[RNA interference and its application in andrology research].
RNA interference (RNAi), induced by double-strand RNA homologous to the silenced gene, is a process of post-transcriptional gene silencing in animals and plants. It plays an important role in fighting viral infection, inhibiting transposon activity and down-regulating the expression of the endogenous gene. As a focus of current biomedical research, RNAi has been applied to the studies of erectile dysfunction (ED), prostate cancer and spermatogenesis. This paper summarizes the mechanisms of RNAi, the latest progress in its researches and its application in andrology studies.
Wan
Hong
H
Family Planning Research Institute, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China. wanhonghong@126.com
Xiong
Cheng-liang
CL
D033441:Andrology / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D034622:RNA Interference; D013091:Spermatogenesis / Q000235:genetics