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Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) of mRNAs is an essential regulatory mechanism in eukaryotic gene expression. AS misregulation, caused by either dysregulation or mutation of splicing factors, has been shown to be involved in cancer development and progression, making splicing factors suitable targets for cancer therapy. In recent years, various types of pharmacological modulators, such as small molecules and oligonucleotides, targeting distinct components of the splicing machinery, have been under development to treat multiple disorders. Although these approaches have promise, targeting the core spliceosome components disrupts the early stages of spliceosome assembly and can lead to nonspecific and toxic effects. New research directions have been focused on targeting specific splicing factors for a more precise effect. In this Perspective, we will highlight several approaches for targeting splicing factors and their functions and suggest ways to improve their specificity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ariel Bashari
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Zahava Siegfried
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
| | - Rotem Karni
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, the Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 9112001, Israel
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Abstract
Silencing of abnormally activated genes can be accomplished in a highly specific manner using nucleic acid based approaches. The focus of this review includes the different nucleic acid based inhibition strategies such as antisense oligodeoxynucleotides, small interfering RNA (siRNA), dominant-negative constructs, G-quartet oligonucleotides and decoy oligonucleotides, their mechanism of action and the effectiveness of these approaches to targeting the STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) proteins in cancer. Among the STAT proteins, especially STAT3, followed by STAT5, are the most frequently activated oncogenic STATs, which have emerged as plausible therapeutic cancer targets. Both STAT3 and STAT5 have been shown to regulate numerous oncogenic signaling pathways including proliferation, survival, angiogenesis and migration/invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malabika Sen
- Department of Otolaryngology; University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; Pittsburgh, PA USA
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Wang H, Hu Y, Guo T, Mei H, Zhang X, Sun W. Inhibition of tissue factor expression in brain microvascular endothelial cells by nanoparticles loading NF-kappaB decoy oligonucleotides. Int J Mol Sci 2008; 9:1851-1862. [PMID: 19325834 PMCID: PMC2635753 DOI: 10.3390/ijms9091851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2008] [Revised: 08/30/2008] [Accepted: 09/10/2008] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
To investigate a nuclear factor-kappa B decoy oligonucleotides strategy on the inhibition of tissue factor (TF) expression in cultured rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) by polylactic acid (PLA) nanoparticles delivery system and to evaluate this new vector for in vitro gene therapy. Nanoparticles were formulated using poly D,L-polylactic acid with surface modifying by polysorbates 80. 3-[4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assays showed that PLA nanoparticles were not toxic to the cultured BMECs.The decoy oligonuceotides (ODNs) loaded within nanoparticles was 6 μg/mg, encapsulation efficacy was (60.5±1.5)%. It was observed by flow cytometry that the cellular uptake of nanoparticles depended on the time of incubation and the concentration of nanoparticles in the medium. And confocal microscopy demonstrated that nanoparticles localized mostly in the BMECs cytoplasm. The released decoy oligonuceotides (ODNs) uptaked by BMECs retained their biologic activity and led to reduced level of tissue factor expression as compared to control cultures. These findings offer a potential therapeutic strategy in the control of TF expression in BMECs in vitro and suggest that PLA nanoparticles may be appropriate as delivery vehicles for decoy strategy in the gene therapy of cerebral thrombosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huafang Wang
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1277 Jie-fang Dadao, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Targeted Biotherapy, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1277 Jie-fang Dadao, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R.China
| | - Yu Hu
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1277 Jie-fang Dadao, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Targeted Biotherapy, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1277 Jie-fang Dadao, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R.China
- Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail:
(Y. H.); Tel. +86-27-85726335; Fax: +86-27-85776343
| | - Tao Guo
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1277 Jie-fang Dadao, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
- Laboratory of Targeted Biotherapy, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1277 Jie-fang Dadao, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R.China
| | - Heng Mei
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1277 Jie-fang Dadao, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoping Zhang
- Institute of Hematology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, 1277 Jie-fang Dadao, Wuhan, Hubei 430022, P.R. China
| | - Wangqiang Sun
- College of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Hubei University of Technology, 634 Xiongchu Avenue, Wuhan, Hubei 430068, P.R.China
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