RNAi-MEDIATED INHIBITION OF OCULAR TARGETS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of interfering RNA compositions for inhibition of expression of ocular hypertension targets in glaucoma, particularly for primary open angle glaucoma.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Glaucoma is a heterogeneous group of optic neuropathies that share certain clinical features. The loss of vision in glaucoma is due to the selective death of retinal ganglion cells in the neural retina that is clinically diagnosed by characteristic changes in the visual field, nerve fiber layer defects, and a progressive cupping of the optic nerve head (ONH). One of the main risk factors for the development of glaucoma is the presence of ocular hypertension (elevated intraocular pressure, IOP). An adequate intraocular pressure is needed to maintain the shape of the eye and to provide a pressure gradient to allow for the flow of aqueous humor to the avascular cornea and lens. IOP levels may also be involved in the pathogenesis of normal tension glaucoma (NTG), as evidenced by patients benefiting from IOP lowering medications. Once adjustments for central corneal thickness are made to IOP readings in NTG patients, many of these patients may be found to be ocular hypertensive.

[0003] The elevated IOP associated with glaucoma is due to elevated aqueous humor outflow resistance in the trabecular meshwork (TM), a small specialized tissue located in the iris-corneal angle of the ocular anterior chamber. Glaucomatous changes to the TM include a loss in TM cells and the deposition and accumulation of extracellular debris including proteinaceous plaque-like material. In addition, there are also changes that occur in the glaucomatous ONH. In glaucomatous eyes, there are morphological and mobility changes in ONH glial cells. In response to elevated IOP and/or transient ischemic insults, there is a change in the composition of the ONH extracellular matrix and alterations in the glial cell and retinal ganglion cell axon morphologies.

[0004] Primary glaucomas result from disturbances in the flow of intraocular fluid that has an anatomical or physiological basis. Secondary glaucomas occur as a result of injury or trauma to the eye or a preexisting disease. Primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), also known as chronic or simple glaucoma, represents ninety percent of all primary glaucomas. POAG is characterized by the degeneration of the trabecular meshwork, resulting in abnormally high resistance to fluid drainage from the eye. A consequence of such resistance is an increase in the IOP that is required to drive the fluid normally produced by the eye across the increased resistance.

[0005] Current anti-glaucoma therapies include lowering IOP by the use of suppressants of aqueous humor formation or agents that enhance uveoscleral outflow, laser trabeculoplasty, or trabeculectomy, which is a filtration surgery to improve drainage. Pharmaceutical anti-glaucoma approaches have exhibited various undesirable side effects. For example, miotics such as pilocarpine can cause blurring

of vision and other negative visual side effects. Systemically administered carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) can also cause nausea, dyspepsia, fatigue, and metabolic acidosis. Further, certain beta-blockers have increasingly become associated with serious pulmonary side effects attributable to their effects on beta-2 receptors in pulmonary tissue. Sympathomimetics cause tachycardia, arrhythmia and hypertension. Such negative side effects may lead to decreased patient compliance or to termination of therapy. In addition, the efficacy of current IOP lowering therapies is relatively shortlived requiring repeated dosing during each day and, in some cases, the efficacy decreases with time. [0006] In view of the importance of ocular hypertension in glaucoma, and the inadequacies of prior methods of treatment, it would be desirable to have an improved method of treating ocular hypertension that would address the underlying causes of its progression.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The present invention is directed to interfering RNAs that silence ocular hypertension target mRNA expression, thus lowering intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Ocular hypertension targets include carbonic anhydrase π, IV, and XII; βl- and β2 adrenergic receptors; acetylcholinesterase; Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase; and Na-K-2C1 cotransporter. The interfering RNAs of the invention are useful for treating patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension.

[0008] An embodiment of the present invention provides a method of attenuating expression of an ocular hypertension target mRNA such as carbonic anhydrase II, IV, or XII; βl- or β2 adrenergic receptors; acetylcholinesterase; Na ⁴ TK ⁺ - ATPase; or Na-K-2C1 cotransporter mRNA in a subject. The method comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Administration is to the eye of the subject for attenuating expression of an ocular hypertension target in a human.

[0009] In one embodiment of the invention, the interfering RNA comprises a sense nucleotide strand, an antisense nucleotide strand and a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides. Further, the antisense strand hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ ID NO:133, or SEQ ID NO:134 which are sense cDNA sequences encoding carbonic anhydrase II and IV; βl- and β2 adrenergic receptors; acetylcholinesterase (ACHE) variant E4-E5; Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase α2 polypeptide; Na-K-2C1 cotransporter NKCC2 (SLC12A1), carbonic anhydrase XII variant 1, acetylcholinesterase variant E4-E6, Na ⁴ VK ⁺ - ATPase αl polypeptide variant 1 and variant 2, Na ⁴ VK ⁺ -ATPaSe α3 polypeptide, Na ⁴ VK ⁺ -ATPaSe α4

polypeptide variant 1 and variant 2, Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase βl polypeptide variant 1 and 2, Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase β2 polypeptide, Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase β3 polypeptide, Na-K-2C1 cotransporter NKCCl (SLC12A2), and carbonic anhydrase XII variant 2, respectively. The antisense strand has a region of at least near- perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NOrIOl, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO: 130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ ID NO:133, or SEQ ID NO:134, respectively. The, administration of such a composition attenuates the expression of an ocular hypertension target mRNA of the subject. [0010] In one embodiment, the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes carbonic anhydrase II, IV or XII, and the antisense strand hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:101, or SEQ ID NO:134 and has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:101, or SEQ ID NO: 134, respectively.

[0011] In another embodiment, the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes a βl- or β2-adrenergic receptor, and the antisense strand hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4 and has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:3 or SEQ ID NO:4, respectively.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes an acetylcholinesterase, and the antisense strand hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO: 123 and has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:5 or SEQ ID NO: 123, respectively.

[0013] In yet another embodiment, the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes a subunit of Na ⁺ ZK ⁺ - ATPase, and the antisense strand hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO: 124, SEQ ID NO: 125, SEQ ID NO: 126, SEQ ID NO: 127, SEQ ID NO-.128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, or SEQ ID NO:132 and has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ED NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, or SEQ ID NO: 132, respectively.

[0014] In a further embodiment, the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes a Na-K-2C1 cotransporter, and the antisense strand hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO: 133 and has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous

complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to

SEQ ID NO:7 or SEQ ID NO: 133, respectively.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1 comprising nucleotide 232, 527, 721, 728, 809, 810, 855, 856, 921,

1139, 506, 547, 548, 740, 911, 1009, 1140, 1149, 1150, 1151, 1188, 1194, 1195, 1223, 1239, 1456,

1457, 1458, 100, 158, 166, 247, 286, 318, 322, 328, 371, 412, 482, 504, 505, 541, 734, 772, 777, 814,

972, 998, 1232, 317, or 401.

[0016] In another embodiment of the invention, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:2 comprising nucleotide 213, 252, 258, 266, 399, 457, 463, 490, 595,

1064, 109, 112, 125, 126, 150, 261, 265, 280, 398, 453, 459, 462, 467, 492, 534, 785, 801, 825, 827,

876, 1003, or 1012.

[0017] In a further embodiment of the invention, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:101 comprising nucleotide 191, 239, 274, 275, 341, 389, 412, 413, 423,

687, 689, 695, 710, 791, 792, 794, 983, 993, 994, 995, 691, 1039, 1568, 2326, 2332, 2425, 2433, 2844,

2845, 2880, 2884, 2891, 2954, 2955, 2956, 2957, 2964, 2965, 3006, 3007, 3012, or 3026.

[0018] In another embodiment, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to

SEQ ID NO:134 comprising nucleotide 687, 1535, 2293, 2299, 2392, 2400, 2811, 2812, 2847, 2851,

2858, 2921, 2922, 2923, 2924, 2931, 2932, 2973, 2974, 2979, or 2993.

[0019] Another embodiment of the invention provides an interfering RNA designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:3 comprising nucleotide 468, 523, 799, 1563, 1565, 1569, 1593,

1613, 1614, 1626, 310, 322, 726, 769, 772, 801, 802, 1501, 1576, 1577, 1579, 1580, 1581, 1586, 1590,

1592, 1594, 1615, 1616, 1632, 1633, or 1654.

[0020] A further embodiment of the invention provides an interfering RNA designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:4 comprising nucleotide 329, 375, 1031, 1046, 1149, 1163, 1371,

1401, 1426, 1880, 283, 607, 608, 609, 619, 623, 722, 857, 1037, 1091, 1115, 1124, 1136, 1137, 1151,

1164, 1393, 1394, 1395, 1406, 1407, 1427, 1428, 1429, 1442, 1725, 1726, 1756, 1757, 1758, 1767,

1790, 1791, 1792, 1793, 1803, 1861, 1869, 1971, 1972, or 1979.

[0021] In another method of the invention, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:123 comprising nucleotide 1875, 1890, 1891, 2011, 2012, 2133, or 2134.

[0022] Another embodiment of the invention provides an interfering RNA designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:5 comprising nucleotide 366, 370, 384, 385, 525, 588, 768, 1045,

1046, 1061, 1090, 1232, 1314, 1316, 1460, 1461, 1462, 1528, 1607, 1705, 1713, 382, 393, 397, 622,

1131, 1459, 1530, 2251, 2885, 2886, 386, 1231, 1315, 2047, 2049, 2053, 2055, 2057, 2125, 2126,

2127, 2250, 2253, 2258, 2260, 2318, 2395, 2397, 2404, 2405, 2643, 2645, or 2887.

[0023] In a further embodiment, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to

SEQ ID NO:124 comprising nucleotide 2208, 2275, 2307, 2526, 2538, 2592, 2628, 2979, 2985, 3093,

3474, 3504, 3505, 3506, 3518, 343, 442, 700, 707, 811, 907, 1059, 1363, 1594, 1662, 1758, 1760,

1896, 2037, or 2147.

[0024] In yet another embodiment, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:125 comprising nucleotide 436, 441, 443, 552, 617, 701, 702, 832, 2204, 2291, or 2495.

[0025] A further embodiment of the present invention provides an interfering RNA designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:6 comprising nucleotide 471, 1990, 3080, 3797, 4037, 4093, .

4225, 4323, 5213, 5285, 214, 467, 470, 472, 473, 632, 825, 946, 1693, 1767, 1768, 2157, 2263, 2589,

2590, 2765, 2988, 3094, 3144, 3145, 3344, 3345, 3418, 3666, 3828, 3850, 4040, 4041, 4061, 4882,

4894, 4900, 5040, 5114, 5115, 5128, 5129, 5253, 5296, 5375, 5384, or 5385.

[0026] In another embodiment of the invention, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:126 comprising nucleotide 240, 272, 362, 1836, 1851, 2103, 2137, 2138,

2139, 2157, 2158, 2160, 2425, 2580, 2601, 2646, 2650, 2794, 2803, 3116, 3124, 3126, 3129, or 3377.

[0027] In yet another embodiment of the invention, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:127 comprising nucleotide 113, 612, 702, 833, 1101, 1732, 1733, 1836,

2070, 2071, 2143, 2328, 2475, 2861, 2862, 2952, 3203, 3281, 3377, 3379, 3470, 3471, 3554, 3614,

3615, 3616, 3617, 3625, 3626, 3642, 3646, 3647, 3653, 3655, 3797, 3801, 3803, 3809 or 3810.

[0028] In another embodiment, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to

SEQ ID NO:128 comprising nucleotide 126, 251, 252, 253, 331, 427, 429, 520, 521, 530, 601, 602,

603, 604, 664, 665, 666, 667, 675, 676, 692, 696, 697, 702, 703, 705, 707, 847, 851, 853, 859, or 860.

[0029] In yet another embodiment, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO.129 comprising nucleotide 1096, 1099, 1130, 1131, 1167, 1299, 1441, 1450, 1451,

1452, 1564, 1746, 1750, 1751, 1752, 1795, 203, 204, 214, 222, 224, 225, 226, 380, 525, 591, 612, 613,

615, 635, 636, 663, 664, 669, 699, 765, 790, 839, 840, 841, 900, 909, 933, or 947.

[0030] In another embodiment, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to

SEQ ID NO:130 comprising nucleotide 1063, 1102, 1106, 1107, 1108, 1109, 1111, or 1151.

[0031] In another embodiment, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to

SEQ ID NO:131 comprising nucleotide 653, 654, 771, 773, 841, 849, 853, 917, 918, 926, 927, 931,

981, 983, 984, 996, 998, 1022, 1023, 1160, 1214, 1355, 1356, 1381, 1394, 1425, 1474, 1550, 1620,

1707, 1740, 1753, 1825, 1956, 1965, 2598, 2599, 2608, 2828, 2829, 2888, 3012, or 3251.

[0032] In another embodiment of the invention, an interfering RNA is designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 132 comprising nucleotide 292, 434, 438, 457, 459, 488, 490, 498, 499,

592, 639, 723, 774, 775, 788, 857, 858, 910, 911, 930, 931, 932, 1009, 1010, 1023, 1024, 1111, 1146,

1147, 1220, 1246, 1321, 1325, 1326, 1327, 1331, 1437, 1548, 1571, 1785, 1786, or 1787.

[0033] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an interfering RNA designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:7 comprising nucleotide 675, 974, 1373, 1780, 2102, 2151,

2315, 2542, 2609, 3197, 67, 71, 73, 353, 405, 864, 911, 912, 913, 1409, 1748, 1811, 1935, 1937, 1993,

2012, 2346, 2388, 2437, 2586, 3007, 3008, 3022, 3130, 3210, 3237, or 3271.

[0034] Another embodiment of the present invention provides an interfering RNA designed to target an mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:133 comprising nucleotide 748, 749, 753, 1119, 1169, 1499, 1509, 1820, 2081, 2118, 2147, 2615, 2644, 2659, 2663, 2671, 2672, 2793, 2812, 2914, 2948, 3044, 3334, 3391, 3480, 3520, 3549, 3639, 3840, 3941, 3944, 4001, 4995, 4997, 5141, 5143, 5249, 5375, 5834, 5852, 5981, or 6678.

[0035] The present invention further provides for administering a second interfering RNA to a subject in addition to a first interfering RNA. The method comprises administering to the subject a second interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and comprising a sense nucleotide strand, an antisense nucleotide strand, and a region of at least near-perfect complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides; wherein the antisense strand of the second interfering RNA hybridizes under physiological conditions to a second portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ TD NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO.125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO.128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ED NO:132, SEQ ID NO.133, or SEQ ID NO:134, and the antisense strand has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the second hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ ID NO:133, or SEQ ID NO: 134, respectively. The second interfering RNA may target the same mRNA as the first interfering RNA or may target a different mRNA. Further, a third, fourth, or fifth, etc. interfering RNA may be administered in a similar manner.

[0036] A further embodiment of the invention is a method of treating ocular hypertension in a subject in need thereof. The method comprises administering to the eye of the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the interfering RNA comprising a sense nucleotide strand, an antisense nucleotide strand, and a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides. The antisense strand hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO.6, SEQ ID NO.7, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO.123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ TD NO.133, or SEQ ID NO:134 and has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of mRNA corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO.3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ JD NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO.131, SEQ ID NO:132,

SEQ ID NO:133, or SEQ ID NO.134, respectively. The ocular hypertension is treated thereby.

[0037] Another embodiment of the invention is a method of attenuating expression of an ocular hypertension target mRNA in a subject comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of single-stranded interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. For attenuating expression of an ocular hypertension target, the single-stranded interfering RNA hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of mRNA corresponding to the sequence identifiers and nucleotide positions cited supra for antisense strands.

[0038] Another embodiment of the invention is a method of attenuating expression of an ocular hypertension target mRNA in a subject, comprising administering to the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, where the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO: 8, SEQ ID NO: 14 - SEQ ID NO-.100, SEQ ID NO:102 - SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:135 - SEQ ID NO:717, SEQ ID NO:720, and SEQ ID NO:721, as follows.

[0039] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes carbonic anhydrase mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO: 14 - SEQ ID NO:32, SEQ ID NO:83 - SEQ ID NO:100, SEQ ID NO:102 - SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:135 - SEQ ID NO:219, SEQ ID NO:720, and SEQ ID NO:721.

[0040] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes a β-adrenergic receptor mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:33 - SEQ ID NO:52, and SEQ ID NO:220 - SEQ ID NO:282. [0041] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes ACHE mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:53 - SEQ ID NO:62 and SEQ ID NO:283 - 333.

[0042] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes ATPlAl mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:334 - SEQ ID NO:374.

[0043] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes ATP 1A2 mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:63 - SEQ ID NO:72 and SEQ ID NO:375 - SEQ ID NO:416.

[0044] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes ATPl A3 mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:417 - SEQ ID NO:440.

[0045] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes ATP 1A4 mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:441 - SEQ ID NO:511.

[0046] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes ATPlBl mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:512- SEQ ID NO:563.

[0047] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes ATP 1B2 mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:564- SEQ ID NO:606.

[0048] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes ATP 1B3 mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:607 - SEQ ID NO.648.

[0049] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes SLC 12Al mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:73 - SEQ ID NO:82 and SEQ ED NO:649 - SEQ ID NO:675.

[0050] When the ocular hypertension target mRNA encodes SLC12A2 mRNA, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3 ^? end of any one of SEQ ID NO-.676 - SEQ ID NO:717.

[0051] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the region of contiguous nucleotides is a region of at least 14 contiguous nucleotides having at least 85% sequence complementarity to, or at least 85% sequence identity with, the penultimate 14 nucleotides of the 3' end of the sequence of the sequence identifier, hi yet another embodiment of the invention, the region of contiguous nucleotides is a region of at least 15, 16, 17, or 18 contiguous nucleotides having at least 80% sequence complementarity to, or at least 80% sequence identity with, the penultimate 15, 16, 17, or 18 nucleotides, respectively, of the 3' end of the sequence of the sequence identifier. [0052] A composition comprising interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and having a nucleotide sequence of any one of SEQ BD NO's: 8, SEQ ID NO:14 - SEQ ID NO.100, SEQ ID

NO:102 - SEQ ID NO.122, SEQ ID NO:135 - SEQ ID NO:717, SEQ ED NO:720, and SEQ ID NO: 721, or a complement thereof, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier is an embodiment of the present invention. In one embodiment, the interfering RNA is isolated. The term "isolated" means that the interfering RNA is free of its total natural mileau.

[0053] Another embodiment of the invention is a method of treating ocular hypertension in a subject in need thereof, the method comprising administering to an eye of the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the interfering RNA comprising a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of SEQ ID NO:8, SEQ ID NO:14 - SEQ ID NO:100, SEQ ID NO:102 - SEQ ID NO:122, SEQ ID NO:135 - SEQ ID NO:717, SEQ ID NO:720, and SEQ ID NO.721 , wherein the ocular hypertension is treated thereby.

[0054] A method of attenuating expression of an ocular hypertension target mRNA first variant without attenuating expression of an ocular hypertension target mRNA second variant in a subject is a further embodiment of the invention. The method comprises administering to the subject a composition comprising an effective amount of interfering RNA having a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, the interfering RNA comprising a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of the first variant, wherein the expression of the first variant mRNA is attenuated without attenuating expression of the second variant mRNA, and wherein the first variant target mRNA is SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO.127, or SEQ ID NO:129, and the second variant target mRNA is SEQ ID NO:134, SEQ ID NO.123, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:128, or SEQ ID NO:130, respectively.

[0055] In a further embodiment of the above-cited method, the first variant target mRNA is SEQ ID NO:134, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:128, or SEQ ID NO:130, and the second variant target mRNA is SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:127, or SEQ ID NO: 129, respectively.

[0056] Use of any of the embodiments as described herein in the preparation of a medicament for attenuating expression of an ocular hypertension mRNA is also an embodiment of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0057] FIG. 1 provides a western blot, probed with antibodies against CA2 and actin, of HeLa cells transfected with CA2 siRNAs #1, #3, #4, and #5; a non-targeting control siRNA; and a buffer control (- siRNA). The siRNAs were at a concentration of 100 nM or 1 nM. The arrows indicate the positions of the ~30-kDa CA2 protein and 42-kDa actin protein bands.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0058] RNA interference (RNAi) is a process by which double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) is used to silence gene expression. While not wanting to be bound by theory, RNAi begins with the cleavage of longer dsRNAs into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) by an RNaselll-like enzyme, dicer. SiRNAs are dsRNAs that are usually about 19 to 28 nucleotides, or 20 to 25 nucleotides, or 21 to 22 nucleotides in length and often contain 2-nucleotide 3' overhangs, and 5' phosphate and 3' hydroxyl termini. One strand of the siRNA is incorporated into a ribonucleoprotein complex known as the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC). RISC uses this siRNA strand to identify mRNA molecules that are at least partially complementary to the incorporated siRNA strand, and then cleaves these target mRNAs or inhibits their translation. Therefore, the siRNA strand that is incorporated into RISC is known as the guide strand or the antisense strand. The other siRNA strand, known as the passenger strand or the sense strand, is eliminated from the siRNA and is at least partially homologous to the target mRNA. Those of skill in the art will recognize that, in principle, either strand of an siRNA can be incorporated into RISC and function as a guide strand. However, siRNA design (e.g., decreased siRNA duplex stability at the 5' end of the antisense strand) can favor incorporation of the antisense strand into RISC. [0059] RISC-mediated cleavage of mRNAs having a sequence at least partially complementary to the guide strand leads to a decrease in the steady state level of that mRNA and of the corresponding protein encoded by this mRNA. Alternatively, RISC can also decrease expression of the corresponding protein via translational repression without cleavage of the target mRNA. Other RNA molecules and RNA-like molecules can also interact with RISC and silence gene expression. Examples of other RNA molecules that can interact with RISC include short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs), single-stranded siRNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), and dicer-substrate 27-mer duplexes. The term "siRNA" as used herein refers to a double-stranded interfering RNA unless otherwise noted. Examples of RNA-like molecules that can interact with RISC include RNA molecules containing one or more chemically modified nucleotides, one or more deoxyribonucleotides, and/or one or more non-phosphodiester linkages. For purposes of the present discussion, all RNA or RNA-like molecules that can interact with RISC and participate in RISC-mediated changes in gene expression will be referred to as "interfering RNAs." SiRNAs, shRNAs, miRNAs, and dicer-substrate 27-mer duplexes are, therefore, subsets of "interfering RNAs."

[0060] Interfering RNA of embodiments of the invention appear to act in a catalytic manner for cleavage of target mRNA, i.e., interfering RNA is able to effect inhibition of target mRNA in substoichiometric amounts. As compared to antisense therapies, significantly less interfering RNA is required to provide a therapeutic effect under such cleavage conditions.

[0061] The present invention relates to the use of interfering RNA to inhibit the expression of ocular hypertension target mRNA, thus lowering intraocular pressure in patients with open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension. Ocular hypertension targets include carbonic anhydrase π, IV, and XII; βl- and

β2 adrenergic receptors; acetylcholinesterase; Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase subunits; and Na-K-2C1 cotransporter. According to the present invention, interfering RNAs provided exogenously or expressed endogenously effect silencing of ocular hypertension target mRNA in ocular tissue(s).

[0062] Carbonic anhydrase catalyzes reversible hydration of carbon dioxide and appears to play a role in the regulation of aqueous humor formation. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors lower pressure in the eye by reducing the amount of fluid produced. Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors are available as eyedrops (dorzolamide, brinzolamide) or tablets / capsules (acetazolamide, methazolamide). The eyedrops are associated with fewer side effects than the tablets or capsules and are better tolerated by many patients. AZOPT® (brinzolamide) ophthalmic suspension 1% is a topical carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX).

[0063] Ophthalmic β-blockers lower pressure in the eye by reducing the amount of fluid produced in the eye. These drugs are divided into two classes: the nonselective beta-blockers (timolol, levobunolol, metipranolol, carteolol) and the β-1 selective blockers (betaxolol). The usual dosage is one drop in each eye once or twice a day, depending on the drug used. An example of this product is BETOPTIC S® (betaxolol HCl) ophthalmic suspension 0.25% (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX). [0064] Inhibitors of acetylcholinesterase preserve acetylcholine at the receptor site by blocking the enzyme responsible for its hydrolysis, acetylcholinesterase. Acetylcholine accumulates at the receptor, producing a reduction in intraocular pressure by contraction of the ciliary muscle, similar to the action of direct-acting cholinergic agonists.

[0065] Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase inhibitors such as ouabain, nitric oxide donors, and endothelin decrease the activity of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase, the driving force for aqueous humour formation by the ciliary process. [0066] Chloride transport inhibitors such as ethacrynic acid alter trabecular meshwork cell volume to increase outflow facility.

[0067] Nucleic acid sequences cited herein are written in a 5' to 3' direction unless indicated otherwise. The term "nucleic acid," as used herein, refers to either DNA or KNA or a modified form thereof comprising the purine or pyrimidine bases present in DNA (adenine "A," cytosine "C," guanine "G," thymine "T") or in RNA (adenine "A," cytosine "C," guanine "G," uracil "U"). Interfering RNAs provided herein may comprise "T" bases, particularly at 3' ends, even though "T" bases do not naturally occur in RNA. "Nucleic acid" includes the terms "oligonucleotide" and "polynucleotide" and can refer to a single-stranded molecule or a double-stranded molecule. A double-stranded molecule is formed by Watson-Crick base pairing between A and T bases, C and G bases, and between A and U bases. The strands of a double-stranded molecule may have partial, substantial or full complementarity to each other and will form a duplex hybrid, the strength of bonding of which is dependent upon the nature and degree of complementarity of the sequence of bases.

[0068] An mRNA sequence is readily deduced from the sequence of the corresponding DNA sequence. For example, SEQ ID NO:1 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA corresponding to

the mRNA for carbonic anhydrase H The roRNA sequence is identical to the DNA sense strand sequence with the "T" bases replaced with "U" bases.

[0069] Therefore, the mRNA sequence of carbonic anhydrase II is known from SEQ ID NO:1, the mRNA sequence of carbonic anhydrase IV is known from SEQ ID NO:2, the mRNA sequence of βl- adrenergic receptor is known from SEQ ID NO:3, the mRNA sequence of β2-adrenergic receptor is known from SEQ E) NO:4, the mRNA sequence of acetylcholinesterase splice variant E4-E5 is known from SEQ ID NO:5, the mRNA sequence of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase α2 is known from SEQ ID NO:6, the mRNA sequence of Na-K-2C1 cotransporter Al is known from SEQ ID NO:7, the mRNA sequence of carbonic anhydrase XII, variant 1 is known from SEQ ID NO: 101, the mRNA sequence of acetylcholinesterase splice variant E4-E6 is known from SEQ ID NO: 123, the mRNA sequence of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase αl, variant 1, is known from SEQ ID NO:124, the mRNA sequence of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase αl, variant 2, is known from SEQ ID NO: 125, the mRNA sequence of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase α3 is known from SEQ ID NO:126, the mRNA sequence of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase α4, variant 1, is known from SEQ ID NO: 127, the mRNA sequence of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase α4, variant 2, is known from SEQ ID NO: 128, the mRNA sequence of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase βl, variant 1, is known from SEQ ID NO: 129, the mRNA sequence of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase βl, variant 2, is known from SEQ ID NO: 130, the mRNA sequence of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase β2, is known from SEQ ID NO:131, the mRNA sequence of Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase β3 is known from SEQ ID NO: 132, the mRNA sequence of Na-K-2C1 cotransporter A2 is known from SEQ ID NO:133, and the mRNA sequence of carbonic anhydrase XII, variant 2, is known from SEQ ID NO: 134.

[0070] Carbonic anhydrases II, IV, and XII mRNA (CA2, CA4, and CA12): Carbonic anhydrases (CAs) II, IV and XII are members of a large family of zinc metalloenzymes that catalyze the reversible hydration of carbon dioxide as described by the GenBank database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information at ncbi.nhn.nih.gov. Carbonic anhydrases are involved in crucial physiological processes such as respiration and transport of CO ₂ /bicarbonate between metabolizing tissues and the lungs, pH and CO ₂ homeostasis, electrolyte secretion in a variety of tissues and organs, biosynthetic reactions (such as gluconeogenesis, lipogenesis and ureagenesis), bone resorption, calcification, and tumorigenicity.

[0071] Fourteen different carbonic anhydrase isozymes have been identified with different subcellular localizations and tissue distributions. Carbonic anhydrase II is a cytosolic isozyme, whereas carbonic anhydrases IV and XE are membrane-bound. Two transcript variants encoding different isoforms have been identified for the CA-XE gene; variant 1 encodes the longer isoform while variant 2 is lacking one of the internal coding exons compared to transcript variant 1 thereby missing an 11 amino acid segment compared to isoform 1. Systemic carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (CAIs) are useful in reducing the elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) that is characteristic of glaucoma. Inhibition of the isozymes present in the ciliary process (the sulfonamide susceptible isozymes CA E and CA IV) reduces the rate

ot bicarbonate and aqueous humor secretion, which leads to a 25 - 30 % decrease in IOP. However, inhibition of various CA isozymes present in extraocular tissues leads to side effects including numbness and tingling of extremities, metallic taste, depression, fatigue, malaise, weight loss, decreased libido, gastrointestinal irritation, metabolic acidosis, renal calculi, and transient myopia.

[0072] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for CA2 as accession no. NM_000067, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:1. SEQ ID NO:1 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding CAII (with the exception of "T" bases for

"U" bases). The coding sequence for CAII is from nucleotides 66-848.

[0073] Equivalents of the above cited CA2 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, isozymes, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is a CA2 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO:1 (i.e., an ortholog). CA2 nucleic acid sequences related to SEQ ID NO:1 include those having GenBank accession numbers M77181, X03251, BCOl 1949, BC035424,

CR536526, CR541875, J03037, M36532, S69526, and Y00339.

[0074] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for CA4 as accession no. NM_000717, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:2. SEQ ID NO:2 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding CATV (with the exception of "T" bases for

"U" bases). The coding sequence for CAIV is from nucleotides 47-985.

[0075] Equivalents of the above cited CA4 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, iso2ymes, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is a CA4 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO:2 (i.e., an ortholog). CA4 nucleic acid sequences related to SEQ ID NO:2 include those having GenBank accession numbers Ll 0955, BC057792, BC069649, BC074768,

CR541766, and M83670.

[0076] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for CAl 2, variant 1, as accession no.

NM_001218, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:101. SEQ ID NO:101 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding CAXII, variant 1 (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for CAXII, variant 1, is from nucleotides

157-1221.

[0077] Equivalents of the above cited CAl 2, variant 1 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, iso2ymes, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is a CAl 2 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO: 101 (i.e., an ortholog).

[0078] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for CAl 2, variant 2, as accession no.

NM_206925, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:134. SEQ ID NO:134 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding CAXII, variant 2 (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for CAXII, variant 2, is from nucleotides

157-1188. Variant 2 lacks an internal coding exon compared to variant 1.

[UU79J Equivalents of the above cited CAl 2, variant 2 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, isozymes, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is a CAl 2 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO: 134 (i.e., an ortholog).

[0080] Adrenergic Receptors-βl and -β2 mRNA (ADRBl and ADRB2): The adrenergic receptors (subtypes αl, α2, βl, and β2) are a prototypic family of G protein-coupled receptors that mediate the physiological effects of the hormone epinephrine and the neurotransmitter norepinephrine as described by the GenBank database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. [0081] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ADRBl as accession no. NM_000684, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:3. SEQ ID NO:3 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding βl -adrenergic receptor (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for βl -adrenergic receptor is from nucleotides 87- 1520.

[0082] Equivalents of the above cited ADRBl mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ADRBl mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO:3 (i.e., an ortholog). ADRBl nucleic acid sequences related to SEQ ID NO:3 include those having GenBank accession numbers AF169006, AF169007, AY567837, and J03019.

[0083] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ADRB2 as accession no. NM_000024, provided below as SEQ ID NO:4. SEQ ID NO:4 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding β2-adrenergic receptor (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for β2-adrenergic receptor is from nucleotides 220-1461. [0084] Equivalents of the above cited ADRB2 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ADRB2 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO:4 (i.e., an ortholog). ADRB2 nucleic acid sequences related to SEQ ID NO:4 include those having GenBank accession numbers AF022953, AF022954, AF022955, AF022956, AF169225, AF202305, AF203386, AY011291, J02960, Y00106, AY136741, BC012481, BC063486, BC073856, M15169, and X04827.

[0085] Acetylcholinesterase mRNA splice variants E4-E6 and E4-E5 (ACHE): As described by the GenBank database of the National Center for Biotechnology Information at ncbi.nlm.nih.gov, acetylcholinesterase hydrolyzes the neurotransmitter acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions and brain cholinergic synapses, and thus terminates signal transmission. It is also found on red blood cell membranes, where it constitutes the Yt blood group antigen. Acetylcholinesterase exists in multiple molecular forms which possess similar catalytic properties, but differ in their oligomeric assembly and mode of cell attachment to the cell surface. It is encoded by the single ACHE gene, and the structural diversity in the gene products arises from alternative mRNA splicing, and post-translational associations of catalytic and structural subunits. The major form of acetylcholinesterase found in brain,

muscle and other tissues is the hydrophilic species, which forms disulfide-linked oligomers with collagenous, or lipid-containing structural subunits. The other, alternatively spliced form, expressed primarily in the erythroid tissues, differs at the C-terminal end, and contains a cleavable hydrophobic peptide with a GPI-anchor site. It associates with the membranes through the phosphoinositide (PI) moieties added post-translationally. The splice variant E4-E6 is the major transcript and results from the splicing of exon 4 to exon 6. The splice variant E4-E5 results from alternative splicing of exon 4 to exon 5.

[0086] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ACHE splice variant E4-E5 as accession no. NM_015831, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:5. SEQ ID NO:5 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding acetylcholinesterase E4-E5 (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for acetylcholinesterase E4-E5 is from nucleotides 95-1948.

[0087] Equivalents of the above cited ACHE mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ACHE mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO:5 (i.e., an ortholog). ACHE nucleic acid sequences related to SEQ ID NO:5 include those having GenBank accession numbers ACOl 1895, AF002993, AF312032, AY750146, CH236956, L06484, L42812, S71129, AF334270, BC026315, BC036813, M55040 and NM_000665.

[0088] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ACHE splice variant E4-E6 as accession no. NM_000665, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO: 123. SEQ ID NO: 123 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding acetylcholinesterase E4-E6 variant (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for acetylcholinesterase E4-E6 is from nucleotides 95-1939.

[0089] Equivalents of the above cited ACHE mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ACHE mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO:123 (i.e., an ortholog). ACHE nucleic acid sequences related to SEQ ID NO:123 include those having GenBank accession numbers NM_015831, ACOl 1895, AF002993, AF312032, AY750146, CH236956, L06484, L42812, S71129, AF334270, BC026315, BC036813, and M55040.

[0090] Na ⁺ ZK ⁺ -ATPaSe a and β mRNA (ATPl-Al variant 1, -Al variant !, -A2, -A3, -A4 variant 1, - A4 variant 2, -Bl variant 1, -Bl variant 2, -B2, and -B3): As described by the GenBank database, the proteins encoded by these genes belong to the family of P-type cation transport ATPases, and to the subfamily of Na+/K+-ATPases. Na+/K+-ATPase is an integral membrane protein responsible for establishing and maintaining the electrochemical gradients of Na and K ions across the plasma membrane. These gradients are essential for osmoregulation, for sodium-coupled transport of a variety of organic and inorganic molecules, and for electrical excitability of nerve and muscle. This enzyme is

composed of two subunits, a large catalytic subunit (α or A) and a smaller glycoprotein subunit (β or

B). The catalytic subunit of Na+/K+-ATPase is encoded by multiple genes.

[0091] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ATPlAl variant 1 as accession no.

NM_000701, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:124. SEQ ID NO:124 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase subunit Al variant 1 (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase subunit Al variant 1 is from nucleotides 299-3370.

[0092] Equivalents of the above cited ATPlAl variant 1 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ATPlAl variant 1 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO: 124 (i.e., an ortholog).

[0093] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ATPlAl variant 2 as accession no.

NM_001001586, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:125. SEQ ID NO:125 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na ⁴ VK ⁺ - ATPase subunit Al variant 2 (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na ⁺ /K ⁺ - ATPase subunit Al variant 2 is from nucleotides 299-2344.

[0094] Equivalents of the above cited ATPlAl variant 2 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ATPlAl variant 2 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO: 125 (i.e., an ortholog).

[0095] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ATPl A2 as accession no. NM_000702, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:6. SEQ ID NO:6 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase A2 subunit (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase A2 subunit is from nucleotides 105-3167.

[0096] Equivalents of the above cited ATP1A2 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ATP 1A2 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO:6 (i.e., an ortholog). ATP1A2 nucleic acid sequences related to SEQ ID

NO:6 include those having GenBank accession numbers J05096, M27578, AB018321, AK091617,

AK124581, AK126573, AL831991, AL831997, BC013680, BC047533, BC052271, M16795, and

Y07494.

[0097] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ATP1A3 as accession no. NM_152296, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:126. SEQ ID NO:126 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase A3 subunit (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase A3 subunit is from nucleotides 155-3196.

[0098] Equivalents of the above cited ATPl A3 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ATPl A3 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO:126 (i.e., an ortholog).

[0099] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ATP1A4 variant 1 as accession no. NM_144699, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:127. SEQ ID NO:127 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na ⁺ ZK ⁺ -ATPaSe A4 subunit variant 1 (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase A4 subunit variant 1 is from nucleotides 469-3558.

[0100] Equivalents of the above cited ATPl A4 variant 1 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ATP 1A4 variant 1 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO: 127 (i.e., an ortholog).

[0101] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ATP1A4 variant 2 as accession no. NMJ)01001734, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:128. SEQ ID NO:128 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na ⁺ ZK ⁺ - ATPase A4 subunit variant 2 (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase A4 subunit variant 2 is from nucleotides 111-608.

[0102] Equivalents of the above cited ATPl A4 variant 2 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ATPl A4 variant 2 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO: 128 (i.e., an ortholog).

[0103] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ATPlBl variant 1 as accession no. NM_001677, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:129. SEQ E) NO:129 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na ⁺ ZK ⁺ - ATPase Bl subunit variant 1 (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na ⁺ ZK ⁺ -ATPaSe Bl subunit variant 1 is from nucleotides 122-1033.

[0104] Equivalents of the above cited ATPlBl variant 1 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ATPlBl variant 1 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO: 129 (i.e., an ortholog).

[0105] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ATPlBl variant 2 as accession no. NM_001001787, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:130. SEQ ID NO:130 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na ⁺ ZK ⁺ - ATPase Bl subunit variant 2 (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na ⁺ ZK ⁺ - ATPase Bl subunit variant 2 is from nucleotides 122-1027.

[0106] Equivalents of the above cited ATPlBl variant 2 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ATPlBl variant 2 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO: 130 (i.e., an ortholog).

[0107] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ATP1B2 as accession no. NM_001678, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:131. SEQ ID NO: 131 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na ⁺ ZK ⁺ -ATPase B2 subunit (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na ⁺ ZK ⁺ -ATPaSe B2 subunit is from nucleotides 584-1456.

[0108] Equivalents of the above cited ATP1B2 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ATP 1B2 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO: 131 (i.e., an ortholog).

[0109] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for ATP1B3 as accession no. NM_001679, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO: 132. SEQ ID NO: 132 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase B3 subunit (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase B3 subunit is from nucleotides 175-1014.

[0110] Equivalents of the above cited ATP1B3 mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is an ATP1B3 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO: 132 (i.e., an ortholog).

[0111] Na-K-ICl cotransporter mRNA (SLC12Aland SLC12A2): The sodium-potassium-chloride cotransporter (Na-K-2C1 cotransporter or NKCC) facilitates the coupled cotransport of Na ⁺ , K ⁺ , and Cl ^" ions across the plasma membrane. There are two isoforms: NKCCl andNKCC2. NKCCl is expressed in most tissues, including the eye. In contrast, NKCC2 is expressed primarily in the kidney, however, there is evidence for lower level expression of this isoform in the eye as well. NKCCl is encoded by the SLC12A2 gene (solute carrier family 12, member 2) and NKCC2 is encoded by the SLC 12Al gene. Trabecular meshwork cells possess a robust Na-K-2C1 cotransporter. The activity of this cotransporter is modulated by neurotransmitters and hormones such as norepinephrine, which reduces cotransport activity, or vasopressin, which increases cotransport activity.

[0112] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for SLC12A1 as accession no. NM_000338, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:7. SEQ ID NO:7 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na-K-2C1 cotransporter NKCC2 (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na-K-2C1 cotransporter NKCC2 is from nucleotides 20-3319.

[0113] Equivalents of the above cited Na-K-2C1 NKCC2 cotransporter mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is a Na-K-2C1 cotransporter NKCC2 mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO:7 (i.e., an ortholog). SLC12A1 nucleic acid sequences related to SEQ ID NO:7 include those having GenBank accession numbers AJ005332, AJ005333, AB032525, AB032527, BC040138, BX647067, BX647484, and U58130.

[0114] The GenBank database provides the DNA sequence for SLC12A2 as accession no. NM_001046, provided in the "Sequence Listing" as SEQ ID NO:133. SEQ ID NO:133 provides the sense strand sequence of DNA that corresponds to the mRNA encoding Na-K-2C1 cotransporter NKCCl (with the exception of "T" bases for "U" bases). The coding sequence for Na-K-2C1 cotransporter NKCCl is from nucleotides 165-3803.

[0115] Equivalents of the above cited Na-K-2C1 cotransporter NKCCl mRNA sequence are alternative splice forms, allelic forms, or a cognate thereof. A cognate is a Na-K-2C1 cotransporter NKCCl mRNA from another mammalian species that is homologous to SEQ ID NO: 133 (i.e., an ortholog). [0116] Attenuating expression of an mRNA: The phrase, "attenuating expression of an mRNA," as used herein, means administering or expressing an amount of interfering RNA (e.g., an siRNA) to reduce translation of the target mRNA into protein, either through mRNA cleavage or through direct inhibition of translation. The reduction in expression of the target mRNA or the corresponding protein is commonly referred to as "knock-down" and is reported relative to levels present following administration or expression of a non-targeting control RNA (e.g., a non-targeting control siRNA). Knock-down of expression of an amount including and between 50% and 100% is contemplated by embodiments herein. However, it is not necessary that such knock-down levels be achieved for purposes of the present invention. In one embodiment, a single interfering RNA targeting one of the ocular hypertension targets is administered to lower IOP. In other embodiments, two or more interfering RNAs targeting the same ocular hypertension target (e.g., CA2) are administered to lower IOP. In still other embodiments, two or more interfering RNAs targeting multiple hypertension targets (e.g., CA2 and ADRB2) are administered to lower IOP.

[0117] Knock-down is commonly assessed by measuring the mRNA levels using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) amplification or by measuring protein levels by western blot or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Analyzing the protein level provides an assessment of both mRNA cleavage as well as translation inhibition. Further techniques for measuring knock-down include RNA solution hybridization, nuclease protection, northern hybridization, gene expression monitoring with a microarray, antibody binding, radioimmunoassay, and fluorescence activated cell analysis.

[0118] Inhibition of targets cited herein is also inferred in a human or mammal by observing an improvement in a glaucoma symptom such as improvement in intraocular pressure, improvement in visual field loss, or improvement in optic nerve head changes, for example.

[0119] Interfering RNA of embodiments of the invention appear to act in a catalytic manner for cleavage of target mRNA, i.e., interfering RNA is able to effect inhibition of target mRNA in substoichiometric amounts. As compared to antisense therapies, significantly less interfering RNA is required to provide a therapeutic effect under such cleavage conditions.

[0120] Interfering RNA: In one embodiment of the invention, interfering RNA (e.g., siRNA) has a sense strand and an antisense strand, and the sense and antisense strands comprise a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides. In a further embodiment of the invention, the interfering RNA comprises a region of at least 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 contiguous nucleotides having percentages of sequence complementarity to or, having percentages of sequence identity with, the penultimate 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 nucleotides, respectively, of the 3' end of the corresponding target sequence within an mRNA.

6 003515

[0121] The length of each strand of the interfering RNA comprises 19 to 49 nucleotides, and may comprise a length of 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, or 49 nucleotides.

[0122] The antisense strand of an siRNA is the active guiding agent of the siRNA in that the antisense strand is incorporated into RISC, thus allowing RISC to identify target mRNAs with at least partial complementarity to the antisense siRNA strand for cleavage or translational repression. [0123] In the present invention, interfering RNA target sequences (e.g., siRNA target sequences) within a target mRNA sequence are selected using available design tools. Interfering RNAs corresponding to these target sequences are then tested by transfection of cells expressing the target mRNA followed by assessment of knockdown as described above. Interfering RNAs that produce a knockdown in expression of between 50% and 100% are selected for further analysis. [0124] Techniques for selecting target sequences for siRNAs are provided by Tuschl, T. et al, "The siRNA User Guide," revised May 6, 2004, available on the Rockefeller University web site; by Technical Bulletin #506, "siRNA Design Guidelines," Ambion Inc. at Ambion's web site; and by other web-based design tools at, for example, the Invitrogen, Dharmacon, Integrated DNA Technologies, Genscript, or Proligo web sites. Initial search parameters can include G/C contents between 35% and 55% and siRNA lengths between 19 and 27 nucleotides. The target sequence may be located in the coding region or in the 5' or 3' untranslated regions of the mRNA.

[0125] An embodiment of a 19-nucleotide DNA target sequence for carbonic anyhdrase II is present at nucleotides 232 to 250 of SEQ ID NO:1 :

5 ' -CCCTGAGGATCCTCAACAA-S ' SEQ ID NO: 8.

An siRNA of the invention for targeting a corresponding mRNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 and having 21 -nucleotide strands and a 2-nucleotide 3' overhang is:

5 ' -CCCUGAGGAUCCUCAACAANN-S ' SEQ ID NO: 9 3 ' -NNGGGACUCCUAGGAGUUGUU-5' SEQ ID NO: 10.

Each "N" residue can be any nucleotide (A, C, G, U, T) or modified nucleotide. The 3' end can have a number of "N" residues between and including 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The "N' residues on either strand can be the same residue (e.g., UU, AA, CC, GG, or TT) or they can be different (e.g., AC, AG, AU, CA, CG, CU, GA, GC, GU, UA, UC, or UG). The 3' overhangs can be the same or they can be different. In one embodiment, both strands have a 3 'UU overhang.

[0126] An siRNA of the invention for targeting a corresponding mRNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 and having 21 -nucleotide strands and a 3 'UU overhang on each strand is:

S' -CCCUGAGGAUCCUCAACAAUU-S ' SEQ ID NO: 11 3 ' - UUGGGACUCCUAGGAGUUGUU-S' SEQ ID NO: 12.

[0127] The interfering RNA may also have a 5' overhang of nucleotides or it may have blunt ends. An siRNA of the invention for targeting a corresponding mRNA sequence of SEQ ID NO: 8 and having 19- nucleotide strands and blunt ends is:

5' -CCCUGAGGAUCCUCAACAA-S ' SEQ ID NO:722

3 ' -GGGACUCCUAGGAGUUGUU-B ' SEQ ID NO:723.

[0128] The strands of a double-stranded interfering RNA (e.g., an siRNA) may be connected to form a hairpin or stem-loop structure (e.g., an shRNA). An shRNA of the invention targeting a corresponding mRNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:8 and having a 19 bp double-stranded stem region and a 3'UU overhang is:

NNN / \

5' -CCCUGAGGAUCCUCAACAA N

3 ' -UUGGGACUCCUAGGAGUUGUU N SEQ ID NO: 13

\ / NNN

N is a nucleotide A, T, C, G, U, or a modified form known by one of ordinary skill in the art. The number of nucleotides N in the loop is a number between and including 3 to 23, or 5 to 15, or 7 to 13, or 4 to 9, or 9 to 11 , or the number of nucleotides N is 9. Some of the nucleotides in the loop can be involved in base-pair interactions with other nucleotides in the loop. Examples of oligonucleotide sequences that can be used to form the loop include 5 '-UUC AAGAG A-3' (Brummelkamp, T.R. et al. (2002) Science 296: 550) and 5'-UUUGUGUAG-3' (Castanotto, D. et al. (2002) KNA 8:1454). It will be recognized by one of skill in the art that the resulting single chain oligonucleotide forms a stem-loop or hairpin structure comprising a double-stranded region capable of interacting with the RNAi machinery.

[0129] The siRNA target sequence identified above can be extended at the 3' end to facilitate the design of dicer-substrate 27-mer duplexes. Extension of the 19-nucleotide DNA target sequence (SEQ ID NO.8) identified in the carbonic anhydrase II DNA sequence (SEQ ID NO.l) by 6 nucleotides yields a 25-nucleotide DNA target sequence present at nucleotides 232 to 256 of SEQ ID NO: 1 :

5' -CCCTGAGGATCCTCAACAATGGTCA-S ' SEQ ID NO:724.

A dicer-substrate 27-mer duplex of the invention for targeting a corresponding mRNA sequence of SEQ ID NO:724 is:

5 ' - CCCUGAGGAUCCUCAACAAUGGUCA- S ' SEQ ID NO : 718

3515 3 ' -UUGGGACUCCUAGGAGUUGUUACCAGU- 5 ' SEQ ID NO: 719 .

