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PubMed2005

[Gene silencing with RNA interference: a novel tool for the study of physiology and pathophysiology of adrenal cortex].

Loss-of-function approaches such as gene knock-out or gene silencing are extremely powerful strategies for assigning function to a gene and for mapping the interconnections of intracellular regulatory pathways. Post-transcriptional gene silencing can be obtained via activation of a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) mediated mechanism termed RNA interference (RNAi). RNAi has revealed an extremely versatile tool in Biomedical research that can be used in both single silencing gene experiments and in large-scale Functional Genomics studies and has been used as a tool for gene therapy. In the present paper the authors discuss the intracellular mechanisms underlying the RNAi phenomenon, as well the different strategies and their limitations for RNAi gene silencing in mammalian cells. The use of RNAi in the treatment of human diseases and in the investigation of both physiology and pathophysiology of adrenal cortex has also been reviewed.

Adrenal Cortex↗

PubMed2004

RNA interference and the use of small interfering RNA to study gene function in mammalian systems.

In the past 2 years, extraordinary developments in RNA interference (RNAi)-based methodologies have seen small interfering RNAs (siRNA) become the method of choice for researchers wishing to target specific genes for silencing. In this review, an historic overview of the biochemistry of the RNAi pathway is described together with the latest advances in the RNAi field. Particular emphasis is given to strategies by which siRNAs are used to study mammalian gene function. In this regard, the use of plasmid-based and viral vector-based systems to mediate long-term RNAi in vitro and in vivo are described. However, recent work has shown that non-specific silencing effects and activation of the interferon response may occur following the use of some siRNA and delivery vector combinations. Future goals must therefore be to understand the mechanisms by which siRNA delivery leads to unwanted gene silencing effects in cells and, in this way, RNAi technology can reach its tremendous potential as a scientific tool and ultimately be used for therapeutic purposes.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

MDR1/P-glycoprotein (ABCB1) as target for RNA interference-mediated reversal of multidrug resistance.

Resistance of tumor cells to multiple structurally unrelated cytotoxic drugs, multidrug resistance (MDR), is the major limitation to the successful chemotherapeutic treatment of disseminated neoplasms. The "classical" MDR phenotype is the result from decreased cellular drug accumulation mediated by the adenosine triphosphate binding cassette (ABC)-transporter MDR1/P-glycoprotein (MDR1/P-gp, ABCB1) encoded by the human MDR1 gene. Inhibition of the drug extrusion activity of MDR1/P-gp by low-molecular weight pharmacologically active compounds as a method to reverse MDR in patients suffering on malignant diseases has been studied capaciously, but the clinical results have generally been disappointing. Thus, experimental therapeutic strategies to reverse MDR are under extensive investigation. These strategies included gene therapeutic approaches with antisense oligonucleotides (ODNs), ribozymes, or DNAzymes and, most recently, the application of the RNA interference (RNAi) technology. RNAi is a physiological double stranded RNA-triggered mechanism resulting in gene-silencing in a sequence-specific manner. Transient RNAi can be attained by application of small interferring RNAs (siRNAs), whereas a stable RNAi-mediated gene-silencing can be achieved by transfection of mammalian cells with short hairpin RNA (shRNA) encoding expression cassettes localized on plasmid or viral vectors. Transient and stable RNAi strategies were applied to overcome MDR1/P-gp-mediated MDR in different in vitro models derived from various neoplastic tissue and will be come up for discussion.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Mem↗

PubMed2004

The emerging role of RNA interference in the design of novel therapeutics in oncology.

RNA interference (RNAi) has emerged as the tool of choice for studying gene function. Dubbed the "breakthrough of the year" in 2002 by the journal Science, RNAi is a naturally occurring host defense mechanism that mediates the sequence-specific degradation of target mRNA transcripts and their protein products. The specificity of RNAi makes it an ideal tool for targeted therapeutics against unique fusion oncogene sequences. RNAi may also be effective against viral-mediated oncogenesis and has the potential to enhance tumor sensitivities to existing chemotherapy. The current interest in the success of RNAi-based therapies will depend on the delivery systems that protect the silencing apparatus from endogenous nucleases, sustain tissue-specific expression of the small-interfering RNAs, and prevent the activation of a destructive nonspecific host immune response.

ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B↗

PubMed2006

Delivery of RNA interference.

