Anti-scarring ribozymes and methods

Patent Number: 7,462,602

Bone marrow stem cells have been demonstrated to have some degree of anti-fibrotic effect.  For example, after myocardial infarct, bone marrow infusion has been demonstrated to decrease non-viable myocardial scar tissue formation.  Additionally, bone marrow administration has been effective in pilot trials of hepatic fibrosis, which is uncontrolled scarring.

The current patent covers an interesting way to get around the problem of hyperfibrotic responses through inhibiting the gene encoding for connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a secreted protein that is known to promote the synthesis of extracellular matrix and connective tissue components. 

In its broadest claim the patent covers "A ribozyme that specifically cleaves a target RNA sequence encoded by a CTGF gene, said ribozyme encoded by a nucleic acid comprising a sequence of SEQ ID NO:48"

Since fibrosis has been demonstrated to inhibit various stem cell activities, it will be interesting to see if synergy can be obtained between this approach and stem cell administration.

View this patent on the USPTO website.