JNK2 silencing lipid nanoparticles for elastic matrix repair

The over-expression of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK2), a stress activated mitogen kinase, in the aortic wall plays a critical role in the formation and progression of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). This triggers chronic downstream upregulation of elastolytic matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMPs2 and 9 to cause progressive proteolytic breakdown of the wall elastic matrix. We have previously shown that siNRA knockdown of JNK2 gene expression in an AAA culture model stimulates downstream elastin gene expression, elastic fiber formation, crosslinking and reduces elastolytic MMPs2 and 9. Since naked siRNA poorly routes to intracellular targets, has poor stability in blood, and could be potentially toxic and immunogenic, this project is aimed to develop PEGylated lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) for delivery of JNK siRNA and to generate evidence of successful JNK2 knockdown and downstream attenuation of MMP2 gene and protein expressions. LNPs were formulated using thin-film hydration technique and had the size of 100-200 nm with zeta-potential ranging between 30 and 40 mV. JNK siRNA loaded PEGylated LNPs successfully knocked down JNK2 in cytokine-activated rat aneurysmal smooth muscle (EaRASMC) cultures. This resulted in a downstream decrease in MMP2 gene and protein expression and an upward trend in expression of genes for proteins critical for elastic fiber assembly such as elastin (ELN) and lysyl oxidase (LOX). Our result indicates cationic LNPs to be potential carriers for JNK siRNA delivery improving potency for elastin homeostasis required for AAA repair which could possibly provide benefits in preventing the progression of small AAAs.