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Bale R, Doshi G. Deciphering the role of siRNA in anxiety and depression. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 981:176868. [PMID: 39128805 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2024.176868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/13/2024]
Abstract
Anxiety and depression are central nervous system illnesses that are among the most prevalent medical concerns of the twenty-first century. Patients with this condition and their families bear psychological, financial, and societal hardship. There are currently restrictions when utilizing the conventional course of treatment. RNA interference is expected to become an essential approach in anxiety and depression due to its potent and targeted gene silencing. Silencing of genes by post-transcriptional modification is the mechanism of action of small interfering RNA (siRNA). The suppression of genes linked to disease is typically accomplished by siRNA molecules in an efficient and targeted manner. Unfavourable immune responses, off-target effects, naked siRNA instability, nuclease vulnerability, and the requirement to create an appropriate delivery method are some of the challenges facing the clinical application of siRNA. This review focuses on the use of siRNA in the treatment of anxiety and depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajeshwari Bale
- Department of Pharmacology, SVKM's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, V L M Road, Vile Parle (w), Mumbai, 400056, India
| | - Gaurav Doshi
- Department of Pharmacology, SVKM's Dr. Bhanuben Nanavati College of Pharmacy, V L M Road, Vile Parle (w), Mumbai, 400056, India.
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2
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Kumar A, Ahmed B, Kaur IP, Saha L. Exploring dose and downregulation dynamics in lipid nanoparticles based siRNA therapy: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 277:133984. [PMID: 39053830 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024]
Abstract
Small interfering RNA (siRNA) holds promise as a therapeutic approach for various diseases, yet challenges persist in achieving efficient delivery, biodistribution, and minimizing off-target effects. Lipidic nanoformulations are being developed to address these hurdles, but the optimal dose for preclinical investigations remains unclear. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to determine the optimal dose of nanoformulated siRNA and explore factors influencing dose and biodistribution, informing future research in this field. A comprehensive search across four electronic databases identified 25 potential studies, with 15 selected for meta-analysis after screening. Quality assessment was conducted using SYRCLE's risk of bias tool modified for animal studies based on research question. Study found an average siRNA dose of 1.513 ± 0.377 mg/kg with mean downregulation of 65.79 % achieved, with siRNA-LNPs mainly accumulating in the liver. While individual factors showed no significant correlation, a positive association between dose and downregulation was observed, alongside other influencing factors. Extrapolating intravenous doses to potential oral doses, we suggest an initial oral dose range of 1.5 to 8 mg/kg, considering siRNA-LNPs bioavailability. These findings contribute to advancing RNA interference research and encourage further exploration of siRNA-based treatments in personalized medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anil Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India
| | - Bakr Ahmed
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab, India
| | - Indu Pal Kaur
- Department of Pharmaceutics, University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, Punjab, India.
| | - Lekha Saha
- Department of Pharmacology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh 160012, India.
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3
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Ballantyne CM, Vasas S, Azizad M, Clifton P, Rosenson RS, Chang T, Melquist S, Zhou R, Mushin M, Leeper NJ, Hellawell J, Gaudet D. Plozasiran, an RNA Interference Agent Targeting APOC3, for Mixed Hyperlipidemia. N Engl J Med 2024; 391:899-912. [PMID: 38804517 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2404143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Persons with mixed hyperlipidemia are at risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease due to an elevated non-high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, which is driven by remnant cholesterol in triglyceride-rich lipoproteins. The metabolism and clearance of triglyceride-rich lipoproteins are down-regulated through apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3)-mediated inhibition of lipoprotein lipase. METHODS We carried out a 48-week, phase 2b, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of plozasiran, a hepatocyte-targeted APOC3 small interfering RNA, in patients with mixed hyperlipidemia (i.e., a triglyceride level of 150 to 499 mg per deciliter and either a low-density lipoprotein [LDL] cholesterol level of ≥70 mg per deciliter or a non-HDL cholesterol level of ≥100 mg per deciliter). The participants were assigned in a 3:1 ratio to receive plozasiran or placebo within each of four cohorts. In the first three cohorts, the participants received a subcutaneous injection of plozasiran (10 mg, 25 mg, or 50 mg) or placebo on day 1 and at week 12 (quarterly doses). In the fourth cohort, participants received 50 mg of plozasiran or placebo on day 1 and at week 24 (half-yearly dose). The data from the participants who received placebo were pooled. The primary end point was the percent change in fasting triglyceride level at week 24. RESULTS A total of 353 participants underwent randomization. At week 24, significant reductions in the fasting triglyceride level were observed with plozasiran, with differences, as compared with placebo, in the least-squares mean percent change from baseline of -49.8 percentage points (95% confidence interval [CI], -59.0 to -40.6) with the 10-mg-quarterly dose, -56.0 percentage points (95% CI, -65.1 to -46.8) with the 25-mg-quarterly dose, -62.4 percentage points (95% CI, -71.5 to -53.2) with the 50-mg-quarterly dose, and -44.2 percentage points (95% CI, -53.4 to -35.0) with the 50-mg-half-yearly dose (P<0.001 for all comparisons). Worsening glycemic control was observed in 10% of the participants receiving placebo, 12% of those receiving the 10-mg-quarterly dose, 7% of those receiving the 25-mg-quarterly dose, 20% of those receiving the 50-mg-quarterly dose, and 21% of those receiving the 50-mg-half-yearly dose. CONCLUSIONS In this randomized, controlled trial involving participants with mixed hyperlipidemia, plozasiran, as compared with placebo, significantly reduced triglyceride levels at 24 weeks. A clinical outcomes trial is warranted. (Funded by Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals; MUIR ClinicalTrials.gov number NCT04998201.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Christie M Ballantyne
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
| | - Szilard Vasas
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
| | - Masoud Azizad
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
| | - Peter Clifton
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
| | - Robert S Rosenson
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
| | - Ting Chang
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
| | - Stacey Melquist
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
| | - Rong Zhou
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
| | - Ma'an Mushin
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
| | - Nicholas J Leeper
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
| | - Jennifer Hellawell
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
| | - Daniel Gaudet
- From the Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); Borbánya Praxis, Nyíregyháza, Hungary (S.V.); Valley Clinical Trials, Northridge (M.A.), Arrowhead Pharmaceuticals, Pasadena (T.C., S.M., R.Z., M.M., J.H.), and the Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford (N.J.L.) - all in California; the Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, SA, Australia (P.C.); the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York (R.S.R.); and the Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal and Ecogene-21, Quebec, QC, Canada (D.G.)
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Cochran M, Arias D, Burke R, Chu D, Erdogan G, Hood M, Kovach P, Kwon HW, Chen Y, Moon M, Miller CD, Huang H, Levin A, Doppalapudi VR. Structure-Activity Relationship of Antibody-Oligonucleotide Conjugates: Evaluating Bioconjugation Strategies for Antibody-siRNA Conjugates for Drug Development. J Med Chem 2024; 67:14852-14867. [PMID: 39197831 PMCID: PMC11403602 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2024]
Abstract
Antibody-oligonucleotide conjugates are a promising class of therapeutics for extrahepatic delivery of small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs). These conjugates can be optimized for improved delivery and mRNA knockdown (KD) through understanding of structure-activity relationships. In this study, we systematically examined factors including antibody isotype, siRNA chemistry, linkers, conjugation chemistry, PEGylation, and drug-to-antibody ratios (DARs) for their impact on bioconjugation, pharmacokinetics (PK), siRNA delivery, and bioactivity. Conjugation site (cysteine, lysine, and Asn297 glycan) and DAR proved critical for optimal conjugate PK and siRNA delivery. SiRNA chemistry including 2' sugar modifications and positioning of phosphorothioates were found to be critical for delivery and duration of action. By utilizing cleavable and noncleavable linkers, we demonstrated the impact of linkers on PK and mRNA KD. To achieve optimal properties of antibody-siRNA conjugates, a careful selection of siRNA chemistry, DAR, conjugation sites, linkers, and antibody isotype is necessary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Cochran
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Danny Arias
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Rob Burke
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - David Chu
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Gulin Erdogan
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Michael Hood
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Philip Kovach
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Hae Won Kwon
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Yanling Chen
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Michael Moon
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Christopher D Miller
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Hanhua Huang
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Arthur Levin
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
| | - Venkata Ramana Doppalapudi
- Avidity Biosciences, Inc., 10578 Science Center Drive Suite 125. San Diego, California 92121, United States
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5
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Iannacci F, Medeiros Garcia Alcântara J, Marani M, Camesasca P, Chen M, Sousa F, Morbidelli M, Sponchioni M. High-density perfusion cultures of the marine bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum for the biomanufacturing of oligonucleotides. J Biotechnol 2024; 392:152-160. [PMID: 39025367 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiotec.2024.07.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic oligonucleotides (ONs) are typically manufactured via solid-phase synthesis, characterized by limited scalability and huge environmental footprint, limiting their availability. Biomanufactured ONs have the potential to reduce the immunogenic side-effects, and to improve the sustainability of their chemical counterparts. Rhodovulum sulfidophilum was demonstrated a valuable host for the extracellular production of recombinant ONs. However, low viable cell densities and product titer were reported so far. In this work, perfusion cell cultures were established for the intensification of ON biomanufacturing. First, the perfusion conditions were simulated in 50 mL spin tubes, selected as a scale-down model of the process, with the aim of optimizing the medium composition and process parameters. This optimization stage led to an increase in the cell density by 44 % compared to the reference medium formulation. In addition, tests at increasing perfusion rates were conducted until achieving the maximum viable cell density (VCDmax), allowing the determination of the minimum cell-specific perfusion rate (CSPRmin) required to sustain the cell culture. Intriguingly, we discovered in this system also a maximum CSPR, above which growth inhibition starts. By leveraging this process optimization, we show for the first time the conduction of perfusion cultures of R. sulfidophilum in bench-scale bioreactors. This process development pipeline allowed stable cultures for more than 20 days and the continuous biomanufacturing of ONs, testifying the great potential of perfusion processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Iannacci
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, Milano 20131, Italy
| | - João Medeiros Garcia Alcântara
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, Milano 20131, Italy
| | - Martina Marani
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, Milano 20131, Italy
| | - Paolo Camesasca
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, Milano 20131, Italy
| | - Michele Chen
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, Milano 20131, Italy
| | - Fani Sousa
- CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, Covilhã 6200-506, Portugal
| | - Massimo Morbidelli
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, Milano 20131, Italy
| | - Mattia Sponchioni
- Department of Chemistry, Materials and Chemical Engineering "Giulio Natta", Politecnico di Milano, via Mancinelli 7, Milano 20131, Italy.
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6
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Gilbert JW, Kennedy Z, Godinho BMDC, Summers A, Weiss A, Echeverria D, Bramato B, McHugh N, Cooper D, Yamada K, Hassler M, Tran H, Gao FB, Brown RH, Khvorova A. Identification of selective and non-selective C9ORF72 targeting in vivo active siRNAs. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2024; 35:102291. [PMID: 39233852 PMCID: PMC11372813 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2024.102291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
A hexanucleotide (G4C2) repeat expansion (HRE) within intron one of C9ORF72 is the leading genetic cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). C9ORF72 haploinsufficiency, formation of RNA foci, and production of dipeptide repeat (DPR) proteins have been proposed as mechanisms of disease. Here, we report the first example of disease-modifying siRNAs for C9ORF72 driven ALS/FTD. Using a combination of reporter assay and primary cortical neurons derived from a C9-ALS/FTD mouse model, we screened a panel of more than 150 fully chemically stabilized siRNAs targeting different C9ORF72 transcriptional variants. We demonstrate the lack of correlation between siRNA efficacy in reporter assay versus native environment; repeat-containing C9ORF72 mRNA variants are found to preferentially localize to the nucleus, and thus C9ORF72 mRNA accessibility and intracellular localization have a dominant impact on functional RNAi. Using a C9-ALS/FTD mouse model, we demonstrate that divalent siRNAs targeting C9ORF72 mRNA variants specifically or non-selectively reduce the expression of C9ORF72 mRNA and significantly reduce DPR proteins. Interestingly, siRNA silencing all C9ORF72 mRNA transcripts was more effective in removing intranuclear mRNA aggregates than targeting only HRE-containing C9ORF72 mRNA transcripts. Combined, these data support RNAi-based degradation of C9ORF72 as a potential therapeutic paradigm.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Alexandra Weiss
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | | | | | | | - David Cooper
- RNA Therapeutic Institute, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Ken Yamada
- RNA Therapeutic Institute, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | | | - Hélène Tran
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Fen Biao Gao
- RNA Therapeutic Institute, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Robert H Brown
- Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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7
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Tolbatov I, Umari P, Marrone A. The binding of diruthenium (II,III) and dirhodium (II,II) paddlewheel complexes at DNA/RNA nucleobases: Computational evidences of an appreciable selectivity toward the AU base pairs. J Mol Graph Model 2024; 131:108806. [PMID: 38824876 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2024.108806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2024] [Revised: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Multiple medicinal strategies involve modifications of the structure of DNA or RNA, which disrupt their correct functioning. Metal complexes with medicinal effects, also known as metallodrugs, are among the agents intended specifically for the attack onto nucleosides. The diruthenium (II,III) and dirhodium (II,II) paddlewheel complexes constitute promising dual acting drugs due to their ability to release the therapeutically active bridging ligands upon their substitution by endogenous ligands. In this paper, we study the structure and the stability of the complexes formed by the diruthenium (II,III) and dirhodium (II,II) paddlewheel complexes coordinated in axial positions with the DNA/RNA nucleobases or base pairs, assuming the attainable metalation at all the accessible pyridyl nitrogens. Dirhodium complexes coordinate at the pyridyl nitrogens more strongly than the diruthenium complexes. On the other hand, we found that the diruthenium scaffold binds more selectively to nucleobase targets. Furthermore, we reveal a tighter coordination of diruthenium complex at the adenine-uracil base pair, compared to adenine-thymine, hence constituting a scarce instance of RNA-selectivity. We envision that the here reported computational outcomes may pace future experiments addressing the binding of diruthenium and dirhodium paddlewheel complexes at either single nucleobases or DNA/RNA fragments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iogann Tolbatov
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, via F. Marzolo 8, 35131, Padova, Italy.
| | - Paolo Umari
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Padova, via F. Marzolo 8, 35131, Padova, Italy
| | - Alessandro Marrone
- Dipartimento di Farmacia, Università degli Studi "G. D'Annunzio" Chieti-Pescara, Via dei Vestini, 66100, Chieti, Italy
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8
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Hama Faraj GS, Hussen BM, Abdullah SR, Fatih Rasul M, Hajiesmaeili Y, Baniahmad A, Taheri M. Advanced approaches of the use of circRNAs as a replacement for cancer therapy. Noncoding RNA Res 2024; 9:811-830. [PMID: 38590433 PMCID: PMC10999493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a broad name for a group of diseases in which abnormal cells grow out of control and are characterized by their complexity and recurrence. Although there has been progress in cancer therapy with the entry of precision medicine and immunotherapy, cancer incidence rates have increased globally. Non-coding RNAs in the form of circular RNAs (circRNAs) play crucial roles in the pathogenesis, clinical diagnosis, and therapy of different diseases, including cancer. According to recent studies, circRNAs appear to serve as accurate indicators and therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. However, circRNAs are promising candidates for cutting-edge cancer therapy because of their distinctive circular structure, stability, and wide range of capabilities; many challenges persist that decrease the applications of circRNA-based cancer therapeutics. Here, we explore the roles of circRNAs as a replacement for cancer therapy, highlight the main challenges facing circRNA-based cancer therapies, and discuss the key strategies to overcome these challenges to improve advanced innovative therapies based on circRNAs with long-term health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goran Sedeeq Hama Faraj
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Komar University of Science and Technology, Sulaymaniyah, 46001, Iraq
| | - Bashdar Mahmud Hussen
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Science, Cihan University-Erbil, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, 44001, Iraq
- Department of Clinical Analysis, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, 44001, Iraq
| | - Snur Rasool Abdullah
- Medical Laboratory Science, Lebanese French University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, 44001, Iraq
| | - Mohammed Fatih Rasul
- Department of Pharmaceutical Basic Science, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | | | - Aria Baniahmad
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
| | - Mohammad Taheri
- Institute of Human Genetics, Jena University Hospital, Jena, Germany
- Urology and Nephrology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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9
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Damase TR, Sukhovershin R, Godin B, Nasir K, Cooke JP. Established and Emerging Nucleic Acid Therapies for Familial Hypercholesterolemia. Circulation 2024; 150:724-735. [PMID: 39186530 PMCID: PMC11349040 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.123.067957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/28/2024]
Abstract
Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disease that leads to elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and risk of coronary heart disease. Current therapeutic options for FH remain relatively limited and only partially effective in both lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and modifying coronary heart disease risk. The unique characteristics of nucleic acid therapies to target the underlying cause of the disease can offer solutions unachievable with conventional medications. DNA- and RNA-based therapeutics have the potential to transform the care of patients with FH. Recent advances are overcoming obstacles to clinical translation of nucleic acid-based medications, including greater stability of the formulations as well as site-specific delivery, making gene-based therapy for FH an alternative approach for treatment of FH.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Biana Godin
- Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - Khurram Nasir
- Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, 77030
| | - John P. Cooke
- Houston Methodist Academic Institute, Houston, TX, 77030
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10
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Gao Z, Luan X, Wang X, Han T, Li X, Li Z, Li P, Zhou Z. DNA damage response-related ncRNAs as regulators of therapy resistance in cancer. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1390300. [PMID: 39253383 PMCID: PMC11381396 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1390300] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/14/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024] Open
Abstract
The DNA damage repair (DDR) pathway is a complex signaling cascade that can sense DNA damage and trigger cellular responses to DNA damage to maintain genome stability and integrity. A typical hallmark of cancer is genomic instability or nonintegrity, which is closely related to the accumulation of DNA damage within cancer cells. The treatment principles of radiotherapy and chemotherapy for cancer are based on their cytotoxic effects on DNA damage, which are accompanied by severe and unnecessary side effects on normal tissues, including dysregulation of the DDR and induced therapeutic tolerance. As a driving factor for oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, noncoding RNA (ncRNA) have been shown to play an important role in cancer cell resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Recently, it has been found that ncRNA can regulate tumor treatment tolerance by altering the DDR induced by radiotherapy or chemotherapy in cancer cells, indicating that ncRNA are potential regulatory factors targeting the DDR to reverse tumor treatment tolerance. This review provides an overview of the basic information and functions of the DDR and ncRNAs in the tolerance or sensitivity of tumors to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. We focused on the impact of ncRNA (mainly microRNA [miRNA], long noncoding RNA [lncRNA], and circular RNA [circRNA]) on cancer treatment by regulating the DDR and the underlying molecular mechanisms of their effects. These findings provide a theoretical basis and new insights for tumor-targeted therapy and the development of novel drugs targeting the DDR or ncRNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziru Gao
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xinchi Luan
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xuezhe Wang
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Tianyue Han
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Li
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zeyang Li
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Peifeng Li
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zhixia Zhou
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao Medical College, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
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11
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Wang Y, Zhou J, Yang Q, Li X, Qiu Y, Zhang Y, Liu M, Zhu AJ. Therapeutic siRNA targeting PLIN2 ameliorates steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in steatotic liver disease models. J Lipid Res 2024:100635. [PMID: 39187042 DOI: 10.1016/j.jlr.2024.100635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Revised: 07/10/2024] [Accepted: 08/13/2024] [Indexed: 08/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the most prevalent chronic liver disease worldwide. If left untreated, MASLD can progress from simple hepatic steatosis to metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH), which is characterized by inflammation and fibrosis. Current treatment options for MASLD remain limited, leaving substantial unmet medical needs for innovative therapeutic approaches. Here, we show that PLIN2, a lipid droplet protein inhibiting hepatic lipolysis, serves as a promising therapeutic target for MASLD. Hepatic PLIN2 levels were markedly elevated in multiple MASLD mouse models induced by diverse nutritional and genetic factors. The liver-specific deletion of Plin2 exhibited significant anti-MASLD effects in these models. To translate this discovery into a therapeutic application, we developed a GalNAc-siRNA conjugate with enhanced stability chemistry and validated its potent and sustained efficacy in suppressing Plin2 expression in mouse livers. This siRNA therapeutic, named GalNAc-siPlin2, was shown to be biosafe in mice. Treatment with GalNAc-siPlin2 for 6-8 weeks led to a decrease in hepatic triglyceride levels by approximately 60% in high-fat diet- and obesity-induced MASLD mouse models, accompanied with increased hepatic secretion of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL)-triglyceride and enhanced thermogenesis in brown adipose tissues. 8-week treatment with GalNAc-siPlin2 significantly improved hepatic steatosis, inflammation and fibrosis in high fat/high fructose-induced MASH models compared to control group. As a proof of concept, we developed a GalNAc-siRNA therapeutic targeting human PLIN2, which effectively suppressed hepatic PLIN2 expression and ameliorated MASLD in humanized PLIN2 knock-in mice. Together, our results highlight the potential of GalNAc-siPLIN2 as a candidate MASLD therapeutic for clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Wang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Jiaxin Zhou
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Qi Yang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Xinmeng Li
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yifu Qiu
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Institute of Molecular Medicine, Beijing Key Laboratory of Cardiometabolic Molecular Medicine, College of Future Technology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - Yansong Zhang
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking University Chengdu Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Biotechnologies, Chengdu, Sichuan 610213, China.
| | - Min Liu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
| | - Alan Jian Zhu
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Differentiation, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China; Peking University Chengdu Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Biotechnologies, Chengdu, Sichuan 610213, China.
