title: Peptide nucleic acid-DNA decoy chimeras targeting NF-kappaB transcription factors: Induction of apoptosis in human primary osteoclasts.
abstract: Peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) are DNA mimics constituted by a pseudopeptide backbone composed of N-(2-aminoethyl)glycine units. PNAs hybridize with high affinity to complementary sequences of single-stranded RNA and DNA, forming Watson-Crick double helices and are resistant to both nucleases and proteases. While applications of PNAs as antisense and antigene molecules have been described, PNA/DNA and PNA/PNA hybrids are not useful for transcription factor decoy (TFD) pharmacotherapy. By contrast, PNA-DNA-PNA (PDP) chimeras, constituted of sequential PNA, DNA and PNA stretches, are potent decoy molecules in vitro. Interestingly, PDP-based decoys a) are more soluble than PNAs, b) are more resistant than synthetic oligonucleotides to enzymatic activity present in cellular extracts and serum and c) can be delivered with liposomes. In the present study we demonstrated that double-stranded PNA-DNA-PNA chimeras targeting NF-kappaB transcription factors induce apoptosis of human primary osteoclasts. Our data suggest that PDP-based induction of osteoclast apoptosis could be a therapeutic approach for disorders in which bone resorption is inappropriately excessive.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Penolazzi
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borgatti
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lambertini
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mischiati
authors.forename: Alessia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Finotti
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Romanelli
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saviano
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pedone
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piva
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gambari
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001862:Bone Resorption; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000737:chemistry*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005821:Genetic Techniques; D006801:Humans; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D008081:Liposomes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D008956:Models, Chemical; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012313:RNA / Q000737:chemistry; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009841:Oligonucleotides; D020135:Peptide Nucleic Acids; D012313:RNA; D004247:DNA