title: Antisense makes sense in engineered regenerative medicine.
abstract: The use of antisense strategies such as ribozymes, oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) and small interfering RNA (siRNA) in gene therapy, in conjunction with the use of stem cells and tissue engineering, has opened up possibilities in curing degenerative diseases and injuries to non-regenerating organs and tissues. With their unique ability to down-regulate or silence gene expression, antisense oligonucleotides are uniquely suited in turning down the production of pathogenic or undesirable proteins and cytokines. Here, we review the antisense strategies and their applications in regenerative medicine with a focus on their efficacies in promoting cell viability, regulating cell functionalities as well as shaping an optimal microenvironment for therapeutic purposes.
authors.affiliation: Division of BioEngineering, School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 70 Nanyang Drive, N1.3-B2-13, Singapore, 637457, Singapore.
authors.forename: Yongchang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Chunming
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Rohan R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Varshney
authors.forename: Dong-An
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002470:Cell Survival; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D018014:Gene Transfer Techniques; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D009410:Nerve Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000627:therapeutic use; D034622:RNA Interference; D016337:RNA, Catalytic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012038:Regeneration / Q000235:genetics*; D044968:Regenerative Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D023822:Tissue Engineering
chemical_list: D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense; D016337:RNA, Catalytic; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering