Artificial miRNAs Reduce Human Mutant Huntingtin Throughout the Striatum in a Transgenic Sheep Model of Huntington's Disease.

Huntington's disease (HD) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease caused by a genetic expansion of the CAG repeat region in the huntingtin (HTT) gene. Studies in HD mouse models have shown that artificial miRNAs can reduce mutant HTT, but evidence for their effectiveness and safety in larger animals is lacking. HD transgenic sheep express the full-length human HTT with 73 CAG repeats. AAV9 was used to deliver unilaterally to HD sheep striatum an artificial miRNA targeting exon 48 of the human HTT mRNA under control of two alternative promoters: U6 or CβA. The treatment reduced human mutant (m) HTT mRNA and protein 50-80% in the striatum at 1 and 6 months post injection. Silencing was detectable in both the caudate and putamen. Levels of endogenous sheep HTT protein were not affected. There was no significant loss of neurons labeled by DARPP32 or NeuN at 6 months after treatment, and Iba1-positive microglia were detected at control levels. It is concluded that safe and effective silencing of human mHTT protein can be achieved and sustained in a large-animal brain by direct delivery of an AAV carrying an artificial miRNA

Advances in the Diagnosis, Treatment and Prognosis of Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare, multisystemic, low-grade neoplasm character-ized by diffuse cystic lesions in the lung.In recent years, emerging imaging examination such as 68Ga-NEB PET-CT scan provides efficient and precise non-invasive diagnostic methods to detect lymphatic circulation abnormalities in LAM patients. The long-term efficacy and safety of sirolimus for LAM has accumulated further evidence, and genetic profiling studies have unveiled more information of genetic mechanisms. Prognosis of LAM has been much improved. We briefly reviewed the research advances of LAM in China and other countires