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12
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Nestor MS, Hetzel J, Awad N, Bhupalam V, Lu P, Molyneaux M. Novel injectable polypeptide nanoparticle encapsulated siRNA targeting TGF-β1 and COX-2 for localized fat reduction I: Preclinical in vitro and animal models. J Cosmet Dermatol 2024. [PMID: 39166716 DOI: 10.1111/jocd.16535] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Obesity and localized fat accumulation continue to drive the demand for minimally invasive body contouring technologies including injectable compounds for local fat reduction. siRNA offers a potential for an injectable to specifically target and silence genes involved in adipogenesis with minimal inflammatory side effects. AIMS This study evaluates the efficacy of STP705, an injectable containing siRNA encapsulated within histidine-lysine polypeptide (HKP) nanoparticles targeting transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), crucial mediators in adipocyte differentiation and fat retention, using in vitro, porcine, and murine models. METHODS In vitro experiments on mouse preadipocytes and in vivo trials using Diet Induced Obese (DIO) mice and Yucatan minipigs were conducted to assess the gene silencing efficiency, tissue localization, pharmacodynamics, and safety profile of STP705. RESULTS STP705 effectively reduced the expression of TGF-β1 and COX-2, with a notable decrease in adipocyte volume and lipid content without adverse systemic effects. In DIO mice, the HKP-siRNA complex demonstrated precise localization to injected adipose tissue, maintaining significant gene silencing, and detectable levels of siRNA for up to 14 days post-administration. Similar results in minipigs showed a significant reduction in subcutaneous adipose tissue thickness. CONCLUSION The results of these studies support the use of targeted siRNA therapy specifically targeting TGF-β1 and COX-2, for localized fat reduction, offering a potential minimally invasive alternative to current fat reduction methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark S Nestor
- Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research, Aventura, Florida, USA
- Department of Dermatology and Cutaneous Surgery, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - John Hetzel
- Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research, Aventura, Florida, USA
| | - Nardin Awad
- Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research, Aventura, Florida, USA
| | - Vishnu Bhupalam
- Center for Clinical and Cosmetic Research, Aventura, Florida, USA
| | - Patrick Lu
- Sirnaomics Inc, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
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13
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Roussis SG, Wan WB, Rentel C. Effect of diastereoisomeric composition on the chromatographic retention of phosphorothioated oligonucleotides using three different liquid chromatography systems. J Chromatogr A 2024; 1730:465108. [PMID: 38941798 DOI: 10.1016/j.chroma.2024.465108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/30/2024]
Abstract
To increase understanding of the interactions and effects of the diastereoisomeric character of phosphorothioate (PS) oligonucleotides on chromatographic retention, three chromatographic methods [in-series reversed phase-strong anion exchange (RP-SAX), ion pair-reversed phase and metal ion complexation chromatography (MICC)] were applied to the characterization of stereo-enriched compounds. Chromatographic systems are widely available, amenable to routine applications, and simple to deploy in comparison to more advanced instrumentation (e.g., 31P NMR) and procedures (e.g., enzymatic digestion). Analogous diastereoisomeric distribution profiles were obtained by RP-SAX and IP-RP based on their common mechanism of separation involving the combination of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Similar linear relationships between retention time (tR) and the numbers of stereo random, Rp, and Sp PS linkages were obtained with both methods. Sp-enriched diastereoisomers were retained longer than stereo random and Rp-enriched diastereoisomers. MICC produced much broader diastereoisomeric peak distributions than the other two methods due to its more complicated nature of interaction. Average mass spectra showed a smaller number of Ag ions (1-7) complex with early eluting diastereoisomers than with later eluting diastereoisomers (which complex between 6-12 Ag ions). A higher late-to-early peak UV area ratio was obtained for a sample containing 10 Sp linkages vs one containing 10 Rp linkages pointing to the tendency of the Sp diastereoisomers for increased interactions which could be explained by structures with more open or stretched configurations. Consideration of the peak shapes of the MICC distributions led to comparable hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) classification to that produced by the IP-RP method, indicating a good orthogonality between the two methods. Preliminary analysis of the data using partial least squares showed that it should be possible to determine the diastereoisomeric composition of PS oligonucleotides from chromatographic data following appropriate data training.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stilianos G Roussis
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Ct., Carlsbad, California 92010, United States.
| | - W Brad Wan
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Ct., Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
| | - Claus Rentel
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, 2855 Gazelle Ct., Carlsbad, California 92010, United States
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14
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Caramiello AM, Pirota V. Novel Therapeutic Horizons: SNCA Targeting in Parkinson's Disease. Biomolecules 2024; 14:949. [PMID: 39199337 PMCID: PMC11352499 DOI: 10.3390/biom14080949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Alpha-synuclein (αSyn) aggregates are the primary component of Lewy bodies, which are pathological hallmarks of Parkinson's disease (PD). The toxicity of αSyn seems to increase with its elevated expression during injury, suggesting that therapeutic approaches focused on reducing αSyn burden in neurons could be beneficial. Additionally, studies have shown higher levels of SNCA mRNA in the midbrain tissues and substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons of sporadic PD post-mortem brains compared to controls. Therefore, the regulation of SNCA expression and inhibition of αSyn synthesis could play an important role in the pathogenesis of injury, resulting in an effective treatment approach for PD. In this context, we summarized the most recent and innovative strategies proposed that exploit the targeting of SNCA to regulate translation and efficiently knock down cytoplasmatic levels of αSyn. Significant progress has been made in developing antisense technologies for treating PD in recent years, with a focus on antisense oligonucleotides and short-interfering RNAs, which achieve high specificity towards the desired target. To provide a more exhaustive picture of this research field, we also reported less common but highly innovative strategies, including small molecules, designed to specifically bind 5'-untranslated regions and, targeting secondary nucleic acid structures present in the SNCA gene, whose formation can be modulated, acting as a transcription and translation control. To fully describe the efficiency of the reported strategies, the effect of αSyn reduction on cellular viability and dopamine homeostasis was also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valentina Pirota
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pavia, Viale Taramelli 10, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
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15
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Wai HA, Svobodova E, Herrera NR, Douglas AGL, Holloway JW, Baralle FE, Baralle M, Baralle D. Tailored antisense oligonucleotides designed to correct aberrant splicing reveal actionable groups of mutations for rare genetic disorders. Exp Mol Med 2024; 56:1816-1825. [PMID: 39085356 PMCID: PMC11371919 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-024-01292-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Effective translation of rare disease diagnosis knowledge into therapeutic applications is achievable within a reasonable timeframe; where mutations are amenable to current antisense oligonucleotide technology. In our study, we identified five distinct types of abnormal splice-causing mutations in patients with rare genetic disorders and developed a tailored antisense oligonucleotide for each mutation type using phosphorodiamidate morpholino oligomers with or without octa-guanidine dendrimers and 2'-O-methoxyethyl phosphorothioate. We observed variations in treatment effects and efficiencies, influenced by both the chosen chemistry and the specific nature of the aberrant splicing patterns targeted for correction. Our study demonstrated the successful correction of all five different types of aberrant splicing. Our findings reveal that effective correction of aberrant splicing can depend on altering the chemical composition of oligonucleotides and suggest a fast, efficient, and feasible approach for developing personalized therapeutic interventions for genetic disorders within short time frames.
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Affiliation(s)
- Htoo A Wai
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Eliska Svobodova
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Department of Experimental Biology, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
- Department of Clinical Immunology and Allergology, Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Natalia Romero Herrera
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Andrew G L Douglas
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Oxford Centre for Genomic Medicine, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - John W Holloway
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Francisco E Baralle
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- Fondazione Fegato, Area Science Park Basovizza, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Marco Baralle
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149, Trieste, Italy
| | - Diana Baralle
- Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.
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16
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Yamada K, Hariharan VN, Caiazzi J, Miller R, Ferguson CM, Sapp E, Fakih HH, Tang Q, Yamada N, Furgal RC, Paquette JD, Biscans A, Bramato BM, McHugh N, Summers A, Lochmann C, Godinho BMDC, Hildebrand S, Jackson SO, Echeverria D, Hassler MR, Alterman JF, DiFiglia M, Aronin N, Khvorova A. Enhancing siRNA efficacy in vivo with extended nucleic acid backbones. Nat Biotechnol 2024:10.1038/s41587-024-02336-7. [PMID: 39090305 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-024-02336-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic small interfering RNA (siRNA) requires sugar and backbone modifications to inhibit nuclease degradation. However, metabolic stabilization by phosphorothioate (PS), the only backbone chemistry used clinically, may be insufficient for targeting extrahepatic tissues. To improve oligonucleotide stabilization, we report the discovery, synthesis and characterization of extended nucleic acid (exNA) consisting of a methylene insertion between the 5'-C and 5'-OH of a nucleoside. exNA incorporation is compatible with common oligonucleotide synthetic protocols and the PS backbone, provides stabilization against 3' and 5' exonucleases and is tolerated at multiple oligonucleotide positions. A combined exNA-PS backbone enhances resistance to 3' exonuclease by ~32-fold over the conventional PS backbone and by >1,000-fold over the natural phosphodiester backbone, improving tissue exposure, tissue accumulation and efficacy in mice, both systemically and in the brain. The improved efficacy and durability imparted by exNA may enable therapeutic interventions in extrahepatic tissues, both with siRNA and with other oligonucleotides such as CRISPR guide RNA, antisense oligonucleotides, mRNA and tRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ken Yamada
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
| | - Vignesh N Hariharan
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Jillian Caiazzi
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Rachael Miller
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Chantal M Ferguson
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ellen Sapp
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Hassan H Fakih
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Qi Tang
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Nozomi Yamada
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Raymond C Furgal
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Joseph D Paquette
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Annabelle Biscans
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Brianna M Bramato
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas McHugh
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ashley Summers
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Clemens Lochmann
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Bruno M D C Godinho
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Samuel Hildebrand
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Dimas Echeverria
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Matthew R Hassler
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Julia F Alterman
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Marian DiFiglia
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School and Mass General Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease, Charlestown, MA, USA
| | - Neil Aronin
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Anastasia Khvorova
- RNA Therapeutics Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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17
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Hou G, Alissa M, Alsuwat MA, Ali Alarjany HM, Alzahrani KJ, Althobaiti FM, Mujalli HM, Alotaiby MM, Al-Doaiss AA, Anthony S. The art of healing hearts: Mastering advanced RNA therapeutic techniques to shape the evolution of cardiovascular medicine in biomedical science. Curr Probl Cardiol 2024; 49:102627. [PMID: 38723793 DOI: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2024.102627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of death worldwide and are associated with increasing financial health burden that requires research into novel therapeutic approaches. Since the early 2000s, the availability of next-generation sequencing techniques such as microRNAs, circular RNAs, and long non-coding RNAs have been proven as potential therapeutic targets for treating various CVDs. Therapeutics based on RNAs have become a viable option for addressing the intricate molecular pathways that underlie the pathophysiology of CVDs. We provide an in-depth analysis of the state of RNA therapies in the context of CVDs, emphasizing various approaches that target the various stages of the basic dogma of molecular biology to effect temporary or long-term changes. In this review, we summarize recent methodologies used to screen for novel coding and non-coding RNA candidates with diagnostic and treatment possibilities in cardiovascular diseases. These methods include single-cell sequencing techniques, functional RNA screening, and next-generation sequencing.Lastly, we highlighted the potential of using oligonucleotide-based chemical products such as modified RNA and RNA mimics/inhibitors for the treatment of CVDs. Moreover, there will be an increasing number of potential RNA diagnostic and therapeutic for CVDs that will progress to expand for years to come.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoliang Hou
- Department of Cardiology, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital, Shandong 277599, China
| | - Mohammed Alissa
- Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Meshari A Alsuwat
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21974, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Khalid J Alzahrani
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, Taif 21974, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad M Althobaiti
- Department of Nursing Leadership and Education, Nursing College, Taif University, Taif 21974, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Monearah M Alotaiby
- Department of Laboratory, King Faisal Medical Complex, Ministry of Health, Taif 26514, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amin A Al-Doaiss
- Biology Department, College of Science, King Khalid University, P.O. Box 9004, Abha 61413, Saudi Arabia
| | - Stefan Anthony
- Liaoning Provincial Key Laboratory of Cerebral Diseases, Department of Physiology, Dalian Medical University Liaoning Provence China, China.
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18
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Grigoreva TA, Vorona SV, Novikova DS, Tribulovich VG. Rational Design Problematics of Peptide Nucleic Acids as SARS-CoV-2 Inhibitors. ACS OMEGA 2024; 9:33000-33010. [PMID: 39100288 PMCID: PMC11292644 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.4c04023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
The use of viral protein inhibitors has shown to be insufficiently effective in the case of highly variable SARS-CoV-2. In this work, we examined the possibility of designing agents that bind to a highly conserved region of coronavirus (+)RNA. We demonstrated that while the design of antisense RNAs is based on the complementary interaction of nitrogenous bases, it is possible to use semirigid docking methods in the case of unnatural peptide nucleic acids. The transition from N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine chain to a more conformationally rigid piperidine-containing backbone allowed us to significantly increase the affinity of structures to the target RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana A. Grigoreva
- Laboratory of Molecular
Pharmacology, St. Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical
University), Moskovskii pr., 26, St. Petersburg 190013, Russia
| | - Svetlana V. Vorona
- Laboratory of Molecular
Pharmacology, St. Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical
University), Moskovskii pr., 26, St. Petersburg 190013, Russia
| | - Daria S. Novikova
- Laboratory of Molecular
Pharmacology, St. Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical
University), Moskovskii pr., 26, St. Petersburg 190013, Russia
| | - Vyacheslav G. Tribulovich
- Laboratory of Molecular
Pharmacology, St. Petersburg State Institute of Technology (Technical
University), Moskovskii pr., 26, St. Petersburg 190013, Russia
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19
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Duchamp E, Vasquez G, Firoozi N, Freestone GC, Oestergaard M, Seth PP, Hanessian S. Towards combining backbone and sugar constraint in 3'-3' bis-phosphonate tethered 2'-4' bridged LNA oligonucleotide trimers. RSC Adv 2024; 14:23583-23591. [PMID: 39070250 PMCID: PMC11276400 DOI: 10.1039/d4ra04277h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic oligonucleotides are chemically modified to enhance their drug-like properties - including binding affinity for target RNA. Many nucleic acid analogs that enhance RNA binding affinity constrain the furanose sugar in an RNA-like sugar pucker. The improvements in binding affinity result primarily from increased off-rates with minimal effects on on-rates for hybridization. To identify alternate chemical modification strategies that can modulate on- and off-rates for oligonucleotide hybridization, we hypothesized that extending conformational restraint across multiple nucleotides could modulate hybridization kinetics by restricting rotational freedom of the sugar-phosphate backbone. As part of that effort, we recently reported that using hydrocarbon tethers to bridge adjacent phosphodiester linkages as phosphonate tethered bridges can pre-organize nucleic acids in conformations conducive for Watson-Crick base-pairing and modulate hybridization kinetics. In this report, we describe the synthesis of locked nucleic acid (LNA) trimers linked through alkylphosphonate tethers which restrict conformation of the furanose sugar in addition to restricting conformational mobility of the sugar-phosphate backbone across three nucleotide units.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edouard Duchamp
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal Québec H3C 3J7 Canada
| | - Guillermo Vasquez
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ionis Pharmaceuticals Carlsbad CA 92010 USA
| | - Neda Firoozi
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal Québec H3C 3J7 Canada
| | - Graeme C Freestone
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ionis Pharmaceuticals Carlsbad CA 92010 USA
| | - Michael Oestergaard
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Ionis Pharmaceuticals Carlsbad CA 92010 USA
| | - Punit P Seth
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals 675 West Kendall St Cambridge MA 0214 USA
| | - Stephen Hanessian
- Department of Chemistry, Université de Montréal Québec H3C 3J7 Canada
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California Irvine CA 92697 USA
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20
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Bao N, Wang Z, Fu J, Dong H, Jin Y. RNA structure in alternative splicing regulation: from mechanism to therapy. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2024. [PMID: 39034824 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2024119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing is a highly intricate process that plays a crucial role in post-transcriptional regulation and significantly expands the functional proteome of a limited number of coding genes in eukaryotes. Its regulation is multifactorial, with RNA structure exerting a significant impact. Aberrant RNA conformations lead to dysregulation of splicing patterns, which directly affects the manifestation of disease symptoms. In this review, the molecular mechanisms of RNA secondary structure-mediated splicing regulation are summarized, with a focus on the complex interplay between aberrant RNA conformations and disease phenotypes resulted from splicing defects. This study also explores additional factors that reshape structural conformations, enriching our understanding of the mechanistic network underlying structure-mediated splicing regulation. In addition, an emphasis has been placed on the clinical role of targeting aberrant splicing corrections in human diseases. The principal mechanisms of action behind this phenomenon are described, followed by a discussion of prospective development strategies and pertinent challenges.
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21
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Du X, Guo S, Mu X, Mei S, Yang R, Zhang H, Jiang C, Zhang J. Bencaosome [16:0 Lyso PA+XLGB28-sRNA] improves osteoporosis by simultaneously promoting osteogenesis and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis in mice. IUBMB Life 2024. [PMID: 39012196 DOI: 10.1002/iub.2857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/17/2024]
Abstract
Osteoporosis (OP) is a systemic metabolic bone disease resulting in reduced bone strength and increased susceptibility to fractures, making it a significant public health and economic problem worldwide. The clinical use of anti-osteoporosis agents is limited because of their serious side effects or the high cost of long-term use. The Xianlinggubao (XLGB) formula is an effective traditional Chinese herbal medicine commonly used in orthopedics to treat osteoporosis; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, we screened 40 small RNAs derived from XLGB capsules and found that XLGB28-sRNA targeting TNFSF11 exerted a significant anti-osteoporosis effect in vitro and in vivo by simultaneously promoting osteogenesis and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis. Oral administration of bencaosome [16:0 Lyso PA+XLGB28-sRNA] effectively improved bone mineral density and reduced the damage to the bone microstructure in mice. These results suggest that XLGB28-sRNA may be a novel oligonucleotide drug that promotes osteogenesis and inhibits osteoclastogenesis in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Du
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shaoting Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Xuemeng Mu
- Department of Orthopaedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Song Mei
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Rui Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hengyan Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
| | - Chengyu Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Common Mechanism Research for Major Diseases, Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Jia Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College (CAMS & PUMC), Beijing, China
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22
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Mardi A, Alizadeh M, Abdolalizadeh AS, Baghbanzadeh A, Baradaran B, Aghebaqti-Maleki A, Sandoghchian Shotorbani S, Movloudi M, Aghebati-Maleki L. CTLA-4 silencing could promote anti-tumor effects in hepatocellular. Med Oncol 2024; 41:193. [PMID: 38955918 DOI: 10.1007/s12032-024-02361-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Preclinical and clinical research showed that immune checkpoint blockade provides beneficial effects for many patients with liver cancer. This study aimed to assess the effect of CTLA-4-specific siRNA on the proliferation, cell cycle, migration, and apoptosis of HePG2 cells. Transfection of siRNA was performed by electroporation. The viability of cells was determined through MTT assay. Flow cytometry was performed to investigate the cell cycle and apoptosis rate, and the wound-healing assay was used to determine HepG2 cells migration. The expression levels of CTLA-4, c-Myc, Ki-67, BCL-2, BAX, caspase-9 (CAS9), and MMP-2,9,13 were measured by qRT-PCR. Transfection of specific CTLA-4-siRNA significantly inhibited the expression of the CTLA-4 gene. Also, our results revealed that CTLA-4 silencing diminished the proliferation and migration as well as induced the apoptosis of HePG2 cells. CTLA-4-siRNA transfection induced the cell cycle arrest in G2 phase. Moreover, CTLA-4-siRNA transfection reduced the expression levels of c-Myc, Ki-67, BCL-2, MMP-2,9,13, and elevated the expression levels of BAX and caspase-9. Our results suggest that silencing CTLA-4 through specific siRNA may be a promising strategy for future therapeutic interventions for treating liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amirhossein Mardi
- Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
- Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Science, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mahsan Alizadeh
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir Shahabaddin Abdolalizadeh
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tabriz Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amir Baghbanzadeh
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Behzad Baradaran
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Ali Aghebaqti-Maleki
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Movloudi
- Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
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23
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Mukherjee A, Sen R, Al Hoque A, Giri TK, Mukherjee B. H-ras-targeted genetic therapy remarkably surpassed docetaxel treatment in inhibiting chemically induced hepatic tumors in rats. Life Sci 2024; 348:122680. [PMID: 38697280 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still a leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. But its chemotherapeutic options are far from expectation. We here compared H-ras targeted genetic therapy to a commercial docetaxel formulation (DXT) in inhibiting HCC in rats. MAIN METHODS After the physicochemical characterization of phosphorothioate-antisense oligomer (PS-ASO) against H-ras mutated gene, the PS-ASO-mediated in vitro hemolysis, in vivo hepatic uptake, its pharmacokinetic profile, tissue distribution in some highly perfused organs, its effect in normal rats, antineoplastic efficacy in carcinogen-induced HCC in rats were evaluated and compared against DXT treatment. Mutated H-ras expression by in situ hybridization, hep-par-I, CK-7, CD-15, p53 expression patterns by immunohistochemical methods, scanning electron microscopic evaluation of hepatic architecture, various hepatic marker enzyme levels and caspase-3/9 apoptotic enzyme activities were also carried out in the experimental rats. KEY FINDINGS PS-ASO showed low in vitro hemolysis (<3 %), and had a sustained PS-ASO blood residence time in vivo compared to DTX, with a time-dependent hepatic uptake. It showed no toxic manifestations in normal rats. PS-ASO distribution was although initially less in the lung than liver and kidney, but at 8 h it accumulated more in lung than kidney. Antineoplastic potential of PS-ASO (treated for 6 weeks) excelled in inhibiting chemically induced tumorigenesis compared to DTX in rats, by inhibiting H-ras gene expression, some immonohistochemical modulations, and inducing caspase-3/9-mediated apoptosis. It prevented HCC-mediated lung metastatic tumor in the experimental rats. SIGNIFICANCE PS-ASO genetic therapy showed potential to inhibit HCC far more effectively than DXT in rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alankar Mukherjee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Ramkrishna Sen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, India; Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Experimental Therapeutics, College of Pharmacy, University of Iowa, Iowa city, IA 52242, USA
| | - Ashique Al Hoque
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Tapan Kumar Giri
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, India
| | - Biswajit Mukherjee
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata 700032, India.
