Journal of Life Science (생명과학회지)

Korean Society of Life Science (한국생명과학회)
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Validation of Stem-loop RT-qPCR Method on the Pharmacokinetic Analysis of siRNA Therapeutics

Stem-loop RT-qPCR 분석법을 이용한 siRNA 치료제의 생체시료 분석법 검증 및 약물 동태학적 분석

  • 김혜정 (인핸스드바이오) ;
  • 김택민 (인천대학교 생명공학부 나노바이오전공) ;
  • 김홍중 (인핸스드바이오) ;
  • 정헌순 (인핸스드바이오) ;
  • 이승호 (인천대학교 생명공학부 나노바이오전공)
  • Received : 2019.05.07
  • Accepted : 2019.05.28
  • Published : 2019.06.30
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Abstract

The first small interfering RNA (siRNA) therapeutics have recently been approved by the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S., and the demand for a new RNA therapeutics bioanalysis method-which is essential for pharmacokinetics, including the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion of siRNA therapeutics-is rapidly increasing. The stem-loop real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR) assay is a useful molecular technique for the identification and quantification of small RNA (e.g., micro RNA and siRNA) and can be applied for the bioanalysis of siRNA therapeutics. When the anti-HPV E6/E7 siRNA therapeutic was used in preclinical trials, the established stem-loop RT-qPCR assay was validated. The limit of detection was sensitive up to 10 fM and the lower limit of quantification up to 100 fM. In fact, the reliability of the established test method was further validated in three intra assays. Here, the correlation coefficient of $R^2$>0.99, the slope of -3.10 ~ -3.40, and the recovery rate within ${\pm}20%$ of the siRNA standard curve confirm its excellent robustness. Finally, the circulation profiles of siRNAs were demonstrated in rat serum, and the pharmacokinetic properties of the anti-HPV E6/E7 siRNA therapeutic were characterized using a stem-loop RT-qPCR assay. Therefore, the stemloop RT-qPCR assay enables accurate, precise, and sensitive siRNA duplex quantification and is suitable for the quantification of small RNA therapeutics using small volumes of biological samples.

본 연구는 siRNA 기반 치료제등의 핵산치료제 개발에 있어서 필수적인 약물의 생체내 흡수, 분포, 대사, 배설에 대한 동태의 확인을 위해 stem-loop RT-qPCR 법을 이용하여 보다 더 정확한 시험법을 확립하고자 하였다. siRNA에 특이적인 primer와 probe를 선별하여 siRNA 정량검출 시험법을 최적화하였다. siRNA 표준시료를 이용하여 최적화된 시험법을 적용하였을 때 siRNA 표준시료에 대한 Cp 값(y)간의 선형분석 결과, 기울기 평균 -3.3, 결정계수 $R^2$>0.99으로 확인되어 siRNA 표준시료와 Cp 값 간의 회귀성이 매우 높아 정량 분석이 가능한 시험법임을 확인하였고, 같은 표준시료를 이용한 stem-loop RT-qPCR의 검출한계(LOD)는 10 fM, 최소정량한계(LLOQ)는 100 fM이었다. 확립된 시험법의 신뢰성을 확인하기 위해 시험자를 다르게 하고, 시험법을 3회 반복하여 각각 진행한 결과, siRNA 표준시료에 대한 Cp 값(y)간의 선형분석 결과 기울기와 결정계수 $R^2$의 재현성(slope ${\pm}-3.2$, 결정계수 $R^2$>0.99)을 확인하였고, 표준 곡선으로부터 환산된 siRNA 표준시료의 회수율(recovery ${\pm}20%$)과 완건성이 우수함을 확인하였다. 확립된 stem-loop RT-qPCR을 생체내 존재하는 약물 검증에 적용할 수 있는지 확인하기 위하여 시험동물에 siRNA를 주입 후 시간별 혈액을 채취하여 확립된 시험법으로 시험을 진행하였고 약물 동태학적 분석을 통해 siRNA치료제의 혈액내의 안정성을 확인하였다. 따라서 본연구에서 개발된 stem-loop RT-qPCR 분석법은 정확성, 정밀성 및 민감도가 높은 분석법으로 핵산치료제 개발 연구의 다양한 생체시료 분석 연구에 적용할 수 있을 것으로 기대한다.

Keywords

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Fig. 1. Schematic description of stem-loop RT-qPCR.

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Fig. 2. Specific amplification of Anti-HPV E6/E7 siRNA using stem loop RT-qPCR assay.

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Fig. 3. Determination of low limit of quantification (LLOQ) concentration.

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Fig. 4. Reproducibility and linearity of stem-loop RT-qPCR assay for quantitative detection of siRNA (A-C).

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Fig. 5. Quantitative detection of Anti-HPV E6/E7 siRNA in rat serum.

Table 4. Precision of stem-loop RT-qPCR from independent experiments

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Table 5. Pharmacokinetic parameter analysis of Anti-HPV E6/ E7 siRNA in rat serum

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Table 1. Sequences of siRNA, stem-loop primer and RT-qPCR primers used in the study

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Table 2. Stem-loop RT-qPCR results with serial diluted standard siRNA. Comparison of mean Cp value (thrreee replicates) obtained with stem-loop RT-qPCR

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Table 3. Robustness of stem-loop RT-qPCR from different researchers

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