Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is caused by survival motor neuron 1 SMN1 deletion. The survival motor neuron 2 (SMN2) encodes the same protein as SMN1 does, but it has a splicing defect of exon 7. Some antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) have been proven to correct this defect. One of these, nusinersen, is effective in SMA-affected infants, but not as much so in advanced-stage patients. Furthermore, the current regimen may exhibit a ceiling effect. To overcome these problems, high-dose ASOs or combined ASOs have been explored. Here, using SMA fibroblasts, we examined the effects of high-concentration ASOs and of combining two ASOs. Three ASOs were examined: one targeting intronic splicing suppressor site N1 (ISS-N1) in intron 7, and two others targeting the 3' splice site and 5' region of exon 8. In our experiments on all ASO types, a low or intermediate concentration (50 or 100 nM) showed better splicing efficiency than a high concentration (200 nM). In addition, a high concentration of each ASO created a cryptic exon in exon 6. When a mixture of two different ASOs (100 nM each) was added to the cells, the cryptic exon was included in the mRNA. In conclusion, ASOs at a high concentration or used in combination may show less splicing correction and cryptic exon creation.
Keywords: SMN1; SMN2; antisense oligonucleotide; cryptic exon; spinal muscular atrophy; splicing.