TNF-α gene silencing using polymerized siRNA/thiolated glycol chitosan nanoparticles for rheumatoid arthritis

Mol Ther. 2014 Feb;22(2):397-408. doi: 10.1038/mt.2013.245. Epub 2013 Oct 22.

Abstract

Among various proinflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α plays a pivotal role in the release of other cytokines and induction of chronic inflammation. Even though siRNA has the therapeutic potential, they have a challenge to be delivered into the target cells because of their poor stability in physiological fluids. Herein, we design a nanocomplex of polymerized siRNA (poly-siRNA) targeting TNF-α with thiolated glycol chitosan (tGC) polymers for the treatment of RA. Poly-siRNA is prepared through self-polymerization of thiol groups at the 5' end of sense and antisense strand of siRNA and encapsulated into tGC polymers, resulting in poly-siRNA-tGC nanoparticles (psi-tGC-NPs) with an average diameter of 370 nm. In the macrophage culture system, psi-tGC-NPs exhibit rapid cellular uptake and excellent in vitro TNF-α gene silencing efficacy. Importantly, psi-tGC-NPs show the high accumulation at the arthritic joint sites in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. Treatment monitoring data obtained by the matrix metalloproteinase 3-specific nanoprobe and microcomputed tomography show that intravenous injection of psi-tGC-NPs significantly inhibits inflammation and bone erosion in CIA mice, comparable to methotrexate (5 mg/kg). Therefore, the availability of psi-tGC-NP therapy that target specific cytokines may herald new era in the treatment of RA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Arthritis, Experimental
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / genetics*
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / pathology
  • Arthritis, Rheumatoid / therapy*
  • Cell Line
  • Chitosan* / chemistry
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Silencing*
  • Macrophages / metabolism
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Nanoparticles* / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage
  • RNA, Small Interfering / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds* / chemistry
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / blood
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics*

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • glycol-chitosan
  • Chitosan