title: Tissue remodeling after interference RNA mediated knockdown of transthyretin in a familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy mouse model.
abstract: Transthyretin (TTR) deposition in the peripheral nervous system is the hallmark of familial amyloidotic polyneuropathy (FAP). Currently, liver transplantation is the only available treatment to halt the progression of clinical symptoms; however, due to the limitations of this procedure, development of alternative therapeutic strategies is of utmost importance. In this regard, interference RNA (RNAi) targeting TTR is currently in phase III clinical development. To dissect molecular changes occurring in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) upon RNAi-mediated knockdown of TTR, we treated both chronically and acutely an FAP mouse model, in different stages of disease. Our data show that inhibition of TTR expression by the liver with RNAi reverse TTR deposition in DRG, decrease matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) protein levels in plasma, inhibit Mmp-2 gene expression and downregulate MMP-9 activity in DRG, indicating extracellular matrix remodeling. Furthermore, protein levels of MMP-2 were found upregulated in plasma samples from FAP patients indicating that MMP-2 might be a novel potential biomarker for FAP diagnosis. Collectively, our data show that silencing TTR liver synthesis in vivo can modulate TTR-induced pathology in the peripheral nervous system and highlight the potential of MMP-2 as a novel disease biomarker.
authors: Instituto de Inovação e Investigação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Molecular Neurobiology, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - IBMC, Porto, Portugal.
authors: Nádia Pereira
authors: NP
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Instituto de Inovação e Investigação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Molecular Neurobiology, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - IBMC, Porto, Portugal.
authors: Paula
authors: P
authors: Gonçalves
authors: Instituto de Inovação e Investigação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Molecular Neurobiology, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - IBMC, Porto, Portugal.
authors: Joana
authors: J
authors: Magalhães
authors: Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Ventosa
authors: Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Oeiras, Portugal.
authors: Ana Varela
authors: AV
authors: Coelho
authors: Instituto de Inovação e Investigação em Saúde (I3S), Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Molecular Neurobiology, Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular - IBMC, Porto, Portugal. Electronic address: mjsaraiv@ibmc.up.pt.
authors: Maria João
authors: MJ
authors: Saraiva
mesh_terms: D017772:Amyloid Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000378:metabolism; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015870:Gene Expression; D055785:Gene Knockdown Techniques; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011228:Prealbumin / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D034622:RNA Interference
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011228:Prealbumin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2
keywords: Amyloidosis; Extracellular matrix remodeling; MMP-2; Mitochondrial stress; Sensory ganglia; Transthyretin