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24
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Liu Y, Xia X, Zheng M, Shi B. Bio-Nano Toolbox for Precision Alzheimer's Disease Gene Therapy. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024; 36:e2314354. [PMID: 38778446 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202314354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most burdensome aging-associated neurodegenerative disorder, and its treatment encounters numerous failures during drug development. Although there are newly approved in-market β-amyloid targeting antibody solutions, pathological heterogeneity among patient populations still challenges the treatment outcome. Emerging advances in gene therapies offer opportunities for more precise personalized medicine; while, major obstacles including the pathological heterogeneity among patient populations, the puzzled mechanism for druggable target development, and the precision delivery of functional therapeutic elements across the blood-brain barrier remain and limit the use of gene therapy for central neuronal diseases. Aiming for "precision delivery" challenges, nanomedicine provides versatile platforms that may overcome the targeted delivery challenges for AD gene therapy. In this perspective, to picture a toolbox for AD gene therapy strategy development, the most recent advances from benchtop to clinics are highlighted, possibly available gene therapy targets, tools, and delivery platforms are outlined, their challenges as well as rational design elements are addressed, and perspectives in this promising research field are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Liu
- Department of Radiotherapy and Translational Medicine Center, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475000, China
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Xue Xia
- Department of Radiotherapy and Translational Medicine Center, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475000, China
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
| | - Meng Zheng
- Department of Radiotherapy and Translational Medicine Center, Huaihe Hospital of Henan University, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475000, China
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
| | - Bingyang Shi
- Henan-Macquarie University Joint Centre for Biomedical Innovation, School of Life Sciences, Henan University, Kaifeng, Henan, 475004, China
- Macquarie Medical School, Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales, 2109, Australia
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25
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Gaudet D, Pall D, Watts GF, Nicholls SJ, Rosenson RS, Modesto K, San Martin J, Hellawell J, Ballantyne CM. Plozasiran (ARO-APOC3) for Severe Hypertriglyceridemia: The SHASTA-2 Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA Cardiol 2024; 9:620-630. [PMID: 38583092 PMCID: PMC11000138 DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2024.0959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Importance Severe hypertriglyceridemia (sHTG) confers increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD), nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, and acute pancreatitis. Despite available treatments, persistent ASCVD and acute pancreatitis-associated morbidity from sHTG remains. Objective To determine the tolerability, efficacy, and dose of plozasiran, an APOC3-targeted small interfering-RNA (siRNA) drug, for lowering triglyceride and apolipoprotein C3 (APOC3, regulator of triglyceride metabolism) levels and evaluate its effects on other lipid parameters in patients with sHTG. Design, Setting, and Participants The Study to Evaluate ARO-APOC3 in Adults With Severe Hypertriglyceridemia (SHASTA-2) was a placebo-controlled, double-blind, dose-ranging, phase 2b randomized clinical trial enrolling adults with sHTG at 74 centers across the US, Europe, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada from May 31, 2021, to August 31, 2023. Eligible patients had fasting triglyceride levels in the range of 500 to 4000 mg/dL (to convert to millimoles per liter, multiply by 0.0113) while receiving stable lipid-lowering treatment. Interventions Participants received 2 subcutaneous doses of plozasiran (10, 25, or 50 mg) or matched placebo on day 1 and at week 12 and were followed up through week 48. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point evaluated the placebo-subtracted difference in means of percentage triglyceride change at week 24. Mixed-model repeated measures were used for statistical modeling. Results Of 229 patients, 226 (mean [SD] age, 55 [11] years; 176 male [78%]) were included in the primary analysis. Baseline mean (SD) triglyceride level was 897 (625) mg/dL and plasma APOC3 level was 32 (16) mg/dL. Plozasiran induced significant dose-dependent placebo-adjusted least squares (LS)-mean reductions in triglyceride levels (primary end point) of -57% (95% CI, -71.9% to -42.1%; P < .001), driven by placebo-adjusted reductions in APOC3 of -77% (95% CI, -89.1% to -65.8%; P < .001) at week 24 with the highest dose. Among plozasiran-treated patients, 144 of 159 (90.6%) achieved a triglyceride level of less than 500 mg/dL. Plozasiran was associated with dose-dependent increases in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level, which was significant in patients receiving the highest dose (placebo-adjusted LS-mean increase 60% (95% CI, 31%-89%; P < .001). However, apolipoprotein B (ApoB) levels did not increase, and non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels decreased significantly at all doses, with a placebo-adjusted change of -20% at the highest dose. There were also significant durable reductions in remnant cholesterol and ApoB48 as well as increases in HDL-C level through week 48. Adverse event rates were similar in plozasiran-treated patients vs placebo. Serious adverse events were mild to moderate, not considered treatment related, and none led to discontinuation or death. Conclusions and Relevance In this randomized clinical trial of patients with sHTG, plozasiran decreased triglyceride levels, which fell below the 500 mg/dL threshold of acute pancreatitis risk in most participants. Other triglyceride-related lipoprotein parameters improved. An increase in LDL-C level was observed but with no change in ApoB level and a decrease in non-HDL-C level. The safety profile was generally favorable at all doses. Additional studies will be required to determine whether plozasiran favorably modulates the risk of sHTG-associated complications. Trial Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04720534.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gaudet
- ECOGENE-21 QC, Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Denes Pall
- Department of Medical Clinical Pharmacology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Gerald F. Watts
- Department of Cardiology, Royal Perth Hospital, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Stephen J. Nicholls
- Victorian Heart Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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26
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Lardeux H, Stavenhagen K, Paris C, Dueholm R, Kurek C, De Maria L, Gnerlich F, Leek T, Czechtizky W, Guillarme D, Jora M. Unravelling the Link between Oligonucleotide Structure and Diastereomer Separation in Hydrophilic Interaction Chromatography. Anal Chem 2024; 96:9994-10002. [PMID: 38855895 PMCID: PMC11190878 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.4c01384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2024] [Revised: 04/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/11/2024]
Abstract
Therapeutic oligonucleotides (ONs) commonly incorporate phosphorothioate (PS) modifications. These introduce chiral centers and generate ON diastereomers. The increasing number of ONs undergoing clinical trials and reaching the market has led to a growing interest to better characterize the ON diastereomer composition, especially for small interfering ribonucleic acids (siRNAs). In this study, and for the first time, we identify higher-order structures as the major cause of ON diastereomer separation in hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC). We have used conformational predictions and melting profiles of several representative full-length ONs to first analyze ON folding and then run mass spectrometry and HILIC to underpin the link between their folding and diastereomer separation. On top, we show how one can either enhance or suppress diastereomer separation depending on chromatographic settings, such as column temperature, pore size, stationary phase, mobile-phase ionic strength, and organic modifier. This work will significantly facilitate future HILIC-based characterization of PS-containing ONs; e.g., enabling monitoring of batch-to-batch diastereomer distributions in full-length siRNAs, a complex task that is now for the first time shown as possible on this delicate class of therapeutic double-stranded ONs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Honorine Lardeux
- School
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Geneva, CMU—Rue Michel Servet 1, Geneva 4 1211, Switzerland
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU—Rue Michel Servet 1, Geneva 4 1211, Switzerland
| | - Kathrin Stavenhagen
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Clément Paris
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Rikke Dueholm
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Camille Kurek
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Leonardo De Maria
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Felix Gnerlich
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Tomas Leek
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Werngard Czechtizky
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
| | - Davy Guillarme
- School
of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of
Geneva, CMU—Rue Michel Servet 1, Geneva 4 1211, Switzerland
- Institute
of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, CMU—Rue Michel Servet 1, Geneva 4 1211, Switzerland
| | - Manasses Jora
- Medicinal
Chemistry, Research and Early Development, Respiratory and Immunology, BioPharmaceuticals R&D, AstraZeneca, Pepparedsleden 1, Mölndal 431 83, Sweden
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27
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Zhang Y, Wang L, Wang F, Chu X, Jiang JH. G-Quadruplex mRNAs Silencing with Inducible Ribonuclease Targeting Chimera for Precision Tumor Therapy. J Am Chem Soc 2024; 146:15815-15824. [PMID: 38832857 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.4c02091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
Ribonuclease targeting chimera (RIBOTAC) represents an emerging strategy for targeted therapy. However, RIBOTAC that is selectively activated by bio-orthogonal or cell-specific triggers has not been explored. We developed a strategy of inducible RIBOTAC (iRIBOTAC) that enables on-demand degradation of G-quadruplex (G4) RNAs for precision cancer therapy. iRIBOTAC is designed by coupling an RNA G4 binder with a caged ribonuclease recruiter, which can be decaged by a bio-orthogonal reaction, tumor-specific enzyme, or metabolite. A bivalent G4 binder is engineered by conjugating a near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence G4 ligand to a noncompetitive G4 ligand, conferring fluorescence activation on binding G4s with synergistically enhanced affinity. iRIBOTAC is demonstrated to greatly knockdown G4 RNAs upon activation under bio-orthogonal or cell-specific stimulus, with dysregulation of gene expressions involving cell killing, channel regulator activity, and metabolism as revealed by RNA sequencing. This strategy also shows a crucial effect on cell fate with remarkable biochemical hallmarks of apoptosis. Mice model studies demonstrate that iRIBOTAC allows selective imaging and growth suppression of tumors with bio-orthogonal and tumor-specific controls, highlighting G4 RNA targeting and inducible silencing as a valuable RIBOTAC paradigm for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Lingyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Fenglin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Xia Chu
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
| | - Jian-Hui Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Chemo/Bio-Sensing and Chemometrics, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan 410082, China
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28
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Zhang W, Wang J, Shan C. The eEF1A protein in cancer: Clinical significance, oncogenic mechanisms, and targeted therapeutic strategies. Pharmacol Res 2024; 204:107195. [PMID: 38677532 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Eukaryotic elongation factor 1A (eEF1A) is among the most abundant proteins in eukaryotic cells. Evolutionarily conserved across species, eEF1A is in charge of translation elongation for protein biosynthesis as well as a plethora of non-translational moonlighting functions for cellular homeostasis. In malignant cells, however, eEF1A becomes a pleiotropic driver of cancer progression via a broad diversity of pathways, which are not limited to hyperactive translational output. In the past decades, mounting studies have demonstrated the causal link between eEF1A and carcinogenesis, gaining deeper insights into its multifaceted mechanisms and corroborating its value as a prognostic marker in various cancers. On the other hand, an increasing number of natural and synthetic compounds were discovered as anticancer eEF1A-targeting inhibitors. Among them, plitidepsin was approved for the treatment of multiple myeloma whereas metarrestin was currently under clinical development. Despite significant achievements in these two interrelated fields, hitherto there lacks a systematic examination of the eEF1A protein in the context of cancer research. Therefore, the present work aims to delineate its clinical implications, molecular oncogenic mechanisms, and targeted therapeutic strategies as reflected in the ever expanding body of literature, so as to deepen mechanistic understanding of eEF1A-involved tumorigenesis and inspire the development of eEF1A-targeted chemotherapeutics and biologics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weicheng Zhang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
| | - Jiyan Wang
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
| | - Changliang Shan
- The State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, College of Pharmacy, and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Molecular Drug Research, Nankai University, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
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29
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Lei L, Harp JM, Chaput JC, Wassarman K, Schlegel MK, Manoharan M, Egli M. Structure and Stability of Ago2 MID-Nucleotide Complexes: All-in-One (Drop) His 6-SUMO Tag Removal, Nucleotide Binding, and Crystal Growth. Curr Protoc 2024; 4:e1088. [PMID: 38923271 DOI: 10.1002/cpz1.1088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
The middle (MID) domain of eukaryotic Argonaute (Ago) proteins and archaeal and bacterial homologues mediates the interaction with the 5'-terminal nucleotide of miRNA and siRNA guide strands. The MID domain of human Ago2 (hAgo2) is comprised of 139 amino acids with a molecular weight of 15.56 kDa. MID adopts a Rossman-like beta1-alpha1-beta2-alpha2-beta3-alpha3-beta4-alpha4 fold with a nucleotide specificity loop between beta3 and alpha3. Multiple crystal structures of nucleotides bound to hAgo2 MID have been reported, whereby complexes were obtained by soaking ligands into crystals of MID domain alone. This protocol describes a simplified one-step approach to grow well-diffracting crystals of hAgo2 MID-nucleotide complexes by mixing purified His6-SUMO-MID fusion protein, Ulp1 protease, and excess nucleotide in the presence of buffer and precipitant. The crystal structures of MID complexes with UMP, UTP and 2'-3' linked α-L-threofuranosyl thymidine-3'-triphosphate (tTTP) are presented. This article also describes fluorescence-based assays to measure dissociation constants (Kd) of MID-nucleotide interactions for nucleoside 5'-monophosphates and nucleoside 3',5'-bisphosphates. © 2024 The Authors. Current Protocols published by Wiley Periodicals LLC. Basic Protocol 1: Crystallization of Ago2 MID-nucleotide complexes Basic Protocol 2: Measurement of dissociation constant Kd between Ago2 MID and nucleotides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Lei
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - Joel M Harp
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
| | - John C Chaput
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, Irvine, California
| | | | | | | | - Martin Egli
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee
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Salman DM, Mohammad TAM. siRNA-based therapy for gastric adenocarcinoma: what's next step? Pathol Res Pract 2024; 258:155328. [PMID: 38744002 DOI: 10.1016/j.prp.2024.155328] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Gastric cancer continues to have a high death rate despite advancements in their diagnosis and treatment. Novel treatment techniques are thus desperately needed. This is where double-stranded RNA molecules known as small interfering RNA (siRNA), which may selectively target the mRNA of disease-causing genes, may find use in medicine. For siRNAs to function properly in the human body, they must be shielded from deterioration. Furthermore, in order to maintain organ function, they must only target the tumor and spare normal tissue. siRNAs have been designed using clever delivery mechanisms including polymers and lipids to achieve these objectives. Although siRNA protection is not hard to acquire, it is still challenging to target cancer cells with them. Here, we first discuss the basic characteristics of gastric cancer before describing the properties of siRNA and typical delivery methods created specifically for gastric tumors. Lastly, we provide a succinct overview of research using siRNAs to treat gastric tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dyar Mudhafar Salman
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq; Faculty of Pharmacy, Tishk International University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq
| | - Talar Ahmad Merza Mohammad
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Hawler Medical University, Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq; Pharmacy department, School of Medicine, University of Kurdistan Hewlêr (UKH), Erbil, Kurdistan Region, Iraq.
