate hepatic 5-aminolevulinic acid synthase 1 (ALAS1) activity. Induction of hepatic ALAS1 leads to the accumulation of porphyrin precursors, in particular 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), which is thought to be the neurotoxic mediator leading to acute attack symptoms such as severe abdominal pain and autonomic dysfunction. Patients may also develop debilitating chronic symptoms and long-term medical complications, including kidney disease and an increased risk of hepatocellular carcinoma. Exogenous heme is the historical treatment for attacks and exerts its therapeutic effect by inhibiting hepatic ALAS1 activity. The pathophysiology of acute attacks provided the rationale to develop an RNA interference therapeutic that suppresses hepatic ALAS1 expression. Givosiran is a subcutaneously administered N-acetylgalactosamine-conjugated small interfering RNA against ALAS1 that is taken up nearly exclusively by hepatocytes via the asialoglycoprotein receptor. Clinical trials established that the continuous suppression of hepatic ALAS1 mRNA via monthly givosiran administration effectively reduced urinary ALA and porphobilinogen levels and acute attack rates and improved quality of life. Common side effects include injection site reactions and increases in liver enzymes and creatinine. Givosiran was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and European Medicines Agency in 2019 and 2020, respectively, for the treatment of patients with AHP. Although givosiran has the potential to decrease the risk of chronic complications, long-term data on the safety and effects of sustained ALAS1 suppression in patients with AHP are lacking.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Yasuda
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| | - Siobán Keel
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Manisha Balwani
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Pfeiffer LS, Stafforst T. Precision RNA base editing with engineered and endogenous effectors. Nat Biotechnol 2023; 41:1526-1542. [PMID: 37735261 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-01927-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023]
Abstract
RNA base editing refers to the rewriting of genetic information within an intact RNA molecule and serves various functions, such as evasion of the endogenous immune system and regulation of protein function. To achieve this, certain enzymes have been discovered in human cells that catalyze the conversion of one nucleobase into another. This natural process could be exploited to manipulate and recode any base in a target transcript. In contrast to DNA base editing, analogous changes introduced in RNA are not permanent or inheritable but rather allow reversible and doseable effects that appeal to various therapeutic applications. The current practice of RNA base editing involves the deamination of adenosines and cytidines, which are converted to inosines and uridines, respectively. In this Review, we summarize current site-directed RNA base-editing strategies and highlight recent achievements to improve editing efficiency, precision, codon-targeting scope and in vivo delivery into disease-relevant tissues. Besides engineered editing effectors, we focus on strategies to harness endogenous adenosine deaminases acting on RNA (ADAR) enzymes and discuss limitations and future perspectives to apply the tools in basic research and as a therapeutic modality. We expect the field to realize the first RNA base-editing drug soon, likely on a well-defined genetic disease. However, the long-term challenge will be to carve out the sweet spot of the technology where its unique ability is exploited to modulate signaling cues, metabolism or other clinically relevant processes in a safe and doseable manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Laura S Pfeiffer
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Thorsten Stafforst
- Interfaculty Institute of Biochemistry, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
- Gene and RNA Therapy Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|