Inhibition of HIV-1 protease expression in T cells owing to DNA aptamer-mediated specific delivery of siRNA

Targeted delivery is a promising way to improve the safety and efficiency of siRNA delivery. We show that a DNA aptamer could be used to deliver siRNA into CD4+ T cells specifically. The DNA aptamer was obtained from the conversion of a reported RNA aptamer that binds to CD4 protein on the surface of T cells. It was covalently conjugated to the sense strand of the siRNA targeting HIV-1 protease (HIV-PR). The resulting DNA aptamer-siRNA chimera could specifically enter into CD4+ T cells and efficiently knock down the expression of exogenous HIV-PR gene. This study provides the first evidence that the DNA aptamer with intrinsic stability has a greater potential to be used for siRNA delivery.

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► DNA aptamer was used to deliver siRNA specifically.
► A stable DNA aptamer targeting CD4 protein on the surface of T cells was reported.
► The DNA aptamer was converted from an RNA aptamer that selected by SELEX.
► The expression of HIV protease in CD4+ T cells was knocked down by RNA interference.