This technology is a selective microRNA-based strategy to inhibit restenosis and treat cardiovascular disease while preserving endothelial cell function.
Current methods to treat coronary artery disease (CAD) commonly involve percutaneous coronary intervention for revascularization. However, the major drawback of this procedure is the proliferation and subsequent accumulation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), leading to restenosis. The advent of drug eluting stents, capable of delivering an inhibitor of cell proliferation in situ has decreased, but not eliminated, the occurrence of restenosis. Additionally, the drugs that elute from the stent not only inhibit VSMC, but also endothelial cell proliferation and migration, increasing the risk of late thrombosis. Thus, there is a need for therapies that would provide VSMC selective anti-proliferative activity without adversely affecting endothelial cells.
This technology utilizes select nucleic acid vectors to inhibit restenosis and treat cardiovascular disease. These vectors incorporate a tumor suppressor gene and at least one microRNA (miRNA) target sequence within the 3’UTR region of the tumor suppressor gene. By incorporating the target sequences for the vascular endothelial cell-specific mRNA, miR-126, into the p27 tumor suppressor-expressing vector, this technology is able to selectively express p27 where appropriate. As a result, this approach selectively inhibits VSMC proliferation, and thus restenosis, with minimal impact on endothelial cell function.
This technology has been validated in vivo and been shown to selectively inhibit the growth of VSMCs while preserving the function of vascular endothelial cells.
Hana Totary-Jain, Ph.D.
Patent Pending Global Dossier
IR CU12261
Licensing Contact: Joan Martinez