Spinal muscular atrophy disease: a literature review for therapeutic strategies

J Med Life. 2010 Jan-Mar;3(1):3-9.

Abstract

Currently, there is no cure for the treatment of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Based on the available clinical and molecular findings, different therapeutic strategies were tested in vitro and in vivo and clinical trials are ongoing. The main therapeutic direction is focused on the enhancement of SMN expression by increasing the full-length (fl) SMN2 transcript levels, preventing the SMN exon 7 from skipping or from protein stabilizing. In addition, the action of neurotrophic, neuroprotective or anabolic agents is tested and stem cell and gene therapy approaches are in a promising development.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anabolic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Exons
  • Genetic Therapy
  • Humans
  • Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / genetics
  • Muscular Atrophy, Spinal / therapy*
  • Neuroprotective Agents / therapeutic use
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • Stem Cell Transplantation
  • Survival of Motor Neuron 2 Protein / genetics

Substances

  • Anabolic Agents
  • Neuroprotective Agents
  • SMN2 protein, human
  • Survival of Motor Neuron 2 Protein