Activity of stabilized short interfering RNA in a mouse model of hepatitis B virus replication.
To develop synthetic short interfering RNA (siRNA) molecules as therapeutic agents for systemic administration in vivo, chemical modifications were introduced into siRNAs targeted to conserved sites in hepatitis B virus (HBV) RNA. These modifications conferred significantly prolonged stability in human serum compared with unmodified siRNAs. Cell culture studies revealed a high degree of gene silencing after treatment with the chemically modified siRNAs. To assess activity of the stabilized siRNAs in vivo initially, an HBV vector-based model was used in which the siRNA and the HBV vector were codelivered via high-volume tail vein injection. More than a 3 log10 decrease in levels of serum HBV DNA and hepatitis B surface antigen, as well as liver HBV RNA, were observed in the siRNA-treated groups compared with the control siRNA-treated and saline groups. Furthermore, the observed decrease in serum HBV DNA was 1.5 log10 more with stabilized siRNA compared with unmodified siRNA, indicating the value of chemical modification in therapeutic applications of siRNA. In subsequent experiments, standard systemic intravenous dosing of stabilized siRNA 72 hours after injection of the HBV vector resulted a 0.9 log10 reduction of serum HBV DNA levels after 2 days of dosing. In conclusion, these experiments establish the strong impact that siRNAs can have on the extent of HBV infection and underscore the importance of stabilization of siRNA against nuclease degradation.
Morrissey
David V
DV
Sirna Therapeutics, Inc., Boulder, CO 80301, USA. morrisseyd@sirna.com
Blanchard
Karin
K
Shaw
Lucinda
L
Jensen
Kristi
K
Lockridge
Jennifer A
JA
Dickinson
Brent
B
McSwiggen
James A
JA
Vargeese
Chandra
C
Bowman
Keith
K
Shaffer
Chris S
CS
Polisky
Barry A
BA
Zinnen
Shawn
S
D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D019281:Dimerization; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004355:Drug Stability; D020868:Gene Silencing; D018390:Gene Targeting; D016679:Genome, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000097:blood; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000502:physiology*; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D014779:Virus Replication / Q000235:genetics*
D004279:DNA, Viral; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012367:RNA, Viral