Gene silencing by adenovirus-delivered siRNA

RNA interference is the process that double-stranded RNA induces the homology-dependent degradation of cognate mRNA mediated by 21-23 nucleotide short interfering RNA (siRNA). Here, we describe a simple virus vector for efficient delivery of siRNA into mammalian cells utilizing the well-defined HI-RNA promoter and conventional adenovirus. In this pilot study, p53 was targeted by this vector. Our results demonstrate efficient and specific knock-down of p53 in breast cancer MCF-7 and lung carcinoma A549 cells and indicate a prospective application of this siRNA expressing recombinant adenovirus system in functional genomics, cancer gene therapy and virus inhibition. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science B.V. on behalf of the Federation of European Biochemical Societies.