Bio-Techne Corporation announced the expansion of its Advanced Cell Diagnostics (ACD)-branded RNAscope™ in situ hybridization portfolio with the release of the RNAscope Plus smRNA-RNA detection assay. The RNAscope Plus smRNA-RNA assay enables the simultaneous fluorescent detection of a small regulatory RNA together with 3 target RNAs or RNA biomarkers in the same tissue section at single-cell and subcellular resolution. Designed to be easily scalable to support large studies, the assay will be offered for use on the Leica Bond Rx platform and as a manual assay.

Small regulatory RNAs, including miRNAs, are instrumental in regulating human health and have been associated with a wide range of different diseases. Oligonucleotide therapies, including antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) and RNA interference (RNAi), represent a unique class of gene therapies that have the potential to provide highly focused, long-lasting therapeutic effects by utilizing similar cellular processes. These therapeutic nucleic acids can be used to regulate the expression and function of specific target genes, enabling the development of tailored therapies for inherited or acquired diseases that have been previously resistant to standard therapies.

Advanced Cell Diagnostics miRNAscope ISH technology has become the gold standard for identifying the cellular localization of endogenous miRNAs and measuring delivery efficiency of therapeutic oligonucleotides in preclinical animal model systems. Combining proprietary RNAscope and miRNAscope ISH technologies, the RNAscope Plus smRNA-RNA detection assay provides researchers with a valuable new tool to quantify changes in gene expression and cellular function in response to the introduction of regulatory RNAs, essential for optimization of therapeutic efficacy and safety.