The novel functional nucleic acid iRed effectively regulates target genes following cytoplasmic delivery by faint electric treatment

An intelligent shRNA expression device (iRed) contains the minimum essential components needed for shRNA production in cells, and could be a novel tool to regulate target genes. However, general delivery carriers consisting of cationic polymers/lipids could impede function of a newly generated shRNA via electrostatic interaction in the cytoplasm. Recently, we found that faint electric treatment (fET) of cells enhanced delivery of siRNA and functional nucleic acids into the cytoplasm in the absence of delivery carriers. Here, we examined fET of cells stably expressing luciferase in the presence of iRed encoding anti-luciferase shRNA. Transfection of lipofectamine 2000 (LFN)/iRed lipoplexes showed an RNAi effect, but fET-mediated iRed transfection did not, likely because of the endosomal localization of iRed after delivery. However, fET in the presence of lysosomotropic agent chloroquine significantly improved the RNAi effect of iRed/fET to levels that were higher than those for the LFN/iRed lipoplexes. Furthermore, the amount of lipid droplets in adipocytes significantly decreased following fET with iRed against resistin in the presence of chloroquine. Thus, iRed could be a useful tool to regulate target genes following fET-mediated cytoplasmic delivery with endosomal escape devices

Faint electric treatment-induced rapid and efficient delivery of extraneous hydrophilic molecules into the cytoplasm

Effective delivery of extraneous molecules into the cytoplasm of the target cells is important for several drug therapies. Previously, we showed effective in vivo transdermal delivery of naked siRNA into skin cells induced by faint electric treatment (ET) iontophoresis, and significant suppression of target mRNA levels (Kigasawa et al., Int. J. Pharm., 2010). This result indicates that electricity promoted the delivery of siRNA into cytoplasm. In the present study, we analyzed the intracellular delivery of naked anti-luciferase siRNA by faint ET, and found that the luciferase activity of cells expressing luciferase was reduced by in vitro ET like in vivo iontophoresis. Cellular uptake of fluorescent-label siRNA was increased by ET, while low temperature exposure, macropinocytosis inhibitor amiloride and caveolae-mediated endocytosis inhibitor filipin significantly prevented siRNA uptake. These results indicate that the cellular uptake mechanism involved endocytosis. In addition, voltage sensitive fluorescent dye DiBAC4 (3) penetration was increased by ET, and the transient receptor potential channel inhibitor SKF96365 reduced siRNA uptake, suggesting that faint ET reduced membrane potentials by changing intracellular ion levels. Moreover, to analyze cytoplasmic delivery, we used in-stem molecular beacon (ISMB), which fluoresces upon binding to target mRNA in the cytoplasm. Surprisingly, cytoplasmic ISMB fluorescence appeared rapidly and homogeneously after ET, indicating that cytoplasmic delivery is markedly enhanced by ET. In conclusion, we demonstrated for the first time that faint ET can enhance cellular uptake and cytoplasmic delivery of extraneous molecules

Effect of Phosphatidylserine and Cholesterol on Membrane-mediated Fibril Formation by the N-terminal Amyloidogenic Fragment of Apolipoprotein A-I

Here, we examined the effects of phosphatidylserine (PS) and cholesterol on the fibril-forming properties of the N-terminal 1‒83 fragment of an amyloidogenic G26R variant of apoA-I bound to small unilamellar vesicles. A thioflavin T fluorescence assay together with microscopic observations showed that PS significantly retards the nucleation step in fibril formation by apoA-I 1‒83/G26R, whereas cholesterol slightly enhances fibril formation. Circular dichroism analyses demonstrated that PS facilitates a structural transition from random coil to α-helix in apoA-I 1‒83/G26R with great stabilization of the α-helical structure upon lipid binding. Isothermal titration calorimetry measurements revealed that PS induces a marked increase in capacity for binding of apoA-I 1‒83/G26R to the membrane surface, perhaps due to electrostatic interactions of positively charged amino acids in apoA-I with PS. Such effects of PS to enhance lipid interactions and inhibit fibril formation of apoA-I were also observed for the amyloidogenic region-containing apoA-I 8‒33/G26R peptide. Fluorescence measurements using environment-sensitive probes indicated that PS induces a more solvent-exposed, membrane-bound conformation in the amyloidogenic region of apoA-I without affecting membrane fluidity. Since cell membranes have highly heterogeneous lipid compositions, our findings may provide a molecular basis for the preferential deposition of apoA-I amyloid fibrils in tissues and organs

Immunochemical Approach for Monitoring of Structural Transition of ApoA-I upon HDL Formation Using Novel Monoclonal Antibodies

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) undergoes a large conformational reorganization during remodeling of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particles. To detect structural transition of apoA-I upon HDL formation, we developed novel monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). Splenocytes from BALB/c mice immunized with a recombinant human apoA-I, with or without conjugation with keyhole limpet hemocyanin, were fused with P3/NS1/1-Ag4-1 myeloma cells. After the HAT-selection and cloning, we established nine hybridoma clones secreting anti-apoA-I mAbs in which four mAbs recognize epitopes on the N-terminal half of apoA-I while the other five mAbs recognize the central region. ELISA and bio-layer interferometry measurements demonstrated that mAbs whose epitopes are within residues 1–43 or 44–65 obviously discriminate discoidal and spherical reconstituted HDL particles despite their great reactivities to lipid-free apoA-I and plasma HDL, suggesting the possibility of these mAbs to detect structural transition of apoA-I on HDL. Importantly, a helix-disrupting mutation of W50R into residues 44–65 restored the immunoreactivity of mAbs whose epitope being within residues 44–65 against reconstituted HDL particles, indicating that these mAbs specifically recognize the epitope region in a random coil state. These results encourage us to develop mAbs targeting epitopes in the N-terminal residues of apoA-I as useful probes for monitoring formation and remodeling of HDL particles

Digoxin induces inner ear damage

Auditory neuropathy is a hearing disorder in which the inner ear can detect sounds, but has a problem with sending sounds to the brain. The main pathology might be　the disorder between inner hair cell synapse and cochlear nerve. Although it is an indication for cochlear implants, there is no radical treatment yet. Therefore, a neuropathy model using animals is needed for the development of new treatment. So, we investigated digoxin-induced inner ear disorders using guinea pigs. As the results , when the digoxin was administrated into the cochlea, the number of cochlear spiral ganglion cells decreased. However, no obvious damage was observed to the cochlear hair cells. As the result of ABR (Auditory Brainstem Response), physiological dysfunction was also confirmed. As for the effect on the vestibule, the vestibular ganglion cells were damaged, but the hair cells in the otoliths and in the ampulla were not damaged. These results suggest that digoxin might be useful drug for the generation of the animal model to auditory neuropathy