Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Science Communicator Platform

Stay connected! Follow us on X network (Twitter):
Share this content! On (X network) By
A Systematic Review of Current Progresses in the Nucleic Acid-Based Therapies for Neurodegeneration With Implications for Alzheimer’S Disease Publisher Pubmed



Ghaffari M1 ; Sanadgol N1, 2 ; Abdollahi M3
Authors
Show Affiliations
Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Zabol, Zabol, Iran
  2. 2. Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP, Brazil
  3. 3. Toxicology and Diseases Group, Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center (PSRC), The Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (TIPS), and Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran

Source: Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry Published:2020


Abstract

Recently, manipulation of gene expression and switching genes on or off highlight the potential of nucleic acid-based therapies (NA-BTs). Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a common devastating neurodegenerative disease (NDs) responsible for 60-80% of all cases of dementia and predicted as a main public health concern among aged populations. The aim of this study was to outline the current research in the field of NA-BTs for the treatment of AD disabilities, including strategies to suppress the memory and learning defects, to promote recovery processes, and to reinforce social relationships in these patients. This review was performed via evaluating PubMed reported studies from January 2010 to November 2019. Also, reference lists were checked to find additional studies. All intermedia-tion or complementarity of animal models, case-control and cohort studies, and controlled trials (CTs) on specific NA-BTs to AD were acceptable, although in-vitro studies were excluded due to the consid-erable diversities and heterogeneities. After removing the duplicates according to preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) instruction, we merged remaining titles across search databases. There are 48 ongoing studies related to the application of nucleic acids in the treatment and diagnosis of AD where more consideration is given to DNA targeting strategies (18 targets for vectors and aptamers), antisense oligonucleotides (10 targets), micro-RNAs mimics (7 targets), antagomiRs (6 targets), small interferences-RNAs (5 targets), as well as mRNAs (2 targets) respective-ly. All of these targets are grouped into 4 categories according to their role in molecular pathways where amyloid-β (18 targets), neural survival (11 targets), memory and cognition (8 targets), and tau (3 targets) are more targeted pathways, respectively. With recent successes in the systemic delivery of nucleic acids via intravenous injection; it is worth investing in the production of new-generation medi-cines. There are still several challenges for NA-BTs including, their delivery to the effective modula-tors, mass production at low cost, sustaining efficacy and minimizing off‐target effects. Regarding miRNA-based therapies, given the obvious involvement of miRNAs in numerous facets of brain dis-ease, and the many sophisticated techniques for delivery to the brain, miRNA-based therapies will make new hope for the treatment of neurological diseases such as AD. © 2020 Bentham Science Publishers.