Regulation of gene expression using small interfering RNA (siRNA) is a promising strategy for research and treatment of numerous diseases. However, siRNA cannot easily cross the cell membrane due to its inherent instability, large molecular weight and anionic nature. For this reason, a carrier that protects, delivers and unloads siRNA is required for successful gene silencing. The goal of this research was to develop a potential siRNA delivery system for in vitro and in vivo applications using cationic polymers, chitosan and polyethylenimine (PEI), poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), mannose, and poly(D,L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA). Furthermore, the delivery system was constructed in two different ways to explore the effect of mannose location in the structure. In the first approach, mannose and PEG were directly conjugated to the chitosan/PEI backbone, while mannose was connected to the chitosan/PEI backbone through PEG spacer in the second approach. First, the ability of modified chitosan polymers to complex and deliver siRNA for gene silencing was investigated. Despite the modified chitosan polymers successfully formed nanoplexes with siRNA, entered target cells and reduced cytotoxicity of unmodified chitosan, they showed limited gene silencing efficiency. For this reason, modified PEIs were examined to improve in vitro gene knockdown. The modified PEI polymers also complexed with siRNA and facilitated endocytosis of the nanoplexes. In addition, the modifications reduced inherent cytotoxicity of unmodified PEI without compromising the gene silencing efficiency on both mRNA and protein levels. Interestingly, we found that complexation of siRNA with PEI-PEG-mannose resulted in higher cell uptake and gene silencing than complexes made with mannose-PEI-PEG. Finally, the effect of sustained release of the mannosylated pegylated PEI/siRNA nanoplexes on gene silencing was tested by encapsulating the nanoplexes within PLGA microparticles. The modified PEIs enhanced the entrapment efficiency of siRNA into the particles and resulted in reduced initial burst followed by sustained release. Incorporating the modified PEIs increased cellular uptake of siRNA, whereas it did not enhance in vitro gene knockdown efficiency due to the sustained release properties. The modified PEIs reduced the in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo hepatotoxicity of the PLGA microparticles. In addition, encapsulating the nanoplexes into PLGA microparticles further reduced the cytotoxicity of PEI. Throughout the study, the second structure was proven more efficacious than the first structure in cellular uptake, gene silencing, siRNA encapsulation, and sustained release. We have developed novel polymeric siRNA delivery systems that enhance delivery efficiency and cellular uptake of siRNA. They have great potential for utility as a long-acting siRNA delivery system in biomedical research.

Das Harnblasenkarzinom (BCa) stellt in Deutschland die vierthäufigste Tumorneuerkrankung und die zehnthäufigste krebsbedingte Todesursache bei Männern dar. Nichtmuskelinvasive BCa werden organerhaltend aus der Blasenwand entfernt und zur Rezidiv- und Progressionsprophylaxe mittels intravesikaler Chemo- oder Immuntherapien behandelt. Trotz dieser adjuvanten Therapien, die mit starken Nebenwirkungen verbunden sein können, ist nur eine bedingte Minimierung des Rezidivrisikos möglich. Besonders im fortgeschrittenen Stadium weisen Harnblasenkarzinome eine schlechte Prognose auf. Obwohl das BCa eine chemosensitive Erkrankung darstellt, wird das Ansprechen auf lokale oder systemische Chemotherapien häufig durch auftretende Resistenzmechanismen limitiert. Daher stehen sowohl die Verbesserung konventioneller Chemotherapien als auch die Suche nach neuartigen Behandlungsstrategien im Fokus der experimentellen BCa-Forschung. Die Apoptose, eine Form des programmierten Zelltodes, ist ein essenzieller, streng regulierter biologischer Prozess, welcher der