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31
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Helmes E, Montgomery J, Alarcio G, Mendoza HG, Blea JA, Beal PA, Moeller BC. Non-Targeted Detection of Synthetic Oligonucleotides in Equine Serum Using Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5752. [PMID: 38891955 PMCID: PMC11172053 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25115752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2024] [Revised: 05/10/2024] [Accepted: 05/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
There is great concern in equine sport over the potential use of pharmaceutical agents capable of editing the genome or modifying the expression of gene products. Synthetic oligonucleotides are short, single-stranded polynucleotides that represent a class of agents capable of modifying gene expression products with a high potential for abuse in horseracing. As these substances are not covered by most routine anti-doping analytical approaches, they represent an entire class of compounds that are not readily detectable. The nucleotide sequence for each oligonucleotide is highly specific, which makes targeted analysis for these agents problematic. Accordingly, we have developed a non-targeted approach to detect the presence of specific product ions that are not naturally present in ribonucleic acids. Briefly, serum samples were extracted using solid-phase extraction with a mixed-mode cartridge following the disruption of protein interactions to isolate the oligonucleotides. Following the elution and concentration steps, chromatographic separation was achieved utilizing reversed-phase liquid chromatography. Following an introduction to a Thermo Q Exactive HF mass spectrometer using electrospray ionization, analytes were detected utilizing a combination of full-scan, parallel reaction monitoring and all ion fragmentation scan modes. The limits of detection were determined along with the accuracy, precision, stability, recovery, and matrix effects using a representative 13mer oligonucleotide. Following method optimization using the 13mer oligonucleotide, the method was applied to successfully detect the presence of specific product ions in three unique oligonucleotide sequences targeting equine-specific transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Helmes
- KL Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA (J.M.); (G.A.)
| | - Jacob Montgomery
- KL Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA (J.M.); (G.A.)
| | - Gwendolyne Alarcio
- KL Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA (J.M.); (G.A.)
| | - Herra G. Mendoza
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (H.G.M.); (P.A.B.)
| | - Jeffrey A. Blea
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Peter A. Beal
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (H.G.M.); (P.A.B.)
| | - Benjamin C. Moeller
- KL Maddy Equine Analytical Chemistry Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA (J.M.); (G.A.)
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32
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Zhong C, Shi Z, Binzel DW, Jin K, Li X, Guo P, Li SK. Posterior eye delivery of angiogenesis-inhibiting RNA nanoparticles via subconjunctival injection. Int J Pharm 2024; 657:124151. [PMID: 38657717 PMCID: PMC11221552 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2024.124151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Neovascularization contributes to various posterior eye segment diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. RNA nanoparticles were demonstrated previously to enter the corneal and retinal cells after subconjunctival injection for ocular delivery. In the present study, antiangiogenic aptamers (anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and anti-angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) aptamers) were conjugated to RNA nanoparticles. The objectives were to investigate the clearance and distribution of these angiogenesis-inhibiting RNA nanoparticles after subconjunctival injection in vivo and their antiangiogenic effects for inhibiting ocular neovascularization in vitro. The results in the whole-body fluorescence imaging study showed that the clearance of RNA nanoparticles was size-dependent with no significant differences between RNA nanoparticles with and without the aptamers except for pRNA-3WJ. The distribution study of RNA nanoparticles by confocal microscopy of the dissected eye tissues in vivo indicated cell internalization of the larger RNA nanoparticles in the retina and retinal pigment epithelium after subconjunctival injection, and the larger nanoparticles with aptamers showed higher levels of cell internalization than those without. In the cell proliferation assay in vitro, RNA nanoparticles with multiple aptamers had higher antiangiogenic effects. With both longer retention time and high antiangiogenic effect, SQR-VEGF-Ang2 could be a promising RNA nanoparticle for posterior eye delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhong
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA.
| | - Zhanquan Shi
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Daniel W Binzel
- Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine, College of Pharmacy, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Kai Jin
- Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine, College of Pharmacy, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine, College of Pharmacy, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - Peixuan Guo
- Center for RNA Nanobiotechnology and Nanomedicine, College of Pharmacy, James Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA; Dorothy M. Davis Heart and Lung Research Institute, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
| | - S Kevin Li
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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Zhang Y, Liu X, Li Z, Li H, Miao Z, Wan B, Xu X. Advances on the Mechanisms and Therapeutic Strategies in Non-coding CGG Repeat Expansion Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-04239-9. [PMID: 38780719 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-04239-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Non-coding CGG repeat expansions within the 5' untranslated region are implicated in a range of neurological disorders, including fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome, oculopharyngeal myopathy with leukodystrophy, and oculopharyngodistal myopathy. This review outlined the general characteristics of diseases associated with non-coding CGG repeat expansions, detailing their clinical manifestations and neuroimaging patterns, which often overlap and indicate shared pathophysiological traits. We summarized the underlying molecular mechanisms of these disorders, providing new insights into the roles that DNA, RNA, and toxic proteins play. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for the development of targeted therapeutic strategies. These strategies include a range of approaches, such as antisense oligonucleotides, RNA interference, genomic DNA editing, small molecule interventions, and other treatments aimed at correcting the dysregulated processes inherent in these disorders. A deeper understanding of the shared mechanisms among non-coding CGG repeat expansion disorders may hold the potential to catalyze the development of innovative therapies, ultimately offering relief to individuals grappling with these debilitating neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutong Zhang
- Departments of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Xuan Liu
- Departments of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Zeheng Li
- Departments of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Hao Li
- Departments of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
- Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215124, China
| | - Zhigang Miao
- The Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Bo Wan
- The Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China
| | - Xingshun Xu
- Departments of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou City, China.
- The Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou City, China.
- Department of Neurology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215000, China.
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Chu R, Wang Y, Kong J, Pan T, Yang Y, He J. Lipid nanoparticles as the drug carrier for targeted therapy of hepatic disorders. J Mater Chem B 2024; 12:4759-4784. [PMID: 38682294 DOI: 10.1039/d3tb02766j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The liver, a complex and vital organ in the human body, is susceptible to various diseases, including metabolic disorders, acute hepatitis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma. In recent decades, these diseases have significantly contributed to global morbidity and mortality. Currently, liver transplantation remains the most effective treatment for hepatic disorders. Nucleic acid therapeutics offer a selective approach to disease treatment through diverse mechanisms, enabling the regulation of relevant genes and providing a novel therapeutic avenue for hepatic disorders. It is expected that nucleic acid drugs will emerge as the third generation of pharmaceuticals, succeeding small molecule drugs and antibody drugs. Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) represent a crucial technology in the field of drug delivery and constitute a significant advancement in gene therapies. Nucleic acids encapsulated in LNPs are shielded from the degradation of enzymes and effectively delivered to cells, where they are released and regulate specific genes. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the structure, composition, and applications of LNPs in the treatment of hepatic disorders and offers insights into prospects and challenges in the future development of LNPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runxuan Chu
- National Advanced Medical Engineering Research Center, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tung, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China.
| | - Jianglong Kong
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Kowloon Tung, Hong Kong SAR, P. R. China.
| | - Ting Pan
- National Advanced Medical Engineering Research Center, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.
- Department of Pharmaceutics School of Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, P. R. China
| | - Yani Yang
- National Advanced Medical Engineering Research Center, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.
| | - Jun He
- National Advanced Medical Engineering Research Center, China State Institute of Pharmaceutical Industry, 285 Gebaini Road, Shanghai 201203, P. R. China.
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Brown SD, Klimi E, Bakker WAM, Beqqali A, Baker AH. Non-coding RNAs to treat vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38773733 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) dysfunction is a critical contributor to cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, restenosis and vein graft failure. Recent advances have unveiled a fascinating range of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) that play a pivotal role in regulating vSMC function. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the mechanisms underlying vSMC dysfunction and the therapeutic potential of various ncRNAs in mitigating this dysfunction, either preventing or reversing it. We explore the intricate interplay of microRNAs, long-non-coding RNAs and circular RNAs, shedding light on their roles in regulating key signalling pathways associated with vSMC dysfunction. We also discuss the prospects and challenges associated with developing ncRNA-based therapies for this prevalent type of cardiovascular pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon D Brown
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Eftychia Klimi
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Abdelaziz Beqqali
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Andrew H Baker
- BHF Centre for Cardiovascular Science, Queens Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
- Cardiovascular Research Institute Maastricht (CARIM), Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Stroes ESG, Alexander VJ, Karwatowska-Prokopczuk E, Hegele RA, Arca M, Ballantyne CM, Soran H, Prohaska TA, Xia S, Ginsberg HN, Witztum JL, Tsimikas S. Olezarsen, Acute Pancreatitis, and Familial Chylomicronemia Syndrome. N Engl J Med 2024; 390:1781-1792. [PMID: 38587247 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2400201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/09/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Familial chylomicronemia syndrome is a genetic disorder associated with severe hypertriglyceridemia and severe acute pancreatitis. Olezarsen reduces the plasma triglyceride level by reducing hepatic synthesis of apolipoprotein C-III. METHODS In a phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, we randomly assigned patients with genetically identified familial chylomicronemia syndrome to receive olezarsen at a dose of 80 mg or 50 mg or placebo subcutaneously every 4 weeks for 49 weeks. There were two primary end points: the difference between the 80-mg olezarsen group and the placebo group in the percent change in the fasting triglyceride level from baseline to 6 months, and (to be assessed if the first was significant) the difference between the 50-mg olezarsen group and the placebo group. Secondary end points included the mean percent change from baseline in the apolipoprotein C-III level and an independently adjudicated episode of acute pancreatitis. RESULTS A total of 66 patients underwent randomization; 22 were assigned to the 80-mg olezarsen group, 21 to the 50-mg olezarsen group, and 23 to the placebo group. At baseline, the mean (±SD) triglyceride level among the patients was 2630±1315 mg per deciliter, and 71% had a history of acute pancreatitis within the previous 10 years. Triglyceride levels at 6 months were significantly reduced with the 80-mg dose of olezarsen as compared with placebo (-43.5 percentage points; 95% confidence interval [CI], -69.1 to -17.9; P<0.001) but not with the 50-mg dose (-22.4 percentage points; 95% CI, -47.2 to 2.5; P = 0.08). The difference in the mean percent change in the apolipoprotein C-III level from baseline to 6 months in the 80-mg group as compared with the placebo group was -73.7 percentage points (95% CI, -94.6 to -52.8) and between the 50-mg group as compared with the placebo group was -65.5 percentage points (95% CI, -82.6 to -48.3). By 53 weeks, 11 episodes of acute pancreatitis had occurred in the placebo group, and 1 episode had occurred in each olezarsen group (rate ratio [pooled olezarsen groups vs. placebo], 0.12; 95% CI, 0.02 to 0.66). Adverse events of moderate severity that were considered by a trial investigator at the site to be related to the trial drug or placebo occurred in 4 patients in the 80-mg olezarsen group. CONCLUSIONS In patients with familial chylomicronemia syndrome, olezarsen may represent a new therapy to reduce plasma triglyceride levels. (Funded by Ionis Pharmaceuticals; Balance ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04568434.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik S G Stroes
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
| | - Veronica J Alexander
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
| | - Ewa Karwatowska-Prokopczuk
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
| | - Robert A Hegele
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
| | - Marcello Arca
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
| | - Christie M Ballantyne
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
| | - Handrean Soran
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
| | - Thomas A Prohaska
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
| | - Shuting Xia
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
| | - Henry N Ginsberg
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
| | - Joseph L Witztum
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
| | - Sotirios Tsimikas
- From the Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Amsterdam, (E.S.G.S.); Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad (V.J.A., E.K.-P., T.A.P., S.X., S.T.), and the Divisions of Endocrinology and Metabolism (J.L.W.) and Cardiovascular Medicine (S.T.), Department of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla - both in California; the Department of Medicine and Robarts Research Institute, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada (R.A.H.); the Department of Translational and Precision Medicine, Center for Rare Disorders of Lipid Metabolism, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome (M.A.); Baylor College of Medicine and the Texas Heart Institute, Houston (C.M.B.); the National Institute for Health Research and Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, Manchester University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, United Kingdom (H.S.); and the Department of Medicine, Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York (H.N.G.)
