Delivery of siRNA to the mouse lung via a functionalized lipopolyamine.

We have designed a series of versatile lipopolyamines which are amenable to chemical modification for in vivo delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA). This report focuses on one such lipopolyamine (Staramine), its functionalized derivatives and the lipid nanocomplexes it forms with siRNA. Intravenous (i.v.) administration of Staramine/siRNA nanocomplexes modified with methoxypolyethylene glycol (mPEG) provides safe and effective delivery of siRNA and significant target gene knockdown in the lungs of normal mice, with much lower knockdown in liver, spleen, and kidney. Although siRNA delivered via Staramine is initially distributed across all these organs, the observed clearance rate from the lung tissue is considerably slower than in other tissues resulting in prolonged siRNA accumulation on the timescale of RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated transcript depletion. Complete blood count (CBC) analysis, serum chemistry analysis, and histopathology results are all consistent with minimal toxicity. An in vivo screen of mPEG modified Staramine nanocomplexes-containing siRNAs targeting lung cell-specific marker proteins reveal exclusive transfection of endothelial cells. Safe and effective delivery of siRNA to the lung with chemically versatile lipopolyamine systems provides opportunities for investigation of pulmonary cell function in vivo as well as potential treatments of pulmonary disease with RNAi-based therapeutics.

Bcl-2 downregulation sensitizes nonsmall cell lung cancer cells to cisplatin, but not to docetaxel.

The antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2 contributes to a more chemoresistant phenotype of nonsmall cell lung cancer and therefore serves as an important target for novel anticancer strategies. Interestingly, docetaxel as a standard of care for treatment of nonsmall cell lung cancer has been shown to inactivate the Bcl-2 function by phosphorylation. We investigated the Bcl-2 expression status of nonsmall cell lung cancer cells in response to cisplatin or docetaxel and its effect on sensitizing nonsmall cell lung cancer cells by Bcl-2 downregulation employing a small interfering RNA approach. Bcl-2 expression was assessed by Western blotting and RT-PCR. Cell proliferation and apoptosis of nonsmall cell lung cancer cells were measured by an MTS-based assay and Annexin V/7-Aminoactinomycin, respectively. Combination treatment of Bcl-2 small interfering RNA with cisplatin resulted in a synergistic activity. By contrast, Bcl-2 downregulation did not sensitize nonsmall cell lung cancer cells to docetaxel. Of note, docetaxel treatment resulted in Bcl-2 phosphorylation of nonsmall cell lung cancer cells, whereas cisplatin increased the Bcl-2 overall expression and abrogated Bcl-2 phosphorylation. On the basis of our findings, a Bcl-2 silencing approach appears to be a suitable strategy for sensitizing nonsmall cell lung cancer to cisplatin, but not to docetaxel.

Hyperoxia causes angiopoietin 2-mediated acute lung injury and necrotic cell death.

The angiogenic growth factor angiopoietin 2 (Ang2) destabilizes blood vessels, enhances vascular leak and induces vascular regression and endothelial cell apoptosis. We considered that Ang2 might be important in hyperoxic acute lung injury (ALI). Here we have characterized the responses in lungs induced by hyperoxia in wild-type and Ang2-/- mice or those given either recombinant Ang2 or short interfering RNA (siRNA) targeted to Ang2. During hyperoxia Ang2 expression is induced in lung epithelial cells, while hyperoxia-induced oxidant injury, cell death, inflammation, permeability alterations and mortality are ameliorated in Ang2-/- and siRNA-treated mice. Hyperoxia induces and activates the extrinsic and mitochondrial cell death pathways and activates initiator and effector caspases through Ang2-dependent pathways in vivo. Ang2 increases inflammation and cell death during hyperoxia in vivo and stimulates epithelial necrosis in hyperoxia in vitro. Ang2 in plasma and alveolar edema fluid is increased in adults with ALI and pulmonary edema. Tracheal Ang2 is also increased in neonates that develop bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Ang2 is thus a mediator of epithelial necrosis with an important role in hyperoxic ALI and pulmonary edema.

A role for constitutive androstane receptor in the regulation of human intestinal MDR1 expression.

MDR1/P-glycoprotein is an efflux transporter determining the absorption and presystemic elimination of many xenobiotics in the gut. Thus, interindividual differences in MDR1 expression may affect the efficacy of drug treatment. The expression of MDR1 is partially controlled by the pregnane X receptor (PXR), which mediates induction by many xenobiotics. Since it has been described that the nuclear receptors PXR and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) can bind to the same binding sites, we investigated the role of CAR in the regulation of MDR1 gene expression. We demonstrate here by gel shift and transfection experiments that CAR binds to distinct nuclear receptor response elements in the -7.8 kbp enhancer of MDR1 and transactivates MDR1 expression through DR4 motifs to which the receptor binds as a heterodimer with RXR or as a monomer, respectively. Expression of the endogenous MDR1 gene is elevated in cells stably expressing CAR, thus arguing for the functional relevance of CAR-dependent activation of MDR1 . The physiological relevance of the regulation of MDR1 by CAR is further suggested by correlation of the expression of CAR and MDR1 in the human small intestine. In summary, our data suggest that CAR plays a role in the regulation of intestinal MDR1 expression.

Therapeutic silencing of an endogenous gene by systemic administration of modified siRNAs.

RNA interference (RNAi) holds considerable promise as a therapeutic approach to silence disease-causing genes, particularly those that encode so-called 'non-druggable' targets that are not amenable to conventional therapeutics such as small molecules, proteins, or monoclonal antibodies. The main obstacle to achieving in vivo gene silencing by RNAi technologies is delivery. Here we show that chemically modified short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can silence an endogenous gene encoding apolipoprotein B (apoB) after intravenous injection in mice. Administration of chemically modified siRNAs resulted in silencing of the apoB messenger RNA in liver and jejunum, decreased plasma levels of apoB protein, and reduced total cholesterol. We also show that these siRNAs can silence human apoB in a transgenic mouse model. In our in vivo study, the mechanism of action for the siRNAs was proven to occur through RNAi-mediated mRNA degradation, and we determined that cleavage of the apoB mRNA occurred specifically at the predicted site. These findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of siRNAs for the treatment of disease.

Small interfering RNA targeting bcl-2 sensitizes malignant melanoma.

Malignant melanoma is a prime example of a treatment-resistant tumor with poor prognosis. Even with innovative treatment regimens, response rates remain low, and the duration of responses is short. More than 90% of all melanomas express the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2, shown to contribute to a chemoresistant phenotype in melanoma. We previously demonstrated that antisense-mediated inhibition of Bcl-2 sensitizes malignant melanoma to apoptosis-inducing treatment modalities. In the present study, we evaluated synthetic small interfering RNA (siRNA) compounds targeting Bcl-2 as a novel approach to downregulate Bcl-2 expression in melanoma cells. siRNA treatment led up to a 19-fold reduction of bcl-2 mRNA levels and only barely detectable Bcl-2 protein expression at low nanomolar concentrations. Silencing of Bcl-2 in melanoma cells by specific siRNA led to a moderate increase in apoptotic cell death and inhibition of cell growth. However, if siRNA compounds targeting Bcl-2 were combined with the apoptosis-inducing chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin, a massive increase in apoptotic cell death compared with controls was observed. Notably, the combination of Bcl2 siRNA and low-dose cisplatin resulted in a supra-additive effect, with nearly complete suppression of cell growth, whereas cell growth in cisplatin-only-treated cells was only moderately affected (96% vs. 25%, p < 0.001). These findings underline a key role for Bcl-2 in conferring chemoresistance to melanoma and highlight Bcl-2 siRNA strategies as novel and highly effective tools, with the potential for future targeted therapy of malignant melanoma.

Gene silencing by RNAi in mammalian cells.

This unit provides information how to use short interfering RNA (siRNA) for sequence specific gene silencing in mammalian cells. Several ways for siRNA generation and optimisation, as well as recommendations for cell transfection are presented.

Shed human enterocytes as a tool for the study of expression and function of intestinal drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters.

OBJECTIVES: Intestinal metabolism and transport are now recognized as protective barriers against orally ingested xenobiotics, including drugs. However, in vitro studies of the expression and function of intestinal proteins are hampered by the limited availability of human intestinal tissues. Because enterocytes are constantly shed in large numbers into the gut lumen, this study investigated whether these cells could be collected with a multilumen perfusion catheter and whether they are functionally active. METHODS: In healthy volunteers, a 20-cm isolated jejunal segment was generated with the perfusion catheter by inflating 2 balloons with air. Shed cells were characterized by fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis for leukocyte-specific CD45 and enterocyte-specific villin, as well as for apoptosis. Homogenates of the cells were used for reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting. Cytochrome P450 enzyme activity was determined with the calcium channel blocker verapamil as a substrate. RESULTS: On average, 4.83 mg protein and 56.23 million cells were collected from a 20-cm segment during 2 hours. A total of 84.2% of the cells were positive for enterocyte-specific villin, and only 1.6% of the collected cells were positive for CD45. The majority of cells (65.3%) were not in early or late apoptosis or necrosis. In all volunteers, drug-metabolizing enzymes (such as members of the cytochrome P450 family) could be detected as both messenger ribonucleic acid and proteins. Consistent with expression data, formation of verapamil metabolites catalyzed by CYP3A4 and CYP2C was shown. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of shed human enterocytes collected with a multilumen perfusion catheter were still functionally active and not apoptotic. Harvesting of spontaneously shed enterocytes provides a new tool for studies on expression and function of intestinal proteins.