1
|
Arnold CR, Mangesius J, Portnaia I, Ganswindt U, Wolff HA. Innovative therapeutic strategies to overcome radioresistance in breast cancer. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1379986. [PMID: 38873260 PMCID: PMC11169591 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1379986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite a comparatively favorable prognosis relative to other malignancies, breast cancer continues to significantly impact women's health globally, partly due to its high incidence rate. A critical factor in treatment failure is radiation resistance - the capacity of tumor cells to withstand high doses of ionizing radiation. Advancements in understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying radioresistance, coupled with enhanced characterization of radioresistant cell clones, are paving the way for the development of novel treatment modalities that hold potential for future clinical application. In the context of combating radioresistance in breast cancer, potential targets of interest include long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), micro RNAs (miRNAs), and their associated signaling pathways, along with other signal transduction routes amenable to pharmacological intervention. Furthermore, technical, and methodological innovations, such as the integration of hyperthermia or nanoparticles with radiotherapy, have the potential to enhance treatment responses in patients with radioresistant breast cancer. This review endeavors to provide a comprehensive survey of the current scientific landscape, focusing on novel therapeutic advancements specifically addressing radioresistant breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Julian Mangesius
- Department of Radiation-Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Iana Portnaia
- Department of Internal Medicine II, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ute Ganswindt
- Department of Radiation-Oncology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Hendrik Andreas Wolff
- Department of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, and Radiotherapy, Radiology Munich, Munich, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Aman R, Syed MM, Saleh A, Melliti F, Gundra S, Wang Q, Marsic T, Mahas A, Mahfouz M. Peptide nucleic acid-assisted generation of targeted double-stranded DNA breaks with T7 endonuclease I. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:3469-3482. [PMID: 38421613 PMCID: PMC11014363 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene-editing technologies have revolutionized biotechnology, but current gene editors suffer from several limitations. Here, we harnessed the power of gamma-modified peptide nucleic acids (γPNAs) to facilitate targeted, specific DNA invasion and used T7 endonuclease I (T7EI) to recognize and cleave the γPNA-invaded DNA. Our data show that T7EI can specifically target PNA-invaded linear and circular DNA to introduce double-strand breaks (DSBs). Our PNA-Guided T7EI (PG-T7EI) technology demonstrates that T7EI can be used as a programmable nuclease capable of generating single or multiple specific DSBs in vitro under a broad range of conditions and could be potentially applied for large-scale genomic manipulation. With no protospacer adjacent motif (PAM) constraints and featuring a compact protein size, our PG-T7EI system will facilitate and expand DNA manipulations both in vitro and in vivo, including cloning, large-fragment DNA assembly, and gene editing, with exciting applications in biotechnology, medicine, agriculture, and synthetic biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rashid Aman
- Laboratory for Genome Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muntjeeb M Syed
- Laboratory for Genome Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Saleh
- Laboratory for Genome Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Firdaws Melliti
- Laboratory for Genome Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sivakrishna Rao Gundra
- Laboratory for Genome Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Qiaochu Wang
- Laboratory for Genome Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tin Marsic
- Laboratory for Genome Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Mahas
- Laboratory for Genome Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Genetics, Harvard University, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Magdy M Mahfouz
- Laboratory for Genome Engineering and Synthetic Biology, Division of Biological Sciences, 4700 King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Del Bene A, D'Aniello A, Tomassi S, Merlino F, Mazzarella V, Russo R, Chambery A, Cosconati S, Di Maro S, Messere A. Ultrasound-assisted Peptide Nucleic Acids synthesis (US-PNAS). ULTRASONICS SONOCHEMISTRY 2023; 95:106360. [PMID: 36913782 PMCID: PMC10024050 DOI: 10.1016/j.ultsonch.2023.106360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Herein, we developed an innovative and easily accessible solid-phase synthetic protocol for Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) oligomers by systematically investigating the ultrasonication effects in all steps of the PNA synthesis (US-PNAS). When compared with standard protocols, the application of the so-obtained US-PNAS approach succeeded in improving the crude product purities and the isolated yields of different PNA, including small or medium-sized oligomers (5-mer and 9-mer), complex purine-rich sequences (like a 5-mer Guanine homoligomer and the telomeric sequence TEL-13) and longer oligomers (such as the 18-mer anti-IVS2-654 PNA and the 23-mer anti-mRNA 155 PNA). Noteworthy, our ultrasound-assisted strategy is compatible with the commercially available PNA monomers and well-established coupling reagents and only requires the use of an ultrasonic bath, which is a simple equipment generally available in most synthetic laboratories.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Del Bene
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Antonia D'Aniello
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Stefano Tomassi
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Francesco Merlino
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples "Federico II", 80131 Naples, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Mazzarella
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Rosita Russo
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Angela Chambery
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Sandro Cosconati
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy
| | - Salvatore Di Maro
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy.
| | - Anna Messere
- Department of Environmental, Biological and Pharmaceutical Science and Technology, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 81100 Caserta, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shaharyar MA, Bhowmik R, Al-Abbasi FA, AlGhamdi SA, Alghamdi AM, Sarkar A, Kazmi I, Karmakar S. Vaccine Formulation Strategies and Challenges Involved in RNA Delivery for Modulating Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Race from Laboratory to Market. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:vaccines11020241. [PMID: 36851119 PMCID: PMC9963957 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11020241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
It has been demonstrated that noncoding RNAs have significant physiological and pathological roles. Modulation of noncoding RNAs may offer therapeutic approaches as per recent findings. Small RNAs, mostly long noncoding RNAs, siRNA, and microRNAs make up noncoding RNAs. Inhibiting or promoting protein breakdown by binding to 3' untranslated regions of target mRNA, microRNAs post-transcriptionally control the pattern of gene expression. Contrarily, long non-coding RNAs perform a wider range of tasks, including serving as molecular scaffolding, decoys, and epigenetic regulators. This article provides instances of long noncoding RNAs and microRNAs that may be a biomarker of CVD (cardiovascular disease). In this paper we highlight various RNA-based vaccine formulation strategies designed to target these biomarkers-that are either currently in the research pipeline or are in the global pharmaceutical market-along with the physiological hurdles that need to be overcome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Md. Adil Shaharyar
- Bioequivalence Study Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Rudranil Bhowmik
- Bioequivalence Study Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Fahad A. Al-Abbasi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shareefa A. AlGhamdi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Experimental Biochemistry Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amira M. Alghamdi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arnab Sarkar
- Bioequivalence Study Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India
| | - Imran Kazmi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (I.K.); (S.K.); Tel.: +966-543970731 (I.K.); +91-8017136385 (S.K.)
| | - Sanmoy Karmakar
- Bioequivalence Study Centre, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, West Bengal, India
- Correspondence: (I.K.); (S.K.); Tel.: +966-543970731 (I.K.); +91-8017136385 (S.K.)
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Clausse V, Zheng H, Amarasekara H, Kruhlak M, Appella DH. Thyclotides, tetrahydrofuran-modified peptide nucleic acids that efficiently penetrate cells and inhibit microRNA-21. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10839-10856. [PMID: 36215040 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are promising therapeutic molecules for gene modulation; however, they suffer from poor cell uptake. Delivery of PNAs into cells requires conjugation of the PNA to another large molecule, typically a cell-penetrating peptide or nanoparticle. In this study, we describe a new PNA-based molecule with cyclic tetrahydrofuran (THF) backbone modifications that in some cases considerably improve cell uptake. We refer to these THF-PNA oligomers as thyclotides. With THF groups at every position of the oligomer, the cell uptake of thyclotides targeted to miR-21 is enhanced compared with the corresponding unmodified PNA based on an aminoethylglycine backbone. An optimized thyclotide can efficiently enter cells without the use of cell-penetrating peptides, bind miR-21, its designated microRNA target, decrease expression of miR-21 and increase expression of three downstream targets (PTEN, Cdc25a and KRIT1). Using a plasmid with the PTEN-3'UTR coupled with luciferase, we further confirmed that a miR-21-targeted thyclotide prevents miR-21 from binding to its target RNA. Additionally, the thyclotide shows no cytotoxicity when administered at 200 times its active concentration. We propose that thyclotides be further explored as therapeutic candidates to modulate miRNA levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor Clausse
- Synthetic Bioactive Molecules Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hongchao Zheng
- Synthetic Bioactive Molecules Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Harsha Amarasekara
- Synthetic Bioactive Molecules Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michael Kruhlak
- Microscopy Core Facility, Center for Cancer Research, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Daniel H Appella
- Synthetic Bioactive Molecules Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Shi H, Yin Z, Koronyo Y, Fuchs DT, Sheyn J, Davis MR, Wilson JW, Margeta MA, Pitts KM, Herron S, Ikezu S, Ikezu T, Graham SL, Gupta VK, Black KL, Mirzaei M, Butovsky O, Koronyo-Hamaoui M. Regulating microglial miR-155 transcriptional phenotype alleviates Alzheimer's-induced retinal vasculopathy by limiting Clec7a/Galectin-3 + neurodegenerative microglia. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2022; 10:136. [PMID: 36076283 PMCID: PMC9461176 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-022-01439-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Single cell RNA sequencing studies identified novel neurodegeneration-associated microglial (MGnD/DAM) subtypes activated around cerebral amyloid plaques. Micro-RNA (miR)-155 of the TREM2-APOE pathway was shown to be a key transcriptional regulator of MGnD microglial phenotype. Despite growing interest in studying manifestations of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in the retina, a CNS organ accessible to noninvasive high-resolution imaging, to date MGnD microglia have not been studied in the AD retina. Here, we discovered the presence and increased populations of Clec7a+ and Galectin-3+ MGnD microglia in retinas of transgenic APPSWE/PS1L166P AD-model mice. Conditionally targeting MGnD microglia by miR-155 ablation via the tamoxifen-inducible CreERT2 system in APPSWE/PS1L166P mice diminished retinal Clec7a+ and Galectin-3+ microglial populations while increasing homeostatic P2ry12+ microglia. Retinal MGnD microglia were often adhering to microvessels; their depletion protected the inner blood-retina barrier and reduced vascular amyloidosis. Microglial miR-155 depletion further limits retinal inflammation. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed enhanced retinal PI3K-Akt signaling and predicted IL-8 and Spp1 decreases in mice with microglia-specific miR-155 knockout. Overall, this study identified MGnD microglia in APPSWE/PS1L166P mouse retina. Transcriptional regulation of these dysfunctional microglia mitigated retinal inflammation and vasculopathy. The protective effects of microglial miR-155 ablation should shed light on potential treatments for retinal inflammation and vascular damage during AD and other ocular diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haoshen Shi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, A6212, USA
| | - Zhuoran Yin
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yosef Koronyo
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, A6212, USA
