Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 16, 2026
04:36
An Assay to Detect Protection of the Retinal Vasculature from Diabetes-Related Death in Mice
Published on: January 12, 2024
Antisense oligonucleotide therapy in diabetic retinopathy.
Peter Hnik1, David S Boyer, Lisa R Grillone
1iCo Therapeutics Inc., Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. hnik@icotherapeutics.com
Journal of Diabetes Science and Technology
|February 11, 2010
Summary
New antisense oligonucleotide therapies show promise for treating diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness. These advanced treatments may offer targeted pathways to reduce ocular angiogenesis and vascular leakage, improving patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Molecular Biology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Diabetic retinopathy is a primary cause of blindness globally.
- Current treatments like laser photocoagulation and vitrectomy have limitations.
- Emerging research identifies new pathways driving diabetic retinopathy progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore novel therapeutic strategies for diabetic retinopathy.
- To investigate the potential of second-generation antisense oligonucleotides, specifically iCo-007.
- To evaluate the benefits of targeting multiple growth factor pathways.
Main Methods:
- Review of identified pathways in diabetic retinopathy.
- Investigation of novel therapeutic agents including antivascular endothelial growth factor agents, corticosteroids, and antisense oligonucleotides.
- Focus on the mechanism of action of second-generation antisense oligonucleotides like iCo-007.
Main Results:
- Second-generation antisense oligonucleotides may offer advantages over existing treatments.
- iCo-007 targets multiple growth factor signal pathways involved in ocular angiogenesis and vascular leakage.
- Expected benefits include high target specificity, extended half-life, and improved safety profile.
Conclusions:
- Antisense oligonucleotides represent a promising new therapeutic avenue for diabetic retinopathy.
- Targeting key molecular pathways offers a potential to overcome limitations of current treatments.
- Further research into iCo-007 and similar molecules could lead to improved management of diabetic retinopathy.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Diabetic Retinopathy
DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
01:28Diabetic Nephropathy
Definition Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic kidney complication that results from prolonged hyperglycemia.Prevalence It is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, affecting up to half of individuals with diabetes.Pathophysiology • Sustained hyperglycemia triggers multiple hemodynamic and metabolic changes in the kidney. • Early in the disease, increased renal blood flow and glomerular hyperfiltration occur due to afferent arteriolar...
01:22Diabetic Neuropathy
DefinitionDiabetic neuropathy is nerve damage caused by long-standing diabetes mellitus. It results directly from prolonged high blood sugar levels.PathophysiologyThe pathophysiology of diabetic neuropathy involves both metabolic and vascular disturbances triggered by chronic hyperglycemia.Metabolic injury: Elevated glucose levels activate the polyol pathway within nerve cells, leading to the accumulation of sorbitol and fructose. This increases oxidative stress, disrupts normal nerve...
02:30siRNA - Small Interfering RNAs
Small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, are short regulatory RNA molecules that can silence genes post-transcriptionally, as well as the transcriptional level in some cases. siRNAs are important for protecting cells against viral infections and silencing transposable genetic elements.
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
In the cytoplasm, siRNA is processed from a double-stranded RNA, which comes from either endogenous DNA transcription or exogenous sources like a virus. This double-stranded RNA is then cleaved by the ATP-dependent...
01:27Open Angle Glaucoma: Treatment
In open-angle glaucoma, the iridocorneal angle remains open, but the trabecular meshwork becomes stiff, slowing down the outflow of aqueous humor. This causes a buildup of aqueous humor in the anterior chamber, leading to a sudden increase in intraocular pressure. The treatment for open-angle glaucoma focuses on reducing the elevated intraocular pressure by either decreasing the secretion of aqueous humor or increasing its outflow.
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
Drugs such as carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, α2- and...
02:15Experimental RNAi
RNA interference (RNAi) is a cellular mechanism that inhibits gene expression by suppressing its transcription or activating the RNA degradation process. The mechanism was discovered by Andrew Fire and Craig Mello in 1998 in plants. Today, it is observed in almost all eukaryotes, including protozoa, flies, nematodes, insects, parasites, and mammals. This precise cellular mechanism of gene silencing has been developed into a technique that provides an efficient way to identify and determine the...