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Exploring RNA interference as a therapeutic strategy for renal disease

Gene Therapy volume 12, pages 965–973 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

The short synthetic interfering RNA duplexes (siRNAs) can selectively suppress gene expression in somatic mammalian cells without nonselective toxic effects of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA). However, a selective in vivo delivery of siRNA transfer has not been reported in kidney. Here, we investigated whether injection of synthetic siRNAs via renal artery followed by electroporation could be effective and therapeutic in silencing specific gene in glomerulus. We investigated the effect of siRNA in rat cultured mesangial cells (MCs) and showed that siRNA sequence-specific suppression of transgene expression was over a 1000-fold more potent than that by antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN). Transfection of siRNA targeting luciferase into rat kidneys significantly inhibited expression of a cotransfected luciferase expression vector in vivo. The delivery of siRNA targeting enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) in the transgenic ‘green’ rat reduced endogenous EGFP expression, mainly in glomerular MCs. Furthermore, RNAi targeting against TGF-β1 significantly suppressed TGF-β1 mRNA and protein expression, thereby ameliorated the progression of matrix expansion in experimental glomerulonephritis. In addition, vector-based RNAi also inhibited TGF-β1 expression in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, siRNA-directed TGF-β1 silencing may be of therapeutic value in the prevention and treatment of fibrotic diseases.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine and Therapeutics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine (A8), Suita, Japan

    Y Takabatake, Y Isaka, M Mizui, T Ito, M Hori & E Imai

  2. Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Nephrology, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan

    H Kawachi & F Shimizu

Authors
  1. Y Takabatake
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  2. Y Isaka
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  3. M Mizui
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  4. H Kawachi
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  6. T Ito
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  7. M Hori
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  8. E Imai
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Takabatake, Y., Isaka, Y., Mizui, M. et al. Exploring RNA interference as a therapeutic strategy for renal disease. Gene Ther 12, 965–973 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gt.3302480

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gt.3302480

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