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Results for “RNA Interference”

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At least 991 records · Page 55Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Targeting of EWS/FLI-1 by RNA interference attenuates the tumor phenotype of Ewing's sarcoma cells in vitro.

The defining cytogenetic abnormality of Ewing's sarcoma is the presence of a balanced t(11;22) translocation expressing the EWS/FLI-1 chimeric fusion protein. The effect of EWS/FLI-1 appears to be dominant negative since over-expression of EWS does not overcome the sarcoma phenotype. Previous studies have shown that EWS/FLI-1 as well as related sarcoma fusion proteins are necessary and sufficient to induce transformation both in vitro and in vivo. In this study we report that synthetic small interfering RNA (siRNA) specifically suppresses EWS/FLI-1 fusion gene expression in SK-ES Ewing's sarcoma cells. Knockdown of the EWS/FLI-1 fusion protein is correlated with decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. We demonstrate that Ewing's sarcoma tumors as well as Ewing's sarcoma cell lines predominantly express the CXCR4 chemokine receptor. Using an in vitro invasion assay, the SDF-1 ligand of CXCR4 was shown to be a potent stimulus of invasion by SK-ES cells. Knockdown of EWS/FLI-1 by RNA interference abrogates the invasiveness of SK-ES cells. These experiments suggest that targeted silencing of the EWS/FLI-1 fusion gene by siRNA represents a promising strategy to study the loss of EWS/FLI-1 protein in Ewing's sarcoma cells of otherwise identical genetic background.

Antineoplastic Agents↗
PubMed2002

RNA interference machinery regulates chromosome dynamics during mitosis and meiosis in fission yeast.

The regulation of higher-order chromosome structure is central to cell division and sexual reproduction. Heterochromatin assembly at the centromeres facilitates both kinetochore formation and sister chromatid cohesion, and the formation of specialized chromatin structures at telomeres serves to maintain the length of telomeric repeats, to suppress recombination, and to aid in formation of a bouquet-like structure that facilitates homologous chromosome pairing during meiosis. In fission yeast, genes encoding the Argonaute, Dicer, and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase factors involved in RNA interference (RNAi) are required for heterochromatin formation at the centromeres and mating type region. In this study, we examine the effects of deletions of the fission yeast RNAi machinery on chromosome dynamics during mitosis and meiosis. We find that the RNAi machinery is required for the accurate segregation of chromosomes. Defects in mitotic chromosome segregation are correlated with loss of cohesin at centromeres. Although the telomeres of RNAi mutants maintain silencing, length, and localization of the heterochromatin protein Swi6, we discovered defects in the proper clustering of telomeres in interphase mitotic cells. Furthermore, a small proportion of RNAi mutant cells display aberrant telomere clustering during meiotic prophase. This study demonstrates that the fission yeast RNAi machinery is required for the proper regulation of chromosome architecture during mitosis and meiosis.

Chromosomes, Fungal↗
PubMed2004

Inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation by targeting Rac1 GTPase with small interference RNA in tumor cells.

Hypoxia-induced angiogenesis plays an important role in the malignancy of solid tumors. A number of recent studies including our own have suggested that Rho family small GTPases are involved in this process, and Racl, a prominent member of the Rho family, may be critical in regulating hypoxia-induced gene activation of several angiogenesis factors and tumor suppressors. To fur-ther define Racl function in angiogenesis and to explore novel approaches to modulate angiogenesis, we employed the small interference RNA technique to knock down gene expression of Racl in gastric cancer cell line AGS that expresses a high level of Racl. Both the mRNA and protein levels of Racl in the AGS cells were decreased dramatically after transfection with a Racl-specific siRNA vector. When the conditioned medium derived from the Racl downregulated AGS cells was applied to the human endothelial cells. it could significantly inhibit the cell proliferation. Further study proved that, VEGF and HIF-la, two angiogenesis promoting factors, were found to be downregulated whereas p53 and VHL, which are tumor suppressors and angiogenesis inhibitors. were upregulated in the Racl siRNA transfected cells. Our results suggest that Racl may be involved in angiogenesis by controlling the expression of angiogenesis-related factors and provide a possible strategy for the treatment of tumor angiogenesis by targeting the Racl GTPase.

