title: Aptamer Oligonucleotides: Novel Potential Therapeutic Agents in Autoimmune Disease.
abstract: Aptamers are single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid oligonucleotides generated in vitro based on affinity for certain target molecules by a process known as Systematic Evolution of Ligands by Exponential Enrichment. Aptamers can bind their target molecules with high specificity and selectivity by means of structure compatibility, stacking of aromatic rings, electrostatic and van der Waals interactions, and hydrogen bonding. With several advantages over monoclonal antibodies and other conventional small-molecule therapeutics, such as high specificity and affinity, negligible batch to batch variation, flexible modification and stability, lack of toxicity and low immunogenicity, aptamers are becoming promising novel diagnostic and therapeutic agents. This review focuses on the development of aptamers as potential therapeutics for autoimmune diseases, including diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, myasthenia gravis, and systemic lupus erythematosus.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Laboratory Medicine, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, Second Military Medical University , Fuzhou, China .
authors.forename: Weibin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute for Laboratory Medicine, Fuzhou General Hospital of Nanjing Military Command, Second Military Medical University , Fuzhou, China .
authors.forename: Xiaopeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Lan
mesh_terms: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D015551:Autoimmunity / Q000187:drug effects; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded / Q000737:chemistry; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004355:Drug Stability; D006801:Humans; D006860:Hydrogen Bonding; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D058990:Molecular Targeted Therapy; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009157:Myasthenia Gravis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D052156:SELEX Aptamer Technique; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D052157:Aptamers, Nucleotide; D004277:DNA, Single-Stranded; D007155:Immunologic Factors