Cyclooxygenase-2 silencing for the treatment of colitis: A combined in vivo strategy based on RNA interference and engineered escherichia coli

Abstract

Nonpathogenic-invasive Escherichia coli (InvColi) bacteria are suitable for genetic transfer into mammalian cells and may act as a vehicle for RNA Interference (RNAi) in vivo. Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is overexpressed in ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), two inflammatory conditions of the colon and small intestine grouped as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We engineered InvColi strains for anti-COX-2 RNAi (InvColi shCOX2), aiming to investigate the in vivo feasibility of a novel COX-2 silencing strategy in a murine model of colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Enema administrations of InvColi shCOX2 in DSS-treated mice led to COX-2 downregulation, colonic mucosa preservation, reduced colitis disease activity index (DAI) and increased mice survival. Moreover, DSS/InvColi shCOX2 -treated mice showed lower levels of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and a reduced colitis-associated shift of gut microbiota. Considering its effectiveness and safety, we propose our InvColi shCOX2 strategy as a promising tool for molecular therapy in intestinal inflammatory diseases.