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Czuba-Wojnilowicz E, Klemm V, Cortez-Jugo C, Turville S, Aggarwal A, Caruso F, Kelleher AD, Ahlenstiel CL. Layer-by-Layer Particles Deliver Epigenetic Silencing siRNA to HIV-1 Latent Reservoir Cell Types. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:2039-2052. [PMID: 36848493 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.2c01030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
For over two decades, nanomaterials have been employed to facilitate intracellular delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA), both in vitro and in vivo, to induce post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) via RNA interference. Besides PTGS, siRNAs are also capable of transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) or epigenetic silencing, which targets the gene promoter in the nucleus and prevents transcription via repressive epigenetic modifications. However, silencing efficiency is hampered by poor intracellular and nuclear delivery. Here, polyarginine-terminated multilayered particles are reported as a versatile system for the delivery of TGS-inducing siRNA to potently suppress virus transcription in HIV-infected cells. siRNA is complexed with multilayered particles formed by layer-by-layer assembly of poly(styrenesulfonate) and poly(arginine) and incubated with HIV-infected cell types, including primary cells. Using deconvolution microscopy, uptake of fluorescently labeled siRNA is observed in the nuclei of HIV-1 infected cells. Viral RNA and protein are measured to confirm functional virus silencing from siRNA delivered using particles 16 days post-treatment. This work extends conventional particle-enabled PTGS siRNA delivery to the TGS pathway and paves the way for future studies on particle-delivered siRNA for efficient TGS of various diseases and infections, including HIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Czuba-Wojnilowicz
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Vera Klemm
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Christina Cortez-Jugo
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Stuart Turville
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Anupriya Aggarwal
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Frank Caruso
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3010, Australia
| | - Anthony D Kelleher
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.,UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Chantelle L Ahlenstiel
- Kirby Institute, UNSW Medicine, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia.,UNSW RNA Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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Ahlenstiel CL, Symonds G, Kent SJ, Kelleher AD. Block and Lock HIV Cure Strategies to Control the Latent Reservoir. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2020; 10:424. [PMID: 32923412 PMCID: PMC7457024 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2020.00424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The HIV latent reservoir represents the major challenge to cure development. Residing in resting CD4+ T cells and myeloid cells at multiple locations in the body, including sanctuary sites such as the brain, the latent reservoir is not eliminated by ART and has the ability to reactivate virus replication to pre-therapy levels when ART is ceased. There are four broad areas of HIV cure research. The only successful cure strategy, thus far, is stem cell transplantation using naturally HIV resistant CCR5Δ32 stem cells. A second potential cure approach uses gene editing technology, such as zinc-finger nucleases and CRISPR/Cas9. Another two cure strategies aim to control the HIV reservoir, with polar opposite concepts; The "shock and kill" approach, which aims to "shock" or reactivate the latent virus and then "kill" infected cells via targeted immune responses. Lastly, the "block and lock" approach, which aims to enhance the latent virus state by "blocking" HIV transcription and "locking" the HIV promoter in a deep latent state via epigenetic modifications. "Shock and kill" approaches are a major focus of cure studies, however we predict that the increased specificity of "block and lock" approaches will be required for the successful development of a sustained HIV clinical remission in the absence of ART. This review focuses on the current research of novel "block and lock" approaches being explored to generate an HIV cure via induction of epigenetic silencing. We will also discuss potential future therapeutic delivery and the challenges associated with progressing "block and lock" cure approaches as these move toward clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Stephen J. Kent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Peter Doherty Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Melbourne Sexual Health Centre and Department of Infectious Diseases, Alfred Hospital and Central Clinical School, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- ARC Centre for Excellence in Convergent Bio-Nano Science and Technology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
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