Enhancement of Liposomal Plasmid DNA and siRNA Delivery by Itraconazole through Intracellular Cholesterol Accumulation

• Published in: Pharmaceutical research Vol. 37; no. 7; p. 126
• Main Authors: Shrestha, Ira, Choi, Jong-Soo, Bae, Yun-Ui, Doh, Kyung-Oh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.07.2020; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Analysis; Antifungal agents; Biochemistry; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering; Biomedicine; Cell Line, Tumor; Cholesterol; Cholesterol - metabolism; Cytotoxicity; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; DNA - metabolism; Endosomes - metabolism; Flow cytometry; Gene Expression Regulation; Gene therapy; Gene transfer; Gene Transfer Techniques; Genetic Therapy - methods; Humans; Imipramine; Infection; Intracellular; Itraconazole; Itraconazole - metabolism; Liposomes - chemistry; Localization; Luciferase; Lysosomes - metabolism; Macrolides - metabolism; Medical Law; Pharmacology/Toxicology; Pharmacy; Research Paper; RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism; Signal Transduction; siRNA; Transfection; gene delivery; endosomal escape; itraconazole; Bcl2 siRNA
• ISSN: 0724-8741; 1573-904X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11095-020-02846-4

Purpose Efficient and safe vehicle that can enhance gene transfer is still needed. Since intracellular cholesterol is known to have an important role in gene delivery and itraconazole alters intracellular cholesterol trafficking, we investigated the effect of itraconazole on pDNA and siRNA delivery. Methods The pDNA and Bcl2 siRNA transfection efficiency was measured by luciferase assay and cytotoxicity. Cellular cholesterol was observed using filipin staining, and intracellular uptake was analyzed by flow cytometry. Lipoplex localization was observed by fluorescent labeling of DNA and lysosome after treatment of itraconazole or co-treatment of itraconazole and bafilomycin A1. Results Itraconazole enhanced the transfection efficiency of pDNA and siRNA compared to that of control through the accumulation of cholesterol. Bafilomycin A1 diminished the effect of itraconazole on gene delivery and the increment of cholesterol. Itraconazole did not increase the cellular uptake of lipoplex, but increased free pDNA during the endosome-lysosome pathway was observed during the endosome-lysosome pathway. Treating cells with both imipramine and itraconazole caused an additive effect in pDNA and siRNA delivery. Conclusions Itraconazole enhanced gene delivery of pDNA and siRNA, and it can be used to potentiate nucleic acid therapeutics.