| | - Dieu-Trang Fuchs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, A6212, USA
| | - Julia Sheyn
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, A6212, USA
| | - Miyah R Davis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, A6212, USA
| | - Jered W Wilson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, A6212, USA
| | - Milica A Margeta
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristen M Pitts
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Shawn Herron
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Seiko Ikezu
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Tsuneya Ikezu
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic Florida, Jacksonville, FL, USA
| | - Stuart L Graham
- Department of Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Vivek K Gupta
- Department of Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Keith L Black
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, A6212, USA
| | - Mehdi Mirzaei
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Department of Molecular Sciences and Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Oleg Butovsky
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Evergrande Center for Immunologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maya Koronyo-Hamaoui
- Department of Neurosurgery, Maxine Dunitz Neurosurgical Research Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, 127 S. San Vicente Blvd., Los Angeles, CA, A6212, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Division of Applied Cell Biology and Physiology, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Kara G, Arun B, Calin GA, Ozpolat B. miRacle of microRNA-Driven Cancer Nanotherapeutics. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14153818. [PMID: 35954481 PMCID: PMC9367393 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14153818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The discovery of microRNAs has revolutionized the world of science and opened up new opportunities in cancer treatment. miRNA dysregulation plays a crucial role in carcinogenesis processes, such as invasion, metastasis, and angiogenesis, in a broad range of cancers. Although the use of miRNA therapy in cancer treatment is promising, its effective and safe application remains one of the most important challenges hindering its clinical use. Novel nanoparticles continue to be developed and used to enable tumor-targeted miRNA delivery. The aim of the present review is to provide insights into the strategies for miRNA-based therapeutics in cancer, focusing on recent in vivo and clinical studies that have used nanoparticles for miRNA delivery. Abstract MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-protein-coding RNA molecules 20–25 nucleotides in length that can suppress the expression of genes involved in numerous physiological processes in cells. Accumulating evidence has shown that dysregulation of miRNA expression is related to the pathogenesis of various human diseases and cancers. Thus, stragegies involving either restoring the expression of tumor suppressor miRNAs or inhibiting overexpressed oncogenic miRNAs hold potential for targeted cancer therapies. However, delivery of miRNAs to tumor tissues is a challenging task. Recent advances in nanotechnology have enabled successful tumor-targeted delivery of miRNA therapeutics through newly designed nanoparticle-based carrier systems. As a result, miRNA therapeutics have entered human clinical trials with promising results, and they are expected to accelerate the transition of miRNAs from the bench to the bedside in the next decade. Here, we present recent perspectives and the newest developments, describing several engineered natural and synthetic novel miRNA nanocarrier formulations and their key in vivo applications and clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Goknur Kara
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Biochemistry Division, Ordu University, Ordu 52200, Turkey
| | - Banu Arun
- Department of Breast Medical Oncology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - George A. Calin
- Department of Translational Molecular Pathology, MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Bulent Ozpolat
- Department of Nanomedicine, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Exosomal and Non-Exosomal MicroRNAs: New Kids on the Block for Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094493. [PMID: 35562884 PMCID: PMC9104172 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Revised: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs have been projected as promising tools for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in cancer. More recently, they have been highlighted as RNA therapeutic targets for cancer therapy. Though miRs perform a generic function of post-transcriptional gene regulation, their utility in RNA therapeutics mostly relies on their biochemical nature and their assembly with other macromolecules. Release of extracellular miRs is broadly categorized into two different compositions, namely exosomal (extracellular vesicles) and non-exosomal. This nature of miRs not only affects the uptake into target cells but also poses a challenge and opportunity for RNA therapeutics in cancer. By virtue of their ability to act as mediators of intercellular communication in the tumor microenvironment, extracellular miRs perform both, depending upon the target cell and target landscape, pro- and anti-tumor functions. Tumor-derived miRs mostly perform pro-tumor functions, whereas host cell- or stroma-derived miRs are involved in anti-tumor activities. This review deals with the recent understanding of exosomal and non-exosomal miRs in the tumor microenvironment, as a tool for pro- and anti-tumor activity and prospective exploit options for cancer therapy.
Collapse
|
9
|
Brodyagin N, Kataoka Y, Kumpina I, McGee DW, Rozners E. Cellular uptake of 2-aminopyridine-modified peptide nucleic acids conjugated with cell-penetrating peptides. Biopolymers 2021; 113:e23484. [PMID: 34914092 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 11/30/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been extensively used to deliver peptide nucleic acid (PNA) in cells. We have previously found that replacement of cytosine in triplex-forming PNAs with 2-aminopyridine (M) not only enhanced RNA binding, but also improved cellular uptake of PNAs. In this study, we used confocal fluorescence microscopy to evaluate the ability of CPPs to further improve cellular uptake of M-modified PNAs. We found that PNAs conjugated with Tat and octa-arginine peptides were effectively taken up in MCF7 cells when supplied in cell media at 1 μM. Remarkably, M-modified PNA without any CPP conjugation also showed strong uptake when the concentration was increased to 5 μM. Majority of PNA conjugates remained localized in distinct cytoplasmic vesicles, as judged by dot-like fluorescence patterns. However, M-modified PNAs conjugated with Tat, octa-arginine, and even a simple tri-lysine peptide also showed dispersed fluorescence in cytoplasm and were taken up in nuclei where they localized in larger vesicles, most likely nucleoli. Endosomolytic peptides or chemicals (chloroquine and CaCl2 ) did not release the conjugates from cytosolic vesicles, which suggested that the PNAs were not entrapped in endosomes. We hypothesize that M-modified PNAs escape endosomes and accumulate in cellular compartments rich in RNA, such as nucleoli, stress granules, and P-bodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Brodyagin
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, The State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Yuka Kataoka
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, The State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Ilze Kumpina
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, The State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Dennis W McGee
- Department of Biological Sciences, Binghamton University, The State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, USA
| | - Eriks Rozners
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, The State University of New York, Binghamton, New York, USA
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Novel approaches in cancer treatment: preclinical and clinical development of small non-coding RNA therapeutics. J Exp Clin Cancer Res 2021; 40:383. [PMID: 34863235 PMCID: PMC8642961 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-021-02193-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Short or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNA (miRNAs) are molecules similar in size and function able to inhibit gene expression based on their complementarity with mRNA sequences, inducing the degradation of the transcript or the inhibition of their translation. siRNAs bind specifically to a single gene location by sequence complementarity and regulate gene expression by specifically targeting transcription units via posttranscriptional gene silencing. miRNAs can regulate the expression of different gene targets through their imperfect base pairing. This process - known as RNA interference (RNAi) - modulates transcription in order to maintain a correct physiological environment, playing a role in almost the totality of the cellular pathways. siRNAs have been evolutionary evolved for the protection of genome integrity in response to exogenous and invasive nucleic acids such as transgenes or transposons. Artificial siRNAs are widely used in molecular biology for transient silencing of genes of interest. This strategy allows to inhibit the expression of any target protein of known sequence and is currently used for the treatment of different human diseases including cancer. Modifications and rearrangements in gene regions encoding for miRNAs have been found in cancer cells, and specific miRNA expression profiles characterize the developmental lineage and the differentiation state of the tumor. miRNAs with different expression patterns in tumors have been reported as oncogenes (oncomirs) or tumor-suppressors (anti-oncomirs). RNA modulation has become important in cancer research not only for development of early and easy diagnosis tools but also as a promising novel therapeutic approach. Despite the emerging discoveries supporting the role of miRNAs in carcinogenesis and their and siRNAs possible use in therapy, a series of concerns regarding their development, delivery and side effects have arisen. In this review we report the biology of miRNAs and siRNAs in relation to cancer summarizing the recent methods described to use them as novel therapeutic drugs and methods to specifically deliver them to cancer cells and overcome the limitations in the use of these molecules.
Collapse
|
11
|
MicroRNA as a Potential Biomarker and Treatment Strategy for Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury. Int J Genomics 2021; 2021:9098145. [PMID: 34845433 PMCID: PMC8627352 DOI: 10.1155/2021/9098145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Accepted: 11/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury is a progressive injury that aggravates the pathological state when the organ tissue restores blood supply after a certain period of ischemia, including the myocardial, brain, liver, kidney, and intestinal. With growing evidence that microRNAs (miRNAs) play an important role as posttranscription gene silencing mediators in many I/R injury, in this review, we highlight the microRNAs that are related to I/R injury and their regulatory molecular pathways. In addition, we discussed the potential role of miRNA as a biomarker and its role as a target in I/R injury treatment. Developing miRNAs are not without its challenges, but prudent design combined with existing clinical treatments will result in more effective therapies for I/R injury. This review is aimed at providing new research results obtained in this research field. It is hoped that new research on this topic will not only generate new insights into the pathophysiology of miRNA in I/R injury but also can provide a basis for the clinical application of miRNA in I/R.
Collapse
|
12
|
Host miRNA and immune cell interactions: relevance in nano-therapeutics for human health. Immunol Res 2021; 70:1-18. [PMID: 34716546 DOI: 10.1007/s12026-021-09247-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Around 2200 miRNA (microRNA) genes were found in the human genome. miRNAs are arranged in clusters within the genome and share the same transcriptional regulatory units. It has been revealed that approximately 50% of miRNAs elucidated in the genome are transcribed from non-protein-coding genes, and the leftover miRNAs are present in the introns of coding sequences. We are now approaching a stage in which miRNA diagnostics and therapies can be established confidently, and several commercial efforts are underway to carry these innovations from the bench to the clinic. MiRNAs control many of the significant cellular activities such as production, differentiation, growth, and metabolism. Particularly in the immune system, miRNAs have emerged as a crucial biological component during diseased state and homeostasis. miRNAs have been found to regulate inflammatory responses and autoimmune disorders. Moreover, each miRNA targets multiple genes simultaneously, making miRNAs promising tools as diagnostic biomarkers and as remedial targets. Still, one of the major obstacles in miRNA-based approaches is the achievement of specific and efficient systemic delivery of miRNAs. To overcome these challenges, nanoformulations have been synthesized to protect miRNAs from degradation and enhance cellular uptake. The current review deals with the miRNA-mediated regulation of the recruitment and activation of immune cells, especially in the tumor microenvironment, viral infection, inflammation, and autoimmunity. The nano-based miRNA delivery modes are also discussed here, especially in the context of immune modulation.
