30 results about "Frataxin" patented technology

The present invention relates to a method for identifying and/or validating candidate substances for the treatment of Friedreich Ataxia (FRDA). Furthermore, the present invention relates to the use of selenium, Ebselen and Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) mimetics for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of FRDA. Another aspect of the present invention relates to the use of cells with reduced frataxin expression for identifying and/or validating candidate substances for the treatment of Friedreich Ataxia.

A method for preventing or treating cardiomyopathy due to energy failure in a subject in need thereof is provided. The method comprises administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a vector which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a gene that can reverse energy failure. An exemplary cardiomyopathy is that which is associated with Friedreich ataxia and an exemplary nucleic acid sequence comprises a nucleic acid that encodes frataxin (FXN).

The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of Frataxin (FXN), in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of Frataxin (FXN). The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of FXN.

The disclosure relates to compositions and methods for altering, e.g., enhancing, the expression of frataxin (FXN), whether in vitro and/or in vivo including, but not limited to, the exploitation of engineered promoters. Such compositions include delivery via administration of an adeno-associated viral (AAV) particle. The compositions and methods of the present disclosure are useful in the treatment of subjects diagnosed with, or suspected of having Friedreich's ataxia or another neuromuscular or neurological condition resulting from a deficiency in the quantity and/or function of frataxin or associated with decreased expression or protein levels of frataxin.

Methods of modifying a frataxin gene are disclosed, comprising removing some or all of endogenous GAA trinucleotide repeats within the frataxin gene, e.g., within an intron (e.g., intron 1) of the frataxin gene. The removal may be effected using a CRISPR/CAS nuclease system. Such modification may be used to increase frataxin expression in the cell, and also to treat a subject suffering from Friedreich ataxia. Reagents, kits and uses of the method are also disclosed, for example to modify a frataxin gene and to treat a subject suffering from Friedreich ataxia.

Provided herein are methods for treating a disease or disorder associated with mitochondrial dysfunction through ex vivo introduction of a nucleic acid molecule into hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) followed by transplantation of the HSPCs into a subject in need of treatment. The nucleic acid molecule may include a functional human frataxin (hFXN) or may include a gene editing system that when transfected into the cells removes a trinucleotide extension mutation of endogenous hFXN.

The disclosure provides methods for the treatment of Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA), an autosomal recessive ataxia caused by mutation of the FXN gene, by administering to a subject a therapeutically effective amount of etravirine, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. Etravirine is demonstrated to increase the levels of frataxin precursor and intermediate and mature forms of frataxin.

Disclosed herein are methods for assaying the concentration of frataxin in biofluids, and kits, reagents, and uses thereof.

Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) is caused by a GAA repeat expansion in FXN gene that encodes a mitochondrial protein, frataxin, involved in iron sulfur complex (ISC) assembly. Frataxin deficiency results in abnormal ISC containing proteins, namely respiratory chain complex I-III and aconitases and accumulation of iron in brain and heart of patients. Here, the inventors show that FRDA fibroblasts are unable to limit iron uptake inducing a massive cytosolic iron accumulation and to a lesser extent in mitochondria. The inventors also observed increased transferrin receptor (TfR1) steady state levels and membrane TfR1 accumulation that they ascribed to impaired post-translational modification by palmitoylation as well as delayed transferrin recycling. Finally, the inventors showed that artesunate, dichloroacetate and Coenzyme-A improved TfR1 palmitoylation and thus represent candidate molecules for the treatment of patients with Friedreich ataxia. Thus the present invention relates to methods of treating Friedreich ataxia (FRDA) as well as to methods of predicting whether a patient suffering from FRDA will achieve a therapeutic response.

The invention provides an application of SIRT3 mediated macrophage Fraxin deacetylation modification in improvement of inflammatory diseases. The invention reveals that the SIRT3 and the Fraaxin can interact for the first time, and the SIRT3 can mediate the deacetylation modification of the Fraaxin, so that the polarization of the macrophage is regulated. M2-type polarization of macrophages can be adjusted by adjusting the interaction between SIRT3 and Frataxin, so that inflammation-related diseases such as hypertension can be relieved or treated. The invention has important significance for preventing and treating diseases related to mitochondrial metabolism and blood pressure disorder.

The object of the present invention to provide an agent effective for treating and preventing e.g. a disease caused by reduction in frataxin production. The present invention provides a frataxin enhancer comprising 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) or a derivative thereof or salts thereof, as well as a therapeutic and/or prophylactic agent for a disease caused by reduction in frataxin production.

Isolated transduced cells exhibiting FRDA characteristics in an inducible fashion are disclosed. Isolated transduced cells comprise an expression vector having a nucleic acid sequence encoding an shRNA for frataxin protein knockdown and a heterologous expression control sequence. Additionally, methods of screening for a candidate therapeutic agent for treating Friedreich's Ataxia using isolated transduced cells are disclosed. Further, a recombinant nucleic acid construct for frataxin knockdown is disclosed that comprises a nucleic acid encoding an shRNA operably linked to a heterologous expression control sequence and expressing an shRNA molecule in a dose-responsive fashion.