ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the potential application of a non-viral gene carrier , TAT-LK15 , for delivering nNOSsiRNAin vivo and to study whether TAT-LK15/siRNA can be a new treatment method for chronic inflammatory pain. Method TAT-LK15 was complexed with nNOSsiRNA or scrambled control siRNA. The expression of nNOS was determined in SCDH of chronic inflammatory pain rats by western-blot assay. Pain control efficacy was evaluated by mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and thermal withdrawal duration (TWD) assays. Results nNOS protein expression was efficiently inhibited by intrathecal injection of TAT-LK15/siRNA complexes , with the reduction of nNOS protein by 52%. Moreover , injection of TAT-LK15/siRNA com-plexes significantly could decrease MWT , but increase TWD in rats with chronic inflammatory pain. Conclusions TAT-LK15 can efficiently deliver nNOSsiRNAin vivo and nNOSsiRNA can relieve chronic inflammatory pain in rats.