An oligonucleotide decoy for transcription factor E2F inhibits messangial cell proliferation in vitro

An oligonucleotide decoy for transcription factor E2F can be introduced into cultured mesangial cells (MC) by using cationic liposomes. This results in the suppression of cell cycle regulatory genes which stops the proliferation of serum-induced MC. The growth of glomerular MC is a common characteristic of human glomerulonephritis. The decoy is a synthetic double-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide which binds strongly with E2F. It has been used previously to inhibit vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo.