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Published on: June 4, 2012
Application of RNA interference in treating human diseases.
S Abdolhamid Angaji1, Sara Sadate Hedayati, Reihane Hosein Poor
1Department of Biology, Tarbiat Moallem University, 31979-37551, Tehran, Iran. angaji@tmu.ac.ir
Journal of Genetics
|January 29, 2011
Summary
Gene silencing, including transcriptional and posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS), regulates genes and defends the genome. RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms are reviewed for biomedical applications in treating various diseases.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Molecular Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Gene silencing encompasses transcriptional gene silencing (TGS) and posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS).
- PTGS involves sequence-specific mRNA degradation in the cytoplasm without altering nuclear transcription.
- Gene silencing mechanisms protect the genome from viral and transposon threats.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the RNA interference (RNAi) mechanism.
- To explore the biomedical applications of RNAi in disease treatment.
Main Methods:
- Review of RNA interference (RNAi) mechanisms.
- Analysis of existing literature on RNAi applications in various diseases.
Main Results:
- Detailed explanation of RNAi pathways.
- Identification of potential therapeutic uses for RNAi.
Conclusions:
- RNAi is a fundamental biological process with significant therapeutic potential.
- RNAi-based strategies show promise for treating HIV, viral hepatitis, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer.
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