ASO enhancing vascular cell CXCR4 expression for atherosclerosis

Antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) that prevent interactions between the chemokine receptor CXCR4 and its microRNA repressor miR-206 could help treat atherosclerosis by increasing vascular expression of CXCR4.

In atherosclerotic lesions from high-grade internal carotid artery stenosis patients, CXCR4 protein expression was lower in areas with the highest atherosclerotic burden than areas with limited evidence of atherosclerosis, and lower CXCR4 expression in atherosclerotic plaques were associated with higher miR-206 expression. ...