Collapse
|
13
|
Zhan X, Deng L, Chen G. Mechanisms and applications of peptide nucleic acids selectively binding to double-stranded RNA. Biopolymers 2021; 113:e23476. [PMID: 34581432 DOI: 10.1002/bip.23476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
RNAs form secondary structures containing double-stranded base paired regions and single-stranded regions. Probing, detecting and modulating RNA structures and dynamics requires the development of molecular sensors that can differentiate the sequence and structure of RNAs present in viruses and cells, as well as in extracellular space. In this review, we summarize the recent progress on the development of chemically modified peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) for the selective recognition of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) sequences over both single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) sequences. We also briefly discuss the applications of sequence-specific dsRNA-binding PNAs in sensing and stabilizing dsRNA structures and inhibiting dsRNA-protein interactions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Zhan
- School of Life and Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liping Deng
- School of Life and Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| | - Gang Chen
- School of Life and Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, China
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Rastgar Rezaei Y, Zarezadeh R, Nikanfar S, Oghbaei H, Nazdikbin N, Bahrami-Asl Z, Zarghami N, Ahmadi Y, Fattahi A, Nouri M, Dittrich R. microRNAs in the pathogenesis of non-obstructive azoospermia: the underlying mechanisms and therapeutic potentials. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2021; 67:337-353. [PMID: 34355990 DOI: 10.1080/19396368.2021.1951890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
miRNAs are involved in different biological processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Interestingly, 38% of the X chromosome-linked miRNAs are testis-specific and have crucial roles in regulating the renewal and cell cycle of spermatogonial stem cells. Previous studies demonstrated that abnormal expression of spermatogenesis-related miRNAs could lead to nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA). Moreover, differential miRNAs expression in seminal plasma of NOA patients has been reported compared to normozoospermic men. However, the role of miRNAs in NOA pathogenesis and the underlying mechanisms have not been comprehensively studied. Therefore, the aim of this review is to mechanistically describe the role of miRNAs in the pathogenesis of NOA and discuss the possibility of using the miRNAs as therapeutic targets.Abbreviations: AMO: anti-miRNA antisense oligonucleotide; AZF: azoospermia factor region; CDK: cyclin-dependent kinase; DAZ: deleted in azoospermia; ESCs: embryonic stem cells; FSH: follicle-stimulating hormone; ICSI: intracytoplasmic sperm injection; JAK/STAT: Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription; miRNA: micro-RNA; MLH1: Human mutL homolog l; NF-κB: Nuclear factor-kappa B; NOA: nonobstructive azoospermia; OA: obstructive azoospermia; PGCs: primordial germ cells; PI3K/AKT: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase B; Rb: retinoblastoma tumor suppressor; ROS: Reactive Oxygen Species; SCOS: Sertoli cell-only syndrome; SIRT: sirtuin; SNPs: single nucleotide polymorphisms; SSCs: spermatogonial stem cells; TESE: testicular sperm extraction; TGF-β: transforming growth factor-beta.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeganeh Rastgar Rezaei
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Reza Zarezadeh
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Saba Nikanfar
- Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Hajar Oghbaei
- Department of Physiology, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Zahra Bahrami-Asl
- Women's Reproductive Health Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Nosratollah Zarghami
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Yadollah Ahmadi
- Department of Urology, Sina Hospital, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir Fattahi
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Reproductive Biology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Mohammad Nouri
- Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.,Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ralf Dittrich
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Erlangen University Hospital, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Brodyagin N, Katkevics M, Kotikam V, Ryan CA, Rozners E. Chemical approaches to discover the full potential of peptide nucleic acids in biomedical applications. Beilstein J Org Chem 2021; 17:1641-1688. [PMID: 34367346 PMCID: PMC8313981 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.17.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) is arguably one of the most successful DNA mimics, despite a most dramatic departure from the native structure of DNA. The present review summarizes 30 years of research on PNA's chemistry, optimization of structure and function, applications as probes and diagnostics, and attempts to develop new PNA therapeutics. The discussion starts with a brief review of PNA's binding modes and structural features, followed by the most impactful chemical modifications, PNA enabled assays and diagnostics, and discussion of the current state of development of PNA therapeutics. While many modifications have improved on PNA's binding affinity and specificity, solubility and other biophysical properties, the original PNA is still most frequently used in diagnostic and other in vitro applications. Development of therapeutics and other in vivo applications of PNA has notably lagged behind and is still limited by insufficient bioavailability and difficulties with tissue specific delivery. Relatively high doses are required to overcome poor cellular uptake and endosomal entrapment, which increases the risk of toxicity. These limitations remain unsolved problems waiting for innovative chemistry and biology to unlock the full potential of PNA in biomedical applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Brodyagin
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, The State University of New York, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Martins Katkevics
- Latvian Institute of Organic Synthesis, Aizkraukles 21, Riga, LV-1006, Latvia
| | - Venubabu Kotikam
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, The State University of New York, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Christopher A Ryan
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, The State University of New York, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| | - Eriks Rozners
- Department of Chemistry, Binghamton University, The State University of New York, Binghamton, New York 13902, United States
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Zurlo M, Romagnoli R, Oliva P, Gasparello J, Finotti A, Gambari R. Synergistic effects of the combined treatment of U251 and T98G glioma cells with an anti‑tubulin tetrahydrothieno[2,3‑c]pyridine derivative and a peptide nucleic acid targeting miR‑221‑3p. Int J Oncol 2021; 59:61. [PMID: 34278445 PMCID: PMC8295028 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2021.5241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the development of novel and more effective anti-cancer approaches, combined treatments appear to be of great interest, based on the possibility of obtaining relevant biological or therapeutic effects using lower concentrations of single drugs. Combination therapy may prove to be of utmost significance in the management of glioblastoma (GBM), a lethal malignancy that accounts for 42% of cancer cases of the central nervous system, with a median survival rate of 15 months. As regards novel therapeutic approaches, the authors have recently demonstrated that peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) that target microRNA (miRNA/miR)-221 are very active in inducing the apoptosis of glioma cells. Furthermore, in a recent study, the authors described two novel series of tubulin polymerization inhibitors based on the 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothieno[2,3-c]pyridine and 4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzo[b]thiophene scaffold, which exerted a potent anti-proliferative effect on a variety of tumor cell lines. The present study aimed to verify the activity on glioblastoma cancer cell lines of one of the most active compounds tested, corresponding to 2-(3′, 4′, 5′-trimethoxyanilino)-3-cyano/alkoxycarbonyl-6-substituted-4 5,6,7-tetrahydrothiene[2,3-c] pyridine (compound 3b), used in combination with an anti-miR-221-3p PNA, already demonstrated to be able to induce high levels of apoptosis. To the best of our knowledge, the results obtained herein demonstrate for the first time a 'combination therapy' performed by the combined use of a PNA targeting miR-221 and the tetrahydrothiene[2,3-c]pyridine derivative 3b, supporting the concept that the combined treatment of GBM cells with a PNA against a specific upregulated oncomiRNA (in the present study a PNA targeting miR-221-3p was used) and anti-tubulin agents (in the present study derivative 3b was used) is an encouraging strategy which may be used to enhance the efficacy of anticancer therapies and at the same time, to reduce side-effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Zurlo
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, I‑44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Romeo Romagnoli
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, Ferrara University, I‑44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Paola Oliva
- Department of Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Agricultural Sciences, Ferrara University, I‑44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Jessica Gasparello
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, I‑44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessia Finotti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, I‑44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberto Gambari
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Ferrara University, I‑44121 Ferrara, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Liang X, Liu M, Komiyama M. Recognition of Target Site in Various Forms of DNA and RNA by Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA): From Fundamentals to Practical Applications. BULLETIN OF THE CHEMICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN 2021. [DOI: 10.1246/bcsj.20210086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xingguo Liang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, P. R. China
- Laboratory for Marine Drugs and Bioproducts of Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Qingdao 266235, P. R. China
| | - Mengqin Liu
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, P. R. China
| | - Makoto Komiyama
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266003, P. R. China
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Fasoulakis Z, Daskalakis G, Diakosavvas M, Papapanagiotou I, Theodora M, Bourazan A, Alatzidou D, Pagkalos A, Kontomanolis EN. MicroRNAs Determining Carcinogenesis by Regulating Oncogenes and Tumor Suppressor Genes During Cell Cycle. Microrna 2021; 9:82-92. [PMID: 31538910 PMCID: PMC7366009 DOI: 10.2174/2211536608666190919161849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AIM To provide a review considering microRNAs regulating oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes during the different stages of cell cycle, controlling carcinogenesis. METHODS The role of microRNAs involved as oncogenes' and tumor suppressor genes' regulators in cancer was searched in the relevant available literature in MEDLINE, including terms such as "microRNA", "oncogenes", "tumor suppressor genes", "metastasis", "cancer" and others. RESULTS MicroRNAs determine the expression levels of multiple cell cycle regulators, such as cyclins, cyclin dependent kinases and other major cell cycle activators including retinoblastoma 1 (RB- 1) and p53, resulting in alteration and promotion/inhibition of the cell cycle. CONCLUSION MicroRNAs are proven to have a key role in cancer pathophysiology by altering the expression profile of different regulator proteins during cell division cycle and DNA replication. Thus, by acting as oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, they can either promote or inhibit cancer development and formation, revealing their innovative role as biomarkers and therapeutic tools.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zacharias Fasoulakis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - George Daskalakis
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Michail Diakosavvas
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Papapanagiotou
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Marianna Theodora
- 1st Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Arzou Bourazan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Dimitra Alatzidou
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Athanasios Pagkalos
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Hospital of Xanthi, Thrace, Greece
| | - Emmanuel N Kontomanolis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Linden G, Janga H, Franz M, Nist A, Stiewe T, Schmeck B, Vázquez O, Schulte LN. Efficient antisense inhibition reveals microRNA-155 to restrain a late-myeloid inflammatory programme in primary human phagocytes. RNA Biol 2021; 18:604-618. [PMID: 33622174 PMCID: PMC8078538 DOI: 10.1080/15476286.2021.1885209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/30/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A persisting obstacle in human immunology is that blood-derived leukocytes are notoriously difficult to manipulate at the RNA level. Therefore, our knowledge about immune-regulatory RNA-networks is largely based on tumour cell-line and rodent knockout models, which do not fully mimic human leukocyte biology. Here, we exploit straightforward cell penetrating peptide (CPP) chemistry to enable efficient loss-of-function phenotyping of regulatory RNAs in primary human blood-derived cells. The classical CPP octaarginine (R8) enabled antisense peptide-nucleic-acid (PNA) oligomer delivery into nearly 100% of human blood-derived macrophages without apparent cytotoxicity even up to micromolar concentrations. In a proof-of-principle experiment, we successfully de-repressed the global microRNA-155 regulome in primary human macrophages using a PNA-R8 oligomer, which phenocopies a CRISPR-Cas9 induced gene knockout. Interestingly, although it is often believed that fairly high concentrations (μM) are needed to achieve antisense activity, our PNA-R8 was effective at 200 nM. RNA-seq characterized microRNA-155 as a broad-acting riboregulator, feedback restraining a late myeloid differentiation-induced pro-inflammatory network, comprising MyD88-signalling and ubiquitin-proteasome components. Our results highlight the important role of the microRNA machinery in fine-control of blood-derived human phagocyte immunity and open the door for further studies on regulatory RNAs in difficult-to-transfect primary human immune cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Greta Linden
- Department of Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Harshavardhan Janga
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Lung Research, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Matthias Franz
- Department of Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Andrea Nist
- Genomics Core Facility, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Thorsten Stiewe
- Genomics Core Facility, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Department of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Oncology, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany
| | - Bernd Schmeck
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Lung Research, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Marburg, Germany
| | - Olalla Vázquez
- Department of Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- Center for Synthetic Microbiology (SYNMIKRO), Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Leon N Schulte
- Department of Medicine, Institute for Lung Research, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
- German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Marburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Volpi S, Rozzi A, Rivi N, Neri M, Knoll W, Corradini R. Submonomeric Strategy with Minimal Protection for the Synthesis of C(2)-Modified Peptide Nucleic Acids. Org Lett 2021; 23:902-907. [PMID: 33417460 PMCID: PMC7880566 DOI: 10.1021/acs.orglett.0c04116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
A novel synthesis of C(2)-modified peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) is proposed, using a submonomeric strategy with minimally protected building blocks, which allowed a reduction in the required synthetic steps. N(3)-unprotected, d-Lys- and d-Arg-based backbones were used to obtain positively charged PNAs with high optical purity, as inferred from chiral GC measurements. "Chiral-box" PNAs targeting the G12D point mutation of the KRAS gene were produced using this method, showing improved sequence selectivity for the mutated- vs wild-type DNA strand with respect to unmodified PNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Volpi
- Department
of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/A, Parma, 43123, Italy
| | - Andrea Rozzi
- Department
of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/A, Parma, 43123, Italy
| | - Nicola Rivi
- Department
of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/A, Parma, 43123, Italy
| | - Martina Neri
- Department
of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/A, Parma, 43123, Italy
| | - Wolfgang Knoll
- Department
of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/A, Parma, 43123, Italy
- Biosensor
Technologies, AIT-Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, Konrad-Lorenz-Straße 24, 3430, Tulln an der Donau, Austria
| | - Roberto Corradini
- Department
of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/A, Parma, 43123, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Tamanini A, Fabbri E, Jakova T, Gasparello J, Manicardi A, Corradini R, Finotti A, Borgatti M, Lampronti I, Munari S, Dechecchi MC, Cabrini G, Gambari R. A Peptide-Nucleic Acid Targeting miR-335-5p Enhances Expression of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ( CFTR) Gene with the Possible Involvement of the CFTR Scaffolding Protein NHERF1. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9020117. [PMID: 33530577 PMCID: PMC7911309 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9020117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: Up-regulation of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator gene (CFTR) might be of great relevance for the development of therapeutic protocols for cystic fibrosis (CF). MicroRNAs are deeply involved in the regulation of CFTR and scaffolding proteins (such as NHERF1, NHERF2 and Ezrin). (2) Methods: Content of miRNAs and mRNAs was analyzed by RT-qPCR, while the CFTR and NHERF1 production was analyzed by Western blotting. (3) Results: The results here described show that the CFTR scaffolding protein NHERF1 can be up-regulated in bronchial epithelial Calu-3 cells by a peptide-nucleic acid (PNA) targeting miR-335-5p, predicted to bind to the 3′-UTR sequence of the NHERF1 mRNA. Treatment of Calu-3 cells with this PNA (R8-PNA-a335) causes also up-regulation of CFTR. (4) Conclusions: We propose miR-335-5p targeting as a strategy to increase CFTR. While the efficiency of PNA-based targeting of miR-335-5p should be verified as a therapeutic strategy in CF caused by stop-codon mutation of the CFTR gene, this approach might give appreciable results in CF cells carrying other mutations impairing the processing or stability of CFTR protein, supporting its application in personalized therapy for precision medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tamanini
- Section of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University-Hospital of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy; (A.T.); (S.M.)
| | - Enrica Fabbri
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (E.F.); (J.G.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (I.L.)
| | - Tiziana Jakova
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (T.J.); (A.M.); (R.C.)
| | - Jessica Gasparello
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (E.F.); (J.G.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (I.L.)
| | - Alex Manicardi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (T.J.); (A.M.); (R.C.)
| | - Roberto Corradini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (T.J.); (A.M.); (R.C.)
| | - Alessia Finotti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (E.F.); (J.G.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (I.L.)
- Research Center on Innovative Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Monica Borgatti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (E.F.); (J.G.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (I.L.)
- Research Center on Innovative Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Ilaria Lampronti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (E.F.); (J.G.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (I.L.)
- Research Center on Innovative Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
| | - Silvia Munari
- Section of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University-Hospital of Verona, 37126 Verona, Italy; (A.T.); (S.M.)
| | - Maria Cristina Dechecchi
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy;
| | - Giulio Cabrini
- Research Center on Innovative Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy;
| | - Roberto Gambari
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (E.F.); (J.G.); (A.F.); (M.B.); (I.L.)
- Research Center on Innovative Therapies for Cystic Fibrosis, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0532-974443
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Facile Preparation of PNA-Peptide Conjugates with a Polar Maleimide-Thioether Linkage. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2105:97-118. [PMID: 32088866 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0243-0_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Conjugation of a delivery peptide containing a thiol functionality (e.g., a cysteine residue) with a PNA oligomer displaying a single unprotected aliphatic primary amine (e.g., the N-terminus or a C-terminal lysine residue) can be achieved via a one-pot modification with a bisfunctional maleimide linker also displaying a reactive N-hydroxysuccinimidyl ester group (e.g., Mal-PEG2-OSu). Here, an optimized protocol with respect to ratios between the reactants as well as recommended reaction times is presented. Formation and conversion of the maleimide-PNA intermediate was followed by analytical HPLC as exemplified by its conjugation to (KFF)3K-Cys-NH2. In addition, the reaction time required for direct conversion of a preformed Mal-(CH2)2-(C=O)-PNA oligomer in the presence of a slight excess of thiol-modified peptide (with a varying degree of sterical hindrance: HS-(CH2)2-CONH-(KFF)3K-NH2, (KFF)3K-hCys-NH2 and (KFF)3K-Cys-NH2) is provided.
Collapse
|
23
|
Fmoc-Based Assembly of PNA Oligomers: Manual and Microwave-Assisted Automated Synthesis. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2105:1-16. [PMID: 32088861 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0243-0_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Exploration of PNA-peptide conjugates as potential antisense antibiotics necessitates a fast and efficient synthesis protocols for amounts that facilitate determination of structure-activity relationships and in vivo studies in animal infection models. Fmoc/Boc-protected PNA monomers are here used for assembly of oligomers by optimized protocols involving either a manual synthesis method at room temperature or automated microwave-assisted coupling of monomers on a peptide synthesizer.
Collapse
|
24
|
Sun Y, Lü H, Sun L, Wang D, Wang J. Synthesis of DNAs with succinamide internucleoside linkages and its application in discrimination of T-C mismatch. POLYMER 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2020.123162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
|
25
|
Volpi S, Cancelli U, Neri M, Corradini R. Multifunctional Delivery Systems for Peptide Nucleic Acids. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 14:14. [PMID: 33375595 PMCID: PMC7823687 DOI: 10.3390/ph14010014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The number of applications of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs)-oligonucleotide analogs with a polyamide backbone-is continuously increasing in both in vitro and cellular systems and, parallel to this, delivery systems able to bring PNAs to their targets have been developed. This review is intended to give to the readers an overview on the available carriers for these oligonucleotide mimics, with a particular emphasis on newly developed multi-component- and multifunctional vehicles which boosted PNA research in recent years. The following approaches will be discussed: (a) conjugation with carrier molecules and peptides; (b) liposome formulations; (c) polymer nanoparticles; (d) inorganic porous nanoparticles; (e) carbon based nanocarriers; and (f) self-assembled and supramolecular systems. New therapeutic strategies enabled by the combination of PNA and proper delivery systems are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Roberto Corradini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, 43124 Parma, Italy; (S.V.); (U.C.); (M.N.)
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
MicroRNA-155 contributes to plexiform neurofibroma growth downstream of MEK. Oncogene 2020; 40:951-963. [PMID: 33293695 PMCID: PMC7867646 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-01581-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2020] [Revised: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRs) are small non-coding RNAs that can have large impacts on oncogenic pathways. Possible functions of dysregulated miRs have not been studied in neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) plexiform neurofibromas (PNFs). In PNFs, Schwann cells (SCs) have biallelic NF1 mutations necessary for tumorigenesis. We analyzed a miR-microarray comparing to normal and PNF SCs and identified differences in miR expression, and we validated in mouse PNFs versus normal mouse SCs by qRT-PCR. Among these, miR-155 was a top overexpressed miR, and its expression was regulated by RAS/MAPK signaling. Overexpression of miR-155 increased mature Nf1−/− mouse SC proliferation. In SC precursors, which model tumor initiating cells, pharmacological and genetic inhibition of miR-155 decreased PNF-derived sphere numbers in vitro and we identified Maf as a miR-155 target. In vivo, global deletion of miR-155 significantly decreased tumor number and volume, increasing mouse survival. Fluorescent nanoparticles entered PNFs, suggesting that an anti-miR might have therapeutic potential. However, treatment of established PNFs using anti-miR-155 peptide nucleic acid-loaded nanoparticles marginally decreased tumor numbers and did not reduce tumor growth. These results suggest that miR-155 plays a functional role in PNF growth and/or SC proliferation, and that targeting neurofibroma miRs is feasible, and might provide novel therapeutic opportunities.
Collapse
|
27
|
Moccia M, Mercurio FA, Langella E, Piacenti V, Leone M, Adamo MFA, Saviano M. Structural Insights on Tiny Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) Analogues of miRNA-34a: An in silico and Experimental Integrated Approach. Front Chem 2020; 8:568575. [PMID: 33330358 PMCID: PMC7719796 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2020.568575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In the present work, structural features of the interaction between peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-based analogs of the tumor-suppressor microRNA-34a with both its binding sites on MYCN mRNA were investigated. In particular, the region from base 1 to 8 ("seed" region) of miR-34a was reproduced in the form of an 8-mer PNA fragment (tiny PNA), and binding to target 3'UTR MYCN mRNA, was studied by a seldom reported and detailed NMR characterization, providing evidence for the formation of anti-parallel duplexes with a well-organized structural core. The formation of PNA-3'UTR duplexes was also confirmed by Circular Dichroism, and their melting curves were measured by UV spectroscopy. Nevertheless, this study offered a valuable comparison between molecular dynamics predictions and experimental evidence, which showed great correlation. Preliminary uptake assays were carried out in Neuroblastoma Kelly cells, using short peptide conjugates as carriers and FITC fluorescent tag for subcellular localization. Moderate internalization was observed without the use of transfecting agents. The reported results corroborate the interest toward the design and development of chimeric PNA/RNA sequences as effective RNA-targeting agents.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Moccia
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, Department of Chemical Sciences and Materials Technologies, Bari, Italy
| | - Flavia Anna Mercurio
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Emma Langella
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Valerio Piacenti
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marilisa Leone
- Institute of Biostructures and Bioimaging, National Research Council, Naples, Italy
| | - Mauro F. A. Adamo
- Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Department of Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Michele Saviano
- Institute of Crystallography, National Research Council, Department of Chemical Sciences and Materials Technologies, Bari, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Yang L, Toh DFK, Krishna MS, Zhong Z, Liu Y, Wang S, Gong Y, Chen G. Tertiary Base Triple Formation in the SRV-1 Frameshifting Pseudoknot Stabilizes Secondary Structure Components. Biochemistry 2020; 59:4429-4438. [PMID: 33166472 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.0c00611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Minor-groove base triples formed between stem 1 and loop 2 of the simian retrovirus type 1 (SRV-1) mRNA frameshifting pseudoknot are essential in stimulating -1 ribosomal frameshifting. How tertiary base triple formation affects the local stabilities of secondary structures (stem 1 and stem 2) and thus ribosomal frameshifting efficiency is not well understood. We made a short peptide nucleic acid (PNA) that is expected to invade stem 1 of the SRV-1 pseudoknot by PNA-RNA duplex formation to mimic the stem 1 unwinding process by a translating ribosome. In addition, we used a PNA for invading stem 2 in the SRV-1 pseudoknot. Our nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis data for the binding of PNA to the SRV-1 pseudoknot and mutants reveal that mutations in loop 2 disrupting base triple formation between loop 2 and stem 1 in the SRV-1 pseudoknot result in enhanced invasion by both PNAs. Our data suggest that tertiary stem 1-loop 2 base triple interactions in the SRV-1 pseudoknot can stabilize both of the secondary structural components, stem 1 and stem 2. Stem 2 stability is thus coupled to the structural stability of stem 1-loop 2 base triples, mediated through a long-range effect. The apparent dissociation constants of both PNAs are positively correlated with the pseudoknot mechanical stabilities and frameshifting efficiencies. The relatively simple PNA local invasion experiment may be used to characterize the energetic contribution of tertiary interactions and ligand binding in many other RNA and DNA structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lixia Yang
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 4, Section 2, North Jianshe Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, P. R. China.,School of Life and Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen), No. 2001 Longxiang Boulevard, Longgang District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, P. R. China.,Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371
| | - Desiree-Faye Kaixin Toh
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371
| | - Manchugondanahalli S Krishna
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371
| | - Zhensheng Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Materials and Technologies, School of Physics and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, P. R. China
| | - Yiyao Liu
- School of Life Science and Technology, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 4, Section 2, North Jianshe Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, P. R. China
| | - Shaomeng Wang
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 4, Section 2, North Jianshe Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, P. R. China
| | - Yubin Gong
- School of Electronic Science and Engineering, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, No. 4, Section 2, North Jianshe Road, Chengdu, Sichuan 610054, P. R. China
| | - Gang Chen
- School of Life and Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen (CUHK-Shenzhen), No. 2001 Longxiang Boulevard, Longgang District, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, P. R. China.,Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Lee TJ, Yuan X, Kerr K, Yoo JY, Kim DH, Kaur B, Eltzschig HK. Strategies to Modulate MicroRNA Functions for the Treatment of Cancer or Organ Injury. Pharmacol Rev 2020; 72:639-667. [PMID: 32554488 DOI: 10.1124/pr.119.019026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer and organ injury-such as that occurring in the perioperative period, including acute lung injury, myocardial infarction, and acute gut injury-are among the leading causes of death in the United States and impose a significant impact on quality of life. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been studied extensively during the last two decades for their role as regulators of gene expression, their translational application as diagnostic markers, and their potential as therapeutic targets for disease treatment. Despite promising preclinical outcomes implicating miRNA targets in disease treatment, only a few miRNAs have reached clinical trials. This likely relates to difficulties in the delivery of miRNA drugs to their targets to achieve efficient inhibition or overexpression. Therefore, understanding how to efficiently deliver miRNAs into diseased tissues and specific cell types in patients is critical. This review summarizes current knowledge on various approaches to deliver therapeutic miRNAs or miRNA inhibitors and highlights current progress in miRNA-based disease therapy that has reached clinical trials. Based on ongoing advances in miRNA delivery, we believe that additional therapeutic approaches to modulate miRNA function will soon enter routine medical treatment of human disease, particularly for cancer or perioperative organ injury. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: MicroRNAs have been studied extensively during the last two decades in cancer and organ injury, including acute lung injury, myocardial infarction, and acute gut injury, for their regulation of gene expression, application as diagnostic markers, and therapeutic potentials. In this review, we specifically emphasize the pros and cons of different delivery approaches to modulate microRNAs, as well as the most recent exciting progress in the field of therapeutic targeting of microRNAs for disease treatment in patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tae Jin Lee
- Departments of Neurosurgery (T.J.L., K.K., J.Y.Y., D.H.K., B.K.) and Anesthesiology (X.Y., H.K.E.), McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Xiaoyi Yuan
- Departments of Neurosurgery (T.J.L., K.K., J.Y.Y., D.H.K., B.K.) and Anesthesiology (X.Y., H.K.E.), McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Keith Kerr
- Departments of Neurosurgery (T.J.L., K.K., J.Y.Y., D.H.K., B.K.) and Anesthesiology (X.Y., H.K.E.), McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Ji Young Yoo
- Departments of Neurosurgery (T.J.L., K.K., J.Y.Y., D.H.K., B.K.) and Anesthesiology (X.Y., H.K.E.), McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Dong H Kim
- Departments of Neurosurgery (T.J.L., K.K., J.Y.Y., D.H.K., B.K.) and Anesthesiology (X.Y., H.K.E.), McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Balveen Kaur
- Departments of Neurosurgery (T.J.L., K.K., J.Y.Y., D.H.K., B.K.) and Anesthesiology (X.Y., H.K.E.), McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Holger K Eltzschig
- Departments of Neurosurgery (T.J.L., K.K., J.Y.Y., D.H.K., B.K.) and Anesthesiology (X.Y., H.K.E.), McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Fabbri E, Tamanini A, Jakova T, Gasparello J, Manicardi A, Corradini R, Finotti A, Borgatti M, Lampronti I, Munari S, Dechecchi MC, Cabrini G, Gambari R. Treatment of human airway epithelial Calu-3 cells with a peptide-nucleic acid (PNA) targeting the microRNA miR-101-3p is associated with increased expression of the cystic fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator () gene. Eur J Med Chem 2020; 209:112876. [PMID: 33127171 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 09/17/2020] [Accepted: 09/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Since the identification of microRNAs (miRNAs) involved in the regulation of Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (CFTR) gene, miRNAs known to down-regulate the expression of the CFTR and associated proteins have been investigated as potential therapeutic targets. Here we show that miR-101-3p, targeting the 3'-UTR sequence of the CFTR mRNA, can be selectively inhibited by a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) carrying a full complementary sequence. With respect to clinical relevance of microRNA targeting, it is expected that reduction in concentration of miRNAs (the anti-miRNA approach) could be associated with increasing amounts of target mRNAs. Consistently to this hypothesis, we report that PNA-mediated inhibition of miR-101-3p was accompanied by CFTR up-regulation. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was performed in order to verify the effects of the anti-miR-101-3p PNA on the Calu-3 miRNome. Upon inhibition of miR-101-3p we observed a fold change (FC) expression <2 of the majority of miRNAs (403/479, 84.13%), whereas we identified a list of dysregulated miRNAs, suggesting that specific miRNA inhibition (in our case miR-101-3p) might be accompanied by alteration of expression of other miRNAs, some of them known to be involved in Cystic Fibrosis (CF), such as miR-155-5p and miR-125b-5p.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enrica Fabbri
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Anna Tamanini
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University Hospital of Verona, Italy
| | - Tiziana Jakova
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Section of Clinical Biochemistry, Italy
| | - Jessica Gasparello
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alex Manicardi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Section of Clinical Biochemistry, Italy; Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry, University of Ghent, Belgium
| | - Roberto Corradini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Section of Clinical Biochemistry, Italy
| | - Alessia Finotti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Monica Borgatti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Ilaria Lampronti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Silvia Munari
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, University Hospital of Verona, Italy
| | | | - Giulio Cabrini
- Department of Neurosciences, Biomedicine and Movement, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; Research Center for Innovative Therapies of Cystic Fibrosis, University of Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberto Gambari
- Research Center for Innovative Therapies of Cystic Fibrosis, University of Ferrara, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
The pHLIP system as a vehicle for microRNAs in the kidney. Nefrologia 2020; 40:491-498. [PMID: 32693933 DOI: 10.1016/j.nefro.2020.05.007] [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: 03/06/2020] [Revised: 05/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression through post-transcriptional repression of their target messenger RNAs. A study of changes in expression of certain miRNAs in the kidney has supplied evidence on their pathogenic role and therapeutic potential in nephrology. This review proposes a nanotechnology approach based on the binding of analogs or inhibitors of miRNAs formed by peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) to peptides with a transmembrane structure sensitive to a low pH, called pHLIPs (pH [low] insertion peptides). The review draws on the concept that an acidic pH in the microenvironment of the renal tubule may facilitate concentration and distribution of the pHLIP-PNA complex in this organ. In this context, we have demonstrated for the first time that targeted administration of miR-33 inhibitors with the pHLIP system effectively prevents the development of renal fibrosis, thus opening up this technology to new strategies for diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases.
Collapse
|
32
|
An Overview of Non-coding RNAs and Cardiovascular System. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2020; 1229:3-45. [PMID: 32285403 DOI: 10.1007/978-981-15-1671-9_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease management and timely diagnosis remain a major dilemma. Delineating molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular diseases is opening horizon in the field of molecular medicines and in the development of early diagnostic markers. Non-coding RNAs are the highly functional and vibrant nucleic acids and are known to be involved in the regulation of endothelial cells, vascular and smooth muscles cells, cardiac metabolism, ischemia, inflammation and many processes in cardiovascular system. This chapter is comprehensively focusing on the overview of the non-coding RNAs including their discovery, generation, classification and functional regulation. In addition, overview regarding different non-coding RNAs as long non-coding, siRNAs and miRNAs involvement in the cardiovascular diseases is also addressed. Detailed functional analysis of this vast group of highly regulatory molecules will be promising for shaping future drug discoveries.
Collapse
|
33
|
microRNAs in the Antitumor Immune Response and in Bone Metastasis of Breast Cancer: From Biological Mechanisms to Therapeutics. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082805. [PMID: 32316552 PMCID: PMC7216039 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2020] [Revised: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women, and the occurrence of metastasis drastically worsens the prognosis and reduces overall survival. Understanding the biological mechanisms that regulate the transformation of malignant cells, the consequent metastatic transformation, and the immune surveillance in the tumor progression would contribute to the development of more effective and targeted treatments. In this context, microRNAs (miRNAs) have proven to be key regulators of the tumor-immune cells crosstalk for the hijack of the immunosurveillance to promote tumor cells immune escape and cancer progression, as well as modulators of the metastasis formation process, ranging from the preparation of the metastatic site to the transformation into the migrating phenotype of tumor cells. In particular, their deregulated expression has been linked to the aberrant expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes to promote tumorigenesis. This review aims at summarizing the role and functions of miRNAs involved in antitumor immune response and in the metastasis formation process in breast cancer. Additionally, miRNAs are promising targets for gene therapy as their modulation has the potential to support or inhibit specific mechanisms to negatively affect tumorigenesis. With this perspective, the most recent strategies developed for miRNA-based therapeutics are illustrated.
Collapse
|
34
|
A Peptide Nucleic Acid (PNA) Masking the miR-145-5p Binding Site of the 3'UTR of the Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator ( CFTR) mRNA Enhances CFTR Expression in Calu-3 Cells. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25071677. [PMID: 32260566 PMCID: PMC7181265 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25071677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2020] [Revised: 03/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) have been demonstrated to be very useful tools for gene regulation at different levels and with different mechanisms of action. In the last few years the use of PNAs for targeting microRNAs (anti-miRNA PNAs) has provided impressive advancements. In particular, targeting of microRNAs involved in the repression of the expression of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) gene, which is defective in cystic fibrosis (CF), is a key step in the development of new types of treatment protocols. In addition to the anti-miRNA therapeutic strategy, inhibition of miRNA functions can be reached by masking the miRNA binding sites present within the 3′UTR region of the target mRNAs. The objective of this study was to design a PNA masking the binding site of the microRNA miR-145-5p present within the 3′UTR of the CFTR mRNA and to determine its activity in inhibiting miR-145-5p function, with particular focus on the expression of both CFTR mRNA and CFTR protein in Calu-3 cells. The results obtained support the concept that the PNA masking the miR-145-5p binding site of the CFTR mRNA is able to interfere with miR-145-5p biological functions, leading to both an increase of CFTR mRNA and CFTR protein content.
Collapse
|
35
|
Mercurio S, Cauteruccio S, Manenti R, Candiani S, Scarì G, Licandro E, Pennati R. Exploring miR-9 Involvement in Ciona intestinalis Neural Development Using Peptide Nucleic Acids. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062001. [PMID: 32183450 PMCID: PMC7139483 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The microRNAs are small RNAs that regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level and can be involved in the onset of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. They are emerging as possible targets for antisense-based therapy, even though the in vivo stability of miRNA analogues is still questioned. We tested the ability of peptide nucleic acids, a novel class of nucleic acid mimics, to downregulate miR-9 in vivo in an invertebrate model organism, the ascidian Ciona intestinalis, by microinjection of antisense molecules in the eggs. It is known that miR-9 is a well-conserved microRNA in bilaterians and we found that it is expressed in epidermal sensory neurons of the tail in the larva of C. intestinalis. Larvae developed from injected eggs showed a reduced differentiation of tail neurons, confirming the possibility to use peptide nucleic acid PNA to downregulate miRNA in a whole organism. By identifying putative targets of miR-9, we discuss the role of this miRNA in the development of the peripheral nervous system of ascidians.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Mercurio
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy; (S.M.); (R.M.); (R.P.)
| | - Silvia Cauteruccio
- Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy;
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (S.C.); Tel.: +39-0250314147 (S.C.); +39-0103538051 (S.C.)
| | - Raoul Manenti
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy; (S.M.); (R.M.); (R.P.)
| | - Simona Candiani
- Department of Earth Science, Environment and Life, Università degli Studi di Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Correspondence: (S.C.); (S.C.); Tel.: +39-0250314147 (S.C.); +39-0103538051 (S.C.)
| | - Giorgio Scarì
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy;
| | - Emanuela Licandro
- Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy;
| | - Roberta Pennati
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy; (S.M.); (R.M.); (R.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Ju E, Li T, Liu Z, da Silva SR, Wei S, Zhang X, Wang X, Gao SJ. Specific Inhibition of Viral MicroRNAs by Carbon Dots-Mediated Delivery of Locked Nucleic Acids for Therapy of Virus-Induced Cancer. ACS NANO 2020; 14:476-487. [PMID: 31895530 PMCID: PMC7119180 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.9b06333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Viruses are associated with up to 15% of human cancer. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) encoded by numerous oncogenic viruses including Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) play significant roles in regulating the proliferation and survival of virus-induced cancer cells, hence representing attractive therapeutic targets. Here, we report that specific inhibition of viral miRNAs by carbon dots (Cdots)-mediated delivery of locked nucleic acid (LNA)-based suppressors inhibit the proliferation of KSHV-associated primary effusion lymphoma (PEL) cells. Specifically, a combination of Cdots-LNAs to knock down the levels of KSHV miR-K12-1, miR-K12-4, and miR-K12-11 induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of PEL cells. Significantly, these Cdots-LNAs effectively inhibit the initiation of PEL and regress established PEL in a xenograft mouse model. These results demonstrate the feasibility of using Cdots to deliver miRNA suppressors for targeting viral cancers. Our study with viral miRNAs as targets may provide the scientific basis for using antisense drugs for human cancers associated with oncogenic viruses.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Animals
- Antineoplastic Agents/chemistry
- Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Carbon/chemistry
- Cell Proliferation/drug effects
- Cells, Cultured
- Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor
- Female
- Herpesvirus 8, Human/chemistry
- Lymphoma/drug therapy
- Lymphoma/pathology
- Lymphoma/virology
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred BALB C
- Mice, Inbred NOD
- Mice, SCID
- Neoplasms, Experimental/drug therapy
- Neoplasms, Experimental/pathology
- Neoplasms, Experimental/virology
- Oligonucleotides/chemistry
- Oligonucleotides/pharmacology
- Particle Size
- Quantum Dots/chemistry
- RNA, Viral/antagonists & inhibitors
- Rats
- Surface Properties
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Enguo Ju
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15232 , United States
| | - Tingting Li
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15232 , United States
| | - Zhen Liu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering , Beijing University of Chemical Technology , Beijing 100029 , People's Republic of China
| | - Suzane Ramos da Silva
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15232 , United States
| | - Shan Wei
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15232 , United States
| | - Xinquan Zhang
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15232 , United States
| | - Xian Wang
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15232 , United States
| | - Shou-Jiang Gao
- Cancer Virology Program, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics , University of Pittsburgh , Pittsburgh , Pennsylvania 15232 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Svoronos AA, Bahal R, Pereira MC, Barrera FN, Deacon JC, Bosenberg M, DiMaio D, Glazer PM, Engelman DM. Tumor-Targeted, Cytoplasmic Delivery of Large, Polar Molecules Using a pH-Low Insertion Peptide. Mol Pharm 2020; 17:461-471. [PMID: 31855437 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.9b00883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumor-targeted drug delivery systems offer not only the advantage of an enhanced therapeutic index, but also the possibility of overcoming the limitations that have largely restricted drug design to small, hydrophobic, "drug-like" molecules. Here, we explore the ability of a tumor-targeted delivery system centered on the use of a pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP) to directly deliver moderately polar, multi-kDa molecules into tumor cells. A pHLIP is a short, pH-responsive peptide capable of inserting across a cell membrane to form a transmembrane helix at acidic pH. pHLIPs target the acidic tumor microenvironment with high specificity, and a drug attached to the inserting end of a pHLIP can be translocated across the cell membrane during the insertion process. We investigate the ability of wildtype pHLIP to deliver peptide nucleic acid (PNA) cargoes of varying sizes across lipid membranes. We find that pHLIP effectively delivers PNAs up to ∼7 kDa into cells in a pH-dependent manner. In addition, pHLIP retains its tumor-targeting capabilities when linked to cargoes of this size, although the amount delivered is reduced for PNA cargoes greater than ∼6 kDa. As drug-like molecules are traditionally restricted to sizes of ∼500 Da, this constitutes an order-of-magnitude expansion in the size range of deliverable drug candidates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Raman Bahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences , University of Connecticut , Storrs , Connecticut 06269 , United States
| | - Mohan C Pereira
- Department of Science & Mathematics , Cedarville University , Cedarville , Ohio 45314 , United States
| | - Francisco N Barrera
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology , University of Tennessee , Knoxville , Tennessee 37996 , United States
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Oyaghire SN, Quijano E, Piotrowski-Daspit AS, Saltzman WM, Glazer PM. Poly(Lactic-co-Glycolic Acid) Nanoparticle Delivery of Peptide Nucleic Acids In Vivo. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2105:261-281. [PMID: 32088877 PMCID: PMC7199467 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0243-0_17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Many important biological applications of peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) target nucleic acid binding in eukaryotic cells, which requires PNA translocation across at least one membrane barrier. The delivery challenge is further exacerbated for applications in whole organisms, where clearance mechanisms rapidly deplete and/or deactivate exogenous agents. We have demonstrated that nanoparticles (NPs) composed of biodegradable polymers can encapsulate and release PNAs (alone or with co-reagents) in amounts sufficient to mediate desired effects in vitro and in vivo without deleterious reactions in the recipient cell or organism. For example, poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) NPs can encapsulate and deliver PNAs and accompanying reagents to mediate gene editing outcomes in cells and animals, or PNAs alone to target oncogenic drivers in cells and correct cancer phenotypes in animal models. In this chapter, we provide a primer on PNA-induced gene editing and microRNA targeting-the two PNA-based biotechnological applications where NPs have enhanced and/or enabled in vivo demonstrations-as well as an introduction to the PLGA material and detailed protocols for formulation and robust characterization of PNA/DNA-laden PLGA NPs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stanley N. Oyaghire
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Elias Quijano
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | | | - W. Mark Saltzman
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Cellular & Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Peter M. Glazer
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Fairbanks BD, Culver HR, Mavila S, Bowman CN. Towards High-Efficiency Synthesis of Xenonucleic Acids. TRENDS IN CHEMISTRY 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.trechm.2019.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
|
40
|
Mercurio S, Cauteruccio S, Manenti R, Candiani S, Scarì G, Licandro E, Pennati R. miR-7 Knockdown by Peptide Nucleic Acids in the Ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20205127. [PMID: 31623150 PMCID: PMC6829576 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20205127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs) are synthetic mimics of natural oligonucleotides, which bind complementary DNA/RNA strands with high sequence specificity. They display numerous advantages, but in vivo applications are still rare. One of the main drawbacks of PNAs application is the poor cellular uptake that could be overcome by using experimental models, in which microinjection techniques allow direct delivery of molecules into eggs. Thus, in this communication, we investigated PNAs efficiency in miR-7 downregulation and compared its effects with those obtained with the commercially available antisense molecule, Antagomir (Dharmacon) in the ascidian Ciona intestinalis. Ascidians are marine invertebrates closely related to vertebrates, in which PNA techniques have not been applied yet. Our results suggested that anti-miR-7 PNAs were able to reach their specific targets in the developing ascidian embryos with high efficiency, as the same effects were obtained with both PNA and Antagomir. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evidence that unmodified PNAs can be applied in in vivo knockdown strategies when directly injected into eggs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Mercurio
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Silvia Cauteruccio
- Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Raoul Manenti
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Simona Candiani
- Department of Earth Science, Environment and Life, Università degli Studi di Genova, 16126 Genova, Italy.
