title: Antisense oligonucleotide inhibition of Bcl-xL and Bid expression in liver regulates responses in a mouse model of Fas-induced fulminant hepatitis.
abstract: Activation of the cell-surface receptor Fas can lead to apoptosis in parenchymal cells in the liver, and if severe enough, result in fulminant hepatic failure and animal death. In the present study, we have examined the roles played by the Bcl-2 family members Bcl-xL and Bid in regulating this response. To do this, we have developed chemically modified 2'-O-(2-methoxy) ethyl antisense inhibitors of both Bid and Bcl-xL expression. In Balb/c mice, dosing with these antisense oligonucleotides reduced expression of the targeted mRNA by greater than 80% in the liver. This reduction was highly dependent upon oligonucleotide sequence and oligonucleotide dose. Reduction of Bcl-xL expression resulted in a potentiation of Fas-mediated apoptosis in liver and significant increase of the lethality of Fas-mediated fulminant hepatitis (p < 0.0001). In contrast, reduction of Bid expression protected the animals against Fas-mediated fulminant hepatitis and death (p < 0.0001). Simultaneous dosing of mice with Bcl-xL and Bid-targeting antisense oligonucleotides resulted in an inhibition of expression of both targeted proteins and protection of the animals from Fas-mediated apoptosis. These results demonstrate, for the first time, the role of Bcl-xL in regulating responses to proapoptotic Fas signaling in mouse liver. In addition, this is the first reported example demonstrating the ability of antisense inhibitors to reduce expression of multiple proteins in animals by simultaneous dosing.
authors.affiliation: Gene Trove Division, Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA. hzhang@isisph.com
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Doreen
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Luther
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Jacqueline R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: Andrew T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: Seongjoon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koo
authors.forename: Cathie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: York-DeFalco
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stecker
authors.forename: Nicholas M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D051023:BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D006520:Hepatitis, Animal / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D051023:BH3 Interacting Domain Death Agonist Protein; C494812:Bcl2l1 protein, mouse; C494815:Bid protein, mouse; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D019253:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051020:bcl-X Protein; D019014:fas Receptor