Technologies
Competitive Advantages:
Reduces cell proliferation, Decreases cell migration, Ameliorates potential side effects, A non-invasive surgical method.
Provided herein are methods of measuring Cl 9MC miRNA amount and/or expression in a post-natal cell and/or tissue. Provided herein are methods of measuring CpG methylation of the upstream C19MC miRNA promoter region in a post-natal cell and/or tissue. Also provided herein are methods of treating a cellInfantile hemangiomas (IHs) are common benign vascular tumors in childhood. Until recently, the role of miRNAs in the onset and progression of IH had never been investigated. Our scientists have recently shown a significant upregulation of the chromosome 19 miRNA cluster (C19MC) in IH specimens. Given the role of C19MC miRNAs in the regulation of cell proliferation, invasion, and differentiation, they hypothesize that temporal expression of C19MC plays a pivotal role in the onset of IH. The C19MC miRNA is regulated by genomic imprinting with only the paternal allele expressed in the placenta. In addition, its expression is epigenetically regulated by DNA methylation of an upstream CpG rich promoter region. The inventors have developed a novel assays that can measure the expression and/or CpG methylation of the upstream C19MC promoter region in post-natal tissue. In addition to this, they have also developed a novel method to treat IHs via a modified CRISPR/Cas 9 Synergistic Activation Mediator system which incloves an upregulated actin gRNA (guide RNA) sequence that targets and inhibits the overexpressed C19MC promoter region commonly found in IHs. In summary, the inventors provide a novel method of measuring increased C19MC microRNA found in IHs and a new approach for designing novel, targeted miRNA-based therapeutics for the treatment of IH and other vascular malformations.
Competitive Advantages:
Prevents restenosis, Reduces inflammation, Reduces hypercoagulability, Preserves endothelial cell function.
The present invention provides for the incorporation of target sequences of microRNAs into the 3'UTR region of a gene of interest in nucleic acid vectors. The invention also provides for an expression system comprising such vectors, a pharmaceutical composition comprising such vectors, as well as methods of treating or preventing cardiovascular disease by using such vectors.USF researchers have developed the first miRNA-based strategy to selectively inhibit VSMC proliferation and migration for the prevention of restenosis, without concurrently inhibiting reendothelialization and EC function. This was achieved by the design of a novel vector that inhibits VSMCs and selectively preserving ECs. This vector was shown to reduce hypercoagulation and restore EC function in vivo. The combination of a better stent platform and biodegradable polymer with this novel strategy, has the potential to revolutionize the future of vascular interventional medicine.
Disclosed herein are compositions and methods for inducing, promoting, or enhancing an immune response in a subject. For example, the disclosed compositions and methods can be used prophylactically to prevent viral/microbial infections or therapeutically to treat acute infections. In some embodiments, the disclosed method involves administering to the subject a composition comprising in vitro transcribed (IVT) RNA comprising short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs), such as Alu repeats. In some embodiments, the disclosed compositions and methods can be used to induce, promote, or enhance any immune response in a subject, including an anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, or anti-parasite response. In some embodiments, the disclosed compositions can be administered to any mucosa! barrier, such as lungs or intestines, e.g. to enhance an innate immune response against a virus or pathogen.Retrotransposons comprise ~45% of human genome which ~11% comprise the short interspersed elements(SINEs).The invention discusses the methods for inducing, promotingor enhancing an immune response in a subject by administering to the subject a composition comprising in vitrotranscribed(IVT) RNA comprising SINEs. This patented invention claimsSINESs and/orantisense SINEsIncrease interferontype IIIwhich has anti viral activities and canconfer antiviral activity by inhibiting viral entry. SINEsand/or antisense SINEs induce innate immune response. SINEs and/or antisense SINEs form siRNA that target viral,bacterial,fungal and parasite’s genomefor degradation and/or inhibit translation/replication. These in vitrotranscribed SINEs maybe used in future vaccines against viral,microbial, fungaland parasites.