Diabetic nephropathy (DN), a chronic progressive kidney disease, is a significant complication of diabetes mellitus. Dysregulation of the histone deacetylases (HDACs) gene has been implicated in the pathogenesis of DN. Hence, the HDAC-inhibitors have emerged as a critical class of therapeutic agents in DN; however, the currently available HDAC4-inhibitors are mostly nonselective in nature as well as inhibit multiple HDACs. RNA interference of HDAC4 (HDAC4 siRNA) has shown immense promise, but the clinical translation has been impeded due to lack of a targeted, specific, and in vivo applicable delivery modality. In the present investigation, we examined Cyclo(RGDfC) (cRGD) truncated polymeric nanoplex with dendrimeric templates for targeted HDAC4 Gene Silencing. The developed nanoplex exhibited enhanced encapsulation of siRNA and offered superior protection against serum RNase nucleases degradation. The nanoplex was tested on podocytes (in vitro), wherein it showed selective binding to the αvβ3 integrin receptor, active cellular uptake, and significant in vitro gene silencing. The in vivo experiments showed remarkable suppression of the HDAC4 and inhibition in the progression of renal fibrosis in the Streptozotocin (STZ) induced DN C57BL/6 mice model. Histopathological and toxicological studies revealed nonsignificant abnormality/toxicity with the nanoplex. Conclusively, nanoplex was found as a promising tactic for targeted therapy of podocytes and could be extended for other kidney-related ailments.
Keywords: diabetic nephropathy; diabetic nephropathy mice model; gene silencing; in vitro podocytes diabetic nephropathy; polymeric nanoplex; siRNA delivery.