title: Antisense oligonucleotide treatments for psoriasis.
abstract: Antisense oligonucleotides are emerging as an exciting therapeutic strategy for treating skin diseases such as psoriasis. Potential antisense targets are proteins upregulated in psoriatic skin, in particular those associated with inflammation (intercellular adhesion molecule [ICAM]-1, IL-2 and -8), proliferation (insulin-like growth factor type I receptor [IGF-IR], epidermal growth factor) and hyperangiogenesis (vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]). Whereas topical application and subsequent penetration of large oligonucleotides into normal skin is problematic, the impaired barrier function of psoriatic lesions permits the uptake of antisense drugs. Studies to date indicate that topically applied antisense molecules can be delivered to target cells in the epidermis and dermis of psoriatic skin. Antisense-mediated suppression of target mRNA and protein has been demonstrated in models of human skin grafted to immunosuppressed mice and in hairless mouse models of skin inflammation. In a xenograft model of human psoriasis, treatment with repeated intradermal injections of IGF-IR antisense caused a normalisation of the epidermal hyperproliferation. This class of drug, therefore, holds much potential for the successful treatment of psoriasis in the clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Pharmacology, Victorian College of Pharmacy, Monash University, Parkville 3052, Australia.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: White
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Atley
authors.forename: C J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Wraight
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense