Accepted_test

Oligonucleotide aptamers are capable of binding given target molecules specifically and with high affinity. They are considered as functional analogues of monoclonal antibodies, while by their nature they are nucleic acids and therefore have their own unique advantages. A very promising direction for application of aptamers is the development of new means for diagnosing and treating immunoinflammatory diseases. Our research develops a new complex approach to the diagnosis and treatment of ankylosing spondylitis using DNA and RNA aptamers targeting proteins important for its pathogenesis: pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor α and interleukin-17A, and a Wnt pathway inhibitor Dickkopf-1. We obtained a series of aptamers for selected biomarkers and demonstrated their potential as components of colorimetric test systems for the quantitative detection of target proteins. The possibility of using these aptamers and their modified derivatives to suppress the functional activity of target proteins in models of chronic and acute inflammation was also shown. The obtained aptamers represent a promising basis for the development of new diagnostic and therapeutic tools for inflammatory diseases.