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Liu J, Cooley BC, Akinc A, Butler J, Borodovsky A. Knockdown of liver-derived factor XII by GalNAc-siRNA ALN-F12 prevents thrombosis in mice without impacting hemostatic function. Thromb Res 2020; 196:200-205. [DOI: 10.1016/j.thromres.2020.08.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
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Akinc A, Maier MA, Manoharan M, Fitzgerald K, Jayaraman M, Barros S, Ansell S, Du X, Hope MJ, Madden TD, Mui BL, Semple SC, Tam YK, Ciufolini M, Witzigmann D, Kulkarni JA, van der Meel R, Cullis PR. The Onpattro story and the clinical translation of nanomedicines containing nucleic acid-based drugs. Nat Nanotechnol 2019; 14:1084-1087. [PMID: 31802031 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-019-0591-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 678] [Impact Index Per Article: 135.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Xinyao Du
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Ying K Tam
- Acuitas Therapeutics, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | - Pieter R Cullis
- University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- NanoMedicines Innovation Network, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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Janas MM, Zlatev I, Liu J, Jiang Y, Barros SA, Sutherland JE, Davis WP, Liu J, Brown CR, Liu X, Schlegel MK, Blair L, Zhang X, Das B, Tran C, Aluri K, Li J, Agarwal S, Indrakanti R, Charisse K, Nair J, Matsuda S, Rajeev KG, Zimmermann T, Sepp-Lorenzino L, Xu Y, Akinc A, Fitzgerald K, Vaishnaw AK, Smith PF, Manoharan M, Jadhav V, Wu JT, Maier MA. Safety evaluation of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro nucleotides in GalNAc-siRNA conjugates. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:3306-3320. [PMID: 30820542 PMCID: PMC6468299 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2018] [Revised: 02/07/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
For oligonucleotide therapeutics, chemical modifications of the sugar-phosphate backbone are frequently used to confer drug-like properties. Because 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro (2′-F) nucleotides are not known to occur naturally, their safety profile was assessed when used in revusiran and ALN-TTRSC02, two short interfering RNAs (siRNAs), of the same sequence but different chemical modification pattern and metabolic stability, conjugated to an N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) ligand for targeted delivery to hepatocytes. Exposure to 2′-F-monomer metabolites was low and transient in rats and humans. In vitro, 2′-F-nucleoside 5′-triphosphates were neither inhibitors nor preferred substrates for human polymerases, and no obligate or non-obligate chain termination was observed. Modest effects on cell viability and mitochondrial DNA were observed in vitro in a subset of cell types at high concentrations of 2′-F-nucleosides, typically not attained in vivo. No apparent functional impact on mitochondria and no significant accumulation of 2′-F-monomers were observed after weekly administration of two GalNAc–siRNA conjugates in rats for ∼2 years. Taken together, the results support the conclusion that 2′-F nucleotides can be safely applied for the design of metabolically stabilized therapeutic GalNAc–siRNAs with favorable potency and prolonged duration of activity allowing for low dose and infrequent dosing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja M Janas
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ivan Zlatev
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ju Liu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Jingxuan Liu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Xiumin Liu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Lauren Blair
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Xuemei Zhang
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Biplab Das
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Chris Tran
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Krishna Aluri
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jing Li
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Saket Agarwal
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Yuanxin Xu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | - Peter F Smith
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Vasant Jadhav
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jing-Tao Wu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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Liu J, Qin J, Borodovsky A, Racie T, Castoreno A, Schlegel M, Maier MA, Zimmerman T, Fitzgerald K, Butler J, Akinc A. An investigational RNAi therapeutic targeting Factor XII (ALN-F12) for the treatment of hereditary angioedema. RNA 2019; 25:255-263. [PMID: 30463937 PMCID: PMC6348991 DOI: 10.1261/rna.068916.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 11/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Hereditary angioedema (HAE) is a genetic disorder mostly caused by mutations in the C1 esterase inhibitor gene (C1INH) that results in poor control of contact pathway activation and excess bradykinin generation. Bradykinin increases vascular permeability and is ultimately responsible for the episodes of swelling characteristic of HAE. We hypothesized that the use of RNA interference (RNAi) to reduce plasma Factor XII (FXII), which initiates the contact pathway signaling cascade, would reduce contact pathway activation and prevent excessive bradykinin generation. A subcutaneously administered GalNAc-conjugated small-interfering RNA (siRNA) targeting F12 mRNA (ALN-F12) was developed, and potency was evaluated in mice, rats, and cynomolgus monkeys. The effect of FXII reduction by ALN-F12 administration was evaluated in two different vascular leakage mouse models. An ex vivo assay was developed to evaluate the correlation between human plasma FXII levels and high-molecular weight kininogen (HK) cleavage. A single subcutaneous dose of ALN-F12 led to potent, dose-dependent reduction of plasma FXII in mice, rats, and NHP. In cynomolgus monkeys, a single subcutaneous dose of ALN-F12 at 3 mg/kg resulted in >85% reduction of plasma FXII. Administration of ALN-F12 resulted in dose-dependent reduction of vascular permeability in two different mouse models of bradykinin-driven vascular leakage, demonstrating that RNAi-mediated reduction of FXII can potentially mitigate excess bradykinin stimulation. Lastly, ex vivo human plasma HK cleavage assay indicated FXII-dependent bradykinin generation. Together, these data suggest that RNAi-mediated knockdown of FXII by ALN-F12 is a potentially promising approach for the prophylactic treatment of HAE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingxuan Liu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - June Qin
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Anna Borodovsky
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Timothy Racie
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Adam Castoreno
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Mark Schlegel
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Martin A Maier
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Tracy Zimmerman
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | | | - James Butler
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
| | - Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
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Nair JK, Attarwala H, Sehgal A, Wang Q, Aluri K, Zhang X, Gao M, Liu J, Indrakanti R, Schofield S, Kretschmer P, Brown CR, Gupta S, Willoughby JLS, Boshar JA, Jadhav V, Charisse K, Zimmermann T, Fitzgerald K, Manoharan M, Rajeev KG, Akinc A, Hutabarat R, Maier MA. Impact of enhanced metabolic stability on pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of GalNAc-siRNA conjugates. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:10969-10977. [PMID: 28981809 PMCID: PMC5737438 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Covalent attachment of a synthetic triantennary N-acetylagalactosamine (GalNAc) ligand to chemically modified siRNA has enabled asialoglycoprotein (ASGPR)-mediated targeted delivery of therapeutically active siRNAs to hepatocytes in vivo. This approach has become transformative for the delivery of RNAi therapeutics as well as other classes of investigational oligonucleotide therapeutics to the liver. For efficient functional delivery of intact drug into the desired subcellular compartment, however, it is critical that the nucleic acids are stabilized against nucleolytic degradation. Here, we compared two siRNAs of the same sequence but with different modification pattern resulting in different degrees of protection against nuclease activity. In vitro stability studies in different biological matrices show that 5'-exonuclease is the most prevalent nuclease activity in endo-lysosomal compartments and that additional stabilization in the 5'-regions of both siRNA strands significantly enhances the overall metabolic stability of GalNAc-siRNA conjugates. In good agreement with in vitro findings, the enhanced stability translated into substantially improved liver exposure, gene silencing efficacy and duration of effect in mice. Follow-up studies with a second set of conjugates targeting a different transcript confirmed the previous results, provided additional insights into kinetics of RISC loading and demonstrated excellent translation to non-human primates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Qianfan Wang
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | - Xuemei Zhang
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Minggeng Gao
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ju Liu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Swati Gupta
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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Pasi KJ, Rangarajan S, Georgiev P, Mant T, Creagh MD, Lissitchkov T, Bevan D, Austin S, Hay CR, Hegemann I, Kazmi R, Chowdary P, Gercheva-Kyuchukova L, Mamonov V, Timofeeva M, Soh CH, Garg P, Vaishnaw A, Akinc A, Sørensen B, Ragni MV. Targeting of Antithrombin in Hemophilia A or B with RNAi Therapy. N Engl J Med 2017; 377:819-828. [PMID: 28691885 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa1616569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 240] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current hemophilia treatment involves frequent intravenous infusions of clotting factors, which is associated with variable hemostatic protection, a high treatment burden, and a risk of the development of inhibitory alloantibodies. Fitusiran, an investigational RNA interference (RNAi) therapy that targets antithrombin (encoded by SERPINC1), is in development to address these and other limitations. METHODS In this phase 1 dose-escalation study, we enrolled 4 healthy volunteers and 25 participants with moderate or severe hemophilia A or B who did not have inhibitory alloantibodies. Healthy volunteers received a single subcutaneous injection of fitusiran (at a dose of 0.03 mg per kilogram of body weight) or placebo. The participants with hemophilia received three injections of fitusiran administered either once weekly (at a dose of 0.015, 0.045, or 0.075 mg per kilogram) or once monthly (at a dose of 0.225, 0.45, 0.9, or 1.8 mg per kilogram or a fixed dose of 80 mg). The study objectives were to assess the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic characteristics and safety of fitusiran. RESULTS No thromboembolic events were observed during the study. The most common adverse events were mild injection-site reactions. Plasma levels of fitusiran increased in a dose-dependent manner and showed no accumulation with repeated administration. The monthly regimen induced a dose-dependent mean maximum antithrombin reduction of 70 to 89% from baseline. A reduction in the antithrombin level of more than 75% from baseline resulted in median peak thrombin values at the lower end of the range observed in healthy participants. CONCLUSIONS Once-monthly subcutaneous administration of fitusiran resulted in dose-dependent lowering of the antithrombin level and increased thrombin generation in participants with hemophilia A or B who did not have inhibitory alloantibodies. (Funded by Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02035605 .).
