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ANTISENSE OLIGONUCLEOTIDES AS THERAPEUTIC AGENTS

1997; Elsevier BV; Volume: 36; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1006/phrs.1997.0227

1096-1186

Angela Alama, Federica Barbieri, Monica Cagnoli, Gennaro Schettini,

RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms

The potential for modulating gene expression by the use of antisense oligonu cleotides has become increasingly interesting in recent years. Antisense oligonucleotides are complementary nucleic acid fragments that hybridize to target sequences within RNA to form a DNA-RNA duplex, resulting in the block of translation of messenger RNA into the protein. Advances in chemistry and molecular biology have provided the basis to develop antisense oligodeoxynucleotides and improve their selectivity, stability and specificity of action. The antisense technology has been extensively usedin vitroandin vivoas a tool to study the regulatory mechanisms in biologic processes and as potential therapeutic agents in cancer, viral infections and genetic disorders. In the present review, the various approaches for the use of antisense molecules in oncology, virology, genetic and inflammatory diseases are described; several studies, supporting thein vitroandin vivoapplications of this technology, are also presented. Moreover, the potential clinical use of antisense therapies is discussed.