Acta Biochimica Indonesiana
Vol. 7 No. 1 (2024): Acta Biochimica Indonesiana

Development of RNA interference-based therapy for rare genetic diseases

Milya Urfa Ahmad (Master’s Programme in Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia)
Syarifah Dewi (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
22 Aug 2024

Abstract

In December 2022, the Indonesian Ministry of Health projected that rare diseases might affect 8–10% of the population, equating to approximately 27 million people. These diseases, often congenital, are linked to genetic inheritance or mutations, leading to structural or functional defects. Despite advancements in diagnostic and treatment methods, many rare diseases remain challenging for healthcare practitioners. RNA interference (RNAi) presents a promising therapeutic approach by enabling the selective inhibition of genes responsible for genetic disorders. RNAi employs small RNA molecules, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA) and microRNA (miRNA), to bind specific mRNA molecules and prevent their translation into proteins. Current research showed that RNAi-based therapies have the potential to treat various genetic diseases, including acute hepatic porphyria (AHP) and primary hyperoxaluria type 1 (PH1). However, the mechanisms of RNAi in hereditary disorders like AHP and PH1 require further documentation. RNAi offers several advantages, including gene-specific targeting, versatility in treating diverse genetic disorders, and scalability for mass production. Nonetheless, challenges remain, such as side effects, difficulties in targeting specific cells, and high development cost. Despite these obstacles, RNAi-based therapy holds significant potential for revolutionize the treatment of genetic disorders.

Copyrights © 2024






Journal Info

Abbrev

actabioina

Publisher

Subject

Biochemistry, Genetics & Molecular Biology

Description

Acta Biochimica Indonesiana (ActaBiolna) is a peer-reviewed and open-access journal that disseminates original research articles and review articles covering diverse topics in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. The journal is published biannually by Indonesian Society for Biochemistry and Molecular ...