title: Non-viral xylosyltransferase-1 siRNA delivery as an effective alternative to chondroitinase in an in vitro model of reactive astrocytes.
abstract: Reactive astrocytosis and the subsequent glial scar is ubiquitous to injuries of the central nervous system, especially spinal cord injury (SCI) and primarily serves to protect against further damage, but is also a prominent inhibitor of regeneration. Manipulating the glial scar by targeting chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) has been the focus of much study as a means to improve axon regeneration and subsequently functional recovery. In this study we investigate the ability of small interfering RNA (siRNA) delivered by a non-viral polymer vector to silence the rate-limiting enzyme involved in CSPG synthesis. Gene expression of this enzyme, xylosyltransferase-1, was silenced by 65% in Neu7 astrocytes which conferred a reduced expression of CSPGs. Furthermore, conditioned medium taken from treated Neu7s, or co-culture experiments with dorsal root ganglia (DRG) showed that siRNA treatment resulted in a more permissive environment for DRG neurite outgrowth than treatment with chondroitinase ABC alone. These results indicate that there is a role for targeted siRNA therapy using polymeric vectors to facilitate regeneration of injured axons following central nervous system injury.
authors.affiliation: Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials (NFB), National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Mohammad T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Abu-Rub
authors.affiliation: Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials (NFB), National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Newland
authors.affiliation: Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials (NFB), National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Michelle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naughton
authors.affiliation: Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials (NFB), National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Wenxin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: Siobhan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McMahon
authors.affiliation: Network of Excellence for Functional Biomaterials (NFB), National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland. Electronic address: abhay.pandit@nuigalway.ie.
authors.forename: Abhay
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pandit
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology*; D002460:Cell Line; D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans / Q000378:metabolism; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005021:Ethylamines; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology; D008159:Lumbar Vertebrae; D008689:Methacrylates; D000071446:Neuronal Outgrowth / Q000502:physiology; D010430:Pentosyltransferases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics*; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051381:Rats; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae; D000097608:UDP Xylose-Protein Xylosyltransferase
chemical_list: D019765:Chondroitin ABC Lyase; D011508:Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycans; D017077:Culture Media, Conditioned; D005021:Ethylamines; D008689:Methacrylates; D010430:Pentosyltransferases; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering; D000097608:UDP Xylose-Protein Xylosyltransferase; C510335:2-dimethylaminoethyl methacrylate; C004919:ethylene dimethacrylate
keywords: CSPG; neurite outgrowth; polymer; siRNA; transfection agent