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Targeting the 5’ untranslated region of SMN2 as a therapeutic strategy for spinal muscular atrophy

Bowerman

Authors



Abstract

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a neuromuscular disorder caused by mutations in the survival motor neuron 1 gene (SMN1). All patients have at least one copy of a paralog, SMN2, but a C-to-T transition in this gene results in exon 7 skipping in a majority of transcripts. Approved treatment for SMA involves promoting exon 7 inclusion in the SMN2 transcript or increasing the amount of full-length SMN by gene replacement with a viral vector. Increasing the pool of SMN2 transcripts and increasing their translational efficiency can be used to enhance splice correction. We sought to determine whether the 5’ untranslated region (5’UTR) of SMN2 contains a repressive feature that can be targeted to increase SMN levels. We found that antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) complementary to the 5’ end of SMN2 increase SMN mRNA and protein levels, and that this effect is due to inhibition of SMN2 mRNA decay. Moreover, using the 5’UTR ASO in combination with a splice-switching oligonucleotide (SSO) increases SMN levels above those attained with the SSO alone. Our results add to the current understanding of SMN regulation and point toward a new therapeutic target for SMA.

Acceptance Date Dec 30, 2020
Publication Date Jan 5, 2021
Publicly Available Date Mar 28, 2024
Journal Molecular Therapy: Nucleic Acids
Print ISSN 2162-2531
Publisher Cell Press
Pages 731-742
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.omtn.2020.12.027
Keywords antisense oligonucleotides
spinal muscular atrophy
5' UTR
SMN2
Publisher URL https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S216225312030408X