源自诺贝尔奖技术：亨廷顿舞蹈症的首次基因治疗，成功缓解疾病进程

Core Viewpoint - A novel gene therapy has shown significant potential in slowing the progression of Huntington's disease, marking a possible breakthrough in treatment options for this rare genetic neurodegenerative disorder [4][5]. Group 1: Disease Overview - Huntington's disease is a rare hereditary neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the gradual degeneration of nerve cells in the brain, leading to motor, cognitive, and psychiatric impairments [3]. - The disease is caused by an expansion of the CAG repeat sequence in the HTT gene, resulting in a toxic protein that progressively damages the brain [5]. - Patients typically begin to exhibit symptoms between the ages of 35 and 55, with initial symptoms including mild coordination loss and memory issues, which can escalate to involuntary movements and severe emotional disturbances [4]. Group 2: Gene Therapy Development - The gene therapy developed by uniQure, known as AMT-130, utilizes adeno-associated virus type 5 (AAV5) to deliver miRNA designed to silence the mutated HTT gene, thereby blocking the production of the toxic protein [6][8]. - In a clinical trial involving 29 early-stage Huntington's disease patients, those receiving the high-dose gene therapy experienced a 75% reduction in disease progression over three years compared to the control group [4]. - uniQure plans to apply for regulatory approval for this therapy next year based on significant clinical indicators, including reduced levels of toxic proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid of treated patients [4][6]. Group 3: Future Research Directions - CRISPR gene editing technology shows promise for potentially providing a permanent cure by targeting and editing the mutated HTT gene [9]. - Recent studies have developed new gene editing delivery tools, such as RIDE, which successfully knocked out CAG repeat sequences in mouse models, leading to a reduction in toxic protein expression and improvement in disease symptoms [10]. - Base editing techniques have also demonstrated potential in interrupting repeat expansions associated with Huntington's disease, offering new strategies for treatment [12].