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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2025

Genetic haplotypes in VWA8, OSBPL6, and ADAMTS9-AS2 are associated with immune-related adverse effects in ICI-treated patients with cancer.

BACKGROUND: Immune-related adverse events (irAEs) remain largely unpredictable, potentially affecting multiple organ systems and occurring at almost any point during and even occasionally after immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. To identify populations at risk for these immune-mediated toxicities, we analyzed genetic characteristics and immune markers associated with clinically significant irAEs. METHODS: We carried out a genome-wide association study on 373 white patients receiving ICI treatment. We identified single nucleotide polymorphisms associated with irAEs. Blood cytokine profiling and peripheral blood mononuclear cell RNA sequencing were performed at pretreatment baseline and 6-8 weeks after ICI initiation. Findings were validated in two external cohorts. RESULTS: We identified genetic haplotypes in VWA8 (Von Willebrand Factor A Domain Containing 8), OSBPL6 (Oxysterol Binding Protein Like 6), and ADAMTS9-AS2 (ADAM Metallopeptidase With Thrombospondin Type 1 Motif 9 Antisense RNA 2) associated with grade ≥2 irAEs. Patients carrying risk haplotypes for one or more genes exhibited significantly greater rates of grade ≥2 (OR 3.02; 95% CI 1.83 to 5.02; p<0.001), grade ≥3 (OR 3.59; 95% CI 1.93 to 6.64; p<0.001), and multiple type irAE (OR 2.60; 95% CI 1.53 to 4.39; p<0.001). Serum CCL3 levels were significantly elevated in individuals carrying risk haplotypes (p=0.03). Gene expression analysis demonstrated activated autoimmune and inflammatory pathways in the genetic risk group. CONCLUSIONS: Novel polymorphisms in VWA8, OSBPL6, and ADAMTS9-AS2 may impact immune pathways, promote inflammation, potentiate autoimmune phenotypes, and convey risk of irAE in ICI-treated patients.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Insights into the regulation of the HOTAIR proximal promoter.

HOTAIR (HOX transcript antisense RNA) is a HOXC-cluster long intervening non-coding RNA (lincRNA) whose cancer relevance is tightly coupled to how its transcription is wired into hormone, hypoxia, inflammatory, and developmental signaling. HOTAIR is known to associate with cancer cell proliferation, motility, tumor invasion, and metastasis. The present mini-review focuses on the regulatory architecture and mechanistic complexity of HOTAIR transcriptional regulation, with emphasis on three organizing principles. First, we consider the impact of promoter choice between a canonical proximal promoter (P1), which supports the 2.2-2.4 kb transcript, and an alternative upstream promoter/TSS (P2), which contributes to context-dependent transcription initiation. Second, we examine the long-distance enhancer-promoter communication between HOTAIR distal enhancer and P1/P2. Third, we summarize the recent epigenetic and epi-transcriptomic mechanisms involved in HOTAIR transcript initiation and elongation. A combination of these events determines isoform-specific transcription to govern cell-type-, context-, and cancer specific modulation of HOTAIR expression that promotes tumor formation and cancer progression. Finally, the review proposes how large-scale RNA datasets, long-read sequencing, and isoform-specific studies can refine our understanding of this versatile lincRNA's regulation.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

A translational framework for early-phase inner-ear gene therapy: clinical trial design, regulatory strategy, and ethical considerations.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Hereditary hearing loss has historically been approached as a diagnostic category rather than a therapeutically modifiable disease. Recent advances in molecular genetics, cochlear gene delivery, and first-in-human clinical trials are changing that. This review summarizes contemporary progress in the genetics of hearing loss, with emphasis on emerging gene-based therapies, clinical trial design, regulatory and ethical considerations, and practical implications for otolaryngologists as biologic treatment enters clinical practice. RECENT FINDINGS: Early clinical trials targeting OTOF -related DFNB9 deafness have demonstrated satisfactory safety profiles and meaningful auditory recovery, establishing the first proof-of-concept for cochlear gene therapy in humans, culminating in the April 2026 FDA approval of Otarmeni. Genetic diagnoses are increasingly informing prognosis, cochlear implant counseling, and therapeutic candidacy. Preclinical research continues to expand toward recessive, dominant, and syndromic hearing loss using gene replacement, antisense, RNA interference, and genome-editing strategies. Substantial challenges remain, including heterogeneous outcome measures, uncertain long-term efficacy, regulatory complexity, and inequitable global access. SUMMARY: The genetics of hearing loss is transitioning from a diagnostic modality to an interventional one. Widespread clinical impact will require advances in vector engineering, equitable implementation, multidisciplinary counseling, and integration with established rehabilitation pathways. For otolaryngologists, genetic literacy is becoming essential to contemporary hearing care.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

LncRNA HOTAIR contributes to cigarette smoke-induced pro-inflammatory responses in human airway epithelial cells.

Inhalation of cigarette smoke (CS) is the primary risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inducing epigenetic changes in the airway epithelium, including dysregulation of long-noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). LncRNA homeobox gene transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) regulates chromatin remodeling and has been implicated in CS-induced malignant transformation. We hypothesized that HOTAIR expression is altered in COPD, leading to airway epithelial abnormalities. HOTAIR expression and overall survival were studied in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Airway epithelial cells (AECs) were isolated from transplanted lungs of 11 patients with COPD, tracheobronchial tissue of 9 non-COPD donors, and bronchial brushings of ex-smokers with/without COPD (n = 6/group). HOTAIR expression, histone modifications, and production of proinflammatory cytokines (CXCL8 and GM-CSF) were assessed in the absence/presence of CS extract (CSE) and HOTAIR-polycomb inhibitor AQB. High HOTAIR expression correlated with poor overall survival in cancer patients with COPD, but not those without. Although HOTAIR expression was not significantly different between AECs from controls and subjects with COPD at baseline, it was significantly increased by 20% CSE only in COPD-derived AECs. CSE significantly decreased H3K4me3 levels in COPD-derived AECs, but not those from controls. AQB reduced baseline H3K27me3 levels in both groups, with a stronger effect in control-derived AECs. In addition, it reduced H3K4me3 levels in the presence of CSE in both groups. Finally, although AQB significantly suppressed CSE-induced production of GM-CSF and CXCL8 in control AECs, it failed to do so in COPD. Together, these findings suggest that COPD-derived AECs are more susceptible to CSE-induced HOTAIR upregulation, which may have a proinflammatory effect that cannot be inhibited by AQB.NEW & NOTEWORTHY COPD-derived AECs exhibit higher susceptibility to CSE-induced HOTAIR upregulation. CSE induces distinct histone modification patterns (H3K4me3) specifically in COPD-derived AECs. HOTAIR is essential for mediating CSE-induced proinflammatory responses in AECs.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Integrative Pan-Cancer Characterization of lncRNA UPK1A-AS1 and Its Role in Hypoxia-Associated Sorafenib Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are emerging as critical regulators of tumor initiation and progression through transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms. UPK1A antisense RNA 1 (UPK1A-AS1), a cancer-associated lncRNA, has been reported to participate in oncogenic processes; however, its overall landscape across human malignancies and its biological role in therapy resistance remain poorly understood. Given the increasing importance of identifying functional lncRNAs with prognostic and therapeutic potential, this study presents a comprehensive multiomics characterization of UPK1A-AS1 and its experimental validation in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We integrated datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Genotype-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx), the cancer immunology data engine (CIDE), and the cBioPortal for cancer genomics (cBioPortal) to systematically assess its expression pattern, genomic alterations, clinical significance, and immunological associations. Our analyses revealed that UPK1A-AS1 is significantly upregulated in multiple tumor types, with copy-number amplification as the predominant genomic alteration driving its overexpression. Elevated UPK1A-AS1 expression was correlated with advanced disease stage, poor differentiation, immune exclusion, and unfavorable prognosis, supporting its potential as a cancer type-dependent biomarker. In parallel, functional studies demonstrated that hypoxia transcriptionally induces UPK1A-AS1 in HCC, where it promotes sorafenib resistance by suppressing apoptosis. Silencing UPK1A-AS1 restored apoptotic and enhanced sorafenib efficacy both in vitro and in vivo. Collectively, our findings suggest that UPK1A-AS1 is a hypoxia-inducible oncogenic lncRNA that plays dual roles in cancer, with cancer type-dependent associations with progression and immune modulation across malignancies and mechanistically mediating hypoxia-associated drug resistance in HCC.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Gene regulation technologies for gene and cell therapy.

