Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42481469›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Single-dose administration of therapeutic divalent siRNA targeting MECP2 prevents lethality in an MECP2 duplication mouse model.

Vignesh N Hariharan, Ashley Summers, Amy E Clipperton-Allen, Jillian Caiazzi, Samuel R Hildebrand, Daniel O' Reilly, Qi Tang, Zachary Kennedy, Dimas Echeverria, Nicholas McHugh and 7 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

17 authors.

Vignesh N HariharanRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America. vigneshnarayan313@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9624-1244
Ashley SummersRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5425-0457
Amy E Clipperton-AllenThe Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, United States of America.
Jillian CaiazziRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7077-2116
Samuel R HildebrandRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.
Daniel O' ReillyRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0012-5623
Qi TangRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8913-0519
Zachary KennedyRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2476-1624
Dimas EcheverriaRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.
Nicholas McHughRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2004-0811
David CooperRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-1356-1707
Jacquelyn SousaRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.
Chantal FergusonRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.
Hassan H FakihRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7598-0993
Laurent BogdanikThe Jackson Laboratory, Bar Harbor, United States of America.
Monica CoenraadsThe Rett Syndrome Research Trust, Trumbull, United States of America.
Anastasia KhvorovaRNA Therapeutic Institute, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, United States of America. Anastasia.khvorova@umassmed.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6928-8071

Funding

Development of RNAi based sFLT1-targeting therapeutics for treatment of PreeclampsiaR01HD086111 · NICHD · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · PI KHVOROVA, ANASTASIA · 2016 to 2020
$3.4M
Mid-Scale RNA Synthesis, Purification and Quality Control SystemS10OD020012 · OD · UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS MED SCH WORCESTER · PI KHVOROVA, ANASTASIA · 2015 to 2015
$563k
NICHD NIH HHS R01 HD086111NIH HHS S10 OD020012U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH) HD086111U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | National Institutes of Health (NIH) OD20012
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS) is a rare X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder caused by duplications of the dosage-sensitive methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene. Developing therapies for MDS is challenging due to the variability in MECP2 expression among patients and the risk of inducing Rett syndrome through excessive pharmacological intervention. Reducing dosage to optimize silencing often compromises durability and necessitates increased dosing frequency. We present here a series of fully chemically modified small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) designed for isoform-selective and total Mecp2 silencing. Among these, we identify six lead siRNA candidates across two chemical scaffolds, achieving targeted total Mecp2 expression reductions ranging from 25% to 75%, sustained for at least four months following a single administration. The efficacy and safety of human ortholog silencing are evaluated using a mouse model with ~8-fold human Mecp2 transgene expression. In this severe duplication model, a single dose of the total isoform-silencing siRNA rescues early mortality and select behavioral impairments. Overall, this study introduces preclinical candidates for the treatment of MDS. Furthermore, it establishes a target selection strategy applicable to other dosage-sensitive gene imbalances.

Indexed as

Methyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2RNA, Small InterferingX-Linked Intellectual DisabilityAnimalsDisease Models, AnimalFemaleGene DuplicationGene SilencingHumansMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, TransgenicMECP2 protein, humanMecp2 protein, mouseMethyl-CpG-Binding Protein 2RNA, Small Interfering

Identifiers

PMID42481469
PMCPMC13500697

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.