The potential of RNA interference-based therapies for viral infections

RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism in cells that suppresses or silences the expression of aberrant or foreign genes. This activity is being developed as a potential antiviral therapeutic strategy. Studies in vitro, and some in vivo, appear to show the feasibility of using RNAi to treat v...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current HIV/AIDS reports 2008-02, Vol.5 (1), p.33-39
Main Author: Huang, Diana D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antiviral Agents - metabolism
Antiviral Agents - pharmacology
Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use
Clinical trials
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
HIV
Human immunodeficiency virus
Humans
Infections
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Proteins - genetics
Proteins - metabolism
Respiratory syncytial virus
RNA Interference
RNA, Small Interfering - genetics
RNA, Small Interfering - metabolism
RNA, Small Interfering - pharmacology
RNA, Small Interfering - therapeutic use
RNA-mediated interference
Viral infections
Viral Proteins - genetics
Viral Proteins - metabolism
Virus Diseases - therapy
Virus Diseases - virology
Viruses
Viruses - drug effects
Viruses - genetics
Viruses - metabolism
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Description
Summary:RNA interference (RNAi) is a natural mechanism in cells that suppresses or silences the expression of aberrant or foreign genes. This activity is being developed as a potential antiviral therapeutic strategy. Studies in vitro, and some in vivo, appear to show the feasibility of using RNAi to treat virus infection. Therapeutic use of RNAi seems to be promising when directed against viruses that cause localized acute infections in accessible target cells. Therapeutic strategies using RNAi against viruses that cause chronic infections, such as HIV, hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C virus, are more difficult to design, but studies have begun to address identifiable problems. Two clinical trials using RNAi have recently been initiated—one phase II trial against respiratory syncytial virus and a phase I trial against HIV. It will be of much interest to see whether nucleic acid therapies can offer another route to treating viral infection.
ISSN:1548-3568
1548-3576
DOI:10.1007/s11904-008-0006-4