Cell Division↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Enhanced radiation-mediated cell killing of human cervical cancer cells by small interference RNA silencing of ataxia telangiectasia-mutated protein.

The ataxia telangiectasia-mutated (ATM) protein, which is mutated in the inherited disease ataxia telangiectasia (AT), is a key activator of cell cycle checkpoint, initiating cell response to DNA damage and ensuring genomic stability. AT cells exhibit defects in all cellular responses to ionizing radiation and radiomimetic chemicals. Inactivation of ATM may therefore make cells fail to execute many responses to DNA damage and improve the cells' sensitivity to radiation. Recent developments in the use of small interference RNA molecules (siRNAs) to inhibit specific protein expression have highlighted the potential use of siRNA as a therapeutic agent. In this study, we have designed and exogenously delivered plasmids encoding siRNAs targeting ATM to human cervical carcinoma SiHa cells and generated a stable cell line, SiHa(ATM). SiHa(ATM) cells displayed minimal levels of ATM protein and showed a marked increase in sensitivity to radiation. Together, these data provide strong evidence for the potential use of siRNA as a novel radiation/chemotherapy-sensitizing agent.

Ataxia Telangiectasia↗
PubMed2005

Silencing primary dystonia: lentiviral-mediated RNA interference therapy for DYT1 dystonia.

DYT1 is the most common inherited dystonia. Currently, there are no preventive or curative therapies for this dominantly inherited disease. DYT1 dystonia is caused by a common three-nucleotide deletion in the TOR1A gene that eliminates a glutamic acid residue from the protein torsinA. Recent studies suggest that torsinA carrying the disease-linked mutation, torsinA(DeltaE) acts through a dominant-negative effect by recruiting wild-type torsinA [torsinA(wt)] into oligomeric structures in the nuclear envelope. Therefore, suppressing torsinA(DeltaE) expression through RNA interference (RNAi) could restore the normal function of torsinA(wt), representing a potentially effective therapy regardless of the biological role of torsinA. Here, we have generated short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) that mediate allele-specific suppression of torsinA(DeltaE) and rescue cells from its dominant-negative effect, restoring the normal distribution of torsinA(wt). In addition, delivery of this shRNA by a recombinant feline immunodeficiency virus effectively silenced torsinA(DeltaE) in a neural model of the disease. We further establish the feasibility of this viral-mediated RNAi approach by demonstrating significant suppression of endogenous torsinA in mammalian neurons. Finally, this silencing of torsinA is achieved without triggering an interferon response. These results support the potential use of viral-mediated RNAi as a therapy for DYT1 dystonia and establish the basis for preclinical testing in animal models of the disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Recombinant adeno-associated virus mediated RNA interference inhibits metastasis of nasopharyngeal cancer cells in vivo and in vitro by suppression of Epstein-Barr virus encoded LMP-1.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a highly metastatic carcinoma characterized by consistent association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Of the EBV-encoded product, latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) is considered to be an onco-protein playing an essential role in cell transformation and metastasis. In this study, we used a recombinant adeno-associated virus type 2 vector (rAAV-2) to deliver small hairpin RNA (shRNA) targeting EBV LMP-1 into the EBV-positive human NPC C666-1 cells and evaluated the effect of long-term suppression of LMP-1 on NPC growth and metastasis in vivo and in vitro. An NPC metastasis nude mouse model with NPC xenograft transplanted in liver was established. The NPC C666-1 cells infected with rAAV-shRNA-LMP-1 or rAAV-EGFP were inoculated in the livers of nude mice. Formation of liver and lung metastasis was evaluated at day 14 after tumor inoculation. Our results demonstrate that rAAV-shRNA-LMP-1 effectively infected C666-1 cells and suppressed LMP-1 expression. Such suppression, in turn, did not significantly inhibit tumor growth, but prevented NPC metastasis in the liver as well as in the lung. Consistent with in vivo data, the in vitro studies in NPC C666-1 cell cultures showed that suppression of LMP-1 by rAAV-shRNA-LMP-1 significantly reduced cell mobility and transmembrane invasion ability. These results demonstrated for the first time that long-term suppression of EBV-encoded LMP-1 in vivo is an effective means for preventing NPC metastasis.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

shRNA-mediated RNA interference as a tool for genetic synthetic lethality screening in mouse embryo fibroblasts.

