Patent Publication Number: US-5834440-A

Title: Ribozyme therapy for the inhibition of restenosis

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/207,649 filed Mar. 7, 1994, now abandoned, which application is incorporated by reference herein. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to therapeutics, and more specifically, to compositions and methods which may be utilized in the treatment and/or prevention of restenosis. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In 1992, an excess of 300,000 angioplasties were performed in the United States. Restenosis is a major complication following angioplasty, occurring in 30%-60% of patients. Indeed, restenosis is the single most significant problem in interventional cardiology and costs the health care system in excess of $1 billion per year. 
     Restenosis following angioplasty is the result of local vascular injury, and is characterized by the local infiltration of platelets and macrophages, and local activation of the clotting system. These factors result in the elaboration of a number of biologic mediators of smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation. These SMCs migrate into the vascular intima and begin to proliferate and produce extracellular matrix (ECM), resulting in the formation of a fibrocellular mass which can obstruct blood flow. Further, injury has been shown to induce the expression of a variety of oncogenes that are believed to play a role in the cellular response to this injury. Thus, a need exists for an effective therapy to prevent and treat restenosis. The present invention satisfies this need and further provides other, related, advantages as well. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As an effective therapy for restenosis, this invention provides ribozymes and ribozyme delivery systems useful to inhibit abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation in vascular tissue. Methods of producing ribozymes and gene therapy utilizing these ribozymes also are provided. 
     Accordingly, in one aspect the present invention ribozymes having the ability to inhibit abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation in vascular tissue. Preferably, the ribozyme is a hammerhead or hairpin ribozyme, representative examples of which recognize the target site sequences set forth below and in the Examples. In preferred embodiments, the present invention also provides nucleic acid molecule encoding such ribozymes; further preferably, the nucleic acid is DNA or cDNA. Even further preferably, the nucleic acid molecule is under the control of a promoter to transcribe the nucleic acid. 
     In another aspect, the present invention provides host cells containing the ribozymes described herein, vectors comprising the nucleic acid encoding the ribozymes described herein, and host cells comprising such a vector. Preferably, the vector is a plasmid, a virus, retrotransposon, a cosmid or a retrovirus. In one embodiment where the vector is a retroviral vector, the nucleic acid molecule encoding the ribozyme under the control of a promoter, which is preferably a pol III promoter, further preferably a human tRNA va1  promoter or an adenovirus VA1 promoter, is inserted between the 5&#39; and 3&#39; long terminal repeat sequences of the retrovirus. 
     The present invention also provides a host cell stably transformed with such a retroviral vector. Preferably, the host cell is a murine or a human cell. 
     In a further aspect, the present invention provides methods for producing a ribozyme, the ribozyme being able to inhibit abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation in vascular tissue, which method comprises providing a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., DNA) encoding the ribozyme under the transcriptional control of a promoter, and transcribing the nucleic acid molecule to produce the ribozyme. Preferably, the method further comprises purifying the ribozyme produced. The ribozyme may be produced in vitro, in vivo or ex vivo. 
     In yet another aspect, the present invention provides methods of inhibiting abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation in vascular tissue, which method comprises introducing into the cell an effective amount of the ribozymes described herein. In one embodiment, such methods comprise introducing into the cell an effective amount of DNA encoding a ribozyme as described herein and transcribing the DNA to produce the ribozyme. Preferably, the cell is a human cell. 
     In still a further aspect, the present invention provides methods of preventing abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation in vascular tissue, which methods comprise introducing into the cell an effective amount of a nucleic acid molecule (e.g., DNA) encoding a ribozyme as described herein and transcribing the DNA to produce the ribozyme. Preferably, the cell is a human cell. 
     In preferred embodiments, the methods further comprise administering the cell transduced with a retroviral vector to a mammal of the same species as that from which the transduced cell was obtained. In other preferred embodiments, the cell transduced with the retroviral vector has been obtained from the mammal receiving the transduced cell. 
     These and other aspects of the present invention will become evident upon reference to the following detailed description and attached drawings. In addition, various references are set forth herein that describe in more detail certain procedures or compositions (e.g., plasmids, etc.), and are therefore incorporated by reference in their entirety as if each were individually noted for incorporation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of vector pLNT-Rz. 
     FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a representative hairpin ribozyme. 
     FIG. 3 is a graph which illustrates the effects of ribozymes on a balloon injured rat carotid artery. 
     FIG. 4 is a graph which illustrates the effects of ribozymes on a balloon injured rat carotid artery. 
     FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a ribozyme directed against rat PCNA (SEQ ID NOS: 32 and 33). 
     FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a ribozyme directed against rat cdc-2 kinase (SEQ ID NOS: 34 and 35). 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Restenosis is a major clinical problem and as the result of a need for repeat hospitalization, repeat angioplasty or bypass surgery, restenosis costs the nation&#39;s health care system in excess of $1 billion per year. Restenosis is believed to comprise three important components. First, myointimal proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells and the subsequent deposition of ECM results in a fibrocellular mass which can encroach upon the vascular lumen. Second, following acute angioplasty, there may be significant elastic recoil of the artery which contributes to a late loss of luminal dimension. Finally, platelets and thrombus adherent to the vascular wall may, over time, organize into a fibrocellular mass. 
     Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are capable of producing and responding to a variety of growth factors including platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), transforming growth factor (TGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), insulin-like growth factor (IGF), and interleukins. These same factors have been found in human restenotic lesions. In addition, a variety of oncogenes (e.g., c-myc, c-fos, and c-myb) have been found to be involved in smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation as well as deposition of ECM that is associated with post-vascular injury. Smooth muscle cells themselves are capable of regulating their own growth by local autocrine and paracrine mechanisms. 
     As discussed in more detail below, by interfering with the local production and action of the growth factors, oncogenes and cell regulatory proteins involved with SMC growth following vascular injury, restenosis can be effectively treated and/or prevented. This invention accomplishes such by providing ribozymes and methods of using ribozymes that directly block the production of the growth factors, oncogenes and cell regulatory proteins involved with SMC growth following vascular injury. 
     As used herein, &#34;ribozymes&#34; are intended to include RNA molecules that contain anti-sense sequences for specific recognition, and an RNA-cleaving enzymatic activity. The catalytic strand cleaves a specific site in a target RNA at greater than stoichiometric concentration. Two &#34;types&#34; of ribozymes are particularly useful in this invention, the hammerhead ribozyme (Rossi, J.J. et al., Pharmac. Ther. 50:245-254, 1991) and the hairpin ribozyme (Hampel et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 18:299-304, 1990, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,678, issued Oct. 19, 1993). Because both hammerhead and hairpin ribozymes are catalytic molecules having antisense and endoribonucleotidase activity, ribozyme technology has emerged as a potentially powerful extension of the antisense approach to gene inactivation. The ribozymes of the invention typically consist of RNA, but such ribozymes may also be composed of nucleic acid molecules comprising chimeric nucleic acid sequences (such as DNA/RNA sequences) and/or nucleic acid analogs (e.g., phosphorothioates). 
     Accordingly, within one aspect of the present invention ribozymes are provided which have the ability to inhibit pathologic smooth muscle proliferation and restenosis. Such ribozymes may be in the form of a &#34;hammerhead&#34; (for example, as described by Forster and Symons, Cell 48:211-220, 1987; Haseloff and Gerlach, Nature 328:596-600, 1988; Walbot and Bruening, Nature 334:196, 1988; Haseloff and Gerlach, Nature 334:585, 1988) or a &#34;hairpin&#34; (for example, as described by Haseloffet al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,254,678, issued Oct. 19, 1993 and Hempel et al., European Patent Publication No. 0 360 257, published Mar. 26, 1990), and have the ability to specifically target, cleave and inactivate factors responsible for restenosis. In one embodiment, the ribozyme has the ability to inhibit the activity of a growth factor responsible for abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation in vascular tissue. Such rowth factors include, but are not limited to platelet derived growth factor, fibroblast growth factor, insulin-like growth factor, c-myc, c-myb, c-fos, cdc2 kinase, PCNA, Cyclin B1, Lysyl Oxidase, TGF-α, TGF-β, interleukin, and components of the extracellular matrix. As used herein, the term &#34;abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation&#34; shall mean any small cell proliferation and deposition of extracellular matrix occurring in response to vascular injury or trauma involved by any angioplasty, stent, balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, laser surgery, endovascular or surgical procedure. 
     The sequence requirement for the hairpin ribozyme is any RNA sequence consisting of NNNBN*GUCNNNNNN (where N*G is the cleavage site, where B is any of G, C, or U, and where N is any of G, U, C, or A)(SEQ ID NO: 1). Representative examples of recognition or target sequences for hairpin ribozymes are set forth below in the Examples. The sequence requirement at the cleavage site for the hammerhead ribozyme is any RNA sequence consisting of NUX (where N is any of G, U, C, or A and X represents C, U, or A) can be targeted. Accordingly, the same target within the hairpin leader sequence, GUC, is useful for the hammerhead ribozyme. The additional nucleotides of the hammerhead ribozyme or hairpin ribozyme is determined by the target flanking nucleotides and the hammerhead consensus sequence (see Ruffner et al., Biochemistry 29:10695-10702, 1990). 
     This information, and the published sequence of nucleic acids coding for c-myc, c-myb, c-fos, cdc2 kinase (Genbank accession number Y00272; Lee and Nurse, Nature 327:31-35, 1987), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (&#34;PCNA&#34; Genbank accession number J04718; Travali et al., G. Biol. Chem. 264(13):7466-7472, 1989), Cyclin B1 (Genbank accession number M25753; Pines and Hunter, Cell 58:833-846, 1989), Lysyl Oxidase (Genbank accession number M94054), TGF-α and TGF-β proteins enables the production of the ribozymes of this invention. Appropriate base changes in the ribozyme is made to maintain the necessary base pairing with the target RNA sequences. 
     Cech et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,071, issued Jan. 22, 1991) has disclosed the preparation and use of certain synthetic ribozymes which have endoribonuclease activity. These ribozymes are based on the properties of the Tetrahymena ribosomal RNA self-splicing reaction and require an eight base pair target site. A temperature optimum of 50° C. is reported for the endoribonuclease activity. The fragments that arise from cleavage contain 5&#39; phosphate and 3&#39; hydroxyl groups and a free guanosine nucleotide added to the 5&#39; end of the cleaved RNA. In contrast, the ribozymes of this invention hybridize efficiently to target sequences at physiological temperatures, making them suitable for use in vivo, not merely as research tools (see, column 15, lines 18-42, of Cech et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,987,071). 
     The ribozymes of this invention, as well as DNA encoding such ribozymes and other suitable nucleic acid molecules, described in more detail below, can be chemically synthesized using methods well known in the art for the synthesis of nucleic acid molecules. Alternatively, Promega, Madison, Wis., USA, provides a series of protocols suitable for the production of RNA molecules such as ribozymes. The ribozymes also can be prepared from a DNA molecule or other nucleic acid molecule (which, upon transcription, yields an RNA molecule) operably linked to an RNA polymerase promoter, e.g., the promoter for T7 RNA polymerase or SP6 RNA polymerase. Such a construct may be referred to as a vector. Accordingly, also provided by this invention are nucleic acid molecules, e.g., DNA or cDNA, coding for the ribozymes of this invention. When the vector also contains an RNA polymerase promoter operably linked to the DNA molecule, the ribozyme can be produced in vitro upon incubation with the RNA polymerase and appropriate nucleotides. In a separate embodiment, the DNA may be inserted into an expression cassette, such as described in Cotten and Birnstiel, EMBO J 8(12):3861-3866, 1989, and in Hempel et al., Biochemistry 28:4929-4933, 1989. A more detailed discussion of molecular biology methodology is disclosed in Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, 1989. 
     After synthesis, the ribozyme can be modified by ligation to a DNA molecule having the ability to stabilize the ribozyme and make it resistant to RNase. Alternatively, the ribozyme can be modified to the phosphothio analog for use in liposome delivery systems. This modification also renders the ribozyme resistant to endonuclease activity. 
     The ribozyme molecule also can be in a host procaryotic or eukaryotic cell in culture or in the cells of an organism. Appropriate procaryotic and eukaryotic cells can be transfected with an appropriate transfer vector containing the DNA molecule encoding a ribozyme of this invention. Alternatively, the ribozyme molecule, including nucleic acid molecules encoding the ribozyme, may be introduced into the host cell using traditional methods such as transformation using calcium phosphate precipitation (Dubensky et al., PNAS 81:7529-7533, 1984), direct microinjection of such nucleic acid molecules into intact target cells (Acsadi et al., Nature 352:815-818, 1991), and electroporation whereby cells suspended in a conducting solution are subjected to an intense electric field in order to transiently polarize the membrane, allowing entry ofthe nucleic acid molecules. Other procedures include the use of nucleic acid molecules linked to an inactive adenovirus (Cotton et al., PNAS 89:6094, 1990), lipofection (Felgner et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 84:7413-7417, 1989), microprojectile ombardment (Williams et al., PNAS 88:2726-2730, 1991), polycation compounds such as polylysine, receptor specific ligands, liposomes entrapping the nucleic acid molecules, spheroplast fusion whereby E coli containing the nucleic acid molecules are stripped of their outer cell walls and fused to animal cells using polyethylene glycol, viral transduction, (Cline et al., Pharmac. Ther. 29:69, 1985; and Friedmann et al., Science 244:1275, 1989), and DNA ligand (Wu et al, J. of BioL Chem. 264:16985-16987, 1989), as well as psoralen inactivated viruses such as Sendai or Adenovirus. In a preferred embodiment, the ribozyme is introduced into the host cell utilizing a liposome. 
     When the DNA molecule is operatively linked to a promoter for RNA transcription, the RNA can be produced in the host cell when the host cell is grown under suitable conditions favoring transcription of the DNA molecule. The vector can be, but is not limited to a plasmid, a virus, a retrotransposon or a cosmid. Examples of such vectors are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,166,320. Other representative vectors include adenoviral vectors (e.g., WO 94/26914, WO 93/9191; Kolls et al., PNAS 91(1):215-219, 1994; Kass-Eisler et al., PNAS 90(24):11498-502, 1993; Guzman et al., Circulation 88(6):2838-48, 1993; Guzman et al., Cir. Res. 73(6):1202-1207, 1993; Zabner et al., Cell 75(2):207-216, 1993; Li et al., Huim Gene Ther. 4(4):403-409, 1993; Caillaud et al., Eur. J Neurosci. 5(10):1287-1291, 1993), adeno-associated vector type 1 (&#34;AAV-1&#34;) or adeno-associated vector type 2 (&#34;AAV-2&#34;) (see WO 95/13365; Flotte et al., PNAS 90(22):10613-10617, 1993), retroviral vectors (e.g., EP 0 415 731; WO 90/07936; WO 91/02805; WO 94/03622; WO 93/25698; WO 93/25234; U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,740; WO 93/11230; WO 93/10218) and herpes viral vectors (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,641). Methods of utilizing such vectors in gene therapy are well known in the art, see, for example, Larrick, J.W. and Burck, K.L., Gene Therapy: Application of Molecular Biology, Elsevier Science Publishing Co., Inc., New York, New York, 1991 and Kreigler, M., Gene Transfer and Expression: A Laboratory Manual, W.H. Freeman and Company, New York, 1990. 
     To produce ribozymes in vivo utilizing vectors, the nucleotide sequences coding for ribozymes are preferably placed under the control of a strong promoter such as the lac, SV40 late, SV40 early, or lambda promoters. Ribozymes are then produced directly from the transfer vector in vivo. 
     As noted above, within one embodiment the viral vector is a retrovirus, such as a non-virulent vaccinia based viral vector, a Moloney murine leukemia virus, or an HIV vector as described in Lever, A., J Virol. 63:4085-4087, 1989. Retroviral vectors are particularly useful for gene therapy of restenosis. An appropriate retroviral vector for such gene therapy is a retrovirus having a foreign nucleic acid (DNA or cDNA) sequence inserted between the 5&#39; and 3&#39; long terminal repeat (LTR) regions of he retrovirus. The foreign nucleic acid sequence is under the control of a promoter, for example, the retroviral LTR or an inserted pol III promoter such as the human tRNA Val  promoter or the adenovirus VAl promoter. The retroviral vector then stably expresses the ribozyme in the host cell. 
     Further provided by this invention are retroviral vectors having inserted between the 5&#39; and 3&#39; LTR more than one nucleic acid molecule encoding a ribozyme of this invention, each molecule under the control of a separate pol III promoter or alternatively, under the control of single pol III promoter or the retroviral LTR. These retroviral vectors provide the advantage of providing multi-functional therapy against restenosis, each specific therapy working in synergy. In addition, because only a limited number of vectors are used, the number of integration sites in the host cell are reduced thereby reducing the possibility of activation of host cellular DNA sequences by the inserted retroviral vector. 
     Host procaryotic and eucaryotic cells stably transduced with the vectors described above also are provided by this invention. Suitable host cells include bacterial cells, mouse cells, rat cells, mouse cells, and human cells, for example, vascular smooth muscle cells. 
     Methods of inhibiting abnormal smooth cell vascular tissue proliferation or restenosis are also provided by this invention. Such methods require contacting a suitable cell or tissue with an effective amount ribozyme of this invention or alternatively, by transducing the cell with an effective amount vector having a nucleic acid molecule encoding the ribozyme. Effective amounts are easily determined by those of skill in the art using well known methodology. When exogenously delivering the ribozyme, the nucleic acid molecule can be embedded within a stable RNA molecule or in another form of protective environment, such as a liposome. Alternatively, the RNA can be embedded within RNase resistant DNA counterparts. Cellular uptake of the exogenous ribozyme can be enhanced by attaching chemical groups to the DNA ends, such as cholesteryl moieties (Letsinger et al., P.N.A.,S., U.S.A. 1989). 
     In another aspect of the invention, target cells are transduced under conditions favoring insertion of the vector into the target cell and stable expression of the nucleic acid encoding the specific ribozyme. The target cell can include but is not limited to a vascular smooth muscle cell or a cell responsible for the deposition of proteins involved in the formation of extracellular matrix. Such cells are well known to those of skill in the art. 
     Accordingly, another aspect of this invention provides methods for interfering with or preventing abnormal smooth muscle proliferation in a suitable cell, by reacting the target RNA sequence with a ribozyme of this invention. Within the cell or within the cells of an organism, a transfer vector as described above encoding one or more ribozymes is transfected into a cell or cells using methods described in Llewwllyn et al., (1987) J Mol. Biol. 195:115-123 and Hanahan et al. (1983) 166:557-580, each incorporated herein by reference. Inside the cell, the transfer vector replicates and the DNA coding for the ribozyme is transcribed by cellular polymerases to produce ribozymes which then inactivate factors responsible for abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation, abnormal extracellular matrix deposition and restenosis. Micromanipulation techniques such as microinjection also can be used to insert the vector into the cell so that the transfer vector or a part thereof is integrated into the genome of the cell. Transcription of the integrated material gives rise to ribozymes which then inactivate the target proteins. As used herein, the term &#34;inactivate&#34; is intended to mean interfere with the production of the protein products such as those discussed above (e.g., c-myc or TGF-β). 
     Compositions also are provided by this invention. These compositions contain any of the above described ribozymes, DNA molecules, vectors or host cells. In one aspect of this invention, the compositions also contain a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. As used herein, the term &#34;pharmaceutically acceptable carrier&#34; encompasses any of the standard pharmaceutical carriers, such as a phosphate buffered saline solution, water, and emulsions, such as an oil/water or water/oil emulsion, and various types of wetting agents. 
     Host cells containing the ribozymes, nucleic acids and/or vectors described above also are within the scope of this invention. These host cells can be procaryotic cells, for example bacterial cells or eucaryotic cells, such as mammalian, human, rat, or mouse cells. The host cells transduced with nucleic acids encoding the ribozymes are useful to recombinantly produce the ribozymes. Thus, also provided by this invention is a method for producing a ribozyme, in vitro or in vivo, the ribozyme being able to inhibit abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation in vascular tissue. DNA encoding the ribozyme is provided to the cell, the DNA being under the transcriptional control of a promoter, using methods well known to those of skill in the art. See Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (1989), incorporated herein by reference. The DNA is then transcribed in the cell to produce the ribozyme. When produced in vitro, the ribozyme can be purified or isolated from the cell by using methods well known in the art. The DNA can be transferred in a carrier or in a vector in a carrier a number of ways. For example, the DNA can be administered by transluminal delivery to the vascular wall, or exoluminally. In another aspect, the active ingredient can be embedded in a biodegradable polymer or sphere and administered by vascular stent. Alternatively, it can be delivered in a pleuronic gel. 
     Further provided by this invention are methods of inhibiting abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation in vascular tissue, by introducing into a cell one or more of the ribozymes described above, in an amount effective to inhibit SMC proliferation or abnormal extracellular matrix deposition. 
     An alternative method of inhibiting abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation in vascular tissue consists of introducing into a cell an effective amount of DNA encoding a ribozyme described above, under conditions favoring transcription of the DNA to produce the ribozyme. This method also is useful to prevent abnormal SMC and abnormal extracellular matrix deposition and thus prevent restenosis. 
     Also provided by this invention is a method of inhibiting or preventing abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation in vascular tissue in a subject (e.g., a warm-blooded animal such as a human) comprising the step of administering to the subject an effective amount of a ribozyme having the ability to inhibit abnormal smooth muscle cell proliferation in vascular tissue. The ribozyme is delivered to the smooth muscle cell exoluminally, transluminally, by stent, by a biodegradable polymer or sphere or in a pleuronic gel. 
     It should be understood to those skilled in the art that &#34;effective amounts&#34; are administered. These amounts are easily determined using methods well known to those of skill in the art. 
     The following examples are offered by way of illustration, and not by way of limitation. 
     EXAMPLES 
     Example 1 
     CRITERIA FOR RIBOZYME SITE SELECTION 
     A. Selection of Sites for Hairpin Ribozymes 
     Hairpin ribozymes suitable for use within the present invention preferably recognize the following sequence of RNA: NNNBNGUCNNNNNNNN wherein the ribozyme is constructed so as to be complementary to the underlined sequences, and wherein B is C, G or U. The sequence GUC must be conserved for all hairpin ribozymes described below. Other nucleotides (&#34;N&#34; as underlined above) preferably have a high degree of sequence conservation in order to limit the need for multiple ribozymes against the same target site. Representative GUC hairpin ribozyme recognition sites for various genes are provided below in Tables 1-4. 
     
                       TABLE 1                                                     
______________________________________                                    
Hairpin Ribozyme Recognition Sites for cdc 2 kinase                       
NUCL. POS. SEQUENCE (5&#39; to 3&#39;)                                            
                           I.D. No.                                       
______________________________________                                    
193        AGTCAGTCTTCAGGAT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:2)                                  
289        TCCTGGTCAGTACATG                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:3)                                  
530        CTGGGGTCAGCTCGTT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:4)                                  
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE 2                                                     
______________________________________                                    
Hairpin Ribozyme Recognition Sites for Cyclin B1                          
NUCL. POS. SEQUENCE (5&#39; to 3&#39;)                                            
                           I.D. No.                                       
______________________________________                                    
 12        TCCGAGTCACCAGGAA                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:5)                                  
281        CCAGTGTCTGAGCCAG                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:6)                                  
427        CCTGTGTCAGGCTTTC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:7)                                  
558        AAGCAGTCAGACCAAA                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:8)                                  
580        ACTGGGTCGGGAAGTC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:9)                                  
678        TGACTGTCTCCATTAT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:10)                                 
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE 3                                                     
______________________________________                                    
Hairpin Ribozyme Recognition Sites for PCNA                               
NUCL. POS. SEQUENCE (5&#39; to 3&#39;)                                            
                           I.D. No.                                       
______________________________________                                    
 18        GCCTGGTCCAGGGCTC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:11)                                 
125        GACTCGTCCCACGTCT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:12)                                 
158        CTGCGGTCTGAGGGCT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:13)                                 
867        TTTCTGTCACCAAATT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:14)                                 
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE 4                                                     
______________________________________                                    
Hairpin Ribozyme Recognition Sites for Lysyl Oxidase                      
NUCL. POS. SEQUENCE (5&#39; to 3&#39;)                                            
                           I.D. No.                                       
______________________________________                                    
225        CCGCCGTCCCTGGTGC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:15)                                 
333        CTGGAGTCACCGCTGG                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:16)                                 
364        CGCCCGTCACTGGTTC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:17)                                 
631        GTACGGTCTCCCAGAC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:18)                                 
671        CAGGCGTCCACGTACG                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:19)                                 
730        AAACTGTCTGGCCAGT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:20)                                 
970        TTTCTGTCTTGAAGAC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:21)                                 
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     B. Selection of Cleavage Sites for Hammerhead Ribozymes 
     Hammerhead ribozymes suitable for use within the present invention preferably recognize the sequence NUX, wherein N is any of G, U, C, or A and X is C, U, or A. Representative hammerhead target sites include: 
     
                       TABLE 5                                                     
______________________________________                                    
Hammerhead Ribozyme Recognition Sites for cdc 2 kinase                    
NUCL. POS. SEQUENCE (5&#39; to 3&#39;)                                            
                           I.D. No.                                       
______________________________________                                    
 81        TACAGGTCAAGTGGTA                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:22)                                 
159        AAATTTCTCTATTAAAG                                              
                           (SEQ ID NO:23)                                 
195        AGTCAGTCTTCAGGAT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:2)                                  
532        CTGGGGTCAGCTCGTT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:4)                                  
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE 6                                                     
______________________________________                                    
Hammerhead Ribozyme Recognition Sites for Cyclin B1                       
NUCL. POS. SEQUENCE (5&#39; to 3&#39;)                                            
                           I.D. No.                                       
______________________________________                                    
 14        TCCGAGTCACCAGGAA                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:5)                                  
283        CCAGTGTCTGAGCCAG                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:6)                                  
429        CCTGTGTCAGGCTTTC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:7)                                  
560        AACAGTCAGACCAAA (SEQ ID NO:8)                                  
582        ACTGGGTCGGGAAGTC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:9)                                  
680        TGACTGTCTCCATTAT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:10)                                 
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE 7                                                     
______________________________________                                    
Hammerhead Ribozyme Recognition Sites for PCNA                            
NUCL. POS. SEQUENCE (5&#39; to 3&#39;)                                            
                           I.D. No.                                       
______________________________________                                    
 20        GCCTGGTCCAGGGCTC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:11)                                 
127        GACTCGTCCCACGTCT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:12)                                 
160        CTGCGGTCTGAGGGCT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:13)                                 
869        TTTCTGTCACCAAATT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:14)                                 
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     
                       TABLE 8                                                     
______________________________________                                    
Hammerhead Ribozyme Recognition Sites for Lysyl Oxidase                   
NUCL. POS. SEQUENCE (5&#39; to 3&#39;)                                            
                           I.D. No.                                       
______________________________________                                    
227        CCGCCGTCCCTGGTGC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:15)                                 
335        CTGGAGTCACCGCTGG                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:16)                                 
366        CGCCCGTCACTGGTTC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:17)                                 
633        GTACGGTCTCCCAGAC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:18)                                 
673        CAGGCGTCCACGTACG                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:19)                                 
732        AAACTGTCTGGCCAGT                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:20)                                 
972        TTTCTGTCTTGAAGAC                                               
                           (SEQ ID NO:21)                                 
______________________________________                                    
 
    
     Example 2 
     CONSTRUCTION OF HAIRPIN RIBOZYMES 
     Two single-stranded DNA oligonucleotides are chemically synthesized such that, when combined and converted into double-stranded DNA, they contain the entire hairpin ribozyme, including nucleotides complementary to the target site. In addition, restriction enzyme recognition sites may be placed on either end to facilitate subsequent cloning. More specifically, the oligonucleotides are hybridized together and converted to double-stranded DNA using either Klenow DNA polymerase or Taq DNA polymerase. The resulting DNA is cleaved with restriction enzymes BamHI and MluI, purified and cloned into vectors for in vitro transcription (pGEM, ProMega, Madison, Wis.) or for retrovirus production and mammalian expression (pLNL/MJT backbone). Representative hairpin ribozymes are set forth below (note that the underlined sequences indicate the sites wherein the ribozyme binds the target sequence): 
     cdc-2 530 (SEQ ID No:24) 5&#39; AACGAGCTAGAACCAGACCAGAGAAACACACGTTGTGGTATATTACCTGGTA 3&#39; 
     Cyclin B1 281 (SEQ ID No:25) 5&#39; CTGGCTCAAGAACTGGACCAGAGAAACACACGTTGTGGTATATTACCTGGTA 3&#39; 
     Lysyl Oxidase 333 (SEQ ID No:26) 5&#39; CCAGCGGTAGAACCAGACCAGAGAAACACACGTTGTGGTATATTACCTGGTA 3&#39; 
     PCNA 158 (SEQ ID No:27) 5&#39; AGCCCTCAAGAAGCAGACCAGAGAAACACACGTTGTGGTATATTACCTGGTA 3&#39; 
     Defective ribozymes for use as controls may be constructed as described above, with the exception that the sequence AAA is changed to a UGC as shown in FIG. 2. 
     Example 3 
     CONSTRUCTION OF HAMMERHEAD RIBOZYMES 
     Chimeric hammerhead ribozymes (i.e., RNA/DNA hybrids) are designed to have an appropriate NUX sequence for ribozyme cleavage. Briefly, ribozymes are chemically synthesized for target sequences of the rat CDC2 kinase gene (nucleotide sequence from -30 to -14), rat PCNA (nucleotide sequence from -17 to +2). (See FIGS. 5 and 6.) In addition, the following human hammerhead ribozymes are synthesized. 
     cdc-2 532 (SEQ. ID. No:28) 5&#39; AACGAGCTCTGATGACCTCGTGAGAGGGAAACCCCAG 3&#39; 
     Cyclin B1 283 (SEQ. ID. No:29) 5&#39; CTGGCTCACTGATGACCTCGTGAGAGGGAAACACTGG 3&#39; 
     Lysyl Oxidase 335 (SEQ ID No:30) 5&#39; CCAGCGGTCTGATGACCTCGTGAGAGGGAAACTCCAG 3&#39; 
     PCNA 160 (SEQ ID No:31) 5&#39; AGCCCTCACTGATGACCTCGTGAGAGGGAAACCGCAG 3&#39; 
     A scrambled sequence polynucleotide including the same composition of ribonucleotides and deoxyribonucleotides is also synthesized for each ribozyme to serve as a control with no catalytic activity. Lipofectin may be utilized to enhance the uptake of ribozyme into the cells. 
     Example 4 
     CONSTRUCTION OF RMBOZYME MAMMALIAN EXPRESSION VECTORS 
     Plasmid pMJT (Yu et al., Proc. Nat&#39;l Acad. Sci. USA 90:6340-6344, 1993), which contains the anti-U5 HIV ribozyme driven by the tRNA val  RNA pol III promoter, is digested with BamHI and MluI, and the vector purified from the ribozyme fragment. The hairpin ribozymes, as described above, are excised from the pGem vector with BamHI and MluI, purified, and ligated into the empty pMJT vector. The resulting vector is designated pLNT-Rz (see FIG. 1), and contains the Moloney LTR driving the neomycin resistance gene and the tRNA val  RNA pol III promoter driving expression of the ribozyme. 
     Example 5 
     IN VITRO CLEAVAGE ASSAYS 
     Hairpin ribozymes are cloned into in vitro transcription vectors (pGEM-7Z, ProMega, Madison, Wis.) and transcribed in vitro by T7 RNA polymerase. Following transcription, reactions are treated with DNase and the ribozymes are purified by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Substrates are then transcribed in vitro in the presence  α- 32  P!UTP and purified by denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The in vitro cleavage reactions are carried out by incubating 40 nM ribozyme with 200 nM substrate at 37° C. for 0 to 60 minutes in 12 mM MgCl2/2 mM spermidine/40 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5. Reactions are terminated by the addition of loading buffer (7 M urea/bromophenol blue/xylene cyanol). Products of the cleavage reactions are resolved by electrophoresis on 15% acrylamide/7 M urea gels and analyzed by autoradiography. 
     Example 6 
     IN VIVO USE OF RIBOZYMES 
     A. Experimental Protocol 
     All animals are treated according to the guidelines of the American Physiological Society. Briefly, a #2 Fr fogarty catheter is used to induce vascular injury in male Sprague-Dawley rats (400 to 500 g in weight). The rats are anesthetized and a cannula is introduced into the left common carotid artery via the external carotid artery. The common carotid artery is then injured by pulling the inflated fogarty catheter through it 3 times. A total of 100 animals are studied and divided into 6 different groups: 
     
                       TABLE 9                                                     
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Group 1                                                                   
      (n = 20)                                                            
              balloon injury alone.                                       
Group 2                                                                   
      (n = 15)                                                            
              balloon injury followed by infusion of saline               
              through an isolated segment.                                
Group 3                                                                   
      (n = 15)                                                            
              balloon injury followed by local                            
              administration of CDC2 kinase ribozyme.                     
Group 4                                                                   
      (n = 12)                                                            
              balloon injury followed by local                            
              delivery of ribozyme to PCNA.                               
Group 5                                                                   
      (n = 25)                                                            
              balloon injury followed by administration of                
              scrambled sequences of nucleotides resembling               
              CDC2 kinase and PCNA ribozymes.                             
Group 6                                                                   
      (n + 12)                                                            
              balloon injury followed by local administration             
              of a combination of CDC2 kinase and                         
              PCNA ribozymes.                                             
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     After vessel injury of the common carotid artery, the injured segment is transiently isolated by temporary ligatures. Briefly, two hundred microliters of a combination of lipofectin and hammerhead ribozyme (40 μg) are incubated in the isolated segment for 15 minutes. After the 15 minute incubation, the ligatures are removed. The external carotid artery is ligated and blood flow is restored in the common carotid and the internal carotid artery. The skin wound is then repaired and the animals are transferred to their cages. The animals are then euthanized at 2 weeks and artery is harvested. It s perfusion fixed in formalin and sent for histopathology. 
     The histopathology sections are then subsequently analyzed by quantitative histology. Using computer facilitated planimetry, the lumen area, area of the intima and area of the media are measured and intimal area to medial area ration is calculated. All values are expressed as mean ± standard deviation and mean ± standard errors of mean. A statistical comparison for each of these parameters is performed between all the groups. 
     Results of the quantitative histology are shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and summarized in Table 10. Briefly, both the cross-sectional area of the intima and the ratio of the intimal area to medial area were significantly reduced in the ribozyme treated arteries compared with those treated with scrambled-sequence polynucleotides or with normal saline. The intimal hyperplasia was inhibited by the CDC-2 kinase ribozyme, the PCNA ribozyme and their combination. The combination did not seem to have any additive effect. 
     
                       TABLE 10                                                    
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          NO.               INT    I/M                                    
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B1        14       MEAN     13.50  0.83                                   
                   STDEV    4.47   0.34                                   
B1 + NS    8       MEAN     17.74  1.09                                   
                   STDBV    6.52   0.42                                   
B1 + RZ1  18       MEAN     8.37   0.46                                   
                   STDBV    5.04   0.24                                   
B1 + SCR  19       MEAN     13.24  0.92                                   
                   STDEV    4.43   0.26                                   
B1 + RZ2  10       MEAN     7.21   0.43                                   
                   STDEV    3.87   0.24                                   
B1 + RZoom                                                                
          10       MEAN     6.218783                                      
                                   0.41197                                
                   STDEV    1.875044                                      
                                   0.141841                               
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     B. Additional Assays 
     1. Tissue Culture Protocols 
     Smooth muscle cells (SMC) are isolated from rat aorta and maintained in DMEM medium and 10% FBS. MTT assay: This is a quantitative colorimetric assay for cell proliferation and survival. Rat SMC&#39;s (passage 4-8) are seeded into 96 well 10 plate (1500 cells/well) one day before treatment. Cells are then treated with 2 mM of CDC-2 kinase/PCNA ribozyme and 4 mM lipofectin for 1 hour. A second dose of ribozyme (4 mM) is added on day 2. On day 3, 10 mL of MTT is added into each well for 4 hours. The dye in the cells is extracted in DMSO after washing off any supernatant dye from the well. The OD is measured with microplate reader at 590 mM. 
     The MTT assay using PCNA ribozyme demonstrates significant inhibition of cell proliferation in cell culture as measured by uptake of MTT in comparison to scrambled sequence treated cells and control cells. 
     2. Quantification of mRNA 
     SMC&#39;s (4-8 passage) are seeded into culture dish one day prior to treatment. RNA is extracted from the cells after treatment with ribozyme, scrambled sequence polynucleotide, 10% FBS or serum free medium for 2 or 6 hours. RT-PCR is then performed utilizing RNA-PCR kit from Perkin Elmer. An appropriated primer sequence for CDC-2 kinase or PCNA is used for analysis. A beta-actin primer is used to ensure that the amount of RNA loaded in each well is approximately equal. 
     RT-PCR studies using CDC-2 kinase ribozyme show reduction in the CDC-2 kinase MRNA at 2 hours and further reduction at 6 hours in comparison to controls. To ensure that equivalent amount of RNA is loaded in each well, RT-PCR is performed using a primer for beta-actin which shows similar levels of beta-actin mRNA in each group. 
     3. Protein Expression 
     Three types of protein assays may also be accomplished, including a) Western blotting; b) Biosynthetic labeling with 35S labeled methionine followed by immunoprecipitation of radiolabelled protein as a measure of newly synthesized target protein; and c) Histone H1 kinase assay for CDC-2 kinase. The Histone H1 kinase assay is a functional assay for CDC-2 kinase and measures the amount of p32 labeled phosphate transferred from ATP to Histone H1. 
     From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that, although specific embodiments of the invention have been described herein for purposes of illustration, various modifications may be made without deviating from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not limited except as by the appended claims. 
     
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SEQUENCE LISTING                                                          
(1) GENERAL INFORMATION:                                                  
(iii) NUMBER OF SEQUENCES: 35                                             
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(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
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NNNBNGUCNNNNNNNN16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
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AGTCAGTCTTCAGGAT16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
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TCCTGGTCAGTACATG16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
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CTGGGGTCAGCTCGTT16                                                        
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TCCGAGTCACCAGGAA16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
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CCAGTGTCTGAGCCAG16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
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CCTGTGTCAGGCTTTC16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
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AAGCAGTCAGACCAAA16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
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ACTGGGTCGGGAAGTC16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
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TGACTGTCTCCATTAT16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
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GCCTGGTCCAGGGCTC16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
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GACTCGTCCCACGTCT16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
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CTGCGGTCTGAGGGCT16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
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TTTCTGTCACCAAATT16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
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CCGCCGTCCCTGGTGC16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
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CTGGAGTCACCGCTGG16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
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CGCCCGTCACTGGTTC16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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GTACGGTCTCCCAGAC16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
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CAGGCGTCCACGTACG16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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AAACTGTCTGGCCAGT16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
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TTTCTGTCTTGAAGAC16                                                        
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:22:                                         
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(A) LENGTH: 16 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
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TACAGGTCAAGTGGTA16                                                        
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(A) LENGTH: 17 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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AAATTTCTCTATTAAAG17                                                       
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(A) LENGTH: 52 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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AACGAGCTAGAACCAGACCAGAGAAACACACGTTGTGGTATATTACCTGGTA52                    
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(A) LENGTH: 52 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
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CTGGCTCAAGAACTGGACCAGAGAAACACACGTTGTGGTATATTACCTGGTA52                    
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(A) LENGTH: 52 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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CCAGCGGTAGAACCAGACCAGAGAAACACACGTTGTGGTATATTACCTGGTA52                    
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(A) LENGTH: 52 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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AGCCCTCAAGAAGCAGACCAGAGAAACACACGTTGTGGTATATTACCTGGTA52                    
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:28:                                         
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(A) LENGTH: 37 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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AACGAGCTCTGATGACCTCGTGAGAGGGAAACCCCAG37                                   
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:29:                                         
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(A) LENGTH: 37 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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CTGGCTCACTGATGACCTCGTGAGAGGGAAACACTGG37                                   
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:30:                                         
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(A) LENGTH: 37 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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CCAGCGGTCTGATGACCTCGTGAGAGGGAAACTCCAG37                                   
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(A) LENGTH: 37 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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AGCCCTCACTGATGACCTCGTGAGAGGGAAACCGCAG37                                   
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(A) LENGTH: 19 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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GUCGCAACUCCGCCACCAU19                                                     
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(A) LENGTH: 41 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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CAGCGTTGAAAAGCGTTTTTTAACGAGUAGUCGCGGTGGTA41                               
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:34:                                         
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(A) LENGTH: 17 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
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GAGAGGGUCCGUUGUAA17                                                       
(2) INFORMATION FOR SEQ ID NO:35:                                         
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(A) LENGTH: 38 base pairs                                                 
(B) TYPE: nucleic acid                                                    
(C) STRANDEDNESS: single                                                  
(D) TOPOLOGY: linear                                                      
(xi) SEQUENCE DESCRIPTION: SEQ ID NO:35:                                  
CTCTCCCAAAGGGAGAGTGCTCCAGUAGUCGCAACATT38                                  
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