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Affiliation(s)
- K John Pasi
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Savita Rangarajan
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Pencho Georgiev
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Tim Mant
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Michael D Creagh
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Toshko Lissitchkov
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - David Bevan
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Steve Austin
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Charles R Hay
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Inga Hegemann
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Rashid Kazmi
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Pratima Chowdary
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Liana Gercheva-Kyuchukova
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Vasily Mamonov
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Margarita Timofeeva
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Chang-Heok Soh
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Pushkal Garg
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Akshay Vaishnaw
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Akin Akinc
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Benny Sørensen
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
| | - Margaret V Ragni
- From the Royal London Haemophilia Centre, Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry (K.J.P.), National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Biomedical Research Centre (T.M.), Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, King's College London (D.B.), St. George's Healthcare NHS Trust Haemophilia Centre (S.A.), and Royal Free Hospital London (P.C.), London, the Haemophilia, Haemostasis and Thrombosis Centre, Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Basingstoke (S.R.), Quintiles IMS, Reading (T.M.), Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, Truro (M.D.C.), Manchester Royal Infirmary, Manchester (C.R.H.), and University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton (R.K.) - all in the United Kingdom; University Multiprofile Hospital for Active Treatment Sveti Georgi and Medical University Plovdiv, Plovdiv (P. Georgiev), University Hospital for Hematology, Sofia (T.L.), and the Department of Hematology, University Hospital of St. Marina, Varna (L.G.-K.) - all in Bulgaria; University Hospital of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland (I.H.); National Research Center for Hematology, Moscow (V.M.), and Research Institution of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Kirov (M.T.) - both in Russia; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge (C.-H.S., P. Garg, A.V., A.A., B.S.), and Codiak Biosciences, Woburn (B.S.) - both in Massachusetts; and the University of Pittsburgh and Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh (M.V.R.)
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7
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Parmar R, Willoughby JLS, Liu J, Foster DJ, Brigham B, Theile CS, Charisse K, Akinc A, Guidry E, Pei Y, Strapps W, Cancilla M, Stanton MG, Rajeev KG, Sepp-Lorenzino L, Manoharan M, Meyers R, Maier MA, Jadhav V. Inside Cover: 5′-( E)-Vinylphosphonate: A Stable Phosphate Mimic Can Improve the RNAi Activity of siRNA-GalNAc Conjugates (ChemBioChem 11/2016). Chembiochem 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201600278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rubina Parmar
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; 300 Third Street Cambridge MA 02142 USA
| | | | - Jingxuan Liu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; 300 Third Street Cambridge MA 02142 USA
| | - Donald J. Foster
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; 300 Third Street Cambridge MA 02142 USA
| | - Benjamin Brigham
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; 300 Third Street Cambridge MA 02142 USA
| | | | - Klaus Charisse
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; 300 Third Street Cambridge MA 02142 USA
| | - Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; 300 Third Street Cambridge MA 02142 USA
| | - Erin Guidry
- Merck and Co., Inc; 770 Sumneytown Pike West Point PA 19486 USA
| | - Yi Pei
- Merck and Co., Inc; 770 Sumneytown Pike West Point PA 19486 USA
| | - Walter Strapps
- Merck and Co., Inc; 770 Sumneytown Pike West Point PA 19486 USA
| | - Mark Cancilla
- Merck and Co., Inc; 770 Sumneytown Pike West Point PA 19486 USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Rachel Meyers
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; 300 Third Street Cambridge MA 02142 USA
| | - Martin A. Maier
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; 300 Third Street Cambridge MA 02142 USA
| | - Vasant Jadhav
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals; 300 Third Street Cambridge MA 02142 USA
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8
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Parmar R, Willoughby JLS, Liu J, Foster DJ, Brigham B, Theile CS, Charisse K, Akinc A, Guidry E, Pei Y, Strapps W, Cancilla M, Stanton MG, Rajeev KG, Sepp-Lorenzino L, Manoharan M, Meyers R, Maier MA, Jadhav V. 5'-(E)-Vinylphosphonate: A Stable Phosphate Mimic Can Improve the RNAi Activity of siRNA-GalNAc Conjugates. Chembiochem 2016; 17:985-9. [PMID: 27121751 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.201600130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated silencing requires siRNA loading into the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). Presence of 5'-phosphate (5'-P) is reported to be critical for efficient RISC loading of the antisense strand (AS) by anchoring it to the mid-domain of the Argonaute2 (Ago2) protein. Phosphorylation of exogenous duplex siRNAs is thought to be accomplished by cytosolic Clp1 kinase. However, although extensive chemical modifications are essential for siRNA-GalNAc conjugate activity, they can significantly impair Clp1 kinase activity. Here, we further elucidated the effect of 5'-P on the activity of siRNA-GalNAc conjugates. Our results demonstrate that a subset of sequences benefit from the presence of exogenous 5'-P. For those that do, incorporation of 5'-(E)-vinylphosphonate (5'-VP), a metabolically stable phosphate mimic, results in up to 20-fold improved in vitro potency and up to a threefold benefit in in vivo activity by promoting Ago2 loading and enhancing metabolic stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rubina Parmar
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | | | - Jingxuan Liu
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Donald J Foster
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Benjamin Brigham
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | | | - Klaus Charisse
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Erin Guidry
- Merck and Co., Inc, 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA, 19486, USA
| | - Yi Pei
- Merck and Co., Inc, 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA, 19486, USA
| | - Walter Strapps
- Merck and Co., Inc, 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA, 19486, USA
| | - Mark Cancilla
- Merck and Co., Inc, 770 Sumneytown Pike, West Point, PA, 19486, USA
| | | | | | | | - Muthiah Manoharan
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Rachel Meyers
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Martin A Maier
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Vasant Jadhav
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA.
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9
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Yin H, Bogorad RL, Barnes C, Walsh S, Zhuang I, Nonaka H, Ruda V, Kuchimanchi S, Nechev L, Akinc A, Xue W, Zerial M, Langer R, Anderson DG, Koteliansky V. RNAi-nanoparticulate manipulation of gene expression as a new functional genomics tool in the liver. J Hepatol 2016; 64:899-907. [PMID: 26658687 PMCID: PMC5381270 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Revised: 10/22/2015] [Accepted: 11/11/2015] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS The Hippo pathway controls organ size through a negative regulation of the transcription co-activator Yap1. The overexpression of hyperactive mutant Yap1 or deletion of key components in the Hippo pathway leads to increased organ size in different species. Analysis of interactions of this pathway with other cellular signals corroborating organ size control is limited in part due to the difficulties associated with development of rodent models. METHODS Here, we develop a new model of reversible induction of the liver size in mice using siRNA-nanoparticles targeting two kinases of the Hippo pathway, namely, mammalian Ste20 family kinases 1 and 2 (Mst1 and Mst2), and an upstream regulator, neurofibromatosis type II (Nf2). RESULTS The triple siRNAs nanoparticle-induced hepatomegaly in mice phenocopies one observed with Mst1(-/-)Mst2(-/-) liver-specific depletion, as shown by extensive proliferation of hepatocytes and activation of Yap1. The simultaneous co-treatment with a fourth siRNA nanoparticle against Yap1 fully blocked the liver growth. Hippo pathway-induced liver enlargement is associated with p53 activation, evidenced by its accumulation in the nuclei and upregulation of its target genes. Moreover, injections of the triple siRNAs nanoparticle in p53(LSL/LSL) mice shows that livers lacking p53 expression grow faster and exceed the size of livers in p53 wild-type animals, indicating a role of p53 in controlling Yap1-induced liver growth. CONCLUSION Our data show that siRNA-nanoparticulate manipulation of gene expression can provide the reversible control of organ size in adult animals, which presents a new avenue for the investigation of complex regulatory networks in liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Yin
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Roman L Bogorad
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | - Stephen Walsh
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Iris Zhuang
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Hidenori Nonaka
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Vera Ruda
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | | | | | - Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Wen Xue
- RNA Therapeutics Institute and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Marino Zerial
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG), Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Robert Langer
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Institute of Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences & Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA; Institute of Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA.
| | - Victor Koteliansky
- Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, Skolkovo 143025, Russia; Department of Chemistry, M.V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Leninskie Gory 119991, Russia.
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10
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Gilleron J, Paramasivam P, Zeigerer A, Querbes W, Marsico G, Andree C, Seifert S, Amaya P, Stöter M, Koteliansky V, Waldmann H, Fitzgerald K, Kalaidzidis Y, Akinc A, Maier MA, Manoharan M, Bickle M, Zerial M. Identification of siRNA delivery enhancers by a chemical library screen. Nucleic Acids Res 2015. [PMID: 26220182 PMCID: PMC4652771 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkv762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Most delivery systems for small interfering RNA therapeutics depend on endocytosis and release from endo-lysosomal compartments. One approach to improve delivery is to identify small molecules enhancing these steps. It is unclear to what extent such enhancers can be universally applied to different delivery systems and cell types. Here, we performed a compound library screen on two well-established siRNA delivery systems, lipid nanoparticles and cholesterol conjugated-siRNAs. We identified fifty-one enhancers improving gene silencing 2–5 fold. Strikingly, most enhancers displayed specificity for one delivery system only. By a combination of quantitative fluorescence and electron microscopy we found that the enhancers substantially differed in their mechanism of action, increasing either endocytic uptake or release of siRNAs from endosomes. Furthermore, they acted either on the delivery system itself or the cell, by modulating the endocytic system via distinct mechanisms. Interestingly, several compounds displayed activity on different cell types. As proof of principle, we showed that one compound enhanced siRNA delivery in primary endothelial cells in vitro and in the endocardium in the mouse heart. This study suggests that a pharmacological approach can improve the delivery of siRNAs in a system-specific fashion, by exploiting distinct mechanisms and acting upon multiple cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerome Gilleron
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307, Dresden, Germany INSERM U1065, Centre Méditerranéen de Médecine Moléculaire C3M, Nice, France; Université de Nice Sophia-Antipolis, Nice, France
| | - Prasath Paramasivam
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Anja Zeigerer
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | | | - Giovanni Marsico
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Cordula Andree
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Sarah Seifert
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Pablo Amaya
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Martin Stöter
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Victor Koteliansky
- Lomonosov Moscow State University, Chemistry Department, Leninskie Gory, 1/3, Moscow 119991, Russia Skolkovo Institute of Science and Technology, 100 Novaya str., Skolkovo, Odinsovsky district, Moscow 143025, Russia
| | - Herbert Waldmann
- Department of Chemical Biology, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Physiology, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 11, 44227 Dortmund, Germany Chemical Biology, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 6, 44221 Dortmund, Germany
| | | | - Yannis Kalaidzidis
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Marc Bickle
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Marino Zerial
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstrasse 108 01307, Dresden, Germany
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11
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Sehgal A, Barros S, Ivanciu L, Cooley B, Qin J, Racie T, Hettinger J, Carioto M, Jiang Y, Brodsky J, Prabhala H, Zhang X, Attarwala H, Hutabarat R, Foster D, Milstein S, Charisse K, Kuchimanchi S, Maier MA, Nechev L, Kandasamy P, Kel'in AV, Nair JK, Rajeev KG, Manoharan M, Meyers R, Sorensen B, Simon AR, Dargaud Y, Negrier C, Camire RM, Akinc A. An RNAi therapeutic targeting antithrombin to rebalance the coagulation system and promote hemostasis in hemophilia. Nat Med 2015; 21:492-7. [DOI: 10.1038/nm.3847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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12
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Nair JK, Willoughby JLS, Chan A, Charisse K, Alam MR, Wang Q, Hoekstra M, Kandasamy P, Kel'in AV, Milstein S, Taneja N, O'Shea J, Shaikh S, Zhang L, van der Sluis RJ, Jung ME, Akinc A, Hutabarat R, Kuchimanchi S, Fitzgerald K, Zimmermann T, van Berkel TJC, Maier MA, Rajeev KG, Manoharan M. Multivalent N-acetylgalactosamine-conjugated siRNA localizes in hepatocytes and elicits robust RNAi-mediated gene silencing. J Am Chem Soc 2014; 136:16958-61. [PMID: 25434769 DOI: 10.1021/ja505986a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 716] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Conjugation of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to an asialoglycoprotein receptor ligand derived from N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) facilitates targeted delivery of the siRNA to hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. The ligands derived from GalNAc are compatible with solid-phase oligonucleotide synthesis and deprotection conditions, with synthesis yields comparable to those of standard oligonucleotides. Subcutaneous (SC) administration of siRNA-GalNAc conjugates resulted in robust RNAi-mediated gene silencing in liver. Refinement of the siRNA chemistry achieved a 5-fold improvement in efficacy over the parent design in vivo with a median effective dose (ED50) of 1 mg/kg following a single dose. This enabled the SC administration of siRNA-GalNAc conjugates at therapeutically relevant doses and, importantly, at dose volumes of ≤1 mL. Chronic weekly dosing resulted in sustained dose-dependent gene silencing for over 9 months with no adverse effects in rodents. The optimally chemically modified siRNA-GalNAc conjugates are hepatotropic and long-acting and have the potential to treat a wide range of diseases involving liver-expressed genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayaprakash K Nair
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals , 300 Third Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, United States
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13
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Dahlman JE, Barnes C, Khan O, Thiriot A, Jhunjunwala S, Shaw TE, Xing Y, Sager HB, Sahay G, Speciner L, Bader A, Bogorad RL, Yin H, Racie T, Dong Y, Jiang S, Seedorf D, Dave A, Sandu KS, Webber MJ, Novobrantseva T, Ruda VM, Lytton-Jean AKR, Levins CG, Kalish B, Mudge DK, Perez M, Abezgauz L, Dutta P, Smith L, Charisse K, Kieran MW, Fitzgerald K, Nahrendorf M, Danino D, Tuder RM, von Andrian UH, Akinc A, Schroeder A, Panigrahy D, Kotelianski V, Langer R, Anderson DG. In vivo endothelial siRNA delivery using polymeric nanoparticles with low molecular weight. Nat Nanotechnol 2014; 9:648-655. [PMID: 24813696 PMCID: PMC4207430 DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2014.84] [Citation(s) in RCA: 417] [Impact Index Per Article: 41.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Accepted: 03/25/2014] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Dysfunctional endothelium contributes to more diseases than any other tissue in the body. Small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can help in the study and treatment of endothelial cells in vivo by durably silencing multiple genes simultaneously, but efficient siRNA delivery has so far remained challenging. Here, we show that polymeric nanoparticles made of low-molecular-weight polyamines and lipids can deliver siRNA to endothelial cells with high efficiency, thereby facilitating the simultaneous silencing of multiple endothelial genes in vivo. Unlike lipid or lipid-like nanoparticles, this formulation does not significantly reduce gene expression in hepatocytes or immune cells even at the dosage necessary for endothelial gene silencing. These nanoparticles mediate the most durable non-liver silencing reported so far and facilitate the delivery of siRNAs that modify endothelial function in mouse models of vascular permeability, emphysema, primary tumour growth and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- James E Dahlman
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Carmen Barnes
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Omar Khan
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Aude Thiriot
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, USA
| | - Siddharth Jhunjunwala
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Taylor E Shaw
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Yiping Xing
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Hendrik B Sager
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA
| | - Gaurav Sahay
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Lauren Speciner
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Andrew Bader
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Roman L Bogorad
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Hao Yin
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Tim Racie
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Yizhou Dong
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Shan Jiang
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Danielle Seedorf
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Apeksha Dave
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Kamaljeet S Sandu
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Matthew J Webber
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | | | - Vera M Ruda
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Abigail K R Lytton-Jean
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Christopher G Levins
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Brian Kalish
- Vascular Biology Program, Children's Hospital Boston, and Division of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, USA
| | - Dayna K Mudge
- Vascular Biology Program, Children's Hospital Boston, and Division of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, USA
| | - Mario Perez
- Program in Translational Lung Research, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Program, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, USA
| | - Ludmila Abezgauz
- Deparment of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, and The Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200, Israel
| | - Partha Dutta
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA
| | - Lynelle Smith
- Program in Translational Lung Research, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Program, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, USA
| | - Klaus Charisse
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Mark W Kieran
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, USA
| | | | - Matthias Nahrendorf
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston 02114, USA
| | - Dganit Danino
- Deparment of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, and The Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200, Israel
| | - Rubin M Tuder
- Program in Translational Lung Research, Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Program, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, USA
| | - Ulrich H von Andrian
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, USA
| | - Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Avi Schroeder
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Technion Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 32000, Israel
| | - Dipak Panigrahy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston 02115, USA
| | - Victor Kotelianski
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Robert Langer
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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14
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Ruda VM, Chandwani R, Sehgal A, Bogorad RL, Akinc A, Charisse K, Tarakhovsky A, Novobrantseva TI, Koteliansky V. The roles of individual mammalian argonautes in RNA interference in vivo. PLoS One 2014; 9:e101749. [PMID: 24992693 PMCID: PMC4081796 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0101749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2013] [Accepted: 05/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Argonaute 2 (Ago2) is the only mammalian Ago protein capable of mRNA cleavage. It has been reported that the activity of the short interfering RNA targeting coding sequence (CDS), but not 3′ untranslated region (3′UTR) of an mRNA, is solely dependent on Ago2 in vitro. These studies utilized extremely high doses of siRNAs and overexpressed Ago proteins, as well as were directed at various highly expressed reporter transgenes. Here we report the effect of Ago2 in vivo on targeted knockdown of several endogenous genes by siRNAs, targeting both CDS and 3′UTR. We show that siRNAs targeting CDS lose their activity in the absence of Ago2, whereas both Ago1 and Ago3 proteins contribute to residual 3′UTR-targeted siRNA-mediated knockdown observed in the absence of Ago2 in mouse liver. Our results provide mechanistic insight into two components mediating RNAi under physiological conditions: mRNA cleavage dependent and independent. In addition our results contribute a novel consideration for designing most efficacious siRNA molecules with the preference given to 3′UTR targeting as to harness the activity of several Ago proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera M. Ruda
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (VMR); (VK)
| | - Rohit Chandwani
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Epigenetics and Signaling, Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Alfica Sehgal
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Roman L. Bogorad
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Klaus Charisse
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alexander Tarakhovsky
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Epigenetics and Signaling, Rockefeller University, New York, New York, United States of America
| | | | - Victor Koteliansky
- Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
- * E-mail: (VMR); (VK)
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15
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Abstract
In this article, we briefly review the endocytic pathways used by cells, pointing out their defining characteristics and highlighting physical limitations that may direct the internalization of nanoparticles to a subset of these pathways. A more detailed description of these pathways is presented in the literature. We then focus on the endocytosis of nanomedicines and present how various nanomaterial parameters impact these endocytic processes. This topic is an area of active research, motivated by the recognition that an improved understanding of how nanomaterials interact at the molecular, cellular, and whole-organism level will lead to the design of better nanomedicines in the future. Next, we briefly review some of the important nanomedicines already on the market or in clinical development that serve to exemplify how endocytosis can be exploited for medical benefit. Finally, we present some key unanswered questions and remaining challenges to be addressed by the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142
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16
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Jayaraman M, Ansell SM, Mui BL, Tam YK, Chen J, Du X, Butler D, Eltepu L, Matsuda S, Narayanannair JK, Rajeev KG, Hafez IM, Akinc A, Maier MA, Tracy MA, Cullis PR, Madden TD, Manoharan M, Hope MJ. Maximizing the potency of siRNA lipid nanoparticles for hepatic gene silencing in vivo. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2012; 51:8529-33. [PMID: 22782619 PMCID: PMC3470698 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201203263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 742] [Impact Index Per Article: 61.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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17
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Foster DJ, Barros S, Duncan R, Shaikh S, Cantley W, Dell A, Bulgakova E, O'Shea J, Taneja N, Kuchimanchi S, Sherrill CB, Akinc A, Hinkle G, Seila White AC, Pang B, Charisse K, Meyers R, Manoharan M, Elbashir SM. Comprehensive evaluation of canonical versus Dicer-substrate siRNA in vitro and in vivo. RNA 2012; 18:557-68. [PMID: 22294662 PMCID: PMC3285942 DOI: 10.1261/rna.031120.111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2011] [Accepted: 12/19/2011] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of RNA interference (RNAi), researchers have identified a variety of small interfering RNA (siRNA) structures that demonstrate the ability to silence gene expression through the classical RISC-mediated mechanism. One such structure, termed "Dicer-substrate siRNA" (dsiRNA), was proposed to have enhanced potency via RISC-mediated gene silencing, although a comprehensive comparison of canonical siRNAs and dsiRNAs remains to be described. The present study evaluates the in vitro and in vivo activities of siRNAs and dsiRNAs targeting Phosphatase and Tensin Homolog (PTEN) and Factor VII (FVII). More than 250 compounds representing both siRNA and dsiRNA structures were evaluated for silencing efficacy. Lead compounds were assessed for duration of silencing and other key parameters such as cytokine induction. We identified highly active compounds from both canonical siRNAs and 25/27 dsiRNAs. Lead compounds were comparable in potency both in vitro and in vivo as well as duration of silencing in vivo. Duplexes from both structural classes tolerated 2'-OMe chemical modifications well with respect to target silencing, although some modified dsiRNAs demonstrated reduced activity. On the other hand, dsiRNAs were more immunostimulatory as compared with the shorter siRNAs, both in vitro and in vivo. Because the dsiRNA structure does not confer any appreciable benefits in vitro or in vivo while demonstrating specific liabilities, further studies are required to support their applications in RNAi therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald J Foster
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
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18
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Novobrantseva TI, Borodovsky A, Wong J, Klebanov B, Zafari M, Yucius K, Querbes W, Ge P, Ruda VM, Milstein S, Speciner L, Duncan R, Barros S, Basha G, Cullis P, Akinc A, Donahoe JS, Narayanannair Jayaprakash K, Jayaraman M, Bogorad RL, Love K, Whitehead K, Levins C, Manoharan M, Swirski FK, Weissleder R, Langer R, Anderson DG, de Fougerolles A, Nahrendorf M, Koteliansky V. Systemic RNAi-mediated Gene Silencing in Nonhuman Primate and Rodent Myeloid Cells. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids 2012; 1:e4. [PMID: 23344621 PMCID: PMC3381593 DOI: 10.1038/mtna.2011.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Leukocytes are central regulators of inflammation and the target cells of therapies for key diseases, including autoimmune, cardiovascular, and malignant disorders. Efficient in vivo delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) to immune cells could thus enable novel treatment strategies with broad applicability. In this report, we develop systemic delivery methods of siRNA encapsulated in lipid nanoparticles (LNP) for durable and potent in vivo RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated silencing in myeloid cells. This work provides the first demonstration of siRNA-mediated silencing in myeloid cell types of nonhuman primates (NHPs) and establishes the feasibility of targeting multiple gene targets in rodent myeloid cells. The therapeutic potential of these formulations was demonstrated using siRNA targeting tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα) which induced substantial attenuation of disease progression comparable to a potent antibody treatment in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In summary, we demonstrate a broadly applicable and therapeutically relevant platform for silencing disease genes in immune cells.