Previously, we demonstrated the establishment of synthetic lethality screening in cultured somatic human cells, or mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs), for chemicals or mutant genes synergistically lethal with a mutated gene of interest. Here, we show in MEFs that the usage of RNA interference-based genetic suppressor elements encoding short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) enables for genetic synthetic lethality screening at a frequency much higher than that achieved before with short truncated sense and antisense RNAs. These findings open up the possibility of using in mammalian cells genome-wide shRNA libraries for genetic synthetic lethality screening at the multi-gene level.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

RNA interference targeting protein tyrosine phosphatase zeta/receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase beta suppresses glioblastoma growth in vitro and in vivo.

The protein tyrosine phosphatase zeta/receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase beta (PTPzeta/RPTPbeta) and its ligand pleiotrophin (PTN) are overexpressed in human glioblastomas. Both molecules are involved in neuronal cell migration during CNS development. In addition, PTN can induce glioma cell migration which is at least in part mediated through binding to PTPzeta/RPTPbeta. To study the relevance of this ligand-receptor pair for glioma growth in vitro and in vivo, we transfected the human glioblastoma cell line U251-MG with small interfering RNA (siRNA) directed against PTPzeta/RPTPbeta. Stable siRNA transfection resulted in strong down-regulation of PTPzeta/RPTPbeta expression. When injected subcutaneously into nude mice, clones that expressed normal levels of PTPzeta/RPTPbeta (PTPzeta + clones) formed exponentially growing tumours, whereas tumour growth was almost completely abrogated for clones that expressed reduced PTPzeta/RPTPbeta levels (PTPzeta - clones). Similar results were obtained using an orthotopic intracerebral model. Proliferation of PTPzeta - cells in vitro was significantly reduced compared with that of control clones. Matrix-immobilized PTN stimulated the proliferation of PTPzeta + cells but not of PTPzeta - cells. Haptotactic migration induced by PTN was reduced for PTPzeta - clones compared with control clones. Our findings suggest that antagonization of PTPzeta/RPTPbeta expression can inhibit glioma growth in vivo and may thus represent a potentially promising treatment strategy.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Use of Sindbis virus-mediated RNA interference to demonstrate a conserved role of Broad-Complex in insect metamorphosis.

The transcription factor Broad-Complex (BR-C) is required for differentiation of adult structures as well as for the programmed death of obsolete larval organs during metamorphosis of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. Whether BR-C has a similar role in other holometabolous insects could not be proven without a loss-of-function genetic test, performed in a non-drosophilid species. Here we use a recombinant Sindbis virus as a tool to silence BR-C expression in the silkmoth Bombyx mori. The virus expressing a BR-C antisense RNA fragment reduced endogenous BR-C mRNA levels in infected tissues (adult wing and leg primordia) via RNA interference (RNAi). The RNAi knock-down of BR-C resulted in the failure of animals to complete the larval-pupal transition or in later morphogenetic defects, including differentiation of adult compound eyes, legs, and wings from their larval progenitors. BR-C RNAi also perturbed the programmed cell death of larval silk glands. These developmental defects correspond to loss-of-function phenotypes of BR-C Drosophila mutants in both the morphogenetic and degenerative aspects, suggesting that the critical role of BR-C in metamorphosis is evolutionarily conserved. We also demonstrate that the Sindbis virus is a useful vehicle for silencing of developmental genes in new insect models.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Delivery of plasmid DNA expressing small interference RNA for TGF-beta type II receptor by cationized gelatin to prevent interstitial renal fibrosis.

