Alterations in the hepatic transcriptional landscape after RNAi mediated ApoB silencing in cynomolgus monkeys

The Essence of Lipoproteins in Cardiovascular Health and Diseases Treated by Photodynamic Therapy

Lipids, together with lipoprotein particles, are the cause of atherosclerosis, which is a pathology of the cardiovascular system. In addition, it affects inflammatory processes and affects the vessels and heart. In pharmaceutical answer to this, statins are considered a first-stage treatment method to block cholesterol synthesis. Many times, additional drugs are also used with this method to lower lipid concentrations in order to achieve certain values of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol. Recent advances in photodynamic therapy (PDT) as a new cancer treatment have gained the therapy much attention as a minimally invasive and highly selective method. Photodynamic therapy has been proven more effective than chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy alone in numerous studies. Consequently, photodynamic therapy research has expanded in many fields of medicine due to its increased therapeutic effects and reduced side effects. Currently, PDT is the most commonly used therapy for treating age-related macular degeneration, as well as inflammatory diseases, and skin infections. The effectiveness of photodynamic therapy against a number of pathogens has also been demonstrated in various studies. Also, PDT has been used in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and hyperplasia of the arterial intima. This review evaluates the effectiveness and usefulness of photodynamic therapy in cardiovascular diseases. According to the analysis, photodynamic therapy is a promising approach for treating cardiovascular diseases and may lead to new clinical trials and management standards. Our review addresses the used therapeutic strategies and also describes new therapeutic strategies to reduce the cardiovascular burden that is induced by lipids.

Advancement in nanotechnology-based approaches for the treatment and diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia

Cardiovascular diseases have been the major cause of mortality and morbidity all over the world accounting for more than 80% of the deaths from heart attacks and strokes. Hypercholesterolemia, an autosomal disorder of lipoprotein metabolism is one of the foremost causes of CVDs. An increased level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in the plasma results in the rise of incidence rates in disease patients. Several conventional and combinational therapies have been proposed for lowering the LDL-C levels in the blood. These therapeutic agents are designed to target some crucial molecules that participates in the lipid metabolism such as apolipoprotein B, HMGCoA reductase, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9, etc. Although these therapies are effective but are associated with certain side effects. This article presents an overview on different conventional and nanotechnology-based approaches for the treatment and diagnosis of hypercholesterolemia. Numerous nanomaterial-based therapies including polymeric nanoparticles, cationic lipids, liposomes, dendrimers and inorganic nanoparticles have been discussed in lowering the cholesterol level along with recent advancement in diagnosis and imaging.

Recommendations of the Oligonucleotide Safety Working Group's Formulated Oligonucleotide Subcommittee for the Safety Assessment of Formulated Oligonucleotide-Based Therapeutics

The use of lipid formulations has greatly improved the ability to effectively deliver oligonucleotides and has been instrumental in the rapid expansion of therapeutic development programs using oligonucleotide drugs. However, the development of such complex multicomponent therapeutics requires the implementation of unique, scientifically sound approaches to the nonclinical development of these drugs, based upon a hybrid of knowledge and experiences drawn from small molecule, protein, and oligonucleotide therapeutic drug development. The relative paucity of directly applicable regulatory guidance documents for oligonucleotide therapeutics in general has resulted in the generation of multiple white papers from oligonucleotide drug development experts and members of the Oligonucleotide Safety Working Group (OSWG). The members of the Formulated Oligonucleotide Subcommittee of the OSWG have utilized their collective experience working with a variety of formulations and their associated oligonucleotide payloads, as well as their insights into regulatory considerations and expectations, to generate a series of consensus recommendations for the pharmacokinetic characterization and nonclinical safety assessment of this unique class of therapeutics. It should be noted that the focus of Subcommittee discussions was on lipid nanoparticle and other types of particulate formulations of therapeutic oligonucleotides and not on conjugates or other types of modifications of oligonucleotide structure intended to facilitate delivery.

Complex effects of inhibiting hepatic apolipoprotein B100 synthesis in humans

Mipomersen is a 20mer antisense oligonucleotide (ASO) that inhibits apolipoprotein B (apoB) synthesis; its low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-lowering effects should therefore result from reduced secretion of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL). We enrolled 17 healthy volunteers who received placebo injections weekly for 3 weeks followed by mipomersen weekly for 7 to 9 weeks. Stable isotopes were used after each treatment to determine fractional catabolic rates and production rates of apoB in VLDL, IDL (intermediate-density lipoprotein), and LDL, and of triglycerides in VLDL. Mipomersen significantly reduced apoB in VLDL, IDL, and LDL, which was associated with increases in fractional catabolic rates of VLDL and LDL apoB and reductions in production rates of IDL and LDL apoB. Unexpectedly, the production rates of VLDL apoB and VLDL triglycerides were unaffected. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of apoB expression in human liver cells demonstrated preservation of apoB secretion across a range of apoB synthesis. Titrated ASO knockdown of apoB mRNA in chow-fed mice preserved both apoB and triglyceride secretion. In contrast, titrated ASO knockdown of apoB mRNA in high-fat-fed mice resulted in stepwise reductions in both apoB and triglyceride secretion. Mipomersen lowered all apoB lipoproteins without reducing the production rate of either VLDL apoB or triglyceride. Our human data are consistent with long-standing models of posttranscriptional and posttranslational regulation of apoB secretion and are supported by in vitro and in vivo experiments. Targeting apoB synthesis may lower levels of apoB lipoproteins without necessarily reducing VLDL secretion, thereby lowering the risk of steatosis associated with this therapeutic strategy.