{
  "id": 5138015,
  "title": "Blocking a microRNA reverses deadly lung disease in multiple models",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/02/blocking-a-microrna-reverses-deadly-lung-disease-in-multiple-models",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-02T18:00:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Medical Xpress",
    "slug": "medical-xpress",
    "url": "https://medicalxpress.com/news/2026-09-blocking-microrna-reverses-deadly-lung.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Researchers have discovered a molecule that, when blocked, can reverse the deadly disease pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) in multiple preclinical models. PAH damages lung blood vessels and makes it harder for the heart to pump blood, often leading to heart failure and death within two to three years after diagnosis. The study, published in Science Translational Medicine, focused on microRNA-224, which is found at elevated levels in the lungs of PAH patients and in patient-derived cells. Higher levels of this molecule cause lung blood vessel cells to grow and multiply, worsening the disease. By blocking the molecule using a targeted druglike therapy and a gene therapy technique, researchers improved blood vessel function and heart performance in animal models, increasing survival in more severe cases. This approach targets a key balance inside cells that normally controls the thickening of blood vessel walls, helping reverse the pathological process by restoring that balance. While more work is needed to determine safety and efficacy in humans, this finding could lead to a new treatment approach for this rare and often fatal lung disease.",
  "summary": "Researchers blocked a naturally occurring molecule to reverse pulmonary arterial hypertension in preclinical models, a finding that could point to a new treatment approach for people with a rare and often fatal lung disease.",
  "key_points": [
    "Blocking microRNA-224 reverses PAH in preclinical models",
    "Elevated microRNA-224 worsens lung blood vessel growth",
    "Therapy restores balance to prevent disease progression"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}