Targeting angiogenin in therapy of amyotropic lateral sclerosis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Missense heterozygous mutations in the coding region of angiogenin (ANG) gene, encoding a 14 kDa angiogenic RNase, were recently found in patients of amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Functional analyses have shown that these are loss-of-function mutations, implying that angiogenin deficiency is associated with ALS pathogenesis and that increasing ANG expression or angiogenin activity could be a novel approach for ALS therapy.

Objective

Review the evidence showing the involvement of angiogenin in motor neuron physiology and function, and provide a rationale for targeting angiogenin in ALS therapy.

Methods

Review the current understanding of the mechanism of angiogenin action in connection with ALS genetics, pathogenesis and therapy.

Conclusion

ANG

SUBMITTER: Kishikawa H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2782700 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature