Stable reduction of CCR5 by RNAi through hematopoietic stem cell transplant in non-human primates

DS An, RE Donahue, M Kamata… - Proceedings of the …, 2007 - National Acad Sciences
DS An, RE Donahue, M Kamata, B Poon, M Metzger, SH Mao, A Bonifacino, AE Krouse…
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2007National Acad Sciences
RNAi is a powerful method for suppressing gene expression that has tremendous potential
for therapeutic applications. However, because endogenous RNAi plays a role in normal
cellular functions, delivery and expression of siRNAs must be balanced with safety. Here we
report successful stable expression in primates of siRNAs directed to chemokine (cc motif)
receptor 5 (CCR5) introduced through CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell transplant.
After hematopoietic reconstitution, to date 14 months after transplant, we observe stably …
RNAi is a powerful method for suppressing gene expression that has tremendous potential for therapeutic applications. However, because endogenous RNAi plays a role in normal cellular functions, delivery and expression of siRNAs must be balanced with safety. Here we report successful stable expression in primates of siRNAs directed to chemokine (c-c motif) receptor 5 (CCR5) introduced through CD34+ hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell transplant. After hematopoietic reconstitution, to date 14 months after transplant, we observe stably marked lymphocytes expressing siRNAs and consistent down-regulation of chemokine (c-c motif) receptor 5 expression. The marked cells are less susceptible to simian immunodeficiency virus infection ex vivo. These studies provide a successful demonstration that siRNAs can be used together with hematopoietic stem cell transplant to stably modulate gene expression in primates and potentially treat blood diseases such as HIV-1.
National Acad Sciences