Gene therapy stands at the forefront of medical innovation, offering unique potential to treat the underlying causes of genetic disorders and broadly enable regenerative medicine. However, unregulated production of therapeutic genes can lead to decreased clinical utility due to various complications. Thus, many technologies for controlled gene expression are under development, including regulated transgenes, modulation of endogenous genes to leverage native biological regulation, mapping and repurposing of transcriptional regulatory networks, and engineered systems that dynamically react to cell state changes. Transformative therapies enabled by advances in tissue-specific promoters, inducible systems, and targeted delivery have already entered clinical testing and demonstrated significantly improved specificity and efficacy. This review highlights next-generation technologies under development to expand the reach of gene therapies by enabling precise modulation of gene expression. These technologies, including epigenome editing, antisense oligonucleotides, RNA editing, transcription factor-mediated reprogramming, and synthetic genetic circuits, have the potential to provide powerful control over cellular functions. Despite these remarkable achievements, challenges remain in optimizing delivery, minimizing off-target effects, and addressing regulatory hurdles. However, the ongoing integration of biological insights with engineering innovations promises to expand the potential for gene therapy, offering hope for treating not only rare genetic disorders but also complex multifactorial diseases.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Splice modulation of COL4A5 reinstates collagen IV assembly in an organoid model of Alport syndrome.

Kidney organoids are an emerging tool for disease modeling, especially genetic diseases. Among these diseases, X-linked Alport syndrome (XLAS) is a hematuric nephropathy affecting the glomerular basement membrane (GBM) secondary to pathogenic variations in the COL4A5 gene encoding the α5 subunit of type IV collagen [α5(IV)]. In patients carrying pathogenic variations affecting splicing, the use of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) offers immense therapeutic hope. In this study, we develop a framework combining the use of patient-derived cells and kidney organoids to provide evidence of the therapeutic efficacy of ASOs in XLAS patients. Using multiomics analysis, we describe the development of GBM in WT and mutated human kidney organoids. We show that GBM maturation is a dynamic process, which requires long organoid culture. Then, using semi-automated quantification of α5(IV) at basement membranes in organoids carrying the splicing variants identified in patients, we demonstrate the efficacy of ASO treatment for α5(IV) restoration. These data contribute to our understanding of the development of GBM in kidney organoids and pave the way for a therapeutic screening platform for patients.

Nephritis, Hereditary↗

PubMed2024

Design and evaluation of antisense sequence length for modified mouse U7 small nuclear RNA to induce efficient pre-messenger RNA splicing modulation in vitro.

Pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA) splicing modulation is an attractive approach for investigating the mechanisms of genetic disorders caused by mis-splicing. Previous reports have indicated that a modified U7 small nuclear RNA (U7 snRNA) is a prospective tool for modulating splicing both in vitro and in vivo. To date, very few studies have investigated the role of antisense sequence length in modified U7 snRNA. In this study, we designed a series of antisense sequences with various lengths and evaluated their efficiency in inducing splicing modulation. To express modified U7 snRNAs, we constructed a series of plasmid DNA sequences which codes cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer, human U1 promoter, and modified mouse U7 snRNAs with antisense sequences of different lengths. We evaluated in vitro splicing modulation efficiency using a luciferase reporter system for simple and precise evaluation as well as reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction to monitor splicing patterns. Our in vitro assay findings suggest that antisense sequences of modified mouse U7 snRNAs have an optimal length for efficient splicing modulation, which depends on the target exon. In addition, antisense sequences that were either too long or too short decreased splicing modulation efficiency. To confirm reproducibility, we performed an in vitro assay using two target genes, mouse Fas and mouse Dmd. Together, our data suggests that the antisense sequence length should be optimized for modified mouse U7 snRNAs to induce efficient splicing modulation.

RNA, Small Nuclear↗

PubMed2026

Target, silence, replace: a review on RNA-based drugs in modern medicine.

RNA therapies have evolved into a revolutionary approach in contemporary medicine for treating various diseases by directly targeting RNA molecules engaged in disease pathogenesis. These therapeutic agents regulate biological processes through diverse mechanisms, including modulation of RNA function and gene expression. Medical applications of RNA are greatly enhanced by its structure, adaptability, and capacity for targeted binding. Among these traits is its ability to bind to certain molecules unique to those chemicals. RNA-based treatments have emerged from advancements in the production, modification, and cellular transport of RNA molecules. Several RNA drugs have been approved whereas some are under trial for few diseases. RNA therapeutics can function at the level of RNAs, DNAs and proteins. The evolution of mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 epidemic emphasizes the exciting potential of RNA therapies in the treatment of diseases. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the several forms of RNA therapies, including small-interfering RNA (siRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and antisense-oligonucleotides (ASOs), together with information on their action mechanisms and delivery strategies that improve cellular absorption and shield RNA molecules from degradation. Further, CRISPR-based editing of the genome can be employed for modification of target RNA sequences for various disorders. Development of RNA aptamers have also been identified as pivotal RNA-therapeutic candidate. Additionally, we have explained mechanistic details and examples of drugs approved for RNA therapy. Emphasizing their potential to enhance patient outcomes and fulfil unmet medical requirements, we also highlight the clinical development of RNA therapies in treating cancer and other infectious diseases.

RNA interference↗

PubMed2011

Long-term restoration of cardiac dystrophin expression in golden retriever muscular dystrophy following rAAV6-mediated exon skipping.

Although restoration of dystrophin expression via exon skipping in both cardiac and skeletal muscle has been successfully demonstrated in the mdx mouse, restoration of cardiac dystrophin expression in large animal models of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) has proven to be a challenge. In large animals, investigators have focused on using intravenous injection of antisense oligonucleotides (AO) to mediate exon skipping. In this study, we sought to optimize restoration of cardiac dystrophin expression in the golden retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) model using percutaneous transendocardial delivery of recombinant AAV6 (rAAV6) to deliver a modified U7 small nuclear RNA (snRNA) carrying antisense sequence to target the exon splicing enhancers of exons 6 and 8 and correct the disrupted reading frame. We demonstrate restoration of cardiac dystrophin expression at 13 months confirmed by reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and immunoblot as well as membrane localization by immunohistochemistry. This was accompanied by improved cardiac function as assessed by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Percutaneous transendocardial delivery of rAAV6 expressing a modified U7 exon skipping construct is a safe, effective method for restoration of dystrophin expression and improvement of cardiac function in the GRMD canine and may be easily translatable to human DMD patients.

Alternative Splicing↗

PubMed2025

Genetic analysis of IFNG-AS1 implicates opposite effects to Leishmania guyanensis-cutaneous leishmaniasis: rs4913269 confers protection while rs7134599 enhances susceptibility and correlates with high plasma IL-4 and IL-10 levels.

BACKGROUND: The long non-coding RNA interferon gamma antisense-1 (IFNGAS-1) is essential for Th1 lineage specific expression of IFNG. IFN-γ is a key component cytokine in host immune response against intracellular pathogens like Leishmania. We investigated the association of two genetic variants of IFNGAS-1, rs4913269 and rs7134599, with susceptibility or protection to Leishmania guyanensis- induced cutaneous leishmaniasis (Lg-CL). METHODS: A case-control study involving 1,714 individuals (855 Lg-CL and 859 healthy controls) was conducted in the state of Amazonas, Brazil. Genotyping of rs4913269 and rs7134599 were performed using direct nucleotide sequencing and polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP), respectively. Plasma cytokines concentrations (IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-4, IL-1β and TNF-α) were quantified using multiplex Luminex platform. Logistic regression, linkage disequilibrium (LD), and haplotype analyses were applied to assess genetic associations and cytokine correlations. RESULTS: Individuals with the rs4913269 G/G genotype had a 46% reduced risk of developing Lg-CL, (OR adjusted for age and sex [ORadj] = 0.54; 95% CI 0.39-0.75; Pvadj = 0.0001). Carriers of the rs7134599 A/A genotype had a 130% increased risk of progression to Lg- CL (ORadj = 2.3; 95% CI, 1.6-3.4; P = 0.0001). The rs7134599 A/G genotype also showed a 52% increased risk compared to GG genotype (ORadj = 1.52, 95%CI 1.22-1.89; Pvadj = 0.0002). The rs4913269 G/G genotype was associated with lower levels of IL-10 (P = 0.05) and IL-12p70 (P = 0.009) compared to the C/C genotype. Conversely, the rs7134599 AA genotypes were correlated with higher levels of TNF-α, IL-4, IL-10 and IL-1β in comparison to the GG genotype. LD revealed independent segregation of the variants. CONCLUSIONS: The IFNG-AS1 variants rs4913269 and rs7134599 exert opposing effects on Lg-CL risk and modulate key cytokines involved in disease pathogenesis. These findings underscore the regulatory role in immune responses and increase our understanding of the immunogenetic basis of CL and support the potential IFNG-AS1 as a biomarker for susceptibility.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Deregulation of FOXF1/FENDRR from t(14;16)(q32;q24) defines a subtype of high-risk lineage ambiguous leukemia.

Despite great progress in understanding the genomic basis of immature T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-ALL) and acute leukemias of ambiguous lineage, there are still cases that lack defining genetic markers, complicating risk stratification, and limiting targeted therapeutic options. Recent studies have shown that enhancer hijacking drives oncogene activation in approximately half of T-ALL cases, with the BCL11B (BCL11 transcription factor B) enhancer frequently involved. Here, we describe a subtype of leukemia with a distinct gene-expression signature, and immunophenotype characterized by positivity for immature (CD38), myeloid (CD13), T-lymphoid (cytoplasmic [c]CD3, CD7), and B-lymphoid markers (CD19, CD79a, CD10). This subtype is defined by the t(14;16)(q32;q24) translocation, which places the FOXF1 gene and its antisense long noncoding RNA gene FENDRR under the regulatory control of the BCL11B enhancer, leading to their ectopic transcriptional activation. Common concomitant genetic lesions are loss-of-function alterations of GATA3, CDKN2A/CDKN2B deletion and activating JAK/STAT and NOTCH1 pathway mutations. Patients were predominantly children and adolescents/young adults and experienced poor treatment outcome. High-throughput drug screening of 176 compounds demonstrated efficacy of combined BCL2 apoptosis regulator family proteins and JAK/STAT signaling inhibitors. Additionally, the clinical use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors in some of these patients showed therapeutic efficacy. Collectively, these findings identify BCL11B-enhancer-mediated deregulation of FOXF1/FENDRR as a hallmark of a subtype of high-risk lineage ambiguous leukemia that is potentially amenable to targeted therapeutic intervention.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

An antisense antidote to oncogenic poison exons.

Splicing factors are frequently mutated in myeloid cancers, causing splicing aberrations that derail the expression of tumor suppressor genes. In SRSF2 mutated cancers, a key oncogenic splicing event is the inclusion of a "poison" exon that introduces an early stop codon in EZH2 mRNA, causing its destabilization. In this issue of Genes & Development, Islam et al. (doi:10.1101/gad.353628.126) define how mutant SRSF2 binding to the poison exon mediates its inclusion and identify an antisense oligonucleotide that represses the exon to restore EZH2 function and rescues hematopoietic defects. Thus, targeting of poison exons, many of which show protumorigenic and antitumorigenic properties, is a promising new avenue to treat cancer.

Oligonucleotides, Antisense↗

PubMed2026

RNA structures regulate norovirus life cycle and enable rational attenuation in vivo.

Viral genomes encode regulatory RNA structures that orchestrate key steps of viral replication and gene expression. Although these structures are increasingly recognized as critical regulators of viral function, their systematic characterization in an infection context and roles in regulating viral fitness and immune recognition in vivo remain limited. Here, we systematically map and functionally interrogate structured RNA elements across the murine norovirus genome using orthogonal in-cell chemical probing, revealing conserved motifs that regulate viral function. Targeted disruption of specific structural elements reduces viral replication in cell culture, modulates translation in cis, and decreases viral RNA levels in animal infection models. These findings enabled the rational design of a genetically stable, attenuated virus that elicits protective immunity and limits viral replication upon secondary challenge. Together, this work uncovers essential roles for RNA structure in norovirus biology and establishes a generalizable framework for RNA structure-guided design of antiviral vaccines and therapeutics.

RNA structure↗

PubMed2025

Transcriptional interference gates monogenic odorant receptor expression in ants.

Communication is crucial to social life, and in ants, it is mediated primarily through olfaction. Ants have more odorant receptor (OR) genes than any other group of insects, generated through tandem duplications that produce large genomic arrays of related genes. The mechanism by which olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) produce a single functional OR from these arrays remains unclear. In ant OSNs, only mRNA from one OR in an array is exported into the cytoplasm, while upstream genes are silent and transcripts from downstream genes remain nuclear. Here, we show that readthrough transcription in the downstream direction generates non-translated transcripts. We also find that OR promoters are bidirectional, producing antisense long non-coding RNAs. We suspect that neither readthrough nor antisense transcription produces functional RNA but that bidirectional transcription alone is critical to suppressing the expression of all other OR genes in a tandem array. Finally, we present evidence that this regulatory architecture is conserved across ants and bees, suggesting that this mechanism for functionally monogenic OR expression is widespread in insects with expanded OR repertoires.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

CAR-SPLASH identifies nascent pre-mRNA structures implicated in kinetic coupling and alternative splicing.

Pre-mRNA splicing is kinetically coupled to transcription as shown by the widespread effects of transcription speed on alternative splicing (AS) outcomes. The molecular basis for such kinetic coupling is incompletely understood, but one potential mechanism is through elongation rate-dependent alternative folding pathways of the nascent pre-messenger RNA (pre-mRNA). To search for RNA structures in nascent pre-mRNA, we modified Sequencing of Psoralen Crosslinked, Ligated And Selected Hybrids (SPLASH) [J. G. Ashley Aw et al., Mol. Cell 62, 603-617 (2016)] for use with Chromatin Associated RNA. We applied this method called Chromatin Associated RNA (CAR)-SPLASH to cells expressing wild-type and slow mutant RNA polymerase II and identified >3,000 intramolecular RNA duplexes of which >400 are proximal to splice sites. Antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) disruption of several such duplexes that sequester splice sites has a major impact on AS outcomes, even though the ASOs do not directly disrupt splice sites. ASO disruption of these regulatory elements that we designate "RNA kinetic switches" modified AS of NISCH Exon 18, GAK Exon 7, and MEGF8 Exon 14 in a way that depends on the rate of transcription elongation. We propose that these switches mediate kinetic coupling via the effects of transcription speed on folding of nascent RNA structures that modulate AS and that many nascent RNA structures can thereby serve as targets for splice-modifying ASOs.

RNA Precursors↗

PubMed2026

Emerging Nucleic Acid-Based Therapies for Hypercholesterolemia with Focus on a New Modality, Liver-Directed miR-30c Analog C2.

Despite major advances in lipid-lowering therapies, a significant unmet need remains, particularly for patients with homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH), severe heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH), and those who fail to achieve guideline-recommended LDL-C targets. Nucleic acid-based therapeutics have emerged as a transformative approach for treating hypercholesterolemia. Antisense oligonucleotides and small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) have demonstrated durable hepatic gene silencing and have led to approved therapies, while gene replacement and in vivo genome-editing strategies offer the potential for long-lasting, and possibly one-time, interventions. In parallel, microRNAs (miRNAs) have attracted increasing interest because of their ability to coordinately regulate multiple genes involved in lipoprotein metabolism, cholesterol transport, and lipid homeostasis. Human genetic studies further support the importance of miRNA-mediated regulation, exemplified by a rare ~2.5 kb deletion in the distal LDLR 3'UTR ("del2.5") that disrupts miRNA-binding sites and is associated with lifelong low LDL-C levels. This review summarizes recent advances, mechanisms of action, clinical progress, and remaining challenges across antisense oligonucleotides, siRNAs, gene therapy, genome editing, and emerging miRNA-based therapeutics for hypercholesterolemia. As an example of the latter approach, the liver-directed miR-30c analog C2 has demonstrated preclinical activity by coordinately reducing hepatic lipoprotein secretion and lipogenesis while enhancing cholesterol elimination, resulting in reduced LDL-C and atherosclerosis. However, it must be noted that these findings remain preclinical, and further optimization of delivery, pharmacokinetics, safety, and long-term efficacy will be required before clinical evaluation. Continued advances in RNA chemistry, targeted delivery, and genome engineering are expected to further expand the therapeutic landscape for dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Dual regulation of the receptor-like kinase BIR1 involves site-directed transcript cleavage and 5'-leader-mediated translational control.

In Arabidopsis, BRASSINOSTEROID INSENSITIVE1-ASSOCIATED RECEPTOR KINASE 1 (BAK1)-INTERACTING RECEPTOR-LIKE KINASE 1 (BIR1) is a negative regulator of plant immunity and cell death. BIR1 was earlier described as a target of epigenetic and post-transcriptional degradation. During virus infections, degradome analysis of BIR1 transcripts mapped predominant mRNA cleavage sites at the 5'-untranslated leader region (site A) and the protein-coding sequence (sites B and C). Here, we identified another virus-associated cleavage site (D) within the BIR1 coding region and investigated the contribution of site-directed mRNA cleavage to BIR1 regulation. Mutations at B, C, and D sites enhanced mRNA stability by impairing transcript cleavage, resulting in increased BIR1 mRNA and protein accumulation. This regulation is disrupted in RNA silencing mutants, supporting a model of cis-directed small interfering RNA (siRNA)-mediated degradation. We next demonstrate that virus infection reduces BIR1 translation in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, our data reveal a repressive role for the 5'-leader in regulating BIR1 translation, potentially mediated by upstream open reading frames (uORFs) and a virus-responsive long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) derived from the natural antisense At4g39838 locus. Together, these findings reveal a multilayered regulatory mechanism that integrates sRNA-mediated cleavage with translational control, with broader implications for the fine-tuning of stress-responsive gene expression during infection.

Arabidopsis↗