WO2002024720A1 - Modulation antisens de l'expression de la caspase 2 - Google Patents

Modulation antisens de l'expression de la caspase 2 Download PDF

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WO2002024720A1
WO2002024720A1 PCT/US2001/028631 US0128631W WO0224720A1 WO 2002024720 A1 WO2002024720 A1 WO 2002024720A1 US 0128631 W US0128631 W US 0128631W WO 0224720 A1 WO0224720 A1 WO 0224720A1
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acid
caspase
compound
oligonucleotides
expression
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PCT/US2001/028631
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Hong Zhang
Andrew T. Watt
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Isis Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
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Publication of WO2002024720A1 publication Critical patent/WO2002024720A1/fr

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    • C12N15/09—Recombinant DNA-technology
    • C12N15/11—DNA or RNA fragments; Modified forms thereof; Non-coding nucleic acids having a biological activity
    • C12N15/113—Non-coding nucleic acids modulating the expression of genes, e.g. antisense oligonucleotides; Antisense DNA or RNA; Triplex- forming oligonucleotides; Catalytic nucleic acids, e.g. ribozymes; Nucleic acids used in co-suppression or gene silencing
    • C12N15/1137—Non-coding nucleic acids modulating the expression of genes, e.g. antisense oligonucleotides; Antisense DNA or RNA; Triplex- forming oligonucleotides; Catalytic nucleic acids, e.g. ribozymes; Nucleic acids used in co-suppression or gene silencing against enzymes
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
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    • C12Y304/00—Hydrolases acting on peptide bonds, i.e. peptidases (3.4)
    • C12Y304/22—Cysteine endopeptidases (3.4.22)
    • C12Y304/22055—Caspase-2 (3.4.22.55)
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
    • A61K38/00—Medicinal preparations containing peptides
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
    • A61K—PREPARATIONS FOR MEDICAL, DENTAL OR TOILETRY PURPOSES
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    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/31—Chemical structure of the backbone
    • C12N2310/315—Phosphorothioates
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    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/32—Chemical structure of the sugar
    • C12N2310/321—2'-O-R Modification
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    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/33—Chemical structure of the base
    • C12N2310/334—Modified C
    • C12N2310/3341—5-Methylcytosine
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
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    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/34—Spatial arrangement of the modifications
    • C12N2310/341—Gapmers, i.e. of the type ===---===
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    • C12N2310/00—Structure or type of the nucleic acid
    • C12N2310/30—Chemical structure
    • C12N2310/34—Spatial arrangement of the modifications
    • C12N2310/346—Spatial arrangement of the modifications having a combination of backbone and sugar modifications
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
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    • Y02P—CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS
    • Y02P20/00—Technologies relating to chemical industry
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Definitions

  • the present invention provides compositions and methods for modulating the expression of caspase 2.
  • this invention relates to compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, specifically hybridizable with nucleic acids encoding caspase 2. Such compounds have been shown to modulate the expression of caspase 2.
  • Apoptosis or programmed cell death, is a naturally occurring process that has been strongly conserved during evolution to prevent uncontrolled cell proliferation.
  • This form of cell suicide plays a crucial role in ensuring the development and maintenance of multicellular organisms by eliminating superfluous or unwanted cells.
  • cell loss and degenerative disorders including neurological disorders such as Alzheimers, Parkinsons, ALS, retinitis pigmentosa and blood cell disorders can result.
  • Stimuli which can trigger apoptosis include growth factors such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF) , Fas and transforming growth factor beta (TGF ⁇ ) , neurotransmitters, growth factor withdrawal, loss of extracellular matrix attachment and extreme fluctuations in intracellular calcium levels (Afford and Randhawa, Mol . Pathol . , 2000, 53 , 55-63).
  • TNF tumor necrosis factor
  • TGF ⁇ transforming growth factor beta
  • neurotransmitters growth factor withdrawal, loss of extracellular matrix attachment and extreme fluctuations in intracellular calcium levels
  • insufficient apoptosis, triggered by growth factors, extracellular matrix changes, CD40 ligand, viral gene products neutral amino acids, zinc, estrogen and androgens can contribute to the development of cancer, autoimmune disorders and viral infections (Afford and Randhawa, Mol . Pathol . , 2000, 53 , 55-63). Consequently, apoptosis is regulated under normal circumstances by the interaction of gene products that either induce or inhibit cell death and several gene products which
  • caspases cysteine proteases
  • caspases cysteine proteases
  • ligand binding to the cell surface death receptors of either the TNF or NGF receptor families changes in mitochondrial integrity or chemical induction (Thornberry, Br. Med. Bull . , 1997, 53 , 478-490).
  • Caspases have been classified into two groups, initiator caspases and effector caspases, based upon their position in the apoptotic signaling pathway.
  • Initiator caspases include caspase 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 14 and these enzymes have the largest prodomains of all the caspase zymogens . These prodomains allow the initiator caspases to interact with other downstream substrates including other caspases. Initiator caspases are further divided into two groups based on their protein binding domains. Caspases 8 and 10 contain the DED (death effector domain) while caspases 1, 2, 4 and 9 contain the
  • Effector caspases are activated by initiator caspases and include caspase 3, 6, 7, 11 and 13 and these contain a shorter prodomain. Once activated, effector caspases then cleave a number of structural and regulatory proteins within the cell (Bratton et al . , Exp . Cell . Res . , 2000, 256, 27-33; Garcia-Calvo et al . , Cell . Death Differ. , 1999, 6, 362-369) .
  • Caspase 2 also known as CASP2 , ICH-1, NEDD-2 and splice variants ICH-1L and ICH-1S
  • CASP2 ICH-1, NEDD-2
  • splice variants ICH-1L and ICH-1S is an initiator caspase first identified in the mouse by Kumar et al .
  • Caspase 2 has been localized to human chromosome 7q34, a region frequently affected in blood disorders such as leukemia, AML (acute myeloid leukemia) and chronic myeloproliterative disorders (Kumar et al . , Hum . Genet . , 1995, 95, 641-644) as well as holoprosencephaly a group of disorders including cyclopia and other ocular malformations (Tiso et al . , Biochem. Biophys . Res . Commun . , 1996, 225, 983-989) .
  • caspase 2 has been shown to play a role in the process of transformation of fibroblasts, differentiation of neutrophils and beta-amyloid-induced cell death of neurons in vi tro (Hiwasa and Nakagawara, Biochem. Biophys . Res . Commun . , 1998, 250, 741-746; Santos- Beneit and Mollinedo, J. Leukoc . Biol . , 2000, 67, 712-724; Troy et al . , J. Neurosci . , 2000, 20, 1386-1392).
  • caspase 2 would render opportunity to treat patients with disorders such as cancer, blood disorders, stroke, brain injury or neurodegenerative diseases. It is currently believed that modulation of caspase expression represents a potential therapeutic target in a variety of deregulated apoptotic pathologic conditions.
  • Several types of broad-spectrum caspase inhbitors have been identified for the treatment of deregulated bone metabolism (Harada et al . , 2000; Reszka, 1999), as immunomodulatory agents (Gunasekera et al . , 2000) and as combination therapies for the regulation of blood cholesterol (Reszka, 1999) .
  • non-specific caspase inhibitors fall into three main classes; peptide-based molecules that mimic caspase substrates, small molecules and naturally-occurring caspase inhibitors or decoys (Deveraux et al . , Embo J. , 1998, 17, 2215-2223; Dong et al . , Biochem . J. , 2000, 347 Pt 3 , 669- 677; Gunasekera et al . , 2000; Harada et al . , 2000; Reszka, 1999; Reszka, 1999; Robidoux et al . , 2000; Spruce et al . , 1999) .
  • caspase 2 substrates and inhibitors which act to block the proteolytic capacity of the protein as well as methods of detecting the presence of caspase 2 using said compounds (Talanian et al . , 1997).
  • mice lacking caspase 2 develop normally and do not show any overt phenotype . However, they do show inhibition of female germ cell death resulting in a significantly higher number of primordial follicles. Caspase 2 deficient oocytes are nearly completely resistant to chemotherapeutic agent-induced apoptosis. In the immune system, caspase 2 is not essential for CD-95 mediated death in B or T lymphocytes. Finally, it was shown that cell death of motor neurons during development was accelerated in caspase 2- deficient mice (Bergeron et al . , Genes Dev. , 1998, 12, 1304-1314) . Currently there exists a need to identify methods of modulating apoptosis for the therapeutic treatment of human diseases and it is believed that caspases modulators will be integral to these methods .
  • Antisense technology is emerging as an effective means for reducing the expression of specific gene products and may therefore prove to be uniquely useful in a number of therapeutic, diagnostic, and research applications for the modulation of gene expression and cellular processes.
  • the present invention is directed to compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, which are targeted to a nucleic acid encoding caspase 2, and which modulate the expression of caspase 2.
  • Pharmaceutical and other compositions comprising the compounds of the invention are also provided. Further provided are methods of modulating the expression of caspase 2 in cells or tissues comprising contacting said cells or tissues with one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention. Further provided are methods of treating an animal, particularly a human, suspected of having or being prone to a disease or condition associated with expression of caspase 2 by administering a therapeutically or prophylactically effective amount of one or more of the antisense compounds or compositions of the invention.
  • the present invention employs oligomeric compounds, particularly antisense oligonucleotides, for use in modulating the function of nucleic acid molecules encoding caspase 2 , ultimately modulating the amount of caspase 2 produced. This is accomplished by providing antisense compounds which specifically hybridize with one or more nucleic acids encoding caspase 2.
  • target nucleic acid and “nucleic acid encoding caspase 2” encompass DNA encoding caspase 2, RNA (including pre-mRNA and mRNA) transcribed from such DNA, and also cDNA derived from such RNA. The specific hybridization of an oligomeric compound with its target nucleic acid interferes with the normal function of the nucleic acid.
  • RNA to be interfered with This modulation of function of a target nucleic acid by compounds which specifically hybridize to it is generally referred to as "antisense".
  • the functions of DNA to be interfered with include replication and transcription.
  • the functions of RNA to be interfered with include all vital functions such as, for example, translocation of the RNA to the site of protein translation, translation of protein from the RNA, splicing of the RNA to yield one or more mRNA species, and catalytic activity which may be engaged in or facilitated by the RNA.
  • the overall effect of such interference with target nucleic acid function is modulation of the expression of caspase 2.
  • modulation means either an increase (stimulation) or a decrease (inhibition) in the expression of a gene.
  • inhibition is the preferred form of modulation of gene expression and mRNA is a preferred target.
  • Targeting an antisense compound to a particular nucleic acid is a multistep process. The process usually begins with the identification of a nucleic acid sequence whose function is to be modulated. This may be, for example, a cellular gene (or mRNA transcribed from the gene) whose expression is associated with a particular disorder or disease state, or a nucleic acid molecule from an infectious agent. In the present invention, the target is a nucleic acid molecule encoding caspase 2.
  • the targeting process also includes determination of a site or sites within this gene for the antisense interaction to occur such that the desired effect, e.g., detection or modulation of expression of the protein, will result.
  • a preferred intragenic site is the region encompassing the translation initiation or termination codon of the open reading frame (ORF) of the gene. Since, as is known in the art, the translation initiation codon is typically 5 ' -AUG (in transcribed mRNA molecules; 5 ' -ATG in the corresponding DNA molecule), the translation initiation codon is also referred to as the "AUG codon,” the "start codon” or the "AUG start codon”.
  • translation initiation codon having the RNA sequence 5 ' -GUG, 5 ' -UUG or 5 ' -CUG, and 5'-AUA, 5 ' -ACG and 5 ' -CUG have been shown to function in vivo .
  • the terms "translation initiation codon” and "start codon” can encompass many codon sequences, even though the initiator amino acid in each instance is typically methionine (in eukaryotes) or formylmethionine (in prokaryotes) .
  • start codon and “translation initiation codon” refer to the codon or codons that are used in vivo to initiate translation of an mRNA molecule transcribed from a gene encoding caspase 2, regardless of the sequence (s) of such codons.
  • a translation termination codon (or "stop codon”) of a gene may have one of three sequences, i.e., 5 ' -UAA, 5 ' -UAG and 5 ' -UGA (the corresponding DNA sequences are 5 ' -TAA, 5 ' -TAG and 5 ' -TGA, respectively) .
  • translation initiation codon region refers to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5' or 3 ' ) from a translation initiation codon.
  • stop codon region refers to a portion of such an mRNA or gene that encompasses from about 25 to about 50 contiguous nucleotides in either direction (i.e., 5' or 3 ⁇ ) from a translation termination codon.
  • Other target regions include the 5' untranslated region (5 'UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 5 ' direction from the translation initiation codon, and thus including nucleotides between the 5 ' cap site and the translation initiation codon of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene, and the 3' untranslated region (3 'UTR), known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 3 ' direction from the translation termination codon, and thus including nucleotides between the translation termination codon and 3 ' end of an mRNA or corresponding nucleotides on the gene.
  • 5 'UTR 5' untranslated region
  • 3 'UTR known in the art to refer to the portion of an mRNA in the 3 ' direction from the
  • the 5' cap of an mRNA comprises an N7-methylated guanosine residue joined to the 5 ' -most residue of the mRNA via a 5 '-5' triphosphate linkage.
  • the 5' cap region of an mRNA is considered to include the 5 ' cap structure itself as well as the first 50 nucleotides adjacent to the cap.
  • the 5' cap region may also be a preferred target region.
  • introns which are excised from a transcript before it is translated.
  • the remaining (and therefore translated) regions are known as “exons” and are spliced together to form a continuous mRNA sequence.
  • mRNA splice sites i.e., intron-exon junctions
  • intron-exon junctions may also be preferred target regions, and are particularly useful in situations where aberrant splicing is implicated in disease, or where an overproduction of a particular mRNA splice product is implicated in disease.
  • Aberrant fusion junctions due to rearrangements or deletions are also preferred targets. It has also been found that introns can also be effective, and therefore preferred, target regions for antisense compounds targeted, for example, to DNA or pre-mRNA.
  • oligonucleotides are chosen which are sufficiently complementary to the target, i.e., hybridize sufficiently well and with sufficient specificity, to give the desired effect .
  • hybridization means hydrogen bonding, which may be Watson-Crick, Hoogsteen or reversed Hoogsteen hydrogen bonding, between complementary nucleoside or nucleotide bases.
  • adenine and thymine are complementary nucleobases which pair through the formation of hydrogen bonds.
  • oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA are considered to be complementary to each other at that position.
  • the oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA are complementary to each other when a sufficient number of corresponding positions in each molecule are occupied by nucleotides which can hydrogen bond with each other.
  • “specifically hybridizable” and “complementary” are terms which are used to indicate a sufficient degree of complementarity or precise pairing such that stable and specific binding occurs between the oligonucleotide and the DNA or RNA target.
  • an antisense compound need not be 100% complementary to that of its target nucleic acid to be specifically hybridizable.
  • An antisense compound is specifically hybridizable when binding of the compound to the target DNA or RNA molecule interferes with the normal function of the target DNA or RNA to cause a loss of utility, and there is a sufficient degree of complementarity to avoid non-specific binding of the antisense compound to non-target sequences under conditions in which specific binding is desired, i.e., under physiological conditions in the case of in vivo assays or therapeutic treatment, and in the case of in vi tro assays, under conditions in which the assays are performed.
  • Antisense and other compounds of the invention which hybridize to the target and inhibit expression of the target are identified through experimentation, and the sequences of these compounds are hereinbelow identified as preferred embodiments of the invention.
  • the target sites to which these preferred sequences are complementary are hereinbelow referred to as "active sites” and are therefore preferred sites for targeting. Therefore another embodiment of the invention encompasses compounds which hybridize to these active sites.
  • Antisense compounds are commonly used as research reagents and diagnostics. For example, antisense oligonucleotides, which are able to inhibit gene expression with 17, specificity, are often used by those of ordinary skill to elucidate the function of particular genes. Antisense compounds are also used, for example, to distinguish between functions of various members of a biological pathway. Antisense modulation has, therefore, been harnessed for research use.
  • Antisense oligonucleotides have been employed as therapeutic moieties in the treatment of disease states in animals and man.
  • Antisense oligonucleotide drugs, including ribozymes, have been safely and effectively administered to humans and numerous clinical trials are presently underway. It is thus established that oligonucleotides can be useful therapeutic modalities that can be configured to be useful in treatment regimes for treatment of cells, tissues and animals, especially humans.
  • oligonucleotide refers to an oligomer or polymer of ribonucleic acid (RNA) or deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) or mimetics thereof.
  • RNA ribonucleic acid
  • DNA deoxyribonucleic acid
  • oligonucleotides composed of naturally-occurring nucleobases, sugars and covalent internucleoside (backbone) linkages as well as oligonucleotides having non-naturally-occurring portions which function similarly.
  • backbone covalent internucleoside
  • modified or substituted oligonucleotides are often preferred over native forms because of desirable properties such as, for example, enhanced cellular uptake, enhanced affinity for nucleic acid target and increased stability in the presence of nucleases.
  • antisense oligonucleotides are a preferred form of antisense compound
  • the present invention comprehends other oligomeric antisense compounds, including but not limited to oligonucleotide mimetics such as are described below.
  • the antisense compounds in accordance with this invention preferably comprise from about 8 to about 50 nucleobases (i.e. from about 8 to about 50 linked nucleosides) .
  • Particularly preferred antisense compounds are antisense oligonucleotides, even more preferably those comprising from about 12 to about 30 nucleobases.
  • Antisense compounds include ribozymes, external guide sequence (EGS) oligonucleotides (oligozymes) , and other short catalytic RNAs or catalytic oligonucleotides which hybridize to the target nucleic acid and modulate its expression.
  • GCS external guide sequence
  • oligozymes oligonucleotides
  • other short catalytic RNAs or catalytic oligonucleotides which hybridize to the target nucleic acid and modulate its expression.
  • nucleoside is a base-sugar combination.
  • the base portion of the nucleoside is normally a heterocyclic base.
  • the two most common classes of such heterocyclic bases are the purines and the pyrimidines.
  • Nucleotides are nucleosides that further include a phosphate group covalently linked to the sugar portion of the nucleoside.
  • the phosphate group can be linked to either the 2', 3' or 5' hydroxyl moiety of the sugar.
  • the phosphate groups covalently link adjacent nucleosides to one another to form a linear polymeric compound.
  • this linear polymeric structure can be further joined to form a circular structure, however, open linear structures are generally preferred.
  • the phosphate groups are commonly referred to as forming the internucleoside backbone of the oligonucleotide.
  • the normal linkage or backbone of RNA and DNA is a 3' to 5' phosphodiester linkage.
  • Specific examples of preferred antisense compounds useful in this invention include oligonucleotides containing modified backbones or non-natural internucleoside linkages.
  • oligonucleotides having modified backbones include those that retain a phosphorus atom in the backbone and those that do not have a phosphorus atom in the backbone.
  • modified oligonucleotides that do not have a phosphorus atom in their internucleoside backbone can also be considered to be oligonucleosides .
  • Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones include, for example, phosphorothioates, chiral phosphorothioates, phosphorodithioates, phosphotriesters, aminoalkyl- phosphotriesters, methyl and other alkyl phosphonates including 3 '-alkylene phosphonates, 5 ' -alkylene phosphonates and chiral phosphonates, phosphinates, phosphoramidates including 3 '-amino phosphoramidate and aminoalkylphosphoramidates, thionophosphoramidates, thiono- alkylphosphonates, thionoalkylphosphotriesters, selenophosphates and boranophosphates having normal 3' -5' linkages, 2' -5' linked analogs of these, and those having inverted polarity wherein one or more internucleotide linkages is a 3 ' to 3 ' , 5' to 5 ' or 2 ' to
  • Preferred oligonucleotides having inverted polarity comprise a single 3 ' to 3 ' linkage at the 3 ' -most internucleotide linkage i.e. a single inverted nucleoside residue which may be abasic (the nucleobase is missing or has a hydroxyl group in place thereof) .
  • Various salts, mixed salts and free acid forms are also included.
  • Preferred modified oligonucleotide backbones that do not include a phosphorus atom therein have backbones that are formed by short chain alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, mixed heteroatom and alkyl or cycloalkyl internucleoside linkages, or one or more short chain heteroatomic or heterocyclic internucleoside linkages.
  • morpholino linkages formed in part from the sugar portion of a nucleoside
  • siloxane backbones siloxane backbones
  • sulfide, sulfoxide and sulfone backbones formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones
  • methylene formacetyl and thioformacetyl backbones riboacetyl backbones
  • alkene containing backbones sulfamate backbones; methyleneimino and methylenehydrazino backbones
  • sulfonate and sulfonamide backbones amide backbones; and others having mixed N, O, S and CH 2 component parts.
  • oligonucleosides include, but are not limited to, U.S.: 5,034,506; 5,166,315; 5,185,444 5,214,134; 5,216,141; 5,235,033; 5,264,562; 5,264,564, 5,405,938; 5,434,257; 5,466,677; 5,470,967; 5,489,677, 5,541,307; 5,561,225; 5,596,086; 5,602,240; 5,610,289, 5,602,240; 5,608,046; 5,610,289; 5,618,704; 5,623,070 5,663,312; 5,633,360; 5,677,437; 5,792,608; 5,646,269 and 5,677,439, certain of which are commonly owned with this application, and each of which is herein incorporated by reference .
  • both the sugar and the internucleoside linkage, i.e., the backbone, of the nucleotide units are replaced with novel groups.
  • the base units are maintained for hybridization with an appropriate nucleic acid target compound.
  • an oligomeric compound an oligonucleotide mimetic that has been shown to have excellent hybridization properties, is referred to as a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) .
  • PNA peptide nucleic acid
  • the sugar-backbone of an oligonucleotide is replaced with an amide containing backbone, in particular an aminoethylglycine backbone.
  • nucleobases are retained and are bound directly or indirectly to aza nitrogen atoms of the amide portion of the backbone.
  • Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of PNA compounds include, but are not limited to, U.S.: 5,539,082; 5,714,331; and 5,719,262, each of which is herein incorporated by reference. Further teaching of PNA compounds can be found in Nielsen et al . , Science, 1991, 254, 1497-1500.
  • Most preferred embodiments of the invention are oligonucleotides with phosphorothioate backbones and oligonucleosides with heteroatom backbones, and in particular -CH 2 -NH-0-CH 2 - , -CH 2 -N (CH 3 ) -0-CH 2 - [known as a methylene (methylimino) or MMI backbone] , -CH 2 -0-N(CH 3 ) -CH 2 -, -CH 2 -N(CH 3 ) -N(CH 3 ) -CH 2 - and -O-N (CH 3 ) -CH 2 -CH 2 - [wherein the native phosphodiester backbone is represented as -O-P- 0-CH 2 -] of the above referenced U.S.
  • Modified oligonucleotides may also contain one or more substituted sugar moieties.
  • Preferred oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2' position: OH; F; 0-, S-, or N-alkyl; 0-, S-, or N-alkenyl; 0-, S- or N- alkynyl; or O-alkyl-O-alkyl, wherein the alkyl, alkenyl and alkynyl may be substituted or unsubstituted Ci to C ⁇ 0 alkyl or C* 2 to Cio alkenyl and alkynyl.
  • n and m are from 1 to about 10.
  • oligonucleotides comprise one of the following at the 2' position: Ci to C ⁇ 0 lower alkyl, substituted lower alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, alkaryl, aralkyl, O-alkaryl or 0-aralkyl, SH, SCH 3 , OCN, Cl , Br, CN, CF 3 , 0CF 3 , SOCH 3 , S0 2 CH 3 , 0N0 2 , N0 2 , N 3 , NH 2 , heterocycloalkyl, heterocycloalkaryl, aminoalkylamino, polyalkylamino, substituted silyl, an RNA cleaving group, a reporter group, an intercalator, a group for improving the pharmacokinetic properties of an oligonucleotide, or a group for improving the pharmacodynamic properties of an oligonucleotide, and other substituents having similar properties.
  • a preferred modification includes 2'- methoxyethoxy (2 ' -0-CH 2 CH 2 0CH 3 , also known as 2'-0-(2- methoxyethyl) or 2 ' -MOE) (Martin et al . , Helv. Chim . Acta, 1995, 78 , 486-504) i.e., an alkoxyalkoxy group.
  • a further preferred modification includes 2 ' -dimethylaminooxyethoxy, i.e., a 0(CH 2 ) 2 ON(CH 3 ) 2 group, also known as 2'-DMA0E, as described in examples hereinbelow, and 2 ' -dimethy1amino- ethoxyethoxy (also known in the art as 2 ' -O-dimethylamino ethoxyethyl or 2 ' -DMAEOE) , i.e., 2 ' -0-CH 2 -0-CH 2 -N(CH 2 ) 2 , also described in examples hereinbelow.
  • 2 ' -dimethylaminooxyethoxy i.e., a 0(CH 2 ) 2 ON(CH 3 ) 2 group, also known as 2'-DMA0E, as described in examples hereinbelow
  • 2 ' -dimethy1amino- ethoxyethoxy also known in
  • a further prefered modification includes Locked Nucleic Acids (LNAs) in which the 2 ' -hydroxyl group is linked to the 3 ' or 4 ' carbon atom of the sugar ring thereby forming a bicyclic sugar moiety.
  • the linkage is preferably a methelyne (-CH 2 -) n group bridging the 2' oxygen atom and the 3 ' or 4 ' carbon atom wherein n is 1 or 2.
  • LNAs and preparation thereof are described in WO 98/39352 and WO 99/14226.
  • Oligonucleotides may also have sugar mimetics such as cyclobutyl moieties in place of the pentofuranosyl sugar.
  • Oligonucleotides may also include nucleobase (often referred to in the art simply as “base”) modifications or substitutions.
  • nucleobases include the purine bases adenine (A) and guanine (G) , and the pyrimidine bases thymine (T) , cytosine (C) and uracil (U) .
  • Modified nucleobases include other synthetic and natural nucleobases such as 5-methylcytosine (5-me-C) , 5-hydroxymethyl cytosine, xanthine, hypoxanthine, 2-aminoadenine, 6-methyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2 -propyl and other alkyl derivatives of adenine and guanine, 2-thiouracil, 2-thiothymine and 2- thiocytosine, 5-halouracil and cytosine, 5-propynyl (-C ⁇ C- CH 3 ) uracil and cytosine and other alkynyl derivatives of pyrimidine bases, 6-azo uracil, cytosine and thymine, 5- uracil (pseudouracil) , 4-thiouracil, 8-halo, 8-amino, 8- thiol, 8-thioalkyl, 8-hydroxyl and other 8-substit
  • nucleobases include tricyclic pyrimidines such as phenoxazine cytidine (1H- pyrimido [5, 4-b] [1, 4] benzoxazin-2 (3H) -one) , phenothiazine cytidine (IH-pyrimido [5, 4-b] [1,4] benzothiazin-2 (3H) -one) , G-clamps such as a substituted phenoxazine cytidine (e.g.
  • nucleobases may also include those in which the purine or pyrimidine base is replaced with other heterocycles, for example 7-deaza-adenine, 7- deazaguanosine, 2-aminopyridine and 2-pyridone.
  • nucleobases include those disclosed in United States Patent No. 3,687,808, those disclosed in The Concise Encyclopedia Of Polymer Science And Engineering, pages 858-859, Kroschwitz, J.I., ed. John Wiley & Sons, 1990, those disclosed by Englisch et al . , Angewandte Chemie, International Edition, 1991, 30, 613, and those disclosed by Sanghvi, Y.S., Chapter 15, Antisense Research and Applications, pages 289-302, Crooke, S.T. and Lebleu, B. , ed. , CRC Press, 1993. Certain of these nucleobases are particularly useful for increasing the binding affinity of the oligomeric compounds of the invention.
  • 5-substituted pyrimidines 6-azapyrimidines and N-2, N-6 and 0-6 substituted purines, including 2-aminopropyl- adenine, 5-propynyluracil and 5-propynylcytosine .
  • 5- ethylcytosine substitutions have been shown to increase nucleic acid duplex stability by 0.6-1.2°C (Sanghvi, Y.S., Crooke, S.T. and Lebleu, B., eds., Antisense Research and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 1993, pp. 276-278) and are presently preferred base substitutions, even more particularly when combined with 2 ' -O-methoxyethyl sugar modifications .
  • oligonucleotides of the invention involves chemically linking to the oligonucleotide one or more moieties or conjugates which enhance the activity, cellular distribution or cellular uptake of the oligonucleotide.
  • the compounds of the invention can include conjugate groups covalently bound to functional groups such as primary or secondary hydroxyl groups.
  • Conjugate groups of the invention include inter- calators, reporter molecules, polyamines, polyamides, polyethylene glycols, polyethers, groups that enhance the pharmacodynamic properties of oligomers, and groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties of oligomers.
  • Typical conjugates groups include cholesterols, lipids, phospholipids, biotin, phenazine, folate, phenanthridine, anthraquinone , acridine, fluoresceins, rhodamines, coumarins, and dyes.
  • Groups that enhance the pharmaco- dynamic properties include groups that improve oligomer uptake, enhance oligomer resistance to degradation, and/or strengthen sequence-specific hybridization with RNA.
  • Groups that enhance the pharmacokinetic properties include groups that improve oligomer uptake, distribution, metabolism or excretion.
  • Conjugate moieties include but are not limited to lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety (Letsinger et al . , Proc . Natl . Acad. Sci . USA, 1989, 86, 6553-6556), cholic acid (Manoharan et al . , Bioorg. Med. Chem . Let . , 1994, 4, 1053-1060), a thioether, e.g., hexyl- S-tritylthiol (Manoharan et al . , Ann . N. Y.
  • lipid moieties such as a cholesterol moiety (Letsinger et al . , Proc . Natl . Acad. Sci . USA, 1989, 86, 6553-6556), cholic acid (Manoharan et al . , Bioorg. Med. Chem . Let . , 1994, 4, 1053-1060), a thioether,
  • a phospholipid e.g., di- hexadecyl-rac-glycerol or triethylammonium 1,2-di-O- hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate (Manoharan et al . , Tetrahedron Lett . , 1995, 36, 3651-3654; Shea et al . , Nucl . Acids Res . , 1990, 18, 3777-3783), a polyamine or a polyethylene glycol chain (Manoharan et al .
  • Oligonucleotides of the invention may also be conjugated to active drug substances, for example, aspirin, warfarin, phenylbutazone, ibuprofen, suprofen, fenbufen, ketoprofen, (S) - (+) -pranoprofen, carprofen, dansylsarcosine, 2,3,5- triiodobenzoic acid, flufenamic acid, folinic acid, a benzothiadiazide, chlorothiazide, a diazepine, indo- methicin, a barbiturate, a cephalosporin, a sulfa drug, an antidiabetic, an antibacterial or an antibiotic. Oligonucleotide-drug conjugates and their preparation are described in United States Patent Application 09/334,130 (filed June 15, 1999) which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • the present invention also includes antisense compounds which are chimeric compounds.
  • "Chimeric” antisense compounds or “chimeras,” in the context of this invention, are antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, which contain two or more chemically distinct regions, each made up of at least one monomer unit, i.e., a nucleotide in the case of an oligonucleotide compound.
  • oligonucleotides typically contain at least one region wherein the oligonucleotide is modified so as to confer upon the oligonucleotide increased resistance to nuclease degradation, increased cellular uptake, and/or increased binding affinity for the target nucleic acid.
  • An additional region of the oligonucleotide may serve as a substrate for enzymes capable of cleaving RNA:DNA or RNA:RNA hybrids.
  • RNase H is a cellular endonuclease which cleaves the RNA strand of an RNA:DNA duplex.
  • RNA target Activation of RNase H, therefore, results in cleavage of the RNA target, thereby greatly enhancing the efficiency of oligonucleotide inhibition of gene expression. Consequently, comparable results can often be obtained with shorter oligonucleotides when chimeric oligonucleotides are used, compared to phosphorothioate deoxyoligonucleotides hybridizing to the same target region.
  • Cleavage of the RNA target can be routinely detected by gel electrophoresis and, if necessary, associated nucleic acid hybridization techniques known in the art .
  • Chimeric antisense compounds of the invention may be formed as composite structures of two or more oligonucleotides, modified oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides and/or oligonucleotide mimetics as described above. Such compounds have also been referred to in the art as hybrids or gapmers .
  • antisense compounds of the invention are synthesized in vi tro and do not include antisense compositions of biological origin, or genetic vector constructs designed to direct the in vivo synthesis of antisense molecules.
  • the compounds of the invention may also be admixed, encapsulated, conjugated or otherwise associated with other molecules, molecule structures or mixtures of compounds, as for example, liposomes, receptor targeted molecules, oral, rectal, topical or other formulations, for assisting in uptake, distribution and/or absorption.
  • Representative United States patents that teach the preparation of such uptake, distribution and/or absorption assisting formulations include, but are not limited to, U.S.:
  • the antisense compounds of the invention encompass any pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or salts of such esters, or any other compound which, upon administration to an animal including a human, is capable of providing (directly or indirectly) the biologically active metabolite or residue thereof. Accordingly, for example, the disclosure is also drawn to prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention, pharmaceutically acceptable salts of such prodrugs, and other bioequivalents .
  • prodrug indicates a therapeutic agent that is prepared in an inactive form that is converted to an active form (i.e., drug) within the body or cells thereof by the action of endogenous enzymes or other chemicals and/or conditions.
  • prodrug versions of the oligonucleotides of the invention are prepared as SATE [ (S-acetyl-2-thioethyl) phosphate] derivatives according to the methods disclosed in WO 93/24510 to Gosselin et al . , published December 9, 1993 or in WO 94/26764 and U.S. 5,770,713 to Imbach et al .
  • pharmaceutically acceptable salts refers to physiologically and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of the compounds of the invention: i.e., salts that retain the desired biological activity of the parent compound and do not impart undesired toxicological effects thereto.
  • Pharmaceutically acceptable base addition salts are formed with metals or amines, such as alkali and alkaline earth metals or organic amines.
  • metals used as cations are sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and the like.
  • suitable amines are N,N' -dibenzylethylenediamine, chloroprocaine, choline, diethanolamine, dicyclohexylamine, ethylenediamine,
  • the base addition salts of said acidic compounds are prepared by contacting the free acid form with a sufficient amount of the desired base to produce the salt in the conventional manner.
  • the free acid form may be regenerated by contacting the salt form with an acid and isolating the free acid in the conventional manner.
  • the free acid forms differ from their respective salt forms somewhat in certain physical properties such as solubility in polar solvents, but otherwise the salts are equivalent to their respective free acid for purposes of the present invention.
  • a "pharmaceutical addition salt” includes a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of an acid form of one of the components of the compositions of the invention. These include organic or inorganic acid salts of the amines. Preferred acid salts are the hydrochlorides, acetates, salicylates, nitrates and phosphates.
  • Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable salts include basic salts of a variety of inorganic and organic acids, such as, for example, with inorganic acids, such as for example hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid or phosphoric acid; with organic carboxylic, sulfonic, sulfo or phospho acids or N-substituted sulfamic acids, for example acetic acid, propionic acid, glycolic acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, hydroxymaleic acid, methylmaleic acid, fumaric acid, malic acid, tartaric acid, lactic acid, oxalic acid, gluconic acid, glucaric acid, glucuronic acid, citric acid, benzoic acid, cinnamic acid, mandelic acid, salicylic acid, 4-aminosalicylic acid, 2-phenoxybenzoic acid, 2-acetoxybenzoic acid, embonic acid, nicotinic acid or isonicotin
  • Pharmaceutically acceptable salts of compounds may also be prepared with a pharmaceutically acceptable cation.
  • Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable cations are well known to those skilled in the art and include alkaline, alkaline earth, ammonium and quaternary ammonium cations. Carbonates or hydrogen carbonates are also possible.
  • salts formed with cations such as sodium, potassium, ammonium, magnesium, calcium, polyamines such as spermine and spermidine, etc.
  • acid addition salts formed with inorganic acids for example hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, nitric acid and the like
  • salts formed with organic acids such as, for example, acetic acid, oxalic acid, tartaric acid, succinic acid, maleic acid, fumaric acid, gluconic acid, citric acid, malic acid, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid, tannic acid, palmitic acid, alginic acid, polyglutamic acid, naphthalenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, naphthalenedisulfonic acid, polygalacturonic acid
  • the antisense compounds of the present invention can be utilized for diagnostics, therapeutics, prophylaxis and as research reagents and kits.
  • an animal preferably a human, suspected of having a disease or disorder which can be treated by modulating the expression of caspase 2 is treated by administering antisense compounds in accordance with this invention.
  • the compounds of the invention can be utilized in pharmaceutical compositions by adding an effective amount of an antisense compound to a suitable pharmaceutically acceptable diluent or carrier.
  • Use of the antisense compounds and methods of the invention may also be useful prophylactically, e.g., to prevent or delay infection, inflammation or tumor formation, for example.
  • the antisense compounds of the invention are useful for research and diagnostics, because these compounds hybridize to nucleic acids encoding caspase 2, enabling sandwich and other assays to easily be constructed to exploit this fact.
  • Hybridization of the antisense oligonucleotides of the invention with a nucleic acid encoding caspase 2 can be detected by means known in the art. Such means may include conjugation of an enzyme to the oligonucleotide, radiolabelling of the oligonucleotide or any other suitable detection means. Kits using such detection means for detecting the level of caspase 2 in a sample may also be prepared.
  • the present invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions and formulations which include the antisense compounds of the invention.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may be administered in a number of ways depending upon whether local or systemic treatment is desired and upon the area to be treated. Administration may be topical (including ophthalmic and to mucous membranes including vaginal and rectal delivery), pulmonary, e.g., by inhalation or insufflation of powders or aerosols, including by nebulizer; intratracheal, intranasal, epidermal and transdermal), oral or parenteral.
  • Parenteral administration includes intravenous, intraarterial, subcutaneous, intraperitoneal or intramuscular injection or infusion; or intracranial, e.g., intrathecal or intraventricular, administration.
  • Oligonucleotides with at least one 2 ' -0-methoxyethyl modification are believed to be particularly useful for oral administration.
  • Pharmaceutical compositions and formulations for topical administration may include transdermal patches, ointments, lotions, creams, gels, drops, suppositories, sprays, liquids and powders. Conventional pharmaceutical carriers, aqueous, powder or oily bases, thickeners and the like may be necessary or desirable. Coated condoms, gloves and the like may also be useful.
  • Preferred topical formulations include those in which the oligonucleotides of the invention are in admixture with a topical delivery agent such as lipids, liposomes, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, steroids, chelating agents and surfactants.
  • a topical delivery agent such as lipids, liposomes, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, steroids, chelating agents and surfactants.
  • Preferred lipids and liposomes include neutral (e.g. dioleoylphosphatidyl DOPE ethanolamine, dimyristoylphosphatidyl choline DMPC, distearolyphosphatidyl choline) negative (e.g. dimyristoylphosphatidyl glycerol DMPG) and cationic (e.g.
  • Oligonucleotides of the invention may be encapsulated within liposomes or may form complexes thereto, in particular to cationic liposomes. Alternatively, oligonucleotides may be complexed to lipids, in particular to cationic lipids.
  • Preferred fatty acids and esters include but are not limited arachidonic acid, oleic acid, eicosanoic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein, dilaurin, glyceryl 1-monocaprate, l-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, an acylcarnitine, an acylcholine, or a C]__ ⁇ o alkyl ester (e.g.
  • isopropylmyristate IPM isopropylmyristate IPM
  • monoglyceride diglyceride or pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
  • topical formulations are described in detail in United States patent application 09/315,298 filed on May 20, 1999 which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
  • compositions and formulations for oral administration include powders or granules, microparticulates, nanoparticulates, suspensions or solutions in water or non- aqueous media, capsules, gel capsules, sachets, tablets or minitablets. Thickeners, flavoring agents, diluents, emulsifiers, dispersing aids or binders may be desirable.
  • Preferred oral formulations are those in which oligonucleotides of the invention are administered in conjunction with one or more penetration enhancers surfactants and chelators.
  • Preferred surfactants include fatty acids and/or esters or salts thereof, bile acids and/or salts thereof.
  • Prefered bile acids/salts include chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) and ursodeoxychenodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) , cholic acid, dehydrocholic acid, deoxycholic acid, glucholic acid, glycholic acid, glycodeoxycholic acid, taurocholic acid, taurodeoxycholic acid, sodium tauro-24, 25-dihydro-fusidate, sodium glycodihydrofusidate, .
  • DCA chenodeoxycholic acid
  • UDCA ursodeoxychenodeoxycholic acid
  • Prefered fatty acids include arachidonic acid, undecanoic acid, oleic acid, lauric acid, caprylic acid, capric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein, dilaurin, glyceryl 1-monocaprate, l-dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, an acylcarnitine, an acylcholine, or a monoglyceride, a diglyceride or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (e.g. sodium) .
  • arachidonic acid e.g. sodium
  • penetration enhancers for example, fatty acids/salts in combination with bile acids/salts.
  • a particularly prefered combination is the sodium salt of lauric acid, capric acid and UDCA.
  • Further penetration enhancers include polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether.
  • Oligonucleotides of the invention may be delivered orally in granular form including sprayed dried particles, or complexed to form micro or nanoparticles .
  • Oligonucleotide complexing agents include poly-amino acids; polyimines; polyacrylates; polyalkylacrylates, polyoxethanes, polyalkylcyanoacrylates; cationized gelatins, albumins, starches, acrylates, polyethyleneglycols (PEG) and starches; polyalkylcyanoacrylates; DEAE-derivatized polyimines, pollulans, celluloses and starches.
  • Particularly preferred complexing agents include chitosan, N-trimethylchitosan, poly-L-lysine, polyhistidine, polyornithine, polyspermines, protamine, polyvinylpyridine, polythiodiethylamino- methylethylene P(TDAE), polyaminostyrene (e.g.
  • polystyrene resin poly(methylcyanoacrylate) , poly (ethylcyanoacrylate) , poly(butylcyanoacrylate) , poly (isobutylcyanoacrylate) , poly (isohexylcynaoacrylate) , DEAE-methacrylate, DEAE- hexylacrylate, DEAE-aery1amide, DEAE-albumin and DEAE- dextran, polymethylacrylate, polyhexylacrylate, poly(D,L- lactic acid), poly (DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) , alginate, and polyethyleneglycol (PEG) .
  • PLGA DL-lactic-co-glycolic acid
  • PEG polyethyleneglycol
  • compositions and formulations for parenteral, intrathecal or intraventricular administration may include sterile aqueous solutions which may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives such as, but not limited to, penetration enhancers, carrier compounds and other pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or excipients.
  • compositions of the present invention include, but are not limited to, solutions, emulsions, and liposome-containing formulations. These compositions may be generated from a variety of components that include, but are not limited to, preformed liquids, self-emulsifying solids and self-emulsifying semisolids.
  • compositions of the present invention may be prepared according to conventional techniques well known in the pharmaceutical industry. Such techniques include the step of bringing into association the active ingredients with the pharmaceutical carrier (s) or excipient (s) . In general the formulations are prepared by uniformly and intimately bringing into association the active ingredients with liquid carriers or finely divided solid carriers or both, and then, if necessary, shaping the product .
  • the compositions of the present invention may be formulated into any of many possible dosage forms such as, but not limited to, tablets, capsules, gel capsules, liquid syrups, soft gels, suppositories, and enemas.
  • the compositions of the present invention may also be formulated as suspensions in aqueous, non-aqueous or mixed media.
  • Aqueous suspensions may further contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran.
  • the suspension may also contain stabilizers.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated and used as foams.
  • Pharmaceutical foams include formulations such as, but not limited to, emulsions, microemulsions, creams, jellies and liposomes. While basically similar in nature these formulations vary in the components and the consistency of the final product. The preparation of such compositions and formulations is generally known to those skilled in the pharmaceutical and formulation arts and may be applied to the formulation of the compositions of the present invention.
  • compositions of the present invention may be prepared and formulated as emulsions.
  • Emulsions are typically heterogenous systems of one liquid dispersed in another in the form of droplets usually exceeding 0.1 ⁇ m in diameter.
  • Emulsions are often biphasic systems comprising of two immiscible liquid phases intimately mixed and dispersed with each other.
  • emulsions may be either water-in-oil (w/o) or of the oil-in-water (o/w) variety.
  • aqueous phase When an aqueous phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk oily phase the resulting composition is called a water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion.
  • oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion When an oily phase is finely divided into and dispersed as minute droplets into a bulk aqueous phase the resulting composition is called an oil-in-water (o/w) emulsion.
  • Emulsions may contain additional components in addition to the dispersed phases and the active drug which may be present as a solution in either the aqueous phase, oily phase or itself as a separate phase.
  • Pharmaceutical excipients such as emulsifiers, stabilizers, dyes, and anti-oxidants may also be present in emulsions as needed.
  • Pharmaceutical emulsions may also be multiple emulsions that are comprised of more than two phases such as, for example, in the case of oil-in-water-in-oil (o/w/o) and water-in-oil-in-water (w/o/w) emulsions.
  • Such complex formulations often provide certain advantages that simple binary emulsions do not.
  • Emulsions in which individual oil droplets of an o/w emulsion enclose small water droplets constitute a w/o/w emulsion.
  • a system of oil droplets enclosed in globules of water stabilized in an oily continuous provides an o/w/o emulsion.
  • Emulsions are characterized by little or no thermodynamic stability.
  • the dispersed or discontinuous phase of the emulsion is well dispersed into the external or continuous phase and maintained in this form through the means of emulsifiers or the viscosity of the formulation.
  • Either of the phases of the emulsion may be a semisolid or a solid, as is the case of emulsion-style ointment bases and creams.
  • Other means of stabilizing emulsions entail the use of emulsifiers that may be incorporated into either phase of the emulsion.
  • Emulsifiers may broadly be classified into four categories: synthetic surfactants, naturally occurring emulsifiers, absorption bases, and finely dispersed solids (Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199) .
  • Synthetic surfactants also known as surface active agents, have found wide applicability in the formulation of emulsions and have been reviewed in the literature (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and
  • Surfactants are typically amphiphilic and comprise a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic portion.
  • the ratio of the hydrophilic to the hydrophobic nature of the surfactant has been termed the hydrophile/lipophile balance (HLB) and is a valuable tool in categorizing and selecting surfactants in the preparation of formulations.
  • Surfactants may be classified into different classes based on the nature of the hydrophilic group: nonionic, anionic, cationic and amphoteric (Rieger, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y. , volume 1, p. 285) .
  • Naturally occurring emulsifiers used in emulsion formulations include lanolin, beeswax, phosphatides, lecithin and acacia.
  • Absorption bases possess hydrophilic properties such that they can soak up water to form w/o emulsions yet retain their semisolid consistencies, such as anhydrous lanolin and hydrophilic petrolatum. Finely divided solids have also been used as good emulsifiers especially in combination with surfactants and in viscous preparations.
  • polar inorganic solids such as heavy metal hydroxides, nonswelling clays such as bentonite, attapulgite, hectorite, kaolin, montmorillonite, colloidal aluminum silicate and colloidal magnesium aluminum silicate, pigments and nonpolar solids such as carbon or glyceryl tristearate.
  • non-emulsifying materials are also included in emulsion formulations and contribute to the properties of emulsions. These include fats, oils, waxes, fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty esters, humectants, hydrophilic colloids, preservatives and antioxidants (Block, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 335; Idson, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 199) .
  • Hydrophilic colloids or hydrocolloids include naturally occurring gums and synthetic polymers such as polysaccharides (for example, acacia, agar, alginic acid, carrageenan, guar gum, karaya gum, and tragacanth) , cellulose derivatives (for example, carboxymethylcellulose and carboxypropylcellulose) , and synthetic polymers (for example, carbomers, cellulose ethers, and carboxyvinyl polymers) . These disperse or swell in water to form colloidal solutions that stabilize emulsions by forming strong interfacial films around the dispersed-phase droplets and by increasing the viscosity of the external phase .
  • polysaccharides for example, acacia, agar, alginic acid, carrageenan, guar gum, karaya gum, and tragacanth
  • cellulose derivatives for example, carboxymethylcellulose and carboxypropylcellulose
  • synthetic polymers for example, carbomers,
  • emulsions often contain a number of ingredients such as carbohydrates, proteins, sterols and phosphatides that may readily support the growth of microbes, these formulations often incorporate preservatives.
  • preservatives included in emulsion formulations include methyl paraben, propyl paraben, quaternary ammonium salts, benzalkonium chloride, esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and boric acid.
  • Antioxidants are also commonly added to emulsion formulations to prevent deterioration of the formulation.
  • Antioxidants used may be free radical scavengers such as tocopherols, alkyl gallates, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, or reducing agents such as ascorbic acid and sodium metabisulfite, and antioxidant synergists such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and lecithin.
  • free radical scavengers such as tocopherols, alkyl gallates, butylated hydroxyanisole, butylated hydroxytoluene, or reducing agents such as ascorbic acid and sodium metabisulfite
  • antioxidant synergists such as citric acid, tartaric acid, and lecithin.
  • Emulsion formulations for oral delivery have been very widely used because of reasons of ease of formulation, efficacy from an absorption and bioavailability standpoint. (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y. , volume 1, p.
  • the compositions of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids are formulated as microemulsions .
  • a microemulsion may be defined as a system of water, oil and amphiphile which is a single optically isotropic and thermodynamically stable liquid solution (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y., volume 1, p. 245).
  • microemulsions are systems that are prepared by first dispersing an oil in an aqueous surfactant solution and then adding a sufficient amount of a fourth component, generally an intermediate chain-length alcohol to form a transparent system.
  • microemulsions have also been described as thermodynamically stable, isotropically clear dispersions of two immiscible liquids that are stabilized by interfacial films of surface-active molecules (Leung and Shah, in : Controlled Release of Drugs : Polymers and Aggregate Systems, Rosoff, M. , Ed., 1989, VCH
  • Microemulsions commonly are prepared via a combination of three to five components that include oil, water, surfactant, cosurfactant and electrolyte. Whether the microemulsion is of the water-in-oil (w/o) or an oil-in-water (o/w) type is dependent on the properties of the oil and surfactant used and on the structure and geometric packing of the polar heads and hydrocarbon tails of the surfactant molecules (Schott, in Remington ' s Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mack Publishing Co., Easton, PA, 1985, p. 271).
  • microemulsions offer the advantage of solubilizing water-insoluble drugs in a formulation of thermodynamically stable droplets that are formed spontaneousl .
  • Surfactants used in the preparation of microemulsions include, but are not limited to, ionic surfactants, non- ionic surfactants, Brij 96, polyoxyethylene oleyl ethers, polyglycerol fatty acid esters, tetraglycerol monolaurate
  • ML310 tetraglycerol monooleate
  • MO310 tetraglycerol monooleate
  • PO310 hexaglycerol monooleate
  • PO500 hexaglycerol pentaoleate
  • MCA750 decaglycerol monocaprate
  • SO750 decaglycerol sequioleate
  • DAO750 decaglycerol decaoleate
  • the cosurfactant usually a short-chain alcohol such as ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol, serves to increase the interfacial fluidity by penetrating into the surfactant film and consequently creating a disordered film because of the void space generated among surfactant molecules.
  • Microemulsions may, however, be prepared without the use of cosurfactants and alcohol-free self- emulsifying microemulsion systems are known in the art.
  • the aqueous phase may typically be, but is not limited to, water, an aqueous solution of the drug, glycerol, PEG300, PEG400, polyglycerols, propylene glycols, and derivatives of ethylene glycol.
  • the oil phase may include, but is not limited to, materials such as Captex 300, Captex 355, Capmul MCM, fatty acid esters, medium chain (C8-C12) mono, di, and tri-glycerides, polyoxyethylated glyceryl fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, polyglycolized glycerides, saturated polyglycolized C8-C10 glycerides, vegetable oils and silicone oil .
  • materials such as Captex 300, Captex 355, Capmul MCM, fatty acid esters, medium chain (C8-C12) mono, di, and tri-glycerides, polyoxyethylated glyceryl fatty acid esters, fatty alcohols, polyglycolized glycerides, saturated polyglycolized C8-C10 glycerides, vegetable oils and silicone oil .
  • Microemulsions are particularly of interest from the standpoint of drug solubilization and the enhanced absorption of drugs.
  • Lipid based microemulsions both o/w and w/o have been proposed to enhance the oral bioavailability of drugs, including peptides (Constantinides et al . , Pharmaceutical Research, 1994, 11 , 1385-1390; Ritschel, Meth . Find. Exp. Clin . Pharmacol . , 1993, 13 , 205).
  • Microemulsions afford advantages of improved drug solubilization, protection of drug from enzymatic hydrolysis, possible enhancement of drug absorption due to surfactant-induced alterations in membrane fluidity and permeability, ease of preparation, ease of oral administration over solid dosage forms, improved clinical potency, and decreased toxicity
  • microemulsions may form spontaneously when their components are brought together at ambient temperature. This may be particularly advantageous when formulating thermolabile drugs, peptides or oligonucleotides. Microemulsions have also been effective in the transdermal delivery of active components in both cosmetic and pharmaceutical applications .
  • microemulsion compositions and formulations of the present invention will facilitate the increased systemic absorption of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids from the gastrointestinal tract, as well as improve the local cellular uptake of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids within the gastrointestinal tract, vagina, buccal cavity and other areas of administration.
  • Microemulsions of the present invention may also contain additional components and additives such as sorbitan monostearate (Grill 3), Labrasol, and penetration enhancers to improve the properties of the formulation and to enhance the absorption of the oligonucleotides and nucleic acids of the present invention.
  • Penetration enhancers used in the microemulsions of the present invention may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories - surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non-surf ctants (Lee et al . , Cri tical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems,
  • Liposomes There are many organized surfactant structures besides microemulsions that have been studied and used for the formulation of drugs. These include monolayers, micelles, bilayers and vesicles. Vesicles, such as liposomes, have attracted great interest because of their specificity and the duration of action they offer from the standpoint of drug delivery.
  • liposome means a vesicle composed of amphiphilic lipids arranged in a spherical bilayer or bilayers .
  • Liposomes are unilamellar or multilamellar vesicles which have a membrane formed from a lipophilic material and an aqueous interior. The aqueous portion contains the composition to be delivered. Cationic liposomes possess the advantage of being able to fuse to the cell wall . Non- cationic liposomes, although not able to fuse as efficiently with the cell wall, are taken up by macrophages in vivo .
  • lipid vesicles In order to cross intact mammalian skin, lipid vesicles must pass through a series of fine pores, each with a diameter less than 50 nm, under the influence of a suitable transdermal gradient. Therefore, it is desirable to use a liposome which is highly deformable and able to pass through such fine pores .
  • liposomes obtained from natural phospholipids are biocompatible and biodegradable; liposomes can incorporate a wide range of water and lipid soluble drugs; liposomes can protect encapsulated drugs in their internal compartments from metabolism and degradation (Rosoff, in Pharmaceutical Dosage Forms, Lieberman, Rieger and Banker (Eds.), 1988, Marcel Dekker, Inc., New York, N.Y. , volume 1, p. 245) .
  • Important considerations in the preparation of liposome formulations are the lipid surface charge, vesicle size and the aqueous volume of the liposomes.
  • Liposomes are useful for the transfer and delivery of active ingredients to the site of action. Because the liposomal membrane is structurally similar to biological membranes, when liposomes are applied to a tissue, the liposomes start to merge with the cellular membranes. As the merging of the liposome and cell progresses, the liposomal contents are emptied into the cell where the active agent may act.
  • Liposomes present several advantages over other formulations. Such advantages include reduced side- effects related to high systemic absorption of the administered drug, increased accumulation of the administered drug at the desired target, and the ability to administer a wide variety of drugs, both hydrophilic and hydrophobic, into the skin.
  • Liposomes are positively charged liposomes which interact with the negatively charged DNA molecules to form a stable complex.
  • the positively charged DNA/liposo e complex binds to the negatively charged cell surface and is internalized in an endosome . Due to the acidic pH within the endosome, the liposomes are ruptured, releasing their contents into the cell cytoplasm (Wang et al . , Biochem. Biophys . Res . Commun . , 1987, 147, 980-985).
  • Liposomes which are pH-sensitive or negatively-charged, entrap DNA rather than complex with it. Since both the DNA and the lipid are similarly charged, repulsion rather than complex formation occurs. Nevertheless, some DNA is entrapped within the aqueous interior of these liposomes. pH-sensitive liposomes have been used to deliver DNA encoding the thymidine kinase gene to cell monolayers in culture. Expression of the exogenous gene was detected in the target cells (Zhou et al . , Journal of Controlled Release, 1992, 19, 269-274) .
  • liposomal composition includes phospholipids other than naturally-derived phosphatidylcholine.
  • Neutral liposome compositions can be formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine (DMPC) or dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) .
  • Anionic liposome compositions generally are formed from dimyristoyl phosphatidylglycerol, while anionic fusogenic liposomes are formed primarily from dioleoyl phosphatidylethanolamine (DOPE) .
  • Another type of liposomal composition is formed from phosphatidylcholine (PC) such as, for example, soybean PC, and egg PC.
  • Another type is formed from mixtures of phospholipid and/or phosphatidylcholine and/or cholesterol.
  • Several studies have assessed the topical delivery of liposomal drug formulations to the skin. Application of liposomes containing interferon to guinea pig skin resulted in a reduction of skin herpes sores while delivery of interferon via other means (e.g. as a solution or as an emulsion) were ineffective (Weiner et al . , Journal of Drug Targeting, 1992, 2, 405-410) .
  • Non-ionic liposomal systems have also been examined to determine their utility in the delivery of drugs to the skin, in particular systems comprising non-ionic surfactant and cholesterol.
  • Non-ionic liposomal formulations comprising NovasomeTM I (glyceryl dilaurate/cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) and NovasomeTM II (glyceryl distearate/ cholesterol/polyoxyethylene-10-stearyl ether) were used to deliver cyclosporin-A into the dermis of mouse skin. Results indicated that such non-ionic liposomal systems were effective in facilitating the deposition of cyclosporin-A into different layers of the skin (Hu et al . S. T. P. Pharma . Sci . , 1994, 4, 6, 466).
  • Liposomes also include "sterically stabilized" liposomes, a term which, as used herein, refers to liposomes comprising one or more specialized lipids that, when incorporated into liposomes, result in enhanced circulation lifetimes relative to liposomes lacking such specialized lipids.
  • sterically stabilized liposomes are those in which part of the vesicle-forming lipid portion of the liposome (A) comprises one or more glycolipids, such as monosialoganglioside G M ⁇ , or (B) is derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, such as a polyethylene glycol (PEG) moiety.
  • PEG polyethylene glycol
  • liposomes comprising (1) sphingomyelin and (2) the ganglioside G M1 or a galactocerebroside sulfate ester.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,543,152 discloses liposomes comprising sphingomyelin. Liposomes comprising 1,2-e ⁇ - dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine are disclosed in WO 97/13499 (Lim et al . ) .
  • liposomes comprising lipids derivatized with one or more hydrophilic polymers, and methods of preparation thereof, are known in the art.
  • Sunamoto et al . (Bull . Chem . Soc . Jpn . , 1980, 53 , 2778) described liposomes comprising a nonionic detergent, 2C ⁇ 2 15G, that contains a PEG moiety.
  • Ilium et al . ⁇ FEBS Lett . , 1984, 167, 79) noted that hydrophilic coating of polystyrene particles with polymeric glycols results in significantly enhanced blood half-lives.
  • Synthetic phospholipids modified by the attachment of carboxylic groups of polyalkylene glycols e. g.
  • DSPE-PEG formed from the combination of distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine (DSPE) and PEG.
  • DSPE distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine
  • PEG distearoylphosphatidylethanolamine
  • Liposomes having covalently bound PEG moieties on their external surface are described in European Patent No . EP 0 445 131 Bl and WO 90/04384 to Fisher.
  • Liposome compositions containing 1-20 mole percent of PE derivatized with PEG, and methods of use thereof, are described by Woodle et al . (U.S. Patent Nos. 5,013,556 and 5,356,633) and Martin et al . (U.S. Patent No. 5,213,804 and European Patent No. EP 0 496 813 Bl) .
  • Liposomes comprising a number of other lipid-polymer conjugates are disclosed in WO
  • a limited number of liposomes comprising nucleic acids are known in the art.
  • WO 96/40062 to Thierry et al discloses methods for encapsulating high molecular weight nucleic acids in liposomes.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,264,221 to Tagawa et al discloses protein-bonded liposomes and asserts that the contents of such liposomes may include an antisense RNA.
  • U.S. Patent No. 5,665,710 to Rahman et al . describes certain methods of encapsulating oligodeoxynucleotides in liposomes.
  • WO 97/04787 to Love et al discloses liposomes comprising antisense oligonucleotides targeted to the raf gene.
  • Transfersomes are yet another type of liposomes, and are highly deformable lipid aggregates which are attractive candidates for drug delivery vehicles. Transfersomes may be described as lipid droplets which are so highly deformable that they are easily able to penetrate through pores which are smaller than the droplet . Transfersomes are adaptable to the environment in which they are used, e . g. they are self-optimizing (adaptive to the shape of pores in the skin) , self-repairing, frequently reach their targets without fragmenting, and often self-loading. To make transfersomes it is possible to add surface edge- activators, usually surfactants, to a standard liposomal composition. Transfersomes have been used to deliver serum albumin to the skin. The transfersome-mediated delivery of serum albumin has been shown to be as effective as subcutaneous injection of a solution containing serum albumin.
  • HLB hydrophile/lipophile balance
  • Nonionic surfactants find wide application in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products and are usable over a wide range of pH values. In general their HLB values range from 2 to about 18 depending on their structure.
  • Nonionic surfactants include nonionic esters such as ethylene glycol esters, propylene glycol esters, glyceryl esters, polyglyceryl esters, sorbitan esters, sucrose esters, and ethoxylated esters.
  • Nonionic alkanolamides and ethers such as fatty alcohol ethoxylates, propoxylated alcohols, and ethoxylated/propoxylated block polymers are also included in this class.
  • the polyoxyethylene surfactants are the most popular members of the nonionic surfactant class.
  • Anionic surfactants include carboxylates such as soaps, acyl lactylates, acyl amides of amino acids, esters of sulfuric acid such as alkyl sulfates and ethoxylated alkyl sulfates, sulfonates such as alkyl benzene sulfonates, acyl isethionates, acyl taurates and sulfosuccinates, and phosphates.
  • the most important members of the anionic surfactant class are the alkyl sulfates and the soaps.
  • Cationic surfactants include quaternary ammonium salts and ethoxylated amines. The quaternary ammonium salts are the most used members of this class .
  • amphoteric surfactants include acrylic acid derivatives, substituted alkylamides, N- alkylbetaines and phosphatides .
  • the present invention employs various penetration enhancers to effect the efficient delivery of nucleic acids, particularly oligonucleotides, to the skin of animals.
  • nucleic acids particularly oligonucleotides
  • Most drugs are present in solution in both ionized and nonionized forms. However, usually only lipid soluble or lipophilic drugs readily cross cell membranes. It has been discovered that even non-lipophilic drugs may cross cell membranes if the membrane to be crossed is treated with a penetration enhancer. In addition to aiding the diffusion of non-lipophilic drugs across cell membranes, penetration enhancers also enhance the permeability of lipophilic drugs.
  • Penetration enhancers may be classified as belonging to one of five broad categories, i.e., surfactants, fatty acids, bile salts, chelating agents, and non-chelating non- surfactants (Lee et al . , Cri tical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92) . Each of the above mentioned classes of penetration enhancers are described below in greater detail.
  • surfactants are chemical entities which, when dissolved in an aqueous solution, reduce the surface tension of the solution or the interfacial tension between the aqueous solution and another liquid, with the result that absorption of oligonucleotides through the mucosa is enhanced.
  • these penetration enhancers include, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate, polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether and polyoxyethylene-20-cetyl ether) (Lee et al . , Cri tical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, p.92); and perfluorochemical emulsions, such as FC-43. Takahashi et al . , J. Pharm . Pharmacol . , 1988, 40, 252).
  • Fatty acids Various fatty acids and their derivatives which act as penetration enhancers include, for example, oleic acid, lauric acid, capric acid (n-decanoic acid) , myristic acid, palmitic acid, stearic acid, linoleic acid, linolenic acid, dicaprate, tricaprate, monoolein (1- monooleoyl-rac-glycerol) , dilaurin, caprylic acid, arachidonic acid, glycerol 1-monocaprate, 1- dodecylazacycloheptan-2-one, acylcarnitines, acylcholines, Ci-io alkyl esters thereof ( e . g.
  • Bile salts The physiological role of bile includes the facilitation of dispersion and absorption of lipids and fat-soluble vitamins (Brunton, Chapter 38 in: Goodman & Gilman' s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 9th
  • bile salts includes any of the naturally occurring components of bile as well as any of their synthetic derivatives.
  • the bile salts of the invention include, for example, cholic acid (or its pharmaceutically acceptable sodium salt, sodium cholate) , dehydrocholic acid (sodium dehydrocholate) , deoxycholic acid (sodium deoxycholate) , glucholic acid (sodium glucholate) , glycholic acid (sodium glycocholate) , glycodeoxycholic acid (sodium glycodeoxycholate) , taurocholic acid (sodium taurocholate) , taurodeoxycholic acid (sodium taurodeoxycholate) , chenodeoxycholic acid (sodium chenodeoxycholate) , ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), sodium tauro-24, 25-dihydro- fusidate (STDHF) , sodium glycodihydrofusidate and polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether (POE) (Lee et al .
  • cholic acid or its pharmaceutically
  • Chelating agents can be defined as compounds that remove metallic ions from solution by forming complexes therewith, with the result that absorption of oligonucleotides through the mucosa is enhanced.
  • chelating agents have the added advantage of also serving as DNase inhibitors, as most characterized DNA nucleases require a divalent metal ion for catalysis and are thus inhibited by chelating agents (Jarrett, J. Chromatogr . , 1993, 618 , 315-339).
  • Chelating agents of the invention include but are not limited to disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate (EDTA) , citric acid, salicylates (e . g. , sodium salicylate, 5- methoxysalicylate and homovanilate) , iV-acyl derivatives of collagen, laureth-9 and AT-amino acyl derivatives of beta- diketones (enamines) (Lee et al . , Cri tical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1991, page 92; Muranishi, Cri tical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33; Buur et al . , J. Control Rel . , 1990, 14, 43-51).
  • EDTA disodium ethylenediaminetetraacetate
  • citric acid citric acid
  • salicylates e . g. , sodium salicylate, 5- methoxysalicylate and homovanilate
  • iV-acyl derivatives of collagen
  • Non-chelating non-surfactants can be defined as compounds that demonstrate insignificant activity as chelating agents or as surfactants but that nonetheless enhance absorption of oligonucleotides through the alimentary mucosa (Muranishi, Cri tical Reviews in Therapeutic Drug Carrier Systems, 1990, 7, 1-33) .
  • This class of penetration enhancers include, for example, unsaturated cyclic ureas, 1-alkyl- and 1-alkenylazacyclo- alkanone derivatives (Lee et al .
  • non- steroidal anti-inflammatory agents such as diclofenac sodium, indomethacin and phenylbutazone (Yamashita et al . ,
  • Agents that enhance uptake of oligonucleotides at the cellular level may also be added to the pharmaceutical and other compositions of the present invention.
  • cationic lipids such as lipofectin (Junichi et al , U.S. Patent No. 5,705,188), cationic glycerol derivatives, and polycationic molecules, such as polylysine (Lollo et al . , PCT Application WO 97/30731) , are also known to enhance the cellular uptake of oligonucleotides.
  • nucleic acids may be utilized to enhance the penetration of the administered nucleic acids, including glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol, pyrrols such as 2 -pyrrol, azones, and terpenes such as limonene and menthone .
  • glycols such as ethylene glycol and propylene glycol
  • pyrrols such as 2 -pyrrol
  • azones such as limonene and menthone .
  • terpenes such as limonene and menthone .
  • compositions of the present invention also incorporate carrier compounds in the formulation.
  • carrier compound or “carrier” can refer to a nucleic acid, or analog thereof, which is inert (i.e., does not possess biological activity per se) but is recognized as a nucleic acid by in vivo processes that reduce the bioavailability of a nucleic acid having biological activity by, for example, degrading the biologically active nucleic acid or promoting its removal from circulation.
  • a nucleic acid and a carrier compound can result in a substantial reduction of the amount of nucleic acid recovered in the liver, kidney or other extracirculatory reservoirs, presumably due to competition between the carrier compound and the nucleic acid for a common receptor.
  • the recovery of a partially phosphorothioate oligonucleotide in hepatic tissue can be reduced when it is coadministered with polyinosinic acid, dextran sulfate, polycytidic acid or 4-acetamido- 4 ' isothiocyano-stilbene-2 , 2 ' -disulfonic acid (Miyao et al . , Antisense Res . Dev. , 1995, 5, 115-121; Takakura et al . , Antisense & Nucl . Acid Drug Dev. , 1996, 6, 177-183).
  • a "pharmaceutical carrier” or “excipient” is a pharmaceutically acceptable solvent, suspending agent or any other pharmacologically inert vehicle for delivering one or more nucleic acids to an animal.
  • the excipient may be liquid or solid and is selected, with the planned manner of administration in mind, so as to provide for the desired bulk, consistency, etc. , when combined with a nucleic acid and the other components of a given pharmaceutical composition.
  • Typical pharmaceutical carriers include, but are not limited to, binding agents (e . g. , pregelatinized maize starch, polyvinylpyrrolidone or hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, etc.); fillers ( e . g.
  • lubricants e . g. , magnesium stearate, talc, silica, colloidal silicon dioxide, stearic acid, metallic stearates, hydrogenated vegetable oils, corn starch, polyethylene glycols, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, etc.
  • disintegrants e . g. , starch, sodium starch glycolate, etc.
  • wetting agents e . g. , sodium lauryl sulphate, etc.
  • compositions of the present invention can also be used to formulate the compositions of the present invention.
  • suitable pharmaceutically acceptable carriers include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohols, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.
  • Formulations for topical administration of nucleic acids may include sterile and non-sterile aqueous solutions, non-aqueous solutions in common solvents such as alcohols, or solutions of the nucleic acids in liquid or solid oil bases.
  • the solutions may also contain buffers, diluents and other suitable additives.
  • Pharmaceutically acceptable organic or inorganic excipients suitable for non-parenteral administration which do not deleteriously react with nucleic acids can be used.
  • Suitable pharmaceutically acceptable excipients include, but are not limited to, water, salt solutions, alcohol, polyethylene glycols, gelatin, lactose, amylose, magnesium stearate, talc, silicic acid, viscous paraffin, hydroxymethylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone and the like.
  • compositions of the present invention may additionally contain other adjunct components conventionally found in pharmaceutical compositions, at their art-established usage levels.
  • the compositions may contain additional, compatible, pharmaceutically-active materials such as, for example, antipruritics, astringents, local anesthetics or anti-inflammatory agents, or may contain additional materials useful in physically formulating various dosage forms of the compositions of the present invention, such as dyes, flavoring agents, preservatives, antioxidants, opacifiers, thickening agents and stabilizers.
  • additional materials useful in physically formulating various dosage forms of the compositions of the present invention such as dyes, flavoring agents, preservatives, antioxidants, opacifiers, thickening agents and stabilizers.
  • auxiliary agents e . g.
  • Aqueous suspensions may contain substances which increase the viscosity of the suspension including, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, sorbitol and/or dextran.
  • the suspension may also contain stabilizers.
  • Certain embodiments of the invention provide pharmaceutical compositions containing (a) one or more antisense compounds and (b) one or more other chemotherapeutic agents which function by a non-antisense mechanism.
  • chemotherapeutic agents include but are not limited to daunorubicin, daunomycin, dactinomycin, doxorubicin, epirubicin, idarubicin, esorubicin, bleomycin, mafosfamide, ifosfamide, cytosine arabinoside, bis-chloroethylnitrosurea, busulfan, mitomycin C, actinomycin D, mithramycin, prednisone, hydroxyprogesterone, testosterone, tamoxifen, dacarbazine, procarbazine, hexamethylmelamine, pentamethylmela ine, mitoxantrone, amsacrine, chlorambucil , methylcyclohexylnitrosurea, nitrogen mustards, melp alan, cyclophosphamide, 6-mercaptopurine, 6-thioguanine, cytarabine, 5-azacytidine,
  • chemotherapeutic agents may be used individually (e . g. , 5- FU and oligonucleotide), sequentially ( e . g.
  • 5-FU and oligonucleotide for a period of time followed by MTX and oligonucleotide or in combination with one or more other such chemotherapeutic agents (e.g., 5-FU, MTX and oligonucleotide, or 5-FU, radiotherapy and oligonucleotide) .
  • chemotherapeutic agents e.g., 5-FU, MTX and oligonucleotide, or 5-FU, radiotherapy and oligonucleotide
  • Anti-inflammatory drugs including but not limited to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and corticosteroids
  • antiviral drugs including but not limited to ribivirin, vidarabine, acyclovir and ganciclovir, may also be combined in compositions of the invention. See, generally, The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy, 15th Ed., Berkow et al .
  • compositions of the invention may contain one or more antisense compounds, particularly oligonucleotides, targeted to a first nucleic acid and one or more additional antisense compounds targeted to a second nucleic acid target.
  • antisense compounds particularly oligonucleotides
  • additional antisense compounds targeted to a second nucleic acid target Numerous examples of antisense compounds are known in the art. Two or more combined compounds may be used together or sequentially.
  • compositions and their subsequent administration is believed to be within the skill of those in the art. Dosing is dependent on severity and responsiveness of the disease state to be treated, with the course of treatment lasting from several days to several months, or until a cure is effected or a diminution of the disease state is achieved. Optimal dosing schedules can be calculated from measurements of drug accumulation in the body of the patient. Persons of ordinary skill can easily determine optimum dosages, dosing methodologies and repetition rates. Optimum dosages may vary depending on the relative potency of individual oligonucleotides, and can generally be estimated based on EC so s found to be effective in in vi tro and in vivo animal models. In general, dosage is from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, and may be given once or more daily, weekly, monthly or yearly, or even once every 2 to 20 years.
  • oligonucleotide is administered in maintenance doses, ranging from 0.01 ug to 100 g per kg of body weight, once or more daily, to once every 20 years. While the present invention has been described with specificity in accordance with certain of its preferred embodiments, the following examples serve only to illustrate the invention and are not intended to limit the same .
  • 2'-Deoxy and 2 ' -methoxy beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial sources (e.g. Chemgenes, Needham MA or Glen Research, Inc. Sterling VA) .
  • Other 2 ' -O-alkoxy substituted nucleoside amidites are prepared as described in U.S. Patent 5,506,351, herein incorporated by reference.
  • the standard cycle for unmodified oligonucleotides was utilized, except the wait step after pulse delivery of tetrazole and base was increased to 360 seconds.
  • Oligonucleotides containing 5-methyl-2 ' -deoxycytidine (5-Me-C) nucleotides were synthesized according to published methods [Sanghvi, et . al . , Nucleic Acids Research, 1993, 21 , 3197-3203] using commercially available phosphoramidites (Glen Research, Sterling VA or ChemGenes, Needham MA) .
  • N6-benzoyl-2 ' -deoxy-2 ' -fluoroadenosine was synthesized utilizing commercially available 9-beta-D- arabinofuranosyladenine as starting material and by modifying literature procedures whereby the 2' -alpha-fluoro atom is introduced by a S N 2-displacement of a 2 ' -beta-trityl group.
  • N6-benzoyl-9-beta-D-arabinofuranosyladenine was selectively protected in moderate yield as the 3 ',5'- ditetrahydropyranyl (THP) intermediate.
  • THP and N6-benzoyl groups were accomplished using standard methodologies and standard methods were used to obtain the 5 ' -dimethoxytrityl- (DMT) and 5 ' -DMT-3 ' - phosphoramidite intermediates .
  • Synthesis of 2 ' -deoxy-2 ' -fluorouridine was accomplished by the modification of a literature procedure in which 2 , 2 ' -anhydro-1-beta-D-arabinofuranosyluracil was treated with 70% hydrogen fluoride-pyridine . Standard procedures were used to obtain the 5 ' -DMT and 5 ' -DMT- 3 'phosphoramidites .
  • 2 ' -deoxy-2 ' -fluorocytidine was synthesized via amination of 2 ' -deoxy-2 ' -fluorouridine, followed by selective protection to give N4-benzoyl-2 ' -deoxy-2 ' - fluorocytidine. Standard procedures were used to obtain the 5 ' -DMT and 5 ' -DMT-3 'phosphoramidites .
  • 2 ' -O-Methoxyethyl-substituted nucleoside amidites are prepared as follows, or alternatively, as per the methods of Martin, P., Helvetica Chimica Acta, 1995, 78 , 486-504. 2,2 ' -Anhydro [1- (beta-D-arabinof ranosyl) -5- ethyluridine]
  • the solution was poured into fresh ether (2.5 L) to yield a stiff gum.
  • the ether was decanted and the gum was dried in a vacuum oven (60°C at 1 mm Hg for 24 h) to give a solid that was crushed to a light tan powder (57 g, 85% crude yield) .
  • the NMR spectrum was consistent with the structure, contaminated with phenol as its sodium salt (ca. 5%) .
  • the material was used as is for further reactions (or it can be purified further by column chromatography using a gradient of methanol in ethyl acetate (10-25%) to give a white solid, mp 222-4°C) .
  • 2,2 ' -Anhydro-5-methyluridine (195 g, 0.81 M), tris (2- methoxyethyl) borate (231 g, 0.98 M) and 2 -methoxyethanol (1.2 L) were added to a 2 L stainless steel pressure vessel and placed in a pre-heated oil bath at 160°C. After heating for 48 hours at 155-160°C, the vessel was opened and the solution evaporated to dryness and triturated with MeOH (200 mL) . The residue was suspended in hot acetone (1 L) . The insoluble salts were filtered, washed with acetone (150 mL) and the filtrate evaporated.
  • Triethylamine (189 mL, 1.44 M) was added to a solution of triazole (90 g, 1.3 M) in CH 3 CN (1 L) , cooled to -5°C and stirred for 0.5 h using an overhead stirrer.
  • P0C1 3 was added dropwise, over a 30 minute period, to the stirred solution maintained at 0-10°C, and the resulting mixture stirred for an additional 2 hours.
  • the first solution was added dropwise, over a 45 minute period, to the latter solution.
  • the resulting reaction mixture was stored overnight in a cold room. Salts were filtered from the reaction mixture and the solution was evaporated. The residue was dissolved in EtOAc (1 L) and the insoluble solids were removed by filtration. The filtrate was washed with 1x300 mL of NaHC0 3 and 2x300 mL of saturated NaCl, dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated. The residue was triturated with EtOAc to give the title compound.
  • N4-Benzoyl-2 ' -O-methoxyethyl-5 ' -O-dimethoxytrityl-5- methylcytidine (74 g, 0.10 M) was dissolved in CH 2 C1 2 (1 L) .
  • Tetrazole diisopropylamine (7.1 g) and 2-cyanoethoxy-tetra- (isopropyl) phosphite (40.5 mL, 0.123 M) were added with stirring, under a nitrogen atmosphere. The resulting mixture was stirred for 20 hours at room temperature (TLC showed the reaction to be 95% complete) .
  • the reaction mixture was extracted with saturated NaHC0 3 (1x300 mL) and saturated NaCl (3x300 mL) .
  • 2 ' - (Dimethylaminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites [also known in the art as 2 ' -0- (dimethylaminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites] are prepared as described in the following paragraphs.
  • Adenosine, cytidine and guanosine nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly to the thymidine (5- methyluridine) except the exocyclic amines are protected with a benzoyl moiety in the case of adenosine and cytidine and with isobutyryl in the case of guanosine.
