Antisense inhibition of acetylcholinesterase gene expression causes transient hematopoietic alterations in vivo.

Hematopoietic acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) gene expression and its implication for development were studied by in vivo administration to mice of an antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotide targetted toward ACHE (AS-ACHE). Hematopoietic alterations were observed by differential cell counts and ACHE mRNA levels determined by quantified RNA polymerase chain reaction (RNA-PCR) and in situ hybridization analyses. In control mice, injected with phosphate-buffered saline and untreated, ACHE mRNA labeling with ACHE [35S]cRNA was about 10-fold higher on megakaryocytes (MK) compared with all other bone marrow cells and increased by 20-fold during MK development, similar to reports for MK actin mRNA. Drastic reductions occurred in the bone marrow lymphocyte and erythroid fractions 12 days following intraperitoneal injection of AS-ACHE (5 micrograms/g weight) into groups of four mice. RNA-PCR revealed over 1000-fold decreases in ACHE mRNA levels in lymph nodes and bone marrow at this time, while actin mRNA levels dropped by 10 and 100-fold in lymph nodes and bone marrow of AS-ACHE treated mice compared with controls. In view of the developmental increase in MK actin, this suggested arrest in MK development as well. By 20 days postinjection, bone marrow actin mRNA was fully restored and the sensitive in situ hybridization technique revealed that ACHE mRNA levels were also restored and reached levels only 2-3-fold lower than in controls in all bone marrow cells of AS-ACHE treated mice. Moreover, lymphocytes and erythroid cells repopulated to levels 25% above normal, and promegakaryocyte and mature MK fractions of the total MK were 3 and 2-fold higher, respectively, than in controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)