title: RNAi as a new therapeutic strategy against HCV.
abstract: Hepatitis C virus is a major cause of liver associated diseases all over the world. Irrespective of the significant advances in the current therapy, drugs and vaccines are restricted with many factors such as toxicity, complexity, cost and resistance. New technologies particularly RNA interference (RNAi) mediated by small interfering RNA (siRNA) have become more and more interesting and effective therapeutic entities to silence pathogenic gene products associated with disease, including cancer, viral infections and autoimmune disorders. RNAi works at a posttranscriptional level by targeting mRNA as a mean for inhibiting the synthesis of the encoded protein. Several reports have indicated the efficiency and specificity of synthetic and vector based siRNAs inhibiting HCV replication. In the present review, we focused on the recent development in the potential use and issues regarding siRNA as a therapy for HCV.
authors.affiliation: Functional and Applied Genomics Laboratory, National Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology, University of the Punjab, Lahore 53700, Pakistan. sabahat711@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Saba
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Khaliq
authors.forename: Sadaf A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Khaliq
authors.forename: Muzna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zahur
authors.forename: Bushra
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ijaz
authors.forename: Shah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jahan
authors.forename: Muhammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ansar
authors.forename: Sheikh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Riazuddin
authors.forename: Sajida
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D005814:Genes, Viral; D016174:Hepacivirus / Q000235:genetics*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000628:therapy* / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D034622:RNA Interference; D034741:RNA, Small Interfering / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D034741:RNA, Small Interfering