Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of siRNA-Based Cancer Therapy

Methods Mol Biol. 2016:1372:37-47. doi: 10.1007/978-1-4939-3148-4_3.

Abstract

Small interfering RNA (siRNA) is routinely used as a biological tool to silence specific genes, and is under active investigation in cancer treatment strategies. Noninvasive magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) provides the ability to assess the functional effects of siRNA-mediated gene silencing in cultured cancer cells, and following nanoparticle-based delivery in tumors in vivo. Here we describe the use of siRNA to downregulate choline kinase, a critical enzyme in choline phospholipid metabolism of cancer cells and tumors, and the use of (1)H MRS of cells and (1)H magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) of tumors to assess the efficacy of the downregulation.

Keywords: Choline metabolism; Dual-phase extraction; Magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI); Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS); Nanoplex; Small interfering RNA (siRNA); Transient transfection.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Choline Kinase / genetics
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Gene Expression
  • Gene Transfer Techniques
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy / methods*
  • Mice
  • Mice, SCID
  • Molecular Imaging / methods*
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Neoplasms / therapy*
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage
  • RNA, Small Interfering / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics*
  • Transfection
  • Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays

Substances

  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Choline Kinase