RNA interference is a naturally occurring cellular mechanism to inhibit the expression
of specific gene products. The technical application of RNA interference offers great
potential for the specific treatment of a huge variety of diseases including the metabolic
syndrome, one of the most challenging threats to human health associated with our
civilization. In order to develop novel and powerful strategies for the treatment
of the metabolic syndrome, it is essential to define a set of specific gene products
that may be targeted by RNA interference. Based on currently available in vitro and in vivo data, we discuss the feasibility of candidate genes involved in the pathophysiology
of the metabolic syndrome as potential targets for a rational RNA interference based
therapy in this review.
Metabolic syndrome - Insulin signaling - Hepatic glucose production - Adipose tissue
- Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system