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Exon-skipping drug prevents muscle wasting, maintains muscle function in dystrophin deficient mice

A new publication in Molecular Therapy outlines the dramatic effects of an exon skipping PPMO in preventing severe deterioration of dystrophin-deficient mice. The treatment restores dystrophin protein expression and maintains near-normal muscle function, suggesting great potential for treating Duchenne muscular dystrophy patients.

SourceRathbun Communications, INC.·JournalMolecular Therapy·DateOct 20, 2009

Research points to potential chink in cancer's armor

Scientists at the University of York have successfully silenced a gene that appears essential to cancer cell survival, leaving healthy cells unaffected. This discovery suggests that certain genes may be specific to cancer cells, paving the way for the development of new cancer treatments with fewer side effects.

SourceUniversity of York·JournalPLOS ONE·DateOct 5, 2009

Scientists cure color blindness in monkeys

Researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Washington successfully used gene therapy to restore color vision in two squirrel monkeys. The study demonstrates the potential for this treatment to target adult vision disorders involving cone cells, a crucial step towards developing therapies for human cone diseases.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalNature·DateSep 16, 2009

Living longer and happier

MU researchers discovered a 'longevity' gene that energizes mice during exercise, potentially applicable to humans. The gene removes toxic free radicals from mitochondria, improving life quality and treating diseases like muscular dystrophy and diabetes.

SourceUniversity of Missouri-Columbia·JournalPLOS ONE·DateAug 19, 2009

Vision improvement after gene therapy maintained at 1 year for inherited retinal blindness

Researchers have documented remarkable vision improvements in three young adults with Leber Congenital Amaurosis after receiving gene therapy. The patients continue to experience increased sensitivity to light, and one patient was able to read an illuminated clock for the first time at 1 year after treatment.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania School of Medicine·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateAug 12, 2009

New genes at work in patients with hereditary lung disease

Researchers at University of Florida have safely given new genes to patients with alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, enabling them to produce trace amounts of the protective protein for up to one year. This potential step toward a gene therapy could benefit approximately 100,000 Americans with the condition.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 10, 2009

Epilepsy halted in mice

Researchers at the University of Leeds have successfully prevented epilepsy in mice by identifying a faulty gene as the cause. The study, published in PNAS, offers irrefutable proof that a defective version of the Atp1a3 gene is responsible for causing epileptic seizures in mice.

SourceUniversity of Leeds·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 3, 2009

Chasing tiny vehicles

A research team has used single-molecule fluorescence microscopy to follow magnetic nanoparticles as they transport genes or drugs into target cells in real-time. The study reveals bottlenecks in nanoferry transport and provides insights into optimizing existing systems, potentially leading to breakthroughs in gene therapy.

SourceLudwig-Maximilians-Universität München·JournalJournal of Controlled Release·DateJul 20, 2009

Could science use the common cold to cure cystic fibrosis?

Researchers at University of North Carolina have discovered a new approach to delivering a corrected CF gene to lung cells using parainfluenza virus, which could potentially cure cystic fibrosis lung disease. The method has shown promise in laboratory models and may pave the way for future clinical trials.

SourcePLOS·JournalPLOS Biology·DateJul 20, 2009

Tips from the American Journal of Pathology

Scientists have made significant discoveries in the fight against muscular dystrophy, identifying a potential gene therapy approach to overexpress Galgt2 protein. In another breakthrough, researchers have identified a stromal marker for breast cancer progression, highlighting the importance of examining stroma PDGF receptor expression ...

SourceAmerican Journal of Pathology·JournalAmerican Journal Of Pathology·DateJun 24, 2009

Therapeutic delivery of a gene to dysfunctional nerves

Researchers have developed a gene delivery approach to target therapeutic genes to nerves in the dorsal root ganglion (DRG), a region affected in various sensory neuronopathies. This method, using helper-dependent adenoviruses, was found to be more efficient at delivering genes to DRG nerves compared to nontargeted versions.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 15, 2009

Gene therapy for hemophilia A mice

Researchers at the University of Minnesota Medical School have successfully provided long-term expression of Factor VIII in hemophilia A mice using a new gene therapy approach, marking a promising step toward human clinical trials.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateJun 8, 2009

Nervous system may be culprit in deadly muscle disease

A study by University of Florida researchers suggests that the nervous system may be the primary cause of severe breathing problems in children with Pompe disease, a rare genetic disorder. The discovery shifts responsibility from muscle weakness to signaling between the spinal cord and the diaphragm.

SourceUniversity of Florida·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 25, 2009