Abstract: Described herein are antiviral silencing RNA molecules (siRNAs), pharmaceutical compositions comprising same and uses thereof for the treatment of viral infections. In embodiments the siRNAs comprises chemically modification(s) for enhanced cell penetrating abilities and/or for greater nuclease resistance. Examples of chemical modifications include substituting one or more nucleotides of a native siRNA molecule with 2?-O-Methylnucleoside, 2?-Fluoronucleoside, aminoalkyl-nucleotide, aminoethyl-nucleotide, and/or 5?-aminopropyl-2?-OMe-nucleoside. The chemically modified nucleotides may be incorporated into the P strand, the G strand or both. Other possible modifications include coupling a compound such as a spermine molecule to the 5? terminus or the 3? terminus of the siRNA.

Abstract: Double-stranded modified siRNA targeting a RecQL1 helicase gene includes a sense strand including the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, and an antisense strand including the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the sense strand includes 2?-substituted nucleotides at positions 2, 3, 4 and 13 in the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, the sense strand further includes a 2?-substituted nucleotide(s) at one or more positions selected from the group consisting of positions 12, 14, 17, 18 and 19 in the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the position 2? of the 2?-substituted nucleotides is —R1, —OR1, —R2OR1, —OR2OR1 or —R3OR2OR1, wherein R1 represents a C1-4 alkyl group, and R2 and R3 independently represent a C1-3 alkylene group.

Abstract: Double-stranded modified siRNA targeting a RecQL1 helicase gene includes a sense strand including the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, and an antisense strand including the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 2, wherein the sense strand includes 2?-substituted nucleotides at positions 2, 3, 4 and 13 in the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, the sense strand further includes a 2?-substituted nucleotide(s) at one or more positions selected from the group consisting of positions 12, 14, 17, 18 and 19 in the nucleotide sequence shown in SEQ ID NO: 1, wherein the position 2? of the 2?-substituted nucleotides is —R1, —OR1, —R2OR1, —OR2OR1 or —R3OR2OR1, wherein R1 represents a C1-4 alkyl group, and R2 and R3 independently represent a C1-3 alkylene group.

Abstract: The present invention revealed that by suppressing the expression of the WRN gene, the BLM gene, or the RecQ1 gene, which belong to the RecQ helicase family, apoptosis is induced in various cancer cells and their proliferation is suppressed. Compounds that suppress the expression of RecQ helicase family genes or the functions of RecQ helicase proteins are thought to have the activity of inducing apoptosis.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that although suppressing expression of the RecQ1 gene, a RecQ helicase family gene, shows suppressive effects on cell proliferation in cancer cells, such effects are not observed in human TIG3 cells (a normal diploid fibroblast cell line), which are normal cells. Hence, the present inventors discovered that siRNAs against RecQ1 gene have cancer cell-specific cell proliferation-suppressing effects that are mediated by suppression of the expression of said gene.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that inhibition of the expression of various genes associated with chromosome stabilization induces cancer cell-specific apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation. Compounds that inhibit expression of a gene associated with chromosome stabilization or inhibit the function of a protein encoded by such a gene are thought to have cancer cell-specific apoptosis-inducing effects.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that inhibition of the expression of various genes associated with chromosome stabilization induces cancer cell-specific apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation. Compounds that inhibit expression of a gene associated with chromosome stabilization or inhibit the function of a protein encoded by such a gene are thought to have cancer cell-specific apoptosis-inducing effects.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that inhibition of the expression of various genes associated with chromosome stabilization induces cancer cell-specific apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation. Compounds that inhibit expression of a gene associated with chromosome stabilization or inhibit the function of a protein encoded by such a gene are thought to have cancer cell-specific apoptosis-inducing effects.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that although suppressing expression of the RecQ1 gene, a RecQ helicase family gene, shows suppressive effects on cell proliferation in cancer cells, such effects are not observed in human TIG3 cells (a normal diploid fibroblast cell line), which are normal cells. Hence, the present inventors discovered that siRNAs against RecQ1 gene have cancer cell-specific cell proliferation-suppressing effects that are mediated by suppression of the expression of said gene.

Abstract: The present invention revealed that by suppressing the expression of the WRN gene, the BLM gene, or the RecQ1 gene, which belong to the RecQ helicase family, apoptosis is induced in various cancer cells and their proliferation is suppressed. Compounds that suppress the expression of RecQ helicase family genes or the functions of RecQ helicase proteins are thought to have the activity of inducing apoptosis.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that inhibition of the expression of various genes associated with chromosome stabilization induces cancer cell-specific apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation. Compounds that inhibit expression of a gene associated with chromosome stabilization or inhibit the function of a protein encoded by such a gene are thought to have cancer cell-specific apoptosis-inducing effects.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that inhibition of the expression of various genes associated with chromosome stabilization induces cancer cell-specific apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation. Compounds that inhibit expression of a gene associated with chromosome stabilization or inhibit the function of a protein encoded by such a gene are thought to have cancer cell-specific apoptosis-inducing effects.

Abstract: PolydG is added to the terminal overhangs of an siRNA. Next, a primer containing a polydC sequence added with a tag sequence is annealed and cDNA is synthesized by a reverse transcription reaction. Quantitative PCR is performed between a primer carrying the same sequence as the tag sequence, and a primer containing the same sequence as the siRNA sequence to be detected. The amount of siRNA of interest can be determined from a calibration curve produced using known amounts of short-chain dsDNA.

Abstract: The present invention revealed that by suppressing the expression of the WRN gene, the BLM gene, or the RecQ1 gene, which belong to the RecQ helicase family, apoptosis is induced in various cancer cells and their proliferation is suppressed. Compounds that suppress the expression of RecQ helicase family genes or the functions of RecQ helicase proteins are thought to have the activity of inducing apoptosis.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that although suppressing expression of the RecQ1 gene, a RecQ helicase family gene, shows suppressive effects on cell proliferation in cancer cells, such effects are not observed in human TIG3 cells (a normal diploid fibroblast cell line), which are normal cells. Hence, the present inventors discovered that siRNAs against RecQ1 gene have cancer cell-specific cell proliferation-suppressing effects that are mediated by suppression of the expression of said gene.

Abstract: The present inventors discovered that inhibition of the expression of various genes associated with chromosome stabilization induces cancer cell-specific apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation. Compounds that inhibit expression of a gene associated with chromosome stabilization or inhibit the function of a protein encoded by such a gene are thought to have cancer cell-specific apoptosis-inducing effects.

Abstract: The RecQ4 helicase gene, belonging to the RecQ helicase gene family, is revealed herein to be the causative gene of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. The present inventors found out that it is possible to diagnose Rothmund-Thomson syndrome by detecting mutation of this gene. Further, they uncovered that it is possible to treat patients of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome by utilizing normal RecQ4 helicase gene or proteins thereof.

Abstract: The present invention revealed that by suppressing the expression of the WRN gene, the BLM gene, or the RecQ1 gene, which belong to the RecQ helicase family, apoptosis is induced in various cancer cells and their proliferation is suppressed. Compounds that suppress the expression of RecQ helicase family genes or the functions of RecQ helicase proteins are thought to have the activity of inducing apoptosis.

Abstract: The RecQ4 helicase gene, belonging to the RecQ helicase gene family, is revealed herein to be the causative gene of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. The present inventors found out that it is possible to diagnose Rothmund-Thomson syndrome by detecting mutation of this gene. Further, they uncovered that it is possible to treat patients of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome by utilizing normal RecQ4 helicase gene or proteins thereof.

Abstract: The RecQ4 helicase gene, belonging to the RecQ helicase gene family, is revealed herein to be the causative gene of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome. The present inventors found out that it is possible to diagnose Rothmund-Thomson syndrome by detecting mutation of this gene. Further, they uncovered that it is possible to treat patients of Rothmund-Thomson syndrome by utilizing normal RecQ4 helicase gene or proteins thereof.