Tumor-Penetrating Delivery of siRNA against TNFα to Human Vestibular Schwannomas

Sci Rep. 2017 Oct 10;7(1):12922. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-13032-9.

Abstract

Vestibular schwannoma (VS) is the most common tumor of the cerebellopontine angle, and it typically presents with sensorineural hearing loss. The genomic landscape of schwannoma is complex and many of the molecules implicated in VS pathogenesis represent targets not amenable to antibody-based or small molecule therapeutics. Tumor-targeted delivery of small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics provides a direct and effective means to interrogate targets while minimizing off-target effects. To establish a preclinical model for therapeutic inhibition of putative targets in VS, archived tumor specimens, fresh tumor cells derived from patients with sporadic VS, and an established schwannoma cell line were screened. Nanoparticles directed by the tumor-homing peptide iRGD were selectively taken up by primary VS cultures in vitro via interactions with αvβ3/β5 integrins and neuropilin-1 (NRP-1). Cellular uptake was inhibited by a neutralizing antibody against αv integrin in a dose-dependent manner. When applied to primary VS cultures, iRGD-targeted nanoparticles delivered siRNA directed against TNFα in a receptor-specific fashion to potently silence gene expression and protein secretion. Taken together, our results provide a proof of principle for tumor-targeted, nanoparticle-mediated delivery of siRNA to VS and establish a novel platform for the development and pre-clinical screening of molecular therapeutics against VS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Gene Silencing
  • Humans
  • Inflammation Mediators / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nanoparticles / chemistry
  • Neurilemmoma / metabolism*
  • Oligopeptides / chemistry
  • RNA, Small Interfering / administration & dosage*
  • Receptors, Cell Surface / metabolism
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism*
  • Vestibule, Labyrinth / metabolism*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Inflammation Mediators
  • Oligopeptides
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Receptors, Cell Surface
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • arginyl-glycyl-aspartic acid