Renal interstitial fibrosis is the common pathway of chronic renal disease, while it causes end-stage renal failure. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is well recognized to be one of the primary mediators to induce accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) in the fibrotic area. Therefore, it is expected that local suppression of TGF-beta receptor (TGF-betaR) is one of the crucial strategies for anti-fibrotic therapy. The objective of this study is to investigate feasibility of small interference RNA (siRNA) for TGF-betaR in the selective degradation of TGF-betaR mRNAs, resulting in fibrotic inhibition. A plasmid DNA of TGF-betaR siRNA expression vector with or without complexation of a cationized gelatin was injected to the left kidney of mice via the ureter. Unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) was performed for the injected mice to evaluate the anti-fibrotic effect. The injection of plasmid DNA-cationized gelatin complex significantly decreased the level of TGF-betaR and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) over-expression, the collagen content of mice kidney, and the fibrotic area of renal cortex, in contrast to free plasmid DNA injection. It is concluded that retrograde injection of TGF-betaR siRNA expression vector plasmid DNA complexed with the cationized gelatin is available to suppress progression of renal interstitial fibrosis.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

In vivo application of RNA interference: from functional genomics to therapeutics.

RNAi has rapidly become a powerful tool for drug target discovery and validation in cell culture, and now has largely displaced efforts with antisense and ribozymes. Consequently, interest is rapidly growing for extension of its application to in vivo systems, such as animal disease models and human therapeutics. Studies on RNAi have resulted in two basic methods for its use for gene selective inhibition: 1) cytoplasmic delivery of short dsRNA oligonucleotides (siRNA), which mimics an active intermediate of an endogenous RNAi mechanism and 2) nuclear delivery of gene expression cassettes that express a short hairpin RNA (shRNA), which mimics the micro interfering RNA (miRNA) active intermediate of a different endogenous RNAi mechanism. Non-viral gene delivery systems are a diverse collection of technologies that are applicable to both of these forms of RNAi. Importantly, unlike antisense and ribozyme systems, a remarkable trait of siRNA is a lack of dependence on chemical modifications blocking enzymatic degradation, although chemical protection methods developed for the earlier systems are being incorporated into siRNA and are generally compatible with non-viral delivery systems. The use of siRNA is emerging more rapidly than for shRNA, in part due to the increased effort required to construct shRNA expression systems before selection of active sequences and verification of biological activity are obtained. In contrast, screens of many siRNA sequences can be accomplished rapidly using synthetic oligos. It is not surprising that the use of siRNA in vivo is also emerging first. Initial in vivo studies have been reported for both viral and non-viral delivery but viral delivery is limited to shRNA. This review describes the emerging in vivo application of non-viral delivery systems for RNAi for functional genomics, which will provide a foundation for further development of RNAi therapeutics. Of interest is the rapid adaptation of ligand-targeted plasmid-based nanoparticles for RNAi agents. These systems are growing in capabilities and beginning to pose a serious rival to viral vector based gene delivery. The activity of siRNA in the cytoplasm may lower the hurdle and thereby accelerate the successful development of therapeutics based on targeted non-viral delivery systems.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Inhibition of reporter gene and Iridovirus-tiger frog virus in fish cell by RNA interference.

We describe the specific silencing of reporter gene lacZ in FHM cells (muscle cells of fathead minnow, a fish cell line) by either expressing small hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) from plasmids or transfecting small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) transcribed in vitro. Two types of dsRNAs could inhibit reporter gene expression, and siRNAs were more effective, while both of them worked very well in HeLa cells. siRNAs were tested for silencing expression of the major capsid protein (MCP) encoded by tiger frog virus (TFV), an iridovirus causing severe disease in fish. siRNAs targeting mcp gene effectively inhibited TFV replication in fish cells as demonstrated by reduced mcp RNA level, postponed emergence of cytopathogenic effect, as well as reduced TFV titer and particles in cells. The results suggest that the siRNA method suppressed TFV efficiently in fish cells, providing a potential approach to the therapy of aquaculture viral diseases.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

RNA Interference with chemically modified siRNA.

siRNA has become an indispensable tool for functional characterization of genes. It has also demonstrated tremendous potential as a new generation of drug candidates. Although the technology works very well to a great panel of cells in vitro, it is still a challenge to translate the success into in vivo target validation easiness and, even more difficult, into therapeutic applications. With a number of chemically modified compounds under initial clinical trial from several commercial entities, the interests in chemical modification of siRNA have become heightened. In this review we have tried to touch on most of the chemical modifications of RNA that have been tested in the siRNA landscape, but maintained a focus on the backbone modifications, and 2'-modifications on the ribose ring. It is anticipated that more modifications and more systematic comparisons between different modifications will be performed to draw more educated conclusions over some of the modifications.

Hydroxylation↗