Fluorescence Imaging of Huntingtin mRNA Knockdown

Huntington's disease (HD) is an autosomal-dominant neurodegenerative genetic disorder caused by CAG repeat expansion in exon 1 of the HTT gene. Expression of the mutant gene results in the production of a neurotoxic polyglutamine (polyQ)-expanded huntingtin (Htt) protein. Clinical trials of knockdown therapy of mutant polyglutamine-encoding HTT mRNA in Huntington's disease (HD) have begun. To measure HTT mRNA knockdown effectiveness in human cells, we utilized a fluorescent hybridization imaging agent specific to the region encompassing the human HTT mRNA initiation codon. We designed, synthesized, purified, and characterized Cal560-spacer-peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-spacer-IGF1 tetrapeptides. The human HTT PNA 12mer complement was CATGGCGGTCTC, while the rat htt equivalent 12mer contained the sequence CATGaCGGcCTC, with two bases differing from the human sequence. The cyclized IGF1 tetrapeptide fragment d(CSKC) that promotes IGF1 receptor-mediated endocytosis was bonded to the C-terminus. We tested the reliability of HTT mRNA imaging with Cal560-spacer-peptide nucleic acid (PNA)-spacer-IGF1 tetrapeptides in human embryonic kidney (HEK) 293T cells that express endogenous HTT and IGF1 receptor. By qPCR, we quantitated HTT mRNA in HEK293T cells with and without HTT mRNA knockdown by three different siRNAs. By confocal fluorescence imaging, we quantitated the accumulation of fluorescent HTT hybridization agent in the same cells. A rat homologue differing from the human sequence by two bases showed negligible fluorescence. qPCR indicated 86 ± 5% knockdown of HTT mRNA by the most effective siRNA. Similarly, Cal560- HTT PNA-peptide fluorescence intensity indicated 69 ± 6% reduction in HTT mRNA. We concluded that the fluorescence hybridization method correlates with the established qPCR method for quantitating HTT mRNA knockdown by siRNA in HEK293T cells, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.865 for all three siRNA sequences. These results will enable real time imaging and quantitation of HTT mRNA in animal models of HD.