title: RNAi-mediated barrier modulation: synergies of the brain and eye.
abstract: Efficient drug delivery to the brain or the eye remains a key challenge for future therapies directed against neurodegenerative disorders. Indeed it has been estimated that up to 98% of clinically relevant drugs will not diffuse across the endothelial cells associated with the delicate microvasculature of the brain and inner retina. Using RNAi-based methods for suppression of claudin-5, a molecular constituent of the tight junctions associated with both the blood-brain and inner blood-retina barriers, it has been shown that these barriers can be rendered transiently and size-selectively permeable to molecules up to approximately I kDa. This review will discuss the principles upon which this technology is based and the potential therapeutic applications with regard to neurodegenerative disorders as well as common retinopathies.
authors: Ocular Genetics Unit, Department of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland.
authors: Finnian
authors: F
authors: Hanrahan
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Humphries
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Campbell
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism*; D057167:Claudins / Q000502:physiology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D006801:Humans; D034622:RNA Interference; D012160:Retina / Q000378:metabolism*; D019108:Tight Junctions / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D057167:Claudins