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37
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Singh D. Beyond the Maze: Recent Advancements in Molecular and Cellular Tethered Drug Delivery Systems. Assay Drug Dev Technol 2024; 22:203-215. [PMID: 38717194 DOI: 10.1089/adt.2024.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The relentless pursuit of precision medicine has catalyzed the development of molecular and cellular tethered drug delivery systems, a burgeoning field that stands to redefine the paradigms of therapeutic delivery. This review encapsulates the cutting-edge advancements within this domain, emphasizing the engineering of molecular tethers and cellular vectors designed to ferry therapeutics directly to their target sites with unparalleled specificity and efficiency. By exploiting the unique biochemical signatures of disease states, these systems promise a substantial reduction in off-target effects and an enhancement in drug bioavailability, thereby mitigating the systemic side effects that are often associated with conventional drug therapies. Through a synthesis of recent research findings, this review highlights the innovative approaches being explored in the design and application of these tethered systems, ranging from nanotechnology-based solutions to genetically engineered cellular carriers. The potential of these systems to provide targeted therapy for a wide array of diseases, including cancer, autoimmune disorders, and neurological conditions, is thoroughly examined. This abstract aims to provide a succinct overview of the current state and future prospects of molecular and cellular tethered drug delivery systems in advancing the frontiers of precision medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dilpreet Singh
- University Institute of Pharma Sciences, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, India
- University Centre for Research and Development, Chandigarh University, Gharuan, India
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38
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Elitt MS, Tesar PJ. Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease: on the cusp of myelin medicine. Trends Mol Med 2024; 30:459-470. [PMID: 38582621 PMCID: PMC11081862 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD) is caused by mutations in the proteolipid protein 1 (PLP1) gene encoding proteolipid protein (PLP). As a major component of myelin, mutated PLP causes progressive neurodegeneration and eventually death due to severe white matter deficits. Medical care has long been limited to symptomatic treatments, but first-in-class PMD therapies with novel mechanisms now stand poised to enter clinical trials. Here, we review PMD disease mechanisms and outline rationale for therapeutic interventions, including PLP1 suppression, cell transplantation, iron chelation, and intracellular stress modulation. We discuss available preclinical data and their implications on clinical development. With several novel treatments on the horizon, PMD is on the precipice of a new era in the diagnosis and treatment of patients suffering from this debilitating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew S Elitt
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA.
| | - Paul J Tesar
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
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39
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MacNair CR, Rutherford ST, Tan MW. Alternative therapeutic strategies to treat antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Nat Rev Microbiol 2024; 22:262-275. [PMID: 38082064 DOI: 10.1038/s41579-023-00993-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
Resistance threatens to render antibiotics - which are essential for modern medicine - ineffective, thus posing a threat to human health. The discovery of novel classes of antibiotics able to overcome resistance has been stalled for decades, with the developmental pipeline relying almost entirely on variations of existing chemical scaffolds. Unfortunately, this approach has been unable to keep pace with resistance evolution, necessitating new therapeutic strategies. In this Review, we highlight recent efforts to discover non-traditional antimicrobials, specifically describing the advantages and limitations of antimicrobial peptides and macrocycles, antibodies, bacteriophages and antisense oligonucleotides. These approaches have the potential to stem the tide of resistance by expanding the physicochemical property space and target spectrum occupied by currently approved antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig R MacNair
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Steven T Rutherford
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Man-Wah Tan
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Genentech Inc., South San Francisco, CA, USA.
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40
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Wu Q, Cao J, Liu X, Zhu X, Huang C, Wang X, Song Y. Micro(nano)-plastics exposure induced programmed cell death and corresponding influence factors. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 921:171230. [PMID: 38402958 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Plastic products have played an indispensable role in our daily lives for several decades, primarily due to their cost-effectiveness and unmatched convenience. Nevertheless, recent developments in nanotechnology have propelled our attention toward a distinct category of plastic fine particulates known as micro(nano)-plastics (MPs/NPs). The investigation of the cytotoxic effects of MPs/NPs has emerged as a central and burgeoning area of research in environmental toxicology and cell biology. In the scope of this comprehensive review, we have meticulously synthesized recent scientific inquiries to delve into the intricate interplay between MPs/NPs and programmed cell death mechanisms, which encompass a range of highly regulated processes. First, the signaling pathways and molecular mechanisms of different programmed death modalities induced by MPs/NPs were elaborated, including apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis. The causes of different programmed deaths induced by MPs/NPs, such as size, surface potential, functional group modification, aging, biological crown, and co-exposure of MPs/NPs are further analyzed. In contrast, the various cellular programmed death modes induced by MPs/NPs are not alone most of the time, and lastly, the connections between different cellular programmed death modes induced by MPs/NPs, such as interconversion, mutual promotion, and mutual inhibition, are explained. Our primary objective is to unveil the multifaceted toxicological implications of MPs/NPs on the intricate web of cellular fate and biological homeostasis. This endeavor not only broadens our understanding of the potential risks associated with MPs/NPs exposure but also underscores the urgent need for comprehensive risk assessments and regulatory measures in the context of environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingchun Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianzhong Cao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiangyu Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chunfeng Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yang Song
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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41
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Ma S, Howden SA, Keane SC. Use of steric blocking antisense oligonucleotides for the targeted inhibition of junction containing precursor microRNAs. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.04.08.588531. [PMID: 38645194 PMCID: PMC11030329 DOI: 10.1101/2024.04.08.588531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) are widely used as therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and virus infections. One class of ASOs functions to enhance protein expression by sequestering the mature microRNA (miRNA) in a double-stranded structure within the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). An alternative approach for the targeted control of gene expression is to use ASOs that bind to the pre-elements of miRNAs (pre-miRNAs) and modulate their enzymatic processing. Here, we demonstrate that ASOs can be used to disrupt a specific structural feature, "junction," within pre-miR-31 that is important in directing efficient processing by the Dicer/TRBP complex. Furthermore, we extend and validate this strategy to pre-miR-144, which has a similar junction-dependent structure-function relationship. We found that a significant number of human pre-miRNAs are predicted to contain junctions, and validated our ASO approach on several members of this group. Importantly, we also verified the application of junction-targeting ASOs for the specific inhibition of pre-miRNA processing in cell . Our study reemphasizes the important roles of RNA structure in regulating Dicer/TRBP processing of pre-miRNAs and provides the framework to develop structure-informed ASOs that serve to inhibit miRNA production.
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42
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Chen Y, Li Y, Li C, Zhang D, Liu Y, Zhang J, Guan S, Ding X, Xiao Q. The current perspective and opportunities of small nucleic acid-based therapeutics. Drug Dev Res 2024; 85:e22164. [PMID: 38411296 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Compared to traditional small molecule and antibody drugs, RNA-based drugs offer a simple design, short research and development cycles, high specificity, broad treatment fields, and long-term efficacy. As a result, RNA-based drugs are extensively used to treat genetic diseases, tumors, viral infections, and other illnesses, suggesting that they have the potential to become the third-largest drug class after small molecule and antibody drugs. Currently, more than 10 small nucleic acid drugs have gained regulatory approval. The commercialization successes of small nucleic acid drugs will stimulate the development of RNA-based drugs. Small nucleic acid drugs primarily target liver diseases, metabolic diseases, genetic diseases, and tumors, and there is also significant potential for expanding indications in the future. This review provides a brief overview of the advantages and development of small nucleic acid-based therapeutics and shows a focus on platform technologies such as chemical modifications and delivery systems that have enabled the clinical translation of small nucleic acid-based therapeutics. Additionally, we summarize the latest clinical progress in small nucleic acid-based therapeutics for the treatment of various diseases, including rare diseases, liver diseases, metabolic diseases, and tumors. Finally, we highlight the future prospects for this promising treatment approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Chen
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chao Li
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dandan Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuheng Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Shan Guan
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiaoyan Ding
- Department of Pediatrics, Ludwig-Maximilians University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Qin Xiao
- Department of Microbiology and Biochemical Pharmacy, National Engineering Research Center of Immunological Products, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
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43
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Sztandera K, Rodríguez-García JL, Ceña V. In Vivo Applications of Dendrimers: A Step toward the Future of Nanoparticle-Mediated Therapeutics. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:439. [PMID: 38675101 PMCID: PMC11053723 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16040439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the last few years, the development of nanotechnology has allowed for the synthesis of many different nanostructures with controlled sizes, shapes, and chemical properties, with dendrimers being the best-characterized of them. In this review, we present a succinct view of the structure and the synthetic procedures used for dendrimer synthesis, as well as the cellular uptake mechanisms used by these nanoparticles to gain access to the cell. In addition, the manuscript reviews the reported in vivo applications of dendrimers as drug carriers for drugs used in the treatment of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, infections, and ocular diseases. The dendrimer-based formulations that have reached different phases of clinical trials, including safety and pharmacokinetic studies, or as delivery agents for therapeutic compounds are also presented. The continuous development of nanotechnology which makes it possible to produce increasingly sophisticated and complex dendrimers indicates that this fascinating family of nanoparticles has a wide potential in the pharmaceutical industry, especially for applications in drug delivery systems, and that the number of dendrimer-based compounds entering clinical trials will markedly increase during the coming years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krzysztof Sztandera
- Unidad Asociada Neurodeath, Instituto de Nanociencia Molecular, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Valentín Ceña
- Unidad Asociada Neurodeath, Instituto de Nanociencia Molecular, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02006 Albacete, Spain;
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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44
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Chia SPS, Pang JKS, Soh BS. Current RNA strategies in treating cardiovascular diseases. Mol Ther 2024; 32:580-608. [PMID: 38291757 PMCID: PMC10928165 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) continues to impose a significant global health burden, necessitating the exploration of innovative treatment strategies. Ribonucleic acid (RNA)-based therapeutics have emerged as a promising avenue to address the complex molecular mechanisms underlying CVD pathogenesis. We present a comprehensive review of the current state of RNA therapeutics in the context of CVD, focusing on the diverse modalities that bring about transient or permanent modifications by targeting the different stages of the molecular biology central dogma. Considering the immense potential of RNA therapeutics, we have identified common gene targets that could serve as potential interventions for prevalent Mendelian CVD caused by single gene mutations, as well as acquired CVDs developed over time due to various factors. These gene targets offer opportunities to develop RNA-based treatments tailored to specific genetic and molecular pathways, presenting a novel and precise approach to address the complex pathogenesis of both types of cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with delivery strategies to achieve targeted delivery of RNA therapeutics to the cardiovascular system. This review highlights the immense potential of RNA-based interventions as a novel and precise approach to combat CVD, paving the way for future advancements in cardiovascular therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shirley Pei Shan Chia
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore
| | - Jeremy Kah Sheng Pang
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Boon-Seng Soh
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A∗STAR), 61 Biopolis Drive, Proteos, Singapore 138673, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 16 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117558, Singapore.
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45
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Jadhav V, Vaishnaw A, Fitzgerald K, Maier MA. RNA interference in the era of nucleic acid therapeutics. Nat Biotechnol 2024; 42:394-405. [PMID: 38409587 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-023-02105-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
Two decades of research on RNA interference (RNAi) have transformed a breakthrough discovery in biology into a robust platform for a new class of medicines that modulate mRNA expression. Here we provide an overview of the trajectory of small-interfering RNA (siRNA) drug development, including the first approval in 2018 of a liver-targeted siRNA interference (RNAi) therapeutic in lipid nanoparticles and subsequent approvals of five more RNAi drugs, which used metabolically stable siRNAs combined with N-acetylgalactosamine ligands for conjugate-based liver delivery. We also consider the remaining challenges in the field, such as delivery to muscle, brain and other extrahepatic organs. Today's RNAi therapeutics exhibit high specificity, potency and durability, and are transitioning from applications in rare diseases to widespread, chronic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasant Jadhav
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| | - Akshay Vaishnaw
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Kevin Fitzgerald
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Martin A Maier
- Research & Development, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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46
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La Sala L, Carlini V, Conte C, Macas-Granizo MB, Afzalpour E, Martin-Delgado J, D'Anzeo M, Pedretti RFE, Naselli A, Pontiroli AE, Cappato R. Metabolic disorders affecting the liver and heart: Therapeutic efficacy of miRNA-based therapies? Pharmacol Res 2024; 201:107083. [PMID: 38309383 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Revised: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Liver and heart disease are major causes of death worldwide. It is known that metabolic alteration causing type 2 diabetes (T2D) and Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) coupled with a derangement in lipid homeostasis, may exacerbate hepatic and cardiovascular diseases. Some pharmacological treatments can mitigate organ dysfunctions but the important side effects limit their efficacy leading often to deterioration of the tissues. It needs to develop new personalized treatment approaches and recent progresses of engineered RNA molecules are becoming increasingly viable as alternative treatments. This review outlines the current use of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs), RNA interference (RNAi) and RNA genome editing as treatment for rare metabolic disorders. However, the potential for small non-coding RNAs to serve as therapeutic agents for liver and heart diseases is yet to be fully explored. Although miRNAs are recognized as biomarkers for many diseases, they are also capable of serving as drugs for medical intervention; several clinical trials are testing miRNAs as therapeutics for type 2 diabetes, nonalcoholic fatty liver as well as cardiac diseases. Recent advances in RNA-based therapeutics may potentially facilitate a novel application of miRNAs as agents and as druggable targets. In this work, we sought to summarize the advancement and advantages of miRNA selective therapy when compared to conventional drugs. In particular, we sought to emphasise druggable miRNAs, over ASOs or other RNA therapeutics or conventional drugs. Finally, we sought to address research questions related to efficacy, side-effects, and range of use of RNA therapeutics. Additionally, we covered hurdles and examined recent advances in the use of miRNA-based RNA therapy in metabolic disorders such as diabetes, liver, and heart diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia La Sala
- IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy; Dept. of Biomedical Sciences for Health, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | | | - Caterina Conte
- IRCCS MultiMedica, 20138 Milan, Italy; Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Elham Afzalpour
- Dept. of Biomedical Sciences and Clinic, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Jimmy Martin-Delgado
- Hospital Luis Vernaza, Junta de Beneficiencia de Guayaquil, 090603 Guayaquil, Ecuador; Instituto de Investigacion e Innovacion en Salud Integral, Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil, Guayaquil 090603, Ecuador
| | - Marco D'Anzeo
- AUO delle Marche, SOD Medicina di Laboratorio, Ancona, Italy
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47
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Yaghoobi A, Rezaee M, Behnoush AH, Khalaji A, Mafi A, Houjaghan AK, Masoudkabir F, Pahlavan S. Role of long noncoding RNAs in pathological cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction: An emerging insight into molecular mechanisms and therapeutic potential. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 172:116248. [PMID: 38325262 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Myocardial infarction (MI) is the leading cause of heart failure (HF), accounting for high mortality and morbidity worldwide. As a consequence of ischemia/reperfusion injury during MI, multiple cellular processes such as oxidative stress-induced damage, cardiomyocyte death, and inflammatory responses occur. In the next stage, the proliferation and activation of cardiac fibroblasts results in myocardial fibrosis and HF progression. Therefore, developing a novel therapeutic strategy is urgently warranted to restrict the progression of pathological cardiac remodeling. Recently, targeting long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) provided a novel insight into treating several disorders. In this regard, numerous investigations have indicated that several lncRNAs could participate in the pathogenesis of MI-induced cardiac remodeling, suggesting their potential therapeutic applications. In this review, we summarized lncRNAs displayed in the pathophysiology of cardiac remodeling after MI, emphasizing molecular mechanisms. Also, we highlighted the possible translational role of lncRNAs as therapeutic targets for this condition and discussed the potential role of exosomes in delivering the lncRNAs involved in post-MI cardiac remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alireza Yaghoobi
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Malihe Rezaee
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Hossein Behnoush
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirmohammad Khalaji
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Alireza Mafi
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | | | - Farzad Masoudkabir
- Tehran Heart Center, Cardiovascular Diseases Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sara Pahlavan
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
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48
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Petersen RS, Bordone L, Riedl MA, Tachdjian R, Craig TJ, Lumry WR, Manning ME, Bernstein JA, Raasch J, Zuraw BL, Deng Y, Newman KB, Alexander VJ, Lui C, Schneider E, Cohn DM. A phase 2 open-label extension study of prekallikrein inhibition with donidalorsen for hereditary angioedema. Allergy 2024; 79:724-734. [PMID: 38009241 DOI: 10.1111/all.15948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a potentially fatal disease characterized by unpredictable, recurrent, often disabling swelling attacks. In a randomized phase 2 study, donidalorsen reduced HAE attack frequency and improved patient quality-of-life (ISIS721744-CS2, NCT04030598). We report the 2-year interim analysis of the phase 2 open-label extension (OLE) study (ISIS 721744-CS3, NCT04307381). METHODS In the OLE, the on-treatment study period consisted of fixed (weeks 1-13, donidalorsen 80 mg subcutaneously every 4 weeks [Q4W]) and flexible (weeks 17-105, donidalorsen 80 mg Q4W, 80 mg every 8 weeks [Q8W], or 100 mg Q4W) dosing periods. The primary outcome was incidence and severity of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). The secondary outcomes included efficacy, pharmacodynamic, and quality-of-life assessments. RESULTS Seventeen patients continued in the OLE study. No serious TEAEs or TEAEs leading to treatment discontinuation were reported. Mean monthly HAE attack rate was 96% lower than the study run-in baseline rate (mean, 0.06/month; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.02-0.10; median, 0.04 on-treatment vs. mean, 2.70/month; 95% CI, 1.94-3.46; median, 2.29 at baseline). Mean monthly attack rate for Q8W dosing (n = 8) was 0.29 (range, 0.0-1.7; 95% CI, -0.21 to 0.79; median, 0.00). Mean plasma prekallikrein and D-dimer concentrations decreased, and Angioedema Quality of Life Questionnaire total score improved from baseline to week 105 with donidalorsen. CONCLUSION The 2-year interim results of this phase 2 OLE study of donidalorsen in patients with HAE demonstrated no new safety signals; donidalorsen was well tolerated. There was durable efficacy with a 96% reduction in HAE attacks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Remy S Petersen
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Laura Bordone
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | - Marc A Riedl
- University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Raffi Tachdjian
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Providence Saint John's Health Center, Santa Monica, California, USA
| | - Timothy J Craig
- Department of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Biomedical Sciences, Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, Pennsylvania, USA
- Vinmec International Hospital, Times City, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - William R Lumry
- Allergy and Asthma Research Associates Research Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | | | - Jonathan A Bernstein
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and Bernstein Clinical Research Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Jason Raasch
- Midwest Immunology Clinic, Plymouth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Bruce L Zuraw
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Yiwen Deng
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | | | | | - Cindy Lui
- Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA
| | | | - Danny M Cohn
- Department of Vascular Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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Li K, Zhang Q. Eliminating the HIV tissue reservoir: current strategies and challenges. Infect Dis (Lond) 2024; 56:165-182. [PMID: 38149977 DOI: 10.1080/23744235.2023.2298450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is still one of the most widespread and harmful infectious diseases in the world. The presence of reservoirs housing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) represents a significant impediment to the development of clinically applicable treatments on a large scale. The viral load in the blood can be effectively reduced to undetectable levels through antiretroviral therapy (ART), and a higher concentration of HIV is sequestered in various tissues throughout the body, forming the tissue reservoir - the source of viremia after interruption treatment. METHODS We take the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) as a guideline for this review. In June 2023, we used the Pubmed, Embase, and Scopus databases to search the relevant literature published in the last decade. RESULTS Here we review the current strategies and treatments for eliminating the HIV tissue reservoirs: early and intensive therapy, gene therapy (including ribozyme, RNA interference, RNA aptamer, zinc finger enzyme, transcriptional activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/associated nuclease 9 (CRISPR/Cas9)), 'Shock and Kill', 'Block and lock', immunotherapy (including therapeutic vaccines, broadly neutralising antibodies (bNAbs), chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy (CAR-T)), and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). CONCLUSION The existence of an HIV reservoir is the main obstacle to the complete cure of AIDS. Choosing the appropriate strategy to deplete the HIV reservoir and achieve a functional cure for AIDS is the focus and difficulty of current research. So far, there has been a lot of research and progress in reducing the HIV reservoir, but in general, the current research is still very preliminary. Much research is still needed to properly assess the reliability, effectiveness, and necessity of these strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangpeng Li
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- National Center for Infectious Diseases, Beijing Ditan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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50
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Chen S, Heendeniya SN, Le BT, Rahimizadeh K, Rabiee N, Zahra QUA, Veedu RN. Splice-Modulating Antisense Oligonucleotides as Therapeutics for Inherited Metabolic Diseases. BioDrugs 2024; 38:177-203. [PMID: 38252341 PMCID: PMC10912209 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-024-00644-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The last decade (2013-2023) has seen unprecedented successes in the clinical translation of therapeutic antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs). Eight such molecules have been granted marketing approval by the United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) during the decade, after the first ASO drug, fomivirsen, was approved much earlier, in 1998. Splice-modulating ASOs have also been developed for the therapy of inborn errors of metabolism (IEMs), due to their ability to redirect aberrant splicing caused by mutations, thus recovering the expression of normal transcripts, and correcting the deficiency of functional proteins. The feasibility of treating IEM patients with splice-switching ASOs has been supported by FDA permission (2018) of the first "N-of-1" study of milasen, an investigational ASO drug for Batten disease. Although for IEM, owing to the rarity of individual disease and/or pathogenic mutation, only a low number of patients may be treated by ASOs that specifically suppress the aberrant splicing pattern of mutant precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA), splice-switching ASOs represent superior individualized molecular therapeutics for IEM. In this work, we first summarize the ASO technology with respect to its mechanisms of action, chemical modifications of nucleotides, and rational design of modified oligonucleotides; following that, we precisely provide a review of the current understanding of developing splice-modulating ASO-based therapeutics for IEM. In the concluding section, we suggest potential ways to improve and/or optimize the development of ASOs targeting IEM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suxiang Chen
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
- Precision Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Saumya Nishanga Heendeniya
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
- Precision Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Bao T Le
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
- Precision Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
- ProGenis Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
| | - Kamal Rahimizadeh
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
- Precision Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Navid Rabiee
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
- Precision Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Qurat Ul Ain Zahra
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
- Precision Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia
| | - Rakesh N Veedu
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Health Futures Institute, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
- Precision Nucleic Acid Therapeutics, Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, WA, 6009, Australia.
- ProGenis Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.
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