Abstract: The present invention provides short activating RNA molecules which up-regulate albumin production. The present invention also provides methods of up-regulating albumin production, such methods involving the use of short activating RNA molecules capable of increasing the expression of albumin. The present invention also provides the use of the short activating RNA molecules in therapy, such as treating or preventing a hyperproliferative disorder and/or a disorder characterized by hypoalbuminemia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inducing insulin production in a cell by up-regulating a target gene involved in insulin production in said cell using an saRNA (short activating ribonucleic acid) which specifically down-regulates a target antisense RNA transcript present in said cell, wherein (i) said target RNA transcript is complementary to a sequence located on the coding strand of the target gene between 1000 nucleotides upstream and 1000 nucleotides downstream of the transcription start site of the target gene; and (ii) said sRNA is a single or double stranded RNA molecule up to 30 nucleotides in length comprising a sequence of at least 13 nucleotides which has at least 95% complementarity to a region of the target transcript. Also provided are certain saRNA molecules and uses thereof, particular medical uses, and induced cells and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a short RNA capable of upregulating MafA expression in a human cell, wherein the short RNA includes a first strand which is 19 to 25 nucleotides in length and comprises the sequence AUCUGUACUGGAUGAGCGG (SEQ ID NO:1) or UUUCCCGCAGGAGAUUGAC (SEQ ID NO:2). Also provided are uses of the short RNA, particular medical uses, and induced cells and uses of the induced cells.

Abstract: The present invention provides short activating RNA molecules which up-regulate albumin production. The present invention also provides methods of up-regulating albumin production, such methods involving the use of short activating RNA molecules capable of increasing the expression of albumin. The present invention also provides the use of the short activating RNA molecules in therapy, such as treating or preventing a hyperproliferative disorder and/or a disorder characterised by hypoalbuminemia.

Abstract: The present invention provides a short RNA capable of upregulating MafA expression in a human cell, wherein said short RNA includes a first strand which is 19 to 25 nucleotides in length and comprises the sequence AUCUGUACUGGAUGAGCGG or UUUCCCGCAGGAGAUUGAC. Also provided are uses thereof, particular medical uses, and induced cells and uses thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of inducing insulin production in a cell by up-regulating a target gene involved in insulin production in said cell using an saRNA (short activating ribonucleic acid) which specifically down-regulates a target antisense RNA transcript present in said cell, wherein (i) said target RNA transcript is complementary to a sequence located on the coding strand of the target gene between 1000 nucleotides upstream and 1000 nucleotides downstream of the transcription start site of the target gene; and (ii) said sRNA is a single or double stranded RNA molecule up to 30 nucleotides in length comprising a sequence of at least 13 nucleotides which has at least 95% complementarity to a region of the target transcript. Also provided are certain saRNA molecules and uses thereof, particular medical uses, and induced cells and uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of designing a short RNA molecule to increase the expression of a target gene in a cell through the down-regulation of a non-coding RNA transcript, said method comprising the steps of: a) obtaining the nucleotide sequence of the coding strand of the target gene, at least between 200 nucleotides upstream of the gene's transcription start site and 200 nucleotides downstream of the gene's transcription start site; b) determining the reverse complementary RNA sequence to the nucleotide sequence determined in step a); and c) designing a short RNA molecule which is the reverse complement or has at least 80% sequence identity with the reverse complement of a region of the sequence determined in step b); wherein said method does not include a step in which the existence of said non-coding RNA transcript is determined; as well as to such short RNA molecules and uses thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to double-stranded RNA molecules in which each strand of said molecule possesses: (a) sufficient complementarity to a target mRNA molecule to facilitate cleavage thereof; and (b) sufficient complementarity to the other strand of the double-stranded RNA molecule so as to form a stable duplex; and in which at least one strand of said molecule possesses: (c) a seed region of complementarity to at least one seed site present in a 3? untranslated region of at least one target mRNA molecule.