Splice-switching antisense oligonucleotides as therapeutic drugs.
Splice-switching oligonucleotides (SSOs) are short, synthetic, antisense, modified nucleic acids that base-pair with a pre-mRNA and disrupt the normal splicing repertoire of the transcript by blocking the RNA-RNA base-pairing or protein-RNA binding interactions that occur between components of the splicing machinery and the pre-mRNA. Splicing of pre-mRNA is required for the proper expression of the vast majority of protein-coding genes, and thus, targeting the process offers a means to manipulate protein production from a gene. Splicing modulation is particularly valuable in cases of disease caused by mutations that lead to disruption of normal splicing or when interfering with the normal splicing process of a gene transcript may be therapeutic. SSOs offer an effective and specific way to target and alter splicing in a therapeutic manner. Here, we discuss the different approaches used to target and alter pre-mRNA splicing with SSOs. We detail the modifications to the nucleic acids that make them promising therapeutics and discuss the challenges to creating effective SSO drugs. We highlight the development of SSOs designed to treat Duchenne muscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophy, which are currently being tested in clinical trials.
Department of Biology, Lewis University, Romeoville, IL 60446, USA.
Mallory A
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3416-3572
MA
Havens
Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA Michelle.hastings@rosalindfranklin.edu.
Michelle L
ML
Hastings
D000818:Animals; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015870:Gene Expression; D015316:Genetic Therapy; D006801:Humans; D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012326:RNA Splicing / Q000235:genetics*
D016376:Oligonucleotides, Antisense