SUMMARYShort interfering RNA (siRNA) induced RNA interference (RNAi) responses allow for discovery research and performing large scale screening1-5; however, due to their size and anionic charge, siRNAs have no bioavailability to enter cells4,5. Current approaches fail to deliver siRNAs into a high percentage of primary cells in a non-cytotoxic fashion. Here we report an efficient siRNA delivery approach that utilizes a Peptide Transduction Domain-dsRNA Binding Domain (PTD-DRBD) fusion protein. DRBDs bind to siRNAs with high avidity, masking the siRNA negative charge and allow for PTD-mediated cellular uptake. PTD-DRBD delivered siRNAs induced rapid RNAi responses in a non-cytotoxic manner in the entire cell population of primary and transformed cells, including T cells, HUVECs and hESCs. Whole genome microarray analysis showed minimal transcriptional changes by PTD-DRBD and we did not detect any innate immune responses in PBMCs. Thus, PTD-DRBD mediated siRNA delivery allows efficient RNAi manipulation of difficult primary cell types.
RNA interference (RNAi) has great potential to treat human disease1–3. However, in vivo delivery of short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which are negatively charged double-stranded RNA macromolecules, remains a major hurdle4–9. Current siRNA delivery has begun to move away from large lipid and synthetic nanoparticles to more defined molecular conjugates9. Here we address this issue by synthesis of short interfering ribonucleic neutrals (siRNNs) whose phosphate backbone contains neutral phosphotriester groups, allowing for delivery into cells. Once inside cells, siRNNs are converted by cytoplasmic thioesterases into native, charged phosphodiester-backbone siRNAs, which induce robust RNAi responses. siRNNs have favorable drug-like properties, including high synthetic yields, serum stability and absence of innate immune responses. Unlike siRNAs, siRNNs avidly bind serum albumin to positively influence pharmacokinetic properties. Systemic delivery of siRNNs conjugated to a hepatocyte-specific targeting domain induced extended dose-dependent in vivo RNAi responses in mice. We believe that siRNNs represent a technology that will open new avenues for development of RNAi therapeutics.
Advanced-stage peritoneal carcinomatosis is resistant to current chemotherapy treatment and, in the case of metastatic ovarian cancer, results in a devastating 15%–20% survival rate. Therapeutics that restore genes inactivated during oncogenesis are predicted to be more potent and specific than current therapies. Experiments with viral vectors have demonstrated the theoretical utility of expressing the p53 tumor suppressor gene in cancer cells. However, clinically useful alternative approaches for introducing p53 activity into cancer cells are clearly needed. It has been hypothesized that direct reactivation of endogenous p53 protein in cancer cells will be therapeutically beneficial, but few tests of this hypothesis have been carried out in vivo. We report that a transducible D-isomer RI-TATp53C′ peptide activates the p53 protein in cancer cells, but not normal cells. RI-TATp53C′ peptide treatment of preclinical terminal peritoneal carcinomatosis and peritoneal lymphoma models results in significant increases in lifespan (greater than 6-fold) and the generation of disease-free animals. These proof-of-concept observations show that specific activation of endogenous p53 activity by a macromolecular agent is therapeutically effective in preclinical models of terminal human malignancy. Our results suggest that TAT-mediated transduction may be a useful strategy for the therapeutic delivery of large tumor suppressor molecules to malignant cells in vivo.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.