1. ¹Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada
2. ²Integrated DNA Technologies Inc, Coralville, Iowa, USA

Correspondence: Philippe Sarret, Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. E-mail: Philippe.Sarret@USherbrooke.ca

Received 20 December 2007; Accepted 15 April 2008; Published online 3 June 2008.

Abstract

RNA interference (RNAi) is gaining acceptance as a potential therapeutic strategy against peripheral disease, and several clinical trials are already underway with 21-mer small-interfering RNA (siRNA) as the active pharmaceutical agent. However, for central affliction like pain, such innovating therapies are limited but nevertheless crucial to improve pain research and management. We demonstrate here the proof-of-concept of the use of 27-mer Dicer-substrate siRNA (DsiRNA) for silencing targets related to CNS disorders such as pain states. Indeed, low dose DsiRNA (0.005 mg/kg) was highly efficient in reducing the expression of the neurotensin receptor-2 (NTS2, a G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) involved in ascending nociception) in rat spinal cord through intrathecal (IT) administration formulated with the cationic lipid i-Fect. Along with specific decrease in NTS2 mRNA and protein, our results show a significant alteration in the analgesic effect of a selective-NTS2 agonist, reaching 93% inhibition up to 3–4 days after administration of DsiRNA. In order to ensure that these findings were not biased by unsuspected off-target effects (OTEs), we also demonstrated that treatment with a second NTS2-specific DsiRNA also reversed NTS2-induced antinociception, and that NTS2-specific 27-mer duplexes did not alter signaling through NTS1, a closely related receptor. Altogether, DsiRNAi represents a potent tool for dissecting nociceptive pathways and could further lead to a new class of central active drugs.