Methods and compositions for the specific inhibition of alpha-1 antitrypsin by double-stranded RNA

1. A method of treating a liver disease or disorder, the method comprising introducing into cells of a human a double stranded nucleic acid (dsNA), wherein said human has a mutation in one or both copies of the α-1 antitrypsin gene, wherein said dsNA comprises a first nucleic acid strand and a second nucleic acid strand that each have a nucleotide sequence consisting of 21 nucleotides, wherein said first nucleic acid strand consists of the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1908, wherein said second nucleic acid strand is 100% complementary to SEQ ID NO: 1908, and wherein said dsNA reduces α-1 antitrypsin target mRNA expression when introduced into said cells of said human.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein said administering step comprises a mode selected from the group consisting of intravenous injection, intramuscular injection, intraperitoneal injection, infusion, subcutaneous injection, transdermal, aerosol, rectal, vaginal, topical, oral and inhaled delivery.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said liver disease or disorder is selected from the group consisting of chronic liver disease, liver inflammation, cirrhosis, liver fibrosis and hepatocellular carcinoma.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said liver disease or disorder is α-1 antitrypsin deficiency.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said dsNA comprises one or more modified nucleotides.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein said one or more modified nucleotides are selected from: a 2′-O-methyl nucleotide; a 2′-fluoro nucleotide; and a 2′-O-methyl nucleotide and a 2′-fluoro nucleotide.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said dsNA comprises one or more phosphorothioate linkages.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein said dsNA comprises a 3′-terminus having one or more phosphorothioate linkages.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first or said second nucleic acid strand comprises one or more phosphorothioate linkages or each of said first and second nucleic acid strands comprise one or more phosphorothioate linkages.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein each of said first and second nucleic acid strands comprises a 3′ terminus, and wherein said first nucleic acid strand comprises a phosphorothioate linkage at said 3′ terminus or said second nucleic acid strand comprises a phosphorothioate linkage at said 3′-terminus or each of said first and second nucleic acid strands comprises a phosphorothioate linkage at said 3′-terminus.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said dsNA comprises a targeting ligand attached to said first nucleic acid strand, said second nucleic acid strand, or both.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said targeting ligand comprises a GalNAc moiety or a tri-antennary GalNAc moiety.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first or second nucleic acid strand comprises one or more inverted abasic residues or each of said first and second nucleic acid strands comprises one or more inverted abasic residues.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein said dsNA comprises one or more modified nucleotides selected from: a 2′-O-methyl nucleotide, a 2′-fluoro nucleotide; and a 2′-O-methyl nucleotide and a 2′-fluoro nucleotide.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the dsNA comprises one or more phosphorothioate linkages.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein each of said first and second nucleic acid strands comprises a 3′ terminus, and wherein said first nucleic acid strand comprises a phosphorothioate linkage at said 3′ terminus or said second nucleic acid strand comprises a phosphorothioate linkage at said 3′-terminus or each of said first and second nucleic acid strands comprises a phosphorothioate linkage at said 3′-terminus.

17. The method of claim 5 , wherein said dsNA comprises a targeting ligand attached to said first nucleic acid strand, said second nucleic acid strand, or both.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein said targeting ligand comprises a GalNAc moiety or a tri-antennary GalNAc moiety.

19. The method of claim 16 , wherein said first or second nucleic acid strand comprises one or more inverted abasic residues or each of said first and second nucleic acid strands comprises one or more inverted abasic residues.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein a 3′-terminus of said first nucleic acid strand and a 5′-terminus of said second nucleic acid strand form a blunt end.

21. The method of claim 1 , wherein termini of said first and second nucleic acid strands each form a blunt end.

22. The method of claim 1 , wherein said first and second nucleic acid strands are separate nucleic acid molecules.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein each of said 21 nucleotides of each of said first and second nucleic acid strands is a modified nucleotide.

24. The method of claim 1 , wherein said dsNA comprises one or more modifications patterns.

25. The method of claim 19 , wherein said first and second nucleic acid strands are separate nucleic acid molecules.

26. The method of claim 19 , wherein each of said 21 nucleotides of each of said first and second nucleic acid strands is a modified nucleotide.