RNA Nanoparticle-Based Targeted Therapy for Glioblastoma through Inhibition of Oncogenic miR-21

Tae Jin Lee, Ji Young Yoo, Dan Shu, Hui Li, Jianying Zhang, Jun Ge Yu, Alena Cristina Jaime-Ramirez, Mario Acunzo, Giulia Romano, Ri Cui, Hui Lung Sun, Zhenghua Luo, Matthew Old, Balveen Kaur, Peixuan Guo, Carlo M. Croce

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

109 Scopus citations

Abstract

Targeted inhibition of oncogenic miRNA-21 has been proposed to treat glioblastoma by rescuing tumor suppressors, PTEN and PDCD4. However, systemic delivery of anti-miR-21 sequences requires a robust and efficient delivery platform to successfully inhibit this druggable target. Three-way-junction (3WJ)-based RNA nanoparticles (RNP), artificially derived from pRNA of bacteriophage phi29 DNA packaging motor, was recently shown to target glioblastoma. Here, we report that multi-valent folate (FA)-conjugated 3WJ RNP constructed to harbor anti-miR-21 LNA sequences (FA-3WJ-LNA-miR21) specifically targeted and delivered anti-miR-21 LNA and knocked down miR-21 expression in glioblastoma cells in vitro and in vivo with favorable biodistribution. Systemically injected FA-3WJ-LNA-miR21 RNP efficiently rescued PTEN and PDCD4, resulting in glioblastoma cell apoptosis and tumor growth regression. Overall survival rate was also significantly improved by FA-3WJ-LNA-miR21 RNP. These results are indicative of the clinical benefit of FA-3WJ RNP-based gene therapy for the successful targeted therapy of developing and even recurring glioblastoma.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1544-1555
Number of pages12
JournalMolecular Therapy
Volume25
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 5 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • 3WJ
  • RNA nanoparticle
  • apoptosis
  • glioblastoma
  • microRNA

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Medicine
  • Molecular Biology
  • Genetics
  • Pharmacology
  • Drug Discovery

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