Delivering miRNA in vivo

More Transfection Success! Great Research Tools!

Our i-Fect^TM  Transfection Kit is used to study Epigenetics and pain. Here's yet another example: M. Leinders, b, N. Üçeyler, R.A. Pritchard, C. Sommer, L.S. Sorkin. Increased miR-132-3p expression is associated with chronic neuropathic pain. Experimental Neurology. Volume 283, Part A, September 2016, Pages 276–286...The inhibitor and mimetic were administered to awake rats via the it catheters. Prior to injection, active or mismatch inhibitors were mixed with (1:5 w/v) i-Fect™ in vivo transfection reagent(Neuromics, Edina, USA) to final doses of 5, 2 and 1 μg in 10 μl...

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Spinal administration of miR-132-3p antagonists via intrathecal (i.t.) catheters dose dependently reversed mechanical allodyina  and eliminated pain behavior in the place escape avoidance paradigm (p < 0.001). Intrathecal administration of miR-132-3p mimetic dose-dependently induced pain behavior in naïve rats (p < 0.001). Taken together these results indicate a pro-nociceptive effect of miR-132-3p in chronic neuropathic pain.

Finding like these could pave the way for an miRNA like therapy for pain.

i-Fect used to Study Epigenetics in Nerve Injury

i-Fect used In Vivo for Study

Researchers use our i-Fect^TM to effectively deliver miR-126 in vivo to modulate Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MeCP2).

MeCP2 regulates gene expression through activation, repression and chromatin remodeling. Mutations in MeCP2 cause Rett syndrome, and these patients display impaired nociception. The researchers observed an increase in MeCP2 expression in mouse dorsal root ganglia (DRG) after peripheral nerve injury: Melissa T. Manners, Adam Ertel, Yuzhen Tian and Seena K. Ajit. Genome-wide redistribution of MeCP2 in dorsal root ganglia after peripheral nerve injury. Epigenetics & Chromatin 20169:23. DOI: 10.1186/s13072-016-0073-5© The Author(s) 2016 Received: 11 March 2016. Accepted: 27 May 2016Published: 7 June 2016...miRNA administration protocol was adapted from previous report of intrathecal miRNA delivery. To administer miRNA mimics, a polyurethane catheter (25G, 5.5 cm long, SAI infusion) was placed into the intrathecal space of the lumber L4–L5 vertebrae under isoflurane anesthesia. The catheter was stereotactically secured under the skin and occluded between injections. A custom miRCURY (Exiqon) miR-126 mimic containing a 5′ cholesterol tag and 3′ fluorescein label was injected at 2 nmol concentration with 4 µl iFECT transfection reagent (Neuromics). A total of 6 µl was delivered into the catheter connection juncture using a 25G blunt end needle on a Hamilton syringe. The catheter was then flushed with 7 µl sterile PBS to ensure miRNA reached the intrathecal space...

Figure: Expression of miR-126 and its target genes Dnmt1 and Vegfa in the DRG after nerve injury. a Relative expression of miR-126 determined by qPCR shows a reduction in miR-126 in SNI model compared to DRG from sham control. U6 was used for normalization (n = 8 sham, n = 7 SNI). b Relative expression of Dnmt1 mRNA and c Vegfa transcripts showed an increase in the DRG after nerve injury compared to control (n = 3). Gapdh was used as a normalizer. d Representative Western blot and quantification showed an increase of Dnmt1 protein in the DRG after nerve injury. e Western blot and quantification showed Vegfa protein was not significantly different in DRG after nerve injury (n = 3 from pooled samples, three DRG were pooled for each sample).

Conclusions: The study shows a regulatory role for MeCP2 in that changes in global redistribution can result in direct and indirect modulation of gene expression in the DRG. Alterations in genome-wide binding of MeCP2 therefore provide a molecular basis for a better understanding of epigenetic regulation-induced molecular changes underlying nerve injury.

Epigenetics and Pain Research

i-Fect Used to Study Impacts

Our i-Fect siRNA, miRNA and shRNA Trasfection Kit was recently used to study the impact of G9a-specific siRNA (AGUAACGGGCAUCAAUGC) on Mu Opioid Receptors: Yuhao Zhang, Shao-Rui Chen, Geoffroy Laumet, Hong Chen and Hui-Lin Pan. Nerve Injury Diminishes Opioid Analgesia through Lysine Methyltransferase-Mediated Transcriptional Repression of µ-Opioid Receptors in Primary Sensory Neurons. First Published on February 25, 2016, doi: 10.1074/jbc.M115.711812... In some SNL rats, G9a-specific siRNA (4 µg) or the negative control siRNA was administered intrathecally. G9a-specific siRNA(AGUAACGGGCAUCAAUGC) or universal negative control siRNA (#SIC001, Sigma-Aldrich) was mixed with i-Fect (Neuromics, Edina, MN) to a final concentration of 400 mg/L for the intrathecal injections...

Figures: G9a knockdown with siRNA reverses the MOR expression in the DRG and the morphine analgesic effect diminished by nerve injury. (A,B) Quantitative PCR (A) and Western blotting (B) analyses show the mRNA and protein levels of MORs in the DRGs of sham and SNL rats treated with control or G9a-specific siRNA (n = 10 rats in each group). The ipsilateral L5 and L6 DRG tissues were removed 24 h after the last siRNA injection. The amount of MOR mRNA and protein was normalized to GAPDH in the same samples, and the mean value of MOR levels in sham control rats was considered to be 1. (C) Time course of the intrathecal morphine effects on the tactile and pressure withdrawal thresholds in sham and SNL rats treated with G9a-specific siRNA or negative control siRNA (n = 9 rats in each group). The withdrawal thresholds after the last siRNA injection were plotted as the baseline control (BL).


Summary: The findings provide new insight into the epigenetic mechanism regulating MOR expression in primary sensory neurons in neuropathic pain. This multidisciplinary approach provides conclusive evidence for G9a as a key chromatin regulator responsible for MOR downregulation in the DRG and the analgesic efficacy of opioids reduced by nerve injury. A better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms underlying nerve injury-induced downregulation of MORs in primary sensory neurons could help improve the analgesic efficacy of opioids for treating chronic neuropathic pain. G9a inhibitors could be used to enhance the opioid analgesic effect and reduce opioid consumption in patients with chronic neuropathic pain.

Delivery of siRNA, miRNA, shRNA and Plasmids Guaranteed

Potent and Frequently Published Transfection Solutions


We have proven and frequently published transfection solutions. 
Powerful punch and versatility are now needed more than ever with the 
hyper growth in gene manipulation technologies like Sleeping Beauty^TM
and CRISPR-Cas9.

We have published examples of the use of our solutions for delivering siRNA, miRNA, 
shRNA and plasmids both in vitro and in vivo. here are some of your options.
i-Fect ™ -A novel cationic lipid formulation specifically 
designed for efficient delivery of 27mer DsiRNAs(dicer 
substrate small Interfering RNAs)& 21mer siRNAs (small interfering RNAs) in vitro and in vivo.
p-Fect™ -Designed to delivery plasmids, DNA or 
RNA to hard to transfect Cell Lines.

pn-Fect™ -The latest advance in transfection 
for primary neuronal cells. 
This unique reagent provides ultra-high plasmid DNA delivery 
efficiencies and low cytotoxicity compared to competitive reagents.
Here's a recent i-Fect Publication:
Liuming Jiang, Qun Wu , Tao Yang. Silencing of Id2 Alleviates 
Chronic Neuropathic Pain Following Chronic Constriction Injury.
Journal of Molecular Neuroscience\pp 1-7.First online: 15 January 2016
 

Figure: Knockdown of Id2 attenuated mechanical allodynia and thermal 

hyperalgesia in CCI rats. (a and b) PWT and PWL were measured 1 day before 

CCI and 1, 3, 7, and 14 days after intrathecal administration of shRNA-Id2.

If you are looking for transfection solutions, do not hesitate to contact me @ direct phone: 612-801-1007 or pshuster@neuromics.com. Thank you, Pete Shuster, CEO and Owner, Neuromics