| | - Giorgio Scarì
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Emanuela Licandro
- Department of Chemistry, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Roberta Pennati
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Saarbach J, Sabale PM, Winssinger N. Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) and its applications in chemical biology, diagnostics, and therapeutics. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2019; 52:112-124. [PMID: 31541865 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Peptide nucleic acid (PNA) stands as one of the most successful artificial oligonucleotide mimetics. Salient features include the stability of hybridization complexes (either as duplexes or triplexes), metabolic stability, and ease of chemical modifications. These features have enabled important applications such as antisense agents, gene editing, nucleic acid sensing and as a platform to program the assembly of PNA-tagged molecules. Here, we review recent advances in these areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jacques Saarbach
- Faculty of Science, Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva 30 quai Ernest Ansermet, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Pramod M Sabale
- Faculty of Science, Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva 30 quai Ernest Ansermet, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Nicolas Winssinger
- Faculty of Science, Department of Organic Chemistry, NCCR Chemical Biology, University of Geneva 30 quai Ernest Ansermet, CH-1205 Geneva, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Gasparello J, Papi C, Zurlo M, Corradini R, Gambari R, Finotti A. Demonstrating specificity of bioactive peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) targeting microRNAs for practical laboratory classes of applied biochemistry and pharmacology. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0221923. [PMID: 31509554 PMCID: PMC6738603 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0221923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Practical laboratory classes teaching molecular pharmacology approaches employed in the development of therapeutic strategies are of great interest for students of courses in Biotechnology, Applied Biology, Pharmaceutic and Technology Chemistry, Translational Oncology. Unfortunately, in most cases the technology to be transferred to learning students is complex and requires multi-step approaches. In this respect, simple and straightforward experimental protocols might be of great interest. This study was aimed at presenting a laboratory exercise focusing (a) on a very challenging therapeutic strategy, i.e. microRNA therapeutics, and (b) on the employment of biomolecules of great interest in applied biology and pharmacology, i.e. peptide nucleic acids (PNAs). The aims of the practical laboratory were to determine: (a) the possible PNA-mediated arrest in RT-qPCR, to be eventually used to demonstrate PNA targeting of selected miRNAs; (b) the possible lack of activity on mutated PNA sequences; (c) the effects (if any) on the amplification of other unrelated miRNA sequences. The results which can be obtained support the following conclusions: PNA-mediated arrest in RT-qPCR can be analyzed in a easy way; mutated PNA sequences are completely inactive; the effects of the employed PNAs are specific and no inhibitory effect occurs on other unrelated miRNA sequences. This activity is simple (cell culture, RNA extraction, RT-qPCR are all well-established technologies), fast (starting from isolated and characterized RNA, few hours are just necessary), highly reproducible (therefore easily employed by even untrained students). On the other hand, these laboratory lessons require some facilities, the most critical being the availability of instruments for PCR. While this might be a problem in the case these instruments are not available, we would like to underline that determination of the presence or of a lack of amplified product can be also obtained using standard analytical approaches based on agarose gel electrophoresis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica Gasparello
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Chiara Papi
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Matteo Zurlo
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Roberto Corradini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
| | - Roberto Gambari
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Interuniversity Consortium for Biotechnology (CIB), Trieste, Italy
- * E-mail:
| | - Alessia Finotti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Ong AAL, Tan J, Bhadra M, Dezanet C, Patil KM, Chong MS, Kierzek R, Decout JL, Roca X, Chen G. RNA Secondary Structure-Based Design of Antisense Peptide Nucleic Acids for Modulating Disease-Associated Aberrant Tau Pre-mRNA Alternative Splicing. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24163020. [PMID: 31434312 PMCID: PMC6720520 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24163020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing of tau pre-mRNA is regulated by a 5' splice site (5'ss) hairpin present at the exon 10-intron 10 junction. Single mutations within the hairpin sequence alter hairpin structural stability and/or the binding of splicing factors, resulting in disease-causing aberrant splicing of exon 10. The hairpin structure contains about seven stably formed base pairs and thus may be suitable for targeting through antisense strands. Here, we used antisense peptide nucleic acids (asPNAs) to probe and target the tau pre-mRNA exon 10 5'ss hairpin structure through strand invasion. We characterized by electrophoretic mobility shift assay the binding of the designed asPNAs to model tau splice site hairpins. The relatively short (10-15 mer) asPNAs showed nanomolar binding to wild-type hairpins as well as a disease-causing mutant hairpin C+19G, albeit with reduced binding strength. Thus, the structural stabilizing effect of C+19G mutation could be revealed by asPNA binding. In addition, our cell culture minigene splicing assay data revealed that application of an asPNA targeting the 3' arm of the hairpin resulted in an increased exon 10 inclusion level for the disease-associated mutant C+19G, probably by exposing the 5'ss as well as inhibiting the binding of protein factors to the intronic spicing silencer. On the contrary, the application of asPNAs targeting the 5' arm of the hairpin caused an increased exon 10 exclusion for a disease-associated mutant C+14U, mainly by blocking the 5'ss. PNAs could enter cells through conjugation with amino sugar neamine or by cotransfection with minigene plasmids using a commercially available transfection reagent.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Ann Lerk Ong
- NTU Institute for Health Technologies (HeathTech NTU), Interdisciplinary Graduate School, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 637553, Singapore
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Jiazi Tan
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Malini Bhadra
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Clément Dezanet
- University Grenoble Alpes/CNRS, Département de Pharmacochimie Moléculaire, ICMG FR 2607, UMR 5063, 470 Rue de la Chimie, F-38041 Grenoble, France
| | - Kiran M Patil
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
| | - Mei Sian Chong
- Geriatic Education & Research Institute, 2 Yishun Central 2, Singapore 768024, Singapore
| | - Ryszard Kierzek
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12/14, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
| | - Jean-Luc Decout
- University Grenoble Alpes/CNRS, Département de Pharmacochimie Moléculaire, ICMG FR 2607, UMR 5063, 470 Rue de la Chimie, F-38041 Grenoble, France
| | - Xavier Roca
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551, Singapore
| | - Gang Chen
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Piacenti V, Langella E, Autiero I, Nolan JC, Piskareva O, Adamo MFA, Saviano M, Moccia M. A combined experimental and computational study on peptide nucleic acid (PNA) analogues of tumor suppressive miRNA-34a. Bioorg Chem 2019; 91:103165. [PMID: 31419642 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2019.103165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
MicroRNAs are a ubiquitous class of non-coding RNAs able to regulate gene expression in diverse biological processes. Widespread miRNAs deregulation was reported in numerous diseases including cancer, with several miRNAs playing oncogenic and/or tumor suppressive role by targeting multiple mRNAs simultaneously. Based on these findings, miRNAs have emerged as promising therapeutic tools for cancer treatment. Herein, for the first time, peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) were studied to develop a new class of molecules able to target 3'UTR on MYCN mRNA without a fully complementary base pairing sequence (as miRNAs). For our proof of concept study we have selected as a model the miRNA-34a, which acts as a tumor suppressor in a number of cancers including neuroblastoma. In particular, miRNA-34a is a direct regulator of MYCN oncogene, whose overexpression is a prominent biomarker for the highly aggressive neuroblastoma phenotype. The design and synthesis of three PNA-based oligomers of different length was described, and their interaction with two binding sites on the target MYCN mRNA was investigated by molecular dynamics simulation, and spectroscopic techniques (CD, UV). Intake assay and confocal microscopy of PNA sequences were also carried out in vitro on neuroblastoma Kelly cells. Despite the presence of multiple mismatches, the PNA/RNA hetero duplexes retain very interesting features in terms of stability, affinity as well as of cellular uptake.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Valerio Piacenti
- RCSI, Dept. of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, 123 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Emma Langella
- National Research Council (CNR)-IBB, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - Ida Autiero
- National Research Council (CNR)-IBB, via Mezzocannone 16, 80134 Naples, Italy
| | - John C Nolan
- RCSI, Dept. of Cancer Genetics, York Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Olga Piskareva
- RCSI, Dept. of Cancer Genetics, York Street, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Mauro F A Adamo
- RCSI, Dept. of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, 123 St Stephen's Green, Dublin 2, Ireland
| | - Michele Saviano
- National Research Council (CNR)-IC, via G. Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy
| | - Maria Moccia
- National Research Council (CNR)-IC, via G. Amendola 122/O, 70126 Bari, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Ong AAL, Toh DFK, Krishna MS, Patil KM, Okamura K, Chen G. Incorporating 2-Thiouracil into Short Double-Stranded RNA-Binding Peptide Nucleic Acids for Enhanced Recognition of A-U Pairs and for Targeting a MicroRNA Hairpin Precursor. Biochemistry 2019; 58:3444-3453. [PMID: 31318532 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biochem.9b00521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Chemically modified short peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) recognize RNA duplexes under near physiological conditions by major-groove PNA·RNA-RNA triplex formation and show great promise for the development of RNA-targeting probes and therapeutics. Thymine (T) and uracil (U) are often incorporated into PNAs to recognize A-U pairs through major-groove T·A-U and U·A-U base triple formation. Incorporation of a modified nucleobase, 2-thiouracil (s2U), into triplex-forming oligonucleotides stabilizes both DNA and RNA triplexes. Thiolation of uracil causes a decrease in the dehydration energy penalty for triplex formation as well as a decrease in the pKa of the N3 atom, which may result in improved hydrogen bonding in addition to enhanced base stacking interactions, similar to the previously reported thiolation effect of pseudoisocytosine (J to L substitution). Here, we incorporated s2U into short PNAs, followed by binding studies of a series of s2U-modified PNAs. We demonstrated by nondenaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and thermal melting experiments that s2U and L incorporated into dsRNA-binding PNAs (dbPNAs) enhance the recognition of A-U and G-C pairs, respectively, in RNA duplexes in a position-independent manner, with no appreciable binding to the DNA duplex. Combining s2U and L modifications in dbPNAs facilitates enhanced recognition of dsRNAs and maintains selective binding to dsRNAs over ssRNAs. We further demonstrated through a cell-free assay the application of the s2U- and L-modified dbPNAs (8-mer, with a molecular mass of ∼2.3 kDa) in the inhibition of the pre-microRNA-198 maturation in a substrate-specific manner. Thus, s2U-modified dbPNAs may be generally useful for the enhanced and selective recognition of RNA duplexes and for the regulation of RNA functions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan Ann Lerk Ong
- NTU Institute for Health Technologies (HeathTech NTU), Interdisciplinary Graduate School , Nanyang Technological University , 50 Nanyang Drive , Singapore 637553.,Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , 21 Nanyang Link , Singapore 637371
| | - Desiree-Faye Kaixin Toh
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , 21 Nanyang Link , Singapore 637371
| | - Manchugondanahalli S Krishna
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , 21 Nanyang Link , Singapore 637371
| | - Kiran M Patil
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , 21 Nanyang Link , Singapore 637371
| | - Katsutomo Okamura
- Division of Biological Sciences , Nara Institute of Science and Technology , 8916-5 Takayama , Ikoma , Nara 630-0192 , Japan
| | - Gang Chen
- Division of Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences , Nanyang Technological University , 21 Nanyang Link , Singapore 637371
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Mammoli F, Parenti S, Lomiento M, Gemelli C, Atene CG, Grande A, Corradini R, Manicardi A, Fantini S, Zanocco-Marani T, Ferrari S. Physiological expression of miR-130a during differentiation of CD34 + human hematopoietic stem cells results in the inhibition of monocyte differentiation. Exp Cell Res 2019; 382:111445. [PMID: 31152707 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2019.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Revised: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNA) are small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression by targeting mRNAs in a sequence specific manner, thereby determining their degradation or inhibiting translation. They are involved in processes such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis by fine-tuning the expression of genes underlying such events. The expression of specific miRNAs is involved in hematopoietic differentiation and their deregulation contributes to the development of hematopoietic malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML). miR-130a is over-expressed in AML. Here we show that miR-130a is physiologically expressed in myeloblasts and down-regulated during monocyte differentiation. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments performed on CD34+ human hematopoietic stem cells confirmed that expression of miR-130a inhibits monocyte differentiation by interfering with the expression of key transcription factors HOXA10, IRF8, KLF4, MAFB and PU-1. The data obtained in this study highlight that the correct modulation of miR-130a is necessary for normal differentiation to occur and confirming that deregulation of this miRNA might underlie the differentiation block occurring in AML.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Mammoli
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) Srl - IRCCS, Italy.
| | - Sandra Parenti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125, Modena, Italy.
| | - Mariana Lomiento
- Sant'Orsola Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
| | - Claudia Gemelli
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125, Modena, Italy.
| | - Claudio Giacinto Atene
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125, Modena, Italy.
| | - Alexis Grande
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125, Modena, Italy.
| | - Roberto Corradini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, Parco Area delle Scienze 17/A, I-43124 Parma, Italy.
| | - Alex Manicardi
- Department of Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Organic and Biomimetic Chemistry Research Group (OBCR) Faculty of Sciences - Ghent University Campus Sterre, Krijgslaan, 281 S4 B-9000 Gent, Belgium.
| | - Sebastian Fantini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125, Modena, Italy.
| | - Tommaso Zanocco-Marani
- Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) Srl - IRCCS, Italy.
| | - Sergio Ferrari
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via Campi 287, 41125, Modena, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Ye J, Xu M, Tian X, Cai S, Zeng S. Research advances in the detection of miRNA. J Pharm Anal 2019; 9:217-226. [PMID: 31452959 PMCID: PMC6702429 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpha.2019.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of endogenous, small (approximately 22 nucleotides in length), noncoding, functional RNAs. With the development of molecular biology, the research of miRNA biological function has attracted significant interest, as abnormal miRNA expression is identified to contribute to serious human diseases such as cancers. Traditional methods for miRNA detection do not meet current demands. In particular, nanomaterial-based methods, nucleic acid amplification-based methods such as rolling circle amplification (RCA), loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), strand-displacement amplification (SDA) and some enzyme-free amplifications have been employed widely for the highly sensitive detection of miRNA. MiRNA functional research and clinical diagnostics have been accelerated by these new techniques. Herein, we summarize and discuss the recent progress in the development of miRNA detection methods and new applications. This review will provide guidelines for the development of follow-up miRNA detection methods with high sensitivity and specificity, and applicability to disease diagnosis and therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Ye
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Mingcheng Xu
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xueke Tian
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Sheng Cai
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Su Zeng
- Institute of Drug Metabolism and Pharmaceutical Analysis, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Anti-Cancer Drug Research, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Milani R, Brognara E, Fabbri E, Manicardi A, Corradini R, Finotti A, Gasparello J, Borgatti M, Cosenza LC, Lampronti I, Dechecchi MC, Cabrini G, Gambari R. Targeting miR‑155‑5p and miR‑221‑3p by peptide nucleic acids induces caspase‑3 activation and apoptosis in temozolomide‑resistant T98G glioma cells. Int J Oncol 2019; 55:59-68. [PMID: 31180529 PMCID: PMC6561624 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study investigated the effects of the combined treatment of two peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), directed against microRNAs involved in caspase‑3 mRNA regulation (miR‑155‑5p and miR‑221‑3p) in the temozolomide (TMZ)‑resistant T98G glioma cell line. These PNAs were conjugated with an octaarginine tail in order to obtain an efficient delivery to treated cells. The effects of singularly administered PNAs or a combined treatment with both PNAs were examined on apoptosis, with the aim to determine whether reversion of the drug‑resistance phenotype was obtained. Specificity of the PNA‑mediated effects was analyzed by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase‑chain reaction, which demonstrated that the effects of R8‑PNA‑a155 and R8-PNA-a221 anti‑miR PNAs were specific. Furthermore, the results obtained confirmed that both PNAs induced apoptosis when used on the temozolomide‑resistant T98G glioma cell line. Notably, co‑administration of both anti‑miR‑155 and anti‑miR‑221 PNAs was associated with an increased proapoptotic activity. In addition, TMZ further increased the induction of apoptosis in T98G cells co‑treated with anti‑miR‑155 and anti‑miR‑221 PNAs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Milani
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, I‑144121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Eleonora Brognara
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, I‑144121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Enrica Fabbri
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, I‑144121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alex Manicardi
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, I‑143214 Parma, Italy
| | - Roberto Corradini
- Department of Chemistry, Life Sciences and Environmental Sustainability, University of Parma, I‑143214 Parma, Italy
| | - Alessia Finotti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, I‑144121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Jessica Gasparello
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, I‑144121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Monica Borgatti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, I‑144121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Lucia Carmela Cosenza
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, I‑144121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Ilaria Lampronti
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, I‑144121 Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Giulio Cabrini
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, University‑Hospital of Verona, I‑37126 Verona, Italy
| | - Roberto Gambari
- Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, I‑144121 Ferrara, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Henderson J, Distler J, O'Reilly S. The Role of Epigenetic Modifications in Systemic Sclerosis: A Druggable Target. Trends Mol Med 2019; 25:395-411. [PMID: 30858032 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2019.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2019] [Revised: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 02/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterised by skin fibrosis that often also affects internal organs, eventually resulting in mortality. Although management of the symptoms has extended lifespan, patients still suffer from poor quality of life, hence the need for improved therapies. Development of efficacious treatments has been stymied by the unknown aetiology, although recent advancements suggest a potentially key role for epigenetics - the regulation of gene expression by noncoding RNAs and chemical modifications to DNA or DNA-associated proteins. Herein, the evidence implicating epigenetics in the pathogenesis of SSc is discussed with an emphasis on the therapeutic potential this introduces to the field - particularly the repurposing of epigenetic targeting cancer therapeutics and newly emerging miRNA-based strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- John Henderson
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Tyne and Wear, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 8ST, UK
| | - Joerg Distler
- Department of Internal Medicine 3, Erlangen University, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Steven O'Reilly
- Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Tyne and Wear, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 8ST, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Efficient cell penetration and delivery of peptide nucleic acids by an argininocalix[4]arene. Sci Rep 2019; 9:3036. [PMID: 30816154 PMCID: PMC6395679 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39211-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/03/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of Peptide Nucleic Acids (PNAs), mimics of DNA lacking the sugar-phosphate backbone, for antisense/anti-gene therapy and gene editing is limited by their low uptake by cells. Currently, no simple and efficient delivery systems and methods are available to solve this open issue. One of the most promising approach is the modification of the PNA structure through the covalent linkage of poliarginine tails, but this means that every PNA intended to be internalized must be modified. Herein we report the results relative to the delivery ability of a macrocyclic multivalent tetraargininocalix[4]arene (1) used as non-covalent vector for anti-miR-221-3p PNAs. High delivery efficiency, low cytotoxicity, maintenance of the PNA biological activity and ease preparation of the transfection formulation, simply attained by mixing PNA and calixarene, candidate this vector as universal delivery system for this class of nucleic acid analogues.
Collapse
|