Reference #1298
The University of South Carolina is offering licensing opportunities for the use of MicroRNA-30 in Therapy/Prevention of Inflammation, Obesity, and Metabolic Syndrome.
Background:
Obesity is a global health issue that promotes risk for cardiometabolic diseases and some cancers. During obesity, adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) drive chronic low-grade inflammation that promotes metabolic dysfunction.
Invention Description:
Therapeutic strategies for obesity and related disorders have been challenging to develop. MicroRNAs are short non-coding RNAs that can inhibit gene expression, and microRNA-based therapies are in clinical development. Recently, it was discovered that downregulation of microRNA-30 in adipose tissue immune cells of obese individuals leads to increased inflammation and obesity progression. This discovery suggests that increasing microRNA-30 may constitute a novel therapeutic modality for obesity and related cardiometabolic disorders.
Potential Applications:
The invention may be used to treat obesity, type II diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and similar disorders disorders associated with macrophage-driven inflammation.
Advantages and Benefits:
This discovery is superior to previous treatments because it could be used for personalized targeted therapy for obesity and related disorder treatment. Such therapeutic modalities are currently unavailable.