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Petrov N, Stoyanova M, Stoyanova A, Nikolova I, Grozdanov P, Galabov A. Gene silencing of VP1 gene of coxsackievirus B3 neurotropic strain Nancy by dsRNAs and siRNAs. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2022. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2022.2082320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Petrov
- Laboratory of Virology, Department of Natural Sciences, New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Mariya Stoyanova
- Department of Plant Protection, Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnologies and Plant Protection “N. Pushkarov”, Agricultural Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Adelina Stoyanova
- Department of Virology, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Ivanka Nikolova
- Department of Virology, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Petar Grozdanov
- Department of Virology, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Angel Galabov
- Department of Virology, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Xiao Z, He F, Feng M, Liu Z, Liu Z, Li S, Wang W, Yao H, Wu J. Engineered coxsackievirus B3 containing multiple organ-specific miRNA targets showed attenuated viral tropism and protective immunity. INFECTION, GENETICS AND EVOLUTION : JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR EPIDEMIOLOGY AND EVOLUTIONARY GENETICS IN INFECTIOUS DISEASES 2022; 103:105316. [PMID: 35718333 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2022.105316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) can cause viral myocarditis, pancreatitis, and aseptic meningitis. This study aimed to construct an engineered CVB3 harboring three different tissue-specific miRNA targets (CVB3-miR3*T) to decrease the virulence of CVB3 in muscles, pancreas, and brain. CVB3-miR3*T and CVB3-miR-CON (containing three sequences not found in the human genome) were engineered and replicated in HELA cells. A viral plaque assay was used to determine the titers in HELA cells and TE671 cells (high miRNA-206 expression), MIN-6 cells (high miRNA-29a-3p expression), and mouse astrocytes (high miRNA-124-3p expression). We found that engineered CVB3 showed attenuated replication and reduced cytotoxicity, the variability of each type of cell was also increased in the CVB3-miR3*T group. Male BALB/c mice were infected to determine the LD50 and examine heart, pancreas, and brain titers and injury. Viral replication of the engineered viruses was restricted in infected mouse heart, pancreas, and brain, and viral plaques were about 100 fold lower compared with the control group. Mice immunized using CVB3-miR3*T, UV-inactivated CVB3-WT, and CVB3-miR-CON were infected with 100 × LD50 of CVB3-WT to determine neutralization. CVB3-miRT*3-preimmunized mice exhibited complete protection and remained alive after lethal virus infection, while only 5/15 were alive in the UV-inactivated mice, and all 15 mice were dead in the PBS-immunized group. The results demonstrate that miR-206-, miRNA-29a-3p-, and miRNA-124-3p-mediated CVB3 detargeting from the pancreas, heart, and brain might be a highly effective strategy for viral vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zonghui Xiao
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Feng He
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Miao Feng
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuo Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Zhewei Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Sen Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China
| | - Hailan Yao
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China.
| | - Jianxin Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, China; Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Beijing, China; Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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Khan H, Khan A. Genome-wide population structure inferences of human coxsackievirus-A; insights the genotypes diversity and evolution. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2021; 95:105068. [PMID: 34492386 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2021.105068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Coxsackievirus-A (CV-A) is a causative agent of Hand Foot Mouth Disease (HFMD) worldwide. It belongs to the Human Enterovirus genus of the family Picornaviridae. The genomics data availability of CV-A samples, isolated from human host across different continental regions, provide an excellent opportunity to study its genetic composition, diversity, and evolutionary events. The complete genome sequences of 424 CV-A isolates were analyzed through a model-based population genetic approach implemented in the STRUCTURE program. Twelve genetically distinct sub-populations were identified for CV-A isolates with a marked Fst distinction of 0.76991 (P-value = 0.00000). Besides, genetically admixed strains were characterized in the G-Id, G-IIIb clusters constituted by the CV-A12 and CV-A6 enterovirus serotypes. The serotypes depicted inter/intra-genotype recombination and episodic positive selection signatures in the structural and non-structural protein-coding regions. The observed genetic composition of CV-A samples was also deduced by the phylogenetic tree analyses, where a uniform genetic structure was inferred for most of the CV-A genotypes. However, the CV-A6 serotype samples genetically stratified into three sub-populations that may lead to the emergence of new lineages in future. These informations may implicate in planning the effective strategies to combat the coxsackievirus-A-mediated infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hizbullah Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Asifullah Khan
- Department of Biochemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Mardan 23200, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
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Khanna M, Gautam A, Rajput R, Sharma L. Natural Products as a Paradigm for the Treatment of Coxsackievirus - induced Myocarditis. Curr Top Med Chem 2020; 20:607-616. [PMID: 31995007 DOI: 10.2174/1568026620666200129094516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2019] [Revised: 09/22/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3), a member of the Picornaviridae family, is considered to be one of the most important infectious agents to cause virus-induced myocarditis. Despite improvements in studying viral pathology, structure and molecular biology, as well as diagnosis of this disease, there is still no virus-specific drug in clinical use. Structural and nonstructural proteins produced during the coxsackievirus life cycle have been identified as potential targets for blocking viral replication at the step of attachment, entry, uncoating, RNA and protein synthesis by synthetic or natural compounds. Moreover, WIN (for Winthrop) compounds and application of nucleic-acid based strategies were shown to target viral capsid, entry and viral proteases, but have not reached to the clinical trials as a successful antiviral agent. There is an urgent need for diverse molecular libraries for phenotype-selective and high-throughput screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madhu Khanna
- Department of Microbiology (Virology Unit), Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India
| | - Anju Gautam
- Department of Microbiology (Virology Unit), Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India
| | - Roopali Rajput
- Department of Microbiology (Virology Unit), Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India
| | - Latika Sharma
- Department of Microbiology (Virology Unit), Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi-110007, India
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Petrov N, Stoyanova M, Galabov A. Inhibition of Coxsackievirus B3 cardiotropic strain Woodruff replication by silencing essential viral genes. BIOTECHNOL BIOTEC EQ 2019. [DOI: 10.1080/13102818.2019.1680318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nikolay Petrov
- Laboratory of Biology, Department of Natural Sciences, New Bulgarian University, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Mariya Stoyanova
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Soil Science, Agrotechnologies and Plant Protection ‘Nikola Pushkarov’, Agricultural Academy, Sofia, Bulgaria
| | - Angel Galabov
- Department of Virology, The Stephan Angeloff Institute of Microbiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria
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Targeting Highly Structured RNA by Cooperative Action of siRNAs and Helper Antisense Oligomers in Living Cells. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0136395. [PMID: 26308932 PMCID: PMC4556297 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0136395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA target accessibility is one of the most important factors limiting the efficiency of RNA interference-mediated RNA degradation. However, targeting RNA viruses in their poorly accessible, highly structured regions can be advantageous because these regions are often conserved in sequence and thus less prone to viral escape. We developed an experimental strategy to attack highly structured RNA by means of pairs of specifically designed small interfering RNAs and helper antisense oligonucleotides using the 5’ untranslated region (5’UTR) of coxsackievirus B3 as a model target. In the first step, sites accessible to hybridization of complementary oligonucleotides were identified using two mapping methods with random libraries of short DNA oligomers. Subsequently, the accessibility of the mapped regions for hybridization of longer DNA 16-mers was confirmed by an RNase H assay. Using criteria for the design of efficient small interfering RNAs (siRNA) and a secondary structure model of the viral 5’UTR, several DNA 19-mers were designed against partly double-stranded RNA regions. Target sites for DNA 19-mers were located opposite the sites which had been confirmed as accessible for hybridization. Three pairs of DNA 19-mers and the helper 2’-O-methyl-16-mers were able to effectively induce RNase H cleavage in vitro. For cellular assays, the DNA 19-mers were replaced by siRNAs, and the corresponding three pairs of siRNA-helper oligomer tools were found to target 5’UTR efficiently in a reporter construct in HeLa cells. Addition of the helper oligomer improved silencing capacity of the respective siRNA. We assume that the described procedure will generally be useful for designing of nucleic acid-based tools to silence highly structured RNA targets.
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Sin J, Mangale V, Thienphrapa W, Gottlieb RA, Feuer R. Recent progress in understanding coxsackievirus replication, dissemination, and pathogenesis. Virology 2015; 484:288-304. [PMID: 26142496 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2015.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2015] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 06/03/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Coxsackieviruses (CVs) are relatively common viruses associated with a number of serious human diseases, including myocarditis and meningo-encephalitis. These viruses are considered cytolytic yet can persist for extended periods of time within certain host tissues requiring evasion from the host immune response and a greatly reduced rate of replication. A member of Picornaviridae family, CVs have been historically considered non-enveloped viruses - although recent evidence suggest that CV and other picornaviruses hijack host membranes and acquire an envelope. Acquisition of an envelope might provide distinct benefits to CV virions, such as resistance to neutralizing antibodies and efficient nonlytic viral spread. CV exhibits a unique tropism for progenitor cells in the host which may help to explain the susceptibility of the young host to infection and the establishment of chronic disease in adults. CVs have also been shown to exploit autophagy to maximize viral replication and assist in unconventional release from target cells. In this article, we review recent progress in clarifying virus replication and dissemination within the host cell, identifying determinants of tropism, and defining strategies utilized by the virus to evade the host immune response. Also, we will highlight unanswered questions and provide future perspectives regarding the potential mechanisms of CV pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon Sin
- Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Vrushali Mangale
- The Integrated Regenerative Research Institute (IRRI) at San Diego State University, Cell & Molecular Biology Joint Doctoral Program, Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Wdee Thienphrapa
- The Integrated Regenerative Research Institute (IRRI) at San Diego State University, Cell & Molecular Biology Joint Doctoral Program, Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA
| | - Roberta A Gottlieb
- Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, 8700 Beverly Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Ralph Feuer
- The Integrated Regenerative Research Institute (IRRI) at San Diego State University, Cell & Molecular Biology Joint Doctoral Program, Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA.
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Stein EA, Pinkert S, Becher PM, Geisler A, Zeichhardt H, Klopfleisch R, Poller W, Tschöpe C, Lassner D, Fechner H, Kurreck J. Combination of RNA Interference and Virus Receptor Trap Exerts Additive Antiviral Activity in Coxsackievirus B3-induced Myocarditis in Mice. J Infect Dis 2014; 211:613-22. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiu504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
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Adenovirus vector-mediated RNA interference for the inhibition of human parvovirus B19 replication. Virus Res 2013; 176:155-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2013.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2013] [Revised: 05/23/2013] [Accepted: 05/26/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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RNA interference--a silent but an efficient therapeutic tool. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 2013; 169:1774-89. [PMID: 23340870 DOI: 10.1007/s12010-013-0098-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2012] [Accepted: 01/10/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionary conserved gene regulation pathway that has emerged as an important discovery in the field of molecular biology. One of the important advantages of RNAi in therapy is that it brings about efficient downregulation of gene expression by targeting complementary transcripts in comparison with other antisense-based techniques. RNAi can be can be achieved by introducing chemically synthesized small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into a cell system. A more stable knockdown effect can be brought about by the use of plasmid or viral vectors encoding the siRNA. RNAi has been used in reverse genetics to understand the function of specific genes and also as a therapeutic tool in treating human diseases. This review provides a brief insight into the therapeutic applications of RNAi against debilitating diseases.
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Motavaf M, Safari S, Alavian SM. Therapeutic potential of RNA interference: a new molecular approach to antiviral treatment for hepatitis C. J Viral Hepat 2012; 19:757-65. [PMID: 23043382 DOI: 10.1111/jvh.12006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection remains a major cause of chronic liver disease with an estimated 170 million carriers worldwide. Current treatments have significant side effects and have met with only partial success. Therefore, alternative antiviral drugs that efficiently block virus production are needed. During recent decades, RNA interference (RNAi) technology has not only become a powerful tool for functional genomics but also represents a new therapeutic approach for treating human diseases including viral infections. RNAi is a sequence-specific and post-transcriptional gene silencing process mediated by double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). As the HCV genome is a single-stranded RNA that functions as both a messenger RNA (mRNA) and replication template, it is an attractive target for the study of RNAi-based viral therapies. In this review, we will give a brief overview about the history and current status of RNAi and focus on its potential application as a therapeutic option for treatment for HCV infection.
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Yao H, Zhang Y, He F, Wang C, Xiao Z, Zou J, Wang F, Liu Z. Short hairpin RNA targeting 2B gene of coxsackievirus B3 exhibits potential antiviral effects both in vitro and in vivo. BMC Infect Dis 2012; 12:177. [PMID: 22863145 PMCID: PMC3482581 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-12-177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2011] [Accepted: 07/28/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Coxsackievirus B3 is an important infectious agent of viral myocarditis, pancreatitis and aseptic meningitis, but there are no specific antiviral therapeutic reagents in clinical use. RNA interference-based technology has been developed to prevent the viral infection. Methods To evaluate the impact of RNA interference on viral replication, cytopathogenicity and animal survival, short hairpin RNAs targeting the viral 2B region (shRNA-2B) expressed by a recombinant vector (pGCL-2B) or a recombinant lentivirus (Lenti-2B) were tansfected in HeLa cells or transduced in mice infected with CVB3. Results ShRNA-2B exhibited a significant effect on inhibition of viral production in HeLa cells. Furthermore, shRNA-2B improved mouse survival rate, reduced the viral tissues titers and attenuated tissue damage compared with those of the shRNA-NC treated control group. Lenti-2B displayed more effective role in inhibition of viral replication than pGCL-2B in vivo. Conclusions Coxsackievirus B3 2B is an effective target of gene silencing against coxsackievirus B3 infection, suggesting that shRNA-2B is a potential agent for further development into a treatment for enterviral diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hailan Yao
- Molecular Immunology Laboratory, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, YaBao Road 2, Beijing, 100020, China
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Affiliation(s)
- Anju Gautam
- Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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Antiviral effects of small interfering RNA simultaneously inducing RNA interference and type 1 interferon in coxsackievirus myocarditis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2012; 56:3516-23. [PMID: 22508300 DOI: 10.1128/aac.06050-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Antiviral therapeutics are currently unavailable for treatment of coxsackievirus B3, which can cause life-threatening myocarditis. A modified small interfering RNA (siRNA) containing 5'-triphosphate, 3p-siRNA, was shown to induce RNA interference and interferon activation. We aimed to develop a potent antiviral treatment using CVB3-specific 3p-siRNA and to understand its underlying mechanisms. Virus-specific 3p-siRNA was superior to both conventional virus-specific siRNA with an empty hydroxyl group at the 5' end (OH-siRNA) and nonspecific 3p-siRNA in decreasing viral replication and subsequent cytotoxicity. A single administration of 3p-siRNA dramatically attenuated virus-associated pathological symptoms in mice with no signs of toxicity, and their body weights eventually reached the normal range. Myocardial inflammation and fibrosis were rare, and virus production was greatly reduced. A nonspecific 3p-siRNA showed relatively less protective effect under identical conditions, and a virus-specific OH-siRNA showed no protective effects. We confirmed that virus-specific 3p-siRNA simultaneously activated target-specific gene silencing and type I interferon signaling. We provide a clear proof of concept that coxsackievirus B3-specific 3p-siRNA has 2 distinct modes of action, which significantly enhance antiviral activities with minimal organ damage. This is the first direct demonstration of improved antiviral effects with an immunostimulatory virus-specific siRNA in coxsackievirus myocarditis, and this method could be applied to many virus-related diseases.
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Luan Y, Dai HL, Yang D, Zhu L, Gao TL, Shao HJ, Peng X, Jin ZF. Small interfering RNA against the 2C genomic region of coxsackievirus B3 exerts potential antiviral effects in permissive HeLa cells. Virus Res 2012; 163:183-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2011.09.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2011] [Revised: 09/02/2011] [Accepted: 09/12/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Fechner H, Pinkert S, Geisler A, Poller W, Kurreck J. Pharmacological and biological antiviral therapeutics for cardiac coxsackievirus infections. Molecules 2011; 16:8475-503. [PMID: 21989310 PMCID: PMC6264230 DOI: 10.3390/molecules16108475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2011] [Revised: 09/29/2011] [Accepted: 09/30/2011] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Subtype B coxsackieviruses (CVB) represent the most commonly identified infectious agents associated with acute and chronic myocarditis, with CVB3 being the most common variant. Damage to the heart is induced both directly by virally mediated cell destruction and indirectly due to the immune and autoimmune processes reacting to virus infection. This review addresses antiviral therapeutics for cardiac coxsackievirus infections discovered over the last 25 years. One group represents pharmacologically active low molecular weight substances that inhibit virus uptake by binding to the virus capsid (e.g., pleconaril) or inactivate viral proteins (e.g., NO-metoprolol and ribavirin) or inhibit cellular proteins which are essential for viral replication (e.g., ubiquitination inhibitors). A second important group of substances are interferons. They have antiviral but also immunomodulating activities. The third and most recently discovered group includes biological and cellular therapeutics. Soluble receptor analogues (e.g., sCAR-Fc) bind to the virus capsid and block virus uptake. Small interfering RNAs, short hairpin RNAs and antisense oligonucleotides bind to and led to degradation of the viral RNA genome or cellular RNAs, thereby preventing their translation and viral replication. Most recently mesenchymal stem cell transplantation has been shown to possess antiviral activity in CVB3 infections. Taken together, a number of antiviral therapeutics has been developed for the treatment of myocardial CVB infection in recent years. In addition to low molecular weight inhibitors, biological therapeutics have become promising anti-viral agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Fechner
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (J.K.)
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; ; Tel.: +49-30-31472181; Fax: +49-30-31427502
| | - Sandra Pinkert
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (J.K.)
| | - Anja Geisler
- Department of Cardiology & Pneumology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); wolfgang.poller@charite (W.P.)
| | - Wolfgang Poller
- Department of Cardiology & Pneumology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany; (A.G.); wolfgang.poller@charite (W.P.)
| | - Jens Kurreck
- Department of Applied Biochemistry, Institute of Biotechnology, Technische Universität Berlin, Gustav-Meyer-Allee 25, 13355 Berlin, Germany; (S.P.); (J.K.)
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Targeted delivery of mutant tolerant anti-coxsackievirus artificial microRNAs using folate conjugated bacteriophage Phi29 pRNA. PLoS One 2011; 6:e21215. [PMID: 21698212 PMCID: PMC3115994 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0021215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2011] [Accepted: 05/23/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myocarditis is the major heart disease in infants and young adults. It is very commonly caused by coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) infection; however, no specific treatment or vaccine is available at present. RNA interference (RNAi)-based anti-viral therapy has shown potential to inhibit viral replication, but this strategy faces two major challenges; viral mutational escape from drug suppression and targeted delivery of the reagents to specific cell populations. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In this study, we designed artificial microRNAs (AmiRs) targeting the 3'untranslated region (3'UTR) of CVB3 genome with mismatches to the central region of their targeting sites. Antiviral evaluation showed that AmiR-1 and AmiR-2 reduced CVB3 (Kandolf and CG strains) replication approximately 100-fold in both HeLa cells and HL-1 cardiomyocytes. To achieve specific delivery, we linked AmiRs to the folate-conjugated bacterial phage packaging RNA (pRNA) and delivered the complexes into HeLa cells, a folate receptor positive cancer cells widely used as an in vitro model for CVB3 infection, via folate-mediated specific internalization. We found that our designed pRNA-AmiRs conjugates were tolerable to target mutations and have great potential to suppress viral mutational escape with little effect on triggering interferon induction. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE This study provides important clues for designing AmiRs targeting the 3'UTR of viral genome. It also proves the feasibility of specific deliver of AmiRs using conjugated pRNA vehicles. These small AmiRs combined with pRNA-folate conjugates could form a promising system for antiviral drug development.
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Hemida MG, Ye X, Thair S, Yang D. Exploiting the therapeutic potential of microRNAs in viral diseases: expectations and limitations. Mol Diagn Ther 2011; 14:271-82. [PMID: 21053993 PMCID: PMC7099301 DOI: 10.1007/bf03256383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
New therapeutic approaches are urgently needed for serious diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, viral infections, and others. A recent direction in drug development is the utilization of nucleic acidbased therapeutic molecules, such as antisense oligonucleotides, ribozymes, short interfering RNA (siRNA), and microRNA (miRNA). miRNAs are endogenous, short, non-coding RNA molecules. Some viruses encode their own miRNAs, which play pivotal roles in viral replication and immune evasion strategies. Conversely, viruses that do not encode miRNAs may manipulate host cell miRNAs for the benefits of their replication. miRNAs have therefore become attractive tools for the study of viral pathogenesis. Lately, novel therapeutic strategies based on miRNA technology for the treatment of viral diseases have been progressing rapidly. Although this new generation of molecular therapy is promising, there are still several challenges to face, such as targeting delivery to specific tissues, avoiding off-target effects of miRNAs, reducing the toxicity of the drugs, and overcoming mutations and drug resistance. In this article, we review the current knowledge of the role and therapeutic potential of miRNAs in viral diseases, and discuss the limitations of these therapies, as well as strategies to overcome them to provide safe and effective clinical applications of these new therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maged Gomaa Hemida
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Heart and Lung Institute, St Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Rhoades RE, Tabor-Godwin JM, Tsueng G, Feuer R. Enterovirus infections of the central nervous system. Virology 2011; 411:288-305. [PMID: 21251690 PMCID: PMC3060663 DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2010.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2010] [Accepted: 12/08/2010] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Enteroviruses (EV) frequently infect the central nervous system (CNS) and induce neurological diseases. Although the CNS is composed of many different cell types, the spectrum of tropism for each EV is considerable. These viruses have the ability to completely shut down host translational machinery and are considered highly cytolytic, thereby causing cytopathic effects. Hence, CNS dysfunction following EV infection of neuronal or glial cells might be expected. Perhaps unexpectedly given their cytolytic nature, EVs may establish a persistent infection within the CNS, and the lasting effects on the host might be significant with unanticipated consequences. This review will describe the clinical aspects of EV-mediated disease, mechanisms of disease, determinants of tropism, immune activation within the CNS, and potential treatment regimes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Ralph Feuer
- Corresponding author. Cell & Molecular Biology Joint Doctoral Program, Department of Biology, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Drive; San Diego, CA 92182-4614, USA. Fax: +1 619 594 0777.
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Rothe D, Wajant G, Grunert HP, Zeichhardt H, Fechner H, Kurreck J. Rapid construction of adeno-associated virus vectors expressing multiple short hairpin RNAs with high antiviral activity against echovirus 30. Oligonucleotides 2010; 20:191-8. [PMID: 20649454 DOI: 10.1089/oli.2010.0236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference has proven to be a powerful tool to inhibit viruses. For the prevention of viral escape, multiple short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) will have to be employed. This article describes a rapid procedure for the generation of shRNA expression cassettes by parallel cloning as well as a simple strategy for the combination of selected units. After delivery of the shRNA expression cassettes with adeno-associated virus vectors, inhibition of echovirus 30 as well as silencing of an important cellular cofactor of virus replication were achieved. The procedure has the potential to be generally applicable for silencing of multiple endogenous targets or viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Rothe
- Institute of Industrial Genetics, University of Stuttgart, Stuttgart, Germany
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21
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Berger KL, Randall G. Possibilities for RNA interference in developing hepatitis C virus therapeutics. Viruses 2010; 2:1647-1665. [PMID: 21994699 PMCID: PMC3185727 DOI: 10.3390/v2081647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2010] [Revised: 08/04/2010] [Accepted: 08/04/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The discovery and characterization of the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway has been one of the most important scientific developments of the last 12 years. RNAi is a cellular pathway wherein small RNAs control the expression of genes by either degrading homologous RNAs or preventing the translation of RNAs with partial homology. It has impacted basic biology on two major fronts. The first is the discovery of microRNAs (miRNAs), which regulate almost every cellular process and are required for some viral infections, including hepatitis C virus (HCV). The second front is the use of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) as the first robust tool for mammalian cellular genetics. This has led to the identification of hundreds of cellular genes that are important for HCV infection. There is now a major push to adapt RNAi technology to the clinic. In this review, we explore the impact of RNAi in understanding HCV biology, the progress in design of RNAi-based therapeutics for HCV, and remaining obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Glenn Randall
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: ; Tel.: +1-773-702-5673; Fax: +1-773-834-8150
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22
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Aigner A. Delivery systems for the direct application of siRNAs to induce RNA interference (RNAi) in vivo. J Biomed Biotechnol 2010; 2006:71659. [PMID: 17057369 PMCID: PMC1559929 DOI: 10.1155/jbb/2006/71659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a powerful method for specific gene
silencing which may also lead to promising novel therapeutic
strategies. It is mediated through small interfering RNAs (siRNAs)
which sequence-specifically trigger the cleavage and subsequent
degradation of their target mRNA. One critical factor is the
ability to deliver intact siRNAs into target cells/organs in vivo.
This review highlights the mechanism of RNAi and the guidelines
for the design of optimal siRNAs. It gives an overview of studies
based on the systemic or local application of naked siRNAs or the
use of various nonviral siRNA delivery systems. One promising
avenue is the the complexation of siRNAs with the polyethylenimine
(PEI), which efficiently stabilizes siRNAs and, upon systemic
administration, leads to the delivery of the intact siRNAs into
different organs. The antitumorigenic effects of
PEI/siRNA-mediated in vivo gene-targeting of tumor-relevant
proteins like in mouse tumor xenograft models are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achim Aigner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology,
Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-v.-Frisch-Strasse 1, 35033 Marburg, Germany
- *Achim Aigner:
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Targeting enteroviral 2A protease by a 16-mer synthetic peptide: Inhibition of 2Apro-induced apoptosis in a stable Tet-on HeLa cell line. Virology 2010; 399:39-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.virol.2009.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2009] [Revised: 10/16/2009] [Accepted: 12/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Werk D, Wengel J, Wengel SL, Grunert HP, Zeichhardt H, Kurreck J. Application of small interfering RNAs modified by unlocked nucleic acid (UNA) to inhibit the heart-pathogenic coxsackievirus B3. FEBS Lett 2009; 584:591-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2009.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2009] [Revised: 11/28/2009] [Accepted: 12/06/2009] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
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Nygårdas M, Vuorinen T, Aalto AP, Bamford DH, Hukkanen V. Inhibition of coxsackievirus B3 and related enteroviruses by antiviral short interfering RNA pools produced using phi6 RNA-dependent RNA polymerase. J Gen Virol 2009; 90:2468-2473. [PMID: 19553393 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.011338-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxsackievirus B3 (CBV3) is a member of the human enterovirus B species and a common human pathogen. Even though much is known about the enteroviral life cycle, no specific drugs are available to treat enterovirus infections. RNA interference (RNAi) has evolved to be an important tool for antiviral experimental therapies and gene function studies. We describe here a novel approach for RNAi against CBVs by using a short interfering (siRNA) pool covering 3.5 kb of CBV3 genomic sequence. The RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRP) of bacteriophage phi6 was used to synthesize long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) from a cloned region (nt 3837-7399) of the CBV3 genome. The dsRNA was cleaved using Dicer, purified and introduced to cells by transfection. The siRNA pool synthesized using the phi6 RdRP (phi6-siRNAs) was considerably more effective than single-site siRNAs. The phi6-siRNA pool also inhibited replication of other enterovirus B species, such as coxsackievirus B4 and coxsackievirus A9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Nygårdas
- Department of Virology, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 13, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Tytti Vuorinen
- Department of Virology, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 13, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
| | - Antti P Aalto
- Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Biocenter 2, Viikinkaari 5, PO Box 56, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Dennis H Bamford
- Institute of Biotechnology and Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Biocenter 2, Viikinkaari 5, PO Box 56, FIN-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland
| | - Veijo Hukkanen
- Department of Microbiology, Aapistie 5A, 90014 University of Oulu, Finland
- Department of Virology, University of Turku, Kiinamyllynkatu 13, FIN-20520 Turku, Finland
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Rothe D, Werk D, Niedrig S, Horbelt D, Grunert HP, Zeichhardt H, Erdmann VA, Kurreck J. Antiviral activity of highly potent siRNAs against echovirus 30 and its receptor. J Virol Methods 2009; 157:211-8. [PMID: 19187792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jviromet.2009.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2008] [Revised: 01/07/2009] [Accepted: 01/13/2009] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has been shown to be suitable to inhibit viruses in experimental setups and is considered a promising antiviral strategy that is currently being tested in various clinical trials. The present study provides an approach to design siRNAs with high potency against a virus-specific target gene. In recent years, several outbreaks of aseptic meningitis caused by an echovirus 30 (EV-30) infection have been described. Based on an initial set of 30 in silico designed siRNAs, six siRNAs targeting the 3D RNA-dependent RNA-Polymerase (3D(Pol)) of EV-30 were selected. All but one of them showed high efficiency in both, reporter and virus assays. A second aim of the study was to re-investigate the relevance of the decay-accelerating factor (DAF, also known as CD55) as cellular entry receptor of EV-30 by means of RNAi, a question which had been under debate in previous studies. Knockdown of DAF inhibited drastically infection by EV-30 indicating that DAF plays an important role either as an attachment factor or as a receptor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Rothe
- University of Stuttgart, Institute of Industrial Genetics, Allmandring, Stuttgart, Germany
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Jun EJ, Nam YR, Ahn J, Tchah H, Joo CH, Jee Y, Kim YK, Lee H. Antiviral potency of a siRNA targeting a conserved region of coxsackievirus A24. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2008; 376:389-94. [PMID: 18793610 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2008.08.169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2008] [Accepted: 08/29/2008] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Coxsackievirus A24 (CVA24) is responsible for acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, a highly contagious eye disease for which no prevention or treatment is currently available. We thus assessed the antiviral potential of a small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting CVA24. HeLa cells with or without four different siRNAs complementary to 2C or 3D genome region, were challenged with various CVA24s. Among several siRNAs, a siRNA targeting the highly conserved genome region called the cis-acting replication element (CVA24-CRE), was the only siRNA that decreased virus replication and subsequent cytotoxicity by both CVA24 variant and clinical isolates. Furthermore, CVA24-CRE had effective antiviral activity against CVA24 in primary human conjunctival cells. In addition, CVA24-CRE was highly resistant to the emergence of genetically altered escape mutants. Collectively, the present study provides evidence that CVA24-CRE targeting a conserved viral genome region had universal, prolonged anti-CVA24 activity. This siRNA may thus hold a potential to act clinically as a novel anti-CVA24 agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Jung Jun
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Songpa P.O. Box 145, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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28
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Dutkiewicz M, Grunert HP, Zeichhardt H, Lena SW, Wengel J, Kurreck J. Design of LNA-modified siRNAs against the highly structured 5' UTR of coxsackievirus B3. FEBS Lett 2008; 582:3061-6. [PMID: 18691577 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2008.07.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2008] [Revised: 07/11/2008] [Accepted: 07/28/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
This study describes a strategy to develop LNA-modified small interfering RNA (siRNAs) against the highly structured 5' UTR of coxsackievirus B3 (CVB-3), which is an attractive target site due to its high degree of conservation. Accessible sites were identified based on structural models and RNase H assays with DNA oligonucleotides. Subsequently, LNA gapmers, siRNAs, siLNAs and small internally segmented interfering RNA (sisiLNAs) were designed against sites, which were found to be accessible in the in vitro assays, and tested in reporter assays and experiments with the infectious virus. The best siLNA improved viability of infected cells by 92% and exerted good antiviral activity in plaque reduction assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariola Dutkiewicz
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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29
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Fechner H, Sipo I, Westermann D, Pinkert S, Wang X, Suckau L, Kurreck J, Zeichhardt H, Müller O, Vetter R, Erdmann V, Tschope C, Poller W. Cardiac-targeted RNA interference mediated by an AAV9 vector improves cardiac function in coxsackievirus B3 cardiomyopathy. J Mol Med (Berl) 2008; 86:987-97. [PMID: 18548221 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-008-0363-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2007] [Revised: 04/08/2008] [Accepted: 04/16/2008] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has potential to be a novel therapeutic strategy in diverse areas of medicine. In this paper, we report on targeted RNAi for the treatment of a viral cardiomyopathy, which is a major cause of sudden cardiac death or terminal heart failure in children and young adults. RNAi therapy employs small regulatory RNAs to achieve its effect, but in vivo use of synthetic small interfering RNAs is limited by instability in plasma and low transfer into target cells. We instead evaluated an RNAi strategy using short hairpin RNA (shRdRp) directed at the RNA polymerase (RdRP) of coxsackievirus B3 (CoxB3) in HeLa cells, primary rat cardiomyocytes (PNCMs) and CoxB3-infected mice in vivo. A conventional AAV2 vector expressing shRdRp protected HeLa against virus-induced death, but this vector type was unable to transduce PNCMs. In contrast, an analogous pseudotyped AAV2.6 vector was protective also in PNCMs and reduced virus replication by >3 log10 steps. Finally, we evaluated the intravenous treatment of mice with an AAV2.9-shRdRp vector because AAV9 carries the most cardiotropic AAV capsid currently known for in vivo use. Mice with CoxB3 cardiomyopathy had disturbed left ventricular (LV) function with impaired parameters of contractility (dP/dtmax = 3,006 +/- 287 vs. 7,482 +/- 487 mmHg/s, p < 0.01) and diastolic relaxation (dP/dtmin = -2,224 +/- 195 vs. -6,456 +/- 356 mmHg/s, p < 0.01 and Tau = 16.2 +/- 1.1 vs. 10.7 +/- 0.6 ms, p < 0.01) compared to control mice. AAV2.9-shRdRp treatment significantly attenuated the cardiac dysfunction compared to control vector-treated mice on day 10 after CoxB3 infection: dP/dtmax = 3,865 +/- 354 vs. 3,006 +/- 287 mmHg/s (p < 0.05), dP/dtmin = -3,245 +/- 231 vs. -2,224 +/- 195 mmHg/s (p < 0.05) and Tau = 11.9 +/- 0.5 vs. 16.2 +/- 1.1 ms (p < 0.01). The data show, for the first time, that intravenously injected AAV9 has the potential to target RNAi to the heart and suggest AAV9-shRNA vectors as a novel therapeutic approach for cardiac disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry Fechner
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany
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Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism in cells that suppresses or silences the expression of aberrant or foreign genes. This activity is being developed as a potential antiviral therapeutic strategy. Studies in vitro, and some in vivo, appear to show the feasibility of using RNAi to treat virus infection. Therapeutic use of RNAi seems to be promising when directed against viruses that cause localized acute infections in accessible target cells. Therapeutic strategies using RNAi against viruses that cause chronic infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C virus, are more difficult to design, but studies have begun to address identifiable problems. Two clinical trials using RNAi have recently been initiated--one phase II trial against respiratory syncytial virus and a phase I trial against HIV. It will be of much interest to see whether nucleic acid therapies can offer another route to treating viral infection.
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31
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Fechner H, Kurreck J. Vector-Mediated and Viral Delivery of Short Hairpin RNAs. THERAPEUTIC OLIGONUCLEOTIDES 2008. [DOI: 10.1039/9781847558275-00267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Henry Fechner
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Charité-University Medicine Berlin, Campus Benjamin Franklin Hindenburgdamm 30 12200 Berlin Germany
| | - Jens Kurreck
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University Berlin Thielallee 63 14195 Berlin Germany
- Institute of Industrial Genetics, University of Stuttgart Allmandring 31 70569 Stuttgart Germany
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Erdmann VA, Poller W, Barciszewski J. Targeting Viral Heart Disease by RNA Interference. RNA TECHNOLOGIES IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE AND RESEARCH 2008. [PMCID: PMC7120428 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-78709-9_6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Viral heart disease (VHD) is an important clinical disease entity both in pediatric as well as adult cardiology. Coxsackieviruses (CVBs) are considered an important cause for VHD in both populations. VHD may lead to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure which can ultimately require heart transplantation. However, no specific treatment modality is so far available. We and others have shown that coxsackieviral replication and cytotoxicity can be successfully targeted by RNA interference, thus leading to increased cell viability and even prolongation of survival in vivo. However, considerable limitations have to be solved before this novel therapeutic approach may enter the clinical trials arena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Volker A. Erdmann
- Institute for Chemistry/Biochemistry, Free University of Berlin, Thielallee 63, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Wolfgang Poller
- Clinic for Cardiology and Pneumology Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charite University Medicine Berlin, Hindenburgdamm 30, 12200 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jan Barciszewski
- Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Noskowskiego 12, 61-704 Poznan, Poland
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33
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Poller W, Suckau L, Pinkert S, Fechner H. RNA Interference and MicroRNA Modulation for the Treatment of Cardiac Disorders. RNA TECHNOLOGIES IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE AND RESEARCH 2008. [PMCID: PMC7121055 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-540-78709-9_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The current status and challenges of RNA interference (RNAi) and microRNA modulation strategies for the treatment of myocardial disorders are discussed and related to the classical gene therapeutic approaches of the past decade. Section 2 summarizes the key issues of current vector technologies which determine if they may be suitable for clinical translation of experimental RNAi or microRNA therapeutic protocols. We then present and discuss examples dealing with the potential of cardiac RNAi therapy. First, an approach to block a key early step in the pathogenesis of a virus-induced cardiomyopathy by RNAi targeting of a cellular receptor for cardiopathogenic viruses (Section 3). Second, an approach to improve cardiac function by RNAi targeting of late pathway of heart failure pathogenesis common to myocardial disorders of multiple etiologies. This strategy is directed at myocardial Ca2+ homeostasis which is disturbed in heart failure due to coronary heart disease, heart valve dysfunction, cardiac inflammation, or genetic defects (Section 4). Whereas the first type of strategies (directed at early pathogenesis) need to be tailor-made for each different type of pathomechanism, the second type (targeting late common pathways) has a much broader range of application. This advantage of the second type of approaches is of key importance since enormous efforts need to be undertaken before any regulatory RNA therapy enters the stage of possible clinical translation. If then the number of patients eligible for this protocol is large, the actual transformation of the experimental therapy into a new therapeutic option of clinical importance is far more likely to occur.
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Lang C, Sauter M, Szalay G, Racchi G, Grassi G, Rainaldi G, Mercatanti A, Lang F, Kandolf R, Klingel K. Connective tissue growth factor: a crucial cytokine-mediating cardiac fibrosis in ongoing enterovirus myocarditis. J Mol Med (Berl) 2007; 86:49-60. [PMID: 17846733 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-007-0249-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2007] [Revised: 06/26/2007] [Accepted: 07/05/2007] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) as a consequence of viral myocarditis is a worldwide cause of morbidity and death. The deposition of matrix proteins, such as collagen, in the course of ongoing viral myocarditis results in cardiac remodeling and finally in cardiac fibrosis, the hallmark of DCM. To identify mediators of virus-induced cardiac fibrosis, microarray analysis was conducted in a murine model of chronic coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) myocarditis. By this attempt, we identified connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) as a novel factor highly expressed in infected hearts. Further investigations by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis confirmed a strong induction of cardiac CTGF expression in the course of CVB3 myocarditis. By in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry, basal CTGF messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) and protein expression were confined in noninfected control hearts mainly to endothelial cells, whereas in CVB3-infected hearts, also numerous fibroblasts were found to express CTGF. Regulation of CTGF is known to be basically mediated by transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta. In the course of CVB3 myocarditis, CTGF upregulation coincided with increased cardiac TGF-beta and procollagen type I mRNA expression, preceding the formation of fibrotic lesions. In in vitro experiments, we found that downregulation of CVB3 replication by means of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) reverses the upregulation of CTGF mRNA expression. In contrast, downregulation of CTGF by siRNA molecules did not significantly reduce viral load, indicating that CTGF is not essential for CVB3 life cycle. The significantly enhanced transcript levels of TGF-beta, CTGF, and procollagen type I in cultivated CVB3-infected primary cardiac fibroblasts substantiate the role of fibroblasts as a relevant cell population in cardiac remodeling processes. We conclude that CTGF is a crucial molecule in the development of fibrosis in ongoing enteroviral myocarditis. Thus, downregulation of cardiac CTGF expression may open novel therapeutic approaches counteracting the development of cardiac fibrosis and subsequent heart muscle dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Lang
- Department of Molecular Pathology, Institute for Pathology, University Hospital Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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35
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Lee HS, Ahn J, Jee Y, Seo IS, Jeon EJ, Jeon ES, Joo CH, Kim YK, Lee H. Universal and mutation-resistant anti-enteroviral activity: potency of small interfering RNA complementary to the conserved cis-acting replication element within the enterovirus coding region. J Gen Virol 2007; 88:2003-2012. [PMID: 17554034 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.82633-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The promising potential of RNA interference-based antiviral therapies has been well established. However, the antiviral efficacy is largely limited by genomic diversity and genetic instability of various viruses, including human enterovirus B (HEB). In this work, the first evidence supporting the anti-HEB activity of the small interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting the highly conserved cis-acting replication element (CRE) within virus coding region 2C is presented. HeLa cells pre-treated with siRNA complementary to the conserved sequence of the loop region of CRE(2C) were effectively rescued from the cytopathic effects of HEBs. Downregulation of virus replication and attenuation of cytotoxicity were consistently observed in various reference strains and clinical isolates. Cells treated with this siRNA were resistant to the emergence of viable escape mutants and showed sustained antiviral ability. Collectively, the data suggest that the siRNA based on the disordered structure within the highly conserved cis-acting coding region has potential as a universal, persistent anti-HEB agent. The same strategy can be successfully applied to the development of siRNA with consistent antiviral effects in other virus groups possessing similar RNA elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Sun Lee
- Research Institute for Biomacromolecules, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Jeonghyun Ahn
- Research Institute for Biomacromolecules, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Youngmee Jee
- Division of Enteric and Hepatitis Viruses, Department of Virology, National Institute of Health, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Seoul, Korea
| | - Il Sun Seo
- Research Institute for Biomacromolecules, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun Jung Jeon
- Research Institute for Biomacromolecules, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Eun-Seok Jeon
- Cardiac and Vascular Center, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Chul Hyun Joo
- Research Institute for Biomacromolecules, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Yoo Kyum Kim
- Research Institute for Biomacromolecules, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
| | - Heuiran Lee
- Research Institute for Biomacromolecules, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
- Department of Microbiology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
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36
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Kusov Y, Kanda T, Palmenberg A, Sgro JY, Gauss-Müller V. Silencing of hepatitis A virus infection by small interfering RNAs. J Virol 2007; 80:5599-610. [PMID: 16699041 PMCID: PMC1472172 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.01773-05] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection by hepatitis A virus (HAV) can cause acute hepatitis and, rarely, fulminant liver failure, in particular in patients chronically infected with hepatitis C virus. Based on our previous observation that small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can silence translation and replication of the firefly luciferase-encoding HAV replicon, we now exploited this technology to demonstrate the effect of siRNAs on viral infection in Huh-7 cells. Freshly and persistently infected cells were transfected with siRNAs targeting various sites in the HAV nonstructural genes. Compared to a single application, consecutive siRNA transfections targeting multiple sequences in the viral genome resulted in a more efficient and sustained silencing effect than a single transfection. In most instances, multiple applications of a single siRNA led to the emergence of viral escape mutants with mutated target sites that rendered these genomes resistant to RNA interference (RNAi). Efficient and sustained suppression of the viral infectivity was achieved after consecutive applications of an siRNA targeting a computer-predicted hairpin structure. This siRNA holds promise as a therapeutic tool for severe courses of HAV infection. In addition, the results provide new insight into the structural bases for sequence-specific RNAi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Kusov
- Institute of Medical Molecular Biology, University of Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, 23562 Lübeck, Germany.
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37
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Merl S, Wessely R. Anti-coxsackieviral efficacy of RNA interference is highly dependent on genomic target selection and emergence of escape mutants. Oligonucleotides 2007; 17:44-53. [PMID: 17461762 DOI: 10.1089/oli.2007.0057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Enteroviral diseases are widespread and impose significant importance in medicine. Although the outcome of diseases that are associated with enteroviruses such as myocarditis, pancreatitis, hepatitis, or encephalomyelitis might be fatal, no specific antiviral therapy is yet available. We and others have shown that RNA interference (RNAi) effectively limits picornaviral replication and cytopathogenicity and improves survival in susceptible mice. However, little is known about the dependence of short interfering RNA (siRNA) efficacy on target region selection and emergence of viral escape mutants that may limit the effect of RNAi. The results of our study indicate that antiviral siRNA should be targeted preferentially to nonstructural protein coding regions because siRNA efficacy was consistently found to be superior compared to noncoding or structural protein coding regions. Further more, emergence of viral escape mutants that harbor single point mutations in the central part of the siRNA binding motif are the major factor that limits early therapeutic siRNA efficacy. The appearance of viral escape mutants can be sufficiently suppressed by combined administration of at least three distinct siRNA molecules. Therefore, genomic target selection and viral escape mutants are the most critical factors that limit early RNAi directed against enteroviral genomes. Both obstacles can be circumvented by appropriate target selection and combined siRNA administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Merl
- Deutsches Herzzentrum and Medizinische Klinik, Klinikum rechts der Isar, University of Technology, Munich, Germany
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38
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Aigner A. Applications of RNA interference: current state and prospects for siRNA-based strategies in vivo. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2007; 76:9-21. [PMID: 17457539 PMCID: PMC7079960 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-007-0984-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2007] [Revised: 04/02/2007] [Accepted: 04/03/2007] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Within the recent years, RNA interference (RNAi) has become an almost-standard method for in vitro knockdown of any target gene of interest. Now, one major focus is to further explore its potential in vivo, including the development of novel therapeutic strategies. From the mechanism, it becomes clear that small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) play a pivotal role in triggering RNAi. Thus, the efficient delivery of target gene-specific siRNAs is one major challenge in the establishment of therapeutic RNAi. Numerous studies, based on different modes of administration and various siRNA formulations and/or modifications, have already accumulated promising results. This applies to various animal models covering viral infections, cancer and multiple other diseases. Continuing efforts will lead to the development of efficient and “double-specific” drugs, comprising of siRNAs with high target gene specificity and of nanoparticles enhancing siRNA delivery and target organ specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achim Aigner
- Department Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Philipps-University Marburg, Karl-von-Frisch-Strasse 1, 35033, Marburg, Germany.
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39
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Fechner H, Pinkert S, Wang X, Sipo I, Suckau L, Kurreck J, Dörner A, Sollerbrant K, Zeichhardt H, Grunert HP, Vetter R, Schultheiss HP, Poller W. Coxsackievirus B3 and adenovirus infections of cardiac cells are efficiently inhibited by vector-mediated RNA interference targeting their common receptor. Gene Ther 2007; 14:960-71. [PMID: 17377597 PMCID: PMC7091640 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gt.3302948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
As coxsackievirus B3 (CoxB3) and adenoviruses may cause acute myocarditis and inflammatory cardiomyopathy, isolation of the common coxsackievirus–adenovirus-receptor (CAR) has provided an interesting new target for molecular antiviral therapy. Whereas many viruses show high mutation rates enabling them to develop escape mutants, mutations of their cellular virus receptors are far less likely. We report on antiviral efficacies of CAR gene silencing by short hairpin (sh)RNAs in the cardiac-derived HL-1 cell line and in primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes (PNCMs). Treatment with shRNA vectors mediating RNA interference against the CAR resulted in almost complete silencing of receptor expression both in HL-1 cells and PNCMs. Whereas CAR was silenced in HL-1 cells as early as 24 h after vector treatment, its downregulation in PNCMs did not become significant before day 6. CAR knockout resulted in inhibition of CoxB3 infections by up to 97% in HL-1 cells and up to 90% in PNCMs. Adenovirus was inhibited by only 75% in HL-1 cells, but up to 92% in PNCMs. We conclude that CAR knockout by shRNA vectors is efficient against CoxB3 and adenovirus in primary cardiac cells, but the efficacy of this approach in vivo may be influenced by cell type-specific silencing kinetics in different tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Fechner
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - S Pinkert
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - X Wang
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - I Sipo
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - L Suckau
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - J Kurreck
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - A Dörner
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - K Sollerbrant
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Stockholm Branch, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - H Zeichhardt
- Department of Virology, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - H-P Grunert
- Department of Virology, Institute of Infectious Diseases, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - R Vetter
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - H-P Schultheiss
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - W Poller
- Department of Cardiology and Pneumology, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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40
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Abstract
Silencing of gene expression by RNA interference (RNAi) has become a powerful tool for functional genomics in mammalian cells. Furthermore, RNAi holds promise as a simple, fast and cost-effective approach to studying mammalian gene function in vivo and as a novel therapeutic approach. This review provides an overview of the progress of RNAi in vivo, with emphasis on systemic/local siRNA delivery, viral shRNA vectors, shRNA vector transgenic mice and conditional systems to control shRNA vectors. Taken together, the data from 80 in vivo studies show that RNAi is a useful tool that offers new opportunities for functional genomics in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Kühn
- Institute for Developmental Genetics, GSF, National Research Center for Environment and Health, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany.
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41
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Kim JY, Chung SK, Hwang HY, Kim H, Kim JH, Nam JH, Park SI. Expression of short hairpin RNAs against the coxsackievirus B3 exerts potential antiviral effects in Cos-7 cells and in mice. Virus Res 2007; 125:9-13. [PMID: 17222937 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2006.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2006] [Revised: 11/17/2006] [Accepted: 11/24/2006] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Chemically synthesized small interfering RNA (siRNA) has been used as an anti-coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) agent. Herein, we investigated whether vector-derived short hairpin RNAs (shRNA) targeting CVB3 can exert antiviral activities, prior to their further application to viral vector system for efficient in vivo administration. Employing transient transfection assays to in vivo mouse models as well as to in vitro Cos-7 cell cultures, we directly demonstrated the potential antiviral activity of shRNAs following challenges with infectious CVB3. Of the six shRNAs that we designed, three prevented cell death from CVB3 infection by suppressing viral replication and viral production in Cos-7 cells. These were shRNA 2, which targeted the capsid protein VP1, and shRNAs 4 and 5, which targeted two different regions of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase 3D. Furthermore, shRNAs 2 and 5 also exerted strong antiviral effects in viral replication in vivo, accompanied by attenuated pancreatic tissue damage. Through this direct evaluation system we addressed the development and application of vector-derived shRNAs as an anti-CVB3 agent, revealing new target sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo-Young Kim
- Division of Intractable Diseases, Center for Biomedical Sciences, National Institute of Health, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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42
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Schubert S, Rothe D, Werk D, Grunert HP, Zeichhardt H, Erdmann VA, Kurreck J. Strand-specific silencing of a picornavirus by RNA interference: evidence for the superiority of plus-strand specific siRNAs. Antiviral Res 2006; 73:197-205. [PMID: 17112603 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2006.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2006] [Revised: 09/11/2006] [Accepted: 10/12/2006] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference triggered by small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can be used to effectively contain viral spread. Here, we report on the mechanism of action of siRNAs targeting the medically important coxsackievirus B3 (CVB-3) as a typical representative of viruses with a non-segmented RNA genome in positive-strand orientation. Antiviral siRNAs can be designed to target the genomic (+)-strand, the (-)-strand that occurs as a replication intermediate, or both. In the present study, two complementary and systematic approaches are presented providing direct evidence that silencing of the viral (+)-strand is the key to inhibit CVB-3: first, we used rational siRNA design to direct silencing activity specifically against either of the two viral strands. As a second approach, we employed siRNA containing modified nucleotides to render them specific for one of the virus RNAs. Experiments with infectious coxsackievirus revealed that the inhibitory efficiency correlates exclusively with the activity of the siRNAs directed against the viral (+)-strand. Our finding that only (+)-strand specific siRNAs exert significant antiviral potency may hold true for other RNA viruses with (+)-stranded genomes as well and may therefore be helpful in the development of efficient strategies to inhibit virus propagation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steffen Schubert
- Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry, Free University Berlin, Thielallee 63, D-14195 Berlin, Germany.
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43
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Yuan J, Stein DA, Lim T, Qiu D, Coughlin S, Liu Z, Wang Y, Blouch R, Moulton HM, Iversen PL, Yang D. Inhibition of coxsackievirus B3 in cell cultures and in mice by peptide-conjugated morpholino oligomers targeting the internal ribosome entry site. J Virol 2006; 80:11510-9. [PMID: 16987987 PMCID: PMC1642606 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.00900-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Coxsackievirus B3 (CVB3) is a primary cause of viral myocarditis, yet no effective therapeutic against CVB3 is available. Nucleic acid-based interventional strategies against various viruses, including CVB3, have shown promise experimentally, but limited stability and inefficient delivery in vivo remain as obstacles to their potential as therapeutics. We employed phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers (PMO) conjugated to a cell-penetrating arginine-rich peptide, P007 (to form PPMO), to address these issues. Eight CVB3-specific PPMO were evaluated with HeLa cells and HL-1 cardiomyocytes in culture and in a murine infection model. One of the PPMO (PPMO-6), designed to target a sequence in the 3' portion of the CVB3 internal ribosomal entry site, was found to be especially potent against CVB3. Treatment of cells with PPMO-6 prior to CVB3 infection produced an approximately 3-log(10) decrease in viral titer and largely protected cells from a virus-induced cytopathic effect. A similar antiviral effect was observed when PPMO-6 treatment began shortly after the virus infection period. A/J mice receiving intravenous administration of PPMO-6 once prior to and once after CVB3 infection showed an approximately 2-log(10)-decreased viral titer in the myocardium at 7 days postinfection and a significantly decreased level of cardiac tissue damage, compared to the controls. Thus, PPMO-6 provided potent inhibition of CVB3 amplification both in cell cultures and in vivo and appears worthy of further evaluation as a candidate for clinical development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Yuan
- The James Hogg iCAPTURE Centre for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Research, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B.C., Canada
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44
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Abstract
As soon as RNA interference (RNAi) was found to work in mammalian cells, research quickly focused on harnessing this powerful endogenous and specific mechanism of gene silencing for human therapy. RNAi uses small RNAs, less than 30 nucleotides in length, to suppress expression of genes with complementary sequences. Two strategies can introduce small RNAs into the cytoplasm of cells, where they are active - a drug approach where double-stranded RNAs are administered in complexes designed for intracellular delivery and a gene therapy approach to express precursor RNAs from viral vectors. Phase I clinical studies have already begun to test the therapeutic potential of small RNA drugs that silence disease-related genes by RNAi. This review will discuss progress in developing and testing small RNAi-based drugs and potential obstacles.
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Affiliation(s)
- D M Dykxhoorn
- CBR Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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45
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Behlke MA. Progress towards in vivo use of siRNAs. Mol Ther 2006; 13:644-70. [PMID: 16481219 PMCID: PMC7106286 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2006.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 325] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2005] [Revised: 01/11/2006] [Accepted: 01/11/2006] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) has become the method of choice to suppress gene expression in vitro. It is also emerging as a powerful tool for in vivo research with over 90 studies published using synthetic small interfering RNAs in mammals. These reports demonstrate the potential for use of synthetic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) as therapeutic agents, especially in the areas of cancer and viral infection. The number of reports using siRNAs for functional genomics applications, for validation of targets for small-molecule drug development programs, and to address questions of basic biology will rapidly grow as methods and protocols for use in animals become more established. This review will first discuss aspects of RNAi biochemistry and biology that impact in vivo use, especially as relates to experimental design, and will then provide an overview of published work with a focus on methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Behlke
- Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc., Coralville, IA 52241, USA.
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46
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Aigner A. Gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) in vivo: strategies based on the direct application of siRNAs. J Biotechnol 2006; 124:12-25. [PMID: 16413079 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2005.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2005] [Revised: 10/25/2005] [Accepted: 12/01/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) offers great potential not only for in vitro target validation, but also as a novel therapeutic strategy based on the highly specific and efficient silencing of a target gene, e.g. in tumor therapy. Since it relies on small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which are the mediators of RNAi-induced specific mRNA degradation, a major issue is the delivery of therapeutically active siRNAs into the target tissue/target cells in vivo. For safety reasons, strategies based on (viral) vector delivery may be of only limited clinical use. The more desirable approach is to directly apply catalytically active siRNAs. This review highlights the recent knowledge on the guidelines for the selection of siRNAs which show high activity in the absence of non-specific siRNA effects. It then focuses on approaches to directly use siRNA molecules in vivo and gives a comprehensive overview of in vivo studies based on the direct application of siRNAs to induce RNAi. One promising approach is the in vivo siRNA delivery through complexation of chemically unmodified siRNAs with polyethylenimine (PEI). The anti-tumoral effects of PEI/siRNA-based targeting of tumor-relevant genes in vivo are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Achim Aigner
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Philipps-University Marburg, Germany.
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47
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Whitton JL, Cornell CT, Feuer R. Host and virus determinants of picornavirus pathogenesis and tropism. Nat Rev Microbiol 2005; 3:765-76. [PMID: 16205710 DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro1284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 196] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The family Picornaviridae contains some notable members, including rhinovirus, which infects humans more frequently than any other virus; poliovirus, which has paralysed or killed millions over the years; and foot-and-mouth-disease virus, which led to the creation of dedicated institutes throughout the world. Despite their profound impact on human and animal health, the factors that regulate pathogenesis and tissue tropism are poorly understood. In this article, we review the clinical and economic challenges that these agents pose, summarize current knowledge of host-pathogen interactions and highlight a few of the many outstanding questions that remain to be answered.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Lindsay Whitton
- Department of Neuropharmacology, CVN-9, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
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48
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Uprichard SL. The therapeutic potential of RNA interference. FEBS Lett 2005; 579:5996-6007. [PMID: 16115631 PMCID: PMC7094730 DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2005.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 131] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2005] [Revised: 08/05/2005] [Accepted: 08/07/2005] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, we have witnessed the discovery of a new mechanism of gene regulation called RNA interference (RNAi), which has revitalized interest in the development of nucleic acid‐based technologies for therapeutic gene suppression. This review focuses on the potential therapeutic use of RNAi, discussing the theoretical advantages of RNAi‐based therapeutics over previous technologies as well as the challenges involved in developing RNAi for clinical use. Also reviewed, are the in vivo proof‐of principle experiments that provide the preclinical justification for the continued development of RNAi‐based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Uprichard
- Department of Molecular and Experimental Medicine, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Road, SBR10, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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