Related Experiment Videos
Targeted polynucleotides for inhibition of hepatitis B and C viruses
1Division of Gastroenterology-Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut Health Center, Rm. AM-044, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06030-1845, USA. wu@nso.uchc.edu
Aim:
To determine whether a combination of cell targeting and sequence recognition of nucleic acids can provide specificity for the inhibition of viral gene expression.
Methods:
Antisense oligonucleotides complexed to a protein-based DNA carrier system were used to target hepatocytes for the inhibition of human hepatitis viral gene expression. The DNA carrier system contained an asialoglycoprotein as a cell-targeting component, which could direct the uptake of complexed DNA specifically to asialoglycoprotein receptors present selectively on the surface of mammalian hepatocytes.
Results:
HBV and HCV viral gene expression were substantially and specifically inhibited by use of antisense oligonucleotides complexed to a protein-based DNA carrier system.
Conclusion:
Targeted delivery of nucleic acids by use of receptor-mediated endocytosis can result in inhibition of viral gene expression without host toxicity.