Disclosed are methods of treating inflammatory disease arthritis using feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) vector constructs that express 1) small inhibitory RNA (siRNA) for cyclooxygenase COX-1 and COX-2 to inhibit prostaglandins production and 2) interleukin1 receptor antagonist (IL1-RA) to inhibit IL1 inflammatory signaling pathway.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are widely prescribed for arthritis but are limited by the risk of adverse effects, especially gastrointestinal and renal toxicity. The therapeutic effects of these agents are mediated primarily through inhibition of COX and prevention of subsequent formation of prostaglandins and related inflammatory mediators. Nonspecific COX inhibition appears to be responsible for much of the toxicity of NSAIDs. The present invention using vector-based siRNA which selectively targets COX1 and COX2 offers superior safety. Moreover, The FIV-based siRNA and IL1-RA expression vectors will find broad use for the treatment of inflammatory diseases given the extensive tropism of FIV vectors for many cell types in vitro and in vivo.

File Number: 6-1379 

Other Information:

• Refer to: Case # 6-1379
• Lead Innovator: Dr. Stephanos Kyrkanides
• Case Manager: Harl Tolbert, MS, MBA
• harl_tolbert@urmc.rochester.edu