PEGylated cyclodextrins as novel siRNA nanosystems: correlations between polyethylene glycol length and nanoparticle stability.

Silencing disease-related genes in the central nervous system (CNS) using short interfering RNA (siRNA) holds great promise for treating neurological disorders. Yet, delivery of RNAi therapeutics to the brain poses major challenges to non-viral systems, especially when considering systemic administration. Cationic nanoparticles have been widely investigated for siRNA delivery, but the tendency of these to aggregate in physiological environments limits their intravenous application. Thus, strategies to increase the stability of nanoparticles have been developed. Here, we investigated the ability of modified cationic amphiphilic or PEGylated amphiphilic cyclodextrins (CD) to formulate stable CD.siRNA nanoparticles. To this end, we describe a simple method for post-modification of pre-formed cationic CD.siRNA nanoparticles at their surface using PEGylated CDs of different PEG lengths. PEGylated CD.siRNA nanoparticles presented reduced surface charges and increased stability in physiological salt conditions. Stability of PEGylated CD.siRNA nanoparticles in vitro increased with both PEG length and PEG density at the surface. Furthermore, in a comparative pharmacokinetic study, increased systemic exposure and reduced clearance were achieved with CD-formulations when compared to naked siRNAs. However, no significant differences were observed among non-PEGylated and PEGylated CD.siRNAs suggesting that longer PEG lengths might be required for improving stability in vivo.

Differential nanotoxicological and neuroinflammatory liabilities of non-viral vectors for RNA interference in the central nervous system.

Progression of RNA interference-based gene silencing technologies for the treatment of disorders of the central nervous system (CNS) depends on the availability of efficient non-toxic nanocarriers. Despite advances in the field of nanotechnology undesired and non-specific interactions with different brain-cell types occur and are poorly investigated. To this end, we studied the cytotoxic and neuroinflammatory effects of widely-used transfection reagents and modified amphiphilic ß-cyclodextrins (CDs). All non-viral vectors formed positively charged nanoparticles with distinctive physicochemical properties. Differential and significant cytotoxic effects were observed among commercially available cationic vectors, whereas CDs induced limited disruptions of cellular membrane integrity and mitochondrial dehydrogenase activity. Interestingly, murine derived BV2 microglia cells and a rat striatal in vitro model of Huntington's disease (ST14A-HTT120Q) were more susceptible to toxicity than human U87 astroglioma cells. BV2 microglia presented significant increases in cytokine, toll-like receptor 2 and cyclooxygenase-2 gene expression after transfection with selected commercial vectors but not with CD.siRNA nanoparticles. Non-viral siRNA nanoparticles formulated with G6 polyamidoamine (PAMAM) also significantly increased cytokine gene expression in the brain following injections into the mouse striatum. Together our data identify modified CDs as nanosystems that enable siRNA delivery to the brain with low levels of cytotoxicity and immunological activation.

Activation of liver X receptor suppresses the production of the IL-12 family of cytokines by blocking nuclear translocation of NF-κBp50.

There is now convincing evidence that liver X receptor (LXR) is an important modulator of the inflammatory response; however, its mechanism of action remains unclear. This study aimed to examine the effect of LXR on the IL-12 family of cytokines and examined the mechanism by which LXR exerted this effect. We first demonstrated that activation of murine-derived dendritic cells (DC) with a specific agonist to LXR enhanced expression of LXR following activation with LPS, suggesting a role in inflammation. Furthermore, we showed LXR expression to be increased in vivo in dextrane sulphate sodium-induced colitis. LXR activation also suppressed production of IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-27 and IL-23 in murine-derived DC following stimulation with LPS, and specifically targeted the p35, p40 and EBI3 subunits of the IL-12 cytokine family, which are under the control of the NF-κB subunit p50 (NF-κBp50). Finally, we demonstrated that LXR can associate with NF-κBp50 in DC and that LXR activation prevents translocation of the p50 subunit into the nucleus. In summary, our study indicates that LXR can specifically suppress the IL-12 family of cytokines though its association with NF-κBp50 and highlights its potential as a therapeutic target for chronic inflammatory diseases.

Pellino3 ubiquitinates RIP2 and mediates Nod2-induced signaling and protective effects in colitis.

Mutations that result in loss of function of Nod2, an intracellular receptor for bacterial peptidoglycan, are associated with Crohn's disease. Here we found that the E3 ubiquitin ligase Pellino3 was an important mediator in the Nod2 signaling pathway. Pellino3-deficient mice had less induction of cytokines after engagement of Nod2 and had exacerbated disease in various experimental models of colitis. Furthermore, expression of Pellino3 was lower in the colons of patients with Crohn's disease. Pellino3 directly bound to the kinase RIP2 and catalyzed its ubiquitination. Loss of Pellino3 led to attenuation of Nod2-induced ubiquitination of RIP2 and less activation of the transcription factor NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Our findings identify RIP2 as a substrate for Pellino3 and Pellino3 as an important mediator in the Nod2 pathway and regulator of intestinal inflammation.

Natural killer cells protect against mucosal and systemic infection with the enteric pathogen Citrobacter rodentium.

Natural killer (NK) cells are traditionally considered in the context of tumor surveillance and viral defense, but their role in bacterial infections, particularly those caused by enteric pathogens, is less clear. C57BL/6 mice were orally gavaged with Citrobacter rodentium, a murine pathogen related to human diarrheagenic Escherichia coli. We used polyclonal anti-asialo GM1 antibody to actively deplete NK cells in vivo. Bioluminescent imaging and direct counts were used to follow infection. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to analyze immune responses. During C. rodentium infection, NK cells were recruited to mucosal tissues, where they expressed a diversity of immune-modulatory factors. Depletion of NK cells led to higher bacterial loads but less severe colonic inflammation, associated with reduced immune cell recruitment and lower cytokine levels. NK cell-depleted mice also developed disseminated systemic infection, unlike control infected mice. NK cells were also cytotoxic to C. rodentium in vitro.

In vitro investigations of the efficacy of cyclodextrin-siRNA complexes modified with lipid-PEG-Octaarginine: towards a formulation strategy for non-viral neuronal siRNA delivery.

PURPOSE: Development of RNA interference based therapeutics for neurological and neurodegenerative diseases is hindered by a lack of non-viral vectors with suitable properties for systemic administration. Amphiphilic and cationic cyclodextrins (CD) offer potential for neuronal siRNA delivery. We aimed to improve our CD-based siRNA formulation through incorporation of a polyethyleneglycol (PEG) shielding layer and a cell penetrating peptide, octaarginine (R8). METHODS: CD.siRNA complexes were modified by addition of an R8-PEG-lipid conjugate. Physical properties including size, charge and stability were assessed. Flow cytometry was used to determine uptake levels in a neuronal cell model. Knockdown of an exogenous gene and an endogenous housekeeping gene were used to assess gene silencing abilities. RESULTS: CD.siRNA complexes modified with R8-PEG-lipid exhibited a lower surface charge and greater stability to a salt-containing environment. Neuronal uptake was increased and significant reductions in the levels of two target genes were achieved with the new formulation. However, the PEG layer was not sufficient to protect against serum-induced aggregation. CONCLUSIONS: The R8-PEG-lipid-CD.siRNA formulation displayed enhanced salt-stability due to the PEG component, while the R8 component facilitated transfection of neuronal cells and efficient gene silencing. Further improvements will be investigated in the future in order to optimise stability in serum and enhance neuronal specificity.

The sphingosine-1-phosphate analogue FTY720 impairs mucosal immunity and clearance of the enteric pathogen Citrobacter rodentium.

The sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) analogue FTY720 is therapeutically efficacious in multiple sclerosis and in the prevention of transplant rejection. It prevents the migration of lymphocytes to sites of pathology by trapping them within the peripheral lymph nodes, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), and Peyer's patches. However, evidence suggests that its clinical use may increase the risk of mucosal infections. We investigated the impact of FTY720 treatment on susceptibility to gastrointestinal infection with the mouse enteric pathogen Citrobacter rodentium. This attaching and effacing bacterium induces a transient bacterial colitis in immunocompetent mice that resembles human infection with pathogenic Escherichia coli. FTY720 treatment induced peripheral blood lymphopenia, trapped lymphocytes in the MLNs, and prevented the clearance of bacteria when mice were infected with luciferase-tagged C. rodentium. FTY720-treated C. rodentium-infected mice had enhanced colonic inflammation, with significantly higher colon mass, colon histopathology, and neutrophil infiltration than vehicle-infected animals. In addition, FTY720-treated infected mice had significantly lower numbers of colonic dendritic cells, macrophages, and T cells. Gene expression analysis demonstrated that FTY720-treated infected mice had an impaired innate immune response and a blunted mucosal adaptive immune response, including Th1 cytokines. The data demonstrate that the S1P analogue FTY720 adversely affects the immune response to and clearance of C. rodentium.

Induction and activation of adaptive immune populations during acute and chronic phases of a murine model of experimental colitis.

BACKGROUND: Dextran sodium sulphate (DSS) is commonly used to induce intestinal inflammation in rodents. Despite its continuing importance as a model system for examining IBD pathogenesis, the mucosal and systemic immune responses have not been comprehensively documented. AIMS: The purpose of this study was to dissect functional and phenotypic changes in both immune compartments associated with acute and chronic DSS-induced colitis. METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 3% DSS for 6 days followed by 20 days of water, and organs (spleens, MLN and colons) were harvested during both acute and chronic phases of colitis to examine innate and adaptive cell populations. RESULTS: As early as 1 day post DSS, significant changes in the percentage, distribution and activation status of all innate cell populations examined were noted. These striking differences continued in systemic and mucosal lymphoid tissues throughout the acute phase (days 5-12). Significantly, during the late acute and chronic phases T and B cells accumulated in the colon. In contrast, in the spleens of chronically inflamed mice T and B cells were significantly decreased whereas neutrophils, macrophages, and IL-6 and IL-17 positive cells were increased. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provides important insights into the mucosal and systemic immune responses induced by DSS administration. Notably, we show that adaptive immune responses are induced during both acute and chronic colitis. This will facilitate a more informed and sophisticated use of this model both for investigating basic mechanisms of intestinal inflammation and for the evaluation of potential new therapeutic agents for IBD.

Technical Advance: Function and efficacy of an {alpha}4-integrin antagonist using bioluminescence imaging to detect leukocyte trafficking in murine experimental colitis.

Leukocyte trafficking is a therapeutic target in IBD. The integrins α4ß and α4ß1 regulate leukocyte migration into tissues and lymphoid organs. Current strategies rely on biologics, such as mAb, to inhibit leukocyte recruitment. Here we show the in vivo therapeutic effects of a small molecule α4-integrin antagonist (GSK223618A) in a leukocyte-trafficking model and a murine model of colitis. Leukocytes isolated from MLNs of transgenic ß-actin-luc+ mice were injected i.v. into recipients with DSS-induced colitis. Recipient mice were orally gavaged with vehicle or an α4-integrin antagonist 1 h pre-adoptive transfer, followed by bioluminescence whole body and ex vivo organ imaging 4 h post-transfer. To confirm its therapeutic effect, the α4-integrin antagonist was given orally twice daily for 6 days to mice with DSS-induced colitis, starting on Day 3. Clinical, macroscopic, and histological signs of inflammation were assessed and gene-expression profiles analyzed. Using bioluminescence imaging, we tracked and quantified leukocyte migration to the inflamed gut and demonstrated its inhibition by a small molecule α4-integrin antagonist. Additionally, the therapeutic effect of the antagonist was confirmed in DSS-induced colitis in terms of clinical, macroscopic, and histological signs of inflammation. Gene expression analysis suggested enhancement of tissue healing in compound-treated animals. Inhibition of leukocyte trafficking using small molecule integrin antagonists is a promising alternative to large molecule biologics. Furthermore, in vivo bioluminescence imaging is a valuable strategy for preclinical evaluation of potential therapeutics that target leukocyte trafficking in inflammatory diseases.