November 30, 2008
Heart disease 'reversed in mice'
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Tiny fragments of genetic material can play a role in heart disease.
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Scientists have halted the advance of heart disease in mice - and even reversed some of its effects.
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The study provides hard evidence that tiny pieces of genetic material called microRNA can play a key role in the development of heart disease. .
The therapy, featured in the journal Nature, targets and blocks microRNA in heart cells.
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A US specialist said that, with trials under way in other animals, human tests may be only a few years away.
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This is one of the hottest topics in biology at the moment .
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Professor Eric OlsonUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
The importance of microRNAs to heart disease - and a host of other diseases - has already been suggested by other scientists.
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Their job is to regulate the activity of our genes, but with many different types present in the cell, scientists are trying to establish which plays the biggest role.
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The US and German scientists are focusing on one type labelled microRNA-21, and their role in a type of heart cell called the cardiac fibroblast, which helps provide the structure of the organ, and plays a critical role in the progressive scarring which stops it working properly in heart disease.
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Until recently, that process was thought to be an irreversible one.
The researchers found that cells in a failing heart had higher levels of this microRNA, and linked it to a chemical signalling pathway which leads to the tissue damage found in the condition.
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Animal studies
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In mice, they used a chemical which blocked microRNA-21, and found that not only that this pathway was interrupted, but that cardiac function in the animals improved.
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This, they wrote, proved its potential as a new target for drugs in heart diseased humans.
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Professor Eric Olson, from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, whose own research focuses on microRNAs and heart disease, said that the results were "exciting".
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"This is one of the hottest topics in biology at the moment," he said.
"Micro-RNAs are being very seriously considered as a therapeutic target - there is a lot of promise and potential in this area.
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"This research suggests you can reverse or prevent aspects of heart disease."
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He said: "There are already studies in large animals using micro-RNA inhibitors in heart disease - I can envisage that in a few years we will see this in human trials."
.
The study provides hard evidence that tiny pieces of genetic material called microRNA can play a key role in the development of heart disease. .
The therapy, featured in the journal Nature, targets and blocks microRNA in heart cells.
.
A US specialist said that, with trials under way in other animals, human tests may be only a few years away.
.
This is one of the hottest topics in biology at the moment .
.
Professor Eric OlsonUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
The importance of microRNAs to heart disease - and a host of other diseases - has already been suggested by other scientists.
.
Their job is to regulate the activity of our genes, but with many different types present in the cell, scientists are trying to establish which plays the biggest role.
.
The US and German scientists are focusing on one type labelled microRNA-21, and their role in a type of heart cell called the cardiac fibroblast, which helps provide the structure of the organ, and plays a critical role in the progressive scarring which stops it working properly in heart disease.
.
Until recently, that process was thought to be an irreversible one.
The researchers found that cells in a failing heart had higher levels of this microRNA, and linked it to a chemical signalling pathway which leads to the tissue damage found in the condition.
.
Animal studies
.
In mice, they used a chemical which blocked microRNA-21, and found that not only that this pathway was interrupted, but that cardiac function in the animals improved.
.
This, they wrote, proved its potential as a new target for drugs in heart diseased humans.
.
Professor Eric Olson, from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, whose own research focuses on microRNAs and heart disease, said that the results were "exciting".
.
"This is one of the hottest topics in biology at the moment," he said.
"Micro-RNAs are being very seriously considered as a therapeutic target - there is a lot of promise and potential in this area.
.
"This research suggests you can reverse or prevent aspects of heart disease."
.
He said: "There are already studies in large animals using micro-RNA inhibitors in heart disease - I can envisage that in a few years we will see this in human trials."
.
.
MicroRNA Drugs Startup Miragen Nears Close of Series A, Begins Defining Pipeline
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May 15, 2008
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By Doug Macron
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Miragen Therapeutics, a Boulder, Colo.-based startup developing microRNA-targeting drugs for cardiovascular disease and related muscle disorders, is close to closing a Series A round of financing, RNAi News has learned.
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“A big part” of what Miragen will work on over the next six months will be “defining the key microRNAs and … [specific] clinical indication we want to go after,” he added.
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Given the fact that delivery continues to be the biggest hurdle for nucleic acid-based drugs, Marshall said that Miragen will initially focus on developing a therapeutic that can be directly delivered to the heart.
.
.
By Doug Macron
.
Miragen Therapeutics, a Boulder, Colo.-based startup developing microRNA-targeting drugs for cardiovascular disease and related muscle disorders, is close to closing a Series A round of financing, RNAi News has learned.
.
“A big part” of what Miragen will work on over the next six months will be “defining the key microRNAs and … [specific] clinical indication we want to go after,” he added.
.
Given the fact that delivery continues to be the biggest hurdle for nucleic acid-based drugs, Marshall said that Miragen will initially focus on developing a therapeutic that can be directly delivered to the heart.
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