TARGETING KIT WITH SPLICE SWITCHING OLIGONUCLEOTIDES TO INDUCE APOPTOSIS OF MAST CELLS

摘要

Compositions and methods for modulating Kit biological activities are provided. In some embodiments, the presently disclosed subject matter provides antisense oligomers having 10 to 50 linked nucleotides, wherein the antisense oligomer is targeted to a region of a Kit-encoding pre-mRNA, and further wherein the targeted region includes sequences involved in splicing of the Kit-encoding pre-mRNA. Also provided are expression vectors encoding the antisense oligomers disclosed herein, morpholino oligomer derivatives of the presently disclosed antisense oligomers, pharmaceutical compositions that include the disclosed antisense oligomers, expression vectors, and/or morpholino oligomers, and methods for modulating splicing of a Kit pre-RNA in a cell and/or a tissue, inducing apoptosis in mast cells, and treating diseases, disorders, and/or conditions associated with Kit expression.