Over the last few years, RNA Interference (RNAi), a naturally occurring mechanism of gene regulation conserved in plant and mammalian cells, has opened numerous novel opportunities for basic research across the field of biology. While RNAi has helped accelerate discovery and understanding of gene functions, it also has great potential as a therapeutic and potentially prophylactic modality. Challenging diseases failing conventional therapeutics could become treatable by specific silencing of key pathogenic genes. More specifically, therapeutic targets previously deemed "undruggable" by small molecules, are now coming within reach of RNAi based therapy. For RNAi to be effective and elicit gene silencing response, the double-stranded RNA molecules must be delivered to the target cell. Unfortunately, delivery of these RNA duplexes has been challenging, halting rapid development of RNAi-based therapies. In this review we present current advancements in the field of siRNA delivery methods, including the pros and cons of each method.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Cell cycle arrest drastically extends the duration of gene silencing after transient expression of short hairpin RNA.

Targeted gene silencing through RNA interference (RNAi) utilizes short interfering RNA (siRNA) duplexes or vectors expressing short hairpin RNA (shRNA), which is processed in the cells to siRNA. Stable RNAi in mammalian cells is usually achieved through genomic integration of shRNA expressing vectors, but transiently transfected siRNA was also reported to produce long-term silencing in primary mammalian cells. We have developed lentiviral vector LLCEP TU6X for tetracycline/doxycycline-inducible expression of cloned shRNA and a new selectable marker EGFP-Puro, comprising destabilized green fluorescent protein fused with puromycin acetyltransferase. To investigate the stability of gene silencing after transient shRNA expression, LLCEP TU6X vector carrying shRNA against firefly luciferase was transduced into luciferase-expressing human HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells. When doxycycline-induced transcription was followed by the removal of the inducer, EGFP-Puro reverted to basal level within two days, but RNAi activity required six days for full reversion in proliferating cells. When cell division was blocked with mimosine or by inducible expression of cell cycle inhibitors p27 or p21, RNAi effect was undiminished for 4-5 days and maintained at >60% level as late as 21 days after the inducer was removed. In contrast to the phenotypic stability of RNAi, the amount of siRNA in nondividing cells, measured by an RNAse protection assay, decreased approximately 7-fold just one week after transcription shutdown. These results indicate that gene silencing by transiently expressed shRNA is extremely stable in nondividing cells, and that this effect is not merely a consequence of siRNA stability.

Cell Cycle↗

PubMed2001

Distinct roles for RDE-1 and RDE-4 during RNA interference in Caenorhabditis elegans.

RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular defense mechanism that uses double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) as a sequence-specific trigger to guide the degradation of homologous single-stranded RNAs. RNAi is a multistep process involving several proteins and at least one type of RNA intermediate, a population of small 21-25 nt RNAs (called siRNAs) that are initially derived from cleavage of the dsRNA trigger. Genetic screens in Caenorhabditis elegans have identified numerous mutations that cause partial or complete loss of RNAi. In this work, we analyzed cleavage of injected dsRNA to produce the initial siRNA population in animals mutant for rde-1 and rde-4, two genes that are essential for RNAi but that are not required for organismal viability or fertility. Our results suggest distinct roles for RDE-1 and RDE-4 in the interference process. Although null mutants lacking rde-1 show no phenotypic response to dsRNA, the amount of siRNAs generated from an injected dsRNA trigger was comparable to that of wild-type. By contrast, mutations in rde-4 substantially reduced the population of siRNAs derived from an injected dsRNA trigger. Injection of chemically synthesized 24- or 25-nt siRNAs could circumvent RNAi resistance in rde-4 mutants, whereas no bypass was observed in rde-1 mutants. These results support a model in which RDE-4 is involved before or during production of siRNAs, whereas RDE-1 acts after the siRNAs have been formed.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

RNA interference-mediated silencing of the fatty acid synthase gene attenuates growth and induces morphological changes and apoptosis of LNCaP prostate cancer cells.

Fatty acid synthase (FASE), a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of fatty acids, is markedly overexpressed in many human epithelial cancers, rendering it an interesting target for antineoplastic therapy. Here, using the potent and highly sequence-specific mechanism of RNA interference (RNAi), we have silenced the expression of FASE in lymph node carcinoma of the prostate (LNCaP) cells. RNAi-mediated down-regulation of FASE expression resulted in a major decrease in the synthesis of triglycerides and phospholipids and induced marked morphological changes, including a reduction in cell volume, a loss of cell-cell contacts, and the formation of spider-like extrusions. Furthermore, silencing of the FASE gene by RNAi significantly inhibited LNCaP cell growth and ultimately resulted in induction of apoptosis. Importantly and in striking contrast with LNCaP cells, RNAi-mediated inhibition of FASE did not influence growth rate or viability of nonmalignant cultured skin fibroblasts. These data indicate that RNAi opens new avenues toward the study of the role of FASE overexpression in tumor cells and provides an interesting and selective alternative to chemical FASE inhibitors in the development of antineoplastic therapy.

Apoptosis↗

PubMed2003

Short hairpin RNAs induced RNA interference in human cells.

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: RNA interference (RNAi) is an evolutionarily conserved posttranscriptional gene silencing, in which the introduction of double-stranded RNA into a cell leads to specific suppression of gene expression. RNAi has become an important tool for gene function studies. The aim of this study was to induce RNAi in mammalian cells by short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) generated from a DNA vector, therefore, to provide a new approach for gene function analysis. METHODS: Dual Luciferase System was used to assess the intracellular effect of the shRNAs generated from a DNA vector. The inhibitory effect of this DNA vector-driven shRNAs at different condition was measured. RESULTS: shRNAs generated from the DNA vector induced RNAi in human cells, and suppressed gene expression in a sequence-specific manner. The inhibitory effect was highly related to the target sites. CONCLUSION: shRNAs induced RNAi in human cells and suppressed gene expression in a sequence-specific manner. This approach may be used for gene function study.

Gene Silencing↗

PubMed2003

Induction of RNA interference using short interfering RNA expression vectors in cell culture and animal systems.

RNA interference, (RNAi) is a phenomenon by which the introduction of double stranded RNA (dsRNA) into cells induces targeted degradation of RNA molecules with homologous sequences. In the laboratory, RNAi has become a valuable tool for analysis of gene function through suppression of specific gene products. In addition, RNAi has shown great promise for use in therapeutic strategies designed to suppress the expression of pathogenic genes. In this review, viral expression and animal model systems that indicate the potential benefits of RNAi will be discussed. The major obstacle for the use of short interfering RNA in a laboratory or clinical setting is the need for efficient and sustained delivery of dsRNA to mammalian cells. Here, current methods that are being used to induce RNAi, both in cultured cells and in animal models, will be described with a focus on some of the most promising applications.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

RNA interference: new mechanisms for targeted treatment?

Nucleic acid-based sequence-specific therapeutic intervention offers the potential for treatment of particular cancers without side effects. RNA interference (RNAi) induced by small interfering RNA (siRNA) (19-21 bp) is a normal cellular mechanism leading to highly specific and extraordinarily efficient degradation of the corresponding mRNA. The mechanism of RNAi as well as strategies for the design and delivery of siRNA are described. The growing role of RNAi in target validation for cancer-specific genetic aberrations is discussed. We attempt an early assessment of the potential for using RNAi technologies to treat cancer directly, especially hematologic malignancies. Promising targets for specific gene silencing in hematologic oncology include oncogenic fusion proteins and oncogenes activated by point mutations. Potency and specificity of gene silencing are the major advantages of the new RNAi technology over other nucleic acid-based gene targeting approaches. Crucial questions for pharmaceutical interventions remain. Advances in the areas of delivery, systemic spreading and duration of the silencing effect are necessary before the methodology can enter clinical oncology.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Down-regulation amyloid beta-protein 42 production by interfering with transcript of presenilin 1 gene with siRNA.

AIM: To investigate the pathogenesis of Abeta42 yielding and new drug targets as well as the possibility of RNA interference (RNAi) technique for treatment of Alzheimer disease (AD). METHODS: Human AD presenilin 1 (PS1) cDNA sequence was obtained from NCBI website. The three sites of RNAi action and one missense control site were selected in PS1 cDNA through online design of Ambion company. To confirm specificity of these sites, we conducted a BLAST search of the IMAGE EST library. The corresponding double-stranded DNA was used to construct pSilencer 3.1-H1 plasmid, which could transcribe small interference RNA (siRNA). Then, the pSliencer 3.1-H1 plasmids were transfected into CHO/PS1/APP cells with SuperFect transfection reagent. The cells have been transfected with the mutant PS1 and APP gene of AD. All the CHO/PS1/APP cells with pSliencer 3.1-H1 plasmids were screened out using G418. Transcripts of PS1 gene in CHO/PS1/APP were measured by RT-PCR, the contents of PS1 peptide and Abeta42 production inside CHO/PS1/APP cells were examined through Western blot and the Abeta42 change of secretion by CHO/PS1/APP was determined with ELISA. RESULTS: The site 3 of PS1 mRNA was inhibited by RNAi after 2 d. The effect was more obvious with the time. The peptide corresponding to PS1 gene and Abeta42 production in CHO/PS1/APP cells were both reduced after siRNA interfere for 3 d. Abeta42 secretion by CHO/PS1/APP cells began to reduce on d 3, and reached the most significance on d 5. There was a time-dependent relationship between the transcript of PS1 gene and the production of Abeta42 with RNAi action. CONCLUSION: PS1 is essential for g-secretase activity. Inhibition of the PS1 can decrease the levels of Abeta42. Some sites of PS1 mRNA, for example, the site 3, may serve as a new drug target and RNAi probably can be used for treatment of AD.

