Personalized and Precision Medicine Journal

Abstract Recent research has uncovered a wide range of RNAs, including noncoding RNAs, and have discovered their varied modes of action inside cells. These ribonucleic acids (RNAs) play a crucial role in controlling many cellular processes and are thus anticipated to be significant targets for the treatment of human disorders. In recent years, RNA-based medicinal approaches have made significant advancements alongside their comprehensive functional research. Following extensive study and experimentation, medications based on antisense RNAs and small interfering RNAs have been successfully created and are already being used in clinical settings. Furthermore, there is now ongoing research focused on the development of pharmaceuticals using RNA aptamers and messenger RNA. In addition to the advancement of RNA-based medications, many techniques have been devised to effectively deliver RNA drugs into cells. RNA treatment offers several benefits compared to current therapeutics based on small molecules or monoclonal antibodies, mostly due to its ability to selectively target all genes inside cells. The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of the introduction of various RNA-based technologies and the introduction of RNA-based drugs in the market. In addition, the future prospects of RNA therapy will be addressed.

Abstract Background: The ASPN gene encodes a cartilage extracellular protein (Asporin) that is known to be involved in the pathological paths of osteoarthritis (OA). Many research efforts have explored the link between aspartic acid D-repeat polymorphism in the asporin (ASPN) gene and the risk of OA susceptibility, yet the findings are inconsistent. Our study involved a case-control analysis to examine the relationship between D allele polymorphism in asporin and primary hip osteoarthritis (HOA) among the Iranian population.
Methods: The asporin D repeat polymorphism was genotyped in primary HOA patients (N=70) and healthy controls (N=70). Each group consisted of 28 women and 42 men. Patients were classified into three subgroups based on the radiographic severity of osteoarthritis. Statistical analysis was performed on gender, severity, and primary HOA position.
Odds ratios (ORs) along with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were utilized to assess the association between D-repeats in the ASPN gene and primary hip osteoarthritis.
Results: Three common D-repeat variants (D13, D14, and D15) of the ASPN gene were obtained. The most frequent allele in the patient group was observed at D13, while it was D15 among controls. In both cohorts, the least frequent allele was D14. Our findings indicate no statistically significant association between any D-repeats with primary HOA according to the sex of patients or the severity of the disease.
Conclusion: Our findings indicate that polymorphisms in the ASPN D-repeat are not linked to a higher risk of primary hip osteoarthritis (HOA) in the Iranian population.  However, future large studies are needed to validate these findings.