Therapeutic Effect of pHLIP-mediated CEACAM6 Gene Silencing in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Sci Rep. 2019 Sep 2;9(1):11607. doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-48104-5.

Abstract

Carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) plays an important role in lung cancer progression. Here, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of CEACAM6 gene silencing using an siRNA delivery platform targeting the acidic tumour microenvironment in a lung adenocarcinoma xenograft mouse model. An siRNA delivery vector was constructed by tethering the peptide nucleic acid form of an siRNA targeting CEACAM6 (siCEACAM6) to a peptide with a low pH-induced transmembrane structure (pHLIP) to transport siRNAs across the plasma membrane. Specific binding of the pHLIP-siCEACAM6 conjugate to A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells at low pH was demonstrated by flow cytometry. A549 cells incubated with pHLIP-siCEACAM6 at an acidic pH showed downregulated expression of endogenous CEACAM6 protein and reduced cell viability. The in vivo tumour-suppressing effects of pHLIP-siCEACAM6 in lung adenocarcinoma were assessed in a xenograft model generated by injecting BALB/c nude mice with A549 cells. pHLIP-siCEACAM6 treatment alone resulted in tumour growth inhibition of up to 35.5%. When combined with cisplatin treatment, pHLIP-siCEACAM6 markedly enhanced tumour growth inhibition by up to 47%. In conclusion, the delivery of siCEACAM6 to lung adenocarcinoma using the pHLIP peptide has therapeutic potential as a unique cancer treatment approach.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / genetics*
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma of Lung / therapy
  • Animals
  • Antigens, CD / genetics*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules / genetics*
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / antagonists & inhibitors
  • GPI-Linked Proteins / genetics
  • Gene Silencing
  • Gene Transfer Techniques*
  • Heterografts
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / pharmacology*
  • Tumor Microenvironment / genetics

Substances

  • Antigens, CD
  • CEACAM6 protein, human
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules
  • GPI-Linked Proteins
  • RNA, Small Interfering