Title:Combating Hepatitis C Virus by Targeting MicroRNA-122 Using Locked Nucleic Acids
Volume: 12
Issue: 4
Author(s): Erica S. Machlin, Peter Sarnow and Selena M. Sagan
Affiliation:
Keywords:
Clinical trials, gene targeting, hepatitis C virus, locked nucleic acids, microRNA-mRNA interactions, viral gene
expression.
Abstract: MicroRNAs have been predicted to regulate the stability and translation of many target mRNAs that are involved
in modulating disease outcome. Thus, valuable strategies to enhance or to diminish the function of microRNAs are
needed to manipulate microRNA-mediated target gene expression. Recently, it has become apparent that one class of antisense
oligonucleotides, locked nucleic acids, can be used to sequester microRNAs in the liver of a variety of animals including
humans, opening the possibility of applying locked nucleic acid-mediated gene therapy. This review summarizes
the success of sequestration of liver-specific microRNA miR-122 by antisense locked nucleic acids and their use in combating
hepatitis C virus in clinical trials.