Intra-articular Retention and Anti-arthritic Effects in Collagen-Induced Arthritis Model Mice by Injectable Small Interfering RNA Containing Hydrogel.

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are expected to offer a means of treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) because they allow the specific silencing of genes related to RA pathogenesis. In our previous study, we reported that the siRNA targeted against RelA (anti-RelA siRNA), an important nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) subdomain, was an effective therapeutic in atopic dermatitis and RA model animals. In this study, to develop an intra-articular injectable gel formulation against RA, we prepared a hydrogel that contains anti-RelA siRNA, and determined the in vitro release profile (%) and in vivo intra-articular retention of fluorescence-labeled model siRNA, and the anti-arthritic effects of the anti-RelA siRelA containing hydrogel in RA model mice. We selected the silk protein, sericin (SC), as an aqueous gel base, as it is a biocompatible and useful for forming hydrogels without a cross-linker. We showed that fluorescence-labeled model siRNA was continuously released from SC hydrogel in vitro, and retained in the knee joint of rats after injection of siRNA hydrogel. In addition, the knee joint thickness, clinical severity and incidence (%) in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice as RA model treated with anti-RelA siRNA containing hydrogel were more improved than untreated, anti-RelA siRNA solution and negative control siRNA containing hydrogel group. Therefore, the intra-articular injectable sericin hydrogel formulation containing of anti-RelA siRNA could be a great potential therapeutic in rheumatoid arthritis.

Topical Anti-Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Small Interfering RNA with Functional Peptides Containing Sericin-Based Hydrogel for Atopic Dermatitis.

The small interfering RNA (siRNA) is suggested to offer a novel means of treating atopic dermatitis (AD) because it allows the specific silencing of genes related to AD pathogenesis. In our previous study, we found that siRNA targeted against RelA, an important nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) subdomain, with functional peptides, showed therapeutic effects in a mouse model of AD. In the present study, to develop a topical skin application against AD, we prepared a hydrogel containing anti-RelA siRNA and functional peptides and determined the intradermal permeation and the anti-AD effects in an AD mouse model. We selected the silk protein, sericin (SC), which is a versatile biocompatible biomaterial to prepare hydrogel as an aqueous gel base. We found that the siRNA was more widely delivered to the site of application in AD-induced ear skin of mice after topical application via the hydrogel containing functional peptides than via the preparation without functional peptides. In addition, the ear thickness and clinical skin severity of the AD-induced mice treated with hydrogel containing anti-RelA siRNA with functional peptides improved more than that of mice treated with the preparation formulated with negative siRNA.

Functional peptide nanocarriers for delivery of novel anti-RelA RNA interference agents as a topical treatment of atopic dermatitis.

Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) are a potential treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD) because they can specifically silence the gene expression of AD-related factors. However, siRNA alone cannot exert a sufficiently strong therapeutic effect due to low delivery efficiency to the target tissues and cells; simply increasing the amount used is not possible due to the possibility of off-target effects. We previously reported a novel class of therapeutic RNA interference (RNAi) agents called nkRNA(®) and PnkRNA(®), which have been shown to be effective in several disease models, have greater resistance to nuclease degradation than canonical siRNAs, and do not induce any immunotoxicity. In the present study, we describe a non-invasive and effective transdermal RNAi therapeutic system for atopic dermatitis that uses the functional cell-penetrating stearoyl-oligopeptide OK-102 as a cytoplasm-responsive nanocarrier for nkRNA(®) and PnkRNA(®). The two RNAi agents were targeted against RelA, a subclass of NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa B), and, as part of OK-102 complexes, they strongly silenced RelA mRNA in macrophage cells and demonstrated a significant therapeutic effect in a mouse model of AD. It was shown that OK-102-complexed RNAi agents were an efficient therapeutic system for AD and caused no adverse reactions.