Antisense oligonucleotides to type I procollagen

Patent Number: 7,173,122

One of the potential problems with stem cell therapy is the propensity of certain cell types to contribute to scar formation. For example, during embryonic healing, scars are not formed on injured tissues, however, adult injured tissue is prone to scarring. Formation of scars is especially relevant in the post-myocardial infarct situation in which the non-functional scar tissue replaces myocardium and causes eventual heart failure. While certain treatments are used for administration of stem cells into injured myocardium, and have demonstrated healing of scar tissue, the effects are still not fully optimal.

The current patent takes advantage of the fact that type I collagen is predominantly expressed in scar tissue and aims to inhibit scarring by inhibiting the production of this protein. The patent covers the use of antisense oligonucleotides to inhibit type 1 collagen formation. It will be interesting to see how this patent is used in conjunction with stem cell therapy for acceleration of wound healing.

View this patent on the USPTO website.