title: Antisense oligonucleotides.
abstract: Antisense technology was developed to inhibit gene expression by utilizing an oligonucleotide complementary to the mRNA which encodes the target gene. There are a few possible mechanisms for the inhibitory effects of antisense oligonucleotides. Among them, degradation of mRNA by RNase H is considered to be the major mechanism of action for antisense oligonucleotides. This technique was originally used to elucidate the function of a target gene, but may also have therapeutic applications, provided it is designed carefully and properly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine III, Okayama University Medical School, Japan. kashinao@med.okayama-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kashihara
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maeshima
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makino
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D009841:Oligonucleotides / Q000737:chemistry; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D016914:Ribonuclease H / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009841:Oligonucleotides; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016914:Ribonuclease H