Telomerase modRNA Offers a Novel RNA-Based Approach to Treat Human Pulmonary Fibrosis.

ABSTRACT: Pulmonary Fibrosis (PF) is a life-threatening illness that is characterized by progressive scarring in the lung interstitium. There is an urgent need for new PF therapies because current treatments only slow down the progression of fibrosis, and the median life expectancy post-diagnosis is only 4-6 years. Since PF patients frequently exhibit telomere attrition, overexpressing telomerase, the enzyme responsible for synthesizing telomeres, represents a compelling therapeutic option. In this study, we in vitro transcribed human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) mRNA using modified nucleosides (modRNA). ModRNA hTERT treatment led to transient activation of telomerase activity in a dose-dependent manner in MRC-5 cells and, importantly, in primary human alveolar type II pneumocytes. Conse

SUBMITTER: Ye JL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12608093 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature