Miragen Therapeutics announced data from a preclinical study of remlarsen, a microRNA-29 replacement, exploring the anti-fibrotic effects of remlarsen in the cornea of rats after corneal ulceration. The data will be delivered in a poster presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, or ARVO. Remlarsen was administered topically to the rat cornea for up to 28 days following an induced chemical burn. Eyes were scored for corneal haze, then evaluated histologically for corneal thickness and expression of a-SMA, or alpha smooth muscle actin, a marker of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transition. Expression of collagen and other fibrosis-associated genes was assessed using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Remlarsen treatment accelerated the healing of corneal injury, resulting in a more rapid restoration of epithelial thickness and a reduction in stromal thickness as compared to saline-treated injured eyes. Remlarsen treatment appeared to reduce the expression of multiple collagens and fibrosis-associated genes from seven to 14 days post-injury and to reduce a -SMA protein expression in the epithelium and stroma at 14 days. Remlarsen treatment appeared to reduce corneal hazing and scarring beginning at 10 days post-burn. Dose and treatment schedule were optimized in preparation for enabling toxicology studies to support human clinical trials.
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.