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19
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Basha G, Novobrantseva TI, Rosin N, Tam YYC, Hafez IM, Wong MK, Sugo T, Ruda VM, Qin J, Klebanov B, Ciufolini M, Akinc A, Tam YK, Hope MJ, Cullis PR. Influence of cationic lipid composition on gene silencing properties of lipid nanoparticle formulations of siRNA in antigen-presenting cells. Mol Ther 2011; 19:2186-200. [PMID: 21971424 PMCID: PMC3242662 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2011.190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are currently the most effective in vivo delivery systems for silencing target genes in hepatocytes employing small interfering RNA. Antigen-presenting cells (APCs) are also potential targets for LNP siRNA. We examined the uptake, intracellular trafficking, and gene silencing potency in primary bone marrow macrophages (bmMΦ) and dendritic cells of siRNA formulated in LNPs containing four different ionizable cationic lipids namely DLinDAP, DLinDMA, DLinK-DMA, and DLinKC2-DMA. LNPs containing DLinKC2-DMA were the most potent formulations as determined by their ability to inhibit the production of GAPDH target protein. Also, LNPs containing DLinKC2-DMA were the most potent intracellular delivery agents as indicated by confocal studies of endosomal versus cytoplamic siRNA location using fluorescently labeled siRNA. DLinK-DMA and DLinKC2-DMA formulations exhibited improved gene silencing potencies relative to DLinDMA but were less toxic. In vivo results showed that LNP siRNA systems containing DLinKC2-DMA are effective agents for silencing GAPDH in APCs in the spleen and peritoneal cavity following systemic administration. Gene silencing in APCs was RNAi mediated and the use of larger LNPs resulted in substantially reduced hepatocyte silencing, while similar efficacy was maintained in APCs. These results are discussed with regard to the potential of LNP siRNA formulations to treat immunologically mediated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genc Basha
- NanoMedicine Research Group, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
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20
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Manoharan M, Akinc A, Pandey RK, Qin J, Hadwiger P, John M, Mills K, Charisse K, Maier MA, Nechev L, Greene EM, Pallan PS, Rozners E, Rajeev KG, Egli M. Unique gene-silencing and structural properties of 2'-fluoro-modified siRNAs. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011; 50:2284-8. [PMID: 21351337 PMCID: PMC3516925 DOI: 10.1002/anie.201006519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 134] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2010] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Muthiah Manoharan
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 (USA),
| | - Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 (USA)
| | | | - June Qin
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 (USA)
| | - Philipp Hadwiger
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 (USA)
| | - Matthias John
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 (USA)
| | - Kathy Mills
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 (USA)
| | - Klaus Charisse
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 (USA)
| | - Martin A. Maier
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 (USA)
| | - Lubomir Nechev
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, 300 Third Street, Cambridge, MA 02142 (USA)
| | - Emily M. Greene
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902 (USA)
| | - Pradeep S. Pallan
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0146 (USA)
| | - Eriks Rozners
- Department of Chemistry, State University of New York at Binghamton, Binghamton, NY 13902 (USA)
| | | | - Martin Egli
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232-0146 (USA), Fax: (+1) (615) 322-7122, , Homepage: http://structbio.vanderbilt.edu/~eglim/
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21
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Manoharan M, Akinc A, Pandey RK, Qin J, Hadwiger P, John M, Mills K, Charisse K, Maier MA, Nechev L, Greene EM, Pallan PS, Rozners E, Rajeev KG, Egli M. Unique Gene-Silencing and Structural Properties of 2′-Fluoro-Modified siRNAs. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2011. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.201006519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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22
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Mahon KP, Love KT, Whitehead KA, Qin J, Akinc A, Leshchiner E, Leshchiner I, Langer R, Anderson DG. Combinatorial approach to determine functional group effects on lipidoid-mediated siRNA delivery. Bioconjug Chem 2011; 21:1448-54. [PMID: 20715849 DOI: 10.1021/bc100041r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The application of RNA interference (RNAi), either in the clinic or in the laboratory, requires safe and effective delivery methods. Here, we develop a combinatorial approach to synthesize a library of delivery vectors based on two lipid-like substrates with known siRNA delivery capabilities. Members of this library have a mixture of lipid-like tails and feature appendages containing hydroxyl, carbamate, ether, or amine functional groups as well as variations in alkyl chain length and branching. Using a luciferase reporter system in HeLa cells, we studied the relationship between lipid chemical modification and delivery performance in vitro. The impact of the functional group was shown to vary depending on the overall amine content and tail number of the delivery vector. Additionally, in vivo performance was evaluated using a Factor VII knockdown assay. Two library members, each containing ether groups, were found to knock down the target protein at levels comparable to those of the parent delivery vector. These results demonstrate that small chemical changes to the delivery vector impact knockdown efficiency and cell viability both in vitro and in vivo. The work described here identifies new materials for siRNA delivery and provides new insight into the parameters for optimized chemical makeup of lipid-like siRNA delivery materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kerry P Mahon
- Department of Chemical Engineering and David H. Koch Institute of Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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23
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Santos SD, Lambertsen KL, Clausen BH, Akinc A, Alvarez R, Finsen B, Saraiva MJ. CSF transthyretin neuroprotection in a mouse model of brain ischemia. J Neurochem 2010; 115:1434-44. [PMID: 21044072 DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2010.07047.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Brain injury caused by ischemia is a major cause of human mortality and physical/cognitive disability worldwide. Experimentally, brain ischemia can be induced surgically by permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion. Using this model, we studied the influence of transthyretin in ischemic stroke. Transthyretin (TTR) is normally responsible for the transport of thyroid hormones and retinol in the blood and CSF. We found that TTR null mice (TTR(-/-) ) did not show significant differences in cortical infarction 24 h after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion compared with TTR(+/+) control littermates. However, TTR null mice, heterozygous for the heat-shock transcription factor 1 (TTR(-/-) HSF1(+/-) mice), which compromised the stress response, showed a significant increase in cortical infarction, cerebral edema and the microglial-leukocyte response compared with TTR(+/+) HSF1(+/-) mice. Unexpectedly, we observed novel TTR distribution throughout the infarct, localized to disintegrated β-tubulin III(+) neurons and cell debris. Specific elimination of TTR synthesis in the liver by RNAi had no effect on TTR distribution in the infarct, indicating that the observed TTR infiltration derived from CSF and not from the serum. This finding is corroborated by results from 'in situ' hybridization and real time PCR that excluded the presence of transthyretin mRNA in the infarct and peri-infarct areas. Our data suggest that in conditions of a compromised heat-shock response, CSF TTR contributes to control neuronal cell death, edema and inflammation, thereby influencing the survival of endangered neurons in cerebral ischemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Duque Santos
- Molecular Neurobiology Unit, Institute for Molecular and Cell Biology - IBMC, Porto, Portugal
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Landesman Y, Svrzikapa N, Cognetta A, Zhang X, Bettencourt BR, Kuchimanchi S, Dufault K, Shaikh S, Gioia M, Akinc A, Hutabarat R, Meyers R. In vivo quantification of formulated and chemically modified small interfering RNA by heating-in-Triton quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (HIT qRT-PCR). Silence 2010; 1:16. [PMID: 20731861 PMCID: PMC2939650 DOI: 10.1186/1758-907x-1-16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2010] [Accepted: 08/23/2010] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Background While increasing numbers of small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics enter into clinical trials, the quantification of siRNA from clinical samples for pharmacokinetic studies remains a challenge. This challenge is even more acute for the quantification of chemically modified and formulated siRNAs such as those typically required for systemic delivery. Results Here, we describe a novel method, heating-in-Triton quantitative reverse transcription PCR (HIT qRT-PCR) that improves upon the stem-loop RT-PCR technique for the detection of formulated and chemically modified siRNAs from plasma and tissue. The broad dynamic range of this assay spans five orders of magnitude and can detect as little as 70 pg duplex in 1 g of liver or in 1 ml of plasma. We have used this assay to quantify intravenously administrated siRNA in rodents and have reliably correlated target reduction with tissue drug concentrations. We were able to detect siRNA in rat liver for at least 10 days post injection and determined that for a modified factor VII (FVII) siRNA, on average, approximately 500 siRNA molecules per cell are required to achieve a 50% target reduction. Conclusions HIT qRT-PCR is a novel approach that simplifies the in vivo quantification of siRNA and provides a highly sensitive and reproducible tool to measure the silencing efficiency of chemically modified and formulated siRNAs.
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25
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Akinc A, Querbes W, De S, Qin J, Frank-Kamenetsky M, Jayaprakash KN, Jayaraman M, Rajeev KG, Cantley WL, Dorkin JR, Butler JS, Qin L, Racie T, Sprague A, Fava E, Zeigerer A, Hope MJ, Zerial M, Sah DWY, Fitzgerald K, Tracy MA, Manoharan M, Koteliansky V, Fougerolles AD, Maier MA. Targeted delivery of RNAi therapeutics with endogenous and exogenous ligand-based mechanisms. Mol Ther 2010; 18:1357-64. [PMID: 20461061 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2010.85] [Citation(s) in RCA: 742] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have proven to be highly efficient carriers of short-interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to hepatocytes in vivo; however, the precise mechanism by which this efficient delivery occurs has yet to be elucidated. We found that apolipoprotein E (apoE), which plays a major role in the clearance and hepatocellular uptake of physiological lipoproteins, also acts as an endogenous targeting ligand for ionizable LNPs (iLNPs), but not cationic LNPs (cLNPs). The role of apoE was investigated using both in vitro studies employing recombinant apoE and in vivo studies in wild-type and apoE(-/-) mice. Receptor dependence was explored in vitro and in vivo using low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR(-/-))-deficient mice. As an alternative to endogenous apoE-based targeting, we developed a targeting approach using an exogenous ligand containing a multivalent N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc)-cluster, which binds with high affinity to the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGPR) expressed on hepatocytes. Both apoE-based endogenous and GalNAc-based exogenous targeting appear to be highly effective strategies for the delivery of iLNPs to liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
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Daige CL, Fields RB, Li C, Cantley W, Akinc A, Bhat B, Marcusson EG, Linsley PS. Abstract 4044: microRNA mimics as cancer therapeutics. Cancer Res 2010. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am10-4044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
microRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. The mRNA targets of microRNAs are usually determined based on complementarily to the 5′ end of the microRNA; the area termed the seed sequence. One microRNA can have more than 100 mRNA targets that are usually inhibited by ∼50%. The expression of microRNAs has been shown to be dysregulated in numerous cancer types. These dysregulated microRNAs can act to either positively or negatively regulate initiation, proliferation and metastasis of cancer cells. Some of the most important pathways in cancer biology (e.g. the Ras and p53 pathways) have been shown to interact with microRNAs. Therefore, both inhibiting and replacing microRNAs have therapeutic potential in oncology. We are using technology similar to that used for antisense oligonucleotides and lipid nanoparticle formulated siRNAs, both of which are currently in clinical trials for cancer, to determine the best potential microRNA based therapeutics to develop as drugs. In this report we will focus on our attempts to introduce mimics of microRNAs known to be down-regulated in tumors (e.g. miR-34a). Initial experiments were performed in wild-type mice and demonstrated the ability to deliver microRNA mimics to the liver and to affect gene expression in a seed sequence-dependent manner. These results, along with effects of successful microRNA introduction into an orthotopic xenograft model of hepatocellular carcinoma will be presented.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4044.
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Toudjarska I, Buck T, Brodsky J, Akinc A, Racie T, MacLachlan I, Sah DW, Gollob J, Bumcrot D. Abstract 4064: Development of ALN-VSP: An RNAi therapeutic for solid tumors. Cancer Res 2010. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am10-4064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Malignancies of the liver, including primary (hepatocellular carcinoma) and secondary (metastatic) tumors, represent a significant unmet medical need. In most patients with liver metastases, extra-hepatic tumors are also present. We are developing a therapeutic for solid tumors that is comprised of lipid particle (SNALP)-formulated small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting VEGF and the mitotic kinesin, KSP (Eg5). For each target, potent siRNA duplexes were selected following extensive screening in tissue culture cells. A SNALP-formulated combination of the KSP and VEGF siRNAs (referred to as ALN-VSP) was tested in orthotopic liver tumor models, as well as models of extra-hepatic tumors. To generate orthotopic liver tumors, human hepatoma (Hep3B) or colorectal carcinoma (HCT116) cells were implanted directly into the livers of immunocompromised mice. These cell lines were also used to establish tumors at extra-hepatic sites including the lymph nodes and peritoneal cavity.
Studies in which tumor-bearing mice were treated with ALN-VSP demonstrated that each siRNA makes a distinct contribution to efficacy. ALN-VSP treatment led to accumulation of aberrant mitotic figures (monoasters), a hallmark of KSP inhibition, in both types of orthotopic liver tumors, as well as in extra-hepatic tumors of different origin. Evidence of therapeutic VEGF inhibition was shown by marked reductions in tumor microvessel density and intratumoral hemorrhage in orthotopic tumors. Similar effects on tumor vasculature were obtained with a SNALP formulation of the VEGF siRNA alone. Finally, we demonstrated that multi-dose administration of ALN-VSP significantly prolongs survival of mice harboring advanced orthotopic liver tumors. A Phase 1 clinical trial of ALN-VSP is ongoing.
Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4064.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tim Buck
- 1Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA
| | | | - Akin Akinc
- 1Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, MA
| | | | - Ian MacLachlan
- 2Tekmira Pharmaceuticals Corp., Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
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Akinc A, Goldberg M, Qin J, Dorkin JR, Gamba-Vitalo C, Maier M, Jayaprakash KN, Jayaraman M, Rajeev KG, Manoharan M, Koteliansky V, Röhl I, Leshchiner ES, Langer R, Anderson DG. Development of lipidoid-siRNA formulations for systemic delivery to the liver. Mol Ther 2009; 17:872-9. [PMID: 19259063 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2009.36] [Citation(s) in RCA: 255] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA interference therapeutics afford the potential to silence target gene expression specifically, thereby blocking production of disease-causing proteins. The development of safe and effective systemic small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivery systems is of central importance to the therapeutic application of siRNA. Lipid and lipid-like materials are currently the most well-studied siRNA delivery systems for liver delivery, having been utilized in several animal models, including nonhuman primates. Here, we describe the development of a multicomponent, systemic siRNA delivery system, based on the novel lipid-like material 98N(12)-5(1). We show that in vivo delivery efficacy is affected by many parameters, including the formulation composition, nature of particle PEGylation, degree of drug loading, and biophysical parameters such as particle size. In particular, small changes in the anchor chain length of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) lipids can result in significant effects on in vivo efficacy. The lead formulation developed is liver targeted (>90% injected dose distributes to liver) and can induce fully reversible, long-duration gene silencing without loss of activity following repeat administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akin Akinc
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
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29
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Rodrigues CD, Hannus M, Prudêncio M, Martin C, Gonçalves LA, Portugal S, Epiphanio S, Akinc A, Hadwiger P, Jahn-Hofmann K, Röhl I, van Gemert GJ, Franetich JF, Luty AJF, Sauerwein R, Mazier D, Koteliansky V, Vornlocher HP, Echeverri CJ, Mota MM. Host scavenger receptor SR-BI plays a dual role in the establishment of malaria parasite liver infection. Cell Host Microbe 2008; 4:271-82. [PMID: 18779053 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2008.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 136] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2008] [Revised: 06/27/2008] [Accepted: 07/18/2008] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
An obligatory step of malaria parasite infection is Plasmodium sporozoite invasion of host hepatocytes, and host lipoprotein clearance pathways have been linked to Plasmodium liver infection. By using RNA interference to screen lipoprotein-related host factors, we show here that the class B, type I scavenger receptor (SR-BI) is the strongest regulator of Plasmodium infection among these factors. Inhibition of SR-BI function reduced P. berghei infection in Huh7 cells, and overexpression of SR-BI led to increased infection. In vivo silencing of liver SR-BI expression in mice and inhibition of SR-BI activity in human primary hepatocytes reduced infection by P. berghei and by P. falciparum, respectively. Heterozygous SR-BI(+/-) mice displayed reduced P. berghei infection rates correlating with liver SR-BI expression levels. Additional analyses revealed that SR-BI plays a dual role in Plasmodium infection, affecting both sporozoite invasion and intracellular parasite development, and may therefore constitute a good target for malaria prophylaxis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina D Rodrigues
- Unidade de Malária, Instituto de Medicina Molecular, Universidade de Lisboa, 1649-028 Lisboa, Portugal
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Novobrantseva TI, Akinc A, Borodovsky A, de Fougerolles A. Delivering silence: advancements in developing siRNA therapeutics. Curr Opin Drug Discov Devel 2008; 11:217-224. [PMID: 18283609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The number of small interfering RNA (siRNA)-based therapeutics that are in or nearing human clinical trials is rapidly expanding. This review summarizes recent in vivo data obtained from studies on siRNA therapeutics and gives an overview of the key in vivo delivery technologies in use today. A section is also devoted to currently ongoing clinical trials employing siRNA drugs.
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John M, Constien R, Akinc A, Goldberg M, Moon YA, Spranger M, Hadwiger P, Soutschek J, Vornlocher HP, Manoharan M, Stoffel M, Langer R, Anderson DG, Horton JD, Koteliansky V, Bumcrot D. Effective RNAi-mediated gene silencing without interruption of the endogenous microRNA pathway. Nature 2007; 449:745-7. [PMID: 17898712 PMCID: PMC3019095 DOI: 10.1038/nature06179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2006] [Accepted: 08/16/2007] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Systemic administration of synthetic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) effectively silences hepatocyte gene expression in rodents and primates. Whether or not in vivo gene silencing by synthetic siRNA can disrupt the endogenous microRNA (miRNA) pathway remains to be addressed. Here we show that effective target-gene silencing in the mouse and hamster liver can be achieved by systemic administration of synthetic siRNA without any demonstrable effect on miRNA levels or activity. Indeed, siRNA targeting two hepatocyte-specific genes (apolipoprotein B and factor VII) that achieved efficient (approximately 80%) silencing of messenger RNA transcripts and a third irrelevant siRNA control were administered to mice without significant changes in the levels of three hepatocyte-expressed miRNAs (miR-122, miR-16 and let-7a) or an effect on miRNA activity. Moreover, multiple administrations of an siRNA targeting the hepatocyte-expressed gene Scap in hamsters achieved long-term mRNA silencing without significant changes in miR-122 levels. This study advances the use of siRNAs as safe and effective tools to silence gene transcripts in animal studies, and supports the continued advancement of RNA interference therapeutics using synthetic siRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias John
- Alnylam Europe AG, Fritz-Hornschuch-Str. 9, 95326 Kulmbach, Germany
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Xia J, Noronha A, Toudjarska I, Li F, Akinc A, Braich R, Frank-Kamenetsky M, Rajeev KG, Egli M, Manoharan M. Gene silencing activity of siRNAs with a ribo-difluorotoluyl nucleotide. ACS Chem Biol 2006; 1:176-83. [PMID: 17163665 DOI: 10.1021/cb600063p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Recently, chemically synthesized short interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes have been used with success for gene silencing. Chemical modification is desired for therapeutic applications to improve biostability and pharmacokinetic properties; chemical modification may also provide insight into the mechanism of silencing. siRNA duplexes containing the 2,4-difluorotoluyl ribonucleoside (rF) were synthesized to evaluate the effect of noncanonical nucleoside mimetics on RNA interference. 5'-Modification of the guide strand with rF did not alter silencing relative to unmodified control. Internal uridine to rF substitutions were well-tolerated. Thermal melting analysis showed that the base pair between rF and adenosine (A) was destabilizing relative to a uridine-adenosine pair, although it was slightly less destabilizing than other mismatches. The crystal structure of a duplex containing rFoA pairs showed local structural variations relative to a canonical RNA helix. As the fluorine atoms cannot act as hydrogen bond acceptors and are more hydrophobic than uridine, there was an absence of a well-ordered water structure around the rF residues in both grooves. siRNAs with the rF modification effectively silenced gene expression and offered improved nuclease resistance in serum; therefore, evaluation of this modification in therapeutic siRNAs is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Xia
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 300 Third Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA
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33
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Zimmermann TS, Lee ACH, Akinc A, Bramlage B, Bumcrot D, Fedoruk MN, Harborth J, Heyes JA, Jeffs LB, John M, Judge AD, Lam K, McClintock K, Nechev LV, Palmer LR, Racie T, Röhl I, Seiffert S, Shanmugam S, Sood V, Soutschek J, Toudjarska I, Wheat AJ, Yaworski E, Zedalis W, Koteliansky V, Manoharan M, Vornlocher HP, MacLachlan I. RNAi-mediated gene silencing in non-human primates. Nature 2006; 441:111-4. [PMID: 16565705 DOI: 10.1038/nature04688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 994] [Impact Index Per Article: 55.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2006] [Accepted: 03/06/2006] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The opportunity to harness the RNA interference (RNAi) pathway to silence disease-causing genes holds great promise for the development of therapeutics directed against targets that are otherwise not addressable with current medicines. Although there are numerous examples of in vivo silencing of target genes after local delivery of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), there remain only a few reports of RNAi-mediated silencing in response to systemic delivery of siRNA, and there are no reports of systemic efficacy in non-rodent species. Here we show that siRNAs, when delivered systemically in a liposomal formulation, can silence the disease target apolipoprotein B (ApoB) in non-human primates. APOB-specific siRNAs were encapsulated in stable nucleic acid lipid particles (SNALP) and administered by intravenous injection to cynomolgus monkeys at doses of 1 or 2.5 mg kg(-1). A single siRNA injection resulted in dose-dependent silencing of APOB messenger RNA expression in the liver 48 h after administration, with maximal silencing of >90%. This silencing effect occurred as a result of APOB mRNA cleavage at precisely the site predicted for the RNAi mechanism. Significant reductions in ApoB protein, serum cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein levels were observed as early as 24 h after treatment and lasted for 11 days at the highest siRNA dose, thus demonstrating an immediate, potent and lasting biological effect of siRNA treatment. Our findings show clinically relevant RNAi-mediated gene silencing in non-human primates, supporting RNAi therapeutics as a potential new class of drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy S Zimmermann
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc., 300 Third Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142, USA.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND The relatively high transfection efficiency of polyethylenimine (PEI) vectors has been hypothesized to be due to their ability to avoid trafficking to degradative lysosomes. According to the proton sponge hypothesis, the buffering capacity of PEI leads to osmotic swelling and rupture of endosomes, resulting in the release of the vector into the cytoplasm. METHODS The mechanism of PEI-mediated DNA transfer was investigated using quantitative methods to study individual steps in the overall transfection process. In addition to transfection efficiency, the cellular uptake, local pH environment, and stability of vectors were analyzed. N-Quaternized (and therefore non-proton sponge) versions of PEI and specific cell function inhibitors were used to further probe the proton sponge hypothesis. RESULTS Both N-quaternization and the use of bafilomycin A1 (a vacuolar proton pump inhibitor) reduced the transfection efficiency of PEI by approximately two orders of magnitude. Chloroquine, which buffers lysosomes, enhanced the transfection efficiency of N-quaternized PEIs and polylysine by 2-3-fold. In contrast, chloroquine did not improve the transfection efficiency of PEI. The measured average pH environment of PEI vectors was 6.1, indicating that they successfully avoid trafficking to acidic lysosomes. Significantly lower average pH environments were observed for permethyl-PEI (pH 5.4), perethyl-PEI (pH 5.1), and polylysine (pH 4.6) vectors. Cellular uptake levels of permethyl-PEI and perethyl-PEI vectors were found to be 20 and 90% higher, respectively, than that of parent PEI vectors, indicating that the reduction in transfection activity of the N-quaternized PEIs is due to a barrier downstream of cellular uptake. A polycation/DNA-binding affinity assessment showed that the more charge dense N-quaternized PEIs bind DNA less tightly than PEI, demonstrating that poor vector unpackaging was not responsible for the reduced transfection activity of the N-quaternized PEIs. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained are consistent with the proton sponge hypothesis and strongly suggest that the transfection activity of PEI vectors is due to their unique ability to avoid acidic lysosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akin Akinc
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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35
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Anderson DG, Akinc A, Hossain N, Langer R. Structure/property studies of polymeric gene delivery using a library of poly(beta-amino esters). Mol Ther 2005; 11:426-34. [PMID: 15727939 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2004.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 271] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2004] [Revised: 11/11/2004] [Accepted: 11/22/2004] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Here we describe the synthesis and characterization of a library of 486 second-generation poly(beta-amino esters). To understand better the structure/property relationships governing polymeric gene delivery, we synthesized polymers with 70 different primary structures, at 6 to 12 different molecular weights, using monomers previously identified as common to effective gene delivery polymers. This library was characterized by (1) molecular weight, (2) particle size upon complexation with DNA, (3) surface charge upon complexation with DNA, (4) optimal polymer/DNA ratio, and (5) transfection efficiency. In this library, polymers with 20 of the 70 primary structures possess transfection efficiencies as good as or better than one of the best commercially available lipid reagents, Lipofectamine 2000. In general, the most effective polymers condense DNA into sub-150-nm complexes with positive surface charge. Among this group, the 2 most effective polymers condensed DNA to the smallest particle sizes (71 and 79 nm). Interestingly, the top 9 polymers were all formed from amino alcohols, and the structure of the 3 top performing polymers differs by only one carbon. This convergence in structure of the top performing polymers suggests a common mode of action and provides a framework with which future polymers can be designed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Anderson
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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36
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Akinc A, Thomas M, Klibanov AM, Langer R. Exploring polyethylenimine-mediated DNA transfection and the proton sponge hypothesis. J Gene Med 2004. [PMID: 15543529 DOI: 10.1002/jgm.696.] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The relatively high transfection efficiency of polyethylenimine (PEI) vectors has been hypothesized to be due to their ability to avoid trafficking to degradative lysosomes. According to the proton sponge hypothesis, the buffering capacity of PEI leads to osmotic swelling and rupture of endosomes, resulting in the release of the vector into the cytoplasm. METHODS The mechanism of PEI-mediated DNA transfer was investigated using quantitative methods to study individual steps in the overall transfection process. In addition to transfection efficiency, the cellular uptake, local pH environment, and stability of vectors were analyzed. N-Quaternized (and therefore non-proton sponge) versions of PEI and specific cell function inhibitors were used to further probe the proton sponge hypothesis. RESULTS Both N-quaternization and the use of bafilomycin A1 (a vacuolar proton pump inhibitor) reduced the transfection efficiency of PEI by approximately two orders of magnitude. Chloroquine, which buffers lysosomes, enhanced the transfection efficiency of N-quaternized PEIs and polylysine by 2-3-fold. In contrast, chloroquine did not improve the transfection efficiency of PEI. The measured average pH environment of PEI vectors was 6.1, indicating that they successfully avoid trafficking to acidic lysosomes. Significantly lower average pH environments were observed for permethyl-PEI (pH 5.4), perethyl-PEI (pH 5.1), and polylysine (pH 4.6) vectors. Cellular uptake levels of permethyl-PEI and perethyl-PEI vectors were found to be 20 and 90% higher, respectively, than that of parent PEI vectors, indicating that the reduction in transfection activity of the N-quaternized PEIs is due to a barrier downstream of cellular uptake. A polycation/DNA-binding affinity assessment showed that the more charge dense N-quaternized PEIs bind DNA less tightly than PEI, demonstrating that poor vector unpackaging was not responsible for the reduced transfection activity of the N-quaternized PEIs. CONCLUSIONS The results obtained are consistent with the proton sponge hypothesis and strongly suggest that the transfection activity of PEI vectors is due to their unique ability to avoid acidic lysosomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akin Akinc
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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37
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Soutschek J, Akinc A, Bramlage B, Charisse K, Constien R, Donoghue M, Elbashir S, Geick A, Hadwiger P, Harborth J, John M, Kesavan V, Lavine G, Pandey RK, Racie T, Rajeev KG, Röhl I, Toudjarska I, Wang G, Wuschko S, Bumcrot D, Koteliansky V, Limmer S, Manoharan M, Vornlocher HP. Therapeutic silencing of an endogenous gene by systemic administration of modified siRNAs. Nature 2004; 432:173-8. [PMID: 15538359 DOI: 10.1038/nature03121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1620] [Impact Index Per Article: 81.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2004] [Accepted: 10/20/2004] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
RNA interference (RNAi) holds considerable promise as a therapeutic approach to silence disease-causing genes, particularly those that encode so-called 'non-druggable' targets that are not amenable to conventional therapeutics such as small molecules, proteins, or monoclonal antibodies. The main obstacle to achieving in vivo gene silencing by RNAi technologies is delivery. Here we show that chemically modified short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) can silence an endogenous gene encoding apolipoprotein B (apoB) after intravenous injection in mice. Administration of chemically modified siRNAs resulted in silencing of the apoB messenger RNA in liver and jejunum, decreased plasma levels of apoB protein, and reduced total cholesterol. We also show that these siRNAs can silence human apoB in a transgenic mouse model. In our in vivo study, the mechanism of action for the siRNAs was proven to occur through RNAi-mediated mRNA degradation, and we determined that cleavage of the apoB mRNA occurred specifically at the predicted site. These findings demonstrate the therapeutic potential of siRNAs for the treatment of disease.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apolipoprotein B-100
- Apolipoproteins B/blood
- Apolipoproteins B/deficiency
- Apolipoproteins B/genetics
- Cholesterol/blood
- Disease Models, Animal
- Genetic Therapy/methods
- Humans
- Injections, Intravenous
- Jejunum/drug effects
- Jejunum/metabolism
- Liver/drug effects
- Liver/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Transgenic
- RNA Interference/drug effects
- RNA Processing, Post-Transcriptional/drug effects
- RNA Stability
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- RNA, Small Interfering/administration & dosage
- RNA, Small Interfering/chemistry
- RNA, Small Interfering/genetics
- RNA, Small Interfering/pharmacology
- Sensitivity and Specificity
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Soutschek
- Alnylam Europe AG, Fritz-Hornschuch-Str. 9, 95326 Kulmbach, Germany.
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Anderson DG, Peng W, Akinc A, Hossain N, Kohn A, Padera R, Langer R, Sawicki JA. A polymer library approach to suicide gene therapy for cancer. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:16028-33. [PMID: 15520369 PMCID: PMC528737 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0407218101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Optimal gene therapy for cancer must (i) deliver DNA to tumor cells with high efficiency, (ii) induce minimal toxicity, and (iii) avoid gene expression in healthy tissues. To this end, we generated a library of >500 degradable, poly(beta-amino esters) for potential use as nonviral DNA vectors. Using high-throughput methods, we screened this library in vitro for transfection efficiency and cytotoxicity. We tested the best performing polymer, C32, in mice for toxicity and DNA delivery after intratumor and i.m. injection. C32 delivered DNA intratumorally approximately 4-fold better than one of the best commercially available reagents, jetPEI (polyethyleneimine), and 26-fold better than naked DNA. Conversely, the highest transfection levels after i.m. administration were achieved with naked DNA, followed by polyethyleneimine; transfection was rarely observed with C32. Additionally, polyethyleneimine induced significant local toxicity after i.m. injection, whereas C32 demonstrated no toxicity. Finally, we used C32 to deliver a DNA construct encoding the A chain of diphtheria toxin (DT-A) to xenografts derived from LNCaP human prostate cancer cells. This construct regulates toxin expression both at the transcriptional level by the use of a chimeric-modified enhancer/promoter sequence of the human prostate-specific antigen gene and by DNA recombination mediated by Flp recombinase. C32 delivery of the A chain of diphtheria toxin DNA to LNCaP xenografts suppressed tumor growth and even caused 40% of tumors to regress in size. Because C32 transfects tumors locally at high levels, transfects healthy muscle poorly, and displays no toxicity, it may provide a vehicle for the local treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel G Anderson
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Center for Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
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Ozçakar L, Erol O, Doğan S, Sener D, Akinc A. Severe osteoporosis after early orchidectomy: is it inevitable? BJU Int 2003; 92:652-3. [PMID: 14511058 DOI: 10.1046/j.1464-410x.2003.04442.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Abstract
Several families of synthetic polymers, including degradable poly(beta-amino ester)s, have been previously shown to effectively mediate gene transfer. However, the combined impact of potentially significant factors-such as polymer molecular weight, polymer chain end-group, and polymer/DNA ratio-on different gene transfer properties has yet to be systematically investigated. The elucidation of these relationships may aid in the design of nonviral vectors with greatly enhanced transfection properties. To examine these factors, two distinct poly(beta-amino ester) structures, Poly-1 and Poly-2, were generated by adding 1,4-butanediol diacrylate and 1,6-hexanediol diacrylate, respectively, to 1-aminobutanol. Twelve unique versions of each structure were synthesized by varying amine/diacrylate stoichiometric ratios, resulting in polymers with either amine or acrylate end-groups and with molecular weights ranging from 3350 to 18000. Using high throughput methods, all polymers were tested in quadruplicate at nine different polymer/DNA ratios ranging from 10:1 w/w to 150:1 w/w. Through the optimization of molecular weight, polymer chain end-group, and polymer/DNA ratio, these polymers successfully mediated gene transfer at levels that surpassed both PEI and Lipofectamine 2000 in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akin Akinc
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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Akinc A, Lynn DM, Anderson DG, Langer R. Parallel synthesis and biophysical characterization of a degradable polymer library for gene delivery. J Am Chem Soc 2003; 125:5316-23. [PMID: 12720443 DOI: 10.1021/ja034429c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 287] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We recently reported the parallel synthesis of 140 degradable poly(beta-amino esters) via the conjugate addition of 20 primary or secondary amine monomers to seven different diacrylate monomers. To explore possible structure/function relationships and further characterize this class of materials, we investigated the ability of each DNA-complexing polymer to overcome important cellular barriers to gene transfer. The majority of vectors were found to be uptake-limited, but complexes formed from polymers B14 and G5 displayed high levels of internalization relative to "naked" DNA (18x and 32x, respectively). Effective diameter and zeta potential measurements indicated that, in general, small particle size and positive surface charge led to higher internalization rates. Of the 10 DNA/polymer complexes with the highest uptake levels, all had effective diameters less than 250 nm and nine had positive zeta potentials. Lysosomal trafficking was investigated by measuring the pH environment of delivered DNA. Complexes prepared with polymers G5, G10, A13, B13, A14, and B14 were found to have near neutral pH measurements, suggesting that they were able to successfully avoid trafficking to acidic lysosomes. This work highlights the value of parallel synthesis and screening approaches for the discovery of new polymers for gene delivery and the elucidation of structure/function relationships for this important class of materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akin Akinc
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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Abstract
The degradation of DNA in lysosomes represents a major obstacle to efficient nonviral gene delivery. The rational design of vectors that overcome this obstacle requires a better understanding of the lysosomal barrier to gene delivery, which in turn requires a means to investigate this intermediate step. To this end, we developed a technique to measure the pH environment of delivered DNA, from which the degree to which vectors avoided trafficking to acidic Iysosomes could be determined. The measured average pH of DNA delivered using poly-L-lysine (PLL) polyplexes was 4.5, suggesting that PLL polyplexes were trafficked to acidic lysosomes. Other vectors could avoid or buffer the pH of Iysosomes as DNA delivered using Lipofectamine Plus, polyethylenimine (PEI), linear polyethylenimine (LPEI), and two degradable poly(beta-amino ester)s (poly-1 and poly-2) had average pH values of 7.1, 5.9, 5.0, 6.7, and 6.4, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akin Akinc
- Department of Chemical Engineering, E25-342, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA
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