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Inhibition of gene expression in mice muscle by in vivo electrically mediated siRNA delivery

Gene Therapy volume 12, pages 246–251 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Owing to their capacity to induce strong, sequence-specific, gene silencing in cells, short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) represent new potential therapeutic tools. This development requires, however, new safe and efficient in vivo siRNA delivery methods. In the present technical report, we show that electrically mediated siRNA transfer can suppress transgene expression in adult mice muscles. Using electropulsation for siRNA delivery opens the way for a targeted gene silencing on a broad range of tissues. Clinical applications of electropulsation for delivery of other classes of molecules are under trials. We reported that gene silencing was efficiently obtained in vivo in an adult mammal (mouse) with chemically synthesized siRNA after its electrical delivery. The associated gene silencing was followed on the same animal and lasted at least 11 days. Gene silencing was obtained in muscles not only on young adult mice but also on much older animals. No tissue damages were detected under our electrical conditions. Therefore, this method should provide an efficient approach for a localized delivery of siRNAs in various tissues and organs.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr M Wright for his helpful critical comments. This work was supported by grants from the CNRS (‘Imagerie du petit animal’ program), the EU cliniporator project, the ARC (Association pour la recherche sur le cancer) and the AFM (Association française contre les myopathies). We declare that we have no competing financial interests.

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Author notes

  1. M Golzio and L Mazzolini: These two authors contributed equally to this study

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IPBS CNRS (UMR 5089), Toulouse, France

    M Golzio, L Mazzolini, P Moller, M P Rols & J Teissié

  2. CRPS CNRS (UMR 2587), Toulouse, France

    L Mazzolini

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  1. M Golzio
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  2. L Mazzolini
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  3. P Moller
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  4. M P Rols
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  5. J Teissié
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Golzio, M., Mazzolini, L., Moller, P. et al. Inhibition of gene expression in mice muscle by in vivo electrically mediated siRNA delivery. Gene Ther 12, 246–251 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.gt.3302405

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