A novel mechanism is involved in cationic lipid-mediated functional siRNA delivery.

TitleA novel mechanism is involved in cationic lipid-mediated functional siRNA delivery.
Publication TypeJournal Article
Year of Publication2009
AuthorsLu, JJ, Langer, R, Chen, J
JournalMol Pharm
Volume6
Issue3
Pagination763-71
Date Published2009 May-Jun
ISSN1543-8384
KeywordsAnimals, Caveolins, Cell Line, Cercopithecus aethiops, Chlorpromazine, Cholesterol, Clathrin, Cytochalasin D, Dopamine Antagonists, Endocytosis, HeLa Cells, Humans, Lipids, Nucleic Acid Synthesis Inhibitors, RNA, Small Interfering, Temperature, Transfection
Abstract

A key challenge for therapeutic application of RNA interference is to efficiently deliver synthetic small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) into target cells that will lead to the knockdown of the target transcript (functional siRNA delivery). To facilitate rational development of nonviral carriers, we have investigated by imaging, pharmacological and genetic approaches the mechanisms by which a cationic lipid carrier mediates siRNA delivery into mammalian cells. We show that approximately 95% of siRNA lipoplexes enter the cells through endocytosis and persist in endolysosomes for a prolonged period of time. However, inhibition of clathrin-, caveolin-, or lipid-raft-mediated endocytosis or macropinocytosis fails to inhibit the knockdown of the target transcript. In contrast, depletion of cholesterol from the plasma membrane has little effect on the cellular uptake of siRNA lipoplexes, but it abolishes the target transcript knockdown. Furthermore, functional siRNA delivery occurs within a few hours and is gradually inhibited by lowering temperatures. These results demonstrate that although endocytosis is responsible for the majority of cellular uptake of siRNA lipoplexes, a minor pathway, probably mediated by fusion between siRNA lipoplexes and the plasma membrane, is responsible for the functional siRNA delivery. Our findings suggest possible directions for improving functional siRNA delivery by cationic lipids.

DOI10.1021/mp900023v
Alternate JournalMol. Pharm.
PubMed ID19292453
PubMed Central IDPMC2688906
Grant ListAI56267 / AI / NIAID NIH HHS / United States
CA112967 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States
CA119349 / CA / NCI NIH HHS / United States