The two nucleotides at the 3' end of the sense strand (i.e., the CA nucleotides of SEQ ID NO.718) may be deoxynucleotides for enhanced processing. Design of dicer-substrate 27-mer duplexes from 19-21 nucleotide target sequences, such as provided herein, is further discussed by the Integrated DNA

Technologies (IDT) website and by Kim, D.-H. et al, (February, 2005) Nature Biotechnology 23:2;

222-226.

[0130] When interfering RNAs are produced by chemical synthesis, phosphorylation at the 5' position of the nucleotide at the 5' end of one or both strands (when present) can enhance siRNA efficacy and specificity of the bound RISC complex but is not required since phosphorylation can occur intracellularly.

[0131] Table 1 lists examples of siRNA target sequences within the CA2, CA4, and CAl 2 variant 1 and variant 2 DNA sequences. (SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:101, and SEQ ID NO:134, respectively) from which siRNAs of the present invention are designed in a manner as set forth above.

CA2, CA4, and CAl 2 variant 1 and variant 2 encode carbonic anhydrase π, IV, and XII variant 1 and

2, respectively.

Table 1. CA2 , CA4, and CA12 Target Sequences for siRNAs

[0132] Table 2 lists examples of siRNA target sequences within the ADRBl and ADRB2 DNA sequences (SEQ ID NO:3 and SEQ ID NO:4, respectively) from which siRNAs of the present invention are designed in a manner as set forth above. As noted above, ADRBl and ADRB2 encode the βl- and β2-adrenergic receptors, respectively.

Table 2. ADRBl and ADRB2 Target Sequences for siRNAs

[0133] Table 3 lists examples of siRNA target sequences within the ACHE DNA sequences for splice variants E4-E5 and E4-E6 (SEQ ID NO:5 and SEQ ID NO.123, respectively) from which siKNAs of the present invention are designed in a manner as set forth above. As noted above, ACHE encodes acetylcholinesterase.

Table 3. ACHE Target Sequences for siRNAs

[0134] Table 4 lists examples of siRNA target sequences within the Na ⁺ /K ⁺ -ATPase A and B subunit DNA sequences (ATPlAl variant 1, SEQ ID NO:124; ATPlAl variant 2, SEQ ID NO:125; ATPl A2, SEQ ID NO:6; ATP1A3, SEQ BD NO:126; ATP1A4 variant 1, SEQ ID NO:127; ATP1A4 variant 2, SEQ ID NO:128; ATPlBl variant 1, SEQ ID NO:129; ATPlBl variant 2, SEQ ID NO:130; ATP1B2, SEQ ID NO:131; and ATP1B3, SEQ ID NO: 132) from which siRNAs of the present invention are designed in a manner as set forth above.

Table 4. ATPlA and ATPlB Target Sequences for siRNAs

[0135] Table 5 lists examples of siKNA target sequences within the SLC12A1 and SLC12A2 DNA sequences (SEQ ID NO:7 and SEQ ID NO: 133, respectively) from which siRNAs of the present invention are designed in a manner as set forth above. As noted above, SLC 12Al and SLC12A2 encode the Na-K-2C1 cotransporter, NKCC2 and NKCCl, respectively.

Table 5. SLC12A1 Target Sequences for siRNAs

As cited in the examples above, one of skill in the art is able to use the target sequence information provided in Tables 1-5 to design interfering RNAs having a length shorter or longer than the sequences provided in Table 1-5 by referring to the sequence position in SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ E) NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ ID NO:133, or SEQ ID NO:134, and adding or deleting nucleotides complementary or near complementary to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ E) NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ E) NO:132, SEQ E) NO:133, or SEQ E ⁾ NO: 134, respectively.

[0136] The target RNA cleavage reaction guided by siRNAs and other forms of interfering RNA is highly sequence specific. In general, siRNA containing a sense nucleotide strand identical in sequence to a portion of the target mRNA and an antisense nucleotide strand exactly complementary to a portion of the target mRNA are siRNA embodiments for inhibition of mRNAs cited herein. However, 100% sequence complementarity between the antisense siRNA strand and the target mRNA, or between the antisense siRNA strand and the sense siRNA strand, is not required to practice the present invention. Thus, for example, the invention allows for sequence variations that might be expected due to genetic mutation, strain polymorphism, or evolutionary divergence.

[0137] In one embodiment of the invention, the antisense strand of the siRNA has at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the target mRNA. "Near-perfect," as used herein, means the antisense strand of the siRNA is "substantially complementary to," and the sense strand of the siRNA is "substantially identical" to at least a portion of the target mRNA. "Identity," as known by one of ordinary skill in the art, is the degree of sequence relatedness between nucleotide sequences as determined by matching the order and identity of nucleotides between the sequences. In

one embodiment, the antisense strand of an siKNA having 80% and between 80% up to 100% complementarity, for example, 85%, 90% or 95% complementarity, to the target mRNA sequence are considered near-perfect complementarity and may be used in the present invention. "Perfect" contiguous complementarity is standard Watson-Crick base pairing of adjacent base pairs. "At least near-perfect" contiguous complementarity includes "perfect" complementarity as used herein. Computer methods for determining identity or complementarity are designed to identify the greatest degree of matching of nucleotide sequences, for example, BLASTN (Altschul, S.F., et al. (1990) J. MoI. Biol. 215:403-410).

[0138] The term "percent identity" describes the percentage of contiguous nucleotides in a first nucleic acid molecule that is the same as in a set of contiguous nucleotides of the same length in a second nucleic acid molecule. The term "percent complementarity" describes the percentage of contiguous nucleotides in a first nucleic acid molecule that can base pair in the Watson-Crick sense with a set of contiguous nucleotides in a second nucleic acid molecule.

[0139] The relationship between a target mRNA (sense strand) and one strand of an siRNA (the sense strand) is that of identity. The sense strand of an siRNA is also called a passenger strand, if present. The relationship between a target mRNA (sense strand) and the other strand of an siRNA (the antisense strand) is that of complementarity. The antisense strand of an siRNA is also called a guide strand. [0140] The penultimate base in a nucleic acid sequence that is written in a 5' to 3' direction is the next to the last base, i.e., the base next to the 3 ¹ base. The penultimate 13 bases of a nucleic acid sequence written in a 5' to 3' direction are the last 13 bases of a sequence next to the 3' base and not including the 3' base. Similarly, the penultimate 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 bases of a nucleic acid sequence written in a 5' to 3' direction are the last 14, 15, 16, 17, or 18 bases of a sequence, respectively, next to the 3' base and not including the 3' base.

[0141] The phrase "a region of at least 13 contiguous nucleotides having at least 90% sequence complementarity to, or at least 90% sequence identity with, the penultimate 13 nucleotides of the 3' end of any one of (a sequence identifier)" allows a one nucleotide substitution. Two nucleotide substitutions (i.e., 11/13 = 85% identity/complementarity) are not included in such a phrase. [0142] In one embodiment of the invention, the region of contiguous nucleotides is a region of at least 14 contiguous nucleotides having at least 85% sequence complementarity to, or at least 85% sequence identity with, the penultimate 14 nucleotides of the 3' end of the sequence identified by each sequence identifier. Two nucleotide substitutions (i.e., 12/14 = 86% identity/complementarity) are included in such a phrase.

[0143] In a further embodiment of the invention, the region of contiguous nucleotides is a region of at least 15, 16, 17, or 18 contiguous nucleotides having at least 80% sequence complementarity to, or at least 80% sequence identity with, the penultimate 14 nucleotides of the 3' end of the sequence of the sequence identifier. Three nucleotide substitutions are included in such a phrase.

[0144] The target sequence in the mRNAs corresponding to SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ ID NO:133, or SEQ ID NO.134, may be in the 5' or 3' untranslated regions of the mRNA as well as in the coding region of the mRNA. [0145] One or both of the strands of double-stranded interfering RNA may have a 3 ' overhang of from 1 to 6 nucleotides, which may be ribonucleotides or deoxyribonucleotides or a mixture thereof. The nucleotides of the overhang are not base-paired. In one embodiment of the invention, the interfering RNA comprises a 3' overhang of TT or UU. In another embodiment of the invention, the interfering RNA comprises at least one blunt end. The termini usually have a 5' phosphate group or a 3' hydroxyl group, hi other embodiments, the antisense strand has a 5' phosphate group, and the sense strand has a 5' hydroxyl group. In still other embodiments, the termini are further modified by covalent addition of other molecules or functional groups.

[0146] The sense and antisense strands of the double-stranded siRNA may be in a duplex formation of two single strands as described above or may be a single molecule where the regions of complementarity are base-paired and are covalently linked by a hairpin loop so as to form a single strand. It is believed that the hairpin is cleaved intracellularly by a protein termed dicer to form an interfering RNA of two individual base-paired RNA molecules.

[0147] Interfering RNAs may differ from naturally-occurring RNA by the addition, deletion, substitution or modification of one or more nucleotides. Non-nucleotide material may be bound to the interfering RNA, either at the 5' end, the 3' end, or internally. Such modifications are commonly designed to increase the nuclease resistance of the interfering RNAs, to improve cellular uptake, to enhance cellular targeting, to assist in tracing the interfering RNA, to further improve stability, or to reduce the potential for activation of the interferon pathway. For example, interfering RNAs may comprise a purine nucleotide at the ends of overhangs. Conjugation of cholesterol to the 3' end of the sense strand of an siRNA molecule by means of a pyrrolidine linker, for example, also provides stability to an siRNA.

[0148] Further modifications include a 3' terminal biotin molecule, a peptide known to have cell- penetrating properties, a nanoparticle, a peptidomimetic, a fluorescent dye, or a dendrimer, for example. [0149] Nucleotides may be modified on their base portion, on their sugar portion, or on the phosphate portion of the molecule and function in embodiments of the present invention. Modifications include substitutions with alkyl, alkoxy, amino, deaza, halo, hydroxyl, thiol groups, or a combination thereof, for example. Nucleotides may be substituted with analogs with greater stability such as replacing a ribonucleotide with a deoxyribonucleotide, or having sugar modifications such as 2' OH groups replaced by 2' amino groups, 2' O-methyl groups, 2' methoxyethyl groups, or a 2'-O, 4'-C methylene bridge, for example. Examples of a purine or pyrimidine analog of nucleotides include a xanthine, a hypoxanthine, an azapurine, a methylthioadenine, 7-deaza-adenosine and O- and N-modified

nucleotides. The phosphate group of the nucleotide may be modified by substituting one or more of the oxygens of the phosphate group with nitrogen or with sulfur (phosphorothioates). Modifications are useful, for example, to enhance function, to improve stability or permeability, or to direct localization or targeting.

[0150] There may be a region or regions of the antisense interfering RNA strand that is (are) not complementary to a portion of SEQ K) NO:1, SEQ K) NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO.128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ K) NO:133, or SEQ K) NO:134. Non-complementary regions may be at the 3', 5' or both ends of a complementary region or between two complementary regions. [0151] Interfering RNAs may be generated exogenously by chemical synthesis, by in vitro transcription, or by cleavage of longer double-stranded RNA with dicer or another appropriate nuclease with similar activity. Chemically synthesized interfering RNAs, produced from protected ribonucleoside phosphoramidites using a conventional DNA/RNA synthesizer, may be obtained from commercial suppliers such as Ambion Inc. (Austin, TX), mvitrogen (Carlsbad, CA), or Dharmacon (Lafayette, CO). Interfering RNAs are purified by extraction with a solvent or resin, precipitation, electrophoresis, chromatography, or a combination thereof, for example. Alternatively, interfering RNA may be used with little if any purification to avoid losses due to sample processing. [0152] Interfering RNAs can also be expressed endogenously from plasmid or viral expression vectors or from minimal expression cassettes, for example, PCR generated fragments comprising one or more promoters and an appropriate template or templates for the interfering RNA. Examples of commercially available plasmid-based expression vectors for shRNA include members of the pSilencer series (Ambion, Austin, TX) and pCpG-siRNA (InvivoGen, San Diego, CA). Viral vectors for expression of interfering RNA may be derived from a variety of viruses including adenovirus, adeno- associated virus, lentivirus (e.g., HIV, FIV, and EIAV), and herpes virus. Examples of commercially available viral vectors for shRNA expression include pSilencer adeno (Ambion, Austin, TX) and pLenti6/BLOCK-iT™-DEST (hivitrogen, Carlsbad, CA). Selection of viral vectors, methods for expressing the interfering RNA from the vector and methods of delivering the viral vector are within the ordinary skill of one in the art. Examples of kits for production of PCR-generated shRNA expression cassettes include Silencer Express (Ambion, Austin, TX) and siXpress (Mirus, Madison, WT).

[0153] Interfering RNAs may be expressed from a variety of eukaryotic promoters known to those of ordinary skill in the art, including pol in promoters, such as the U6 or Hl promoters, or pol II promoters, such as the cytomegalovirus promoter. Those of skill in the art will recognize that these promoters can also be adapted to allow inducible expression of the interfering RNA.

[0154] Hybridization under Physiological Conditiom: In certain embodiments of the present invention, an antisense strand of an interfering RNA hybridizes with an rnRNA in vivo as part of the RISC complex.

[0155] "Hybridization" refers to a process in which single-stranded nucleic acids with complementary or near-complementary base sequences interact to form hydrogen-bonded complexes called hybrids. Hybridization reactions are sensitive and selective. In vitro, the specificity of hybridization (i.e., stringency) is controlled by the concentrations of salt or formamide in prehybridization and hybridization solutions, for example, and by the hybridization temperature; such procedures are well known in the art. In particular, stringency is increased by reducing the concentration of salt, increasing the concentration of formamide, or raising the hybridization temperature.

[0156] For example, high stringency conditions could occur at about 50% formamide at 37 ⁰ C to 42 ⁰ C. Reduced stringency conditions could occur at about 35% to 25% formamide at 30 ⁰ C to 35 ⁰ C. Examples of stringency conditions for hybridization are provided in Sambrook, J., 1989, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y. Further examples of stringent hybridization conditions include 400 mM NaCl, 40 mM PIPES pH 6.4, 1 mM EDTA, 50 ⁰ C or 70 ⁰ C for 12-16 hours followed by washing, or hybridization at 70 ⁰ C in IXSSC or 50 °C in IXSSC, 50% formamide followed by washing at 70 ⁰ C in 0.3XSSC, or hybridization at 70 °C in 4XSSC or 50 ⁰ C in 4XSSC, 50% formamide followed by washing at 67 ⁰ C in IXSSC. The temperature for hybridization is about 5-10 ⁰ C less than the melting temperature (T _m ) of the hybrid where T _m is determined for hybrids between 19 and 49 base pairs in length using the following calculation: T _m ⁰ C = 81.5 + 16.6(logi ₀ [Na+]) + 0.41 (% G+C) - (600/N) where N is the number of bases in the hybrid, and [Na+] is the concentration of sodium ions in the hybridization buffer. [0157] The above-described in vitro hybridization assay provides a method of predicting whether binding between a candidate siRNA and a target will have specificity. However, in the context of the RISC complex, specific cleavage of a target can also occur with an antisense strand that does not demonstrate high stringency for hybridization in vitro.

[0158] Single-stranded interfering RNA: As cited above, interfering RNAs ultimately function as single strands. Single-stranded (ss) interfering RNA has been found to effect niRNA silencing, albeit less efficiently than double-stranded RNA. Therefore, embodiments of the present invention also provide for administration of a ss interfering RNA that hybridizes under physiological conditions to a portion of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO.4, SEQ ID NO.5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:101, SEQ ID NO:123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO.131, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ ID NO:133, or SEQ ID NO:134, and has a region of at least near-perfect contiguous complementarity of at least 19 nucleotides with the hybridizing portion of SEQ ID NO:1, SEQ ID NO:2, SEQ ID NO:3, SEQ ID NO:4, SEQ ID NO:5, SEQ ID NO:6, SEQ ID NO:7, SEQ ID NO:101,

6 003515

SEQ ID NO-.123, SEQ ID NO:124, SEQ ID NO:125, SEQ ID NO:126, SEQ ID NO:127, SEQ ID NO:128, SEQ ID NO:129, SEQ ID NO:130, SEQ ID NO:131, SEQ ID NO:132, SEQ ID NO:133, or SEQ ID NO: 134, respectively. The ss interfering RNA has a length of 19 to 49 nucleotides as for the ds interfering RNA cited above. The ss interfering RNA has a 5' phosphate or is phosphorylated in situ or in vivo at the 5' position. The term "5' phosphorylated" is used to describe, for example, polynucleotides or oligonucleotides having a phosphate group attached via ester linkage to the C5 hydroxyl of the sugar (e.g., ribose, deoxyribose, or an analog of same) at the 5' end of the polynucleotide or oligonucleotide.

[0159] SS interfering RNAs are synthesized chemically or by in vitro transcription or expressed endogenously from vectors or expression cassettes as for ds interfering RNAs. 5' Phosphate groups may be added via a kinase, or a 5' phosphate may be the result of nuclease cleavage of an RNA. Delivery is as for ds interfering RNAs. In one embodiment, ss interfering RNAs having protected ends and nuclease resistant modifications are administered for silencing. SS interfering RNAs may be dried for storage or dissolved in an aqueous solution. The solution may contain buffers or salts to inhibit annealing or for stabilization.

[0160] Hairpin interfering RNA: A hairpin interfering RNA is a single molecule (e.g., a single oligonucleotide chain) that comprises both the sense and antisense strands of an interfering RNA in a stem-loop or hairpin structure (e.g., a shRNA). For example, shRNAs can be expressed from DNA vectors in which the DNA oligonucleotides encoding a sense interfering RNA strand are linked to the DNA oligonucleotides encoding the reverse complementary antisense interfering RNA strand by a short spacer. If needed for the chosen expression vector, 3' terminal T's and nucleotides forming restriction sites may be added. The resulting RNA transcript folds back onto itself to form a stem-loop structure. [0161] Mode of administration: Interfering RNA may be delivered directly to the eye by ocular tissue injection such as periocular, conjunctival, subtenon, intracameral, intravitreal, intraocular, subretinal, subconjunctival, retrobulbar, or intracanalicular injections; by direct application to the eye using a catheter or other placement device such as a retinal pellet, intraocular insert, suppository or an implant comprising a porous, non-porous, or gelatinous material; by topical ocular drops or ointments; or by a slow release device in the cul-de-sac or implanted adjacent to the sclera (transscleral) or within the eye. Intracameral injection may be through the cornea into the anterior chamber to allow the agent to reach the trabecular meshwork. Intracanalicular injection may be into the venous collector channels draining Schlemm's canal or into Schlemm's canal. Systemic or parenteral administration is contemplated including but not limited to intravenous, subcutaneous, and oral delivery.

[0162] Subject: A subject in need of treatment for ocular hypertension or at risk for developing ocular hypertension is a human or other mammal having ocular hypertension or at risk of having ocular hypertension associated with undesired or inappropriate expression or activity of targets as cited herein, i.e., carbonic anhydrase II, IV, or XII; βl- or β2-adrenergic receptors; acetylcholinesterase; Na ⁺ VK ⁺ -

ATPase; or Na-K-2C1 cotransporter. Ocular structures associated with such disorders may include the

eye, retina, choroid, lens, cornea, trabecular meshwork, iris, optic nerve, optic nerve head, sclera, aqueous chamber, vitreous chamber, or ciliary body, for example. A subject may also be an ocular cell, cell culture, organ or an ex vivo organ or tissue.

[0163] Formulations and Dosage: Pharmaceutical formulations comprise an interfering RNA, or salt thereof, of the invention up to 99% by weight mixed with a physiologically acceptable ophthalmic carrier medium such as water, buffer, saline, glycine, hyaluronic acid, mannitol, and the like.

[0164] Interfering RNAs of the present invention are administered as solutions, suspensions, or emulsions. The following are examples of possible formulations embodied by this invention.