  • Residue obtained was placed on a flash column and eluted with ethyl acetate : hexane (60:40), to get 2 ' -0- ( [2-phthalimidoxy) ethyl] -5 ' - 1- butyldiphenylsilyl-5-methyluridine as white foam (21.819 g, 86%) .
  • reaction mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at 10°C. After that the reaction vessel was removed from the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 2 h, the reaction monitored by TLC (5% MeOH in CH 2 C1 2 ) . Aqueous NaHC0 3 solution (5%, lOmL) was added and extracted with ethyl acetate (2x2OmL) . Ethyl acetate phase was dried over anhydrous Na 2 S0 4 , evaporated to dryness. Residue was dissolved in a solution of IM PPTS in MeOH (30.6mL). Formaldehyde (20% w/w, 30mL, 3.37mmol) was added and the reaction mixture was stirred at room temperature for 10 minutes.
  • reaction mixture cooled to 10°C in an ice bath, sodium cyanoborohydride (0.39g, 6.13mmol) was added and reaction mixture stirred at 10°C for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the reaction mixture was removed from the ice bath and stirred at room temperature for 2 hrs. To the reaction mixture 5% NaHC0 3 (25mL) solution was added and extracted with ethyl acetate
  • Triethylamine trihydrofluoride (3.91mL, 24.0mmol) was dissolved in dry THF and triethylamine (1.67mL, 12mmol, dry, kept over KOH) .
  • This mixture of triethylamine-2HF was then added to 5 ' -O- tert-butyldiphenylsilyl-2 ' -O- [N,N- dimethylaminooxyethyl] -5-methyluridine (1.4Og, 2. mmol) and stirred at room temperature for 24 hrs. Reaction was monitored by TLC (5% MeOH in CH 2 C1 2 ) .
  • 2 ' - (Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites 2 ' - (Aminooxyethoxy) nucleoside amidites [also known in the art as 2 ' -0- (aminooxyethyl) nucleoside amidites] are prepared as described in the following paragraphs. Adenosine, cytidine and thymidine nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly.
  • the 2 ' -O-aminooxyethyl guanosine analog may be obtained by selective 2 ' -O-alkylation of diaminopurine riboside.
  • Multigram quantities of diaminopurine riboside may be purchased from Schering AG (Berlin) to provide 2 ' -0- (2-ethylacetyl) diaminopurine riboside along with a minor amount of the 3'-0-isomer.
  • 2 ' -O- (2-ethylacetyl) diaminopurine riboside may be resolved and converted to 2 ' - O- (2-ethylacetyl) guanosine by treatment with adenosine deaminase.
  • the hydroxyl group may be displaced by N-hydroxyphthalimide via a Mitsunobu reaction, and the protected nucleoside may phosphitylated as usual to yield 2-N-isobutyryl-6-0- diphenylcarbamoyl-2 ' -O- (2-ethylacetyl) -5 ' -O- (4,4 ' - dimethoxytrityl) guanosine-3 ' - [ (2-cyanoethyl) -N,N- diisopropylphosphoramidite] .
  • 2 ' -dimethylaminoethoxyethoxy nucleoside amidites also known in the art as 2 ' -O-dimethylaminoethoxyethyl, i.e.,
  • 2 ' -0-CH 2 -0-CH 2 -N(CH 2 )2, or 2 ' -DMAEOE nucleoside amidites are prepared as follows. Other nucleoside amidites are prepared similarly.
  • the crude solution is concentrated and the residue partitioned between water (200 mL) and hexanes (200 mL) .
  • the excess phenol is extracted into the hexane layer.
  • the aqueous layer is extracted with ethyl acetate (3x200 mL) and the combined organic layers are washed once with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and concentrated.
  • the residue is columned on silica gel using methanol/methylene chloride 1:20 (which has 2% triethylamine) as the eluent. As the column fractions are concentrated a colorless solid forms which is collected to give the title compound as a white solid.
  • the thiation wait step was increased to 68 sec and was followed by the capping step.
  • the oligonucleotides were purified by precipitating twice with 2.5 volumes of ethanol from a 0.5 M NaCl solution.
  • Phosphinate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Patent 5,508,270, herein incorporated by reference .
  • Alkyl phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Patent 4,469,863, herein incorporated by reference .
  • 3 ' -Deoxy-3 ' -methylene phosphonate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Patents 5,610,289 or 5,625,050, herein incorporated by reference.
  • Phosphoramidite oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Patent, 5,256,775 or U.S. Patent 5,366,878, herein incorporated by reference.
  • Alkylphosphonothioate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in published PCT applications PCT/US94/00902 and PCT/US93/06976 (published as WO 94/17093 and WO 94/02499, respectively), herein incorporated by reference.
  • 3 ' -Deoxy-3 ' -amino phosphoramidate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Patent 5,476,925, herein incorporated by reference .
  • Phosphotriester oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Patent 5,023,243, herein incorporated by reference.
  • Borano phosphate oligonucleotides are prepared as described in U.S. Patents 5,130,302 and 5,177,198, both herein incorporated by reference .
  • Formacetal and thioformacetal linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Patents 5,264,562 and 5,264,564, herein incorporated by reference.
  • Ethylene oxide linked oligonucleosides are prepared as described in U.S. Patent 5,223,618, herein incorporated by reference.
  • PNAs Peptide nucleic acids
  • PNA Peptide nucleic acids
  • Chimeric oligonucleotides, oligonucleosides or mixed oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides of the invention can be of several different types. These include a first type wherein the "gap" segment of linked nucleosides is positioned between 5' and 3' "wing" segments of linked nucleosides and a second "open end” type wherein the "gap” segment is located at either the 3 ' or the 5 ' terminus of the oligomeric compound. Oligonucleotides of the first type are also known in the art as “gapmers” or gapped oligonucleotides. Oligonucleotides of the second type are also known in the art as “hemimers" or "wingmers”.
  • Chimeric oligonucleotides having 2 ' -O-alkyl phosphorothioate and 2 ' -deoxy phosphorothioate oligonucleotide segments are synthesized using an Applied Biosystems automated DNA synthesizer Model 380B, as above. Oligonucleotides are synthesized using the automated synthesizer and 2' -deoxy-5 ' -dimethoxytrityl-3 ' -0-phosphor- amidite for the DNA portion and 5 ' -dimethoxytrityl -2 ' -0- methyl-3 ' -O-phosphoramidite for 5' and 3' wings.
  • the standard synthesis cycle is modified by increasing the wait step after the delivery of tetrazole and base to 600 s repeated four times for RNA and twice for 2'-0-methyl.
  • the fully protected oligonucleotide is cleaved from the support and the phosphate group is deprotected in 3:1 ammonia/ethanol at room temperature overnight then lyophilized to dryness.
  • Treatment in methanolic ammonia for 24 hrs at room temperature is then done to deprotect all bases and sample was again lyophilized to dryness.
  • the pellet is resuspended in IM TBAF in THF for 24 hrs at room temperature to deprotect the 2' positions.
  • the reaction is then quenched with IM TEAA and the sample is then reduced to 1/2 volume by rotovac before being desalted on a G25 size exclusion column.
  • the oligo recovered is then analyzed spectrophotometrically for yield and for purity by capillary electrophoresis and by mass spectro etry .
  • chimeric oligonucleotides chimeric oligonucleosides and mixed chimeric oligonucleotides/oligonucleosides are synthesized according to United States patent 5,623,065, herein incorporated by reference.
  • the oligonucleotides or oligonucleosides are purified by precipitation twice out of 0.5 M NaCl with 2.5 volumes ethanol. Synthesized oligonucleotides were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis on denaturing gels and judged to be at least 85% full length material. The relative amounts of phosphorothioate and phosphodiester linkages obtained in synthesis were periodically checked by 31 P nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and for some studies oligonucleotides were purified by HPLC, as described by Chiang et al . , J " . Biol . Chem. 1991, 266, 18162-18171. Results obtained with HPLC-purified material were similar to those obtained with non-HPLC purified material .
  • Oligonucleotides were synthesized via solid phase P(III) phosphoramidite chemistry on an automated synthesizer capable of assembling 96 sequences simultaneously in a standard 96 well format.
  • Phosphodiester internucleotide linkages were afforded by oxidation with aqueous iodine.
  • Phosphorothioate internucleotide linkages were generated by sulfurization utilizing 3,H-1,2 benzodithiole-3-one 1,1 dioxide (Beaucage Reagent) in anhydrous acetonitrile.
  • Standard base- protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites were purchased from commercial vendors (e.g.
  • Non-standard nucleosides are synthesized as per known literature or patented methods. They are utilized as base protected beta-cyanoethyldiisopropyl phosphoramidites. Oligonucleotides were cleaved from support and deprotected with concentrated NHOH at elevated temperature (55-60°C) for 12-16 hours and the released product then dried in vacuo. The dried product was then re-suspended in sterile water to afford a master plate from which all analytical and test plate samples are then diluted utilizing robotic pipettors .
  • the concentration of oligonucleotide in each well was assessed by dilution of samples and UV absorption spectroscopy.
  • the full-length integrity of the individual products was evaluated by capillary electrophoresis (CE) in either the 96 well format (Beckman P/ACETM MDQ) or, for individually prepared samples, on a commercial CE apparatus (e.g., Beckman P/ACETM 5000, ABI 270) .
  • Base and backbone composition was confirmed by mass analysis of the compounds utilizing electrospray-mass spectroscopy. All assay test plates were diluted from the master plate using single and multi-channel robotic pipettors. Plates were judged to be acceptable if at least 85% of the compounds on the plate were at least 85% full length.
  • the effect of antisense compounds on target nucleic acid expression can be tested in any of a variety of cell types provided that the target nucleic acid is present at measurable levels. This can be routinely determined using, for example, PCR or Northern blot analysis. The following 5 cell types are provided for illustrative purposes, but other cell types can be routinely used, provided that the target is expressed in the cell type chosen. This can be readily determined by methods routine in the art, for example Northern blot analysis, Ribonuclease protection assays, or RT-PCR. T-24 cells :
  • the human transitional cell bladder carcinoma cell line T-24 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, VA) . T-24 cells were routinely cultured in complete McCoy' s 5A basal media
  • the human lung carcinoma cell line A549 was obtained from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) (Manassas, VA) .
  • A549 cells were routinely cultured in DMEM basal media (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, MD) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Gibco/Life).
  • NHDF cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 90% confluence.
  • NHDF Human neonatal dermal fibroblast
  • HEK cells Human embryonic keratinocytes (HEK) were obtained from the Clonetics Corporation (Walkersville MD) . HEKs were routinely maintained in Keratinocyte Growth Medium (Clonetics Corporation, Walkersville MD) formulated as recommended by the supplier. Cells were routinely maintained for up to 10 passages as recommended by the supplier.
  • HEK Human embryonic keratinocytes
  • the mouse embryonic adipocyte-like cell line 3T3-L1 was obtained from the American Type Culure Collection
  • 3T3-L1 cells were routinely cultured in DMEM, high glucose (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, MD) supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum (Gibco/Life Technologies, Gaithersburg, MD) . Cells were routinely passaged by trypsinization and dilution when they reached 80% confluence. Cells were seeded into 96-well plates (Falcon-Primaria #3872) at a density of 4000 cells/well for use in RT-PCR analysis.
  • cells may be seeded onto 100 mm or other standard tissue culture plates and treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of medium and oligonucleotide. Treatment with antisense compounds:
  • the concentration of oligonucleotide used varies from cell line to cell line. To determine the optimal oligonucleotide concentration for a particular cell line, the cells are treated with a positive control oligonucleotide at a range of concentrations.
  • the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 13920, TCCGTCATCGCTCCTCAGGG, SEQ ID NO: 1, a 2 ' -O-methoxyethyl gapmer (2 ' -O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to human H-ras.
  • the positive control oligonucleotide is ISIS 15770, ATGCATTCTGCCCCCAAGGA, SEQ ID NO: 2, a 2 ' -O- methoxyethyl gapmer (2 ' -O-methoxyethyls shown in bold) with a phosphorothioate backbone which is targeted to both mouse and rat c-raf .
  • concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 80% inhibition of c-Ha-ras (for ISIS 13920) or c-raf (for ISIS 15770) mRNA is then utilized as the screening concentration for new oligonucleotides in subsequent experiments for that cell line.
  • the lowest concentration of positive control oligonucleotide that results in 60% inhibition of H-ras or c-raf mRNA is then utilized as the oligonucleotide screening concentration in subsequent experiments for that cell line. If 60% inhibition is not achieved, that particular cell line is deemed as unsuitable for oligonucleotide transfection experiments.
  • RNA analysis can be performed on total cellular RNA or poly (A) + mRNA. Methods of RNA isolation are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F.M. et al . , Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp.
  • Protein levels of caspase 2 can be quantitated in a variety of ways well known in the art, such as immunoprecipit tion, Western blot analysis (immunoblotting) , ELISA or fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) .
  • Antibodies directed to caspase 2 can be identified and obtained from a variety of sources, such as the MSRS catalog of antibodies (Aerie Corporation, Birmingham, MI) , or can be prepared via conventional antibody generation methods. Methods for preparation of polyclonal antisera are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F.M. et al . , Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp. 11.12.1-11.12.9, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1997. Preparation of monoclonal antibodies is taught in, for example, Ausubel, F.M. et al . , Current Protocols in
  • Immunoprecipitation methods are standard in the art and can be found at, for example, Ausubel, F.M. et al . , Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 2, pp.
  • Poly (A) + mRNA was isolated according to Miura et al . , Clin . Chem. , 1996, 42, 1758-1764. Other methods for poly(A)+ mRNA isolation are taught in, for example, Ausubel, F.M. et al . , Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Volume 1, pp. 4.5.1-4.5.3, John Wiley & Sons, Inc . , 1993. Briefly, for cells grown on 96-well plates, growth medium was removed from the cells and each well was washed with 200 ⁇ L cold PBS.
  • lysis buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 M NaCl, 0.5% NP-40, 20 mM vanadyl-ribonucleoside complex) was added to each well, the plate was gently agitated and then incubated at room temperature for five minutes. 55 ⁇ L of lysate was transferred to Oligo d(T) coated 96-well plates (AGCT Inc., Irvine CA) . Plates were incubated for 60 minutes at room temperature, washed 3 times with 200 ⁇ L of wash buffer (10 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6, 1 mM EDTA, 0.3 M NaCl) .
  • the plate was blotted on paper towels to remove excess wash buffer and then air-dried for 5 minutes.
  • 60 ⁇ L of elution buffer (5 mM Tris-HCl pH 7.6), preheated to 70°C was added to each well, the plate was incubated on a 90°C hot plate for 5 minutes, and the eluate was then transferred to a fresh 96-well plate.
  • Cells grown on 100 mm or other standard plates may be treated similarly, using appropriate volumes of all solutions.
  • Buffer RW1 1 mL of Buffer RW1 was added to each well of the RNEASY 96TM plate and the vacuum again applied for 15 seconds. 1 mL of Buffer RPE was then added to each well of the RNEASY 96TM plate and the vacuum applied for a period of 15 seconds. The Buffer RPE wash was then repeated and the vacuum was applied for an additional 10 minutes. The plate was then removed from the QIAVACTM manifold and blotted dry on paper towels. The plate' was then re-attached to the QIAVACTM manifold fitted with a collection tube rack containing 1.2 mL collection tubes. RNA was then eluted by pipetting 60 ⁇ L water into each well, incubating 1 minute, and then applying the vacuum for 30 seconds. The elution step was repeated with an additional 60 ⁇ L water.
  • the repetitive pipetting and elution steps may be automated using a QIAGEN Bio-Robot 9604 (Qiagen, Inc.,
  • the plate is transferred to the robot deck where the pipetting, DNase treatment and elution steps are carried out .
  • Quantitation of caspase 2 mRNA levels was determined by real-time quantitative PCR using the ABI PRISMTM 7700 Sequence Detection System (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) according to manufacturer's instructions. This is a closed-tube, non-gel-based, fluorescence detection system which allows high-throughput quantitation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products in real-time. As opposed to standard PCR, in which amplification products are quantitated after the PCR is completed, products in real-time quantitative PCR are quantitated as they accumulate. This is accomplished by including in the PCR reaction an oligonucleotide probe that anneals specifically between the forward and reverse PCR primers, and contains two fluorescent dyes.
  • a reporter dye e.g., JOE, FAM, or VIC, obtained from either Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, CA or PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA
  • a quencher dye e.g., TAMRA, obtained from either Operon Technologies Inc., Alameda, CA or PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA
  • reporter dye emission is quenched by the proximity of the 3' quencher dye.
  • annealing of the probe to the target sequence creates a substrate that can be cleaved by the 5 ' - exonuclease activity of Taq polymerase.
  • cleavage of the probe by Taq polymerase releases the reporter dye from the remainder of the probe (and hence from the quencher moiety) and a sequence-specific fluorescent signal is generated.
  • additional reporter dye molecules are cleaved from their respective probes, and the fluorescence intensity is monitored at regular intervals by laser optics built into the ABI PRISMTM 7700 Sequence Detection System.
  • a series of parallel reactions containing serial dilutions of mRNA from untreated control samples generates a standard curve that is used to quantitate the percent inhibition after antisense oligonucleotide treatment of test samples.
  • primer-probe sets specific to the target gene being measured are evaluated for their ability to be "multiplexed" with a GAPDH amplification reaction.
  • GAPDH amplification reaction In multiplexing, both the target gene and the internal standard gene GAPDH are amplified concurrently in a single sample.
  • mRNA isolated from untreated cells is serially diluted.
  • Each dilution is amplified in the presence of primer-probe sets specific for GAPDH only, target gene only ("single- plexing"), or both (multiplexing).
  • primer-probe sets specific for GAPDH only target gene only
  • target gene only target gene only
  • multiplexing target gene only
  • standard curves of GAPDH and target mRNA signal as a function of dilution are generated from both the single-plexed and multiplexed samples. If both the slope and correlation coefficient of the GAPDH and target signals generated from the multiplexed samples fall within 10% of their corresponding values generated from the single-plexed samples, the primer-probe set specific for that target is deemed multiplexable .
  • Other methods of PCR are also known in the art.
  • PCR reagents were obtained from PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA.
  • RT-PCR reactions were carried out by adding 25 ⁇ L PCR cocktail (lx TAQMANTM buffer A, 5.5 mM MgCl- 2 , 300 ⁇ M each of dATP, dCTP and dGTP, 600 ⁇ M of dUTP, 100 nM each of forward primer, reverse primer, and probe, 20 Units RNAse inhibitor, 1.25 Units AMPLITAQ GOLDTM, and 12.5 Units MuLV reverse transcriptase) to 96 well plates containing 25 ⁇ L total RNA solution.
  • the RT reaction was carried out by incubation for 30 minutes at 48°C.
  • Gene target quantities obtained by real time RT-PCR are normalized using either the expression level of GAPDH, a gene whose expression is constant, or by quantifying total RNA using RiboGreenTM (Molecular Probes, Inc. Eugene, OR) .
  • GAPDH expression is quantified by real time RT-PCR, by being run simultaneously with the target, multiplexing, or separately.
  • Total RNA is quantified using RiboGreenTM RNA quantification reagent from Molecular Probes. Methods of RNA quantification by RiboGreenTM are taught in Jones, L.J., et al, Analytical Biochemistry, 1998, 265, 368-374.
  • RiboGreenTM working reagent 175 ⁇ L of RiboGreenTM working reagent (RiboGreenTM reagent diluted 1:2865 in lOmM Tris-HCl, 1 mM EDTA, pH 7.5) is pipetted into a 96-well plate containing 25uL purified, cellular RNA. The plate is read in a CytoFluor 4000 (PE Applied Biosystems) with excitation at 480nm and emission at 520nm.
  • Probes and primers to human caspase 2 were designed to hybridize to a human caspase 2 sequence, using published sequence information (GenBank accession number U13022, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 3) .
  • the PCR primers were : forward primer: TTTCTGAGCGGGCTTGTGAT (SEQ ID NO : 4) reverse primer: ATCCTTGATAAGTGCGTTCACCTT (SEQ ID NO: 5) and the PCR probe was: FAM-CAGCATGTCGGCCACGTGCA-TAMRA (SEQ ID NO: 6) where FAM (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster
  • PCR primers were : forward primer: CAACGGATTTGGTCGTATTGG (SEQ ID NO : 7) reverse primer: GGCAACAATATCCACTTTACCAGAGT (SEQ ID NO : 8) and the PCR probe was: 5' JOE-CGCCTGGTCACCAGGGCTGCT- TAMRA 3' (SEQ ID NO: 9) where JOE (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE- Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) is the quencher dye.
  • Probes and primers to mouse caspase 2 were designed to hybridize to a mouse caspase 2 sequence, using sequence information incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 10.
  • PCR primers were : forward primer: GGTCACAGACTCCTGCGTAGTG (SEQ ID NO: 11) reverse primer: AGCAGTTTGCCATCTACACCATAG (SEQ ID NO: 12) and the PCR probe was: FAM-TGCCACCTTCCACACCATGTGAGAG-TAMRA (SEQ ID NO: 13) where FAM (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE- Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) is the quencher dye.
  • FAM PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA
  • TAMRA PE- Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA
  • PCR primers were : forward primer: GGCAAATTCAACGGCACAGT (SEQ ID NO: 14) reverse primer: GGGTCTCGCTCCTGGAAGCT (SEQ ID NO: 15) and the PCR probe was: 5' JOE-AAGGCCGAGAATGGGAAGCTTGTCATC- TAMRA 3' (SEQ ID NO: 16) where JOE (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) is the fluorescent reporter dye) and TAMRA (PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA) is the quencher dye.
  • JOE PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA
  • TAMRA PE-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA
  • RNAZOLTM TEL-TEST "B” Inc., Friendswood, TX
  • Total RNA was prepared following manufacturer's recommended protocols. Twenty micrograms of total RNA was fractionated by electrophoresis through 1.2% agarose gels containing 1.1% formaldehyde using a MOPS buffer system (AMRESCO, Inc. Solon, OH) .
  • STRATALINKERTM UV Crosslinker 2400 Stratagene, Inc, La Jolla, CA
  • QUICKHYBTM hybridization solution Stratagene, La Jolla, CA
  • a human caspase 2 specific probe was prepared by PCR using the forward primer TTTCTGAGCGGGCTTGTGAT (SEQ ID NO : 4) and the reverse primer ATCCTTGATAAGTGCGTTCACCTT (SEQ ID NO: 5) .
  • membranes were stripped and probed for human glyceraldehyde-3 - phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) RNA (Clontech, Palo Alto, CA) .
  • GPDH glyceraldehyde-3 - phosphate dehydrogenase
  • a mouse caspase 2 specific probe was prepared by PCR using the forward primer GGTCACAGACTCCTGCGTAGTG (SEQ ID NO: 11) and the reverse primer AGCAGTTTGCCATCTACACCATAG (SEQ ID NO: 12) .
  • GPDH mouse glyceraldehyde-3 -phosphate dehydrogenase
  • Hybridized membranes were visualized and quantitated using a PHOSPHORIMAGERTM and IMAGEQUANTTM Software V3.3 (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale, CA) . Data was normalized to GAPDH levels in untreated controls.
  • oligonucleotides Antisense inhibition of human caspase 2 expression by chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides having 2 ' -MOE wings and a deoxy gap
  • a series of oligonucleotides were designed to target different regions of the human caspase 2 RNA, using published sequences (GenBank accession number U13022, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 3, GenBank accession number AA285285, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 17, and GenBank accession number AW385729, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO : 18) .
  • the oligonucleotides are shown in Table 1.
  • Target site indicates the first (5' -most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the oligonucleotide binds.
  • All compounds in Table 1 are chimeric oligonucleotides ("gapmers") 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central "gap” region consisting of ten 2'- deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5' and 3' directions) by five-nucleotide "wings".
  • the wings are composed of 2 ' -methoxyethyl (2 ' -MOE) nucleotides .
  • the compounds were analyzed for their effect on human caspase 2 mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR as described in other examples herein. Data are averages from two experiments. If present, "N.D.” indicates "no data”. Table 1
  • the target sites to which these preferred sequences are complementary are herein referred to as "active sites" and are therefore preferred sites for targeting by compounds of the present invention.
  • Example 16 Antisense inhibition of mouse caspase 2 expression by chimeric phosphorothioate oligonucleotides having 2 ' -MOE wings and a deoxy gap.
  • oligonucleotides were designed to target different regions of the mouse caspase 2 RNA, using published sequences (GenBank accession number NM_007610, incorporated herein as SEQ ID NO: 10) .
  • the oligonucleotides are shown in Table 2. "Target site” indicates the first (5' -most) nucleotide number on the particular target sequence to which the oligonucleotide binds.
  • All compounds in Table 2 are chimeric oligonucleotides ("gapmers") 20 nucleotides in length, composed of a central "gap" region consisting of ten 2'- deoxynucleotides, which is flanked on both sides (5' and 3' directions) by five-nucleotide "wings".
  • the wings are composed of 2 ' -methoxyethyl (2 ' -MOE) nucleotides .
  • All cytidine residues are 5-methylcytidines .
  • the compounds were analyzed for their effect on mouse caspase 2 mRNA levels by quantitative real-time PCR as described in other examples herein. Data are averages from two experiments. If present, "N.D.” indicates "no data”.
  • the target sites to which these preferred sequences are complementary are herein referred to as "active sites" and are therefore preferred sites for targeting by compounds of the present invention.
  • Western blot analysis is carried out using standard methods.
  • Cells are harvested 16-20 h after oligonucleotide treatment, washed once with PBS, suspended in Laemmli buffer (100 ul/well) , boiled for 5 minutes and loaded on a 16% SDS-PAGE gel. Gels are run for 1.5 hours at 150 V, and transferred to membrane for western blotting.
  • Appropriate primary antibody directed to caspase 2 is used, with a radiolabelled or fluorescently labeled secondary antibody directed against the primary antibody species. Bands are visualized using a PHOSPHORIMAGERTM (Molecular Dynamics, Sunnyvale CA) .

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Abstract

L'invention concerne des composés antisens, des compositions et des procédés permettant de moduler l'expression de la caspase 2. Les compositions décrites dans cette invention comprennent des composés antisens, en particulier des oligonucléotides antisens, destinés à des acides nucléiques codant pour la caspase 2. L'invention concerne également des procédés permettant d'utiliser ces composés pour moduler l'expression de la caspase 2, ainsi que des méthodes permettant de traiter des maladies associées à l'expression de la caspase 2.
PCT/US2001/028631 2000-09-20 2001-09-14 Modulation antisens de l'expression de la caspase 2 WO2002024720A1 (fr)

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US8614309B2 (en) 2007-10-03 2013-12-24 Quark Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Double-stranded RNA directed to CASP2 and methods of use thereof
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WO2009155662A1 (fr) * 2008-06-27 2009-12-30 Medvet Science Pty Ltd Protéine suppresseur de tumeur, caspase-2
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