title: Inhibition of macrophage iNOS by selective targeting of antisense PNA.
abstract: Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are synthetic polynucleobases that bind to DNA and RNA with high affinity and specificity and with poor membrane permeability. Although PNAs have an enormous potential as antisense agents, the success of antisense PNA applications will require efficient cellular uptake. In this study, a unique antisense 14-mer anti-inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) was encapsulated into erythrocytes (RBC) by hypotonic dialysis. RBC loaded with PNA (10.5 +/- 3.5 micromol/mL RBC) were targeted specifically to murine macrophages, taking advantage of an in vitro opsonization induced by ZnCl(2) and bis-sulfosuccynimidil-suberate (BS(3)). This in vitro opsonization enhanced the phagocytosis of loaded RBC and the delivery of PNA into macrophages (0.72 pmol/10(6) macrophages). The efficacy of this delivery system is demonstrated by decreases in NO production and iNOS protein expression inside the macrophage. Therefore, we can suggest this novel approach for biomedical application.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biochemistry Giorgio Fornaini Università degli Studi di Urbino, Italy. l.chiarantini@uniurb.it
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chiarantini
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cerasi
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fraternale
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andreoni
authors.forename: Sonia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Scarí
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giovine
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Clavarino
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Magnani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016373:DNA, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000201:enzymology; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010587:Phagocytosis; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016373:DNA, Antisense; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C496319:NOS2 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496317:Nos2 protein, mouse