Aufrechterhaltung der Gewebshomöostase und der gezielten, entzündungsfreien Eliminierung geschädigter Zellen dient. Fehlregulationen in den Apoptosesignalwegen stellen ein zentrales Ereignis in der Tumorgenese dar und tragen außerdem zur Entstehung von Chemo- und Radiotherapieresistenzen bei. Eine wichtige Rolle in der Apoptoseregulation spielen die Mitglieder der BCL2- und der Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (IAP)-Familien, deren wichtigste antiapoptotische Vertreter BCL2, BCL-XL, XIAP und Survivin häufig in Tumoren, einschließlich des BCa, überexprimiert sind. Unter Verwendung von small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), synthetischen Nukleinsäurekonstrukten zur selektiven Geninhibition, wurde im Rahmen der Arbeit in vitro und in vivo untersucht, ob die Hemmung der Apoptoseinhibitoren BCL2, BCL-XL, XIAP und Survivin – allein und in Kombination mit Chemotherapie – eine Therapieoption zur Behandlung des BCa darstellen könnte. Da zur Tumorentstehung und -progression eine Vielzahl von genetischen Veränderungen beitragen, erscheint der Angriff eines einzelnen Zielgens unzureichend für eine effektive Tumortherapie. Aufgrund dessen wurde untersucht, ob durch simultane Reduktion der ausgewählten Apoptoseinhibitoren in BCa-Zellen stärkere wachstumsinhibitorische Effekte erzielt werden können. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde gezeigt, dass insbesondere die siRNA-vermittelte Hemmung von BCL-XL und Survivin in den BCa-Zelllinien EJ28 und J82 antiproliferative Effekte hervorruft und diese Tumorzellen gegenüber einer nachgeschalteten Chemotherapie mit Mitomycin C oder Cisplatin sensitiviert. Hingegen bewirkte sowohl die transiente als auch die stabile RNAi-induzierte Hemmung von BCL2 und XIAP in den untersuchten BCa-Monolayerzellkulturen, möglicherweise infolge kontinuierlicher Versorgung der Tumorzellen mit Sauerstoff und Nährstoffen, keine Reduktion des Tumorwachstums. Eine gegenüber den Einzelbehandlungen deutliche Verstärkung der antitumoralen und insbesondere der chemosensitivierenden Effekte in den BCa-Zelllinien wurde durch simultane Hemmung von BCL-XL und Survivin erzielt. Beispielsweise stieg der Anteil apoptotischer Zellen von 64 % nach Survivin-siRNA+Cisplatin-Behandlung auf 94 % nach gleichzeitiger BCL-XL+Survivin-Inhibition in Kombination mit Cisplatin. Folglich stellt die simultane Inhibition von BCL-XL und Survivin in Kombination mit Chemotherapeutika eine äußert viel versprechende BCa-Therapieoption dar. Tierexperimentelle Studien belegen die wachstumsinhibitorische Wirkung der Survivin-Reduktion und der kombinierten BCL-XL-siRNA+Chemotherapie-Behandlung, so wurde das Tumorendvolumen im Vergleich zur Kontrollbehandlung um 43 % bzw. um 48 % reduziert.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Florida, 2004. / Typescript. Title from title page of source document. Document formatted into pages; contains 68 pages. Includes Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Das Harnblasenkarzinom (BCa) stellt in Deutschland die vierthäufigste Tumorneuerkrankung und die zehnthäufigste krebsbedingte Todesursache bei Männern dar. Nichtmuskelinvasive BCa werden organerhaltend aus der Blasenwand entfernt und zur Rezidiv- und Progressionsprophylaxe mittels intravesikaler Chemo- oder Immuntherapien behandelt. Trotz dieser adjuvanten Therapien, die mit starken Nebenwirkungen verbunden sein können, ist nur eine bedingte Minimierung des Rezidivrisikos möglich. Besonders im fortgeschrittenen Stadium weisen Harnblasenkarzinome eine schlechte Prognose auf. Obwohl das BCa eine chemosensitive Erkrankung darstellt, wird das Ansprechen auf lokale oder systemische Chemotherapien häufig durch auftretende Resistenzmechanismen limitiert. Daher stehen sowohl die Verbesserung konventioneller Chemotherapien als auch die Suche nach neuartigen Behandlungsstrategien im Fokus der experimentellen BCa-Forschung. Die Apoptose, eine Form des programmierten Zelltodes, ist ein essenzieller, streng regulierter biologischer Prozess, welcher der Aufrechterhaltung der Gewebshomöostase und der gezielten, entzündungsfreien Eliminierung geschädigter Zellen dient. Fehlregulationen in den Apoptosesignalwegen stellen ein zentrales Ereignis in der Tumorgenese dar und tragen außerdem zur Entstehung von Chemo- und Radiotherapieresistenzen bei. Eine wichtige Rolle in der Apoptoseregulation spielen die Mitglieder der BCL2- und der Inhibitor of Apoptosis Protein (IAP)-Familien, deren wichtigste antiapoptotische Vertreter BCL2, BCL-XL, XIAP und Survivin häufig in Tumoren, einschließlich des BCa, überexprimiert sind. Unter Verwendung von small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), synthetischen Nukleinsäurekonstrukten zur selektiven Geninhibition, wurde im Rahmen der Arbeit in vitro und in vivo untersucht, ob die Hemmung der Apoptoseinhibitoren BCL2, BCL-XL, XIAP und Survivin – allein und in Kombination mit Chemotherapie – eine Therapieoption zur Behandlung des BCa darstellen könnte. Da zur Tumorentstehung und -progression eine Vielzahl von genetischen Veränderungen beitragen, erscheint der Angriff eines einzelnen Zielgens unzureichend für eine effektive Tumortherapie. Aufgrund dessen wurde untersucht, ob durch simultane Reduktion der ausgewählten Apoptoseinhibitoren in BCa-Zellen stärkere wachstumsinhibitorische Effekte erzielt werden können. In der vorliegenden Arbeit wurde gezeigt, dass insbesondere die siRNA-vermittelte Hemmung von BCL-XL und Survivin in den BCa-Zelllinien EJ28 und J82 antiproliferative Effekte hervorruft und diese Tumorzellen gegenüber einer nachgeschalteten Chemotherapie mit Mitomycin C oder Cisplatin sensitiviert. Hingegen bewirkte sowohl die transiente als auch die stabile RNAi-induzierte Hemmung von BCL2 und XIAP in den untersuchten BCa-Monolayerzellkulturen, möglicherweise infolge kontinuierlicher Versorgung der Tumorzellen mit Sauerstoff und Nährstoffen, keine Reduktion des Tumorwachstums. Eine gegenüber den Einzelbehandlungen deutliche Verstärkung der antitumoralen und insbesondere der chemosensitivierenden Effekte in den BCa-Zelllinien wurde durch simultane Hemmung von BCL-XL und Survivin erzielt. Beispielsweise stieg der Anteil apoptotischer Zellen von 64 % nach Survivin-siRNA+Cisplatin-Behandlung auf 94 % nach gleichzeitiger BCL-XL+Survivin-Inhibition in Kombination mit Cisplatin. Folglich stellt die simultane Inhibition von BCL-XL und Survivin in Kombination mit Chemotherapeutika eine äußert viel versprechende BCa-Therapieoption dar. Tierexperimentelle Studien belegen die wachstumsinhibitorische Wirkung der Survivin-Reduktion und der kombinierten BCL-XL-siRNA+Chemotherapie-Behandlung, so wurde das Tumorendvolumen im Vergleich zur Kontrollbehandlung um 43 % bzw. um 48 % reduziert.

Charles University in Prague Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology Student: Eva Troppová Supervisor: PharmDr. Marie Vopršalová, CSc. Specialized supervisor: Prof. Dr. Antje Gohla Title of diploma thesis: Establishment of screening methods to find new regulators of the activity of phosphoglycolate phosphatase This work deals with the siRNA-based genomic screening for the modification of phosphoglycolate phosphatase (PGP) activity. 235 proteins were affected by transient transfection of siRNAs in vitro. Each siRNA was used in duplicates and the control was carried out by two control siRNAs. After downregulation of protein by siRNA PGP activity was evaluated, whether any modifications of PGP activity have occurred. PGP was the main research target. The main goal of this study before the screening was to set up a method, to create a reliable protocol. The whole study was 96 plate well. It was necessary to find the right conditions to measure PGP activity in two cell types (HEK AD 293 and Hep G2). Subsequently, optimal conditions were set up to influence expression of the protein. The method was optimalized using PGP siRNAs and 2 types of transfection reagents were tested. During our study the following methods were used: PGP activity assay, Bicinchoninic acid...

Small RNA silencing pathways regulate development, viral defense, and genomic integrity in all kingdoms of life. An Argonaute (Ago) protein, guided by a tightly bound, small RNA or DNA, lies at the core of these pathways. Argonaute uses its small RNA or DNA to find its target sequences, which it either cleaves or stably binds, acting as a binding scaffold for other proteins. We used Co-localization Single-Molecule Spectroscopy (CoSMoS) to analyze target binding and cleavage by Ago and its guide. We find that both eukaryotic and prokaryotic Argonaute proteins re-shape the fundamental properties of RNA:RNA, RNA:DNA, and DNA:DNA hybridization: a small RNA or DNA bound to Argonaute as a guide no longer follows the well-established rules by which oligonucleotides find, bind, and dissociate from complementary nucleic acid sequences. Counter to the rules of nucleic acid hybridization alone, we find that mouse AGO2 and its guide bind to microRNA targets 17,000 times tighter than the guide without Argonaute. Moreover, AGO2 can distinguish between microRNA-like targets that make seven base pairs with the guide and the products of cleavage, which bind via nine base pairs: AGO2 leaves the cleavage products faster, even though they pair more extensively. This thesis presents a detailed kinetic interrogation of microRNA and RNA interference pathways. We discovered sub-domains within the previously defined functional domains created by Argonaute and its bound DNA or RNA guide. These sub-domains have features that no longer conform to the well-established properties of unbound oligonucleotides. It is by re-writing the rules for nucleic acid hybridization that Argonautes allow oligonucleotides to serve as specificity determinants with thermodynamic and kinetic properties more typical of RNA-binding proteins than that of RNA or DNA. Taken altogether, these studies further our understanding about the biology of small RNA silencing pathways and may serve to guide future work related to all RNA-guided endonucleases.

Organisms employ sophisticated mechanisms to silence foreign nucleic acid, such as viruses and transposons. Evidence exists for pathways that sense copy number, unpaired DNA, or aberrant RNA (e.g., dsRNA), but the mechanisms that distinguish “self” from “non-self” are not well understood. Our studies on transgene silencing in C. elegans have uncovered an RNA surveillance system in which the PIWI protein, PRG-1, uses a vast repertoire of piRNAs to recognize foreign transcripts and to initiate epigenetic silencing. Partial base pairing by piRNAs is sufficient to guide PRG-1 targeting. PRG-1 in turn recruits RdRP to synthesize perfectly matching antisense siRNAs (22G-RNAs) that are loaded onto worm-specific Argonaute (WAGO) proteins. WAGOs collaborate with chromatin factors to maintain epigenetic silencing (RNAe). Since mismatches are allowed during piRNA targeting, piRNAs could—in theory— target any transcript expressed in the germline, but germline genes are not subject to silencing by RNAe. Moreover, some foreign sequences are expressed and appear to be adopted as “self.” How are “self” transcripts distinguished from foreign transcripts? We have found that another Argonaute, CSR-1, and its siRNAs—also synthesized by RdRP—protect endogenous genes from silencing by RNAe. We refer to this pathway as RNA-mediated gene activation (RNAa). Reducing CSR-1 or PRG-1 or increasing piRNA targeting can shift the balance towards expression or silencing, indicating that PRG-1 and CSR-1 compete for control over their targets. Thus worms have evolved a remarkable nucleic acids immunity mechanism in which opposing Argonaute pathways generate and maintain epigenetic memories of self and non-self nucleotide sequences.

Small extracellular vesicles (small EVs) are endogenous membrane-enclosed nanocarriers released from essentially all cells. They have been shown to carry proteins, lipids, nucleic acids to transmit biological signals throughout the body, including to the brain. Some evidence has suggested that small EVs can cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), moving from the peripheral circulation to the central nervous system (CNS). The BBB is a dynamic barrier that regulates molecular trafficking between the peripheral circulation and the CNS. As a result, small EVs have attracted attention for their potential as a novel delivery platform for nucleic acid-based therapeutics across the BBB. Silencing RNAs (siRNAs) are a potent drug class but using “naked” siRNA is not feasible due to their short half-life, vulnerability to degradation and low penetration in cells. Despite the excitement for the development of small EV-based therapeutics, their clinical development is hampered by the lack of reliable methods for packing therapeutics into them. Reshke et al. has shown that cells can be genetically engineered to produce customizable small EVs packaged with siRNA against any protein by integrating the siRNA sequence into the pre- miR-451 structure. Mounting evidence has established that in a misfolded state, α-synuclein becomes insoluble and phosphorylated to form intracellular inclusions in neurons (known as Lewy bodies) which leads to Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathogenesis. Given that increased α-synuclein expression causes familial and idiopathic PD, decreasing its synthesis by using siRNA is an attractive therapeutic strategy. Here, we genetically engineered cells to produce small EVs packaged with siRNA against α-synuclein integrated in the pre-miR451 backbone, tested their ability to cross an in vitro BBB, and deliver its cargo to silence endogenous α-synuclein in neuron- like cells. The therapeutic potential of α-synuclein siRNA delivery by these small EVs was demonstrated by the strong mRNA (60-70%) and protein knockdown (43%) of α-synuclein in neuron-like cells. We also demonstrated that approximately at 4% and 2%, respectively of small EVs-derived from human brain endothelial cells (hCMEC/D3) and human embryonic kidney (HEK293T) were transported cross the in vitro BBB model. Interestingly, we observed that small EVs-derived from HEK293T deliver their cargo to induced brain endothelial cells (iBECs) (~74% α-synuclein mRNA reduction) but their rate of transport across BBB was lower and did not reduce α-synuclein mRNA expression in neuron-like cells, seeded on the far side of the BBB. Small EVs- derived from hCMEC/D3 reduced α-synuclein mRNA (40%) in neuron-like cells across the BBB model. This finding suggests that small EVs derived from different cell sources can undergo different intracellular trafficking routes, providing various opportunities to influence the efficiency of delivery and fate of intracellular cargo. Using small EVs-derived from hCMEC/D3, two different routes of administration, a single bolus intravenous (IV) or intra-carotid (ICD) injection, showed small EVs largely accumulated in the liver, spleen, small intestines and kidneys; and only a small amount of small EVs were detected in the brain. These results indicate that human brain endothelial cells may serve as a promising cell source for CNS treatments based on small EVs.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / MicroRNAs (miRNA) are short, 18-24 nucleotide long noncoding RNAs. These small RNAs, which are initially transcribed in the nucleus, are transported into the cell cytoplasm where they regulate protein translation either through direct cleavage of mRNA, or indirect inhibition through binding to mRNA and disrupting the protein translation machinery. Recently, miRNAs have gained much attention due to their implication in numerous diseases and cancers. It has been found that heightened or lowered levels of miRNA in diseased cells vs. healthy cells are linked to disease progression. It is therefore immensely important to be able to detect these small molecules. Current detection methods of Northern blotting, microarrays, and qRT-PCR suffer from drawbacks including low sensitivity, a lack of simplicity, being semi-quantitative in nature, time-consuming, and requiring expensive instruments. This work aims to develop novel miRNA technologies which will address these above problems. Bioluminescent labels are promising alternatives to current methods of miRNA detection. Bioluminescent labels are relatively small, similar in size to fluorescent proteins, and they emit very intense signals upon binding to their substrate. Bioluminescent labels are advantageous to fluorescent labels in that they do not require an external excitation source, rather, the excitation energy is supplied through a biochemical reaction. Therefore, background signal due to excitation is eliminated. They also have the advantage of being produced in large amounts through bacterial expression. Four miRNA detection methods are presented which utilize luminescence-based methods. Three employ Renilla luciferase, a bioluminescent protein, and one is based on fluorescence. The presented methods are capable of detecting miRNA from the picomole (nanomolar) level down to the femtomole (picomolar) level. These methods are rapid, sensitive, simple, and quantitative, can be employed in complex matrices, and do not require expensive instruments. All methods are hybridization-based and do not require amplification steps.

No description available.