Therapeutic silencing of microRNA-122 in primates with chronic hepatitis C virus infection.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 19965718.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/science.1178178 and PMC identifier 3436126.
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Abstract
The liver-expressed microRNA-122 (miR-122) is essential for hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA accumulation in cultured liver cells, but its potential as a target for antiviral intervention has not been assessed. We found that treatment of chronically infected chimpanzees with a locked nucleic acid (LNA)-modified oligonucleotide (SPC3649) complementary to miR-122 leads to long-lasting suppression of HCV viremia, with no evidence of viral resistance or side effects in the treated animals. Furthermore, transcriptome and histological analyses of liver biopsies demonstrated derepression of target mRNAs with miR-122 seed sites, down-regulation of interferon-regulated genes, and improvement of HCV-induced liver pathology. The prolonged virological response to SPC3649 treatment without HCV rebound holds promise of a new antiviral therapy with a high barrier to resistance.
Medical subject headings
- Antiviral Agents
- Hepatitis C, Chronic
- MicroRNAs
- Pan troglodytes
- Phosphorothioate Oligonucleotides