Novel Chemically-modified DNAzyme targeting Integrin alpha-4 RNA transcript as a potential molecule to reduce inflammation in multiple sclerosis

Sci Rep. 2017 May 9;7(1):1613. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-01559-w.

Abstract

Integrin alpha-4 (ITGA4) is a validated therapeutic target for multiple sclerosis (MS) and Natalizumab, an antibody targeting ITGA4 is currently approved for treating MS. However, there are severe side effects related to this therapy. In this study, we report the development of a novel DNAzyme that can efficiently cleave the ITGA4 transcript. We designed a range of DNAzyme candidates across various exons of ITGA4. RNV143, a 30mer arm-loop-arm type DNAzyme efficiently cleaved 84% of the ITGA4 mRNA in human primary fibroblasts. RNV143 was then systematically modified by increasing the arm lengths on both sides of the DNAzymes by one, two and three nucleotides each, and incorporating chemical modifications such as inverted-dT, phosphorothioate backbone and LNA-nucleotides. Increasing the arm length of DNAzyme RNV143 did not improve the efficiency however, an inverted-dT modification provided the most resistance to 3' → 5' exonuclease compared to other modifications tested. Our results show that RNV143A could be a potential therapeutic nucleic acid drug molecule towards the treatment for MS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Base Sequence
  • DNA, Catalytic / metabolism*
  • Endonucleases / metabolism
  • Enzyme Stability
  • Exons / genetics
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / genetics*
  • Integrin alpha4 / genetics*
  • Integrin alpha4 / metabolism
  • Multiple Sclerosis / genetics*
  • Multiple Sclerosis / pathology*
  • Nucleotide Motifs / genetics
  • Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / metabolism
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism

Substances

  • DNA, Catalytic
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Integrin alpha4
  • Endonucleases
  • Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases