Utilization of Glycosaminoglycans/Proteoglycans as Carriers for Targeted Therapy Delivery

Figure 8

Systemic application of pSicoCD44v6shRNA plasmid in Apc Min/+ mice. Effect of plasmid/nanoparticle treatment on protein expression, RT-PCR analysis, and number of adenomas in Apc Min/+ mice (adapted from [43]). Thirty Apc Min/+ mice were randomly divided into three groups. Group 1 received pSV-β-galactosidase (100 μg/100 μL, intraperitoneally (i.p.)) alone, Group 2 received pSV-β-gal nanoparticles (100 μg/100 μL, i.p.) targeted to the Tf-R, and Group 3 received pSico-CD44v6shRNA (75 μg) plus pFabpl-Cre (25 μg)/nanoparticles i.p. every other day. 10 days after beginning treatment, the animals were sacrificed, and the large (>1 mm) and small (<1 mm) adenomas were counted (a). The tumor and adjacent normal tissues were subsequently processed for (b) western blots for CD44, pErbB2, TErbB2, COX-2, and β-actin and (c) RT-PCR analyses for CD44 variants from total RNA. Total ErbB2 remained unchanged in all the treatment groups (data not shown).

(a) Reduction of adenoma number

(b) Inhibition of expression of key signaling molecules of HA-CD44v6-COX2 pathway

(c) Inhibition of CD44v6 mRNA expression