BioCentury
ARTICLE | Distillery Techniques

Disease models

November 13, 2018 6:47 PM UTC

miR-137-deficient mice could be used to screen therapies for schizophrenia, autism and other neuropsychiatric disorders. Mice with miR-137 knocked out in CNS and peripheral nervous system neurons recapitulated the learning and memory deficits, social impairment, repetitive behavior and dysregulated synaptic plasticity that are shared by many patients with schizophrenia and autism. In the model, papaverine, an inhibitor of the miR-137 target gene phosphodiesterase-10A (PDE-10A), or an shRNA targeting PDE-10A encoded in a lentiviral vector, decreased learning and memory deficits, social impairment and repetitive behavior compared with vehicle or a non-specific shRNA encoded in a lentiviral vector. Next steps could include using the model to screen other compounds.

The generic papaverine is marketed to increase blood flow...