Expression of shRNA from a tissue-specific pol II promoter is an effective and safe RNAi therapeutic.
It has been observed that overexpression of some short-hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) can induce acute cytotoxicity. This has raised concerns about the safety of using RNA interference (RNAi) technology as a potential therapeutic tool. We have sought to address this challenge of expression control by developing a mono-cistronic vector for the tissue-specific expression of an shRNA from a liver-derived polymerase (pol) II promoter. This new construct efficiently induces target silencing in hepatoma cells in vitro and in mouse livers in vivo. In order to demonstrate the therapeutic potential and improved safety of this approach, we selected an shRNA targeting the envelope surface antigen (sAg) of hepatitis B virus (HBV), which is among the most toxic when expressed from the commonly used U6 promoter. Packaging it as a double-stranded DNA into an adeno-associated virus (AAV) pseudotype 8 and delivering it at a high particle dose (1 x 10(12)) to HBV transgenic mice resulted in the stable reduction of serum sAg to 85% of starting levels, without any concomitant sign of liver damage. With this improved tolerability, the liver-specific pol II shRNA expression persisted for more than one year after the injection. We conclude that this pol II shRNA expression system combined with a potent delivery vector represents an effective alternative to either U6-based strategies or systems that achieve tissue specificity through the use of additional elements.
Giering
Jeffery C
JC
Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Grimm
Dirk
D
Storm
Theresa A
TA
Kay
Mark A
MA
D000818:Animals; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D015139:Blotting, Southern; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D000229:Dependovirus / Q000235:genetics; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D005822:Genetic Vectors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006515:Hepatitis B virus / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012319:RNA Polymerase II / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear / Q000235:genetics; D014162:Transfection; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin / Q000235:genetics
D001057:Apolipoproteins E; C470011:CFAP91 protein, human; D002352:Carrier Proteins; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D012342:RNA, Small Nuclear; C405483:U1 small nuclear RNA; D000515:alpha 1-Antitrypsin; C040661:apolipoprotein E1; D004247:DNA; D008156:Luciferases; D012319:RNA Polymerase II