Amount in weight %

Interfering RNA up to 99; 0.1-99; 0.1 - 50; 0.5 -

10.0

Hydroxypropylmethylcellulose 0.5

Sodium chloride 0.8

Benzalkonium Chloride 0.01

EDTA 0.01

NaOH/HCl qs pH 7.4

Purified water (RNase-free) qs 100 mL

Amount in weight %

Interfering RNA up to 99; 0.1-99; 0.1 - 50; 0.5 - 10.0

Phosphate Buffered Saline 1.0

Benzalkonium Chloride 0.01

Polysorbate 80 0.5

Purified water (RNase-free) q.s. to 100%

Amount in weight %

Interfering RNA up to 99; 0. 1-99; 0.1 - 50; 0.5 - 10.0

Monobasic sodium phosphate 0.05

Dibasic sodium phosphate 0.15

(anhydrous)

Sodium chloride 0.75

DisodiumEDTA 0.05

Cremophor EL 0.1

Benzalkonium chloride 0.01

HCl and/or NaOH pH 7.3-7.4

Purified water (RNase-free) q.s. to 100%

Amount in weight %

Interfering RNA up to 99; 0.1-99; 0.1 - 50; 0.5 - 10.0

Phosphate Buffered Saline 1.0

Hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin 4.0

Purified water (RNase-free) q.s. to 100%

[0165] Generally, an effective amount of the interfering RNA of embodiments of the invention results in an extracellular concentration at the surface of the target cell of from 100 pM to 100 nM, or from 1 nM to 50 nM, or from 5 nM to about 10 nM, or to about 25 nM. The dose required to achieve this local

US2006/003515 concentration will vary depending on a number of factors including the delivery method, the site of delivery, the number of cell layers between the delivery site and the target cell or tissue, whether delivery is local or systemic, etc. The concentration at the delivery site may be considerably higher than it is at the surface of the target cell or tissue. Topical compositions are delivered to the surface of the eye one to four times per day, or on an extended delivery schedule such as daily, weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, or longer, according to the routine discretion of a skilled clinician. The pH of the formulation is about pH 4-9, or pH 4.5 to pH 7.4.

[0166] Therapeutic treatment of patients with siRNAs directed against the ocular hypertension target mRNAs is expected to be beneficial over small molecule topical ocular drops by increasing the duration of action, thereby allowing less frequent dosing and greater patient compliance. [0167] While the precise regimen is left to the discretion of the clinician, interfering RNA may be administered by placing one drop in each eye as directed by the clinician. An effective amount of a formulation may depend on factors such as the age, race, and sex of the subject, the severity of the ocular hypertension, the rate of target gene transcript/protein turnover, the interfering RNA potency, and the interfering RNA stability, for example. In one embodiment, the interfering RNA is delivered topically to the eye and reaches the trabecular meshwork, retina or optic nerve head at a therapeutic dose thereby ameliorating an ocular hypertension-associated disease process.

[0168] Acceptable carriers: An ophthalmically acceptable carrier refers to those carriers that cause at most, little to no ocular irritation, provide suitable preservation if needed, and deliver one or more interfering RNAs of the present invention in a homogenous dosage. An acceptable carrier for administration of interfering RNA of embodiments of the present invention include the cationic lipid- based transfection reagents TransIT ^® -TKO (Minis Corporation, Madison, WI), LIPOFECTIN®, Lipofectamine, OLIGOFECTAMINE™ (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA), or DHARMAFECT™ (Dharmacon, Lafayette, CO); polycations such as polyethyleneimine; cationic peptides such as Tat, polyarginine, or Penetratin (Antp peptide); or liposomes. Liposomes are formed from standard vesicle- forming lipids and a sterol, such as cholesterol, and may include a targeting molecule such as a monoclonal antibody having binding affinity for endothelial cell surface antigens, for example. Further, the liposomes may be PEGylated liposomes.

[0169] The interfering RNAs may be delivered in solution, in suspension, or in bioerodible or non- bioerodible delivery devices. The interfering RNAs can be delivered alone, as components of covalent conjugates, complexed with cationic lipids, cationic peptides, or cationic polymers, or encapsulated in targeted or non-targeted nanoparticles.

[0170] For ophthalmic delivery, an interfering RNA may be combined with ophthalmologically acceptable preservatives, co-solvents, surfactants, viscosity enhancers, penetration enhancers, buffers, sodium chloride, or water to form an aqueous, sterile ophthalmic suspension or solution. Ophthalmic solution formulations may be prepared by dissolving the interfering RNA in a physiologically acceptable isotonic aqueous buffer. Further, the ophthalmic solution may include an ophthalmologically

US2006/003515 acceptable surfactant to assist in dissolving the inhibitor. Viscosity building agents, such as hydroxymethyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose, methylcellulose, polyvinylpyrrolidone, or the like may be added to the compositions of the present invention to improve the retention of the compound. [0171] In order to prepare a sterile ophthalmic ointment formulation, the interfering RNA is combined with a preservative in an appropriate vehicle, such as mineral oil, liquid lanolin, or white petrolatum. Sterile ophthalmic gel formulations may be prepared by suspending the interfering RNA in a hydrophilic base prepared from the combination of, for example, CARBOPOL ^® -940 (BF Goodrich, Charlotte, NC), or the like, according to methods known in the art for other ophthalmic formulations. VISCOAT ^® (Alcon Laboratories, Inc., Fort Worth, TX) may be used for intraocular injection, for example. Other compositions of the present invention may contain penetration enhancing agents such as cremephor and TWEEN ^® 80 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaureate, Sigma Aldrich, St. Louis, MO), in the event the interfering RNA is less penetrating in the eye.

[0172] Kits: Embodiments of the present invention provide a kit that includes reagents for attenuating the expression of an mRNA as cited herein in a cell. The kit contains an siRNA or an shRNA expression vector. For siRNAs and non-viral shRNA expression vectors the kit also may contain a transfection reagent or other suitable delivery vehicle. For viral shRNA expression vectors, the kit may contain the viral vector and/or the necessary components for viral vector production (e.g., a packaging cell line as well as a vector comprising the viral vector template and additional helper vectors for packaging). The kit may also contain positive and negative control siRNAs or shRNA expression vectors (e.g., a non-targeting control siRNA or an siRNA that targets an unrelated mRNA). The kit also may cøntain reagents for assessing knockdown of the intended target gene (e.g., primers and probes for quantitative PCR to detect the target mRNA and/or antibodies against the corresponding protein for western blots). Alternatively, the kit may comprise an siRNA sequence or an shRNA sequence and the instructions and materials necessary to generate the siRNA by in vitro transcription or to construct an shRNA expression vector.

[0173] A pharmaceutical combination in kit form is further provided that includes, in packaged combination, a carrier means adapted to receive a container means in close confinement therewith and a first container means including an interfering RNA composition and an ophthalmically acceptable carrier. Such kits can further include, if desired, one or more of various conventional pharmaceutical kit components, such as, for example, containers with one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers, additional containers, etc., as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art. Printed instructions, either as inserts or as labels, indicating quantities of the components to be administered, guidelines for administration, and/or guidelines for mixing the components, can also be included in the kit. [0174] The ability of interfering RNA to knock-down the levels of endogenous target gene expression in, for example, human trabecular meshwork (TM) cells is evaluated in vitro as follows. Transformed human TM cells, for example, cell lines designated GTM-3 or HTM-3 (see Pang, I.H. et al.,. 1994. Curr. Eye Res. 13:51-63), are plated 24 h prior to transfection in standard growth medium (e.g., DMEM

supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum). Transfection is performed using Dharmafect 1 (Dharmacon, Lafayette, CO) according to the manufacturer's instructions at interfering RNA concentrations ranging from 0.1 nM - 100 nM. Non-targeting control interfering RNA and lamin A/C interfering RNA (Dharmacon) are used as controls. Target mRNA levels are assessed by qPCR 24 h post-transfection using, for example, TAQMAN® forward and reverse primers and a probe set that encompasses the target site (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA). Target protein levels may be assessed approximately 72 h post-transfection (actual time dependent on protein turnover rate) by western blot, for example. Standard techniques for RNA and/or protein isolation from cultured cells are well-known to those skilled in the art. To reduce the chance of non-specific, off-target effects, the lowest possible concentration of interfering RNA should be used that will produce the desired level of knock-down in target gene expression.

[0175] The ability of interfering RNAs of the present invention to knock-down levels of CA2 protein expression is further exemplified in Example 1 as follows.

Example 1 Interfering RNA for Specifically Silencing CA2 in HeLa Cells

[0176] The present study examines the ability of CA2-interfering RNA to knock down the levels of endogenous CA2 expression in cultured HeLa cells.

[0177] Transfection of HeLa cells was accomplished using standard in vitro concentrations (100 nM and 1 nM) of CA2 siRNAs, or a non-targeting control siRNA and DharmaFECT™ 1 transfection reagent (Dharmacon, Lafayette, CO). All siRNAs were dissolved in IX siRNA buffer, an aqueous solution of 20 mM KCl, 6 mM HEPES (pH 7.5), 0.2 mM MgCl ₂ . CA2 protein expression and actin protein expression (loading control) was evaluated by western blot analysis 72 hours post-transfection. The CA2 siRNAs are double-stranded interfering RNAs having specificity for the following target sequences: siCA2#l targets SEQ ID NO:721; siCA2#3 targets SEQ ID NO:15; siCA2#4 targets SEQ ID NO:720; siCA2#5 targets SEQ ID NO: 141. Each of the four CA2 siRNAs decreased CA2 expression significantly at both 100 nM and 1 nM relative to a non-targeting control siRNA as shown by the western blot data of FIG. 1. SiCA2#4 targeting SEQ ID NO:720 and siCA2#5 targeting SEQ ID NO: 141 appeared to be particularly effective.

[0178] The references cited herein, to the extent that they provide exemplary procedural or other details supplementary to those set forth herein, are specifically incorporated by reference.

[0179] Those of skill in the art, in light of the present disclosure, will appreciate that obvious modifications of the embodiments disclosed herein can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. All of the embodiments disclosed herein can be made and executed without undue experimentation in light of the present disclosure. The full scope of the invention is set out in the

disclosure and equivalent embodiments thereof. The specification should not be construed to unduly narrow the full scope of protection to which the present invention is entitled.

[0180] As used herein and unless otherwise indicated, the terms "a" and "an" are taken to mean "one", "at least one" or "one or more".