Micro-RNA family that modulates fibrosis and uses thereof
AssigneeBoard of Regents, The University of Texas System
InventorsEric Olson, Eva van Rooij
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Abstract
The present invention relates to the identification of a microRNA family, designated miR-29a-c, that is a key regulator of fibrosis in cardiac tissue. The inventors show that members of the miR-29 family are down-regulated in the heart tissue in response to stress, and are up-regulated in heart tissue of mice that are resistant to both stress and fibrosis. Also provided are methods of modulating expression and activity of the miR-29 family of miRNAs as a treatment for fibrotic disease, including cardiac hypertrophy, skeletal muscle fibrosis other fibrosis related diseases and collagen loss-related disease.
Claims15
A method of treating tissue fibrosis in a subject in need thereof comprising administering to the fibroblast cells of the subject an agonist of miR-29a-c, wherein the agonist of miR-29a-c is a polynucleotide comprising a pri-miRNA, pre-miRNA, or mature sequence of miR-29a, miR-29b, and/or miR-29c, and wherein the fibrosis is reduced in the subject following administration of the agonist.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.