1
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Yi SA, Pongkulapa T, Nevins S, Goldston LL, Chen M, Lee KB. Developing MiR-133a Zipper Nanoparticles for Targeted Enhancement of Thermogenic Adipocyte Generation. Adv Healthc Mater 2024; 13:e2400654. [PMID: 38795000 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202400654] [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: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/27/2024]
Abstract
Existing delivery methods for RNAi therapeutics encounter challenges, including stability, specificity, and off-target effects, which restrict their clinical effectiveness. In this study, a novel miR-133a zipper nanoparticle (NP) system that integrates miRNA zipper technology with rolling circle transcription (RCT) to achieve targeted delivery and specific regulation of miR-133a in adipocytes, is presented. This innovative approach can greatly enhance the delivery and release of miR-133a zippers, increasing the expression of thermogenic genes and mitochondrial biogenesis. he miR-133a zipper NP is utilized for the delivery of miRNA zipper-blocking miR-133a, an endogenous inhibitor of Prdm16 expression, to enhance the thermogenic activity of adipocytes by modulating their transcriptional program. Inhibition of miR-133a through the miR-133a zipper NP leads to more significant upregulation of thermogenic gene expression (Prdm16 and Ucp1) than with the free miR-133a zipper strand. Furthermore, miR-133a zipper NPs increase the number of mitochondria and induce heat production, reducing the size of 3D adipose spheroids. In short, this study emphasizes the role of RNA NPs in improving RNAi stability and specificity and paves the way for broader applications in gene therapy. Moreover, this research represents a significant advancement in RNAi-based treatments, pointing toward a promising direction for future therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Ah Yi
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 123 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
- Chemical Biology Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Thanapat Pongkulapa
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 123 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Sarah Nevins
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 123 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Li Ling Goldston
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 123 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Meizi Chen
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 123 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Ki-Bum Lee
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, 123 Bevier Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
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2
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Ebrahimi N, Manavi MS, Nazari A, Momayezi A, Faghihkhorasani F, Rasool Riyadh Abdulwahid AH, Rezaei-Tazangi F, Kavei M, Rezaei R, Mobarak H, Aref AR, Fang W. Nano-scale delivery systems for siRNA delivery in cancer therapy: New era of gene therapy empowered by nanotechnology. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 239:117263. [PMID: 37797672 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a unique treatment approach used to decrease a disease's excessive gene expression, including cancer. SiRNAs may find and destroy homologous mRNA sequences within the cell thanks to RNAi processes. However, difficulties such poor cellular uptake, off-target effects, and susceptibility to destruction by serum nucleases in the bloodstream restrict the therapeutic potential of siRNAs. Since some years ago, siRNA-based therapies have been in the process of being translated into the clinic. Therefore, the primary emphasis of this work is on sophisticated nanocarriers that aid in the transport of siRNA payloads, their administration in combination with anticancer medications, and their use in the treatment of cancer. The research looks into molecular manifestations, difficulties with siRNA transport, the design and development of siRNA-based delivery methods, and the benefits and drawbacks of various nanocarriers. The trapping of siRNA in endosomes is a challenge for the majority of delivery methods, which affects the therapeutic effectiveness. Numerous techniques for siRNA release, including as pH-responsive release, membrane fusion, the proton sponge effect, and photochemical disruption, have been studied to overcome this problem. The present state of siRNA treatments in clinical trials is also looked at in order to give a thorough and systematic evaluation of siRNA-based medicines for efficient cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Ebrahimi
- Genetics Division, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Ahmad Nazari
- Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirali Momayezi
- School of Chemical Engineering, Iran University of Science, and Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Fatemeh Rezaei-Tazangi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Science, Fasa, Iran
| | - Mohammed Kavei
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Arak University, Arak, Iran
| | - Roya Rezaei
- Department of Microbiology, College of Science, Agriculture and Modern Technology, Shiraz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Halimeh Mobarak
- Clinical Pathologist, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Xsphera Biosciences, Translational Medicine Group, 6 Tide Street, Boston, MA, 02210, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Wei Fang
- Department of Laser and Aesthetic Medicine, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
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3
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Li X, Chandler M, Avila YI, Arroyo-Becker SI, Patriarche G, Vargas-Berenguel A, Casas-Solvas JM, Afonin KA, Gref R. Nanoscale metal-organic frameworks for the delivery of nucleic acids to cancer cells. Int J Pharm X 2023; 5:100161. [PMID: 36817971 PMCID: PMC9931914 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpx.2023.100161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic nucleic acids (TNAs) are gaining increasing interest in the treatment of severe diseases including viral infections, inherited disorders, and cancers. However, the efficacy of intracellularly functioning TNAs is also reliant upon their delivery into the cellular environment, as unmodified nucleic acids are unable to cross the cell membrane mainly due to charge repulsion. Here we show that TNAs can be effectively delivered into the cellular environment using engineered nanoscale metal-organic frameworks (nanoMOFs), with the additional ability to tailor which cells receive the therapeutic cargo determined by the functional moieties grafted onto the nanoMOF's surface. This study paves the way to integrate the highly ordered programmable nucleic acids into larger-scale functionalized nanoassemblies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Li
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Morgan Chandler
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Yelixza I. Avila
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Sandra I. Arroyo-Becker
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Gilles Patriarche
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies (C2N), 91120 Palaiseau, France
| | - Antonio Vargas-Berenguel
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almería, Ctra de Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Juan M. Casas-Solvas
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Almería, Ctra de Sacramento s/n, 04120 Almería, Spain
| | - Kirill A. Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Ruxandra Gref
- Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, Institut des Sciences Moléculaires d'Orsay, 91405 Orsay, France
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4
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Kurosaka M, Hung YL, Machida S, Kohda K. IL-4 Signaling Promotes Myoblast Differentiation and Fusion by Enhancing the Expression of MyoD, Myogenin, and Myomerger. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091284. [PMID: 37174683 PMCID: PMC10177410 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Myoblast fusion is essential for skeletal muscle development, growth, and regeneration. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying myoblast fusion and differentiation are not fully understood. Previously, we reported that interleukin-4 (IL-4) promotes myoblast fusion; therefore, we hypothesized that IL-4 signaling might regulate the expression of the molecules involved in myoblast fusion. In this study, we showed that in addition to fusion, IL-4 promoted the differentiation of C2C12 myoblast cells by inducing myoblast determination protein 1 (MyoD) and myogenin, both of which regulate the expression of myomerger and myomaker, the membrane proteins essential for myoblast fusion. Unexpectedly, IL-4 treatment increased the expression of myomerger, but not myomaker, in C2C12 cells. Knockdown of IL-4 receptor alpha (IL-4Rα) in C2C12 cells by small interfering RNA impaired myoblast fusion and differentiation. We also demonstrated a reduction in the expression of MyoD, myogenin, and myomerger by knockdown of IL-4Rα in C2C12 cells, while the expression level of myomaker remained unchanged. Finally, cell mixing assays and the restoration of myomerger expression partially rescued the impaired fusion in the IL-4Rα-knockdown C2C12 cells. Collectively, these results suggest that the IL-4/IL-4Rα axis promotes myoblast fusion and differentiation via the induction of myogenic regulatory factors, MyoD and myogenin, and myomerger.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsutoshi Kurosaka
- Department of Physiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan
| | - Yung-Li Hung
- Institute of Health and Sports & Medicine, Juntendo University, Chiba 270-1695, Japan
| | - Shuichi Machida
- Institute of Health and Sports & Medicine, Juntendo University, Chiba 270-1695, Japan
- Graduate School of Health and Sports Science, Juntendo University, Chiba 270-1695, Japan
| | - Kazuhisa Kohda
- Department of Physiology, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa 216-8511, Japan
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5
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Trammell SR. Light-Assisted Drying for the Thermal Stabilization of Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles and Other Biologics. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2709:117-130. [PMID: 37572276 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3417-2_7] [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: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
Cold-chain storage can be challenging and expensive for the transportation and storage of biologics, especially in low-resource settings. Nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) are an example of new biological products that require refrigerated storage. Light-assisted drying (LAD) is a new processing technique to prepare biologics for anhydrous storage in a trehalose amorphous solid matrix at ambient temperatures. Small volume samples (10 μL) containing NANPs are irradiated with a 1064 nm laser to speed the evaporation of water and create an amorphous trehalose preservation matrix. In previous studies, samples were stored for 1 month at 4 °C or 20 °C without degradation. A FLIR SC655 mid-IR camera is used to record the temperature of samples during processing. The trehalose matrix was characterized using polarized light imaging to determine if crystallization occurred during processing or storage. Damage to LAD-processed NANPs was assessed after processing and storage using gel electrophoresis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan R Trammell
- Department of Physics and Optical Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.
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6
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Moreno PMD, Cortinhas J, Martins AS, Pêgo AP. Engineering a Novel Self-Assembled Multi-siRNA Nanocaged Architecture with Controlled Enzyme-Mediated siRNA Release. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2022; 14:56483-56497. [PMID: 36519952 PMCID: PMC9801385 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.2c15086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The RNA interference (RNAi) chemical and structural design space has evolved since its original definitions. Although this has led to the development of RNAi molecules that are starting to address the issues of silencing efficiency and delivery to target organs and cells, there is an on-going interest to improve upon their properties to attain wider therapeutic applicability. Taking advantage of the flexibility given by DNA and RNA structural and chemical properties, we here investigated unconventional RNAi encoding structures, designated by caged-siRNA structures (CsiRNAs), to explore novel features that could translate into advantageous properties for cellular delivery and intracellular activity. Using the principles of controlled nucleic acid self-assembly, branched DNA-RNA hybrid intermediates were formed, ultimately leading to the assembly of a "closed" structure encompassing multiple RNAi units. The RNAi active regions are further triggered by an encoded RNAse H-mediated release mechanism, while the overall structure possesses easily addressable anchors for hybridization-based functionalization with active biological moieties. We confirmed the production of correct structures and demonstrated that the encoded RNAi sequences maintain gene silencing activity even within this novel unconventional nanoarchitecture, aided by the intracellularly triggered RNAse H release mechanism. With this design, functionalization is easily achieved with no negative effects on the silencing activity, warranting further development of these novel molecular structures as a multi-RNAi platform for therapeutic delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro M. D. Moreno
- i3S
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação
em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - João Cortinhas
- i3S
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação
em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana S. Martins
- i3S
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação
em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- INEB
- Instituto de Engenharia Biomédica, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade
de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana P. Pêgo
- i3S
- Instituto de Investigação e Inovação
em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, 4200-135 Porto, Portugal
- Faculdade
de Engenharia da Universidade do Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
- Instituto
de Ciências Biomédicas Abel Salazar (ICBAS), Universidade do Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
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7
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Chandler M, Jain S, Halman J, Hong E, Dobrovolskaia MA, Zakharov AV, Afonin KA. Artificial Immune Cell, AI-cell, a New Tool to Predict Interferon Production by Peripheral Blood Monocytes in Response to Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2204941. [PMID: 36216772 PMCID: PMC9671856 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202204941] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid nanoparticles, or NANPs, rationally designed to communicate with the human immune system, can offer innovative therapeutic strategies to overcome the limitations of traditional nucleic acid therapies. Each set of NANPs is unique in their architectural parameters and physicochemical properties, which together with the type of delivery vehicles determine the kind and the magnitude of their immune response. Currently, there are no predictive tools that would reliably guide the design of NANPs to the desired immunological outcome, a step crucial for the success of personalized therapies. Through a systematic approach investigating physicochemical and immunological profiles of a comprehensive panel of various NANPs, the research team developes and experimentally validates a computational model based on the transformer architecture able to predict the immune activities of NANPs. It is anticipated that the freely accessible computational tool that is called an "artificial immune cell," or AI-cell, will aid in addressing the current critical public health challenges related to safety criteria of nucleic acid therapies in a timely manner and promote the development of novel biomedical tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Chandler
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Sankalp Jain
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Justin Halman
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Enping Hong
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Marina A. Dobrovolskaia
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Alexey V. Zakharov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD 20850, USA
| | - Kirill A. Afonin
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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8
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Chandler M, Rolband L, Johnson MB, Shi D, Avila YI, Cedrone E, Beasock D, Danai L, Stassenko E, Krueger JK, Jiang J, Lee JS, Dobrovolskaia MA, Afonin KA. Expanding Structural Space for Immunomodulatory Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles (Nanps) via Spatial Arrangement of Their Therapeutic Moieties. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2022; 32:2205581. [PMID: 37008199 PMCID: PMC10065476 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202205581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Different therapeutic nucleic acids (TNAs) can be unified in a single structure by their elongation with short oligonucleotides designed to self-assemble into nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs). With this approach, therapeutic cocktails with precisely controlled composition and stoichiometry of active ingredients can be delivered to the same diseased cells for enhancing pharmaceutical action. In this work, an additional nanotechnology-based therapeutic option that enlists a biocompatible NANP-encoded platform for their controlled patient-specific immunorecognition is explored. For this, a set of representative functional NANPs is extensively characterized in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo and then further analyzed for immunostimulation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells freshly collected from healthy donor volunteers. The results of the study present the advancement of the current TNA approach toward personalized medicine and offer a new strategy to potentially address top public health challenges related to drug overdose and safety through the biodegradable nature of the functional platform with immunostimulatory regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Chandler
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Lewis Rolband
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - M Brittany Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Da Shi
- Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Yelixza I Avila
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Edward Cedrone
- Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Damian Beasock
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Leyla Danai
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Elizabeth Stassenko
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Joanna K Krueger
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Jiancheng Jiang
- Department of Mathematics, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Jeoung Soo Lee
- Drug Design, Development, and Delivery (4D) Laboratory, Department of Bioengineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
| | - Marina A Dobrovolskaia
- Nanotechnology Characterization Laboratory, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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9
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Anh Lam P, Furr DP, Tran A, McKeough RQ, Beasock D, Chandler M, Afonin KA, Trammell SR. The Application of Light-Assisted Drying to the Thermal Stabilization of Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles. Biopreserv Biobank 2022; 20:451-460. [PMID: 36067075 PMCID: PMC9603253 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2022.0035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Cold-chain storage can be challenging and expensive for the transportation and storage of biologics, especially in low-resource settings. Nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) are an example of new biological products that require refrigerated storage. Light-assisted drying (LAD) is a new processing technique to prepare biologics for anhydrous storage in a trehalose amorphous solid matrix at ambient temperatures. In this study, LAD was used to thermally stabilize four types of NANPs with differing structures and melting temperatures. Methods: Small volume samples (10 μL) containing NANPs were irradiated with a 1064 nm laser to speed the evaporation of water and create an amorphous trehalose preservation matrix. Samples were then stored for 1 month at 4°C or 20°C. A FLIR C655 mid-IR camera was used to record the temperature of samples during processing. The trehalose matrix was characterized using polarized light imaging (PLI) to determine if crystallization occurred during processing or storage. Damage to LAD-processed NANPs was assessed after processing and storage using gel electrophoresis. Results: Based on the end moisture content (EMC) as a function time and the thermal histories of samples, a LAD processing time of 30 min is sufficient to achieve low EMCs for the 10 μL samples used in this study. PLI demonstrates that the trehalose matrix was resistant to crystallization during processing and after storage at 4°C and at room temperature. The native-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis results for DNA cubes, RNA cubes, and RNA rings indicate that the main structures of these NANPs were not damaged significantly after LAD processing and being stored at 4°C or at room temperature for 1 month. Conclusions: These preliminary studies indicate that LAD processing can stabilize NANPs for dry-state storage at room temperature, providing an alternative to refrigerated storage for these nanomedicine products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Phuong Anh Lam
- Department of Physics and Optical Science and University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Daniel P. Furr
- Department of Physics and Optical Science and University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Allison Tran
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Riley Q. McKeough
- Department of Physics and Optical Science and University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Damian Beasock
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Morgan Chandler
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Kirill A. Afonin
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
| | - Susan R. Trammell
- Department of Physics and Optical Science and University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA
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10
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Paul A, Muralidharan A, Biswas A, Venkatesh Kamath B, Joseph A, Alex AT. siRNA Therapeutics and its Challenges: Recent Advances in Effective Delivery for Cancer Therapy. OPENNANO 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.onano.2022.100063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
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11
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The Effect of Dicer Knockout on RNA Interference Using Various Dicer Substrate Small Interfering RNA (DsiRNA) Structures. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13030436. [PMID: 35327991 PMCID: PMC8952432 DOI: 10.3390/genes13030436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are artificial molecules used to silence genes of interest through the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway, mediated by the endoribonuclease Dicer. Dicer-substrate small interfering RNAs (DsiRNAs) are an alternative to conventional 21-mer siRNAs, with an increased effectiveness of up to 100-fold compared to traditional 21-mer designs. DsiRNAs have a novel asymmetric design that allows them to be processed by Dicer into the desired conventional siRNAs. DsiRNAs are a useful tool for sequence-specific gene silencing, but the molecular mechanism underlying their increased efficacy is not precisely understood. In this study, to gain a deeper understanding of Dicer function in DsiRNAs, we designed nicked DsiRNAs with and without tetra-loops to target a specific mRNA sequence, established a Dicer knockout in the HCT116 cell line, and analyzed the efficacy of various DsiRNAs on RNAi-mediated gene silencing activity. The gene silencing activity of all DsiRNAs was reduced in Dicer knockout cells. We demonstrated that tetra-looped DsiRNAs exhibited increased efficacy for gene silencing, which was mediated by Dicer protein. Thus, this study improves our understanding of Dicer function, a key component of RNAi silencing, which will inform RNAi research and applications.
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12
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Roy P, Saha S, Chakraborty J. Looking into the possibilities of cure of the type 2 diabetes mellitus by nanoparticle-based RNAi and CRISPR-Cas9 system: A review. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2021.102830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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13
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Jang B, Jang H, Kim H, Kim M, Jeong M, Lee GS, Lee K, Lee H. Protein-RNA interaction guided chemical modification of Dicer substrate RNA nanostructures for superior in vivo gene silencing. J Control Release 2021; 343:57-65. [PMID: 34763005 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconrel.2021.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Dicer substrate RNA is an alternative gene silencing agent to canonical siRNA. Enhanced in vitro gene silencing can be achieved with RNA substrates by facilitating Ago loading of dsRNA after Dicer processing. However, the in vivo use of Dicer substrate RNA has been hindered by its instability and immunogenicity in the body due to the lack of proper chemical modification in the structure. Here, we report a universal chemical modification approach for Dicer substrate RNA nanostructures by optimizing protein-RNA interactions in the RNAi pathway. Proteins involved in the RNAi pathway were utilized for evaluating their recognition and binding of substrate RNA. It was found that conventional chemical modifications could severely affect the binding and processing of substrate RNA, consequently reducing RNAi activity. Protein-RNA interaction guided chemical modification was introduced to RNA nanostructures, and their gene silencing activity was assessed. The optimized RNA nanostructures showed excellent binding and processability with RNA binding proteins and offered the enhancement of in vivo EC50 up to 1/8 of its native form.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bora Jang
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyejin Jang
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyunsook Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Minjeong Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Michaela Jeong
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Gyeong Seok Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyuri Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea; College of Pharmacy and Research Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Gyeongsang National University, Jinju 52828, Republic of Korea.
| | - Hyukjin Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Miele D, Xia X, Catenacci L, Sorrenti M, Rossi S, Sandri G, Ferrari F, Rossi JJ, Bonferoni MC. Chitosan Oleate Coated PLGA Nanoparticles as siRNA Drug Delivery System. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:1716. [PMID: 34684009 PMCID: PMC8539707 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13101716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Revised: 10/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Oligonucleotide therapeutics such as miRNAs and siRNAs represent a class of molecules developed to modulate gene expression by interfering with ribonucleic acids (RNAs) and protein synthesis. These molecules are characterized by strong instability and easy degradation due to nuclease enzymes. To avoid these drawbacks and ensure efficient delivery to target cells, viral and non-viral vectors are the two main approaches currently employed. Viral vectors are one of the major vehicles in gene therapy; however, the potent immunogenicity and the insertional mutagenesis is a potential issue for the patient. Non-viral vectors, such as polymeric nanocarriers, provide a safer and more efficient delivery of RNA-interfering molecules. The aim of this work is to employ PLGA core nanoparticles shell-coated with chitosan oleate as siRNA carriers. An siRNA targeted on HIV-1, directed against the viral Tat/Rev transcripts was employed as a model. The ionic interaction between the oligonucleotide's moieties, negatively charged, and the positive surface charges of the chitosan shell was exploited to associate siRNA and nanoparticles. Non-covalent bonds can protect siRNA from nuclease degradation and guarantee a good cell internalization and a fast release of the siRNA into the cytosolic portion, allowing its easy activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalila Miele
- Department Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Vle Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (D.M.); (L.C.); (M.S.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (F.F.)
| | - Xin Xia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1218 Fifth Avenue, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Laura Catenacci
- Department Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Vle Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (D.M.); (L.C.); (M.S.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (F.F.)
| | - Milena Sorrenti
- Department Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Vle Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (D.M.); (L.C.); (M.S.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (F.F.)
| | - Silvia Rossi
- Department Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Vle Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (D.M.); (L.C.); (M.S.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (F.F.)
| | - Giuseppina Sandri
- Department Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Vle Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (D.M.); (L.C.); (M.S.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (F.F.)
| | - Franca Ferrari
- Department Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Vle Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (D.M.); (L.C.); (M.S.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (F.F.)
| | - John J. Rossi
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1218 Fifth Avenue, Duarte, CA 91010, USA;
| | - Maria Cristina Bonferoni
- Department Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Vle Taramelli 12, 27100 Pavia, Italy; (D.M.); (L.C.); (M.S.); (S.R.); (G.S.); (F.F.)
