Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

El sistema pHLIP como vehículo de microRNA en el riñón

2020; Elsevier BV; Volume: 40; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/j.nefro.2020.05.007

2014-3273

Verónica Miguel, Carlos Rey, José Luis Aceña, Francisco Maqueda, Carlos Fernández‐Hernando, Diego Rodríguez‐Puyol, Juan J. Vaquero, Santiago Lamas,

Renal and related cancers

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small endogenous RNAs that regulate gene expression through post-transcriptional repression of their target messenger RNAs. A study of changes in expression of certain miRNAs in the kidney has supplied evidence on their pathogenic role and therapeutic potential in nephrology. This review proposes a nanotechnology approach based on the binding of analogs or inhibitors of miRNAs formed by peptide nucleic acids (PNAs) to peptides with a transmembrane structure sensitive to a low pH, called pHLIPs (pH [low] insertion peptides). The review draws on the concept that an acidic pH in the microenvironment of the renal tubule may facilitate concentration and distribution of the pHLIP-PNA complex in this organ. In this context, we have demonstrated for the first time that targeted administration of miR-33 inhibitors with the pHLIP system effectively prevents the development of renal fibrosis, thus opening up this technology to new strategies for diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases.