Liposome-siRNA-peptide complexes cross the blood-brain barrier and significantly decrease PrP on neuronal cells and PrP in infected cell cultures.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent advances toward an effective therapy for prion diseases employ RNA interference to suppress PrP(C) expression and subsequent prion neuropathology, exploiting the phenomenon that disease severity and progression correlate with host PrP(C) expression levels. However, delivery of lentivirus encoding PrP shRNA has demonstrated only modest efficacy in vivo.

Methodology/principal findings

Here we describe a new siRNA delivery system incorporating a small peptide that binds siRNA and acetylcholine receptors (AchRs), acting as a molecular messenger for delivery to neurons, and cationic liposomes that protect siRNA-peptide complexes from serum degradation.

Conclusions/significance

Liposome-siRNA-peptide complexes (LSPCs) delivered PrP siRNA specifically to Ac

SUBMITTER: Pulford B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2885418 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature