title: Ribozymes as tools for therapeutic target validation in arthritis.
abstract: In this paper we describe a method for validating therapeutic gene targets in arthritic disease. Ribozymes are catalytic oligonucleotides capable of highly sequence-specific cleavage of RNA. We designed ribozymes that cleave the mRNA encoding stromelysin, a matrix metalloproteinase implicated in cartilage catabolism. Ribozymes were initially screened in cultured fibroblasts to identify sites in the mRNA that were accessible for binding and cleavage. Accessible sites for ribozyme binding were found in various regions of the mRNA, including the 5' untranslated region, the coding region, and the 3' untranslated region. Several ribozymes that mediated sequence-specific and dose-dependent inhibition of stromelysin expression were characterized. Site selection in cell culture was predictive of in vivo bioactivity. An assay for measuring cartilage catabolism in rabbit articular cartilage explants was developed. Ribozymes inhibited IL-1-stimulated stromelysin mRNA expression in articular cartilage explants, yet failed to inhibit proteoglycan degradation. This indicated that up-regulation of stromelysin was not essential for IL-1-induced cartilage catabolism. Broad applications of this approach in therapeutic target validation are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Ribozyme Pharmaceuticals, Boulder, CO 80301, USA. tjarvis@impactbiosciences.com
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Jarvis
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Bouhana
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lesch
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Parry
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Schrier
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pavco
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Flory
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001168:Arthritis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000628:therapy*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000201:enzymology; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007270:Injections, Intra-Articular; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013379:Substrate Specificity; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3