Biologic activity of oligonucleotides with polarity and anomeric center reversal

Antisense Nucleic Acid Drug Dev. 1998 Apr;8(2):95-101. doi: 10.1089/oli.1.1998.8.95.

Abstract

Human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16 E6 and E7 inactivate the tumor suppressors p53 and pRB, respectively. Both viral oncoproteins play important roles in maintaining the transformed phenotype of cells. In this study, we examine the effects of antisense oligodeoxynucleotides with polarity and anomeric center reversal (alpha/beta-ODNs). ODNs of the general structure 5'alphaN3'3'NNN5'5'alphaN3'3'NNNN5'5'alphaN3+ ++'3'N5' were synthesized using phosphoramidite DNA chemistry. These alpha/beta-ODNs were complementary in sequence to regions flanking the start codons of HPV type 16 E6 and E7 genes. The anti-HPV type 16 alpha/beta-ODNs were able to form stable duplexes with their complementary RNA, which then serve as substrates for RNase H hydrolysis. Anti-HPV type 16 alpha/beta-ODNs also specifically inhibited the growth of two cervical carcinoma cell lines, CaSki and SiHa, both of which harbor HPV type 16 DNA. A decrease in E7 protein expression was also observed. Injection of nude mice with SiHa cells induces tumors. Treatment of these tumor-bearing mice with anti-HPV type 16 alpha/beta-ODNs led to substantially smaller tumors. These results show that alpha/beta-ODNs can exert antisense activities both in vitro and in vivo on the E6 and E7 genes of HPV type 16.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Carcinoma / pathology
  • Carcinoma / therapy
  • Cell Division / drug effects
  • Codon / genetics
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • DNA, Viral / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Viral / drug effects
  • Genes, Viral
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred BALB C
  • Mice, Nude
  • Neoplasm Transplantation
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / chemistry
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / pharmacology*
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense / therapeutic use
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / biosynthesis
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral / genetics*
  • Oncogenes
  • Papillomaviridae / genetics*
  • Papillomavirus E7 Proteins
  • Papillomavirus Infections / pathology
  • RNA, Viral / genetics
  • RNA, Viral / metabolism
  • Repressor Proteins*
  • Ribonuclease H / metabolism
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured
  • Tumor Virus Infections / pathology
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / pathology
  • Viral Structural Proteins / genetics

Substances

  • Codon
  • DNA, Complementary
  • DNA, Viral
  • E6 protein, Human papillomavirus type 16
  • Oligonucleotides, Antisense
  • Oncogene Proteins, Viral
  • Papillomavirus E7 Proteins
  • RNA, Viral
  • Repressor Proteins
  • Viral Structural Proteins
  • oncogene protein E7, Human papillomavirus type 16
  • Ribonuclease H