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Messenger RNA delivery of a cartilage - anabolic transcription factor as a disease - modifying strategy for osteoarthritis treatment

 

Authors

Hailati Aini, Keiji Itaka, Ayano Fujisawa, Hirokuni Uchida, Satoshi Uchida, Shigeto Fukushima, Kazunori Kataoka, Taku Saito, Ung-il Chung, Shinsuke Ohba

 

Abstract

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease and a major health problem in the elderly population. No disease-modifying osteoarthritis drug (DMOAD) has been made available for clinical use. Here we present a disease-modifying strategy for OA, focusing on messenger RNA (mRNA) delivery of a therapeutic transcription factor using polyethylene glycol (PEG)-polyamino acid block copolymer-based polyplex nanomicelles. When polyplex nanomicelles carrying the cartilage-anabolic, runt-related transcription factor (RUNX) 1 mRNA were injected into mouse OA knee joints, OA progression was significantly suppressed compared with the non-treatment control. Expressions of cartilage-anabolic markers and proliferation were augmented in articular chondrocytes of the RUNX1-injected knees. Thus, this study provides a proof of concept of the treatment of degenerative diseases such as OA by the in situ mRNA delivery of therapeutic transcription factors; the presented approach will directly connect basic findings on disease-protective or tissue-regenerating factors to disease treatment.

Abstract URL:http://www.nature.com/articles/srep18743