Gene silencing of HIV chemokine receptors using ribozymes and single-stranded antisense RNA.

Abstract

The chemokine receptors CXCR4 and CCR5 are required for HIV-1 to enter cells, and the progression of HIV-1 infection to AIDS involves a switch in the co-receptor usage of the virus from CCR5 to CXCR4. These receptors therefore make attractive candidates for therapeutic intervention, and we have investigated the silencing of their genes by using ribozymes and single-stranded antisense RNAs. In the present study, we demonstrate using ribozymes that a depletion of CXCR4 and CCR5 mRNAs can be achieved simultaneously in human PBMCs (peripheral blood mononuclear cells), cells commonly used by the virus for infection and replication. Ribozyme activity leads to an inhibition of the cell-surface expression of both CCR5 and CXCR4, resulting in a significant inhibition of HIV-1 replication when PBMCs are challenged with the virus. In addition, we show that small single-stranded antisense RNAs can also be used to silence CCR5 and CXCR4 genes when delivered to PBMCs. This silencing is caused by selective degradation of receptor mRNAs.

• Authors: Amer Qureshi, Richard Zheng, Terry Parlett, Xiaoju Shi, Priyadhashini Balaraman, Sihem Cheloufi, Brendan Murphy, Christine Guntermann, Peter Eagles
• Journal: The Biochemical journal (Biochem J) Vol. 394 Issue Pt 2 Pg. 511-8 (Mar 01 2006) ISSN: 1470-8728 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 16293105 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• RNA, Antisense
• RNA, Catalytic
• RNA, Messenger
• Receptors, CCR5
• Receptors, CXCR4
• Viral Proteins
• bacteriophage T7 RNA polymerase
• DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases

Topics

• Cells, Cultured
• DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases (metabolism)
• Flow Cytometry
• Gene Expression
• Gene Silencing
• HIV-1 (physiology)
• Humans
• Leukocytes, Mononuclear (metabolism, virology)
• RNA, Antisense (biosynthesis, genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Catalytic (biosynthesis, genetics, metabolism)
• RNA, Messenger (genetics, metabolism)
• Receptors, CCR5 (analysis, genetics, metabolism)
• Receptors, CXCR4 (analysis, genetics, metabolism)
• Viral Proteins (metabolism)
• Virus Replication