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15
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Johnson MB, Chandler M, Afonin KA. Nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) as molecular tools to direct desirable and avoid undesirable immunological effects. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 173:427-438. [PMID: 33857556 PMCID: PMC8178219 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) represent a highly versatile molecular platform for the targeted delivery of various therapeutics. However, despite their promise, further clinical translation of this innovative technology can be hindered by immunological off-target effects. All human cells are equipped with an arsenal of receptors that recognize molecular patterns specific to foreign nucleic acids and understanding the rules that guide this recognition offer the key rationale for the development of therapeutic NANPs with tunable immune stimulation. Numerous recent studies have provided increasing evidence that in addition to NANPs' physicochemical properties and therapeutic effects, their interactions with cells of the immune system can be regulated through multiple independently programmable architectural parameters. The results further suggest that defined immunomodulation by NANPs can either support their immunoquiescent delivery or be used for conditional stimulation of beneficial immunological responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Brittany Johnson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Morgan Chandler
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
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16
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Wu L, Wu LP, Wu J, Sun J, He Z, Rodríguez-Rodríguez C, Saatchi K, Dailey LA, Häfeli UO, Cun D, Yang M. Poly(lactide- co-glycolide) Nanoparticles Mediate Sustained Gene Silencing and Improved Biocompatibility of siRNA Delivery Systems in Mouse Lungs after Pulmonary Administration. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:3722-3737. [PMID: 33439616 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.0c21259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Pulmonary delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based drugs is promising in treating severe lung disorders characterized by the upregulated expression of disease-causing genes. Previous studies have shown that the sustained siRNA release in vitro can be achieved from polymeric matrix nanoparticles based on poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) loaded with lipoplexes (LPXs) composed of cationic lipid and anionic siRNA (lipid-polymer hybrid nanoparticles, LPNs). Yet, the in vivo efficacy, potential for prolonging the pharmacological effect, disposition, and safety of LPNs after pulmonary administration have not been investigated. In this study, siRNA against enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP-siRNA) was either assembled with 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (DOTAP) to form LPX or co-entrapped with DOTAP in PLGA nanoparticles to form LPNs. The disposition and clearance of LPXs and LPNs in mouse lungs were studied after intratracheal administration by using single-photon emission computed tomography/computed tomography (SPECT/CT) and gamma counting. Fluorescence spectroscopy, Western blot, and confocal laser scanning microscopy were used to evaluate the silencing of the EGFP expression mediated by the LPXs and LPNs after intratracheal administration to transgenic mice expressing the EGFP gene. The in vivo biocompatibility of LPXs and LPNs was investigated by measuring the cytokine level, total cell counts in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, and observing the lung tissue histology section. The results showed that the silencing of the EGFP expression mediated by LPNs after pulmonary administration was both prolonged and enhanced as compared to LPXs. This may be attributed to the sustained release characteristics of PLGA, and the prolonged retention in the lung tissue of the colloidally more stable LPNs in comparison to LPXs, as indicated by SPECT/CT. The presence of PLGA effectively alleviated the acute inflammatory effect of cationic lipids to the lungs. This study suggests that PLGA-based LPNs may present an effective formulation strategy to mediate sustained gene silencing effects in the lung via pulmonary administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Wu
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road No. 103, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Lin-Ping Wu
- Drug Discovery Pipeline, Hefei Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Guangzhou Institute of Biomedicine and Health, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510530, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingya Wu
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road No. 103, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Jin Sun
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road No. 103, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhonggui He
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road No. 103, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Cristina Rodríguez-Rodríguez
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Physics & Astronomy, University of British Columbia, 6224 Agricultural Road, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z1, Canada
| | - Katayoun Saatchi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
| | - Lea Ann Dailey
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics, University of Vienna, Althanstraße 14 (UZA II), Vienna 1090, Austria
| | - Urs O Häfeli
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2405 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver BC V6T 1Z3, Canada
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
| | - Dongmei Cun
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road No. 103, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Mingshi Yang
- Wuya College of Innovation, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Wenhua Road No. 103, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Universitetsparken 2, Copenhagen 2100, Denmark
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17
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Hawner M, Ducho C. Cellular Targeting of Oligonucleotides by Conjugation with Small Molecules. Molecules 2020; 25:E5963. [PMID: 33339365 PMCID: PMC7766908 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25245963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug candidates derived from oligonucleotides (ON) are receiving increased attention that is supported by the clinical approval of several ON drugs. Such therapeutic ON are designed to alter the expression levels of specific disease-related proteins, e.g., by displaying antigene, antisense, and RNA interference mechanisms. However, the high polarity of the polyanionic ON and their relatively rapid nuclease-mediated cleavage represent two major pharmacokinetic hurdles for their application in vivo. This has led to a range of non-natural modifications of ON structures that are routinely applied in the design of therapeutic ON. The polyanionic architecture of ON often hampers their penetration of target cells or tissues, and ON usually show no inherent specificity for certain cell types. These limitations can be overcome by conjugation of ON with molecular entities mediating cellular 'targeting', i.e., enhanced accumulation at and/or penetration of a specific cell type. In this context, the use of small molecules as targeting units appears particularly attractive and promising. This review provides an overview of advances in the emerging field of cellular targeting of ON via their conjugation with small-molecule targeting structures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Ducho
- Department of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Saarland University, Campus C2 3, 66 123 Saarbrücken, Germany;
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18
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Nordmeier S, Ke W, Afonin KA, Portnoy V. Exosome mediated delivery of functional nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs). NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2020; 30:102285. [PMID: 32781137 PMCID: PMC7680442 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2020.102285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
RNAi-based technologies have shown biomedical potential; however, safe and efficient delivery of RNA remains a barrier for their broader clinical applications. Nucleic acid nanoparticles (NANPs) programmed to self-assemble and organize multiple therapeutic nucleic acids (TNAs) also became attractive candidates for diverse therapeutic options. Various synthetic nanocarriers are used to deliver TNAs and NANPs, but their clinical translation is limited due to immunotoxicity. Exosomes are cell-derived nanovesicles involved in cellular communication. Due to their ability to deliver biomolecules, exosomes are a novel delivery choice. In this study, we explored the exosome-mediated delivery of NANPs designed to target GFP. We assessed the intracellular uptake, gene silencing efficiency, and immunostimulation of exosomes loaded with NANPs. We also confirmed that interdependent RNA/DNA fibers upon recognition of each other after delivery, can conditionally activate NF-kB decoys and prevent pro-inflammatory cytokines. Our study overcomes challenges in TNA delivery and demonstrates future studies in drug delivery systems.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Weina Ke
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA.
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19
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Puri A, Viard M, Zakrevsky P, Zampino S, Chen A, Isemann C, Alvi S, Clogston J, Chitgupi U, Lovell JF, Shapiro BA. Photoactivation of sulfonated polyplexes enables localized gene silencing by DsiRNA in breast cancer cells. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2020; 26:102176. [PMID: 32151748 PMCID: PMC8117728 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2020.102176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Translation potential of RNA interference nanotherapeutics remains challenging due to in vivo off-target effects and poor endosomal escape. Here, we developed novel polyplexes for controlled intracellular delivery of dicer substrate siRNA, using a light activation approach. Sulfonated polyethylenimines covalently linked to pyropheophorbide-α for photoactivation and bearing modified amines (sulfo-pyro-PEI) for regulated endosomal escape were investigated. Gene knock-down by the polymer-complexed DsiRNA duplexes (siRNA-NPs) was monitored in breast cancer cells. Surprisingly, sulfo-pyro-PEI/siRNA-NPs failed to downregulate the PLK1 or eGFP proteins. However, photoactivation of these cell associated-polyplexes with a 661-nm laser clearly restored knock-down of both proteins. In contrast, protein down-regulation by non-sulfonated pyro-PEI/siRNA-NPs occurred without any laser treatments, indicating cytoplasmic disposition of DsiRNA followed a common intracellular release mechanism. Therefore, sulfonated pyro-PEI holds potential as a unique trap and release light-controlled delivery platform for on-demand gene silencing bearing minimal off target effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anu Puri
- RNA Structure and Design Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
| | - Mathias Viard
- RNA Structure and Design Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA; Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Paul Zakrevsky
- RNA Structure and Design Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Serena Zampino
- RNA Structure and Design Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Arabella Chen
- RNA Structure and Design Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Camryn Isemann
- RNA Structure and Design Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Sohaib Alvi
- RNA Structure and Design Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Jeff Clogston
- Basic Science Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA; Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Upendra Chitgupi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan F Lovell
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - Bruce A Shapiro
- RNA Structure and Design Section, RNA Biology Laboratory, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD, USA.
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20
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Lennox KA, Behlke MA. Chemical Modifications in RNA Interference and CRISPR/Cas Genome Editing Reagents. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2115:23-55. [PMID: 32006393 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0290-4_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Chemically modified oligonucleotides (ONs) are routinely used in the laboratory to assess gene function, and clinical advances are rapidly progressing as continual efforts are being made to optimize ON efficacy. Over the years, RNA interference (RNAi) has become one of the main tools used to inhibit RNA expression across a wide variety of species. Efforts have been made to improve the exogenous delivery of the double-stranded RNA components to the endogenous intracellular RNAi machinery to direct efficacious degradation of a user-defined RNA target. More recently, synthetic RNA ONs are being used to mimic the bacterial-derived CRISPR/Cas system to direct specific editing of the mammalian genome. Both of these techniques rely on the use of various chemical modifications to the RNA phosphate backbone or sugar in specific positions throughout the ONs to improve the desired biological outcome. Relevant chemical modifications also include conjugated targeting ligands to assist ON delivery to specific cell types. Chemical modifications are most beneficial for therapeutically relevant ONs, as they serve to enhance target binding, increase drug longevity, facilitate cell-specific targeting, improve internalization into productive intracellular compartments, and mitigate both sequence-specific as well as immune-related off-target effects (OTEs). The knowledge gained from years of optimizing RNAi reagents and characterizing the biochemical and biophysical properties of each chemical modification will hopefully accelerate the CRISPR/Cas technology into the clinic, as well as further expand the use of RNAi to treat currently undruggable diseases. This review discusses the most commonly employed chemical modifications in RNAi reagents and CRISPR/Cas guide RNAs and provides an overview of select publications that have demonstrated success in improving ON efficacy and/or mitigating undesired OTEs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim A Lennox
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., Coralville, IA, USA.
| | - Mark A Behlke
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., Coralville, IA, USA
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21
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Sun G, Wang J, Huang Y, Yuan CWY, Zhang K, Hu S, Chen L, Lin RJ, Yen Y, Riggs AD. Differences in silencing of mismatched targets by sliced versus diced siRNAs. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:6806-6822. [PMID: 29718312 PMCID: PMC6061797 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Accepted: 04/20/2018] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been reported that the two major types of RNA interference triggers, the classical Dicer-generated small RNAs (siRNAs), which function with all members of the Argonaute (Ago) protein family in mammals, and the Ago2-sliced small RNAs (sli-siRNAs), which function solely through Ago2, have similar potency in target cleavage and repression. Here, we show that sli-siRNAs are generally more potent than siRNAs in silencing mismatched targets. This phenomenon is usually more apparent in targets that have mismatched nucleotides in the 3′ supplementary region than in targets with mismatches in the seed region. We demonstrate that Ago2 slicer activity is a major factor contributing to the greater silencing efficiency of sli-siRNA against mismatched targets and that participation of non-slicing Agos in silencing mismatched siRNA targets may dilute the slicing ability of Ago2. The difference in length of the mature guide RNA used in sli-RISCs and si-RISCs may also contribute to the observed difference in knockdown efficiency. Our data suggest that a sli-siRNA guide strand is likely to have substantially stronger off-target effects than a guide strand with the same sequence in a classical siRNA and that Dicer and non-slicing Agos may play pivotal roles in controlling siRNA target specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guihua Sun
- Department of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010-3000, USA
| | - Jinghan Wang
- Department of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010-3000, USA
| | - Yasheng Huang
- Department of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010-3000, USA
| | - Christine Wan-Yin Yuan
- Department of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010-3000, USA
| | - Keqiang Zhang
- Department of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010-3000, USA
| | - Shuya Hu
- Department of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010-3000, USA
| | - Linling Chen
- Department of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010-3000, USA
| | - Ren-Jang Lin
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010-3000, USA
| | - Yun Yen
- Graduate Institute of Cancer Biology and Drug Discovery, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wuxing Street, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Arthur D Riggs
- Department of Diabetes Complications & Metabolism, Diabetes and Metabolism Research Institute, Beckman Research Institute of City of Hope, 1500 E. Duarte Road, Duarte, CA 91010-3000, USA
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22
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Microfluidic Assembly of siRNA-Loaded Micelleplexes for Tumor Targeting in an Orthotopic Model of Ovarian Cancer. Methods Mol Biol 2019. [PMID: 31099014 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-9220-1_24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
The use of cationic polymers to interact with negatively charged siRNA via charge complexation to form polyelectrolyte complexes has been widely studied ever since the 1998 report on RNA interference. These polyelectrolyte complex formulations aim to overcome the many pitfalls associated with the use of RNA interference as a potential cancer therapy. The triblock copolymer polyethylenimine-polycaprolactone-polyethylene glycol (PEI-PCL-PEG) contains the cation PEI and has been shown to be an efficient carrier capable of complexing with nucleic acids for gene delivery. This copolymer system also allows for targeting moieties to be linked to the micelleplex, thereby exploiting overexpressed receptors (such as the folate receptor) located within tumors. Additionally, we demonstrated recently that microfluidic mixing of PEI-PCL-PEG nanoparticles allows for the rapid, scaled-up production of micelleplexes while maintaining small and uniform particle distributions. The preparation of small and reproducible particles is imperative for clinical translation of nanomedicine and for tumor targeting via systemic administration. Furthermore, to enable tracing of its deposition in vivo after its administration, micelleplexes can be radiolabeled. To assess tumor targeting over time, the noninvasive imaging technique single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) offers the ability to examine the same subject at multiple time points and generate biodistribution profiles. Since the biodistribution and tumor targeting of the therapeutic load of micelleplexes is of foremost interest, we recently described an approach to modify siRNA with a DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) chelator. Herein, we explain the details of encapsulating indium-labeled siRNA via microfluidic mixing in PEI-PCL-PEG nanoparticles with a folic acid targeting ligand for assessment of their in vivo tumor targeting in an orthotopic ovarian cancer model.
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23
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Chandler M, Afonin KA. Smart-Responsive Nucleic Acid Nanoparticles (NANPs) with the Potential to Modulate Immune Behavior. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2019; 9:E611. [PMID: 31013847 PMCID: PMC6523571 DOI: 10.3390/nano9040611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2019] [Revised: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Nucleic acids are programmable and biocompatible polymers that have beneficial uses in nanotechnology with broad applications in biosensing and therapeutics. In some cases, however, the development of the latter has been impeded by the unknown immunostimulatory properties of nucleic acid-based materials, as well as a lack of functional dynamicity due to stagnant structural design. Recent research advancements have explored these obstacles in tandem via the assembly of three-dimensional, planar, and fibrous cognate nucleic acid-based nanoparticles, called NANPs, for the conditional activation of embedded and otherwise quiescent functions. Furthermore, a library of the most representative NANPs was extensively analyzed in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and the links between the programmable architectural and physicochemical parameters of NANPs and their immunomodulatory properties have been established. This overview will cover the recent development of design principles that allow for fine-tuning of both the physicochemical and immunostimulatory properties of dynamic NANPs and discuss the potential impacts of these novel strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan Chandler
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA.
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24
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Juneja R, Lyles Z, Vadarevu H, Afonin KA, Vivero-Escoto JL. Multimodal Polysilsesquioxane Nanoparticles for Combinatorial Therapy and Gene Delivery in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2019; 11:12308-12320. [PMID: 30844224 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b00704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Multifunctional hybrid nanoparticles are being developed to carry a wide variety of therapeutic and imaging agents for multiple biomedical applications. Polysilsesquioxane (PSilQ) nanoparticles are a promising hybrid platform with numerous advantages to be used as a delivery system. In this report, we demonstrate the ability of a stimuli-responsive PSilQ-based platform to transport and deliver simultaneously protoporphyrin IX, curcumin, and RNA interference inducers inside human cells. This multimodal delivery system shows a synergistic performance for the combined phototherapy and chemotherapy of triple-negative breast cancer and can be used for efficient transfection of therapeutic nucleic acids. The current work represents the first report of using the PSilQ platform for the combined phototherapy and chemotherapy and gene delivery.
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25
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Singh S, Maurya PK. Nanomaterials-Based siRNA Delivery: Routes of Administration, Hurdles and Role of Nanocarriers. NANOTECHNOLOGY IN MODERN ANIMAL BIOTECHNOLOGY 2019. [PMCID: PMC7121101 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-13-6004-6_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/11/2023]
Abstract
Ribonucleic acid interference (RNAi) is a potential alternative therapeutic approach to knock down the overexpression of genes in several disorders especially cancers with underlying genetic dysfunctions. For silencing of specific genes involved in cell cycle, small/short interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs) are being used clinically. The siRNA-based RNAi is more efficient, specific and safe antisense technology than other RNAi approaches. The route of siRNA administration for siRNA therapy depends on the targeted site. However, certain hurdles like poor stability of siRNA, saturation, off-target effect, immunogenicity, anatomical barriers and non-targeted delivery restrict the successful siRNA therapy. Thus, advancement of an effective, secure, and long-term delivery system is prerequisite to the medical utilization of siRNA. Polycationic nanocarriers mediated targeted delivery system is an ideal system to remove these hurdles and to increase the blood retention time and rate of intracellular permeability. In this chapter, we will mainly discuss the different biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic (organic, inorganic and hybrid) nanocarriers that encapsulate and shield the siRNA from the different harsh environment and provides the increased systemic siRNA delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanjay Singh
- Division of Biological and Life Sciences, Ahmedabad University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat India
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26
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Ke W, Hong E, Saito RF, Rangel MC, Wang J, Viard M, Richardson M, Khisamutdinov EF, Panigaj M, Dokholyan NV, Chammas R, Dobrovolskaia MA, Afonin KA. RNA-DNA fibers and polygons with controlled immunorecognition activate RNAi, FRET and transcriptional regulation of NF-κB in human cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:1350-1361. [PMID: 30517685 PMCID: PMC6379676 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gky1215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2018] [Revised: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Nucleic acid-based assemblies that interact with each other and further communicate with the cellular machinery in a controlled manner represent a new class of reconfigurable materials that can overcome limitations of traditional biochemical approaches and improve the potential therapeutic utility of nucleic acids. This notion enables the development of novel biocompatible 'smart' devices and biosensors with precisely controlled physicochemical and biological properties. We extend this novel concept by designing RNA-DNA fibers and polygons that are able to cooperate in different human cell lines and that have defined immunostimulatory properties confirmed by ex vivo experiments. The mutual intracellular interaction of constructs results in the release of a large number of different siRNAs while giving a fluorescent response and activating NF-κB decoy DNA oligonucleotides. This work expands the possibilities of nucleic acid technologies by (i) introducing very simple design principles and assembly protocols; (ii) potentially allowing for a simultaneous release of various siRNAs together with functional DNA sequences and (iii) providing controlled rates of reassociation, stabilities in human blood serum, and immunorecognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weina Ke
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Enping Hong
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab., Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Renata F Saito
- Centro de Investigação Translacional em Oncologia (LIM24), Departamento de Radiologia e Oncologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo and Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Rangel
- Centro de Investigação Translacional em Oncologia (LIM24), Departamento de Radiologia e Oncologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo and Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Mathias Viard
- Basic Science Program, Cancer and Inflammation Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Melina Richardson
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | | | - Martin Panigaj
- Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, Slovak Republic
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Roger Chammas
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
- Centro de Investigação Translacional em Oncologia (LIM24), Departamento de Radiologia e Oncologia, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo and Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Marina A Dobrovolskaia
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab., Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
- The Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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27
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Raja MAG, Katas H, Amjad MW. Design, mechanism, delivery and therapeutics of canonical and Dicer-substrate siRNA. Asian J Pharm Sci 2019; 14:497-510. [PMID: 32104477 PMCID: PMC7032099 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajps.2018.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2018] [Revised: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Upon the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi), canonical small interfering RNA (siRNA) has been recognized to trigger sequence-specific gene silencing. Despite the benefits of siRNAs as potential new drugs, there are obstacles still to be overcome, including off-target effects and immune stimulation. More recently, Dicer substrate siRNA (DsiRNA) has been introduced as an alternative to siRNA. Similarly, it also is proving to be potent and target-specific, while rendering less immune stimulation. DsiRNA is 25–30 nucleotides in length, and is further cleaved and processed by the Dicer enzyme. As with siRNA, it is crucial to design and develop a stable, safe, and efficient system for the delivery of DsiRNA into the cytoplasm of targeted cells. Several polymeric nanoparticle systems have been well established to load DsiRNA for in vitro and in vivo delivery, thereby overcoming a major hurdle in the therapeutic uses of DsiRNA. The present review focuses on a comparison of siRNA and DsiRNA on the basis of their design, mechanism, in vitro and in vivo delivery, and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Abdul Ghafoor Raja
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 73211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haliza Katas
- Centre for Drug Delivery Research, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur 50300, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Wahab Amjad
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 73211, Saudi Arabia
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28
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Colombo S, Harmankaya N, Water JJ, Bohr A. Exploring the potential for rosacea therapeutics of siRNA dispersion in topical emulsions. Exp Dermatol 2019; 28:261-269. [DOI: 10.1111/exd.13881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Necati Harmankaya
- Department of Pharmacy; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
| | | | - Adam Bohr
- Umbed Pharmaceuticals; Frederiksberg Denmark
- Department of Pharmacy; Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences; University of Copenhagen; Copenhagen Denmark
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29
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Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that repress the translation and reduce the stability of target mRNAs in animal cells. Post-transcriptional regulation mediated by miRNAs is a highly conserved mechanism utilized by organisms throughout phylogeny to fine tune gene expression. We document the approaches used to study the function of a single miRNA and miRNA regulation of biological pathways in the sea urchin embryo. The protocols that are described include selection of miRNA inhibitors, test of miRNA direct targets, and the use of target protector morpholinos to evaluate the impact of miRNA inhibition on its targets. Using the described techniques and strategies, the sea urchin researcher will be able to validate a miRNA's direct targets and evaluate how inhibition of the miRNA affects developmental processes. These results will contribute to our understanding of the regulatory roles of miRNAs in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolyn Remsburg
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Kalin Konrad
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Nina Faye Sampilo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States
| | - Jia L Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE, United States.
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30
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Rackley L, Stewart JM, Salotti J, Krokhotin A, Shah A, Halman JR, Juneja R, Smollett J, Lee L, Roark K, Viard M, Tarannum M, Vivero-Escoto J, Johnson PF, Dobrovolskaia MA, Dokholyan NV, Franco E, Afonin KA. RNA Fibers as Optimized Nanoscaffolds for siRNA Coordination and Reduced Immunological Recognition. ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS 2018; 28:1805959. [PMID: 31258458 PMCID: PMC6599627 DOI: 10.1002/adfm.201805959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
RNA is a versatile biomaterial that can be used to engineer nanoassemblies for personalized treatment of various diseases. Despite promising advancements, the design of RNA nanoassemblies with minimal recognition by the immune system remains a major challenge. Here, an approach is reported to engineer RNA fibrous structures to operate as a customizable platform for efficient coordination of siRNAs and for maintaining low immunostimulation. Functional RNA fibers are studied in silico and their formation is confirmed by various experimental techniques and visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM). It is demonstrated that the RNA fibers offer multiple advantages among which are: i) programmability and modular design that allow for simultaneous controlled delivery of multiple siRNAs and fluorophores, ii) reduced immunostimulation when compared to other programmable RNA nanoassemblies, and iii) simple production protocol for endotoxin-free fibers with the option of their cotranscriptional assembly. Furthermore, it is shown that functional RNA fibers can be efficiently delivered with various organic and inorganic carriers while retaining their structural integrity in cells. Specific gene silencing triggered by RNA fibers is assessed in human breast cancer and melanoma cell lines, with the confirmed ability of functional fibers to selectively target single nucleotide mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Rackley
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Jaimie Marie Stewart
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Jacqueline Salotti
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Andrey Krokhotin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Ankit Shah
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Justin R Halman
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Ridhima Juneja
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Jaclyn Smollett
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Lauren Lee
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Kyle Roark
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Mathias Viard
- Cancer and Inflammation Program, Leidos Biomedical Research Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Mubin Tarannum
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Juan Vivero-Escoto
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Peter F Johnson
- Mouse Cancer Genetics Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Marina A Dobrovolskaia
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA
| | - Elisa Franco
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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31
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Cruz-Acuña M, Halman JR, Afonin KA, Dobson J, Rinaldi C. Magnetic nanoparticles loaded with functional RNA nanoparticles. NANOSCALE 2018; 10:17761-17770. [PMID: 30215080 DOI: 10.1039/c8nr04254c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
RNA is now widely acknowledged not only as a multifunctional biopolymer but also as a dynamic material for constructing nanostructures with various biological functions. Programmable RNA nanoparticles (NPs) allow precise control over their formulation and activation of multiple functionalities, with the potential to self-assemble in biological systems. These attributes make them attractive for drug delivery and therapeutic applications. In the present study, we demonstrate the ability of iron oxide magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to deliver different types of RNA NPs functionalized with dicer substrate RNAs inside human cells. Our results show that use of functionalized RNA NPs result in statistically higher transfection efficiency compared to the use of RNA duplexes. Furthermore, we show that the nucleic acids in the MNP/RNA NP complexes are protected from nuclease degradation and that they can achieve knockdown of target protein expression, which is amplified by magnetic stimulus. The current work represents the very first report indicating that iron oxide nanoparticles may efficiently protect and deliver programmable RNA NPs to human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Cruz-Acuña
- J. Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, 1275 Center Drive, Biomedical Sciences Building JG-56, P.O. Box 116131, Gainesville, Florida 32611, USA.
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32
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Gatta AK, Hariharapura RC, Udupa N, Reddy MS, Josyula VR. Strategies for improving the specificity of siRNAs for enhanced therapeutic potential. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2018; 13:709-725. [PMID: 29902093 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2018.1480607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION RNA interference has become a tool of choice in the development of drugs in various therapeutic areas of Post Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS). The critical element in developing successful RNAi therapeutics lies in designing small interfering RNA (siRNA) using an efficient algorithm satisfying the designing criteria. Further, translation of siRNA from bench-side to bedside needs an efficient delivery system and/or chemical modification. Areas covered: This review emphasizes the importance of dicer, the criteria for efficient siRNA design, the currently available algorithms and strategies to overcome off-target effects, immune stimulatory effects and endosomal trap. Expert opinion: Specificity and stability are the primary concerns for siRNA therapeutics. The design criteria and algorithms should be chosen rationally to have a siRNA sequence that binds to the corresponding mRNA as it happens in the Watson and Crick base pairing. However, it must evade a few more hurdles (Endocytosis, Serum stability etc.) to be functional in the cytosol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Kiran Gatta
- a Cell and Molecular Biology lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology , Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education , Manipal , Karnataka , India
| | - Raghu Chandrashekhar Hariharapura
- a Cell and Molecular Biology lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology , Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education , Manipal , Karnataka , India
| | - Nayanabhirama Udupa
- b Research Directorate of Health Sciences , Manipal Academy of Higher Education , Manipal , Karnataka , India
| | - Meka Sreenivasa Reddy
- c Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences , Manipal Academy of Higher Education , Manipal , Karnataka , India
| | - Venkata Rao Josyula
- a Cell and Molecular Biology lab, Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology , Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education , Manipal , Karnataka , India
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33
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Kwon OS, Kwon SJ, Kim JS, Lee G, Maeng HJ, Lee J, Hwang GS, Cha HJ, Chun KH. Designing Tyrosinase siRNAs by Multiple Prediction Algorithms and Evaluation of Their Anti-Melanogenic Effects. Biomol Ther (Seoul) 2018; 26:282-289. [PMID: 29223142 PMCID: PMC5933895 DOI: 10.4062/biomolther.2017.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2017] [Revised: 08/03/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Melanin is a pigment produced from tyrosine in melanocytes. Although melanin has a protective role against UVB radiation-induced damage, it is also associated with the development of melanoma and darker skin tone. Tyrosinase is a key enzyme in melanin synthesis, which regulates the rate-limiting step during conversion of tyrosine into DOPA and dopaquinone. To develop effective RNA interference therapeutics, we designed a melanin siRNA pool by applying multiple prediction programs to reduce human tyrosinase levels. First, 272 siRNAs passed the target accessibility evaluation using the RNAxs program. Then we selected 34 siRNA sequences with ΔG ≥-34.6 kcal/mol, i-Score value ≥65, and siRNA scales score ≤30. siRNAs were designed as 19-bp RNA duplexes with an asymmetric 3' overhang at the 3' end of the antisense strand. We tested if these siRNAs effectively reduced tyrosinase gene expression using qRT-PCR and found that 17 siRNA sequences were more effective than commercially available siRNA. Three siRNAs further tested showed an effective visual color change in MNT-1 human cells without cytotoxic effects, indicating these sequences are anti-melanogenic. Our study revealed that human tyrosinase siRNAs could be efficiently designed using multiple prediction algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ok-Seon Kwon
- Department of Life Sciences, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Soo-Jung Kwon
- Department of Life Sciences, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin Sang Kim
- Leaders Cosmetics Co., Ltd., Anseong 17599, Republic of Korea
| | - Gunbong Lee
- Leaders Cosmetics Co., Ltd., Anseong 17599, Republic of Korea
| | - Han-Joo Maeng
- Gachon Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeongmi Lee
- School of Pharmacy, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwi Seo Hwang
- Laboratory of Cell Differentiation Research, College of Korean Medicine, Gachon University, Seongnam 13120, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyuk-Jin Cha
- Department of Life Sciences, Sogang University, Seoul 04107, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang-Hoon Chun
- Gachon Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Gachon University, Incheon 21936, Republic of Korea
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34
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Togtema M, Jackson R, Grochowski J, Villa PL, Mellerup M, Chattopadhyaya J, Zehbe I. Synthetic siRNA targeting human papillomavirus 16 E6: a perspective on in vitro nanotherapeutic approaches. Nanomedicine (Lond) 2018; 13:455-474. [PMID: 29382252 DOI: 10.2217/nnm-2017-0242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
High-risk human papillomaviruses infect skin and mucosa, causing approximately 5% of cancers worldwide. In the search for targeted nanotherapeutic approaches, siRNAs against the viral E6 transcript have been molecules of interest but have not yet seen successful translation into the clinic. By reviewing the past approximately 15 years of in vitro literature, we identify the need for siRNA validation protocols which concurrently evaluate ranges of key treatment parameters as well as characterize downstream process restoration in a methodical, quantitative manner and demonstrate their implementation using our own data. We also reflect on the future need for more appropriate cell culture models to represent patient lesions as well as the application of personalized approaches to identify optimal treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Togtema
- Probe Development & Biomarker Exploration, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6V4, Canada.,Biotechnology Program, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Robert Jackson
- Probe Development & Biomarker Exploration, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6V4, Canada.,Biotechnology Program, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Jessica Grochowski
- Probe Development & Biomarker Exploration, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6V4, Canada
| | - Peter L Villa
- Probe Development & Biomarker Exploration, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6V4, Canada.,Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1, Canada
| | - Miranda Mellerup
- Probe Development & Biomarker Exploration, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6V4, Canada
| | - Jyoti Chattopadhyaya
- Program of Chemical Biology, Institute of Cell & Molecular Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, SE-75123, Sweden
| | - Ingeborg Zehbe
- Probe Development & Biomarker Exploration, Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 6V4, Canada.,Department of Biology, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, P7B 5E1, Canada
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35
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Sinha NK, Iwasa J, Shen PS, Bass BL. Dicer uses distinct modules for recognizing dsRNA termini. Science 2018; 359:329-334. [PMID: 29269422 PMCID: PMC6154394 DOI: 10.1126/science.aaq0921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Invertebrates rely on Dicer to cleave viral double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), and Drosophila Dicer-2 distinguishes dsRNA substrates by their termini. Blunt termini promote processive cleavage, while 3' overhanging termini are cleaved distributively. To understand this discrimination, we used cryo-electron microscopy to solve structures of Drosophila Dicer-2 alone and in complex with blunt dsRNA. Whereas the Platform-PAZ domains have been considered the only Dicer domains that bind dsRNA termini, unexpectedly, we found that the helicase domain is required for binding blunt, but not 3' overhanging, termini. We further showed that blunt dsRNA is locally unwound and threaded through the helicase domain in an adenosine triphosphate-dependent manner. Our studies reveal a previously unrecognized mechanism for optimizing antiviral defense and set the stage for the discovery of helicase-dependent functions in other Dicers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niladri K. Sinha
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Janet Iwasa
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Peter S. Shen
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Brenda L. Bass
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
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36
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Pépin G, Ferrand J, Gantier MP. Assessing the Off-Target Effects of miRNA Inhibitors on Innate Immune Toll-Like Receptors. Methods Mol Biol 2018; 1517:127-135. [PMID: 27924479 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-6563-2_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in most cellular processes and are deregulated in several diseases. Antisense miRNA oligonucleotides (AMOs) therefore present novel therapeutic opportunities. Currently, in vivo delivery of AMOs often relies on high doses of nucleic acids, with nonspecific uptake by most tissues. Critically, AMOs accumulate in phagocytic cells where they can interfere with immune functions, such as the activation of Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs). In this chapter, we describe a method to assess the possible off-target effects of AMOs on TLR7, 8, and 9 sensing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geneviève Pépin
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright St., Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Jonathan Ferrand
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright St., Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.,Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia
| | - Michael P Gantier
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, 27-31 Wright St., Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia. .,Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3168, Australia.
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37
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Putzbach W, Gao QQ, Patel M, Haluck-Kangas A, Murmann AE, Peter ME. DISE: A Seed-Dependent RNAi Off-Target Effect That Kills Cancer Cells. Trends Cancer 2018; 4:10-19. [PMID: 29413418 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2017.11.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Off-target effects (OTEs) represent a significant caveat for RNAi caused by substantial complementarity between siRNAs and unintended mRNAs. We now discuss the existence of three types of seed-dependent OTEs (sOTEs). Type I involves unintended targeting through the guide strand seed of an siRNA. Type II is caused by the activity of the seed on the designated siRNA passenger strand when loaded into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Both type I and II sOTEs will elicit unpredictable cellular responses. By contrast, in sOTE type III the guide strand seed preferentially targets essential survival genes resulting in death induced by survival gene elimination (DISE). In this Opinion article, we discuss DISE as a consequence of RNAi that may preferentially affect cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Putzbach
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Quan Q Gao
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Monal Patel
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Ashley Haluck-Kangas
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Andrea E Murmann
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Marcus E Peter
- Department of Medicine, Division Hematology/Oncology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
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38
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Scarborough RJ, Gatignol A. RNA Interference Therapies for an HIV-1 Functional Cure. Viruses 2017; 10:E8. [PMID: 29280961 PMCID: PMC5795421 DOI: 10.3390/v10010008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Revised: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
HIV-1 drug therapies can prevent disease progression but cannot eliminate HIV-1 viruses from an infected individual. While there is hope that elimination of HIV-1 can be achieved, several approaches to reach a functional cure (control of HIV-1 replication in the absence of drug therapy) are also under investigation. One of these approaches is the transplant of HIV-1 resistant cells expressing anti-HIV-1 RNAs, proteins or peptides. Small RNAs that use RNA interference pathways to target HIV-1 replication have emerged as competitive candidates for cell transplant therapy and have been included in all gene combinations that have so far entered clinical trials. Here, we review RNA interference pathways in mammalian cells and the design of therapeutic small RNAs that use these pathways to target pathogenic RNA sequences. Studies that have been performed to identify anti-HIV-1 RNA interference therapeutics are also reviewed and perspectives on their use in combination gene therapy to functionally cure HIV-1 infection are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert J Scarborough
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A0G4, Canada.
| | - Anne Gatignol
- Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A0G4, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A0G4, Canada.
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Halman J, Satterwhite E, Smollett J, Bindewald E, Parlea L, Viard M, Zakrevsky P, Kasprzak WK, Afonin KA, Shapiro BA. Triggerable RNA nanodevices. RNA & DISEASE 2017; 4:e1349. [PMID: 34307841 PMCID: PMC8301261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The targeted and conditional activation of pharmaceuticals is an increasingly important feature in modern personalized medicine. Nucleic acid nanoparticles show tremendous potential in this exploit due to their programmability and biocompatibility. Among the most powerful nucleic acid specific treatments is RNA interference-based therapeutics. RNA interference is a naturally occurring phenomenon in which specific genes are effectively silenced. Recently we have developed two different strategies based on customized multivalent nucleic acid nanoparticles with the ability to conditionally activate RNA interference in diseased cells as well as elicit detectable fluorescent responses.[1,2] These novel technologies can be further utilized for the simultaneous delivery and conditional intracellular activation of multiple therapeutic and biosensing functions to combat various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin Halman
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte 28223, North Carolina, USA
| | - Emily Satterwhite
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte 28223, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jaclyn Smollett
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte 28223, North Carolina, USA
| | - Eckart Bindewald
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick 21702, Maryland, USA
| | - Lorena Parlea
- Gene Regulation Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick 21702, Maryland, USA
| | - Mathias Viard
- Gene Regulation Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick 21702, Maryland, USA
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick 21702, Maryland, USA
| | - Paul Zakrevsky
- Gene Regulation Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick 21702, Maryland, USA
| | - Wojciech K. Kasprzak
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick 21702, Maryland, USA
| | - Kirill A. Afonin
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte 28223, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bruce A. Shapiro
- Gene Regulation Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick 21702, Maryland, USA
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Cambon K, Zimmer V, Martineau S, Gaillard MC, Jarrige M, Bugi A, Miniarikova J, Rey M, Hassig R, Dufour N, Auregan G, Hantraye P, Perrier AL, Déglon N. Preclinical Evaluation of a Lentiviral Vector for Huntingtin Silencing. MOLECULAR THERAPY-METHODS & CLINICAL DEVELOPMENT 2017; 5:259-276. [PMID: 28603746 PMCID: PMC5453866 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal dominant neurodegenerative disorder resulting from a polyglutamine expansion in the huntingtin (HTT) protein. There is currently no cure for this disease, but recent studies suggest that RNAi to downregulate the expression of both normal and mutant HTT is a promising therapeutic approach. We previously developed a small hairpin RNA (shRNA), vectorized in an HIV-1-derived lentiviral vector (LV), that reduced pathology in an HD rodent model. Here, we modified this vector for preclinical development by using a tat-independent third-generation LV (pCCL) backbone and removing the original reporter genes. We demonstrate that this novel vector efficiently downregulated HTT expression in vitro in striatal neurons derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of HD patients. It reduced two major pathological HD hallmarks while triggering a minimal inflammatory response, up to 6 weeks after injection, when administered by stereotaxic surgery in the striatum of an in vivo rodent HD model. Further assessment of this shRNA vector in vitro showed proper processing by the endogenous silencing machinery, and we analyzed gene expression changes to identify potential off-targets. These preclinical data suggest that this new shRNA vector fulfills primary biosafety and efficiency requirements for further development in the clinic as a cure for HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karine Cambon
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Virginie Zimmer
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Research Center, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sylvain Martineau
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Marie-Claude Gaillard
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Margot Jarrige
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR861, I-Stem, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
- UEVE UMR861, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
- CECS, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Aurore Bugi
- CECS, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Jana Miniarikova
- Department of Research & Development, uniQure, 1105 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Maria Rey
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Research Center, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raymonde Hassig
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Noelle Dufour
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Gwenaelle Auregan
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Philippe Hantraye
- CEA, DRF, Institute of Biology Francois Jacob, Molecular Imaging Research Center, F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- CNRS, CEA, Paris-Sud University, University Paris-Saclay, Neurodegenerative Diseases Laboratory (UMR9199), F-92265 Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Anselme L. Perrier
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale UMR861, I-Stem, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
- UEVE UMR861, I-STEM, AFM, 91100 Corbeil-Essonnes, France
| | - Nicole Déglon
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Research Center, Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland
- Corresponding author: Nicole Déglon, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Neurotherapies (LNCM), Pavillon 3, Avenue de Beaumont, 1011 Lausanne, Switzerland.
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Bui MN, Brittany Johnson M, Viard M, Satterwhite E, Martins AN, Li Z, Marriott I, Afonin KA, Khisamutdinov EF. Versatile RNA tetra-U helix linking motif as a toolkit for nucleic acid nanotechnology. NANOMEDICINE : NANOTECHNOLOGY, BIOLOGY, AND MEDICINE 2017; 13:1137-1146. [PMID: 28064006 PMCID: PMC6637421 DOI: 10.1016/j.nano.2016.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2016] [Revised: 12/20/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
RNA nanotechnology employs synthetically modified ribonucleic acid (RNA) to engineer highly stable nanostructures in one, two, and three dimensions for medical applications. Despite the tremendous advantages in RNA nanotechnology, unmodified RNA itself is fragile and prone to enzymatic degradation. In contrast to use traditionally modified RNA strands e.g. 2'-fluorine, 2'-amine, 2'-methyl, we studied the effect of RNA/DNA hybrid approach utilizing a computer-assisted RNA tetra-uracil (tetra-U) motif as a toolkit to address questions related to assembly efficiency, versatility, stability, and the production costs of hybrid RNA/DNA nanoparticles. The tetra-U RNA motif was implemented to construct four functional triangles using RNA, DNA and RNA/DNA mixtures, resulting in fine-tunable enzymatic and thermodynamic stabilities, immunostimulatory activity and RNAi capability. Moreover, the tetra-U toolkit has great potential in the fabrication of rectangular, pentagonal, and hexagonal NPs, representing the power of simplicity of RNA/DNA approach for RNA nanotechnology and nanomedicine community.
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Affiliation(s)
- My N Bui
- Department of Chemistry, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA
| | - M Brittany Johnson
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Mathias Viard
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., RNA Biology Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD, USA
| | - Emily Satterwhite
- Nanoscale Science Program, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, The Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Angelica N Martins
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Zhihai Li
- Department of Chemistry, Ball State University, Muncie, IN, USA
| | - Ian Marriott
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, The Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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Halman JR, Satterwhite E, Roark B, Chandler M, Viard M, Ivanina A, Bindewald E, Kasprzak WK, Panigaj M, Bui MN, Lu JS, Miller J, Khisamutdinov EF, Shapiro BA, Dobrovolskaia MA, Afonin KA. Functionally-interdependent shape-switching nanoparticles with controllable properties. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:2210-2220. [PMID: 28108656 PMCID: PMC5389727 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Revised: 12/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We introduce a new concept that utilizes cognate nucleic acid nanoparticles which are fully complementary and functionally-interdependent to each other. In the described approach, the physical interaction between sets of designed nanoparticles initiates a rapid isothermal shape change which triggers the activation of multiple functionalities and biological pathways including transcription, energy transfer, functional aptamers and RNA interference. The individual nanoparticles are not active and have controllable kinetics of re-association and fine-tunable chemical and thermodynamic stabilities. Computational algorithms were developed to accurately predict melting temperatures of nanoparticles of various compositions and trace the process of their re-association in silico. Additionally, tunable immunostimulatory properties of described nanoparticles suggest that the particles that do not induce pro-inflammatory cytokines and high levels of interferons can be used as scaffolds to carry therapeutic oligonucleotides, while particles with strong interferon and mild pro-inflammatory cytokine induction may qualify as vaccine adjuvants. The presented concept provides a simple, cost-effective and straightforward model for the development of combinatorial regulation of biological processes in nucleic acid nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justin R. Halman
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Emily Satterwhite
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Brandon Roark
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Morgan Chandler
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Mathias Viard
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., RNA Biology Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Anna Ivanina
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Eckart Bindewald
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., RNA Biology Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Wojciech K. Kasprzak
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., RNA Biology Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Martin Panigaj
- Institute of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, Pavol Jozef Safarik University in Kosice, Kosice, 041 54, Slovak Republic
| | - My N. Bui
- Department of Chemistry, Ball State University, Muncie, IN 47306, USA
| | - Jacob S. Lu
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Johann Miller
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | | | - Bruce A. Shapiro
- RNA Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Marina A. Dobrovolskaia
- Nanotechnology Characterization Lab, Cancer Research Technology Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Kirill A. Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
- The Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
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Martins AN, Ke W, Jawahar V, Striplin M, Striplin C, Freed EO, Afonin KA. Intracellular Reassociation of RNA-DNA Hybrids that Activates RNAi in HIV-Infected Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2017; 1632:269-283. [PMID: 28730446 PMCID: PMC6941940 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-7138-1_18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Human immunodeficiency virus Type 1 (HIV-1) is the major cause of acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In 2014, it was estimated that 1.2 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses. RNA interference-based therapy to block HIV replication is a field that, as of now, is without any FDA-approved drugs available for clinical use. In this chapter we describe a protocol for testing and utilizing a new approach that relies on reassociation of RNA-DNA hybrids activating RNAi and blocking HIV replication in human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica N Martins
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Weina Ke
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Vaishnavi Jawahar
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Morriah Striplin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Caryn Striplin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA
| | - Eric O Freed
- HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, NCI, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University Blvd., Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA.
- The Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC, 28223, USA.
- Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland, 21702, USA.
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Ramachandran S, Osterhaus SR, Parekh KR, Jacobi AM, Behlke MA, McCray PB. SYVN1, NEDD8, and FBXO2 Proteins Regulate ΔF508 Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) Ubiquitin-mediated Proteasomal Degradation. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:25489-25504. [PMID: 27756846 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.754283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported that delivery of a microRNA-138 mimic or siRNA against SIN3A to cultured cystic fibrosis (ΔF508/ΔF508) airway epithelia partially restored ΔF508-cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR)-mediated cAMP-stimulated Cl- conductance. We hypothesized that dissecting this microRNA-138/SIN3A-regulated gene network would identify individual proteins contributing to the rescue of ΔF508-CFTR function. Among the genes in the network, we rigorously validated candidates using functional CFTR maturation and electrolyte transport assays in polarized airway epithelia. We found that depletion of the ubiquitin ligase SYVN1, the ubiquitin/proteasome system regulator NEDD8, or the F-box protein FBXO2 partially restored ΔF508-CFTR-mediated Cl- transport in primary cultures of human cystic fibrosis airway epithelia. Moreover, knockdown of SYVN1, NEDD8, or FBXO2 in combination with corrector compound 18 further potentiated rescue of ΔF508-CFTR-mediated Cl- conductance. This study provides new knowledge of the CFTR biosynthetic pathway. It suggests that SYVN1 and FBXO2 represent two distinct multiprotein complexes that may degrade ΔF508-CFTR in airway epithelia and identifies a new role for NEDD8 in regulating ΔF508-CFTR ubiquitination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shyam Ramachandran
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242 and
| | - Samantha R Osterhaus
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242 and
| | - Kalpaj R Parekh
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242 and
| | | | | | - Paul B McCray
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Pappajohn Biomedical Institute, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242 and
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Stewart JM, Viard M, Subramanian HKK, Roark BK, Afonin KA, Franco E. Programmable RNA microstructures for coordinated delivery of siRNAs. NANOSCALE 2016; 8:17542-17550. [PMID: 27714127 PMCID: PMC5510167 DOI: 10.1039/c6nr05085a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
RNA is a natural multifunctional polymer, and is an essential component in both complex pathways and structures within the cellular environment. For this reason, artificial self-assembling RNA nanostructures are emerging as a powerful tool with broad applications in drug delivery and metabolic pathway regulation. To date, coordinated delivery of functional molecules via programmable RNA assemblies has been primarily done using nanosize RNA scaffolds. However, larger scaffolds could expand existing capabilities for spatial arrangement of ligands, and enable the controlled delivery of highly concentrated molecular loads. Here, we investigate whether micron-size RNA scaffolds can be assembled and further functionalized with different cargos (e.g. various siRNAs and fluorescent tags) for their synchronized delivery to diseased cells. Since known design approaches to build large RNA scaffolds are still underdeveloped, we apply a tiling method widely used in DNA nanotechnology. DNA tiles have been extensively used to build a variety of scalable and modular structures that are easily decorated with other ligands. Here, we adapt a double crossover (DX) DNA tile motif to design de novo DX RNA tiles that assemble and form lattices via programmed sticky end interactions. We optimize assembly protocols to guarantee high yield of RNA lattices. The resulting constructs are robust and modular with respect to the presence of distinct siRNAs and fluorophores. RNA tiles and lattices are successfully transfected in either human breast cancer or prostate cancer cells, where they efficiently knockdown the expression of target genes. Blood serum stability assays indicate that RNA lattices are more resilient to nuclease degradation when compared to individual tiles, thus making them better suited for therapeutic purposes. Overall, because of its design simplicity, we anticipate that this approach will be utilized for a wide range of applications in therapeutic RNA nanotechnology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaimie Marie Stewart
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA
| | - Mathias Viard
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Inc., Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Hari K K Subramanian
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
| | - Brandon K Roark
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. and The Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Kirill A Afonin
- Nanoscale Science Program, Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA. and The Center for Biomedical Engineering and Science, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28223, USA
| | - Elisa Franco
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA 92521, USA.
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46
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Ganesh S, Koser ML, Cyr WA, Chopda GR, Tao J, Shui X, Ying B, Chen D, Pandya P, Chipumuro E, Siddiquee Z, Craig K, Lai C, Dudek H, Monga SP, Wang W, Brown BD, Abrams MT. Direct Pharmacological Inhibition of β-Catenin by RNA Interference in Tumors of Diverse Origin. Mol Cancer Ther 2016; 15:2143-54. [PMID: 27390343 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-16-0309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is among the most frequently altered signaling networks in human cancers. Despite decades of preclinical and clinical research, efficient therapeutic targeting of Wnt/β-catenin has been elusive. RNA interference (RNAi) technology silences genes at the mRNA level and therefore can be applied to previously undruggable targets. Lipid nanoparticles (LNP) represent an elegant solution for the delivery of RNAi-triggering oligonucleotides to disease-relevant tissues, but have been mostly restricted to applications in the liver. In this study, we systematically tuned the composition of a prototype LNP to enable tumor-selective delivery of a Dicer-substrate siRNA (DsiRNA) targeting CTNNB1, the gene encoding β-catenin. This formulation, termed EnCore-R, demonstrated pharmacodynamic activity in subcutaneous human tumor xenografts, orthotopic patient-derived xenograft (PDX) tumors, disseminated hematopoietic tumors, genetically induced primary liver tumors, metastatic colorectal tumors, and murine metastatic melanoma. DsiRNA delivery was homogeneous in tumor sections, selective over normal liver and independent of apolipoprotein-E binding. Significant tumor growth inhibition was achieved in Wnt-dependent colorectal and hepatocellular carcinoma models, but not in Wnt-independent tumors. Finally, no evidence of accelerated blood clearance or sustained liver transaminase elevation was observed after repeated dosing in nonhuman primates. These data support further investigation to gain mechanistic insight, optimize dose regimens, and identify efficacious combinations with standard-of-care therapeutics. Mol Cancer Ther; 15(9); 2143-54. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanthi Ganesh
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts.
| | | | - Wendy A Cyr
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Junyan Tao
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh
| | - Xue Shui
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Bo Ying
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Dongyu Chen
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Purva Pandya
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | | | - Kevin Craig
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Chengjung Lai
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Henryk Dudek
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | | | - Weimin Wang
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Bob D Brown
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
| | - Marc T Abrams
- Dicerna Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts
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Bégin-Lavallée V, Midavaine É, Dansereau MA, Tétreault P, Longpré JM, Jacobi AM, Rose SD, Behlke MA, Beaudet N, Sarret P. Functional inhibition of chemokine receptor CCR2 by dicer-substrate-siRNA prevents pain development. Mol Pain 2016; 12:12/0/1744806916653969. [PMID: 27306408 PMCID: PMC4956154 DOI: 10.1177/1744806916653969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Accumulating evidence suggests that the C-C chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2, or monocyte chemoattractant protein 1) acts as a neuromodulator in the central nervous system through its binding to the C-C chemokine receptor 2 (CCR2). Notably, it is well established that the CCL2/CCR2 axis plays a key role in neuron-glia communication as well as in spinal nociceptive transmission. Gene silencing through RNA interference has recently emerged as a promising avenue in research and drug development, including therapeutic management of chronic pain. In the present study, we used 27-mer Dicer-substrate small interfering RNA (DsiRNA) targeting CCR2 and assessed their ability to reverse the nociceptive behaviors induced by spinal CCL2 injection or following intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant. RESULTS To this end, we first developed high-potency DsiRNAs designed to target different sequences distributed across the rat CCR2 (rCCR2) messenger RNA. For optimization, methyl groups were added to the two most potent DsiRNA candidates (Evader and M7 2'-O-methyl modified duplexes) in order to improve in vivo duplex stability and to reduce potential immunostimulatory activity. Our results demonstrated that all modified candidates formulated with the cell-penetrating peptide reagent Transductin showed strong RNAi activity following intrathecal delivery, exhibiting >50% rCCR2 knockdown in lumbar dorsal root ganglia. Accordingly, we found that these DsiRNA duplexes were able to reduce spinal microglia activation and were effective at blocking CCL2-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. Along with similar reductions of rCCR2 messenger RNA, both sequences and methylation patterns were similarly effective in inhibiting the CCL2 nociceptive action for the whole seven days testing period, compared to mismatch DsiRNA. DsiRNAs against CCR2 also reversed the hypernociceptive responses observed in the complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammatory chronic pain model. CONCLUSION Altogether, these results validate CCR2 as a an appropriate molecular target for pain control and demonstrate that RNAi-based gene therapy represent an highly specific alternative to classical pharmacological approaches to treat central pathologies such as chronic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Bégin-Lavallée
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
- Philippe Sarret, Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, 3001, 12th Avenue North, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada.
| | - Élora Midavaine
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Marc-André Dansereau
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Pascal Tétreault
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-Michel Longpré
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | | | - Scott D Rose
- Integrated DNA Technologies Inc, Coralville, IA, USA
| | - Mark A Behlke
- Integrated DNA Technologies Inc, Coralville, IA, USA
| | - Nicolas Beaudet
- Department of Anesthesiology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
| | - Philippe Sarret
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Institut de Pharmacologie de Sherbrooke, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
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Afonin KA, Viard M, Tedbury P, Bindewald E, Parlea L, Howington M, Valdman M, Johns-Boehme A, Brainerd C, Freed EO, Shapiro BA. The Use of Minimal RNA Toeholds to Trigger the Activation of Multiple Functionalities. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:1746-53. [PMID: 26926382 PMCID: PMC6345527 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b04676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Current work reports the use of single-stranded RNA toeholds of different lengths to promote the reassociation of various RNA-DNA hybrids, which results in activation of multiple split functionalities inside human cells. The process of reassociation is analyzed and followed with a novel computational multistrand secondary structure prediction algorithm and various experiments. All of our previously designed RNA/DNA nanoparticles employed single-stranded DNA toeholds to initiate reassociation. The use of RNA toeholds is advantageous because of the simpler design rules, the shorter toeholds, and the smaller size of the resulting nanoparticles (by up to 120 nucleotides per particle) compared to the same hybrid nanoparticles with single-stranded DNA toeholds. Moreover, the cotranscriptional assemblies result in higher yields for hybrid nanoparticles with ssRNA toeholds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirill A. Afonin
- Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
| | - Mathias Viard
- Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Philip Tedbury
- HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Eckart Bindewald
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Lorena Parlea
- Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Marshall Howington
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
| | - Melissa Valdman
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
| | - Alizah Johns-Boehme
- Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Cara Brainerd
- Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Eric O. Freed
- HIV Dynamics and Replication Program, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Bruce A. Shapiro
- Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
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49
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Bindewald E, Afonin KA, Viard M, Zakrevsky P, Kim T, Shapiro BA. Multistrand Structure Prediction of Nucleic Acid Assemblies and Design of RNA Switches. NANO LETTERS 2016; 16:1726-35. [PMID: 26926528 PMCID: PMC6319913 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.5b04651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
RNA is an attractive material for the creation of molecular logic gates that release programmed functionalities only in the presence of specific molecular interaction partners. Here we present HyperFold, a multistrand RNA/DNA structure prediction approach for predicting nucleic acid complexes that can contain pseudoknots. We show that HyperFold also performs competitively compared to other published folding algorithms. We performed a large variety of RNA/DNA hybrid reassociation experiments for different concentrations, DNA toehold lengths, and G+C content and find that the observed tendencies for reassociation correspond well to computational predictions. Importantly, we apply this method to the design and experimental verification of a two-stranded RNA molecular switch that upon binding to a single-stranded RNA toehold disease-marker trigger mRNA changes its conformation releasing an shRNA-like Dicer substrate structure. To demonstrate the concept, connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) mRNA and enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) mRNA were chosen as trigger and target sequences, respectively. In vitro experiments confirm the formation of an RNA switch and demonstrate that the functional unit is being released when the trigger RNA interacts with the switch toehold. The designed RNA switch is shown to be functional in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells. Several other switches were also designed and tested. We conclude that this approach has considerable potential because, in principle, it allows the release of an siRNA designed against a gene that differs from the gene that is utilized as a biomarker for a disease state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eckart Bindewald
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Kirill A. Afonin
- Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
- Department of Chemistry, University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, North Carolina 28223, United States
| | - Mathias Viard
- Basic Science Program, Leidos Biomedical Research, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Paul Zakrevsky
- Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Taejin Kim
- Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
| | - Bruce A. Shapiro
- Gene Regulation and Chromosome Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland 21702, United States
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Tchurikov NA, Fedoseeva DM, Gashnikova NM, Sosin DV, Gorbacheva MA, Alembekov IR, Chechetkin VR, Kravatsky YV, Kretova OV. Conserved sequences in the current strains of HIV-1 subtype A in Russia are effectively targeted by artificial RNAi in vitro. Gene 2016; 583:78-83. [PMID: 26947394 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2015] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Highly active antiretroviral therapy has greatly reduced the morbidity and mortality of AIDS. However, many of the antiretroviral drugs are toxic with long-term use, and all currently used anti-HIV agents generate drug-resistant mutants. Therefore, there is a great need for new approaches to AIDS therapy. RNAi is a powerful means of inhibiting HIV-1 production in human cells. We propose to use RNAi for gene therapy of HIV/AIDS. Previously we identified a number of new biologically active siRNAs targeting several moderately conserved regions in HIV-1 transcripts. Here we analyze the heterogeneity of nucleotide sequences in three RNAi targets in sequences encoding the reverse transcriptase and integrase domains of current isolates of HIV-1 subtype A in Russia. These data were used to generate genetic constructs expressing short hairpin RNAs 28-30-bp in length that could be processed in cells into siRNAs. After transfection of the constructs we observed siRNAs that efficiently attacked the selected targets. We expect that targeting several viral genes important for HIV-1 reproduction will help overcome the problem of viral adaptation and will prevent the appearance of RNAi escape mutants in current virus strains, an important feature of gene therapy of HIV/AIDS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dmitri V Sosin
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | | | | | | | - Yuri V Kravatsky
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Moscow 119334, Russia
| | - Olga V Kretova
- Engelhardt Institute of Molecular Biology, Moscow 119334, Russia
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