title: Pharmacokinetics of a synthetic, chemically modified hammerhead ribozyme against the rat cytochrome P-450 3A2 mRNA after single intravenous injections.
abstract: Modulation of gene expression via nucleic acid sequence-specific intervention represents a new paradigm for drug discovery and development. Ribozymes are small RNA structures capable of cleaving RNA target molecules in a catalytic fashion. A 2'-O-allyl-modified hammerhead ribozyme designed to cleave the messenger RNA of cytochrome P-450 3A2 was administered to rats via 0.25 mg intravenous injections to investigate the disposition of this compound. The chemically modified ribozyme binds to serum albumin and can be displaced by phosphorothioate oligonucleotides. A biphasic plasma clearance with a distribution half-life of 12 min and an elimination half-life of 6.5 h was observed. A volume of distribution of 2.1 l/kg indicates perfusion into tissues well beyond the vascular system. The chemically modified ribozyme can be detected intact in the plasma up to 48 h after injection. Metabolic degradation of the chemically modified ribozyme occurs at unmodified ribonucleotides, leaving the 2'-O-allyl-modified sites intact. Recovery of intact chemically modified ribozyme was 1.9% of the administered dose at 12 h along with significant metabolites. The renal clearance of the intact ribozyme is an average 34.3 ml/h. The tissue distribution of the chemically modified ribozyme at 48 h is primarily to kidney and liver but the only detected material is a single 27-mer metabolite that has been cut in the unmodified GAAA region. The brain concentration of the prominent 27-mer metabolite is greater than that observed in the lung or spleen. Examination of tissues reveals no morphological evidence of toxicity. These data strongly support the potential utility of synthetic, 2'-O-allyl-modified hammerhead ribozymes as therapeutic agents in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, USA.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Desjardins
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Sproat
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Beijer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blaschke
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dunkel
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gerdes
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ludwig
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Reither
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rupp
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Iversen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000235:genetics*; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011485:Protein Binding; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases / Q000235:genetics*; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D012709:Serum Albumin; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D013250:Steroid Hydroxylases; C022657:steroid hormone 6-beta-hydroxylase