Toward a gene therapy for dominant disease: validation of an RNA interference-based mutation-independent approach

Mol Ther. 2005 Sep;12(3):555-61. doi: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2005.03.028.

Abstract

The intragenic heterogeneity encountered in many dominant disease-causing genes represents a significant challenge with respect to development of economically viable therapeutics. For example, 25% of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa is caused by over 100 different mutations within the gene encoding rhodopsin, each of which could require a unique gene therapy. We describe here an RNA interference (RNAi)-based mutation-independent approach, targeting as an example murine rhodopsin. Native transcripts are suppressed by a single RNAi molecular species, whereas transcripts from replacement genes engineered at degenerate third-codon wobble positions are resistant to suppression. We demonstrate suppression of murine rhodopsin transcript by up to 90% with full concomitant expression of replacement transcript and establish the validity of this approach in cell culture, retinal explants, and mouse liver in vivo.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • COS Cells
  • Cell Separation
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chlorocebus aethiops
  • DNA, Complementary / metabolism
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electroporation
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Gene Silencing
  • Genes, Dominant*
  • Genetic Therapy / methods*
  • Liver / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Models, Genetic
  • Mutation*
  • Pressure
  • RNA / metabolism
  • RNA Interference*
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Retina / metabolism
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa / genetics
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Rhodopsin / metabolism
  • Time Factors
  • Transfection

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • RNA
  • Rhodopsin