Identification of RNA change, key to gene therapy

Gene therapy can protect against non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, commonly referred to as “fatty liver disease”. It refers to The study was conducted by researchers at the University of California and published July 19 in the journal Nature Metabolism.. This work in mice shows that a chemical change in some of the RNA molecules that carry the genetic instructions of DNA to make proteins in the cells prevents the accumulation of fat in the liver. Accumulation leading to advanced liver disease.

Fatty liver disease develops due to diet or genetic factors and leads to cirrhosis rather than alcoholism, because high fat content in the liver is also associated with a significant risk of cardiovascular disease. Previous work has shown that chemical changes in RNA molecules can occur with positive or negative consequences.

Fatty liver disease “slows the accumulation of fat in the liver

To see more clearly, California researchers used a mouse model that had this change-carrying mouse called the m6A compared to another that did not carry the change. To evaluate the effects of this change on fatty liver disease they analyzed the effects of foods containing different fats. At the same time, they used measurements of human patients undergoing liver biopsies (especially in the case of bariatric surgery) to link the markers of the m6A correlation with the fatty substances in the liver. They found that M6A acts as a protective checkpoint, which increases fat in the liver. Hence the idea of ​​developing treatments against “fatty liver disease” using these chemical changes to prevent or slow down liver disease.

M6A modification, which has been identified as an element involved in hepatic steatosis, appears to occur at a different rate in rat samples, both in females and males, explaining that females generally have a higher content. In the fat of the liver.