Journal
GENE THERAPY
Volume 19, Issue 7, Pages 752-760Publisher
NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP
DOI: 10.1038/gt.2011.173
Keywords
TLR7; collagen-induced arthritis; short hairpin RNA; angiogenesis; rheumatoid arthritis
Categories
Funding
- National Science Council (NSC) [97-2314-B-006-007-MY3, 100-2314-B-006-031-MY3]
- Department of Health, Executive Yuan [DOH 96-TD-I-111-TM014, 97-TD-I-111-TM015]
- National Cheng Kung University, Taiwan, Republic of China [NCKU-97-R010]
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Knockdown of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) is a novel therapeutic strategy in treating patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We examined the effects of lentiviral vector-mediated delivery of TLR7 short hairpin RNA gene (Lt.shTLR7) on collagen-induced arthritis (CIA). After being immunized on days 0 and 7, Sprague-Dawley rats received intra-articular (i.a.) injection of Lt.shTLR7 or scramble control vector on days 7 and 10. The therapeutic effects were evaluated by measuring ankle circumferences, articular index, and radiographic and histological scores on killing on day 16. Microvessel densities, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels, pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations and T-cell numbers within the synovial tissues were measured. Moreover, VEGF and pro-inflammatory cytokine concentrations in culture supernatants from TLR7-transfected synovial fibroblasts (SFs) stimulated with imiquimod or endogenous ligands were examined. There were significant reduction in ankle circumferences, articular indexes, and radiographic and histological scores. Microvessel densities, VEGF concentrations, interleukin (IL)-1 beta and IL-6 levels and T-cell densities within synovial tissues were significantly lower. Induction of VEGF, IL-1 beta and IL-6 production from stimulated SFs was significantly suppressed. Taken together, these data demonstrate the effects of i.a. lentiviral vector-mediated delivery of shTLR7 RNA gene on inhibition of CIA, and implicate the manipulation of TLR7 as a potential therapeutic strategy in RA patients. Gene Therapy (2012) 19, 752-760; doi:10.1038/gt.2011.173; published online 17 November 2011
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