Novel antisense oligonucleotides targeting TGF-beta inhibit in vivo scarring and improve surgical outcome.
The scarring response is an important factor in many diseases throughout the body. In addition, it is a major problem in influencing results of surgery. In the eye, for example, post-operative scarring can determine the outcome of surgery. This is particularly the case in the blinding disease glaucoma, where several anti-scarring regimens are currently used to improve glaucoma surgery results, but are of limited use clinically because of severe complications. We have recently identified transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) as a target for post-operative anti-scarring therapy in glaucoma, and now report the first study of novel second-generation antisense phosphorothioate oligonucleotides against TGF-beta in vivo. Single applications of a TGF-beta OGN at the time of surgery in two different animal models closely related to the surgical procedure performed in glaucoma patients, significantly reduced post-operative scarring (P<0.05) and improved surgical outcome. Our findings suggest that TGF-beta antisense oligonucleotides have potential as a new therapy for reducing post-surgical scarring. Its long-lasting effects after only a single administration at the time of surgery make it particularly attractive clinically. Furthermore, although we have shown this agent to be useful in the eye, it could have widespread applications anywhere in the body where the wound-healing response requires modulation.
Cordeiro
M F
MF
Department of Pathology & Glaucoma, London, UK.
Mead
A
A
Ali
R R
RR
Alexander
R A
RA
Murray
S
S
Chen
C
C
York-Defalco
C
C
Dean
N M
NM
Schultz
G S
GS
Khaw
P T
PT
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003315:Cornea / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D018463:Filtering Surgery / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000601:surgery; D007267:Injections; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D023421:Models, Animal; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000235:genetics; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D014945:Wound Healing
D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D020033:Protein Isoforms; D018125:Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D000077294:Receptor, Transforming Growth Factor-beta Type II