Skip to main content Accessibility help
×
Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-mwx4w Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-21T22:42:21.021Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Chapter 7 - MicroRNAs Become Medicines

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  aN Invalid Date NaN

David C. Henshall
Affiliation:
RCSI University of Medicine & Health Sciences, Dublin
Get access

Summary

In 2010, only a decade since microRNAs were discovered in humans, the first patient was treated with a microRNA drug, miravirsen, for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. This chapter opens with the discovery that HCV contained binding sites for miR−122, an abundant liver-specific microRNA. It looks at the research showing how the virus hijacks miR−122 to replicate, and the groundbreaking drug development programme that took advantage of this to create the world’s first medicine to target a microRNA. It covers some of the microRNA-based therapies further back in the drug development pipeline, discussing the relative strengths but also the risks of this approach. It explores the method to target microRNAs, including recent developments to disrupt single microRNA–target interactions to create precision microRNA therapies, and the viruses being commandeered to deliver microRNA treatments into specific cell types in the body. Lastly, it looks at how new microRNAs are being identified and considers the future of microRNA-based treatments, focussing on prospects for neurological disorders and reflecting on how, by listening to patients, we can create better and safer medicines.

Type
Chapter
Information
Fine-Tuning Life
A Guide to MicroRNAs, Your Genome's Master Regulators
, pp. 175 - 210
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2024

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Save book to Kindle

To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure coreplatform@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.

Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.

Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.

Available formats
×

Save book to Dropbox

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.

Available formats
×

Save book to Google Drive

To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.

Available formats
×