Abstract
The immune system plays a crucial role in the body’s defense system against various pathogens, such as bacteria, viruses, and parasites, as well as recognizes non-self- and self-molecules. The innate immune system is composed of special receptors known as pattern recognition receptors, which play a crucial role in the identification of pathogen-associated molecular patterns from diverse microorganisms. Any disequilibrium in the activation of a particular pattern recognition receptor leads to various inflammatory, autoimmune, or immunodeficiency diseases. Aptamers are short single-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid molecules, also termed “chemical antibodies,” which have tremendous specificity and affinity for their target molecules. Their features, such as stability, low immunogenicity, ease of manufacturing, and facile screening against a target, make them preferable as therapeutics. Immune-system–targeting aptamers have a great potential as a targeted therapeutic strategy against immune diseases. This review summarizes components of the innate immune system, aptamer production, pharmacokinetic characteristics of aptamers, and aptamers related to innate-immune-system diseases.
Highlights
The immune system consists of several biological processes and structures within an organism that protect it against different pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, parasites, and viruses [1]
While establishing a systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) protocol in a laboratory, various parameters should be kept in consideration like: (i) selection of oligonucleotide type (RNA or DNA), (ii) availability of aptamer preparation equipment, (iii) purification and testing depending upon specific SELEX modification requirement, (iv) nature of target and elution strategy, (v) selection of post-SELEX or in-SELEX modifications, (vi) expected cost and time estimation for the chosen protocol
When unmodified aptamers were studied as therapeutics for systemic administration, three main obstacles related to drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics came up: metabolic instability, fast renal elimination by glomerular filtration, and fast distribution from the blood plasma compartment into tissues [125]
Summary
The immune system consists of several biological processes and structures within an organism that protect it against different pathogens, including fungi, bacteria, parasites, and viruses [1] This system of protection from foreign microorganisms is classified into two fundamental types: innate and adaptive. The innate immune system can respond to the pattern of some host cells (that undergo cell death) by detecting specialized molecules called damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs). They represent various classes of protein and nonprotein molecules. The response to DAMPs is considered an indirect response to microbial infection; alternatively, it can be started by tissue damage, such as sterile inflammation or ischemia [4,5]
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