title: RNA-mediated therapeutics: from gene inactivation to clinical application.
abstract: The specific targeting and inactivation of gene expression represents nowadays the goal of the mainstream basic and applied biomedical research. Both researchers and pharmaceutical companies, taking advantage of the vast amount of genomic data, have been focusing on effective endogenous mechanisms of the cell that can be used against abnormal gene expression. In this context, RNA represents a key molecule that serves both as tool and target for deploying molecular strategies based on the suppression of genes of interest. The main RNA-mediated therapeutic methodologies, deriving from studies on catalytic activity of ribozymes, blockage of mRNA translation and the recently identified RNA interference, will be discussed in an effort to understand the utilities of RNA as a central molecule during gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Patras, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kalavrizioti
authors.forename: Anastassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vourekas
authors.forename: Vassiliki
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stamatopoulou
authors.forename: Chrisavgi
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Toumpeki
authors.forename: Stamatina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giannouli
authors.forename: Constantinos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stathopoulos
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drainas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D020868:Gene Silencing; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D012313:RNA / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000235:genetics*; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D012313:RNA