Scientists from the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain, have succeeded in treating pulmonary fibrosis disease in mice using gene therapy.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, creates breathing difficulties and is linked with the presence of critically short telomeres – the cap ends of chromosomes which give them protection.
Using a gene therapy that lengthens the telomeres, they have discovered an effective therapy for the disease. The results showed that two months after the treatment, fibrosis had improved or disappeared in mice.
“Mice faithfully replicate many human diseases, both molecularly and in their symptoms, and are therefore an excellent animal model for preclinical research.”
Maria A. Blasco, Director of the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre and Head of the Telomeres and Telomerase Group.