In vivo therapeutic potential of Dicer-hunting siRNAs targeting infectious hepatitis C virus

Sci Rep. 2014 Apr 23:4:4750. doi: 10.1038/srep04750.

Abstract

The development of RNA interference (RNAi)-based therapy faces two major obstacles: selecting small interfering RNA (siRNA) sequences with strong activity, and identifying a carrier that allows efficient delivery to target organs. Additionally, conservative region at nucleotide level must be targeted for RNAi in applying to virus because hepatitis C virus (HCV) could escape from therapeutic pressure with genome mutations. In vitro preparation of Dicer-generated siRNAs targeting a conserved, highly ordered HCV 5' untranslated region are capable of inducing strong RNAi activity. By dissecting the 5'-end of an RNAi-mediated cleavage site in the HCV genome, we identified potent siRNA sequences, which we designate as Dicer-hunting siRNAs (dh-siRNAs). Furthermore, formulation of the dh-siRNAs in an optimized multifunctional envelope-type nano device inhibited ongoing infectious HCV replication in human hepatocytes in vivo. Our efforts using both identification of optimal siRNA sequences and delivery to human hepatocytes suggest therapeutic potential of siRNA for a virus.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • Animals
  • Cell Line
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genome, Viral
  • Hepacivirus / genetics*
  • Hepatitis C / metabolism*
  • Hepatitis C / therapy
  • Hepatitis C / virology*
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • RNA, Viral
  • Ribonuclease III / metabolism*
  • Virus Replication

Substances

  • 5' Untranslated Regions
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA, Viral
  • Ribonuclease III