Alzheimer Disease↗

PubMed2004

[Inhibition of the expression of cardiomyocytic hypoxic induction factor-1alpha during hypoxic state by double chain siRNA].

OBJECTIVE: To construct hypoxic induction factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha) siRNA expression cassette containing U6 promoter, alpha HIF-1alpha sense or antisense target sequence, and to observe its influence on the expression of cardiomyocytic HIF-1alpha during hypoxic state. METHODS: Neonatal murine cardiomyocytes cultured in the mixed gas were employed as the hypoxic model and were divided into normal control (cultured in normal oxygen), RNAi control (invalidated transfection interference sequence IV) and RNAi effective inhibition (effective transfection interference sequence, which was further divided into I, II and III groups according to the difference of downstream primer) groups. Three pairs (I, II and III) of PCR downstream primer containing HIF-1alpha encoded gene fragments (sense and antisense) and one pair of randomize sequence (IV) PCR downstream primer were designed and synthesized. U6 starter expression frame was constructed by PCR method. The cardiomyocytes were transfected simultaneously by sense and antisense sequence expression frame. Five plates of the cells were set at each time points in each group. The expression of HIF-1alpha mRNA was detected by RT-PCR at 6 hours of hypoxia. The change in the protein expression level at 1 hour of hypoxia was determined by Western blot, and the interference effects were monitored by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: The best inhibition fragment screened was group II sequence. After the transfection and hypoxic culture, it was found that the cardiomyocytic HIF1alpha mRNA and protein levels in RNAi effective inhibition group were evidently lower than those in normal control and RNAi control groups (P < 0.01). While the protein inhibition rate (60% - 80%) between the former group and normal and RNAi control groups was no difference (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: The expression of the HIF1alpha in hypoxic rat cardiomyocytes could be effectively inhibited by our constructed HIF1alpha siRNA expression cassette group II.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Potent and specific inhibition of SARS-CoV antigen expression by RNA interference.

BACKGROUND: Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is an infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV. There are no effective antiviral drugs for SARS although the epidemic of SARS was controlled. The aim of this study was to develop an RNAi (RNA interference) approach that specifically targeted the N gene sequence of severe acute respiratory syndrome associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV) by synthesizing short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in vivo, and to assess the inhibitory effect of this shRNA on SARS-CoV N antigen expression. METHODS: The eukaryotic expression plasmid pEGFP-C1-N, containing SARS-CoV N gene, was co-transfected into 293 cells with either the RNAi plasmid pshRNA-N or unrelated control plasmid pshRNA-HBV-C4. At 24, 48 and 72 hours post transfection, the green fluorescence was observed through a fluorescence microscope. The RNA levels of SARS-CoV N were determined by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) and protein N were detected using Western blot. RESULTS: The vector, pshRNA-N expressing shRNA which targeted the N gene of SARS-CoV, was successfully constructed. The introduction of RNAi plasmid efficiently and specifically inhibited the synthesis of protein N. RT-PCR showed that RNAs of N gene were clearly reduced when the pEGFP-C1-N was cotransfected with pshRNA-N, whereas the control vector did not exhibit inhibitory effect on N gene transcription. CONCLUSIONS: Our results demonstrate that RNAi mediated silencing of SARS-CoV gene could effectively inhibit expression of SARS-CoV antigen, hence RNAi based strategy should be further explored as a more efficacious antiviral therapy of SARS-CoV infection.

Antigens, Viral↗

PubMed2006

[RNA interference inhibits VEGF expression and growth of PC-3 in prostate carcinoma].

OBJECTIVE: To construct a eukaryotic expression vector carrying human VEGF RNAi and to study the effect of RNA interference on VEGF expression in prostate carcinoma. METHODS: VEGF RNAi was synthesized, inserted into the RNA interference eukaryotic expression vector, and confirmed by the result sequencing. The vector was transfected into prostate cancer PC-3, the VEGF expression detected by Western blot and the cell inhibiting rate determined by MTT. RESULTS: The VEGF RNAi eukaryotic expression vector was successfully constructed. Compared with the empty vector group and the control group, the amount of VEGF protein expression was obviously decreased in the VEGF RNAi group. The inhibiting rates were 23.5% , 33. 5% and 40. 8% at 24, 48 and 72 h respectively. CONCLUSION: VEGF RNAi can inhibit the protein expression and growth of PC-3, which provides an experimental base for the biological therapy of prostate cancer.

Cell Line, Tumor↗

PubMed2026

Development of a Droplet-Based RNA Interference Feeding Assay for Neonates of the Citrus Root Weevil Diaprepes abbreviatus.

The citrus root weevil, Diaprepes abbreviatus, is an economically important pest of citrus and ornamental crops whose subterranean larval feeding damages roots and predisposes plants to secondary pathogen infection. Development of efficient RNA interference (RNAi) delivery methods for early larval stages is essential for functional genomics studies and the evaluation of RNAi-based pest management strategies. In this study, we developed a droplet-based feeding assay for oral delivery of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) to neonates of D. abbreviatus using chitin synthase 2 (DaCHS2) as a model RNAi target to validate the assay. Feeding solutions containing dsRNA were supplemented with sucrose and bromophenol blue dye, with bromophenol blue used to visually confirm ingestion. Across three independent biological replicates, all neonates exposed to DaCHS2-dsRNA, GFP-dsRNA, and water control droplets were confirmed to have ingested the feeding solution (45/45 neonates per treatment; 100% feeding success). Oral delivery of dsRNA targeting DaCHS2 reduced transcript abundance and was associated with developmental abnormalities and mortality, including incomplete molting, abnormal pigmentation, cuticular deformities, defective pupation, and malformed adults. Regression analysis demonstrated moderate and significant relationship between dsRNA concentration and neonate mortality and developmental abnormalities. RT-qPCR further confirmed reduced DaCHS2 transcript abundance following oral dsRNA exposure. The developed assay provides a simple, reproducible, and minimally invasive proof-of-concept platform for oral dsRNA delivery to D. abbreviatus neonates. The assay requires only small dsRNA volumes, provides visual confirmation of ingestion, and may facilitate laboratory-based screening of additional RNAi target genes in D. abbreviatus and other coleopteran pests.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

N-glycan remodeling by α-D-mannosidase and β-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase regulates fruit softening, redox balance, and post-harvest pathogen resistance.

Post-harvest loss of fruits and vegetables poses significant challenges to food security and economic sustainability, primarily due to ripening-associated excessive softening that shortens shelf life and increases susceptibility to pathogens. N-glycans, N-glycoproteins, and their processing enzymes are integral to various plant processes, including fruit ripening. Among these, α-D-mannosidase (α-Man) and β-D-N-acetylhexosaminidase (β-Hex) are key ripening-specific enzymes that modulate fruit softening. Previously, we have shown that RNAi-mediated suppression of α-Man or β-Hex improves fruit shelf life and firmness in both climacteric and non-climacteric fruits. However, the underlying molecular and biochemical basis of fruit softening regulation by α-Man and β-Hex was not well understood. In this study, we developed transgenic tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants by silencing α-Man and β-Hex simultaneously using RNAi. Suppression of these enzymes reduces N-glycoprotein degradation, downregulates pectin dissolution, and inhibits ripening-related gene expression. RNAi fruits exhibited enhanced shelf life, greater firmness, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation and increased resistance against post-harvest pathogens without affecting plant growth, fruit development, yield, or nutritional quality. To further explore the molecular mechanism of α-Man and β-Hex function, we purified and quantified N-glycans in RNAi fruits and other ripening-impaired mutants, identifying key N-glycan species. We also carried out iTRAQ-based quantitative proteome profiling to investigate the abundance of proteins in ripened fruit affected by silencing of α-Man and β-Hex. Molecular insights revealed that N-glycan processing and degradation are key events during ripening, influencing cell wall softening, fruit redox state, and post-harvest quality attributes. This study highlights the potential of co-silencing α-Man and β-Hex as a novel approach to extending the shelf life of fruits, regardless of their climacteric behavior, without compromising quality or yield.

Fruit↗

PubMed2005

The prospect of silencing disease using RNA interference.

The discovery of RNA interference (RNAi), an endogenous cellular gene-silencing mechanism, has already provided a powerful tool for basic science researchers to study gene function. The subsequent finding that RNAi also operates in mammalian cells has generated excitement regarding potential therapeutic applications. In this article we discuss the basic mechanism of RNAi and the therapeutic opportunities and obstacles for harnessing RNAi for therapy of human disease.

Animals↗