期刊名称：Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
印刷版ISSN：0027-8424
电子版ISSN：1091-6490
出版年度：2004
卷号：101
期号：23
页码：8676-8681
DOI：10.1073/pnas.0402486101
语种：English
出版社：The National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America
摘要：Influenza A virus infection is a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Because the effectiveness of existing vaccines and antiviral drugs is limited, development of new treatment modalities is needed. Here, we show that short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) specific for conserved regions of influenza virus genes can prevent and treat influenza virus infection in mice. Virus production in lungs of infected mice is reduced by siRNAs given either before or after initiating virus infection, by using slow i.v. administration of small volumes containing siRNAs in complexes with a polycation carrier. Similar effects also are observed when mice are given DNA vectors i.v. or intranasally, from which siRNA precursors can be transcribed. Development of delivery systems that may be compatible with human use demonstrates the potential utility of siRNAs for prophylaxis and therapy of influenza virus infections in humans.
