Abstract
Small activating RNAs (saRNAs) are small double-stranded RNAs that could mediate the target-specific gene expression by targeting selected sequences in gene promoters at both the transcriptional and epigenetic levels. This phenomenon of gene manipulation is known as RNA activation (RNAa), which opens up a new pathway for RNA-based gene therapeutics in contrast to RNA interference. Although the exact molecular mechanism of RNAa mediated by saRNAs still remains foggy, some studies have provided the possible ones to explain it. Furthermore, mounting evidence exhibit that saRNAs not only provide a new approach to study gene function and manipulate transcriptional activity, but also promise a great potential for clinical therapy against various diseases, especially cancer. Cancer-associated genes could be up-regulated by saRNAs to modulate cell cycle and proliferation, induce cell senescence and apoptosis, inhibit cancer cell invasion and migration, and reverse chemotherapy resistance. Herein, we summarize the known mechanisms of saRNAs on up-regulating specific gene expression and focus on the potential applications of saRNAs in gene therapy. In addition, some concerns about mechanisms and challenges for delivery of saRNAs are involved in this review. The precise mechanisms of saRNAs need to be further illustrated and some novel delivery systems for saRNAs are expected to be developed for clinical applications.
Keywords: Small activating RNA, RNA activation, RNA-based gene therapeutics, Gene therapy, Cancer therapy, Drug delivery system.
Current Gene Therapy
Title:Current Advances in Small Activating RNAs for Gene Therapy: Principles, Applications and Challenges
Volume: 18 Issue: 3
Author(s): Ling-Yan Zhou, Zhi-Yao He*, Ting Xu*Yu-Quan Wei
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy, and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041,China
- Department of Pharmacy, and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center of Biotherapy, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041,China
Keywords: Small activating RNA, RNA activation, RNA-based gene therapeutics, Gene therapy, Cancer therapy, Drug delivery system.
Abstract: Small activating RNAs (saRNAs) are small double-stranded RNAs that could mediate the target-specific gene expression by targeting selected sequences in gene promoters at both the transcriptional and epigenetic levels. This phenomenon of gene manipulation is known as RNA activation (RNAa), which opens up a new pathway for RNA-based gene therapeutics in contrast to RNA interference. Although the exact molecular mechanism of RNAa mediated by saRNAs still remains foggy, some studies have provided the possible ones to explain it. Furthermore, mounting evidence exhibit that saRNAs not only provide a new approach to study gene function and manipulate transcriptional activity, but also promise a great potential for clinical therapy against various diseases, especially cancer. Cancer-associated genes could be up-regulated by saRNAs to modulate cell cycle and proliferation, induce cell senescence and apoptosis, inhibit cancer cell invasion and migration, and reverse chemotherapy resistance. Herein, we summarize the known mechanisms of saRNAs on up-regulating specific gene expression and focus on the potential applications of saRNAs in gene therapy. In addition, some concerns about mechanisms and challenges for delivery of saRNAs are involved in this review. The precise mechanisms of saRNAs need to be further illustrated and some novel delivery systems for saRNAs are expected to be developed for clinical applications.
Export Options
About this article
Cite this article as:
Zhou Ling-Yan , He Zhi-Yao *, Xu Ting *, Wei Yu-Quan , Current Advances in Small Activating RNAs for Gene Therapy: Principles, Applications and Challenges, Current Gene Therapy 2018; 18 (3) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566523218666180619155018
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1566523218666180619155018 |
Print ISSN 1566-5232 |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-5631 |
Call for Papers in Thematic Issues
Programmed Cell Death Genes in Oncology: Pioneering Therapeutic and Diagnostic Frontiers (BMS-CGT-2024-HT-45)
Programmed Cell Death (PCD) is recognized as a pivotal biological mechanism with far-reaching effects in the realm of cancer therapy. This complex process encompasses a variety of cell death modalities, including apoptosis, autophagic cell death, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis, each of which contributes to the intricate landscape of cancer development and ...read more
Related Journals
- Author Guidelines
- Graphical Abstracts
- Fabricating and Stating False Information
- Research Misconduct
- Post Publication Discussions and Corrections
- Publishing Ethics and Rectitude
- Increase Visibility of Your Article
- Archiving Policies
- Peer Review Workflow
- Order Your Article Before Print
- Promote Your Article
- Manuscript Transfer Facility
- Editorial Policies
- Allegations from Whistleblowers
- Announcements
Related Articles
-
Computational Drug Design Targeting Protein-Protein Interactions
Current Pharmaceutical Design Vitamin D, Sunlight and Cancer Connection
Anti-Cancer Agents in Medicinal Chemistry Medicinal Plants and Cancer Chemoprevention
Current Drug Metabolism A Systematic Review of Plant-Derived Natural Compounds for Anxiety Disorders
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Significant Changes in D2-like Dopamine Gene Receptors Expression Associated with Non- Small -Cell Lung Cancer: Could it be of Potential Use in the Design of Future Therapeutic Strategies?
Current Cancer Therapy Reviews Probiotic Beverage with Soy Isoflavone Consumption for Breast Cancer Prevention: A Case-control Study
Current Nutrition & Food Science Chemokines as Therapeutic Targets in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Update
Medicinal Chemistry Reviews - Online (Discontinued) Reversion of Multidrug Resistance in Tumor By Biocompatible Nanomaterials
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Targeting the Hedgehog Pathway: The development of Cyclopamine and the Development of Anti-Cancer Drugs Targeting the Hedgehog Pathway
Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Old Wine in a New Bottle: The Warburg Effect and Anticancer Mechanisms of Resveratrol
Current Pharmaceutical Design The Glutathione System as an Attractive Therapeutic Target
Drug Design Reviews - Online (Discontinued) Recent Patents in Antiviral siRNAs
Recent Patents on Anti-Infective Drug Discovery Recent Advances on the Possible Neuroprotective Activities of Epstein- Barr Virus Oncogene BARF1 Protein in Chronic Inflammatory Disorders of Central Nervous System
Current Neuropharmacology Sam68 Promotes the Progression of Human Breast Cancer through inducing Activation of EphA3
Current Cancer Drug Targets Nutrition in Infancy
Current Pediatric Reviews A Comparison of Physicochemical Property Profiles of Marketed Oral Drugs and Orally Bioavailable Anti-Cancer Protein Kinase Inhibitors in Clinical Development
Current Topics in Medicinal Chemistry Current Status of CT Colonography
Current Medical Imaging Personalized Medicine and Molecular Diagnostics for Obesity: Metabolic Systems Reconstruction and Gut Microbiome Biomarkers
Current Pharmacogenomics and Personalized Medicine Drug Therapy of Neuropathic Pain: Current Developments and Future Perspectives
Current Drug Targets Ruthenium Complexes as Anticancer Agents
Current Medicinal Chemistry