Aptamers for Proteins Associated with Rheumatic Diseases: Progress, Challenges, and Prospects of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications
Elizaveta A. Shatunova,
Maksim A. Korolev,
Vitaly O. Omelchenko,
Yuliya D. Kurochkina,
Anna S. Davydova,
Alya G. Venyaminova,
Mariya A. Vorobyeva
Affiliations
Elizaveta A. Shatunova
Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
Maksim A. Korolev
Research Institute of Clinical and Experimental Lymphology, Affiliated Branch of Federal Research Center of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630060 Novosibirsk, Russia
Vitaly O. Omelchenko
Research Institute of Clinical and Experimental Lymphology, Affiliated Branch of Federal Research Center of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630060 Novosibirsk, Russia
Yuliya D. Kurochkina
Research Institute of Clinical and Experimental Lymphology, Affiliated Branch of Federal Research Center of Cytology and Genetics, Siberian Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 630060 Novosibirsk, Russia
Anna S. Davydova
Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
Alya G. Venyaminova
Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
Mariya A. Vorobyeva
Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, Siberian Division of Russian Academy of Sciences, 630090 Novosibirsk, Russia
Nucleic acid aptamers capable of affine and specific binding to their molecular targets have now established themselves as a very promising alternative to monoclonal antibodies for diagnostic and therapeutic applications. Although the main focus in aptamers’ research and development for biomedicine is made on cardiovascular, infectious, and malignant diseases, the use of aptamers as therapeutic or diagnostic tools in the context of rheumatic diseases is no less important. In this review, we consider the main features of aptamers that make them valuable molecular tools for rheumatologists, and summarize the studies on the selection and application of aptamers for protein biomarkers associated with rheumatic diseases. We discuss the progress in the development of aptamer-based diagnostic assays and targeted therapeutics for rheumatic disorders, future prospects in the field, and issues that have yet to be addressed.
